June 2011

On June 5th Jupiter moves into Taurus marking a period where greater stability means we can plan ahead with more certainty. Plot out a practical course rather than expect overnight success.

PLANET REPORT: While June opens with a double-edged solar eclipse in verbal Gemini on the 2nd (NZT), Mercury in its own sign Gemini and Venus in her own sign Taurus, from June 5th the gate opens to those luscious green fields that are always just on the other side of the fence. With Venus and Mars leading the way, this is when Jupiter moves into earthy, practical Taurus. Standing on the brink of this new 12-year cycle, the last time Jupiter sojourned through languid Taurus was between April 1999 and June 2000. Looking back to this time in our own lives as well as historically will give clues as to what type of issues can transpire between now and June 2012. Note to self: how can we do things differently this time round or are we harvesting the results of deliberate actions and plans cast over the last 12 years? On a global level, Jupiter in Taurus is often associated with financial markets and wealth so there will be even more of an emphasis on money and the material world. Jupiter will trine Pluto in sister-earth sign Capricorn three times (July, October 2011 and March 2012) so let’s hope the stability of this earth aspect means that we can set down roots rather than operate in free-fall. Traditional markets where tried and true commodities, stocks and bonds have stood the test of time will fare best. In contrast to its Aries transit, Jupiter in Taurus is about the rock-solid rather the risk-taking or entrepreneurship of the past year. While it won’t be until around December 2011 that we will really feel, see or get a sense of the results of what takes place between June-November, this is an extremely fertile time to plant the seeds of change and of being patient, practical and prudent. Jupiter also sextiles Neptune this month so dust down those dreams and think above the water level. In the meantime, despite the bigger cosmic bookmark, lunar activity this month is tempered by eclipse activity which tends to destabilise. In Gemini and Sagittarius, there is a tendency for discussions, thoughts and ideas to become stressed and emotional. This will be even more so with the Full Moon of the 16th which opposes the communication planet Mercury and emphasises activities that involve commerce, writing or negotiating. Words can splice relationships so use them carefully! It also highlights activities that began six months ago. Carry the level-headed detailing of the New Moon in Gemini on the 2nd through to the Full Moon on the 16th when too many promises provide food for disappointment. The Winter Solstice occurs when the Sun travels into Cancer on the 22nd at 05:18am. This wet-looking chart could bring a flood of ideas that are hard to put into action. Wade through details before acting.

ARIES: Jupiter leaves your sign on June 5th and won’t be back until 2022! Can you look back over the past year and see how much you’ve grown on a personal level even if it’s only ridding yourself of the long term stresses and strains that have made life difficult since 2009. It might just be an inner change such as your philosophical outlook or it could be that you have learned a great deal either on the job, in your daily life or in a formal educational situation. Travel might also have broadened your horizons or provided opportunities, or you may have tutored yourself in a subject, hobby or skill. Jupiter’s arrival in your zone of money, security and what you value in life can help you develop an extremely lucrative plan for the long term after the experiences of the past year. The New Moon on June 2nd and the Full Moon on June 16th will highlight any issues associated with long distances, learning and discussions as well as documents, books and reports. Walk carefully through this month and think everything through before committing on paper. Relationships take a significant turn from mid-month.

TAURUS: Get set, ready, GO! On June 5th Jupiter rolls the dice across your sign providing the people, places, spaces, tools and attitudes to make life changes that will set the tone for the next 12 years. As the closing 12-year cycle fades into history, it’s time to restock the mental attitude and stand aside to let good thoughts and positive resolutions fall into line at your front door. It won’t happen overnight – in fact, it could take six months before you sense any change – but If you are prepared to be patient, diligent and determined, the coming year will certainly see a great deal of positive and optimistic activity. This is a sowing acorns that will grow into oaks kind of phase rather than a get-rich-quick chapter in your life (unless of course you have projects that are about to be launched) but you can do everything in your power to fertilise and tend to your personal patch of existence.

GEMINI: Happy birthday dear Gemini! On June 3rd your ruler Mercury will create a stir when he slips into his own sign followed by Venus on the 10th and Mars on the 21st. Despite Jupiter moving into the more reserved area of your chart where you are preoccupied by private, internal matters over the coming year, June still promises to be a lively, communicative month that fizzes over with ideas, feelings and thoughts. The whole month kicks off with a solar eclipse at New Moon in Gemini on the 2nd and despite the volatility that eclipses sometimes bring to our lives, this one is tempered by sober Saturn who holds the ropes while the winds buffet your sails. Keeping you on a steady course through to the Full Moon in Sag on the 16th, Mercury’s involvement with the lunar eclipse could topple the cards if you are deep in negotiations, conversations or disputes. Choose words wisely and choose your advisers with even more care. Leave emotions at the front door and let logic rule.

CANCER: The last month of your birthday year is here and with three eclipses flinging themselves across June and early July, it’s best to throw open the doors of your private life, health and work zones and let the dusty corners be swept clean. Being Moon-ruled, eclipses tend to punctuate Cancerian’s lives when they take place as regular as clockwork each year and this means rolling with the waves and rearranging the contents as they spill. Putting the wind in your sails and buffeting your emotions across the month, you just have to keep in mind that a lot of positive change is taking place with Jupiter’s crossing over into Taurus on June 5th. Very soon a whole new world of friends, acquaintances, teams and group activities as well as a new set of personal ambitions will stroll into your life as if they have always been there. It’s your attitude and ideas towards these encounters and activities that make the difference.

LEO: Like Cancer, who is Moon-ruled, you are under the guardianship of the Sun. Being of a less volatile nature than Cancer, you are still affected when eclipses and lunar activity make life wobbly. With three eclipses in four weeks splashing some colour into your cheeks, for you it will be the social networks, romance and children who will turn up the volume on issues that need to be addressed. There are greater things ahead with Jupiter reaching the pinnacle of your chart on June 5th kicking off a new 12-year cycle your life direction, career, trade or parental relationships sector of life. High profile, there is no place to hide as this is a highly public transit that will draw on your talents, resources and connections. It’s time to bathe in the spotlight Leo, stand up and be counted because the coming 12 months will be full of VIPs who can provide a stable platform to launch yourself from. Your domestic life will go through intense change too but then it is all part and parcel of the new you!

VIRGO: Being born under a Mercury-ruled sign, Virgo folk love to learn new things! For that reason, you will be very pleased to hear that from June 5th the bountiful Jupiter will jet into your zone of higher experiences bearing exotic gifts for your mind and soul. This will lead to an opening up of your world that lies beyond your everyday boundaries. Spread before you like a magical carpet, in hands-on, practical, sensate Taurus, what you see, hear, smell, touch and experience will not only add to your soul-life but will weave itself into your tool-kit of facts, skills and expertise. This in turn will lead to greater career changes from June 2012. It is very important to realise that this is a year of gaining experience and knowledge to take you into the future. Even your dream-life, belief system and armchair thinking will contain nuggets of gold and food for thought whether you travel or not. Before this becomes obvious, the eclipses over the next four weeks will bring mercurial, quickly-changing situations that makes the barometer of your professional and home life swing from one extreme to the other. Communication is the key.

LIBRA: Look at June as a new financial year and make resolutions to slowly but surely tick off all those fiscal issues that have been yapping at your heels for the past few years. Wherever you have become stuck in an economical rut, whether it’s a matrimonial, property or business matter, or a loan, credit card, insurance or tax bill, once Jupiter moves into this area of your chart, you will begin to see that there are indeed ways to get out of the mire and wipe the slate clean. It will take dogged persistence and a new determination but once you start whittling at the bigger debts, it will be surprising how quickly you can tunnel through to the other side. Opportunity will come to those of you with the right attitude – you just have to be looking at life from the right angle to see where the gems are buried. Renewed faith and optimism are your greatest inner resources, as is working in with the people, corporations and departments who have an interest in how you juggle the books. Even if you don’t have major issues to sift through, there will be financial surprises in the coming months that will help you up the ladder of success if you use resources wisely.

SCORPIO: With Jupiter setting up residence in your other people zone for the next year, June promises to be a big month for Scorpio folk. It’s been 12 years since he was last here so this marks an important milestone in all relationships. Whether you are getting married, saying goodbye to a stagnant situation, confronting an opponent, entering into a partnership, or meeting new people (possibly born around May), your whole world will be measured by others. You will slowly see the value in moving on, making pacts or working persistently together to make a project successful. And even if you know that it is time to move on from old situations, you will seek out qualities in other people that complement your need for change – and growing, learning and developing are extremely important. For the next 12 months, working in with people who have a wealth of practical experience will be your passport to personal expansion in the coming years. June is punctuated by financial issues too making this the perfect month to sort through joint money matters before moving on.

SAGITTARIUS: Your ruler, Jupiter, is making big changes in June and these changes promise a much more stable work life if you are prepared to dig your heels in and work steadily towards developing a practical routine or system. Jupiter in Taurus has a signature written across it that says success comes to those who are patient and determined. It’s not about being the first off the block but about being steady, reliable and practical. Despite your futuristic, impatient nature, you will truly come to see the value in the slow but surely mantra. Health is also a big issue and the same building blocks apply to a leaner, meaner you; and despite working doggedly you will need to balance long periods of inactivity with steady exercise and a diet as far away from fast foods as possible. June is a big month not only because of Jupiter’s move into your health and work zone but because the eclipses of June 2nd and 16th demand that you clear out the communication blocks, stale ideas and opposing philosophies of friends and foes alike.

CAPRICORN: Your rescue package from the relentless pressure of Saturn in your life direction zone comes in the form of Jupiter moving into your realm of children, romance, hobbies and creative self-expression. That’s right, from June Jupiter will expand these topics to the point where you slowly realise there is much more to life than ambition, career, status and making a name for yourself. That will come of course with the right amount of work toward a goal but there are sub-issues too that may involve asking questions about the children you already have or want to have in the future. It could also be about a creative project, hobby or sport that proves to be so much more satisfying in terms of personal growth. You are also entering into a new 12-year phase that will put you in touch with your sensual self and whether this is in the form of physical intimacy or pleasurable pursuits such as cooking, dining and wining is a matter of personal choice. What is important now is that you devote equal time to the pleasurable things in life. The eclipse on July 1st brings attention to a relationship that requires communication.

