OSCAR CAINER

WHICH planetary poltergeists will be haunting you this Halloween night? Which astral apparitions will affect your day? Actually, our orbiting neighbours are way too aloof to have malicious intentions. Today, the likelihood is that our pulses will be racing for reasons other than fearfulness. Under the Moon’s watchful gaze, Venus, the planet of love, moving backwards, makes an opposition with playful Uranus again. This may resurrect some emotional issues, but it’s about as far as you can get from heralding a zombie apocalypse!

ARIES Mar 21 — Apr 20

‘WHAT are fears but voices airy? Whispering harm where harm is not. And deluding the unwary, till the fatal bolt is shot!’ William Wordsworth’s words remind us of the power of negative thinking, and they seem particularly pertinent to you today. As a sharer of your sun sign, the poet obviously understood the power a fearful thought can have, and what it takes to put it in its place. This Halloween, as Venus and Uranus align, they bring a chance for you to get a firm grip on a source of worry.

TAURUS Apr 21 — May 21

‘THE only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous observation remains relevant today. We still need to be wary. Our concerns and reservations are important and should be taken seriously. Yet, no matter what we may be up against, we shouldn’t fear it, because the moment we allow that much anxiety into our lives, our sense of perspective vanishes — as does our ability to make intelligent choices. This Halloween, you’ll receive excellent news. Trust it.

GEMINI May 22 — June 22

‘WHAT begins in fear usually ends in folly.’ The poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s words seem particularly relevant in this current climate. But these days, Halloween seems to be a festival of fearlessness. We celebrate our immunity to the dark images of days gone by. Zombies? Devils? Witches? Why worry about them when we can be scared, instead, by uncertain political decisions and potential ecological disasters? As Venus and Uranus link, they insist you have nothing to fear.

CANCER June 23 — July 23

‘A MAN who has been in danger, when he comes out of it, forgets his fears. And sometimes he forgets his promises.’ Although it’s said that hindsight is 20/20, actually, it isn’t. As the Greek dramatist Euripides observed, our view of the past is coloured by our experience of the present. We soon forget the reason why we reached a particular decision or made a major commitment. This Halloween brings you a new perspective on the past, as well as a timely reminder of your main priorities.

LEO July 24 — Aug 23

‘THE oldest and strongest emotion... is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.’ These are the words of horror story writer H.P. Lovecraft. As it’s Halloween (and he was a Leo) it seems fitting to begin your forecast with his words. It also relates to the amount of judgment which has been taking place in your world. It seems we’re much quicker and happier to judge the things and people that we don’t understand as opposed to the ones we do. Watch for that today.

VIRGO Aug 24 — Sep 23

WHAT a good thing it is that Halloween always falls on October 31. If, rather than being date-based, it were dependent on the position of the Moon, it would sometimes end up occurring on Friday the 13th. Then we really would have something to worry about! Not that this would bother you. You’re a Virgo. You have ‘other-worldly’ blood in your veins and uncanny insight. Other people need spellbooks. You just have to say what comes into your head and it will conjure up what you need. Your powers are high today.

LIBRA Sep 24 — Oct 23

‘MEN say that in this midnight hour the disembodied have power. To wander as it liketh them, by wizard oak and fairy stream.’ Happy Halloween. Here, to get you in the mood, is a quote from fellow Libran, poet William Motherwell. We shudder when we hear the word ‘disembodied’ because it represents a concept so strange we can’t comprehend it. Yet each night, as your physical form lies sleeping, where do you go? As Venus and Uranus link today, a dream really could come true.

SCORPIO Oct 24 — Nov 22

‘WHAT we fear comes to pass more speedily than what we hope.’ These words were written by Publilius Syrus, a former Roman slave. But was he right about this? Sayings like these are only true some of the time . . . and in some situations. It’s only the really good ones that sound like universal laws which can’t be trifled with. This one certainly has that kind of ring to it, which is why it’s your Halloween message. Watch, today, for things that seem beyond question — but are actually debatable.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 — Dec 21

‘ONE need not be a chamber to be haunted, one need not be a house. The brain has corridors surpassing material place.’ The poet Emily Dickinson, who wrote these words, was a Sagittarian, too. Because your sign is closely associated with joyfulness and adventure, we forget it’s also a symbol of philosophical reflection, the quest for truth and journeys of self-discovery. You’re going through a deeply profound process, which is about to take a very pleasing turn this Halloween.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 — Jan 20

‘FROM ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!’ Perhaps, though, as it’s Halloween, instead of asking who will deliver us from them, we should think about who’s delivering us to them in the first place? Our fears, outlined in the traditional Scottish poem, stem, at least in part, from our determination to pretend that ‘everything is absolutely fine’. As Venus and Uranus align today, your integrity matters more than your image.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 — Feb 19

‘A GOOD scare is worth more than good advice.’ So said romantic novelist, Edgar Watson Howe. Now I’m not going to recommend you deliberately try to frighten yourself today (even if it is Halloween). But it would be a good idea to remember an experience part of you would prefer to forget. Recently, you’ve had to think twice about your role within a close relationship, or your position as part of a team. As Venus and Uranus link, you can reach a new and valuable understanding.

PISCES Feb 20 — Mar 20

‘ON HALLOWEEN, the thing you must do is pretend that nothing can frighten you. An’ if somethin’ scares you and you want to run, just let on like it’s Halloween fun.’ This is an anonymous quote from the back of a 19th century greetings card. Its advice is especially apt for you today. It’s not that you’re being bothered by traditional images of the season, it’s more that you feel spooked or haunted by an unresolved problem. As Venus and Uranus align, a tense situation will resolve itself.