runtime: 1/29-2/4/2001
“You are a vane blown with all winds.”
Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing [III.i.66]
By the week’s end, the little planet of communication starts his first backward deal for the new year, but it’s only a little retrograde by the end of the week, maybe not so much that you’d notice it. From last week’s quest [in Virgo] about the definition of “sticky wicket”: SYLLABICATION: sticky wicket NOUN : Informal A difficult or embarrassing problem or situation.
Aries [3. 21 – 4. 19]: Venus crosses the line, later this week, and this isn’t one of those mythical “lines in the sand,” rather, it’s the planet of love that comes barreling along into your sign. The deal is this: you will feel her effects. But not until the latter part of the week. More like the coming weekend. Until then, a certain degree of caution, especially in matters which are affected by this planet, a certain amount of discretion, is wisely suggested. Now Venus, she’s going to warm up the Aries charm quotient. Best you be getting ready for that, just don’t be expecting her too early. That’s the idea. Get ready, but don’t try to jump start something that really doesn’t need to be jump started yet. Give her a chance to get nice and warm in the hot Aries sign before you start relying on her ability to make situations nice.
Taurus [4. 19 – 5.20]: This week begins with another one of those little astrological bumps in the road. If you want, you can take this little speed bump with a fair head of steam, and go roaring across the problem. There’s side effect, though, which is unfortunate when you do just that, the jarring landing on the other side of the bump. In my old truck, with its suspension all shot, a road hump like this requires me to slow down to a crawl, or I’ll be feeling the effects of the high speed landing for the next quarter mile. One good bounce seems to generate enough shockwaves to keep the truck in a pogo – like action for a while. Here’s the question: are your Taurus shock absorbers up to date? If so, this isn’t too much of a challenge. But if you’re like me, and if you’ve been a little lax on maintenance, then the reverberations might be more than the original bump. Slow down or speed up? That’s you’re call, but you might stop long enough to consider the hardware before charging ahead.
Gemini [5.21- 6. 21]: I’m wondering if I haven’t found the perfect art form for the Gemini’s I know. It’s the movie trailer, that portion of a film which is used for advertising purposes only. It’s the sound bites, the clips that have the best parts, the most colorful pyrotechnic displays, the flashiest material, the suggestion of naked body parts — but the trailers have to be suitable for network TV, so they never really show anything too violent or suggestive. Get the idea? Your week looks like a movie trailer. It’s got all the hints of action, adventure, tender romance, sweeping vistas for scenery, and few good punch lines, too. The problem with surfing through a week like this is you just get to hit a few of the high points, or, in the case of some movies, a few of the low points. That’s the plus for your week — problem being, the rapid editing on this Gemini footage is also the minus. You might want to work on some character development as this imagery goes flying by. To your advantage, realize that some movie trailers are better than the actual movie.
Cancer [6. 22 – 7. 22]: This week has an upside down quality to it. I was discussing the use of a tackle box, as a metaphor, in another sign’s scope, and I wonder if this upside quality might apply to your tool box, as well. Like, it get dumped over. Not overboard, just over. If the lid is closed, then everything gets shaken up one good one, but nothing is misplaced. Then, with only a little effort on your part, everything is back in place where it’s supposed to be. That’s the nature of the upside down idea for right now. It doesn’t have to be bad, just a little different. And while some folks are feeling a little perturbed over the recent turn of events, I don’t figure that you’re going to let that get to you. Once again, that upside down idea. Of course, there’s the added advantage you’ve got right now, if you could just stand on your head, you’ll find that everything looks perfectly normal. That might work, too, you know.
Leo [7. 23 – 8. 23]: It’s sort of joke, what with the Fang Sway fad fading, but the concept of making a drastic rearrangement to your living space might help. It worked here, at Shady Acres Trailer Park [home of the FGS Trailer] when we moved one trailer about 90 degrees. That little shift resulted in a much lower electrical bill because we got Bubba’s Leo Trailer out of the direct summer sun. It also changed the subtle energies in the geomantic rays which infiltrated his home space. Taking this to the Leo level, a shift in your perception might help. Rearranging the furniture or adding the sound of bubbling water to the apartment might help. Better yet, situate your trailer so that it faces the water. Install a circular drive. Lots of ideas. We’re always happy to consult on Trailer Fang Sway, should you need the help. But shift your perceptions a little, and you’ll be amazed at the results.
Virgo [8. 24 – 9. 22]: There’s a peculiar echo in here, rather, a strange little hint from your chart for this week. It has to do with work, but rather than suggesting that this is a difficult time, it looks like it is a smooth time. To be sure, you’ve got a few extra items on your plate at this point, but that’s not going to stop you from getting anything done. And unlike some of the folks around you, it’s not that tough of time, not for the Virgo portion of your sky. The suggestion is simple, the “it’s back to that Virgo Work Ethic” sense. The harder you work, the more that gets done. Unfortunately, that’s an equation I’ve had very little luck with myself, but I’m not a Virgo this week — but you are. So work diligently, and when you scream that you need a vacation, realize that some good entertainment is just up ahead — only it’s not going to be this week. Doesn’t mean there aren’t some bright spots, but we’re back to that Virgo work ethic thing again….
