Free Will Astrology

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Harpo Marx was part of the famous Marx Brothers comedy team that made 13 movies. He was known as the silent one. While in his character's persona, he never spoke, but only communicated through pantomime and by whistling, blowing a horn, or playing the harp. In real life, he could talk just fine. He traced the origin of his shtick to an early theatrical performance he had done. A review of the show said that he "performed beautiful pantomime which was ruined whenever he spoke." So in other words, Harpo's successful career was shaped in part by the inspiration he drew from a critic. I invite you to make a similar move, Virgo: Capitalize on some negative feedback or odd mirroring you've received.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): What is your relationship with cosmic jokes, Libra? Do you feel offended by the secrets they spill and the ignorance they expose and the slightly embarrassing truths they compel you to acknowledge? Or are you a vivacious lover of life who welcomes the way cosmic jokes expand your mind and help you lose your excessive self-importance and show you possible solutions you haven't previously imagined? I hope you're in the latter category, because sometime in the near future, fate has arranged for you to be in the vicinity of a divine comedy routine. I'm not kidding when I tell you that the harder and more frequently you laugh, the more you'll learn.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In addition to being an accomplished astrophysicist and philosopher, Arthur Eddington (1882-1944) possessed mad math skills. Legend has it that he was one of only three people on the planet who actually comprehended Einstein's Theory of Relativity. That's a small level of appreciation for such an important set of ideas, isn't it? On the other hand, most people I know would be happy if there were as many as three humans in the world who truly understood them. In accordance with the astrological omens, I suggest you make that one of your projects in the next 12 months: to do whatever you can to ensure there are at least three people who have a detailed comprehension of and appreciation for who you really are.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Yesterday the sun was shining at the same time it was raining, and my mind turned to you. Today I felt a surge of tenderness for a friend who has been making me angry, and again I thought of you. Tomorrow maybe I will sing sad songs when I'm cheerful, and go for a long walk when I'm feeling profoundly lazy. Those events, too, would remind me of you. Why? Because you've been experimenting with the magic of contradictions lately. You've been mixing and matching with abandon, going up and down at the same time, and exploring the pleasures of changing your mind. I'm even tempted to speculate that you've been increasing your ability to abide with paradox. Keep up the good work. I'm sure it's a bit weird at times, but it'll ultimately make you even smarter than you already are.