Horoscopes 4u

Cancer March 2009

2009-03-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Mars may have increased your expenses lately, but this assertive planet also motivated you to find ways to increase your income. In the first two weeks of March, if you need any sort of funding, such as to launch a business, financial aid to pay for college tuition, or a mortgage to buy a house, use the first half of March to complete the paperwork. This would also be an ideal time to complete your taxes.

One day when you may feel overwhelmed by your financial situation will be March 8 when Saturn opposes the Sun. This is a traditionally low point of the year, and everyone of every sign will be mumbling - or grumbling - about something that has been bumming them out. Saturn is icy cold and rules constrictive conditions, while the Sun is the warm and generous star that heats our planet and that reminds us that without the Sun there would be no life. The opposition of Saturn and the Sun on March 8 will be the meeting of fire and ice.

Before you throw up your hands and scream, "I knew it! I'm doomed!" rest assured that you are not. This would be a day to objectively take stock of the money you have coming in and think of something you can do to improve your financial picture. It could be something small, but over time could add up to something big. Saturn wants you to be objective, and the Sun will help you see that even under the harshest conditions, certain plants find a way to adapt and grow.

At the full moon, March 10, a family matter could be on your mind. It may concern your sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle, or in-law. Keep your eye on your mother too, for she may also need your assistance because of Saturn's proximity to the full moon. If it turns out not to be your mother, it would likely be another female near you, possibly a neighbor who may be under stress and in need of your sympathy and support.

A prominent male in your family seems to be high-strung and somewhat uneven in his responses, due to a conjunction of Uranus and the Sun at the same time. In some ways I think the man in this situation may simply be rattled and unable to think clearly - that's where you come in.

Alternatively, instead of being focused on a close relative or neighbor, you may be involved in negotiating a contract or dealing with a matter that involves a lot of paperwork. If the contract is about money (as most are), be very careful not to commit to more than you can deliver and that the contract protects your interests in all ways. With a Venus in retrograde this month, the outlook for generating profits will not be strong. If possible wait to sign after April 21 but before May 1. I suggest April 21.

Also, or alternatively, at the full moon, March 10, you may wrap up a major writing project, be asked to give a speech or seminar, or take a short trip.

This full moon will be in Virgo, a place that blends well with Cancer. If you were born on July 13, or within five days of this date, you will find a way to make things work out to your satisfaction, no matter how complicated negotiations may be at the time.

The situation (at the full moon March 10) however, seems to be stressful, or will be one that will require you to take a completely new approach. Old formulas won't work - that will be evident fairly soon - so you'll have to devise another way.

This moon conjoins Saturn and opposes Uranus, suggesting that you may be subject to criticism and you'll have to deal with that and rise above it if you are to be able to function. It's always wise to consider others' feedback, even if you do so privately, but don't become so weighed down by it that you become obsessed by it. Everyone, of all zodiac signs, will need to make course corrections in March - be comforted in knowing you are not alone in this. Those who find ways to adapt quickly will find themselves ahead of the pack.

Fortunately, Mercury, the ruler of Virgo, will be beautifully angled to Pluto in your seventh house of partners. If something does come up for you within days of that March 10 full moon that you need to address, a partner - whether that be your spouse, live-in lover, or in the business sense, your lawyer, broker, headhunter, agent, or other middleman - would prove to be a gem by helping you sort things out. This person would provide excellent advice, ideas, and possibly contacts and introductions that could prove helpful.

When Mars tours your ninth house from March 15 to until April 22, a period of five weeks, you may travel for any purpose, but it does appear it might be for work. If so, your trip might take you quite far and possibly to a foreign country. (That foreign country could be far, or if you live in the USA, quite close by - to one of our friendly neighbors, Canada or Mexico, for either would "count" as foreign, too.) Even if you don't travel, you may find that you will be interacting quite a bit with people from other countries this month, possibly by email or phone. Or, you may host others in your hometown when people abroad come to see you.

One time when a surprise trip may come up out of the blue would be March 21 or 22, a weekend. No matter what the reason you take off, it would be great fun (even if you have to go to see a client)! Unusual news may alternatively reach you over this weekend, so keep checking your email.

If you don't travel on March 21 or 22, it would be a fine time to brainstorm on a creative idea, as Mercury conjunct Uranus is considered a fantastic time to generate a breakthrough concept or to devote yourself to artistic expression.

There is another way the emphasis on your ninth house (that Mars will initiate on March 14) may play out. It may occur to you that going back to the classroom to get an advanced degree, to brush up on your skills in your existing specialty, or to get training in a new area may make you more attractive in the marketplace. If you are serious about getting more education, move forward on your plan in March.

If money is holding you back from taking the classes you need, do research - it appears you may be able to find financial aid you need to make your dream a reality. Don't overlook government programs, as those seem to glow brightly for you this year. There will, of course, be other sources. Sometimes when we need money we assume there are no ancillary sources other than the ones that are obvious, but there often are more if we look deeper. It is amazing what passion and determination can do to help! As always, energy attracts energy.

The main event of March will arrive at month's end, when a new moon will arrive in your career sector, March 26. Normally this would be the moment you've long awaited, for this is the one and only professional new moon of the year, powerful enough to open a road toward finding the job of your dreams or to help you start a business of your own, if you so desire.

The problem is that this new moon will be flawed. On the plus side, you have the Sun, new moon, Venus, and Mercury in your tenth house of fame, putting you, your work, and your future professional desires in the spotlight. You will have energy and motivation to do whatever you have to do to get ahead.

All those heavenly bodies will be within a few tiny degrees of each other, so you are likely to find at least one solidly strong career opportunity just after that new moon arrives on March 26. A conjunction of planets is the most powerful aspect possible in astrology, as it signals the possibility of a new cycle starting up (in this case, your career). This, on the surface, is very good news - you should have no problem getting the attention of some very powerful people in positions of power.

The difficult part of the new moon is that Pluto, now firmly ensconced in your seventh house, will be in very challenging, angry angle to all the heavenly bodies mentioned, namely, Venus, Mercury, the Sun, and new moon. This tells me that the competition for the job that you want will be very stiff and that some of the people you are up against will stop at nothing to get that job - even one or two of their maneuvers will be outrageously unfair.

As I mentioned, Venus will be among that gang of four that will be targeted by Pluto. Venus, when found in the tenth house of fame, honors, and career prestige, would normally give a marvelous boost to your professional reputation and popularity, but this month Venus will be retrograde and therefore in a weakened state. Although you could easily make the short list of candidates that VIPs are favoring for the position, you will need something to put you first, on top. With Pluto doing battle with Venus, and your ruthless competitors trying every trick in the book (including a possible ploy to discredit you), it won't be easy to win the job.

