November 2011

PLANET REPORT: Live life as creatively as possible in November! This mindset will provide the antidote to the confusion and uncertainty that will punctuate the weird and wonderful days ahead of the festive season. It will be a colourful journey but there are perils that we need to be alert to as our energy slumps and decision-making abilities stutter.

Right up until December 11th - when the second of two eclipses across Gemini and Sagittarius pass – look at life as an exotic marketplace in a land where the language is hard to understand and where the sights and sounds overwhelm the senses. The colourful characters, situations and events that emerge this month will provide a tempting array of gaudy trinkets that look like the real deal but should be viewed with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. As Mars opposes a turning Neptune on the 10th, glance sideways but keep going from anything and anyone who comes bearing gifts! Accept very little at face value unless you are absolutely sure or you have consulted the travel guide; better yet wait until you have got to a safe vantage point in December before accepting, or making, offers, deals and decisions. The glamour can hide a multitude of underlying problems.

It is also possible to be lured by the opium den of addiction to situations and substances that prolong a myth or give a false sense of reality. Like any high, we have to come down at some point. This is a landing spot month where we would be better to fill our days with carefully selected activities to avoid the deflation or disappointment of high expectations. The Cup is on the mantelpiece and now we need to take stock of the future. Mars moves into Virgo on the 11th and will remain here until early July 2012 - an unusually long time for this faster moving planet. In Virgo, there is a massive clean up ahead physically, mentally and spiritually so check for signs and signals of what requires a healthy dose of cosmic Janola in the coming months.

In the marketplace of life, November contains a lot of haggling to get the best out of dubious situations. Decisions concerning major lifestyle changes are complicated by the tricky details, or the tricksters who cross our path especially when Mercury turns retrograde on the 24th. Until the 14th, take leave and take stock. The fertile Taurus Full Moon on the 11th at 9:17am signals a shift in energy and a climax of matters that began six months ago and, luckily, creates a cautious, practical streak to cope with the general vagueness and wobbliness of this month. However, life will get more emotional by the eclipse at New Moon in Sag on the 25th at 7:11pm which adds fuel to the fire of agitated emotions but also brings an unexpected release so that we can move into 2012 with a refreshed outlook. This phase will be great for looking at the bigger canvas and into the future, and for sorting what needs sorting rather than adding to the pile that the festive season brings. The Sun shifts into Sagittarius at 05:09am on the 23rd.

ARIES: With your ruler Mars shifting into Virgo for an unusually long time from November 11th until July 2012, November is the beginning of a major clean up in your life. Not only is Mars in the sign of cosmic housekeeping but it will travel through the zone of your day-to-day routine, your health and work zone during this extended period. Be a step ahead of the current by looking closely at how diet, exercise and general consumption of the good and bad affects your mind, body and spirit. There will be periods of long hours spent working at gruelling tasks but if you pace yourself, you can achieve so much in the coming months. At work, you might decide to hone your skills or work through issues with co-workers. Around the 10th it is very important to be clear and concise about issues. Communication is very important this month, especially by month’s end when Mercury turns retrograde.

TAURUS: In December, Jupiter will resume normal operation in your sign and you can move into the next phase of self-development and personal growth. Until then, navigating the unusually charged atmosphere of November is the name of the game. At least Mercury and Venus move out of opposite sign Scorpio on the 2nd and 3rd relieving you of the pressure that other people have been placing on you but your annual Full Moon wraps up a six month phase on the 11th. Mars also moves into a favourable position for your sign on the 11th, remaining here for the next 8 months; and while this might not be plain sailing in the area of children, romance or creativity, if you focus on the details and avoid critiquing situations, you will find constructive solutions. This is the month to attend to financial or business matters that involve second parties.

GEMINI: With your ruler going off air on the 24th in opposite sign Sagittarius as well as two eclipses darkening the cosmic doorway on November 25th and December 11th across your sign, the next six weeks are appropriate for clearing up and cleaning out. In major relationships there may be issues that have been simmering below the surface that will emerge and, if so, it is best to work with these situations with good communication and rapport. There will be a general sensitivity this month and it may be all too easy to react before thinking. Mars moving into Virgo packs of a bit of a punch over the next 8 months and for Gemini it will slowly, but surely, spring clean the proverbial cobwebs from home and family dynamics. And though this is not a particularly fun transit, you do have the chance to perfect, polish or finish off a project, renovation or move. You will also learn the art of patience with the people you live with. Organisation is the key and having a plan. The trick is in knowing that Virgo energy tends to get anxious when there is a lack of structure.

