New Year Stars December 29

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A spectacular lineup of planets takes us into 2014, climaxing with January 1st's New Moon. Sun, Moon, Mercury, Pluto in Capricorn are at odds with Mars in Libra. Look before you leap and think before you speak. 

Mars's epic stay in Libra stretches until July 26th, and a task calling for balance takes more than one attempt. Make haste slowly. Between this and Venus being retrograde until February, take it easy and give people leeway in your one-to-ones.

Late April sees the fifth in the series of seven Uranus-Pluto squares. It's progressive v. conservative, The People v. The Man, old versus new. Aries, Capricorn, Cancer and Libra birthdays around the 3rd of the given month will feel this most, but it affects us all. Jupiter in Cancer adds to the volatile mix and we'll see extraordinary measures resorted to to protect cherished beliefs and security. Fire signs get a boost with Jupiter hitting Leo in mid-July.

Saturn carries on its work in Scorpio all year and we'll see more fallout from sex and secrecy scandals. Water signs get the good stuff, even when they have to earn it. 

Good news is Saturn's third trine with Jupiter in May, signalling a financial recovery, of sorts. Not for everyone of course, and we're not going back to pre-2008 prosperity just yet. But the boom-and-bust planets aligning suggest that things have at least stopped getting worse.

Someone said 2013 was a Friday the Thirteenth of a year, ironic considering the hype surrounding its predecessor. Wishing everybody a beautiful 2014, with love, peace, joy and enlightenment. 

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Capricorn
Finishing up and starting over, you look ahead to a wide vista. January 1st's New Moon is the perfect start to 2014, a powerful moment for your resolution. Decide what you want to embrace and what you need to eliminate, and make the transition quickly. A long-running career saga comes to a head and you choose a modern path over sticking with the status quo. Refine your style and keep your competitive instincts within limits - bite your tongue on Tuesday before blurting out an uncomfortable truth. A change of image works well for the coming year, but nothing too sudden or outre. Your relationships are a source of strength and enlightenment, and you tie up loose ends from the past. Venus, planet of love, retreats through your sign and revisiting an old flame gives insight into your present needs.

Aquarius
Planets bunched into your chart's quiet zone give you time to reflect. Read, edit and refine, and arrive at a new formula for an old idea. Still, there is turbulence below the surface and people wonder what you are dreaming about. The diet is a big theme for this time of year and you decide what to add and what to leave out. Friday's Aquarius Moon has you looking forward once again. 

Pisces
Visionary ideas are your staple diet to you and you outstrip your own extraordinary limits. Ruler Neptune gives you inspiration and a humanitarian streak to go with your dream. A thumbs-up  from authority seems to restrict your freedom, but you can change the system by joining it. Investing in technology gives you an edge nobody sees yet. Put an idea to the group at Wednesday's New Moon. 

Aries
Summit talks bring sudden change and you balance love and work.  Mars, your ruler, collides with lively Mercury on New Year's Eve and you make a snap judgement. Know how to keep a secret and take a breath before setting a decision in stone. Aim high at home and ask for more than you usually expect. Whether moving home or refurbishing, your luck lies in setting a firm foundation.

Taurus
Pressure mounts to make a decision and you are up to the task. A trip away fires your mind and wide reading gives you knowledge to draw on. Wednesday is D-day and an irrevocable choice comes from a mundane situation. A persistent goal that exceeds your grasp is asking you what you are working for. Your ruler Venus, retrograde, gives you a second chance on the international stage. 

Gemini
Deep discussion gets you into new territory and you dive into the big questions. Mercury, your ruler gives you structure, ambition and power, and research uncovers hidden information. You are fully engaged, but a sense of balance lets you play referee and peacemaker. A money-making scheme that was too ambitious first time presents itself again by Thursday. Accolades and acquisitions arrive at last. 

Cancer
Negotiations ensue before you move on with somebody close. Potent Mars compels you to come down off the fence and your message comes across clearly. Backing off has the effect of drawing an old relationship closer. Remember, you have extraordinary powers and an emotional ask is now within reach. Authority backs your hand, and work in your karmic account pays forwards. 


