December's Astrological Forecast

Warrior Mars is active this month in idealistic Sagittarius. As we cross into not only a new year but also a new era, tread lightly and aim high.

DECEMBER PLANET REPORT: Tighten your seatbelts! With major aspect patterns forming at both the Full and New Moon, December will brim with an urgency to act as impatience grows with the current limitations. With Mars assuming a warrior-like position in Sagittarius, an exciting rollercoaster of a month with extraordinary events that began around mid-08 punctuating the festive season - can we keep the lid on the bubbling pot as we head toward the reckless Gemini Full Moon on the 13th at 05:38am(NZST). With so many unexpected distractions creating more work and delays, we’ll have greater control if we organise seasonal projects early so that we are ready for anything – mentally we might be all over the place as we try to keep on top of to-do lists and to meet the deadlines that are humming around in our heads. A highly idealistic Mars encourages optimism at this time but the emotional stress of the Full Moon provides a counter argument that tries to dampen any grand expectations. Issues that have built up over the past six months will require an intense period of negotiation, bargaining, cajoling, or even threatening to pull them off or sort them out! What it boils down to is very good communication and making sure you are on the same page as whoever you are dealing with. The written or spoken word has the biggest impact, so choose words with care - read the fine print and be clear about proposals – cool, clear logic will win over emotional displays so look for the counter-point of your own point of view to remain balanced. After the Grand Cross formation of the Full Moon, by month’s end there will be a total of six celestial bodies occupying conservative Capricorn and a New Moon in this sign occurring just before New Year (28th at 01:23am NZST). This signals a very cautious, somewhat pessimistic start to 2009 but also an underlying itch to create new structures so that we can move ahead. Develop flexible long-range plans to give a greater sense of security or accomplishment – Capricorn likes to feel it is achieving something and to stay still is as detrimental as moving too quickly. This New Moon, which also coincides with a new 2-yearly Mars cycle, also shows signs of great concentrations of energy and intensity. If we are aware of the tendency from mid-December to think in black and white terms we will have room to change and shift as we pick up on the moods and feelings of others or of the larger global trends. After the stress of the closing year, if you’ve got the energy to burn, this new cycle of activity can benefit from a boost of structured, purposeful input – with care, rebuilding can commence in practical and fiscal affairs but on a scale that is in line with our circumstances. On an everyday level, with the high-impact lunar aspects this month, take care on the roads this holiday season and keep an eye out for others. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

ARIES: December opens optimistically enough but with your ruler Mars involved in the New and Full Moon this month, it’s a time to tread carefully and to readjust your long range goals and work commitments as new developments come to hand. You will be quite surprised at what transpires and despite it being the holiday season, after the 22nd professional, public or parental issues become increasingly important. There are one or two people who will play walk-on roles in your life, and one will inflame while another is just as likely to urge you on to new heights. Caution is the key, but not so cautious that you end up paralysed by fear of making the wrong decision. Faith can be a big ally for some, while for others the sense of looking to the future by making plans to explore new territories is the guiding star.

TAURUS: This month’s Full Moon falls in your earnings zone and highlights financial issues that have been brewing over the last six months. Tying up the loose ends of a business, real estate or income-related deal is the order of the day but you need to make sure your thoughts follow logical steps rather than throwing in the towel at the last moment – you have put in a lot of hard graft over the past month so it would be a shame to spoil the foundations that you have been laying. Second or third parties involved in claims, settlements or loans may be overly emotional or concerned about numbers, facts and figures but you can get around this with your practical, orderly nature and by employing good negotiation skills and laying out a sound plan. Security is what it is all about when dealing with others.

GEMINI: Much of the celestial action in December falls around your sign with the Full Moon in Gemini on the 13th. In aspect to impatient, idealistic Mars, it will be hard to contain yourself and sudden conflict could flare up. Issues that arose six months ago may have flared up at last month’s New Moon and is now building to a culmination. With your tendency to say what you think, it will be all too easy to agitate others who have high expectations and are impatient to move on with projects and plans. The second half of December heralds in a new phase in shared finances. All that is lent, borrowed or shared will be highlighted. This will be a good time to lay down new structures with a good plan of action to save, budget, divide or spend money.

CANCER: Along with Capricorn, the celestial spotlight is focused around your sign this month with the Full Moon on the 13th being a highly reactive point. Occurring in a very private area of your chart, there’s a tendency now to want to retreat from the pressures of work and daily life just when the demands are greatest. Co-workers, employees, customers or service people may demand more or rub you up the wrong way but at least you have the holiday season to look forward to. Try to go the extra mile with a smile until then. Your relationships are also in focus – as they normally are at this time of year – and because this area will be sensitised as well, keep the lines of communication open and avoid second-guessing or presuming what others are up to, which could lead to unnecessary disputes. You may see friends and foes in a new light when a new chapter in relationships opens from the 28th.

LEO: The realm of babies and children will be the focus for some Lions this month while for others romance and love bubbles along in a very positive way. Be aware though that emotions will tend to run high as we run into obstacles after the first two weeks. More than other signs, you will weather the storms that are building up with the wobbly Full Moon on the 13th so remain positive and focussed despite the tendency for life to run at break-neck speed by mid-December. Work and health will be highlighted too and you may need to look after your well-being and avoid becoming run down. You will have plenty of time to think about changes to routine and diet in the year with the New Moon in this area occurring right in the heart of the holiday season. This time you will be very serious about carrying out your resolutions.

VIRGO: Family and home continue to dominate your personal life and there is the distinct possibly that many aspects will reach a culmination at this month’s Full Moon on the 13th. With more room to manoeuvre after this date, try to keep to a structured plan and work within boundaries and budgets and try to get as much signed, sealed and delivered by this date too as much can go awry after then. Mercury retrogrades in early January – not a good time to conduct business - and with the holiday season fast approaching, it will be difficult to get key people such as accountants and lawyers to handle your affairs. Professionally there may be sudden changes that catch you unawares and this creates a complete rethink of where you are heading both in life and job-wise. Visitors and unexpected disruptions make this an exciting if not stressful period.

