Weekly Astroguide

It's that time of year too much to do and too little time. No wonder you're feeling anxious. Yet aren't Capricorns supposed to be able to cope with anything? What's happened to your legendary ability to stay unruffled in a crisis? The truth, is that if you really do need to be calm, you can be. But you don't need to test yourself out. The problem, is that you're experiencing an over-reaction. When you change your approach, you'll realise that you can easily change anything else that needs sorting, no matter how tricky it looks. In your love life: Scientists like certainty; poets prefer mystery. You need to try to take a more poetic approach to a confusing matter.

As I look at what's happening in the sky I'm reminded of the Steve Miller Band lyric, Time keeps on slipping, into the future'. As your ruler prepares to connect to Neptune, it brings a sense of d©javu as vaguely remembered dreams become part of your reality. Something that you've only dared imagine is starting to happen. Despite some challenging unexpected factors to deal with, as Mr Miller suggested, you can fly like an eagle'. All you need do is stay focused on what you feel in your heart of hearts and stay true to that. In your love life: Is success eluding you? Regardless of what you may currently think, your personal life is being blessed and protected.

Although there's a lot to cope with and change afoot, one thing is certain. Your traditional ruler, Jupiter (in its new home) is bringing opportunities your way. As Neptune prepares to link to Uranus (the planet of unexpected surprises) you might need to watch out for uncharacteristic moments of recklessness. Rather than impulsively pushing projects forward, you'll gain more from expending your energy with care. You'll benefit by going with the flow of the tide rather than creating waves of change. It's heading in the right direction. In your love life: Your life is full of drama, tension, urgency, challenge and change. Does it need to be so crazy? No, and soon it won't be.

You're beginning to feel as if you've lost interest in a project you've been focused on for some time. The energy and commitment you felt seem to have dissipated. Yet, even though this might feel as if something's coming to an end, the reality is that you're reacting to one of life's natural ebbs and flows. As Mercury now moves direct in the sky, it brings the hope of new beginnings. Rather than battling on in the same old tired way, new ways to make progress are being revealed. You're about to develop a much more effective plan. In your love life: Acknowledge what you have to be glad of. You may yet see how to improve situations that seem less than wonderful.

According to the ancient myths, Pandora was delighted when she was given the box. Even though she knew that she was forbidden to open it, her curiosity got the better of her. It was easy to unlock after all. That's when all the evils and troubles were released into the world. In many ways, we're fortunate that she was so inquisitive and disobedient. She became the person on whom the bad things of life could be blamed. This week, think carefully before being tempted to do something just because it's easy. There's a better option. In your love life: Is someone else, like you, avoiding conversation? Talk. You'll both discover you have helpful common ground.

The task that lies before you may look so vast that you're tempted just to give up, but, now that your ruler is moving forward across the skies, you can throw your pessimism away. It's time to roll up your sleeves! There's work to be done and you have the expertise and energy to do it. It's not like you to feel defeated by something. Just beneath the surface of doubt lies a bright spark of hope. You might need to give yourself a good talking to, but if you succeed in mustering up some energy, you'll make excellent progress this week. In your love life: Look at the past anew, and your journey changes radically. Your heart is an arrow flying to the right target.

For some time, you've been hoping to bring about meaningful change in your life, but, although you've come close to achieving it, you haven't managed to dot all the i's and cross all the t's. The final details have proved difficult to fix. Like trying to find soap in the bath, it seems that something vital keeps slipping through your fingers. Now that Mercury has changed signs, clarity is on its way. You'll soon be able to see the effectiveness of the preparations you've made. The groundbreaking work is done. The rewards will be worth reaping. In your love life: Don't rush. Embrace compromise. Think hard before you make a big decision. Better to do one thing well than two badly.

Wouldn't everything be wonderful if only? Stop! Completing that sentence will only make you feel more frustrated. You have a list as long as your arm of things that would be wonderful to have in your life. Yet, when you take a closer look at what you're wishing for, only a few of those items are essential. These are the things you need to be focusing on this week. Some plans need immediate attention. Some preparations need to be made. You'll only be able to add the cherry to a cake that's been baked. Stop resisting! In your love life: Are you clinging to a source of sorrow? Fight for, not against, something positive now. Be motivated by inspiration.

Remember the monster who lived in the cracks on the pavement? It was always waiting to jump out and scare you if you accidentally stepped on one of the lines. No matter how much time you spent trying to avoid it, you'd inevitably forget and then what? Were you ever stricken down in your tracks? Or were you just lucky? Was it asleep when you broke the rules? We often try to appease imaginary deities in the shape of people who are difficult to please. With your ruler moving forwards again, it's time to honour your own needs. In your love life: Don't keep thinking, If only...' Don't make happiness conditional on a list of targets. Don't hold yourself to ransom.

Although getting along with a particular individual in your world hasn't always been easy, an improvement is on the way. As Mercury moves forwards it brings the potential to sort out a complicated matter which has put a relationship under great strain. Where procedures have been challenging, you can expect to see gentle progress. If you've been worrying about the future of an enterprise (which has felt perilous) the main reason for your concern is about to dissipate. As ease of communication grows, historic problems can be solved. In your love life: It's time to start a dialogue with someone you know you ought to talk to. Agreement over one key issue is all you need.

Even though your prediction doesn't contain many words, and takes very little time to read, it can take ages for me to write it! Sometimes it feels as if the space isn't big enough. Yet, advice is most effective when it's kept simple. You feel as if you're facing an obstacle which is impeding your progress and making you feel as if you have no room to manoeuvre. Yet, suppose it's there for a reason? You're being prevented from making any wrong moves. This week, if you follow your intuition, you have the space to do what you need to do. In your love life: You're not afraid to admit to a mistake. But sometimes you really are right. In one key respect, you are now.

Quick! Look up! Is it a bird or a plane? No! It's SuperSag faster than the speed of light, able to leap to the rescue in the blink of an eye. Hmmm, might I be exaggerating just a little? Am I stretching the boundaries of our imaginations and projecting an extraordinary ability on to an ordinary person? Definitely not! With Mercury joining your ruler and the Sun in your sign, watch out for new opportunities lining themselves up to form a queue on your doorstep. Your outlook not only looks exciting, it's likely to continue for some time to come. In your love life: Your worry is unfounded. It's subtly different and it's leading to a revelation that promises the change you need.

December brings the Solstice, a sign that your birthday, is nearly here. But, the passage of time stirs those existential questions such as, Have I achieved everything I wanted to this year?' and, What else do I need to do?' The answers are probably, No!' and, Lots'! But that's only natural when you have high standards and demanding expectations. You've achieved quite a lot by other people's reckoning. The real question is, Am I capable of getting where I want to be?' The answer, according to the heavens, is a resounding Yes'! In your love life: You have questions but no answers. Fear not. You don't know how a drama will end. You suspect it will be fine. It will.

We're told that promising too much and failing to deliver is worse than consistently performing below expectations. But not everyone is comfortable with coasting along. If it weren't for people who push themselves and strive for something, then the vast majority of progress would never take place. This month, you may be tempted to question whether a change is worth the toll it's taking. Only you can make that call. But celestial influences indicate that the bank of resources you have to draw upon are deeper than you think. In your love life: Some problems leave when you ignore them. Others remain. This one is unignorable, but it's still far from hopeless!

The gulf between fantasy and reality is not as huge as we think and, with the right resources, most things are achievable. So when we dismiss ideas as unworkable, all we're really saying is that they're not possible right now, in our current situation. If something far-fetched is worth doing this month, you'll find that ingenuity and passion more than make up for any hurdles of a materialistic nature especially if you inspire others to share your vision. Faith, enthusiasm and an adventurous spirit are your most valuable assets in December. In your love life: Doing the right thing? Your heart is sure that your sacrifice is a wise one; your head is less certain. Trust your heart.

Isn't it great when we plan important changes, take action and everything runs smoothly and predictably? Well, it would be great if that ever happened! Or maybe not? Perhaps, like a lunch meeting between people who don't really like each other, it would be unnerving. It seems like a good idea in theory, but in reality it puts everyone on edge. You won't need to tiptoe around any elephants this month. They'll make too much of a ruckus to be ignored. But once they have your attention you'll find them surprisingly easy to deal with. In your love life: Think you have all the answers? Think you know what's wrong. You are about to find out what's wonderfully right.

Thanks to your ruler moving backwards, you've spent time assessing your values and your emotional needs. Since Venus spent much of her retrograde journey opposite the great disrupter, Uranus, you may have come to some surprising realisations. But the time for questioning is over. December brings the chance to recognise what you want, and to pursue it. Once you begin to do so, misunderstandings with someone important will clear up, sources of confusion will subside, and a clear path forward will emerge. In your love life: Compromise. Don't shy away from tough issues. Go as close to the edge as you like, if you put up an inner railing first!

They say that practice makes perfect. But some things, no matter how many times we rehearse them, rely on us being able to rise to the occasion. Ask a footballer about penalty shoot-outs and they'll point out how practice has little influence on the success rate in an important game. It's almost impossible to replicate the effects of pressure and adrenalin. As Mercury ends its retrograde period this month, you'll have a revelation about a habit you've fallen into. A breakthrough inspiration will show you a more effective way. In your love life: Worry makes you compensate too much, drawing your energy towards the negative. Focus instead on what's positive.

