A Brief Word from Cosmic Zink: The tree of life, the tree of life. Over this dark wintry month, let's all take time to remember that life perseveres even through the harshest circumstances and conditions. So even when it seems there's no way to catch that killer show due to work or family obligations, you must find a way. MUST.find a way.

ARIES(March 21st-April 19th): You feel like one of the lucky folks who attended the 3/20/92 Phish show in Binghamton, NY where Trey uttered the words, "Help me I'm melting and I can't solidify." Basically, you're psyched to be you this month. You should be able to score a miracle without even thrusting your finger skyward! Just when you wanted to rage super hard in Frisco over the holiday, Galactic adds another show to their Warfield run and you couldn't be more psyched. While the two-headed Dead remnant option appeals to most Bay Area heads, you would rather get funky N'awlins style as time drips into 2001.

TAURUS(April 20th-May 20th): It's set break. You look down at your watch, then up at the stage. Ten minutes go by and it's still setbreak. You tap your foot and sing to yourself. You look down at your watch again then peer up at the stage again. Nothing. Ten more minutes go by and you sigh. Not much is happening this month, dood. Seems like you need to get out of a rut. Why not make plans to head to Europe for a vacation and maybe take in some MMW shows while you're there. I'm sure they would welcome some American faces on their inaugural European tour.

GEMINI(May 21st-June 20th): So much time, so little to do...wait. Scratch that. Reverse it. You are one busy freak this month. Your hippie hair sways in the breeze as you move rapidly from place to place. There is such a hefty serving of tasty tunes in your area this month that you can hardly maintain consciousness. Other folks may think you come off as a little bit eccentric, but you don't care. In fact, you decide to take in the eccentric sounds of Schleigho and you immediately relate to their instrumental weirdness.

CANCER(June 21st-July 22nd): If some kind brother or sister passes you their super sweet bubbler packed with the dankest of nugs, don't bogart that thang. You seem to have a tendency to offend others this month. It's like you're the monkey on somebody's back. To get your animalistic urges all peeled and thrown away like a banana skin, go check out the Wise Monkey Orchestra. They may not be monkeys and it might not be an official orchestra, but it is always a wise move to catch these So Cal cats play with a vengeance.

LEO(July 23rd-August23rd): While your band is slowly getting bigger and bigger receptions with each gig it plays, relationships may suffer due to this jammin' prosperity. You feel like a psychedelic juggler parading around at the Oregon Country Fair. It's hard to maintain balance even though you just finished reading the Tao Te Ching. Just resign to be all over the friggin' map this month, man. One day you'll see the Disco Biscuits and the next day you'll be picking up the newest Steely Dan CD. Wild.

VIRGO(August 24th-September 23rd): It's hard to be you this month. The mainstream comes threateningly close to the little side stream you so enjoy. Decision time. Harder than picking between which bootlegs you wanna bring along for a roadtrip to the next concert, this decision will decide your life path. Before something this serious takes place, you may want to unwind. It's all about catching the Steve Kimock Band play when they come to your town very soon. Steve's outstanding guitar work will inspire you and help you to make these tough choices.

LIBRA(September 24th-October 23rd): You are walking across the street when you see a little green blob on the horizon. It seems to be flying. It whizzes up and down, side to side, always getting closer to you. The green shape gets bigger and there are little wings propelling this thing at you. AHHHH! Don't worry, you're not crazy! It's just a friendly hallucination trying to tell you that it is time to pick up the new Frogwings CD. While grabbing the CD at a local jam-friendly music shop, you meet some fellow music lovers and quickly become friends. How rad.

SCORPIO(October 24th-November 21st): Now is not a good time for firsts for you. If you've never seen Les Claypool and decide to go see the Icicle Ball tour, you just may get dragged into the mosh zone. On the other hand, Lake Trout may have you in such a pleasurable trance that you can't come down. By the end of the month you may be dabbling in a friend's business. While you may enjoy helping your pal sell bumper stickers and posters, he may not appreciate the fact that you pull down cake in wads while he struggles to make twenty bucks. While you beam with pride at your sales skills, you won't be selling Toyotas any time soon.

SAGITTARIUS(November 22nd-December 21st): What a great time for a birthday, huh? Always felt shafted by having your Birthday and Christmas lumped together, you say? I bet! While you may feel that cruel fate mocks you relentlessly, it's not so bad that you can't enjoy some tasty live reggae music to soothe jah soul. Steel Pulse is in town and you feel almost Jamaican as you rally 'round the red, gold, black, and green. You're luck is a little iffy this month, however, so keep an eye out for security when someone passes you the irie monster spliff.

CAPRICORN(December 22nd-January 20th): First impressions are big for you this month. Make sure you have an alluring stage presence and that you jam tough, or no one will show up in the nights to come. If you have a night off, go take in a show from the Big Wu for the first time. The first impression that these guys make on you is that they are a first rate group of guys that seem to love playing their friendly tunes for a happy crowd. Watch for a mid-month bummer that should fix itself by New Year's Eve, then party like it's 1999..no wait, that was a couple years ago. Sorry.

AQUARIUS(January 21st-February 18th): There is good news and there is bad news. Good outweighs the bad this time, though. The bad is the lame ass drive home to your 'rents place for the holidays. The fact that your tape deck breaks and you are forced to listen to the radio the entire snowy drive home has you angrier than a taper without a deck. However, you'll soon be at the All-Star Christmas Zambi-Jam and you can hardly wait. John Popper, Jimmy Herring, Derek Trucks, Col. Bruce Hampton, Oteil Burbridge, Warren Haynes, and many more will make this the musical event of the year. Damn, man. You are so stoked.

PISCES(February 19th-March 20th): You feel like some sort of twisted figure from a George Thoroughgood song this month. You find yourself drinking alone and drinking mostly burbon, scotch, and beer. It's rough for awhile. The psychedelic beacon of light funnels and twists down in crazy colors and patterns at the end of the long and pulsing tunnel, however. In other words, things look up by the end of the month. You are very pleasantly surprised by the smooth funk laid down by the Porterhouse Quartet. Their sax and organ groove has you jumping up and down. You beam from ear to ear, as happy as a child on Christmas morning. Jah bless us, everyone!