LIBRA: Short trips, neighbours, siblings, writing projects and your communications in general are the focus for Librans up until the 13th when a spectacular Full Moon brings a climax to affairs that may have begun around six months ago. Communication is the key to working through blocked situations and being flexible whilst retaining boundaries is also very important. The second half of December brings the need to restructure home life and family affairs and you probably won’t be able to move on until the 28th when a New Moon in Capricorn signals a fresh but somewhat lean start. Whittling away at the dead wood and setting goals and priorities is the best way to tackle the rather stern energy of the new era that is coming into being. Old-fashioned values and a down-to-earth style will become all the rage in 2009.

SCORPIO: This month’s Full Moon occurs in your finance house and brings not only what has started in the last two weeks to a rather spectacular culmination but also any dealings you have had since mid-2008. It’s been a tricky path that we’ve all followed since this time but last month’s late New Moon signalled a step forward in your earning potential. Savvy Scorpio’s will hopefully be putting their best foot forward to secure that raise or cash in on other money-making ventures and getting paid what they are worth. You will get true results in about six month’s time so aim for long-range goals rather than short term solutions. The second half of December is just as interesting as the first but the focus shifts to intellectual projects, neighbours, siblings and short trips. Whatever you undertake then requires research and diligence and a lot of word power.

SAGITTARIUS: Happy Birthday Sagittarius! Most of you - but especially those born around the 13th - have some grand challenges to tackle as this month’s Full Moon triggers off a whole avalanche of issues that will certainly alter what you are currently doing. Where other people and your relationships are concerned, a culmination of what began around mid-2008 is likely to occur. Preparing to bring things to a natural conclusion will put you in the driver’s seat; however, it’s the twists and turns of fate that will be the x-factor in determining outcomes – so much can happen now. Keeping communication lines open and being flexible in your own thinking can minimise disruptions to deals and negotiations, pacts and agreements. Commitment is a word that is elusive now but after the 22nd life will tend to move very quickly and financial, property or business related matters will be on the front burner. Rest assured that a lot of pressure will lift and that you will be in a new cycle of activity as the year opens.

CAPRICORN: Without a doubt by the end of the month your sign will be in the celestial spotlight! With six planets occupying the sign of the Goat at the New Moon, you will be more inclined to look to the future than you have for some time. So much of your personal life is awakening now that despite the scene of gloom and doom, you are actually in a prime position to draw up new ground rules for some concerted action. Whatever you do, movement and change is what you crave, and with the New Year just around the corner, what better time to make a positive start. Life is not without challenges though so there are few guarantees that this will be easy journey, however, going with the flow whilst taking heed of signals and continually adjusting your strategies will ensure you inch toward new goals and hopefully a new you who is more in control and ready for action in 2009.

AQUARIUS: What an end to your personal solar year. Coinciding as it does with the New Year, the last month of your birthday cycle puts you in a perfect position to realign yourself by taking time to pursue private activities after the 22nd. A quieter festive season than usual, there are any number of reasons why you might withdraw to a place of solitude. Rest and recuperation could be part of this picture, or you may be drawn to meditative activities as a counterpoint to the end of year stress. Dreams and your inner life are very revealing now. The first half of the month highlights the realm of children and events in this area could trigger off issues that are intensely emotional but which require good communication. And whether this is through a pregnancy, your own, a step or a friend’s child, try to work through the complicated emotions with your famed logical approach to life. You will be amazed at the breakthroughs that will set you on a new course.

PISCES: Vacillation and high expectations may encourage you to avoid committing to the many professional or parental obligations that are being thrown at you as December begins. Since the first half of the month will be particularly volatile this could be a good thing as changes could upset the carefully stacked apple cart. After the 22nd though, friends and allies encourage you to follow personal dreams and goals or to join a team, band or group that can give you a greater sense of structure. You might also be drawn to activities that give you a feeling of achievement rather than simply floundering in indecision. The New Moon on the 28th ushers in a new six monthly cycle in your society-related affairs making the latter half of December/early January a perfect time to lay social foundations for the new year.

November 2008

Life's options may appear to be narrow now but there is adventure ahead as we move into a new era

NOVEMBER PLANET REPORT: The skies are busy this November not just with planets changing signs from mid-month but because there are major astro-themes unravelling in the bigger scheme of things. This is definitely a time to go with the flow of activity since new structures are being carved out that will define the period up until 2025. Being observant and accepting of the need to change gears will keep us alert to the opportunities that often get missed in times of fear and negativity, however, there are few soft options and all require diligence and attendance. After the deadlocks of the 4th, a quickening in the form of short, sharp events will catapult us into new realms around the 28th when Uranus turns direct - be vigilant by anticipating the areas of your life that are most vulnerable. Currently being opposed by Capricorn ruler, Saturn, there is a polarisation to this aspect where law and order and chaos exist side by side. In Virgo, the tiniest detail is under the microscope as Saturn prompts us to examine and analyse facts, figures and the “health” of our intentions and actions, whether personally or globally. Uranus baulks at this kind of scrutiny - as he does to any kind of restriction - so there is a tendency now to feel squeezed by having to account and take stock; this is a time of wanting to play one’s own game rather than be controlled by the powers that be and until the 27th, we will tend to internalise outward changes but then this energy will manifest in real terms - Uranus will urge us to throw off any attempts to control or regulate in the old way and yet there is something that harks back to earlier times. This cycle began back in late 1987-1988 with the first square occurring in 1999-2000 and now we reach the midpoint, which is generally a time of stress. Simultaneously, Pluto crosses the very sensitive Solstice degree joining Jupiter in corporate Capricorn on the 27th. After nearly 13 years in zealous, extravagant, high-minded Sagittarius this marks the end of one era and the beginning of another in the world of conservation and capitalism. Pluto has already ventured briefly into Capricorn between January and June 2008 and we are already seeing some of the effects of this significant transit combined with Saturn/Uranus via the crumbling walls of our financial system, but now Pluto returns to tenant Capricorn on a fulltime basis until 2025 - this is where new cosmic roots are taking hold that will define the coming years. As we pass from one age into another, the trick is to shift one’s thinking rather than hold on to the old way of doing business and it all starts now. The Full Moon occurs on the 13th in Taurus at 19:18pm (NZST) and will provide a shining light amidst the doom and gloom, however, take care that what you see is what you are get. The New Moon occurs on the 28th at 5:56am (NZST) and highlights the importance of walking the talk. Communication will account for everything then. The Sun travels into Sagittarius on the 22nd at 11:44am (NZST).