Cancerians always have an extra reason to celebrate the festive season. Though your ruler, the Moon, visits your sign throughout the year, it's only after the December Solstice that it grows full in your sign. So although you're about as far away from birthday cake and candles as it's possible to be, be willing to welcome light into your life later this month. Particularly when it comes to key relationships, you'll find that with subtle hints and creative communication, you're on the receiving end of exactly what you'd wished for. In your love life: Are you torn between a cynical appraisal and a leap of faith? Don't bet on a wild proposition; do risk a bit of your heart.

For thousands of years, the Pyramid of Giza was the tallest structure on the planet. This ancient wonder of the world has, of course, now been dwarfed by skyscrapers. Seeing life from above makes our problems seem smaller and easier to put into context which could be why we've always been so keen on building towers. The Solstice marks the moment when the hemispheres begin a new race to the bottom or the top. For you, it's a time for imagination and vision. Take a broader view, and more than you think will become possible. In your love life: Lao Tzu was right. In the realm of your heart, all you need is simplicity, patience and compassion. From this comes all else.

I remember being in a car with my father and my uncle, with them bantering back and forth, as only brothers do. At one point my dad pointed out that his sibling had made a grammatical error. I hate to be a pedant, but you've used that term incorrectly,' he said. From the back seat I interjected: I hate to be a pedant, Dad, but you LOVE to be a pedant!' As your ruler ends its retrograde phase this month, you'll find it easier to understand your problems and make your points more eloquently. Just make sure they're worth making! In your love life: At all levels, there are exciting opportunities to go some way beyond your usual limitations with inspiring results.

When Venus visits a sign, she bestows love, wealth, kindness and companionship. When Venus is the ruler of that sign (as with Libra) her abundance is even greater. It's just that this time, she came into your sign in reverse. So it's understandable that you're wary of false promises and empty gestures. Yet the planet of love is moving forward again and, as she makes her final opposition with Uranus, it's time to embrace the changes she's brought. You're about to be given far more than what you fear you have lost. In your love life: The thought is always more difficult than the deed. But once you get a process rolling, it will roll all the way to success.

My grandmother was renowned for giving gifts she really wanted for herself. She'd hand you a book, then, the next time you visited she'd make sure to enquire about whether you'd enjoyed it and ask to see if she could borrow it! I mention this because, as Venus re-enters your sign in December, it suggests that something precious is being returned to you. Yet, the fact that it disappeared at all suggests that you needn't focus on what you have, because it's who you are that matters. And in that regard you'll have all you need this month. In your love life: At last, there's an emotional offering coming for you to embrace. Watch out for your opportunity, it's almost here.

My four-year-old was talking to my wife about what to get me for Christmas recently and he innocently' suggested that I'd like the video game he plays with his friends. Sometimes, we think we're being subtle, but we're as obvious as a cat burglar in a high-visibility jacket! And sometimes, we're so enthusiastic that we fail to see why anyone else wouldn't be! With newly direct Mercury re-entering Sagittarius to converge with Jupiter, big, bold ideas come thick and fast this month. Just ensure that other people are as invested as you. In your love life: Where is the line drawn? Look, see that the line is drawing itself. It is a welcome gift, not an unpleasant imposition.

There was a time when video cameras were state-of-the-art technology. But, who needs one of those now that we have such things as time-lapse movies? These are created by taking photos once a minute, hour, day, or week, which are then put together, and watched like a film. If you were to take a time-lapse of your life this week, you'd end up with an action-packed blockbuster on your hands. Which doesn't necessarily mean that your world's going to be full of drama. Actually, a new wave of opportunities is being ushered in. In your love life: Bombarded by opinions? You won't get the facts you need if you pay too much attention to all those theories.

When Frank Sinatra sang, It's very nice to go travelling, but it's so much nicer to come home,' he made an important point. It is a world of opposites. We go to sleep at night so that we can wake up and enjoy the day. Without knowing sadness, how can we know what happy feels like. Without experiencing anger, how can we understand forgiveness. Life is full of tensions which energise us so we can fulfil our potential. Welcome the stress in your world this week, it will be replaced by qualities you can appreciate. In your love life: You have hidden powers. Surprise yourself - and the whole world - by giving your heart a chance to shine this week.

Believe it or not, scientific evidence shows that there's logic behind the idiom a watched pot never boils'. Apparently, certain electrons, neutrons and protons are shy and retiring and would rather save their activity for a time when they're not being observed. It seems, though, that they can only hold out for so long and that every pot bubbles up sooner or later. Your own personal pot is now being heated to a rolling boil. With everything so nicely on its way, you can stop checking up on it every other moment. Trust this week. In your love life: Feel as if you don't have a share in the world? Soon, someone who has taken a lot from you will give something back.

Try taking a deep breath. Now, another. After all, it's free of charge. Air is the very essence of life - and focusing on our breathing helps us to calm down and relax. We all have reasons to feel anxious; but, as your ruler links to the stellium, you're under more pressure than usual this week. Yet there's no need to panic. Just because you have a tricky decision to make, doesn't mean that you can't make the progress you desire. Naturally occurring events will solve your problems in a neat and lovely way. In your love life: Life is a gift. Don't seek Life Plus...' or demand Life Minus...' Love it for what it is. The more you love life, the more life will love you.

Few of us have much of an idea of how we end up where we are. We lose sight of the choices we've made, and the contracts we've signed along the route. Yet, just because you're feeling as if you've reached a dead end doesn't mean that you haven't got a get out' clause. You might feel as if you're being confronted by doors closing and having to submit to non-negotiable rules but a loophole is appearing. If you can manage, this week, not to give in to a fear, you'll be able to recognise a lucky break. Stay optimistic! In your love life: Tread gently when challenging someone else's view of the world. There is always more than one way to look at anything.

It happens to all of us. You step aside to let someone pass, and they simultaneously step the same way. You both smile apologise and step the same way again. This polite dance can last a surprisingly long time. And, while this is a very British phenomenon, no matter where we're from, relationships necessitate some kind of ritual, even a sacrifice of some kind or another. The question, this week, is what compromises are you prepared to make, and are they worth making? Don't be inclined to give too much of yourself away. In your love life: Overcome that voice of doubt in the back of your own mind. that. Your current big idea is a good idea. Stick with it.

It seems simple enough; if you're less sensitive then you'll be less vulnerable and less susceptible to the moods and attitudes of other people. Phew. That will make life much easier. Yet, although you're so finely tuned that you're quick to feel hurt, you recover easily. Well, you do unless you're nursing a wound. This week, if you're hanging on to a painful memory and using it as an excuse to avoid doing something you really don't want to do, you have a chance to move on. You won't need to develop a tough exterior either. In your love life: Lost heart? You are about to discover a new route to an old destination. Trust it, and it will lead your heart to success.

Have you ever noticed how life sometimes manoeuvres you into situations which have no obvious exit routes? It's hard to know where to turn when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. This week, if you're looking for a logical solution to your current conundrum, the chances are that you'll still be looking for it at the end of the week. There's really only one way to proceed. If you can find the courage to trust and communicate with your more intuitive side, you'll discover that the way past an obstacle involves taking a leap of faith. In your love life: Words can go right into our hearts or right over our heads. Just to be on the safe side, pick your words with care now.

It's frustrating when you've repeated yourself until you're blue in the face, yet, at the end of it, no one's heard a word you've said. Or, maybe they've heard, but failed to absorb the information. Of course, we can all sometimes be the person who's not paying attention. So, this week, when a situation triggers a sense of d©j  vu don't feel pressured into taking action. You might have been here before but every variation brings an opportunity. If you focus on other people's reactions you'll discover something valuable. In your love life: Confused about who you really are? There's a situation you can't easily relate to. Just do what the inner you would choose.

Some people are born with a sense of entitlement; as if the world owes them a living. Yet, even though silver spoons might not have accompanied your arrival on the planet, the cosmos is still doing everything it possibly can to look after you. Just like everyone else, you've inherited the right to live a rewarding life. Although there's no guarantee that life will be plain sailing this week, the winds of serendipity are blowing you in the right direction. Sometimes, as you're about to experience, the right things just happen. In your love life: Who's your friend? Your enemy? There is a lot more love and support for you than you have yet been able to recognise.

Even trailblazers and original thinkers need a certain amount of order in their lives. Although spontaneity is a valued commodity, there's no escaping the cosmic rhythms which influence our attitude to life and the choices we make. Like it or not we're governed by the rules of nature; the rising of the sun and the gravitational pull of the moon and sometimes their influence binds us to our patterns so that we find it hard to make changes. This week, if you're determined, you have a chance to make a break from your past. In your love life: You can't have an up, without a down. You have been through more than enough downs. It's time for some ups!

