Welcome To Penny Thornton's Astrolutely.com

The Following Month Ahead Horoscopes Were Found:

1st February 2003 - 28th February 2003
The seventh house of relationships takes centre stage in February and while romance may be on many Leos� minds there could be plenty of other reasons why other people figure prominently in your affairs.

The first half of February has the best of the astrology - or maybe the most harmonious is the more accurate term, since the tougher alignments between the 15th and the end of the month will provide the �umph� necessary to get certain situations moving. Ideally, you need to bring forward the most important items on your agenda so that you are in a relatively free space during the second half of the month. Also, by dealing with any tricky issues when the sun shines, so to speak, you�ll make life a lot easier for yourself.

Sunday, the 16th brings together many diverse and powerful aspects, not least the full moon in your own sign - the only one this year. Especially if you have a birthday on or near 20th August this looks to be a pivotal period for life in general and relationships in particular. You may unconsciously have selected this mid-to-late February period as your wedding day or to celebrate a relationship. On the other hand, this may turn out to be a time when an extremely unexpected development takes place - one that changes the nature and direction of a marriage or a love affair. In the following days, Saturn and Neptune join in the fun making this either the most fantastic period for a long while or the most unsettling. And while your love life may be the focus for much of the planetary action, there could be other aspects of your existence that are changed by the actions of other people or through developments in a working partnership or friendship. And this is especially so if you belong to the late August birthday group.

Venus - the planet of love and harmony - heads into the area of relationships at the beginning of March so it is possible that any damage sustained by a relationship in February can be patched up the following month. Also, if Valentine�s Day fails to live up to expectations next month�s stars could more than compensate.

1st January 2003 - 31st January 2003
As a New Year comes in you will be more determined than ever to make your dreams come true. And for much of 2003 you certainly have a helpmate in the form of Jupiter. However, with Mercury in retrograde between the 2nd and 23rd don't get disheartened if your efforts appear to be getting you nowhere now. They will and it may be that you need to use Mercury's retreat to revise a plan or two and reconnect with people who were once an important part of your past. Sometimes a step backwards can help you see your way ahead more clearly.

Venus and Mars will be moving through the area of creativity and pleasure so January still holds the promise of celebrations, holidays and fun times. More importantly January's stars enable you to create a new vision for your future and bring into being - albeit at a seed-like stage - new ventures and friendships. You are at your feisty and charismatic best so it won't be difficult to attract people towards you, whether for business/career or romance.

The other area of your horoscope in the spotlight is work and it seems a new blue-print needs making here. You are no good at following other people's lead, however, you cannot entirely do without other people's contributions and co-operation. The full moon of the 18th will bring any work issues to a head with a view to resolving them, but it may be that a brand new start has to be made - and in new surroundings.

To a great extent Uranus helps you here too. The first twelve days of January put this planet in the ascendant so your ability to tolerate deeply unsatisfactory conditions will be at a minimum. And while I would not recommend making a move that renders you up the creek without a paddle it may be that you are better off without a certain situation and at the very least you need to make some plans to extricate yourself in the next few weeks.

Once Mercury goes direct (23rd) you will be clearer in your mind about certain factors and although I would still recommend caution aspects between then and the end of the month could well move mountains for you.

1st March 2003 - 31st March 2003
During the course of each year the sun moves through the twelve houses of the horoscope thereby bringing into focus each area of life for a four-week period. Until 21st March the sun will be transiting the complex eighth house of your solar chart so, on the one hand, this is a prime period for confronting deeply buried issues and, on the other, a time to explore the deeper layers of relationships and commitments.

Money matters come top of the list of buried issues now. If you have been ignoring your credit card statements or failing to reply to a letter from a financial institution this is the time to deal with such things - or they will become rather too hot to handle in the period between the 8th and 18th. Likewise, if there are any imbalances in a relationship or any feelings that have been suppressed these are likely to surface now. The chances are that other people will come to you with their concerns, rather than the other way round, but since Leo is a sign that needs to be in control, you will be in a more comfortable position if you grasp an emotional or financial nettle by the stalk.

Sorting out borrowings could be a major task for March and if you are coming out of a relationship or leaving an organization expect to be talking tough talk. Your financial future does seem to be in the hands of other people at the moment so you would be better agreeing to compromise or at least appearing to co-operate rather than pushing your �opponents� over the edge. Monday, 10th and the 17th/18th could prove to be the most delicate dates for discussions and decision-making.

The lovely Venus will be gracing the area of relationships between the 2nd and 27th making this one of the best periods of the year for finding Mr or Ms Right and for making major relationship decisions. And if you have chosen this month to marry you�re certainly in synch with your stars. Indeed Venus could do much to offset the potential difficulties of the 8th-19th�s alignments. More specifically, if a situation turns pear-shaped in March, a colleague, friend, partner or advisor could prove to be a valuable mediator. The weekend of the 1st, the 8th-11th and the weekend of the 15th are all dates when fate could take a big hand in your affairs.

1st April 2003 - 30th April 2003
Life is fun! No, I�m not joking. This is not an April fool. The alignments are far less stressed out than in recent months and you in tandem should reap the benefit. All right, life may not be perfect, in fact in some areas of the globe it may be difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel, but these stars are doing their best to soften the worst of the difficulties and they will eventually produce that much needed L.A.T.E.O.T.T. (light at the end of the tunnel!)

The sun in fellow fire sign, Aries, is focused on the area of travel and long-distance objectives so you could be on your way out of the country or at least making travel plans for the future - and with Mercury set to turn retrograde on the 26th, it would be advisable to tie up the details and make your most vital connections before then. If travel does not already occupy a significant part of your month�s plans then this area of the horoscope will enable you to get a wider perspective on where you�re headed in general and on any problems in particular. Sometimes Leo can be a little tunnel-visioned about situations and acquiring distance can prove a real help.

Aside from enjoying life more, some Leos will be able to launch or make serious progress with a creative endeavour. Here again, a foreign factor may help, whether this means you will receive input from a person from abroad or whether a different strategy will set you on course for success.

The full moon of the 16th may prove to be one the less easy days of the month, possibly because the lines of communication will become crossed or an item of information will send the barometer soaring upwards. Whatever you do, check your facts before you reach for the shotgun (!) and be sure that you have clearly communicated your ideas and intentions.

Nevertheless, a largely progressive and positive few weeks.

1st May 2003 - 31st May 2003
Not known for your reclusive tendencies or your reticence you will have no trouble making the most of your May stars. The sun, Mercury and Venus are grouped at the top of your chart - the area of ambitions and life-direction - urging you ever onwards and upwards. Of course, with two eclipses and Neptune also on the astrological menu, that upwardly mobile progress could become rather protracted and convoluted. Then there�s little Mercury, ploughing backwards through the zodiac until the 20th, encouraging delays and detours.

Still, I�m not going to backtrack along with Mercury by withdrawing my opening statement: May offers you opportunities to advance your cause, whether in regard to your career or your personal aspirations. And even though you may not receive immediate rewards for your labours, or it may take persistent efforts to get people to be available to you, those efforts will not be wasted. You may also find that employers and people who you would like to impress come to you with offers and suggestions - the periods around the 8th and 19th are particularly favourable and opportunity-laden.

Another reason why you may have to be prepared for delays and circumnavigation is Neptune. Neptune remains in the area of relationships and although there may be some moments of sheer magic conjured up by this Master Magician of the planets, there is also the prospect of your being seriously misled or let down by people with whom you live or work. The 3rd, 12th, 14th, 16th, and 27th are all days when Neptune is at his mysterious best and you must be very careful not to judge situations by their appearance.

The eclipse of the 16th falls on the life-direction axis of your solar chart, and it has a connection with the lunar eclipse of last November. Thus, it may be that May sees the result of a decision or an action taken last November. Certainly, this would be an ideal moment to look at the overall direction you are headed in and to at least consider ways in which to re-orient yourself, should you be clearly not on track! All full moons have an end-of-a-chapter feel to them and when they are eclipsed this is twice as evident. Especially if you have a mid-August birthday, May could find you making a radical career or home change.

May is anything but a non-happening month - don�t let events take you by surprise: be ready to make your move.

1st May 2003 - 1st May 2003
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this months forecast has been delayed! Please call back again soon. Penny

1st June 2003 - 30th June 2003
Sometimes Leos take a leaf out of their opposite sign�s book (Aquarius) and declare they want to be alone. Not so in June. This month has togetherness and teamwork written all over it. On the one hand there will be many opportunities for you to enjoy life with friends and, on the other, a friend or colleague could be the focus for some unexpected and memorable developments.

June, like February and March before it, had some strong alignments, which were reflected in the global events that unfolded in front of our eyes, largely by way of our television screens. And maybe you too had some experiences that affected your general outlook, if not a lot more besides. So, it may just be that this month�s oppositions and squares involving Uranus and Pluto will coincide with key world events, leaving you to enjoy all the togetherness and creativity that is on offer. Nevertheless, it would probably be wise to tread carefully with those situations that and those people who are central to your security and stability. And the times you will need to be most careful will be around the 6th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 23rd - 27th.

Mars will be resident in the area of relationships until the 17th, which supplies another reason for doing your level best not to make unnecessary enemies. However, Mars also chivies up a lacklustre love life so for some Leos June is going to be an exciting, high-octane month, especially in regard to romance and one-on-one interactions. Your best approach with new people in your life is to give them plenty of space and not to seem too sensitive or over-controlling. Those Leos in long-term relationships should not forget how important play is, whether you pursue sports and other activities together or you lighten up difficult moments with humour.

On the 21st the sun moves into the secluded twelfth house of your solar chart, earmarking the beginning of a four-week period when you should focus on the inner things of life. From this point you should avoid over-cramming your timetable and endeavour to find some quality time for yourself, and yourself alone.

1st July 2003 - 31st July 2003
After the storm that was June, here come some gentler planetary alignments. Ideally you should be heading off to some desert island idyll in order to re-charge your batteries but, if money, time and responsibilities make a holiday get-away only in your dreams, at least do your best to devote the occasional evening to doing what pleases you. With a cluster of planets in the reclusive twelfth house of the horoscope, the greater part of July is all about attending to the inner-you and taking a little more care of your physical and emotional health. The period around the full moon of the 13th is one of the most sensitive parts of the month: your reserves are likely to be low so your ability to counteract any undue stress or strain on the system will be impaired. Thus, if you have the choice, why not make this weekend the one when you cut down your commitments and simply chill.

By contrast and also by coincidence Mercury arrives in your sign on the 13th giving you a platform for your ideas and helping you to spread the word in all manner of the phrase. You may also begin a season of travel, whether in the sense of short but frequent trips or one or two marathon missions. Mercury�s transit of your sign will help you make connections and get one or more plans off the ground. And if you�ve been out of touch with someone, you may well find that he or she suddenly comes back on the scene.

With the sun�s entry into your sign on the 23rd the time for battery re-charging is over: you should feel replenished and ready for action. And even if this proves to be the theory rather then the reality, the arrival of the sun in Leo should produce a psychological boost. From this point your ability to influence situations is greater and thanks to a combination of Jupiter (26th), Venus and a new moon (29th) there could be some really positive news heading your way. Certainly, Venus�s transit of your sign ups your charisma-rating and sets the stage for a romantic and event-full August.

1st August 2003 - 31st August 2003
Birthday month, a new solar cycle - and what a new beginning for some Leos. A spectacular alignment involving Jupiter and Uranus later in the month could dramatically change your future prospects. But first things first.

Beautiful Venus will be transiting your sign until the 22nd so the opportunities to attract love and harmony into your life are legion. Well, maybe that�s an exaggeration but Venus always adds to the quality of life and if you have already selected this period of the year for a celebration, a holiday or some other special occasion you can almost guarantee a successful and enjoyable time. Venus and her principles of love could also make August special because of a new romance and even the most tired and tedious of relationships can get back its lustre thanks to Venus.

The full moon of the 12th highlights the relationship axis of your solar chart - yet another sign of the fulfilment of the promise of love. However, as you may well know by now, full moons can also bring difficulties and dis-ease to a head so this mid-period of August may prove significant because a relationship reaches crunch point, after which separate beds may be the only answer! Of course, relationships other than romantic ones can also zoom into centre stage thanks to this full moon, making mid-August a time when you think twice about your involvement with an organization or a working relationship.

On the 18th the sun and Venus conjoin in your sign - a combination intent on replacing discord with harmony and generating a successful climate in which to go about your business. From this point a series of impressive connections involving the sun and Venus begin, earmarking the latter part of August as a time of great things. Admittedly Uranus can be a wild card introducing some very unexpected developments and emotionally charging events but if you have been wanting things to change, Uranus will more than help you out. Especially if you have a birthday between the 18th and 23rd of August what happens at this time could produce a 180 degree life turn-around. Just don�t make any statements or take any actions that you are in any doubt about!

1st September 2003 - 30th September 2003
Each September the sun transits the area of finance and self-worth, giving you an excellent opportunity to examine your assets! So rather than stick your head under the duvet and pretend that everything from your bank account to your plastic is perfect, take the time to comb through your accounts. Between the 5th and 17th the planets are in confrontation mode and while this may suggest you have a battle on your hands, the more likely effect is that you will be looking financial facts in the face and making some timely and expedient moves. Some Leos will make a proverbial killing under these dynamic stars, while others will be shedding commitments and doing their best to ensure that their financial ship makes it through some choppy waters. And even if you experience no major monetary gains or losses this is nonetheless a key period of the year for making investments and endeavouring to build a more stable and secure future for yourself.

Self-worth isn�t just about finances though and the aforementioned period could instead produce events that cause you to question how much you are worth to someone (or a company) and vice versa - how valuable certain people are to you. Pluto - and it is this transformational planet that is at the heart of the alignments - brings hidden issues to the surface. Sometimes this means feelings that you didn�t know you had and sometimes facts and incidents that have been concealed emerge with a flourish. One way or another this period of September is very revealing. Yes, there may be happenings on the political and international stage that prove compelling consumption, but there will almost certainly be one event - probably around the full moon of the 10th - that you personally might describe as illuminating.

Mercury will be in retrograde until the 20th so extra care will be required with travel and negotiations of the written and verbal kind, however, there is usually something positive to be gained during a Mercury backtrack - if only the opportunity to reflect on past events.

Not perhaps the zippiest and zaniest month of 2003 but you should enter October a little older and a great deal wiser.

1st October 2003 - 31st October 2003
Whatever the weather may be doing, you are fairly breezing through life, with the wind full in your sails. Communications is the buzzword for October, whether you obey your starry inclinations and travel far and wide, or whether you are wheeling, dealing, learning from others or giving them lessons. Indeed, you�ll probably learn more about people and situations this month than in the rest of 2003 put together.

Saturn is a domineering presence, reminding you of old scores to be settled and firm plans to be set in place and, in regard to learning and lessons, this planet could prove highly illuminating. During the second and third weeks of the month you may well get a little reminder of unfinished business and it will behove you, right from the 1st, to deal with any financial or personal bogies that you have been burying under the carpet! Saturn spells r-e-a-l-i-t-y and handled in a sensible constructive way, this planet can help you make solid progress and consolidate your position. Saturn, left ignored and isolated reappears with a vengeance later, probably as you leave the port of 2003 and set sail into 2004. (Translated, this means Christmas and the New Year.) Do not accept flimsy promises or assume a deficit will be compensated for later: opt for the worse case scenario and act accordingly. Then, if events turn in your favour, you�ll be in an invincible position.

From the 9th Venus will transiting the fourth house of your horoscope, thereby encouraging you to make peace with warring family factions and pretty up the home base. Efforts to implement more harmony in the heart of your life, will not go unrewarded. Indeed, if you have been considering moving house, the October period is an excellent time to put your home on the market, provided you have made the very most of its assets. And, if you�re looking for romance, you�re more likely to find it close to home than in one of those far away ports.

1st November 2003 - 30th November 2003
We seem to have had more than one month this year when there have been less than wonderful alignments at work and November is no exception. Indeed, November is exceptional in its astrological challenges! (Should you be interested in finding out more, please go to the home page and click on Harmonic Convergences, Eclipses and other awe-inspiring matters.)