ARIES: Being a Cardinal sign, along with early-born Cancerians, Librans and Capricorns, you are in the spotlight with Pluto’s sign change on the 27th (NZST). For those of you born in the first couple of days of Aries, a significant shift in life-direction, career, public status, vocation or parental matters is written in the stars from this month and will unfold over the next year or so. You have already had a taste of this between June and January but this phase settles into a permanent feature and is the beginning of a long journey that will give you the chance to get down to the bare bones of your life. Some of this change will be self-generated and some will be via events and people who bring the change. You may also feel great tension within your work and health sphere too but once the Sun and Mercury move into Sag from the 22nd (NZST), you’ll look at the big picture more philosophically. Travel, educational or publishing ventures get off to a brand new start on the 28th (NZST).

TAURUS: Pluto is hardly gentle when it manifests in one’s life but you are better placed than most to withstand the great changes that are upon all of us when Pluto crosses the ultra-sensitive Solstice degree on the 27th (NZST). Entering your zone of wider territories and possibilities, advanced learning, publishing or publicity ventures, this is the time to willingly grasp hold of the opportunities to rewrite your destiny. Whether you are thinking of packing your suitcase or whether you simply rise above the lay of the land so that you can conduct a survey, you need to willingly get out of your own way and allow the magic carpet ride to begin. Secret beliefs surface now and since Pluto exposes what lies underneath, you may be surprised at how your life aligns so that you can express your heartfelt feelings. A major overhaul of your spiritual life could be the result. You may feel your son, daughter or a child close to you is on another planet right now as they swing from one extreme to other - handle their needs with equal amounts of freedom and responsibility.

GEMINI: Whilst the Cardinal signs are sitting on the brink of change, you on the other hand can heave a sigh of relief as Pluto moves out of opposite sign Sagittarius and into Capricorn. Thirteen years is a long time to have had Pluto in your relationships zone producing hotspots of intensity with other people at various points. From now you will be required to regenerate or renegotiate the structures of your money, assets and resources that you have in common with second and third parties (especially those born in the first days of Gemini). From child support to tax to mortgages or credit cards, Pluto requires drastic changes to the way your financial life is set up. Of course, money can come in the other way too - you may receive an inheritance or gift, or you may borrow for the first time. Whatever the circumstances, there’s an underlying power that will require a great deal of thought and responsibility for what you receive, share or give.

CANCER: Great changes are afoot that will redefine your relationships and intensify your interactions with others. With Jupiter already in this zone, you may have briefly connected with someone who will become more important during the next year. Emotionally, you play for high stakes and invest yourself 100 percent in people who grab your attention however there will be something quite different about this particular liaison as there is a cool quality that is quite intriguing. Friend or foe, current or ex, situations will require even more investment and you may need to adopt a high-minded and philosophical approach. Mars continues to stimulate your creativity until the 16th (NZST) and self-expression is a top priority whether through artistic ventures or romantically. You may also find yourself in the headlines for some reason. The Full Moon on the 13th (NZST) underlines friendships and team activities, whilst the New Moon on the 28th (NZST) helps work or health issues move into a new phase.

LEO: Moving, redecorating, taking in a flatmate or saying goodbye to one, the focus is squarely on your home and domestic life until mid-November. A great time to get ready for the festive season or summer holidays in the southern hemisphere, channel your energy into cleaning up and revitalising. Get rid of the rubbish that clogs the garage or basement especially around the 12th (NZST) when a sudden event or opportunity arises that moves your home life into a new phase – be prepared for anything then. A health or work issue requires special attention too, especially one that has been slowly developing over the course of 2008 – everything is likely to intensify by the end of the November and will continue to do so over 2009. Financially, you have been feeling the squeeze but hopefully you are drawing up new budgets or readjusting spending or looking to increase your earning potential. This financial aspect of your life will continue to be important for quite some time and around the 13th (NZST) something will come to a full-gone conclusion so that you can move on and live within your means.

VIRGO: With Saturn opposing Uranus from your sign until the 19th (NZST), is it any wonder you are all over the place with the many areas of your life coming to a peak this month? This long-haul aspect that began back in 1988/89 will come and go in effect over the next two years and what transpires this month will reveal a signature of events that will give you clues as to how this transit will unfold. Physically, this transit has a strong bearing on your body and can be a taxing time so be sure to get plenty of good food and rest. With so many dimensions of your life undergoing restructure between now and July 2010, take considered steps that take the future into account. Seek professional advice in whatever department you feel necessary because others can help you form a picture so that you have the correct structures in place. On a self-expressive level so much is evolving and some of you may connect with the artist within while others will have experiences with children in a completely new way.

LIBRA: Pluto’s move into Capricorn on the 27th will already be having a profound impact on Libran’s lives, especially those born in the first day or two. Shifting the most personal realm of your life such as your home base, family or parental issues, you will become increasingly aware of one or all of these areas from this month. The first degree of Libra (where the Spring Equinox occurs) is a pivotal point that allows a rush of energy in whenever a planet aspects it, and because Pluto is a heavyweight representing the depths and the mysteries in one’s life, this transit will be far from trivial. A 15-year span of completion, there will be many aspects of your life that you will settle and find closure with, and what affects one family member will have an impact on everyone else. Deal with past issues as they come up and release the energy in a productive manner.

SCORPIO: The way you speak, write or communicate your ideas and thoughts is about to undergo a subtle but radical overhaul that will take up 15 years to develop. You have already experienced an increase in activity in this area with Jupiter expanding your mindset since last December, but when Pluto moves into this zone on the 27th (NZST), a whole new world will open up that builds upon the new intellectual structures that are already in motion. Leaving no stone unturned, your mind will operate with precision and depth and whether you are taking up a new study, increasing your knowledge informally, or simply learning through a sibling, there is little that escapes your attention. Short trips can have a profound impact too, or you may become involved with neighbours on a completely different level. November is the month to power through life making the necessary adjustments that will usher in this new cycle.