CANCER: An interesting month ahead with lunar activity creating a bit of a roller coaster, and strange feelings, situations and people gathering on the sidelines of your financial sector. Get second or third opinions if you are involved with major wheeling and dealing as what you see, hear or read might not be what you get in the long term. The same is true in reverse too: be aboveboard and honest in all your dealings because there are loose seams that could unravel now. Even though the signs that the coming eclipses fall in do not impact immediately upon your own, the fact that you are ruled by the Moon means you have a greater sensitivity to what takes place in the sky this month. Over the course of the next 6 weeks your life may revolve around visits to the dentist or doctor but welcome this as a chance to get on top. Needless to say, this is a month to be precious about your wellbeing. Mentally, you are shifting into a longer period of concentration where communication or the written or spoken word becomes extremely important. The devil is in the details now. But go for gold!

LEO: From the 11th Mars shifts out of your own sign and into your financial zone for an extended period that will take you up to July 2012. On the same day at Full Moon lights up your career sphere and brings a culmination to professional projects that might have begun six months ago. This Full Moon also highlights the bigger issues that have been developing since June. November is a crossroads month where you need to be very aware but also cautious about making big changes too quickly. By the middle of the month we enter into an uncertain phase where it might be better to take a wait and see approach. Focus instead on personal goals, friendships and networking circles as well as children, lovers and the activities you do in your spare time. While the conditions are ripe for bringing issues to the surface, December is the better month to act. Be especially vigilant about the fine print and ask lots of questions! Research is the trick up your sleeve.

VIRGO: Mars’ arrival in your sign is nothing unusual in itself but because it will be looping around and moving back and forth over a period of 8 months, this suggests a long period of focusing upon your physical, mental and spiritual needs. It is also a time for developing confidence and leadership skills that will bring success in the future. As with any retrograde, some of life’s lessons come from trial and error, and while annoying or difficult will mean you can speak from experience. Virgo is the sign of perfection and Mars is the planet of doing; this translates into doing perfectly, whether a skill, diet or project. As it leaves Leo, Mars will oppose Neptune on the 10th and this may highlight hidden issues that will grow in complexity over the coming months. Your ruler Mercury turning around on the 24th in your home zone until December 11th gives you space to clear the home of unfinished projects and prepare for the festive season and 2012. Avoid big decisions about furnishings, electronics or renovating or agreements with family, flatmates and other people who might impact upon your life, until December 14th.

LIBRA: As Mars moves into a very private sphere in your chart for a full 8 months on the 11th, it’s what happens behind the scenes that matters most. Whether it’s a spiritual journey where you consult your inner oracle or whether you take the advice of someone who can throw light on the future, you are concerned with developing and perfecting a deeper part of yourself. Perhaps a situation with a friend that occurs around the 10th will draw out your inner sage and make you more aware of how in control you really are. On the other hand, health is also covered by this zone and you may become more aware of how diet, exercise and sleep affect your day to day performance. With lunar activity highlighting your knowledge zone, you may decide to seek information from places further afield than you usually do. Communications and how you think are very important this month and for some this will relate to study, while for others what you read or hear will have a profound effect. All in all, soak everything up but wait until after December 11th to put theory into practice.

SCORPIO: Happy birthday Scorpio! As your new year takes place, you will be glad to hear that Mars moves from a difficult angle to your sign to a place that takes the spotlight off you so that you can relax a little more. However, do be aware of the time around the 11th when an awkward situation surfaces. Rather than act on what transpires, it is better to hold off making big decisions until the fog lifts and you can see the lay of the land. All might not be as it appears so make no commitment to anyone or anything. Shifting into your zone of friends and your personal dreams, you have a full 8 months to focus on a special group of people, or perfect conditions so that you can achieve a unique goal. The trick is to raise your expectations each time you overcome each hurdle. It will be a slow journey and there is no rush. On the 24th, Mercury goes walkabout until December 14th in your sphere of finances. This is the perfect time to adjust your values, budgets and earning ability, and, most importantly adjust spending. Avoid making big ticket purchases without thorough research.

