We All Have a Past

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.

Astrology is based on cycles. We can learn from our past. (One hopes.) And when you look at your past, the mid-90s were a significant time for you because Saturn was directly opposite your sign, and this can be discouraging. Not only did you have to face obstacles, you personally felt tired and world-weary. Most definitely, during 1996-99, you entered a time that was difficult for marriage and partnerships or any committed relationships. Basically, what happened was that you were taking your power, and this was a game changer. Naturally, this upset existing relationships. In turn, this is why many of you entered a partnership at that time.

Around 1996-97 was a time when many of you expanded your family or you experienced greater joy with children. By 1998, your job began to flourish beautifully; and by 1999, when the stress of partnerships ended, ironically, you entered a time where partnerships were favourable! Go figure. This is important for you because Libra is a sign that likes to be with someone else. You don't like to go through life alone.

By the turn of the millennium, travel, especially a major trip somewhere special, was important to you. By 2002, you enjoyed great press professionally speaking, or in your own personal milieu. People thought highly of you then; and some of you travelled more for work. It was a time of kudos and acknowledgements; and for a few of you, it was your chance to change your field of work to something related to healing, education or working with foreign countries.

By 2004, you entered a time of culmination. This was, quite literally, a time of harvest for you. This meant that something occurred that made you feel proud of yourself and proud of your achievements. It was also a time when you could see clearly what was working and what was not. Despite your successes, this was also a time when failure was obvious as well. (Gulp) Fortunately, if you were wise enough, you realized that your first loss was your cheapest loss.

By 2005, life was a grand because lucky Jupiter was in your sign, and yet, this was still a time when you felt proud of your achievements. Very shortly, your earnings got a boost. However, by 2008, you entered a two to three-year window where you had to let go of many things - people, places, possessions and in some cases, even countries. Fortunately, at the beginning of this window of time, in 2008-09, your real-estate situation was favoured and blessed. At this time, many of you moved to better digs or improved where you lived. And likewise, some of you expanded your family.

Around 2009-10, vacations were promising. Romance was stellar then along with opportunities to express your creativity. By 2010, you improved your job or found a better job because something happened that gave you strong job satisfaction.

In 2011, you stepped out into the world in a more public way. Many of you received accolades and praise. This was also a strong time for partnerships and your relationships with members of the public. Money, inheritances and support from others came your way in 2012. Once again, in 2013, you entered a time that favoured publishing, the media, medicine, the law and most especially travel. Many of you enjoyed a wonderful trip then. Lucky Jupiter was at the top of your chart in 2014, giving you an opportunity to shine in the eyes of others with promotions, job opportunities and praise from your peers.

Most recently, you have been prompted by job changes and residential moves. Many of you thought this would be unlikely. Nevertheless, most Librans have felt this influence! It's been said that change always involves inconvenience, and this is true - even change that is from worse to better.

Wealth, Career and Reputation

Fortunately, the year 2017 will be wonderful for you because lucky Jupiter is in your sign. This is a blessing that comes to you in your adult life only three or four times, if that. You last experienced this in 2005, and it will next occur in 2028, and after that in 2040. So this is nothing to be taken for granted. It's a blessing that is rare and needs to be appreciated both because of its infrequency in your life and because of its benefit to you when it occurs.

When Jupiter is in your sign, it boosts your confidence and your self poise. It teaches you more about yourself, and indeed, it is the signal that you are beginning a major cycle of growth in your life - a 12-year cycle. In this cycle, you will discover who you really are as a person. In addition, the blessing of Jupiter in your sign draws and attracts people to you who can help you. It will also attract beneficial resources that seem to magically take place, so that you can take advantage of them. Yes! Even in your personal life, your day-to-day world feels more fortunate. For example, many of you will find you have more free time to relax. Life seems to be easier. And certainly happier! All these blessings are yours this year, and for this alone, you have much to be grateful for.

