It was only supposed to have been a brief cruise on the sailboat along the coast. The weather had been very pleasant all week and it was, after all, summer. Pleasure was to be expected.

You didn’t count on the sudden storm that blew in from a freakish weather pattern, stirring up the waves and causing much havoc on the not-so-big-and-sturdy boat. The friend who had invited you for an afternoon sail had you tussling with the thick ropes and running here and there as he frantically maneuvered to keep from capsizing.

Just as it seemed like things could get really dicey, the storm moved off. The wind abated and the waves receded to a normal size. You sat down again, realizing that the worst was over, and you were relieved it wasn’t an absolute Code Red, call-out-the-Coast-Guard sort of emergency. But it had felt like it. You heaved a few deep breaths and returned your attention to what you’d been focused on before the storm.

And that’s the energy of this week.

After 23 days of retrogradation, the mundane effect of which has likely been to wreak some havoc with our personal communications, electronics and everyday lives, Mercury—the ruler of such things in astrology—turns direct on Tuesday evening, August 7^th, at 10:33 pm PDT. (That’s Wednesday the 8^th, 1:33 am for you East Coasters.) As Mercury makes its station, the energy shifts and, metaphorically, the skies clear and the waves smooth out. In other words, things should now get easier.

So as they say in the Army, “Forward, ho!” Now is the time to forge ahead with those plans and projects that may have been delayed during the Mercury Retrograde. If you are not calling your agent or starting that new artsy-fartsy thang that sounded cool, but you only half-believed in before, I don’t want to hear any more excuses from you. Mercury has turned direct, and so should you! As we say in metaphysics, “As above, so below.”

Another added bonus this week is the entry of Venus (love/money/pleasures) into Cancer, sign of There’s No Place Like Home. Venus is comfortable in Cancer because it likes sentimentality and home-cooked meals. We should see a rise in the economy, however brief, and the real estate market. On a personal level, home and family (ruled by Cancer) becomes more important to us and it’s a bit of a nostalgic time. Take a trip back to the old homestead.

The Sun is now in mid-Leo, its absolute strongest point—at least in the Northern Hemisphere. Expect more wildfires, droughts and general heat. The Sun in astrology rules creativity per se. We literally would not exist on the physical level without the incredible cosmic energy of the Sun. It creates, by its radiance, all the necessary ingredients for a pleasant life here on Earth.

Creative artists, therefore, are like miniature Suns, able to bring warmth and enlightenment to others by use of their innate powers. Leo is called a Fixed Sign, meaning that the energy is sustaining and on the human level needs follow-through. You think Mick Jagger’s career has lasted all these years because he’s lived such a healthy lifestyle? No! He’s a LEO, that’s why!

Despite being the quintessential decadent rock star (perhaps surpassed only by his bandmate Keith and a few assorted Zeppelins, KISSes and such), he’s lasted 50 years in one band because keeping on keeping on comes naturally to Leos. One thing they have is great willpower. And they’re showmen. It’s not called SHOW BUSINESS for nothing, you know! So this is the time to express yourself in dramatic terms. Your power of self-expression is your strength right now.

If you aspire to creative greatness, this is your time.

 The Uranus-Pluto square is still making life very intense here on Earth, and this is the time for personal breakthroughs, even as society goes through the necessary breakdowns so that we can eventually reconstruct the world. Uranus (awakenings/chaos/freedom issues) is in a hard 90-degree angle to Pluto (death/rebirth/power issues) and just as occurred in the 1960s, when they were conjoined, this has become a time of tumult, and it’s growing by the day. We’ve got three years of this aspect, so it’s going to be intense.

Alongside the more violent manifestations of this larger matrix of energy (such as the tragic recent shootings), there is an inspirational silver lining. To be in-spired is to be “breathed into” by Higher Forces. Creative beings are those who are able to tap into the innate wisdom of life and bring forth/ manifest works which speak to the larger issues and uplift the human spirit.

During particular time periods, an unseen energy carries us along and makes us feel as though we are living out history in a particularly personal manner. This energy takes different forms according to the astrological patterns at the time. One could call this “the Spirit of the Age.” Artists seem to catch hold of this energy, expressing it in their works. If they do it well enough, these works can actually shape the world’s culture, as did the music of the Beatles in the 1960s. Such creative beings breathe their own “in-spire-ation” into the world.

