By Jack Fertig

Forecast for May 17-30, 2005

ARIES (March 20 - April 19): There seems to be precious little going right these days, so you may as well take a meditative retreat and charge your batteries. Just working on those insights is quite enough for you to handle now.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Imagine you're on one of those TV survivor shows with all your friends. List them on paper, and scratch them away one at a time, each time thinking about why you're making that choice. What does this process tell you about your friendships?

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Your career right now is feeling about as stable as a surfboard at sea. To avoid wiping out, consider the balance of values and associations your goals are built on, and remember that the values have to be stronger.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You're hungry for adventure now, but that's a temptation to disaster. Dig into your safe little nest and get your thrills intellectually or artistically instead. A good philosophical read or a sci-fi epic will take you where you need to go.

LEO (July 23 - August 22): A mad, passionate, erotic getaway will raise problems and be more trouble than it's worth, but the problems it brings to surface are exactly those you need to deal with. You can handle it. Make sure your partner is ready!

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Social opportunities can stir up problems at home. Try to involve your partner -- or, if you're single, a good friend -- in helping you reconcile the two. A friend can also help you with relationship problems.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): You need to think your actions through, but be careful not to dither. Too little or too much thinking can lead to accidents. Guidance from your boss or from any authority, even parents, will help you stay focused.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Money problems have been a drag for a while. There's no easy fix, and impulse spending is not therapy -- au contraire! Adventure is helpful. Any version of diversion or perversion provides both relief and perspective on your problems.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Although you're extra sexy these days, you have some questions about personal and sexual integrity. Are they compromised by easy sex or obsolete habits? What do you need to work on to make sex more satisfying?

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Relationships are often a source -- or core -- of anxiety. The old-fashioned approach -- talking honestly about your fears and worries -- is best. Don't worry about focusing your thoughts and words. That will develop during the discussion.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): What you want to achieve at work is now less important than how you go about it. Focus on the process and stay on the track you set earlier. Challenges from colleagues can offer opportunities to improve, but just stay on that track!

PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Your energy is very high now, but easily scattered. Your goals may seem impossible, and your boss oppressive. Weather it through by focusing your energy into tasks that offer a chance to exercise some small sense of playful creativity.

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.