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Special Horoscope for Aquarius
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.
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the sun's journey and the birthday blues
Jupiter and the nature of luck
Attracting luck with Jupiter and Uranus
MONTHLY HOROSCOPE FOR ALL SIGNS
The sun is in Aquarius this month.
The new moon is January 29.
Mercury enters Aquarius on January 23, moves into Pisces on February 10.
Venus is in Capricorn.
Mars is direct in Taurus.
Jupiter is in Scorpio.
Saturn retrogrades through Leo.
Uranus is direct in Pisces.
Neptune is in Aquarius.
Pluto is in Sagittarius.
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Happy Birthday, Aquarius!
This month we're going to celebrate your solar return (fancy astrological term for your birthday) by talking a little bit about your purpose on this planet. In the process, we will deal with the unlikely subject of your family. But first, let's deal with some other stuff having to do with the big picture as it relates to this year.
We'll start by noting that the universe has been going to an awful lot of trouble for 11, count 'em 11 solid years, to inundate you with uncertainties. It started way back in '95 when Pluto moved in your solar 11th house (the house associated with your sign) and the very uncertain mutable yet philosophical sign of Sagittarius. Here the universe began to gradually prep you for an increasing campaign to make you uncertain of your life direction.
Uranus (your ruling planet) joined the party in '96 by entering your very own sign of Aquarius, where it endeavored to make you both exhilarated and uncertain of virtually everything all the way through 2003. Neptune wandered into the fray in 1998, entering your own sign then with the intent of making you uncertain as to whether you should even be uncertain. By 2004, your ruling planet entered the constitutionally uncertain sign of Pisces. That's a whole heck of a lot of big planet uncertainty taking aim right at you!
You can look at it this way. The universe is apparently under the impression that you are some sort of gigantic oyster and if it can pry you open with the tool of uncertainty it will be able to scoop out a gigantic lovely pearl from your inner Aquarian self and present it to the world for its delight. It's kind of flattering to think that the universe believes you are capable of harboring a gigantic pearl, but...it sure does take a long time to produce, as pearls always do. Not only that, gigantic lovely pearls are produced in response to irritation, and therefore the universe is periodically irritating you as it seeks to get you to give forth this pearl. You can expect more of that long time/periodic irritation action as this year progresses.
Your pearl-making process won't be entirely complete until 2012, which is a long way off. In the meantime, man cannot live by uncertainty alone, so you need to scoop up the opportunity presented by Jupiter in Scorpio to get your hands on some career and status-related security. Oh sure, Neptune and Saturn are going to whine about it, fans of your uncertainty as they are, but tough. Jupiter only visits this sector once every dozen years, so you need to make career hay while the greater benefic shines. Put that at the top of your to-do list for this solar year: "career and status-related security." You don't need to conquer the world, you just need to take advantage of the chance to compensate for some of that income insecurity that Uranus is Pisces is currently pushing on you. Go for it, work that Jupiter energy.
Okay, now that we've got a big to-do item for the year out of the way, let's talk about this month, your purpose on this planet, and all that jazz. Your agenda item for this month, to scoot that pearl-making process along, is to run about feeling incredibly loving, forgiving, merciful, and compassionate towards everyone in your family that's ever pissed you off.
All right, I know that doesn't sound like a birthday party exactly, but here's what's going on. You've got the final eclipse in an Aries/Libra series coming up at the end of March. That happens to fall in your solar 3rd house of, among other things, relatives. You are intended to start out on a great new cycle of relationships with relatives then. So you'll need to get interfering stuff cleared out beforehand.
Meanwhile, Mars has been transiting Taurus and your solar 4th house of Mom, Dad, and family for a long, long time and it's finally leaving at the end of this solar month. Yay! Mars here has been trying, among other things, to remind you of everything about your family that irritates you. Now that it's finally leaving, it's a good time to say good bye to all those irritated feelings.