AQUARIUS: When Jupiter knocks on your door on June 5th, your home and family is where a grand new 12-year cycle commences. It’s been 12-years since he was last in this neck of the woods and this means it’s time to explore a new way of living that nurtures growth and sustenance. Whether you physically decide to move to a bigger space to bring up a young family or to take in a member of the older generation remains a personal issue but the focus on stability and an investment in the here and now is the same for all of you. If you are younger and single, you may decide that you need an organised living arrangement and that routine, warmth and good meals is a much better way to live if you are to achieve your bigger life goals. In May, there were events that led you to the decisions that will soon become apparent in the coming 12 months. For others, selling or buying a house becomes much more viable and will allow you to move into the next phase of your life. Setting down roots is important even if it means returning to your town or country of birth.

PISCES: On June 5th your ruler Jupiter will quietly slip into Taurus and for the next 12 months work his magic on the way you think, study, teach or communicate. Steadily you will come realise, and appreciate, the wealth of information that you have tucked inside your head and that there are very real and practical ways to get this dialogue and experience out and onto paper, your hard drive or to pass on in a verbal form. You have 12 glorious months ahead of you to plot and plan a strategy and because it will take at least until December for the cosmos to make the path clear and the outline to take shape, setting goals for 2012 is a wise decision to make now. Without a plan or goal you are in danger of letting this once-in-12-years opportunity to express yourself pass by. With dream-weaver Neptune also in your sign, there is no shortage of creative imagination however Neptune also knows no boundaries and this is where Jupiter in Taurus will excel. The eclipses in June open up a minefield of family and domestic issues but this will soon be a thing of the past.

May 2011

There are fresh fields to explore in June when Jupiter, the planet of abundance, moves into fertile Taurus. May is the month to sow seeds and prepare for a new 12-year cycle

PLANET REPORT: As we turn the calendar over to May, there are six planets excitedly rubbing shoulders with each other in Aries, an extremely lush New Moon in Taurus on the 3rd and an exact Mars/Jupiter conjunction on the 1st making it a right royal start to the month. Rising one by one before the majestic Sun in the morning skies, the procession of Uranus, Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter up and over the horizon just before dawn each day promises more activity and purpose than usual. Just as the Queen’s Guards lead the way for their royal entourage, the parade of planets that escort the Sun provide a protective guard over getting our affairs into order – from relationships to finance to bigger projects it’s the preparation, people and particulars that count. For those people whose birthdays fall in the early days of May (and even babies born during this time), this will translate into a feature of the coming year. Aries is always an active, pioneering sign so we can push through and get things achieved all while the fecund New Moon promises stability and fertility. The first to leave the Aries platoon will be Mars, whose energy will slow dramatically when he transits into Taurus on the 11th – after the frenetic activity of Aries, this provides a very deliberate, purposeful energy but there is also a tendency to run out of steam just as projects and situations are taking root. However by the 16th, Venus moves into her own sign Taurus to fill the treasure chest with riches that enhance our love or material lives. On the same day, Mercury also moves into Taurus providing practical ideas and better judgement to the subjective Venusian attraction to material and physical desires. May is a highly sensuous month and from the 16th, music, art, socialising, spending money on luxuries, eating, cooking and love top the list of favoured activities. As we get closer to June though, if we are alert we will catch wind of changes just up ahead that can take us unawares if we are too distracted by the mundane. A series of eclipses, that begin on June 1st and end on July 1st, means that we can’t become too complacent. Use the practical, down-to-earth energy of May to plan, prioritise and prepare for unexpected events. Jupiter moves into Taurus in June heralding a period of abundance until June 2012 but there will be speed bumps to contend with until July before this becomes apparent. The New Moon points the way forward to Jupiter's entry into Taurus on the 3rd while the Full Moon on the 17th at 11:10pm brings a six month phase to a close. Intense and passionate, it's time to dig deep and pull out the weeds.

ARIES: When Mars moves out of your sign on the 11th and Venus and Mercury on the 16th, the pace that you have been trotting along at will definitely slow and you will almost feel the air go out of your sails. Coasting along on cruise control, if you are midway through an important project or situation that requires a lot of physical input then get stuck in before the 16th. After that the energy becomes lazy and you will be less inclined to react with urgency. Moving into your money zone, the emphasis shifts to purchases, sales, spending and saving. If you have been investing your energy into work or business, this could be a time when you start to see returns or it might be the right time to ask for a rise. There is also an inclination to treat yourself to something beautiful or luxurious.

TAURUS: Happy birthday Taurus! On June 5th, Jupiter rolls into town and into your sign for the first time in 12 years. This is a significant new cycle so listen up! Prepare your mind, body and soul because over the next 12 months resources, people and opportunities will be at your disposal if you are willing to put as much positive energy into your life as you can. This is the year to set down roots in a big way! From as early as May 11th, you will get a sense that something big is just around the corner and from the 16th, people could appear who will either be there over the coming year, or who can offer an idea, a solution or a suggestion that could impact strongly on your attitude – this can be anything from advice or material assistance to building a strong network system. A turning point, this is the year to make connections, visit places or set down, or set about putting knowledge or a philosophy to practical use.

GEMINI: The last month of your birthday year has arrived and this is always a time of reflection as another year passes into the history books. This year there is a parade of planets passing through the very reflective zone of your chart that represents people from the past, confidential issues, your health and wellbeing as well as large institutions. From the 16th, Mercury, your ruler, will enter Taurus and encourage you to take a practical perspective on the revelations that come to light – and there are bound to be plenty of skeletons rolling out of the closets over the coming 12 months because from June 5th Jupiter will be pass through this area like a bull in a china shop. If you have delicate situations that require a delicate touch, then confide in people who are discreet and practical. Your birthday year begins on May 21st at 9:22pm (NZT).

CANCER: If there was ever a time to move mountains it has been in the last couple of weeks and right up until May 16th when the urgency of a professional or highly public situation will die down. With five planets all passing over the highest point in your chart, your attitude toward the wider world you live in matters now and what you do will be important to others. Whether it’s an audition, an interview, presentation or public speech, an official, boss, future employer or someone else who can open or close doors will be extremely interested in your attitude, demeanour, history or experience. The trick is to come across as confident without being cocky, knowledgeable but open-minded, experienced but flexible. From the 16th a whole new world of friends, interests and ambitions will come into being that are a preview of the fertile connections and ties that will develop during the next 12 months.

LEO: What a big emphasis there has been on your zone of travel, higher education or in the world of legal issues, publishing, beliefs or philosophies over the last 12 months. It’s been an extremely interesting journey of the mind. And whether you’ve sought legal advice, joined a spiritual group, travelled the world, read your way through the library or enrolled in a course, you know so much than you did 12 months ago. On June 5th Jupiter moves out of this zone and into your career sector, where you can apply some of what you have learnt in a hands-on manner. Up until May 16th it will be like cramming everything into one package or taking a crash course before you embark on this bigger journey that will mark a turning in your life direction. With Jupiter sitting at the pinnacle of your chart, you have a once-in-12-years opportunity to present yourself to the world in a brand new package.

VIRGO: From refinancing to making deals with a second or third party to reviewing your insurance, mortgage or tax position to making a claim or settlement, there is such a big emphasis on other people’s money up until the 16th that it is worth doing and re-doing plans or proposals. If you look back, you will see that it has been a work in progress over the last year and that you are nearly there. Once the inner planets lead the way for Jupiter, who moves into your zone of travel, education and the wider world on June 5th, you will enter a completely different head space altogether. This means that if there are any lingering financial loose ends that need to be tied up quickly, the first half of May is the perfect time to sign, seal and deliver. By the end of the month, it gets tricky and despite the storm clouds in June the long-term outlook is for fair cosmic weather.

LIBRA: By the 16th you will be able to relax and let down your guard where other people are concerned. The past few weeks have been a time of going over and over the details, plans or issues of a particular proposal or problem and hopefully you are now reaching the stage where you can move forward into the next stage. While other people have been pushing, prodding and poking you into a decision or agreement, you have been erring on the side of caution and that can only be a good thing because it will in the early weeks of May that you have a clearer view of the long term future. In June, the emphasis moves to joint finances or restructuring your whole setup with other people. From the bank to marriage settlements, the next 12 months will be a very productive time in terms of balancing up your debits and credits and creating more stability on a day to day basis.

SCORPIO: If you have been experiencing an overload in your daily schedule, you will be pleased to know that from the 16th things settle down somewhat. With the complex and varied tasks that you’ve been put on notice to achieve, you’ve covered a lot of ground and now all this should be coming together in a nice little package. Between May 11th-16th the inner planets will go before Jupiter to clear the space in your relationships zone where a brand new 12-year cycle begins on the June 5th. This will be the beginning of a very important phase in your life (the last time it happened was 12 years ago) and for some it might mean getting married or going into a business partnership with someone who may even be born around May. Whatever the case may be, other people are going to become increasingly prominent in your life and May is the month to prepare the way forward. Your annual Full Moon occurs on May 17th and marks the halfway point of your birthday year.

SAGITTARIUS: It’s been a lot of fun with so many planets in your party zone but from the 11th it’s back to reality! That’s when Mars moves into your zone of daily grind and projects, tasks and assignments will start to appear in your in-tray. Mars in Taurus is not a particularly fast-mover so use the high energy of Aries until the 11th to make a start on anything you know will be hard going later in the month. And while this might be tedious for a sign who likes to move around or work on multiple tasks, it’s not all bad because from the 16th both Mercury and Venus will move into this area too bringing lots of exotic distractions while you work. Your ruler Jupiter will be moving into this area of your day-to-day routine on June 5th and will remain here until June 2012. This means there will be a huge chance to develop skills and refine sustainable work practices and systems that will produce results over the long-term. Secure your position by up-skilling and using your knowledge.

CAPRICORN: If you have had major situations going back and forth within your home and family zone over the last four weeks, you are now on the open road and the way is clear for negotiations, contracts, agreements or settlements to take place, or perhaps you have workmen who are working to a deadline. There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing in April, offers and counter-offers, and between May 11th-16th the cosmic energy changes completely. If still have a last minute assignment to complete in any of these areas, act as quickly as you can while the energy and ambition is high. From the 11th, your attention will turn toward children, love, socialising and generally having fun. There could be a celebration or special party that everyone is planning for and talking about. What takes place in the second half of May is a preview of the great gifts that Jupiter will bring in the next 12 months.

