It's time to tuck ourselves in for the winter! The Sun's entrance into CAPRICORN on December 21 - the Winter Solstice - proclaims the beginning of the new season. On this shortest day of the year, the Sun reverses its direction and begins its journey northward. This "return of the light" has been a time for celebrating the sacred, as well as the profane, since the earliest civilizations. Religious traditions, ancestral customs, family ties and friendships are ritualistically renewed & reviewed during this first month of winter. A cardinal, earth sign, CAPRICORN is associated with structure, realism & responsibility; it symbolizes a time for taking care of business, putting your financial affairs in manageable condition, handling taxes & insurance and making preparations for the new year.

You'll be in a practical mind-set (with Mercury also in CAPRICORN from December 22 on), thinking in terms of restructuring, recycling and clearing the deadwood from your life (outworn possessions, values or habit patterns). After stretching out our pocketbooks & our waistlines during the previous month; we're now ready to tighten our belts and conserve our energies. Sobriety is in, excess is out! There is an strong emphasis on putting our homes, families and bases of operations in secure & comfortable condition, considering that Saturn, ruler of CAPRICORN, is in TAURUS these days. Mars begins its 6-week transit through SCORPIO on December 23; much energy is available to set personal & professional goals, channel your ambitions and go after what you want. Christmas Day is blessed with the energy of the New Moon (and Solar Eclipse) in CAPRICORN; put on a Yule log, gather together with your significant others and create some special memories!

The New Year - the official New Millennium - sails in with the Sun/Neptune square and the Moon in PISCES; you can expect a dreamy, spacey day (good time to kick back, listen to music, meditate or visualize what you'd like to accomplish in the upcoming year). Venus leaves AQUARIUS and enters PISCES on January 3; music, dance, exercise & yoga classes, health care & spiritual pursuits will bring people together -psychic sensitivities are high! MOON WOBBLE (an unstable period due to the Sun/Lunar Node conjunction) peaks on January 5, followed by the Full Moon (and Lunar Eclipse) in CAPRICORN & CANCER on January 9. Hold on to your hat, keep your sense of humor and don't be too hasty in making major financial or emotional decisions until this period blows over.

It's "out with the old, in with the new" when Mercury moves on to AQUARIUS on January 10, followed by the Sun on January 19. The Chinese New Year (Snake) slithers in with the New Moon in AQUARIUS on January 24 - electricity will be in the air and innovative ideas will flying around.. It will seem that life is moving forward again (Saturn finally turns direct on the same day, followed by Jupiter on the 25^th). AQUARIUS is associated with freedom, alternatives & awakening - liberate yourself from any limiting structures, routines or relationships. On February 1, Mercury will enter PISCES, turn retrograde on February 3 and then re-enter AQUARIUS on February 6; some review time is in store for the next 3 weeks.! Venus begins a long stay in ARIES (from February 2 until June 6) due to its retrograde, which starts on March 8; some dynamic new relationships, social interactions and creative projects will be developing during the next 4 months. The AQUARIUS/LEO Full Moon peaks on the 7^th, followed by the Sun/Uranus square on the 9^th - expect the unexpected!

Valentine's Day signals the beginning of an adventurous & explorative period (Mars enters SAGITTARIUS on February 14.for a 7-month stay). Travel, education, publishing, sports and marketing projects are highlighted, so expand your horizons!. It may feel like you're burning the candle at both ends, however, by February 18 when the Mars/Jupiter opposition peaks. The Sun enters PISCES on the same day - good timing! It's the month for retreat, introspection & healing, particularly with the New Moon in PISCES on February 23. Give yourself a physical & emotional tune-up and wash off the dust of winter. When Mercury turns direct on the 25^t, it's onward & upward! Whatever needs to be healed in your life will emerge with clarity on the Full Moon in PISCES & VIRGO on March 9; channel any escape urges along healthy, productive lines. Get ready - Spring is around the corner!

ARIES: Your personal goals and career ambitions are particularly high on your priority list as winter begins - it's the time for taking control of your life! With persistence, self-discipline and follow-throw, you'll have the power to achieve some significant long-term objectives now, financially as well as professionally. Friends, group activities and cooperative efforts will provide lots of fun & intellectual stimulation from January 19 on (and especially after Venus enters your sign on February 2). The travel bug bites from Valentine's Day on; make equal time after February 19 for a personal retreat (to tie up some loose ends).

TAURUS: You'll begin the New Year with a positive mental attitude & a desire to expand your horizons. Take advantage of any opportunities to travel, learn, teach, write, publish, promote yourself or catch up on your reading. Partnership & teamwork interactions will demand much energy through mid-February; you'll learn a lot about yourself from the mirroring they provide (strive for win/win outcomes. Increased public visibility and opportunities for professional advancement arise after January 19, and business, joint finances & contractual matters take priority from Valentine's Day on. Social activities bring you pleasure from February 23 on.

