STARGAZING

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

Your stars for the week ahead.

TAURUS APRIL 20 – MAY 20

Ordinarily you’d easily stand your ground against the pressure you’re facing, but you correctly sense something new and wonderful awaits you. That’s true, although its form and the exact nature of its benefits won’t be clear until mid-May, for now, do something out of character and explore what arises for the fun of it. Once you begin, you’ll wonder why you hesitated for even a moment.

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUNE 20

During this tricky week, even your considerable charms won’t necessarily enable you to escape certain demanding situations or disgruntled individuals. Instead of trying to sidestep these, confront what or who is involved with questions about the true nature of the issues in question. What you learn will surprise you, but also unleash your knack for making the best of even the trickiest situations.

CANCER JUNE 21 – JULY 21

Because the coming four weeks’ planetary shifts influence every sign, there’s both excitement about what’s coming but, equally, anxiety. Since things won’t be clear until mid-May, you’re urged to focus on short term goals, such as decluttering elements of your life, home or even your diary. This won’t just free you to move swiftly, you’ll be better prepared to let elements of the past go.

LEO JULY 22 – AUGUST 22

Recently, you thought you’d sidestepped unsettling changes in your life. But these aren’t just unavoidable, ultimately they’re in your best interests. The problem is, while those benefits remain unclear, the price of disruption is unarguable. While you’ll hope that if you ignore everything unwelcome changes will vanish, it’s time to do the reverse, plunge in. What you learn will change your thinking.

VIRGO AUGUST 23 – SEPTEMBER 22

On the 15th, your ruler Mercury ended its retrograde cycle. Yet we all are still dealing with the resulting confusion. While annoying, bizarrely, what you learn in the process of untangling those issues will prove helpful as the coming weeks’ dramatic events unfold. Knowing that, instead of tackling those matters swiftly, delve into the details. They’ll be informative now and, by mid-May, invaluable.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 22

While you’d like to make a single, lasting plan, with so many situations in flux, you’re juggling both existing and future arrangements with the needs of others. As a Libra, you’ve a talent for keeping everybody happy. But with so much in transition, you’re urged to adopt a more easygoing approach and focus on achieving a single, workable, plan. You can think about others’ needs later.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 21

For ages you’ve kept both your views and feelings about certain matters to yourself mostly because you were hesitant about revealing the full facts. However, between Thursday’s link between forthright Mars and your ruler Pluto, and the Scorpio Full Moon, on the 30th, it’s vital you speak frankly about what, and who, matters most. What you learn from this, and explain to others, could change your future.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 20

The planetary setup, now and over the coming weeks, is about teamwork and, even more, demands you go with the flow, even though that’s the last thing you want to do. Normally, as a freethinking Sagittarian, you’d battle such matters. But now, you’d not only be complicating your life, you’d miss out on the amazing ideas and offers that emerge from these totally unanticipated situations.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 21 – JANUARY 19

Since you’re well aware of your goals, you know exactly how to respond when things don’t go according to plan. Now, however, not only must you accept the current range of changes, they’ll lead to improvements. You may recognise this or, which is more likely, while your instincts say these are brilliant, your rational mind will argue. Have the courage to trust your feelings. They’re right.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 17

The recent encounter between the Sun and your ruler Uranus raised questions about several arrangements. Now, however, between shifting circumstances and your own restlessness, you’re wondering what’s next. While the Full Moon on the 30th will bring your feelings about potential changes to a head, any actual decisions must wait until mid-May, when your ruler Uranus moves into a new sign.

PISCES FEBRUARY 18 – MARCH 19

Tempted to give a hand to those who’re struggling with changes? Don’t even think of it. The individuals in question need to delve into and deal with what’s arisen. It’s the only way they’ll understand what’s happening and so make wise decisions. Meanwhile, you need to focus on certain personal matters you’ve been ignoring in the hope they’d resolve themselves. They won’t, as has become abundantly clear.

ARIES MARCH 20 – APRIL 19

While you’ve dealt well with recent sudden changes, the restrictive situations triggered by Thursday’s link between your ruler Mars and the uncompromising Pluto will be far more challenging. Events or, perhaps, certain individuals won’t yield, even to your efforts to do things your way. Actually, this is best, although you won’t know why then. In retrospect, you’ll be relieved you went with the flow.