Ready to know your life purpose?
Click here to learn how you can get a customized reading
will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about astrology
*(but were afraid to ask)
and
put astrology to work in a way to benefit
YOU
Special Horoscope for Capricorn
using the new moon for wish fulfillment
The good side of Saturn in Leo
PLUS - instead of viewing planetary influences as outside events over which you have no control PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY will teach you to view planetary configurations as OPPORTUNITIES that will allow you to work with the timing of the universe to make choices, exert control, observe results and track your success over time.
Each month, shortly before the sun moves into a new sign (which usually happens around the 20th or 21st of the month), I'll suggest a way for your sign to take advantage of the opportunities provided by one of the solar month's major astrological features. In addition, you can read a short article on one aspect of putting together a horoscope forecast that will give you more insight into how to interpret your own chart.
Finally, I'll provide a list of keywords for some of the planets, signs, and houses that make up a horoscope so that you can further customize your horoscope.
Check
in throughout the month,
track your results,
and within a year you'll be an astrological expert
and well on your way to making astrology work in a positive way in your
life.
the sun's journey and the birthday blues
Jupiter and the nature of luck
MONTHLY HOROSCOPE FOR ALL SIGNS
The sun is in Capricorn this month.
The new moon is December 31st.
Mercury enters Capricorn on January 4.
Venus retrogrades in Aquarius starting December 24, then retrogrades through Capricorn beginning January 2.
Mars is direct in Taurus.
Jupiter is in Scorpio.
Saturn retrogrades through Leo.
Uranus is direct in Pisces.
Neptune is in Aquarius.
Free horoscopes, Zodiac Gifts, Free Astrology Clip-Art at astrology.ca
Alternative Health and Spiritual Directory
Happy Birthday, Capricorn! Now I have a personal question for you. How old are you? The reason I ask is that for some of you Capricorns your fate this year (if you believe in fate) will depend on the year you were born. The planet under discussion this month is Pluto, the most fateful planet of all.
If you were born between 1948 and 1951, and most especially if you are going to be turning 56 this solar month, the universe will be actively trying to put you through a fateful transition in 2006 in the form of an opposition between transiting Neptune in Aquarius and your natal Pluto in Leo. The good side of this is that the universe is actively exploring options on your behalf, and is diligently trying to unlock any secret blocks that have been holding you back in your life. These powerful planets are trying to come to terms with how the universe itself works, and how you personally can learn a thing or two about using how it works to manifest your greater purpose. It's kind of heavy actually, and it's kind of exciting.
The bad side of this is that you may very well feel like crap while all this transitional growth is occuring. Any opposition between a big planet and natal Pluto can leave a normal person feeling like crap, and given that Neptune is involved here, your emotions may turn to emotionalism, and your feelings may be all over the map. It can be rugged.
So I want you tell yourself these things during 2006 as this transit takes place: a) this will be over soon; it won't last forever. b) I'll be in a much, much better place when it is over. c) It's not my fault that weird (and perhaps upsetting) things are happening to me. d) I will take advantage of this significant transit to finally make changes in my life that I've never been able to make before. When none of these affirmations sound particularly convincing, go back to affirmation a) and repeat as necessary.
On top of that, your ruling planet Saturn will be passing over your natal Pluto if you were born in the above years, or in 1952-1954. So you'll have a double dose of planetary energy that could very well blow most minor transits out of the water. In a way this is good, because Saturn will take care of you while Pluto is busy demanding that you let go of old conditions so that new ones can come into play. Saturn will defend you to some extent against Pluto's power, hopefully at least. But it just may not be cheerful while it's doing so. Don't expect yourself to be either--it's okay if you get a little grumpy at times during 2006. Remember affirmations a) and b). Over soon-much better place.
Meanwhile, if you were born between 1960 and 1964 and particularly if you are turning 42 this birthday, the universe has got equally impactful tricks up its sleeves for you. This time it's Uranus that will opposing your natal Pluto. This one can make you feel like you've accidentally stuck your finger in an electric socket of stress and can't get loose. This may impact you for only a couple of months in 2006, or all year. All of the affirmations and general observations made for the Neptune folks above apply to you. However, I must stress that you need to understand how positively this can impact your life once you're done living through it. Make a solemn vow to live through it and not throw in the towel. I swear to you this transit can open the doors that will make your dreams come true--it just may make you feel like you're going to die before it does.
Finally, if you're a youngster born between 1987 and 1999, Jupiter will be visiting your natal Pluto in 2006. This is an opportunity for you to get to know yourself better, the parts of yourself that are not always so obvious at other times. This is a blessing for younger people because one of the major challenges in life for anyone is to figure out who exactly you are. Jupiter will be trying to help you in that enterprise.