Meanwhile, we've got Saturn in Leo in your 7th house of relationships with others. Wouldn't you know it, this has to do with your family too! Saturn in part is a representation of a person's father image. Why is a complicated story but it is. Here in your house of relationships it happens to be saying to you "Hello, I am your father image operating in your relationships with significant others. I do not need to be here. Lay me to rest." This is true if you happen to have the greatest dad in the world, or the worst. It's true if you're male; it's true if you're female. You, like most other people, happen to be toting your image of him into your romantic and other relationships, and yet, strangely enough, your current lovers, spouses, and whatnot are not your dad and neither are you, and the universe is just trying to point that out to you. You have a couple of years to wrap your head around the realization that you need to update your relationship template, but the first step is to consciously let go of any baggage by engaging in the aforementioned compassionate forgiving exercise. We know this is the month to do it because...Venus (the love planet) is spending the whole darn month in Capricorn (the Saturn sign) in your 12th house (of letting go of baggage). Now's the time to do this stuff and believe me, by the time Saturn and Neptune start opposing each other later in the year, you will be so glad you dealt with some of this stuff early. In fact, you'll be glad you dealt with it by the time Mars rolls into Gemini and your 5th house of love affairs on February 18th, making you want to fight with everybody you have romantic feelings for. The more you get cleared out now, the less you'll have to deal with next solar month.
There's more to this exercise than that, though, practical as all this preparation is. See, the thing is, you, as an Aquarian, are a representative of the concept of mercy on this planet. Many of the other signs are lousy at mercy and forgiveness, and part of your job here amongst humanity is to help other people see that toting around grudges is not the way to go. Normally, you do this in a rather low-key unobtrusive way, but Neptune (the planet of mercy and compassion) is spending such a long time in your sign because it wants you to take a more active role in this enterprise. And you can't take a more active role unless you deal with the fact that you too have grudges and emotions and relationship templates and wounds and hurts and that your family, dear or horrible as they may be, have inevitably offended your deeply sincere Aquarian sensibilities. Jupiter in the grudge holding sign of Scorpio is here to help remind you of that, along with that long stay of Mars in Taurus.
So here's the deal. You're a person born to a naturally merciful sign. You're being intensively encouraged by Neptune and Uranus in Pisces to increase your compassion to the bursting point. You can do this for the moment by experiencing compassion, understanding, and kindly forgiving feelings toward those in your family of origin that have hurt, enraged, or bewildered you. In the process, your personal experience of life will improve and your relationship template will get a lovely update. From that, you will be able to help nudge your purpose on this planet along by being a living example of the concept of forbearance, the idea that it is not necessary to punish yourself and others for the mess-ups of the past. This is part of what you are here to teach people. It is a very hard lesson for most of the other signs to learn, so you need to be good at teaching it. You get good at teaching it by experiencing how hard it is to do! This allows you to relate to others, and allows others to be inspired by your example. See, you've always been a kindly, forbearing, non-grudge holding kind of person towards even bad offenders. But that's partly because you're normally not willing to admit that you get hurt or that you care. So this month, admit that, irrational as it is, you do get hurt, you do care, and yet magically, your natural Aquarian compassion can bubble to the surface again, winning over one and all. You're here to help teach the rest of the world how to experience a kind of non-ego driven happiness that most don't understand. So experience it yourself, Aquarius, and make that lovely pearl get all the bigger. Oh yeah, and don't forget to have a good time on your birthday too.
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)
December - January (Capricorn)
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Hi Aries! Your key concepts for the month involve things like the brotherhood of man and the concept of pity. Why, you ask, are these my key concepts for the month? What about concepts like 'soon you will be very very wealthy', you wonder. Well, actually Mars will be leaving Taurus at the end of this month, so perhaps you will be a bit less financially stressed next solar month, but in the meantime the sun and Neptune are parked firmly in Aquarius. Mercury will be spending most of the month there too. When these planets get together in Aquarius they spend their time contemplating things exactly like the brotherhood of man and pondering phrases like 'the quality of mercy is not strained.' What does this have to do with you?
Well, your sun sign is not one that naturally understands concepts like pity and sympathy. It's okay with the ideals of the brotherhood of man, but when it comes to actually implementing them it gets a bit confused, being a warrior sign and all. Aries naturally thinks it can do something about anything bad that might happen and expects that other people should too. If people would just get off their duffs, your sign thinks, there wouldn't be any problems in the world! It happens to be wrong about this--suffering happens sometimes, and when it does, sympathy and pity help.
