A translation of light occurs when a faster-moving planet separates from one planet in the sky and approaches another. You can think of it as a baton being passed from one runner to the next in a relay race. That light being translated is the baton and the planet passing it is Uranus. It's not every day when Uranus is regarded as the faster-moving planet which shows how significant its sextile to Neptune on July 15th followed by a trine to Pluto on July 18th will be. Thankfully sextiles and trines advance a planet's energy rather than diminish or oppose it and it is in this regard that three typically recalcitrant energies unite to become a benevolent force. Now the character of a planet never changes; however, its demeanor does depending on aspect. In other words Uranus becomes more enlightening than rabble-rousing as a result of a sextile or trine as Neptune becomes more inspirational than delusional and Pluto more transformative than tragic. This translation of light advances the best that each planet has to offer and the recipient of this blessing will be all of us as long as we accent the positive and reach for something higher than the lowest common denominator.

Hopes and wishes dissolve before your eyes when Neptune turns retrograde on July 7th. It's disappointing to say the least, but like all retrogrades, this is the Stars' way of testing you to see if you are truly committed to the path you're on. The dreams you have when you're asleep aren't the same as the dreams you have for your future. Nighttime dreams are often a jumble that require our interpretation to make any sense of them. The dreams you have for your future are Neptune dreams. These dreams inspire you to make something of yourself, to give that vision of yours your best shot. If this week's disillusionment is all it takes to quash your spirits then maybe your vision wasn't that strong to begin with. It might have just been wishful thinking. However, if this setback inspires you to brainstorm, to test-drive different approaches to bridging the gap between the way you see things in your mind's eye and reality, then Neptune's retrograde is doing its job. Visualization is the first step to realization as you will discover on December 12th when Neptune resumes direction.

For some zodiac signs, Jupiter's good fortune is all about being in the right place at the right time. For others, it's reaping the rewards after years of hard work. And for Leo? Well, when Jupiter is in Leo, good fortune comes from believing in yourself. Fortune smiles on you when you're true to who you are, which is wonderful, but that can also be a tall order because those qualities that make you stand out are often the same qualities that make you stand apart, which doesn't always rub people the right way. And this is where you must have faith in yourself if you're going to make the leap from where you are to where you want to be in life. You need audacity to dare, pride to stand tall, and a glorious sense of entitlement that knows that you were meant for greater things. This is something that only Jupiter in Leo bestows and, like a good patron, Jupiter in the zodiac sign of the Lion will open doors and introduce you to golden opportunities. However, it's not enough for you to just feel special, you have to BE special, so develop your talent, flesh out those brilliant ideas, and test-drive your message so that you can give the world something exceptional. This is a time when you want to make a big splash, not a big splat. Jupiter will be in Leo from June 30, 2026 until July 27, 2027.

Mars in Gemini stokes rivalries, the reason being that twins are siblings and sibling rivalries are the earliest form of competition. Everything you learned about winning, losing, thwarting, and outwitting comes from those early years spent battling with your sibling for Mom or Dad's attention. All of this will come rushing back while Mars, the planet of combat, is in Gemini from June 28th to August 11th. You can expect to lock horns with a competitor during this time but instead of a knock-down, drag-out fight, you may discover that this person is a plus not a minus. Why? Because a competitor motivates you to try harder than you would have on your own. They'll also tell you things your friends won't because friends will only say to you what you want to hear while a competitor tells you the things you need to hear. It's one of life's weird contradictions how an enemy can be a friend at the same time, but that's how Mars in Gemini works. Mars will always push you to be the best that you can be according to the zodiac sign that it's in.

Summer is a lullaby season. Days are long, nights are short, and you can sleep out under the Stars if you like. Everything you could possibly wish for is in reach. You can pluck fruit from the trees, pull vegetables out of the soil, or hook a fish while lazily dozing on the riverbank. Summertime is when the living is easy because Mother Nature is here to provide and, like an infant suckling at the breast, you can nestle peacefully in the knowledge that you are well cared for. Now you might laugh out loud and say “I wish!” but this dream of abundance is encoded into the very essence of the season. In fact, you're so enthralled by this idyll that even if you know it's not true, that won't stop you from striving to make it true for those you love and care about. This is the way life should be and with benevolent Jupiter winding up its yearlong stay in Cancer, the zodiac sign of its exaltation, you will endeavor to make it happen.