GEMINI: "Taking care of business" is your main theme at the beginning of this season; joint finances, taxes, insurance & legal matters may require more attention than usual Patient, disciplined & conscientious efforts, however, will bring permanent results. You'll be ready to cut loose, explore new vistas & experiment with alternative approaches after January 10; travel, educational or marketing plans could take off, especially after January 20. Work & health issues require your devoted energy through mid-February; after that, partnerships will become a big priority. Public & professional activity is accentuated after February 23.

CANCER: Partnerships take priority from Christmas Day on; it's time to join forces - together, much can be accomplished. A new relationship could begin, or an existing one may undergo some changes (mutuality is the key). Alignments with the right people could bring much financial benefit after January 19; get things in writing, however. You could be cruising off to a warm, exotic place after February 23 - it'll be time to get out of Dodge! You'll be intensely energized by a new hobby, project, business or romance up until mid-February; after that, it will be time to devote more energy into work and health matters.

LEO: You'll be absorbed with work & employment matters as winter begins; it's a time for assuming greater responsibilities on the job, restructuring procedures & organizing personnel. Take equal time for health care, exercise & relaxation. Teamwork is the name of the game from January 19 on; by joining forces with others, you'll reach new heights of self-discovery! The domestic scene requires more energy than usual through mid-February; you'll be ready to explore your creativity from Valentine's Day on (and perhaps a new love). Business, financial & legal matters will require some disciplined attention after February 18.

VIRGO: A creative, enterprising spirit carries you into the new year; you're ready to get a new project, hobby, business venture or love affair off the ground . After January 10, work-related matters come into focus; it'll be time to modernize your operations, release limiting routines and reorganize procedures or personnel. Health care will also take priority. You'll be mentally-stimulated & challenged by a variety of interests, activities & personal contacts through mid-February; after Valentine's Day, home & family matters require more of your energy. Partnerships & teamwork activity will entice you from February 23 on.

LIBRA: Comfort & security is your major priority during the first month of winter. Home, family & property responsibilities will be keeping you busy; you may want to remodel, redecorate, buy real estate or even consider a move. After January 19, your creativity & originality will be at a real high - don't hesitate to take some risks! You're highly motivated to get your personal finances under control through mid-February; after that, you'll want to get back into circulation, hit the road & catch up with your communications. Work & health issues will absorb your attention from February 19 on; consider a vacation, too.

SCORPIO: You're in a restless, inquisitive and communicative mode as winter begins - it's time to get back into circulation, reconnect with your grapevine, exchange ideas & information and take some short trips. After January 19, the emphasis shifts to the domestic scene - make whatever changes are necessary to create more solid & comfortable foundations. With Mars in Scorpio, you'll be expressing a highly assertive, energetic and take-charge attitude through mid-February; personal finances, investments and dietary matters will require more of your energy after that. You'll be inspired to start something new after February 18.

SAGITTARIUS: You're pulling inside and focusing on your financial & emotional security needs from Christmas on. Make a realistic assessment of your resources, investigate new sources of income and re-evaluate your diet & nutritional requirements. From January 19 on, you're ready to lighten up, get back in circulation and awaken to some new ideas, information and people (good time for networking activity). Much energy gets channeled into cleaning, sorting & filing through mid-February; clear the decks for a personal revitalization when Mars enters Sagittarius on Valentine's Day! Home & family matters are highlighted after February 18.

CAPRICORN: Happy Birthday! The spotlight's on you during this first month of winter; you're especially magnetic now, so enjoy the attention! Utilize this period to enhance your self-image, improve your appearance and restructure your personal style. From January 19 on, you'll be focusing on personal finances & resources; be inventive & explore alternative approaches to making, investing & spending your money. Social activities & cooperative projects will stimulate your life through mid-February; from Valentine's day on, you'll be tying up some important loose ends. Mental stimulation & short trips will keep you busy after February 18.

AQUARIUS: Completion is the name of the game as winter begins; it's time to clean out the closets, eliminate outworn things & attitudes, set up systems and clear the decks. You'll come out of hiding from January 19 on to celebrate life (and your birthday)! Much activity will be revolving around you - express yourself, spruce up your appearance and let your originality shine! Your career demands much time & energy through mid-February; from Valentine's Day on, your social life will be revitalized with some lively individuals who share common interests & ideals. After February 18, the focus is on finances.

PISCES: It's partytime! Friends, cultural activities & cooperative projects are accentuated as the new year begins. Some long-lasting relationships can be created now! From January 19 on, however, you'll want to retreat from the social activity, get some things accomplished and clear the decks (particularly in work & health-related areas). You have lots of energy available through mid-February to travel, learn, write, publish or promote yourself; long-distance communications are especially highlighted. From Valentine's Day on, your career goals take precedence. It's your turn to shine after February 18 - have a magical birthday month!