All Ariens, as Neptune (the planet of compassion) slowly transits the compatible sign of Aquarius, are getting the chance to gradually get more comfortable with how to dispense sympathy and compassion to those around them. This is a good thing for Ariens because it's very awkward when their sun sign suddenly freezes up around someone who needs a touch of sympathy and can't think of anything nice to say. But here's the deal. You really only get one month a year in which the planets conspire to help you actually practice your sympathy skills.
So here's what you do. You memorize the phrases "I know exactly how you feel," and "I feel the same way!" and then you spend the entire month saying them whenever you get a chance. When your associates bitch and moan about how they're sick of the winter weather, instead of telling them to quit whining, say "I feel the same way!" When your co-workers get on your nerves with their incessant complaints, say "I know exactly how you feel." When your spouse and loved ones get all down in the dumps, instead of trying to cheer them up Arien style, say "ah, sweetie, I know how you feel." This may not seem like a big deal, but unbeknownst to you, many people who know you will be wondering behind your back why they suddenly feel so much more kindly toward you! And you know, it's definitely to your practical benefit to have people feeling kindly toward you. Don't miss your one month of opportunity to get everyone your side in this way.
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Hello, Taurus. This is the last solar month in which Mars will be transiting your sign and some of you may be just as glad. Sometimes Taurus people feel that months and months of Mars energy is a bit more than they really like to handle. If you're enjoying it, though, this is your last month to take advantage of the extra boost of oomph it gives you.
In the meantime, the sun will be transiting the sign of Aquarius this month, where it will meet up with Neptune. Mercury will also be visiting Aquarius most of the month as well. Neptune in Aquarius is a love combination, not a sexual love combination, but an I love everyone combination. When the sun joins Neptune here it gives you a chance to project love to everyone (the planets will be near your solar midheaven, at the top of your solar chart, which is the spot where you can project yourself far and wide). It's the perfect month for you to surprise your co-workers with little hand-crafted Valentine's Day treats, if you're the type that enjoys doing little hand-crafted things. Indeed, you have an excellent opportunity to spread winter cheer by displaying your highest self, the most universally loving aspects of yourself, even if you're not really in the mood to. That's what Neptune in Aquarius is all about--your highest self, the one we all forget to display sometimes. The sun joining Neptune here actually encourages everyone to call on their higher selves, you just happen to have a greater opportunity to let yours show than some of the other signs do.
And this is a good thing, because for many people in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter doldrums hit around this time. Practicing displaying your highest self will help you get through this hibernating time of year with a positive outlook, and will remind you that we're all in the same boat, and that spring will be just around the corner. The current deadlock of fixed sign energy will also ease up next month, so if you can just hang on to your highest self and positive outlook for one more month...stuff will start to flow again more easily soon.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Hi Gemini. How's your year going so far? Next solar month, Mars will enter your own sign, and in a way, that's when your 2006 will really start. In the meantime, take advantage of the respite, because when Mars enters your sign, it's apt to stir up classic Geminian inner conflict and duality.
This month, the sun and Neptune will be in Aquarius in your solar 9th house of philosophical stuff, and most of the time your ruling planet Mercury will be there too. Here these planets like to get all philosophical about big concepts like the nature of mankind and its relationship with God. The 9th house actually rules things like religion. With Mars in your spiritually oriented 12th house, and Saturn being all heavy and philosphical in your solar 3rd house (the house associated with your sign), this is a kind of slow, resting month for your chart overall, although you may be busy at work. It's a great month really for getting yourself straight with your own personal concept of God, to sort out the things that happened in 2005, and to get yourself clear and in harmony with the universe with what you'd like to happen in 2006. Uranus in Pisces in your solar 10th indicates that your worldly success increasingly depends on you being in tune with your religion, spirituality, ethics, and so on. So take a break from frenetic Geminian activity this solar month, and turn your thoughts to the realm of the divine. Next month...different story. But for this month, just let things come together in your mind.
For additional keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Hello, Cancer. So, let's talk about 2006. At the end of March the last in a series of eclipses falling along your solar 4th house/10th axis will occur, impacting your home and family base and/or your career. This is the most significant astrological event for you in 2006, and for the rest of it, you have a chance to take advantage of what could be a relatively peaceful year. There will be tension in the sky at points, but you personally don't have to get caught up in much of the drama. Jupiter's trying to bring happiness to your solar 5th house of love and fun, and while financial tensions could impact you, you need not worry yourself excessively about them if you choose not to.