Two eclipses in a month are likely to carve their signatures on amazing world events and if these eclipses make links to planets and points in your natal chart they will leave you too with a lasting memory in the form of life-defining moments. There is, of course, no reason not to expect a wave of totally unexpected good fortune but I always prefer to err on the cautious side and assume if things can go wrong they probably will!

With the sun and the first eclipse (9th) highlighting the life-direction axis of your solar chart, the main events of November are likely to take place on the home front or in regard to your job/role in life. These events may have been in the pipe-line for a while so they will come as no surprise but even so house moves, new arrivals and job changes can cause disruption and a degree of emotional turmoil. Certainly, if you are already nurturing doubts about an endeavour or concerned about someone�s lack of enthusiasm for you or your ideas, putting your eggs in one basket, so to speak, is not the best of ideas. Push comes to shove under these kind of configurations, so while you may finally get the courage to make a radical move, so too can other people reach an all-or-nothing decision.

Usually in my monthly column I point out dates of importance but this November there are so many that I think the best approach would be to keep your wits about you the entire time and to be prepared to act calmly and philosophically in the event of difficulties or derailments of one sort or another! Don�t take it personally, Leo, we�re all under these same stormy skies.

1st December 2003 - 31st December 2003
�Tis the season to be jolly! Or so the carol goes, and with the sun in the fun-packed fifth house you should have more than your share of opportunities to shimmy and shine. Then again with Saturn and Pluto along for the ride, there could be the occasional blip on the happiness barometer.

The fifth house is not only the pleasure centre of the horoscope but also the area in which creativity flourishes. Thus, the little things of life could be supremely important this December. Whether you are encouraging the younger members of the family in their Christmas productions or bringing one of your own into being, you get a flavour of living in the spotlight. There�s also a rather romantic feel to the second half of the month. Venus heads into the area of love and relating on the 21st, providing the perfect setting for meeting someone who turns on your Christmas lights and also for relationship improvements. Indeed, with the moon connecting with Venus in this same area on the 25th, someone could give you a seriously expensive demonstration of just how special you are.

But before you get carried away with the idea that December is one long extravaganza, there is that small matter of Pluto and Saturn! These two planets are active around the 6th, 12th, 22nd, and 31st, so around these dates you must do your best to be long-suffering and sweet-natured. Depending upon factors in your natal chart the middle and end of the month could exacerbate problems in an endeavour or an association, and while you may be able to patch over any problems, you may need to think seriously about throwing good money after bad, so to speak.

Mars arrives in the long haul sector of your horoscope on the 16th, which may set a trend for travel and foreign connections but with communications chief, Mercury, turning retrograde the following day, the usual delays and frustrations with getting from A to B must be built into your plans.

As for New Year�s Eve - a time to keep your feet on the ground, even when the champagne corks are a-popping.

1st January 2004 - 31st January 2004
As the end of 2003 approached you probably felt the sobering presence of Saturn but by the 1st January he is well and truly with us all. Now, this may simply mean that you suddenly become acutely aware of the uphill struggle humanity is really facing and that no one can be truly happy if half the world is in pain, poverty and torment - not to mention what we�re doing to the planet itself. On the other hand, you may have problems of your own, which are difficult to suppress, even during the New Year�s celebrations. However, once the first seven days have passed, the astrology lightens up and in tandem you could feel a lot better about your prospects. Of course, it is entirely possible that Saturn�s input over the New Year will help you consolidate an aspect of your life and a happy decision will be made.

The area of work and well-being is in the spotlight so you may have a hard-working start to 2004. On the other hand, it may become glaringly obvious to you that you are not happy in your work and that your talents are not being appreciated or given an appropriate outlet. With this in mind, you may want to discuss your future prospects with employers, employees or colleagues. If so, might I suggest you do this around the 8th and 9th or the 29th. These two dates put Jupiter in the mix and this planet encourages positive outcomes and generally raises hopes and spirits.

On the 20th the sun enters the area of relationships and the following day there is a new moon here: at the very least from this point on you can expect other people to play a more vital role in your affairs - it is a time to talk through plans for the future and to listen to a partner�s needs or those of an organization. New moons inspire new endeavours and bring new people into your life, whether for romantic or business reasons; new moons also signal a new cycle for your relationship life.

In a nutshell, the month ends on a far more positive note than it began.

1st February 2004 - 29th February 2004
Until the 19th the sun ploughs its way through the zone of love and relating, so this is a month when other people call the shots and you get to discover what�s really going on with a partner or colleague. The full moon of the 6th is the first key date for your diary: this full moon is in your own sign and it is the only one this year, so events that take place around this time tend to end a pattern of life and enable you to experience closure and completion. And since this full moon falls on a Friday and Valentine�s Day on the following Saturday, you may have chosen one of these two weekends for a romantic celebration.

Sometimes full moons can make life more emotional and small upsets turn into full scale dramas, so do your best to remain serene and open to alternatives around this 6th and 14th. The 14th brings Venus and Saturn together - not always such a happy couple - so while you may be able to set a relationship in cement, so to speak, you may not feel as wonderful as you expected to feel, and events could produce the odd little problem. Neptune is also in the mix on this weekend, so it is possible that people fail to show for a gathering or messages have gone astray leading to some misunderstandings. The antidote to all of this is good pre-planning and a sense of irony!

From the 19th, Uranus dominates the astrology, and we get the usual mix of happy surprises, unexpected but positive turns of events and, of course, some less than welcome out of the blue announcements and changes to our agendas. Since Uranus is currently in one of the financial zones of your chart, you could make an unexpected monetary gain or loss. Certainly, you need to be careful with money and valuables at this time and avoid making impulse purchases or rash judgments.

Nevertheless, not a bad month.

1st March 2004 - 31st March 2004
You�re probably already thinking money - it�s the time of year in Britain for the Chancellor to deliver his budget to the country, and the right time for Leos everywhere to consider their financial position - and that means taking a hard look at your bank and credit card statements, and devising ways to improve your personal economy. Rather more specifically, this is a month when joint finances are in the frame, so discussions with business partners and spouses over who does what and where it all goes, are timely and effective. Property sales and purchases are highlighted, as are negotiations with mortgage lenders, banks and financial institutions.

In many ways, this is a complex month: planets transiting the eighth house of the horoscope tend to make you more introspective and extra emotionally needy. And aside from righting any financial wrongs and putting your monetary house in order, March provides opportunities for you to touch on the deeper layers of relationships. A relationship that started some three months ago, may well reach a critical point between the 6th and 13th: do your best not to be overly needy and demanding during this time; giving someone a little more room to manoeuvre is appropriate - you know the old saying: you can�t lose what�s rightfully yours.

Mars and Venus are both transiting the career and life-direction zone of your solar chart, so some good progress can be made here. This is an excellent month to market your assets and to approach people who can help you take a step up the ladder of success. And, with an already strong focus on property and investment, March is a prime time to buy and sell a home or put money into a business venture.

On the 20th the sun heads into the ninth house of far horizons, increasing your desire to put a distance between yourself and any problems, and also encouraging you to look further afield for professional and personal fulfillment. More about this next month.

1st April 2004 - 30th April 2004
The last three months have been a pretty hard slog for almost all zodiac members, so we have deserved our time off for good behaviour, which is one way of interpreting April�s stars. The sun will be highlighting the zone of overseas connections and long-range plans, urging you to get off the treadmill and away from the routine aspects of life. You should also be looking at the bigger picture regarding one or more situations. And even if you�re not boarding a plane to foreign parts, you could be spurred into making travel plans for the future.

And speaking of travel! Our communication�s expert, Mercury, has taken it upon himself to go on a sabbatical in April - in other words, this planet turns retrograde on the 6th and won�t get back on the straight and narrow until the 30th. Clearly, over Easter in particular, this is going to add to the congestion and general anxiety-levels at travel centres and on the roads, but it will enable you to reconnect with old friends and family, and it will also give you a chance to get to the roots of issues. If, as often happens under retrograde Mercury, you experience difficulties sewing up plans and getting organizations to respond to your needs, don�t give up, exactly, but channel your energies elsewhere - sometimes there�s a very good reason why delays and no-shows occur.

The partial eclipse of the 19th takes place in the area of far horizons, indicating for some Leos, especially those with late August birthdays, that a meeting with someone from afar or on foreign territory, could open up new professional or romantic territory. Certainly, if offers reach you at this time, or you have a mind-expanding idea, it should be followed through.

April is not a perfect month, but compared to the rest of 2004 so far, it�s absolutely fabulous!

1st May 2004 - 31st May 2004
May�s grand opening could promise more than it delivers, but even if the earth doesn�t move for you, you would be wise to take note of any anomalies or unusual signals being sounded by people, especially those individuals connected with work or those who could have a bearing on your future happiness and success. The good news is that Mercury is heading in the right direction, so that the trend for delays and frustrating no-shows will clear up: the bad new is, that what may emerge in the way of information could be a tad tricky - at least during the first seven days of May.

The 4th�s lunar eclipse straddles the life-direction axis, and thrusts into prominence any unresolved issues regarding your career, on the one hand, and property/family matters on the other. For some Leos, this eclipse signals a house move or a job change, and in general this full moon ushers in the end of a small or large chapter of life: it is an appropriate time to bring a halt to going-nowhere situations, and to pursue new avenues for your talents and interests. This first week of May could be confusing, so take things one step at a time: follow my usual motto - when you don�t know what to do, do nothing!

With feisty Mars slipping into the secluded twelfth house on the 7th, your interest in all things metaphysical may be sparked: you may dream more, and have stronger sense impressions. All this is to the good, but at the same time, your fears could be exaggerated and your levels of trust will be at an all time low. This will all pass, of course, but keep reminding yourself that your imagination is running high and maybe, just maybe you�ve got it wrong!

The last week of May, like the first, packs a powerful punch - not a time to issue a threat or a promise without being prepared to vote with your feet.

1st June 2004 - 30th June 2004
If June was a symphony, it would open on a minor chord (1stJune), lose all sense of harmony by the end of first theme (3rd June) and continue on its discordant passage until the opening of the second movement on the 17th! Metaphors aside, prepare yourself for a bumpy ride until the 17th, and even then it won�t be the smoothest of journeys to the 30th.

The best thing you can say about your June stars is that they have the power to transform any aspect of your life that is overdue for some kind of make-over: they could also help you bring something rather marvellous into being - births of some description are redolent in this astrology. The less laudable side to these alignments is that they will expose faults at the basis of endeavours and associations, and they will give you no soft options. You may be surprised at the alliances that are made or broken this month.

Mars arrives in your sign on the 23rd, so, if you have needed to get moving and motoring in personal or professional terms you now have some inspiration. Mars will stir your ambitions and give you the courage to take steps that you have been avoiding for some time. What you will have to watch is that in the efforts to put your life and your plans on course you don�t ruffle other people�s feathers. You need friends more than ever now, not enemies.

1st July 2004 - 31st July 2004
Usually, when the sun transits the twelfth house of your solar chart, I advise rest and retreat - you�re not at your most lively and far more likely to overreact to the everyday ups and downs of life. However, this July, Mars and Mercury are in your sign, providing you with energy and ambition, and also giving you the gift of the gab. In many ways, July is a month of action, yet there are also indications that you should be cautious with those actions, since there is a strong possibility of misunderstandings, misinterpretations, if not downright lies and deceit!

As you know, since you are a fire sign, you can be impulsive and hot-headed on occasion: once you get a bee in your bonnet about someone or something, you will not let it go. However, both these tendencies should be resisted this month. Before you act on rumour or your intuition, please check the facts, and if you are going around in circles over a situation, do your best to leave it alone and channel your energies in other directions. Especially during the first half of the month, and particularly on the 2nd and 8th, your resources are low and you may feel extra sensitive and vulnerable: all the more reason therefore to take time out.

Between the 10th and 17th Neptune is a big player on the astrological game-board, so nothing is quite as it seems. You may have a great romantic date, or you may escape to paradise via some other route, but nothing is solid and real at this time. Just bearing this in mind will help you treat information with skepticism and you may well avoid landing in pot-holes - financial and otherwise - through lack of attention!

The latter part if the month is more suited to the Leo temperament - you have your optimism and determination back and there could be some social events to attend that will be both fun and informative! The full moon of the 31st flanks the relationship axis, making this a weekend to cement a relationship or consider the advantages of the single life!

1st August 2004 - 31st August 2004
This looks to be an action packed month. Mars, the planet of attack, graces your sign until the 9th, giving you the courage and determination to achieve your objectives, if not fulfil a dream. Mars may in the process stir up some conflict and controversy, but at least you won�t be complaining that life is dull.

Venus is lurking away in the subterranean twelfth house, so don�t be surprised if your love life takes a back seat to more pressing matters, and if someone seems to be cooling off, or there is a physical distance between you and a lover, try not to over-dramatize the situation: love affairs and relationships have seasons, and this is just a quiet one. When Venus enters your sign in early September, love and romance will be back on the map, and you too will feel more loving and contented.

Mercury, alas, is retrograde between the 10th and 30th, so although this may help you go on a retreat, it will also make travel, transportation and information-gathering a bit of a nightmare. Try to get as forward as you can with paperwork and your affairs generally then once the 10th has arrived, set your mind in patience mode.

On the weekend of the 1st and the period between the 17th and 28th, Uranus hogs the astro-limelight: aside from the upsets to timetables and technological blips that accompany Uranian influences, these dates are also ones when tensions arise in national and international affairs. Therefore do your bit to add to global harmony by remaining cool, calm and compassionate if things don�t go quite according to your plans.

1st September 2004 - 30th September 2004
Well, I can't say September's stars have me reaching for the sparklers and the ticker-tape. They're rather on the gloomy side, although I should know from experience that when the stars get tough we humans get moving!

I do indeed think that the next few weeks are going to be tough on us all. We saw a lot of general instability in August - not least the devastating effect of hurricanes and flooding in various parts of the globe - and it is a pattern that continues through much of September. It's Pluto as opposed to Uranus that is in charge of cosmic affairs this month, and although this planet is at an harmonious angle to your sign, helping you transform certain aspects of your life, it may nonetheless produce some challenges for you too. The period to watch most closely is between the 7th and 22nd: while there may be some positive world developments at this time, it is more likely that we will see some escalations of problems in global hot spots, and conflict, controversy and confrontation are going to be the buzzwords of the day. My advice would be to expect some opposition to your ideas and plans, and to be very accommodating when it comes to dealing with other people in general and finances in particular.

On the plus side, you can resolve a financial problem, and right the balance but, on the minus side, you may have some difficult negotiations with financial institutions or people with whom you share monetary responsibilities. And if it's not money that is the cause of some concern in September, it could be a romantic or business relationship that starts to head south!

Fortunately, Venus comes to the rescue here. This planet enters your sign on the 6th and will remain there until the first week of October. Venus is always a plus - she enhances your image and gives you the edge in competitive situations. Then there's lurve! With Venus in your sign you should feel more loving, which in turn draws new romantic interests into your life and peps up established liaisons. This is certainly the month to join a dating agency, or send some mating signals to someone on your must-have list. And although I have discussed the difficulties of September, Venus will provide some considerable compensation in the form of happy events and good spirits.

1st October 2004 - 31st October 2004
Communication is key in October. Planets in the area of travel and communications put you in the driver's seat, primarily in terms of your initiating discussions, exchanging information and getting ideas off the ground, but you may also find that you are doing a fair amount of travelling.

Last month was a challenge, to put it mildly, so October's more encouraging influences should get you moving and motoring once again: don't be too proud to get back in touch with someone with whom you had a difference of opinion and if an individual or an organization opens a door once more, don't slam it in their face! Negotiation, communication, dialogue and debate are the way to go in October.

You may also be keen to add to your bank of knowledge and information. Some Leos could start a study course, acquire extra skills or credentials while others will find a Self-help book hard to put down. And one way or another, you'll end October a lot wiser than you began it!

