We All Have a Past

We can learn from our past because astrology is based on cycles. This forecast begins with highlights of your past because if what I say about your past rings true, then you can trust what I say about your future.

The early 90's were a strong time for you. You were confident. You were proud of your achievements. Some of you might have graduated or got married, or perhaps, you had your first child because something certainly happened that made you glow with pride. Perhaps your career took off? This was also a time when you could look at your life and see clearly what was working and what was not. Around 1992, many of you made gains in real estate. (This was a profitable time to buy real estate.) But even if you did not buy at that time, you moved into bigger or better digs because for some reason, you were happier about where you lived. Many of you also have expanded your family at that time through marriage, birth or adoption. In fact, in numerous ways, your family life was better and more positive.

In the mid-90s, most of you had a chance to improve your job. Others might have improved their health. And by 1994-95, partnerships and relationships were more rewarding. In fact, that was an excellent time to get married.

By the end of the 90s, your reputation was strong. Others respected you. However, for your own personal reasons, that was when you began to downsize and streamline your life. This is why during the years from 1997 to 1999, you let go of relationships, jobs, people, places and possessions. Ultimately, this led to a major turning point in your life, which occurred around 1999. This was when you began a whole new journey! Among other things, it was a journey in which you would reinvent yourself by 2005.

At the turn of the millennium, both Jupiter and Saturn were in your sign, which brought you good fortune but at the same time, this period also brought increased responsibilities and obligations.

By 2004-05, many of you changed jobs or residences or both because this was a time of flux and change in your life. And yes, by 2005, you were finally the "new you!" At that time, you could look back at your life in 1998 and see what a difference had transpired. Amazing! You were a new person.

The year 2007 favoured you financially speaking, especially because you might have benefited from the wealth and resources of others through inheritances, mortgages or loans. By 2009, your reputation looked wonderful to others. However, it was not until 2013-14, that you really got the recognition you deserved for your efforts. Following that, many of you bought real estate or improved your home and family scene around 2015. Note: Anything that improves your home and real-estate holdings is important to you because at heart, the sign of Taurus is the symbol of the country squire. All Taurus people want to own land - mortgage free - with lambs gamboling about on the north 40. Naturally, your paid-for house is graced with tasteful antiques. Eh wot? Yes, the good life!

Wealth, Career and Reputation

Life is never a straight line; and this year when I look at your career, job, wealth and reputation, there are conflicting astrological influences. One thing is certain, ever since 2015, your responsibilities with respect to debt and obligations to others have increased. Ironically, not only has your debt become more burdensome, but the help and resources that you used to get from other sources have dried up. Yes, this means you are standing on your own two feet. Fortunately, they are Taurus feet, which means you are standing solid. Nevertheless, it's as if you are in boot camp. You have to rely entirely on yourself to survive. In other words, you cannot count on others for financial backing or support. Please note: You can still count on yourself! This restrictive influence has nothing to do with your own earnings, but rather the support you get from other sources.

So this is a bit sobering, isn't it? In addition, for whatever reason, and this will vary according to the details of your personal life, you have to come to terms with other people's values. This is never easy. When we are young, we always assume everyone shares our values. It's a kind of identity fallacy. Generally, it is not until we are middle-aged or older that we really grasp how different people have different values - they really do! Regardless of your age, you have to face this now. The trick is to learn how to incorporate other people's values into your life without abandoning your own. This is challenging. Because you are consciously or unconsciously thinking of your values at this time, many of you will also be more aware of your own mortality. (Another sobering consideration.) This is why many of you are reviewing your world and giving yourself a life report card.

But lo! What news from yonder modem breaks? (Shakespeare was proof of the eloquence of Taurus.) Yes! We're waiting for the "contradictory influence" mentioned above. Despite your increased obligations and responsibilities; and the realization that you are independently running your own show - the year 2017 is the best year for you to improve your job in well over a decade. Big time! This is the year when you will get a better job, or better duties in your current job, or somehow, your evil boss will be transferred to Timbuktu, or you will figure out how to spin off and become self-employed. Possibly, the biggest change is that somehow, you will develop a different attitude to your job? Whatever the scenario - you will be happier wherever you work. Factoid. In addition, many of you will have more opportunities for work-related travel. "Off to Turks and Caicos again!"