SAGITTARIUS: By the time your birthday month begins on the 22nd (NZST), you will be ready to move onward and upward. Say goodbye to transforming Pluto who leaves your sign on the 27th having occupied Sag for the last 13 years. Just look back at this era to see how radically things have changed on such a personal level for you – there are sure to have been many alterations in your outlook and beliefs, and even physically you may look completely different having gained or lost a lot of weight for example. And now that this physical change is over, Pluto will begin work on the financial side of your life, which looks set to undergo a radical overhaul. Sweeping changes in the way you earn a living, control your cash, treat your possessions, or value your time, energy and skills will affect the years to come. And because the world is such a different place, now is the time to think long-term about how you will structure your financial and material security. Letting go as well as allowing new energy to enter your life will make this journey tremendously exciting. Your personal New Moon on the 28th (NZST) is bound to shift your thinking.

CAPRICORN: While the other Cardinal signs will be experiencing the power of Pluto from the 27th, it is your sign that he is moving into and this means that great change is on the way that will radically alter your outlook, physical wellbeing, and perspective. You are probably already experiencing a need to measure the value of everything you do but from this month you will become even more obsessed with the depth of your experiences. Capitalise on the new structures that are forming by taking your activities to even deeper levels – it’s a time of intense exploration and for slowly opening Pandora’s mysterious box so that you can understand your life on a very meaningful level. And even if you come face to face with life’s bigger questions, it will help if you can go with the flow of whatever is taking place. Take the power and run with it. May the force be with you!

AQUARIUS: The inner you is about to undergo a subtle change that begins this month and will occur in stages over the next 15 years. Pluto is all about gradual change and whilst we will all experience its power in some form or another, for Water Bearers it means coming face to face with the part of your makeup that can only surface in sleep, meditation, contemplation or through being away from public life. Increasingly, you may find yourself drawn to reflective moments and past-times and retreating from the busyness of routine from time to time to work through the past or some aspect of your inner programming. Profound insights can be the result. For a very few, this could also mean having more to do with large institutions either voluntarily or through circumstance, while for others secret activities will become an important part of your life. This can also be a time when skeletons surface or mysteries are unveiled.

PISCES: The realm of friendships and socialising is about to undergo a radical change that will deeply affect how you network or mingle with others. In stages and over the next 15 years, whatever happens on your social circuit is sure to impact on you by altering your hopes and fears and emphasising the goals that you set for yourself that are distinct from career or profession. People come and people leave making you realise that life is an ever-changing wheel of fortune. Some people will affect you by the depth of feeling that forms between you, while others will act in ways that break the bonds that you thought were there for good; in this respect, it’s a matter of moving with the changes or giving up the link altogether. It’s all about moving with the chemistry and setups and looking beyond appearances. You may also throw yourself wholeheartedly into group activities where you discover your own power as well as the power of numbers.

October's Astrological Forecast

A lavender field that we recently visited in Provence, South France

OCTOBER PLANET REPORT: The opening weeks of October reveal that Mercury has settled into a retrograde motion that began on September 24th through Libra, the sign of balance and correction. A Libran New Moon followed on September 29th further highlighting the theme of adjustment, co-operation and compromise that will culminate in a Full Moon on October 15th in decisive, take-charge Aries at 09:03am (NZST). Keeping in mind that life is always about personal circumstances and what one has been doing, New Moons are a great way to kick-start the month as they almost always guarantee that something will shift so that a new six-monthly cycle can begin (culminating in April 2009). Having begun its three-monthly retrograde motion on September 24th Mercury will again loop-the-loop and turn direct on October 16th - mark this date as a forward-moving pivotal point when things can begin to return to an even keel – best to leave any major decision-making until then as information will surface that changes our perceptions. With Mars also travelling through Libra until the 4th, it is little wonder we are so indecisive and keen to seek out other people’s opinions and comments in an effort to weigh the pros with the cons. Once Mars moves into deep-meaning Scorpio on the 4th, however, the mood changes and we will become more guarded about those personal affairs that require a single-minded approach, preferring to work stealthily and in private. We might also react with more emotion than usual to perceived threats. The natural secrecy of investigative Scorpio gives us a chance to dig deep and draw on all our emotional resources and attributes so that situations can be turned around and changed into something substantial. Despite Venus moving into open-minded Sagittarius on the 19th and bringing a little joie-de-vivre and carefree abandon, the Sun moving into Scorpio on the 23rd at 2:10pm (NZST) brings back a further cloak of secrecy and intrigue - best to read between the lines, peek behind the curtains and trust your intuition when dealing with important people and situations. Great changes can be made but action taken needs to be transparent and fair. Avoid promising in the heat of the moment more than can be delivered. At month’s end, a New Moon on October 29th at 12:13pm also in Scorpio signals an intense cycle of emotional activity that needs channelling constructively as November begins. Up until October 16th, remain on the sidelines and use the chaos of Mercury retrograde time to get personal affairs into order before the Christmas rush. Plan and budget and keep to realistic goals this year. Jupiter promises some stability if we are practical, prudent and pragmatic.

ARIES: Mercury is out of sorts in your opposite sign Libra until the 16th making this a time of indecision in relationships. Sit tight Aries and wait for the pieces to fall into place from mid-month. Rein in your impatience and instead review, revise and reconsider your arrangements so that a plan of action can be implemented in the last months of 2008. The Full Moon of the 15th (NZST) signals a time of culmination, and events that began around your birthday month will reach a peak. Shared assets, resources and finances are undergoing a period of intense scrutiny too but by mid-November you will once again be moving upwards and onwards. Try to keep your perspective around the end of October when the New Moon makes intense feelings and situations even more intense.

TAURUS: Work and health issues are up in the air with a multitude of options, decisions and arrangements to make. It’s a good thing you have Jupiter and Saturn on your side to even out the turbulence and with practical hindsight you can make informed choices. With so many planets moving through your opposite sign Scorpio throughout October you will be a veritable Jekyll and Hyde as you work through relationship issues with someone who is magnetic and charismatic but also capable of moving and shaking your life in no uncertain terms. If you are relying on workmates or tradespeople, you may find they are harder to pin down than usual so agreements can tend to come unstuck now – get everything down on paper. Somehow, delays can stop you making the wrong decision.