This does not mean that you can't get the job you want, but it does mean that you'll have to be in fighting shape when you enter this battle and psychologically confident and ready to win. It won't be a task for the faint of heart. You'll need to present yourself in the very best possible light. Ask friends to help you conduct practice interviews so that you don't go in cold. Presidential candidates practice before a debate, interview, or news conference, and you should, too. Take any tips friends and colleagues have to help you separate yourself from the pack.

If you are planning to start your own business, Pluto's position toward the March 26 new moon foretells of an unusually competitive marketplace in the months ahead and you'll have to work very hard and very smart to stay afloat in the critical early stages of the business. Check all your assumptions by putting them through seven sieves (so to speak), and truly listen to your colleagues and friends who may point out flaws in your thinking. If you feel that your friendly critics are wrong, that's fine, but at least listen to what they have to say, because if you are starting a business under these treacherous aspects, you will have to be absolutely sure you're right - in a sense, you are betting your life on being so. That's why I say getting opinions is a good idea.

Pluto rules the government, so be sure you understand all the laws and papers you will need to file too, for with Pluto in hard angle, you could overlook or misunderstand something and pay a steep penalty for not doing something you were supposed to do. With the government, not knowing does not let you off the hook.

I have rarely seen a new moon as difficult as the one due March 26, and it certainly will demand a new attitude and approach from you. I base this comment on the corresponding opposition of Saturn and Uranus that will be ongoing during most of 2009. Still, your being forced to innovate and experiment might not be such a bad thing, for that's often when a really stunning breakthrough or victory happens. It really is true that necessity is often the mother of invention.

This new moon is in Aries, and so we need to look to see what Mars, Aries' ruler, is doing - the answer is that Mars will oppose Saturn (within five degrees, to reach an apex of opposition next month on April 18). This shows that you will have reason to take things slow and steady, to think through every move you make as if it were a chess game. Avoid hasty decisions. Although you'll want to see a quick result, that seems unrealistic - in this chart pattern, the little turtles, not the hares, will win the race.

Although this new moon seems to set up more roadblocks than opportunities, you might be able to find ways to work with it anyway. Planets in Aries seem to be transmitting the message: "Only the brave and the strong need apply." You were born a cardinal sign, as Cancer is (with Aries, Libra, and Capricorn), so you seem especially well equipped to rise to the occasion. You are a natural pioneer and have an inborn need to take the bull by the horns when necessary, so this may be the time to do so.

You will get a second chance to aim for the career goal next month, but you will only have a narrow window of time to act. This second opportunity will arrive when Mars moves into Aries and your tenth house of prestige, fame, and honors - the same house that the new moon will light on March 26 for two weeks. Specifically Mars will tour your career sector from April 22 to May 31.

Keep those dates in mind, but also be mindful that Mercury will go retrograde for part of that phase, from May 7 to 31. That means April 22 to May 1 will be your best days to put the pedal to the metal in your job search. (I know I wrote that Mercury turns on May 7, but we don't like to act too closely to a Mercury retrograde phase, so I am closing that window on May 1.)

After that, during May, with Mercury moving backward in your eleventh house, a friend or colleague whom you know from the past may be instrumental in helping you find a better job. We are getting a bit ahead of ourselves here, but you get the picture. I wanted to give you a map of what is to come a few weeks down the line.

Romantically, the course of love will be uneven in March. If you are attached, you will find that at times your partner is attentive and warm, and at other times needy and demanding. You won't always know which side of your partner will come out. You may be laughing and saying to your computer screen, "Yes, Susan, and what else is new?

Gemini March 2009

2009-03-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

You may have needed to travel this month to see the people who want your visionary expertise. As a Gemini, you are always excited at the prospect of getting an airline ticket. Being in a new setting provides you with the kind of stimulation you need, and afterward you come back feeling refreshed. If you have not yet had a face-to-face meeting, you may still arrange one during March's first two weeks. If you can't travel, this person may come to you and you can host this person in your city. Or, you will communicate quite a bit together over email, IM, or formal letter. Ideas appear to be flying!

What appears to intrigue you most about that project is how different it is from all projects you've done in the past and how much you can learn from this one. It also seems to bring you into cutting edge technology where everything is so new and fresh. Planets in Aquarius will have you thinking of "what comes next," so you may be involved in digital forms, applications, or new media.

This project may allow you to communicate with masses of people in a new community or market that you've never addressed, and your work may require translation into at least one foreign language. Any publishing or broadcasting opportunities that come across your desk now would have global proportions and would grow even bigger as you move through 2009.

The part of your chart that is so lit up also rules university settings and officials, so you may plan to teach or attend a college as a graduate or undergraduate student. While you may encounter a few obstacles along the way, you can get over those because the planetary deck is so strongly stacked in your favor.

Legal matters that come up this month also are favored for a good outcome, so don't delay - move on those now, too. Mercury will be retrograde from May 7 to 31, so while you have a strong period to address those matters, do, especially early in the month when the stars will shower you with luck.

Mars will continue to light this area in your chart until March 14, so until that time, you should be gratified by progress on all the areas I have discussed so far.

The full moon of March 10, plus or minus four days, however, will set up a push-pull between your career and your home life that may prove very difficult to juggle. This full moon will make your home the dominant area to need attention, so you will have to immediately redirect your focus. You should plan to be home, not traveling, from March 8 to 13.

The urgent home-related situation may have to do with the structure of your home or other property, or may concern your roommate, tenant, decorator, landlord, contractor, or other person involved with your home.

Your parents also come under this house of the horoscope, so instead of your home or property, you may be focused on one of them. If this will be how things work out, your mother seems to be the one on your mind. Saturn will conjoin the moon and Uranus will conjoin the Sun, so the men in your family will likely be preoccupied, which is why you will need to take charge.

Whatever comes up will be unexpected and will require an important decision that will stay in effect a long time. Watch the days surrounding March 10 - you will have almost no time to focus on work. I will admit it may not be an easy time of the month, but thankfully as a Gemini you are known to keep cool under all circumstances, mainly because you are so flexible and adaptable.

If your birthday falls on or near June 11, you are likely to be quite aware of the need to be fully present and focused on your home and family with no outside distractions at this full moon March 10. Fortunately, once this moon wanes over the following weekend, you will begin to feel calm. You will have made a decision and you will move forward with your life.