AQUARIUS: You’ve had so much to think about over the past four weeks so if you’ve been involved in conversations, negotiations or have writing assignments to complete, or have been tied up with sibling issues or travelling around a lot within your town or city for various reasons, you’ve got until 11th-16th to add the final touches. After that your energy and focus shifts to the domestic area of your life – a move, a visit, a parent or a family member – and the mental adrenaline that you have powered yourself with - will all but disappear. You are on the cusp of a brand new 12-year cycle that will begin on June 5th and this means that even greater changes are waiting in the wings as far as your private life is concerned. Some of you may even move or shift due to professional issues. May is the month to prepare for this turning point. The New Moon points the way on the 3rd and the Full Moon brings professional issues to a climax.

PISCES: With a loaded money zone up until May 11th-16th, now that Mercury’s on the straight and narrow, the first fortnight of May is a great time to channel energy into the financial side of your life. For some this might mean asking for a rise, while for others it might be purchasing a big ticket item that you have been putting off. There’s an urgency surrounding your business affairs so try to wrap these issues up by the 16th. After that, you will be pleased to know that you can slip into a more rhythmic state of mind. What takes place in the second half of May is a preview of the great mental expansion that can take place from June 5th when Jupiter moves into your thinking, writing and speaking zone. Jupiter is knowledge and combined with practical Taurus, this could mean using your own resources to connect with other people who are keen to learn from your hands-on experience. Publishing ideas and working on drafts could lead to something you can’t even imagine possible right now.

April 2011

As the sun sets on the closing cosmic chapter that was Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius, a new era emerges so quickly and unexpectedly. With Mercury retrograde in April, it's time to catch your breath and allow Neptune's arrival in Pisces to soothe the soul. Take the middle, balanced road that is Saturn - be mindful and alert while remaining calm in extreme situations.

PLANET REPORT: Another cracker of a month that continues with the high-energy theme we have been experiencing since the end of 2010. With Uranus now in Aries and Neptune shifting into Pisces on the 5th, we must keep in mind that we are entering a new chapter in the history books and that even though we are enduring extreme birthing pains, life will settle down after June. And despite the pain that some people will experience, trusting in life requires a huge leap of faith and nerves of steel. There is no doubt that events will be highly stressful for some and that all we can do is support them as best we can but as we pass through events and obstacles there will emerge a greater sense of the future and what all these changes mean both personally and globally. We can look forward to a new set of values and the need to alter our outlook and the ways we have become accustomed to so that a new order can take hold from which will arise a greater sense of purpose. Preparation, flexibility and adjusting to the speed at which we are all travelling at are the best ways to handle the unexpected deliveries of news, views and events each day. It all starts with Mars not only in his own sign Aries from April 2nd-May 11th as well as a push-pull New Moon in Aries on the 4th but also an electrifying, sizzling union of Mars with newly-arrived but totally extreme Uranus in Aries from April 2nd-5th. Uranus is always revolutionary and unpredictable while Mars is the engine that drives the train to new destinations. Because Mars’ cycle takes two years, this suggests that new frontiers can be eventually be forged out of the chaos. Amidst the tragedy there is also a palpable excitement that we need to grab hold of to avoid being overwhelmed on a personal level. Once Mars leaves unruly Uranus he then meets Saturn in a tension filled opposition. Saturn is the only planet representing law and order and the face of humanity at the moment and he is definitely struggling against the odds in Libra to keep this balance. Between the 11th and 19th we will see evidence of this when the brakes are jammed on. Saturn in Libra is the face of people helping people to restore the foundations of lives that have been overturned and we can see that this is a difficult but ultimately rewarding task. The Full Moon in Libra on the 18th helps bring closure of events that began six months ago and underlines the value of relating to others. The month ends with Mars conjoining Jupiter between the 29th-3rd May. This aspect may act as the lift-off point of our journeys if we are prepared to move on, or an expansion of already existing situations. It all depends on what luggage we are carrying and how much we are prepared to off-load or hold on to. And, last but not least, while our eyes are peeled on global events, Mercury retrograde reminds us to keep an eye on the smaller details. We may be in such a rush to move on or get out of difficulties before we are ready, that we forget to read the fine print, double-check travel arrangements or become involved in new situations without being aware of the full implications.

ARIES: Your birthday year is sure to be full of exciting adventures with your
ruler Mars now blasting through your sign. The tempo, stakes and optimism are
raised now that two new cycles begin in your sign. The beginning of the month
starts with a bang when Mars catches up to revolutionary Uranus bringing a quick
succession of events that will be hard to keep up with. This is a time to take
risks but take a reality check between the 17th and 19th when Saturn creates
speed bumps and obstacles in the form of someone who urges you to slow down and
consider personal changes carefully. The Full Moon of the 14th will underline
this even further but after this you will have a greater sense of balance in
your perception of others. Communication is the key as is leaving major
decisions until after the 23rd, which is another key date. From the 29th you
have a choice of adventures and dreams to follow. Go for it!

TAURUS: Whatever is happening behind the scenes is the focus of your chart in
April. With Mercury travelling backwards through this area, the past, your inner
life, health and spiritual wellbeing takes centre-stage. In June, a
grand new 12-year cycle begins that will help you overhaul your image, looks,
direction in life and your general attitude. This means that as your birthday
month draws near, April is a great month to clean out the closets and get rid of
the stuff that is no longer of use. Less baggage means a better start to the
12-month journey of Jupiter through your sign. Jupiter will be here until June
2012 and is full of the promise of stability and fertile growth. Whether it's
travel, education, a whole new philosophical outlook or a brand new image, you
are about to enter into a much more prosperous cycle that can only take off if
you have dealt with the issues that arise in April. Key dates this month are
2nd-5th, 11th-13th, 17th-19th and 29th-1st May.

GEMINI: Your ruler Mercury is steaming backwards through Aries highlighting all
the bigger change that is occurring both personally and globally. Interesting
developments almost always occur when the planet of commerce and communication
does a U-turn. This month, so that you don't miss the important details that
could unravel further down the track, you need to ease your foot off the
accelerator. Pull over into a slower lane when it comes to friends or the groups
and teams that you are involved with. There is a great shift happening in this
area that will alter your perception of people in exciting ways. Some may show
you how anything is possible, while others may be too radical with their views or
intentions. The New Moon of the 4th will highlight this while the Full Moon of
the 18th will help you find a counter-balance between your social and romantic
life or where your responsibilities lie with a child or children. Of course, you
may also have aspirations that are in direct opposition with these
responsibilities. Neptune now sits at the top of your chart, so a sea-change in
your life direction, a parent or your public persona is now at hand.

CANCER: There is a lot of activity surrounding your sign that may push you out
of your comfort zone in April. Events and people pop up in rapid succession this
month and it won't be plain sailing but what you discover or experiment with
will open your mind up to the new possibilities that are forming with the fresh
era that we have all entered into. The New Moon of the 4th brings an intense
feeling of optimism but there are still obstacles from the domestic quarter of
your life that need resolving. You know that the sky is the limit but until
these familiar issues are dealt with, there will be a feeling of driving with
the brakes still on. Balance is the key. Mercury is retrograde this month and
this is always a good time to take stock, especially on a professional level.
The devil is in the details and the powers that be in your trade, profession or
public life will be active and very real. From the 23rd, anything is possible
and you will enter into May feeling much more optimistic about the future if you
have off-loaded unwanted baggage.

LEO: You are one of only two signs that can actually enjoy some of the hair-raising changes that the world is going through! Caution is always advised in high-tension times, but generally April is a huge month in terms of travel and educational activities. You could find yourself in the thick of things anywhere, anytime. The rock that people turn to, you have the breadth of vision to aid and assist. At the same time, even if you are living an ordinary life, you may find that you are suddenly awakened to possibilities that lie far beyond your usual boundaries. If you are travelling long distances, at home or abroad, be sure to triple check all your arrangements or to have alternative plans up your sleeve just in case things turn a little chaotic. And even though you might find yourself in a strange place at a strange time, the switched on people, the culture, or the atmosphere will make this location exciting. For stay-at-home Lions, there is still the same thirst to learn or expand your mind that on-the-move Lions will experience, and you might be inexplicably drawn to out-of-the-ordinary studies or beliefs.

VIRGO: With Mercury travelling backward through your other people’s money zone, this could be a nail-biting time if you are restructuring, settling or making claims, loans or working on joint property, tax or insurance issues since there are so many wild cards to contend with. Life in this area is highly-volatile but handled with kid gloves could produce some opportunistic gems. Money matters go through an explosive start as April opens with exciting developments kicking the month off. Leave off counting your chickens though until after Mars opposes Saturn, who will want the accounts to balance exactly. Because of the intense scrutiny mid-month, preparation is the key to making the most of the hidden opportunities or for approaching others for loans or favours. By month’s end, if everything is done with caution, practicality and honesty, the world could be your oyster. Watch the fine print and be accountable for everything.

LIBRA: If you could pick a month to stay in bed for an entire 30 days, this would be it! Being on the opposite side of the sky from the explosive line-up in Aries, Librans are going to have to approach life with a Zen-like attitude. Saturn in your sign is currently the only sane planet in the sky during April so stick to the rules and structures that you know best. Other people are the wild cards in your existence right now but trying to make head or tail of their needs, wants, thoughts or ideas will be like trying to find a light switch in the dark. You can make a difference though by remaining level-headed and rational at all times (yes! that could be difficult). The 17-19th is when the brakes go on in situations that threaten to get out of hand. Just when others are charging ahead without a plan, obstacles will slow the speed at which events and dilemmas could escalate so this could be a blessing in disguise. Being mid-way through your solar year, the Full Moon of the 18th suggests doing a mini stock take of the last six months. By the end of the month, communications get a lot easier.

SCORPIO: If you’ve got work projects that require rocket propulsion or a unique flash of insight to get started or finished, April is the month to plough through as much as you can on existing tasks. This applies to jobs that have already been planned for rather than those that are brand new but this can a great time to make rough outlines on paper for future use. It’s a busy, busy month on a daily level and you may find that what you set out to do in the morning flies completely out the window by lunch. Try to prioritise so that if you get side-tracked by the unexpected the important jobs have been taken care of. The area of your chart that rules pets, your health and the general maintenance of your life is brightly lit up with some very active planets including your ruler Mars. High-energy, there’s a tendency toward impatience and frustration when Mercury throws red herrings across your path but you could be grateful for the delays that prevent you from moving ahead prematurely.

