Learn how to get the most out of my forecasts.

by Brian Habit

NOTES: The following forecast is based on your rising sign (Ascendant), not your Sun sign. If you do not know your rising sign, please visit www.astro.com and enter your birth date, time, and place to determine it.

Due to the need to fulfill pre-paid orders for work, I have not been able to update this forecast as originally planned. I apologize for the delay. I hope to post an announcement regarding an update sometime during the middle of April.

Happy birthday to those of you who are Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces or Aries! These next three months may start out relatively slowly, with Mercury doing his backward boogie in your sector of public pursuits. If you’re planning to resolve any arrangements involving contracts, jobs, or authority figures during January, allow extra time and double-check the details. In February, though, and especially after late February, aim to finalize plans and move forward productively in such areas. During the middle of this forecast period, you may experience some confusion or tension or feel torn in two directions in connection with your individual or collaborative creative pursuits. Even if you do, be careful not to act in an escapist or an overly optimistic manner. In late March, plan to slow down the pace of the pace in trying to satisfy your burning drives or ambitions in "walking the talk" of living according to your philosophical values, so that you can conduct a thorough overhaul of them.

Throughout January, restless Mercury moves backwards through your house of public pursuits.

When Mercury starts moving backward on January 2, those of you who were born on or near January 18, April 18, July 20, or October 21 are especially likely to experience this shift. It will either combine with your natal Sun (your general vitality and sense of identity), square off with it, or confront it. Similarly, when Mercury starts moving forward again on January 23, it will trigger your general vitality and sense of identity if you were born on or near January 2, April 1, July 3, or October 5.

When Mercury starts moving backward on January 2, those of you who were born on or near January 18, April 18, July 20, or October 21 are especially likely to experience this shift. It will either combine with your natal Sun (your general vitality and sense of identity), square off with it, or confront it. Similarly, when Mercury starts moving forward again on January 23, it will trigger your general vitality and sense of identity if you were born on or near January 2, April 1, July 3, or October 5.

Mercury retrogrades three times each year for 19-24 days at a time. Around the times when he changes direction (near January 2 and January 23), you may experience some important change involving communication or travel. At either time, it could also involve your most public pursuits, such as a career or position of authority in a civic organization or political party; you aspirations or reputation; or interactions with authority figures (parents, representatives of governmental, religious, or other bodies, etc.).

Use the time between late December and late January to reflect on the results of ideas that you’ve implemented in the past and to "debug" ideas that you’ve planning to implement later, especially in connection with imparting information or ideas to others. Revisit people, places and ideas from the past. For example, clean out old files, or look up past associates, or travel to places that you visited some time ago. Double-check the details of any matters that you don’t want to revisit again before you try to finalize them-contracts, sales, purchases, travel details, etc. Plan carefully for later, and then move forward on your ideas at the end of January or later. By that time, you’ll probably be able to express act on your thoughts, ideas and information more openly and with less inhibition.

On January 17, energetic Mars bursts in your 9th house of experiences that lie beyond your everyday routines.

In terms of your current 22-month cycle of developing your will and asserting yourself, you’re almost at a peak now. Between mid January and March 5, arm yourself with a sense of adventure and focus on recovering your sense of wonder in the world. If you do that, it will help you continue climbing toward a culmination of developing your will that you started after this cycle began in mid-January 2002.

Wherever Mars is stomping around, you can expect heightened energy-independent, impatient, warrior energy. Like with conservation of matter, there’s also conservation of energy in a sense. Martian fighting energy will come out one way or another now, in connection with ideas and experiences that help you have a sense of meaning and understanding of the world. It’s just a question of how.

What’s your pleasure? Would you like it to come out in physical ways? Mars thrives on activities that demand physical energy. If that’s the case, then you might go on a strenuous, challenging jaunt to some unfamiliar or exotic locale. Think of the settings used in the TV show "Survivor," and then go put yourself in someplace where you can test and stretch your ability to function outside your comfort zone. You don’t have to go abroad to do it. You could hike part of the Appalachian Trail if you’re in the eastern U.S. You don’t even have to go out of state or out of town. Just go somewhere that’s new to you, some place where you can act with high energy and daring.

