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Mars enters your third house of creativity, communication and local issues in early January, just before your Capricorn New Moon occurs -- in conjunction with the benefic fixed star Vega (Jan 6). This fortunate aspect brings a flavour to the year ahead of luck in politics, artistic talent, generosity and practicality, yet warns agains the danger of fleeting fame and double dealing. Energy is high in January and early February, bringing more communications and activities, especially with brothers and sisters, or neighbours. Your own ideas are flowing and you'll be on the receiving end of plenty of others! Travel and transportation are highlighted and can involve anything from concern with public transportation to planning or taking a trip, or the purchase and sale of a vehicle. Develop new skills with machinery or computers at this time.

Writing, design are stimulated, as well as arts and crafts geared toward business enterprises, or that serve a definite function rather than as a way of passing time. Eager to turn ideas into physical reality and more than ready to speak your mind, you are apt under this influence to be more of a doer than a thinker. If words will not suffice, you will use physical means to express yourself. Should unfortunate elements enter the picture, you may be tempted to give physical vent to your anger or frustration, but you can also become the victim of those who resort to physical retaliations. Rash action now can cause accidents, especially burns, cuts, or mishaps while driving.

Saturn Direct  

On the night of January 11, Saturn, your life-ruler, turns direct in motion in your fifth house, easing the pressure on your relationships, especially with children and romantic partners. Nevertheless, with the Lord of Karma at his station all month, it may still be difficult to enjoy life for one reason or another, as pleasure of any kind will be accompanied by additional responsibilities. This influence has as much to do with the past as it does with the present. It will force you to throw out what is wasteful and to abandon unsuccessful situations, replacing them with something more solid and useful. You will have additional responsibilities for children and any problems with them demand resolution. They may regard you as too severe or inflexible, or you may suffer estrangement from them, although the overall relationship with children this year should be mainly beneficial.

Children have a habit of being conceived under this influence, if your age and circumstances permit. The possibility of long-lasting, stable romance, is high, but a serious emotional commitment must accompany such a relationship, or it will not last. Destructive habits of overindulgence in the past now require you to exert powerful self-discipline. Social activities and contacts may be so demanding of your attention as to prevent you from concentrating on other important matters. Artistic and creative talents, their development, use, or abuse are another likely focus of this period. Risk-taking, whether physical, economic, or emotional, is only to be undertaken with the greatest of caution and mature experience. Failure to adopt this approach is likely to end in severe loss. The highest rewards for correct actions over the next nine months include stronger, more stable relationships, a better sense of how to control selfish desires, and a more mature and successful approach to enjoying every aspect of life.

Solar Eclipse  

In early February, there will be a partial eclipse of the Sun in Aquarius, but this will not be visible from most populated parts of the world. Nevertheless, the concentration of energies in Aquarius create tensions and deceptions in your relationships with joint venture associates, perhaps leading to separations. Potential problems in financial matters, inheritances, estates, investments, taxation and related matters, especially joint ventures will need to be resolved in the run-up to the Grand Mutation at the end of May.

Take a Chance on Romance

In mid-February, shining Jupiter enters Taurus, your solar fifth house, just as glorious Mars ascends his day-throne, Aries, your fourth house of domestic and family matters. The focus of many physical activities and concerns is likely to involve your personal possessions, home or domestic arrangements, family relationships, family-owned property or business and real-estate transactions in general. You may be inspired at this time to rescue or restore heirlooms. The potential of this period may also be described as a new beginning. If you have been thinking about a new business venture or achieving some physical goal, this is a time when you are likely to put such plans in motion. In case there are negative circumstances at work during this period, it would be a wise idea to make sure your household insurance is in effect, check your home for possible fire hazards. Watch your step to prevent falls, cuts, and others mishaps around the house, and go out of your way to avoid angry domestic scenes.