SAGITTARIUS: With Neptune moving to the lowest point in your chart, the area that rules your home and family is about to enter into a sea-change that will be that much softer than the sudden changes and unpredictability that Uranus has brought over the past seven years. A flood of feelings will begin to emerge in this area that makes it possible to relate to others on a much more spiritual level. Having said that, your romantic and creative life is about to move up a notch or two during April and you will actively pursue exciting avenues of self-expression, whether it’s a hobby, social event or a passionate meeting with someone new. The internet or technology could play an important part in what you are doing now. There could also be exciting new developments with a child who suddenly excels in leaps and bounds, or you may strike a breakthrough in a situation that has been stuck for some time. For others, there may be news of a birth, pregnancy or adoption.

CAPRICORN: Like Aries, Cancer and Libra, the planets seems to be conspiring to make your life unusually active and exciting. From all directions, you are face-to-face with important decisions, events and people who can change the layout of your life permanently. In April, your domestic life will be highlighted in so many ways. For some, it will be living arrangements that will go through a rearrangement with the addition or subtraction of a family member, flatmate or visitor; while for others, renovations, a shift or some other situation will disrupt the flow of routine while this change-over occurs. From the 17th-19th, your ruler Saturn coupled with a Full Moon will bring your life direction into clear focus and this is a good time to take a reality check on where you would really like to be in a few years time. If you can hold off making firm decisions about home or profession until after the 23rd, you will be in a position to make the correct choice.

AQUARIUS: Travel could be on the agenda this month but it is likely to be for business or relationship issues rather than for pleasure. It all starts from the 3rd and culminates around the Full Moon of the 18th, which highlights distant places. For others, your knowledge base and worldly experience comes to the fore and there is certainly a huge amount of planetary energy in your zone of thinking, writing and communicating throughout April. This is an unusual cluster of planets so if you’ve got reports, letters or even a book to write, this is the month to put pen to paper. Because Mercury, the planet that rules communications is off air until the 23rd, try to wait until after that date before processing this information or sending it off to your recipient. While life is thrilling in many ways, there are also hidden details that will emerge as the month wears on and you will want to wait for this knowledge to emerge before signing off the final copy.

PISCES: There is a major sea-change for all Pisceans this month! Neptune, your modern ruler, will enter Pisces for the first time in 172 years! That’s right, we’ve never experienced this outer planet transit in our lifetime and hopefully this transit will arrive just when we need a little spirituality the most. Those of you who are born in the very early days of Pisces will experience the soothing waters of this mystical planet in a much more heightened way and you may feel the urge to retreat into an emotional, spiritual way of living. Remaining here until 2026, each of you will gradually experience Neptune during the course of the next 15 years. In April though, the focus is squarely on your financial life where sudden and quite exciting changes are happening that can’t always be planned for. Sudden changes could be disruptive but they will also free you up to earn money how and when you like.

March 2011

PLANET REPORT: As we enter March, life seems very strange, quixotic, distorted and new after the earth-shattering, revolution-inducing cosmic events of February. With no let-up in sight, a new cosmic order begins on March 12th when Uranus joins Jupiter in bold, adventurous Aries for a seven year stay. There is also a palpable tension rising all month as Mars heads toward a spectacular conjunction with Uranus in Mars’ own sign, Aries on April 4th. And just like the flexible new foundations, structures, rules and regulations that will rebuild cities and cultures, we need to flow with the change and build personal foundations that can withstand the jarring - and sometimes abrupt way – our new perspective will be formed in the coming months. The fiery vision of Aries will heat the dying emotional waters of Uranus in Pisces and transform feelings into actions through flashes of inspiration to create a fresh future in the coming seven years. Ideas and mental energy abound on the 9th when Mercury joins Uranus and then Jupiter on the 15th while intense intellectual fervour occurs on the 13th - try not to hold on too tightly to the need to control in this wild times. The heightened lunar activity that the year began with means we need to be armed and prepared right up until June 2011, especially around the New and Full Moons each month. And while our teeth may rattle and our knuckles turn white, it’s a ride that will twist and turn around corners we never dreamed existed. From June 5th, Jupiter will give us practical gifts to work with and from this will emerge patience and stability. In March, circle the 12th, when not only does Uranus transit into Aries but Mars locks into the New Moon pattern that occurred on the 5th. Also highlight the Full Moon of the 20th which is a karmically-loaded lunation that relates back to last September’s New Moon - one day later, the Sun conjoins Uranus. Following new goals and aiming for something outside of our usual comfort zones is the best way to accommodate the shifting landscape. Being thrown together with people who are “good” for us or taken to places where destiny happens, is the signature line of this pattern. By March 31st, Mercury will be retrograde. This means that from as early as March 17th, we need to sign and seal major life changes or avoid beginning anything that is not already in the making until after April 23rd, when Mercury resumes normal direction. Adding to the melting pot that is Uranus, Jupiter, the Sun, and then Mars from April 2nd, Mercury’s to-ing and fro-ing in hot-headed Aries, means that this is unlikely to be a passive time of review but more of a push and a shove to take a second look at decisions, choices, projects and setups. The Autumn Equinox – which marks the tone of each season or quarter - occurs when the Sun travels into Aries on the 21st at 12:22pm. Two planets on the critical first degree of a sign, and especially on the Aries’ first degree, means that once again revolutionary, shattering Uranus will bring lightening-quick events, people and situations. Stressful to say the least, but, ultimately, this energy will loosen and free up the old patterns of relating, mating and creating.

ARIES: Your sign has a very busy year coming up once the Sun slam-dunks into Aries on the 21st. For many of you - but especially those born on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd March - Jupiter is already paving the way for the brave new world that Uranus will surely usher in. This is a generational shift when a new crop of people and events come into being and for those who have early birthdays, you may be part of this change directly. Your personal identity is up for a whole new look, image or attitude, and you will be a magnet for, or be totally drawn to anything that is outside the square and can revitalise and renew your outlook and experiences. By the end of March and into April, try to slam the brakes on and backup a little. Events are happening a little too quickly just when you need to reassess keep an eye on the details. Yes, you are biting at the bit, but act in haste, repent at leisure applies from March 17th

TAURUS: From March 12th, you will shift from an outer friend/group/network-type focus to a bigger inner life of exploration, retreat, healing and an interest in the spiritual, emotional side of your existence. So much has changed in the past seven years with Uranus moving through the social zone of your chart but now you can begin to look back and see that a line is slowly but surely being drawn in the sand that will separate “them” from “you”. This new holistic frontier appeared for a short time last June and July but then mysteriously disappeared, allowing you time to say a proper goodbye to your social set, or a set of aspirations, ideals, hopes and dreams. From March 12th, after this one last encore, you step behind the curtain for good to rebuild a much more therapeutic setting for the amazing inner changes that will form over the next 7 years. Take the time between March 27th and April 21st to make the transition and weigh up all options.

GEMINI: You’ll be glad to hear that the roller-coaster ride that Uranus has bolted you along in your career zone since 2003 is about to pass into the history books. It all tentatively began last June and July, when new faces appeared or events that altered old friendships occurred, and after this glimpse, on March 12th this very social, group-oriented phase begins properly. This is a process of breaking up the existing patterns of forging friendships and meeting people of similar, but also very different, aspirations. Suddenly you wake up with different goals and dreams and this causes you to look at people in a completely new light. Alternatively, the people around you may go through a period of rapid change and this spills over into your life. Mercury turns retrograde at month’s end so from the 17th, you enter into a peculiar phase where life shrinks and expands at the same time. Despite the feeling of urgency, take your time. Late in April, the lights turn green.

CANCER: If you have a Gemini around you, ask them about their career and professional life over the past seven years. This might give you some idea of the great changes that you are about to enter into. If you are born in the first three days of your sign, you are likely to already be experiencing an urgent sense of needing to break the mould and experiment with something new. Others may feel that change is being forced upon you and though the stress is great, in the long run, you will eventually soak up the feeling of freedom to completely change your direction in life. The building work continues in your home and family sector, whether it’s with your house, the landlord or your tenant, because this will be the base that keeps you grounded while the gyrometer swings wildly in your life direction zone. Secure your foundations as best you can while looking forward to a brave new future.

LEO: The world is your oyster from March 12th, when Uranus joins itchy-footed Jupiter already in your zone of learning, travel, beliefs and publishing. Your thinking and beliefs are about to be exposed to totally new concepts that open up many ideas, experiences and cultural diversities. From the Bible to Baghdad, the diversity on offer in the coming months is going to extend all the way to 2019 and the urge starts right now. But! Because Mercury turns to backward motion on the 31st, from the 17th you should really take a step back from packing bags or enrolling in courses until all the variables assemble themselves into some kind of crazy pattern. This will save you plunging headlong into something that appears exciting and just what you need but may not really be what you want in the long run. If tickets are already booked, then prepare yourself for a journey of a lifetime where anything can happen. Double check everything, especially around the end of the month. By late April, it will be all systems go!

VIRGO: A rush-rush month when the peculiarities of other people steps up a notch or two before the hot and cold atmosphere of the past 7 years in relationships settles back into a regular rhythm. From March 12th, Uranus moves into your zone of property, cash, settlements and finances where a diverse range of experiences will change your thinking about money forever. Of course, this involves other people or organizations such as banks or insurances and what you will experience will require a huge leap in your knowledge base. Anything can, and probably will, happen, and quickly! Start preparing for a future that will be radically different. At the same time, you need to keep in mind the rebuilding that has already started in the way you earn money and that earnings need to keep in line with expenditure. If you can get this formula right, you can make amazing profits or investments with the coming opportunities. The Full Moon of the 20th will bring a brush with fate but with Mercury, your ruler, going off air on the 31st, you need to step back and take stock of what you are getting involved with financially.

LIBRA: Life is big right now. So big, we cannot keep up with the rapid changes that will continue to bombard us all for a few more months yet. For Librans, (along with Aries, Cancerians and Capricorns) you are already going through your own personal scaling down, and just when you had given up the ghost, along come people and relationships – from romance to partnerships to friendships- that tip your view to the opposite end of the scale. This person or person may have appeared last June or July and has been coming and going, blowing hot and then cold, until January when their orbit came closer to yours. Accepting diversity is the deciding factor in this crazy liaison as well as the issue of freedom – either yours or theirs. Take it slowly despite the feeling that you need to make a decision. There are so many more variables to come to light that you would be wise to avoid commitment until late April. Take note of what happens around the 20th.