It seems as if no matter who you ask, you're receiving an unsatisfactory response to an important question. It might be easier if you were hearing an emphatic No!' But you're being fobbed off with vague excuses and slippery responses to your requests for clarity. This week, as your ruler makes important alignments, you can expect to see a clearer route ahead. There's progress in the air. Begin by believing you're entitled to see forward movement. Then, be tenacious, even pushy. You can easily move past any obstacles. In your love life: Having trouble finding the right way forward? You find it hard to believe anything good can come now. But it will.

Most textbooks agree that Capricorns are level-headed and safe. But, when you think about it, everyone needs to be careful sometimes. And even the most adaptable folk prefer the familiar to the strange. So (as with all zodiac signs) there are unfair assumptions about your character. This week's Full Moon sheds light on a bias that's affecting a key relationship in your personal life. Could someone be afraid of the progress you're making? As you discover what lies at the root of their fear, you'll be empowered towards success. In your love life: There is nothing wrong with compromise - as long as it is conscious. Problems emerge only when we kid ourselves.

Watching on-screen dramas affects our lives in all sorts of ways. We get used to watching tightly edited storylines which move from one action-packed moment to the next. No wonder we look at what's happening in our own lives and berate ourselves for their normality'. We rarely go through such intense emotions or radical change. Yet, when we look back at our lives, we can see that we have transformed just at a slower pace. You're moving into a new and inviting phase of your future. There's magic ahead this week. In your love life: It is a time to speak your truth'. But will your words make others feel worse? Speak only if you really need to!

Where do you keep your problems? Do you prefer to lock them away in a cupboard, like stored fruit? Or do you prefer to have them out in the open where you can keep a close eye on them in case they start to turn rotten? The truth, is that when we find something difficult, we like to shove it away out of sight. We tend to ignore it, and focus instead on lighter, easier things. As Mercury turns retrograde it brings an opportunity and the courage to deepen into how you're really feeling. Being honest with yourself is key to moving on. In your love life: The essence of a current problem is surprisingly easy to fix. But you have another mess that needs to be sorted out.

Whose life are you leading anyway? Is it really yours, or are you just borrowing it? Just because we can't possess the world doesn't mean that we shouldn't look after it. It's easy to accuse others of not treating people and objects in a way we approve of, yet none of us are perfect when it comes to our interaction with the planet and the people on it. You're feeling inspired to live life more healthily. As long as you take responsibility for your issues and begin to address them, you can reach a new level of spiritual health too. In your love life: Should you tell the truth?Answer personal questions as they are put to you. Have faith in yourself.

Imagine, for a moment, what life would be like if there were no risks to take and no mischief to be had. A serious, restrained society, where everyone exhibits perfect behaviour, might exist somewhere in our vast cosmos. Fortunately, here on Earth, we intuitively understand that we need to maintain a balance between chaos and order. Without a mixture of the two, life is dull and tedious. The Full Moon highlights your need to indulge in a frivolity this week. You need to feel the joy that only comes through being unsensible! In your love life: Your challenge may involve a complex chain of interlinked events. You need to square a circle. You will.

Hi! Is that you? Sorry it's just that I'm struggling to see you. You're looking a little spaced out and unfocused. It's as if you've got something on your mind which is taking all of your energy and leaving you feeling worn out. Yet, you're about to find your fire, rediscover your power and rekindle your strength. The Full Moon in your sign suggests that all that's been daunting will become possible once again. Your ruler's retrograde motion brings a second chance to invest your energy in a project that will inspire and amuse you. In your love life: Don't waste energy worrying how your life ought to be. Strive instead to see you are in an enviable position!

We all want to know what's going on. It helps us to feel confident, to have clarity, and a sense of purpose. These qualities strengthen us so that we can at least look as if we're self-assured, even when we're not. Sometimes, it helps to stride forward when we don't know where we're going. This week, the Full Moon energises you to do anything but stay where you are which is impaled, on the horns of a dilemma. Yet you're moving towards making a choice which will banish doubt and bring a feeling of tangible certainty. In your love life: You've got a quick fix for most problems. You may need to apply a temporary panacea before you can dig deeper.

We all support certain causes and pit ourselves against others. Yet recently, you've begun to feel confused about a previous unshakeable belief. Is that a reason to throw everything into doubt? No! Nothing stays the same forever and you're just readjusting your feelings as a result of your life experience. In your heart of hearts, you know that you can broaden your horizons and achieve more than you're doing right now. As Mercury moves retrograde, you can let go of an entrenched idea which has been holding you back. In your love life: If you owe an apology; make it. Grievances stop us all from moving on. You now have a chance to gain freedom.

We're encouraged to have faith in ourselves. Yet faith isn't the easiest quality to find these days. Where should we look if we're seeking it? Because it's in such short supply, people who've got it tend to hide it away. Yet faith needs to be shared, not stored. It's a bit like trouble the more of it you have, the more of it you attract. As your ruler turns retrograde, it reminds you of a time when you had a modicum of faith. If you can trust in that, you'll be delighted to see how it multiplies. A sense of justification is in the offing. In your love life: It may take a while to digest all you are learning, but soon this will start to change your personal life for the better.

Nostalgia often takes us by surprise. This week, if you find yourself wondering why things have changed and why they can't return to how they were, try to remind yourself that life moves on. When we ache for the past, we confuse its reality with our current emotions. It's like feeling famished and thinking about the dinner you ate last week. That dinner is not going to help you at all! Even if you use the same ingredients the result would be different. You need to move from reminiscing into action. Use the past to inspire you. In your love life: What's important, nay essential, is that you do what's right for you, not just what's right for someone else.

We're approaching your birthday season, and although there's no denying that you're getting older, you're also growing wiser. And wisdom brings inner and outer beauty. So, as Mercury turns retrograde, you'll continue to shine and encourage others through quiet encouragement. When you recognise patterns from your past, you won't suffer your usual concerns. Nor will you be daunted in ways you once would have been. If you stay true to what you believe, you'll be able to step away from any fuss and be buoyed by confidence. In your love life: Events have triggered a profound personal process. You're questioning a lot. You are mustering courage. It will serve you well.

This may be unconventional advice to receive in an astrological prediction, but having advance notice about what's about to happen isn't always as helpful as we think it's going to be. When we know what's in store, we tend to focus on what's coming up rather than what's going on. The present doesn't feel as important as the future. Yet, the present is all that there is. The more aware of it you are, the more able you are to do your best in each moment. And, of course, there's no better way to guarantee a good future than that. In your love life: You are free to choose. You have resources you are not using. Slowly but surely you can make them work for you.

We tend to equate security with financial success. We think that the more we earn, the more secure we'll feel. Yet the things we possess often distract us from the joyful aspects of our existence. Like open skies and morning dew it's easy to overlook the beauty we're surrounded by as we rush to fulfil our practical needs. Wealth is often held to be a bastion of achievement, yet it's unappreciated by people who've managed to achieve it. Don't lose your sense of perspective as material gains now manifest in your life. In your love life: You are looking at a situation that seems fixed. There's more room than you may think for change and invention.

Sometimes an adventure needs to be carefully planned. Other times, we don't even notice that we've embarked on one until we're in its clutches. A meaningful quest, filled with colourful characters is the stuff of a good story and it's beginning to look as if your current path is becoming one of those. As Mars leaves your sign, you don't need to know all the details of your future in advance. You have enough evidence and support to be able to trust that this new adventure is taking you towards an inspired vision of your future. In your love life: You may not feel you have the experience to resolve a problem. But you do. And you are the one who can.

We're all entitled to be able to hope and plan for a better future. Holding a vision of how we'd like things to be can be empowering we can even dream things into being. Yet, finding comfort in our imaginings is dangers too. It can numb us to our reality, so that we stay stuck in situations we'd be better off leaving behind. As Mars moves into your sign, it empowers you to concentrate on what's going on in your world today, rather than tomorrow. The week brings an opportunity your way. If you relax, you have much to gain. In your love life: Is someone spreading gloom? Don't waste time on them. You can look forward to a new (and rather wonderful) world.

Some folk find it hard to believe in the concept of natural justice. Why they ask, if it exists, do we need a legal system? Surely wrongdoers would be punished with bad things, whilst the innocent would thrive? Of course, that's not how it works. It often seems that selfish people do well and good people suffer. Yet nature follows a rhyme and rhythm which weaves through all of us and all our lives. As your ruler changes signs, if you put your trust in the cosmos, it will bring a way to soothe and calm a drama in a most natural way. In your love life: Don't assume that an obvious' superficial explanation is the right one. Think more deeply; ask more questions.

What's the point in taking a shower when you're going to immediately start getting dirty again? Why bother getting up, when you know you'll be back in bed at the end of the day? Life is cyclical. Certain things need to be done time and time again. Our relationships follow a similar pattern. We can't expect to express our feelings once, and never again reiterate them. As your ruler changes direction, it encourages you to share your feelings to someone important. Some things are worth repeating as you're about to discover. In your love life: Time for a change? Friends and loved ones may also be ready to move on. Don't assume that things will never improve.

How much of what's in your heart do you want to share? Are you being pressured to reveal details? You're balancing between giving too much away (by disclosing information you'd rather not reveal) or misleading someone (by holding some information back). How are you going to both maintain your integrity and enable others to move on? As Jupiter settles opposite your sign, as long as you're honest to yourself, and think before you speak, you can manoevure with true diplomacy towards a welcome, workable outcome. In your love life: Confused? Are you getting contradictory answers to your questions? Just pick the answer you like best and trust it.

