Love and Money 
Venus the goddess shines in Aquarius and your solar fifth house
as the year begins, conjoining with mystic Neptune. Romance, creativity,
leisure activity and children will be preferred options or points
of impact. If you're in a relationship, do something that adds
texture or interest to your lives. Recreational activities, creative
endeavours or gatherings with friends can enhance your quality
of life. For the singles, romance is on the agenda but you may
find it hard to settle. After September is a better time for romantic
adventures to prosper. For all the Scales, remember that Neptune
can mask and confuse just as easily as he can call us to the higher
ideal. Make sure you know and understand what you're getting into,
for not everything that beguiles you will turn out to be what
it seems. As far as money goes, some of you will do quite well from current
circumstances as increased responsibility or authority brings
more coin to the family coffers. If you work for it, you'll get
it. For others, you may just need to coast and concentrate on
developing new avenues of expression. Your luck turns and your
fortunes can expand after September 25th, but don't expect that
such possibilities will convert straight away to cash. For some,
they may, and thus luck could play a part in the process. But,
for others, the trick will be to seize the opportunity and the
money will come further down the track.
Home and Family
Once again Chiron the wounded healer is in
Capricorn and your solar fourth house as 2004 begins. The obligations
of family or emotional life will play a strong part in the year
ahead. There will be an increase in responsibility for some while
others may have to deal with change or the end of a cycle. Some
may wish to upgrade living circumstances where others may need
to reduce them to fit with budgetary constraints, coming from
changed conditions. Either of these may have been on your mind
for some time but this year you will find it easier to carry out
your plans as Chiron harmonizes with Jupiter. For some there may
be an addition to the family, bringing increased responsibility.
For others, there may be a departure brought about by changing
times. Whichever way this works, domestic or emotional life will
ask a great deal and many of you will have to accept the pressures
or responsibilities as they are. Communicate clearly and effectively.
There can be a healing power in the challenges you face at home.
Like last year, this year can be a journey where you have to face
fears or break past patterns. If you work through what comes and
give all that is asked of you, you will heal old wounds or lay
a ghost to rest. Use your dreams to seek guidance or advice about
the best course of action or the right decision.
Work and Health
The advent of the New Year sees revolutionary
Uranus established in Pisces and your solar sixth house for seven
years. Thus, you can expect changes with work, health and daily
routines. Some of you will change occupation, moving to something
new or different, especially if re-training is involved. This
may come from a desire to branch out or because of a change in
circumstance that is beyond your control. Such a move may take
you in more creative or spiritual directions. For some, care or
service may become the theme, either personally or professionally.
Others may simply experience changes at work or even disruption
of working patterns or conditions. Ride the waves and see what
lies on the other shore. Some of you now in work may find yourselves
out of the working environment suddenly or unexpectedly. Others
not working now may suddenly be thrown in at the deep end in a
new working environment. Uranus is the master of reversals of
condition. New skills, new ideas and a new attitude or perspective
will be the keys to effective change or transition. The challenge
of this period will be either that you may not be able to go down
the road you expected to travel or that something you had planned
may fall short of the ideal. The reward will be that you discover
new potentials, skills and experiences that reveal different sides
of you. This could be the start of a tricky period for some as far as
health is concerned. There may be changes, sudden or unexpected
reversals of the accustomed pattern that will lead you in different
directions. You may embrace new diets, new forms of treatment
or new modalities in healthcare practice. Monitor any conditions
that concern systemic toxicity, allergies or problems with the
nervous system. Take proper steps to deal with them in the early
stages. Some of you may learn to care for yourselves in a new
or different way. Others may have to learn to care for those around
them in similar fashion. Whatever the 'short term' requirements,
you will find the next seven years will alter the pattern of daily
life. Some may travel the healer's path and practice professionally
what you have learned through personal need. While it will have
its challenges, this transit can be an invigorating and uplifting
time. The health of life emotionally and spiritually will underpin
the keeping of good health generally. Steer away from self-indulgence
after the last week of September.
Career Matters
Saturn's move into Cancer and your solar tenth
house in June 2003, will have seen an increase in responsibility
for the Scales, but this transit will have also brought pressure
to bear in relationships. For some, there may have been promotion
or an upgrade in your work situation while for others there may
have been a separation or an ending that had you moving down a
new path, not necessarily because you wanted to. For those whose
primary obligations are in the family arena, there will have been
an equivalent process. There, some will have had more to do or
have had more people to care for. Children or older people may
have featured. This year the load continues to grow as the measurer
(Saturn) continues his journey. Any Scales looking for the easy
life will have to wait. Nonetheless, you can gain greatly by walking
the paths that open up. Take on what's there to be done. Take
authority where you have to and learn to deal with authority where
you have to. Learn the arts of negotiation and the skills of patient
effort. Whatever the workload, don't let attention on your home
and emotional life slide. Maintain the balance between work and
home and you'll have achieved something important.
Mercury the Messenger
Mercury moves into retrograde (reverse) motion
three times a year for about three weeks each time. This phase
heralds a time of confusion and misunderstandings that can affect
arrangements, travel, transport, appliances, machinery and communications.
The breakdowns that occur are a function of neglect, inattention,
simple misunderstandings or component failure. They will often
bring to the fore the very contingency we should have planned
for and didn't. When the retrograde phase occurs, watch out for
such possibilities as well as putting off major decision-making
or the signing of crucial documents and agreements. We tend to
miss things while Mercury is in reverse motion and then have to
come back and do them again. A process of review in the retrograde
phase can efficiently show where problems might lie and help us
with damage control or the mending of things. Double check arrangements
at these times! What you think you've said and what others have
understood will often prove to be two different things.