SCORPIO: If you have a child who has been up and then down and then back up again, or a love life, that has been crazy, erratic but extremely stimulating, then you will be glad to know that all the unpredictability of the last seven years is about to become at lot more settled. With Uranus moving out of this zone and joining Jupiter in your work and health sphere, this area of your life will soon go through a major revolution. Up-skilling, finding hours that free you from the 9-5 shackles, taking up new technologies, or simply forging a completely new health regime is what is in store in the coming months and years. Mind, body or spirit, it’s time for a change for the better, especially if you had a preview last June or July of what could happen if you allow things to continue on in the same old way. Uranus is all about inventing a new role for yourself, whether at the gym or in the workplace – now is the time to kick it all off. Having said that, there are snarls up ahead where insights flow thick and fast so wait until late April to dive into the next era.

SAGITTARIUS: Since 2003, your home life has been as vague and as unpredictable as the weather is in spring but from March 12th, chaotic, quixotic Uranus moves out of this area for good. And while it will take a while to steer a straight course, the world of children, fun, creativity and romance comes alive in an extremely unique way. Whether you are a parent with a child, about to have a child or you are looking after other people’s children, there are some amazing times ahead with opportunities to enter into competitions, travel or achieve a sporting award. Some may even adopt or meld your own family into someone else’s. Romantically, you don’t get any more exciting than this! Single or married, the next few months are like that old jingle about gingernut biscuits, or an extra hot curry….so spicy! For others yet, there are some astounding opportunities to invest in something that is so far off your radar, you would never have thought it possible. The only glitch is waiting until late in April to seal any commitments of time, energy or money. By then, the facts and variables should be plain to see.

CAPRICORN: With a whole heap of planets at the nadir of your chart, and most particularly Uranus’ shattering arrival on the 12th, your home, domestic and family life is about to enter into a revolution. From rebellious children to wayward parents to eccentric visitors or flatmates or landlords, you will never know what or who is going to land on your doorstep next. Find a Sagittarian and ask them relentlessly what has occurred in their home life since 2003 and you will get an idea of the phase you are about to enter into. Go with the flow dear Capricorn because hidden amongst the chaos is a beautiful opportunity to free your life up in ways you never dreamed possible a few years or even months back. Expansion is the key as is breaking up old patterns so that your life is that much more authentic. Late April is when you can pass Go and truly put your heart, soul, signature or endorsement on the dotted line.

AQUARIUS: Say goodbye to wayward finances that go up and down like a bad day on the stock-market and welcome a unique way of approaching life on an intellectual level. If you are a writer, or have always wanted to write, or be a mouthpiece for the masses, your mind is as wide open to unique, out-of-the-box ideas as it ever will be. Jupiter has already been expanding your thoughts and communication style since late January but from March 12th, Uranus carries them beyond the ordinary and into society. For others, there may be unique situations to think about each day and this could range from your local neighbourhood to a brother or sister who is involved in something that is extreme but exciting. Others may find opportunity comes via technology such as the internet. You may doubt that this is possible in the closing days of the month but the roadblocks then are simply a test of your ideas. Venus in your sign from the 2nd helps you immensely.

PISCES: With Uranus about to chuff off out of your sign after carving an erratic but immensely satisfying path since 2003, you are about to leave behind a once-in-a-lifetime era that has seen you establish your identity in a unique but authentic way. From March 12th, the focus shifts to your financial life – the way you earn, save and invest money – and with Jupiter already in this area, you will now begin to see equally unique ways to attract cash and put it to use. Saturn has been working hard in the area on the other side of your chart that involves other people and your joint interests i.e. mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance etc since late 2009. And while this has restrained you somewhat, or at the very least made you extremely aware of your responsibilities from their point of view, you now have the opportunity to invest in yourself and what you truly value in life.

February 2011

PLANET REPORT: A fast-paced, action-packed, Mars driven month. Events move along quickly as the Sun, Moon and Mercury connect with Mars on the 7th and 20th. The tempo is upbeat on the intellectual playing field but there is also chance of hotheadedness and clashes of wills. If ever there were a time when our ideas and concepts need a good shake out, it’s now. For some, this will be achieved by butting up against other people’s views, opinions, beliefs or hypothesis in search of understanding and clarification. For others, ideas are shared, discussed and fine-tuned making this a highly constructive time with like-minded individuals who rally together for a common cause. We each live within our own perspective and impressions, and often we take this for granted until we come across other viewpoints. February is an extremely diverse month and is great for jumping outside the square either because unexpected challenges push us to look more closely at exactly where our outlook on life fits in with others, or, on an inner level because we feel restless and want to look in new directions. Welcome challenges but try to pause before reacting as this will pave a much sweeter path for good communication; and we may even learn something from people who appear radical or defensive but in many ways more like us than we realise. Promises can stick on Valentine’s Day, which is likely to be laced with practical reasoning than romantically inclined gestures. With Neptune putting an oar in on the Full Moon on the 18th (9:37pm), keep to a framework, stick to facts and use logical reasoning. Blurred and woolly thinking, or cover-ups and deceptive actions have the potential to come undone by mid-month. It will be extremely interesting to see what surfaces in the political and media circles where heated debates and confrontations could erupt. The cool New Moon in Aquarius on the 3rd at 3:32pm is fired up by Mars - who is anything but cool in the face of obstruction - and this energy will carry right through to the smoke and mirrors of the Full Moon on the 18th! Pushing, debating, and then pushing some more may prove irritating, exhausting but also irresistible, leading, in some extreme cases, to disputes and conflicts, breakthroughs and revolutions in others. From the 23rd Mars will transit into Pisces melting the intellectual atmosphere into an emotional but turbulent sea. Jupiter and Pluto reach their second meeting on the 25th; the first was in August 2010 and this will be the last, thankfully, because the philosophical fervour and financial implications will add to the already fiery dynamics of Mars.

ARIES: This can be a positive, upbeat month where the people you associate with on a social, networking, digital or club level can open doors, make introductions, share ideas, concepts and values, or be extremely interesting to be around. With Jupiter now in your sign (until June) you are already in a new phase of life ready to move onward and upward. You can speed this whole process up by seeking out friends and associates and make new acquaintances or revive old ones. Since this is a pumped up month, you can get over any potential conflicts in viewpoints by discussing opinions, beliefs or theories in a receptive way without having to give ground in your own beliefs. Being open minded will help you get through hotspots around the 7th, 18th and 20th when Mars, your ruler, connects with the Sun and Mercury. Around the 21st, there may be some confusion or lack of direction but this will be a passing phase. Swim with the tide for the rest of the month, ground yourself and be transparent in your dealings with others. By your birthday, your batteries will be fully recharged.

TAURUS: Up until the 23rd, you are in everyone’s sights! There is nowhere to hide with so much planetary attention in the realm of your career, reputation, public image or overall lifestyle and life direction and you have a great opportunity to make a breakthrough. February is also a month to work hard to power along existing projects, create a twist so that you stand out from others, or challenge or be challenged by people who work or think differently to you. It’s also a good idea to challenge and question yourself so that you can blow away any energy that is stuck. Peak points when hotspots manifest may occur around the 7th, 18th and 20th when a surge of intellectual energy brings events or meetings that lead to new paths. Venus, your ruler, moves through sister-sign Capricorn from the 4th bringing you closer to people at a distance. There could very well be something to celebrate, or perhaps you are meeting someone for the first time. The karmic implications of your relationships will be so obvious that your down to earth nature may almost believe in kismet.

GEMINI: Once your ruler Mercury joins the glitterati that is the Sun, Mars, (New) Moon and Neptune in Aquarius high in your chart on the 4th, the world is your oyster. You are a literal livewire this month and your thinking is very much on the broader sweep of your life. Whether it’s your beliefs or whether it’s itchy feet, doing something different may be the only way to quench your intellectual cravings. Publishing ventures or a promotion via your website may work extremely well so this is the month to sit down and create something different. People will be attracted to quirkiness and originality now. From the 23rd, Mars alters the astrological beat when he dives into Pisces but climbs to the top of your chart. Learn from people, educational material and by exploring new concepts in the first part of the month as this will provide you with the ammunition to overcome the challenges that confusion brings in career or life direction matters. Knowing why you want to approach a particular path or project in a certain way and providing the logical reasons that have been clearly worked out will win you the support of people you answer to or rely upon.

CANCER: The lunations this month may be rough and ready with a particular episode in your life reaching a rocky conclusion on the 18th, however, you still have Jupiter and Uranus soaring high above your chart and this means you are only limited by your own imagination, outlook or attitude. Change is definitely hovering around you and it may come in the most unexpected of ways. Every cloud has a silver lining and even though you can’t keep the clouds away, you should make the most of all situations between now and June rather than falling victim to circumstances. The first half of February has a group of planets in your zone of money that involves other people. This means that some small event or circumstance can create a flow on effect in that you need to focus on getting your accounts into order. This could lead to travel or educational opportunities. This is probably a blessing in disguise because the planetary symbolism means there is a cool and precise logic that can be employed to work through details. From the 23rd, some of you may be fascinated by a particular place, study, philosophy or publishing venture. For others, an active imagination can take you to wonderful places in your mind.

LEO: That’s some grouping of star-spangled planets in the skies right now and because they are opposite your sign and there is a Full Moon in your sign on the 18th, a culmination is very much on the cards. Some of the planetary patterns are impatient to move on to greater pastures, others hold great possibilities, and others suggest that it’s time for a little relationship maintenance. The best date to begin anything that involves getting together with someone else – whether for business, love or friendship – is around the New Moon of the 3rd, when sensible Saturn supports your actions and helps to make proposals constructive and long-lasting. Try to keep a level head in anything you are really excited about as too much force can turn others off. There may be opponents but there also lots of supporters so keep your cool and stay in control with someone who is trying to get a reaction out of you. The 18th brings a very murky close to a situation that began six months ago. It may seem as if this chapter has finished but some issues may be masked by confusion or uncertainty, which means addressing these details later in the year.

