A new beginning to the old ending. On Friday,
the Capricorn sun-and-moon merger initiates a new lunar cycle, the last one
of the Year of the Cock. Good riddance! On Saturday, Mercury joins Pluto to
either reinforce secretive, subversive behavior or reveal it. What can you get
away with on New Year's Eve? On Sunday, Venus backs out of Aquarius, into Capricorn,
where she'll stay until March 5, reviewing and re-evaluating whatever relationship
you've enjoyed since Thanksgiving. January 1 also marks the first beneficial
trine that energetic Mars in Taurus and the constructive Capricorn sun have
formed in many years. Maybe Mother Earth gets a break in 2006.

Aries

Rams should use Friday's new-moon energy to reinforce the influence
Capricorn exerts on your professional well-being. Because what occurs in the
next two weeks can indicate the direction your reputation will take in 2006,
try to project an image that correlates with what you want to happen. Don't
undermine yourself. Coincidentally, to help achieve your current goal, there's
a supportive trine on the 1st between your ambitious Mars ruler and the constructive
Capricorn sun that may be financially rewarding as well. Wouldn't that be nice?

Taurus

The put-up-or-shut-up attitude generated by hotheaded Mars in your
sign finds favor with the pragmatic, productive Capricorn sun this week. Whether
the support manifests as money or a mentor depends in part on what would serve
you best. Few astrological aspects hit home as precisely as a favorable trine
between the life-sustaining sun and Martian desire. It's probably safe to assume
that, even though your retrograde Venus ruler is hung up in the past, the future
looks bright, particularly since you have protective Jupiter in your house of
allies.

Gemini

First things first. Take a minute on Friday to connect to the down-to-earth
Capricorn new-moon energy; then, if your plans for seeing in the New Year become
unwieldy or, more likely, too tentative, you won't be at loose ends. You might
also need a hefty dose of common sense on Saturday if your Mercury ruler ropes
you into an unpleasant situation when it gets together with extremist Pluto
in your Sagittarius marriage house. But after Mercury shifts into Capricorn
on Tuesday, things should settle down and, let's hope, make more sense than
they do now.

Cancer

A Moon Child tends to embrace the cosmic energy that a new moon
offers sooner and with more dramatic results than the rest of us. So don't be
surprised if Friday's lunation in your Capricorn marriage house, instead of
reinforcing your feelings about an ongoing relationship, sends you someplace
you haven't been before. By getting out of your no doubt comfortable rut and
meeting with new people, you could make an immediate emotional connection. The
intellectual, ideological connection follows once Mercury enters Capricorn on
Tuesday.

Leo

Just when you were getting into the rhythm of the holiday week with
its parties and perks, your sun ruler, in duty-bound Capricorn, perfects its
biennial trine to ambitious Mars in your productive Taurus midheaven. You could
try to direct this steady flow of constructive energy to an area of your life
other than your career and reputation, but nothing shouts carpe diem
like this planetary hookup. Leo athletes, in particular, have an edge this week,
but even certified couch potatoes may benefit from the rewards being bestowed.

Virgo

Virgins get an opportunity to welcome the New Year with a brand-new
approach to romance and perhaps someone new to try it out on. The earthy Capricorn
new moon occurring in your house of recreational game playing and other entertainments
brings a fresh breath of creativity, the stuff that's worth milking till the
bitter end. In another month, you're liable to be busy promoting what captures
your fancy this week, so don't waste time hedging your bets. Not while passionate,
prolific Mars in Taurus, another fertile earth sign, is egging you on.

Libra

As if you needed any more emphasis placed on where you currently
live, where you'd prefer to live and who should be living with you! However,
that's the area of your chart that the Capricorn new moon is highlighting, so
you may want to focus on ways of introducing a new element to the current situation.
For example, while your tasteful, value-conscious Venus ruler is revisiting
Capricorn (January 1???March 5), you might decide to redecorate. Once the planets
move on to airy Aquarius, you'll probably opt for the freedom to pursue romantic
fun and games of chance.

Scorpio

If last week was tough, then this week should be a breeze. That's
because your Mars co-ruler is supported by the cautious, conscientious Capricorn
sun. For some Scorps, there'll be a substantial financial reward; for others,
a commanding presence in your immediate environment or a popular profile in
the media. New Year's Eve might be more interesting than you expect; Mercury
joining forces with your resourceful Pluto co-ruler could reveal hush-hush information
you've been eager to discover. Beyond mere curiosity.

Sagittarius

You don't need to see Match Point to be reminded that while
it's good to be rich, it's really good to be lucky. So midweek, while your (and
Woody Allen's) fortunate Jupiter ruler and the Capricorn sun form an opportunistic
sextile, accept your favorite god's gift with open arms and a smile, not a smirk.
You might also want to know that the Capricorn new moon on the 30th inaugurates
a lunar cycle that, for many Sages, focuses on ways to amass or to spend that
good fortune. For the rest, ways to make an acceptable, respectable first impression.

Capricorn

Are all Capricorns closet egotists? The whiff of “executive privilege”
and “entitlement” that Goats have been known to give off makes you come across
on occasion like a Leo, the king of the zodiac. But without the furry eyelashes
and pussycat demeanor. So, when you gather your considerable talents this week
and direct the Cap new-moon energy toward a very personal goal, give a thought
to the rest of us, your not-that-loyal subjects, and how you want to be perceived.
However, while protective Jupiter covers for you, why would you give a fig?

Aquarius

While the sun transits through their 12th house, every sign gets
to spend time drifting through their very own unknown, absorbing insights imparted
by their unconsciousness, even enlightened Aquarians. So, during the four weeks
before the Aquarius new moon inaugurates the Year of the Dog, try to use this
basically quiet interval to meditate more. And consider whatever rises to your
conscious mind a gift from the gods, specifically Saturn, your age-old ruling
planet, and Uranus, the new guy on the job. Together, they'll keep you on course.

Pisces

Fish who are eager to start the New Year off as disciplined, productive
citizens should take a moment during the Capricorn new moon on Friday to infuse
themselves with that button-down mindset. They can effectively use this lunar
cycle to improve their position at work and their reputation among their peers.
They could also have considerable success sucking up to their employers. Fish
who would rather hang with friends or work with like-minded political/social
organizations could use the executive qualities that Capricorn imparts to get
their agenda passed. Not a whole lot of revelry going on.

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