Because this full moon falls in Virgo, we need to look at the activities of Mercury (Virgo's ruler) to estimate the final outcome of this full moon. Fortunately, Mercury will be in close and friendly conversation to Pluto, so the outcome could turn out quite positive as long as you keep your wits about you. Saturn's extreme closeness to the full moon suggests you may also have to write a hefty check as a result of what comes up, something you may not be thrilled to do, but it could help solve things.

At the same time this is happening, you may have some surprise developments with the project going on at work with an international client, the media, or academia. Watch March 10-13 for news on that, too. This is why this full moon will be so tough to handle - there will be a lot going on, all at the same time!

Once Mars moves into Pisces from March 14 to April 22, your house of career honors and success will be brilliantly lit, and you will have a second opportunity to raise your status in the industry. At this time, VIPs will become aware of the fine work you've been doing and you will be gratified by the respect and admiration that comes to you from many quarters. Proudly display your accomplishments because they will help you generate more success.

If you hope to get a new position, the second half of March will be the time to initiate your campaign. Your first sign that the tide was turning in your favor started to emerge last month, at the new moon, February 24. That was a very favorable new moon, and as you begin March, you should be seeing a number of opportunities emerging. If they are not, then assertively look for them, as it should not be too hard to uncover something special. Scan job listings; talk to headhunters, friends, and acquaintances; and arrange interviews, present proposals, and offer ideas. You may be asked to speak on a panel or give a speech, or win an industry award.

If you are self-employed, this would be the time to hire a publicist or to launch an advertising campaign for your service or product. You may appear on TV, or give an interview to a magazine, blog, or newspaper.

One very special day for your professional progress will be March 18, when you are likely to see financial reward as a result of the talks you schedule. Mars will be in beautiful angle to Pluto, so you should find financial talks go well.

If you are an artist or work in a creative field and are looking to do some fun brainstorming, choose your best days, March 12 or March 20-21, to do so.

On the first day, March 12, the Sun will conjoin Uranus, setting off a brainstorm of original ideas - set aside time to tinker with your project.

On March 20-21, it will be Mercury's turn to conjoin Uranus in Pisces, and you will display exceptional right-brain (visual) inspiration and creativity.

Romantically, Venus will go retrograde orbit from March 6 to April 17 and may cause you to reconsider your feelings for someone close. Give yourself time to think - there is no need to rush. If you are intrigued with your partner but simply want to slow down the relationship, you will have a chance to do that.

Venus rules love, beauty, and fun - as well as your solar fifth house of true love. Whenever Venus sleeps, love and fun take a backseat to work.

Information that has been hidden tends to surface during a retrograde phase too, so if this proves true for you, you may change your opinion or view of someone you have been dating.

If you have a first meeting with someone while Venus is retrograde, you may later find that something in the relationship is "off." Ideally, you won't choose to get engaged or married, or give a major party from March 6 to April 17 either.

Actually, I would prefer you concentrate on your career for now and not be distracted by romantic socializing or activities with friends just yet. You seem to have your hands full with a prestigious work-related project, international relationships, possible travel, or involving something in academia, as well as a home-related development that will need your attention. Once Venus moves ahead on April 17, you will have better luck with matters of the heart anyway, and that's not too long to wait.

While we are on the subject of Venus retrograde, shopping is not a good idea now either, because Venus rules beauty, embellishment, luxury, and pleasure - in the no-frills environment you will encounter when Venus retrogrades, each will be in short supply. It would be best to delay a makeover to your appearance until after April 17 too, including any plastic surgery or radical changes in hairstyle you may have planned to make. Delay, too, any major shopping for expensive clothes or jewelry. Venus is the planet we need strong when we decorate or embellish for any reason. If you are redoing your home, you can do basic electrical or structural construction work, but put off for now choosing new furniture, drapes, rugs, and other things that are meant to beautify the home.

The month ends with a new moon in your house of friendship, March 26. The problem is that Venus, Mercury, the moon, and the Sun - four in all! - will be under siege by a very cantankerous Pluto. Financial considerations will likely make you think twice about moving ahead with something you had planned to do, such as to attend a friend's destination wedding, as one example. Honestly, with Pluto so intent on spoiling the pudding by arguing with all four at the same time, you might as well cave in, save money, and await better days.

A new moon could affect you for a while, up to six months, but keep in mind that this new moon is not an eclipse, so the effect of this new moon, although long, won't be as strong, thank goodness. You may deal with the reality of the situation quite well and be on to other things to think about in a flash. If anyone recovers quickly, it's Gemini.

With all of this gang of four in Aries, an entrepreneurial sign, and the challenge of Pluto, a sign that is tied to other people's money, you might find it hard to get capital you need to fund a project or business, or you may become unhappy with a commission or royalty check that you expected would be bigger. Perhaps a child support payment will be late, or an insurance company claim will be held up. This is the scene you may encounter in the coming months, so set up contingency plans, just in case this will affect you.

Tauras March 2009

2009-03-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

As March begins, you should be gratified to see how much career progress you've made so far in 2009, and the year is young. Keep it up! You are still building steam! You started a critical new chapter in your professional life at the year's solar eclipse, January 26. The job of that eclipse was to set you into a rapid upward spiral. If you didn't see the truth of this yet, you soon will.

Keep your strong career focus in March's first two weeks, for after this month ends, you'll have to wait a long time before planetary aspects are so perfect for rapid progress. Mars has been busy trying to create job opportunities for you and will continue to do so until March 14. These days, you should have no trouble getting your foot in the door to show what you can do. You'll make a strong impression with VIPS, and with each meeting you should find it easier to get another meeting.

After Mars leaves, you will still have Jupiter in your lofty career house during all of 2009. That's awesome! Having the planet of generosity and financial favor in this sector will be a big asset to you, but to make it work, you've got to reach beyond your comfort zone and take a few risks. This may mean shooting for a job you feel may be a little beyond you, because you've never done it before. Some simple examples may be to write a book, do public speaking, become a manager, or start a company. Jupiter will want to see that you are willing to stretch to new, bigger goals.

Ask for a promotion or search for a better position elsewhere. This month you'd display the necessary passion, enthusiasm, and drive that are often so critical to success and to rally others to your side. This same planet's energy can help you if you are self-employed. You'd have the motivation to pitch and win new business. Of all the zodiac signs, Taurus has the best outlook for career success in 2009.

As you plan your ascent, planets in Aquarius suggest that your new role will be one of visionary leader. Aquarius is the sign that is never satisfied with what is available now - this sign teaches that your gaze should be fixed on the distant horizon to imagine what comes next. With so many planets in this sign stacking up in your career sector, you will need to show imagination and creativity. As a Taurus, you are the ultimate realist and very practical, too. Employers and clients prize this quality in you, for you know how to make plans a reality. If you combine your practical sense with a creative outlook, you will win the career jackpot.