With Jupiter in your fifth, your capacity for enjoyment is enhanced. Overindulgence is almost impossible to avoid, unless you are particularly strong-willed! Expect an increased desire to possess the good life and the feeling that prosperity is within easy reach. As a result, you may purchase more luxury items, take more expensive vacations, and buy fancier or more expensive clothes. Good fortune increases, leading up to the conjunction with Saturn under the Grand Mutation at the end of May 2000. Your imagination and creativity do increase, although, of course, to what end you apply them depends on your particular interests and circumstances. You may, for example, develop artistic talents as a hobby. If your work or career is of a creative nature, this can be a period of great success. Relationships and contacts with children may be greatly expanded. Romance can blossom, or in its wider application, can enhance the quality of your life in general. You are more willing to take risks, and for the most part, should emerge on the winning side of the chances you take.

Mars in Aries makes the fortunate trine aspect to Pluto in Sagittarius at the beginning of March, so research and investigation flourish, especially regarding your role in any domestic, or behind-the-scenes activities, especially involving property. You can really get to the bottom of things with the help of the intense, focused energy that surrounds you. Psychological analysis, assessment of property and financial investments are infused with a physical focus that gives keener perception to the intellectual efforts. Under this influence you have all the control you need if you do not take it for granted. You can also see how to apply its subtle, but deadly accurate force. Your recuperative powers, should you need them, are at a high level, which should help protect you against the secretive machinations of those who wish you harm. A big shakeup can be expected in the early weeks of March, especially once Pluto turns retrograde on the 15th, when circumstances become less amenable to your conscious control.

As March draws to a close, Mars crosses the border into your fifth house, part of the massive concentration of cosmic heavyweights gathering in May. This relieves the pressure on the domestic front and increases the amount of attention you can lavish on romantic endeavours, children and speculative activities. Pursue the pleasures of life! Now you can put a lot of effort and physical enthusiasm into speculative ventures, social events, or activities related to entertainment or a vacation. Creative juices flow during this time. Romantic notions are apt to be physically carried out. Inspiration and imagination spark artistic endeavours. Activities related to children are apt to claim your time and attention. Keep physical aggression out of the picture. Overindulgence and risk-taking adventures may have unwelcome consequences.

The Grand Mutation

May sees a gathering of all the major planets in the fixed, earthy sign of Taurus, your solar fifth house of romance, children and speculation. Only the three outermost, transpersonal planets are elsewhere. This certainly is a year of big changes and confrontations, when Jupiter and Saturn, your life-ruler, now form the Grand Mutation, their final conjunction in an earthy sign for hundreds of years. Some astrologers hold that this is really the first light of the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. This massive conjunction at 22° Taurus opposes the fixed star Unukalkhai (Alpha Serpentis), which at 22° Scorpio was associated with the gigantic earthquake in Turkey after the solar eclipse of August 1999. Unukalkhai was rising over Istanbul at the point of greatest eclipse. It will be setting at the end of May.

Uranus glowers in his retrograde station during May 2000 at 20° Aquarius, in conjunction with the malefic fixed star, Castra (destruction; uncontrollable temper; malevolence). This squares both Saturn and Jupiter, the aspect being partile (exact) just days before their Grand Mutation. Things may become frustrating during this period, especially when dealing with older people. You'll be in trouble if you are too liberal, and yet stymied by taking a too conservative approach. Too much emphasis on the future with no consideration for tradition and past experience is apt to be as unsuccessful as being stuck in the past unable to consider the future. Stand back and let things settle of their own accord to a level that seems comfortable for everyone. Your financial status is the area most likely to undergo change, including the potential of experiencing one or more complete reversals. Unstable conditions that surround your income and finances suggest that money may be gained and lost and even gained again. This is not necessarily negative. The loss of money in one enterprise may inspire you to make it up in another. Your expenditures may change as new or unexpected situations develop. The major influence during this period is not concerned solely with money and material wealth, it encompasses whatever you value, and that includes relationships. The loss or gain of an important relationship can cause you to establish new values, or shift old priorities. New circumstances challenge your basic principles, or as the case may be, place such an emphasis on what is really important that you abandon whatever is no longer meaningful. A key element of this influence has to do with outside forces over which you have no control. Changes may, at least in part, be triggered by those around you, new people you meet, or situations you never expected to encounter.