What is particularly timely is the fact that you are ending a three-year window where you have had to face job changes and residential moves. Whatever changes you face are naturally going to be inconvenient, and possibly unnerving or challenging. How timely then, to have the blessing of Jupiter in your sign just when you really feel you need something like this in your corner! For example, if you are heading into a new line of work or a new job, your newfound confidence that you experience this year will bode you well. Likewise, if you have a residential move, with Jupiter in your sign, you will find it easier to be happy, relaxed and content wherever you are. You quite literally feel fortunate. Once again, how timely!

This means that whatever you do this year, whether it is a new job or you continue along the same path, you will be happier. You might not be more productive because a sense of ease and content will take the edge off your ambition. But then, there's nothing wrong with being content, is there?

Another thing that is occurring is that from 2010 until 2018, you are on a journey of reinventing who you are and redefining yourself in the world, in your family, and in all your major relationships. That means this year you are putting the final touches on the New You. In part, this is why many of you are undergoing a change of residence or a new job. Once you are thrust into an entirely new environment, you cannot take things for granted. You have to wake up to the changes all around you. You start to see life with fresh eyes. This is what's happening for you this year.

By the end of 2017, in a way, you will be rounding the Cape of Good Hope. Ever since 2008, you had to let go of what you no longer needed - and since 2010, you have been building to this point. By next year, you start to move forward, on the rise, to build towards entirely new goals. (The first of which will be to establish your home base.)

The important thing to know this year is that Jupiter is giving you divine protection. Don't be afraid to spread your wings and reach out. You can be as ambitious as you want to be; and yet, at the same time, you can also bask in your achievements and enjoy that rare blessing of contentment. The choice is yours.

Romance and Relationships

For the most part, your closest relationships will thrive in 2017 because you are happier than you have been in other years. This happiness is a subtle happiness. It doesn't mean you're rolling on the floor laughing your face off. It means you are content and happier because day by day, life seems to be easier. Sometimes you know why it's easier but other times you don't; it just is. You will enjoy leisure time by yourself and with loved ones. You will also enjoy socializing more than usual. If you like to eat in restaurants, you will magically discover a number of good restaurants that you like. Who knew? If you like to travel, you will be unusually pleased with the hotels or whatever accommodation you discover. If you like to read, you'll discover fascinating, good books. Life is just inexplicably better and easier in many different, small and subtle ways. (Note: This is often how good fortune works. It is not dramatic -- although it can be. And conversely when your fortunes are harsh, many little things pile up, one upon the other to make life really hard.)

Basically, with lucky Jupiter in your sign this year, there are three reasons why your relationships will improve. The first reason is the one I discussed above, which is the fact that you are happier and life is easier - and this makes relating to others more fun and pleasurable. This just goes with the territory. (Happy people are more fun to be with.)

The second reason is that Jupiter is a social planet, and when it is in your sign (albeit quite rare in your lifetime) during that time, you attract people to you! (Introverts can buy people repellant.) In fact, all kinds of people will be drawn to you, especially people from other cultures and different countries and backgrounds. Yes, logic dictates that if you are happier, this alone will attract people to you. But (there is a difference) just the magic of Jupiter in your sign will make you more alluring to everyone. This makes you more attractive in the eyes of current partners and lovers, and this obviously elevates your chance to meet someone new if you are single.

The third reason is that you are "different" when Jupiter is in your sign. Jupiter will encourage you to explore your spiritual side more than usual. As you explore deeper dimensions of yourself and get a better understanding of yourself, this can enhance relationships. Jupiter will also encourage you to travel more, which also can enhance existing relationships as well as give you an opportunity to meet new people. Jupiter will make you more tolerant, less judgmental and definitely more self-confident - all of which makes you more attractive to partners and lovers.

Therefore, value your good fortune while Jupiter is in your sign. This won't happen again until late 2028 - and you will be 12 years older! Ha ha. In fact, you will never again be as young as you are right now.