For those of you who are retired, even though you do not have a wage paying job per se, you are still busy with the task of living. In the same way, therefore, you will be happier performing your daily tasks this year for some reason because you will find greater fulfilment through what you do every day to make your own living. Trust me.

In the broader picture, you will have this sense of having survived heavy challenges in the past. Ergo - this means you feel now that you are more effective at whatever it is you have to deal with in the present. For starters, Taurus people now feel more powerful in how they express themselves to others. This has been growing in the last few years. In part, this is because you have made strides in your own personal advancement; but it might also be because you have more power now in your job or in an organization. "I'm boss!" The result is that you express yourself powerfully and succinctly, which is one of the reasons you get better results when you deal with others. Even your relationships with those who have power over you are now improved. Yeah, you've got powah!

Romance and Relationships

In astrology, each sign has a ruling planet; and the ruling planet of Taurus is fair Venus. The planet Venus is associated with relationships, love, beauty and money. To go more deeply into this, in fact, the planet Venus rules two sign - Taurus and Libra. Both of these signs are associated with beauty; but Libra especially, is associated with partnerships.

For the first nine months of this year, lucky Jupiter will be in the sign of Libra; which will vibrate very strongly for you because Libra is your sister sign, which is to say you are both ruled by Venus. This means this year is very favourable for all kinds of partnerships for you - personal partnerships, close friendships, marriage and even professional partnerships. You will find it very easy to relate in a loving, reasonable, fair and gentle way to others because there is so much emphasis going on in a sign that is ruled by your ruler Venus. The last time you felt this advantage paving the way for warm relationships was in 2005. So this single influence alone brings a warm, gentle vibration to all your relationships, especially intimate, romantic relationships, as well as good friendships.

This means you can count on the support from friends, partners and spouses this year. Everything will flow more smoothly. People will be more reasonable to get along with, from your point of view. And of course, because relationships are a two-way street - others will find you more reasonable to get along with as well.

This is a bit ironic because in fact, from 2012-2015, relationships were tough. That's because stern Saturn was opposing your sign - something that happens only once every 30 years. But you have survived this! (Whew!) So this is good news. The flavour of 2017 will be supportive to you because the lucky vibes of Jupiter are in the sign of "relationships", which is your sister sign Libra.

However, the best astrological influence for relationships will begin for Taurus in October. This is when lucky Jupiter enters your House of Partnerships and Marriage introducing you to a 12-month window that is the best time to get married since 2006. Yowsers! And this wonderful blessing will not come again until 2028. "Holy Matrimony!" This means that the first nine months of the year are a gentle warming and encouragement by engendering feelings of trust and friendship between others. And ultimately, these warm feelings develop into a willingness to commit - in a favourable way - from mid October until November 2018. Not only is this window of time the best time to get married, it favours all partnerships, including existing marriages. It also implies that marriage will bring you an increase in wealth, joy and expansion to your life. In fact, many of you will marry someone older, richer or more established. That's the snazzy influence of Jupiter! Yeah!

In many cases, the person you meet will be related to your work or your job. In some cases, the introduction will come about through work-related travel or being introduced to someone through your job.

Take note: One thing you have to face now (and it began last year) is the need to come to terms with the values of others, especially when someone's values do not agree with yours. You will have to learn to live with these values and incorporate them into your life; and yet, not destroy your own values and integrity. On the other hand, (you have different fingers) to be able to join forces with someone, especially for economic security, will be a relief because here you are, standing on your own two feet (albeit steady, stable, strong Taurus feet) - and what a relief to feel that you are not alone - in practical terms. And no question that despite romance, love and lust - serious partnerships are also practical. A little help is a wonderful thing.

Home, Family and Real Estate

This year, not only will be able to improve your job or get a better job or get rid of your evil boss - you will also have a wonderful chance to improve your health. In less obvious ways, this is important because your health has a bearing on your relationships to family members and even how you relate to your own home. So be reassured that your health will improve in 2017. Admittedly, you might gain weight. (A minute on the lips is a lifetime on the hips.)