The rest of you Capricorns can relax. It's almost like the universe is kind of ignoring you these days, which can be kind of a nice thing. You may have a jolt in the career and/or family sector at the end of March, but hey, that's a long way off. Besides, there's enough going on in the world these days for the average Capricorn without a bunch of planets hanging around trying to force extra changes on them. So just happily celebrate your birthday, make a wish on your birthday new moon, and settle down in a satisfied, contented way to running your life just exactly the way you want it. There's nothing better for a Capricorn than to be able to run things his or her way, so enjoy.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Previous Monthly Horoscopes:
July - August (Leo)
August - September (Virgo)
November - December (Sagittarius)
Outside Links:
Donate to these organizations that help protect the rights of women worldwide:
Amnesty
International
Human Rights Watch
A fun take on horoscopes using Tarot cards: TarotScopes
If you
can't get enough horoscopes - here are a few good directory sites:
horoscopes4u.com
links for astrology
forecasts
the
horoscope junkie
easyscopes
Additional Astrology Sites for your reference:
Buy
posters and zodiac at AllPosters.com
Happy New Year, Aries. Let's hope it's a good one. If you want to make a resolution for 2006, make it a resolution to get a little more involved in the world. There's a lot been going on--from wars in Iraq to devastating natural disasters to political changes of various sorts, and they affect you Ariens just as they affect the rest of us. The interesting thing is that as an Aries, you can affect the world just as much as it affects you. So go ahead and make a resolution to have some sort of effect on the world around you in 2006. This is a Pluto resolution and the chances are pretty good it will be a lot easier to keep than your resolution to lose weight will be. Pluto's in your 9th house where, among other potential effects, it's been gradually mulling over the idea that it should drop some its old ideas about world affairs and adopt some updated ones that will actually work. It's been doing this for a long time, and it's getting fairly close to wrapping up the enterprise. It will stop thinking about this in a couple of years, and your chance to use its energy will be gone once it does.
This is not just a Pluto thing for you actually. This planet is working in fairly close harmony with Neptune which is trying to get to you become gradually more idealistic both about world affairs and about your own life direction. A final eclipse in your sign at the end of March 2006 will hopefully help you tweak your life direction and get a fresh, idealistic start. You may also experience some job jolts in March and September of 2006, perhaps some structural changes in your place of employment. These job jolts, if they occur, represent another attempt by your solar chart to put its gradually increasing idealism into practice. It may not look that way at first, but that's what the universe is basically trying to do. For some reason, the universe has got this idea in its head that you are a citizen of the world and that you matter. It is gently trying to convince you of this, and to get you to play your worthy part. Go along with it on this, even just a little bit, and and at least one area of your life will flow nice and smoothly. Considering that you've been through a ton of eclipses and changes here lately, that's pretty good news.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
If you're
not ready for a completely personalized reading, you can try a computerized
report from astrology.com like this one: "Unlock the secrets of your
personality and discover why you are the way you are. Try a free sample
of your Personal
Astrology Profile."
Find Love and Romance at AmericanSingles.com
A good site for all kinds of information on self-development: selfgrowth.com
Care & Beauty - Dead Sea Cosmetics Products
Great
selection of gorgeous New Age and Astrology Posters at AllPosters.com.
Highly recommended
Happy New Year Taurus. This month we talk about Pluto, an incredibly forceful little planet that likes to make changes in people's lives without them knowing it. It's been parked in your 8th house of mysterious stuff for a long time, where it's probably been being mysterious, and perhaps not all that noticeable. Still, it represents something of an opportunity for you on those occasions when you care to tap into its power. This month is a pretty good month to do so.
You see, you've got a little more than a month left to take advantage of Mars in your own sign of Taurus. The sheer force of your personality can be more impactful during this time than usual. Pluto lolling mysteriously around in your 8th meanwhile provides hidden reserves of strength for you. If you're up for it, you can tackle things at the beginning of this year that you've wanted to do but that you're pretty sure will require more force and strength and effort and energy and determination than you'd normally like to expend. Expend now, even if it seems like a stretch, because you've got the planetary backup to do it. The thing is, you can set the tone for the entire year right now if you're willing to do it. You can shape this into a year in which your energy and goals prevail.
You can even make this your New Year's resolution if you want. I mean, I'm not going to knock you if you want to make it your New Year's resolution to go to the gym. That's fine with me. I'm all for that. I'm just saying you could also make it your New Year's resolution to make this a very powerful year for you. And you know, that's a pretty rewarding prospect.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Happy New Year, Gemini. This month we talk about the mysterious planet Pluto, the planet responsible, more than likely, for the rising and occasionally absurd popularity of extreme sports. You see Pluto is the planet of extremes, and it's been hanging out in Sagittarius for a long time, the sign of sports. So you know, put them together and you get extreme sports. What this has to do with you I don't know, but since Pluto is in your opposite sign, I suppose it has the potential to make your own life something of an extreme sport at times. This could particularly be the case for you if you're born between June 16 and 18, give or take a day or so. That's because Pluto will be opposing your natal sun during this year.
Whether it opposes your natal sun or not, Pluto's general intention as it transits your solar 7th house is to get you to realize, gradually, that you really don't understand other people nearly as well as you might think. People have depths to them that the sign of Gemini normally isn't aware of, and if Pluto takes aim at you this year, you might find yourself discovering surprising secrets about the people you are closest too. Pluto here will be acting with Saturn in your solar 3rd house to get you to be quiet while this is happening (if it does), so that you can begin to understand what's going on.
