Be careful to understand what's happening otherwise whatever comes may go again just as quickly. The advent of a new relationship could change the state of things, your life direction and perhaps even where you're living. Whether single or committed, some may have to leave a lot behind in order to pursue something new. Unusual ideas or understanding may come with the package. Be prepared for change. Some of you may decide to alter the way you relate to others and may thus seek a new expression or function for yourselves. The August born Virgin will be most strongly affected by these Uranian changes.

With Venus the goddess and mystic Neptune conjoined in Aquarius and your solar sixth house as the year begins, work and partnership may entwine themselves in your life. You may find new or unusual associations develop through your work situation or you may find that new associates lead to different avenues of work. Some of you may make a romantic connection through a working situation. You and a partner may put money and effort into a business. Single or committed, you can benefit in the financial stakes after September if you've done the preparation. Set goals for how you want things to improve and then work to reap a dividend. The advent of a few extra dollars may change your dealings with people at this time and perhaps bring new people into your sphere.

Home and Family  

Pluto, lord of the underworld, has been travelling through your solar fourth house of home, family and emotion since 1995. Emotional and domestic life will have been touched by change and intense experience, bringing upheaval for some and transformation for others. You may have changed your life, your occupation, your country and your family situation in accordance with the will of the underworld god. In doing so you will have learnt much about yourself and your life, though the price of such knowledge is sometimes high.

Jupiter in your sign challenges Pluto in your solar fourth house as the year begins. You may be on the verge of a big domestic or emotional shift, one that catapaults you into a new framework of living. There could be advancement. There certainly will be change and political or religious ideas may play some role in the process of change. However, it may not be until the period from May 6th when Jupiter moves forward until early August when he tests Pluto again that the change and its full impact make themselves apparent. If any of you are dealing with legal matters that pertain to home or emotional life, then they may take some time to sort out. Be thorough and seek practical advice. People of standing may become involved with your home life for a period.

Issues around children and your dealings with them will be prominent, as will your own leisure and recreation. Some of you may have to come to terms with an inability to relax and unwind. This may relate to early life experience where leisure and creative expression were frowned upon or simply not possible because of other circumstances. Allow pleasure and romance into your life for pleasure is one of life's great recreational activities. Teach yourself to take things lightly. Relax and give yourself permission to play the fool every now and again. Set out on an important creative project, just for your own satisfaction. Join in activities involving children. Encourage them to be part of what you're doing.

Work and Health  

Mystic Neptune moving through Aquarius and your solar sixth house is not the easiest of placements. This can test your health or work situation. Some of you may have opted for quite a different line of work while others may have found that health matters have affected the ability to work in the accustomed way. Your sign enjoys both the satisfaction of a job well done and the adoption of good health practices. However, even the most assiduous Virgin may have been challenged by the adjustments or changes of direction you've had to make. You're moving in mysterious new directions, and the point or purpose of the change may not be clear till you've made the journey. New habits with diet and exercise will be important. Choose things with a spiritual theme. Learn from people who have an interesting or unusual approach to working and keeping healthy. Work to lower the toxicity in your diet or your environment. Treatments that benefit the nervous system and aid relaxation will be beneficial. Good recreational activities will aid your system. Look to the body/mind/spirit nexus rather than treating any particular symptom or condition though ailments to do with the kidneys or the lymph system will deserve special attention. Overall, your energy levels may be shifting, moving you subtly towards different patterns of work. Some of you may find yourselves entering the healing profession, a calling to which those of your sign are admirably suited.

Career Matters  

Some of you may have experienced a period of isolation or difficulty with regard to a sense of belonging or being part of something since Saturn moved into Cancer and your solar eleventh house in June 2003. There may have been a change or a break with regard to current associates at that time. Keep forging ahead with important goals and learn to see all such changes as part of the process. This period can still mark a time of success in which endings or closure will have played an important part. Take the advice of those you trust. Plan for the future. You will be able to advance your situation through good planning and the cooperation of others. The development of a close knit community or family group may contribute. Focus on your goals. Some of you may be drawn to care work, hospitality or healing.

Mercury the Messenger  

Mercury moves into retrograde (reverse) motion three times a year for about three weeks each time. This phase heralds a time of confusion and misunderstandings that can affect arrangements, travel, transport, appliances, machinery and communications. The breakdowns that occur are a function of neglect, inattention, simple misunderstandings or component failure. They will often bring to the fore the very contingency we should have planned for and didn't. When the retrograde phase occurs, watch out for such possibilities as well as putting off major decision-making or the signing of crucial documents and agreements. We tend to miss things while Mercury is in reverse motion and then have to come back and do them again. A process of review in the retrograde phase can efficiently show where problems might lie and help us with damage control or the mending of things. Double check arrangements at these times! What you think you've said and what others have understood will often prove to be two different things.