Health and Fitness  

Mars strides into your sixth house early in May and the energy boost brings plenty of things for you to do in the way of physical exercise and work-- on the job as well as around the house. Circumstances may put you in a position to hire others. The flow of physical energy these days can make you more aggressive or competitive concerning work, co-workers, or employees. You may be required to get a medical and dental check up if you have not recently had one. There is potential to experience headache, fever, inflammation, or flare up of chronic illness; it's a good time begin a program of physical fitness. Be sure to consult a physician and other health experts before you start. Under this influence enthusiasm can easily get out of hand. If your body is not used to regular or vigorous exercise be careful not to overexert yourself.

Partnership Focus  

June and July are a time of partnership focus for Capricorn, though this year the energies seem somehow more fated, with the three transpersonal planets retrograde. Notwithstanding, the entry of Venus, Mars and the Sun into your polar opposite sign between the 17th and the 22nd makes the solstice even more potent than usual. The influence you exercise over other people and your ability to elicit their cooperation occupies your mind. Do others see you as strong, independent and forceful? Should you be married or living with someone, you will most likely assess your role in the union from a rather ego-centric viewpoint. Do you dominate your partner, or is it the other way round? Does the partnership help, or impede your personal growth? Has your monetary potential (or social status) been improved by the relationship? These concerns apply equally to business alliances. Ego seems to be a bigger factor in interactions and you become more assertive in legal matters, contracts and negotiations. There does seem to be more than your fair share of open conflicts and opposition these days. Expressing undue stubbornness or antagonism, however, makes it particularly difficult to resolve conflicts, or reach compromises.

Creative Enthusiasm  

Mars in Cancer during July holds energy and enthusiasm to partnership and other alliances, cooperative efforts and interaction with people in general. The company of others stimulates you to physical action. However, there is every likelihood that getting things done will be more difficult to accomplish by yourself than it might be with a partner or partners. Even if you want to be left alone, other people will find a way to physically intrude. Under this influence, others make the first move, leaving you to react. More than one open confrontation is on the cards.

Jupiter enters your sixth house at the beginning of the month. The nature and scope of your work and daily responsibilities expand over the next few months. Your work may require more travel, or advanced training become necessary. You may hire others to work for you at this time and your relationships with co-workers are expanded in one way or another. Keep your sense of self-importance well in hand. Although there is certainly an excellent chance that your work will be recognized and handsomely rewarded, do not take your job (or any aspect of it) for granted. You may acquire a pet or increase your activities involving a pet, or the breeding of such animals. Though there is no guarantee you will actually pursue it, your interest concerning health and physical fitness may increase, but it is more than likely you will take your health too much for granted. Should you need to seek medical care or advice, you may be fortunate in finding excellent physicians, or other professionals to help you.

Financial Action  

Physical efforts in August are likely to focus on financial and business matters. Energy can be intense. Concentrated efforts turn to sex, money and financial, as well as psychological, analysis. A partner's income or jointly-held property may require more attention than usual. You may be forced to collect debts and favors owed to you, or make arrangements for repayment of your own debts. Issues concerning insurance, taxes, inheritance, or money that you manage for others may also demand more of your time and attention. The sexual focus includes several possibilities: the physical act itself, counseling, or surgical procedures. Other circumstances will determine where and what you actually do, but close attention to detail and enhanced awareness of subtleties mark all your physical efforts.

Work and Health  

Saturn, Lord of Karma, enters Gemini on August 11th, restimulating the Grand Cross aspect of the August 99 solar eclipse. This influence has as much to do with the past as it does with the present. It will force you to throw out what is wasteful and to abandon unsuccessful situations, replacing them with something more solid and useful. Two major areas are emphasized, your work and your health. Work means daily tasks and responsibilities, whether your main work is taking care of home and family or involves a job outside the home. Work-related responsibilities are apt to increase. Routine schedules, endless details, and tasks may start to become boring and tedious. Loss of employment and other disappointments or difficulties related to work, your working environment, or relationships with co-workers are apt to be encountered. They will demand resolution and appropriate changes.