Would you like to channel the Martian energy into your interactions with others? Mars is marching through your sector of the principles by which you live, of philosophical and spiritual beliefs, of intellectual thought. Therefore, think about how you might be feeling railroaded or trampled upon at the moment in such an arena, and pipe up about it. Perhaps it’s time to defend your territory in a university-related matter or with someone from a different walk of life (such as a foreigner), or concerning your religious convictions. Confrontation can be a delicate matter. It can be fraught with below-the-belt maneuvers, pushy power plays, or endless bickering. Even so, having a healthy confrontation now and then helps clear the air. It can help keep our relationships honest and clear a path for us to go after what we want. When we face some fear or anxiety-provoking situation, it presents an opportunity to feel more effective. To fight fairly now, champion your own right to self-determination while respecting others’ rights to do the same. Mars is in your house of legal matters, so if you’re headed to court or trying not to head to court, think how you might use such an approach to work for you.

Would you like to throw the fiery drive of Mars into some situation in which you don’t have to accommodate others? Then stake out some horizon-expanding role or responsibility that will be yours and yours alone, something that you can carry out without having to coordinate with someone else or follow another person’s lead. Take a course about some topic that interests you at a community college. Start publicizing some endeavor that’s near and dear to your heart. Take a trip far away to restore your zest for life. Martian energy is pioneering, but it doesn’t fit naturally with being a team player.

Whatever you do, don’t try to ignore or squelch your need to act in high-spirited ways in your routine-busting activities. Doing that would only increase the risk of accidents (maybe of the minor but annoying sort) or resentment that seeps out in unproductive ways. With alternatives available, there’s no need to settle for that.

Come March 5, it’ll be time to go public, to declare who you are and what you’re about, to your community or to the world. In March and April, aim to reap what you’ve sown since you’ve started this cycle, through developing your will and asserting yourself.

On February 16, expansive Jupiter, currently in your 5th house self-expression, faces off with spiritual Neptune, in your 11th house of goals.

This aspect will build over the course of several weeks, strengthening as the 16th approaches, and dropping off sharply but still continuing for a few more weeks after that date. Jupiter and Neptune form an opposition about once every 12 or 13 years. Each time they do, it triggers different parts of your chart, so the feel or the theme of it may be similar, but it’s probably playing out in different parts of your life. This time around, this aspect is especially significant for those of you who were born on or near January 30, May 1, August 3, or November 3.

If you were born in early-mid Aquarius, then Neptune is currently passing over your Sun, calling on you to define yourself and express your identity in a more spiritualized or idealistic way. At the same time, Jupiter is opposing your Sun, confronting you with opportunities that are available if you think of yourself as more of a performer than you have customarily done.

If you were born in early-mid Leo, then the situation is the reverse for you: Neptune is currently confronting your Sun. He’s challenging you to redefine yourself as a more spiritual or altruistic being, as more of an idealist with a vision to share, and to demonstrate it through some tangible expression of your creativity. Meanwhile, Jupiter is combining with your Sun, encouraging you to have greater self-confidence and to redefine yourself as a person capable of greater success than you’ve ever imagined.

If you were born in early-mid Taurus or early-mid Scorpio, then both Neptune and Jupiter are squaring off with your Sun. In their own ways, they’re each pressuring you to adjust the way you define yourself and express your vitality. With Neptune, it’s because your ideals or dreams have evolved to the point that you can that your old self-image now acts as a barrier to your realizing them. With Jupiter, it’s because opportunities that were not available in the past are now within reach, but in order to take advantage of them, you’ll need to think of yourself in more flexible terms.

Whether you fall in one the groups listed above or not, this tango between Jupiter and Neptune is activating the same areas of your chart: your fifth house of self-expression and your eleventh house of goals. For about a year, Jupiter is encouraging you to identify and take advantage of opportunities by celebrating yourself, by living in the moment and acting with spontaneity and exuberance. This could mean that you dare to strike up a conversation with someone who piques your romantic interest, even if you thought earlier that the two of you would never connect. Maybe you decide to adopt a child or you have more enjoyable outings with the kids (or kids at heart) who are already in your life. Maybe you start a hobby, or you try to expand a current hobby into something more. What’s important now is refuel yourself psychologically and continue developing a sense of opportunity in your life, by playing or creating in any sense of the words. This is the house of rolling the dice, and Jupiter knows no limits, so do exercise some restraint in indulging yourself, but by all means aim to do what fills your heart with joy and lifts your spirits.

That’s what Jupiter is up to in the long run now. Neptune, meanwhile, sings an otherworldly spiritual song to you from your house of goals. Neptune appeals to your idealism, to that part of you that longs for an elevated experience, far above and beyond "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" of someone trying to make his or her way on Planet Earth. You’re going through a phase of a good 10 years or more in your development of spirituality. In this phase, it’s time to emphasize setting inspired yet achievable goals and associating with individuals or groups who will help you accomplish them, rather than encourage escapism, procrastination, confusion or self-doubt. It’s time to tune in to life’s intangibles (such as your intuition, imagination, or idealistic longing) and dream up the sort of future that you’d like for yourself. Let yourself build castles in the air, but be sure to plan on building a foundation under them, one that can realistically keep them from crashing with a thud. Doing this will help you continue to develop your spiritual side, that part of you that longs for something greater or higher than life’s mundane matters.

