PISCES HOROSCOPE

A lunar eclipse is Astrology’s version of a “come-to-Jesus” moment. Now the point isn’t to call you down or shame you into renouncing your counterproductive ways – although that might not be the worst idea in some cases. The point is to show you what's not working in your life. It’s important to remember that whatever unravels during this time was on iffy ground anyway. Lunar eclipses are all about clearing away the deadwood to make room for new growth. Adopt a listen-and-learn attitude, and you will emerge on the other side of this period with a renewed sense of life purpose and direction.

You’ve been aching to move for months. The only problem is the person you’re living with (or are planning to live with) has been dragging their feet. All of this changes on September 12th when a Sun/Jupiter square presents an opportunity to relocate. Maybe it’s an opening in an apartment building, a prime piece of real estate, or a job offer from out of state. Obviously, this forces the issue of whether you’ll be doing this together. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself pursuing this regardless of what the other person thinks. They know where to contact you if they still need more time.

It's time to inform certain friends (who aren't really friends) that they are overdrawn at the bank of goodwill and that you do not offer overdraft protection. Feel free to scroll down your mobile device and hit delete repeatedly. But there's more to this than purging your life of people who aren't on your side. You also need to show more appreciation for those who believe in you wholeheartedly. You need to stop taking their support for granted and show them the love and appreciation that they deserve. They're here to help you make the changes that you've been longing to make.

It's not a coincidence that Mercury emerges from its retrograde on the same day that Venus opposes Neptune in Pisces for the last time in our lifetime (August 28th). The planet of the mind, Mercury, rules the way we think, while Venus/Neptune oppositions are connected to disillusionment. Interestingly, the disenchantment you feel may apply more to your own relationship behaviors rather than your love partner. In fact, this may be the first time in a long time that you feel truly connected. We often talk about finding the right person to make us happy when actually it's about finding the right time to be with someone.

It looks like you and a loved one are on the outs. You two gave as good as you got in a recent exchange, and your dispute doesn't show signs of abating. The difficulty with squares—like the Jupiter/Saturn square taking place on August 19th—is that both planets are struggling to get the upper hand, which is what's playing out in your relationship. The solution isn't in getting the other person to see your side of things (because they won't), but to ask if you trust this person. If you do, then you'll stop and listen. If not, then things will only deteriorate from here.

Retreating from a confrontation by acting like you don't know what a loved one is talking about isn't the way to go. You're only putting off for tomorrow a conversation you should be having today. It's hard playing the Saturn role in a Mars/Saturn square on August 16th because you can't help feeling defensive, but it's up to you to lower the deflector shields and open all hailing frequencies. What you get in return is an honest exchange where the other side shares grievances while taking responsibility for their part in the matter. Do the same, and you'll mend a bridge that's been in disrepair too long.

It’s clear that you and a creative partner make for a successful team. Unfortunately, you don’t get along. It’s nothing to be ashamed about. You’d be surprised at how many famous collaborators couldn’t stand each other. You tried transcending your differences, redoubling your efforts to be professional, or telling yourself that the results justify the aggravation, but it just doesn’t work. Thankfully, Mercury retrograde in Virgo offers more practical solutions in the form of restructuring your roles, bringing in a manager who can act as a go-between (or referee), and coming in at different hours. You may discover that cutting down on your interactions works wonders.

You know that you can do better so why are you still settling for what you can get? Is this about having a poor self-image or staying in your comfort zone? The wonderful thing about the New Moon in Leo on August 4th is that it's going to give you that shot of audacity you need to change your circumstances. Pisces people are always being told to hide their light under a bushel by people who want to keep them under their thumb. It's time to stop accepting being a lesser glory and to step into the luminous person you were truly meant to be.

Other people aren't going to do it for you, but connecting with the ones who can help you to help yourself will. Mercury enters Virgo on July 25th, and its focus on self-sufficiency can be a bit tough – especially when you're going through a challenging time. But forcing yourself to learn as you go teaches you that you're a lot more resilient and resourceful than you know. Moreover, you wouldn't master these survival skills if circumstances didn't force you to. What you get in the end is the confidence of having survived the worst and the knowledge and know-how to make the most of it.

It looks as if you seriously underestimated someone. That's quite a twist as you tend to view people as being better than they are. Nevertheless it appears as if someone you wrote off as a loser may actually be a winner in disguise. Pleasant surprises like these often happen when the Sun sextiles Uranus, planet of revolution and change (July 18th). The question remains: can you salvage things now that you know better? Typically more sinned against than sinning, it will be interesting to see if you can really ask for this person's forgiveness. It all depends on how willing you are to start again.