GEMINI: Despite your ruling planet Mercury being out of action until the 16th, you can enjoy a little respite with the younger members of your household or social circle. You can also take time out to enjoy yourself and have a little fun. Movies or get togethers, art trails or taking a short courses with like-minded people are great ways to satisfy your intellectual restlessness. Expressively and creatively, you are onto a winner when you grab hold of insights and ideas - which come thick and fast - and actually apply them. Might be a good idea to carry a notebook or camera around with you so that when you find yourself in a busy situation, you won’t forget the details later. Underlying this, day to day affairs and routines are subject to the volatile and intense nature of the people you meet. Someone will have their own way of doing things that will tend to dictate your schedule.

CANCER: Between now and November, try to rethink the way your home runs or how your family communicates – make lists if need be. Something is out of kilter here but with the benefit of hindsight, you can get on top of unbalanced situations if you look for the opposite approach, response or action to what you have been doing up. Your love life looks promising from the 4th when passionate Mars moves into the most expressive area of your chart. If there has been a burning issue between you and a loved one, now is the time to gently broach the subject or to let things go for the time being. Mars can be extreme so we all need to remain open and flexible but willing to follow a charted course. Your creativity is also boosted now so channel your deeper emotions into a positive expression or extension of yourself.

LEO: There will be a build up of energy in the family and domestic zone of many Leos charts from the 4th and if you can allow your feelings to dissipate before tackling intense situations, you can divert the likelihood of dramas. Being aware that you may be more sensitive than usual to people’s vibes, actions or moods means you can anticipate which areas will push your buttons and create problems. Going for kill could have repercussions so put on your big pussycat act and see how the attention is lavished on you. There are many ways to skin a cat and now is the perfect time to shed the old layers and bring about a fresh start. Communication projects that involve writing, speaking or listening will take a turn for the better after the 16th. In preparation for this, work ideas through and reach a balanced perspective.

VIRGO: Like Taurus, despite the appearance of difficult global financial times, there is an underlying sense of stability with the Earth signs that won’t become apparent until further down the track. Work to consolidate and straighten out, taking a loss or making a profit with the view that you could be looking at a worse-case scenario than you are. It’s all in the structuring and keeping within sensible guidelines that will see practical people through the current turbulence. From the 16th, facts and figures will be more reliable and financial issues will straighten out or, at the very least, you can conduct open discussions with the information that has come to light. October is the month to tidy up, sort out and basically get life into order so that you can enjoy the end of year wind-down without the usual panic.

LIBRA: With Mercury currently retrograde in your sign there is every reason to take a back seat as events and situations will unfold in their own good time. Why struggle against a tide that will turn when it is good and ready (Mercury goes direct on the 16th). At the moment, there’s every reason to review your lifestyle, appearance, physical health and public image rather than forge new inroads or assert yourself in the way you are used to. It’s been hard to rein yourself in but after the 4th it will be easier to apply the brakes and slow right down. Assertive, and occasionally aggressive, Mars moves out of your sign then and this will release the pressure you have found yourself under. Be kinder to yourself during your birthday month despite the desire to keep moving in the same direction.

SCORPIO: Mars moves into your sign on the 4th, a place where it feels very comfortable. Use the sense of ease, confidence and passion that is available to your sign to tackle those seemingly insurmountable heights or to plumb the depths of your feeling life. The delays and obstacles around you have meaning so it would be wise to pause and sense out what lies at the back of situations before pushing through the challenges. The seeds you sow now will show fruit in the future, especially after the 16th when the lines of communication begin to clear and you emerge from the darkness of the cocoon you have found yourself in. Your birthday time begins on the 23rd at 2:10pm marking a time of strength and renewal so clear the decks in the first part of October.

SAGITTARIUS: Mysterious October sees you ducking out sight to attend to confidential matters that you are keeping under wraps for your own reasons. Being the outgoing person you are, the people who know you well will notice this subtle change in your demeanour so be prepare yourself for inquisitive comments from them. There’s a tendency for someone somewhere to keep needling and digging for information. Friends from the past may reappear on your doorstep with interesting news. Financially, you have a subtle kind of luck on your side but it’s the sort that comes from having put in the hard yards at an earlier stage or of being able to capitalise on your talents and skills. As rusty or rough as they may be, work to polish and refine your capabilities or knowledge. From the 16th, you will be juggling children and friends, lovers and colleagues and by the 29th all will be revealed.

CAPRICORN: Directly applying your experiences and knowledge will be the best way to use the power of Jupiter in your sign. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding your trade, profession or career until the 16th but underlying all of the turbulence will be a stability and confidence that comes from knowing your stuff. Because of the new 12-year cycle that began last December, you have been out there in the world meeting people and getting first hand experience from life, but with four months left before Jupiter moves on, you still have time to put as much effort as you can to learn and experience even more. Now is the time to secure your place and put yourself firmly on the map. If you still feel you need something to round it all off, then book that course or take that trip.

AQUARIUS: From the 4th your professional life, goals and aims will be ignited and become increasingly hot issues as the month wears on. After the travel or educational aspects of September you are passionate about what you want to do with your time, energy and public profile and what better way than to channel your experience and skills into shaping and defining a new career or furthering a current one. After the 16th, you can rework and revise anything that has come unstuck or that needs to fit. With Mars powering through your career, lifestyle and life direction area, it will be the obstacles that people in authority put in your path that will prove the most interesting. With a little determination and lots of flexibility you can move mountains while avoiding reacting to the trivial and unnecessary comments, actions or ideas of others.

PISCES: Relationships have formed a big picture in your life over the last year. Whether it’s an on-again/off-again pairing or a long term liaison that is going through the mill, the next two months should bring some sense of stability or even a breakthrough. Listen to friends or the people in your groups as their age, experience or knowledge can offer a sound advice. In the meantime, keep going over the fine print in financial or material matters that you have in common with other people. Signing on the dotted line is best done after the 16th when our thoughts will be back on track. Do your homework and arm yourself with a balanced viewpoint until then. The New Moon at month’s end will bring some illuminating information with regard to travel, education, publishing or your belief system. Feel the fear and do it anyway!