Leo
Whipping yourself into shape comes easily and it's a perfect use of your time. A spectacular lineup in your work and health zone gives you stellar energy, and you mix energy with knowledge and willpower. Mind over matter sets you apart on Tuesday and kick-boxing is a perfect outlet. Project ahead and dream what you want in the best of all possible worlds. Your Utopia is coming.

Virgo
You are one of the winners from midweek's tense planetary encounter. Mercury, your ruler, gets executive powers and your snap decision is backed by years of experience. Going beyond the obvious in conversation leads into deep waters. Your investment instincts are sound and a fleeting romantic moment has long-lasting resonance. An impulse buy satisfies an itch, but do you really need this thing?

Libra
Arms-length diplomacy gets you so far, but the time comes to get your hands dirty. Mars, planet of action, fires you up and a fellow free-thinker suits your taste in love. A three-way tug of war between work home and relationship springs sudden change heading into 2014. Think laterally, and reshaping your home revives your luck and invites people closer. Wait until Saturday to make your stand.

Scorpio
Time stretches long as you weigh work and effort. Saturn, planet of ambition, makes you build every brick of your personal monument and puts a hurdle or three in your path. Keep your focus and a faraway goal pulls gradually closer. Karmic credit comes to your aid and you make an inspired choice in business. Your statecraft is top-notch as you become a keynote figure in your field.

Sagittarius
Dig you heels in on a purchase and haggle hard. Planets bunch in your finance zone and you make sure you get paid for your punditry. Jupiter, your ruler, is empowering in business and you let your personal boundaries down without fear. The virtual world is your friend as a digital gizmo comes into its own. Monday's Sagittarius Moon closes 2013 on a high and you have big skies to journey towards.

Weekly Stars December 22nd 2013

Solstice is here, folks, the light returns. Merry Christmas!

 Capricorn

The festive period brings you the chance to reacquaint and rekindle an old flame. Venus, planet of love, goes backwards and a hidden quality in somebody close becomes evident. For better or worse, you wonder 'who is this person?' Tensions arise at home, naturally, but benevolent Jupiter keeps you sunny and nobody is so estranged that you can't bridge the gap. Put your dry wit to good use by Christmas Eve, and a family occasion lets you run your ideas past the committee. You prefer a traditional celebration, but others at home opt for an alternative festival. Spring a surprise on D-Day, Wednesday, and a break from routine shows everyone you can do it differently.

Aquarius
Keep an affair private while you sort out your feelings. Venus, planet of affection, reverses and you are right to suspend judgement. Indulgence is the order, yet you pick this time to launch your new ethical diet. True to type, you combine creative leadership and pure chaos, and your abrupt decision on Christmas Day proves correct. 

Pisces
Take a richly-earned rest and plot your success. It's coming. Ruler Jupiter gives you the confidence trick and you aim for bigger and better in 2014. A sociable feel surrounds you and the pre-Xmas shopping stress subsides to give you a restful Yuletide. You back up words with deeds and move mountains as if they are sandcastles.  

Aries
Your urge for change reaches screaming pitch by Christmas Day and you don't deny it. Still, sublimate your revolutionary feeling and doing something different is the next best thing. A handbreak turn in love keeps someone interested, though a passing whim is not the shape of the future. Home is where your heart, and luck, is.  

Taurus
A high pressure period brings success and you have earned every bit. Once you have made the transition to more meaningful work, there's no need to keep fighting. Venus, your ruler, backtracks and a foreign excursion takes an unexpected direction. Re-skill and upgrade your resume. Saturday 28th eases you off the seasonal merry-go-round.

Gemini
You show leadership nous and a flair for the unusual. An innovative idea doesn't upset the applecart and you bring interested parties round the table. Deep conversation is a change from the usual banter but you like to explore. A financial plan that didn't go far enough has a second wind and you have the belief to make it work.

Cancer
You embody the Christmas spirit and everyone feeds off your energy. Jupiter, planet of generosity, makes sure there's plenty to go round and a naive gesture is unexpectedly wise. Laughs, charm, charisma and mystery combine in your relationships, all with an unpredictable twist. Boxing Day works best to relate your big idea. 

Leo
Sunday's Leo Moon starts your week on an even keel and you get on a level with someone easily. Plan ahead from this centered place. Your diet goes out of the window anyway, so your mission is to get back on track afterwards. It's not what you eat, but what you digest. Lively debate with a sibling inspires a new idea and a new you.