Libra [9. 23 – 10. 22]: There’s a fishing camp, not far from here, and yet, for all of its real world sensibilities, this particular spot feels very isolated, just the vast expanse of water (really, it’s just a reservoir, but who’s counting?), the trees on the shoreline, a willow tree hanging over the edge of the rocky beach, you get the picture, don’t you? It looks like a little slice of paradise. And this particular spot has two things to offer, it’s both remote and yet, it’s also easily accessible. It’s far away and yet close. And even though the fishing is pretty good, it also doubles as a great place for a romantic get away — provided you have a partner who enjoys the seclusion, and nothing but your company. Personally, I think it’s great if she likes to clean fish, too, but in this day and age, that might be asking for too much. So consider a way to escape to just a place, far away, and yet close. Distant, but not too distant. Alone, but with someone. While the rest of the world looks like it’s headed straight down the tubes right now, you can work in a little escape, and that’ll make all the difference in the world.
Scorpio [10. 23 – 11. 22]: We’ve already had our little chat about Mars being in Scorpio, and what that planet does. And we’ve had all the usual refrains about what you should and shouldn’t do during this time. Now what we need to talk about is work. Sure, Mars livens things up a bit. The normally sultry Scorpio is infused with a greater degree of very active energy. But I want you to stop for a moment and think. Sometimes spinning your wheels just gets you mired deeper in the muck. I remember digging a van out of the mud one time, and its broad tires would spin and spin, the powerful motor would generate a lot of torque, but nothing could find any decent purchase on the slippery stuff. If you’re a little more careful this week, stop for a moment and properly assess the terrain, you can keep from getting yourself into a position like that van. Be a little extra careful when dealing with the slippery stuff at work. There’s no need to find yourself in an endless loop.
Sagittarius [11. 22 – 12. 22]: It’s time for that ubiquitous Texas expression, perhaps delivered with a touch of a Southern drawl, and it’s about what’s coming up. “Things are a-fixin’ to be better.” “Fixin'” is a great term because it has a nebulous time element attached to it. It could be in the next moment, by the time you’re done reading this. Or it could be a little later, like next week. There’s a tremendous amount of stubborn energy floating around in the cosmos at this point, and you don’t have to latch onto this headstrong stuff. Regrettably, though, and even if you carefully plan your week to avoid just such stubborn folks, sooner or later, you will encounter them. It’s not you, it’s them. But knowing that it’s them might not help. It’s like a certain girlfriend, when she gets an idea fixed in her head, and nothing will dissuade her from that thought until a resolution is accomplished. Yes, you’re probably going to encounter a similar situation, and my best solution is to do what I do. “Yes, honey, you’re right….”
Capricorn [12. 23 – 1. 18]: I like having an organized tackle box. It makes my life easier. I know where everything is, the right fishing lure is in its correct place, the hooks are easily accessible, and the little swivels are in their slots, the right size for the right job. It’s a tool box, of sorts. And this is a time to consider looking at your own tool box, your tacklebox, and making sure that all the right things are in the right places. There’s a small amount of frustration going on at this point in your life, not a large amount, just a little bit, and rather than trying to control something — or somebody — try to make sense out of what you already have. You’ll be surprised, and rewarded, if you spend a little time sitting down with your tools of the trade, getting all the right parts in all the correct places. This imparts a feeling that you have some control over what is going on in your life. It’s one of those inside – outside deals. Exercise your control over your domain, in my case, it’s the tackle box. A little effort goes a long way in making your life feel more stable.
Aquarius [1. 19 – 2. 18]: There’s a happy birthday or two going on this week, and while that’s a nice idea, that doesn’t really work in your best interests, especially not at the beginning of the week. The sense is that there’s still something, somebody, standing in your way right now. Nothing is worse, especially when it’s a birthday time for you. Now, you can make nice, and pretend that you don’t see that person — or thing — standing there, but that doesn’t alleviate the obstacle. And you can bang your head into it a few times, but once again, that doesn’t offer a solution, just a knot on your head. The best solution is to find some kind of common ground, a way to talk around this problem. A loquacious solution, a little long winded, perhaps a Texas size tale or two, might be the best way to get around this problem. If nothing else, the harrowing events with your starring as the hero [or heroine], might offer the best solution.
Pisces [2. 19 – 3. 20]: No sooner does one little planet leave your sign than another little planet comes creeping in. While this shouldn’t “creep you out,” Mercury makes a late entrance, late in the week. In fact, in parts of the world, it won’t really count until next week. Between Mercury’s coming, and Venus’s going, though, there’s an expectant quality to the Pisces time. Like you wish everyone would hurry up and catch up, just so that they could be in the same place where you are. Patience, a good quality in short supply right now, patience is what is required. It’s the planets, and they are having a good go at you. The trick with this type of time, is just that, timing. So figure that the you’re going to need a lot of extra time in your schedule this week so that everyone else can catch up with you. Or, you can just figure that no one can quite keep up. It’s one of those. Give the rest of us a break, and try to act a little more patient — even if you’re not.
(c) Kramer Wetzel, 2000, 2001