The need to develop your imagination and vision will be underscored later this year by a very rare and special conjunction of two benefic planets, Jupiter and Neptune. These two planets will meet precisely three times between May through December 2009. After that, they will spin off and go their separate ways, not to meet again until 2022. (In that year, Jupiter and Neptune will meet in your friendship house, so the effect will not be the same.) Truly, what you have now can be accurately summed up as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Jupiter and Neptune will meet in the futuristic, digital sign of Aquarius, and because Neptune rules the arts and creative thinking, and Jupiter expands everything it touches, these two planets will have the power to unleash creativity this year on quite an impressive level. Aquarius is associated strongly with science, electronics, and high tech innovations, as well as efforts that help humanity, including the "green" movement. These are areas to pay attention to, for they will be doubly fortunate for you.

If you work in a traditional job, you would be wise to bone up on new technology and methods. For example, if you are a publicist, you would need to make lots of new contacts in new media and the Internet - having contacts with producers in radio and TV won't be quite enough to keep you in demand anymore. If you are an accountant, you need to acquaint yourself with new computer software that works on many types of computers and that allows you to run different kinds of reports.

Everyone will need to reinvent themselves in 2009, but especially you, dear Taurus. The chance you have now to stand out is simply too extraordinary to pass up. While what you will be doing will be new to you, it will also be new to the world. View your future career path as nothing less than an exciting adventure!

Against this career emphasis will be a sub-theme that will emphasize increased socializing for you in weeks to come. The new moon that appeared at the very end of last month, on February 24, will be so very helpful to you as you begin March. This lovely influence will help you make new acquaintances and also connect with friends and people you know from your past.

That February new moon was in superb angle to Pluto, so not only will you enjoy the chance to kick back, but new friends may also provide tips and introductions that may be helpful to you in your career. You might want to consider signing up for seminars, club programs, trade shows, and other venues that draw people together. New contacts can now help you in ways you can't quite imagine. Keep reminding yourself though, that nothing will happen until you leave the house!

Now let's turn to the subject of love, an area where you may need to prepare for a little turbulence near the full moon on March 10. This full moon may reveal information that may force you to see in a different light someone you've been dating and force a decision about what to do about what you learn. The Sun will conjoin Uranus, so a man in the situation (if there is a man in the situation) would come across to you as unpredictable, possibly unstable, and somewhat idiosyncratic. The moon will be conjoined with Saturn, so a woman (if there is one in this situation) will seem weary, tired, sad, or under too much stress.

I will admit that the full moon of March 10, plus or minus four days, will be a tough one. These types of aspects are not meant to hurt or torture you, but to protect you. Sometimes the information we learn is distressing but necessary, for only once you know the truth can you make choices that can allow you to improve your future.

If you find that your relationship is sound, for your partner adores you and would never betray you, then this full moon may assert its message differently. You may discover that your partner is not well, or is in a jam and needs help, emotional support, and compassion. Alas, this point in the month is not likely to be an easy one for most people.

If you are married or in a very long-term relationship, you are far less likely to be affected by the full moon - it may touch you in other ways but not romantically. For example, you may be concerned about one of your children, or you may be thinking about what to do about a surprise pregnancy. For fewer Taurus readers, the focus will be on a creative project, for the house of love and children also rules artistic and imaginative expressions. While there could be stress associated with any of these areas, you have reason to be optimistic, too.

Fortunately, this full moon is in excellent angle to your Sun, especially if you were born on May 13 or within five days of this date. If your birthday falls within five days of this date, you would likely find a way to benefit from what you learn and what comes up, whether immediately or in time.

Later in the month, a new moon will occur on March 26. This particular new moon one will be difficult too, for the Sun, new moon, Mercury, and your ruling planet, Venus, will be in hard angle to Pluto. This suggests that some sort of legal difficulty could come up that proves time consuming to fix. In that respect, it could take you six months or more to fully sort out.

Alternatively, if you regularly work with people who are based overseas, a project could run into a little difficulty. A client could insist on changing direction, for example, possibly after a lot of work has already been done. If this happens, you will not agree that the new direction you are being asked to take is right and try as you will, the client won't take your advice. With your name attached to the project, you may feel quite a bit of stress at this unexpected turn of events. Don't try to force things your way - someone high level seems to be quite insistent that you follow the new dictate.

If you find yourself being pressured in the days after March 26, you will have to make a decision. Clearly, there will be someone who is demanding and self-absorbed, and the chance of your having any kind of an effect on this person is very slim.

Sometimes it is best to simply walk away rather than stay and fight, if you feel there is almost no chance of winning your points. If you need the money and are not concerned about being associated with the project (perhaps because your name won't be attached), then you may stay. Only you can decide about this, but all I have to say is to be sure you don't take on a battle you can't win. If you feel you have a good chance of prevailing, and you've come to this conclusion in a rational, unemotional way, then protest with all your might. Sometimes when we feel outraged by a decision or other unjust situation, we must speak up, even knowing battle will be drawn out.

If you find you have no legal disputes heating up, and no key relationships that need tending, then there will be a few other areas to keep your eye on. If you made an application to a university, or applied for a grant, or are about to submit a thesis for approval, be aware that topics related to academia are not favored this month. Knowing this, you may want to have a backup plan if your Plan A does not quite materialize. If you don't have to turn in your thesis paper now, you might want to put it aside to read again later. Other areas of possible problems will be related to the dissemination of news, so if you are in the publishing or broadcasting business, be ready for obstacles.

You may need to have a bit of patience this month because your ruling planet, Venus, is about to retrograde from March 6 to April 17. This means that you may experience a setback, or you may need to tweak a project or a relationship to make it work better.

Some signs, like Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, have to regularly deal with their ruling planets in retrograde for five month-stretches at a time, so you are fortunate in that Venus only rarely moves backward, and only for a six-week period. No grumbling allowed, dear Taurus!

Actually a retrograde planet allows us to reflect on the past and to make any course corrections that might be needed. During the coming six weeks, you may change your mind about someone or see a situation with fresh eyes. Be glad for the time you will have to do that.

One potentially positive effect of the new moon, March 26, will be that you may find a solid reason to end once and for all a habit or certain pattern of behavior that you know is not good for you.

Romantically, with Venus in retrograde, it would be best to wait until late April to circulate socially. Venus rules fun, love, parties, and beauty, so when Venus is out of phase, none of these areas gets the boost of energy we crave. If, for example, you were thinking of making a dramatic change to your appearance, whether at the salon or barber shop - wait. Hold off on plastic surgery too, for it would be best to schedule your procedure for AFTER Friday, April 17.

