GEMINI HOROSCOPE

Mercury enters Gemini on May 17th. Mercury is the planet of the mind in astrology. It describes the way we think and communicate and also how we play. Play is the earliest form of relating and those experiences influence how we win and lose at the games of love and money. Did you get along with other children or did you feel left out? Did you cry whenever you didn’t get your way or take setbacks in stride? All of these qualities will be coming out over the next few weeks as you revisit early psychological patterns you thought you left behind in the sandbox.

It's always a good idea to be absolutely transparent when Ruling Planet Mercury forms a square to Pluto in the sky (May 5th). Named after the Roman god of the Underworld, Pluto was charged with judging which souls could enter the fields of Elysium and which souls were tossed into the belching pits of Tartarus. Covering your tracks or laying the blame on someone else didn't work then, and it won't work now. Be forthcoming about your less-than-flattering actions and you'll find a sympathetic ear. You won't be let off the hook entirely, but you will be given a chance to make good.

It won't be easy giving up a prize you fought long and hard for. You sacrificed a lot to get to this place; nevertheless, you should pay attention to a personal plea or off-the-record request on May 1st. It looks like a boss or supervisor is asking you to relinquish your claim. It's a tall order, but one worth considering when this person tells you what you'll get as a result. Yes, glittering prizes are hard to turn down, but what you gain in the long run in terms of favor, goodwill, and promises of support will make this look like a cheap knockoff.

Uranus reenters Gemini on April 25th. You had a taste of this volatile energy between July and November of last year, but now Uranus is in your zodiac sign for good. It's true that you will experience all kinds of unexpected twists, surprise upsets, and sudden about-faces, but this will prove to be more electrifying than traumatizing. People born under Gemini tend to run toward change rather than away from it. There's nothing like a good shake-up to the established order for releasing opportunities that have languished in captivity. Chasing down each and every one of them will thrill and delight you for years to come.

You will wake up feeling energized and zippy when Mercury enters gung-ho Aries on April 14th. This will be in stark contrast to the past few weeks when you were feeling dazed and confused. The wonderful thing about Mercury in Aries is that it bestows positive thinking. Your mind will be abuzz with fresh ideas, innovative concepts, and the intellectual determination to make things happen. No more “what if” scenarios or “if only” excuses for you. The only thing you have to watch out for is talking to people like they’re slow on the uptake. They may be… but you needn't point it out.

There’s trouble brewing in the higher echelons. This could be quarreling parents, feuding employers, or demanding clients. Tempers are short when Mars is traveling through the zodiac sign of Aries, so any random word or unintentional gesture could trigger a firestorm. Maintain a low profile and be as accommodating as possible because it won’t be easy to tell if you’re dealing with an escalation of hostilities or a passing snit. Meanwhile, follow a friend’s advice on how to approach a uniquely tricky situation on April 10th. This person can help you navigate a treacherous passage, but only if you follow their directions to the letter.

Your determination and faith win out when ruling planet Mercury trines Jupiter for the third time in Cancer. This regards a bit of business that you went out on a limb to do in February or March. In fact, it looks like you may have had to go behind a boss’s or superior’s back in order to seal the deal. Thankfully, things will turn out splendidly insofar as a successful sale, purchase, or signing is concerned; however, you will still have to explain yourself to those you circumvented. Be humble and apologetic, and you could escape with just a gentle rap on the knuckles.

You have some big ideas about how to improve a situation, but it's not going to happen unless you get everyone on board first. Resist the urge to list what's wrong or harp on past mistakes. It makes people defensive and could turn them against you. Instead, present a rough sketch of your plan—a very rough sketch—with plenty of empty spaces where people can add their input. By asking them for their ideas and opinions, you create a collaboration where they feel like they're contributing. Not only will you win their cooperation, they may even surprise you with some innovative thinking of their own.

The difficult thing about Mercury coming out of retrograde on March 20th is that this is when you'll find that item you lost or discover the message you were waiting for has been languishing in your junk mail all along. It wouldn't be such a big deal if you hadn't accused others of taking something of yours or lamented to friends about having been dumped. Thankfully you can still remedy matters, but you may have to apologize to certain parties first. It's tempting to pretend like you didn't find this, but covering up the truth is never a good idea as current events can attest.

Jupiter, planet of good fortune, comes out of retrograde on March 10th. This should bring good news regarding a tabled project or enterprise that stalled at the starting gate last November, but don't expect to get things back on track right away. It's true that you're being given the green light, but it will take a while to rebuild momentum as you have to gather together all of those potential clients and/or backers who were on board before but moved on to other things since. Coax and cajole – don’t needle and nag – and you should be ready to get this party started by April 3rd.