This week's Astro-Barry

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): 'I don't give a steaming crap what you think about me. I've spent way too long "keeping it together" so that everyone else could run off, chasing their dreams while I made sure the electricity didn't get turned off, the plants were watered, and nobody was inconvenienced by me.

Hah. Oh yeah, that is the life of a Taurus.

Now it's my turn to stand out, inconvenient or not. Don't like it? Don't let the door hit you on the way out. I've still got a whole bunch of spunk left in me… and I'll push that used-up old bitch down that flight of stairs, rather than wait backstage on some flicker of hope that one day she'll toss me a moment in the spotlight. Those of you who really know me (the genuine, unbridled version!) can spy that fire rising behind my eyes. I've had enough of good behavior. It got me this far, so thank you very much for that, but I've reached the end of this thoroughfare. If I continue heading that direction, I'll hit the wall—and remain there indefinitely. That's why I'm gyrating in wild circles like a spiritually intoxicated Sufi, spinning toward ecstasy without caring which way is up or how silly I might look to the doubters, envious that I've decided to live liberated while they dab their blemishes with the wrong concealer color and pray we don't notice the misery written on their faces. I've been there. I hold tenderness in my heart for that condition. But I'm done with it. Life's too short to live it for appearances. Don't like me this way? Fuck off.'

SCORPIO (October 23-November 21): Far be it for me to encourage the suspicions of the sometimes-outright-paranoid Scorpio… but if I were you, I'd keep an eye on that one friend, colleague or teammate about whom you've previously had your doubts. Now, I'm not saying that he/she is definitely trouble. Your concerns could be totally off-base—or right on the money. We just don't know yet. It's too early to tell. This is not the time to come out with accusations or thinly-veiled questions (remember, as I told you last week, Mercury retrograde is affecting your ability to hide your hand)… merely to do a lot of careful observing, without making up your mind 'til all the evidence is in.

Hm. Well. I wouldn't say "friend, colleague, or teammate," but there is definitely someone who I have doubts about these days. It's really pretty unnerving. It isn't a situation that is remotely under MY control, though.

This one also applies to a Scorpio friend of mine, big time. Whoa.

Of course, you may eventually discover this supposed pal is indeed untrustworthy, not exactly who he/she purports to be, and/or actually attempting to undermine you (out of a sense of being threatened by you). On the other hand, you could find out that it's you who's untrusting… because you've been hurt by friends before, proven to be a hurtful friend in your own right and thus project what you'd do onto others, and/or trained yourself to rely on absolutely nobody but your own inner survivor (which may be 'safe', but is also rather lonely). Hold off on assigning judgment for another couple weeks, until Mercury returns to direct motion—and you've got all the facts straight.