Jupiter and Neptune have a lot in common, so they’re often in sync with each other. They’re both visionary, big picture, idealistic planets. In February, however, they might be pulling you in two different directions, with Neptune acting in a less tangible way but still somehow tending to get the upper hand in the struggle. For example, you might struggle with a sense of "divine discontent"-the restless longing for something perfect and transcendent in an imperfect world populated by all-too-fallible humans. Maybe you long for spiritually inspired, imaginative, or altruistic experiences through the goals that you set or in the time that you spend with colleagues or groups. Being in such a state might undermine your ability to throw yourself enthusiastically into your own creative pursuits now. Another possibility is that, if there are any ways in which you are kidding yourself or living in a dream world or misleading others, Jupiter may magnify that tendency now. Jupiter might muddy the waters for you and a romantic partner, children, acquaintances fellow club member, or someone else with whom you recreate or co-create something.

Now, I don’t want you think that this dance between Jupiter and Neptune necessarily means trouble. It doesn’t. The potential for excess, confusion, and disillusionment is significant; but if you mind the usual cautions that apply with these two, it will help you reap more of the good and less of the bad. Expand on opportunities, but do it in moderation. Don’t outstrip your ability to juggle recreational, romantic, or entrepreneurial pursuits. Get someone else’s help to play devil’s advocate for you if you’re considering investing or gambling money or starting a creative or speculative venture. Make sure that you’re considering the cons as well as the pros of situations before you dive into them enthusiastically. Take care to communicate clearly. Make sure that what you intended to convey is what actually gets understood. If you’re tempted to act in less than truthful ways your romantic life or in organizational activities now, think again. You could find that you’ve dug a hole for yourself or you have to do some major backpedaling later. Verify details before committing yourself. Whether anyone intends to misrepresent the facts or not, it’s a good idea to double-check them. If you’re feeling moved by some idealistic fervor, try to dial it back a notch. Don’t throw it out, but don’t throw caution to the wind either. If you take these steps, then Jupiter and Neptune can serve as your wings, helping keep you aloft as you come closer to realizing some precious dreams during February.

On February 22, no-nonsense Saturn starts moving forward again in your sector of information exchange.

Saturn retrogrades once a year for almost five months at a time. Whenever he changes direction, some important change is likely to happen in your life in some matter associated with Saturn. Let’s review what Saturn represents and then look at this current development.

Saturn symbolizes that part of our consciousness that has to be practical and strategic in order to survive in the physical world. Saturn has high standards. He demands self-discipline, commitment, and quality. Saturn is how we develop self-respect and faith in our destiny. This taskmaster of the planets also relates to how we make peace with solitude. He’s our ambition, our sense of realism, and our conscience or superego-that part of us that has expectations for how we act. Saturn structures and solidifies whatever he touches. In addition to what I’ve already said about Saturn, for you he’s also related to your sectors of public pursuits and goals. Therefore, this planet symbolizes your approaches to setting goals and associating with others and to achieving your aspirations in our most visible community roles. Currently, Saturn is moving through your house of learning, thinking, and communicating. Saturn’s current quarters also represent your assumptions, attitudes and opinions-that mental map of the world that you carry around in your head, and how you interact with people in your everyday course of life (neighbors, classmates, etc.) Given this, Saturn’s change in direction may also have implications for matters related to these matters.

In mid to late February, then, you may experience a major change in connection with one or more of the matters mentioned above. Saturn’s change in direction is especially significant for those of you who were born on or near March 12, June 12, September 14, or December 13. At the same time that Saturn starts moving forward, he either passes over your Sun (general vitality and sense of identity), squares off with it, or confronts it. For all of you, you’re going through a pretty serious time when it comes to how you define yourself and express that part of you that needs to shine.

Once Saturn starts moving forward again, focus on using his energy in a freer, more direct way in those matters that are related to this planet. If you’ve used the time that he was moving backward productively (since October 10th) by planning a solid strategy, you’ll be able to go into a higher gear now, supported by the shift in his energy.

On March 10, freedom-loving Uranus goes into retreat mode in your house of release.