July Astrological Forecast

I will be taking a break in July and August. Planet Report will return in October. See you then!

PLANET REPORT Sweet relief may be evident at the fertile, sensitive New Moon on the 3rd (NZT) that will favour families and domestic life and provide a positive emotional undertone; but as if life could not be any more contained, July is the month to work diligently and steadily toward your goals with realistic expectations. In June, Mars travelled through the sign of the Lion, where strength and animal instinct spurred us on creatively and with hope but in July Mars’ enthusiasm and confidence is cut short when he runs into economical Saturn between the 10th and 13th (NZT). Dominating the mood for the month, there will be hard-hitting challenges when Mars transits into critical, analytical Virgo on the 2nd (NZT). Immediately the boundless energy that was mustered up in Leo becomes constricted and cramped translating into a narrowing of energy and vitality and a microscopic awareness of details. Despite the hesitation and a cautious inclination that will be par for the course now, this sign change suggests that acting confidently in the outer world will be harder to do as there are so many variables. This phase is great for concise, specific, detail-oriented work because our outlook is that much more discerning and analytical, if not a touch critical of ourselves and others; however, consciously picking up on the positive qualities of Virgo’s discrimination bodes well for restructuring in the face of events and situations that slow us down to consider options very seriously. The upside is that we can adapt easily, spotting the cracks and weaknesses and therefore be in a better position to build reserves and plans to keep afloat. We can create new strategies with a much more streamlined, efficient use of resources, energy and time. And despite the feeling of cycling backwards, we can use the limited availability of outer resources to research and soul-search as much as possible – this is a “leave no stone unturned” aspect that will uncover all sorts of gems that would otherwise have gone amiss. Mercury clears its retrograde shadow on the 4th and transits into Cancer on the 11th – any activity that has taken place since May 15th will now become more transparent. Attachment to ideas in the face of obstacles, or feeling the need to act on ideas can tend to overwhelm practical thought so step back and count to ten if this happens. The New Moon in July occurs on the 3rd in Cancer at 2:20am (NZT) – a potent New Moon that draws family together and highlights convivial interactions suggests that we can find balm in the company of people who make us feel emotionally secure. The New Moon gives way to the Full Moon on the 18th in Capricorn at 8pm (NZT). By contrast, we will find many aspects of the material world reaching a peak then. The Sun transits into Leo on the 22nd at 10:56pm (NZT). July is a funny month where contradictory patterns are at work – where we will want to take it easy when life is just at its most demanding – it’s all a matter of relaxing within oneself despite the stress whilst attending to the urgent tasks with grace and flow rather than resistance to the obvious need for new patterns.

ARIES: With Mars joining Saturn in your health house, try to keep a watchful eye on diet and exercise this month. If you have allowed your standards to slip or you have been overworking yourself and not resting enough, this could result in a weakened immunity. You may either feel rundown or find you are susceptible to whatever is going around. Chances are your workload will be quite heavy and cannot be reduced and in this case try to work only on those tasks that are urgent or that will benefit from closer scrutiny, thoroughness or the setting up of systematic rituals. At home, there’s a lovely new beginning from the 3rd that brings everyone closer together. An offer may be accepted then or visitors flow through your doors. This, however, gives way to the Full Moon on the 18th (NZT) when professional or parental dilemmas reach a peak.

TAURUS: It’s time to take a child’s welfare, education or health more seriously as underlying situations become obvious. This is the point when constructive measures and procedures can be put in place but results will happen over time rather than overnight. Some of you may feel less spontaneous or creative resulting in a period of social isolation; however, time spent alone is time spent creatively and this is when seeds can be sown. A parent’s finances may require a rethink so seek professional advice from experts before acting. On another level, the effusive New Moon of the 3rd (NZT) brings a chance to take a short trip or various trips to visit a family member. Or there may be lots of emotionally bonding conversations. You can take a mental holiday by involving yourself in the care of a neighbour, brother, sister, or community project.

GEMINI: You have been in your element with Mercury in your sign bringing a variety of situations that have supplied you with lots of points of conversation – educationally you have learned different facts about the way the world around you operates. Speaking, writing and communicating with others have greatly increased, and the line up of different people has been quite amazing. July continues on in this vain until the 13th (NZT) when your ideas and thoughts take a dive into emotional waters. Home and family bring responsibilities between the 10th and the 13th requiring new boundaries to be drawn up. Negotiations may run into delays or you may need to do repairs to the home. The New Moon of the 3rd (NZT) signifies a financial start with even a windfall or bonus but use resources wisely since the Full Moon on the 18th (NZT) brings an economic reality check.

CANCER: Despite the harder cosmic patterns at play, your annual New Moon highlights all that is good in your life. As an antidote to the intellectual dryness of this period or the feeling of not quite knowing enough, keep in touch with the people who make you feel emotionally good about yourself. Conversation is hard work with people who expect too much so stick to those who connect on your level. There is something effusive and happy about your personality now that draws other people to you anyway so you won’t be short of company. The Full Moon in Capricorn on the 18th (NZT) brings a restrained influence on your relationships by contrast. How you approach delicate situations around the New Moon of the 3rd (NZT) will determine what results you get mid-month. It’s important to keep your emotional needs strictly in check to avoid overwhelming others.

LEO: Mars leaves your sign on the 2nd and also your sphere of personal self. After an energetic month of putting your stamp on your activities and establishing your identity in June, you are ready to cash in on your personal merits in July. The only thing holding you back from moving forward with financial schemes will be the fiscal tests and challenges you will encounter between the 10th and 13th (NZT) – some of these can create a stumbling block that requires fancy footwork to get around. Saturn in this area tends to bring feast or famine and it will be now that you discover whether you have what it takes or whether to pursue new directions. Take special care of the smaller details and the larger picture will fall into place. The New Moon of the 3rd (NZT) highlights your private activities and if you have been involved with large institutions where an outcome is pending, now is the time to chase them up.

