Weekend, 7 & 8 January 2006

ARIES:  (March 21 to April 20)
A last minute reprieve provides an opportunity to rectify a problem or prove a point.  Either way, you are likely to come out on top and will make a mental note to avoid repeating a past mistake.

TAURUS:  (April 21 to May 21)
Try to be objective and wise, rather than reacting emotionally to situations or statements.  If necessary you could take a step back and re-evaluate your thoughts and feelings before responding.  Haste now could be cause for regret later.

GEMINI:  (May 22 to June 21)
Venus helps improve close personal relationships and gives you the advantage in social situations.  It may be difficult to make productive use of your time, but spontaneity is the key to happiness this weekend.

CANCER:  (June 22 to July 23)
With your innate sixth sense and an unexpected lucky break, you will get a glimpse of what lies ahead or find yourself in the right place at the right time.  Capitalise on these rare opportunities.

LEO:  (July 24 to August 23)
You may have to make an emotional trade-off in order to keep the peace or get what you want.  Try to see situations and problems from all angles rather than just from your own narrow perspective.

VIRGO:  (August 24 to September 23)
You may be part of a crowd, but will still feel something is missing.  Take some time for yourself and seek a balance between work and play.  A word in someone's ear may help achieve better understanding.

LIBRA:  (September 24 to October 23)
At best you may be suspicious of someone's motives, at worst you will be paranoid about your place in the pecking order.  Overall you are likely to read too much into trivial incidents and should try to relax.

SCORPIO:  (October 24 to November 22)
Be wary of taking on too much and burning up reserves of physical or emotional energy.  Nutrition, fitness and your general well should be top of the agenda, and a dose of self-discipline would also be timely.

SAGITTARIUS:  (November 23 to December 22)
With several planets rendering you resourceful and organised, you are in a prime position to take cautious risks and call the shots.  You should also tackle those chores in the too-hard basket while your motivation is strong.

CAPRICORN:  (December 23 to January 20)
Someone with a sharp wit or smart turn of phase will either entertain or exasperate you.  Your responses this weekend are dependent on whether you take life too seriously or let trivial issues wash over you.

AQUARIUS:  (January 21 to February 19)
Yours is currently one of the most ambitious signs and a recent shift in your thinking gives you an advantage in some situations.  You will have a unique way of expressing your ideas, opinions, needs and emotions.

PISCES:  (February 20 to March 20)
Someone you encounter may be the stimulus for change or variety in your usual routine.  Events in the days ahead are likely to set the scene for what will be an interesting but less settled period.

SATURDAY
YOUR DAY
Keeping things simple will help ease stress, costs and conflict, so cut back on the workload or personal commitments.  Most individuals will prefer to remain independent rather than having to answer to others or fit into groups, but innovative ideas and intriguing events might provide common ground for like-minded people.

YOUR BIRTHDAY
You may find a new niche for yourself soon and will adapt quickly to the change.  There is a sense of quiet achievement and enjoyment in 2006, with deeply satisfying relationships as icing on the cake.  And to avoid stress, approach problems from a philosophical rather than emotional standpoint

SUNDAY
YOUR DAY
Dealing with people and issues requires plenty of patience.  Any attempts to rush or take short cuts will probably cause conflict and produce less than perfect results.  And because the wheels are likely to turn slowly, it may be best to ease up socially and engage in a little self-nurturing.

YOUR BIRTHDAY
Heed your inner voice and be aware of what makes you happy.  The pace in 2006 will be slightly slower, but this means you can time out to nurture yourself and others.  If you have been considering a new line of study or self-help, get the ball rolling.