Simple rules to live by. Anyone can use them. Everyone needs to.

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ContentEngine.tv brings you Part 3 of its After Hours interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, Christopher Goffard.

Here, Christopher discuss his writing process (“thousands of pages are scrapped”); the disparity between writing works of fiction and non-fiction; his cinematic and visual writing style that makes his non-fiction work, “You Will See Fire,” read like a novel.

Chris is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and the author of a novel, “Snitch Jacket,” which was nominated for an Edgar Award and is currently being packaged as a feature film.

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Her new YA Novel, REUNITED, will be available in book stores on June 12th.

To read more about how Hilary has been marketing her new book and building her own content creator brand, click here.

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Seth covers his “origin story” and personal journey, starting with his initial successes with Rounders and 10 Things I Hate About You, culminating in the launch of Content Engine. He addresses the transformation of the film business, what it means to be a content creator, and how writers and directors need to eschew the culture of permission in favor of empowering themselves to establish their own IP.

He also describes how the industry is ever-changing and more competitive than ever, touches on current trends in the business and explains how ContentEngine.tv can help creators grow IP and content creator brands.

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Listen in on a conversation about astrology, spirituality, the zeitgeist and the cosmic influence of the stars and planets on all of us — whether we are attuned to it or not.

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Two major celestial events occur in the space of five days—a Venus station and a Solar Eclipse. A station is the change point when a planet turns around in its (apparent) orbit, so that from our perspective on Earth it looks as though it’s going backwards (retrograde) or forwards (direct) in the sky. A Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun and for a brief time the light of the Sun is cut off from us.

Both of these events have an energetic effect on Earth resulting in changes in how we think, feel and act. This is a time when it is inadvisable to hang onto old ways of being. The energies contrive to make us look at our values and what/who we love so that we can make our lives fresh again. If the week seems a bit unstable, it’s because of the energetic intensity.

Venus—the “Just Give It To Me, Baby” planet associated with love, sex, money and beauty—turns retrograde on Tuesday at 7:30 am PDT, 10:33 am EDT. The station occurs just shy of 24 degrees Gemini. Sun-signs ruled by Venus (Taurus and Libra), and especially those born under Gemini, will be most affected by the retrograde pattern, which lasts until June 27^th.

Few know that Venus returns to its approximate point of stationing every 8 years. If you drew a line through the zodiac, the points where Venus stations during that period make an actual pattern of a five-pointed star. And you thought this came from flags or the Hollywood Walk of Fame! No, this is the real origin of the good fortune traditionally associated with the five-pointed star.

During retrogrades, a planet’s energy is experienced by us on more of an inward basis because the energy is diffused and can therefore be confusing. Mercury retrogrades are famous for communication snafus. A Venus retrograde focuses us on our values, money issues, personal life and how we create harmony and peace in our lives.

Because it is moving backwards over territory it has previously traversed, a Venus retrograde period is often a time when people, things and situations come back into our lives to be resolved in a harmonious way. Don’t be surprised if that old lover contacts you on Facebook. It’s also a good time to review your finances, go on a diet, rework a creative project. Don’t hand in that script until you’ve got it letter-perfect! Venus retrograde is the time to fine-tune it.

Bookending the week is an annular Solar Eclipse just as the Sun goes into Gemini. An annular eclipse means that we will see a ring of fire surrounding the Sun’s fiery face. The eclipse occurs at zero degrees Gemini on Sunday, May 20^th, 4:48 pm, PDT, 7:48 pm EDT. Those on the West Coast will see able to see it—hopefully through indirect means.

Gemini in astrology is associated with communication processes—writing, speaking, etc.—with transportation and with intelligence in general. Its keynote is rationality. Those with high IQs often have a planet or angle in the sign of Gemini. Famous Geminis range from Paul McCartney to Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. (Being intelligent doesn’t necessarily mean being sane.)

A Solar Eclipse is a supercharged New Moon. Because a New Moon is a time of energetic seeding, it also cuts off (eclipses) the past. It packs a punch in whatever area of our astrological chart it falls. Remember the words of Hubs: “Eclipses change things. Events happen suddenly under eclipses. Secrets get revealed. It’s a time of revelations.”

Be careful under an eclipse, but stay open to whatever needs to change, especially in your thinking. Sometimes we need to make drastic choices. If you’re in a position where you are having to pay a few bills and your partner has their eye set on a hefty-priced gift, the complications of the week’s energy will be evident. That’s a typical eclipse scenario. Watch your words right now, as they could come back to haunt you.

Gemini is associated with the Cosmic Mind. I can’t think of a better time for writing or speaking. If you’re not holding a pen, typing on a screen or speaking and presenting your ideas right now, you are losing an incredible opportunity. But wait until next week, after the eclipse actually occurs, for new contacts. This is a finishing up period, and the week before an eclipse is famous for things not turning out the way you might think they would.

