Weekly horoscope

This week's Astro-Barry:

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The time for shielding yourself from the world, whether in healthfully private self-reconnection or pure escapist hiding-out, is drawing to a close, Taurus. As your ruler Venus finally turns direct again, while Saturn finally moves out of your quiet-inner-realm 4th house, you should now feel like your emotional foundation has been properly strengthened (and any rotting bricks excised) so you can emerge back into the public eye, stronger and more secure than ever. More than anything, I sincerely hope you have spent these recent weeks and months getting more closely in touch with what moves you (as opposed to what others expect of you, or what you think you should care about). Armed with that personal knowledge, you can then go on to view life as more than just 'making do', 'getting by' or 'keeping it together'. Rather, it's an opportunity to bring joy, pleasure and contentment to your heart—though that may well occur through methods and choices other people just cannot (or will not allow themselves to) understand. What's most important to you? What makes you feel loved and loving? How do you show care to yourself? Nobody should answer these questions for you—and no one but you can confirm you're headed for the right things first. You can't keep your priority list an internal document forever, since it deeply affects how you choose to express your energies outwardly. So, it's the moment to become your own Number One in the external sphere… and if, in the process, you must make self-centered choices that certain other crotchety individuals don't like, that's absolutely their problem.

SCORPIO (October 23-November 21): Afraid of those risky exchanges? Thought not. Be mindful, Scorpio, that so many of the rest of us are. We're terrified of the awkward denseness in the air, the tensed-up torsos and nervous stomachs, the spirals of fire burning in that zone beneath the navel. Do we perceive what we think we perceive? Will our voices rise in pressure, passion, or poisonous pique? Do you want to scream and lash out at us, or rip our clothes off to quench that carnal curiosity in a wicked way only you know best? And the feedback you're about to offer us on our behavior… will it be painful to hear, offered in healing or harm, and will we be allowed to respond? These are types of thoughts (among others, of course) that run through our minds when we confront an obviously observant, mindful and deliberate Scorpio who doesn't reveal what's going on underneath—and naturally, it can make us both nervous and titillated. You, alas, aren't quite so bugged by it, since you are pulling the strings from behind your silent, severe gaze. Don't leave us hanging in anxiety. Take that one especially bold step, whatever it may be, that's been lurking on the tips of your toes and tongue. Let us in, however risky it may be. If you want us to be involved, you'll have to tip your hat (and the balance of power) to include us in your internal imaginings. We'll play together, fight it out, hump like bunnies, or sit in our swamp of issues to wade uncomfortably through… and end up clearer with each other, heard, purged, relieved and recharged. It'll never be the same again. That's a good thing, right?