Not only will your general health improve this year, if you have had health problems, they will heal and improve as well. And if you have not had health problems, your health will improve because you decide to go on some kind of new regime where you exercise more and eat better. The result is the same. You're happier with your body!

Meanwhile, your focus on family affairs and your relations with family members might involve legal documents and legal decisions related to shared property, mortgages, debt and such. This is, after all, a time where you are forced to face the reality of debt, forced to face the differing values of others, and forced to face the fact that you have to be independent. Fear not because all of this simply means that you will do whatever you can to feel financially secure about real estate and where you live.

On the whole, this is a positive time for real estate and family relationships, in part because it's a favourable time for legal transactions as well as financial negotiations. People in power will be willing to help you and you can make steps to expand where you live or grow in some manner, with surprisingly little effort.

In another vein (different arm) those of you who have pets at home will find that this year, you will derive much greater joy from owning a pet or dealing with pets in some manner. Woof woof!

Highlights of 2017 Month by Month

A Sneak Peek Beyond

By the year 2019, you will benefit from the wealth and resources of others because gifts and goodies will come your way. Some of you will benefit indirectly through the wealth of your partners. This is a fantastic year - the best in over a decade - to go for a loan or a mortgage.

You are also preparing for a window of time that is coming in 2020 - 23 when you will experience a career peak. Yes! This is a marvellous time when you will feel truly proud of your achievements. If you are younger, you might graduate. It could be a time of marriage or your first child. For most, it will be a time of promotion, kudos and acknowledgement from your peers.

In 2023, lucky, moneybags Jupiter enters your own sign of Taurus for the first time since 2012, boosting your confidence and bringing all kinds of opportunities your way. Don't forget to pack a hot lunch before you set off to conquer your universe.

Your Taurus Mantra for 2017

"This year I will improve my job, my health and my partnerships Yay!"

Mercury Retrograde in 2017

Mercury retrograde occurs three times a year. This is when Mercury appears to go backwards in relation to planet Earth. (In reality Mercury always moves forward.) During these so-called retrograde times, the areas that Mercury has domain over inexplicably suffer from errors and delays. The errors are small but frustrating!

Mercury is the symbol of everything that moves forward:

1. all forms of ground transportation, (cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, buses, taxis, trains)
2. the mail, parcels, packages (Post Office and Courier and Delivery Services)
3. communications -- email, social media, phone calls, conversations
4. daily living (the people we encounter, the items we deal with, the transactions we make and how we relate to others.)

During Mercury retrograde, all the areas under the rulership of Mercury tend to go "backwards." (They certainly have trouble going forwards!) This is why we can expect transportation delays, missed buses and car breakdowns. Mail will be late or lost, daily items that we handle like keys and papers will be misplaced; and communications with others will be confused and misunderstood. Plus people from our past will pop up into our lives. "Boris?" "Natasha!"

Use Mercury retrograde times to finish things, study the past, do research and reflect. But do not open a business or begin new projects then. Mercury retrograde is also a bad time to buy cars, trucks, bikes, computers, printers and phones.

The dates below are the actual retrograde dates plus the buffer times. This is because Mercury starts to slow down before it goes retrograde. Then afterwards, it needs more time to catch up to where it was at when it first went retrograde.

The craziness (delays and errors) is most pronounced during the actual retrograde time. However, if you are buying a big ticket item like a car or a computer, I recommend that you play it safe and avoid these purchases in the buffer times as well. You'll be glad you did.

December 19 - January 8	(Buffer times: December 2016 to - January 28)
April 9 - May 3	(Buffer times: April 1 - May 21)
August 13 - September 5	(Buffer times: July 30 - September 20)
December 3 - December 23	(Buffer times: November 26 - January 11, 2018)

Lucky Days for 2017

• January 7, 8
• February 3, 4
• March 2, 3, 29, 30, 31
• April 26, 27
• May 25, 26
• June 22, 23
• July 19, 20
• August 15, 16, 17
• September 12, 13
• October 9, 10
• November 3, 4
• December 1, 2, 28, 29