ARIES: Your ruling planet, Mars, opposes Jupiter on April 24, and while on the one hand, that can be a high-energy barrel of laughs kind of an aspect, you’ll be playing to a tougher crowd than usual for the next couple of days. Maturity and decorum will be required to win them over and get your point across. Okay, it’s not fun, but getting what you have your sights set on feels better than going back to the drawing board. Patience Pays: Taking time to express yourself clearly and articulately adds $$ to your bank account when most needed.

TAURUS: A visionary of sorts at work is open to and excited about what you have to say. If there isn’t a ‘visionary’ in a position to help, take heart- an underling who you’ve befriended may be more influential than you think. Your ruler, Venus, enters your sign on the 30th, and your time of year to look lovelier than ever has arrived. Venus is not just about vanity, but it’s about connection, money, and love. Though popularity and friendship don’t directly pay the bills, having them working in your favor can’t hurt one bit.

GEMINI: It would be really easy to cite the number of planets (the Sun, Mercury, and then Venus later this week) in Taurus and in your “I think I’ll take a nap” 12th house and vacate the premises for a few weeks of playtime. But absconding on your duties will create more trouble than it’s worth. Take advantage of the state-of-grace aspect between Mercury and Jupiter on the 28th, make that sale, and/or clear up a BIG financial road block with an ease you never thought possible.

CANCER: Like the old familiar ad for the American Express Card, you’re “so worldly and so welcome”, but don’t push it. Feisty Mars (still in Cancer for another couple of weeks) opposes Jupiter on the 24th, making you feel like Superman or Wonder Woman. And while the energy can and should be harnessed to break through to a new level, doing so without considering the feelings of those involved will backfire and further the delay the success that you’re so on the verge of achieving.

LEO: There’s little room in your life for paranoia or suspicion, as most everyone in your sphere wishes you well and is willing to put their money where their mouth is. The gathering of Taurus planets in your career sector is supported by a solid and dependable team who are there for you 24/7. Don’t believe it? Make a list of everyone who has helped you in the last few days (including those who you take for granted- i.e. cab drivers, bank tellers, tech support, and folks at the newsstand) and thank

VIRGO: Keep your eye on the ball and refrain from delegating any more than you have to. Though so much is working in your favor, diligence and some micro-managing will be required to assure that there isn’t a screw up at a bank or at work that could come by way of someone paying less attention than you do. It’s worth the extra effort. In the next few weeks, the oppression that you have felt of late will lift and you’ll feel lighter than you have in a long time.

LIBRA: C’mon face facts: Aren’t you getting just a wee bit tired from the partially self-inflicted financial roller coaster you’ve been on? It’s time to smash some old bad habits and replace them with ones that serve you. As your ruling planet Venus prepares to enter your 8th house of shared resources (banks, financial institutions, stocks & commodities, etc.) you will have the opportunity to fix, once and for all, what’s been broken and avert a disaster later on. A little discipline goes a long way. There’s a breakthrough possible involving real estate-are you ready for a change?

SCORPIO: Though you love to call the shots and generally prefer hiding out in your enclave to being social, you will get more out of acquiescing and being cooperative with your clan or soul family than if you’re not. The cluster of planets in your 7th house of partnership encourages putting others first more than you would normally do. Sure, silly small talk is annoying, but who says you have to listen fully or respond to any of it? A simple smile and sending out good vibes is all that’s required of you.

SAGITTARIUS: “Those who indulge-bulge” says the famous sticker on many a refrigerator door. And with the gathering of planets in “feed me” Taurus in your sixth house of health and routine, your advised to nurture yourself with quality instead of quantity. Don’t skimp on your health either- if something is bothering you (thyroid or neck in particular) seek out the best whether that professional is on your insurance plan or not. If you feel the urge to splurge, do it at a spa, not at a restaurant.

CAPRICORN: Oh- how you’d love to get away from it all, and pretty soon you’ll be able to. But for now, bear down and keep the productivity where it needs to be. Though there are many complaints and disgruntled characters acting up in the proverbial peanut gallery (so to speak) and your significant other or close BFF is less appreciative than usual, you hold the key to keeping the whole thing running and you know it. No one needs to tell you to use your authority wisely (wink), but your mood influences others more than you realize.

AQUARIUS: You’re one of the lucky ones: Because of your natural affinity for technology and/or your luck in having someone handy who knows more than you do in that arena, you really can phone it in and do your work from anywhere. If need be (or if your intuition tells you to), by all means draw upon that talent and work more from home in the next few weeks. Some down time and visits to museums or other cultural spots of interest will do wonders to recharge your battery and make you more productive in the long run.

PISCES: You’re a prolific bunny: Who knew you had this much to say and that much of it is really quite good! Don’t talk it all away only to kick yourself in a month or two for not putting it on paper or in a word doc somewhere. There is money to be earned from these ideas and you will want to refer to them later. A wild idea that sounds like a sure thing for a quick buck may not be. If a stick-in-the-mud conservative friend interferes- listen to them. You need the sobering influence they bring-amen.

The Planets This Week- All Times are EDT

April 24: Moon in Sag, v/c @ 5:38 pm, Mars opposite Jupiter @ 9:23 am
April 25: Moon in Cap @ 5:47 am, Venus sextile Neptune @ 12:34 pm
April 27: Moon v/c at 10:18 am, enters Aquarius @ 5:27 pm, Mercury sextile Uranus @ 10:36 pm
April 28: Mercury trine Jupiter @ 9:41 am
April 29: Mercury Square Neptune @ 9:10 am, Mercury sextile Mars @ 6:10 pm
April 30: Moon v/c @ 1:25 am, enters Pisces @ 2:11 pm, Venus in Taurus @ 10:07 pm

*Moon v/c = void of course, a time of disconnect

Copyright, 2008, Shelley L. Ackerman, all rights reserved

Photo by Rich Press

When radio and television producers want the celestial skinny on the stars and politicians they turn to Shelley Ackerman, one of the world's leading astrologers. She is known for being insightful, warm, funny -- and accurate! Shelley has headed the New York affiliate of The American Federation of Astrologers and wrote many columns for Beliefnet.com. Her insights have appeared in The New York Times and she was recently on the cover of The Wall Street Journal. She writes regularly for The New York Post and The Westchester Guardian. As a media astrologer she appears regularly on TV, and has worked with Access Hollywood, Court TV, ABC’s World News Now, ABC Eyewitness News, The CBS Evening News, NBC’s ‘Extra’, and Fox News. Visit Shelley at www.karmicrelief.com