In fact, even if Pluto doesn't take aim at you directly, you can use the general configuration of the universe, and Pluto's place in it, to craft your resolution for 2006. Your resolution would be to make liberal use of the concept "I don't know." This goes against the Gemini grain a bit, since the sign likes to know, but there are a whole host of planets working off and on all year to help you understand that you don't have to always, and that sometimes it's just easier for you if you don't pretend that you do. You don't have to know how other people should do things, whether they're right or wrong, whether they're going to do what you want, whether you are as smart or smarter than them--in fact, there's just a whole bunch of stuff you don't have to know. You don't have to figure it all out--people will love you anyway even if you don't know everything. And people that don't love you anway, well they're not going to start just because you try to know it all. So you can just tell yourself that every time there's an opportunity to answer a question with the phrase "I don't know," you'll take advantage of it. And by the end of 2006, you'll be magically more self-confident, serene, and stress-free.
Okay, well maybe not. I can't actually guarantee magic, and there may be all kinds of other things going on in your personal chart that you'll have to deal with. But hey, it's the New Year, and let's pretend there aren't other things going on and that magic can happen, and that this will be one of your most relaxed years ever, as you learn how to not know stuff.
For additional keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Happy 2006, Cancer. So let's talk about work and money, two fairly important areas in anyone's life, including yours. Here's what you've got going on for 2006. You've got Saturn in your solar second house of money and income. You've got Neptune in your 8th house of stuff like joint finances and debt. You've got Pluto in Sagittarius in your 6th house of work. And you've got one final eclipse scheduled for 2006 on March 29, in your career sector. The upshot of all this is that it seems the universe is trying to make some changes, perhaps some surprising ones, in your work life, and that this will impact your financial life. Either that, or it's already made them and you are dealing with the fallout.
Here's a teeny-weeny example of how this kind of configuration can play out. You get an absolutely fabulous career opportunity to do what you want--but it doesn't pay worth a damn. And then you find yourself struggling like a demon to pay your student loan installments. Of course, your situation is probably different, but that's an example. It's like the universe is saying "Here's the deal. I want you to stop working at stuff you don't really like and start working at stuff you do really like. If you have to make some financial sacrifices along the way--make 'em." Something like that.
Now I'm not advising you to do something financially foolish for the sake of career. I'm actually advising you to do something sensibly foolish for the sake of getting yourself away from work you don't like and don't need and towards work you do like and that suits you. Pluto in your 6th house (our spotlight planet) indicates this is the irresistible trend anyway. If it gets its way completely by 2008, it will have sneakily taken away your willingness and opportunities to do the wrong kind of work anyway. No good purpose is served by fighting this trend. In the meantime, the final eclipse in the Aries/Libra series on March 29 wraps up the end of your opportunities to jump on surprising career opportunities and changes.
In a way, this is the top agenda item for your chart in 2006. After that eclipse, the cardinal energy that impacts your sign the most will practically disappear from the sky. Not completely of course, but pretty darn close. Your motto for the coming year, or maybe your resolution, is to make the changes you need to make in your work/career sector and to find a way to deal with the financial aspect of life in a non-panicky and resolute manner. The financial sacrifices may last a couple of years--it's a possibility. But after that, you're through with this particular energy. If you play your cards right, Jupiter in your solar 6th at the end of 2006 will make everything in your work life so fun, you won't care about all the economizing you've had to learn how to do.
If you haven't already done so, get yourself positioned now by gradually disentangling yourself from anything in your work life you don't really like. It will be preferable not to be dragging a lot of baggage into your eclipse opportunity at the end of March. It's supposed to represent a fresh start for you, and I would dearly love to see you in an excellent position to capitalize on it.
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Happy New Year Leo. I've spent an awful lot of time over the past few months it seems talking about all the fixed sign energy impacting your sign and pulling you in different directions. That's still around in abundance this solar month, although Venus, Mercury, and the sun will spend most of their time in Capricorn in your solar 6th house of work. This goes along fairly nicely with Mars in Taurus, and if there's work to be done this month, you have good planetary energy to do it.
In the meantime, I'm going to address something that's been going on in the background of your chart. That would be Pluto's influence in your 5th house. Pluto here acts like the kind of planet that can gradually convince you that even though you swore you didn't want kids, it turns out you do. Or it can get you to adjust to the fact that your kids are leaving home. It can change your mind about how you handle your love life, and get you to stop chasing things in that area it turns out you don't need to be chasing. If you're a creative type, it can gradually get you to let go of certain creative aspirations that really were never going to pan out, and get you to adopt ones that have a better chance of turning into something worthwhile.
Pluto is a planet that when it's working nicely, helps you realize things. It's working in concert with Saturn these days and for some people that means that your solar chart is finally ready to deal with the responsibilities of parenthood. If this is your inclination, you've got opportunities over the next couple of years to realize this and start a family.