VIRGO: Being the sign that is most conscious of health and wellbeing – even if you avoid exercise or eating right, you almost always feel guilty about it – February is the month to get up and moving and start fulfilling all those New Year’s resolutions. Suddenly your attitude clicks into place or someone from work, or even your doctor, health adviser or an article you read in the waiting room, could switch you onto a new (to you) craze that seems just right. The same could apply to a diet. Use the staid but active energy of the New Moon of the 3rd to sign up. By the 18th, life looks takes on a murky colour and acting on impulse is best avoided to keep out of hot water. From the 23rd, Mars travels through Pisces until April 2nd bringing all the flotsam and jetsam of relationships to the surface over a six week period. It will be easy to get hot under the collar with people who are confused or confusing just when you need straight answers. At work, the first half of February is a great month to work together on team projects. For others, pets and small animals become significant.

LIBRA: In the month of Valentine’s Day, there’s nothing better for a Libran to have a group of planets travelling through your love and fun zone. Even the New Moon of the 3rd suggests that a new turning point is at hand if you make the effort to mix and mingle with friends, acquaintances, social or digital networks. The first half of February is the time to get out and about, to be seen and heard, to be active and reactive. You could be involved in a fundraiser and meet someone who has the same interests, especially on an intellectual level, where romance often starts for you. For others there may be a celebration such as the birth of a baby, project or creative venture. And for others, it’s children who bring happiness and joy in some form. Unfortunately, the last week of February, is filled with the energy of a frustrated Full Moon on the 18th. This occurs in your area of friends and acquaintances so if there are issues that are unclear, it might be best to get them sorted by then to avoid having your hopes and dreams dashed. Whatever took place six months ago may have some relevance to events then.

SCORPIO: It’s hard to say how having so many planets in your home zone will pan out during the first three weeks of February but one thing is for sure, it is likely to be busy, busy, busy. Updating, renovating or moving to a bigger or smaller place may all suddenly be in the stars. The high energy means you have to make a snap decision, act quickly or entertain people at short notice. Family may also visit, or you visit them, and there are likely to be sudden events that need to be arranged. All this can make you hot and bothered when you need patience and calm. Don’t worry, even though there is a culmination at Full Moon on the 18th, Mars will smooth over ruffled feelings and bring the break you deserve. Career or life direction-wise, you may find that unfinished business resurfaces that then creates obstacles to further progress. If you can actively seek out what needs to be addressed, you can avoid having to go back to this saga later in the year when all you want to do is move on.

SAGITTARIUS: Communication is where it is all at during the first three weeks of February. There may be a real buzz in the air, even in your very own neighbourhood or with a brother or sister that gives you all something to think and talk about. Suddenly there may be plans to make, or causes to follow. On a personal level, this is the month to think outside the square and perhaps approach a stubborn situation from another angle. Your ruler Jupiter is certainly gaining momentum for fun times ahead but before that can happen there may be an intense concentration of having to examine your beliefs against someone else’s. This could be a financial issue, or you may find that your values are completely different. The first thing to realise is that everyone is feeling the need to control and direct their own fortune around the 26th when Jupiter and Pluto meet for the second and last time. Look back to August 2010 for clues on what these issues may be. There is so much to look forward to in the future that allows your self-expression to shine through that it would be shame to let differences in opinion get in the way of this happiness.

CAPRICORN: With Venus in your sign from the 4th, your social appeal will soar and you are more likely to want to mix with people who make you feel good about yourself. You also have the power to make others feel extra special too – you might find you are very popular. During the first three weeks of February, sort out financial issues and make deals or look for ways to raise cash. You may be concerned with the value of assets and possessions and keen to whittle your life down to those items that are worth even more investment in the long run than those that are cash-draining. Call it quits around the 18th if it becomes clear you are throwing good cash after bad. With Jupiter and Uranus hovering around your home and family sphere, there are adventures ahead that will take off in March so use this time to get accounts into order so that you are in a position to take up opportunities. Upgrading or downgrading, domestic changes are on the horizon that, while disruptive, will lead to more freedom by June when your position will be much more secure.

AQUARIUS: Happy birthday Aquarius! There’s a lot of cosmic action taking place in your sign during the first three weeks of February. With Mars, the planet of energy and will, travelling through until the 23rd, this is your chance to tackle those issues, jobs and projects that require enthusiasm and vitality to pull off – with Saturn out of sorts, it may feel as if the handbrake is on but there’s nothing to stop you planting seeds now and preparing the ground. Socially, you might be very aware of those injustices that need to be corrected so if you are one of those Waterbearers who loves a cause, this is your month. The New Moon on the 3rd is in your sign – this is your green light to instigate new projects. However, the storm clouds gather around the Full Moon on the 18th when patience and clarity are thin on the ground. You could become highly frustrated by the woolly-headedness of other people but this is your cue to take a wait and see approach. Unfinished business might take until July/August to complete.

PISCES: The private sector your chart is where all the action is taking place this month. Behind the scenes is where you are quite happy to be and it’s certainly a good place to clear out the dusty corners and actively pursue answers to mysterious questions. Sometimes, it’s in the quiet moments that life becomes clear. A new birthday cycle kicks off later in the month and as early as March 5th you will be ready to move into a new phase. You will have Mars travelling through your sign from the 23rd and your ruler Jupiter creating discord with Pluto on the 26th. Mars in Pisces means that all of you will have an active, busy year ahead while early born Pisceans will have some philosophical issues to wrangle with in the coming months that will lead to big questions being asked about financial ventures, earnings or savings. The trick is to avoid getting too attached to any one belief about your security and instead realise that once you are on the open road there will be many more options and experiences that will expand your worldview.

People Who Should Know better

Wow, there's been a lot of bad press about astrology lately with the appearance of Ophiucus resulting in some tall stories being spread by people in the scientific community on respected television channels - namely the BBC - who really should know better. As astrologers we are not so much concerned with proving whether astrology works or not but more with the outrageous claims that amuses/infuriates us most: that astrologers earn huge amounts of money from a very gullible public. This public, namely You, appears, from what the scientists are implying, to be extremely stupid. What an insult to both you and astrologers. They also claim that we do readings in the same manner as a sun-sign column which means that 1/12 of the population will all have the same chart! This is total poppycock - to put it very politely - because all consultations are based on a time, place and date of birth, or by horary astrology - asking a question of the astrologer at a given time.

Astrology is a very complicated process that is taken very seriously by astrologers. Yes, some of us do write columns but we do so in a way that presents astrology in a respectable light in a bid to rise above some of the rubbish columns written by journalists. Yes, folks, journalists. You know those columns that are so brief and vague and without any astrological terminology to back up the data being presented. Newspapers and magazines know that astrology sells and that's why they have picked this little acorn this time around. You only need to look at the rubbish being spouted about Ophiucus to see it has gone viral. Please, dear public, don't fall for this!

A sincere person discrediting a belief, would begin his research by discovering exactly what happens when an astrologer prepares for a consultation and what they charge. Since this outrageous claim is that all astrology is based on your sun-sign (something that was invented by NEWSPAPERS to SELL NEWSPAPERS in the 1930's), he would find there is at least 2-3 hours work spent on calculating and pondering the symbolism in a chart. And that's before the client shows up for their 1-2 hour consultation. Doesn't take a rocket scientist - excuse the pun - to work out that this means that for 4-5 hours work they might get paid anything between $100-$200 - a mean average of say $30 an hour! Then we get to minus tax off that!

Yes, there are telephone lines that charge by the minute, but you will not find a genuine astrologer running one - you will find they are being run by people who claim to be psychic and use the word astrology - yes based on your sun-sign - to do a "reading". It's ironic that these same lines are being advertised on the Guardian's website, where discussions have been taking place between astrologers and "scientists". These lines are the equivalent to those scam emails one gets claiming to be your bank and asking for your password.

Some very intelligent people on the Guardian's forum came up with the claim that some papers get their journalists to write a year's worth of starsign columns and to vary the content each year so that no one will notice. They then go on to ask "how can astrology work?" Oh. My. God! They don't even realise that what they are saying here is: that a journalist wrote the column with NO ASTROLOGER IN SIGHT. This should set the alarm bells ringing straight away! Blaming the poor old astrologer because astrology doesn't work when not one single astrologer has been consulted? Wow, I think they have shot themselves in the foot there!

Even if you think astrology IS a load of old bollocks, you can still lobby for quality television maintaining its standards. Please feel free to add your voice to the growing list of people who are outraged by the lack of professionalism and knowledge displayed by media and scientific fields.

http://www.astrologicalassociation.com/pages/bbc/submit.php

December 2010

PLANET REPORT: December contains a mixed bag of goodies that requires patience and trust in the powers that be that there are great changes ahead despite the slowing down, delays and last ditch attempts to grab control this month (the 14th is a day that is loaded with cloak-and-dagger style politics, passion and power ploys). Just as Uranus is biting at the bit to get on with his last foray in Pisces when he turns direct on December 6th, Mercury drags on the undertow and settles into the approach path of his retrograde phase between the 11th and 30th. Mercury’s deceleration in Capricorn puts the dampers on just when we feel like we are on the verge of moving into new territories, but this is one last chance to truly structure, strategise and economise our lives so that we can start 2011 with the bare essentials. When he gets together with Mars and Pluto on the 14th, it will be hard to resist the urge to defend and define our territory. Less shackled by the material world, as 2011 wears on we will lust after adventure and freedom once we hit the open road in March so hang in there and avoid the control trap. After being in Pisces since 2003, Uranus has great adventures ahead when he travels into Aries on March 12th and a fast and furious seven year era begins. As early as January 23rd, Jupiter will get the ball of change rolling so it’s a blessing in disguise that we have the holiday delays to create the space to plan. Alongside the Mercury retro holding pattern, a lunar eclipse at Full Moon in Gemini on the 21st will divide thoughts and ideas and break apart emotionally-based thinking patterns. Communication is the key to bridging the gap so that we can connect to our emotions and put feelings into words. Gemini is famous for splitting emotions from thoughts so an eclipse here means that it’s important to avoid rationalising or justifying actions in an intellectual way. If not, the solar eclipse at New Moon on January 4th in Capricorn will bring us back inside the boundary lines of our emotions. The bigger shifts in global consciousness mark March 29th as a key date for world economies. Thankfully, this “balancing-up” cosmic event that relates back to May 2000 when this cycle began will be short and sharp. Those born in the first few days of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will experience the direct effects of these shifts and are probably already in the throes of inner and outer change that began last June. Six months ago we caught a glimpse of what is going to be on offer in the coming months when both Jupiter and Uranus stood just inside the threshold of Aries. The summer solstice occurs on the 22nd at 12:40pm and will be a potent marking point for the next three months. Release the negative fears and worries then!