SAGITTARIUS: A big month is November! Circle the 10-11th as a turning point where everything cosmic leads to the eclipses that fall across the Gemini-Sagittarius axis. Your annual New Moon occurs on the 25th but because it happens to be an eclipse (that will lead to a second eclipse on December 11th) there are changes afoot that could catch you off-guard. On top of that, Mars reaches the pinnacle of your chart on the 11th and will remain in your life direction zone for a full 8 months. This whole scenario in a snapshot suggests that right up until July 2012 you will be in “perfection” mode – perfecting skills, talents or a role – whether you are a parent or CEO – or simply polishing your public profile. It’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty and to look at the tiniest of details within the context of the bigger picture. Mercury also goes retro in your sign from the 24th until December 14th so it could take a while before your birthday year springs into action. Review, revise and recharge!

CAPRICORN: Knowing that it takes sweat and hard work to make it, you will be one of the few signs that can grasp the essence of Mars in Virgo. Tackling the tiniest of details will come easily to you but you have to be careful not to allow this to degenerate into nitpicking, otherwise, the seams can come undone just when the fabric is taking shape. Patience is another virtue of yours once you have got over the initial rush of wanting something. This is good because you have 8 months to cut out the pattern and stitch it all together. That’s the period up until July 2012. In the short term, November contains a brilliant Taurus Full Moon on the 11th that will finally bring about a resolution in a romantic or child-related issue however the New Moon following that is an eclipse in Sagittarius that will bring hidden issues to the surface. Whatever bubbles up will provide clues to the much bigger picture that is taking shape. What transpires then will culminate around the Full Moon of December 11th bringing changes to a work situation and the day to day running of your life.

AQUARIUS: If you have been having a hard time of it lately with other people, you will be glad to hear that Mars will be moving out of your opposite sign Leo on the 11th and that relationships will lose some of the heat that may have been evident. As it leaves though there will be a gnarly opposition to Neptune, which is turning direct in your own sign. November is complicated to say the least, and most astrologers would suggest leaving big decisions or purchases until well into December. And though the passion may cool to more manageable levels, the 11th is the beginning of an 8 month stint that will focus on assets, money, property and business that you have in common with second and third parties. This can be anything from taxes to insurance to the division of shared resources. Cool as a cucumber, you have a few months to work through this process so take your time and avoid being pushed or pushing for results.

PISCES: November is a tricky month for Pisces with so many cosmic events occurring at difficult angles to your sign but it can also be highly creative if you have the right mindset. Easier said than done I know, but if you can take the road of least resistance by not making big decisions that could affect you in the long run, you can coast through this phase with only a case of internal irritability that can easily be worked off. An eclipse on both ends of Mercury retrograde serve to jiggle life up and severely test your patience. Again this leaves space to review the current state of affairs in your life direction and home zones. By December 11th-14th you will get a much better idea of the broader layout of these areas so that you can move into the festive season with a set of revamped ideas. The longer term brings relationship issues – from love to professional – to the fore. The trick is avoiding falling into the sweating the small stuff trap and use this time to etch out the details of agreements, arrangements and proposals.

Astrology for October 2009

PLANET REPORT: As we progress through October a momentum gathers that signals action and change that will reach into the distant future. The month opens with Mercury travelling in direct motion after its retrograde period in September and ends with Saturn moving into Libra on the 30th. Mid-month and mid-way through its journey through Aquarius, Jupiter turns direct on the 13th, Venus orbits into mild-mannered Libra on the 14th and Mars shifts into dramatic Leo on the 17th, where it will travel until June 2010 - an unusually long time for this faster-moving planet (more on this in the coming months’ columns). Most significant from this cosmic selection is Saturn finally moving out of Virgo on the 30th – where it has been since September 2007 (and will not return to for another 29 years) – and into its exaltation sign, Libra (where it will remain until October 2012). This change of signs is highly significant since Saturn will cross the critical zero-degree Equinox point – a highly sensitive area of the zodiac that – just like the seasonal changes - marks a turning point. Because Pluto has been at zero-degrees of Capricorn – the Solstice point and Saturn’s own sign – since January 2008, the linking of Saturn and Pluto will have an immense significance. Modern astrologers will interpret this as the commencement of a new era where the already evident restructuring of economies will reach a milestone and enter into a new phase. People born at the beginning of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will experience this directly in varying ways during the next year but many of you will be already be aware of great personal changes in lifestyles and setups that has required a staunch and determined mindset to tackle – it is surprising just how much good can come from difficult times though. For early October, we can move ahead with paperwork, health issues and practical affairs, especially those that have been evident during the past three weeks. The tiniest of details can be highly significant now so invest as much energy into analysing situations as possible. With Saturn’s two-year cycle coming to a close in Virgo, it is important to clear the decks so that the incoming cycle can begin without too many left-overs – Mercury’s station can point out the obvious now. Saturn in Libra will shift the focus from details to balancing up our lives, especially within the realms of relationships and partnerships. We will begin to adjust our needs in line with our aesthetic sensitivities, discarding the unappealing or distasteful as we go. Beauty and integrity, the levels of give and take will all become important, and despite the difficulties that come with shedding old layers, the world has the potential to turn from black and white to colour. The Full Moon occurs on the 4th at 7:11pm (NZST) in Aries and the idealistic New Moon occurs on the 18th at 6:34pm (NZST) in Libra, heralding the way for Saturn’s entrance on the 30th.

