PLANETARIUM MICHAEL LUTIN

CAPRICORN DEC. 2 2 - J A N . 19

Although you're facing some interesting opportunities for extracurricular activities (if you catch the drift), you don't seem ready to take advantage of them. The reason: you've lost confidence in yourself during Chiron's crushing transit of your sign. When it's time to put up or shut up, you don't go through with it for fear that you won't be able to perform. Nonsense. Chiron is out of your sign now, and the only way to prove you're still a desirable commodity is to do what you're scared to death of doing. If they laugh, so they laugh.

AQUARIUS JAN. 20-FEB. 18

If this were ancient Greece, you could swear that somebody had sent the Furies after you. You get rid of one cosmic * challenge •and—boom!—another befalls you. The news isn't all bad: a culminating Jupiter is protecting you and sending you a big professional perk. But Mars, Saturn, and Chiron are squeezing you dry, which is

why you feel unduly afflicted. Try to remember that any obstacles have been sent by the universe to help you evolve. It's O.K.. to scream.

PISCES FEB. 19-MARCH 20

A person in your position shouldn't have to do grunt work or fight over every nickel. You're too gentle, sensitive, and highly evolved to worry about boring health issues, argue over money, or listen as people judge your performance or, worse, question your integrity. With planets in fixed signs, however, all Pisceans have to descend to this lowly plane to deal with petty people. Fortunately, it's just temporary. Thank God for that voice in your head that tells you that, despite the irritations of life on Earth, everything is all right.

ARIES MARCH 21-APRIL 19

Since Mars went retrograde last fall, you've been wise to back off and avoid confrontations that could have led to war. You don't like being indirect, though. When you can't be honest, you resent people for making you protect them from your feelings. Your passions have been stirred up again now, and with those passions comes the courage to be more up-front. Not only will that bring an end to passive-aggressive behavior, which you abhor, but what it can do for your love life is worth the risk it takes to put yourself out there.

TAURUS APRIL 20-MAY 20

1 A You have a right to be furious. After all, you've been storing „ y up your anger for months, and now the pressure cooker is finally blowing its lid. You've borne insults and coped with disappointment with noble grace. Enough already. With Mars going direct in your sign, you can't hold it in one more second. Only a wellmeaning fool (or a bad therapist) would tell you to cool it when all you want is action. Since you still have at least one person who loves you, when he or she goes to kiss you, try not to bite.

GEMINI MAY 21-JUNE 21

Plenty of people who are a lot saner than Geminis thought to be (however unfairly) would go crazy over Mars's long, agonizing transit of the solar 12th house. It all started last summer, and even if you have been blessed with self-induced short-term-memory loss—as many in your sign are—you can't have forgotten how put-upon you have felt. You're not without helpers, fortunately, which makes work easier. It's the plots going on behind your back, real and imagined, that will make you nuts if you don't stay spiritual.

CANCER JUNE 22-JULY 22

Squares of Jupiter and Saturn don't quash your ability to live life to the fullest. They just let you know that, no matter ^ how rich you are, it's no sin to fly coach once in a while. If you have children, they are a source of endless joy and pride, but they also put the financial squeeze on you from the moment they pop into this world. Even economic battles can't hinder your love of life at the moment. As usual, you have to be the embodiment of cool and act like a storm's eye that has eluded everybody's radar but yours.

LEO JULY 23-AUG. 22

While you're in no mood to run through the streets shouting, "What a fabulous life I'm living!," you have to admit you're in a lot better control of your existence this winter than last. Apart from your rare moments curled up in front of the fire, you've probably been discouraged by work and people you can neither control nor dump. With Mars moving to an exalted position in your astrological chart, here's your chance to get out there and sell your wares.

VIRGO AUG. 23-SEPT. 22

Jupiter and Saturn are filling your brain with creative ideas, as well as an itch to chase private rainbows. Be aware. You are still emotionally vulnerable (some would say desperate). While it's healthy to be open and go after what you want, you could make a colossal fool of yourself. Whether you're loaded with work or obsessing over your latest case of the sniffles, the direct motion of Mars in your solar 9th house pulls you closer to someone who has quite a hold on you. Love and grief: sometimes you can't tell the difference.

LIBRA SEPT. 23-OCT. 23

Although you don't have a clue what all your diligence and loyalty are going to get you, with Venus at the bottom of your solar chart you're doing a damned good job of playing sentry, keeping unwanted elements from your neighborhood and intruders and vermin off your property. You're starting to see what a royal pain it can be to love anybody at all, but at least money is not the problem it was a year ago. Now that your sexual appetite has been re-awakened, you're as hungry as a bear after hibernation, and just as grouchy.

SCORPIO OCT. 24-NOV. 21

feel and look better and gives you a positive demeanor that draws people to you. That's fortunate, because you also have to cope with Chiron in your 4th house, messing up your family scene, and Saturn's transit of your solar midheaven, making (nearly) impossible professional demands on you. It's a good thing you're a Scorpio and have the same approach to adversity that a cockroach has to bug spray: you play dead till the lights go out and then you're back in business.

SAGITTARIUS NOV. 22-DEC. 21

When you take over the world—and with Pluto still in Sadge that could be soon—everybody will benefit from following your example of blitheringly happy anarchy. Until that day arrives, however, a planetary grand cross of fixed planets demands that you stay healthy enough to keep working like a beaver, continue talking to people you'd rather never have to hear from again, and keep your mind active and positive the whole time. If you can hack all that, you might even be able to squeeze in a naughty fantasy or two.