In other words, writing songs about old loves, great. Being open to resolving old relationship issues, financial problems and relaxing as Venus gives you a yen for luxurious surroundings and chocolate bon-bons, great. Messing with old loves, withholding money from your family, bloating up from eating too much, not great. This week, look forward and back simultaneously by simply being here now. It’s a time for clear decisions that give us deep pleasure.

Monday is a time for focused energy as Mercury trines Pluto. A deep-thinking day sets a serious tone for the week. Get down to core issues.

Tuesday is the Venus station. All that juiciness associated with sensuous Venus will be felt. It’s the day for a luxurious massage or getting passionate with your beloved. Expect more news about sexuality –– scandalous or otherwise. Venus has draped itself over the news lately as it has slowed down in anticipation of this station and there is more juiciness to come!

Wednesday might be a day of extremes as the Moon in Aries conjuncts Uranus and squares, or makes a hard 90-dgree angle, to Pluto, Lord of Power. It’s a very militaristic sort of energy, good for tackling things courageously, but not good for keeping the peace without effort. Think terrorism, sadly. The news has an especially high amount of accidents and violence in it today.

Thursday is about movement toward your goals, as the Moon in Aries makes a sextile, or opportunity angle, to the Venus station. Realism and idealism work together today.

Friday is more stable, as the Moon enters Taurus and forms a Grand Trine, or flowing angle, to both Mars (energy) in Virgo and Pluto (intensity) in Capricorn. Agreements and achievements come more easily today.

The weekend is colored by the upcoming eclipse. Light astrological aspects on Saturday make it the day to relax before the intensity of the eclipse on Sunday.

The best way to handle this Solar Eclipse is to be very aware of what you are thinking and feeling, because, as it’s in Gemini, the truth is going to come out of your mouth. Words can be harsh or gentle, but they are in great abundance today. And remember—an eclipse is about letting go.

“Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup, they slither wildly as they slip away, across the Universe…”  — John Lennon

Speaking of which, here are the forecasts for the 12 signs.

ARIES (March 20-April 19): Put some spit polish on that megaphone: if you’re not rousing the rabble this week, you’re not doing your job. Venus stationing in Gemini makes you feel even more passionate than usual about issues and expression of your own feelings. Maybe you should upgrade your audience, too. No sense preaching to someone who’s tuning you out. A good thing for you to remember this week: Speak your mind, but mind your speech.

TAURUS (April 20-May 19): Three planets in your sign and your ruling planet, Venus, sitting still this week is like going to the spa and discovering they had advance notice of your arrival and are waiting for you with a fitted silk robe. Your only problem right now is being too self-indulgent. Don’t worry, that’s about to change, so enjoy the moment without thinking it’s going to last forever. Apply this also to your paycheck and to others in your life.

GEMINI (May 20-June 19): You should be reading the poetry of Shelley right now. When he invokes the West Wind, he is talking about a revolutionary spirit that will destroy all that stands in the way of personal joy and universal renewal. That’s what a Venus station and a Solar Eclipse, both in your sign, do for you this week. The only surprise would be if you came out of this week the same as you were before. That’s not only unlikely, it would also be a shame.

CANCER (June 20-July 19): Ever take a trip by the old schoolyard, remembering your youth and how things used to be? Of course you have, you’re a Cancer. Memories R U. Well, the energies afford you a chance for some real nostalgia now. If you have not digitized all your old photos, this is the time to do it. The gap closes now between past and present. What seemed long-ago in your emotional life suddenly becomes immediate again.

LEO (July 20-August 19): Groucho once said, “I’d never join a group that would have me as a member.” This week, all the action is in your social circle, and they want you as Admiral. It’s a time where your talents need expression and appreciation, and connections made now pay off. The energy is like a river rushing you ahead. Beware of the rapids, carry a big paddle. The current speeds up this week for you.

VIRGO (August 20-September 19): The spelling bee you’re currently in is engineered to teach you eloquence as well as giving you glory. This week, the energy can make you positively Shakespearean in your expressions as the Venus station and Solar Eclipse in the other Mercury-ruled sign, Gemini, gives you a silver tongue. Make sure you really know what you’re saying. “Speak the speech, I pray thee, most trippingly on the tongue…”

LIBRA (September 20-October 19): When is too much beauty not enough for you? Answer: Right now! Passionate pleasures or heavenly song, this is one of those never-look-back moments that can forge a new path for you. What’s more, you know it. Even as Venus, your ruling planet, comes out of the ocean and invites you to bathe with her, the Solar Eclipse reminds you that speaking to a goddess means leaving your earthly self behind. It’s a time of big decisions, and the guardian at the gate is smiling a welcoming smile.

SCORPIO (October 20-November 19): This week for you is like a bountiful supper at a fancy restaurant followed by drinking, dancing and lots of conversation. Solo enjoyment is great, but no matter if it’s food, words or sex, it’s a sharing energy now. Yet it’s as if the guests keep refilling your plate with stuff you’d sworn off. Can you say “when?” Energy gets intense at week’s end, so try not to end up with the lampshade on your head. It’s a completion phase and you need to keep yourself whole.

