January 15, 2003

With a weekend full moon (this Saturday), impromptu parties, emotional reactions, and extravagance are inevitable. Since the full moon is in Leo, we'll all be acting a little more childishly, albeit trying to dress fabulously. This full moon is known as the "wolf moon" and the "ice moon." The Lakota Sioux call it the "moon of frost in the teepee." Play your cards right this weekend (I'm talking to you, Leos, Sagittarians, Taureans, and Aries), and there won't be no frost in your teepee at all. Also, this is the last week of Mercury's retrograde, so if you buy a new electronic gizmo, save the slip.

Wednesday, Jan. 15 Waxing moon in Gemini. Meetings are exciting but go on and on. Stick to people you know can cut to the chase. Geminis, your razzle-dazzle works best with water- and fire-sign folks. Just don't give them time to think. Sagittarians, you may be weary of acting your age, so this is a likely time for you to regress. VOC 6:16 p.m. to 11:56 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 16 Waxing moon in Cancer. Mr. and Ms. Squeakywheel will find you, especially if your name is Cancer. Aries, you may get marooned on the shoals of good intentions today and tomorrow. Don't forget, Mercury's retrograde in Capricorn means you rams, scales, and crabs can talk your way into trouble, especially today and tomorrow.

Friday, Jan. 17 Waxing moon in Cancer. The lull before the social storm. Cancers, take pride in how well you manage other people's lives (especially flaky fire- and air-sign people). Now you can take pride in how well you've adjusted to the fact that those folks couldn't care less. Be the happy crab who scuttles alone. Scorpios, today through the weekend, if you let others speak first, you won't like what they have to say.

Saturday, Jan. 18 Full moon in Leo. Buy it, wear it, dress it up, get it in another color, throw a fit, get a quirky haircut, consider new ink, laugh when you fall down, and eat too much. If you get through the weekend without doing any of the above, you're a Capricorn. Leos, you could overschedule and then find out the meaning of "an embarrassment of riches." Aquarians, your craving for independence isn't for real. Keep your head down and follow directions today.

Sunday, Jan. 19 Waning moon in Leo. It's another excellent day for consumer culture (Libras) or getting flaky (Geminis). Leos, are you feeling, like, lots of pressure to be perfect? Or that your notions about romance are not being served by the universe? There, there, now, don't you feel better, having acknowledged that? Sagittarians, ask your favors today – tomorrow will be too late.

Monday, Jan. 20 Waxing moon in Leo/Virgo. Useless Monday-morning meetings – so much palaver and self-importance! But this afternoon is brilliant for cleaning out those 2002 (or 1992) files. It's also swell for cleaning a bathroom (out with the dead plant, in with the aromatherapy candle). Leos, a reminder: early January through February, Mars and Venus want you to flirt; today and late Wednesday will be good for that. Virgos, save your sanity: make a list. VOC 5:46 a.m. to 10:32 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 Waxing moon in Virgo; the sun moves into Aquarius. No line item is too small, no subcategory too trivial to escape attention. Pisces and Geminis, you must concentrate at concentration; Virgos, you may feel like no one's listening to how you feel. For all, solace is in the bookkeeping. Capricorns, make the moves (even if you're with a fire-sign person).