Belief Is Not Required

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Air Element

In our world, moving between the end of spring (Gemini) to summer’s beginning (Cancer), we go from the lofty dragon, his fire and light, to the temptation of our feelings. In one ancient Chinese text, the summer solstice represents the return of darkness, the perennial yin/feminine force. In some cases, this return of the yin was compared with a maiden who had five suitors. Imagine her power to obtain what she wanted, given the nature of competition embedded in the yang/masculine force. Exactly, what are your mind and spirit focused upon? What are you longing to create?

Gemini, May 21-June 20, adapting intellectual, the changing mind

The longest day means less light until the winter solstice that marks the start of Capricorn. You feed Capricorn with your refusal to grow up. You see, the initiating of winter thrives on your imaginative and youthful ways. Being with you is like being plugged in to the evolution of communication, what or who is trending. After all, one of your twins is consistently awake to the new happenings in the world, rapidly able to process and synthesize inventive connections. These last days of your sign bring to my mind the overkill of negative thinking brought on by living a clever life, thinking you can outthink everyone with whom you meet. Resist the temptation to treat those who are mentally slower than you as less bright. Remember who won the race of the tortoise and the hare? The child knew better than the emperor. Flash-forward six months to this winter solstice. Whom do you want around you? How can your heart be wise while your countenance remains young?

Libra, September 23-October 22, initiating intellectual, starting relationships

Last week I talked about love possibly not being enough to solve your relationships. Hopefully, you used your argumentative ways to prove me wrong. Now that your ruling planet, Venus, has emerged as the morning star (arising before sunrise), you can fight for what you want. You know the correct words to utter. You know when to be silent and just how gold it can be. A rolled eye causes silence to be valued like silver, but a metal nonetheless. Venus centers on what we collectively agree upon as valuable. Please remember that you are part of the collective. Change in society can begin with one voice. One-to-one relationships are also a part of society. It is through your receptivity that you charge and transform the atmospheres in which you are a part. This weekend is tailor-made for you to objectively examine yourself and our reactions to you. Have those conversations, deep and otherwise; just don’t begin them with “We need to talk.” Want all you want; need less.

Aquarius, January 20-February 18, concentrating intellectual, the futuristic mind

Your life, as much you live for freedom, improves after your heart connects to one individual. Sure, your lofty and sometimes arrogant self can believe that you settle for the closest human project, but age can bring you wisdom. With both of your rulers (Saturn and Uranus) being on the personal-relationship axis (Libra and Aries, respectively), you are learning how to communicate to those closest to you without any premeditated mean-spiritedness. Yes, you think so much that we’d rarely believe anything out of your mouth hadn’t been thought of before. But trust us. More importantly, trust you. Let this Venus slowdown do what it does best: Get you to create new mental pathways to bliss, joy and happiness. These three virtues require not belief (pun intended, remember the name of this column) but an open heart with an involved mind. Love does not demand that you dumb down. Simply be aware of that which cannot be rationally explained. Make like Grace Jones who sang, “Love Is the Drug.”

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Water Element

It is less than a week that we enter into your soothing element. We need your soulful ways. We need the best part of our family’s history, so we can grow healthily into these next several years. Let your feelings be the canvas upon which we draw. Like I said, you are needed in these days of expected apocalypse (2012, anyone?).

Cancer, June 21-July 22, initiating feeling (soul)

Your motto is “I feel.” And your animal totem is the crab, a bottom feeder that moves sideways. These days leading up to your birthday have much to do about something that could easily be turned into nothing, if you were to simply let it go. Retreat into a protective shell for you to examine what this last year has brought to you. Where do you need to take more responsibility for getting on with your life as you want to, not as others demand or expect? Through increased self-esteem, you can tell a whole host of folks where to get off, presumably away from you. Venus and Jupiter are close to joining forces in the area of your chart that symbolizes surrender and spirituality. If it ain’t divine (and loving), do not err on settling at a tarnished ocean’s bottom.

Scorpio, October 23-November 21, concentrating feeling (soul)

Your motto is “I desire.” And you have three animal totems. (Must everything about you be so complex?) They are the snake/scorpion, eagle and phoenix. Well, that adds to four. Like the bottom-feeding crab, the snake/scorpion just cannot help its self-destructive urges. It’s you at your most controlling. If it doesn’t go my way, everyone loses or the charming, “If I can’t have you, I’ll mind-fuck until no one else wants you.” This past Venus transit over the Sun is to aid you in transforming into a higher and spiritually minded eagle like Scorpio. Even those of you who have battled with your darker urges have more room for evolution. The harmless phoenix, which diligently guards her thoughts and feelings, can be your prize. Take an emotional load off this weekend. Instead of desiring (lacking something), assess what you do have. Look within first. The outside world can take care of itself.

Pisces, February 19-March 19, adapting and learning feeling (soul)

This magical time of year can bring the birds out of the trees to reflect upon your incredibly soft soul. You do not have to have myriad mixed feelings. You can settle and accept where your life is and just how you got here. Neptune is moving through your sign to remind you of the inexhaustible font of inspiration you possess within yourself. These next several days until the summer solstice (literally, Sun still) require you to look to your past emotional foundations for your present predicament. Know that you will receive support and forgiveness in direct proportion to how much you’ve freely offered these virtues to others. As the only mutable (learning) water (soul) sign, it can be exceedingly difficult to turn another cheek when you’ve run out of cheeks (be they above or below the waist). But turn them you must learn to do. I’m not espousing long suffering and martyrdom, only a healthy awareness of how you got to where you are.