While October's alignments pale in comparison to September's it still has its moments, most notably between the 6th and 14th and around the 19th and 28th. Money matters require care in the early part of the month, and while there is a trend for unexpected windfalls and brilliant financial break-throughs, there is also a possibility that a monetary agreement will come to an end, and in surprising circumstances. Saturn and a solar eclipse could make the period around the 13th a little unpredictable too: here you will have to be prepared to look at an endeavour or an association with a pair of realistic eyes, and to consider new ways forward, even if that may mean a loss of face. The total lunar eclipse of the 28th is a more intriguing animal. This eclipse straddles the life-direction axis and is especially significant for the late July and early August birthdays. Quite what it portends will vary from Leo to Leo, but since all full moons resonate to the theme of endings and beginnings this is at the very least an appropriate time to consider what in your life has purpose and direction, and what does not!

1st November 2004 - 30th November 2004
As the year comes nearer its end, you could be examining your original hopes and intentions for 2004 and debating whether any or all of them have come to fruition. So with roughly eight weeks to go until 2005 rolls in, and with go-getting Mars at the base of your chart, you're in go-get-'em mode. Until the 11th, travel and communications get the best and worst of this Mars energy, which means you can put your ideas across forcefully and persuasively, thereby achieving your objectives and cutting a swathe through a large work load. You may also be able to sweet-talk someone from whom you have been estranged, or get a working relationship back on track.

As the month goes by, there is an increasing emphasis on family and domestic matters. This is quite the month to make changes to the home itself, whether in the form of structural alterations, redecoration or refurbishment, and for some Leos a house move is on the cards. The home may not feel exactly restful, and in general you can forget about seeking peace and quiet in November - it's one of those months when you'll be going at full tilt virtually every day.

Saturn and Uranus share the honours this month: in other words it is these two planets and their principles that colour the events that happen in our personal lives and those upon the world's stage. While Saturn helps us face reality and do our duty, Uranus urges us to break free of the chains that hold us to the past. So with these two themes playing long and loud, on the one hand, you need to careful not to cut corners or exceed your limits and, on the other, you should look for new and very different ways forward in the event of an endeavour stalling or someone refusing to dance to your tune. The periods around the 6th, 20th and 26th are the most dynamic yet also the most demanding.

1st December 2004 - 31st December 2004
If you love crackers and colourful displays (and we're talking Uranus and Pluto here, not the Christmas decorations), you're going to love this December. These two planets are on display throughout the month, and although they're not centre stage of your solar chart they can still cause some chaos and confusion. Add to this a retrograde Mercury, and you will have to be very patient when travelling and prepared to wait longer than usual for people to get back to you with their answers and decisions.

The plus factor about the Pluto alignments of the 7th - 14th is that they take place in the creative zone of your chart, thus Pluto's transformational theme may well apply to a birth of some description: for some Leos, this may turn out to be the start of a new venture, for others it will be a new romance/friendship and a few can expect a real birth, whether in your own family or a close friend's. The trouble with Pluto, however, is that issues buried beneath the surface tend to erupt in force, so this same mid-period of December could be one when already tense situations reach breaking point, and people around and about you resort to extreme actions.

In an ideal world, Christmas would be a low key one this year - you need plenty of TLC and not a lot of pressures and demands. However, if you've got loads of parties to go to and many people to be surrounded by and attended to, be prepared for hang-overs of one description or another.

Mars and Uranus bring in the New Year, so this is not only a sign that old traditions should go by the ball in favour of new ones but that 2004 marks the end of an important chapter of life.

1st January 2005 - 31st January 2005
The year opens on a profound note. With Uranus and Pluto forging dynamic angles to Mars, Venus and Mercury, your resolutions and affirmations have real power behind them. So much so, that some Leos will be experiencing major life changes within the first two weeks of January. These life changes may have been in the pipeline for some time while others may come about through circumstances beyond your control. Three areas of your horoscope are in focus here - those of creative endeavours, work and relationships, so for many Leos, January brings career changes, new surroundings and new associations.

Bringing new things into being was also December's theme, and news of pregnancies and births notwithstanding, new romances can begin under January's stars and new directions appear. Nevertheless, Uranus and Pluto are not renowned for the ease they bring to life, so even with welcome arrivals and departures upheaval and anxiety could be part of the package.

As I mentioned in my year-ahead stars for you, Saturn will enter your sign in mid-July, thus beginning one of the most formative periods of the last fifteen years. Saturn helps you put your life on solid ground, and in the process you gain wisdom and stature yet he also exposes weaknesses that will affect your growth in the long term, and these have to be addressed, sometimes in rather painful ways. With this in mind, the Saturn aspects of the 10th - 14th and the 25th - 27th January could prove to be very useful: cracks in situations may well appear then, and they should not be ignored but faced with courage and determination. These are excellent opportunities to put together alternative plans and insurance policies of one description or another. You may not need them now, but you could do later in the year.

The 25th January produces the only full moon of the year in your sign, so its empowering principles should be put to good use. Relationships swing into prominence from this point, making the late January and most of February a premium period for weddings engagements and major relationship decisions.

1st February 2005 - 28th February 2005
Are you ready to be romanced? I hope so, because these are just about the most romantic stars ever. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration but with the sun, Venus and Mercury all gathered together in the area of relationships for Valentine's Day, you've got all the planetary turbo-power you need to launch a love affair into orbit and set a string of relationship wrongs to rights.

Neptune is also wrapped up in February's relationship package, and if you've been a regular reader of this column you'll already know that there is more than one side to this planet of the deeps. Neptune attunes us to the mystical and the divine: we find our spiritual centre thanks to this planet and when the seventh house of relationships is involved we can connect at a soul level with other people. Thus, for many Leos, especially those with early August birthdays, February could be the month you become engaged, marry or meet the 'One'. Neptune, however, does not always link us to the divine via the happiest of routes: it can create chaos in our love lives and lead to a sense of being rejected, abandoned or betrayed. So, sadly, one or two Leos may discover that their perfect other is in fact rather imperfect. And just in case you need to know when Neptune is at his most apparent, pop the 1st, 8th, 14th and 21st in your diaries.

Until the 17th the focus is fairly and squarely on relationships and other people but from the 18th onwards finances enter the spotlight. The full moon of the 24th could signal the end of a financial commitment or the completion of a monetary arrangement. Any financial mistakes are likely to reveal themselves at this point, and if your spending has got out of hand you'll probably see the extent of the damage at this time. Indeed, while the first three weeks of the month are relatively sweet and harmonious, the final week is volatile and certainly enlightening.

Nonetheless, you shouldn't leave February empty-handed or down hearted.

1st March 2005 - 31st March 2005
Facts and figures count in March. And why? Well, the area of financial and emotional exchange is in the spotlight, so you should take advantage of these powerful alignments to put your finances on a firmer basis, and iron out the wrinkles in close emotional relationships. The eighth house of the horoscope (which is highlighted for much of March) is a complex area: you'll have to dig deep for answers and you'll need to be prepared for other people to have the upper hand, but what you discover and resolve will prove eminently worthwhile, and in some cases will amount to a whole new start.

In some ways, this is an excellent period to construct new financial agreements and to invest in property, and even if cash is in short supply there will be opportunities to turn a small investment into a large one. Have the confidence, courage and determination to tackle a financial problem, and you will not regret it: ignore a distress signal, head down de river of denial and your ship of dreams will develop a serious leak.

As for close, personal relationships: either this is a month when a relationship gets deeper and more intense or it is a period when a partner's behaviour will require some understanding, and maybe, just maybe, a painful issue will have to be confronted. The 1st, 10th, 14th and 18th are all dates upon which Pluto is highly active, and while this planet of the deeps can help you recover that which has been lost or concealed, it can also generate a fair amount of upheaval. Getting rid of unwanted baggage is another of Pluto's useful functions, and since in March this is an eighth house matter, off-loading top-heavy financial commitments and eliminating bad spending habits are two constructive ways of responding to Pluto; likewise, having the courage to end a mutually destructive relationship could be the way to go.

On the 20th, the sun heads into the long-distance zone of your solar chart - perfect for getting away from home territory and broadening your life horizons. The only problem is that Mercury turns retrograde on the same day, setting the stage for some travel and communication blips. Well, isn't that just life, or, rather, astrology!

1st April 2005 - 30th April 2005
April should be one of your favourite months of the year. The sun's passage through the area of far horizons urges you to get up and go - in some cases some considerable distance. And even if travel is not on your agenda, this is the right month to look at your long-range plans, with a view to making your life bigger and better. Certainly, this is the message sounded by extravagant Jupiter when he hooks up to the sun and Venus on the 2nd and 3rd - at the very least, this is a time to count your blessings but at best you could be looking at an offer or opportunity that opens up your life horizons.

To a certain extent this sentiment is endorsed by the solar eclipse of the 8th. Eclipses always carry a 'health' warning - put another way, even though a new moon is a welcome sign of new beginnings, the events that bring this about tend to pack a powerful punch. If you are indeed going away at this time, your experience of the journey and your time at your destination could have a big impact on your future: people you meet, ideas that are hatched and the discoveries you make will at the very least affect your thinking and you'll more than add to your bank of knowledge and information. And since Mercury will remain retrograde until the 12th, the past may have a part to play in the events of the first two weeks of April.

Neptune, currently transiting the zone of relationships, is a key figure on April's celestial landscape. This year Neptune is focusing primarily on the 5th -8th August birthdays, although whenever you were born the mid and late period of April may well produce that mix of weird and wonderful developments so loved by Neptune. On the plus side, an old wound could be healed and/or you could feel connected at a soul level to someone; on the down side, you may feel let down, even betrayed, by an individual. While you should endeavour to put other people's needs first in this second half of April, you must make sure that you are neither opening yourself up to be used and abused or blinding yourself to a reality.

Venus and the Sun will enter your career zone on the 15th and 18th respectively: in a nutshell, your natural ability to shine will receive something of a turbo-boost. No longer content to stand on the sidelines, you will want to be seen as the mover and shaker you truly are. From the 15th April - 21st May employers and authority figures play an increasingly important role in helping or hindering your ambitions, yet this is also a premium time to strut your stuff and market your talents.

The lunar eclipse of the 24th straddles the life-direction axis of your solar chart, and it is the last eclipse in an eighteen-month cycle. You may be able to recognize this because you have reached the end of a task, a process or a way of life, and you are more than ready to move on. But in whatever form the end of a chapter takes, even if initially the events are not entirely welcome, you will benefit tremendously from the new directions that emerge from them.

1st May 2005 - 31st May 2005
Your career and public image occupy the spotlight this month. Leos of course are no shrinking violets when it comes to being in the limelight and it is particularly important to you to be revered and respected by the world in general. The weekend of 7th-8th sees a new moon giving further emphasis to this area and it may be that you are considering a change of job, and certainly a change of routine or lifestyle. This may extend as far as a plan to move abroad, but before you pack your bags and book your airline tickets, it might behove you to discuss matters with your nearest and dearest. With Neptune in the ascendant, clarity and common sense may not be your strongest suits at this time...

As Venus enters your friendship zone on the 10th, the focus shifts to social life and collaborative ventures. From here onwards the temperature rises and I'm not talking about the weather! Uranus is residing in the most intimate area of your chart and, since this planet brings about sudden, unexpected events you could be prone to feelings of lust at first sight, particularly during 14th-19th. Relationships that germinate under the power of Uranus are likely to be exciting, scintillating even, but all too often they are very short-lived. On the 20th, with the sun's arrival in the zone of friendship and collaboration, you can be forgiven for feeling that you're having a little too much excitement. Conversations with partners on 22nd might be romantic, but they could equally well be tinged with half-truths and deception. (Mercury and Neptune create the perfect climate here for lies about working late at the office.)

The full moon of 23rd brings powerful emotions flooding to the surface. The area of creativity is highlighted here so for some Leos, a baby could be born or a creative project might come to fruition; for others, what began as a fling might develop into something more romantic. By the 29th, however, Pluto makes a sudden dramatic entrance. It could be that you have reached the end of a wonderful fun-filled period in your life, such as a holiday, or perhaps you have completed a creative endeavour with friends. On the other hand, maybe your friends are telling you... "Enough is enough! What on earth were you thinking?!" Friendship and love clash under this aspect and, given that the theme of partying has been strong throughout the month, it might just be that you are the one left to pick up the tab after an exceptionally extravagant affair.

1st June 2005 - 30th June 2005
With the sun highlighting the zone of friendship and collaboration, social life should be blooming this month. Parties and gatherings could be the source of happiness and progress, and since Leo loves to have an audience you should be in your element, provided that is you concede that others have a part to play in your success story. You might also benefit from joining a club or society at this time. However, the prevailing alignments for much of June are anything but friendly, leading to tension and dissension in global affairs and creating the odd pothole for you personally to negotiate.

The first of these obstacles may well arise at the start of the month: Mercury and the sun angle Uranus, suggesting a conflict between your need for intimacy and privacy and the desire to be part of a larger group. Having said that, you might just find that a gathering or group project leads to an unexpected intimate encounter. Since Uranus is currently transiting the zone of finances and shared resources, this first half of June may well produce a monetary glitch, and should you be negotiating a settlement with an ex, for instance, or talking loans and borrowings with financial institutions, be gracious and avoid ultimatums. Pluto is another key figure on the astrological landscape at this time, and while this planet is gradually re-shaping certain aspects of your life for the better, it is also bringing out the very best and worst in friendships and creative endeavours. In a nutshell, between the 1st and 15th you can bring something beautiful into being or bring about the end of a beautiful friendship!

On the 21st, the sun enters the secluded twelfth house of your solar chart, giving you time off for good behaviour and encouraging you to take the pedal off the metal. Venus will have been in this same area since the 3rd, which is one reason why you may be experiencing sudden lapses of confidence, particularly in regard to a relationship, and why you may sense someone is distancing himself/herself from you. I'm tempted to say that all will be back to normal once both Venus and the sun enter your own sign (28th June and 22nd July respectively) but this does not mean you should ignore any distress signals. I'll be expanding on twelfth house issues in my July column but suffice to say, that the period between the 21st and the end of the month is one when the inner world of memories, dreams and reflections takes precedence over material concerns.

1st July 2005 - 31st July 2005
A month of mixed influences and mixed messages lies ahead. While Venus transits your sign until the 23rd, upping your popularity and adding to your charms and assets, the sun will be passing through the shrouded twelfth house, creating mists and murk over one or more situations. Indeed, the period between the 2nd and 14th could be one of the most perplexing for some time, perhaps because of the activities of a partner or close friend. Ideally, you should not attempt to unravel a mystery at this time, merely keep tabs on the situation, with a view to protecting your interests in the interim. Once you know what's what you can make definite moves. Strangely enough, this same period could turn out to be seriously romantic - weddings, proposals and new relationships - however, while being ten foot off the ground in love is a fabulous feeling, it's always worth keeping one toe on terra firma.

The really big news of the July, if not 2005, is the arrival of Saturn in Leo. This planet takes roughly twenty-eight years to circle the zodiac, so many of you will never have had the pleasure of Saturn's company. Suffice to say that when Saturn returns to its original position in your birth chart, or conjuncts your sun, you get on the fast track to maturity - the next couple of years represent one of the biggest learning curves you'll take. First to sample Saturn's fare will be the July birthdays, and you should set your sights on the 22nd - 31st of this month to discover if this demanding planet will reward you for earlier efforts or give you a sharp rap on the knuckles. At the same time, Mercury will head into reverse mode, slowing down the wheels of commerce and communication and issuing you with an order to gain distance and perspective.

In contrast to June, July is a fun month, however, so although you cannot afford to push yourself beyond your physical, mental and financial boundaries there will be time to relax, chill and generally take the pedal off the metal.

1st August 2005 - 31st August 2005
With the sun soaring through your sign, you should be full of vim and vigour, optimism and determination - should being the operative word. While there will be times when you do indeed feel restored and revitalized there will also be moments when you feel unsure about the way to tackle a situation, if not deeply confused by events. The cause of any bewildering developments can be laid squarely at the feet of Neptune, the planet of intrigue and deceptiveness, which is centre stage for the entire month. Not only Neptune but also communication chief, Mercury, will be retrograde until the 16th, thereby inflating the information gaps and making progress generally slow and convoluted. But before you give up entirely on August, let me add that this is the perfect month to take a vacation from real life and to focus on those things that give you pleasure and satisfaction.

