February 3, 2018

Mars and Jupiter Square

The square of Mars and Jupiter could bring up authority issues. The authorities aim to make people easy to manage and control. True leaders aim to encourage the best and highest from people. The structures and limits imposed by authority are meant to govern and contain. Structures and limits offered by leaders are rules meant to protect and challenge.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Just because it doesn't make sense doesn't mean it's not the truth. And what is truth, anyway? A law? A balance? Something in accordance with reality... but whose? The point here is to keep an open mind.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Procrastination is tempting, but maybe it would be less so if you knew unequivocally that you could mend the situation within a few hours. Well, you really can!

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The good news is that any resistance you are experiencing on the way to your goal is self-created. The bad news is the same. Have a chat with yourself about giving up the fight.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The classy way is to show up with enthusiasm. Cynicism might seem to signal intelligence, but what it really signals is a choice of focus, nothing more, nothing less.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Oddly, it will be easier to win at big things than at little ones. Both are significant, though. You might find yourself changing your mind about what's big and little, too -- a sign of maturity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Sign up to compete. Competition will be fun -- not because you'll win but because you'll do your personal best, which is the kind of win everyone loves to cheer for.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Wacky suggestions and oddball requests abound. Take a breath, and continue to be your usual supportive self. After you've let everyone contribute to the work at hand in his or her own way, you'll get yours.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Many people could fill the same role, but you're different. You'll get the chance to show them just how different you are. Actually, you don't have to do much, just show up and they'll see it right away.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Being near another person has its own kind of electrical charge. You'll be sensitive to the vibrations of people and places. Your notes on this will help you in future endeavors.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You don't have to see a person in action to get a sense of his or her skills and abilities. You're pretty great at summing people up. Just leave room in your mind to be surprised.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You'll be tempted to ink a deal that binds you in ways that are hard to foresee right now. That's why background checks were invented. Such measures will save you from future stress.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You enjoy people for who they are and not for what they can do for you. Of course, it's interesting what they can do for you. It will get your imagination churning, to be sure!

TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 3). You're emotionally stronger and spiritually more generous. Proof: The responsibilities that used to be hard to fulfill will be suddenly as easy as eating cake. Unexpected money in March may seem like the perfect reason to splurge, but you'll be better off saving for travel, as this will expand you in wonderful ways. Sagittarius and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 14, 30, 2 and 39.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTION: "You write a lot about mindfulness, but I don't feel that I really know what you mean by that. Can you elaborate?"

Life is a lot like walking. You stand up and lean forward. The rest is a kind of organized fall. The only thing that keeps you on your feet is a series of corrections. Ask yourself these three magic mindful questions to bring yourself back on task:

What are you doing?

What do you think you're supposed to be doing?

What are you going to do now?

That's mindfulness. It's simply awareness. Most problems can be made better with greater awareness. But we only know what we know and see what we see -- and even that is suspect. Mindfulness is being willing to observe our own thought processes as we live and open them up for inquiry. Another way to think of mindfulness is as gently parenting yourself inside your own head. Be sure to do this in a kind voice. Realize that there is no perfect way to live.