LIBRA HOROSCOPE

It's ironic how continued success tends to lower our sights rather than lift them. The danger of any conventional approach is that it becomes formulaic over time and loses the special element that made it so groundbreaking in the first place. The beauty of the Mercury/Pluto sextile on April 20th is that it combines the innovative genius of Pluto in Aquarius with the self-improvement tendencies of Mercury in Aries to create a desire to make what's good – better. Instead of abandoning something that's always worked for you, you'll see where there's room for improvement and this will surely rekindle your spirit of invention and excitement.

A crisis is the hardest of times and the most honest of times as it separates those who will be found wanting from those who step up to the plate when there's a Full Moon in Libra on April 12th. Libra is the zodiac sign of judgment. Its symbol is the scales and since ancient times scales have been used to determine the value of what's weighed in the balance. This will show you the true merit of the people in your life and what you take away from this will go on to inform your heart and your conscience in the days to come.

This period of time when the Sun is in Aries (March 20 – April 18) is never easy. It's because the Sun's as far away from you as it can be on the zodiacal circle leaving you feeling lethargic and forgotten, however all this changes when the Sun forms a sextile to Jupiter in Gemini on April 6th. Gemini is an air sign just like Libra which means it will redirect Aries's energy so that it benefits you. Identify your target and move fast because it only works for this week. Wait any longer and it's like trying to use a Promo code after it's expired.

In a perfect world you’d walk out on those relationships and obligations that no longer serve you but Jupiter in Gemini sextiles the Solar Eclipse on March 29th which means that creating some distance may be the best way of addressing the impulses that divide you now. You might set up some alone time with an extracurricular activity, scale back hours at work, or even move out temporarily. It’s amazing what a little breathing room can do. Not only will you reestablish a balance between heart and mind, but you’ll be able to examine what you truly want free of demands, pressure, and guilt.

For weeks you hoped a certain relationship or association would turn around in your favor. You manufactured excuses, stitched together rationales, and even tried to explain to the other party why you thought they were keeping you hanging like this. Thankfully that Sun/Pluto sextile on March 23d shows that you just can't do this anymore. There comes a time to wrap things up and move on and that time is now. You may very well be the best thing to happen to this person, but this person is clearly not the best thing to happen to you – and thank heavens you're finally waking up to that.

You may be the only person who knows you don’t belong where you are. You can’t tell loved ones because they’d pooh-pooh your feelings and confiding in friends would result in sympathetic expressions while they lead you back to the very lifestyle you’re trying to leave. Everything feels like a prison, but something you’ll begin to sense in the days ahead is that door to your jail cell is slowly creaking open. It’s hard to tell if this is an escape or a trap but there’s only one way to find out. Something to think about between now and the Solar Eclipse on March 29th.

You, more than any other zodiac sign, understand the difference between “compromise” and “compromised.” The first requires that both sides sacrifice something dear in order to find a fit, while the second means surrendering what made you strong in the first place. Right now, you’re under a lot of pressure to fold to a domineering personality or yield to demanding circumstances. In fact, many people may be telling you to make a deal while the deal’s good. You know that as long as you have something the other person wants, you maintain the upper hand. Continue to forbear, and you will eventually emerge the victor.

Now that you've talked yourself into a relationship, why are you starting to talk yourself out of it? Libras have a reputation for backpedaling – especially when they're close to getting something they want, but, to be fair, there's more going on than just a case of cold feet. Venus turning retrograde in Aries on March 1st shows that you might not be ready to make that big commitment. Maybe you still have more emotional healing to do or maybe you're still holding out for something better. In any case, you don't have to force yourself to make a decision now – especially when there's no rush.

Climbing back up on the horse isn't easy—especially after having been thrown like you were last fall. Nevertheless, there comes a time when we all must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again, and there can be no better time for that than Mars coming out of retrograde on February 23rd. As a Libra, you know all eyes will be on you, but the plus side to Venus being your ruling planet is that she's the queen of optics. Reappear looking none the worse for wear, and others will be only too happy to pick up where you left off before.

Oftentimes, it's when we emerge from a dark tunnel that we're most vulnerable to attack. Our guard is lowered because the end is in sight. This is why you'll be thrown by not just one but two crises on February 13th and 15th, respectively. It's only natural to read them as the same, but don't. They're very different in nature and each requires its own response. Thankfully, you were born under a zodiac sign that can hold two things in balance at once, and it's this inner equilibrium that will allow you to successfully navigate a situation that would have thrown others off course.