In the matter of your health, this influence does not mean you will experience illness, but it does tend to reflect in one way or another any past disregard for maintaining good health and physical fitness. Chronic illness is apt to flare up, and it would not be unusual to suffer physical distress as a result of overwork, strain, and emotional burdens. Correct actions during this period can mean becoming more organized and structured, finding better methods to make your tasks easier to accomplish, and, ultimately gaining increased income and recognition for your hard work. The ultimate payoff is even bigger if you realize the importance of routine medical and dental examinations, eating a proper diet, and keeping physically fit with appropriate exercise. You'll add happier, healthier years to your life.

Solid Relationships  

With Venus in her own sign Libra in early September, in good aspect to Saturn and Jupiter, this is a splendid time for long term success! You get the attention of others right now by emphasizing whatever is most attractive about yourself: physical beauty, artistic talent, or a charming personality. Don't wait for others to notice you (even though they may); take every opportunity you can to be in their direct line of vision: "If you have it, flaunt it ". The next few weeks are ripe for promoting cordial relationships and socializing with older family members, superiors and authority figures. Allies, spouses, or other partners may receive recognition or special promotion at this time.

Establish solid, long-lasting relationships in the first week or two of the month, especially around the 8th and 9th of September. Mark these days! You may really begin to appreciate the organization you have tried to impose and the knowledge you have managed to acquire. Others may reward you handsomely for your advice and consultation. During this period information and ideas you receive will be a valuable addition to what you have already learned, and you may acquire knowledge or develop basic skills you were unable or unwilling to learn when you were younger. Under this influence others will support your promotion or increased authority. Attempts to find practical, long-lasting solutions are successful, as are endeavors related to social security, insurance, taxes, and government officials or similar authority figures. There's no telling what good thing can happen under this fortunate influence. Try your luck at the races and other sporting events, or with lottery tickets. You could be the winner in a beauty or photography contest, or emerge the favourite in an audition. Artistic and musical ventures are successful, especially those connected with your work, or your partner's occupation. Interactions, even on a casual basis, stimulate deeper responses than usual. They may lead to a closer examination of your reactions and motivations in dealing with others, although you may or may not choose to share this self-analysis with anyone. Your personal influence and control in a partnership, other alliances and with other people in general, especially with employees and colleagues, comes under the microscope. This is an excellent time to test your ability to plan, control, and execute the detail of social events, negotiations, debates, diplomatic overtures and legal matters.

Saturn Retrograde  

Saturn, however, is at his station all month in conjunction with Alcyone and the Pleiades. He turns retro in your sixth house on September 12th. Beware of injuries, especially to the eyes, through accidents while travelling, or violence and trouble with the opposite sex. Jupiter is in conjunction with Aldebaran, a royal star which brings ego-based conflicts, especially with people in authority, or in powerful institutions. Jupiter too turns retro in opposition to Pluto (at the end of the month). Control will be the issue! Retrograde planets tend to generate the events that seem more fated, less under our own control than they do when direct. So the world seems to have a mind of its own. Expect some jockeying for position in the work environment, and do not be surprised to find erstwhile colleagues working secretly against you.

Mars enters Virgo on the 18th, which can fire your enthusiasm in so many potential directions it makes it difficult to predict which paths you will choose. Physical efforts may focus on higher education, religion, politics, travel, cultural pursuits, foreign languages, writing and publishing. However, there are other categories that can just as easily arouse your interest and physical participation-- speculative ventures, sports, court decisions, a second marriage and activities or relations with in-laws. The most positive way is to use these circumstances and activities as a way to broaden your spiritual and intellectual horizons.

