By Jack Fertig

Forecast for Oct. 17 - 30, 2006

ARIES (March 20 - April 19): Let your partner or a friend lead you to something new and different—or better yet, to something old and different. The "secret room" of Pompeiian erotica in Naples may be a bit far away, but let that be the inspiration.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You may feel unappreciated around the house, but you are generally admired more than you realize, both for your hard work and your sexiness. Looking mature and ethnic can enhance that!

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You may be working a little too hard to get your message right. Perfection can be the enemy of excellence. A bit of input from a friend whose creativity you respect will help you find the right balance.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You can work through your current financial difficulties, but the operative word is "work." Women in your family (or tribe, affinity group, whatever) can have helpful suggestions. Fixing things up around the house can be centering and helpful.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): Taking yourself so seriously could sharpen your game—or else just make you obsessive about it. Lighten up. Have a giggle or two with a girlfriend to keep things in perspective.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Family drama is just that. Don't take it too seriously. Try to detach and see how your buttons get pressed by this silliness, so you can free yourself from those patterns. Go shopping with a friend for some perspective and relief.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Your social insight has been very sharp lately, but so has your tongue. You're more diplomatic now, making you very effective at negotiating peace among quarreling friends or helping to solve larger social problems.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Worries about money are sharpening your career aims. The discomfort will pass, and you can come out way ahead. A dream journal or regular meditation will help clarify your intuition. Better yet, draw a mandala!

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Your opinions are coming across awfully strong. Trust a friend who wants to help you tone them down a bit. Keep the ideal you're working toward as your guiding principle, not just the result of principles.

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Don't fret about gossip or lurid rumors. Hold your head up with confident dignity, and look quizzically amused, like it's all news to you. What's scandalous in some places will only enhance your reputation elsewhere.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Disagreements can be worked out to strengthen your relationships in the long run. Your ideals may need some adjustment to the real world. Discussing goals with your partner or friends will win some accommodation from them.

PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Pressures at work, even if they're tough right now, will prove a positive motivator and help you get ahead. Maintain sexual equilibrium. Sex is easy for you, but keeping it balanced—neither too much nor too little—is the challenge!

Jack Fertig has been working as a professional astrologer since 1977 and is a founding member of the Association for Astrological Networking. He can be reached for consultations at (415) 864-8302, through his Web site at www.starjack.com, and by e-mail at QScopes@qsyndicate.com.