SAGITTARIUS (November 20-December 19): Does a Ferrari have a reverse gear? Maybe, but it’s rarely used. This week the Universe may put that Ferrari in reverse and just watch what you do with it. Venus stations in your opposite sign along with an eclipse, and that could be a reversal of fortune. But don’t think that unexpected things are terrible. It may be that around the next bend was a large tree trunk stretched across the road. Continuing in the same manner would be worse than a fresh gear. And much less enjoyable.

CAPRICORN (December 20-January 19): This week for you is a hike up the mountains—just where you want to be. But when you reach the heights, you discover the foodstuffs were left behind and now you’ll have to subsist on just what you brought with you. The problem is that you have a toothache and can’t really enjoy it. The mixture of energies this week means adjusting your expectations to necessity, but you’re good at that. Still, the Grand Trine in Earth Signs during the eclipse means someone brings you fine wine and Wolfgang Puck’s best recipe. Hate change? Embrace it this week and win.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 19): It’s like you’re on a zip-line and the wire suddenly extends itself toward the horizon. The Venus station and eclipse in Gemini, another Air Sign, produces lots of creativity and heart-energy for you this week. Ideas seem to fly into your view and you need to have a net with you so you can capture them as they appear. What you don’t need to do is over-analyze the love you’re being shown. Bees aren’t supposed to fly, aerodynamically speaking, but they do. Follow their lead.

PISCES (February 20-March 19): Fill the bathtub with hot water, find your rubber ducky and a few candles, and have a week that brings you back into touch with a languid beauty. The start/stop energy of the week may be like a phone that keeps ringing while you’re trying to enjoy your bath. Best thing to do is turn off the phone and relax. Things will pick up soon enough. For now, preparation for a new cycle means treating yourself well. So lay back and immerse yourself in the bubbles. It’s personal clean-up time.

NEXT WEEK: The Solar Eclipse is the wind beneath our wings! Either that or Bette Midler. Either way, it’s a whole new horizon! Stay tuned!

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It was said that those who entered the labyrinth and found their way out through the confusing maze, without going mad or being killed by the bull, were given special honors as wise and accomplished  persons. Paintings from the Minoan era even show dancers vaulting over the horns of charging bulls, apparently for sport. Now that’s entertainment!

This is a week just like that, where it pays to know where you are going and why. The keynote this week is CLEAR FOLLOW-THROUGH.

The energy is moving in several directions at once, and although the Sun’s movement through the sign of Taurus (the Bull, after all) is often a time of steady achievement, this week can be as confusing as being lost in a dark labyrinth. But by the weekend, if you’ve managed to navigate well, there may be cause for rejoicing. The annual Sun-Jupiter conjunction is lucky, lucky, lucky! Prepare accordingly. Five planets in Earth Signs (six on Wednesday and Thursday) is all about manifestation.

If nothing else, much can be accomplished now because attention must be paid. It’s a very creative time. If not Minoan frescos, I would expect that paintings you’ve been laboring over could now be finished. The senses are heightened, as Venus, ruler of Taurus, is slowing down in preparation for its station on May 15th, when it turns retrograde for six weeks. The word that comes to mind is languorous. Like a two-hour dinner on a tropical beach.

Additionally, Uranus (inspiration) and Neptune (ideals) sit in constructive and disorienting angles, respectively, to the North and South Nodes (the life destiny points). Zing, zing! We may hear from somebody that they absolutely, positively love our work and will cut a check, but then have to rethink it because they forgot they first had to pay another bill. Or the roadblocks to long-considered projects suddenly disappear.

The May 20^th Solar Eclipse in Gemini is also beginning to make itself felt, as communications seem to speed up, if not in a resolved fashion. And the Uranus square Pluto aspect, the energetic cause for the revolutionary vs. reactionary turmoil in the world, is also affecting us as it gets very close to its exact 90 degree angle in the heavens. This is “change-or-else” energy.

The week begins with an edgy and impatient energy on Monday as Mars (forceful energy) and Uranus (sudden change) sit in a touchy angle to each other. Create quietude if possible. We have just come out a powerful Full Moon and our consciousness may still be trying to reorient itself.

Tuesday is more constructive with the Moon making fortunate aspects to Venus (love/harmony) and Saturn (work/focus). The Moon enters the sober sign of Capricorn in the evening and Mercury (communication) enters Taurus. It feels like a time for quiet loving.

Wednesday is The Day After. No, not the Jason Robards movie, although someone could go all nuclear today. It’s just that desires are strong and you’re either on the bus or off the bus. A non-compromising day, full of intensity. The top may blow off a government secret today. Yet another sex scandal? Certainly we’ll hear the blame game again.

Thursday is more like it. Productive and connective, this could be the day to schedule that meeting to arrange for movie funding. Mercury (words) and Neptune (intuition/ideals) connect up and have a glass of wine today.