Venus enters sexy Scorpio on September 25th. It's time to put some harmony back into your working environment. Given the current trends, it would a good idea to promote cordial relationships with colleagues, or employees. An office romance, or social event connected with co-workers may be on your agenda. Beautifying the work place is high on the list: anything from major renovation and redecoration projects to just putting fresh paint on the walls, installing background music and adding plants or art work to brighten the surroundings. A new diet and physical fitness program, or other personal physical enhancements such as beauty treatments, a new hair style, dental work, and cosmetic surgery are favoured.

Awkward Aspects  

Mercury in Scorpio turns retrograde in the middle of October, just as Venus moves into Sagittarius and Saturn retrogresses once more into Taurus. This is an awkward time. Circumstances over the next few weeks bring an increase in communications and activities with friends, so there are many opportunities for chaos! There may also be increased interactions or travel with children, especially those that are not biologically yours but for whom you have responsibility. Clubs and associations, social gatherings pique your interest. Activities such as fund raising, membership drives, or newsletters may be on your agenda, so the potential for confusion as Mercury goes into reverse is intensified. Check all the fine print!

As the Sun prepares to dive into Scorpio on the 23rd, Saturn causes the strange feeling that something is out of joint, leading at the end of the month to a fortunate trine between Mars in Virgo and Saturn in Taurus. Time seems to expand to suit your needs. The maturity and experience behind your actions is the key to their successful outcome. Should you fail to apply such wisdom, you may still benefit from the actions of those who do. This is a most favourable influence -- not just for the potential success of your efforts, but because they are likely to produce meaningful, long-lasting accomplishments. It is an auspicious time to initiate projects geared toward bringing benefits at a later time in your life.

New Beginning  

Mars enters your tenth house of public status in the beginning of November, boosting energy and enthusiasm for your career and other long range goals. You may be motivated to take important actions which affect your future. You work hard to get attention from the public and those with power and influence and although you may not necessarily desire to call attention to yourself, your efforts will gain public attention one way or another now. Even if you have no access to a public forum, you may experience an increased urge to have others notice what you are doing. Your more or less public actions may be carried out on behalf of another person, or a cause in which you believe. Activities involving superiors or authority figures are stimulated. This means you may either do a lot of extra work with your boss, or for the government, or those with similar authority. Largely because of your efforts, a male relative or superior may receive recognition or enhanced status at this time.

Active Role  

As the year draws to a close, Mars swings into your eleventh house. The most likely targets of your energies include friends, organizations, and children, especially those who are not your biological offspring but for whom you may have responsibility. Activities in general lead away from you as an individual and involve the role you play in the lives of others; as parent, lover, friend, spouse, or club member. Your schedule risks becoming overloaded; you'll need to place some restraints on the number of activities and people you decide to accommodate. Restrain your aggression and do not lose patience when things become too hectic or don't proceed as planned. Just what is making you happy? Now you can go after what you want, or get rid of what you don't want.

Relationships: the Journey to the Heart  

The stars show this is the year of friendships deepening into love. Many Capricorns will commit to serious partnerships and form lasting attachments this year. Venus and Mars engage in a dance of deliciously sexy, risque proportions, as friendships turn to liasons and liasons become partnerships. This is a year of big changes in your relationships at work, your psychological motivations and in your attitudes to health and fitness, as Chiron and Pluto meet for the first time in sixty years. New Year's Eve, with the Moon in sultry Scorpio and the Sun in horny Capricorn, should be wild! With Mars on parade in your third house, from Jan. 5 to Feb. 12, you'll get more than the usual volume of communications and activities, especially with siblings and neighbors, but Mars and Venus getting together at the end of the month still signal some wild times.

Venus dives into Capricorn from January 25 to February 19, so your personal magnetism is high at this time. With Saturn, your life-ruler now moving forward through the zodiac, you take a serious approach to commitment and long to establish more formal relationships. Many a question will be popped in the first week of Feb! Children's activities are especially favoured at this time.