The year begins with Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius and your
solar third house of communications, travel, siblings and education.
All the natural cautions with the reverse motion phase apply.
Be as flexible as possible with arrangements and schedules. Work
hard to ensure that everyone understands one another. Discussions
could easily get off track. Be extra careful travelling. There
may be misunderstandings dealing with siblings or you may reconnect
with one after a long absence. This cycle ends on January 7th. Mercury's next retrograde phase for the year comes in Taurus
and your solar eighth house. This begins on April 7th. Money matters
will need revue, especially where joint finances or credit arrangements
are involved. Put off major decisions. Discuss what needs to be
done. Take advice from experts. This could be a testing time as
the busy messenger crosses the eclipse point of the New Moon in
Aries. This is not a time for rash decisions, especially where
money is concerned. Judgement or decision-making may be flawed.
Travel will need extra care and attention. This cycle comes to
an end on May 1st. August 11th sees Mercury retrograde in Virgo and your solar
twelfth house. It may be difficult to keep track of what's going
on and communications will be testing. Things you need to know
or hear may just get lost along the way. There could be unexpected
failures with necessary equipment. If things are too hectic, step
back and take stock. You may begin to feel you are under fire
if you keep going at your usual pace. Give time to your thoughts
and reflections. You may need to attend to creative or spiritual
life. Someone may need your help or care and you'll have to put
other things aside to fulfill that. There could be news that comes
out of the blue. This cycle ends on September 3rd. Mercury's final retrograde phase for the year begins in Sagittarius
and your solar third house on December 1st. Communications and
travel may go a little haywire at this time so make sure you're
at your flexible best. Be prepared to reschedule or take another
tack at a moment's notice. If you're at odds with someone over
ideas or beliefs, the temperature could rise. Use your natural
talent for diplomacy to avoid arguments. Drive defensively. Don't
take risks or shortcuts, especially if you're acting hastily.
Revue your ideas and opinions. You may be wrong about something
without realizing it. This cycle comes to an end on December 21st.
Lady Moon
Your Full Moon comes on April 5th, harmonizing
with mystic Neptune. You may need to look at shared goals or interests
with your nearest and dearest. For some, there could be a feeling
of wellbeing as you work towards a common purpose. If your bond
is strong then it may be that what you're doing will draw you
away from people that you've known or associated with. For others,
there may be a feeling you're drifting on to different courses.
Compare notes and see how you're going. Don't lose track of what
your partner wants.
Your New Moon comes on October 14th, bringing a Solar Eclipse
in your sign. There may be a change in your situation, brought
about by an ending or a departure. You may separate from a partner.
You may go a different road with regard to work or the general
direction of your life. You may lose interest or energy for something
you have been doing. You may leave something behind due to a change
of status.
Eclipses
Eclipses of both the Sun and the Moon often
indicate the end of a cycle or a significant change in the direction
or pattern of the affairs governed by the house in which the eclipse
falls. Eclipses of the Sun may affect work, direction and relations
with people in authority. Eclipses of the Moon may affect matters
of home, family and emotions as well as relations with women and
children. Both may affect your health.
A Solar Eclipse comes with the New Moon in Aries and your solar
seventh house on April 19th. A cycle of partnership or close association
may end or reach an impasse. You may not receive cooperation from
those close to you. There may be changes in the obligations or
demands of your partnership situation that affect your home life. May 4th brings a Lunar Eclipse at the Full Moon in Scorpio and
your solar second house. There could be a small loss financially
or a change in your financial situation. Changes with other people's
resources or monies may affect your position. There may be confusion
because of a money situation, forcing you to make adjustments
to your lifestyle. Sustaining yourself may cost a little more
than usual at this time. You may have to cut back on the basics
because of unexpected expenses. The Full Moon in Taurus and your solar eighth house on October
28th brings a Lunar Eclipse. Joint arrangements with regard to
money or resources may go through a change. You may come to the
end of the road with shared venture or investment. Watch the credit
card or the overdraft coming into this period. Make sure you don't
overspend. Judgement over money matters may be flawed or questionable.
Err on the side of caution.
Special Events
Venus the goddess enters a retrograde phase
in Gemini and your solar ninth house on May 18th. Outstanding
matters will arise. These may involve contacts or connections
with overseas or foreign people. For some, there may be unexpected
travel while for others travel arrangements could be subject to
delay or change. You may find that people from the past or past
contacts come back into your life unexpectedly. In some instances,
they will bring outstanding baggage. In other instances, the return
of an old friend or even an old flame will be an exciting encounter.
For some, there will be issues from the past about money that
will need to be dealt with. For others, matters could be of a
legal nature. Make sure you're clear in your communications and
deal with things by being 'Johnny on the spot'. For some Scales
folk, there may be issues or interchanges concerning in-laws.
An in-law may drop in or come to stay unexpectedly. If money or
the law is an issue between you and your in-laws, work hard to
sort matters out. For some, study or higher learning may play
a part in this period. You may go back to the institutions where
you've learnt in the past or you may find that you're dealing
with academic or qualified people. Some may go back to the 'halls
of ivy' to learn again. For others, there may be a movement towards
mixing with people or groups who have an interest in spirituality
or beliefs. Overall, this is a period of revue for your relationships.
Examine what's going on, communicate well and lay outstanding
matters to rest. Something you've earned may finally come your
way. The cycle comes to an end on June 30th.
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the Scales in 2004