If that's not your inclination, there's still a message here. The message is that you are growing and maturing Leo; you're not just stuck in a sealed chamber of fixed sign energy making your current daily life perhaps a bit on the overwhelming side. There's meaning, there's purpose, you're going somewhere, or growing into something. It may be hard to tell at times that this is happening in 2006, because even when Mars leaves Taurus in mid-February, there are still 3 big planets in fixed signs for most of the year. It would be good for you throughout 2006 to periodically stop and look at what you're accomplishing, because you will be accomplishing things. Acknowledge all the changes that you've made and are making and will be making throughout this company. Make it a resolution. Like this: I pledge that at least once during every month in 2006, I will stop a moment to realize that I've actually achieved a lot even when it didn't feel like it.
And then, after you take the pledge, pat yourself on the back. Leo normally likes other people to be the ones patting it on the back and it engages in self back-patting primarily to convince others to acknowledge how great Leo is. With Saturn in your sign all year, you may be hard-pressed to get the external back-patting you normally crave, so be sure to self-administer it this year - sort of like taking your acknowledgement vitamins to keep your strength up. You're going to be doing a lot this year, Leo, so congratulations in advance on an impactful year.
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
VIRGO: AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22
Happy New Year, Virgo. May I congratulate you on continuing to be the most astrologically interesting sign in the Zodiac? We've already talked last year about some of the big outer planets influencing your life, like Uranus in your solar 7th. In 2006, we'll be adding eclipses in your own and opposite sign of Pisces to the mix. The universe just can't get enough of you and continues to lavish an amazing amount of attention on getting your life to change. Look for stuff to happen in March and September of 2006, that's when the eclipses will happen.
I don't know exactly what to make of all this planetary activity except to say that it seems you are continuing to be encouraged to go through a process of transformation. It's possible that this transformation is intended to function on the inner level mostly, but honestly with all the energy impacting you, I have a feeling it's intended to be an external transformation too. The actual form your life takes seems destined to change. You can fight this I suppose, if you don't want it to change, but maybe the changes are intended to be overwhelmingly positive, if you can get yourself through the process of making them. Since the eclipses hit your 1st and 7th houses, these changes could be anything, although they may most obviously impact your closest relationships.
There's another piece of the puzzle we haven't even addressed yet. Pluto, the very planet of transformation, has actually been in Sagittarius, gliding through your solar 4th house, at the very base of your chart. Normally, Pluto in transit doesn't call much attention to itself given that it takes over a decade to get all the way through a sign. It actually entered Sagittarius back in 1995. But when you add in all the other planetary activity towards transformation, it seems kind of significant that even Pluto is getting into the act, trying to help you transform your life from the very roots on upward.
So I suppose your motto for 2006 should be "change is good." Change is good for you actually, although admittedly a series of eclipses in your own sign sometimes seems to work by taking two steps backward and then three steps forward. So take a deep breath Virgo while the inner planets transit Capricorn and your solar 5th this month, hopefully making things nice and easy in the world of your relationships. Take a nice deep breath and tell yourself "I am so looking forward to changes in 2006." Repeat this to yourself about 150 times a day, get excited about your possibilities if you want, and then...when these changes start kicking into gear around March, you'll be all prepped and happy, ready to meet your transforming destiny.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
LIBRA: SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22
Happy New Year Libra. The beginning of the year is traditionally a good time for Libras to get all cozy at home, do a bit of nesting, deal with practical matters of home and family, and generally get themselves organized in a peaceful Libra way for the coming year. That holds true this year, the majority of the inner planets will be in Capricorn, encouraging you to think of such matters and focus attention on them. In the background, though, there's other stuff going on.
The final eclipse in the series falling in your own sign of Libra and Aries will take place on March 29 of 2006, marking the end of your movement through a rite of passage. Your life, I hope, will take on the character of a fresh start at that time. This could impact any number of things in your life, relationships for one. But there are other factors at work in your overall chart, and with Pluto (our spotlight planet) in your solar 3rd house, part of the transition has been (or was meant to be) in the very way you present yourself and communicate with the world. A little more powerfully has been the universe's hope for you. Since this transition still hasn't been completed, one thing for you to do in preparation for your nice fresh start is to fix your eyes on where you want to go in life in 2006. Look at the horizon. Do you have a sense of what business needs to be wrapped up to make your transition complete? Things typically come home to roost at the end of an eclipse cycle, or come to culmination, so you can move on. Is there anything you need to prepare for? While you've got the inner planets working the practical energy of Capricorn on your behalf this month, see if you can tie up loose ends, get things squared away and ready for a glorious spring. You like that kind of stuff anyway, it makes you feel better. Why not take advantage and have a peaceful month attending to the things you want to attend to.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
SCORPIO: OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21
Welcome to 2006, Scorpio. This can be a year of changes for you, if you'd like. There are a couple of interesting things going on. The solar month itself may not start off with much of a bang, the majority of the inner planets are in Capricorn, where they'll hopefully make you contendly busy dealing with the practicalities of everyday life. But the year itself could be quite impactful.
