Steve Braunias: Secret 2017 horoscopes, part two

Steve Braunias predicts your future with incredible accuracy, possibly. Photo / 123RF

CANCER (June 22-July 23)

Consider this Aesop's fable. "One day a Dog was carrying home a piece of meat in his mouth. He had to cross a plank lying across a running brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth, the piece of meat dropped into the water. The current swept it away." Your path in 2017 will depend on whether you regard the fable as a warning about greed - or a comment on your intelligence.

LEO (July 24-August 22)

Things could get a little hairy in 2017, as this Aesop's fable illustrates. "Once there was a middle-aged bigamist who had one Wife who was old and one who was young. His hair was turning grey, which the young Wife didn't like, as it made him look too old to be her husband; so every night she picked out his white hairs. But the elder Wife saw her husband growing grey with great pleasure, because she didn't want to be mistaken for his mother; so every morning she picked out his dark hairs. The consequence was the Man soon found himself entirely bald." Are you one of the self-obsessed Wives, or old Baldie, at the mercy of others?

VIRGO (August 23-September 22)

Read this Aesop's fable as a map of 2017. "A Dog looking out for its afternoon nap jumped into the manger of an Ox and lay there cosily upon the straw. But the Ox came to its Manger and wanted to eat some of the straw. The Dog was enraged to be woken up. It barked at the Ox, and attempted to bite it, until the Ox gave up trying to get the straw. It muttered, 'We often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves." So true. Is there a Dog like that in your life? You know damn well there is. The straw could be property, or workplace politics; ponder your next move.

LIBRA (September 23-October 23)

Aesop sometimes got very dark. "A Tortoise desired to change its place of residence, so he asked an Eagle to carry him to his new home, promising her a rich reward for her trouble. The Eagle agreed and seizing the Tortoise by the shell with her talons soared aloft. On their way they met a Crow, who said to the Eagle, 'Tortoise is good eating'. The Eagle replied, 'But the shell is too hard.' The Crow said, 'Rocks will soon crack the shell.' The Eagle dropped the Tortoise on a sharp rock, and the two birds flew down for a hearty meal." God almighty. That's a bit rough. Be careful what you wish for in 2017.

SCORPIO (October 24-November 22)

The meaning of this Aesop's fable may not appear to be immediately obvious but all will be revealed in the second half of the year. "A Fisherman took his bagpipes to the bank of a river, and played upon them with the hope of making the fish rise. It didn't work. So he cast his net into the river and it filled with fish. Then he played his bagpipes again, and this time the fish leapt up in the net. 'Ah, you dance now when I play,' he said. 'Yes,' said an old Fish. 'When you are in a man's power you must do as he bids you.'" Gender politics. The river's edge. The potency of cheap music. Fatal attraction. Are you getting the picture?

SAGITTARIUS (November 23-December 22)

Some of Aesop's fables go on and on; some are short and to the point. But what's the point of this one? "A Camel Driver asked the animal which he would like best, to go up hill or down hill. The poor beast replied, 'Why do you ask me? Is it that the level way through the desert is closed?'" It's a riddle and there are multiple possible answers. Your life will depend on approaching it from every angle. Travel is one of the central elements and it could well be that respect for local customs will play a key role. Likely destinations: Dubai, Utah, Waiouru.

• The secret 2017 horoscopes part one