I've been asked lately where to find good ones. A smart guy I know in the art biz in NYC has found a few online but wonders, "Are they legit?"

What you should know is that astrologers write for the twelve Sun signs, so it'll always be very general. Rick Levine says he describes the cosmic weather for each of the twelve archetypes of the Zodiac. If you're aware of your birth chart, you know that the Sun sign is not the end all, be all (though it's the lead in your drama). Even so, horoscopes based on the Sun sign can be entertaining, and sometimes even meaningful in broad strokes.

A Suggestion: Another way to watch your personal "weather" is to follow two things: a) planetary aspects and b) transits to your birth chart. If you're a Taurus, and Venus is exactly aligned with your Sun, then that day can bring good vibes, an open door for love or a new friendship....a great day to create, laugh, flirt, etc. One site that generates daily transits, with a little forecast for each day, is Astrodienst. So once you know your chart well, and you know where the planets are NOW, you can foresee your own weather for each day. You reclaim the ancient art of timekeeping for yourself....and it's very empowering!

The planet that gets us moving is in Gemini starting today. Mars in Gemini is tricky because it's erratic and wiry. It can get you spinning out if you're already anxious. But in the whirl of doing many things at once -- a Mars in Gemini specialty -- you catch up on emails and calls, speed-read to get the gist, knock out your chores while listening to a tv or radio program. The path may not be linear, but in the flurry, much can get done.

On the astrological clock, Mars sets the rhythm of the action. But Mars itself is undirected force, so we feel it most when it's engaged with other planets. Whether it affects your own physical vitality will depend on how it hits your planets and especially your own Mars sign.

Mars and Venus are together through July in this air sign, as mischief-makers for fun, novelty, fascination. Love can be new and giddy. It's a time to seek out fresh adventures together. The spectrum runs from wild and manic to slaphappy. Zany activities or a summer fling many be short-lived under this transit...as in "it seemed like a good idea at the time." Keep it light and playful...true joy has a way of opening doors. Caution: There's a careless aspect here, which is worth noting with so much chaos and frenetic behavior afoot. Take care while texting and look both ways while crossing the street. Mars is in Gemini through August 26th.

Last year, we planted our "winter garden" too late and it was a total bust. This summer, I've got my seeds ready to go for the upcoming way fertile new Moon in Cancer on July 21st. Even though I've got Moonflowers and other eye candy, I've been gardening with a specific purpose. To get used to growing veggies and herbs. I'm gardening now for a sense of food security with all these hints of coming shortages. Nothing rattles the cage of this Cancer like the idea of not having enough food. I live to eat!

This summer's series of eclipses highlights the issue of sustenance and the resources of land (Capricorn) and sea (Cancer) that we rely on. Food as the fruit of the Earth is on the astrological radar. There are land grabs and tightening corp-gov controls in the works, even as more people take matters in their own hands and Grow their own.

The homegrown revolution underway draws on America's agrarian past. It anchors you to your patch of Earth. It's an inkling of how we (and the world) can draw on earth-keeping traditions still viable (Pluto in Capricorn) today. The current sky gets us working together in teams, and with so many vacant lots springing up....well, maybe they should go to seed! It's about using the resources available, perhaps in unusual or experimental ways, to meet practical needs.

There's nothing quite like eating something you've grown from seed. In the garden, you can see that compressed potential in a tiny seed, come to life. It's the regenerative essence (Pluto's promise) that is the raw material of new life. Watching your own garden grow over time is enough to make you feel kinda optimistic....and all the better when it's shared with others.

• Gardening by the Moon

The Moon is in Aquarius starting today and carrying us on a fresh breeze to the end of the week. This primes us for a Jupiter-Neptune alignment on Friday in this air sign. If you're experiencing an awakening of sorts, this expands and "spiritualizes" your vision. The bizarre notions you've pushed back....hey, that just might work! It's time for exploring ideas that are ahead of their time. From this elevated Aquarian view, it's easier to get some emotional distance. This gives you a freer mind to make decisions (not under duress). You see new paths that you couldn't see before.

The Aquarian skies foster a desire to bust out of the status quo and feel free to go with the unpredictability of the times. If the ground is shifting beneath us (for some, literally!), it's hard to make solid long term plans. An Aqua Moon friend of mine just bought an Airstream, and in particular, the Flying Cloud. It's shiny, aerodynamic, retro-futuristic and light -- a perfect home (Moon) base for her to go where the wind blows her. It's also an unusual plan to feel secure, and one that makes sense in a time when the only sure-thing is unprecedented change.