Free Will Astrology

�ARIES (March 21-April 19): California's San Joaquin Valley has the worst air in the state, and as a result, 12 percent of the kids who live there have asthma. The terrible pollution stems largely from burned fossil fuels trapped between the mountain ranges that surround the valley. Ironically, the smog often hides the mountains from view. Some environmentalists have made that a symbol of what they hope to accomplish as they strive to purify the air. "Fifteen years from now," one activist told the San Francisco Chronicle, "I have faith that I'll see the mountains." Let this be a metaphor for the work you have ahead of you, Aries. Banish what's obscuring your sight of the big picture.

�TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "Life would be a lot less boring if there was a fight to pick." So mused the narrator of a show about rival monkey groups on cable TV's "Animal Planet." The moment I heard this, my psychic sensors went on red alert and the image of a lethargic bull popped into my mind's eye. "Uh- oh," I thought. "I bet this is a theme I should warn my Taurus readers about." Checking the astrological aspects, I had my hunch confirmed. And so I am asking you not to seek an exit from your doldrums by throwing your weight around in a china store or in a crowded room full of sensitive egos. Have a little patience, and your healthy, lusty appetites will soon return, rescuing you from the need to spark an entertaining ruckus.

�GEMINI (May 21-June 20): There's not enough time to do all the things you want to do. You're constantly rushing to get to places at an appointed hour or to complete a certain task by a deadline. Part of you hates the regimen of doing the same thing at the same hour every day, and part of you hates living your life by schedules set by other people. In short, Gemini, you have an embattled relationship with time. Can anything be done about it? A little. You're now in a phase when it's possible to make modest progress. To get in the mood, I suggest you conduct a ritual to empower yourself. For instance, you could buy a cheap battery-operated alarm clock, take it into a natural place where the rhythms of nature surround you, and smash the clock with a hammer.

�CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your assignment, my fellow Cancerian, is to meditate every day on the following lines of poetry by L. S. Asekoff: "There's a hole/ in my left shoe/ stuffed with a page/ of Aristotle's Essay/ on Morals/ which contains/ a grammatical error/ in the first line." Every secret you need to discover in the coming week can be obtained by holding that image in your mind's eye and letting it work its magic on you. Clues to your biggest question can be found in the same way.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): British actor John Gielgud was considered one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the 20th Century. He also won an Oscar for his supporting role in the film Arthur. He once said, "People like to hear me say ‘shit' in my gorgeous voice." You Leos are likely to have encounters with experiences like that in the coming week. Vulgarity and elegance may arrive wrapped in the same package. Expensive wizardry may use cheap effects. High-quality performances might deliver base emotions. None of these mixed messages will cause you problems as long as you're discriminating enough to separate the dross from the essence.

�VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In America's presidential election of 2000, Al Gore received 543,816 more votes than George Bush, the candidate who was declared the new commander-in-chief. I foresee the potential for a comparable event occurring in your life soon. An apparent loser may, by some technicality or twist of fate, become the winner. A stronger, more popular option could be eclipsed by a second choice. There's a 50-50 chance you can prevent this aberration from coming to pass, but only if you act quickly and with unshakable integrity as you take a fierce stand for what's fair and just.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Columnist L.M. Boyd told the story of Mark Gubin, a photographer whose business was located near Milwaukee's airport. A lover of pranks, Gubin decorated his roof with a giant sign that read "Welcome to Cleveland." Countless passengers arriving in Milwaukee by plane were amused and confused by the greeting. I suspect that a similar event will occur in your life this week, Libra. As you arrive at your new destination, you'll get signals that lead you to believe you're not where you thought you were. Ignore the misdirection.