In fact, we can use the energy of this solar month, in which Neptune, the sun, and Mercury will be visiting Aquarius in your solar 8th house, to get you started on an uncharacteristically non-worrying mode (at least for Cancers, it tends to be a worrying sign). Although Neptune in Aquarius is not necessarily a peaceful influence on world affairs, on a personal level for you, as it gently transits your psychological 8th house, it is concerned with bringing you gradually towards inner peace. The idea to meditate on here is that everything will be all right, that this will be a smooth year for you, that things are back to normal after Saturn's long stay in your own sign until the middle of last year. Back to normal, you can live your life more or less as you choose, get yourself established, or take advantage of what you have already established. There is no reason to worry, everything will be fine. It's a good month to just do what you like to do, to get yourself organized, to make plans without excessive fear they'll be disrupted by planetary action, to just...live. Considering that some of the other signs will be up to their eyeballs in challenges this year, you may have one of the best horoscopes of all.
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Hi, Leo. So, as you undoubtedly know if you follow your horoscope regularly, you are currently hosting Saturn in your own sign and will be doing so for the entire year. As I mentioned to your fellow fixed sign residents, the Aquarians, one of the things Saturn represents is a person's father image. Hosting Saturn in your own sign is, on one level, a period of dealing with your father's legacy in your life and putting some of it to rest. If your father was a good influence and a support, then it's a time of quietly putting some of that behind you and learning to stand on your own two feet as a separate individual. If your father was problematic, it's a time of putting those problems and their effects on you behind you and carving out a separate identity for yourself. Putting a father image to rest is a test in a way, and that's what Saturn stands for--the test of growing up.
As you accidentally or purposefully find yourself growing up this year, Neptune will be standing in opposition to Saturn by sign, as it transits your zodiacal shadow sign of Aquarius. This month is heavy on Aquarian action as the sun and Mercury transit the sign too. The sign of Aquarius is almost exclusively concerned with what it's like to be human, and with Neptune in the sign, it's sometimes human frailty that is highlighted. Herein lies the nature of the opposition you face this year, and which this month gives you a taste of. Saturn is trying to teach you to be strong--while Neptune is reminding you that sometimes we are all weak. The universe is insistent this year on finding a balance between the two, capitalizing on our strengths while acknowledging our weaknesses and frailties. You just happen to be more impacted by this planetary conversation than most of the other signs.
This month, as the sun transits your opposite sign, the scale dips toward the weakness side of the equation. Some are said to physically low, weak, or drained during the month in which the sun transits their opposite sign. This may not happen to you, but it is still a time when it's okay for you to let your significant other see your vulnerabilities. The last 6 months have heavily impacted Leos, and you may be a little drained from the planetary action, even if you don't realize it. This month, take a break from being a superhuman Leo, and take a tip from Aquarius, which loves all humans, even when they aren't that super. Let your loved ones see your softer side, and take it easy, as best you can (you may be busy with career-related matters as Taurus gets set to leave your solar 10th house). Give yourself and everyone else a break, and spend Valentine's Day letting your significant other treating you like royalty. That should perk you right up.
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
So Virgo, 2006 is scheduled to be a year of truth of you, what with eclipses falling in your sign and Pisces in March and September. That's a good thing because Virgos can handle the truth. The truth is your ally these days anyway. This month, the sector of truth for you is the 6th house, the one naturally associated with your sign. The sun will be there (in the sign of Aquarius) all solar month, and your ruler Mercury will spend the majority of the month there too.
This is a good thing for you because Neptune, a not very truthful planet, has been hanging out in your solar 6th house for years, bringing fogginess and fuzziness, two things that the sign of Virgo doesn't get along with all that well. Fortunately, the sun and Mercury can shine a spotlight on this area, and help you ferret out facts and figure out what's going on in this area of your life. Since the solar 6th house deals with things like your employment situation, your health, volunteer activities, and daily routines, now is the time to get things a bit straightened up in these areas. If there's any uncertainty in your job situation, for example, now's a good time to see if you can get some greater clarity. Ditto if you'd been having to deal with health complaints that are hard to get diagnosed or deal with. If you have New Year's resolutions concerning health habits, you are the most likely of all the signs to keep them up this month. In short, make yourself happy by getting yourself all organized and full of clarity and purpose in any of these areas, and you'll be in good shape this month.