We all know that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Yet, if a good quality lawn is all you're after, you can achieve it with judicious weed control and good mowing skills. Some folk seem to think that the state of their lawn reflects the state of their lives. If it's perfect, then so are they. Yet we also all know that appearances are deceiving. As Venus changes direction, it brings the chance for you to enjoy being on the side of the fence that will make you most happy. You just need to decide which one that is. In your love life: I've said it before, but today really is 'the first day of the rest of your life'; a time for a brave decision and bold action.

Very frustratingly, there are times when things just can't happen when they should. There never seems to be a rational reason for this apparent failure. It usually happens because events conspire in such a way that certain processes run out of energy. It's not always easy to shrug our shoulders and try to think of another way to enable a plan towards success. But feeling resentful when an obstacle appears is not only unhelpful, it's unhopeful. This week, you can decide either to bow out with grace, or redouble your commitment. In your love life: Let your mind drift. See what pops into it. You will get a helpful hint, an inspired insight, from the cosmos. Trust it.

Just because your plan is bound to be met with resistance, doesn't mean that you should give up or back down. As Venus turns direct, and Mars changes signs, it's time to explore your imagination. Rather than picturing the worst-case scenario to this situation, allow yourself to daydream and visualise how things could turn out if they went really well. Give yourself permission to be inspired. Then you'll find the faith to carry you onwards. It's not going to be easy but there's a chance to make permanent progress. In your love life: You can only be a loser if you are a competitor. Don't compete; be yourself. Then you will find out what winning is.

Why is it that some people are good at getting other people to do all their dirty work? Such folk are never beleaguered by bothersome feelings of guilt. So, are we weaker than them, if we feel obligated to take responsibility for everyone and everything? Before you decide where this analysis places you, you're doing what you're doing not because you're feeling obliged, but because you're determined. As your ruler changes direction, it underlines your inner strength. Don't worry about what's not yours to handle this week. In your love life: You're out on a limb, at the cutting edge. You've got to show the way. Trust the invisible script written in your heart.

This week, as Mars changes signs, it brings a cosmic call to slow down, which might feel counter-intuitive. Yet it brings the power to set something straight. A silly scenario can either continue to spiral into foolishness and chaos, or you can bring a matter to a halt and provide it with the energy to move in a healthier and more holistic direction. All you need to do, is give things a little more time, and trust that you know what to do for the best. Summon your generosity, your courage and your patience and the right thing will manifest. In your love life: Finding fault is addictive; it becomes difficult to see what there is to praise. Be generous. It will make a big difference.

Planet Earth seems to be populated with more than its fair share of bossy people. Wherever you turn, someone's got an idea about how you could improve your life, freshen up your relationships and manifest more money. Such folk don't hold back from demonstrating their disapproval of your decisions either. Yet, who knows more about your life than you? With your ruling planet settling into your sign, you're beginning to follow your instincts. Just because you can't back them up with facts doesn't mean they're wrong. In your love life: Discerning between a need' and a want' is crucial. Within reason, what you now most deeply desire, you can attain.

You may say that I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one' sang John Lennon. It's a line he might not have written if he'd been surrounded by Capricorns! Although your sign isn't known for its sentimental optimism, or wishful thinking, people often underestimate you. The part of John Lennon's chart representing his calling and aspirations, was in Capricorn. And if there's anyone who can make the impossible happen, it's you. In November, put some faith in what only you can only imagine. Dare to dream. In your love life: Don't decide you are in a bad position, just because you did not choose this. The cosmos has something to help you.

As retrograde Uranus changes signs again, something you thought you'd put behind you reappears. Is that a groan I hear? Actually, there's no need for frustration. Yes, you're going to having to re-work alterations, which you thought had taken care of, particularly in the light of some new information. But this is more than a continuation of a tired narrative. It's the final appearance of a familiar theme - just before the scene changes and the plot twists. As Mars finally leaves your sign, November brings the progress you've long desired. In your love life: Say what must be said, but say it sweetly. It can bring about the change that you seek. But only if you are delicate.

It's funny how advertising images stick. Even as the parent of a young child, I have never seen any kids playing with a drumming bunny. But if I compare you to one of those battery-promoting creatures, you probably realise I'm suggesting that your batteries are being re-energised in November. As Mars enters your sign, linking dynamically with Jupiter, and Neptune turns direct, you're more like a Tesla roadster than a childish toy. Just don't let any new-found speed and energy distract from this opportunity to succeed. In your love life: There are some problems you can't avoid, but there are others that you can and should side-step. Be alert. Be on guard.

Pencils come with erasers because none of us are perfect. As Uranus moves back into Aries in November, you may have to use the rubberised end of your pencil on a part of life's canvass that you thought you'd already completed. But with Mars and Jupiter's change of signs, you may just find that it's giving you the creative freedom to explore a better alternative to what's been put in place. It's often said that when it comes to artistic endeavours, there's no such thing as a mistake. In November, life imitates art in the best possible way. In your love life: You may be finding it hard to smile just now, but please be aware that rapid change for the better is possible.

Self-help gurus insist that our difficulties provide opportunities for growth. So I hope you've got access to a tape measure! Surely, with all you've been through recently, you're bound to have gained a couple of inches? Sometimes though, we experience the wrong kind of growth - when our high hopes for the future don't tally with the reality. In November, disruptive Uranus leaves your sign, giving you space to acclimatise. Meanwhile, your ruler begins to move forward again. Let the right kind of growth commence! In your love life: Be sensitive with close companions - but don't feel obliged to join in with a game that you don't want to play.

The song I'm just a soul whose intentions are good Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood' could be your theme tune in November. As Jupiter enters your opposite sign, issues between you and a significant other' are bound to grow larger, just as your ability to communicate is challenged by Mercury's turn backwards in the sky. But any turbulence will be a temporary part of a greater journey. The Full Moon, linked dynamically with Mars, suggests that as long as you do what feels right, you really can't go wrong. In your love life: Not everything can be resolved easily, but one big issue can be taken care of. Everything doesn't have to be difficult.

Your ruler, the Moon, is the quickest light travelling across the zodiac. Astrologers don't usually pay much attention to its planetary interactions, especially when looking at an extended period of time. But sometimes, the Moon's activity is a little too conspicuous to ignore. I feel a bit like Lois Lane putting two and two together about Clark and Superman! In November, the Moon is new just as Uranus changes signs and converges with Jupiter, which finally returns home. You can expect to feel particularly powerful this month. In your love life: Some ferocious beasts are almost paper tigers. Don't be afraid of anyone or anything in your emotional life now.

Book the gallery, unveil the canvasses, prepare your palette and wet your brushes! Expect an explosion of creativity and an irresistible urge to express the feelings you hold in your heart. But also be prepared, in November, like so many of the world's great artists, to have ideas misunderstood, calls fall on deaf ears and your vision adulterated. Subversive virtuosos aren't the only people to feel frustration. But if instead of over analysing you let your heart do the talking, you'll form a powerful and optimistic future. In your love life: Crucial points are being made. All been said before? Perhaps, but this time is different. This will bring positive change.

The past doesn't control us. It influences our decisions, but it doesn't ultimately make them on our behalf. In November, as Jupiter, the planet of expansion, opportunity and adventure moves into a part of the sky associated with your past, your ruler Mercury begins moving backwards there. Is this a cosmic mixed message? Why explore territory that you're already familiar with? Yet the mightiest trees have roots that extend far further than their foliage. If you look again at what's hidden, you'll find what you need to flourish and grow. In your love life: Something must give. You may not enjoy all you are going through, but you will be delighted by outcome.

Venus, your ruler, the stylish embodiment of urbane sophistication is newly back in your sign. Only there's something a bit different about her. She seems to be wearing mittens and mules sunglasses and pyjamas! That's because she's retrograde, and life's taking some unexpected turns. In November, not only does she turn direct, she spends the month in opposition with Uranus. Though I can't promise things will be clear, I can assure you that you're on a journey that leads to some great and delightful understandings. In your love life: Change needed? Just Accentuate the positive' as the old song says, then the negative will begin to eliminate itself.

Jupiter's trip through your sign has certainly made the year interesting. On a macro level, the morality of sexual politics has been brought into the limelight, and some long-overdue justice has been served. We've seen excess, and shady dealings from people in power too. On a personal level, it's been an intense time for Scorpios. If it hasn't yielded all you've desired, does Jupiter's departure mean that you've missed your opportunities? No! It brings a different way of exploring how you can get what you really, really want. In your love life: Dig deep and use your natural creativity. No matter how routine life may be now, there is an art to making it wonderful.

When I pick up my Sagittarian son from nursery, I never know what to expect. Sometimes I get my after-nursery cuddle'. Other times, it's a light punch in an early strike of our playful bedtime wars' game. As the Sun, our astrological father figure, moves into your sign in November, it brings warmth, bravery and creativity. But it's your ruler Jupiter, making its first visit home in twelve years, that's really exciting. However you choose to greet your celestial guardian, as long as you're smiling, the fun can really begin. In your love life: Need to move on? You don't have to. Whatever you decide, be wholehearted. The only wrong thing' is to be afraid.

