Cosmic Child Horoscope
by ERIC FRANCIS
Monthly for January 2005

Aries (March 20-April 19)
If you were to ask most Aries children what they wanted in their horoscope, they would say, "I'd rather do it myself, thank you." In fact, when it comes to pursuing mystical knowledge or even creating it, this is an exceptional time for Aries, and the young ones may have you quite convinced of reincarnation. How else would they know all this? Yet there have been tests of right and wrong, and the awareness that with knowledge comes responsibility. Perhaps these seem to be very advanced lessons for someone before midlife crisis. But it's better to learn them sooner rather than later.

Taurus (April 19-May 20)
Even the most introverted Taurus is likely to begin taking issue with the decisions of his or her parents in the next couple of months, and stir rebellion more reminiscent of 1968 than the 21st century. But as Smokey the Bear says, only you can prevent the generation gap. I'll tell you what's on this child's mind: they are sensing the importance of group decisions, collective thinking and of community responsibility. This is not so much a rebellion against as it is a rebellion in favor of, and should be easy to work with. Take an organizational approach. Include everyone in every decision, and take their wisdom to heart.

Gemini (May 20-June 21)
There have been some trying times lately for any parent of a Gemini. There have been stretches lately when it seemed you could do no right; there may have been moments that pushed you past the brink. There is a measure of advanced psychology necessary at this point for children born under the sign of the twins, and it may help to know that they are working out issues deeper than most people vastly older than they are. The price paid in patience today will result in a savings later on, and certain life skills are best learned when the stakes are lower rather than higher.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
You can pretty much forget what has led to this point, including health issues that seemed to arise out of nowhere and disappear just as fast. Everyone born under the sign Cancer is feeling the instinctual calling to leave the past behind, and if you let it go, so will they. Much of the work of Saturn in this particular sign has been to instigate a series of growth spurts, each of which seems to completely transcend the prior one. It's not easy for these Moon-children to rise to the many emotional challenges they face. Be very consistent. Give them nothing that cuts two ways; say nothing with two possible interpretations.

Leo (July 22-Aug 23)
There is no accounting for fear, and often there's no way to approach it directly. It can emerge from the psyche many ways: in dreams, as physical ailments, or as a sense of alienation. What you need to remember is that someone of the Leo tribe may be going through episodes of misgiving, insecurity or worse, which is likely to be beyond your comprehension. But quite often what is expressed is released, so for now you'll need to look and listen. What can you do to help? Be sure that when you make an agreement with a young Leo, you go out of your way to keep it.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22)
Your Virgo child and in fact all those in your family are under so many influences from so many people that it's difficult to even count them, much less keep track of what they are.  You undoubtedly are one of them. Since you cannot tell the effects of anything you say or do -- these effects will vary wildly from what you imagine, and be far more intense -- you really have two choices: be gentle, or be extraordinarily intentional in your communications. You can also do both, and it would be wise to ask for feedback at every turn: questions like, 'How am I doing?' and 'Are we on the same page?'

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23)  
There are two new influences to watch in the life of every Libran, young or old. One is the South Node, which will be performing a clean sweep of the past. This may show up in 3-D as an obsession with the past, though this is more like pictures going by. The other influence is Jupiter, which will serve to make everything seem larger than it is. At the same time, Jupiter offers protection like no other planet in the cosmos. So really there's less to worry about than an observer may think, though things will be interesting nonetheless. Remember: treat it all like pictures going by.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22)
If you have a one-month-old Scorpio child, don't be surprised if they begin quoting Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Mother Theresa. This goes for your five-year-old or your partner; this is a time when what is important to them must be important to them. Take heed: take them seriously. Set aside your personal beliefs, agenda and expectations. It doesn't matter who you think they are. Your job is to be there for who they're actually becoming. You will learn something in the process, because no matter what their age, they are developing a message they will carry for a lifetime.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 22)
It's not worth the fight, and besides, an intelligent conversation will work fine. The key word is intelligent: nobody's going to let you get away with less, and kids are smart. While it may seem like some Sagittarius nearby is blasting with emotional fury, there's actually some deep, conventional sensibility beneath the surface. Oddly, the younger they are, the more in contact with those traditional ideas, wisdom and roles they may be. This provides a good way into the conversation; you play your part, and they'll play theirs -- as long as you agree that reason prevails, and you show fairness and respect.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20)
This has been an unusually challenging time in the life of any Capricorn, and for the young ones, a measure of damage control may be necessary. The whole crisis may be well-concealed beneath that fine veneer. Ask yourself at every turn what influence people and events may be having on their ideas about who they are. These are extremely formative years in this respect, and you need to remember that every event will be experienced reflexively. That is, in their mind, it will not be something that happens, but rather something that happens to me -- no matter what it looks like.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)
Much that seemed to have no cause or reason will eventually be seen in its context. Meanwhile, you'll need to look for clues. Dreams are the obvious first place to start; keep a notebook or diary, and watch the patterns. Young people born under the sign Aquarius are going through a long stage where social acceptance is a crucial idea. This has come at the same time as what may be a sense that their worldview is so strange as to never be understandable. Make every effort to get the picture; respond to statements with curiosity and you will be met with knowledge and appreciation.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Pisces children are like cats. You may know something is up, but there's no easy telling quite what it is. These children are now at a turning point in their self-understanding, though like everything that involves the planet Neptune, it's subtle. The question, 'Where do I fit in?' is often an entirely internal issue; this is because a Pisces lives like the whole world is within them, and from their standpoint, that's true. What a fish child says and what they really feel are often two different things. This is just their way of making some sense in a senseless world -- but you do need to decode the truth, or better yet, ask for it directly.

Cosmic Child Horoscope by Eric Francis also appears in Violet magazine, a new national progressive quarterly for families. Watch for additional details.