Friday is the day to consider all the implications of what you’ve said. Excellent for bringing through that poem that’s been stuck in your craw. Detached but committed is the watchword today.

Saturday is like seeing “Star Wars” for the first time. Excitable energy abounds with a rebellious streak and possible conflict around every corner. Yet a Grand Trine in Air Signs (Moon/Venus/Saturn in Aquarius/Gemini/Libra, respectively) makes for a fun time anyway.

Speaking of which, on Sunday comes the annual Sun conjunct Jupiter aspect, which tends to make things feel good and look larger than life. Though not without complications, the day is about seeing the big picture and enjoying the ride. Jupiter, nicknamed Jove, is where we get the term jovial— to be happy. Beach party! Invite Frankie and Annette!

Here’s the groovy forecast for each bitchin’ sign, man.

ARIES (March 20-April 19): You feel like riding a horse at full gallop, but the critter has a different sense of speed than you. If you tug one way, it’ll want to go the other. So relax a bit and find your center, because this week you can have a fun ride, but nothing is going to obey your every command. This includes your money flow, which should be a major point of focus now.

TAURUS (April 20-May 19): It’s a squishy week for you, where the ground feels spongy to your touch. This means you will have a soft fall if anything untoward happens. And it might. You could get lazy now, but it’ll cause problems. But resist the Astro-Turf approach to life. With the weekend’s lotto-winning Sun-Jupiter conjunction occurring in your sign, don’t let lack of motivation be your issue.

GEMINI (May 20-June 19): You’re in front of an open doorway, but just standing there looking at it. Why? Are you afraid of what might be on the other side? There’s only one way to find out, you know. Venus about to station in your sign is like a plush toy that someone gives you as a gift. It’s fun and distracting (and may well be human), but it’s not the key to your destiny. Still, this can be one of your life’s more enjoyable moments if you can walk and caress at the same time.

CANCER (June 20-July 19): This week seems like a lot of work until you realize how much you’re enjoying it. People give you deserved props now and you can take this status and run with it. It’s like finding out that Aunt Katherine’s fabulous diamond broach really was in the bottom of the box she gave you. In other words, your sense of pleasure is heightened now. And there may well be more goodies in that box. What was the name of that old love that got away?

LEO (July 20-August 19): It’s hard to think of something you enjoy more than being the center of attention, and this week, you don’t have to worry about it. By the weekend, your sense of accomplishment overrides any puny considerations like humility. The glittery sheen comes encased in solid greenbacks if you play your cards right. And you’re not a gambler for nothing. Smooth words and enjoyable friends pad your seat in the saloon.

VIRGO (August 20-September 19): You like to work hard and then complain about it. This week, you can tear up those complaint forms. All those planets in Earth Signs water your garden with enjoyable foci for your energy. In fact, a blossoming of your personal life is not out of the question. Could even be an established figure or authority. I’d check the nutrients in the soil you’re using because this could be a fertile time for your ambitions. Just use the correct amount of water, meaning emotion.

LIBRA (September 20-October 19): Walter Cronkite was wrong: it’s not the week that was, it’s the week that can be. This is not the time to quit and take off on a new track, though it may appear that way. Potential, not history, is the ingredient that makes this week a real meal for you. Venus, your ruling planet, slows down and sits—juicy and waiting—in front of you, like a figure in a Pre-Raphaelite painting. What will you do with this lush vision? If I were you, I’d simply reach for it.

SCORPIO (October 20-November 19): Water and Earth together make mud, and this week might seem muddy to you, but for the fact that mud is so conducive to life. This is a “Can’t believe I’m getting so much done” sort of time, where the energy makes something out of nothing seemingly by magic. It’s really the Sun-Jupiter conjunction in your opposite sign, so partnerships of all kinds are positively accentuated. See? Mud pies can be good for you!

SAGITTARIUS (November 20-December 19): This week is like you sweeping the floor of your office: it’s not your job, but doing it anyway puts you in line for a promotion because you come off well in the eyes of those who count. Good karma, in other words, works to your benefit this week. A giving attitude now gets you get love and snuggly moments, too. Someone might be annoyed with your work, but it’s simply because you’re looking so good right now.

CAPRICORN (December 20-January 19): The Grand Trine in Earth Signs this week means that your general soberness is lightened up considerably. Cirque du Soleil might not invite you to audition, but if there’s a chandelier handy, swinging from it may be good for you. Sun-Jupiter conjunction puts the emphasis on your feelings, not your usual focus. The fullness of your wallet and productivity are not diminished, and in fact may be increased. There are worse things to be than joyful. One of them is to be head-heavy.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 19): When is the best time to hug a tree? The answer for you is: Right now! Trees are beings that grow slowly and last a long time. They give forth beauty and life energy and never eat the fruits of their own labors. In fact, they don’t even think about it. A tree is what you need to take into your consciousness this week. Dig deep, plant some roots in your mind or life that will grow into sturdiness, and expect a lot of love to be shown you as long as you don’t demand it. Heartfelt communion is the keynote for you this week.