Fun is on the run, after the 19th when Venus enters Aquarius and makes the square aspect to Jupiter, so keeping things manageable or in proper perspective can be a tough call. Eschew open social climbing, for social gatherings can bring those who admire your spirituality, knowledge, or sophistication. Let them. Don't ruin their image of you by immodestly agreeing with their flattering assessment. Pursuing the good life may be irresistible and restraint is needed somewhere along the line. During this period you may be of a mind to purchase shoes you do not need, lose money at the races, or settle for less than satisfactory theatre tickets, just so you can tell others that you saw the show. This is a good time to apply yourself to the sometimes tricky issue of reconciling the law with actual justice. It would be bad timing to take relationships for granted, or to dismiss the values of others as unimportant.

March sees Mars in Taurus and Venus in Pisces, so the sensual thermometer is running high, especially in the last week. You need little urging to put a lot of effort and physical enthusiasm into speculative ventures, or social events. Creative juices flow during this time and romantic notions are apt to be physically carried out. Activities related to children claim your time and attention.

April, May and June are times of extraordinary activity, as the Grand Mutation in your solar fifth house of romance, children and creative speculation brings a fabulous creative energy and intensifies your personal magnetism. You may have the good fortune to rid yourself of restriction in one form or another during this period. The influence likely to prevail in your current circumstances is one of easing the burden of responsibilities, though perhaps not removing them altogether. Whenever and wherever you demonstrate careful planning, hard work, organization, patience, maturity and the wisdom of experience, you are likely to be favored with the success and recognition you deserve. On the other hand, if you are possessed of a free-spirited nature that has found it difficult to acquire or apply the foregoing qualifications in the past, this influence may be just the inspiration you need to develop a more practical, responsible attitude. If you have managed to acquire any position of seniority, this is a period in which such seniority may prove most advantageous.

New Moon and Solar Eclipse  

The Cancer New Moon and partial solar eclipse at the beginning of July takes everything that happens in a very personal way. A tug-of-war exists between desires and emotional needs and your practical ambitions. Those in charge may make impossible demands without knowing, or perhaps without caring what dislocation it may cause you. Trying to appeal to them on emotional terms will only result in a waste of your time and energy. Nor are you likely to be successful in direct confrontations with family or female associates. Appreciate whatever positive circumstances you encounter, and don't be misguided enough to believe you can easily overcome any negative ones.

Jupiter moves on into Gemini (your solar sixth house) at the beginning of July too, so the nature and scope of your work and daily responsibilities expand during this period. Your work may require more travel, or advanced training becomes necessary. You may hire others to work for you at this time and your relationships with co-workers are expanded in one way or another. Keep your sense of self-importance well in hand. Although there is certainly an excellent chance that your work will be recognized and handsomely rewarded, do not take your job or any aspect of it for granted.

Venus in your ninth house from the first week in August shows higher education, religious activities, political interests, and cultural pursuits seem imbued with a more social atmosphere this month. Romance, marriage, or any type of cooperative venture involving a foreign country or someone of another culture or race is stimulated. Issues connected with a second marriage, or a court decision may also arise. You may write, publish, or purchase books; perhaps art, music, antique or very expensive books. Advertising or mail campaigns, especially those aimed at romance or relationships may occupy your time or attention. Joint efforts related to the health or employment of a parent may emerge. Socializing or establishing more cordial relationships with in-laws are other items on your agenda.

For most of September, Venus crosses the mid-heaven, bringing charm and grace to your public face. You get the attention of others by emphasizing whatever is most attractive about yourself: physical beauty, artistic talent, or a charming personality. Don't wait for others to notice you (even though they may); take every opportunity you can to be in their direct line of vision: "If you have it, flaunt it ". The next few weeks are ripe for promoting cordial relationships and socializing with older family members, superiors and authority figures. Allies, spouses, or other partners may receive recognition or special promotion at this time. Towards the end of the month, she slinks once more into Scorpio, where she began this landmark year. Social attitudes and behavior are strongly influenced by your emotional needs. You come out of yourself and seek the company of others, especially friends and fellow members of clubs and associations. Control the passionate side, if you wish to avoid being possessive, obsessive, or jealous. Many of your interactions with others, even fleeting or superficial contacts, are more tinged with a certain intensity. Social instincts can be remarkably keen, and your actions in this regard are direct and purposeful though not always obvious or open.