Although we find safety in numbers, we can also find dangerous mob mentality in crowd-like situations. When you think of the efforts most of us go to in order to be on trend with our clothes, it's easy to see that there's foolishness in numbers too. So, just because the people around you don't approve of your most recent project doesn't mean that it won't work or that you shouldn't embark on it. Why do you care so much what they think? This week, the Full Moon suggests that support will come from a surprising source. In your love life: Don't assume the way we are today is how we are tomorrow. Enjoy seeing proof of how far your life has moved on.

No matter how far along a specific path you find yourself, you can always make a choice. You can enhance a situation or you can make it worse. Of course, you know what you want to do. So why are you so worried about making a mistake? As the Full Moon connects to your ruler, it brings the potential to over dramatize so it's going to be hard to resist getting involved in something that it would be wise to steer away from. Yet you have the power to significantly improve the outcome of an important process this week. In your love life: Some believe your life is already mapped out. Not so. Don't punish yourself by doubting how happy your life can be!

Find a big mixing bowl, then add some flour, margarine and sugar. After mixing, add water then, as you stir it all together, throw in some of your dearest hopes and wishes. This is a cake with a difference. It needs to be baked in an oven warmed with faith and then served with plenty of imagination to the people who understand and support you. This week's Full Moon brings all the ingredients for baking something deliciously satisfying. Individually they don't have much power, but together, you can create a memorable treat. In your love life: Any moment now, you'll make a discovery that eventually becomes part of a process that sets you free.

If you find yourself being challenged, rather than responding, consider removing yourself from the fray. It's as if you've just finished an event in the decathlon. You've been forced to challenge yourself in a variety of different ways and you're tired, yet still buzzing with enough energy to move onto the next challenge. The Full Moon marks the moment when you can see how much you've achieved. You're about to be able to relax and appreciate the metaphorical muscles you've gained. Try to relax rather than react this week. In your love life: It may be wiser to see the world as perfect in its imperfection! Better to be philosophical than unrealistic.

It's not your fault. Well, no more than it ever is! No, I'm not trying to suggest that you've led a 'holier than thou' kind of life, or that there aren't consequences from your past to deal with. But, you aren't responsible for the dramatic events unraveling around you. Sometimes, it comes as almost second nature to you to take liability for difficult situations. Yet, under the Full Moon, if you take a step back this week, you'll be able to discern the smartest, most neutral and helpful way for everyone concerned to move on to a better place. In your love life: Juggling? Worried about dropping a ball in your personal life? Fear not. You will catch whatever it's vital not to miss.

Even if you close your eyes and imagine how tomorrow is going to be, the only certainty is that your vision will be different to the reality. It's a bit like the difference between looking at a map and actually embarking on the route. Although there's an obvious connection between the two, they are significantly different. You feel as if you know where you're heading. Yet the Full Moon suggests there's a different (and easier) route to follow. Take another look at the challenge you're facing. It holds far more promise than you'd imagined. In your love life: We all build barriers to repel emotion we can't make sense of. You don't need to understand something. You just need to accept it.

Even mathematicians sometimes do calculations where they can't make the numbers add up. Likewise, we can all find ourselves in baffling situations which don't seem to make much sense. This week, with the Full Moon and Uranus aligning, it's worth expecting to be befuddled and confused as plans and strategies go awry. Yet the most skilful magicians work using the uncertainty of serendipity. They spontaneously respond to their environment. You have the power to turn what looks like trouble to your advantage. In your love life: It's getting harder to tell the good guys from the bad guys. You face a quandary, so look beyond the superficial.

Life is rarely free from worries. There's always something to be concerned about. Yet, it seems that you're in danger of fretting too much. You're taking something more seriously than necessary. As the Moon grows full, how would it feel if you had less respect for your biggest cause for concern? Suppose you were to try to develop a more laissez-faire attitude? You could wag your finger at uncertainty and turn your nose up at what's causing you concern. If you believe in your ability to triumph, then you will! In your love life: You ask, 'Is my goal worth pursuing?' The only relevant question is, 'What matters?' Soon you'll see (and like) the answer.

It's possible to be too perceptive for your own good. Just because you can see through the smokescreens people surround themselves by doesn't mean that you always know what to do. You've got a natural sensitivity to obfuscation, and a radar for truth that sees through facades. Yet, you're vulnerable to folk who know how to fit in with your high standards. This week's Full Moon highlights a potentially deceptive scenario. Just because someone tells you that a dream isn't possible, doesn't mean they're right. Trust your instincts. In your love life: Don't worry about 'accounts'. Put together the 'components' and come up with something greater than the sum of its parts.

Sometimes it's possible to think that everything is hunky dory, and then realise that it's not. When we begin to doubt our sense of what's right and wrong it can throw everything into question. The converse is also true. It can feel as if we're up to our necks in a river of trouble, then realise that the ground beneath our feet is firm enough to make it on to dry ground. This week's Full Moon shows you that an old problem has an easy solution. Look more carefully at something you've been avoiding. That's where the answer lies. In your love life: Say what must be said; say it sweetly. Deliver the information to bring about the lasting change that is now needed.

Making plans is the opposite of being spontaneous. Even when we'd like to be able to activate both of these qualities, they make difficult bedfellows. The planning part of our brain writes spontaneity off as being dangerous. Whereas spontaneity thinks that making plans is dull and boring. Any time when the two manage to work simultaneously should be regarded as precious. As the Full Moon links to Uranus, it brings the chance of creating such harmony. You'll need to be both fast-thinking and wise if you want to take full advantage. In your love life: Problems can help bring focus. But you are not looking at a cause for concern. You are looking at a key to success.

It's not always easy to know when to draw the line under something and move on. Yet, although you're unsure about whether or not to continue putting your energy into a project, you haven't forgotten the principle that sometimes enough, is enough. You're right about there being options to try. You're right too, that this is worth pulling out the stops for. Think radical thoughts and experiment with your most courageous ideas this week. You might be sailing close to the wind, but you're within touching distance of a miracle. In your love life: Choices are a menu you know. Which option could be that old bad thing in disguise? Think back and pick the right way.

You're not usually fooled by flattery. Yet, there's bound to be a difference in the way you respond to someone who pays you a compliment rather than criticises you. We're all more kindly disposed to hearing difficult things when the tone is one of care and goodwill. Yet, someone has been beguiling you and hiding a side of themselves in order to gain your support. As the New Moon encourages you to look beyond superficial comments, you'll gain the perspective you need to turn this situation to your advantage. In your love life: You have bravely set out to make a miracle happen. You don't need assistance, just a little encouragement.

Our ability to learn about and use new technology is astonishing. We take new developments on board and, before you know it, rather than marveling at the abilities of our devices, we're wondering whether we need to upgrade to the very latest model. We want faster, newer, shinier, better. It can feel much the same with our relationships too. We don't always appreciate the uniqueness of our friends and acquaintances as much as we should. Being extra appreciative could make this New Moon week extra special. In your love life: Worrying about rocking too many boats? Worry instead about horizons you may never see if you fail to sail out of harbour.

The New Moon intensifies things. Whatever you're feeling, you'll feel it more. And, where there's a lack, you'll experience a more acute sense of absence. Just because the experience of emptiness is part of life, doesn't make it easy. Yet you now have a chance to get in touch with some rare and powerful emotions. Rather than run away from difficult feelings this week, if you find the courage to face them, you'll reach a greater understanding of what will make you happy. Then, you can start to make that a part of your reality. In your love life: Can you distinguish between your needs and your wants? You can't! Acknowledge it. Be willing to learn; you will be guided well.

The New Moon, in your opposite sign, signals change of a critical nature. That's positive change by the way. Actually, there's no other kind (even though it doesn't always feel that way). If you're so content in your current situation that the thought of altering it makes you anxious, be reassured. No one's going to force you to move on. But if you're less than delighted about some of the scenarios you're facing, you can be quietly confident. You may not have noticed, but valuable improvements are already taking place. In your love life: Nobody has a right to judge how things now stand and you should not be harsh as you judge yourself.

This week's New Moon invites you to weigh up a risk. You can choose to act safely and sensibly, or you can throw caution to the wind and take a gamble. The choice is all yours. Please don't take this as me advising you to do something out of character which you might regret. Just the thought is enough to make me want to advocate caution! Yet, there's something about shaking off the shackles of responsibility and allowing yourself to enjoy being free-spirited, that could do you the world of good. It's up to you! In your love life: Don't listen to what 'experts' say about your situation. Trust your own judgement, it is as good as anyone else's.

What were you focusing on before you stopped so abruptly in your tracks? Where were you heading when you remembered that you had something else you were supposed to be doing? What appeared to be tantalisingly possible just before you realised how impossible it was? Because it might just be possible after all. The Dark of the Moon brings a time to review and revisit some of the harsher rules and oppressive restrictions you've been bound by recently. Don't, this week, feel obliged to do anything you don't want to do. In your love life: In the daily nine-to-five grind, we can forget why we are here. Events will now bring you a timely reminder.