PISCES (February 20-March 19): People get paid megabucks to talk about success in business. Maybe you should talk about how to dream. Not for business purposes, but just to imagine. This is a dreamy week for you with a possible wake-up call or two thrown in. You may come home and discover a mermaid is living in your bathtub—which would certainly please a Water Sign. How do you keep her there? Speak to her of your inmost dreams. And also do it for others this week.

NEXT WEEK: Venus, the planet of love, money and pleasure stands still and smiles. Glamour, glitz, desire and money! An emphasis on beauty! And that’s just around George Clooney!

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There’s a scene in the film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” that I always reference for issues of trust and faith. Indy and his stern, estranged father (a marvelous Sean Connery) have finally made it to the desert cave where for 700 years the actual Holy Grail has been hidden. The villain shoots Indy’s dad and now Indy has to find the Grail, which is said to confer everlasting life, not for his own sake but to save his dad, too.

Safely navigating several booby traps, Indy comes to an impassable abyss, on the other side of which is the Grail cave. His dad’s diary shows a knight walking through thin air over to the cave. Indy realizes with dismay that it’s a leap of faith.

Not being the spiritual sort, Indy nevertheless takes a few deep breaths, puts his foot out into the abyss—and it lands on a solid but camouflaged bridge, invisible to him, but which was always there in front of him. He scampers across it, finds the Grail, uses it to heal his dad and rides, immortalized, into the sunset.

Now picture yourself doing the same. This is the time to trust that you will be supported by the universal energies currently at work. Just do what’s in front of you and trust that your efforts will pay off. This week, it’s a good bet that they will.

The week begins with Venus (love/money/pleasures/the arts) in a productive semi-sextile, or 30-degree angle to Jupiter, the Big Picture planet. This is a very harmonious, I-Wanna-Have-Fun combination. People win lotteries under aspects like this, or alternately, have lots of sex or ice cream. Which, I suppose, amounts to the same thing—a need for more pleasure in your life. Be careful not to overindulge. Cleaning up can be a sticky business. But it is good for expanding your creative projects. Did I mention sex? Or money? Or sex?

On Tuesday, it’s better to just admit you may not know what you’re talking about and seek the advice of someone who does. Mercury (communications and multi-tasking) is in a tough angle to Neptune, the celestial Fog Making Machine. Good for imagination, not so good for contracts. But with the Lights in harmony (the technical term is Moon trine Sun) the energy makes it all come out spiffy. This can be a confidence-building day.

Wednesday is pretty quiet on the astrological front, with no exact transits or angles. The Moon does enter Libra, where it likes to focus on beauty and aesthetics. Good day to get a new ‘do. Finish that watercolor.

Thursday is the sparkplug of this plush ride of a week. The Moon makes hard angles to Uranus, the “I Gotta Be Me!” energy, and Pluto, the “I Want Control Over Everything” planet. Could be a tough day for compromise, yet Mercury in a fortunate sextile. 60-degree opportunity angle to Venus, speaks to speaking—your mind and heart, that is. If you fought in the morning, kiss and make up at night. The energies support it. If you still want to compete, write a love poem to each other while the person is right there. That’ll teach you to not listen to your heart!

Friday is a day where the Muse sticks her head in your room and asks if you want anything. What’s your answer going to be? The day is great for creativity and could be connective on the personal level. But it’s a day where you have to live up to the billing—your own, or someone else’s. I would be careful not to ruffle feathers right now.

This is especially true because the weekend looks pretty intense. Amid a tough Mercury opposing Saturn aspect (“Get out of my face, dude!”), comes the Full Moon, which occurs at 16 degrees Scorpio on Saturday night. (8:36 pm PDT, 11:36 pm EDT).

There is likely to be a lot of overindulgence and extreme behavior now. It’s a very sensual time (Scorpio doesn’t rule sex for nothing), but because of  the Mercury-Saturn aspect I wouldn’t look for much understanding intellectually; this is a time of feelings. Likely news about sexual abuse, needless violence, and, sadly, a possible terrorist attack, may crop up now. How we personally navigate this time period is dependent on where we focus our energy.

Full Moons are open doors to spiritual energy, and when the Sun in Taurus (an emphasis on resources) connects with the Moon in its opposite sign, Scorpio (depth and desire), we have a particularly fertile combination that can have a deep personal impact on us.

This is a time when what we want (Full Moon in Scorpio) can be what we have (Sun in Taurus). But because the energy of Scorpio, emphasized now, takes us into the depths of the unseen, this is also a very spiritual time, where focus of energy takes us past mental/emotional/physical obstacles and gives us the results we seek, whether it be solid financial rewards or inner enlightenment.

This week you can be rich—in your wallet, or in your consciousness. The life of the Buddha—who was born a prince and left everything to find enlightenment—is celebrated in the East under this Full Moon. In the spiritual Esoteric Tradition, this is the time of the Wesak Festival where, originally in a hidden valley in Tibet and now on the inner planes, the spiritual masters still meet to sanctify the energy of the world and to bless humanity. Tuning in to your being part of a collective blessing can create great momentum in your life. All creativity comes ultimately from inner resources, which are stimulated now.

