STARGAZING

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

Your stars for the week ahead.

ARIES MARCH 20 – APRIL 18

Tedious as explaining plans or decisions to others may be, it’s forcing you to assess facts you’d otherwise have been unaware of or even ignored. Fortunately, you’ve time to review these and, where it’s wise, make changes. More important, this raises questions about your objectives, and just when you’re realising they could use a rethink. Do it now and you’ll be ready to move by the week’s close.

TAURUS APRIL 19 – MAY 19

Planning ahead may be a virtue and, even more, help keep anxieties about the future at bay. But judging by the powerful links between your ruler Venus and both Saturn and inventive Uranus, over the coming weeks, you can expect thrilling ideas or offers. Some, but not all, will be easily recognisable, so explore everything, including seemingly unrealistic ideas. Soon they’ll make perfect sense.

GEMINI MAY 20 – JUNE 20

With the Sun and, from the 10th, your ruler Mercury both accenting your life, at home and out in the world, you’re busily exploring your options. Intriguing as many are, put off decisions until the 16th, when events bring both facts and your feelings about these to a head. What you opt for is likely to be very different from what you’d have chosen, only days earlier.

CANCER JUNE 21 – JULY 21

The thorough analysis certain plans require may be tedious. But the results force you to review your priorities and update your knowledge about the circumstances in question. As a result, you begin rethinking your vision. This is timely. In fact, by the New Moon, on the 20th, those plans won’t just be revised, you’ll have set much higher goals than you’d previously conceived possible.

LEO JULY 22 – AUGUST 21

Usually, obstacles are exactly that, difficulties to be overcome, and swiftly. But those you’re currently facing are forcing you to slow your pace and delve into the source of those problems and, if they’re ongoing, the reason why. What you learn may be annoying but it will also prompt you to tackle certain practical issues you’ve been hoping would vanish, ideally overnight. They won’t.

VIRGO AUGUST 22 – SEPTEMBER 21

Straightforward conversations about a range of matters, just aren’t possible right now. Although your ruler Mercury is no longer retrograde and August’s two dramatic eclipses are over, repercussions from the resulting changes will continue for weeks. So for now, focus on decluttering your life and exploring the options those changes triggered. Decisions can, and should, wait.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 22 – OCTOBER 22

You’re by no means a control freak. Still, you’re not thrilled about decisions being made for you, and in a range of situations. Yet each is, in some way, about breaking old habits that are comfortable yet preventing you from venturing into new territory, personally, emotionally or professionally. Tempting as it is to sidestep these, they’re ushering you into a rewarding new chapter of your life.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 21

No sign is more willing to face difficult facts or persist in the pursuit of a goal. So when amazing events, ideas and offers arise, and demand little, you’re suspicious. Yet judging by the superb planetary aspects to your ruler Pluto, these are as good as they seem. The real challenge is simply luxuriating in such pleasures, and without worrying you’ll have to pay a high price.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 20

Few things annoy you more than those who get so hung up on details they can’t see the big picture. Tedious as they may be, what you learn from dealing with them eliminates potential problems from the plans in question, which is a relief. Even more, it gives you good reason to overcome your impatience and be more painstaking in other plans currently in the works.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 21 – JANUARY 18

As much as you like the idea of relinquishing certain dull tasks to others, you’re concerned they won’t be as thorough as you would. While that’s true, admittedly, you sometimes obsess about details unnecessarily. Actually, this is as much about trust. With your ruler Saturn moving into Capricorn in December, and triggering a new cycle, explore everything now, while you can do so at leisure.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 19 – FEBRUARY 17

Usually, you are not impatient. But your irritation when others’ lack of knowledge or inquisitiveness is holding you back from proceeding with plans suggests otherwise. Instead of grumbling, make a point of learning why the individuals in question are uneasy. Not only will that relieve their anxieties, you’ll gain a valuable insight about what makes you tick, as well.

PISCES FEBRUARY 18 – MARCH 19

The recent Pisces Full Moon may have stirred up both issues involving others and your own unsettled feelings, but it also triggered discussions so informative that you’re still exchanging ideas. This is timely, because you’re on the verge of an exciting, and rewarding, new chapter of your life, and the more up to date you are, the better advantage you’ll take of events.