Relationships matter a great deal to you. Being ruled by the Moon, which is in such a visible and clear relationship with the Sun, you're affected by the nuances and angles created between the two planets. This constantly changing cosmic relationship is paralleled in the dynamics and interactions you make as you connect with people in your day-to-day life. As the New Moon approaches, it brings you to a pivotal point. Although what you're experiencing is far from easy, it's bringing a great improvement to your outlook. In your love life: All lives have a purpose. Coming events will remind you that no life is insignificant or disqualified from divine intervention.

Being confronted by a problem for which you seem to have no previous experience is frustrating. It's not that you haven't learnt a great deal recently. It's just that nothing seems applicable to your current situation. Yet the precise knowledge you need exists within you. You just have to access the right memories and then compare them to the scenario you're caught up in. The New Moon suggests that by focusing a bit harder, and by worrying a bit less, you can use a past experience and sort out a situation for good. In your love life: Sometimes, your down-to-earth side rules you; it really is safe to relax, trust and let things unfold at their own pace.

Every once in a while, life presents us with an intriguing possibility that poses a risk to our normal status quo. With the ball firmly in our court, we have to decide how we're going to play the next move. We can either play it safe, or hit it out of touch and into unknown territory. The New Moon brings such a dilemma into your world this week. Since you're more at home than you think when sailing close to the edge, you may find yourself boldly stepping out of your comfort zone. Even exercising caution won't stop something new. In your love life: You are a healer with mystic gifts. You can help people who are 'beyond help'. Rediscover your powers this week

The New Moon, in your sign, is inviting you to take a gamble. It's calling to your free-spirited inner trapeze artist, and urging you to take a dazzling leap of faith. You're being encouraged to perform a breathtaking movement that will take you out of a place of constriction, into freedom. This isn't about being reckless; it's a chance to move beyond a self-limiting frame of mind. You don't need to risk more than you can afford to lose either. Just know that you're being supported. You'll like where the movement takes you. In your love life: Your intense roller-coaster ride is bringing rewards: vindication; reassurance; an experience of true long-lasting comfort.

Even though Venus, the planet of love, is now retrograde in your sign, the signs of admiration and appreciation should still be discernible. They might be harder to spot, but they're still there. Events this week will underline the fact that the cosmos is making quite an effort on your behalf. It's moving obstacles out of your path and adding its mighty influence to the voice of the requests you're making. The New Moon adds to the promise of just rewards. If you share the gifts you receive you'll add to the feeling of abundance. In your love life: A very real conversation takes place soon. It brings inspiration and a fresh perspective. It is a time of hope and healing.

The New Moon brings a turning point a pivotal moment when things start to change. This is when what looked like 'nothing' now becomes something tangible; when a spirit of hopefulness and potential fills the space that was previously filled with frustration. Keep your eyes open for a much-needed solution that will replace old worries. Here comes a new way of looking at a tired problem, and a time where open-hearted conversations can clear past misgivings. All in all, it looks like you have a surprisingly pleasing week ahead. In your love life: You are being asked to commit. Your intellectual justification for trusting this is sound. Stop worrying about it.

Does social media hold the key to the future of human relationships? Networking sites were thought to be the new coffee lounges, or pubs, where friends mingle and relationships blossom. But although a real life Barista might remember how you take your tea, you don't expect your financial details to be kept. In October, if an aspect of your life seems more dystopian than utopian, it might be tempting to retreat back to the safety of the past. But if you draw on Venus' creativity, there's a lot to gain from making plans for the near future. In your love life: Don't think only about winning' an argument; consider designing a way forward that benefits both parties.

In the movie, All The Money In The World, billionaire John Paul Getty is asked how much money would make him feel comfortable. His answer is simply more'. More recently, a chair designer was asked which of their creations was the most comfortable. The next one' was the reply. It seems that we humans are hard to satisfy and always looking for improvements. In October, you may feel unsatisfied with a recent success and seek ways to make adjustments. You won't achieve perfection, but you can make valuable improvements. In your love life: Sometimes, we all have to settle for second best. Not you, not now: you have every reason to expect the best.

Traversing mountainous regions by car is challenging. The twisting and turning of the roads can make you gasp. With the arrival of dynamite, we found ways to tunnel under the peaks allowing us speedier passage, but robbing us of the vistas. When we climb great heights, it's only when we turn backwards that we can see how far we've come and appreciate the view. As Venus turns retrograde this month, and Mercury converges with Jupiter, look for the value in the bigger picture. It makes it worth travelling an extra mile or two. In your love life: One big problem can sweep away heaps of trivia in a moment. Now, how big is your problem? Not that big!

We all need secrets. There's a reason why our hearts are buried deep within our chests. If they were permanently located on our sleeves, it would be far too easy to cause them damage carelessly. There's something you know in your heart of hearts that you're wary of sharing with even your closest confidants. Don't feel obliged to reveal more than you need to. But make sure that if you do hold back, it's for the right reasons. Don't be motivated by fear. Clear communication will make all the difference this month. In your love life: Dreams are very precious. One dream is speaking to you of something ethereal, that will prove most practical.

Your ruler, Venus, turns retrograde opposite your sign this month, signalling that it's time to reassess a relationship and refocus on its value. That's certainly not an indication of the need to bring things to a close. But, with a Full Moon in your sign converging with the change-maker Uranus, a shake up (of some sort) is in the air. If you've been putting up with an unsatisfactory situation, this is the time to take action. You owe it to yourself to make your voice heard and explain your own needs. It will be easier than you think. In your love life: There's much you don't understand about a situation. Acknowledge your need to be enlightened. And you will.

Mike Tyson once remarked that everybody has a plan until they get punched'. I'm certainly not advocating violence of any description. Nor am I endorsing a former heavyweight boxing champion as a self-help guru, but, as your ruler changes signs twice in October, even if it's not punches' that need to be rolled with, it's going to be helpful if you can stay quick on your feet and ready to adapt to anything that life throws at you. When you have developed robust strategies, they're well worth defending. Your ideas are worthy of respect. In your love life: Are you being listened to? Then listen to that person! Being talked at, rather than talked to? Ignore that person.

A while ago I was at an event hosted by the legendary producer Joe Boyd the man who mixed the sound on the night Bob Dylan shocked his fans by playing electric music. Joe explained how the previous night, with great jazz pioneers on the bill, the cool kids in the crowd were dreaming about becoming jazz masters. Then, when Bob picked up an electric guitar, many of them wanted to become a rock star. In October, if you re-evaluate what you think it means to be creative, your influence can reinvigorate and inspire. In your love life: Reluctant to reveal too much emotionally, lest this puts you at a disadvantage? Relax. Treat everyone as a friend.

Space in our cities is at a premium. That's why subterranean building is on the increase. It's easier to add an underground swimming pool to your house than to add one on top. This isn't of course, the kind of development that most of us will have to oversee with this month! But, in October, work on your emotional foundations will be valuable. If you reassess a situation from your past creatively, you'll be able to appreciate what it brought into your life and see how to invest what you've learnt into creating a sustainable happier future. In your love life: You have more within you than you know. A hidden talent in your own personality is now about to reveal itself.

Just because the Sun's in Libra for most of October doesn't mean you can have everything your own way. But then, when do you ever? And actually, when do you want that? Even when things are going well for you, you're uncomfortable when you see other people still struggling. But you don't need to sacrifice your own happiness just to make life fairer. As Venus turns retrograde, it brings an opportunity to take a look at your financial wellbeing. This is a valuable process as you may well find that your finances can stretch and enable others, as well as you. In your love life: Focus on your ability to be upset. Overcome this with a little more positivity; you can change things for the better.

According to the legend, an imprisoned Irish Prince was told to kiss a stone by the Celtic goddess of beauty Cl­odhna. The next day, he left Blarney Castle and pleaded his case with such eloquence that he was granted his freedom. Ever since, people have travelled to kiss the Blarney Stone. The Roman goddess of beauty is Venus, and as she slips backwards this month, your ruler Mercury, who governs communication and intelligence, is on hand to receive her wisdom. You can find a way to achieve even things that seem impossible. In your love life: Look at all you have recently accomplished, how far you have come. You have much to be proud of.

When Venus enters a sign, she blesses its natives with increased creativity and improved love and financial prospects. So what happens when she takes a look around and decides to turn back on her heels and move backwards? Do we feel left in the lurch? Actually, Venus' movement through your sign this month won't resemble rejection. It brings an opportunity to use her resources with subtle skill, so that you can fix some mistakes and make some amends. It's a time to heal relationships and enjoy the fruits of good company. In your love life: Somewhere in your past is the vital clue to a better future. Your resourcefulness will soon sort out any trouble.

They say wake up and smell the coffee' as if we all need shaking out of blissful unconsciousness. As the parent of a four-year-old early riser, I'd give a lot for a few more hours sleep each morning before the arrival of my human alarm clock! This month, as Venus turns retrograde, you may feel as if you're stuck in a repetitive dream, from which you need to wake up. Mercury's activity ensures you don't doze through important details and can make clear-thinking decisions about what you need to do to shake free. In your love life: Don't be too negative. The very umbrella that protects us from rain can be the parasol that keeps us in the shade.

