Planetarium

AQUARIUS

January 20—February 18

You've got to be tired of Saturn creeping through Aquarius. That's the planet that whips you into shape better than any nun at Catholic school could ever do. Don't knock it, though. While it has closed you off socially over the past year and caused you to gasp audibly when you just think about where your life is going, it has also given you the guts to withstand all random, unforeseen disasters. On February 2, the long-awaited Uranus-Neptune conjunction occurs. By then you must put yourself (and all your money) into the hands of whatever great being you believe in. Be spiritually correct. Otherwise, forget about it!

PISCES

February 19—March 20

In your earlier, and perhaps less evolved, years, you would have run screaming for your life if anyone had even suggested that you seek your identity in some lunatic-fringe group. In those days you were already out of it enough without compounding your feelings of alienation by associating with nerds and nuts—even if you did empathize with their pain. Now you've been enlightened, and with Neptune conjunct with Uranus in your solar 11th house on February 2 and Saturn in your 12th, there you are, marching in the parade, side by side with many other prominent mental cases and, what's more, proud of it.

ARIES

March 21—April 19

You have most likely been making oodles of new contacts since Jupiter entered Libra on October 10—especially with people whom you've impressed with your sales pitch and whose names you now boldly display on your Rolodex. As Jupiter goes retrograde on January 28, some support will most definitely be withdrawn and your credibility questioned. This is only temporary, for Jupiter will move forward again in late May. Though your meteoric rise could be followed by a slightly fiery descent, no problem. Venus is in Aries till April, so at least you will continue to think you're beautiful, and isn't that what really counts?

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

So many Taureans are now digging in their heels and getting ready to fight the mother of all battles: change. Yes, it is shocking to contemplate the state of marriage today or the condition of education, but try not to think of any of this as a personal slap in the face by the hand of evil. As Mars is retrograde in Cancer, Uranus meets Neptune in your 9th house, and Pluto goes retrograde on February 28, just go find a nice cozy spot where you can raise your consciousness and ponder the absurdity of all transitory phenomena around you—especially life on the shopping-mall level.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

You Geminis are always a little funny when it comes to gender issues, because whether you appear straight, gay, or totally asexual usually depends solely on what you're wearing or from which angle the light is hitting you. And with Uranus and Neptune now finally meeting in your 8th house on February 2, even those thin boundaries are blurring. One more thing: instead of dwelling on the cost of health insurance or planning that woodsy scene where you want your ashes scattered, just go out for a nice walk in the forest and get into the miracles of life, right now, while you're alive to enjoy them.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Your hands have seemed tied lately, what with Mars retrograde in Cancer. You've probably felt a bit dizzy, and why not? Consider where you are, compared with where you were one year ago. You deserve a rest. Your oomph level has definitely been a little low, and you've got a million good reasons why you should be in a minor state of collapse. And yet you cannot afford to be oomphless now, because certain fickle forces are currently fingering your fate. Just know (a) that every calamity is also a blessing, and (b) that as soon as Mars goes direct on February 15 you'll repay everything and everyone in kind. Woe to your enemies.

LEO

July 23—August 22

As a multimillionairess Leo executive recently said to an underling employee, "These days we are all lucky to have our jobs.'' As snotty as it sounded, she really felt that way. The Uranus-Neptune conjunction in your 6th house has shown every Leo in the world just how unstable the job market out there is. "Yeah, yeah," you're muttering, "I know all that, but how's my personal life?" Well, with Saturn in the 6th house and Jupiter retrograde, health and work issues are paramount. You're approaching total celibacy at this point. There may be a surprise roll in the hay if you can manage to sneak up to the hayloft.

VIRGO

August 23—September 22

Contrary to what many people think, even Virgos have romantic dreams and artistic hopes, which, with Mars now retrograde in the 11th house until February 15, may seem unrealistic or foolish. Virgos often find that their lives turn out to be much smaller, their efforts more humble, than they would have wished. Still, the child in them never really dies, especially when Uranus and Neptune, the planetary rulers of the 6th and 7th houses, meet in the 5th on February 2. Even if you think that the things you are doing for love are stupid, continue to do the best you can. That's what Virgos are good at.

LIBRA

September 23—October 23

From the moment Jupiter entered your sign on October 10, you've been the bestest little cheerleader the home team ever had. At least that's what everybody thinks. Internally, of course, with Uranus and Neptune meeting in your 4th house, you've had to cope with devastating personal reversals and threats to your gracious life-style. Some Libras have even started using paper plates! Through it all you've been a positive brick. On January 28, however, Jupiter goes retrograde for four months. So take a break. It'sO.K. to 86 phony optimism. Venus is in Aries, so let somebody bring you breakfast in bed for a change.

SCORPIO

October 24—November 21

In the coming months you are definitely going to revisit your childhood. In fact, you should already be having incredibly vivid emotional experiences you repressed or thought you had completely forgotten. Images of your father, as well as of all the father figures who have filled in for him, are rising up before you. You're strong now, and therefore well able to cope. People who think Scorpios have always been totally cool and in control have no idea what a cowering wimp you were 10 years ago. Right? How many of them can perceive even now your longing for domestic normalcy or your fear of abandonment?

SAGITTARIUS

November 22—December 21

Venus in your 5th house could mean a hot affair, provided you don't get carried away and start thinking marriage, which, with the south node of the moon in your 7th house, you'll probably do anyway. The big news is the Uranus-Neptune conjunction finally happening in your 2nd house on February 2. This should teach you that budgets, like diets, don't work. There is no way to control the flow of cash. Who knows what force decides which Vegas slot machine in which casino will break the bank on which night? Maybe you should just start repeating to yourself and all your creditors, "The money is coming. The money is coming. . ."

CAPRICORN

December 22—January 19

The message of the Neptune-Uranus conjunction on February 2 is a strong one. You have an overwhelming urge to make a large and sweeping statement to humanity now. Are you truly on a mission quest, fueled by a spark of divine inspiration? Or are you finally having that nervous breakdown you've been too busy to have all these years? It's not always easy to separate creativity from madness or hormone imbalance. All you need to do now is divide yourself up into six people—five to do the creative projects and one to make the money you need to support all your grandiose notions.

Michael Lutin