With Neptune taking some years to transit the relationship zone you have plenty of time to discover the wonderful pluses and dreary minuses to this planet, but if you have a birthday between the 5th and 10th of August, you are front of the queue this year when it comes to magic moments and extreme strangeness. Neptune raises your levels of sensitivity and spirituality; it makes you yearn to experience the divine in life and love, yet since we are all mortal our time in the land of the mystical is limited. Should you meet someone in August with whom you fall passionately in love, bear in mind that the object of your desire may turn out to have some serious flaws, so while you may want to give of yourself totally, it would be wise to hold something back. Likewise, if you sense someone you love is slipping from your grasp or you are beginning to feel betrayed or deceived, your fears could prove unjustified, so wait until you have rock solid evidence before you end a relationship. The full moon of the 19th represents a key point for your love life, whether it is around this time that a love-affair becomes a permanent union or a relationship reaches the end of its natural life.

In a nutshell, August is a month when you will have to conduct many reality checks. Information is likely to be faulty and other people could prove unreliable all round. And this trend applies to everything from finances to romance. Conversely, this is a period when your imagination knows no bounds and your pleasure zones are revisited and replenished.

1st September 2005 - 30th September 2005
This month the sun is highlighting your personal desires and the things you value most in life. And change is in the air. Uranus opposes the sun in Virgo on the 1st then Mercury on the 9th, and between those dates forges several key connections to the moon, all of which could inspire a re-evaluation of the way in which your personal and shared resources are dealt with. Uranus is the planet of sudden unexpected change, but also of awakening, so, while for some of you (particularly those of you born around the end of July) monetary matters are in the frame, others will be experiencing new ways of relating on an intimate level. Venus and Jupiter also get together on the 1st, and in your zone of travel and communication: these two planets certainly know how to party and short trips are particularly beneficial to you at this time, as are meetings of a personal or business nature. You may also feel the urge for a spending spree, and we all know, Leo, how hard you find it to resist the finer things in life. However you decide to take advantage of the Venus-Jupiter connection, remember, at some point you have to pick up the tab, and the new moon in Virgo (3rd) could find you making a fresh start financially, possibly resolving to gain greater control of the purse strings.

Around 14th-16th, Pluto is aspected by the sun, moon and Mercury as it slowly rumbles through the pleasure zone of your life. This mid-part of September looks troublesome for the whole zodiac so do your best to remain tolerant of others and not to become paranoid should life not be treating you as well as you might have hoped. Mid-September continues to place the focus on finance and self worth yet a love affair could be having a deep effect on your life and making you consider what (and who) you truly value and desire. Children, too, could be the source of great joy. Changes wrought by Pluto can be scary at the time because of the sheer power of feelings involved, but there's nobody quite so well equipped to deal with the whole drama of transformation as you Leo!

By the full moon of the 18th, shared resources are pre-occupying you once more. With the moon in ultra-sensitive Pisces you might feel that your partner is failing to give you adequate attention and there could be a green-eyed monster lurking in the darker recesses of your psyche. Talking about any such feelings should become easier after the 20th, when Mercury, closely followed by the sun, enters your communication zone and any lingering jealousy or resentment can be more readily expressed.

1st October 2005 - 30th October 2005
As a fixed sign, change does not come easily to Leo, but if you want to make the most of your October stars, you'll set about changing everything from your timetable to your tactics - you may even do a fair amount of travelling. Certainly, with planets in the area of communications your life looks to be full of movement, and, hopefully, one or two situations that have been stuck in a rut will begin to move forward.

Two eclipses dominate October's astro-scape, and they fall in the aforementioned area of communications. Eclipses tend to generate events that change the status-quo so while some Leos will find they are embarking on an unexpected and possibly very long journey others will discover that a meeting or exchange of information alters the course of a relationship or endeavour. Events on or near the 3rd and 17th should be watched for their long-term consequences, so if you receive an offer around these dates, meet someone new or something comes out of left field don't assume that what you see is what you'll get.

By and large, October's influences are a whole lot better than those of September so you can look forward to a month when you're not fighting off problems left, right and centre. Mars will turn retrograde on the 1st, and since this planet is spending some months in the zone of career and life ambitions, you may have to go over some old ground or a development you were expecting to take place in the near future may have to be put back. Happily, on the 26th, Jupiter's arrival at the base of your chart will set in motion a year-long trend of increase and opportunity, so any delays could prove entirely helpful to your cause. Indeed, Jupiter's new position will do much to mitigate Saturn's grip on your affairs, in some cases setting the stage for a new business venture or adding to your lot in more personal ways.

1st November 2005 - 30th November 2005
November could prove to be one of the most seminal months of the year. The sun is making its way through the base of your solar chart, encouraging you to lay the foundations of future endeavours and turning your attention to the roots of life, whether in the sense of the home you live in or your family. While Jupiter's arrival in this same zone at the end of October will ensure growth and prosperity during the next twelve months, this trend will be accompanied by some strange twists and turns on your life-path, one of which may develop under November's curious alignments.

Between the 1st and 8th the sun, Mars, Saturn and Neptune are effectively at the four "corners" of the zodiac, so while some Leos will see a dream of an endeavour set in stone others may come to realize that a wish cannot be fulfilled. The response to both these scenarios, however, should be to put increased efforts and focus into your objective ( s ) and to be prepared for obstructions, some of them valid and in your best interests and others simply a test of endurance and faith. The new moon of the 2nd sets a new cycle in motion for domestic affairs, in some cases signalling a new arrival and in others a shift in a previously deadlocked situation, possibly regarding a property matter or involving a senior member of the family.

On the 14th, winged-heeled Mercury turns retrograde, producing the inevitable go-slows, dead-stops and detours. Mercury makes return journeys two or three times each year so this is not the most drama-filled of transits but it can be inconvenient. Try to firm up arrangements before the 14th, after which prepare to be patient. And if a situation does take a nose-dive it is entirely possible that it will be back on track later in the year. Saturn in your sign also heads into reverse mode on the 22nd, shortly after the full moon, so it may be that you are forced to reconsider where you stand in regard to a romantic relationship or a job.

The month ends on a Uranian note - a mixture of brilliant surprises and unexpected news...

1st December 2005 - 31st December 2005
With the sun highlighting the most fun-loving sector of your solar chart how can you go wrong? In a word: Saturn. Well, actually not just Saturn but Jupiter, Neptune and Mars. These four planets are forming a Fixed cross in the heavens, thus making you feel as though one or more situations is in gridlock. And since you are a fire sign, accustomed to dictating your course and making things 'happen', this is bound to be a frustrating state of affairs. But, as my old professor used to say: suffer frustration! It's good for the soul. Eventually, this gridlock will disperse, and then you'll understand that the delay has served a useful purpose.

Being creative with your time and relying on your own resources is the way to go this month. Births of one sort or another can be expected, whether this manifests as a tiny human being, a new relationship or a new outlet for your talents. Once you see that there are alternative ways around a deadlocked situation, and as soon as you are prepared to let go your fixation, life will be transformed. This theme is particularly strong mid-month when a full moon and Pluto combine to throw out the dead wood in life with a view to getting some new shoots to sprout. Ideally, it is you who should be stripping out the deadwood and implanting the new, but if you are grimly hanging on to someone who or something that is inappropriate for you, circumstances will do the job for you.

On the 15th, Venus enters the zone of love and relating for a brief stay. This transit is always a blessing, since it reveals who loves you and who really isn't worth the effort! You may already have chosen the Christmas period for a wedding or special anniversary: if so, the celebration is not only timely but there should be a surfeit of love and happiness. Should you meet someone in the second half of the month, this could turn out to be a real-love connection. However, with Venus turning retrograde on the 24th please don't be surprised if the relationship turns out to be rather more complicated and trying than you had imagined.

The year ends as it began on a Plutonic note. Thus wherever you are and whomever you are with there is sure to be a deeply felt exchange.

1st January 2006 - 31st January 2006
Do you often find the start to a New Year hard work? No surprise if you do since the sun is always in the work zone of your horoscope between the 21st December and 20th January. This year, however, the sun is joined by Mercury and Venus so there is an even stronger accent on getting your life in working order, whether this applies to your job, your personal affairs or your health. January is a premium month for setting the Christmas wrongs to rights and getting back in balance.

Since last November we have been labouring under a prevailing alignment involving four planets at cross purposes - in fact astrologers refer to this as a Grand Cross - and 2006 opens with this configuration in pride of place. Thus, should you have a less than joyous entry into the New Year, blame it on your stars! Rather more importantly, by starting as you mean to go on and dealing with difficulties the moment they appear and facing up to any unwanted responsibilities you will turn a potential crisis into a victory. The full moon of the 14th exposes the weakness in a system and reveals where you have misplaced your energies. Nonetheless, this weekend could also be a time when a happy event takes place representing the birth of a new mini-era.

You will need to keep your feet on the ground mid-month - Mars and Neptune make the going very slippery so paper-work will have to thoroughly checked before it leaves the 'office' and people may prove unreliable. Under Neptune appearances are always deceptive. On the 20th the sun enters the zone of love and relating, thus marking the beginning of a key two-month period for partnerships in general and your love life in particular. From this point until the end of March, you will be able to put a new relationship onto a more permanent footing, yet you could also come to see where a partner is failing to live up to expectations. With this in mind the last week of January could prove highly enlightening.

The month ends on a new moon, encouraging you once again to throw out those things that have done their service and embrace the new, especially in terms of people and joint endeavours.

1st February 2006 - 28th February 2006
Are you in the mood for romance? Or is your love life in a shambles? Either way, with the sun, Mercury and Neptune (followed by Venus next month) in the seventh house of love and relating this is one of the most crucial periods of 2006 for relationships of all kinds. It's also going to be a month when other people affect your course more powerfully than before, whether events in a partner's, friend's or colleague's life interfere with your perfect plans or whether there are changes at the heart of a relationship.

Towards the end of January, Neptune took control of cosmic affairs, and he continues to be a force to be reckoned with until the middle of February. Especially if you have a birthday between the 5th and 9th of August, Neptune is a primary influence in your horoscope this year so already you may be in a phase when you feel confused about many aspects of your life; on the other hand, you may be brim-full of great hopes and ideas. These trends are at a peak during the first thirteen days of February - and not just for the aforementioned birth dates - so if a plan fizzles out, a disappointment occurs or someone's behaviour is mystifying, forget about explanations, and wait until the facts start to emerge. By contrast, some Leos could be on a complete romantic high in early to mid-February: if so, treasure such moments because all to soon the business of real life has to be attended to.

2006's only full moon in your sign takes place on the 13th, thrusting relationships into the spotlight, and with the theme of endings and beginnings. And since Valentine's Day sports a Mercury-Uranus conjunction, a surprise or three could be in store, whether you are behind any impulse moves or on the receiving end of one. Technically, work is the focus for Mercury and Uranus, so a planned job change may come about or circumstances could propel you in a whole new direction. Certainly, this mid-February period is one when you need to be equally as delicate with the boss and colleagues as you are with machinery and technology. Missteps easily happen in the fog of Neptune.

On the 18th the sun heads into the complex eighth house, causing you to question the deeper motives of certain individuals and, indeed the deeper layers of issues close to your heart. Revelations and realizations are the theme of the last few days of February, and not just in regard to romantic relationships but finances too.

1st March 2006 - 31st March 2006
March is a pivotal month for the whole zodiac: it begins with a volatile sun-Uranus conjunction and ends on a total solar eclipse in Aries, and in between there are tough connections to Saturn and Pluto, not to mention a retrograde Mercury. Clearly, the next six to eight weeks are going to produce some powerful events on the world's stage, and we can expect to see some leadership changes, a reshuffle or two in the corridors of power, even a natural or not-so-natural disaster. And where travel and communications are concerned, we can forget about getting anywhere in a hurry and a straight line. Of course, tough alignments produce wonderful events too so don't rule out announcements of marriage in royal/celebrity circles and a major scientific or medical break-through.

The winds of change are blowing through your zone of finances and self-worth, in fact a sudden gust at the very start of the month could alter your life in a highly positive way. During the first week, the sun and Uranus join up in the zone of shared resources, which covers mortgages, inheritances, joint bank accounts, lottery tickets and so on, so a lucky few could indeed be experiencing big wins - and don't even think about saying it won't affect your life because Uranus is all about change. On the other hand, if your sex life has been in the doldrums recently prepare for some steamy moments, and one way or another Leo is set to see something of a relationship renaissance in March.

Continuing the financial theme, the lunar eclipse of the 14th is once again inspiring large gains or losses - this could be a policy maturing since the full moon suggests completion, or you could have reached the end of the road with a financial commitment or a partnership. Venus is bringing her beautiful light to bear on relationships throughout the month, thus new romances are unexpectedly sparked and it may seem as if nothing is as important as to love and be loved. Just how much Saturn helps your relationship cause on the weekend of the 11th rather depends - let's just say that realities are made of this...

The solar eclipse of the 29th falls in the house of far horizons. At best this total eclipse could signal a move abroad or a change of job/circumstances with international overtones. But since total solar eclipses do not always produce magically wonderful events, it is also possible that a person or event with overseas connections could change your horizons in a way that is complicated and disruptive. Since Pluto goes retrograde on the same day, a secret from your past could come to light or you could find that a piece of ancient history returns to haunt you, so to speak. Whatever this eclipse - and indeed the rest of this month's complex alignments - brings to your life, its intention is the open up new territory, whether in literal, emotional or professional ways. And for this there is much to be grateful.

1st April 2006 - 30th April 2006
The sun is highlighting the zone of far horizons this month, which will explain that urge to hop on a boat, bus or plane... anything to get away from it all for a while. As Saturn goes direct in your first solar house on the 5th, you should feel as though the brakes have been taken off and you can move forward in life, free from the obstructions and limitations which have been holding you back over the past few weeks. Indeed, compared to March, April's influences are positively spring-like.

Before you get carried away with enthusiasm, however, the week of the 3rd finds Mars and Pluto in opposition, thus upping the potential for conflict and certainly confrontation. We will surely see some impressive results of escalating tension in the Middle East prior to Easter, and the Bush administration will have to be very careful how it plays events in the early to mid part of this month. While in the Christian World Easter is a time of celebration, for many other creeds it is simply business as usual. This opposition flanks the creative axis of your chart, so any extreme highs or lows are likely to be inspired by endeavours which involve your heart and soul. If, therefore you have invited your best mates and their unruly offspring for Sunday lunch on the weekend of the 8th, be aware that your patience might be challenged... Pluto and Mars have a way of bringing buried feelings and opinions to the surface, sometimes with explosive results.

Easter is all about journeys, whether of the terrestrial metaphorical variety. Any long trips you make around the 16th will give you a sense of freedom and joy, so if you are able to book a last minute trip this would be an excellent time to go. With Venus sizzling away in the sexiest zone you can be assured of a good time, whether you're having a mini-break a mere few miles away or a fortnight in a distant country.

On the 25th the sun squares up to Saturn on the angles of your solar chart. It may be that you have been so enthused by your recent travels that you are ready for a whole fresh start in life. Your career could be in question here and in general you could feel weighed down by your responsibilities. Events of the 27th should help you reach a decision about the direction you want to take, and this might well affect your closest relationships, especially where assets are shared, as well as debts such as mortgages, overdrafts etc. For some of you this will be make or break time... "He who is not with me is against me..." are words which spring to mind. Where there is true depth of feeling and commitment you will both see this as an adventure and the relationship will be strengthened by meeting new challenges.