You feel as if life is stretching you one way, while something from your past pulls you in another. This is creating a worrying situation and causing you to doubt the thinking behind your carefully constructed plans for future success. Perhaps you fear that you don't actually want what you thought you wanted. Yet, a fundamental change of plans could be the best way to proceed. It doesn't mean that you need to change everything in your life. As you're about to discover, you have far fewer reasons to worry than you think. In your love life: Take another look. You may find that you underestimated something the first time. Take your time.

With the energetic power planet Mars still in your sign, there's nothing like a sense of urgency to slow things down. When the heat is turned up, and the pressure is piled on, priorities and perspective go out the window. While it's great to feel motivated, feeling frantic creates a space for erratic and wild energy, which can be very disruptive. Rather than impulsively leaping into action this week, it's better to do nothing until you've formed a proper plan. Then, you'll find that there are great gains to be made. In your love life: A forthcoming development will open your eyes. It will help you to appreciate the true value of an existing asset.

How would you define the art of success? Did you say happiness ? It's true, of course, that if you haven't got that, then everything else is rendered almost irrelevant. So, is there something that's stopping you from being happy? If you answered that in the affirmative, could that be anything to do with your unsatisfied desire for success? Ha! That's this week's paradox in a nutshell! It's going to be easier than you imagine to get what you really need: it's just that you might not recognise it when you get it. When you do, it will make you smile. In your love life: You can't control everything! Too much is just... too much. Do your best, then draw a line. And relax.

There's a big difference between taking a calculated risk and making a wild gamble. As the Full Moon in your sign highlights what's been restricting you from attaining your ambitions, all you need to do is ensure that when you feel as if you need to push your luck, there's room to both push and manoeuvre. The stakes aren't as high as they seem; so rather than concentrating on what you might gain, it's worth considering what you risk losing. Apply some common sense and you'll find an easier way to get what you want. In your love life: You're dealing with volatile issues. Be discreet, but don't start apologising for things that you are entitled to be doing.

Just as music stimulates our memories and excites our emotions, so the planets heighten our mood and strike chords in our hearts. In times gone by, it was believed that they were celestial instruments, playing a sound in a heavenly song that we struggle to hear. They're currently creating a symphony that's making you feel nostalgic, and a little uncertain about what to do for the best. This week, as Mercury changes signs, you'll understand why you are where you are, and how it is helping to get you to where you want to be. In your love life: Don't know if you are being unfair? What seems okay now will one day seem despicable. Don't wait; change it now.

There are major ramifications for the choices you're making. Yet, although it's vital to be clear and honest, it's essential to approach any unresolved issues with an open mind. As the Full Moon links to Saturn and your ruler changes signs, a drama is coming to a head. That's not supposed to send you into a panic. Quite the opposite! The feeling of being baffled by the way a key person is responding to a situation has been adding to the complexities that need to be sorted out. Be willing to learn, then you'll be able to lead the way. In your love life: Spending your life coping with the ugly twin sisters of guilt and emotional obligation. A fairy godmother is coming.

We live our lives, we learn a few things along the way, we carry on living and learning. That's the nature of life. You're wondering if you were wrong to be so nervous of a certain possibility, which you then tried to avoid. Yet feeling doubtful, with hindsight, suggests that a lesson has not yet been learned. You needed to do everything you did, even if it was just so that you could stand back and decide not to go ahead. This week, brings reason to be grateful for a decision you've reached; so you're free to be optimistic about the future. In your love life: Underestimated the energy that a commitment is likely to require? Give it more; it will eventually give you more back.

Since human beings first graced planet Earth people have been pondering the meaning of our existence. Philosophers across the centuries have reached different conclusions. Some even think that the universe has been designed so that no one ever gets what they want. If they're right, then you're living proof that there's a flaw in the laws of the cosmos! With Mars opposite your sign, there's a good chance that if you want something you can get it! And, the less effort you make, the more likely you are of success. In your love life: Apparently irreconcilable forces can be united. It's worth making an effort for that kind of a perfect compromise.

Although a problem may baffle just about everybody else in a room, you'll have an idea of how to solve it. In fact, there's a good chance that you'll know just what to do to make everything all right. You have clarity. Yet, you don't always manage to follow your logic through with the right actions. Does that matter this week? As the Sun leaves your sign, we find you in a less pragmatic and more poetic frame of mind. Even though your methodology may surprise even you, it could turn out to be unforgettably successful. In your love life: Serendipity is about to start working in your favour. But don't feel obliged to accept every gift you are offered.

When is it time to say stop ? How do we know when we've had too much of a good thing? Or when we've reached the end of the road? Warning lights aren't always as obvious as we'd like to think they are. And, sometimes, things look far gloomier than the reality, and we hear false alarm bells. You've been the recipient of information which has caused you so much concern you're considering coming to an abrupt halt. Yet your project means a lot to you. With the Sun in your sign, you just need to stay alert, and keep on track. In your love life: You are doing something delicately and it is having the right impact. Don't become blaring instead of caring.

Romantically minded folk talk about finding a soulmate. It's such a wonderful idea no wonder we wistfully imagine such a creature exists. Yet souls have ethereal natures and cannot be possessed by anyone. On the physical plane of planet Earth, it's hardly surprising that no matter how strong the bond, or affinity of a relationship, there are moments of exasperation. That's life. With Venus in your sign, don't let your ideals of an impossibly romantic dream stop you from enjoying the reality of what's on offer! In your love life: Playing roles can often be the right thing to do. It may be awkward to adjust to, but it can bring you what you want.

Life has a way of surprising even Sagittarians! You have no idea what it might call you to do in the future. You often show a fascination for gathering information that others might consider irrelevant. But rather than condemn this characteristic, you should value your innate enthusiasm. You're increasing your knowledge base and knowledge is power. This week, as you're called to use some of your experience to assist in a critical situation, you'll find that you're appreciated for your attention to detail and your willingness to share. In your love life: Don't let anger derail you. Look and see that you can create vast improvement in a set-up that you object to.

If you find yourself under a clear night sky this week, try looking into space. Surely, when each star in the Milky Way galaxy is a solar system, there must be life out there somewhere? There's a high chance that highly-evolved civilisations exist, ones that have found ways of dealing with life on their particular planet. Maybe those extra-terrestrials find common sense an easier concept than we do. As your ruler and Neptune link, they'll inspire you to think illogically. And, an alien concept could show you the way to finding just what you need. In your love life: Boundaries and barriers? You really need only be impeded by a restriction that you consciously elect to respect.

You always have authority and can command respect, yet you usually prefer to take a more go-with-the-flow approach. Yet, as your ruler Uranus links with Mars, you're becoming aware of a gift for leadership, and being provided with opportunities to show other people what you're capable of. Your idiosyncratic, creative style can, if channeled in a focussed way, inspire innovative collaboration. A metaphorical mountain can be moved. Just watch where you invest your energy, because you have more power than you think. In your love life: Missing something? The only reason you don't want to want it now, is because you are not sure that you can have it.

A certain situation is taking up a great deal of your attention. The question, as your ruler and Saturn harmoniously align, is whether you're right to put your energy in this specific place. Sometimes, when we're feeling daunted, it's easy to become fascinated by something that's actually irrelevant. It seems much simpler to focus on something small and relatively unimportant than to stare into the vastness of the seemingly impossible. Yet, if you focus your attention on what's vital this week, you can make astonishing progress. In your love life: Your idea seems a little far-fetched to some. If you could turn it down a little, you could actually make it very viable.

What more can you do when you're doing your best? No, before you start wondering if you really are trying your hardest, let's look at what that means. Does it always entail struggle and hardship? Do you assume the need for sacrifice and compromise? There are times when it's best to stand back and allow yourself to be picked up and guided. As your ruler and Uranus powerfully align, they bring so much oomph that you can afford to do just that. With so much energy around, you can sit back and see where it takes you. In your love life: The enormity of a key development will soon strike home in a surprisingly inspiring way. These are special times.

They say that pride comes before a fall. But, with life so full of slippery paths, we're bound to take the occasional tumble. There'll always be the odd, surprising banana skin. As Mars and Uranus create upheaval and surprise, there's a high chance that something will make you feel silly. You'll wonder if you've taken a wrong step or miscalculated a situation. You'll be aware of potential repercussions. Yet, as long as you know that every road has ups and downs, you'll realise that the one you're on, is the one you need to be on. In your love life: Love, money and happiness? Change an old attitude... and all the other changes you need will happen too.

Imagine the scenario. King Canute strode towards the shoreline, wearing his robes and his crown, surrounded by his courtiers and much excitement. His voice must have boomed out as he commanded the incoming tide to stop. Yet, the sea ignored him and carried on rolling in. As Mars and Uranus connect, they bring a wave of craziness into your life and tempt you to sort an exasperating situation by trying to do the impossible. Yet Saturn and Neptune bring cosmic reassurance and the promise that valuable help is at hand. In your love life: Forget the dramas, there are also reasons to feel very hopeful. You are not wasting your time. Give it your best shot.