Home, Family and Real Estate

Ever since 2009, powerful Pluto has been at the bottom of your chart stirring things up in your private life along with your home and family situation. Because Pluto takes 250 years to travel around a chart, not everyone will experience this in their lifetime. But you are undergoing this right now; and Pluto will stay here until 2023. This 14-year influence will introduce dramatic changes to your family relationships and even members of your family. Likewise, it will bring big changes to your home, especially in terms of renovations, improvements, remodelling, and even a change of residence. Some of you will have a serious power struggle with a parent. As situations arise, you will get a deeper understanding of your own childhood or how you were as a parent with your kids when they were younger. It's a time of revelation!

But in an overall way, it is a time of improvement because Pluto comes to any situation and leaves it in a superior way. Pluto improves wwhat already exists. And sometimes to do so it takes it right back down to the bare bones. Think renovate, redo, resurface, repair, reupholster, refinish - even surgery is under the domain of Pluto.

Meanwhile, in 2017, the influence of Jupiter will impact your personal and family life. Jupiter in your sign will augment your interest in the arts. You might want to take art lessons or classes in music, drawing, singing or acting. You might want to learn how to play a musical instrument. You might want to explore something in a lighthearted way by renting a musical instrument. You will also want to buy tickets to the theatre and musical and dance performances because you want to see more of the arts. Likewise, you might treat your family to artistic events because you want to boost their appreciation of the arts. In addition, because Libra is so social, on top of which Libra rules the Fine Arts, you will introduce many fun-loving activities to your family because you want to see everyone enjoy the arts.

The year 2017 is the last year of a three-year window that dictated that many of you would have a change of residence. Some of you have already done so. Some of you will undergo this change this year. (This is not 100% written in stone.) The purpose of this change is to put the finishing touches to the New You, which you began creating in 2010. (I don't know about you, but My New you is ten pounds heavier.) By undergoing a major change that impacts your daily way of seeing your world, you are awakened to new ways of seeing, new ways of listening, new ways of talking. For example, the extreme would be a residential move to a place where they speak a foreign language. What a wake-up call!

All of these changes are important because more than any other sign, you need harmony in your environment. More than any other sign, you are affected by your immediate surroundings. If you are in a room, the lighting, the smell, the colour scheme, even the furniture arrangement or the art on the wall will affect your mood. This is not the case for all people; but it certainly is for Librans. This is why you are one of the most well-dressed, colour coordinated signs of the zodiac. Note: The legal profession is under the domain of Libra - and it is the most well dressed profession hands down. It's almost a joke.

Plan to spend more on family outings, artistic events and making your home look more attractive because these will all be sources of pleasure for you this year. You will not regret it. You will create memories for your family in the future; and at the same time, educate your family and friends and elevate their experience and appreciation of the world and culture. (Yeah, yeah, opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back, and instead of bleeding, he sings.)

Highlights of 2017 Month by Month

A Sneak Peek Beyond

The good news for you is that in 2018, most of you will boost your earnings and earn more money. However, if you don't earn more money - you will definitely increase your assets. In other words, you will have more stuff even if you have to buy it. You will feel richer! The year 2020 is fabulous for real estate in every way. It's a great time to buy and sell or build or to rent something better because whatever you do will improve your home scene. Likewise, your family relationships will improve. In fact, 2020-21 is the classic time for a family to expand through marriage, birth or adoption. The year 2021 is a great year for vacations. Later Librans might take a vacation in 2022; but you will definitely do something special because the celestial influence for this is a once in 24-years span. Following that, many of you will improve your job or get a better job because by 2026, you receive serious acknowledgement for your past efforts. This is when you truly began to take your power. It was in 2010, that you started to reinvent yourself. By 2018, you began to focus on what you really wanted to achieve - and now in 2026, you step up to the plate to take a bow. Well done!

Your Libra Mantra for 2017

"This year I am grateful to be content."

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 17, 18, 19
• February 14, 15
• March 13, 14
• April 9, 10, 11
• May 7, 8, 9
• June 3, 4, 30
• July 1, 2, 27, 28
• August 24, 25
• September 18, 19
• October 17, 18, 19
• November 13, 14, 15
• December 11, 12