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
Hello, Libra. So, in a way, your 2006 really gets going in spring, when an eclipse in the sign of Aries at the end of March holds the potential for what I hope is a great new beginning for you in some area of your life, most likely in the relationship sector. But speaking of the relationship sector, this month is not a bad month at all. I don't know that it will cause you to burst into joyful songs of happiness but I can certainly hope it will.
You see, the sun, Mercury, and Neptune will all be spending time in the compatible sign of Aquarius in your solar 5th house of love and romance. This a potently romantic combination! This is a great month for you to get out and attend one of the arty events that Libras tend to like, and in the process meet some someone who will make your heart sing. Even Saturn is your friend in this endeavor, because he's in your solar 11th house restricting your social activities with friends, so that you'll have even more time to focus on your romantic desires. Take advantage and pursue romance this month if you have any leaning that way whatsoever. If you're already in a relationship, feel free to pursue romance with your current honey. Remember that Valentine's day is this month, make it a good one for yourself.
The whole universe is pretty much your friend right now, with the possible exception of Mars in Taurus in your solar 8th. But he's leaving soon, so don't worry about him. Instead, let your heart be glad, go out and meet someone to love if you have the wish to, and tell yourself that nothing can go wrong for you this month. And if something does go wrong, dismiss it as an error, and go about the business of letting your heart be light while three planets are in your solar house of good old-fashioned fun and romance.
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
Hello, Scorpio. Jupiter continues to transit your own sign, as I'll undoubtedly remind you throughout the year, so that you can take advantage of its energy to make yourself more secure and happy in whatever sectors you'd like to turn your attention to. This month, the sun turns his attention to the sign of Aquarius, and so do Neptune and Mercury, where they travel your sector of home and roots. Combine these planets in Aquarius with Uranus in Pisces in your sector of love and romance, and we've got a lot of unusual 'New Age' energy going on. I don't know how big a fan of the New Age you are, but with all the planetary action this month, it might be to your advantage to investigate what New Age activities have to offer you.
I'm not saying you have to go whole hog, but the planetary focus this month is on shoring up your foundational base. Something as simple as listening to soothing New Age music can be good for your soul this month and help you open up to relationship energy if you're interested in improving things in that sector. Indeed, if you have any artistic leanings yourself, this is as good a month as any to pull them out of the closet, dust them off, and use them to heal your soul. If you've ever played an instrument or want to, this is a good month to get back to that activity (Aquarius, as an air sign, harmonizes well with music as a healing, soothing, or uplifting modality, and so does Uranus in Pisces.) I can't guarantee you that indulging in some soulful artistic escape will automatically open you up to more love in your life, but given the relationship between Aquarius and Pisces these days, it sure as heck couldn't hurt. If music is definitely not your thing, you can still investigate some other New Age type activity designed to make your soul feel good. And all of these things can help you get through the winter blues that Scorpios are often prone to. Indulge!
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Ah, Sagittarius. You, like your Aquarian friends, are subject to a certain amount of planetary uncertainty these days, not that this is really anything new for Sagittarians as some of these trends have been going on for a while. Pluto continues his slow transit through your sign, gradually transforming you, while Saturn in Leo is parked in your solar 9th house, the one most closely associated with your sign. Saturn here will be bringing uncertainties about your very philosophy of life, the thing you guide yourself by. Your ruling planet Jupiter is in your solar 12th house, where he is uncharacteristically uncertain, as he goes rooting through your psychological closet, looking for beliefs to toss out. Meanwhile, Neptune in Aquarius is in your solar 3rd house of communications, encouraging you to express some of that uncertainty, which is not normally the Sagittarian style. Sagittarians are normally very certain of things for about 30 seconds at a time, at which point they switch to being certain about something else. But the big planet trends work against your normal mode these days, and it is more than okay for you to express a certain amount of confusion.
