ARIES (March 21–April 19): Progress rarely unfolds in a glorious, ever- rising upward arc. The more usual pattern is gradual and uneven. Each modest ascent is followed by a phase of retrenchment and integration. In the best-case scenario, the most recent ascent reaches a higher level than the previous ascent. By my estimate, you're in one of those periods of retrenchment and integration right now, Aries. It's understandable if you feel a bit unenthusiastic about it. But I'm here to tell you that it's crucial to your next ascent. Let it work its subtle magic.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20): You are most likely to be in sweet alignment with cosmic rhythms if you regard the next three weeks as a time of graduation. I encourage you to take inventory of the lessons you've been studying since your birthday in 2019. How have you done in your efforts to build interesting, synergistic intimacy? Are you more passionately devoted to what you love? Have you responded brightly as life pushed you to upgrade the vigor and rigor of your commitments? Just for fun, Taurus, give yourself a grade for those "classes," as well as any others that have been important to you. Then—again, just for fun—draw up a homemade diploma for yourself to commemorate and honor your work.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20): Are you ready to take on a bigger role in determining what happens in the environments you share with people? Do you have any interest in exerting leadership to enhance the fortunes of the group or tribe you're part of? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to express brave and audacious acts that boost the fortunes and raise the spirits of those whose fates are intermingled with yours. I hope you'll be a role model for the art of pleasing oneself while helping others.

CANCER (June 21–July 22): Cancerian author Lionel Trilling (1905–1975) was an influential intellectual and literary critic. One of his heroes was another influential intellectual and literary critic, Edmund Wilson. On one occasion, Trilling was using a urinal in a men's room at the New School for Social Research in New York. Imagine how excited he was when Wilson, whom he had never met, arrived to use the urinal right next to his. Now imagine his further buoyancy when Wilson not only spoke to Trilling but also expressed familiarity with his work. I foresee similar luck or serendipity coming your way soon: happy accidents that inspire your self-confidence and seemingly unlikely encounters with interesting resources.

LEO (July 23–Aug 22): Poet Conee Berdera delivered a poignant message to her most valuable possession: the flesh and blood vehicle that serves as a sanctuary for all her yearnings, powers, and actions. "My beloved body," she said, "I am so sorry I did not love you enough." Isn't that a sad thing for her to say? But what's worse is that it's incomplete. I wish she had added a redemptive statement, like "From now on, my dear body, I promise to love you with all my ingenuity and panache." Would you consider making such a vow to your own most valuable possession, Leo? It's a favorable time to do so.

VIRGO (Aug 23–Sept 22): Luckily, the turning point you have arrived at doesn't present you with 20 different possible futures. You don't have to choose from among a welter of paths headed in wildly disparate directions. There are only a few options to study and think about. Still, I'd like to see you narrow down the alternatives a bit more. I hope you'll use the process of elimination as you get even clearer about what you don't want. Let your fine mind gather a wealth of detailed information and objective evidence, and then hand over the final decision to your intuition.

LIBRA (Sept 23–Oct 22): Certain artists are beyond my full comprehension. Maybe I'm not smart enough to understand their creations, or I'm not deep enough to fathom why their work is considered important. For example, I don't enjoy or admire the operas of Wagner or the philosophy of Hegel or the art of Mark Rothko. Same with the music of Drake or the novels of Raymond Carver or the art of Andy Warhol. The problem is with me, not them. I don't try to claim they're overrated or mediocre. Now I urge you to do what I just did, Libra, only on a broader scale. Acknowledge that some of the people and ideas and art and situations you can't appreciate are not necessarily faulty or wrong or inadequate. Their value may simply be impossible for you to recognize. It's a perfect time for you to undertake this humble work. I suspect it will be liberating.

SCORPIO (Oct 23–Nov 21): Scorpio-born Ralph Bakshi has been making animated films and TV shows for more than 60 years. His work has been influential. "I'm the biggest ripped-off cartoonist in the history of the world," he has said. I think comparable comments can be made about more Scorpios in every line of work than about any other sign of the zodiac. People are prone to copying you and borrowing from you and even stealing from you. They don't always consciously know they're doing it, and they may not give you proper credit. I'm guessing that you may be experiencing this phenomenon right now. My advice? First, be pleased about how much clout you're wielding. Second, if anyone is truly ripping you off, speak up about it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22–Dec 21): "Vainly I sought nourishment in shadows and errors," wrote author Jorge Luis Borges. We have all been guilty of miscalculations like those. Each of us has sometimes put our faith in people and ideas that weren't worthy of us. None of us is so wise that we always choose influences that provide the healthiest fuel. That's the bad news, Sagittarius. The good news is that you now have excellent instincts about where you can find the best nourishment.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22–Jan 19): Poet Adrienne Rich wrote, "When a woman tells the truth, she is creating the possibility for more truth around her." I believe that this same assertion is true about people of all genders. I also suspect that right now you are in a particularly pivotal position to be a candid revealer: to enhance and refine everyone's truth-telling by being a paragon of honesty yourself. To achieve the best results, I encourage you to think hard about what exactly it means for you to tell the deep and entire truth.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20–Feb 18): Through some odd Aquarian-like quirk, astrologers have come to harbor the apparently paradoxical view that your sign is ruled by both Saturn and Uranus. At first glance, that's crazy! Saturn is the planet of discipline, responsibility, conservatism, and order. Uranus is the planet of surprise, rebellion, barrier breaking, and liberation. How can you Aquarians incorporate the energies of both? Well, that would require a lengthy explanation beyond the scope of this horoscope. But I will tell you this: During the rest of the year 2020, you will have more potential to successfully coordinate your inner Saturn and your inner Uranus than you have had in years. Homework: Meditate on how you will do just that.

PISCES (Feb 19–March 20): In 1637, renowned English poet John Milton wrote "Lycidas," a poetic elegy in honor of a dead friend. Reading it today, almost four centuries later, we are struck by how archaic and obscure the language is, with phrases like "O ye laurels" and "Ah! who hath reft my dearest pledge?" A famous 20th-century Piscean poet named Robert Lowell was well-educated enough to understand Milton's meaning, but also decided to "translate" all of "Lycidas" into plainspoken American-style English. I'd love to see you engage in comparable activities during the coming weeks, Pisces: updating the past, reshaping and reinterpreting your old stories, revising the ways you talk about and think about key memories.

Homework: Don't tolerate bullying from critical voices in your head or from supposedly "nice" people who are trying to guilt-trip you. Testify at freewillastrology.com.