VIRGO: Mars travels into your sign on the 2nd and straight into Saturn between the 10th and 13th. If you can make it through this trial period, you can handle anything! Restrained in your self-expression, you will be extra conscious of your surroundings and the impact you make upon others and it could feel you are sitting some kind of test or passing through a probationary period. Try to remember that your sign tends to be a perfectionist and that you are very good at putting pressure on yourself even when there is no one breathing down your neck. Aim high but go easy on yourself. This is the month to conserve your energy, which will tend to be low, and make the most of your waking hours, which will tend to be packed with obligations. This is a great month to forge new strategies and to nut out the details of projects and plans.

LIBRA: Professionally and publicly you are in the spotlight this month. Bedazzled by emotionally loaded dealings with two prominent people you could make decisions that lead to interesting changes in your home life around the 18th. A time of domestic and family culminations anyway, try to avoid committing to deals, negotiations or agreements that have too many variables and little clarity about the long term. In unavoidable situations get everything in writing. It’s an impulsive time for you now what with a New Moon on the 3rd (NZT) sparking off a new professional phase and your ruler sitting too close to the Sun to act with clear vision - better to wait for the pressure to ease off and then consider consequences than be burned later. It will be easier to embark on a new course from the 26th.

SCORPIO: The focus is on the groups in your life and whether they hinder or help you. Whether it be the friends you keep or the people you share activities with, there is something taking place that causes you to take stock and keep a distance. This could relate to a financial matter that has required time to clarify. The best you can do at this time is to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the facts or figures, which should now be emerging. If you are involved in higher education, travel issues, philosophical seeking or simply connecting with others via the internet, you can begin to detach from the emotions that these activities may have triggered recently. The Full Moon on the 18th (NZT) brings a close to an issue with a neighbour, brother or sister or with regard to commuting, driving or walking short distances.

SAGITTARIUS: You may feel restricted by your professional or public circumstances so try to adopt a Zen-like approach when dealing with officialdom. Attend to the small details that you would normally baulk at. Developing patience will lead to a better sense of order which in turn will lead to qualities that you can use further down the track. Become a specialist rather than taking shortcuts. We are all feeling squeezed in some area of our lives right now and it’s all about learning to live with guidelines, boundaries and structures that can support us in the long run. A fresh cycle begins with resources, money and property that you share with others who are directly or indirectly connected such as banks. This is a good time to draw up agreements and pacts that will lead to a decision by the Full Moon of the 18th (NZT).

CAPRICORN: Life is a learning curve this month that will frustrate you but ultimately lead to better understanding! Travel plans, studies, belief systems or internet activities require a focused approach that requires time and energy. Little is gained quickly this month so prepare to research, do things over again until they are just right or put something aside to come back to once you have digested its deeper meaning. It’s easy to become discouraged or critical of yourself, others or what you are doing but with passion and a little determination you can break through the obstacles. This is the half way point of your birthday year and with this comes a new cycle in relationships on the 3rd (NZT) that will lead to a personal decision around the 18th when you attempt to take back control of a situation that began six months ago.

AQUARIUS: The heat you experienced in relationships last month cools dramatically this month as you go head to head with someone over shared resources, property and finances. Try taking an old-school approach since it’s time to find practical if not more traditional ways to handle your debit and credit departments. Nut out the details with second and third parties so that any murky areas are more transparent and ideas, facts and setups are reflected in the figures, which mean everything in this era of tidying up. Pride could get in the way from the 22nd so attend to details before then. Work will become a sensitive point from the 3rd and life brings some interesting coincidences with money. If you want to plan ahead take into account that changes and culminations will be occurring this month (between the 3rd and 18th) that impact not only on work but also health.

PISCES: An arm’s length may be needed with someone you are closely involved with this month as practical issues press to be addressed. It will be difficult to see the wood for the trees as we are all so close to our own lives at this time. For Fish, issues of a more serious nature have been brewing for some while in your interactions – whether they be intimate or professional - and when Mars joins Saturn on the 10th an older person’s insight or advice should be considered seriously. Fear of the unknown should not keep you from acting however it’s time to act with smaller, more careful steps. On a lighter note there is fun and celebration in the air from the 3rd.

June Astrological Forecast

June is the month to slow down and allow new ideas and information to surface.

Photo Copyright T. Campbell, Sydney

PLANET REPORT: The emphasis throughout June is on communications, facts, figures, ideas and details. The written or spoken word (letters, emails, calls and faxes) takes on added meaning and checking the fine print, keeping records, clarifying details, wording contracts carefully and reconfirming bookings and appointment times will save time, money and energy as there are bound to be cancellations, mix-ups and misunderstandings. Mercury, the messenger of the gods, turns retrograde on May 27th (NZT) and even though it will remain out of sorts until June 20th at 02:32am (NZT), the consequences or results of what takes place are likely to linger until July 4th (NZT). Life always takes its own curious course during these retrograde times, and events are bound
to turn up that veer us in completely new directions. Information also surfaces that changes our perspective and makes our initial viewpoint redundant. If travelling be sure to label luggage as clearly as possible, take out insurance and allow plenty of time to get from one place to the next - transport disruptions such as strikes tend to happen more during these phases than at any other time. Despite all this, June is the month to tackle writing projects as there is an increase in creativity, sort out filing systems and attend to paperwork - out of chaos comes order now if we go with the flow. We can see life from an unusual vantage point or meet and greet people who are vastly different or are from the past and that's why this can be a very interesting time. Lunar activity is closely tied to
Mercury this month beginning with the New Moon of the 4th (NZT) in Gemini emphasising relationships and the balance of input/output between people and we may need to be less one-eyed and biased as we head toward the highly idealistic Full Moon on the 19th (NZT). Emotions combined with a strong sense of truth and justice makes us vulnerable to black and white thinking. Keeping as broadminded as possible, whilst being guarded and mindful of what we say is the key. The Mercurial influences at play now in thinking and communications could lead to the spread of inaccurate information which then leads to bigger consequences over the next six months. Venus travels into Cancer on the 18th (NZT) casting a sentimental hue on relationships and she is followed by the Sun into Cancer at midday on the 21st marking the beginning of a very intense and significant new quarter. Issues of power and control are on the increase during the next three months.