ARIES: With Saturn moving into your other people zone at the end of the month, relationships and partnerships of all shapes and sizes will become significant over the coming months. This phase is a long term one where make-ups, break-ups and shake-ups will dominate the events of your life right up until October 2012. Everything you do will require input, advice or the consideration of one or two important people. Some of you may find yourself committing to someone for the long-term, while others will feel the confines of having been in a long-term relationship – both require serious thought and in some cases, guidance will be required from people who have experienced similar feelings and events. Combine this with the powerful changes that are already evident in your career path or general sense of destiny, and the coming year looks set to be one of significant alterations. From the 17th, your ruler Mars shifts into fellow fire-sign, Leo, for a stay that extends to June 2010. For some of you, children will become the spark that ignites your creative potential, while for others, risk-taking in romance, sport or creativity will become the passion of the day. Take stock in October – the half-way point of your birthday year - as great change requires careful action.

TAURUS: Saturn’s change of signs on the 30th, signals an increasing need to balance work, health and day-to-day assignments with your need for an aesthetically-appealing lifestyle. Being a sensual sign, you require great dollops of activities that appeal to your highly-tuned sense of touch, smell, sight and sound and you tend to get out of sorts when you have been deprived of any or all of these sensory stimulants for too long. Saturn will show you where and how you can redress the sensory deprivation in your daily life – the trick though is to be aware of this before it takes its toll. Some Taureans may decide that the big wide world is the place to experience a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, while for others, reaching into spiritual beliefs brings relief via imagination or deep thought. You may be particularly sensitive to the people you work or deal with each day; or you may site health reasons for taking a break. Others may have to work harder at balancing employment issues.

GEMINI: Your ruler Mercury is steaming ahead in Virgo and on the 10th will shift into Libra and into your play zone. Party invitations, social requests or a myriad of fun-based activities that may even involve travel, religion or publishing could result – make the most of it because Saturn in this area from the 30th until October 2012 signals a two year period of seriousness and responsibility. And whilst the sparkle may dim from your social life at the end of the month, this will still be a great time to invest energy into the world of entertainment, art, romance or children. You will be carving a niche for yourself and laying some serious groundwork during the next two years within issues involving young people, love or creativity. While other signs are going through a tense time, after the restrictive patterns that you have experienced with family, flatmates, home, home-based or parental activities, you may experience breakthroughs in the realm of shared assets, finances and resources that you have in common with other people. Anything from taxes, insurances, claims or settlements will enter into a new phase of activity that requires careful thought.

CANCER: Those of you who are born in the first few days of Cancer will already be feeling the effects of Pluto in opposite sign Capricorn in your sphere of relationships as he has been here since January ‘08. At month’s end, along with Aries, Libra and Capricorn, you will get a greater sense of what Pluto signifies when Saturn enters Libra and sparks off a row! Transiting into your sphere of home, family, flat, home-based activities and parents, a totally new structure will begin to form that will take until October 2012 to complete. Make the most of three different proposals, offers or opportunities that will help you lay positive groundwork that will make the coming months easier to manage, but do read the fine print as the decisions you make now will have far-reaching effects. Economically, Mars will be in your sphere of money, earnings and savings for an extended time, and up until June ’10 you can be extremely creative with your precious resources. This is a time to conserve and build up rather than being extravagant though.

LEO: Mars moves into your sign on the 17th for a stay that will extend to June 2010 – an unusually long time that signals a time of intense personal development and activity. In October, you will emerge from a period of being hidden away or of contemplating relationship issues, and you will suddenly find that your whole attitude changes, which means that problems can be tackled in fresh ways. Motivation, inspiration and action are the magical ingredients to get your life moving again, and it’s all a matter of grasping the sense of enthusiasm and hope for the future that is emerging. Jupiter will receive very positive aspects that will help to dissolve dilemmas with a significant person who has been a thorn in your side, and there is every chance now that a compromise or meeting point can be arrived at. At month’s end, the financial worries of the past two years will come to an end and, hopefully, you will have developed good spending and budgeting habits as a result of the hard lessons. From November, it will be time to get serious about a study project, community and neighbourhood activities, writing projects or simply thinking more maturely about your life.