This Full Moon colors the entire weekend’s energy. Creative projects that might have taken months to complete can fall together now seemingly by magic. Focus, focus, focus. The long-term building principle (Taurus) meets the power-of-desire principle (Scorpio), and the result can be great accomplishment. It’s time to find your Grail.

As we enter the merry month of May, forecasts for the 12 signs:

ARIES (March 20-April 19): You’re still something of a live wire who’s a little dangerous to be around, sparking all over the place while others just want to relax. This is a week where you may not get much rest, though you might need it. Try directing your electric forces toward a nearby socket. Sometimes even a lightning bolt like you needs to let the atmosphere clear up a bit.

TAURUS (April 20-May 19): How many clothes do you need, anyway? That outfit kills, but how many personal offers can you actually handle? Sometimes austerity simply means voluntary reduction, not forced thriftiness. This week reminds you that Gandhi once met the King of England in a simple white loincloth. When the King said he was not dressed properly, Gandhi replied, “Your Majesty, you are dressed in enough for us both!” Right now, so are you. So use your abundance wisely and focus deep inside.

GEMINI (May 20-June 19): The ghost in your mind’s chamber is trying to contact you and remind you of unseen, unfinished business. But you haven’t been paying attention lately because of worldly pleasures. Pleasant Venus in your sign this week meets the intensity of the Full Moon, and it’s like Casper the Friendly Ghost meeting Bill Murray and the gang. Ghostbusting is only fun when your efforts don’t come back to haunt you. Speak your mind now, but also mind your speech.

CANCER (June 20-July 19): You’ve been looking at a treasure map and all your friends keep giving different answers as to the secret location of the gold. They helped you get to where you are, but only you can decide which direction to go now. Keep that in mind this week and the urge to socialize won’t interfere with the upwelling emotionality you’re feeling. Sometimes you can spot a treasure trove just by what hits you in the emotional gut.

LEO (July 20-August 19): There are different ways to cross an intersection on foot without being hit by traffic; one of them is to stride so confidently across the street that no one would interfere with you just out of your sheer brazenness. This week you could cross a lot of intersections in your life, but the key is to know where you’re going. The fixed-sign energy now works in your favor. If you spot a chicken crossing the road, follow in its footsteps.

VIRGO (August 20-September 19): You’re so productive right now that I hear the president called you up for advice about the economy. I hope you told him the truth, because if anyone’s GNP is up, it’s yours. Mars in your sign makes you a force to be reckoned with, and this week is a piece of cake with chocolate frosting on it for you. Sweet times call for dessert, and this week you’re eating at the Cheesecake Factory.

LIBRA (September 20-October 19): The director just called and said they need a stand-in for the leading actor’s love scene. Naturally, your reputation preceded you. But they need to get you into make-up fast, and this week suits the bill. The intensity of the energy overcomes the Saturn-in-your-sign feeling of restrictions, and things may turn out to be spontaneously wonderful. Remember that a kiss is just a kiss, and time goes by, so do it now!

SCORPIO (October 20-November 19): All week, the energy for you is like a baseball game, a slow but intense buildup to the 9^th inning. You’re standing at the plate just waiting for your pitch, and it arrives this weekend. The Full Moon in your sign is a juicy fastball right in your wheelhouse, so relax and keep your eye on the ball. It’s not a certainty you’ll hit it out of the park, but this week gives you the opportunity to show off your stuff.

SAGITTARIUS (November 20-December 19): The old Burma Shave signposts on the highways have become legend, and this week has something of that same flavor for you. It’s as if you are moving down the route but people’s announcements and various complicated situations keep you distracted. So the easiest way to navigate the week is to not look at all the signage. Eyes ahead, that way lies clarity!

CAPRICORN (December 20-January 19): If there’s one thing you like more than being on top, it’s being appreciated for being there. This is a week in which that “Praise Me!” sign taped to your forehead may very well elicit positive response. Benefiting from the Grand Trine in earth signs still in effect, you are the Captain of Your Ship right now. Act responsible, not entitled.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 19): Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly, and your sense of having wings has been heightened lately with Venus in another air sign. But this week it’s more about roots than heights. Time to see what’s in the cellar. Securing your foundation is more important now than whistling from the sky. Remember the words of Bilbo: “All that glitters is not gold, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.” Make sure you have the necessary skills and  resources before leaping into the unknown.

PISCES (February 20-March 19): The Full Moon in Scorpio makes your week a matter of chasing down the dreams you’ve had but only half-remember. You could pay an analyst a lot of money to listen to you verbalize your inner stuff, but why not do the job yourself? You may feel now like flowering along with the rest of the Earth, but it helps to know what you want to grow into. This week, your job is to dream yourself into new being.

Next week: the Heavenly Dance does the Twist and Shout! Here on Dancing With the Planets and Stars!