1st May 2006 - 31st May 2006
The way you earn your daily crust will be giving you food for thought as the sun highlights your career zone. During the first week of May you could be feeling confident about your abilities and pleased with your assets which could prompt a bout of sheer extravagant, but by the 10th with the sun's connection to Neptune you could lose confidence: this may manifest as your embarking on a brief guilt trip or someone could let you down or burst your balloon. This is not, by the way, a good time to become involved in power struggles of any kind as you are not the most likely winner under this planetary aspect. Also, if you have been over-working, your energy levels could take a dip, so this would be an appropriate moment to re-assess your daily routines and consider whether or not you are making healthy lifestyle choices. As Mars is in your least energetic zone this is another indicator that you need to make more time in your life for relaxation and generally replenishing your spirit.

Lovely Venus will be in your fellow fire sign, Aries, highlighting that favoured area of life - far horizons. While some Leos will be able to soothe their restless spirits by travelling to distant places, others might find that love grows on foreign soil or is brought to you in the form of someone from a different background or country. The weekend of the 26th is especially favourable for romance and for inspiring changes that lead to future happiness.

One of the most fascinating features of May is the presence of a Grand Cross - an alignment of four or more planets, made up of squares and oppositions - which is in play between the 4th and 15th. Without becoming too technical, when planets are in this tense alignment, they bring all manner of issues to crunch point, and there is a feeling of having reached a giant cross-roads. While this configuration will certainly present itself in the form of moral and political crises for world leaders, in our own lives we too must make some wise decisions in a confusing and pressurized climate. In your case, Leo, this Grand Cross falls on the four major angles of your solar chart, so it seems a development in one area of life could impact the whole of it. For instance, changes on the job front could mean a new home location, which in turn destabilizes a personal/marital relationship. Karmic lessons are surely being learned at this time, and it is a case of accepting your rewards with grace and humility and shouldering your failures with stoicism and resolve.

The new moon of the 27th brings new faces into your life and encourages you to get out more and mix with your fellow man. The sun and Mercury will also be sending you the same message so the final ten days of the month could be very sociable indeed. During this party period, and as mentioned earlier, more precisely around the 26th, you could meet an important new love interest. Venus and Pluto form a harmonious aspect promising passion and Mercury and Uranus suggest a sudden intense encounter. Keep your ears tuned for interesting accents because the person in question might well come from a distant place. Indeed, there could be a very romantic ending to this month of ups and downs.

I am sorry this forecast was delayed. The original sending was lost and both my webmaster and I have been in transit over the last 3 days. We have now added better facilities for updating forecasts.

1st June 2006 - 30th June 2006
This month puts Uranus and Pluto centre stage and, since many countries have major events planned for June, these alignments underscore the importance and celebratory nature of national occasions, yet they will surely produce some shocks and tremors too. On the 3rd, Mars enters the regal sign of Leo for a six week transit and on the 18th this assertive planet hooks up to heavy-metal Saturn - and at the same time as the sun- Pluto opposition. Mid-month, therefore, will be a time to watch for international dramas and the push-comes-to-shove syndrome. This conjunction falls on President Bush's Mercury- Pluto Ascendant combo and Tony Blair's South Node, so neither of them is in great shape in June and there could be some serous threats to their tenure as leaders (as if they haven't enough already.)

For you, Leo the spotlight falls upon your zone of group endeavours, so any activities you carry out with groups of people are subject to sudden change or transformation. Friendships may be tested and disagreements may flare up. You might feel that you are doing all the giving while someone else is merely taking. Just be aware, Leo, that you are wont to expect others to serve you, so, if a friend complains that you are not pulling your weight you would be well-advised to take note and adjust your behaviour accordingly. Another bone of contention could involve a child or children. Tension could creep into a relationship if a child's behaviour is causing concern. And if the parent of the said child is a friend, this could lead to outbursts of a dramatic nature. Any friendships which fall by the wayside now have probably served their purpose in your life as Pluto tends to re-shape destiny without so much as a by-your-leave. Remember too that dramatic exits from your life are likely to be followed by equally dramatic entrances.

Whatever happens under these Uranus/Pluto aspects, you should feel well-equipped to deal with the situation since Mars and Saturn unite in your sign to give you a steely determination to succeed. You should also have no problem asserting yourself and standing your ground if need be. That's not to say that any conflict you endure will not take its toll...in fact, by the end of the month you may well feel like retreating and enjoying some time out at home. If friends have disappointed you recently take some comfort from the fact that those closest to you will now restore your spirits.

1st July 2006 - 31st July 2006
Each July, the sun occupies the closeted twelfth house until it enters your sign on or around the 22nd. This therefore becomes a time when things of the spirit, the internal world, take precedence, and you may feel less focussed and more vulnerable. Ideally, you should take more rest and avoid the hurly burly of social life - at least until the middle of the month - and paying attention to your dreams and intuitions could prove useful to say the least. Mercury, the planet of communication, will be retrograde from the 4th - 29th - yet another reason to head into the slow lane of life, and to put mainstream plans on the back burner.

After the planetary heat of June, July's influences have much to recommend them. Even with Mercury in retrograde, there are many benign alignments, and in tandem, national and international affairs may be more fruitful than fraught. However, the Grand Cross in fixed signs will be loosely in place, so it may seem as if more than one situation is refusing to budge, and there will be very little give when it comes to matters of law and law enforcement. Many of the world's leading figures, including Tony Blair, George Bush, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have relentless Saturn and nebulous Neptune on key planets and points in their natal charts, and it remains a mystery to me as to why the gathering gloom has not yet resulted in a truly serious crisis, although leaked information from the enquiry into the death of Princess Diana must be sending seismic waves through Britain's corridors of power. With this in mind, events on or near the Mars-Neptune opposition of the 5th and the full moon in Capricorn of the 11th could precipitate a minor tsunami... Pluto also puts in a double appearance on the 14th so the first half of July looks to be the most scandal ridden and generally explosive.

Since you are a fixed sign, the trend for mystery and inactivity could be quite marked, especially where your love life and working relationships are concerned, so do your best to believe that there is a reason for any delay or refusal, and that things will get back on track a little later in the year. By contrast, feisty Mars will be in your sign until the 22nd urging you to get moving and motoring, however, with the rest of the astrology in such a state of suspended animation, you may find that all you succeed in doing is spinning your wheels. The new moon on the 25th sets a new rhythm and tempo in motion, so spirits recover during the last week of the month, perhaps through a welcome offer or generous gesture. In many ways, there is much to be said for leaving the most important tasks until the week of the 24th when life will be much more to your liking and you have something of a tail wind behind you.

1st August 2006 - 31st August 2006
Birthday months don't come more eventful than this, and, even if you are one of the July-born Leos, August has much to offer in the way of meaningful moments and profound decisions. Sound serious? Well, with Saturn's continuing presence in your sign, stepping up to the plate and experiencing moments of truth are par for the course. What makes the picture a little less straight-forward, however, is the added influence of Neptune in your opposite sign; so complicated, in fact, that I have written a separate piece about it, which should be on line by 1st August. At the very least this will provide plenty of food for thought should you find yourself wondering why you're making little progress and running into troughs of low pressure at inappropriate intervals.

August is always a strange (and often uneventful) month in politics, but given mid-July sparked another major conflict in the Middle East, under these relentless influences we can expect an intensifying of hostilities - not just in and around Lebanon - and very little real progress on the diplomatic front. I'd like to believe that the Jupiter-Uranus trine, which is both ebullient and barrier-breaking, will provide a balance for this depressing opposition but we will have to wait until the very end of the month before we see what rabbits these two can pull out of the hat. The usual suspects - that's President Bush, and Prime Minister Blair - face a dark and difficult summer break, although with the world in such crisis, their individual careers and reputations pale into insignificance.

Romance and relationships feature prominently this month. Venus will be transiting your sign from the 12th, bringing harmony and love into life, and enabling you to focus on pleasure as opposed to work. This planet can inspire a new love interest and it can bring love and romance back into a relationship that has soured or simply settled into a routine rut. The only problem Venus has this year is that she must work against the background of the Saturn-Neptune opposition, which may mean all she can do is make a painful situation a lot more bearable or in the event of a difficulty she will produce a compensation. Throughout much of the month you will have to keep monitoring reality, by which I mean information could be unreliable and you should not be fooled by appearances. All right, have a fun fling with someone new on the scene, but try not to hear wedding bells in the distance. Likewise, should someone decide he/she needs more space, agree without argument: the chances are the person will be back in your arms before the end of the year.

1st September 2006 - 30th September 2006
Financial matters should be top of the list of priorities this month. You may need to give careful thought to those things you truly value in life and make plans as to how you can use your resources to achieve your objectives. Some of you will receive an unexpected boost to your finances, whether this be courtesy of the lottery, a generous gift, or a salary increase, while others will be branching out on their own, taking more control of the purse strings. If you are considering making a major purchase, however, power struggles could erupt between you and a loved one - when it comes to spending, Leo, you are certainly no cheapskate, but your love of quality and luxury might be irksome to some. "Cut your coat according to your cloth," is a saying which springs to mind here, though it has to be said, if you are making purchases for the home your partner will probably give way to you in the end.

September, like August, is a big month in astrological terms. The Saturn-Neptune opposition is still dominating the heavens (and, if you need to gen up on this transit, please go to the article dedicated to it on the website...CLICK HERE) so we are still trying to get to grips with reality and watching some very weird situations unfold out there on the world's stage. There are two eclipses to take into account - neither of them total eclipses but nonetheless they can still pack a powerful punch. The first - a lunar eclipse in Pisces - appears on the 7th, and harks back to March in terms of eclipses and events, and the second, on the 22nd, is a solar eclipse in Virgo. Eclipses set in motion events that shape the destiny of nations, and also our own lives, should they fall on key planets and points in our charts, so anything that emerges on or around the time of an eclipse must be taken seriously. The period of the 11th - 17th looks to be the most impressive: transformational Pluto is centre stage, so we can expect some dramatic entrances and exits on the political scene and a rattling of sabres from the usual suspects. The sun's entry into Libra on the 23rd, followed by Venus on the 30th, heralds the beginning of a calmer period, and certainly one in which dialogue and debate pave the way for peace and concord.

Affairs of the heart may also be under the spotlight during September. You could feel a sudden intense attraction for somebody, and what starts out as a fling could deepen into something much more serious around the time of the solar eclipse (22nd). Indeed, by the end of the month you could be feeling well and truly smitten as Jupiter and Neptune square each other on the angles of your solar chart. When it comes to love, Leo, you are in your element, so if you do feel stirred at the roots of your being, enjoy it while it lasts. Eventually you will have to return to planet earth, although the journey will be worth the bumpy landing.

1st October 2006 - 31st October 2006
With the challenges of August and September behind us we can all look forward to better times in October. Until the 23rd there are almost no hard angles to the senior planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) to hamper us, which means global hostilities should lessen and the climate will be suitable for discussion, debate, new peace agreements and generally more co-operation between nations and leaders. Of course, having put my pen where my astrological judgement is it wouldn't surprise me to find that a simmering hot spot boils over and that there are further terrorist outrages. However it is unlikely...by the 22nd this little patch of perfection will be over : the sun, Mars and Venus head into Scorpio, Mercury is squared by Saturn(23rd) and Mercury turns retrograde (28th) all of which is likely to create a more intense atmosphere, and we may see some reversals of decisions, and certainly far less progress made in war-torn areas.

The emphasis for you this month is on travel and communication and if you have any trips planned with a loved one you can expect to have a very romantic time indeed. The sun, Venus and Mars, are all aspecting Neptune in the first two weeks of October, after which Pluto enters the scene, injecting passion and drama to your relationships. This is the very stuff of life for you Leo, so you can expect to feel at one with the world, certainly for the first three weeks of the month. Take advantage of the fact that communication channels are open now and particularly favour declarations of love or the renewal of vows.

After the 22nd life may not be quite so rosy. Disagreements could occur on the home front and you might be seen as the party-pooper, the one who has to pour cold water on grandiose schemes. Mercury and Jupiter square up to Saturn so there may be some serious, intense discussions about matters regarding the family, although these same influences can prove very productive for business and finance. Another possibility is that you could be the one doing all the hard graft, thus bringing a significant endeavour into being and gaining much kudos in the process. The month ends on a distinctly sweet-sour note: it could be that joy in one area of life is countered by a disappointment elsewhere. However, with one month left for Jupiter and its principles of increase and abundance to feed your life at root level, there is time for another of those major turn-arounds.

1st November 2006 - 30th November 2006
The big event this month is the entry of Jupiter into the sign it rules, Sagittarius. Clearly this is extremely good news for all Sagittarians, since the planet of increase will be transiting their sign until December 2007, but, hopefully, this planet's expansive nature will help us all take some impressive leaps of faith and encourage us to follow the spirit of religion as opposed to the dogma. Jupiter enters Sagittarius on the 24th, less than forty-eight hours after a sun-Jupiter conjunction in the final degree of Scorpio, and while this may prove to be a terrifically happy and successful period for those with birthdays on or near this date, new beginnings made at that time (whatever your sun sign) are auspicious indeed. We should look at global developments here too, whether we see magnanimous gestures on the part of leaders and governments or an aggressive show of power. Jupiter does not have the astrological stage to itself, however, and as if to remind us that the best things in life have to be earned and that all actions have consequences, Saturn makes regular appearances in November, and since Neptune is still in opposition to Saturn, especially around the 8th, 17th and 29th we will need to read between the lines when it comes to statements of national and international importance: the distance between reality and fabrication may never have been greater. While such influences would not be out of place with an announcement of a withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and a subsequent aura of failure and defeat hovering over the Bush administration - their chances of keeping the Senate Republican are slim - we may be looking also at a severe loss of face inspired by leaks and betrayal for Tony Blair upon whose Mid-heaven Neptune will be sitting.

Jupiter will, during the course of the year, bring more fun and pleasure into your life and you will feel more creative and giving than you have in some time. This is good news for you Leo, as, with Saturn slowly trundling through your sign, you might have felt less than your usual joyous self in recent months. You do not feel truly happy unless you are bringing new things into being so Jupiter will inject powerful energy into your creativity zone. If you are a writer, expect to be unblocked; if a painter, prepare to be inspired; a teacher, re-discover your love of children. Some of you will have been avidly feathering your nest during the past year and now feel ready to lay an egg. Jupiter will boost your chances of success in this area too.

As for November in general the emphasis is on home and hearth. You could have some tough decisions to make regarding partnerships, where to live etc. and you may be getting in touch with some very deep-rooted feelings. A parent may be the cause of some concern, but the concentration of planets in your home zone suggests that family will be a great source of love and support. With those outer planets still transiting the angles of your solar chart it may seem that you are in a no-win situation, but life should begin to lighten after the 21st when you are reminded what a joyful, fun-loving person you truly are.

1st December 2006 - 31st December 2006
With a stellium of planets passing through your pleasure zone you can prepare to enjoy life during the coming weeks. All right, Saturn hasn't taken a Christmas break but at least he's relegated to the back room, so you will experience less criticism from others and fewer obstructions along the path to your objectives. (We'll talk about Pluto and Uranus in a moment.) Already one of the most creative signs of the zodiac this month's planetary input increases your productivity: for some Leos, the patter of tiny feet will soon be heard, for others a new romance will blossom but for the majority this is simply a period in which the more of yourself you put into events, the more you'll get out of them.

Each year at this time the sun squares Uranus and conjoins Pluto and often there are other alignments which add to this powerful mix, resulting in upheavals of a personal and global nature. Take the tsunami of 2004, for instance, which began as the moon clipped the degree of the sun-Pluto conjunction just prior to becoming full. Between the 1st and 22nd of December there will be no less than five planets in the sign of Sagittarius, so there is a concentration of �energy' in one area of the cosmos: in a natal chart this often manifests as an individual who is a specialist, one who is very focused, and in terms of events there can be a last straw effect to be observed. Put another way, people reach the end of their tethers and take extreme measures to prove their point. The period from the 15th to the 23rd is potentially the most explosive and we may see a lot of sabres being rattled by world leaders and another terror alert that interferes with our travel and our peace of mind. The year closes with war lord Mars and Master of Mystery, Neptune, in harmony, which is perfect for a champagne entry into 2007 but also a compassionate end to a year that has been full of strife and conflict.