There are a few days I will point out as possibly difficult for love. Come the weekend of March 7-8, you may wonder why you're with the person you chose to date. Blame Saturn opposition the Sun, an aspect that may make you want to just give up. Don't do so too quickly - you may change your mind in a few days.

On March 18 when Mercury, the planet ruling your fifth house of love, opposes Saturn, you may again feel frustrated with a romantic partner.

As you see, there will be points this month when your romantic partner may be critical or demanding, or the care of children may press on you. This gloomy outlook might be more due to overwork, a general weariness with winter, or with the pressures of your job or money than with your relationship or role as a parent. Sometimes being tired can color your outlook, so give yourself time to think things over before you react. If you can get extra rest you will likely feel better.

Things will improve enormously at month's end. Put a star on the weekend of March 28-29, when the moon will be in Taurus and the Sun and Mercury will cuddle up to Venus.

All's well that ends well, dear Taurus.

Aries march 2009

2009-03-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

From March through most of April you'll want to reflect on your feelings. Take your time and don't rush, as it would not be the time to act on things now. You may have a change of heart, or you may simply decide to slow down a relationship if you feel things have moved too quickly.

While Venus retrogrades, there is always the possibility of a miscommunication or error in judgment regarding romance. Also, it tends to be a time when matters of heart are trumped by more pressing concerns going on, such as those in your career or in regard to money. It doesn't matter if you are single or attached, dating or not, Venus retrograde will affect you.

Venus is now in Aries, and will turn retrograde on March 6 until April 17, a period of six weeks. When any planet retrogrades, that planet rests and emits a very weak vibe. Under usual circumstances Taurus and Libras would be most affected by a Venus retrograde, for Venus rules these signs, but this time you, too, will feel this trend very directly, for Venus will be visiting Aries at the time.

If you are single and looking for love, hold back on joining a cyber-dating service. You'd have better luck with meeting a new potential romantic partner after Venus goes direct. I would say the same would be true for a first meeting that your friend wants to set up for you.

One positive action to take while Venus retrogrades is to go back to discuss a topic that you and your sweetheart / spouse / partner never quite solved. You will have a chance to come up with a new solution and put that matter to rest once and for all. A retrograde planet will always urge you to look back and fix things that have been left unfinished or unresolved.

Fortunately, Venus only rarely goes retrograde. The next time will be late next year, from October 8 to November 18, 2010. At that time, Venus will retrograde in Scorpio and Libra for a time.

Venus governs love, beauty, art, parties, weddings, and all the most pleasurable activities of life. Venus also rules all things that adorn and beautify, whether for you or your home. All these areas will be weak while Venus sleeps, so it's best not to spend money in this area for now. Put off buying new clothes, that sparkling engagement ring, or new watch, or choosing a florist or photographer for your wedding (no matter when you've scheduled it). If you are making the choice now, it won't likely be the right choice.

Venus also rules fun, so if you were planning a major party, it would be wise to avoid the Venus retrograde period (March 6 through April 17) because your party may not turn out to be as joyful as it would be while Venus is moving direct. The same holds true for vacations - if you want to take one, plan it for after April 17.

There are other considerations. If you were planning to try a new look for the coming season, it would be best to wait until after April 17 to make that salon appointment to have your hair cut, colored, or styled. Men and women should never schedule plastic surgery while Venus is retrograde - doing so seems to defeat the purpose!

Keep in mind that Mercury will soon go retrograde too, a few weeks after Venus turns direct. Mercury will retrograde from May 7 to 31, making May a very messy month for commitments or fresh starts of any kind. This means you will only have from April 18 to 30 to make your romantic initiation.

When you plan to sign papers or plan any major launch, including getting engaged or married, it is best to have Mercury in strong shape too, because Mercury rules contracts and commitments. When you promise your love to a romantic partner, you need a strong Venus behind you.

A Venus retrograde at the time of the engagement or marriage could mean the expression of love is lacking or withheld during the marriage or that married life may take on a work-oriented or "no frills" tone. The date you choose to initiate an action sets the DNA of that initiative and will affect the whole life of that endeavor.

To complicate things a bit more, Venus rules profit and financial matters too, so you want those planets strong for business initiations. (Jupiter and Pluto also have sway over monetary issues.) These days, Jupiter and Pluto are moving at fine speed, which is wonderful, but with Venus acting up, if you are doing a business project, you would ideally want Venus supporting your venture, too. It's not critical - I would say having Jupiter in good form is more important - but if you have the choice, why not have Venus on your side, too? If you have to sign a deal where the purpose is to make money (and I can't imagine any deals that would not!) then put off the signing for late next month.

The only time this year that Venus will retrograde is March 6 to April 17. The next retrograde of Venus will occur from October 8 to November 18, 2010.

Now let's go back to the subject of romance, for we have diverted a bit from the topic of Venus retrograde. Let's look at the second reason you will need to proceed carefully in matters of the heart this month.

Leo rules your solar fifth house of true love, and Leo is ruled by the Sun. This month, the Sun will receive volatile vibrations from Uranus on March 12 and that means that you need to be prepared for news you'd never expect to hear from someone you are dating. Since this aspect has an area of influence of plus or minus two days, keep your antenna up from March 10-14.

Normally, I would say that there's a good chance surprises would be happy, positive ones, but with the full moon opposing the Sun and Uranus, and Uranus opposing Saturn, and the full moon conjunct Saturn, the probability for a happy surprise seems small. Full moons make us all more emotional and they do tend to shine a light on situations that provide new information. The universe does this not to torture you, but rather to protect you, dear Aries.

Last month we had an eclipse in your love sector on February 9. Sometimes an eclipse will assert news one month to the day later, plus or minus four days - putting the time to watch also near the full moon and doubling the likelihood for dramatic news to surface at the full moon.

This does not mean your love life is going to the dogs. It does mean that you should be careful about getting involved in a new relationship until you get to know that person better. You may have a tendency to assign positive traits to someone who does not exactly warrant them while Venus is retrograde.

With Venus sleeping at the switch and Uranus acting up in March, a cautious approach to love and relationships would be best. It is also possible that you may overreact to certain news you get from a partner, so strive to be as rational and objective as you can be.

If you are married or are in a serious, long-term, established relationship, you will not feel this month's volatile romantic energy as much. You may revisit an old problem and try to find a new fix. There is some indication too that your partner may come across as a bit bossy and controlling at month's end, but as an Aries, you probably know exactly what to do when this happens!