For one thing, you've got all three fire signs seeming to work together in an interesting way to impact your work and financial life. Pluto's in Sagittarius in your 2nd house. Normally, this would be a background influence, but you've also got Saturn in Leo, and the final eclipse in a series in Aries in your 6th house. It kinda looks to me (I could be wrong), like the universe is trying to tug your primary source of income away from you. Pluto in the 2nd gradually gets rid of things, and it is in your 2nd house of income and money. Saturn in your solar 10th squaring Jupiter in your own sign and solar 1st house indicates that somehow your career is not meshing ideally with your capacity for happiness and self-expression. Then along comes the last in a series of eclipses in the sector that governs your occupation on March 29, theoretically bringing with it a fresh start in that area. It's almost like the universe wants to see you let go of a source of income or career status and make a new start in something else. This may be a bit rugged for you financially, but it also seems like a harbinger of positive changes in your world. Perhaps you've already felt them.
With Jupiter in your own sign, you theoretically have the luck to rise above financial obstacles and float along as if supported by magic. That may not happen, but it would perhaps be wise to believe it could and encourage the universe to support you in this way, no matter what occupational and financial changes come your way. Couldn't hurt.
On an another front, the universe continues to be almost obsessively interested in your relationships, social life, and so on, and there could be changes there too. There will be eclipses in this sector, too, hitting your solar 5th and 11th houses in March and September. If you want changes in the love life, social life, children, or creative endeavors areas, you can have them this year it seems. Even if you don't want them, it looks that you could have them. Again, you've got Jupiter on your side, so it seems that all will positive, or at least it should be. Keep your eyes open this month for changes that could be made this year, changes that you would like to see happen. There's not a lot for you do to at the moment, I don't think, with Mars still opposing your sign til mid-February. But keep a lookout for things that could help you get where you want to go in 2006. It seems that it could be a really good year with a lot to show for itself by the end.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Ah, Sagittarius. The momentary spotlight is on your finances, what with the sun, Mercury and Venus in your solar 2nd house of money, and a full moon in Cancer in your 8th house of taxes, joint finances, and stuff like that. It's a good month to attend to those kinds of matters, and make some practical headway in getting things organized. Maybe not your favorite thing, but you know, once a year getting your finances organized is a good thing.
The other topic this month is Pluto, which happens to be transiting your very own sign. It's almost finished, perhaps thankfully, although almost in Pluto's case means it will leave in 2008. You're most of the way through this transit though when you consider that it started in 1995. Somehow or another the universe has decided to affect a whole generation of Sagittarians around the world. A lot of people don't ever get to host Pluto in their own sign, for some reason, you do. What Pluto has been trying to do for you Sagittarians is perhaps a bit of a mystery (Pluto is the planet of mystery). The thing that seems most likely is that Pluto has been gradually trying to get you to be an even more outspoken Sagittarius than you would otherwise be. Some of you started out as pretty outspoken type people so that may be saying something.
The thing about Pluto is that by its nature, it's concerned with the world at large. So is the sign of Sagittarius really; it likes to look at the big picture and gets all cross-eyed when forced to focus on the details. Pluto and Sagittarius share another thing in common at heart, which is that they always think there's something wrong with that world they're interested in. Something wrong on some fundamental level. Pluto, given its way, criticizes the world harshly, and when the world doesn't listen does things like cause a worldwide economic depression. It's not a planet to mess with. When it says you can't build an economy based on unrealistic speculation and greed, it means you cannot build an economy based on unrealistic speculation on greed. It made that point so forcefully during the 30s that governments all over the world were forced to reform from the foundations up. Sagittarius likes that, because it likes to reform things too.
Put Pluto in your own sign, and it's almost like the universe has been gradually egging you on to voice your criticisms of the way the world is run. Outspokenly, if necessary. Other signs may consider you, or this criticizing function, to be a pain in the ass, but you know, Sagittarius, you've got a gift for it. You have the ability to combine criticism with optimism and encouragement. When you have influence, you can kind of whip things into shape with a mixture of harsh abrasiveness and inspiring idealism. Now I'm not saying you need to become a world leader, or even that you should devote the coming year to political and social participation. But I will say Sagittarius that you need to speak up. Neptune in Aquarius wants you to speak up too. Speak up and express your Sagittarian opinions. If you're one of those Sagittarians with a shy rising sign, make it your resolution this year to speak up and voice your opinions. There's no point in being born a Sagittarian, with all the signs gifts, if you don't make use of them.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
AQUARIUS: JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18
So Aquarius, let's take a look at the planetary agenda for you in 2006. I'm not going to focus on the fixed sign energy I've spoken of in previous months. That will continue to be in place, a little less drastically at times, throughout 2006. You'll deal with it. No, what catches my attention is the beginning of a series of eclipses in Pisces and Virgo impacting your 2nd and 8th houses of money-related matters. The first eclipse is in March on the 14th (or 15th depending where you live), and another set occurs in September. It's possible that you won't know whether you're coming or going financially in 2006, so let's talk about what this is about.
It's about getting you to be less conservative financially. Aquarius is supposed to be a radical sign, but given any opportunity actual Aquarians will conduct themselves as conservatively as possible. Honestly. Groundbreaking Aquarians who change the world (and there have been a number of them) will personally live in the most conservative way, venturing not an inch out of their comfort zone their entire lives if possible. I've got nothing against this general approach to life, but apparently the universe does. It's been on an anti-conservative kick for Aquarians for a number of years. Now, with the help of Uranus in Pisces, it's preparing to send laser beams of energy at Aquarians and their dollars for a couple of years. We know it's trying to toss Aquarian financial conservatism into the air, because that's what Uranus does, and eclipses just force the issue.
