FEARLESS ACTION

'As humans we do things, and it is in doing that we knit together spirit and body; it is how we express love and give shape to our intentions. Mars is the planet of doing as it rules action and motivation, initiative, temper, bravery and war, iron and the colour red; and Mars is retrograde in Leo from 20 December until 10 March. Mars retrograde is about re-doing, doing and re-doing; it takes practice,' says Lucille Valentine.

Practice your walking, running, climbing, writing, public speaking, painting, cooking, strategising, road building, parenting or making music. Consider: what do you do that really gets your blood pumping? Practice it, so that you will be better at it and enjoy it even more. I really love running and to enjoy it fully - I need to be fit and to become fit, I have to do it, re-do it. Work, I have to practice too.

Be careful - it will be easy to overdo things while your actual physical energy feels lower so you must support your immune system with healthy food habits. Also gear your activity by paying attention to your motivations.

Successful motivation in this Mars retrograde happens in two phases: the first, while the Sun is in Capricorn until 20 January, is duty and we can take the fearless action that we must, even if it is not what we wanted or felt that we needed. In the second phase, you should allow spirit or creativity to provide the motivation and then your actions will flow or be effective. And through it all, remember to sing. Try 'Doo be Doo' by Freshlyground.

ARIES 20 MARCH TO 19 APRIL

You are getting fit. You are a well-functioning boat on a fast flowing river, and I hope that you know where you want to go because otherwise your destination is being picked for you. The fates conspire to move everything forward. Even the structures that keep you in line are appropriate and helpful and you may feel like you are the king of the castle. When Mars goes retrograde you will be frustrated because the same things are in place but you are getting different results. Don't push too hard or you may injure yourself. There will be stuff that you have to do again and passion flags, but this will pass. Notice that the formal structures still help you.

TAURUS 19 APRIL TO 20 MAY

Passion and creativity or sport is what you have embarked on and, because you have committed to it, you get up and do it even when you would prefer not to. There are a few setbacks while Mars is retrograde, but all that you are faced with is a mirror of your own ego. Find your Self and acknowledge that, even though you are the only one who can do what you can; there is no need for glory. And after Mars goes direct in March you may even have to do it all again, but at that point you will have more help. Jupiter in Pisces from mid-January brings a blissful spiritual message which makes choices easier; in fact the need for choosing may disappear.

GEMINI 20 MAY TO 21 JUNE

You are a little stuck with family stuff and responsibilities and practicalities but you feel the urge to simply take off, and do things on the spur of the moment. This is certainly not unusual for a Gemini. Add to that the fact that arrangements do not seem to work out and there may even be cancellations. But remember that you have willingly taken on a commitment which will add to your learning or increase your standing. You have to stick to it, though it seems rather onerous. You make some choices that seem hard. Focus on the depth of knowledge and the fascinating detail that you are learning by studying the situation up close.

CANCER 21 JUNE TO 22 JULY

You are locked into a creative venture, yours or someone else's, for a few years. It is very sociable but as there are few avenues for escape it can feel like you are being frog marched to fun. Make no mistake; you will gain massive benefit from staying with it, but you must give yourself space to retreat, to be alone. At best this is a physical separation, somewhere quiet, where you will be left alone while not being alone. Picture a room with a half-open door that nobody enters unless you invite them to; or a cushioned chair that faces the garden. After middle January, Jupiter in Pisces gives you a huge boost, emotionally and spiritually and possibly even financially. Your travel plans get a boost.

LEO 22 JULY TO 23 AUGUST

Get your shopping done early in December and funnel some of that mad energy into your existing projects - or don't. You are more likely to use the high levels of energy for the exotic: new knowledge or travelling. Once Mars is retrograde in your sign you will feel your vitality backing up inside you. To prevent yourself from exploding, spend time in the sun, especially if you have jobs that must be done, like gardening, painting the fence or cleaning the pool. Attending to the practical parts of your life will foster community and probably even turn out to be romantic; it will certainly be refreshing.

VIRGO 23 AUGUST TO 22 SEPTEMBER

You are better at coping with obligation than most and, thankfully, you will be able to get those done quickly, leaving you time to put your feet up. Work projects get finished before the holidays start - though you may have to re-finish them when Mercury is retrograde, when you get back after the break. You are also working for fairness and beauty and working with a feeling of community. So, when you are lost for words, try singing: in the shower, in the car, while baking a cake. It's all so practical, sensible and useful, and compared to last year, so much easier. Rebuilding takes time you thought? This is going quicker than you thought it would.

LIBRA 22 SEPTEMBER TO 23 OCTOBER

Grasp the lucky break in December since it is linked - in a good way - to the steady progress that you are embarking on. It is hard work but a rewarding role and a commitment for several years. You don't have to fight to get there, but of necessity some parts of your life must stop so that new things can begin and now is the time. You will use a business answer, rather than a legal route for the problem; you may be able to sell to someone better able to deal with it. It will be in everyone's favour. And that leaves you free, creative, wise and constructive, locked in and free.

SCORPIO 23 OCTOBER TO 22 NOVEMBER

Even though you get more limelight than you are accustomed to and you feel out of control with the sheer pace of events; you have got to do what you have got to do. You will be held responsible for what goes right and wrong so retain all your documentation. When Jupiter enters a fellow water sign, Pisces, in mid-January you are filled with optimism but you may feel constrained and unable to act on your good luck until Mars is direct again. Work on your inner life and follow someone else's agenda for the while; copy the master's work until you learn to do it yourself and then you become the master; see it as a little spiritual apprenticeship.

SAGITTARIUS 22 NOVEMBER TO 21 DECEMBER

You have felt not-in-charge in '09 and December brings the last of that feeling. Your ego and that of so many others has been nudged aside so that Spirit could make the required changes. It made planning awkward but it has been life changing. You are able to maintain your inventive streak by staying focused on your creative commitments. From mid-January, when Jupiter enters Pisces you still pulse with spiritual energy but your purpose is clearer. That is what you will trust and that is what people will come to you for. You are your own guru and that should be enough, even though you seem to have gathered a few followers.

CAPRICORN 21 DECEMBER TO 20 JANUARY

This December is very busy, and sociable. At the start of the month you have a lovely, unexpected, boost to your love life which is so out of the blue that you do not believe it can last, but pay close attention because it is confirmed before the end of the month. Then documentation has to be sorted out and though this interferes with the general good vibrations you have to be absolutely sure that you understand it in depth. Among the commitments to your family and your lover you must be mindful of what you owe yourself. In January you will be able to tap into the abundance and it is your responsibility to participate, to bring the required fairness to all players.

Aquarius 20 January to 18 February

Does your loved one disagree with you? This love could be a person, a creative project, a community or all of these. There is change and beginnings and endings. Making a choice and being inter-dependent does not mean that you lose your freedom. And anyhow events conspire. You can't feel accommodating and aggressive at the same time, so own up to your part in the dance, access your inner passion, start your own engines. You are free to co-operate with the conspiracy, free to be brave. Free to re-launch your long-term love.

PISCES 18 FEBRUARY TO 20 MARCH

You did sort-of give up making headway for the year, didn't you? Not that you gave up on life, just that '09 has been out of your control. When Jupiter moves into your sign in mid-January you will probably travel or have some luck and a spiritual epiphany. This is a simple and deep reminder of what you instinctively know. Remember this. Bed it down in your everyday rituals so that, when your life returns to the more material, you can weave this knowledge in. This optimism, upliftment, and inspiration provides the beautiful counterpoint to the more mundane; it is the gold flaked jam on your slice of brown bread.

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