OK, now let's turn to other things that March may bring. One will involve finding a way to improve your health.

As March begins, you will have a sterling opportunity to end a habit that has been harming your health. Perhaps you've tried to quit in the past, but even if you have never been successful at ending it, this time you have a better chance than ever for doing so. I say this because the new moon of February 24, which appeared in your twelfth house ruling these matters, will still be strong. You would have to start your program quickly, however, for with each passing day, the energy of that new moon will fade a little. Start the moment March begins.

If you don't feel you can end your habit by acting alone, there's no need to struggle. Make an appointment to seek help from a coach or doctor. If the problem is serious, check into a rehab center, and if it is a less serious problem, attend a lecture, read a book on the subject, or join an online support group. This time may prove to be the charm!

You will be spending a lot of time at the office at the time of the full moon of March 10, for it looks like you will be finishing an important project. You may have a deadline to meet and will be rushing to finish it on time. This full moon will be operative for four days after it appears, so it looks like you will only have to the end of that week, no later than March 13 and possibly sooner. It seems clear that you'll be working very hard.

There will be a great deal of team support around you at this full moon, so you will have support, but one member of the team, whether it be a co-worker or underling who reports to you, will be unpredictable and difficult to manage. Or, you may find that you will have last-minute changes to make to the project that were completely unanticipated but dictated by the client or your boss. Ah, dear Aries, do the best you can.

It will be unnerving to have to meet a deadline while one person you are depending on is being unreliable or when the project itself is changing. Looking closer at this aspect, I see some evidence that you may be working on a creative project or with artistic people at the time. Saturn will move over the moon, and that indicates that you will feel pressure, and perhaps you would say the project is arduous in some way. You may have to give lots of attention to minute detail or fill out a lot of paperwork at this time, as two of many possibilities.

Fortunately, Mercury and Pluto will in very friendly conversation at the full moon March 10, indicating that you could get help from a VIP who would be willing to intervene to fix whatever is going on. This person can talk to the difficult co-worker or subordinate (or pull in another person from somewhere else) to give you the help you need. It will be vital to speak up if you need help.

Your home or family may need attention near March 10 too, or you may feel that home-related responsibilities are pressing on you while you focus on your project. Because this is a full moon, you may be required to make a quick decision or action. If you find you are not focused on your home or other property, you may be focused on a female family member, such as your mother, grandmother, or other female relative (but not your sister, as a sibling would be covered by another house). As a precaution, it would be wise to have some elasticity in your schedule if you need to attend to a home matter just as you are so busy at work.

The sixth house, where the full moon will culminate, also rules your health. Needless to say, you will give out a great deal of energy during this time of the month, so you may feel a bit worn out by time the weekend comes up March 13. It will be very important to stay strong and to keep up your resistance to colds. Birthday time is coming, so you will want to stay in top form. With home, career, office politics, and other things going on, it would be no wonder if you are feeling stretched in too many directions. Shore up your health, dear Aries.

At the new moon in Aries, March 26, you will come into your own. A new moon in one's own sign happens once a year and is meant to give you special favor to make progress in any part of your life important to you. This new moon is the perfect time to launch a plan that is dear to you, so close to your heart that even I, as your astrologer, cannot see what that might be. Planets stacking up in Aries will give you presence, authority, and courage, too. You'll be in a hurry to put things in place but you may need a bit of patience to do so if your goal is a career-oriented one.

If your plan is to land a new job, it seems you will need to convince a top person that you are qualified for the position. While you may say that this is always the case, this time you may not know that there is a VIP who is not yet sold on you, and you may wonder what is holding up your appointment to this position. You will need to have a strategy to rally this person to your side. Pluto, sitting at the very top of your chart, will be in hard angle to Mercury, Venus, the Sun, and new moon. That indicates that Pluto will obstruct a doorway that you need to walk through, so you will need to think about ways to turn this possible critic or doubter into an ally.

You may be surprised to learn that you have not convinced every single person of your worth. Lower level people that you've interviewed with have been quite enthusiastic - you are right, they are excited about hiring you - but the person posing the obstacle seems to be someone you have never met. In that case, you'll have your reputation precede you. If you are asked for references, make sure you create the most impressive list of supporters you can muster and have people make calls on your behalf.

This position of Mars at month's end MIGHT indicate that there has been some political maneuvering of other candidates going on behind the scenes that are not completely fair, but that you may have to add to the equation. The more realistic you are, the better, because only then can you fight what is happening.

If you are not trying for a new job but will be managing a key project at month's end, you may still need to convince a VIP that you are up to the task. Be prepared to present and defend your methods, and back them up with facts, experiential insights, or anything else you need to prove you have the right approach.

Pisces

2009-03-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

appily, those early Pisces are moving away from their severe challenges. You have experienced them and met them. The universe will now help you in unexpected ways. Friends will play a part too, for they will offer unusual support in the coming year.

As you start this month, and it doesn't matter if you are a February or March-born Pisces, last month's new moon will still have strength and goodness left to give you. Hurry to get things launched and meetings scheduled prior to March 6. After the first few days of March are over, the new moon of February 24 will have spent her energy. If you act sooner, some of the initiations you take can bring you dividends for a year or more into the future. If there is still a person you need to see, or a project you want do launch, do so quickly.

Next, you will need to brace for a potentially low day. On Sunday, March 8, Saturn will oppose the Sun, and at that time, a partner is likely to become a source of woe. Saturn will have pushed a dark cloud over your head, making your perspective too negative. Someone's words or criticism may hurt you, or you may feel you are being treated or judged unfairly.

If you have been shouldering too many burdens lately, you may be tired and not in any shape to stand up for yourself. Be sure you get enough rest before you enter this weekend because otherwise, sheer exhaustion may darken your viewpoint and inhibit your ability to cope. You won't have the whole story about the partner you are focused on for a few more days, but you will on the full moon. Don't decide anything quite yet.

On March 10, the full moon in Virgo may bring unexpected news about or from a romantic or business partner, and what you learn won't likely be pretty. This full moon will be fraught with emotion and you will need to struggle to remain objective. Because all full moons can deliver news within a four-day period of their appearance, the whole week could turn out to be emotionally charged and exhausting.

The person in question may be your marriage partner or someone you have dated exclusively a long time. You might live together, or not. Alternatively the person you will be thinking about could be your ex (or soon-to-be ex) or someone you depend on financially. If your romantic alliance is strong, this full moon may shine a light on a business partner, or a serious collaborator such as an agent, publicist, manager, or investor.