So...bottom line Aquarius. You are going to have to upgrade your existing financial condition. It may not be easy, but you've got to throw some energy into it. Making do with the status quo ain't going to cut it, because the universe is going to try to take the financial status quo away from you. You need a financial re-birth honey. You're going to need to grow, or grow up, in terms of how you handle money. You need to increase the inflow, and you may need to increase the outflow too.
It seems like all the big planets are getting into the act here; well, almost all of them. Pluto in Sagittarius in your 11th is trying to gradually strip you of conservatism in how you see your life direction. Neptune in your own sign in your solar 1st house ups this trend exponentially. Uranus will try to rock and shock you out of complacency. Jupiter in your solar 10th will try to bring money in by means of your career (don't turn it down!). The only bastion of conservatism left in your chart in 2006 is Saturn in Leo in the house of your significant other. Cling to that if you'd like, to him or her, in financially stormy seas.
Now I have no idea how this will actually play out for you in real life terms. But it's a fair bet that the universe will ask you to give up something you may be clinging to, to relinquish or let go. So, if you have a bit of time this month (you might, the inner planets are sleeping quietly in your solar 12th house), take a good look at your financial picture and see what you don't need to keep. Both on the income and the outgo side of the equation. Can you ditch an unnecessary expense? How about a job that pays below market rate? What's holding you back? Analyze and prepare to eliminate what doesn't work. That way, I hope you will not be caught too off guard when the first eclipse hits in March, and you'll be able to deal with these matters in a relatively stress-free manner. I'm crossing my fingers for you Aquarius and hoping that over the next two years you undergo a financial transformation that will rock your socks off.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
PISCES: FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20
Happy New Year, Pisces. How are you doing? Did you know that this year starts off a cycle of eclipses in your own and opposite sign of Virgo? The party gets started on March 14 or 15 of 2006 (depending where you are) and gets kicked up a notch in the following September. This could affect in you in all kinds of different ways, especially since Uranus is visiting your sign too. You could decide to get married within the next couple of years, or to leave the one you're in. You could start a family or see your little ones leave the nest. You could buy a house for the first time in your life, or sell one you've had for years. You could see all kinds of changes.
Another sector where you could see changes is on the career front. Won't happen if you don't put some effort into it, but if you'd like you could see something happen there. Saturn's in Leo in your solar 6th house of work. Pluto's in Sagittarius in your solar 10th house of career. Normally, Pluto wouldn't be doing much that you'd necessarily notice, but combine him with Saturn and you just might feel a very strong urge to get the heck out of whatever work situation you're in. You might finally realize things like "hey, this schedule is killing me." Or, "you know, this work really isn't very creatively fulfilling." Or, "hmmm...I have no time to spend with my children and spouse, that's not good." Etc.
You certainly don't have to turn your attention to these matters this year (well, actually maybe you do), but it might be wise to. I guess the thing to ask yourself as this year gets started is what do I love in my life? And what do I wish would just go away? The general idea is to ramp up the portion of your life devoted to the love stuff and to clear out the stuff you wish would go away. Since Pluto is in your 10th sector, just egging on Saturn in your 6th sector, it might be time well spent to confront any problems that have cropped in your career. Like not wanting to pursue it any more and wanting to do something else. Or, for that matter, wanting to devote yourself to it wholeheartedly. Or, confronting personality conflicts and problematic people that don't seem to have your best interests at heart. It's almost as if the universe is saying it will be hard for you to have a good personal life if you don't get your public and work life straightened out as best you can this year. Or that changes in one area will force changes in the other. What you want to do about all this is really up to you, but I say go for the love. Just make your way doggedly toward the goal of living a life you can love. You may not achieve 100% perfection, but you know, what can it hurt? Sounds like a New Year's resolution to me.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
PLUTO IN SAGITTARIUS
Astrologers like to say that Pluto affects both world events and generations of people. They point, for example, to the years when Pluto was in Leo and say that its influence on the children born with Pluto in that sign are responsible for the sexual revolution. Theoretically, I suppose, that would mean that with Pluto in Sagittarius that the kids born between 1995 and 2007 would be the most cheerful Pluto generation ever. Sagittarius is a pretty cheerful sign.
Pluto, on the other hand, is not really a very cheerful planet. It's a planet that tends to disapprove of things unless they operate in accordance with its ideas of moral law. It operates outside of the territory most of the other planets are familiar with. It's critical of existing conditions usually, but it's also, in its own inscrutable way, the most fair of all the planets. It just insists on truth, and if you can hack the truth, it will heal you. And heal whatever sector of the world it's focusing on as well.
It usually, however, manages to greatly upset the people and things it's healing. If you want to find out if Pluto will be healing and upsetting you this year, take a look at the horoscope for Capricorn. If you were born during one of the years mentioned there, chances are you will feel Pluto's effects.