The year begins with Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius and your solar fourth house of home, family and emotion. You may be in a cycle of change on the domestic front. There may be a pressing need for clear communications in your emotional life. There may be problems with appliances or equipment around the home. This cycle ends on January 7th.

The messenger's next retrograde phase begins on April 7th in the sign of Taurus and your solar ninth house. There may be confusion around legal matters, leaving you with something to sort out. There could be delays or changes with regard to overseas travel or communications. There may be difficulties communicating with in-laws. For those involved in study there may be changes or alterations to schedules or commitments. Your workload may be getting on top of you. Some of you may decide to return to the arena of study after a long time away. This cycle comes to an end on May 1st.

On August 11th, Mercury the messenger turns retrograde in your sign. Watch the art of communication during this period. You will find you can all too easily get things confused or be misunderstood yourself. You may need to talk something through with partners and close associates. Revising your approach or strategies may be beneficial. This could lead to a change in personal style. Have a think about who you are and where you're going. Make new decisions. Set a new course. You may need to take time out in order to get the best from this cycle. Watch especially the period after August 25th. This cycle comes to an end on September 3rd.

The messenger's final reverse motion phase comes in Sagittarius and your solar fourth house, beginning on December 1st. You may be stirred up emotionally and need to talk something through. There may be problems communicating with those close to you or family members so be thorough and clear in your efforts to understand one another. If there are upsets in the household, give things a 'cooling off' period rather than pushing for immediate solutions. There may be problems with domestic appliances or equipment. Anticipate problems rather than letting things break down at the least convenient moment. This period comes to an end on December 21st.

Lady Moon  

Your Full Moon comes on March 6th, hovering with Jupiter while agile Mercury conjoins with the Sun. Partnership discussions and exchanges will be lively. There may be travel, opportunities or communications, all of a sudden or unexpected nature. Contacts from the past may come back into your lives. There may be a split or separation affecting business matters or connections. This is certainly a time for action, though it may not be apparent which course to take until the last moment.

Your New Moon comes on September 14th, striking a note of tension with warrior Mars and Pluto, the underworld lord. This may begin a testing time, emotionally or domestically. You could be heading for an outburst or an eruption of some kind as the pressures build up over the next weeks. Try to talk your way through any buried feelings. Look for a cycle of activity to offset tension. For some there could be dramatic change with regard to home or family life.

Eclipses  

Eclipses of both the Sun and the Moon often indicate the end of a cycle or a significant change in the direction or pattern of the affairs governed by the house in which the eclipse falls. Eclipses of the Sun may affect work, direction and relations with people in authority. Eclipses of the Moon may affect matters of home, family and emotions as well as relations with women and children. Both may affect your health.

A New Moon in Aries and your solar eighth house brings a Solar Eclipse on April 19th. There may be a change or an ending with joint financial arrangements. This may come about because of disagreements or problems with regard to lifestyle and spending. There may be a shift in your sexual or romantic life. Change you may not be able to control will bring a new and deeper understanding of yourself.

A Lunar Eclipse comes with the Full Moon in Scorpio and your solar third house. This is on May 4th. There could be an end to a cycle with regard to a sibling or past associate. You may lose touch with someone with whom you've been in regular communication. There may be problems with communications or travel, especially involving equipment or vehicles. Your access to a familiar place may end.

October 14th brings a Solar Eclipse at the New Moon in Libra and you solar second house. There will be changes with personal monies and spending. You may have to alter budget strategies. Something you need or have to do may prove to be more costly than you think. As Sun and Moon are tested by Chiron and Saturn, money problems may arise from a clash of needs between the pursuit of your dreams and family or domestic matters.

The Full Moon in Taurus and your solar ninth house brings a Lunar Eclipse on October 28th. Communications may be problematic, especially if overseas contacts are involved. You may have difficulty with a female in-law. You may have to curtail or alter plans related to study or overseas travel. There may be a testing interaction with a foreign connection.

Special Events  

Venus the goddess turns retrograde in Gemini and your solar tenth house on May 18th. There may be dealings with people in authority, especially women. These may bring past matters up for discussion and resolution. You may find yourself back working in an old job or familiar employment. People from past work situations may come back into your life. You may have difficulty dealing with people in the course of your duties or responsibilities. Some of you may take on an unfamiliar role with the public. You may need to change your image or revise your presentation with regard to a work situation. There may be matters that need your attention that require expert communication or negotiation. You may have to deal with outstanding financial matters. You may somehow come back to something you have done before or to people you've dealt with in the past.