The seventh house (where all the action will be centered in your chart at mid-month) is basically a contract-oriented house. When we marry, we sign a contract, and when we go into business with another, we almost always sign one too, or at the very least, we create a verbal agreement (which, in astrology, is considered the same as a written contract).

Admittedly, the March 10 full moon in Virgo will not be easy. The moon will conjoin Saturn, suggesting you'll feel depressed or be concerned, frustrated, or angry with someone close. A partner may unexpectedly display qualities or behavior that may be painful to see. You may find out about things that have gone on behind the scenes that you never knew were happening. Saturn can create isolation, so it's possible you and your partner will separate or break up. If so, with the moon so afflicted, if you have been living together, one of you may move out.

In the romantic sense, a full moon in the seventh house of commitment would normally be the moment for a single to become engaged. However, with planets sparring with one another, I can't imagine how getting engaged for your birthday would be likely or even possible. Saturn will conjoin the moon and be directly opposed to Uranus conjunct the Sun.

The message coming from you seems to be "I want independence and space," and not "I want to get married." Of course, I could be wrong, and I should add that there are many sweet things in your individual chart that I cannot see from where I sit, and those might change the picture enormously. (If you know your rising sign, you must read for that sign, too.)

Venus will go retrograde from March 6 to April 17, another drawback that I will talk more about later in your report. Suffice to say, Venus retrograde is often a time when we rethink our plans and delay initiations. We frequently also experience a change of heart about someone we are seeing, or slow down a relationship if we feel it has been progressing too quickly for our taste. I will add as an aside that Venus retrograde is generally not a time to schedule big parties, buy new expensive clothes or jewelry, or have plastic surgery.

Let's go back to the full moon. There is another interpretation that could be observed, and that would be if your romantic relationship were healthy. You may learn that your partner will need to move to a distant city for reasons that have nothing to do with your relationship, say, for work, study, or economic considerations that cannot be helped. You may be sad to hear this - it hopefully will not be a permanent move.

There could be still another possible and very different manifestation. You may discover that your partner is suddenly facing a very tough life reversal. He or she may have lost her job, or is having problems paying rent, for example, or is not well. You may not even know the extent of what is going on, as most people conceal their hardships. Pisces is quite prescient, however, so you may begin to connect the dots yourself. If you find something serious is going on, you will immediately want to help.

If you learn that your business partner or investor is suddenly skeptical about investing more money in your business at this full moon, you will need to show why your investor should remain optimistic and continue to believe in you. You'll need to prove that you know what you are doing, even if you think it is obvious! Sometimes people in business challenge us to see how we will respond.

Don't retreat, hide, or become intimidated if you feel this partner's point of view is wrong - in fact, this person may be hoping you will fight back passionately! This person might be under pressure by someone else in the organization to come up with good reasons to continue to support you. By fighting back, you will show strength of purpose and provide the person across the table with all the reasons he needs to help you behind the scenes. Present your arguments in the most positive light possible during this time.

If you are self-employed, your "partner" may actually be a whole company that you work with on an ongoing basis. You would provide this firm with certain services or goods, and in return, that company would provide you with something of value. If you have a relationship like this, this company could be the area where your attention is drawn and problems come up.

In this case, if someone at this company is not driving you crazy, then it may be that the company itself is faltering. This may come as a shock to you, and if you depend on this company for a large part of your livelihood or to help you produce a product, you may be forced to find another partner. This would be very tough news, for it would mean you would have to scramble quickly. As you see, there are many ways this full moon may manifest its message.

These full moons clean up loose ends and also reveal certain truths that may have been hidden from view. If there is anything you need to know about your partner, you'll find out now. This full moon will be on a mission to look for weak links in your alliances.

Because the universe wants you to use your time on earth well, what you learn will help you plan your future with greater certainty and allow you to live your life happily and in a more productive way. While it might be painful to learn what you do, in the long run you will be the winner in all this.

Your own health will require attention too, as this will be a strenuous month. With Saturn hammering the moon and directly opposing the Sun and Uranus, you could be very worn out and tired. If you don't get enough sleep, you will lose perspective. It never fails to surprise me how getting enough sleep and food can solve a lot of problems.

If a dental or medical problem comes up at this full moon (possible), get it checked. Chances are, with help, you'll be back to your old self again soon. Health matters that come up at a full moon are almost always cleared up in very short time.

Keep your antenna up with family too, for you may hear of a development concerning your mother or other close female relative at the very same time. This person may need your assistance and advice, too. I say this because the full moon will be conjunct Saturn and opposed to Uranus.

I know what you are thinking: "What else could come up?" Dear Pisces, this emphasis on family or home may not come to pass, as your partner will be the main subject of this full moon. I am simply listing all the possibilities, and it is unlikely that you would feel more than one main message.

If your birthday falls on March 10 or within five days of this date, you will notice the effect of this full moon more than most. February-born Pisces may have only a weak reaction to this full moon.

Two days later, on March 12, the Sun and Uranus will conjoin in Pisces. If anyone thinks he or she has you all figured out, that person will be surprised! You are about to do what nobody expects and do so in quite a confident manner.

On this same day, if you work in a creative field, you will be a virtual idea factory, with ideas falling out of your brain so abundantly that if you could see them, it would be like a shower of diamonds. March 12 would be a day to brainstorm, for sure.

This month, you will probably enjoy your own company most. You'll need to get some distance from others to think about your next move, and you may be a little worn out from the news that comes up.

At month's end, you will be focused on money. Finding ways to increase your income will be very possible once you get past the new moon March 26. With that new moon - with the Sun, Venus, and Mercury all in Aries and all crowded into your second house of salary and possessions - you may be eager to find a new job, pitch new business, or launch an entrepreneurial venture. Any of these actions would be favored, but when you do, take your time.

With Pluto in hard angle to all four planets, you will need to get over certain hurdles. Someone may be quite insistent that you accept certain dictates that you don't like. Oddly enough, it may be a friend you'll be working with at the time. If the person is a business associate, you may have to go very far in convincing this person of the value of your methods - you may even have to produce certain paperwork, either in the form of proof of past accomplishments or of future projections (or both).

Pluto's position also suggests that you may be forced to delay signing papers or timing your launch. If so, don't stress - this will actually work to your favor.

As mentioned earlier, Venus will be retrograde from March 6 to April 17, a rare cosmic event, and Venus will be in Aries at the time, touring your second house of earned income. Most people think of Venus as the planet of love, beauty, and decorative arts, but Venus also governs profits (along with Jupiter and Pluto). With Pluto being difficult and Venus asleep at the switch in March, if you can delay your contract or project, the delays will benefit you.