And so to Uranus and Pluto... An unexpected event at the beginning of the month could prove to be either liberating or somewhat unsettling - a engagement announcement or broken promise springs to mind, or a financial blip that requires a quick and effective response. By contrast, you may receive a gift which brings joy into your life - lottery tickets stand a better chance than usual of winning for you now and a lucky few might even hit the jackpot! (Not that I'm encouraging you to spend money recklessly - all things in moderation etc.) This trend, courtesy of Uranus, will be alive and well throughout December but particularly on or near the 3rd, 15th, 22nd and 25th. Pluto always takes us into deep and meaningful territory, and often through the vehicle of a romance or close relationship. The periods around the 8th, 18th and 25th are when this planet is at its most powerful, inspiring all or nothing moves and end of an era scenarios. However these stars unfold for you one thing is certain feelings will be running high and you will be reminded of the power and depth of your emotions. There is no sign with a bigger heart and more generous loving nature than Leo so make the most of these stars and show the world how much you have to give.

1st January 2007 - 31st January 2007
Compared to December January's stars are a dream. Venus spends most of the month in Aquarius generally sweetening life for members of this sign and helping those of the opposite sign (Leo) find and celebrate love. The full moon of the 3rd is in Cancer and, like all full moons helps us close a chapter and begin a new one - something we tend to do anyway at the start of a new year., although of course, for Cancerians, this process is profoundly more marked. The Mars - Pluto conjunction of the 13th is the last in a series of aspects between the personal planets and Pluto, so events mid-month may well have a connection between those of the 8th-25th December. (Here in Great Britain the enquiry into the death of Princess Diana confirmed that it was an accident - not a white-wash surely? And on the same day (14th December) Prime Minister Tony Blair was questioned by police in the cash for honours enquiry - not an attempt to bury bad news, surely? - and in keeping with Pluto's principles of dark deeds, a nationwide police hunt began for serial killer of five young prostitutes, which resulted in an arrest just before Christmas.) On January 16th Mars enters Capricorn for a six-week transit - OK Cappies, it's time to get moving and motoring! And on the 20th the sun arrives in Aquarius. These last ten days of January present a complex and certainly variety-packed picture. In a nutshell the theme is chickens coming home to roost (courtesy Saturn Lord of Karma) so if we've spent too much money over Christmas we'll be paying the price at this time, and, in general, both on the world's stage and in our own lives we'll be looking at the cost of actions taken some time ago.

When Venus transits the relationship zone you discover who really loves you. For some Leos, January is all about being appreciated by, either people who promote your talents, or by those who will help you re-discover romance. Relationships you thought were past their sell-by-date may be given a new lease of life so prepare to be bowled over once again. Although laughter and joy might be in short supply at the end of the month, it will, no doubt, be a good time to make long-term decisions about your future. Service is another theme of the month. Several planets congregate in your health and lifestyle zone, bringing you the energy to accomplish routine tasks in the workplace. If you have overindulged at Christmas (and who hasn't?) you should be full of enthusiasm for that new diet or fitness routine which will have you back on top form, ready to shine once more.

1st February 2007 - 28th February 2007
With a full moon opening to February the theme of endings and beginnings is clearly stamped on our astrology. The moon is in Leo so members of this sign and those of Aquarius are in the front row when it comes to bringing to a close anything that has outlived its usefulness. Relationships for these two signs in particular appear to be at a crossroads, and with Valentine's Day coming in between a sun-Saturn opposition (10th) and a Venus Pluto square (20th), the scent of final straws is in the air! This is far from a light and frothy month, primarily due to the applying Saturn-Neptune opposition. (And if you want to know more about this important transit, please click on the article relating to it on the home page.) This opposition is exact on the 28th, and from the middle of February onwards we can expect to see events out on the world's stage reflecting its theme of sacrifice and redemption on the one hand, and the erosion of established structures on the other. Among those for whom the Saturn-Neptune bell tolls are: Fidel Castro (sun: 20 Aquarius), Tony Blair (Pluto: 20 Leo), George W. (Venus: 21 Leo) and Queen Elizabeth (Mars: 20 Aquarius and Neptune: 22 Leo).

More specifically for you Leo, there may be issues of truth versus reality, illusion versus disillusion and so on, caused by the Saturn Neptune opposition. Some of you may be tempted to have a fling around the 7th when Venus and Uranus meet. This could turn into something altogether more serious when Venus and Pluto join the fray. If you manage to get through the month without experiencing any steamy infidelity, it may be that passion or controversy are generated by money matters. You have expensive taste Leo, and it's quite possible that you have been living beyond your means which may be threatening your sense of security or that of your partner. By the end of the month both Mars and Mercury will have entered your relationship zone, so there will be discussions, possibly heated exchanges, which should at least help you to understand each other's point of view. This latter part of February would be a good time to air any grievances concerning your sex life or the handling of your joint finances to ensure that you truly root out any problems and leave no hidden resentment festering.

1st March 2007 - 31st March 2007
What can you say about a month that has two eclipses in it, the first of which is not only a total lunar but conjunct/opposition lively Uranus, and the second, a partial solar, which squares Pluto? I'd say it's one of those periods in which matters that have been rumbling underground for some while erupt with the force of a minor volcano! March is a very cleansing month: think de-tox and de-clutter, whether in terms of our homes and our offices or in regard to our opinions and belief systems. The periods around the eclipses (3rd and 19th) are the most dynamic or disruptive, depending on your perspective, and the final ten days with its heavy concentration of Saturn are the most hard work. Could we have an announcement about a forthcoming wedding for Prince William and Kate Middleton? Very possibly. And will events in the Middle East be the cause of even greater consternation? Almost certainly.

With both eclipses highlighting the financial axis of your horoscope money matters and issues related to your self-esteem, which may include a close working or romantic relationship, are the flavour of the month for you. Eclipses bring the unusual and the unexpected into play so while some of you could be celebrating a welcome windfall or taking on a huge financial commitment others might be reaching for the calculator and the telephone in order to stem a cash-flow crisis. Nonetheless, it's certainly worth having a flutter on or near the 3rd - no one who is successful in life got there without taking a risk. Likewise, where love and relationships are concerned a surprise move on or near the 3rd or 19th could dramatically change the nature and direction of a love-affair or business partnership.

First Venus then the sun transit the far horizons sector of your solar chart. A journey for love could be on the menu and, if you're not making holiday plans for later in the year you could be looking at ways in which to expand your life horizons, personally and professionally. Indeed, in view of the less than easy aspects of the final ten days of March, one way of keeping your optimism levels topped up is to focus on those grand plans for the future.

But oh those last ten days. Mars, half-way through its transit of the area of love and relating, first opposes Saturn (22nd) then conjuncts Neptune (25th). This may prove to be a testing time for a relationship, whether other people interfere with your best laid plans or because you reach a serious sticking point with your significant other. See events of the 21st onwards as a rite of passage: what comes through will stand the test of time, and what doesn't really wasn't worth the tears.

1st April 2007 - 30th April 2007
Foreign travel and expanding horizons capture your heart this month, so if you haven't yet booked a weekend get-away or a long-haul trip, why not do so immediately and synchronize with your far-ranging stars. Indeed, since the month opens on a Mercury-Uranus conjunction you would then be actively involved in making surprise moves, as opposed to being on the receiving end of them.

The first week of April puts the Saturn-Neptune opposition in the frame too so, especially if you have a birthday on or around 8th-11th August you may find yourself (not for the first time) on the horns of a dilemma - stuck between high hopes on the one hand and deep doubts on the other. If you have any choice in the matter it might be better to wait until after the 19th before making a definite decision but if you have no option other than to say I'm in or I'm out, trust your heart not your head: you will never be happy or comfortable with a decision that doesn't feel right.

The two Grand Trines will be doing you great favours throughout the month. People in distant places could be the source of good news and those activities that take you out of your usual environment have the most to offer, both in the sense of short term benefits and long-term advantages. Endeavours and associations begun over Easter and around the weekend of the 21st are most propitious and you should have confidence in yourself and trust in events that take place then.

In recent months you have been feeling the burden of Saturn retrograding in your sign. On the 19th, this planet goes direct so gradually you will begin to feel that you can actually make progress once more in life. Your relationships will benefit from this too. Saturn, at the best of times has a somewhat heavy, restrictive feeling and in retrograde gives the sense that you are taking one step forward and two steps back. Whatever has been detaining you or draining your energy will now begin to recede. The new moon of the 17th in your travel zone will further encourage you to seek out new experiences and study foreign cultures, customs and beliefs. Even if you are unable to travel physically, you can still enjoy mentally exploring any of the above and find a sense of freedom and adventure in the thrill of discovering new ideas.

1st May 2007 - 31st May 2007
The sun is highlighting the area of career and life-goals, and this month, in common with February, may prove pivotal in changing a long-standing pattern and at least opening you up to new possibilities. Indeed many of the developments that occur this month may have an echo of February about them. Venus will be tucked away in the obscure twelfth house, so you may not feel your usual affectionate and passionate self. A romance may have to take a back seat to other, more pressing, issues or you may sense a withdrawing of affection from a partner: either way normal service will resume once Venus enters Leo on 5th June.

As I mentioned in my general forecast while May has its merry moments it has its tough spots too, and the week of the 7th is just such a time. First, Mercury then the sun square up to Saturn, followed just a few days later by Neptune. This emphasises the continuing Saturn-Neptune opposition which has been dogging us all to some extent over the past few months. In your case, Leo, there may well be a conflict between your career and an important person, or people, in your life. It may be that a co-worker is proving obstructive or unsupportive, or downright inefficient. On the other hand, your nearest and dearest could be proving equally unhelpful. Neptune sometimes brings disillusionment and there may be a large gap between your ideal relationship - your ideal life (!:) - and the reality provided by Saturn. Since your zone of shared resources is also accented during this period, there may be disputes over spending or arguments over sex.

Jupiter is currently transiting your pleasure zone, and, with your innate love of luxury, it may be that others feel you have been over extravagant. Children could be at the root of the problem and you may feel unappreciated by those who see you as a money-making machine. There are any number of potential scenarios here, but, whichever way you cut it, career/money/relationships are all in the mix and are subjects which cannot be ignored this month. The new moon of the 15th illuminates your career zone suggesting a fresh start career-wise - which may mean a completely new job, a new boss, or a new phase in your working life. The important thing, however, is to make sure that all the important people in your existence appreciate and value you, so if this is not yet the case, just roar a little louder until they do!:

1st June 2007 - 30th June 2007
This is your chance to stand out in a crowd, as the sun transits your zone of group endeavours. Your herding instinct is strong this month and it would be an excellent time to join in with group activities or take up membership of some kind of society. You may find that you are mixing in completely new circles, or that your friendships are undergoing a period of transformation. And, if you have decided to take a holiday with friends, or there is a company outing, you may be surprised at what that time together reveals...

Venus enters your sign on the 6th stirring feelings of love and reminding you how lucky you are. Thanks to the sun-Pluto opposition of the 19th a friendship may move on to another level, and this is certainly a time when you see the best and worst of other people.

Your astrological calendar, however, is dominated by the final pass of the Saturn-Neptune opposition (25th). This transit has given you much to think about over the past nine months since your usual ability to influence events, to manifest your desires, has been compromised: you have seen promising situations disappear into the mist, and people who have made you promises have failed to fulfil them. In the process you have had to reappraise your life and certainly to become more circumspect about the people whom you chose to keep close. Do not be surprised if, towards the end of June, you feel pulled in two different directions by a relationship. Perhaps your heart tells you one thing, and common sense, the other. Or maybe, you sense other people's disapproval of your partner. There could be a hundred ways in which the balance between illusion and reality must be found, a hundred ways in which you must make a wise decision. Ordinarily you might veer towards the more dramatic, romantic pull of Neptune, but, with Saturn transiting your sign, it's more likely that you will feel a burden of responsibility to behave in a sensible manner. Although Saturn does not offer the glamour and charisma of Neptune, it does bring growth and inner wisdom. You could do a lot worse than choosing the rocky road up the mountain since it leads, ultimately to a higher place.

1st July 2007 - 31st July 2007
It is during early to late July each year that the sun tucks itself away in the mysterious twelfth house, which has the effect of making you more introspective and less confident. Ideally, you should be taking the opportunity to devote more time to the inner things of life - meditation, yoga or simply removing the pedal from the metal are good practises to follow. Your dreams will provide a landscape in which to explore the deeper meaning of events, and taking the trouble to write down your dreams could provide you with more than one epiphany. If, however, you sense that you are being kept out of the loop in some way, try not to force issues or insist that people are up front with you - not only may there be nothing wrong whatsoever but you risk creating even more anxiety for yourself. By the 23rd, when the sun enters your sign, you will be in a position of strength, and should a situation then strike you as odd, you can demand explanations and go on the offensive.

Until the 14th, Venus will be transiting your sign so this continues to be a period in which romance will be uppermost in your thoughts and your ability to win over people will be supercharged. The weekend of 30th June and 1st July links Venus with the Saturn-Neptune opposition, thereby setting the stage for a truly romantic moment or plunging you into deep doubt over the future of a relationship. In many ways this would be an ideal weekend upon which to marry or to set a casual relationship onto a more permanent footing. But if, instead you feel betrayed or uncertain of your feelings, this would be the time to withdraw, albeit temporarily.

As I mentioned in my general forecast for the month, the Mars-Neptune square of the 24th is a tricky customer, and you will have to watch your step, especially with career matters and with those things that affect your standing in the world. Statements will need double-checking and if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

The month ends as it began with a full moon, this time on the relationship axis. As always the theme of closure and completion is present in any such full moon, so if a chapter was neither begun nor ended earlier in the month, the opportunity arises once more.

1st August 2007 - 31st August 2007
You are the centre of much planetary attention this month Leo, and let's face it, there's nowhere you'd rather be. Leos have a strong sense of drama and a great love of life, plus a burning desire for recognition. Thus, with the sun, Mercury, Venus and Saturn transiting your sign, you will be a very difficult person to ignore. Just how much fun August provides rather depends, however... As I explained in my general forecast, Neptune and Saturn make regular appearances and these planets tend to zap our confidence and make us see that proverbial glass half-full, if not seriously empty. So you will need to keep re-booting your faith in yourself and getting over the fact that other people fail to measure up to your expectations.

On the plus side, Jupiter turns direct in your pleasure zone on the 7th, encouraging you to enjoy life, whatever your circumstances, and boosting your powers of creativity. If you have been trying to get a creative project off the ground you should now feel a more harmonious flow of energy - indeed an endeavour or association that stalled a few months ago could be back in business.

Your love-life may also have been stuck in reverse gear for a while but Jupiter's change of direction should rectify this. You could find yourself developing strong feelings for someone around the 12th as the new moon in your sign heralds an important new beginning in your personal life, and with romantic Neptune in the picture you may be feeling distinctly week at the knees. Neptune is a prime-mover when people fall in love - it blurs the boundaries between illusion and reality, - which is why we often come back to planet earth with a bump when we realise that the object of our affections cannot possibly live up to our image of perfection. However, we all need a little Neptune in our lives from time to time so if you are lucky enough to be madly in love this month, enjoy the moment.

And finally the total lunar eclipse of the 28th ... Eclipses end and begin chapters - not such a new theme for you, but this eclipse cuts across the axis of self-worth so a cash-flow problem could get September off to a confrontational start. Your bank account may need bringing back in balance, as indeed may some other investments that have involved money, time and effort. However, whatever emerges as a bolt from the blue will have its benefits and certainly its purpose.

1st September 2007 - 30th September 2007
Money matters loom large this month and for those of you inclined to have a flutter, it’s definitely worth doing so around the 7th - 9th as Venus, and Pluto both go direct followed by a sun Uranus opposition highlighting your financial axis. Big surprises of a financial nature are thus possible and, as Saturn moves into this same zone on the 2nd, you can expect money matters to be taking up your time and energy during the coming months. If you realise you have been too extravagant in the past - and let's face it, Leos are the most generous sign of the zodiac - you can now put new systems in place to safeguard your future.