Pluto is actually almost done with its transit through Sagittarius. A couple of years from now, it will be in the very conservative sign of Capricorn. In the meantime, you can basically ignore it if you want. Or...since this is a page where we view everything as an opportunity, you can do the opposite and enthusiastically work its remaining influence in Sag. You can joyfully work at cleaning up your affairs in the house in which it's transiting for you. (Count round the zodiac starting at your sun or rising sign to identify its house). Pluto clears things out so that there's room for the new. It just hacks away at old and rotting and underbrush, leaving things all sterile and barren for a bit, and then plants seeds for a new and improved life in that sector. For example, if you've got Pluto in your 11th house of hopes and wishes and you've been clinging to the hope that one day you'll be a rock star even though you're well over 50 and don't play an instrument... well, Pluto can help.
Pluto can point out to you that the reason you wanted to be rock star was for the attention and that if you give up all ideas in your head of having undiscovered talent or living some life filled with improbable glamour, you can actually get a lot of attention for the person you actually are. It may seem silly, I mean on some level you know you're not going to be a rock star, but...the truth is we all cling to these kinds of things even if we don't realize it. We cling to a past we didn't have, a present that isn't actually occurring and a future that isn't in the cards. We cling to fears, to survival habits, jobs, spouses, beliefs, you name it, we cling. That's what makes Pluto so darn upsetting and healing at the same time. The things we cling to so often hold us back. It's ironic really.
We cling to a relationship with Mom, even though Mom has been problematic and hurtful almost since day one. But we wish she wasn't that way, so we cling. We cling to the hope, we cling to the effort, we cling to the habits. It's tough, tough, tough getting to the point where you can say "Listen, Mom, if you're going to criticize me like that, I'm going to have to hang up the phone and not talk to you. I can't have conversations like this anymore." It seems horrible, cold, and frightening--like not having a Mom at all. And yet, darn that mysterious Pluto, he shows time and again that if you take the difficult actions, stuff can undergo amazing transformation. Mom, against all odds, drops a lifelong habit of criticism and suddenly you find yourself in a pleasant, loving, almost warm relationship. Go figure. Or Mom does nothing of the sort and you grieve the loss of a relationship you wish you had only to find out that suddenly, the siblings you've been estranged from for years are open and accessible to you and great people. Your devotion to a relationship that didn't really exist kept your real allies away. Ironic for sure.
Sometimes sad. Sometimes tough. Sometimes scary and painful. Sometimes amazingly exhilarating. That's Pluto. No astrologer really understands Pluto completely; we try, but he's bigger than we are and hold secrets of the universe that peoplekind hasn't quite got the grasp of yet. Pluto's deep. He's the very planet of deepness. Deep is hard for human beings, so with Pluto, we end up just doing the best we can.
If you could stand some healing in the house Pluto's transiting now, you can meditate on the theme of letting go. Just letting go of what you cling to that you didn't, in fact, ever like, although you've always pretended to. It's tough to let go, but if you need to in order to get to where you want to go-you can do it.
Keywords for Pluto: Rebirth, global events, mystery, extremism, transformation, radical change, moral law, secrets, healing, strength, suspicion, power.
Some Keywords for the 1st house: The identity, self-image, self-centered interests, assertion, spontaneous action, instinctive attitudes, personal enthusiasms, ideals, and goals.
Some keywords for the 2nd house: Money, possessions, ownership, the value system, security, and personal resources.
Some keywords for the 3rd house: Communication, ideas, conversation, daily moods, research, sociability, short travel, mental activity, wit, and humor.
Additional keywords for the 4th house: The past, conditioned responses, the instinctual, emotions, yearnings of the soul, cocooning, subliminal awarenesses, sensitivities, home, and family.
Some keywords for the 5th house: Individuality, creativity, children, lovers, entertainment, self-expression, showing off, and financial speculation.
Some keywords for the 6th house: Helpfulness, service, work, health, illness, and purification.
Some keywords for the 7th house: Marriage, close relationships, rapport, cooperation, and the public.
Some keywords for the 8th house: Memories, sore spots, neurotic complexes, traumas, taboos, unconscious motivations, death, psychic ability, insight, privacy, taxes, and sources of money outside of job-related income.
Some keywords for the 9th house: Beliefs, ideals, dogmatism, self-righteousness, being aware of the value of others, publishing, government, long-distance travel, higher education, and religion.
Some keywords for the 10th house: Authority, worldly success, public reputation, social status, responsibilities, and ambitions.
Some keywords for the 11th house: Life direction, popularity, group activities, hopes and wishes, future goals, social activism, and humanitarian impulses.
Some keywords for the 12th house: Karmic liabilties, religious devotion, the spirit, service, creative imagination, empathy, transcendence, withdrawal, guilt, universal forces, one's inner life, and the sensation of oneness with all things.
HOW TO USE KEYWORDS: The essence of learning astrology is understanding how to mix, match, and blend the concepts associated with signs, planets, and houses to figure out what is or will be affecting you at a given point in time. This takes practice and practice is exactly what you're going to have a chance to get if you use the keywords each month.