Sometimes, a little bit of luck can carry us a long way. This is especially true when we find ourselves close to the edge of either success or failure. But to get to that precarious place, we need to have taken risks. Then, there's a high chance of pushing ourselves too far and being reckless. You've made a great effort to resolve an issue of communication so that you can make a move away from a difficult situation. The cosmic indication is that this week, you can take positive action, without risking your reputation or your integrity. In your love life: You are stepping over an emotional threshold into a world where your reality is far better than your fantasy.

As Mars and Uranus make their final powerful alignment, you can finally begin to see why the information you've been seeking is unnecessary. Although you've been baffled and confused by a series of events, as long as your intuition is being respected, you don't actually need to understand the ins and outs of what's going on. Listen to your inner wisdom. You're the beneficiary of serendipitous occurences which, even if they don't appear to make sense, will bring inspiration and encouragement. You're on the right path. In your love life: There's a fine line between wise caution and foolish fear. Is something happening by mistake or by choice? Decide.

As the planets spin and encircle each other, our universe is much like a merry-go-round. We become particularly aware of this when planet Earth returns to the place it occupied at the moment we were born. This cyclical event is our solar return, otherwise known as our birthday. It brings blessings, and reminds us of the potential to change. With the energy of Uranus and Mars adding a spark to the already heady mix of energy you're experiencing around your birthday, you're about to be the beneficiary of a welcome surprise. In your love life: When smile, your think clearer. Whatever makes you smile now can be made to keep you smiling for a long time.

The alignment of Uranus and Mars suggests that you're dealing with an issue that involves the complicated difference between being tactful and honest. You find yourself the keeper of knowledge which could be the key to a successful strategy. Yet what you know might be explosive and create tensions; it's not easy to know how much of it to divulge and to whom. When there's a possibility of conflict, we always have a choice. Since you don't want to create a difficult situation, you can choose to move forward with discretion. In your love life: Wrestling ifs, buts and maybes? Stop thinking about them. Don't deprive yourself of what you need; all will be fine.

One of the many advantages of having Venus in your sign is an improvement in your finances. Does this mean that your overdraft is going to suddenly disappear? Will your salary be exponentially increased? It's more likely that enhancements will be less obvious but still beneficial. You'll find it easy to make better financial arrangements and realise potential ways to gain future wealth. Even if you're still feeling hard up, there are reasons to feel okay and optimistic. Where you're feeling uncertain and anxious, support is at hand. In your love life: You have an idea of what is possible. Don't be talked out of it, just because someone else can't envisage this!

The only people who think they know all the answers are asking themselves the wrong questions! Life is full of uncertainty. The wisest folk are the ones who know this and make space for it in their lives. With so much disruptive energy around this week, no wonder you're unsure of what to do for the best. That's the perfect way to be feeling. It means there's no danger of you pushing ahead with something that you'd be better staying away from. If you bide your time, there's a great deal to learn this week. It's OK to be fallible. In your love life: You have to communicate an inconvenient truth.' Is it really such bad news? Find the upside and deliver that.

Our brains hold the capacity to do so much more than we use them for. Think of all the people who have no choice but to work on production lines, repetitively assembling components. How do they cope with the mind-numbing monotony of their work? Few are the employers who actively encourage their employees to think imaginatively. As Mars and Venus change signs this week, it's time to recognise that you're capable of a great deal more than you're doing. Take hold of any opportunities to demonstrate your strengths. In your love life: Make an effort; if you see encouraging signals, carry on. Just focus on a plan that stands a chance of working.

Come on baby light my fire, sang Jim Morrison in the Doors' incendiary, timeless classic. But surely we can't just follow his suggestions and throw caution to the wind? That's the kind of behaviour that needs a licence and a health and safety certificate isn't it? To put it another way, whatever has been preventing you from acting spontaneously can now be cast asunder. As Mars moves into your sign, the red planet brings a spark of passion that can set your enthusiasm alight. Your excitement holds more potential than you realise. In your love life: The journey counts as much as the destination. No need to be pedantic now, but there is a reason to be perspicacious.

Although you've been feeling stuck in a difficult situation, this week you can make a vital change and break free. As your ruler opposes Mercury, you'll find yourself able to think more creatively. As you challenge a supposition and reconsider a long-held point of view, innovative ideas will help you to see how to make the right decision. Although the route ahead may appear to be one that you've previously rejected, it's worth exploring again. Don't be put off by other people's reactions. Things have changed. In your love life: Sometimes your head is in one place and your heart in another. In your heart, at least, you are in the right place.

It's not true that there are more questions than answers. There are answers everywhere you look it's just that we haven't yet understood the questions they're answering! By focusing on the queries which are hard to solve, we create a false impression of a mysterious world. As your ruler makes powerful alignments and changes signs this week, not only will an answer that's been under your nose become clear, but you'll be able to understand the question that accompanies it. Clarity over a long-standing puzzle is possible. In your love life: Events will soon bring a series of revelations and some surprisingly positive changes to your situation.

Although it feels as if something is wrong, it's more a case that something irritating won't go away. No matter what you do, (and despite the significant efforts you've made) you appear to be stuck with an unacceptable situation. There's only one course of action left open to you: you've got to find a way to be OK with it. Is there something you've been overlooking that you might learn to like? As Venus, your ruler, moves signs, if you can find a way to put your fears and your restlessness down, you can find a healthy and happy way forward. In your love life: If what you see is inspiring, trust it. If it is not, change it. Whatever you do, don't ignore it.

Shakespeare was spot on when he compared the world to being a stage. The problem, is that none of us come here holding a script. That doesn't stop us from looking for one, though. Yet, the best we ever find is a glimpse of the storyline. Then, we're able to improvise through a scene or two. Whenever we feel as if we know how the story is going to end, life inevitably proves us wrong! As your ruler links with Neptune this week, your imagination is being fired up. You can be delightfully creative with your storyline and rewrite your future. In your love life: A degree of tension adds interest. But don't let a small, ultimately trivial issue, turn into a big silly dispute.

Apart from one rather irritating situation, your outlook remains good. Yet this particular issue is having such an impact that you're unable to ignore it it's influencing your attitude to everything. Current cosmic indications suggest that you've been finding it difficult to stop thinking about this annoyance, but you can yet find a way to see it from another angle. Despite what you fear, it's going to work out for the best. Just do what you can and stay relaxed about what you can't. Be a little patient, and you'll like what eventually manifests. In your love life: Feel infringed upon? All you want is a compromise acceptable to both. Don't you think they want that too?

With Venus changing signs this week, you can begin to feel both supported and encouraged. Life isn't as hard as you've been finding it recently. It's a roller-coaster of contrasts with ups and downs, and unders and overs. Now that you've visited one side of the scale, it's time to shift over to the other. When it's all going well, we're alert to potential problems, and when it's challenging, we look for the lucky breaks. Accept the gift you're about to be offered. It may be disguised as a challenge, but it holds potential for a breakthrough. In your love life: There face passing challenges, but this is no time to let doubt blow out the candle of faith.

You're feeling overwhelmed by other people's opinions. It seems as if everyone wants to tell you how to act and what needs to be done. You're such a free-spirited soul, (who never likes being told what to do) that I'm surprised you're even reading this! So, all I need to tell you, as your ruler connects to Neptune this week, is to bear in mind that you can't change what's done, and that things might not be better even if you could. If you can let go of your inner critic, you'll see that this challenge, though daunting, is an opportunity. In your love life: Try to look beyond the mundane day-to-day practicalities. You have a true passion to declare.

Are you being too daring? Possibly. Are you being too rash? Probably! Should you show more restraint and patience? Well, of course. But, more importantly, are you taking risks that will put you, or anyone else into a harmful situation? No! Actually, the indications are that you're getting away with the consequences of your impulsiveness. As Venus, your ruler, changes signs, it looks as if you're going to benefit from recent choices you've made. So, it's OK to relax. And it's OK to continue enjoying this new approach and way of investing your energy. In your love life: You need more information even if it brings risk. Take that risk. You need clarity. And most of the news will be good.

You're not averse to taking a risk or two nor are you afraid of failing. You realised, a long time ago, that progress and courage go hand in hand. This doesn't mean that you take chances when it comes to other people's security, though. The movement of Mars, plus Venus moving into your sign, suggest that you may be tempted by an option you're not able to explore. Whilst yearning for what's out of reach may inspire you to move beyond your limitations, a satisfying alternative is available. It will more than meet your needs. In your love life: One part of you feels inclined to be kind; another thinks this is foolish. True fools are the folk with hard hearts.

The obstacles that appear in our paths are never quite what they seem. Sometimes, in steering a way around them, we avoid a more dangerous situation or a time-consuming distraction. Other times, they present us with ways to demonstrate our determination and tenacity. It's never easy to distinguish one kind from another. This week, as Mars changes signs, you need to think about whether you want to expend so much of your energy breaking down a stubborn barrier. Finding a way to go around it could save time and effort. In your love life: The cosmos wants you to remember that life is not about power or money it is about enthusiasm and gratitude.