This month, the sun and Mercury join Neptune in Aquarius. All of these planets have a certain hippie-ish mode about them when they gather in Aquarius, and they are concerned with things like love and brotherhood, and so on. Which means that this is a good month for you to indulge your inner hippie and be concerned about these things too. Saturn in Leo is trying to convince you that the hippie mentality is neither realistic, practical, feasible, or all that attractive, but deep in their hearts, Sagittarians don't really want to believe him. They may not look like hippies, most Sagittarians, but a lot of them have never really given up on the ideals of the 1960s, and they don't really want to. Saturn will put all Sagittarians and their idealism to the test this year, but just for the moment, you can forestall the showdown behind hard practicality and universal love. This month, you can race around in Sagittarian fashion, cheerfully braying about higher ideals, and pushing and prodding your fellows toward getting over their winter blues by embracing humanitarianism and niceness. Hopefully that sounds like fun, because it's what your sign wants to do anyway. So feel free to do it.
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CAPRICORN: JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18
Hi, Capricorn. This solar month, Venus will be spending her time in your very own sign. She'll spend about half that time retrograding, but that shouldn't bother you. Theoretically, having Venus in your own sign means that people will be attracted to you, or at least attracted to that conservative, fatherly, authoritative, stable image that Capricorn projects. If you happen to have a rising sign that makes you appear not all that Capricorn-like (e.g., flashy Leo), this might be a good month to pretend to be more like a typical Capricorn, particularly if you want to woo someone for Valentine's Day. You could even score a nice gift on that holiday if you play your cards right.
The other inner planets, the sun and Mercury, will be spending most of their time in your solar second house, in Aquarius. Neptune will be there too. So, on a less romantic note, I'm going to urge you to take another look at your finances and see if you can figure out what's going on there. I mentioned this at the end of last year, as a good time to get any year-end financial planning done, now it's time to get your start of the year financial planning done. You see, Neptune likes to obscure things, and it's really not very comfortable for Capricorn to have their finances obscured. The sun, with its bright white light, and Mercury with its rational focus, can help you work through any confusing financial situations that have developed in your life. Even if you don't have any confusing financial situations to deal with, it's still a good time to get things straightened out in that regard, make plans, resolutions, etc. Capricorns just don't really feel emotionally comfortable if their finances are rocky; they really need security to function well. Since Venus is in your own sign, and since it does deal with money as well as love, you might as well take advantage of it and see if you can figure out how to improve your financial situation or make it the best it can be. All this energy will leave at the end of the month, so use it while you got it.
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PISCES: FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20
Hello, Pisces. 2006 may be a complex year for you, what with Uranus in your own sign, an eclipse series scheduled to start impacting you, and Neptune (your planetary ruler) in your solar 12th house, the house associated with your sign. I'm hoping that the complexities will turn out to be good ones, ones that make you glad, as eclipses and Uranus can both herald positive changes.
This month, the sun and Mercury will be joining Neptune in Aquarius in your solar 12th. These planets can have a tendency to stimulate your brain (Aquarius is a brainy sign) in this position, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. When there are a lot of planets in your solar 12th, it's a good month to go within. Many say that the source of all true joy can be found within, perhaps in one's connection with the eternal and the divine. Any time that you can spend this month centering yourself in preparation for your solar return next month is probably time well spent. The thing to ask yourself as you go within is what is the thing, or what are the things that bring you the most pleasure in life? The planets are paying a fair amount of attention to you over a number of years and they seem to be trying to bring full aliveness and stimulation to your brain and your experience of life. So I suppose you might as well cooperate and really pay attention to what turns you on.
The scary of part this is...with Uranus and eclipses in your own sign, you may actually be called upon to make changes in your life, real changes that will help you ditch the stuff that doesn't bring you joy so that you can spend more time on the stuff that does. You probably won't be asked to make these changes all at once, but...you might as well be prepared. If the planets start trying to send you messages this year that something is not working for you, or that something new would work for you so much better than what you're currently doing, it will be really helpful if you're already prepared and in a position to understand the message. It's kind of a corny saying, but I think one of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was that they spend more time 'sharpening their axes' in preparation for cutting down trees, than on the actual hard labor of chopping. That's sort of what's going on here. It will be so much easier for you later this year if you sharpen your axe now while the planets are in your solar 12th house, than if you neglect yourself and suddenly find yourself later this year with a big tree to chop down!
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
THE SIGN OF AQUARIUS
Aquarius is a fixed air sign. Planetary rulers: Saturn, Uranus. Season: Winter. Associated with the 11th house of hopes and wishes, friendship, and humanitarian activities. Its symbol is the Water Bearer.
