Free Will Astrology: April 24-30, 2013

ARIES [March 21–April 19]: How we react to the sound of the wind gives clues to our temperament, said philosopher Theodor W. Adorno. The unhappy person thinks of "the fragility of his house and suffers from shallow sleep and violent dreams." But for the happy person, the wind sings "the song of protectedness: its furious howling concedes that it has power over him no longer." There will be a similarly strong and vivid influence coming your way. It's neither bad nor good in itself, but may seem like one or the other depending on the state of mind you choose to cultivate.

TAURUS [April 20–May 20]: In 1921, Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev premiered his opera The Love for Three Oranges in the U.S. Here's how the New York Times felt about it: "There are a few, but only a very few, passages that bear recognizable kinship with what has hitherto been considered music." It's possible that you will get a similar reaction when you debut your new approach or endeavor. But I think it would be a sign that you're taking a brave risk.

GEMINI [May 21–June 20]: I'm passionate about doing whatever I can to make the world a better place. How boring and sad it would be if I only thought of satisfying my personal needs. But I also remember what Aldous Huxley said: "There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self." Huxley's reminder is good for you to honor right now. The place that's in most pressing need of transmutation—and where you're most likely to be successful—is within you. Now here's the trick ending: Your inner work will be contagious.

CANCER [June 21–July 22]: Thomas Jefferson almost pulled off a miracle in 1784. As a representative to the Continental Congress, Jefferson proposed an ordinance that would have prohibited slavery in the few unorganized territories, including what would later become Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. By just one vote, the provision failed. The moral of the story is that at certain moments, small shifts can have big consequences. The astrological omens suggest your life will be proof of that in the coming weeks.

LEO [July 23–Aug. 22]: I believe you will crawl or scramble or glide to the top of some mountain in the next four weeks. What mountain do you want it to be? A crumbly molehill? A pile of cheap but useful gravel? A lofty peak where you can see for miles and miles? Decide soon; then affirm your intention to call on all your resources, allies, and powers to help you make the ascent. This is a chance for serious expansion. Unleash your soulful ambitions.

VIRGO [Aug. 23–Sept. 22]: Have you ever seen a moonbow? It's like a rainbow created by the reflected light of the moon. It's a rare event. All the conditions have to be just right. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you might spot one of these exceptional beauties in the coming days. Your affinity for curious wonders and mysterious marvels of all kinds will be at a peak. I suspect you will have a knack for being exactly where you need to be in order to experience them.

LIBRA [Sept. 23–Oct. 22]: Lonesome George was about 100 years old when he died last year. He was the last remaining member of a giant tortoise species that had lived on Ecuador's Pinta Island for thousands of years. But scientists believe that by cross-breeding related tortoises, they could re-create Lonesome George's species. I suspect that you could pull off a metaphorically comparable resurrection—especially if you initiate the effort in the coming weeks.

SCORPIO [Oct. 23–Nov. 21]: Let's imagine ourselves near the snowy summit of Washington's Mount Rainier. We're in a cave. Volcanic steam rises from cracks in the rocky floor. Above us is a roof made of ice. As we stand between the heat and the chill, we find the temperature quite cozy. The extremes collaborate to produce a happy medium. Can you accomplish something in your life that's similar to what's going on in this cave? Metaphorically, I mean? I think you can.

SAGITTARIUS [Nov. 22–Dec. 21]: "We cannot accept the world as it is," remarked Belgian author Hugo Claus. "Each day we should wake up foaming at the mouth from the injustice of things." I don't subscribe to this idea. On some mornings we should rise and greet the world with songs of praise for the great fortune of being alive. But I do think his approach is precisely right on certain occasions—like now. Tap into your reservoir of righteous anger. Fight to right the wrongs that disturb you the most.

CAPRICORN [Dec. 22–Jan. 19]: "Your story begins the moment Eros enters you," says Anne Carson in her book Eros the Bittersweet. "That incursion is the biggest risk of your life. How you handle it is an index of the quality, wisdom and decorum of the things inside of you. As you handle it you come into contact with what is inside of you, in a sudden and startling way. You perceive what you are, what you lack, what you could be." I propose that eros enters you many times throughout your life, and your story resets each time. Get ready, because here it comes again.

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