It was a fun idea, at least: whitewater rafting is not known to be stress-free, but it’s certainly exciting. Since you had never tried it, you said to yourself, “Now’s the time!” So you signed up for the trip, purchased your safety equipment, listened to a guide tell you what you were about to face, and plunged into the water.

All went well for a while, and you were having a hellava great time, until your raft took on a little too much water and the pace began to speed up even more. There was a roaring in your ears, you seemed at the mercy of the foaming current. You began to rethink your somewhat foolhardy ideas. But there was presently no way out, the only way to move was forward. You remembered there was an eddy just ahead that would slow things down, but it didn’t help you at this moment. Breakthrough or breakdown, something was coming! So you just gazed ahead, got your feet under you and prepared to meet either chaos or inertia, maybe both.

And that’s the energy of this week.

In the latter part of the week come two planetary stations, with Uranus (sudden change/sometimes chaos) and Mercury (communications/transportation) both turning retrograde within 48 hours of each other. This portends a big shift of energy in our everyday lives and the world at large, not all of it peaceful or easy to manage. The days just before these planetary U-turns are usually pretty tense.

Uranus stations at 8 degrees, 32 minutes of Aries on Thursday at 11:20 pm PDT (1:20 am Friday EDT). Aries energy is forceful and raw, so this station may have an especially potent effect on us. Mercury turns retrograde on Saturday (7:09 pm PDT/10:09 pm EDT) at 12 degrees, 33 minutes of Leo, a very creative and leadership-oriented sign. Both Aries and Leo are Fire Signs and can be inspirational as well as frenetic. The energy has to MOVE!  So the keynote of this week is DRAMA.

Mercury Retrogrades are notorious in astrology for being periods that are usually full of misunderstandings, accidents, mechanical breakdowns, delays of projects and general miscommunication. This is due to the shifting of the orbital ratio between the Earth and the planet Mercury, so that from our perspective it looks as though Mercury is going backwards in the sky. And it often feels that way! Every four months or so, many things in our lives seem to descend into a 3-week whirlpool of “Why Bother?”

I always say that you can’t stop your life under a Mercury Retrograde, but double-checking details is essential. Avoid commitments like weddings or signing business contracts if you can, rescheduling them for when Mercury goes direct—which in this case occurs on August 8th. Reviewing previous decisions is the order of the day.

On the positive side, this is certainly the time for a family reunion, or for polishing up that conspiracy script that Oliver Stone is salivating over. The energy supports study, reflection and revisitation. The best use of a Mercury Retrograde is watching the mind at work, observing all the details of the things that have tripped us up and making sure we correct them. It’s an excellent time for a yoga retreat or meditational practices.

This Mercury Retrograde comes right on the heels of a bigger event, Uranus turning retrograde. Uranus, which represents the “I Gotta Be Free, I Gotta Be Me!” energy, is currently in that hard square (90-degree angle) to Pluto, the “I Hold Power and Will Transform You Even If It Kills You!” energy. This is a revolutionary aspect that is sort of like Bob Marley meeting Dick Cheney: don’t expect to see eye-to-eye without a lot of effort.

Remember that the awakenings of the 1960s, when Uranus and Pluto were conjoined, occurred in the midst of great social turmoil. The Sixties were not an especially peaceful time, even though that was the sentiment of the day. The Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt occurred in 1967 during the so-called Summer of Love. How loving was that event? Now that Uranus and Pluto are duking it out again, a planetary station of one of them, in this case Uranus, is like an alarm bell going off. So this week could be a bit tumultuous.

Under a Uranus station, the wackiest things turn out to be true. Your job is boring, so you take a break and a bus goes by with this slogan on its side: “Your soul is more important.” Pay attention to the synchronicities occurring in your life at this time. The energy is calling us now to express more of who we truly are. As in the 1960s, expect fashion to get more colorful, sexual issues to be more to the fore, social upheavals to become the norm. The downside of Uranus energy is real chaos and revolt.

Don’t be surprised if the Revolution IS actually televised, or streamed live on the Internet, especially from the Middle East. This can unfortunately be a time period of severe violence. And remember that all those recent solar flares have a big effect energetically, too. These change agents acting together may also produce upheavals in the Earth. Many astrologers don’t like to predict such things, but the signs are unmistakable. We are involved in a collective revolution that also includes our abused planet. As that sergeant used to say on Hill Street Blues: “Let’s be careful out there.”

Uranus asks the question: “What does freedom mean to you?” Whether your answer is “I do Tarot readings on Venice Beach” or “I buy that mansion in Bel-Air,” this is a time period where we need to get serious about our own personal dharma, our individual destiny. Creative energy is freed up by this transit, which lasts about three years. Uranus and Pluto move back and forth in the heavens like boxers, retiring to their corners only to come out swinging again. So get used to it.