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I saw TITANIC in 3D this weekend with my daughter and there’s a great scene in the middle where Leo’s penniless Jack Dawson tells the first class company he’s dining with that he’s got everything he needs right there with him: air in his lungs, a blank sheet of paper and a sense of making every day count. Everyone toasts to “making it count.”

On the Titanic, the passengers’ days–their hours––were numbered. But so our ours. The only certainty is that our time in this life is temporary, so here’s an inspirational Nike-sponsored video that celebrates making every day — and every moment — count.

Thanks to Content Creator, Perry Lang, who turned me onto it. The short has garnered more than four million views since he did.

Does this short film inspire you?

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Relatively peaceful and harmonious energies interpenetrate the week. It doesn’t mean that nothing tumultuous happens in the world or our individual lives, only that it’s not as unstable an energy pattern as we’ve seen in the last few weeks, so we can use this time period to create more sustenance in our lives. This week’s keynote is MOVEMENT TOWARD SECURITY.

There is, of course, positive security and negative security. A literary contract that produces income for your creative efforts—quite possible this week—is an example of positive security. But negative security is based on fear, doubt and a stubborn clinging to old patterns that haven’t worked before, but that you see no reason to give up because you don’t want to face the unknown. That’s also part of the current cycle. It’s still very much an “in your face” time.

So let’s talk about the relationship you’re still in even though you know you’re unhappy and it’s not going anywhere; or hitting up the girlfriend for a few more bucks while you tweak that (in your mind, sure-to-be-a-hit) hip-hop opera you’ve been working on for the last three years. That’s dependency, not security. And sometimes it’s a fine line, as Paul McCartney once said, between chaos and creation.

Still, this week is fruitful. This is the week where you can produce. It’s a bit of an active lull between the roaring cyclone we’ve been through lately and the upcoming currents which will spirit us off to unfamiliar territory.

With the Sun having entered the sign of Taurus, it’s all about what makes us feel safe and secure… namely: gain, possessions, a lack of—well, lack. So the emphasis this week may, in a word, be about money. Or, since Taurus is an earth sign, the environment. Or the need for more money in your own immediate environment. Expect more volatility midweek in the stock market. The news may be about the need for public patience with the economy.

Venus, patroness of the arts, rules Taurus, and the harmony or pleasure principle has come to the fore. It’s Spring, the Earth is flowering—at least in the Northern Hemisphere—and our own energy should be following suit.

What area of your life needs sustained effort in order to flower and give you, as a result, creative or financial security? William Shakespeare’s birthday is traditionally celebrated this week, and that was a guy who was prolific and focused. How many early dawns do you think he saw for the sake of a single syllable? Fixed energy, like that of Taurus, is fixed for a reason. Keeping your goal in mind and following through pays off big-time now.

Taurus rules the throat, the creative chakra; many singers, such as Adele, have planets in Taurus. (Sun-Jupiter conjunction, in her case, which is why she’ll never be thin.) It’s also very sensual, having to do with the senses. I once knew a middle-aged woman with four planets in Taurus, all in the 10^th House of career. She was a madam. Pleasure was her business. (No, I didn’t patronize her.) Taurus energy can be very self-indulgent, even lazy.

But with Mercury in Aries and Venus in Gemini, the current energy isn’t about lying on the couch and eating chocolate bonbons, even though you may want to. This is the week to do what makes you feel good and then capitalize on it! So go easy on the ice cream. It’s hard to work it off later.

As the week begins, the Sun makes a lovely trine, or flowing angle, to Mars in Virgo. This is a good time for financial negotiations, even though things could get a little testy as the Moon squares Mars. Tuesday’s energy is more social and lighthearted, with a flowers-and-candlelight Moon-Venus conjunction in Gemini. Read love poetry to your beloved. Better yet, write it. And hang out in lovely environments.

Venus moving through 16 degrees Gemini Monday and Tuesday also prefigures the “Transit of Venus” occurring June 6th, when the love planet passes across the face of the Sun. The energetic effect of great love and harmony, in whatever part of your life is affected by this degree, may well be foreshadowed now.

You may need that little moment because Wednesday and Thursday remind us that we are still in a boiling cauldron of a time period. Mercury in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn, the sign of authorities, government and big business, are at odds on Wednesday. Not the day to get into an argument with your boss. Flash-mobs and turmoil on the streets could occur now. T.S. Eliot once said, “April is the cruelest month.” Better to put that pain into a character in your novel than to experience it in your life.

Volatility continues on Thursday as the Moon in Cancer squares Uranus, the chaos-maker, and opposes Pluto, the powermonger. I’d be careful not to take things too personally just now. (That snarky critic probably didn’t really mean what he said.)

This aspect, with Mercury in Aries, gives us a T-square in cardinal signs, good for initiating matters, but not great for follow-through. Watch your driving, watch your mouth, watch your emotionality. Just watch. Don’t get involved. You can accomplish a lot creatively, but human interaction might be tough today.

