CAPRICORN HOROSCOPE

A while back you realized that your formula for success wasn’t working. Either it underperformed or was woefully ineffective. This led to months of experimentation and exploration. Most of it was tedious, but some of it showed promise. As a Capricorn, you appreciate the creative partner you have in Time. In any case the Lunar Eclipse in Virgo on March 14th shows the moment’s ripe for putting those fresh approaches and new practices into action. Anxiety producing for sure, but you may find you’re more ready than you know and that instead of tripping over the threshold you’ll be making the most graceful of debuts.

You’re not a big fan of loose ends. In fact, you will go out of your way to weave them together as tightly as you can. Unfortunately, what looks like something that should be signed, sealed, and delivered on March 5th may unravel on closer inspection. That’s because Mercury, which enters Aries this week, will turn retrograde on March 15th. This could introduce all sorts of questions and second thoughts. This is one of those times when it pays to think like a Gemini. Treat alternatives as constructive criticism and options as viable possibilities, and you’ll be happy with the finished product on April 8th.

You're all set to sign on the dotted line until Venus turns retrograde on March 1st. This is when certain information comes to light that makes it impossible for you to proceed. Maybe you discover you were being deliberately played, facts were edited to make a compelling case, or the nature of what's divulged is so outlandish that it's unconscionable. It's awkward to be sure, but you're not doing anyone any favors by saying things are OK when they're not. Be brave and do what's right by giving the thumbs down. These are the moments that separate the mountain goats from the kids.

Mars out of retrograde on February 23rd is kind of like pressing the PLAY button on a scene that's been on PAUSE since early December. This might have been the last time you saw a certain someone, had that “conversation,” or maybe that's how long you've been sitting on your feelings. In any case, it will all come bursting forth this week. Part of you will be relieved to be having that discussion you've been longing to have, but you might also allow for the fact that time has passed, priorities have changed, and he may be a lot more agreeable than you think.

Try to be more receptive to what's going on. There's a flood of new ideas, fresh opportunities, and intriguing perspectives spilling into your life right now, and you're the one who stands to benefit the most—if you're smart. Indeed, mindful listening would be a good thing to practice daily. Instead of insisting you have all the answers, ask what someone can teach you, what you need to grow, and what would be the best way to pursue your dreams at this juncture. You may be surprised to see how productive simple adjustments and tweaks to the formula can be.

Sometimes it's the history you share with someone that gets you through the rough patches more than compassion or having the answer. The past few months haven't been easy as you did what you could to be supportive of a loved one or close friend. This person faced some steep challenges and subsequently drew heavily on your patience and stores of goodwill. There were times when you wanted to throw in the towel, but you didn't. That's because you knew they'd eventually pull themselves out of their downward spiral, and thanks to the Mars/Saturn trine on February 9th, it looks like they finally will.

Be prepared to lead with your best foot forward because you're in a prime position to take advantage of the amazing cosmic energies that are surging through your horoscope. You don't want to be caught unawares because you were too busy picking apart this offer or weighing the pros and cons of that opportunity. You'll want to be both bold and gutsy when Uranus comes out of retrograde this week, and the fact that a propitious Sun/Jupiter trine follows quickly on its heels only shows that you can take down quite a score if you're willing to bet it all on a long shot.

Sometimes you can have a brilliant idea, but if it's too far ahead of its time, it doesn't take. It's seen by others as being too “out there.” You know this from experience. You can't even begin to recount all of the projects, enterprises, and innovations that never took off because you lacked people's support or interest. That's why you'll be surprised this week when you're contacted by someone who knows exactly what to do to make one of these ideas work. Yes, you'll have to dust it off and update a few things, but its time has come, and it's ready to take flight.

You’re going to have to improvise because the Sun/Mars opposition on January 15th shows that that agreement, contract, or lease won’t come together as quickly as you initially hoped. This will put you and the other party in an extremely awkward situation. You both dotted all your i’s and crossed all your t’s with the expectation that you would be closing on the deal now, but unfortunately, Mars’s retrograde shows the unexpected intrusion of circumstances that are beyond your control, and there’s nothing that can be done about it. It could take as long as February 23rd to work out all the snags and knots.

Mars back in Cancer for three months sounds like more problems in your relationships, but don’t forget you’ve been here before. You’ve put in more years learning this life lesson than a post-grad working on their PhD, which is why this may have less to do with you and more to do with being there for others. The Neoplatonist Marsilio Ficino once said the same planet can be both friend or foe to a person. Mars will fuel fights for those who want to fight, but Mars also ennobles those who choose to devote themselves to the protection and guidance of others.