SIGN OUT

by Lilly Roddy

Right after the holidays, we enter into a Mercury retrograde period from January 1 through January 26. So put off making those new-year resolutions until the end of January; otherwise, you will have to redo your list. Desires are great and tempers are short January 3 and January 11. You will send and receive a lot of mixed messages near the end of the month. Be flexible and maintain very reasonable expectations. The Sun enters the sign of Aquarius on January 20. Mercury spends all of her time in Capricorn stirring up tradition. Venus is slinking her way out of Scorpio on the 8th and enters freedom-loving Sagittarius. Mars is close behind her and enters Sagittarius on the 17th. The rest of the planets are happy where they are and are not changing this month.

ARIES (March 21–April 19). With Mercury retrograding through your career sector, you can expect lots of problems to come to the surface that you and others have overlooked. And it will be difficult to shake the feeling that you are responsible even if you aren’t. Relationships in general will be a lot easier as you won’t be looking so strongly for that intangible soul connection. And after the 20th, you are ready to have friends in and just forget about the holidays all together. You are in a social and public period for the next two months. Use that to promote yourself in groups, relationships, and through business connections.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20). The second half of the month is just so much better for you. But before we can get there, we must muddle through a tangled web of emotional ups and downs. This will show up resolutely in relationships, both business and personal. You are at the end of your tolerance, and things have to be better or you will be ending partnerships. The beginning of the month is especially tough. But maybe it is not so bad to clean house as the new year begins. Your attention is totally concentrated on your career as we get to the 20th. Some of you will be starting new career paths, and others will know they are in the right place. Either way, you will not be confused.

GEMINI (May 21–June 21). With your ruling planet, Mercury, retrograding as the year begins, you will have to wait for a clean start of 2003. Money and shared resources are the big issues. And you will not want to be alone this month. You have certainly felt out of step with partnerships even if you are in one. After the 8th, you may be calling up old friends and trying to reconnect. Your co-workers need a boost, and they usually depend on you for this energy transfer. You are doing all you can but don’t seem to be able to get that cheerleader outfit on. After the 23rd, you will be your old rah-rah self.

CANCER (June22–July 22). The moon kids are really paying attention to their relationships this month. There is a lot of activity especially with retrograding Mercury visiting that part of your horoscope. You will be very emotional, and your partner will want you to be very logical. If you can both take a step forward into each other’s arena, that would be very helpful. You are really ready to get on with your work life this month and particularly after the 17th. You may have to hold your crabs back until Mercury resumes its direct path on the 23rd. Money continues to be your theme song.

LEO (July 23–August 22). You will be leading the pride this month on the clean-up-and-get-organized detail. You could appear very driven and unyielding to others that you work with. Imagine that! You do not and will not waste your time on other people’s dramas this month. Relationships are so much more playful and fun. And if your current beau is not fun, then you will be shopping those after-holiday sales. Relationships are more serious by the end of the month. And some of you, this year, will be headed down that path of marital bliss/life partnership/ritual ceremony that you read about.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22). Even though you are still working to get your ducks and paper clips in a row, an inner urge wants you to play this month. If you can combine your playfulness with your career goals, you can really turn on that magnet and attract the things you want. You are more into your let’s-get-organized mode after the 20th. Spring cleaning will come early for you this year. Relationships take on a whole new color. Your tolerance with the existing conditions, if you are not happy, will be at an all-time low. Change is in the air. Do you smell it?

LIBRA (September 23–October 23). Yes, you will be cleaning and straightening up the house or your family for this whole month. You could just turn the hose on the whole project and just wash away all that dirt. Parental quandaries and emotional baggage will turn up in the most unusual places. Your children will be saying the same things to you that you said to your parents. Later you can call your parents and apologize. Big work and career plans are on the horizon, so get all those unfinished projects out of the way, because you won’t have time by the end of this month.

SCORPIO (October 24–November 21). Your communications skills will be tested this month. If you mean what you say and have said what you meant, then you will be living your life in the extreme vein of truth. If not, everyone will be there to point out to you where you are screwing up. You may want to really lay low as the year begins. You are not at your most patient and loving. On the career front, things continue to look good there and only improve and expand. February will be a great career month. Get your self in order. You won’t have the time next month.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21). Money and finances lead the charge this month. And with Mercury retrograding in this zone of your horoscope, problems that have gotten away from you in the past will bubble up to the surface. Your choices: be happy you can correct them now or be mad that you missed them and still have to correct them. Don’t you just love free will? Relationships still seem to be costly, and an out-of-town friend may still be your best option. Is that what a “layaway” is? You life will get very, very, very busy after the 20th. Make sure you have time for yourself so you don’t overschedule your life.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19). Particularly with Mercury retrograde, you are really reviewing your past this year. It is your birthday time and the time to consider what you did and what you wanted to do—and to figure out a new game plan for this year. Please make sure that you don’t make any permanent decisions until after the 23rd. You are still trying to get your workplace in order. You have to replace equipment that has seen better days. Be sure to include romance on your calendar for next year. It will demand a place even if you are not ready.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18). This is your traditional time of hiding out and avoiding all those happy new-year faces that are pounding on your door wanting something from you. You just have to pace yourself and say no earlier on rather than try to please everyone around you. That way you won’t feel discounted and ignored. Your energy comes back as we near the end of the month, and you are ready to come back into the light. Relationships continue to look promising.

PISCES (February 19–March 20). Reviewing your friendships and group associations are high on your list this month of activity. Which ones will you keep and which ones will end up in the dumpster? They had better serve you and your long-terms goals, or you will be getting rid of them. Career takes a big leap back into your life after the 20th. You will notice that you are ready for some new challenges in your life. At the end of the month, you will be putting people on notice. You will not seem like yourself and will be more confrontational and edgy than usual. I hope the people around you can get used to it.

Click here for astrologer Lilly Roddy’s annual year forecast. Roddy’s website is www.hermesfoot.com.

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