Mercury retro in Scorpio foreshadows romantic excitement, especially with charming friends after mid-October, as Venus moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius. With the Sun in your tenth house from October 23, an intenser edge to your sexuality emerges to deal with the inevitable confusions that can develop under retro Mercury. Material rewards and the tangible recognition for your efforts concern you this month. You are into shaking fruit from the money tree career-wise, or from work in other areas. What (or who) do you need in your life to be a happy, productive individual? Part of the answer lies in your role in the lives of others; the satisfaction you derive from just being a friend, a lover, parent, child, club member, or business associate. The quality and importance of these relationships becomes more vital, so you seek out the companionship of others. You tend to assess your personal influence or status with friends and contacts and so may become more assertive, or even manipulative in these relationships. Avoid stubborn pride and arrogance, or run the risk of severely straining relationships and affiliations. Situations arise in which you can exhibit personal generosity, integrity and inspiring leadership.

More of a career focus will emerge in November and December, when Mars enters Libra, your tenth house. Mars boosts energy and enthusiasm this month for your career or other long range goals. You may be motivated to take important actions which affect your future. You work hard to get attention from the public and those with power and influence and although you may not necessarily desire to call attention to yourself, your efforts will gain public attention one way or another now. Even if you have no access to a public forum, you may experience an increased urge to have others notice what you are doing. Your more or less public actions may be carried out on behalf of another person, or a cause in which you believe. Activities involving superiors or authority figures are stimulated. This means you may either do a lot of extra work with your boss, or for the government, or those with similar authority. Largely because of your efforts, a male relative or superior may receive recognition or enhanced status at this time. The romantic agenda really picks up when Mars enters Scorpio just before Christmas on the 24th. Look forward to a lively holiday!

Career and Finances: Stake Your Claim  

Ambitious ideals lead to good fortune this year. Your friendships will take you places, especially bringing contacts among people in high governmental or professional positions.

January is prime time for Capricorn, with Sun and Mercury in your sign for the first three weeks of the year. Your life-ruler, Saturn, turns direct mid-month, bringing a lifting of some unpleasant restrictions that may have been dogging your speculative activities. However, do not get too cocky! Saturn remains in your fifth house for some months yet, so a serious approach is needed to investments and speculations, although late March and April sees Mars and Jupiter in your fifth house, bringing energy to such matters. Venus boosts your financial acumen during March and brings charm and aplomb to your communicative efforts in April, along with real-estate opportunities later in the month.

As the Grand Mutation in May approaches, mixed energies both stimulate and depress your creative powers. May will bring matters to a head regarding financial and speculative issues, with the potential for big shakeups in joint ventures and investments. You can expect sudden upheavals in financial matters as Uranus struts his stuff in your second house. Avoid confrontations with friends, partners and children.

June should be a month of consolidation and making sense of the developments and the Cancer New Moon in the beginning of July brings the opportunity to re-establish the balance between what is yours and what is theirs. July will be full-on, with Jupiter in Gemini, bringing power and expansion to the work environment. The full Moon in Capricorn mid-month brings stress and identity conflict, so watch for potential confrontations with partners and aggressive opponents.

August will be exciting, as your ego becomes involved with money and status (or lack of either) gained through inheritance, business partners or marriage. Payment of debts, or debt collection are other concerns. You can use or develop skills to make you more independent in financial and other ways. A medical emergency may arise, or you may decide on elective surgery during this period. You may be confronted intellectually, psychologically, or physically with sexual matters and situations. Increased determination and willpower make you more demanding and critical. It may be more difficult for you to compromise, but your focus and concentration can contribute to progress in research and investigative projects, or help you acquire a deeper understanding of psychological motivations and behaviour. September brings career opportunities where you can use your charm and talents to their best advantage, while October favours social interactions and opportunities through friends and contacts. October's Scorpio new Moon conflicts with Neptune and Uranus, presenting you with some sudden and probably unwelcome choices, especially in financial dealings with or through friends, although the conjunction of the Sun and Moon with the fixed star Princeps reinforces the potential for benefit through those in high places, which is the vibration of the year. Shifting alliances and lack of confidence can eventually lead to the recognition of what is truly important to you.

