By Minerva

Starcast

Venus in retrograde is rarely a happy camper. But, though the next six weeks aren’t advised for weddings, old flames should be easy to douse. In other news, Mercury bids farewell to gentle Libra and turns to Scorpio. Brace for deeper and more profound conversations.

Aries (March 20-April 18) With Saturn ensconced in your career house, patience is the only option. Meanwhile, an uncertain Venus affects both hormones and shared resources.

Taurus (April 19-May 19) Feeling restless, tied down? How could it be otherwise? Retrograde Venus is nothing if not a control freak. Relationships face challenges. Some will survive. Others will not.

Gemini (May 20-June 19) Saturn’s enthronement in your eighth house has you addressing joint venture issues both personally and professionally. We’re talking commitment or lack thereof.

Cancer (June 20-July 21) Bossy Saturn is a heavyhanded house guest in your creativity center. A younger person can be a pain in the posterior, but you have the boldness and panache to say what needs to be said.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 21) Sooner rather than later, you’ll be forced to deal with an elephantine issue involving family values and/or real estate. Venus’ ambivalent stance in your root cellar is challenging.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sept. 22) Venus’ presence in your charmand-chat center sounds fab. But when retrograde, this planet can be a control freak. Power for its own sake isn’t your thing, but you surely don’t want people power tripping on you.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 21) Time for Libras everywhere to “re” up. Retro Venus in your money house is a clear signal to rethink, renew or possibly redo your approach to personal finance. Saturn suggests financial challenge on the home/family front. Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 20) With Venus for a roommate, your love life continues to be fantasy driven. Unfortunately, when retro, Venus is a tough sell. Patience is the key.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) Saturn is sitting (and will continue to sit) in your money house through Dec. 17, 2020. Will that ever be a merry Christmas! Meanwhile, remember the adage: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

Capricorn (Dec. 21-Jan. 19) Saturn continues to occupy center stage in your sign. Get used to it. The dean of students will be parked in your dorm for more than two years. It isn’t all bad — the lessons you learn will stand you in good stead in all the years ahead.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 17) You Aquarii are the wits of the cosmos, so innovative, such pioneers, but also a bit quirky. As you’ve no doubt heard, life gets real, life gets earnest. You’ll have to work for what you want.

Pisces (Feb. 18-March 19) A crazy, mixed-up Venus moves into your travel house, a place of inevitable reckoning. Time now to consider where you’ve been and what you’ve done. Weigh your strengths and weaknesses before moving forward.

Minerva’s mailbag

Q: : I’m a male Aquarius who’s madly in love with a female Scorpio. What are our chances?

A: You’re the one sign that she can’t figure out, but that doesn’t mean that she won’t love trying. What do you get out of the relationship? Just the mysterious sensuality for which you’ve always longed, plus the challenge you know you need. If she can adapt to your cling-free approach to life and love. If you can adapt to the pleasures of true intimacy before she swims off in search of it somewhere else, your spicy, innovative relationship can be the romance of the century.

To ask Minerva a question, go to www.ask minerva.com or write to Minerva, Sunday Datebook, San Francisco Chronicle, 901 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103.