STARGAZING

Shelley von Strunckel, one of the world’s top astrologers, writes a weekly forecast for Friday

ARIES MARCH 20 – APRIL 18

After a couple of weeks of exciting and often unexpected ideas and offers, you’re about to hit reality with a thud. That may sound negative but, rather, it’s just that you’ve reached the point at which you’re facing rather dull but also vital details. While you’d rather escape these, you’re urged to tackle them swiftly, mostly because they offer you valuable and, often, unexpected insights.

TAURUS APRIL 19 – MAY 19

The time has come to do your sums. This doesn’t just apply to finances, although you’ll need to focus on the wise use of your ideas and even your time. There’s no problem but, rather, with so much that’s so exciting going on, you could easily over-commit. But, then, you’re exploring your options, so expect to learn from mistakes as much as from what works.

GEMINI MAY 20 – JUNE 20

The recent Gemini New Moon has ushered in intriguing ideas and given you good reason to question increasingly burdensome arrangements. Tempting as it is to discuss these at length, you’re better off plunging in, then allowing experience itself to reveal what you need to learn and, equally, what needs to be done. Based on that, you can rethink and then, in time, finalise plans.

CANCER JUNE 21 – JULY 21

After an often-challenging and frequently informative period, you’re ready to turn the ideas you’ve been discussing into action. Mars’s move into Cancer, on June 4 for a six-week stay, kick-starts this cycle. First, consider every option and, equally, think what you don’t want to change. This prepares you to move swiftly when you’re juggling planned changes with thrilling but unexpected offers.

LEO JULY 22 – AUGUST 21

Although you sometimes complain others simply expect you to take responsibility for decisions and plans, you won’t be thrilled about certain matters being taken out of your hands. Actually, this is best as it forces you to consider options you’d previously dismissed or of which you were unaware. For now, explore, but learn as much as possible since you’ll soon begin exploring further.

VIRGO AUGUST 22 – SEPTEMBER 21

You like the idea of change, but the variety coming your way is too fast-paced and seems worryingly disruptive. While that’s true, matters of this nature must move swiftly and, equally, demand searingly frank discussion. Although initially you’ll find you’re anxious, you’ll soon realise how much easier it is to commit to, and make, plans when everything is so clear and above board.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 22 – OCTOBER 22

Exciting as the events triggered by recent planetary activity may have been, the resulting changes have been so disruptive, you’re wondering if it was all worthwhile. The sooner you delve into these matters, the more swiftly you’ll recognise that whatever chaos you’re facing will be temporary and will be more than compensated by improvements in your own life and in certain relationships.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 21

Having managed to keep certain complex issues under wraps, even in the midst of all the recent excitement, you feel you can relax. But judging by powerful aspects by both Venus and communication planet Mercury to your ruler Pluto, you’d be better off discussing certain problems frankly. Once you’re talking them over, you’ll realise that, all along, there was nothing to worry about.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 20

Thrilling as progress in both existing and new plans and ideas may be, you’re concerned about certain long-term arrangements. They’re worryingly unstable, and not responding to your efforts to revive them. That’s probably because they’re coming to a natural conclusion. Let them go. It will end those concerns and, better yet, free you to concentrate on more promising developments.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 21 – JANUARY 18

Nobody is better at turning a good idea into a lasting plan, which is exactly what you’ll be doing now, after the past weeks’ rather thrilling events and the accompanying opportunities. While, obviously, your objective is to get these organised, don’t do too much or be too thorough. Things are still taking shape but, equally, you’re still considering your options, some of which have yet to appear.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 19 – FEBRUARY 17

Having just been through a cycle that was as exciting as it’s been disruptive, you need a break. You’ll get it, but not right away. The events that both shook up existing arrangements and ushered in new ideas may have slowed their pace but haven’t stopped, and won’t until mid-June. Until then, continue to explore your options and, even more, what might need to go.

PISCES FEBRUARY 18 – MARCH 19

Certain individuals are moaning about changes disrupting their lives, work or relationships. The fact is, the events triggered by this exciting but unsettling cycle are influencing every single person in some way, but not everybody is complaining. That should tell you how to deal with those who think their suffering is unique, and that’s to be sympathetic, but then treat them like everybody else.