Since the solar house being affected by the sun, Saturn and the solar eclipse deals with the things you value, you might find that the planets affect you in an emotional way rather than a material one. As the sun aspects Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto during the month you can expect to be on something of an emotional roller coaster. It may be that a new love affair is starting for some of you which will make you feel alive again after a period in the doldrums; or, perhaps the differences rather than the similarities in a working or romantic association become acutely obvious. Nobody loves passion and drama more than you, Leo, and one thing you can say about the planets this month is that you'll have all the agony and ecstasy you could crave.

For the more creative amongst you, this would be an excellent time to get a project off the ground. Whether you are feeling broody, want to write, paint, or start a business you could create something truly beautiful this month by tapping into all the planetary energy at your disposal.

1st October 2007 - 31st October 2007
Travel and communication feature strongly in your life this month. If you feel like getting out and about more within your community, the stars will assist you and this would also be a good time to become involved in a local project such as neighbourhood watch or an education programme. Your communication skills are at an all-year peak and the weekend of the 13th/14th would be an ideal time to improve a relationship by discussing your feelings thereby promoting healing and union. All right, Mercury's retrograde motion from the 12th may slow down the wheels of commerce and communication but dipping into the past and extracting memories, good and bad, could help you to see your present life in a greater context.

With Venus transiting the area of self-worth you may be tempted to spend money on life's little luxuries: putting your money where your hopes are is a familiar result of this transit. However, Saturn has also just arrived in this zone so there is a need to proceed with caution where major investments are concerned. When purchasing items now, look for quality items (don't you always?) which will last a lifetime and under no circumstances become involved in get-rich-quick schemes or short-term fixes. Property matters could assume increased importance this month and if you are attempting to buy or sell a property the week of the 8th could prove both surprising and helpful.

1st November 2007 - 30th November 2007
You could be moving to a new abode this month as the sun and new moon (9th) highlight your home zone, and there are certainly opportunities to make a fresh start chez-vous. This is an ideal period in which to set about home improvements and implement new ways to improve the quality of family life. However, while renovation and decoration are on the astro-menu, there could be some concerns over money. This may translate as your being full of great ideas but unable to get the go-ahead financially. The answer is to cut your coat according to your cloth - not always easy for Leos who love to have the best of everything. On the other hand, you may feel unaccountably depressed because your plans to improve life in general and your home in particular seem to be taking an eternity to be fulfilled.

Also worth preparing for is Neptune's undermining influence, which is particularly strong around the 12th and 24th. Perhaps you feel unsupported or let down in some way. Disillusionment and deception are good old Neptunian themes so you might find yourself questioning someone’s loyalty or honesty around this time. It may be that you have put someone one a pedestal from which they are bound, at some time, to fall. Try not to have unrealistic expectations of people and, even if you are feeling wonderfully romantic about somebody, remember we are all human and therefore fallible.

On the 15th, Mars turns retrograde in your spiritual zone. You may find you are rather short of energy during this time. This is the universe’s way of telling you to slow down and take some time out to get in touch with your inner being. Rest and recuperate if you can - curl up with a good self-help book, or light some candles and meditate. In short, do whatever you can to re-charge your spiritual batteries. Don’t be alarmed if you feel rather vulnerable and more like a kitten than a roaring lion. The situation is temporary, so just go with the flow.

1st December 2007 - 31st December 2007
This is one time of year you always look forward to. At least that's the theory... Since the sun always occupies the area of the chart devoted to pleasure and creative endeavours you should be in your element attending all those Christmas parties and giving of yourself and your talents unreservedly. And yet. This is no average December. A series of angles to unpredictable Uranus and Pluto upset the best of plans and emotions will be running high, if not all over the place! Your best approach to the month ahead would be to keep all your arrangements very fluid and have back-up plans just in case the Cosmic Joker has you in his sights. On the plus side, some Leos will be looking back on this December as the month that changed their lives in the best of ways, and, even on the minus side, the upsets will serve as necessary eye-openers, which in turn will lead to a change for the better.

Bringing new things into being has been a bit of a theme for the whole year for you but it now reaches a crescendo. If you're about to give birth then you are responding to this astrological process to the letter but you could be starting a new business or witnessing the fruit of your labours pay off in a production of some sort. Then there's romance. Relationships begun in December will not be your run-of-the-mill liaisons: the other person will challenge your belief systems and bring out dormant feelings and talents. You may never have felt the same about anyone else. These same intense influences will bring long-standing relationships to a crossroads too, whether this translates as marriage or the realization that you cannot go on if things do not change. Whatever epiphanies come to you, especially on or near the 11th, must be acted upon.

With a full moon on Christmas Eve, you must be careful not to exhaust yourself thereby missing the rest of the celebrations, and my advice is to keep a low profile and not to fuss if everything hasn't come together quite as you hoped. New Year's Eve raises passions - hopefully in the nicest of ways.

1st January 2008 - 31st January 2008
You probably know already that the start to the year is going to be hard work but if not prepare to get your hands dirty or, rather, get ready to be dealing with matters at root level. A concentration of planets in the zone of work, life-style and health means there are issues that cannot be avoided and you$re the one who must tackle them. However, there is no reason why you should not thoroughly enjoy the challenge. Some Leos will be starting a whole new working regime, whether the cause is a different job or new responsibilities, others could be changing their daily routine and a few may be making a major health decision. Indeed, if there is one piece of advice you should take from me it will be to check health and fitness levels while you have the cosmos behind you, so to speak.

But back to dealing with issues at root level. The opening to the month is dominated by a Mars-Pluto opposition - a cleansing aspect if ever there was one. Yes, it may be appropriate to throw out the Christmas tree at this point of the year but there are almost certainly some other things that could do with being relegated to the dustbin of history. You will feel more strongly than ever that you want to start this year with a fresh canvas, and that may mean side-lining some activities, even some people. Many opportunities for growth lie ahead so you will be preparing the ground for new situations to take root, even if the process of elimination is a tad painful.

On the 20th the sun heads into the zone of love and relating and is followed by a full moon on the 22nd. Full moons close chapters; they also bring situations full circle, so during the next two to four weeks you will be beginning a new cycle for your love life, whether marriage or separation is on the cards or a contract is struck or ended with a business association. You may not be quite as in control of events as you may like to be but do your best to remember that this is the time that others lead the way and it$s your job to listen, learn and accept.

Mercury goes into reverse thrust on the 28th - and in the aforementioned zone of relationships - so try not to hyperventilate if someone becomes difficult to pin down or a partnership appears to cool - once Mercury is back on track in late February things will be back to normal, or at least you$ll know what is what.

1st February 2008 - 29th February 2008
What red-blooded Leo isn't waiting with bated breath to see what Valentine's Day will bring... Well, with planet Venus in the zone of work and service, you may have to work hard at love and devote yourself to your romantic cause rather than expecting fireworks and roses. Nonetheless, with a solar eclipse in the area of relating on the 7th and Venus heading into this same sector of your solar chart on the 17th there could be some very unexpected developments linked to love and romance. A surprise proposal for some, an unanticipated treat - perhaps a trip to a romantic haven - for others and in general these astrological factors bring a new dimension into your relationships. Indeed, the period from the 17th February - 12th March is one of the hottest when it comes to weddings and engagements and to meeting Mr or Ms Right. February also looks to be an excellent month for your career: your talents should be recognized and new deals struck that give you more creative input and more money. Work is the big growth area for you this year, and February is the first opportunity for the stars to reveal what this means. The total lunar eclipse of the 21st cuts across the financial axis of your horoscope, at best indicating the signing of a contract but at worst bringing a simmering monetary problem to boiling point. Remember: there's a solution to every problem...

1st March 2008 - 31st March 2008
March stars are all about money and sharing. Now, in some cases this will translate as a month when you have negotiations with financial institutions and, if you are in a partnership, many intense discussions over money with your opposite number. In other cases, there are settlements to come and unexpected windfalls. However, this same eighth house of your solar chart has much to do with intimacy so these passionate and complex alignments could make for some powerful and deep exchanges of the emotional and sexual kind. By and large, this is not a particularly easy month, so right from the start you should be prepared for some tough moments, most notably during the periods of the 7th - 10th and on or near the 15th and 21st. You are at a point in the year where you have less control of the ball and it is your role to listen, learn and acquiesce to other people's needs and wishes. This will change, of course, so rather than panic about the way nothing seems to be going your way, do your best to be accommodating and philosophical about those circumstances which are thrust upon you. It's a time to change those things that need to be changed and accept those things that cannot.

1st April 2008 - 30th April 2008
With so much planetary activity taking place in the far-horizons sector of your horoscope if you're not jetting off to exotic climes you'll be poring over maps, whether these relate to journeys later in the year or future plans. April is a month when if you think big you'll get a whole lot further along that path to your dreams. Ok, hyperbole aside, this is nonetheless a period of 2008 in which you should get over any feelings of regret and disappointment and set about launching new projects and/or focusing on those that have life in them already. The first week is a little tough, but don't let an obstacle to your success assume super-size proportions - your plans just need a little refining, that's all. Throughout the month the sun, Mercury and Venus will all take part in a grand alignment with Saturn and Pluto, which could make a huge difference to your career and financial situation: should you be thinking of going self-employed or starting a business, April is the month to put everything in place. And, in general, those things upon which you have spent considerable time, energy and skill should start to bear fruit. The full moon of the 20th ends a chapter and it would be appropriate in the wake of this full moon to sideline those things that are getting in the way of your true ambitions.

1st May 2008 - 31st May 2008
Life takes off! On the 9th, feisty Mars enters your sign for a six-week visit, so if you've lacked the spirit to deal with a challenge it will be there in force or if you've been patiently waiting for a situation to move you'll be rolling up your sleeves and issuing orders. The downside to a Mars transit is that you can be a little more accident-prone and arguments appear to break out from nowhere, so do your best to include some meditation in your daily routine. Planets at the zenith of your horoscope make this a month for getting ahead, first and foremost with your career but also with your ambitions in general. It is an ideal time to talk to people in positions of power with a view to promotion or obtaining a job. By complete contrast, and for a handful of Leos, romance will spring up in the work-place or at a convention/business gathering. Venus, will be beautifully positioned to help you build firm relationship foundations, both in the romantic and professional sense. Be a little wary on or near the 14th and 20th when Neptune will be putting up smoke-screens - check through all information carefully and don't be misled by appearances. Otherwise, enjoy your activity-packed month.

1st June 2008 - 30th June 2008
Thanks to the presence of Mars in your sign this is is an extremely active month. You have courage, confidence and the will to succeed so how can you fail? Well, you will have to monitor your levels of frustration especially during the period of the 9th - 21st - Uranus and Pluto are centre stage at this time, which means the unexpected and the controversial are all about you - and although you can achieve great things with the force of your personality and your natural talents, if you push too hard you will not only alienate someone you need but you could sabotage your chances. There is a risk of small accidents too so you'll need to take a deep breath before you start cutting and slicing in the kitchen or handling heavy machinery! Friendship and team-work are key themes for the month, whether you begin a new project at work or spend quality time with close friends, and some Leos will find themselves stepping up for a friend-in-need or being a shoulder to cry on because of a broken heart. Also, should your own love-life appear to be under a cloud, don't overreact because in July Venus will come to your rescue.

1st July 2008 - 31st July 2008
The twelfth house of your solar chart is a place of retreat and respite from the storm of life, and it is where you should be headed in July - at least until the sun enters your own sign on the 22nd. In real terms this means you should aim to have as much rest as possible during the first part of the month and avoid taking on too many duties. You are much more sensitive, both in the way of being more physically and emotionally vulnerable and in the sense of having greater insight and intuition. Thus, writing down your dreams and listening to the voice of your unconscious is paramount. Try not to get too stressed out if you cannot control each and every situation, and unless you have rock solid proof that a situation is the way it seems do not act on your fears or, indeed, your hopes. The period around the 10th is tricky, and while some Leos will be dealing with a financial glitch others will be wondering whether or not there is still life in an endeavour or an association. Fortunately, lovely Venus enters Leo on the 12th breathing balance and harmony back into life and reminding you that love does conquer all.

1st August 2008 - 31st August 2008
August is extraordinary. The month opens on a total solar eclipse in your sign and from then on it's a roller-coaster ride. Some days and some events will be brilliant but if you have the rug pulled out from beneath your feet, you'll be in good company. In many ways what happens in August is the outcome of many months, if not years, of preparation and effort; on the other hand certain situations have had an in-built shelf-life and it's time to off-load them. Ideally, you should take stock of your whole life at this time, sorting your priorities and making radical moves to get back on track. That way, you'll be making use of all the planetary 'energy' rather than just waiting to see what happens. Money and relationships are centre stage and you will need to be very specific with your intentions and prepared to obtain a second opinion in light of any financial anomalies. The lunar eclipse of the 16th may be in your diary already and, if you are getting married then or celebrating an anniversary, take plenty of tissues with you! This weekend is a time of endings and beginnings but think very carefully before you exit a relationship in the heat of an argument because all is not as it seems, and you may have cause to regret any hasty actions. And although I have singled out this weekend as 'special' the entire month contains enough planetary dynamite to detonate anything on shaky ground.

1st September 2008 - 30th September 2008
That was the August that was! So, it's onward and upwards, Leo, and if you've had a sensational time recently, thank your lucky stars. One of the great pluses about September is that it enables you to get to work on those things that came into being last month, and, if the rug was pulled out from beneath your feet, you can regain your balance even see the positive side of events. Money dominates your September forecast, and if you haven't grasped the purse strings yet, do so during the first week because the actions you take then will lead to economic growth in the future. The period of the !0th - 16th is somewhat volatile and it may be that a financial arrangement cannot continue or you have made an error in your calculations. Partners could be in the mix here, whether there is a difference of opinion as to who earns/spends what or a parting of the ways necessitates some financial re-organization. Travel has a part to play in September's story and journeys in understanding can also be made, which, of course, could be far more important. You should do as much information-gathering and exchanging of ideas as you can because on the 24th Mercury goes into reverse thrust, and with it the smooth flow of discourse, debate and common sense!

1st October 2008 - 31st October 2008
You are ready to make moves and looking to finalize certain situations. However, until the 15th, Mercury is retrograde producing some irritating glitches and delays. Once the 15th is past though, you should be in your way - indeed, some Leos could be travelling widely and expressing feelings and ideas to a fruitful end. You could think of October as a learning curve, and in the most positive of ways - acquiring new skills, for instance, and making new and important connections - indeed, the full moon of the 14th could set the seal on a personal or professional association. Mars will be transiting the zone of home and life-foundations, so aside from frenetic activity in the home itself, you could be busy laying down the foundation stones of future enterprises. The new moon of the 28th begins a fresh cycle for home and family affairs: some Leos could find themselves welcoming a new face into the fold while others may see a positive change regarding a bank loan or property.

1st November 2008 - 30th November 2008
November finds the astrological focus firmly on home affairs and the foundations of new endeavours, whether these are indeed related to family and property or other aspects of life. This is the period of the year when your need for closeness and that sense of family unity is at its strongest; it is a time when you can strengthen family relations and pour your love and creative energies into your home. Just how much the Saturn-Uranus opposition will help your domestic efforts is debatable since this transit is all about the crumbling of old structures and the construction of new ones. (And if you would like to know about this important opposition you can read about it on Astrolutely.) Finances have been at the mercy of Saturn and Uranus for well over a year, so you may already have experienced the occasional cash-flow crisis or seen your investments shrink -and, if you've been battling it out with an ex-partner or organization you'll know all about fair-play, or, rather, the lack of it. Money and love both require bringing into balance so even if you have had to struggle with finance and relationships during the past few months eventually you'll come through. The full moon of the 13th is angled by Neptune so not everything is as it seems. Try not to allow your emotions or your hopes and fears to get out of proportion and wait until you know the full facts before taking action. On the 21st the sun enters the most sociable and creative area of your horoscope, thus setting the stage for some happy events and loving celebrations.