ARIES: December is complicated but it’s the last stretch of bumpy ground before Jupiter hits your sign on January 4th. The key is in the ignition and it will be all systems go from January 22nd so make use of December’s turbulence and pot holes to shake out the nuts and bolts that need replacing in professional issues (which are likely to be plentiful)! Mars fires up the engine from December 8th but by the 14th that atmosphere is thick with intrigue! So many secrets and behind the scenes activities are unearthed that you will be amazed at the timing as you prepare to change course in the future - you could be very glad you discovered a thing or two before ploughing ahead with life-changing decisions that could very well change your mind or attitude toward a particular venture or person. Communication and information is everything now since there is an eclipse in your communication zone on December 21st. Again, home and profession will be affected by the information or concepts that come to light. Keep your mind wide open.

TAURUS: Your sights are set on the bigger picture this month and even if you have to rethink some of these ideas or ideals, you have the right conceptual foundations in place for 2011. It’s all just a matter of tweaking the details in a publishing venture, your website, an educational, cultural, or travel project as previously hidden information comes to light. And there’s enough information to fill a book or two. Financially, other people’s resources, assets and money will be need to be sorted and structured so that the way is clear to move into the next phase. December may be full of delays and emotional issues, intrigues and interesting scenarios but what you learn will clear the air and pave the way for fascinating changes to your belief about people and places. 2011 is going to a journey of inner discovery and of reaching back into the past for answers to today’s issues.

GEMINI: Mercury, your ruler, changes direction on the 11th and won’t follow a straight trajectory until the 30th. This means, despite the irresistible desire to control situations around the 14th, letting issues rest and allowing life to shape itself as information comes along. Your zone of shared financial resources, assets and money will go through a series of loops bringing you face to face with the important people in your life. Can you avoid the deeper undercurrents that are pulling all of us into the void mid-month? Perhaps this is the moment of truth as this is a month for discussing, delving and divining both your own and a significant other’s thoughts and feelings. The eclipse on the 21st brings all this and much more to a conclusion. Freedom becomes the driving force of decisions made now. Avoid letting the concrete set until you are absolutely sure, which should be around mid-January.

CANCER: December is one of those wobbly months where eclipses dot the scenery like emotional landmines. Keep your cool as you ponder deeper issues that can no longer be avoided. A big question mark hangs over you and whether to carry on with a relationship that consistently brings up repeating themes and issues. Around the 14th, deep discussions or hidden information could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back but keep going with the flow until at least New Year’s Eve before signing, saying goodbye or searching for something new. There is still a solar eclipse at New Moon on January 4th to contend with and this will be when new directions are staked out. Whether you both take the same road, or part ways, is a matter of personal desire and just how much everyone is willing to compromise, cooperate or collaborate with each other. Not long now until Jupiter creates a whole new ball game in your professional and public life. Circle January 23rd as the beginning point!

LEO: Being ruled by the Sun, the eclipses of December 21st and January 4th create a distinct end and beginning point in matters involving children, creativity, a venture that involves a risk or two, your everyday world, health and even pets. All of these matters will have a double underline beneath them when Mercury does his three-monthly U-turn across these zones between December 11th and 30th. The eclipses will stamp a sense of permanent change across these areas. Welcome what happens because clearing out the deadwood will ensure that new elements can take hold and you will be free to pursue the open vistas that lie in wait throughout 2011. Passion is at an all time high this month and you can achieve the high ideals that you crave in intimate relationships and situations. You are also encouraged by children and their development creating a win-win atmosphere that leads to better parenting and interactions with off-spring or younger people. Draw out the best in a son or daughter who is ready to open up and share their thoughts.

VIRGO: Mercury’s up to his old tricks again from the 11th, turning things around just when you thought it was safe to move forward. And despite the uneasiness, you’ll be grateful for the mini-WikiLeaks scenario that empowers you to make the right decisions. Information is power now! If you have big-ticket property deals, try to avoid signing anything until after New Year if you can’t get it wrapped up the 11th. Presents also need to be wrapped up and under the tree - or hidden away - well before then too. Mercury retro phases are notorious for mistakes. On the other hand, you may decide to streamline festive giving and instead conclude that getting together is more fulfilling. And even though you are bursting to get on with the next instalment of a project, you are lucky that Christmas and the holiday season buys you time to digest information that will surface, especially around the 14th. It’s time for heart-to-hearts, investigations and research with family, home and child-related projects. Hopefully, this marks the end of a long saga.

LIBRA: You’re still busy getting through the flotsam and jetsam that washed up while your ruler Venus was retrograde in October and November. December finds you back at the beginning of a compelling financial situation that you now know a lot more about. December still carries potent issues that require deep thought especially in relation to family, shared living, parents or shifting, renovating or buying. Digging deep doesn’t just apply to your physical foundations but to anything from your childhood to the present day and everything in between. Old issues can surface now, especially around the 14th, and then again on January 4th when cosmic pressure points set off all sorts of issues that you thought were dead and buried. Keep your Libran logic working for you rather than get tangled up in the emotional complexities. Communication and keeping sight of the big picture is the key to successfully navigating this sensitive month. A whole new ballgame starts from late January!

SCORPIO: Keep within your budget and work on streamlining financial or business budgets at least until January when you will have all the facts and figures that you need to plan ahead. Allow for necessary big-ticket items by keeping smaller purchases to a minimum. Your ruler Mars has grand financial designs to work with up until the 8th and once he moves into Capricorn it will be time to put the thinking cap on to structure and materialise these plans. Think like an accountant, visualise like an entrepreneur and act like a technician! Use the delays and uncertainties to step back and look at the big picture rather than give into doubt and worry. And even though the week leading up to the 14th will be intense and passionate but very restrained, by the 19th you will be able to see beyond the control issues and into the future. Emotions will overshadow logic at the lunar eclipse at Full Moon on the 21st but this helps to clear old thinking patterns that affect attitudes and behaviour.

SAGITTARIUS: Happy birthday Sag! It’s all systems go as you rev into action with the New Moon in your sign on the 6th. As the month opens you’ve got self-improvement projects on the boil, perhaps because you’ve turned the calendar and realised there are only three weeks till Christmas. There are houses, gardens and shopping to get done in such a short time. Don’t worry you’ll manage it all by starting at the beginning! Firstly though try to get the shopping out of the way so that you avoid the classic Mercury retro tendency (from the 11th) to buy all the wrong things, or to find that they don’t work. This is definitely a month to plan ahead financially and see beyond the gift-giving into the exciting future that begins in late January when your ruler Jupiter moves into fellow-fire sign Aries on the 23rd. Communication is the key to avoiding emotional issues at the lunar eclipse in your relating zone on the 21st. Try to see past the trivialities then.

CAPRICORN: As you head toward your birthday month, which starts at the solstice on the 23rd, you will have to strive hard to balance all aspects of your life. There’s an intense concentration of energy in your sign as well as Mercury following a crazy course from the 11th so keep everything open and relaxed. This makes December the perfect month to take stock before your personal and global New Year begins. You’re up close and totally immersed in personal issues that must be dealt with, as well as your sense of control, but the trick to getting through this phase is to let events and developments flow before sealing the envelope. Karmic issues require attention and they will keep coming back until understanding or resolution can be achieved. Hopefully, December will be the month when you give it one last shot before heading into the wild blue yonder of 2011. An eclipse on January 4th occurs in your sign and this will be the marking point for the next six months.

AQUARIUS: Being a group-oriented person, you are way better at dealing with the team, band, club or network as a whole than you are on a one-to-one basis. December is a month when all your social talents will be brought to the surface despite the need to attend to intensely private issues around the 14th. And even though you are needed by your associates and mates there is something about situations that arise that require a wait and see approach. You’ve got so much happening behind the scenes that require a zen-like approach to deal with the karmic implications that are attached to them. For this reason, you need to save your energy for the secrets and intrigues that others might not be aware of. By mid-January, we will be on the straight and narrow but until then deal with issues as they occur but avoid setting agreements, commitments or collaborations in concrete until you have all the facts. Gather and scrutinise details and then act in January.

PISCES: Even though you are winding down the working year, there are professional or life-direction issues that will become obvious as December wears on. Something that was almost signed and sealed will suddenly go through a series of changes that will compel you to think ahead to the bigger picture of 2011. Visualise, plan and strategise as well as look at the big picture of the coming year but try to avoid making hard and fast decisions until all the facts are to hand (once the working year begins again). With a retrograde and two eclipses looming over the holiday season, this is a time to watch and wait while giving the impression you are moving toward a resolution or decision. Issues around who holds the reins, wears the trousers or wields the stick could backfire if vision is too narrow-sighted. Around the 14th friends, team and band mates or associates will push the envelope as hard as they can but again back off until you can see what the real motivation is. A cold-shoulder approach could really mask Insecurity and fear. Life is changing and an era is about to come to an end.

November 2010

PLANET REPORT: There’s a window of opportunity from the 19th-30th to wind projects, ideas and lifestyle changes up to their maximum voltage. Venus and Jupiter both do a u-turn and return to the right side of the road on the 19th, but there are still a lot of speed bumps to get over before they hit the open highway in January. Venus is happy, strong and optimistic in the light of a new day but by the 30th will be an unhappy Persephone when passing once more through the desolate marshes of Scorpio. A long detour, it will take until January 8th to pass through this emotionally, swampy place, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The added bonus is that we know the terrain and who and what to avoid! Returning to Scorpio, unfinished business from July-November will begin to solidify in whatever way, shape or form life has convoluted into during the past 10 weeks. During November, look at negotiations, pacts, deals, financial and relationship issues during the open, sunny stage (before the 30th) rather than keeping feelings in the dark only to emerge over the next eight weeks. Clarify, cleanse and clear-up the distortions and warps that travelling backwards tends to induce. Neptune, weaver of dreams and illusions, turns direct for the second to last time in Aquarius (he’s been here since the late 1990’s). In approximately one year’s time Neptune will move into like-minded Pisces, marking the beginning of a new generation and a whole new set of dreams to look forward to. There’s going to be a strange sense of being on the edge of something during the next 12 months making this a time to reweave ideals and dispel illusions. Gladiator Mars spars his way confidently through idealistic Sagittarius until December 8th (and even though it’s a much shorter run, I always watch these transits as they are linked to the extended Mars in Sag journey between February-September 2001). Aim for the stars, keep sight of aspirations, uphold ideals but be brave enough to know which ones to toss by the wayside. Mercury increases optimism and encourages that Christmassy feel when it transits into Sag on the 9th but there’s a double-edged sword to contend with between the 16-18th. The Sun also does its best to dispel the trials and tribulations of another year when it too passes into Sag on the 22nd at 11:16pm. The intense New Moon of the 6th in Scorpio leads us into the light of the fertile Full Moon in Taurus on the 22nd. Shining happily in the sky in spite of the bumpy journey ahead for Venus, this Full Moon says that we can take hold of the strength within to sustain and build a secure future.