Virgo
 Your creative genius explodes as you revert back to a former way of working. It's so old it's new. Express yourself smartly and innovate while staying true to what works. You are a sucker for every weepy seasonal message, so choose your cause well and stick to it. An eleventh hour bargain waits to be struck on Christmas Eve.

Libra
A motley collection of friends and family make your holiday backdrop. Old faces who dropped off the radar mix with new blood you now see the sense of. You are in assertive mode and duke it out with a partner who is in full contrarian mode. Christmas Day's Libra Moon balances body and soul, and your good angels prevail. 

Scorpio
You plan and plot even in your sleep, but you also need a rest. Switch to standby mode until Boxing Day, then Friday's Scorpio Moon gives you relaunch. Take yourself out of a familiar setup and even a short trip gives you new heart. Get some new credentials and a stroke of purest luck catapaults you into the dream career. 

Sagittarius
Families and how to survive them, your research starts now. A mixture of love and control comes from your clan, and you seek a middle way that gives you freedom. The impetus to break away comes from someone in your charmed circle. Make a calculation on Christmas Eve and a golden item comes within your reach.  

Weekly Stars December 15th 2013

Full Moon in Gemini, Mrigashira Nakshatra on Tuesday 17th.
Good for the birthday boy...

 Sagittarius
Take note of the friendly circles you mix in and keep the big picture in mind. A shared project ticks all the boxes now, but Mars, planet of action, asks whether you want to join in or stand apart. Think where will you be going in the New Year. Tuesday's Full Moon brings a nostalgia-fest with an old face and you revert back to a past way of relating. The seasonal build-up reaches fever pitch and the slightest emotion is magnified - breather deeply and hold on to your centre. Venus, planet of love, turning round on Saturday affects your taste and you change your mind on a luxury item.

Capricorn
A marathon work project suits your mood and you have time to bring results home. Be confident, get credit for your input, and see your assertive stance win respect. Prepare for the unexpected on Saturday, and affectionate Venus gives you a second bite at a relationship that won't go away.  

Aquarius
A private meeting smooths your love life and gives you a new angle. Put energy into travel and study, and you add initials after your name. Tuesday's Full Moon brings a creative masterstroke and you can't hide your feelings. Ideas and innovation move ahead and your quirky charm comes into its own.

Pisces
Your mission is to make the vision in your head real. Neptune, your ruler, trips you up only when you don't believe you can do it. You have balance, poise and executive powers, as luck and perseverance combine. An ad campaign promotes your special talent and Thursday adds depth to a first date.

Aries
An off-the-wall plan moves forward as you forget about being polite. Uranus, planet of innovation, embraces the new world and it's your way or no way. Somebody puts pressure on you to take notice and you decide how far you want to collaborate. Still, you play nice, and smart thinking is your friend.

Taurus
Somebody has a strange fascination, but now the relationship starts making sense. Ambitious Saturn chimes with spiritual Jupiter and you find the perfect balance. Loyalty to a friend is rewarded with real-world influence and success. Spend big at Tuesday's Full Moon and the rewards come back threefold.

Gemini
Your unofficial birthday is here, with Tuesday's Full Moon. Find an early seasonal moment or simply enjoy the feeling inside your skin. You are drawn to somebody smart and a shared laugh breaks the ice. A generous gesture combines with sober advice and you set up security for the long term.

Cancer
Take advantage of the time, you have belief and backing from the brass. A smart practical touch and reliability combine and you head off danger before it arrives. Wednesday's Cancer Moon sees an inspired choice as you snap out of a private reverie. Keep your cool when driving home for Christmas. 

Leo
Someone at home counsels caution and now you see sense in their arguments. Limitations has its uses and you focus on what really matters. A sharp deadline brings out your best work and you refine your teaching talent. Friday's Leo Moon brings mind and body together in a seasonal party setting.

Virgo
You spend big this season and love making a splash. Share your toys and put ego battles over money to one side. An introduction comes from within your group and a familiar face springs a surprise. Tuesday's Full Moon sees a career coup, at an excellent time to make an impression. Do the extra and smile.