VIRGO: At long last you can save goodbye to Saturn, who has been in your sign since late 2007 (he will pop back briefly between April and July ’10)! It’s been a hard slog but you survived and what a relief that you can finally lighten up and take your life a little less seriously. More vitality and energy may be the result and you may even get a physical sense of shrugging off a heavy load. Moving into your sphere of finances, earnings and savings, this is the time to restructure your affairs and find good advisers who are familiar with your financial needs. People with experience and a practical, balanced head on their shoulders are the ones to turn to for advice or inspiration. Your working life will go through a series of events this month that will restore your faith and bring hope for the future. Children on the other hand will require lots of hard work during the coming months as they stand on the threshold of change. Allow life to play out during October before committing to anything as decisions made now will have far-reaching effects.

LIBRA: Happy Birthday Libra! Not only is it your birthday month but you are also poised to receive Saturn in your own sign on the 30th. All Librans will feel the effects at some point during the next two years of Saturn’s transit but those born in the early days of Libra are first in line! Bringing responsibility and lots of hard work, the coming months are likely to be a time of serious contemplation as a need to restructure and look anew at long-standing setups takes place. Health-wise, this can be a time of lowered vitality and energy but again this will be a reflection of an underlying need to slow down and adopt a simpler lifestyle. Take extra care of any health issues that arise, especially in the area of kidneys, teeth and bone structure. Opportunities will present themselves this month that will give you clues or news of the coming changes that will definitely alter your life. Home, living situations and family will have a profound effect on our overall direction in life so take the time to look, listen and learn.

SCORPIO: With the huge emphasis on your home, flat and family zone, October is a month of breakthroughs and opportunities that will come from a hidden source. People from behind the scenes will be the x-factors that lighten your load or give you something unexpected. Your ruler Mars moves into Leo and into your sphere of career and life direction on the 17th so a culmination of a period of learning, growing or spreading the news will result. From the 30th, longstanding issues with friends, your social circle, clubs, teams and bands will seemingly disappear into thin air and a new era will commence that will be more behind the scenes and away from the public eye. In two years from now Saturn will move into your own sign bringing challenges and hard work and during the coming months you have a special opportunity to lay the groundwork for this. Look after your health and vitality in preparation. During the next two years, large institutions or people who are behind the scenes will become increasingly important.

SAGITTARIUS: Along with Gemini, Virgo and Pisces, you can wave goodbye to the stern influence of Saturn when he moves out of Virgo and into Libra on the 30th. Watching over your every move in career, lifestyle, public image and parental matters since late 2007, you can breathe a sigh of relief that the burdens, obstacles and general difficulties that have plagued this area will now be removed - with the exception of those people born in the very last days of Sag who will have to experience one more round of testing between April and July 2009. On the 30th, Saturn moves into your friendship sphere and despite the intensity that will characterise this shift, it will certainly be easier to handle compared to what you have been through. In the coming months, you will find older, wiser and more experienced friends and associates moving into your social circle. Your ruler Jupiter also turns around on the 13th in your sphere of communications, neighbours, bright ideas and thinking, and you will get three opportunities during October to think big and outside of the square.

CAPRICORN: Along with Aries, Cancer and Libra, your sign is next in line to experience Saturn’s sometimes stern rays when he shifts into Libra on the 30th. Being your ruler and already having Pluto in your sign, those Goats who are born in the first days of Capricorn will sense, or physically experience, a seismic shift in atmosphere, events or people. Somehow, your profession, public image or parental relationships will directly affect your sense of self and who you are. Make the most of the windows of opportunities that open up during October to prepare for this change that will test your skills, patience and energy levels over the next two years. It’s a good thing you are not afraid of hard work when it’s called for since much of Saturn’s influence will mean refining, balancing and harmonising your skills, knowledge and talents. Authority figures will have you in their sights, and you may find you have to compromise and understand their mindsets before you can get them to help you achieve your own goals. Greater responsibility will be the result so develop an attitude that will welcome the additional tasks that people will look to you to initiate, develop and complete.