Keywords can be used to plan and take action using the month's energies, to explain events or to make predictions. Scan for keywords that seem relevant to situations in your own life. You'll have 3 sets of keywords you can blend, one for the planet discussed, one for the sign it's in and one for the solar house it's transiting. Pick the keywords that interest you most and create your customized horoscope!
For example, if the Sun is in Aries in your solar first house, if you want to plan or take action you might pick the Sun keyword 'power', the Aries keyword 'initiating', and the 1st house keyword 'self-expression' to create an intention for yourself that you have the power to initiate actions to express yourself more fully in ways that you desire. You'll know what 'self-expression' means to you. It works best if you pick keywords that 'speak' to you or that coincide with elements of your life that already concern you. To receive astrological benefits, it's not necessary that you obligate yourself to do something huge - it's only necessary that you take one step in the right direction at the right time. Astrology concerns itself with when things are born, and if you start something at the right time, you're riding on the energy that's already available to you in the universe.
You can also use the keywords to try to figure out if something that is affecting you is 'in the stars'. For example, let's say you find yourself wondering why you're getting drawn into conflicts with people at your church. You scan the keywords and realize 'Aha! The fiery energy of Aries is currently being activated in my 12th house of faith-related matters!' If the energy is uncomfortable, you'll have a gauge as to how long it will be prominent (oh good, it should ease up next month!) or if it's a good energy you'll know which planet to thank!
You can also try your hand at predicting. If you check in at the beginning of the month and notice that your house of friendships is highlighted along with some active planetary or sign energies, you might predict for yourself that you will be engaging in a lot more fun and restorative activities with your friends in the coming month. This is basically what professional astrologers do and now you have a chance to try your own hand at it and compare your results with the pros. Have fun!
NOTE: There are a wide variety of potential keywords associated with each sign, planet, and house. I pick different ones each month to give you an idea of the range from the most common concepts to much more subtle ones. Over time, you'll gain an intuitive sense of what kinds of concepts are associated with each element and you'll even be able to generate your own keywords as you get a feel for each of the signs, planets, and houses. Each keyword also inherently contains its opposite as well. For example, if the keyword 'divorce' is displayed, it doesn't mean you'll get a divorce. But it does mean that if that is a concern for you and something you want to avoid you have an opportunity, while that energy is activated, to take proactive steps to deal with potential problems or head off an undesirable outcome. So you can turn 'divorce' into 'keeping a marriage together' or 'illness' into 'taking steps to get and stay healthy'.
Use your rising sign for better forecasts! Most published horoscopes are based at least in part on transits to solar houses. Solar houses are based on your sun sign and are easy to calculate. Your sun sign is your solar 1st house, the next sign in the zodiac is your solar 2nd house and so on. You can always determine what solar house a planet is in if you know the sign. Simply start with your own sign and count around the zodiac until you reach the sign you're interested in. For example, if you're a Gemini, the sign of your solar 3rd house is Leo. Pisces is the sign of your solar 10th house. Astrologers who publish horoscopes use sun signs and solar houses for several reasons: a) almost everyone knows their birthday; b) they're easy to calculate; and c) they actually do have some effect. However, if you get a personal reading from a professional astrologer, he or she will almost always use transits to your natal houses to give you a reading instead. Natal houses are based on your rising sign, which is determined by the exact time, place, and day you were born. Transits to your natal planets and houses have at least as much effect on your life as transits to your solar houses, sometimes quite a bit more. If you really want to know your chart, and get better horoscopes, you should find out your rising sign (also called Ascendant). If you know the exact time and place of your birth, you can do this for free at a wonderful website - www.astro.com. Click on the link near the top that says 'Free Horoscopes'. On that page, scroll down to the link that says 'Chart Drawing, Ascendant'. Follow the prompts to enter the information concerning your birth time, date, and place. You'll get a chart that shows your Ascendant (the sign next to the designation 'AC'). To the left will be a box listing your planetary placements. Next to the listing for 'AC' your rising sign will be listed along with the degree of your Ascendant within that sign. Make a note of that sign and be sure to check the horoscope and keywords for your Ascendant as well as your sun sign!
TRACK YOUR RESULTS! Next month when you come back here for your next horoscope, take 30 seconds to assess the results of the action you took last month as a result of your horoscope. Did it make you feel better? Did it make your life any better? Did it give you renewed energy or did you find your effort blocked, delayed, or ineffective? Judging your results allows you to assess how responsive you are to a particular planetary, sign, or house energy. For example, some people are very responsive to the astrological Sun just the way some people are very responsive to a sunny day. Other people work better with the energy of other planets. Only by taking a moment to gauge your results can you learn which planets work best for you in your life. You may have an 'afflicted' natal Sun that never does much for you, but a raring-to-go Mars that will help you in a pinch every time. Checking your results each month will give you an increasingly accurate guide as to how to use astrology to enhance your life.
The PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY website provides a free, sequential course in astrology with at least one article each month on a particular element of horoscope interpretation. If you want to see any articles you've missed, or to receive each month's update by email, sign up using the link below. The Practical Astrology website does not share your email address with anyone else and only uses it to provide you with information concerning astrology from this website. Sign up!