The reason why Venus and Jupiter are called the “benefics” in Astrology is because they are the two brightest lights in the sky after the Sun and Moon. Benefics bring good things and when they come together (like they will on June 9th), the gifts they bestow are often through people. This might be someone doing you a favor, helping out in a pinch, or saying “yes” when you were afraid that they would say “no.” But there's a little bit more to this Venus/Jupiter conjunction than just a good turn and that's because Jupiter is winding up its stay in Cancer, the zodiac sign of its exaltation. This celebrates all the virtues of the planet of providence, munificence, and clemency. This is when the scales will fall from your eyes and you will re-examine past judgments in light of present and more forgiving circumstances. It's like the end of a Shakespeare comedy when truths are disclosed, disguises are revealed, and lovers are reunited. It will be a good day for romance. It will also be a good day for reuniting with family members and friends who were estranged. After months of much ado about nothing you will discover that all's well that ends well.

You may notice you're having trouble dragging yourself out of bed in the morning, that you're spacing out in mid-conversation, or you're desperate to take a catnap during your lunch break. Did you suddenly develop narcolepsy? No. But drowsiness is the order of the day when Mercury, the planet of the mind, is traveling through the realm of the Moon. Don't try to fight the drooping eyelids by fueling up with caffeine or Red Bull because you'll only make matters worse. Mercury in Cancer insists that you make the switch from stream of consciousness thinking to stream of unconsciousness thinking. At the very least you'll wake up feeling renewed and regenerated. Then again you could re-emerge from your slumbers with a fascinating idea or a fresh take on an old problem.

People who have Mercury in Cancer in their natal horoscopes do some of their best thinking in their sleep and you can learn to do the same thing too if you're willing to give it a go. Mercury will be in Cancer from June 1st to August 9th.

Things reach the breaking point when belligerent Mars squares relentless Pluto on May 26th. Each planet is in a fixed sign, Mars is in Taurus and Pluto is in Aquarius, which means that neither one is going to back down. Mars is fighting to defend its turf (i.e. the status quo), while Pluto is fighting to bring about the new world order as it sees it. Mars won't yield until it fends off its opponent, and Pluto won't stop no matter how far tensions escalate. Power struggles are typical of Mars/Pluto squares, although you may not have the clearest idea of where you stand in all this. Are you insisting on tearing down old structures, perhaps becoming unrelenting and unforgiving in the process? Or are you standing by time-honored traditions without realizing that they may have overstayed their welcome and are due for an overhaul? In the end, you may discover that there's something to be said for both sides, which is what planetary squares are all about. It's not about this versus that. It's about finding a way for the two sides to dovetail.

You make the switch from unstoppable force to immovable object when Mars enters Taurus on May 18th. This is good if you need to stand your ground, hunker down, or push through a rough passage. Mars, the planet of strength and fortitude, is all about preservation and perseverance when it’s traveling through the zodiac sign of the Bull. You can take a licking and keep on ticking. However, you can also get exceedingly territorial. People horning in on your turf might make you see red, and you could charge at them without justified cause. Moreover, you could become ham-handed when dealing with delicate matters, sensitive topics, and fragile negotiations. It’s important to know when enough is enough and to allow opponents to yield the field while saving face. This will help to keep the peace. Mars will be in Taurus from May 18th to June 28th.

What do you do when you don't like the way the game is being played? Do you cry foul, humbly accept defeat, or ask for a do-over? Maybe you get so angry that you kick over the gameboard and send all the pieces flying – but that only means you have to go and pick them up again. On May 17th, Mercury enters Gemini where it will conjoin Uranus for the first time in the sign of the Twins. Gemini is the zodiac sign of games. It rules board games, video games, and mind games. It's a sign famous for using your head, and when these planets are here they increase your ability to strategize, and strategy always works best when you're at a disadvantage. People who hold all the cards rarely strategize. They just assume that they've already won. Gemini isn't a sign that outmuscles, outguns, or overpowers. Gemini is a sign that outwits. Use your mind, study the rules you're playing by, and you'll be sure to find a way out of that corner you've been pushed into and maybe even turn the tables on those who thought they had it made.