ARIES: Filled with a huge sense of optimism, you discover that there are bigger and better territories to conquer – mentally or physically - in November and this will follow through in December. There are still many financial speed-bumps to get over that make life hard to budget for but by the 19th it all turns around. The facts and figures stop jiggling and you can now arrange the pages of this chapter in the context of your life. Late January is when the real adventure begins for many Aries so hang in there and use the next ten weeks to arrange, finish up and sort out the aspects of your life that are in their last gasps. Aim higher, think harder and travel further, if not physically then in your mind via learning channels such as libraries, the internet, books and even people who are confident, robust and extremely well-travelled and versed in your chosen subjects. There is change just around the corner so while some aspects of your life, such as money, bog you down, look ahead to January-March, which will be action-packed months.

TAURUS: November is a big, if not passionate, month for Taureans, especially those with a major theme, thread or train of thought to weave, discuss or develop with the important people in your life. It appears that everyone feels strongly about their point of view so there may be those who challenge, block or make life difficult. After the middle of the month, feelings give way to a more relaxed atmosphere that encourages compromise. The biggest breakthrough since September, the last weeks of November foster a willingness to bring opposing ideas, feelings or values into the open. It is only when we find ourselves second-guessing others or being afraid to speak up do problems arise. Standing out of one’s own way can help too! Clear communication can restore your state of mind and bring a balanced perspective. There’s also a big emphasis on shared assets, money and resources as well as a claim, settlement, tax issue or involvement with lending institutions that can be modified, clarified or resolved. By your annual Full Moon on the 22nd, projects that have been in the pipeline since May are brought to a full circle.

GEMINI: A very active month for Gemini folk, it will be all too easy to get into a war of words when it comes to writing letters, sending text messages, firing off emails or making phone calls in November if you don’t count to ten first. While stress levels are high, commitment is hard to come by and airy-fairy attitudes highly irritating, there are ways to resolve situations. Someone will be looking for hard and fast answers, or something that gets said matter-of-factly turns into a reason to defend a position, reputation or viewpoint. Underneath it all is a desire to eke out the truth so pinning down the object of your interest – in romance, friendship or business – may be the best way. Having a heart to heart rather than avoiding the situation will clear the air quickly. The Full Moon of the 22nd is an excellent time to invite someone to dinner or take them out to lunch. Closure of events over the past six months - and in particular the last ten weeks when so much information has come to light – would be a nice way to head into the festive season.

CANCER: While the 19th is the pivotal date for all signs with its openings and lucky breaks, Cancerians benefit most by researching, working through and then pushing to get important projects, deals or assignments neatly packaged by December. The backtracking and detours then in your other people zone, makes late-November a time to eke out information, get a commitment or gain emotional input before you hit speed-bumps or others change their mind. If there is anything that requires a signature, from the 19th is the best time to let the ink dry. Passion has been an over-riding emotion over the past ten weeks and for some of you, your emotional stakes have been invested in love, while for others, a creative venture has wrung every ounce of inspiration, time and energy. For others still, children have required huge doses of your support and attention. If it is means a lot to you, then take steps to ensure it all lasts. Aim for the lovely Full Moon on the 22nd to enjoy the good things in life and review your personal achievements.

LEO: Now that the Christmas and holiday season is just around the corner, you suddenly realise how much needs to be done around the house. There’s a wonderful focus on fun too and some of you may even decide to host festivities at your house or throw a party for the New Year. Think carefully about this Leo because everything changes in December and what seemed like a good idea now, could seem monumental to pull off then. Why not have a pre-Christmas get together this month while your energy levels are high. On another level, if you are moving, or have been trying to buy or sell a house for some time, then everything could fall neatly into place this month. At the very least, having more options to choose from gives you hope for the future. This is an important month for children too. Encouraging them to aim high in a sports or creative venture could be all they need to take off. Put pen to paper from the 8th – a letter, email, article or book – the words will flow straight from the heart.

VIRGO: A big and busy month for Virgo folk now that Mars and then Mercury move toward active spots in your chart. November 20th will be the most active day for discussing, texting, writing and thinking when not only will your ideas and proposals be acceptable to others but there may be a surprise bonus thrown in. While this will happen in your family and home zone, your career, public life and reputation will also be in full swing. High activity times also mean high-stress times so try to deal with one thing at time rather than multi-task. Better to be master of what you are doing than a Jack who never completes anything. Quick off the mark, you will baulk at delays, interruptions or setbacks but try to be patient with slower paced people or find will yourself with a mutiny on your hands on the 26th-27th. Co-operation is what you need. The gorgeous Full Moon of the 22nd in sister-sign Taurus signals a beautiful completion of a learning experience that began six months ago. Fully utilise the power of advertising, the net or travel and academia.

LIBRA: It’s been a frustratingly slow 10 weeks but rest assured that from the 8th the intensity dies down and by the 19th, it will be full steam ahead. Ducking and diving through the murky swamp of Scorpio, Venus is back in your sign from November 8th. It’s been a long road from August 8th where this journey began. And while life turns a very sweet corner on the 19th you will have to be quick with putting your best efforts in where promotion, health and lifestyle changes are concerned as this will make all the difference from November 30th-January 8th. December is a very tricky month but if all the muck has been cleared up from the underbelly of your financial life, you will have a clean slate to approach income, business and property situations. If you are a writer, blogger or work in media, up until December 6th you will have plenty of intellectual stamina to say what you want very clearly. Short trips to intriguing places are also very possible. The Full Moon of the 22nd peaks nicely in your other people’s money, assets and resources sphere, so crunch numbers carefully.

SCORPIO: Your aura precedes you and your allure is at an all time high during November. This is the month to revamp everything from your clothes, hair, make-up and image to improving your employment profile, starting a Facebook page or overhauling your website. It’s all about you (or your business or profession) and your image as you head into a new solar year. While it’s best to wait till the second half to launch new projects, your annual New Moon marks the beginning of an active month where there are plenty of chances to turn things around. It’s bumpy in December so steam ahead with plans now. Venus has been pacing your sign since September 8th making the past 10 weeks interesting but uncertain. November 8th-30th there are sudden turnarounds, opportunities and lucky breaks in romance or creative ventures, but you will have to socialise, mix and mingle to meet potential associates, friends or mates. There’s a huge temptation to spend money in November so set a budget and stick to it.

SAGITTARIUS: Mars is in your sign until December 8th so your birthday year gets off to a flying start from the 22nd. It gets even better when your ruler Jupiter turns to direct motion – along with Venus – on the 19th. While Mars will provide thrust and propulsion, wait until Jupiter turns direct before powering ahead with self-improvement plans. Jupiter – the planet of profits and presents – has been out of action since mid-July. You’ll find it hard to sit on your hands but things can work out even better if you can keep to physical tasks and leave lifestyle decisions until November 19th. If you are on the lookout for a new home, or if you have been trying to sell a property, dreams may come true then. There are definitely more options opening up and this makes you feel optimistic and able to plan for the future. Once Jupiter and Venus move forward, try to power-pack as much as you can into the period of the 19th-30th. December is a decidedly difficult month with many sea-changes making life uncertain. Christmas shop in November but keep big-ticket purchases until after the 19th.

CAPRICORN: With Mercury – the planet of commerce and transactions – going out of tune in your sign on December 11th, November is the month to get as much as you can done in terms of your Christmas preparations. There is an easy-going flow to life now where suddenly you can find the time in your busy schedule to meet with friends, make new acquaintances or put energy into charities or causes. In fact, you may be approached from all sides to assist with fundraising or collections. If you are involved with teams, bands or clubs, you will thoroughly enjoy the social pleasure of mixing and mingling. From the 19th, make the big lifestyle decisions that have been suspended for so long. Sudden opportunities, offers or openings will present themselves then and you may be spoilt for choice. In the bigger scheme of your life, Pluto travelling with the Node in your sign brings direct karmic experiences that, if recognised for what they are, can help you work through unresolved issues that lift the weight from your shoulders. What happens now is good for you.

AQUARIUS: It never rains but pours! This time it’s your career zone that becomes a juggling act and while you may be stressed at the beginning of the month, by the 19th you’ll be amazed at how easily it all falls into place. There’s a crowd around the top of your chart and what seems like a certainty can suddenly change after some thought or clarification. Be pro-active in goals and under no circumstances should you accept “no” for an answer. Friends, groups, bands, clubs and teams become highly animated in your life as do causes, charities and fundraisers. It’s crowded out there in the land of raising money but your cause is sure to stand out now if you put extra effort in and offer something in return. There’s also a change in your personal financial life after the 19th, which is the best time to pack in Christmas shopping. December’s loopholes and potholes make planning and action difficult so try to wrap up projects and end-of-year activities in November. November is also a month of great healing and resolution.

PISCES: Woo-hoo! Your ruler Jupiter finally turns direct on November 19th signalling the last leg of a year-long self-development phase. Between now and January 22nd, you’ve got time to give yourself a good going-over in terms of setting new goals and looking toward the opening 12-year cycle. November contains many hidden gems that suddenly come to light but like any treasure hunt, you have to be looking and be prepared to dig a little – not only with attitude but also the right tools. Learning, teaching and an open mind are the best tools possible to have in your bag of tricks. Venus also turns around on the same day (19th) in your shared assets and resources sector so where you have had difficulty balancing the books, suddenly the numbers line up like magic. Mars on your career and reputation zone also means this is a time to focus on specifics rather than spread yourself too far and wide. Aim high but start at the bottom and work your way up. Actions may speak just as loudly as words around the 20th so think before you speak or act but always remain optimistic.