AQUARIUS: Good for you that Saturn moves to a favourable angle to your sign on the 30th and that Jupiter turns direct in Aquarius on the 13th - both movements signal a turn around in your life. Leaving your house of other people’s money, the financial or property-related issues that have produced more downs than ups over the past two years will finally begin to dissipate and somehow things will resolve themselves and become less of a challenge. Whether you have had issues with detail-ridden issues such as taxes or loans, or the division of property and chattels, October is a month where you have a window of opportunity to lay the groundwork for the future, which for you may include travel, publishing your ideas or spreading your spiritual wings. Wanting to leave behind the dense materialism that you have had to endure for many months as well as being at the whim of others, you are now ready to challenge your own mindset so that life is more balanced and harmonious. This of course won’t always be without challenges – and in fact November will bring plenty of these from behind the scenes but this will pale in comparison to what you have been through. October is the month to think and act big. On the other hand, a hot new relationship issue will make life very interesting!

PISCES: Like Gemini, Virgo and Sag, you can kiss Saturn goodbye when he finally leaves your opposite sign Virgo and, thankfully, your relationship sector, where he has brought a fair share of grief with others. If you have split up with someone over the past two years, be it professionally, platonically or romantically, the coming months will be about settling or dividing money, assets or resources. On the other hand, if you have committed to someone during this time, then you may need to work on drawing up a joint but balanced agreement – certainly check the fine print before assuming or committing to anything or anyone – Saturn always tends to complicate things so be clear from the start. For others, settlements, inheritances, taxes or loans may require negotiation and fair treatment. Watch for opportunities this month to lay some great groundwork behind the scenes to strengthen your financial situation. Work-wise, you will be burning the candle at both ends on a creative project – take your time Pisces – you have until June to complete this project! Watch for some colourful workmates who can bring you out of yourself.

Astrological Report for May 2009

The hustle and bustle of the marketplace slows as Mercury turns retrograde on the 8th. Commercial activity is likely to undergo yet another review phase. Avoid beginning anything new until all the facts are in.

PLANET REPORT: As soon as quicksilver Mercury zips into his own sign Gemini (May 2nd) where he loves to hang out and play, he immediately turns to retrograde direction (May 8th) and heads back toward grounded Taurus. In Taurus, he will take up residence from May 15th to June 15th (NZT). The full moon in intense Scorpio on the 9th at 4:03pm (NZT)will bring hidden agendas and emotions to the surface so the first part of May is likely to be full of passion and strong feelings as well as twists and turns that make life very interesting. Having endured the slow, plodding energy of Taurus since April 11th, like an excited child who is looking forward to going out to play but gets called back to finish off his duties, Mercury’s abrupt u-turn on the 8th will create a cross-current of energy that disrupts the smooth flow of events. This will impact profoundly on our ideas and activities, especially negotiations, communications and anything that requires clear thought, water tight contracts or solid facts. Transport and travel plans could easily unravel now so it is the wise traveler who has plan B at the ready, double checks all arrangements and has back up copies of important documents – insurance is a must for anything this month. In everyday situations, leave home in plenty of time to reach your destination due to detours and delays and have a spare set of keys and other essentials to hand just in case. Mercury is the trickster and it is amazing how things can become mislaid, delayed or complicated. However, this is a great time to reconnect with paperwork, people and projects from the past. From the 15th, industrious Mercury will be forced to function at a snail’s pace when he travels back into thorough, cautious Taurus and this will be when we discover loopholes and potholes that were overlooked during April. June 1st (NZT) will be when Mercury will resume normal reception and this could prove a potent day so aim for this date to act; otherwise wait until after June 15th. A few days after the new moon of the 25th at 00:12am (NZT) occurring in Mercury’s sign, Gemini, will be the time we should sit up and take notice of what is happening around us: discussions, offers and other projects and activities that require agile mental input will be forming and starting to gather pace; watch the tiny details then. Saturn, also in Mercury’s sign, turns direct for the last time in Virgo on May 18th and this means that we are now on the home stretch before it moves out of analytical Virgo and into Libra on October 30th (Saturn has been splitting hairs in Virgo since September 2007). We can finally begin to balance our perspective from then. On a bigger level, Jupiter inches closer to Neptune forming an extended first of three magical conjunctions on May 28th. The second will be July 10th and December 21st. Aim for the high road and reach for the stars (whilst remaining realistic in the current environment) Venus travelling with Mars throughout May and June will bring interesting partnerships that are full of passion and vigour. This is the month to team up rather than go it alone!

