A brief word from Cosmic Zink: I hope there was at least one or two of you out there who missed my column not being there last month. I was just about to get married and life was pretty much a wild ball of chaos. Well, things have slowed down now and I am back to channeling the messages of the universe into jam band terms we all can understand. I truly hope people are experimenting with all the great bands this fertile scene has to offer. Cheers!

ARIES (March 21st-April 19th): You need some time alone at the beginning of the month. A nice walk through a park while listening to Fat Mama on your headphones should help you find some solace. Don't let the busy bodies calling you lazy get you down. By mid-month, you need some serious human interaction- and what better way than to cavort with the minions of music-a-holics at Berkfest? Sure it's rainy and pretty damn crowded, but the interaction of music and people bring out the sun that lives inside you.

TAURUS (April 20th-May 20th): You are such a psychic, dude. You are like the hippie that sits at the festival with his tarot cards and gives readings to folks. Your insight is quite a heavy gift, though, so use it wisely. There may be quite a stir in your personal life. When things get all mixed up, what better way to settle things down than seeing Comotion on their inaugural tour? The bluegrass picking will have you worried about nothing but music in no time flat.

GEMINI (May 21st-June 20th): This month is like a nice big phat bong toke...smooth and tasty! Everything is clicking for you now. All the bands you need to see are in town and yet you still travel afar to see even MORE live music. Your vibe is mellow all month long which is a nice change of pace after the funk you've been dealing with for the past couple weeks. It's almost as if all your problems just jiggle away after seeing Jiggle the Handle kick down an amazing show...and you immediately plan to see another in the near future.

CANCER (June 21st-July 22nd): Looks like a chill month for the Cancerian. A few days may have that special irie spice that will help to Lively Up Yourself. The first part of the month finds you being very talkative. You chatter away about some bizarre events as if you were the Col. Bruce Hampton, retired. You also take some time to soak in the memories of jamband experiences past. Like that time you caught the up-and-coming trio, Ponticello, from Seattle. Their cool combo of electric violin, bass, and drums was a very good thing. Not to mention that the bass player looks like Eric Foreman from "That 70's Show" (sorry Ted- he he he).

LEO (July 23rd-August 23rd): May you have a trance-a-delic Birthday there, daddio. After the lion sinks its teeth into some tasty meat, he may go on the prowl for New Orleans based funk this month. Galactic is on your menu. You get to funk the night away with these guys and what a birthday treat it is!! "NO! NO! Don't stop a-ROCKIN'" you scream in your best Homer Simpson voice...and they concur by playing another marathon show. After this, you hog the attention as only a Leo can. It's like you're in a band that is trading solo spots, but somehow the spotlight sticks on you which forces you to take every single solo. You don't mind because you love to blow your own horn.

VIRGO (August 24th-September 23rd): This month will be absolutely fabulous, darling. The second half is truly groovy. Usher this ultra-phat part of the month in with a show by Project/Object with Ike Willis. Their renditions of Zappa tunes are great and Ike busts out the vocals as if old Frank was standing right there on stage with him. Your mind will be very keen this month as if you have fully digested the tribal teachings of some cosmic group of ancient travelers. Feel the power of life.

LIBRA (September 24th-October 23rd): Some old words of John Popper's may become relevant to you this month as you're "Mulling it Over." You will analyze your life and realize that it has more changes, twists, and turns than your favorite improvisational music. This is all well and good, but in which direction am I REALLY heading, you wonder. You see something long and yellow on the horizon and realize that life is leading you towards a killer show by Deep Banana Blackout. Now that's some funky stuff. Just as DBB will go on without Jen, you will find your way soon, Libra.

SCORPIO (October 24th-November 21st): You are most likely in a not-so-swell mood this month. And who can blame you? You bought ganja-goo balls that turned out to be all about the goo and nothing about the ganja. You broke a guitar string three times while on stage trying to play a set. And you missed your favorite band moe. when they came to your town a few weeks ago. It really sucks, too, because they dropped a bomb of a "Godzilla" for an encore. Everything is great by month's end, though, as you find some long lost guitar picks, hear some really good live music, and go home to a delicious box of "Snacky S'mores."

SAGITTARIUS (November 22nd-December 21st): You are as charming as a powerful crystal this month. You can feel the significant forces of life pushing and pulling you, letting you in on the secrets of the universe. Don't be pushing those beliefs on others, though...feel comfortable in knowing what you know for yourself. You seem to be following the Wu way approach to life as you take in another fun show by The Big Wu. Their old-school way of jamming on well-crafted songs really makes you happy. You may have to skip the next show, however, to be able to reach that long-term goal of yours. Nah! You see all the live music you can whenever it comes around!

CAPRICORN (December 22nd-January 20th): You are not centered in on yourself as much as usual at the beginning of this month. Your full concentration seems to be focused on Mr. Bela Fleck. The way he plays those incredible runs at lightning fast speeds over crazy changes all while keeping a stone-cold expression of ease amazes you. How could you possibly be da man when HE's da man? By the end of the month you'll really be able to impress folks. Perhaps it's a good time to talk to the security guy guarding the coveted back stage area at a Phish show.

AQUARIUS (January 21st-February 18th): This month is groove-a-licious. You're in the right place...and it musta been the right time. Those of you who are responsible will try to keep things going in the real world, while the more fun-loving water person will try something new- like the brand new Dicky Betts Band which will be touring soon. You embrace this new setting for a jam band veteran and hope it offers up some great tunes. After this, you will want to meditate for awhile. When you emerge from inside yourself there will be an aura of love that surrounds you.

PISCES (February 19th-March 20th): The fish will experience some trying times this month. You feel as if you are an organic coffee bean approaching the grinder. There is only one thing to do and that is be like Pooh and go with the flow. Mid-way through the month some musical help comes along in the form of Col. Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. You are so psyched to see Les, Skerik, and the guys rip and carve sonic sculptures unlike any you have heard that you don't know what to do. You may feel some pressure from the family, but Mr. Claypool and Father Time will heal all wounds.