For the remainder of the year, you can expect plenty of energy in the career and work environments until Christmas when Mars surges into Scorpio, bringing a big boost to your creative energies, sexual relationships, personal priorities and relationships with friends and children.

Health: Balancing Your Energies  

Overall, your health should be strong this year. It's the beginning of a very creative time. The main issues will be psychological stresses and fears, especially connected with secret enemies, or institutions. The solstice (the beginning of the astrological new year in December 1999) saw a Full Moon in Cancer, exposing you to a great deal of emotional conflict over the year, as well as some wonderful opportunities! May will be stressful, due to the concentration of heavy duty aspects, but any health issues will most likely be sudden and unexpected (though no less severe). Since the New Moon in Cancer (July 2) this year brings a solar eclipse, there will be particular pressure on your partner's health in June and July. A lunar eclipse also occurs on the Full Moon (July 16), so be prepared for digestive upsets from emotional problems, especially through stress from partners, family and property matters and issues to do with women.

Saturn and Mars are the planets which bring the most stress regarding your health. Saturn in September is at his retrograde station all month in conjunction with Alcyone and the Pleiades, fixed stars which bring difficulties. He turns retro in your sixth house on September 12th, so beware of injuries, especially to the eyes, through accidents while travelling, or violence and trouble with the opposite sex. A resurgence of chronic ailments may be expected while Saturn is in your sixth. Jupiter is in conjunction with Aldebaran, a royal star which brings ego-based conflicts, especially with people in authority, or in powerful institutions. Jupiter too turns retro in opposition to Pluto (at the end of the month). If you have been neglectful of your body, or abusive to your health, you will suffer the consequences by slowly developing appropriate physical complaints. Seek greater control over your body through proper diet and exercise, as well as through preventative medical attention and check-ups.

Mars brings fevers and injuries, and sometimes violence. Danger through fire hazards in the home and through falls, cuts, and others mishaps around the house is likely in February. Go out of your way to avoid angry domestic scenes. June may require a medical and dental checkup. There is potential to experience headache, fever, inflammation, or flare up of chronic illness. The positive potential, however, can mean you are inspired to begin a program of physical fitness. Be sure to consult a physician and other health experts before you start. Under this influence enthusiasm can easily get out of hand. If your body is not used to regular or vigorous exercise be careful not to overexert yourself. July sees the potential for open confrontation, digestive upsets and infections. Carelessness and lack of planning can bring trouble in September. Take care while travelling at this time and do not get into unnecessary confrontations.

Home and Away: Family and Children  

Relationships with the children should be very satisfying. Friendships may arise through them which prove beneficial for the outcome of your dearest and most cherished dreams. Avoid travel in retrograde Mercury periods (see next sector) and in September, if possible.

Children's interests will be very prominent during most of the earlier part of the year. However, in May, when Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter exchange thunderbolts, children's health and wellbeing will be threatened. November and December will also be somewhat problematic for their health, with infections and other problems appearing.

For older Capricorns, long journeys may be undertaken for development or learning, but some sorrow may be expected thereby. There is some potential for relocation, or renovation up to mid-February.

Mercury Retrograde  

Mercury retrograde gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains. And all of these problems usually arise because some crucial piece of information, or component, has gone astray, or awry.

Periods of confusion affect

communication, local travel, close relationships Feb/Mar

partnership matters, legal issues, open confrontation Jun/Jul

friendships, clubs and associations, social activities Oct/Nov.

Read more on retrograde Mercury.