1st December 2008 - 31st December 2008
It's about time you had some fun so get out your glad rags and party, party. Not only fun but romance too could be on the menu. Venus heads into the zone of love and relating on the 7th, where she will stay until early January, giving you opportunities to meet new people and put the spark back in your love life. Indeed, Christmas and New Year could inspire proposals and provide the perfect setting for a wedding. Nonetheless, the planetary alignments throughout the month leave much to be desired. The combined effects of Uranus and Saturn could produce a financial glitch and finding consensus with business partners and monetary institutions will be difficult. You may find also that your Christmas stockings will not be so full this year. But this is not the end of the world, merely the end of bad financial patterns. The full moon of the 12th may not turn out to be the easiest of days, and while you could close on a deal or put the finishing touches to an endeavour, existing tensions and difficulties between you and another may reach a crescendo leading to an abrupt ending. In time to come, you may well see this as an inevitable and purposeful event, and one for which you are grateful. The last few days of the year look to be very hard work, whether you are indeed back at 'the office' or in charge of the festivities. But with Jupiter about to enter the zone of relationships, you will not be short of a reason to bring out the bubbly.

1st January 2009 - 31st January 2009
It's back to work and in some cases back to the drawing board. With the sun and Mars in the area of work and lifestyle, you could be starting a new job, seeking a new position or labouring long and hard to reach targets. On the other hand, this is a premium period for networking and building up your career profile. Health could be a priority, whether you're trying to get back on the straight and narrow after the Christmas extravaganza or because you have some issues to resolve. But the main astro-event of January is the arrival of Jupiter in the zone of love and relating. For the whole year this planet will help strengthen relationships across the board, it will bringing good people into your life and some Leos will marry or meet the 'One'. And for a few, one or more of these possibilities becomes a reality this month. Certainly around the time of the solar eclipse (26th) there could be many surprising developments linked to love and people in your life. As for my suggestion that you could be going back to the drawing board – a full moon and Mercury's turning retrograde on the 11th may be responsible for stopping you in your tracks and forcing you to go back over old ground. But, as always, this is in your best interests – and only for three weeks!

1st March 2009 - 31st March 2009
Finances may be on everyone's mind at the moment but with the sun's passage through a key financial zone of your horoscope, Leo is a front runner when it comes to making and spending money and resolving problems. You may have noticed already a pattern emerging: you make some progress, have a little money in the bank and, wallop!, an unexpected bill arrives, and those gains get swallowed up. This is all part of the Saturn-Uranus opposition, and it is particularly active in March. Don't be surprised if someone starts moving the goal-posts or offers that were once on the table are removed – and this trend could be alive and well in your love life too. While the overall prospects for relationships are excellent this year, before you can stabilize your love life, and find what you're looking for, a lot of old patterns need to go. And this process is very much the province of Saturn and Uranus. The week of the 8th finds these two planets hard at work so be philosophical about what comes or goes then. Likewise, the week of the 22nd has its rocky moments, however, since the sun is in Aries, highlighting the area of distant horizons, late March could do much for you in the way of sending you in new and positive directions.

1st April 2009 - 30th April 2009
This month you will be able to test out for yourself the truth of the sentiment, distance lends enchantment. Aside from April's stars highlighting the travel area of your solar chart it is time you put some distance between yourself and certain issues: tunnel vision does the Leo Braveheart no favours. One of the biggest issues looks to be financial, and although I am not suggesting that you behave like an ostrich you may find that by releasing your grip and yielding ground in a dispute you will gain much, much more. Whether you are negotiating with a company or an individual, the opposition will not be taking prisoners and you will save yourself money, time and pain by settling quickly. The days on or near the 5th and 15th trigger the Saturn-Uranus opposition, so particularly at these times handle money and people with care. Overseas connections and far away places are in the spotlight for much of the month, and travel will widen your horizons in more ways than one. However, if you are travelling on the 9th take your time and be as tolerant as possible with delays and people who are not as charming and efficient as you... On the 19th the sun arrives in the zone of career and life direction, and with a harmonious aspect to Pluto on the 23rd there could some good news regarding a job. Certainly, this latter part of April is a period in which to promote your talents and to press forward with plans of a material and long-term nature.

1st February 2009 - 28th February 2009
It's all happening for Leo this month. A total of five planetary bodies will occupy the zone of relationships so your every move will be governed by other people's actions feelings and needs. More importantly, this is the month for marriage proposals, weddings and finding that special someone. Two eclipses – the solar on 26th January and the lunar on 9th February – indicate changes and there is a destined quality to who you meet and what happens in your love life. While some Leos will indeed be basking in the bubble of love others will feel let down by a partner but whichever of these two extremes you experience remember that nothing stays the same forever. Indeed, if you can let go your attachment, whether to a person or a fixed outcome, you will be far happier. The repeat of the Saturn-Uranus opposition (5th) puts pressure on finances: if you are carrying too much debt this really is the time to shed it in any way you can, and should you receive an offer, whether on a property or a settlement of some description, you may have no choice other than to accept it, even if it falls short of your expectations. (Better a bird in the hand than two in the bush!) The second half of the month puts Jupiter in the frame, making this a generally more optimistic and successful period.

1st May 2009 - 31st May 2009
Once you know Mercury isn't helping free up the communications' highway, the rest is easy: events that come together and on time will be extra appreciated and if you manage to connect with everyone on your list you'll get a nice feeling of superiority - you beat the system! On the other hand, May is a slow kind of month, whether your plans keep being interrupted or there seem to be too many diversions – some of them very pleasant – to maintain a focus on the more pressing issues of life. If you're job hunting, going back to an old place of work and hooking up with past colleagues and employers could prove very helpful. The full moon of the 9th ends a chapter on the home and family front, and if you have any choice in the matter this would be an appropriate time to make domestic changes. By the middle of the month Neptune's influence gains in strength, which means the potential for muddles and mysteries is high, so keep your eye on the ball at all times. The Jupiter-Neptune conjunction (27th) could do great things for your love life, and don't be surprised if someone from whom you've been estranged makes an appealing come-back.

1st June 2009 - 30th June 2009
Leos take naturally to leadership but sometimes you do a whole lot better when other people add their input. And June is one such time. There is a strong accent on creativity and collaboration, making this an ideal month to get a new enterprise off the ground and to strengthen the bonds of friendship. Some Leos may even go into people production... The full moon of the 7th brings a gestation period to an end, whether this means that after a period of thought you are ready to go into production or because a birth of some description is imminent. And in general this full moon brings matters related to your happiness and growth to the forefront of life. On the 15th, Jupiter turns retrograde in the zone of relating so if a new relationship suddenly looses its momentum, try not to panic – a shift of gear is necessary to test the durability of your union. Likewise, if events appear to threaten the future of a long-standing relationship, do not over-dramatize the situation: all relationships go through seasons, and 'summer' will return all the quicker without your jumping up and down and tearing your hair out! The sun-Pluto opposition of the 23rd brings secrets to the light and in some cases puts a job on the line.

1st July 2009 - 31st July 2009
Life is a whole lot easier when we go with the natural flow, by which I mean as planets travel around the horoscope we do better by following their lead as opposed to putting our agenda first. And this is crucially important when the sun transits the twelfth house of the solar chart because it is the area in which we recharge our batteries and prepare for a new year-long cycle. The sun will be in the twelfth house until 22nd July, so you should make a concerted attempt to rest more, have some alone-time, and to do that most un-Leo of things – take a back seat. By practising meditation and yoga, keeping a dream diary and listening to your inner voice, you will learn volumes about yourself, and the ideas that come to you will start taking root. Health springs to the top of the list so if you haven't visited your dentist or doctor for a while, now's the time to book that appointment. Two eclipses (7th and 22nd) will highlight weaknesses in the system, whether we're talking working life and the daily round or mind, body and spirit. Job offers and changes come out of the blue and new people who enter your life are likely to have a profound effect on it. The 10th is another date for your diary – the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction is exact in the zone of relating, encouraging statements from the heart and soul-to-soul exchanges on the one hand, and disappointmemts on the other. On the 22nd the sun enters your sign and with a total solar eclipse on the same day, especially if it is your birthday expect a year of unparalleled change and opportunity. And whenever you were born the 22nd marks the beginning of a four-week period of intense activity.

1st August 2009 - 31st August 2009
August, like February, is a happening month. Indeed, there could be a direct link between the events of late January/February and those of this August. Plans could come to fruition, ideas could become actions and rumours may turn into realities. Note I say 'may' though. Mid-month deceptive Neptune is in the mix, creating muddles and doubts, which must be thoroughly checked out before you leap to conclusions and into the fray! The lunar eclipse of the 6th cuts across the relationship axis, enabling some Leos to mate, marry or meet their match and others to pull the plug on a less than happy union. And in general this eclipse encourages you to recognize the good, the bad and the seriously unacceptable in relationships. It's a trying time, although not without purpose. Venus will be tucked away in the reclusive twelfth house so although you may be able to take time out from the madding crowd, you could experience some confusion over a relationship. My advice would be not to try to unravel any mysteries this August but to wait until September when you will have the full weight of Venus behind you. The only exception to this 'rule' is where money is concerned. This is not the time to ignore a financial issue or to assume that because you haven't heard from someone a problem has gone away: the sooner you deal with a complication, the more you get behind matters, the easier things will be.

1st September 2009 - 30th September 2009
No month could be disappointing with Venus in your sign, nevertheless don't expect a free ride, exactly. As you will see from the general forecast, the return of the Saturn-Uranus opposition, plus retrograde Mercury is a recipe for delays, frustrations and complications so especially during that ten-day patch - 14th - 24th – don't rattle anyone's chain and deal with any challenges in a practical, non-emotional way. Finances are the principle target for this alignment so if you're wise you'll talk to the money people and those with whom you share financial responsibilities early in the month. On the plus side, a worry could be lifted from your shoulders but on the down side cash may not be easy to come by. But let's get back to Venus. This beautiful planet will set you in a glowing light, drawing people towards you and helping you beat the competition, whether in the professional or romantic sense. Venus helps you say the right thing at the right time and the reflection that beams back at you in the mirror tends to be appealing. Don't be surprised if you are even more sought after than usual and a relationship that may have faded could be back in full flower. Get out there and flaunt your booty!

1st October 2009 - 31st October 2009
At first glance October looks to be a fairly laid-back period of the year but as soon as Mars enters your sign (16th), life will be buzzing. Travel and communication occupy the spotlight and there is much to learn, both in the real sense of acquiring knowledge and in the metaphorical way of experience becoming your greatest teacher. And, yes, you could be using up those air-miles and making large carbon footprints! The recent onslaught (especially on finances) courtesy of the Saturn-Uranus opposition is still a force to be reckoned with so money could still be tight and financial organizations reluctant to ease your position. However, once Jupiter turns direct (13th) offers may well start to appear and an endeavour that or person who has been impervious to your charms could resume a serious interest. The plus of having Mars in your sign is that it gives you energy, determination and chutzpah: the minus is that hostilities seem to break out in a heartbeat and some people may start accusing you of being bossy and inconsiderate. Something to think about since there is a subtle difference between enthusiasm and force. Saturn exits the financial zone on the 29th – don't celebrate too soon because he will be back for a wee while next year – but from this point you should start to feel less burdened by financial pressures and more ready put to good use the lessons you have learned.

1st November 2009 - 30th November 2009
It may not be a new year as far as the calendar is concerned, but with the sun passing through the base of your horoscope, you are beginning a new upward cycle, one that initially focuses on the home front. Perhaps the decorators and the builders are already in situ, or maybe you're buying new furniture and appliances, and with a full moon flanking this axis (2nd) some Leos could be moving home. Then there's all that family 'stuff'. It is the right month to hold family gatherings and to attend to issues within the family. However, you may want to leave talking-the-talk until the 15th with its Saturn-Pluto square is well behind you. Simmering issues reach boiling point on or near the 15th, and although it is good to air festering feelings you don't want to detonate perfectly good relationships and situations. One of the most important aspects to the aforementioned new cycle is setting anything new on firm foundations. On the 22nd the sun moves into your fellow fire sign, Sagittarius, so the atmosphere lightens and there could be happy events to attend and more than a sprinkling of romantic occasions. You're also entering one of the most creative phases of the year, whether you're being creative with finance, beginning new personal or professional endeavours or being pro-creative and expecting a new member of the team.

1st December 2009 - 31st December 2009
How are you enjoying Mars in your sign? Are you brimming with energy, chomping at the bit to achieve your biggest goals or fed up to the teeth with running into opposition left, right and centre? December continues to fire your ambitions so although your main concern might be putting together the best Christmas ever, there are opportunities to step up that ladder of success. Indeed, mixing business with pleasure could be the very way opportunities emerge. You are at your creative best, whether you're hosting gatherings or bringing new endeavours into being so enjoy your moments in the spotlight. There could be some flurries of romance too and don't be surprised if an attraction develops with someone who is very different from your usual template. Up until the 20th you have the equivalent of a tail wind behind you but after this point there could be drains on your energies and potholes of one sort or another may start to appear. As I mentioned in the general forecast, the planets have not been kind to us over Christmas, so you will need to be philosophical about what comes together and what falls apart at the seams. And if you're planning to travel after the 26th, please be very patient.

1st January 2010 - 31st January 2010
Do not expect a rocket-powered entry into 2010. Mercury is retrograde so getting all those plans off the ground is going to take a little longer... On the other hand, if you can take the first fourteen days off, you'll be starting the year on the right foot. Health of mind, body and spirit is to the fore, so if you're already planning a de-tox, a visit to the dentist and a course in yoga you're perfectly in-synch with your stars. Likewise, if you're starting a new job or going back to the old one with a fresh attitude, you're doing the right thing. What you don't want to do is rake up old issues and start fretting when people don't return your calls or fail to express an interest in putting dates in their diary. On the 18th Venus enters the zone of relating, followed by the sun (20th) and from this point life starts to deliver roses instead of raspberries. Indeed, some Leos will be looking at a brand new love connection or a much stronger commitment from a partner. Plus, the ground could be being prepared for a very special Valentine's Day next month. The full moon of the 30th is in your sign, thereby empowering you but also completing a relationship cycle - a chapter may be ending but, of course, this means a new one will be beginning.

1st February 2010 - 28th February 2010
Curb your enthusiasm! Or is that impatience? Mars in your sign is helping you reach your targets but it could also deter a potential suitor or delay an offer you would like. Let the cosmos do the work of love and bring you not necessarily what you want but what is right for you.

1st March 2010 - 31st March 2010
Do you feel as though you've been stuck in a groove, or, worse, heading backwards? It's all go now, and your energy, drive and commitment towards people and projects have the power to move mountains. Just be a little careful how hard you push, though, the periods around the 15th and 22nd are dynamite!

1st April 2010 - 30th April 2010
You could be travelling and enjoying foreign fare or events will be taking you into new territory. Either way, you'll be getting a fresh perspective on life. Not that everything is straight-forward: the information highway is subject to log-jams and missed connections make for muddles.

THE MONTH'S POWERPOINT: 24TH

1st May 2010 - 31st May 2010
It's taken some time to sort yourself out but you're finally ready to make a decision. This is a particularly important month for business affairs and your financial future. Check information carefully on or near the 17th but be ready to put signatures on paper by the 22nd.

1st June 2010 - 30th June 2010
We all need a bit of luck and yours comes in on the 14th. Until mid-August you have the wind in your sails, in some cases because you have love in your heart too! And in general, you are in one of the most growth-oriented phases of 2010. It's time you pulled out all the stops and started believing in yourself.

1st July 2010 - 31st July 2010
Don't assume that a quiet period means nothing is happening. Behind the scenes plans are being laid and people taking action. Look for subtle signs and signals and by the 26th all the pieces of the jigsaw should fit together. Travel and discussions take you into new territory - enjoy the trip!

1st August 2010 - 31st August 2010
Relax: no one's going anywhere in a hurry, least of all you! Enjoy your time out and if people aren't getting back to you and plans are changing at the last minute so be it. Gaining distance and perspective is essential: you have more options than you think, especially job-wise.