ARIES: May is the month for love! With the passion planets Venus and Mars pulsing through your sign until June, this is a great time to push yourself forward or call in your favours. You never know, joining up with someone special could have a financial spin off in June. Other people are bound to sit up and take notice of you now and you don’t even have to do anything special to get their attention. You are in the mood for adventure and if it wasn’t for Mercury turning retrograde in your zone of short trips, neighbours, siblings and making your general communications quite chaotic, this would be the best month for taking off on a trip with a loved one. If you are travelling, get the car tuned or itineraries triple checked rather than leaving things to chance. Information travels thick and fast but don’t believe everything you read, hear or see. Take gossip with a pinch of salt otherwise you may find that the wrong things reach the wrong ears.

TAURUS: Your ruler Venus rides side-saddle with Mars in passionate Aries right up until July and this promises a private life that is positively humming in May. Whatever you do this month will have results or consequences in the second half of June when you emerge from your self-imposed cocoon; put as much energy and effort as you can into worthwhile pursuits. Your placid nature is unusually exuberant now so use caution in secret matters if you don’t want to reveal your cards. Channel your energies into charity work, behind the scenes activities or improving health. A wonderful career opportunity will take until December to work through and the only thing stopping you is the breadth of your imagination. Mercury in your fiscal sphere on the other hand cautions you to take your time and wait for the true cost of something to reveal itself. You may have to look at several scenarios before you can truly arrive at a balanced figure.

GEMINI: With your ruler Mercury giving out weird signals, May is a month when you need to bide your time and wait for further developments to be revealed in June. Communications are very important and you will find that what you begin now will go into a gestation stage for the next three weeks - it’s the wise Gemini who can spot the tide turning and pulls back. Take your time and avoid taking too many opinions on board that are based on hearsay. A project or arrangement with two friends looks enticing but something will make you change your mind at the last moment. It’s all food for thought though and there are some great ideas floating around. Your annual New Moon occurs just as your birthday year begins on the 25th so this will be the best time to think concretely about the next twelve months. There is a lot to be attended to behind the scenes and in your private life before you can move forward with confidence. A travel, educational, publishing or philosophical activity will take until December to work out but once it does this could prove to be a magical experience.

CANCER: With Venus and Mars doing a rhumba in your career and life direction sphere there are plenty of people and issues to deal with and there may even be a rush-rush atmosphere going on here. Some of you may team up with a friend to either begin a new business or promote a special product. Great, but do bear in mind that Mercury is going off air on the 8th and will re-enter your friendship zone on the 15th. You may discover that where there is urgency now, this will dissipate and morph into something else after June 1st. Whether you are in business or not, you may have more knowledge or experience than a friend, team member or acquaintance and it seems you will be taking someone under your wing. This lack of experience could lead to later indecision so avoid making too many firm commitments. An activity could commence in your private life or behind the scenes that while it will be all consuming this week, will take until mid-June to really take flight but in the meantime you can iron out all the wrinkles. Work on visualizing a magical outcome for money that is borrowed or lent.

LEO: April was filled with questions about career, lifestyle and parents and a doubtful situation may become even more doubtful when Mercury re-enters Taurus on the 15th. Early May sees Mercury moving out of your groups, friends, hopes and wishes zone indicating that a new situation may need to go into hibernation for three or four weeks before it can take root. Concentrate instead on expanding your experiences with a loved one or partner who is also focused on a travel, educational or publishing venture. You may even find that the two of you are asking the same life questions and that you have so much in common, it’s uncanny. Visiting someone at a distance or receiving a visitor from abroad may also be on the stars providing a nice diversion from the more public areas of your life. A marriage may be announced this month or a partnership issue that will take until December to put firmly into place.

VIRGO: Your ruler Mercury goes retro from May 8th until June 1st so this month will be one of those months when everything seems to happen at once and yet you would be wise to take things in your stride rather than being pressured to make a decision. This applies especially to career, lifestyle, parents or educational or travel-related issues. What you learn this month will ground your thinking and encourage you to be very thorough in the future so go with the flow and look forward to June when the pieces fall into place. This is a great month to work through financial or asset-related topics and in your enthusiasm you will want to make new inroads when it comes to shuffling your commitments around. Mars and Venus traveling through this area together will encourage other people to assist you as much as they can so work hard on all those matters involving taxes, loans, mortgages, credit card debt, claims or settlements.