This is the time for personal transmutation, for the alchemy of the heavens to be poured into our everyday lives. The times call for creative thinking. Flexibility of mind, openness of heart and dedication of will are essential elements to cultivate now.

So the dance that attunes our soul through movement, the poetry which uplifts our heart, the movies which express personal awakening—these will thrive in the coming era. AND THAT TIME IS NOW.

This week’s forecasts for the 12 Sun Signs, dates approximate for convenience:

ARIES (March 20-April 19): You’re seeing a burning bush. You puzzle over this until you realize that the bush isn’t truly on fire and you’re not Charlton Heston. What’s really happening is that your soul is aflame. Your deepest self is calling you and taking this guise because you’d recognize it. But that means also burning your bridges. Uh, oh: time for new self-commandments!

TAURUS (April 20-May 19): With most of the planets in Air and Fire Signs, it’s hard to be a bull right now. But that’s because your motivation needs to be higher. “Security” isn’t to be had right now—adventure is! Wear a fedora like Indy and crack a bullwhip, or at least the mental equivalent. You may not find the Lost Ark, but this is a week for new discoveries.

GEMINI (May 20-June 19): The door closes. It opens. Closes. Opens. You push it and discover somebody’s on the other side acting weird. That’s your social life right now, and your goal is to keep the door open regardless of what that crazy person in your circle is doing. Uranus and Mercury, your ruler going retrograde, don’t make it easy. Still, keep an open-door policy.

CANCER (June 20-July 19): Do you like firefighters? Oh, I know you do! That’s why you baked that special treat and headed down to the fire station. Then why are you complaining when Uranus in Aries (a Fire Sign) changes your life scenario so you have to bring your goodies to someone else? This week, just bring those treats to yourself. At least you know where you are.

LEO (July 20-August 19): This week you imitate that statue by Rodin, “The Thinker,” and sit down with your head on your fist. But you’re still in motion so you miss the chair and land hard. If you want to make the most of two almost-simultaneous retrogrades in Fire Signs, maintain your balance. Don’t flame out, don’t mega-ignite. Activity isn’t the same as inspiration.

VIRGO (August 20-September 19): With your ruler, Mercury, stationing retrograde in Leo, your 12^th House of past karma, the next three weeks are a time for cleaning up unfinished business. Fortunately, you’re good at that. But that nasty ram (Uranus in Aries) keeps knocking over the furniture. This week, just learn to live with chaos. It’s easier than being Martha Stewart.

LIBRA (September 20-October 19): The lightning bolt can be fierce, but at least you know its power. This week, much illumination may come regarding relationships (Uranus in your opposite sign) and communications (Mercury stationing in Leo). But what does the sudden light reveal? Courage now. Mars in your sign says you’re stronger than you think, so act like it.

SCORPIO (October 20-November 19):Life direction issues are what’s up for you this week. It’s like you’re looking up at a sign that says “Change Ahead.” Yeah, yeah, you say to yourself, but what sort? Health/work issues may be involved (Uranus stationing in your 6^th House). Don’t fret, it’s not as though the sign is written in hieroglyphs. Wait—maybe it is. Figure it out.

SAGITTARIUS (November 20-December 19): If there’s one thing you don’t mind, it’s a new horizon. This week, life obliges you. Two planetary stations in Fire Signs makes you feel like Marlon Brando on that motorcycle. That they’re going retrograde means a bumpy road, but so what? What’re you rebelling against, Brando was asked? Like him, say: “Whaddaya got?”

CAPRICORN (December 20-January 19): That charcoal burning everything up means you should pay more attention to your diet anyway. This week, things go awry in a good way for you. Uranus stationing in your 4^th House (home/family/security) says say goodbye to hopes for a non-dramatic week. Surrender to the moment. You could learn about raw foods, so it’s all good.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 19): You’ve been steamy lately, but in a positive sense. The humidity inside your heart is now making everything in your life a passion, and that’s good. Mercury turns retrograde in your opposite sign, so don’t believe everything you’re told. Actually, just record it. You’ll be replaying it later. Use it for speaking your desires into being.

PISCES (February 20-March 19): You feel like, well, a fish left high and dry on land. Not a comfortable feeling, and even though the Sun’s in a Water Sign, the atmosphere is arid. Before you gasp and flail about, remember that you can bring your own fishbowl with you. Immersing yourself in your own element—your own talents—helps you deal. OK, it’s necessary, but still fun.

NEXT WEEK: The God of War confronts the Lord of Heaven and the Ruler of the Underworld. Who will win and why should we be calling up Roger Corman to make a movie of it? Find out when we release the Kraken, right here in STAR POWER! Astrology Unleashed.