Fire Element

Each of your signs begins an enthusiastic vision of what “could be” in human relationships and potential. It’s your own brand of inspiration, which we sorely need. Like we need the water signs’ ability to join us in a shared history, we thrive on your ability to coach us into new uncharted territories.

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Leo, July 23-August 22, concentrating spirituality (fire)

It’s a “love the one you’re with” time of year. Eagles flying with doves and the biblical swords being beat into plowshares, that’s your sunny-side-up prognostication. Because you are fixed (middle of season sign as is Taurus, Scorpio and Aquarius), naturally you possess ability for self-reflection and inner control. You will need these traits over the next six weeks. Before you react, ascertain why others are challenging you. Sure, you are learning to integrate your individual self into shared, pleasurable relationships. You may not be able to prove the motives of someone else, but that does not keep you from speculation. It is in this speculation that shows concern for the connection. Chemistry and the allegedly elusive spark between folks can be created.

Sagittarius, November 22-December 21, adapting and learning spirituality (fire)

Great and lofty one, what may I tell you that you will heed? Lovable and condescending, you have the proverbial tiger by the tail. You tend toward having multiple suitors (in your mind’s eye, anyway), but this time of year with bountiful Jupiter and magnetic Venus in Gemini (your seventh house of significant others), your tendencies have increased. Keep a watch on your growing ego. Humility is an even better aphrodisiac (well, not so much for the adolescent ones). Vanity can rear its ugly head in the subtlest of ways. Oh, come on now, you perfected the “it’s not you, it’s me” meme. Suppress a bit of your star worship because the successful are on the search for you.

Aries, March 20-April 19, initiating spirituality (fire)

Your uncharted territories include self-development and personal risk taking. Without your plucky and transgender mannerisms, we’d be stuck in an undeveloped and angry past where real men still didn’t eat quiche and women knew nothing about cars. As forceful, direct and yang/masculine as an Aries woman can be, the men of your sign can have little problem with home economics. Even more male restrooms have baby-changing tables. With love goddess Venus and philosophical Jupiter in androgynous Gemini, it is increasingly important to speak about your experiences carefully. Balance your energies. Cease compartmentalizing or focusing on what had happened when you acted beyond what your gender supposedly demands. For sure, there’s more to you than meets the eye. Realize, though, that yang/masculine expression is no excuse for cruelty. Neither is yin/feminine an excuse for elusiveness in order to “get more.”

Earth Element

Three little words: Know your worth.

Virgo, August 23-September 22, adapting and learning earth (physical)

You know how your complacency can easily turn into self-judgment and, at its worst, self-loathing. The past eight months have been centered upon your ability to break yourself out of these unhealthy patterns. We’d all love you better when you learn to accept life’s small imperfections. It is not, nor can it be, all about work. Serve, yes, but know when to stop. And then cease without the thoughts of what you should be doing. This weekend has been brought to you by the planets that want you to go on an adventure that breaks with the routines that have become your life. Reconnect with a friend from college or childhood. See how much you’ve evolved in their eyes.

Capricorn, December 22-January 20, initiating earth (physical)

You are coming up on your midyear birthday. After weeks of work, finally you can take a breath. See who is looking after your best interests. Sure, you have selfish ambitions, but you have noble ones, too. Oh, don’t get coy with me; save that act for the Taurus and Libran. I know you. This time of year makes you think of what you “could” be doing, if you didn’t hold yourself to being a slave to duty and obligation. End guilt now like Occupy Wall Street wants … see how elusive guilt can be? What does Occupy Wall Street want? You get the point. More direct involvement from your heart, not from what you think we expect or should expect from you, makes the basic difference at your half-birthday. In six months, you’ll be looking at what you’ve accomplished. In lieu of the financial bottom line, look at your interpersonal connections: Who can you call at 1 a.m. to help you bury that proverbial body?

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Taurus, April 20-May 20, concentrating earth (physical)

Falling in love with a couple makes sense for you. Be it shopping or an actual threesome, you learn through emanating. With Venus spending four months in bisexual Gemini (April 3 through August 7), you have the planetary green light to spread your mind, ideas, seed and body. Yes, the mind is a terrible thing to waste, and so are your fantasies. Even if you are committed, you can speak to your celebrity list (which may include a neighbor or acquaintance). Not feeling this? Let me have you concentrate on the planet of passion (Mars) ending his days in compatible Virgo. Over the past months your self-determination should have increased. Get back on the dusty treadmill. Look at that screenplay again. Create life in your own image, no matter how critical you’ve been of others and you. A reformed hypocrite rates higher in my book than a superficial adviser. After all, it’s what the heart motivates in you that matters.

The Rising Sign, aka Ascendant, represents your approach to life and the mask you wear. Read that sign as well to get additional information on what is in store this week.

Text or call Quan at 816-931-0010 or check out his website at beliefisnotrequired.com.