Libra
People see a different side of you as you find a competitive edge. You are a self-starter and a romantic conquest is on your mind. The personal touch is still your secret weapon and creative compromise is key. Venus, your ruler, retrogrades on Saturday and imagining a new interior plays to your strengths.

Scorpio
Hours of overtime start paying off and people see what you are doing. You steal a march on your rivals and serendipity strikes as you make your own luck. Take time out, no matter how tight the deadline and an out of hours passion keeps you amused. Thursday's sentimental moment invites someone closer.

Weekly Stars December 8th 2013

Mars starts its epic stay in Libra and Venus prepares to go retrograde.

More on Venus retro here

Sagittarius
Your ideas keep up with your ambitions and it's time to launch your brainchild. Either get initials after your name or enjoy a mental enrichment program that prove you are the Zodiac's deep thinker. Get a trusted friend's input on your ideas and a spark of originality on Tuesday sets you apart. Jupiter, your ruler, sits perfectly with stolid Saturn and you get the best of expansion and security. Speculate to accumulate, and an international adventure holds promise for the coming year. A lavish gift comes from the best of intentions, but keep your receipt. A change of heart comes later in the Yuletide season.

Capricorn 
Your love life is running smoothly, but a turnaround is coming. Decide what - and who - you value most and what you will do to keep them. Private thinking time rewards your efforts and a flash of insight comes on Wednesday. Competition hots up at work, as potent Mars makes you decide between muscle and diplomacy. 

Aquarius
Power to your elbow arrives and you are both fair and decisive. Search for meaning and academic kudos, and keeping an open-mind invites a good idea. Take heart from the boss's comments and offering good service turns the tables on a rival. Donate to a cause close to your heart, but make sure your gesture goes to the right source.
  

Pisces
Your week starts in escapist mode with Sunday's Moon-Neptune match in Pisces. Indulge your creativity and a duvet day works best when you have somebody close to rescue you. Let nobody underestimate your powers as a grand ambition comes together as if ordained. Think ahead and keep a diary of your smart ideas to refer back to.

Aries
You have a broad vision and a grasp of details. Thinking ahead saves time and trouble, and midweek brings a fellow escapist onside. Together you foment revolution. Target a romantic conquest, or prepare for somebody to make moves on you. Wednesday's Aries Moon lifts your chin and friendly rivalry keeps shared energy flowing.

Taurus
Your are used to a backs-to-the-wall feeling, but relief comes from an unexpected quarter. A friend supports your efforts and together you turn a profit. Friday's Taurus Moon gives you stamina and luck, and you bounce back quickly after a night out. Lay your travel plans carefully and a forgotten talent comes to the surface.

Gemini 
A hip friend shares knowledge and you take it in turn to make each other laugh. Mercury, your ruler, finds you in analytic mode, but it pays not to ask too many questions. Show your leadership credentials and raw intelligence takes you places when you know your own mind. A financial white knight takes a shine to your ideas. 

Cancer
A protective bubble surrounds you and everything seems possible. Big hearted Jupiter connects with sober Saturn and you add wordly wisdom to your glittering vision. Movement at last. A long-deferred reunion arrives by fate and you decide how far you want to reacquaint. Share your crazy career ideas with a soul mate on Tuesday.

Leo
A way out of your regular furrow appears and you try a different career. Thinking smart propels you forwards and technology comes to the rescue. Protective Jupiter gives you calm and you smoke the peace pipe with a strait-laced relative. Party season gives you lots to look forward to and the office social has romantic promise. 

Virgo
Sunday's escapist feeling hides a smart idea that bubbles up in private. What seems like a fantasy has rich promise in the real world. Your creative skills have a renaissance and you take steps towards an artistic career. Mars, planet of action, hits your financial sector and reviving an old item is even better than buying new. 

Libra
Prepare for a campaign of action and to do everything you have only talked about before. Boisterous Mars injects energy and your competitive streak lifts you out of the regular run. Pick your battles carefully and think how to win the peace. You strike gold when facing up to an old fear, and the bigwigs spot your talent. 

Scorpio
Relief comes after a long road travelling in the dark. Saturn, planet of ambition, backs up your claims and the hours of overtime pay off. The tide turns after you thought you missed your moment. Take it easy, as Saturday favours kicking back with someone who understands. A smart investment takes off when you go against the flow.