LIBRA: A travel, educational or philosophical issue will undergo a rapid series of alterations as the month begins. Mercury turns in this sector on May 8th bringing a series of bumps in the road that while interesting can also delay or disrupt a smooth journey. After the 15th, you will return to a financial or property matter that was the centre of your attention in April. There is a big emphasis on relationship issues so perhaps there are joint financial matters to discuss. Do a thorough job of examining all the details and while you will want to settle an outstanding balance, you also need to allow leeway for changes later, especially around the full moon of the 9th when your earnings sphere is highlighted. With passionate Venus and Mars traveling as a duo through your relationship zone this is the month to summon your famous Libran sense of harmony and balance rather than allowing your feathers to become ruffled. A fantastic month to indulge in romance, creativity or child-related activities, you will have three chances this year to create magic in one or all of these areas.

SCORPIO: Your annual full moon on the 9th marks the halfway point of your solar year and highlights your image, style, appearance or general attitude to life. Something is bound to reach a culmination in the first weeks of May but try as hard as you can to leave options open due to Mercury turning retro around the same time. Re-entering your relationship zone on the 15th, there will be a need to rethink all those arrangements and agreements that you thought you had sealed. Relationships at work look set to be very interesting too this month and you may find you team up with someone who is as passionate as yourself about a pet project. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish as an energetic team. Others may find that health or exercise improves dramatically when the two of you decide on a special regime – a healthy sense of competition is evident in whatever you do on day-to-day level. At home, between late May, July and December there is sure to be a wonderful arrival or addition to the family. Other Scorpio folk may even find their dream home or find the means to renovate or add on!

SAGITTARIUS: With your ruler Jupiter teaming up with mystical Neptune from late May and then again in July and December, the remainder of 2009 is set to hold special experiences that will come in three stages. While May is not the month to begin anything but rather to map out and analyse, you can help get the magic going by visualizing and dreaming of what you would like to achieve or do in an ideal world. Until then, May is a funny month because you will be focusing on a partnership issue that is less than clear cut and there are still plenty of facts to come to light. Wait until the end of May to seal any deals or put your trust in a newcomer. Take care of your physical wellbeing too as there will be a return to a medical or health concern. On a romantic note, this is a fantastic month to play and have fun. There is someone special to share your moments of leisure or to team up with creatively. There could even be a child who inspires you to create something very special.

CAPRICORN: Saturn, your ruler, turns direct on May 18th and will commence the last leg of his journey through Virgo. In your sphere of the big picture in your life, you have been on a steep learning curve where there has been little room to take shortcuts. You have had it quite tough when it comes to mapping out a clear cut picture but hopefully by June you will have arrived at a sensible game plan after dealing with all those tiny details. From October, you will be in a prime position to rebuild a career or restructure your lifestyle and the more you put in now, the better the results then. There are still delays to face during May though so this is not the month to rush through anything that will be life-changing, especially at work or with a health matter. The more thorough you are now, the better the results later. At home, life is heating up and some of you may even be considering moving in with someone who is as passionate about home and family as you are.

AQUARIUS: Your ancient ruler Saturn turns direct on May 18th so a shift occurs this month that will relate to a long-standing joint financial issue. With Mercury turning retro on the 8th, this is the month to really concentrate on how you can boost your earnings so that loans, taxes, credit cards or assets can be attended to with much more ease than has been possible. A dream can actually come true this year with regard to your earning power and this will become progressively achievable over late May, July and December. Use the reflective feel of May to truly look at all sides of your game plan and you may discover some little gem you had completely overlooked. Use your famous logic to look at all sides of the puzzle now. Short trips are possible this month with someone special; or a neighbourly get-together could be the way you meet a very forthright person who you click with on an intellectual level. After the 15th, you will need to return to a domestic or family matter.

PISCES: Your private life is brimming with a special feeling that will continue to grow over the months July and December. Anything that has been hidden or behind the scenes will become more obvious and manageable but it will be the power of your own insight that will have the greatest impact on those evasive people or issues. Your whole life direction will slowly change this year and the only thing stopping you will be your imagination and belief in yourself. Financially, there is a powerful alignment with someone who shares the same passion about a property, financial or business activity but this will require a thorough examination of the facts and a great business plan. Wait until June to really set sail and in the meantime draw up an outline of what you hope to achieve. A relationship or partnership issue will begin to move ahead from 18th and you can rest assured you are now on the final leg of this difficult period that began back in September 2007.