Here's how to handle this question. If you have to sign papers, do so at the sweet new moon, April 24, when you will have Pluto's support and when Venus will be quite helpful to you.

Keep in mind that Mercury rules contracts and will be retrograde May 7 to 31, not a time to sign. You would have to act in the week of April 24 - 30, no later, or risk missing a perfect window of opportunity.

In March, the retrograde action of Venus may cause one or two important payments you are expecting to arrive late or be missing. Early in March, send a friendly "second notice" invoice to those who are already running behind in their checks to you. Call to ascertain that your invoice is in the system. You won't want to hear later that your invoice was never received, or that someone forgot to sign off on it before they went on vacation.

Keep in mind that your financial outlook is actually superb, dear Pisces, and will grow larger as you go through the year. Once Venus regulates her orbit on April 17, she will begin to help you build income through June 5. So while you may have some financial headaches at the end of March, it looks like you can find a way over those obstacles and actually profit later.

capricorn march 2009

2009-03-09T16:52:00.001-07:00

March it appears you're ready to roll up your sleeves and start making decisions. Your natural tendency for caution is now being balanced by a strong desire for change. This is a good sign because it shows you're feeling confident.

You seem to have become more aware that to create change you have to begin with an open attitude and a willingness to experiment. Whenever we try something new, there's always a small risk that we might not like what we create, but if we don't, there is always a chance to start over. The bigger risk is to not change, but if we don't, it's a sure thing we'll feel stuck - and make ourselves unhappy!

With Saturn, planet of the establishment, in a tug of war with Uranus, the innovator this year, you will soon find yourself moving into an exciting phase. You may not know precisely where you are heading just yet, but trust your intuition, for it will not let you down.

The first half of March will be similar to February in that you will still need to spend for things you need. You seem to be spending much more money than usual these days, but you may have planned for a major expenditure or you may still be paying for holiday gifts on your credit card statements.

On March 8, you may be more worried than usual about paying a debt - it may be a credit card bill or a check you need to write for taxes, for example. Whatever it is, the matter seems to be having a depressing effect. On that weekend, Saturn will conjoin the Sun, a rather sobering aspect. The Sun rules your eighth house of credit and financial obligations, and over this weekend you appear to be very concerned over covering that debt. Alternatively, it may be that you won't be able to collect certain funds you expected, say, from your ex for child support, and that may have you worried.

It may help to know that as soon as Mars leaves Aquarius on March 14, you should see an immediate drop in the many expenses you have had to juggle. Relief is on the way, dear Capricorn. While March 8 may be a difficult day, when certain realities will be hammered home, at least you have a good, strong outlook for finances over the long haul.

Indeed, Capricorn is in a fine financial reward phase and last month you may have already seen this to be true when you received a raise or won a new job with a good salary. If not, keep working hard - more money is on the way.

I will admit, just in the past week I have met two Capricorn who say they have no money because they are out of work. If this is true for you, try taking a completely different approach. Also, make sure you are being completely realistic in the way you are searching for your job. Jupiter conjunct Neptune can make you live a dream, but it may be a dream that is not based in reality.

For example, one young woman, 24, told me she desperately wanted to get a job, but she's been completely unable to do so. We had first met at an Apple store in Los Angeles when I was making an appearance there in November, but since then she says nothing has changed. She is still living at home with her mother, and is not searching for a job because she still says she can't decide what she wants to do. She was wondering if she should join her family's tow truck business, but it sounded like no job for a young woman! (Just looking at her face told me, no, this is not the answer.)

She said she wanted to sing for a living, but had never had voice training nor had ever gone to one audition. She does have the moon in Taurus, an indication of talent that could be developed, but she certainly wasn't doing that. She had dropped out of college and has no idea how to get a job.

I asked, "Don't you want your own apartment some day, and have friends who can come by to see you? Wouldn't you like to be married someday and even have a baby?" She wanted all of these things but she has never moved out of her mother's home, and now her siblings are giving her a hard time about getting her life in gear.

There are things we can do at 24 that would be unacceptable at 34, sad at 44, and completely pathetic at 54. Unless we grow and mature, we become out of sync with other people of our generation. For some reason, this lovely young woman had never considered this, and it seemed that she has been afraid to dip her toe in the sea of life. She was dreaming a dream of life, but she never walked out of the movie theatre of her mind to live that ideal life she had imagined. She was born with Jupiter conjunct Neptune, so it's clear her imagination is vivid, but in her case, it reminded me of the character Mia Farrow plays in "Purple Rose of Cairo!"

As we talked, she casually mentioned that she speaks fluent Arabic. Apparently she is sitting on a gold mine, but she has never thought to use her power. She asked, "Do you think anyone would hire me for that ability?" Of course they would! Sometimes we have amazing gifts but we never think to share them because, in this young woman's words, she assumed speaking Arabic was "no big deal." In truth, her possibilities are limitless!

Another Capricorn, 33, told me he refused to take any job that was beneath him. He earned an advanced graduate degree from a top Ivy League university almost two years ago, but has not worked since graduation. He had majored in banking and finance, and hopes to work on a hedge fund - the very part of the banking industry that is firing, not hiring, people.

When I last ran into this young man on the street recently, he said he could no longer pay his rent and was battling eviction. He told me he was sticking to his guns, however, and refusing work that was beneath him. I never used to hear stories like this, but they seem to be coming up more frequently lately.

In both cases, these individuals have so much to share, but for some reason were not able to put their talents to good use. I could not help but feel that in many ways fantasy was getting in the way. In the first case, the young woman wants a chance to sing despite no training or auditions. In the second case, the young man wanted to work on a hedge fund as a first job, despite having never worked anywhere, at any job, since graduation in June 2007 and despite a horrible market for new recruits in the hedge fund arena.

Be flexible and realistic. If you have had problems getting work, move to higher ground as soon as possible. Choose a strong company that you would like to join, and try to get your foot in the door. Even if the job you are hired for is not quite the job you had hoped to get, once you are inside the palace gate, you can show how eager, hard working, and smart you are. Be willing to do whatever you have to do to build security and get ahead. As the saying goes, "Talent will out." Soon your strengths will be obvious to your boss and you will move up.

Experts disagree about how long the global recession will last, but according to my calculations it looks like it will be an agonizingly slow recovery, lasting until October 2012. A university degree and top grades do not guarantee a free pass - personality, passion, and drive counts for a lot, too.

Dear Capricorn, you ARE in a fantastic trend for making an excellent salary - actually you are the one sign most favored over any other in 2009 - but you have to start by being realistic.