SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2016

Final Days of Mercury’s Retrograde

These last days of Mercury’s retrograde will require some tenacity in the realm of communication. It may take twice the usual amount of talking to accomplish anything. Don’t take this personally. It’s not you; it’s just harder to get people’s attention now. You’ll have to repeat yourself. Do so in dulcet tones. Don’t get shrill. Be insistent but affable.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your new goal is invigorating. Of course it’s not enough to state your intention once and then expect miracles. And right now, while the idea is still fresh, you would be wise to affirm it several times a day.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Friends will check in on you when they have no reason to do so. You might be surprised how it comforts them just to hear your voice. The important thing is that you know you are loved.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s one of those days when everything reminds you of something. You’ll circle round and round the same themes you were exploring a decade ago, but this is not futile. It’s a new day, and there is a new way.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). The code needs you to crack it. You are the key that opens the door. You are the missing puzzle piece and the breath that inflates the balloon. The point is, you are vital the story. The book covers won’t even open without you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Encouragement is a talent of yours. Without you as a cheerleader, your loved one may still score a goal or two, but it will be significantly less exciting. Your enthusiasm is a joyful gift not to be underestimated.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). First you’ll learn through other people’s experiences; then you’ll learn through your own, and finally you’ll learn by conversationally comparing the two. Putting it all into words will be the best part.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Everyone needs an emotional-genius type around. You, in particular, could benefit now from one who will share openly about the experience of knowing you. This is how you’ll understand how creative and unique you are.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It will be more valuable to run your ideas by someone who doesn’t agree and will negate every one of them than it is to share with the kind of “yes” people who offer easy validation while diminishing your chances at success.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll be the first to welcome a fresh face. You’re friendly because you can afford to be. You can trust yourself to enforce personal boundaries and defend against most threats a stranger could pose.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The bonds of a relationship will become more flexible. This doesn’t mean they are any less strong. Think of the tall tree bending to the will of the wind. If it couldn’t do this, it would snap instead.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The one being tested may not like it, but there is nothing inherently wrong with putting relationships to the test. How else are you going to know its strengths and limits?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). What appears at first to have the potential to be big love sometimes develops into mild and aimless affection instead. Try not to project too much onto the early stages of a relationship, and definitely refrain from making promises.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 15).

Because you’re modest, you may have mixed feelings about the recognition you get this year. But by August you should be pretty used to a certain kind of success. You’re in demand at work and would be wise to raise your rate in July. Your truth will set more than one person free in September. Babies are year-end blessings. Aries and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 20, 41, 9 and 33.

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK AHEAD: With the many astrological changes happening this week, the pace will be so quick things will blur, making the details almost impossible to pick up and the energy almost impossible to miss. Introductions, exits, scenery changes and more will come in the first part of the week, which are the final days of both the Taurus solar tour of 2016 and the second Mercury retrograde of the year. Don’t worry; Saturn, Mars and Pluto are still retrograde, so there is still plenty of introspection and soulsearching to be done. Self-discovery doesn’t have to be a heavy deal, and in fact you’ll love what you learn about yourself while in the throes of a game or other playful pursuit. The sun begins its social Gemini progression on Friday, May 20, followed by a full moon in Sagittarius on May 21. It’s one of the best weekends of the year to get out of the old comfort zone, hit the open road, cruise the sea or go for total immersion into another culture, world or romance. There’s a fearlessness that sweeps over the weekend. Fortune favors the brave. CELEBRITY PROFILES: Legendary Baltimore Ravens linebacker and ESPN contributor Ray Lewis says, “With all the things I’ve been through, the number one thing I’ve learned is that we’re supposed to help people through this world.” Lewis was born under a wellrounded balance of astral influences, including a hardworking Taurus sun and an adventurous, passionate Sagittarius moon.

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