Written in the Stars - Week of January 1

 

 Venus Conjunct Saturn — When the planet of love and pleasure is enveloped by the planet of maturity and discrimination, we are forced to remove our rose-colored glasses and see our relationships, desires and feelings for what they truly are. We become more focused and serious about significant relationships, while more superficial ones may fall away entirely. We are offered the opportunity to see what we want more clearly — the better to achieve it!

ARIES

It's time to get serious about marketing yourself, Aries. Your stars forecast an enormous level-up in the career department — promotions, recognition and new powers and responsibilities are all forecast. What you truly want and need is being highlighted by the connection of serious Saturn and voluptuous Venus — what isn't working will become uncomfortably apparent. You may not always be a fan of planning, but some discriminating choices are forecast to bring you luck. Where would is your time best spent in order to achieve your long-term goals and desires? You have the chance to nail it down now. 

TAURUS

The pressure is on, Taurus, but lest we forget, enormous pressure is what creates diamonds. You're feeling the urge to understand your needs and desires, and how you can use your personal power to achieve them, without steamrolling your partner, or other close loved ones. "Power" often roughly translates to money, and with voluptuous Venus cozying up to serious Saturn in your House of Intimacy and The Other (AKA the House of Other People's Money) it's likely that you'll be re-evaluating your shared resources, and paring down now in order to achieve greater satisfaction later. You're being lent clear vision and a sure heart. Use them to move toward your dreams!

GEMINI

What are your feelings about commitment, Gemini? Do you find yourself flitting from one person, profession or pursuit to the next? Your stars say it's time to focus. Voluptuous Venus has cozied up to serious Saturn in your House of Partnerships, spotlighting your one-on-one interactions, and encouraging you to assess whether or not you're getting (and giving) enough, and vice versa. Significant relationships that withstand Saturn's discriminating eye deepen under this energy, and other, less satisfying or more superficial relationship may contract or fall away entirely. You're being offered the opportunity to see your true needs clearly in order to satiate them. Get intimate with them!

CANCER

What better time for a clear-eyed self-assessment than the New Year, eh, Cancer? Your stars are inviting you to change your habits now in order to invite your ideal future. Serious Saturn has shacked up with voluptuous Venus in your House of Work and Routine, simultaneously giving you a better understanding of what you truly want, and the self-management skills to cultivate habits to get what you truly need. You may be feeling some extra pressure at work, but rest assured that Venus is giving you the charm to smooth things over, even as Saturn dredges up what we may have swept under the rug long ago. Use this temporary astrological superpower to dream and envision, even as you plan and work. If you can integrate both, you'll be unstoppable. 

LEO

Have you ever considered working hard at playing hard, Leo? Voluptuous Venus has shacked up with serious Saturn in your House of Romance, Creativity and Play, imbuing you with the power to express yourself uniquely, as well as the focus and discrimination to cultivate your personal talents in a way that can bring about long-term success. You could be feeling a bit pressured, ignored or left out at the beginning of this transit, but in a few weeks, you will have a much clearer idea of what you're made of, and what only you can contribute to the world through your dynamic personality. Take some time to think about a skill or talent of yours that you'd love to make into your work. Your stars are giving you the right blend of pleasure and precision to figure it out.

VIRGO

You know that old saying, "You can't go home again," Virgo? It may be true, but you have the opportunity to build yourself a home and foundation here and now that gives you the structure and power to construct a life you love. You may be feeling any lacks or unfulfilled desires around your home and roots now, as pleasure-seeking Venus has joined serious Saturn in your House of Home and Family, and her charming soul is offended by his prying eyes. It's an ideal time to reassess and reorganize your home in a way that supports your real needs, which are becoming clearer every day, under Saturn's discriminating eye. Although you may be noticing what isn't working more than what is, this also gives you the opportunity to address any wrinkles in your plan. 

LIBRA

You're known as the charmer of the zodiac for a reason, Libra, but do you communicate effectively as well as affectively? Your way of relating to the world, the ideas you produce, and your personal "voice" are all up for inspection now, as voluptuous Venus cozies up to serious Saturn in your House of Communications. You may be feeling the pressure to get your words and ideas "out there," and communicate in a more structured, focused way. You may be speaking to fewer people, but with more force, or find that more people pay attention to your words as your new gravitas grounds your natural charm. Saturn may be slowing you down so that you can better identify what's working and what's not. Pleasure combined with precision brings you luck.

SCORPIO

How do you measure your success, Scorpio? In dollars, or in sense? Your financial needs, desires and potential have all come up for review now, as voluptuous Venus has linked up with serious Saturn in your House of Money and Values. You may find yourself feeling restricted — you may crave what you can't yet afford. Any snags, delays or obstacles are signposts from Saturn — he's shedding light on what's not working, even as Venus lights the way toward your true ideals. It's an ideal time to reassess your budget, goals, and even personal possessions. Toss the old to welcome the new. You're being offered the astrological key to replace scarcity with abundance. And all you have to do is recognize what you truly want, and honor it. Get down to business!

SAGITTARIUS

You're not typically a self-centered individual, Sagittarius — as a matter of fact, you're one of the most outward-looking signs in the zodiac. But now, it's time to focus on you — your personal "brand," style, goals and desires. Voluptuous Venus has joined serious Saturn in your House of Self, making you very aware of what hasn't been working, as Venus increases your awareness of what you really want and need. It's an ideal time to assess how you come off to others, and make adjustments in order to achieve your broader goals. Whether you're aiming to be a CEO, a travel writer or a well-to-do vagabond, you benefit from examining your personality and what it attracts to you. Give yourself an annual review — make use of your findings.

CAPRICORN

It's time to clean out your emotional junk drawer, Capricorn, in order to move forward with more strength and purpose. You're working with some mighty astrological power at this moment, with the shining Sun and powerful Pluto both powering up your House of Self, giving you the courage and strength of will to make powerful changes in the here and now. Meanwhile, loving Venus has joined serious Saturn in your House of Secrets and the Past, and together, they are helping to reveal what has outlived its usefulness — fear, guilt, wistfulness, bitterness — they're a heavy weight and yet they hold no water. It's time to let them go. You're already in the process of a major level-up; be willing to recognize, then release, ghosts of the past, and any skeletons in your closet. You'll be making room for all the sweet new swag coming your way.

AQUARIUS

You may not always be aware, Aquarius, of the strong effect you have on others — but your stars are asking to you notice your place among your friends and groups now. Sweet Venus has joined discriminating Saturn in your House of Allies and Organizations, and together, they're helping you see how you can cultivate relationships which truly feed you. You may feel lately that certain relationships have grown stagnant, and must be dramatically altered or cut away entirely. Saturn's discriminating eye has you seeing where you're "going through the motions" in some cases, rather than fully investing or enjoying yourself. And Venus is bringing love and light to this sector, helping you illuminate your true desires, and your long-term goals which must be achieved with a team. It's an ideal time to see your friends and clubs for what they are, enhance the ones you treasure, and release the ones you don't. The better to receive the bounty awaiting you.

PISCES

You're known as the dreamer and the poet of the zodiac, Pisces, and neither of these has much use for hard lines and delineations. And yet, there is an enormous power to knowing our abilities, and yes, our limitations — it is by knowing these that we can strike out on the most strategic path, armed with what we know are our best tools and qualities. Serious Saturn continues his trek through your House of Career and Destiny, making you aware of how far you've come, and what you must do in order to go further. Venus gives you a boost of charm and welcomes networking and financial opportunity, while Saturn's discriminating eye helps her divvy up her gifts in a practical, measured way. It's an ideal time to focus on making progress in your career — you have both the grace and the gravitas to make big things happen.