He’ll rumble through this part of your chart for the next seven years or so. As Uranus cuts a sweeping path through it, he’ll be agitating for you to add a more individualistic touch to the way that you find self-transcendent meaning in your life. This means everything that helps you take a "god’s eye" perspective on yourself and your experiences, that challenges you to give up any narrow identification with how your ego is faring in this material world. Your house of release includes circumstances that are just beyond your control, as well as activities that are carried out behind-the-scenes or in secluded settings. Uranus wants you to follow the beat of your own drum in this department, to radically change your approach to spiritual or altruistic self-expression. You’ve reached the end of the line in a sense, in developing your individuality ever since you were born. Uranus has made it to the last house of your chart, so it’s time to boldly let go of past struggles, behaviors, and attitudes related to finding your unique niche in the world. Concentrate on making way for a new start to come in another five or ten years.

With Uranus, the trick is to take the initiative, to inject some necessary creative change in your general approach to life before lightning strikes and you find your approach shaken up by unexpected or unwelcome circumstances. It’s important to act in an autonomous self-directed manner. This means that you neither kowtow to the way everyone else does things, "how it’s always been done," nor that you do the opposite of what others want, in knee-jerk fashion. That might feel good in the short run, but it may get you attacked in the public square or run out of town for no good reason, and it won’t necessarily be true to your deepest wants and needs.

Bear in mind that you can expect lots of pressure from others to change back if you give up some past struggle or situation that has consumed far too much of your fiery independent spirit. This can be disconcerting or shocking news to those who know you. Maybe it’s easier to remain engaged in trying to throw off what’s kept you shackled in the past, than it is to wipe your hands of the matter. After all, those who are close to you may just want what’s best for you. They may just want you to be happy, and they may want you to continue to "fight the good fight." However, a wise warrior knows when to retreat. He or she focuses not on winning the battles but on winning the war. There’s a certain art and grace involved in choosing one’s battles, to. With Uranus in town, you can count on feeling alienated from your familiar circumstances if you try to stick to Business As Usual. Do that, and you’ll be like an empty house that’s been abruptly vacated: the lights may be on, but no one’s home.

On March 23, transformative Pluto starts creeping backwards in your house of experiences beyond your everyday routine.

Pluto retrogrades once a year for over five months at a time. Whenever he changes direction, some important shift is likely to happen in your life in some matter associated with Pluto. Let’s look at what Pluto represents.

Pluto represents that part of us that wants to transform ourselves or the world around us, that wants to do something "important." Pluto represents a sense of mission or destiny. With this planet, the question is whether you can identify some sort of wisdom in yourself that could make a great difference in the world and then fulfill your destiny by humbly sharing it. Pluto offers us tremendous potential for good or bad. If good, we transcend ourselves and become our mission. If we learn Pluto’s lessons, we face the absurdity of life. We accept the fact that we’re mortal, but we also want our lives to count for something. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by life’s absurdity, we decide to make a difference. We identify with some purpose greater than ourselves and this transforms our awareness. With our expression of transpersonal power, power to affect the masses, we become a symbol. We give body and voice to some cause that motivates many other people, and our lives have a profound sense of meaning. For you, Pluto also rules your house of public pursuits, of the highest goals to which you might aspire in your career or some other capacity in your community.

Currently, Pluto is moving through your house of routine-busting experiences: physical, intellectual, and spiritual experiences that that take you out of your comfort zone and offer you a broader perspective and a greater sense of life’s meaning. You’re in a stage lasting 10 or more years, in developing your ultimate purpose or in taking on more-than-personal significance in the "code" or principles by which you live. At this point, the name of the game is to rediscover a sense of wonder in the world. If you’re finding that your personal experiences lead you to conclude that old values no longer resonate with truth for you, then it’s crucial that you let go of them and gradually reinvent a philosophical outlook that really does speak to your burning passion within. Seek out experiences that will help you in this slow death-and-rebirth of your values. That’s what it will take to keep the embers of your soul ablaze, so you can stoke them and act as a powerful, positive force to be reckoned with in years to come.

Around the second half of March, then, you may experience a major change in connection with one or more of the matters mentioned above. Pluto’s change in direction is especially significant for those of you who were born on or near March 10, June 10, September 12, or December 11. At the same time that Pluto starts moving backward, he either passes over your Sun (general vitality and sense of identity), squares off with it, or confronts it. For all of you, you’re going through a pretty serious time when it comes to how you define yourself and express that part of you that needs to shine.

Once Pluto starts moving backwards, concentrate on using his more contained energy in a more internal or reflective way. Emphasize make plans carefully in Pluto-related areas. If you do that, then when Pluto turns direct again on August 30, you’ll have your ducks in a row and you’ll be ready to surge forth like a dynamo, supported by his freer, more openly expressed energy.

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