Fortunately, the weekend is the cherry on top of that ice cream sundae you ate earlier in the week. Moon in Leo making fortunate aspects adds up to a fun and active weekend. So as the Bard says, “All’s well that ends well.” Okay, NOW you can go lie on the couch! And pass me that bonbon while you’re at it. I’m writing my latest love sonnet. Wait for it—it’s worth it.

And now, the poetry of the heavens for the 12 signs.

ARIES (March 20-April 19): It’s not like you to wait for the starter’s gun, but the race you’re currently running could turn into serious conflict if you let it. I know you’re fine with that, but think about the Tortoise and the Hare. You’re used to being the Hare. But who really won that race? Douse your fire enough this week to emit patience and steadiness. Your afterburners will still give you the margin of victory.

TAURUS (April 20-May 19): What do you and the furniture store have in common? You both like your couch. And this week you may be tempted to stay there and munch Doritos. But if you decide to step outside, the mailperson delivers your long-delayed check. Or its equivalent. The issue this week is not how lucky you are right now, but how receptive you are to earning it. Effort with an “E” is your new BFF.

GEMINI (May 20-June 19): Venus in your sign is making you seem like Mary Tyler Moore, turning the world on with your smile. But Lou Grant comes along midweek and shouts you down. Don’t give him any lip and you get through it all fine. The Sun moving through the sign just before yours represents a time to focus on old business, so finish that potential Pulitzer-winning article. Or move to Minneapolis. It’s Spring now, and Lou’s retired.

CANCER (June 20-July 19): You know that cardboard box where you’ve stashed your nest-egg? Take it out now and blow it on your friends/family. Be like Petula Clark and go “Downtown” where everything’s waiting for you. Face-time with others nets you dividends this week, maybe literally. As in money. BTW, those feet sticking out of the closet might belong to someone who’s decided to give you another try. Or vice-versa. Have fun!

LEO (July 20-August 19): What do you get a person who already has everything, or thinks they do, because they’re a Leo, after all? How about your private rocket ship, complete with crew? This week, the only thing you can do wrong is get ahead of yourself. Check all the instrumentation before you commence lift-off. That means you have to listen to others now. They’re praising you, but it’s because you’re not acting all royal. Unless you are. Then your trip to the stars could be delayed.

VIRGO (August 20-September 19): It’s been a while since you’ve felt this good. No goiters, no typos, no disorder. Which is why you need to go see the new Three Stooges movie—a little disorder is good for you. Still, this is the kind of week where you’re smoother than silk and life hands you crisp treasury notes just for being you. In other words, you feel worth it. And are, if you don’t recoil at a little spontaneity. A fun week? Soitenly!

LIBRA (September 20-October 19): For you, navigating this week’s energies is like being Ulysses (the Greek hero, not Joyce’s novel). It may seem like a bit of a long haul, but that’s because it occupies you deeply. You may encounter a few monsters along the way, but the Sirens calling to you don’t want to wreck your ship so much as enjoy your presence. So in this instance I’d give in to them. Think of it as fuel for your next epic poem.

SCORPIO (October 20-November 19): There’s nothing so demanding as getting what you want. Or you being the object of desire gotten. You can have your desires fulfilled this week and still be out-of-sorts if you don’t recognize that life is dancing with you because you asked it to. Remember that plea to be the belle of the ball that you thought only your pillow heard? Somebody took you up on it. Now what?

SAGITTARIUS (November 20-December 19): Imagine if you could take a rope and pull the horizon to you. What would you discover? This is the week you could be straddling that line between potential and attainment. So make sure it’s a strong rope because the horizon won’t come easily. Still, nobody’s actually tried to do it before, so your situation is unique. Offer it a cup of tea and listen to its tales. You and the horizon are about to become best buds. I mean, even more than usual.

CAPRICORN (December 20-January 19): One thing you can say about your temperament: nobody accuses you of being frivolous. This week, your sober sense of yourself enables you to surprise people with your cartwheels around the poker table. And you only had two pair, but they looked at you and thought you had an inside straight. Keep acting that way and before long you’ll run the table. This week you may find a new and different way to win.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 19): It may be true that all the world loves a lover, but usually it’s just a mental theory to you. However, this week may change you from a denizen of the ivory tower to the intimate companion of Passion with a capital P. It might just be the ice melting in your brain, but hot-blooded thinking is all the rage for you right now. Accordingly, replace that threadbare carpet in your mind with a thick, luxurious Persian rug that supports your inmost dreams.

PISCES (February 20-March 19): Sitting by a pond watching dragonflies may not be like going to the gym, but there is more than one way to keep fit. This week is all about you exercising your imagination. Like a dragonfly, you can take wing and rise above the surface scum. Whether you choose to alight and deal with issues, or just float on the wind, is up to you. Careful, there’s a toad who’d like to eat you. So be aware this week of opposition, but try not to engage it.

NEXT WEEK: We all flower in the merry month of May!

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