This month the sun will be transiting the sign of Aquarius, as it does every year at this time. Mercury will join it for most of the solar month, and Neptune has been residing there for 7 years now. So the question on the agenda for this month is--what is the sign of Aquarius for? What is that constellation doing up in the sky and what piece of the cosmic puzzle is that sign supposed to represent? What can we use its energies for?
Well, Aquarius is a complex sign, too complex for a short blurb to completely address. It's the sign of the New Age, supposedly, and for a while in the '60s astrologers were all abuzz about the dawning of the age of Aquarius. They were abuzz about the Aquarian age at the turn of the millennium too. Aquarius is, in fact, the sign of the New Age, although that doesn't necessarily mean what people usually think it does. And we are in fact in living in the age of Aquarius. I won't get into that here though (this month's newsletter topic is the Age of Aquarius, though, if you sign up for the monthly horoscopes by email), because the roots of Aquarius are much deeper and more ancient than the concept of the New Age.
Aquarius has two planetary rulers, Saturn, known the ancients, and Uranus, discovered in 1781. These two rulers don't seem to have much in common. Saturn is associated with things like problems, tests, old age, difficulties, and so on. Uranus is associated with things like revolution, new ideas, radical change, and accidental discoveries. They seem pretty much like opposites in their modes of operation. So what the heck are we to make of the sign of Aquarius, governed by two seemingly contradictory types of energy?
The answer is amazingly simple, actually. It is the function of the sign of Aquarius to take a new look at old problems, and therein to solve them with new ideas. The Saturn portion of the equation is necessary to direct the sign's attention toward old problems; the Uranus portion of the equation is to necessary to bring those new ideas and solutions to light. This is the function to of the water-bearer, to bring the gift of new ideas to solve the most basic, long-standing, oldest problems of humanity.
As you learn to do horoscopes, you can look at what's happening in the sign of Aquarius to see where it's time for old problems to get a fresh looking at. When the sun transits Aquarius every year, everyone gets an opportunity to look at their longstanding problems, and apply some new thinking towards solving them. When a planet transits Aquarius, as Neptune is doing, it indicates that old problems can be solved by applying that planet's methodology in a new way. As Neptune is the planet of compassion, old problems can be tackled with new doses of compassion. You can figure out what sector of your life can benefit from this approach by checking to see what house Aquarius represents in your chart (count round the zodiac starting with your own sign, to determine what house Aquarius is associated with in your solar chart). Apply the formula to the matters of that house and you'll be cooperating with the universal energy.
In your natal chart, if you know it, you can see where you have the greatest gift for solving long-standing problems with new ideas by looking to see where Aquarius falls in your chart. If you have a planet in Aquarius, it will tell you not only that you have an extra dose of such energy in your chart, but the planet will also tell you what kind of approach to take in solving those problems. If your sun is in Aquarius, part of your purpose on the planet is to tackle the old problems of humanity that other signs have given up on. They may be as concrete as hunger in Africa, or as subtle as the universal human fear of those who are different. You may solve them by being active and visible, or by quietly welcoming the different into your circle so that others may accept them. Each one of us has our own Aquarian style. Some of us have a lot of it, some very little. But the energy of Aquarius is necessary to us all, for without the will and the ability to tackle even hardest, oldest problems, humanity can neither progress nor survive. And Aquarius is here to see that we do both.
So that's Aquarius. Of course, there is a lot more to the sign than that. But it'll get you started. As you piece together planetary energy with sign purpose, gradually you can build up an increasingly complete picture of the universe's energy. You can make your own astrological forecasting abilities richer and more insightful. Aquarius is an interesting sign. May you enjoy its energy this month.
Keywords for Aquarius: Reform, progress, humanitarianism, social work, intellectual enlightenment, insight into the future, astrology, knowledge, science, technology, understanding, and truth.
Keywords for Neptune: Redemption, compassion, dissolution, delusions, hope, dreams and sleep, psychic abilities, spirituality, and subtle energies.
Some keywords for the sun: Power, vitality, life-giving, masculine, creative, pride, invigorating, the will, leadership, authority, physicality, and success.
Some keywords for Mercury: Writing, travelling, speaking, studying, teaching, office work, retail shopping, business transactions, record keeping, editing, transportation, and speed.
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, career, 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!