We are again in such a time, where creativity can play a major part in moving the world forward, just as it did in the Sixties. Who are the current creatives in whom the Spirit of the Age is flowing? What work have you done to be counted among them? This is the time to find out. Start now, this week. It’s time.

Forecasts for the 12 Sun Signs, dates approximate for convenience:

ARIES (March 20-April 19): The old game of musical chairs means that someone inevitably loses. You normally don’t have problem with that, competitive as you are. This week, you just drag a chair to the side and claim it as your own. Once you stop stumbling over your own feet, that is. Beware of conflicts that don’t have to start, and resolve them later in the week.

TAURUS (April 20-May 19): Remember those plans for that big house you once swore that you would have? Well, keep making them. Or at least visit rich neighborhoods. Things look good for you after dealing with the usual slow ride that marks Fixed Sign energy. This week is a hinge-point. How firm is your will, not to mention the ground beneath you? Focus, focus!

GEMINI (May 20-June 19): In Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” Ariel was a creature of air and fire. This week, Ariel emerges from his lair and sings of  harmony instead of destruction. It’s a time where you could rival Prospero’s magic if you haven’t yet torn your wings in frustration. Before you drown your book of magic, remember that sometimes spells work gradually.

CANCER (June 20-July 19): The beauty parlor just opened and you’re first in line. What? You were just there? Well, come back in! You just received a gift card in the form of Venus entering your sign for four weeks. Flowers and hearts both appear more beautiful during this period and this week feels like a warm bath in rose petals. The cold water was stuck open, but not now.

LEO (July 20-August 19): What do you get a cat who has everything? MORE of everything! This is a week where you can roar around the urban jungle without fear of anyone getting up in your business. Your tooth hurt and you couldn’t speak well, but midweek, that’s cured. If there’s one thing you know how to do, it’s make a dramatic entrance. The door is open now.

VIRGO (August 20-September 19): Why cry over somebody yelling at you? Actually, they’re not, it just seems that way. Midweek, though, is when the gendarmes come and remove that little annoyance, and the rest of the week is a breeze. A cool breeze. A cool breeze on a beach. A cool breeze on a beach on a tropical island. Or at least it seems that way. Take it easy.

LIBRA (September 20-October 19): It’s not exactly the most earth-shattering news that clay is good for your face. It’s just that it’s been caked on your shoes for a long time, and you’ve felt stifled. This week, the mud disappears from your feet and that allows you to dip into it for healthier purposes. Remaking your image is what’s up for you now, so feel free.

SCORPIO (October 20-November 19): The guy who cut you off on the freeway last week turns out to be the one who’s interviewing you for the new job. It turns out he feels guilty about it and throws softball questions your way. Count on things this week to turn easier after a midweek break. People are in your corner, so don’t hate on them. It’s a turning point.

SAGITTARIUS (November 20-December 19): You’d replace the doorbell if it didn’t make such a pleasant sound when, due to a glitch, it went off randomly. This week the doorbell rings true again and people seeking you out are actually there to invite you to a party. A stay-at-home party. At your place. The week turns out to be fun even amid more responsibilities.

CAPRICORN (December 20-January 19): It would be easier if people just telepathically knew what your thoughts were, but hassle though it is, you still have to communicate them. This week is a time of making sure you aren’t screwed over by your own force. You’ve had to try really hard lately, so now do less with more. After midweek you won’t have to give notes.

AQUARIUS (January 20-February 19): You’ve been gritting your teeth even though you’re supposed to be smiling. This week, the dentist gives you a free treatment. It doesn’t come until midweek and it means you have to actually listen to him, but this guy knows what he’s doing. If you’re open to hearing wisdom from others, it will behoove you greatly. Smile! No gritting!

PISCES (February 20-March 19): The swim club has been closed for some time, but this week you open the chained-up door and decide to take a dip anyway. Somehow the water isn’t scummy, it just stays there supporting you after some hard days. This is all very cozy and you wonder how long you’re going to get away with it. The answer is: At least for now.

NEXT WEEK: The God of War and the God of Work decide to travel together for awhile. Why would they do this, and what will become of it? And who will pay for the rental car?  Find out, right here in these pages!