ARIES: Follow your instincts this month rather than becoming confused by too many facts. There are many sides to negotiations - which seem plentiful - and you have until the 21st before the energy shifts to your home life and all will be revealed. Until then it is better to bide your time before committing to a deal, presenting or publishing a writing project, or when dealing with a neighbour, aunt, uncle, brother or sister. Rewrite or rethink the intricate details of whatever you are involved with because the further you delve the more you will find out that will alter your thinking. Indulge your passions this month. A child or loved one will be surprisingly inspirational.

TAURUS: Tap into your own self-worth and what you value rather than try to analyse, second-guess or out-think others on a financial level. Take from the differing points of view only what is relevant to your own situation or risk being overpowered by too many facts, choices or opinions thereby weakening your position. Your ruler Venus is under the Sun's beams as June begins making this a time when much is hidden from view. Wait until you can see past the glare before taking action (from the 20th). The Full Moon of the 19th (NZT) highlights everything you share, own, owe or are owed. Life then will be a condensed version of what you have been doing during the past six months in relation to claims and settlements and other people's money, resources and assets.

GEMINI: The action is squarely around your sign this month. Not only is it your birthday but Mercury, your ruler, will travel through its own sign Gemini in retrograde motion and with a New Moon taking place close by, it is all systems go. This multi-faceted act will throw all routine, practicality, rhyme or reason into the air and the only way you can tame this energy is by allowing it to play itself out. With the obscurity of many facts, situations and dilemmas, you are better waiting until the end of June to chart a new course for your birthday year. With so many variables that will culminate in an action packed Full Moon on the 19th (NZT) you are bound to find this the most interesting month if not year ahead.

CANCER: What takes place behind closed doors is most significant now but you need to take special care to keep what you know or do to yourself if you are not ready to unveil what is happening. Information has a curious way of coming to light and either you will discover something or have something revealed about you. Direct your energy back into your own security either through working harder and longer, or by becoming impassioned once again about a financial or business project. This will stop idleness turning into trouble. The Full Moon of the 19th (NZT) portends a big upheaval in your relationships clearing the way for your birthday year on the 21st. How this plays out will depend on attitude and what you have been doing.

LEO: With Mars travelling through your sign in June you are in your element as a mover and a shaker. A powerhouse of energy, take the lead and direct your considerable influence into motivating others and inspiring them to achieve by showing them how to tackle life with flair and passion. Since there are two versions of life happening now, this can also be a time when situations become overheated and something needs to give - with Mercury stirring up the melting pot, words are weapons now and people's perceptions can be a little warped, especially in the friendship and group sector, so tread warily as the Full Moon on the 19th (NZT) approaches and feelings intensify. You can make a powerful impression through your handling of the situation.

VIRGO: Sharing your ruler as you do with Gemini, you are in good company when it comes to the chaotic influences that Mercury's retrograde motion will bring over the next four weeks. All is good though as these phases tend to bring such a flurry of activity that you end up attending to all the tasks that you have been putting off or never get the time to do. There is a quickening now that alters moods, perceptions and motor skills and this will play itself out in the realms of your career or parents. Take care in all your dealings as much is obscured from view and it's best to leave reactions or decisions until after the 20th (NZT). The Full Moon then brings intense experiences with children or in romance.

LIBRA: If you are a travelling Libran reconfirm all your arrangements. From your luggage to your accommodation, there is the potential for things to go awry at the last moment. For stay-at-homes, life is unusually interesting as new realms of thought open up through far-ranging and varied meetings and experiences. This leads to looking at the big picture of your life in a way that is not often possible. Publishing and internet ventures also pose peculiar results or experiences and this is a good time to revise or renew connections. The Full Moon of the 19th (NZT) shakes up family members and home life and highlights any property ventures that are coming to a conclusion.

SCORPIO: Mysterious Scorpios are in their element with the intriguing information that surfaces in relation to joint finances, assets and resources. This is a good time to take stock and consolidate rather than expose yourself to risk - this may happen as a natural course of action or as a result of discussions, letters and emails with debtors and creditors or co-investors. Everything will tend to come at once now but the end result will be a clean slate and a fresh new future. In the public eye more than usual, hold your head high and take pride in your accomplishments. Use words carefully around the Full Moon of the 19th (NZT).

SAGITTARIUS: With your annual Full Moon occurring on June 19th (NZT) prepare yourself for encounters and experiences that will test every ounce of metal and tax a lot of your physical resources and reserves. This can be in very positive ways, it's just the intensity of what you have to do that will make the impact - life will be experienced in a condensed version so that matters can come to a conclusion. Once this occurs, you will feel free to move on or continue to build up what you are left with. Look back six months and you will see that the energy has been building since then. Choose your advisors and confidantes with care and keep information to yourself until it is verified.

CAPRICORN: Your own or someone else's health, respite care or medical issues may crop up for Goats during the lead up to the Full Moon in Sagittarius from the 4th to the 19th (NZT). At the very least you will find yourself dealing with consultants such as dentists or optometrists perhaps for second or third opinions. If this is the case, you might wait until after the 20th before proceeding as this is when the confusions clears. Arms, shoulders and hands may be prone to aches and pains so keep warm and take care. Whatever the state of play in your wellbeing, this is a good time to think twice about bad lifestyle habits or reinforcing good ones. Clear up the desk and get life into order.

AQUARIUS: What fun life will be for lucky Aquarians who seem to be the best placed this month. If you are in the mood to take time out, June is the month to celebrate, plan a celebration or simply live life to the fullest with loved ones and children. Doing something unusual will suit you right down to the ground so plan something different such as a night on the town, following an art trail, going to the movies or indulging your own artistic ideas. Alternatively, if you are hit with writers block, let the structure go and loosen timetables. Other people will feel an increase in imagination so that creation in word or art comes easily. A child-related issue such as a birth, pregnancy or adoption may be on the cards.

PISCES: The flow of cosmic energy through your home and property zone is anything but smooth. Some of you may be in the throes of moving while others find contracts and arrangements in relation to tenancies or offers are changed mid-stream. Commitment or firm decisions are hard to come by and everyone has an opinion or an idea that they want to implement - finding a middle ground won't happen until later on in June when it all falls into place. Professionally this is also a time when changes and clashes are afoot so play it safe and put on your best performance unless you are actively seeking to find an alternative playing field. Life becomes easier after the 20th (NZT).