2010 Horoscopes

Capricorn

22 December - 20 January

Saturn loves being in Libra – it enhances your team-leadership skills and makes you feel more alive. This phase allows you to participate fully in the life of your community and does wonders for your personal relationship. It's possible to fulfil a long-held dream. You are under pressure in January and it's easy to stir up powerful opposition. Concentrate on developing and sustaining the right support during the winter, when your versatility is admired. Saturn returns to Virgo in April, when changes are largely engineered by others. It's tough but by retaining your self-respect you act as a responsible role model. Luckily your friends provide strong support. Saturn goes direct in May, helping you to take effective action and returns to Libra in July, which enables you to feel more secure. It's easier to be successful over the summer and you're on a roll, but try to avoid any legal disputes in August, when delays only add to your expenses. You are most confident in the autumn – your finances are healthier, you're physically relaxed and you feel generous towards close friends and family. This is the time to treat your partner, you have turned a corner and your future looks rosy.

Aquarius

21 January - 18 February

Neptune and Chiron travel through Aquarius giving you exceptional access to spiritual healing; note any unusual dreams and develop your psychic power. Your work provides a stimulating social outlet and you're keen to travel. Take advantage of any opportunities during the winter, but don't let work interfere with your home life. The spring provides extra impetus: you're exceptionally passionate and loving. You excel at team activities and explore new options. There is a period of frustrating delays and low self-confidence in April. Uranus slides briefly into Aries, from May to August enabling you to make a fresh start. You're remarkably lucky in June, but trouble brews in July, when Uranus goes retrograde and an old problem re-asserts itself. Overlooked problems come home to roost and it's difficult to concentrate. All this changes once Uranus reappears in Pisces in August and you can remedy matters. Focus on clearing debts and enriching your love life. The autumn is stimulating, both mentally and emotionally. Your home life is satisfying and you're lucky in love, so a romantic holiday is likely. Your insight is invaluable.

Pisces

19 February - 20 March

During Neptune's journey through Aquarius you're able to enhance your interest in technology and the internet. You receive a huge boost of confidence when Jupiter arrives in Pisces this January: reinforcing your psychic abilities, your love of animals and it does wonders for your physical well-being. Your sex drive, fertility or virility, is higher than usual. Jupiter protects you while travelling and there are many voyages for pleasure in 2010. You're keen to tackle financial discrepancies during the winter and there's help at hand: negotiate a better deal. There are ongoing changes, at work, during May, when Neptune goes retrograde, coupled with family dramas, that require firm handling. This is a busy period, so look for technical solutions to your problems. Your love life improves from June onwards and the summer is an excellent time to take a romantic break. You're popular and gifted at healing other people's troubles. Your instincts guide you and you're more relaxed. This is a period of success, with others admiring your talents. Some of you attract financial rewards, while others find your life enriched with love. Passion plays a powerful role during the autumn and you're incredibly happy once Neptune goes direct in November.

Aries

21 March - 20 April

It's a wonderful year for your love life: you're exuberant, sexy and attractive. You're keen to enhance your home and bring to fruition several desirable changes. You can expect surprises and visitors. The first quarter is tough and support is vital. Your health requires monitoring if you wish to get the most out of life, but some situations are slow to be resolved. Greater patience is needed – then without warning you achieve a breakthrough and get results, often due to a chance encounter. You may feel your fate is out of your hands, so avoid people who appear too charming. Mars goes direct in March and prior problems seem to just melt away. For those of you hoping to extend your family this is the best time. The spring is exciting and you're fired up with ambition and enthusiasm where work is concerned – there are many opportunities to shine. You're better able to overcome obstacles than before and it's amazing what you can achieve, once you put your mind to it. The summer is best for treating your family. Have faith in yourself. The autumn is perfect for a romantic holiday.

Taurus

21 April - 20 May

Don't over-extend yourself in January, as part of you just wishes to hibernate. The first quarter is excellent for your love life – misunderstandings are resolved and you benefit from taking a romantic holiday together. You're incredibly popular throughout the spring: some of you take advantage of career opportunities while others wish to marry. It's especially rewarding while Venus travels through Taurus in March. April brings considerable success at work. Outgoings may be higher than usual, but often for the best of reasons. You feel strong in the summer, when friendship and co-operation work in your favour. You're exceptionally quick on the uptake and there is much to be joyful about. You're extremely well-connected and influential friends play an important part in your well-being. The autumn brings mixed blessings – while you're deeply passionate and desirable, Venus goes retrograde in October, slowing you down and forcing you to reassess work and finances. You appear to vacillate a lot and any unexpressed anger is liable to surface at this time. This is hard on your partner and it's best to leave joint decisions until December, when Venus is direct: increasing your confidence and making you less vulnerable to the opinions of others.

Gemini

21 May - 20 June

You start the year keen to make changes in your work. This is a rewarding, if sometimes tiring, phase: don't take life so seriously. The toughest period is in April/May, with Mercury retrograde, you're uneasy about the pressure you're under. Try to listen to the advice of friends and keep your body active, to divert any nervous tension. It is well worth talking to people you trust. June brings a most welcome improvement – you're highly effective and the insecurity fades into the background. You're determined and extremely popular. The most sociable period is in the summer, when you are placed in a highly prominent position. People listen to you and you're both practical and imaginative. This creative phase is particularly good for starting a family: it's also great for workers in the field of arts and entertainment. Make your family's needs top priority in September and be sure to fulfil any promises. The autumn is even better than the summer – you're full of confidence and well-informed. This phase is excellent for your relationship, some of you may marry and all of you benefit from taking brief romantic breaks. Work is less demanding and you're more in control of your finances.

Leo

23 July - 22 August

You are keen to make changes in your career this year and the best opportunity occurs during January's Solar Eclipse. It may not be the easiest phase, but making changes sooner, rather than later, helps you to achieve a positive outcome. Even if you stay in the same job, the way you deal with it undergoes a considerable transformation. This leads to greater self-esteem and inner happiness. Any indecisiveness dissipates by March and this is the best time for a romantic holiday. You and your loved one develop a shared passion for something new and it's incredibly uplifting. If you're single, March is also the best time to meet someone special, or to marry. June can be a tough month: you're over-worked and under pressure from all quarters. Try to avoid home improvements and allow for extra expenses, but July's Solar Eclipse enables you to resolve a variety of problems. Your partner's advice is especially useful and together you can achieve the best outcome. You manage to budget better during the summer. Ideally you want to set some money aside for the autumn, when spending for pleasure is likely. You're able to consolidate your position and concentrate on shared plans.

Cancer

21 June - 22 July

The Lunar Eclipse at Hogmanay herald's new commitments which allow you to excel. You benefit from starting any new venture, not only are there opportunities for career advancement, but you can also be ecstatically happy in your relationship. Focus on clearing a debt during the winter months and act with awareness of the wider social context. Travel is rewarding during the spring, when your friends are supportive. You're strong, sociable and it's easier to accomplish what you want, but you need to be practical to succeed. It's amazing what you can achieve following the Lunar Eclipse in June: you overcome a problem that has drained you for some time. It's particularly good for those of you suffering from chronic illness or long-term financial problems. You spend the summer enjoying good company and your instincts are superb. September's events put you under pressure and it is complex, so talk to someone you respect. Some of you will extricate yourselves, after some difficulties, while others will elect to stay put, but your situation needs to undergo a radical change. Your greatest support is your loved one, who provides hope and understanding throughout the autumn. You end the year on a personal high.

Virgo

23 August - 21 September

Someone you meet in January plays a significant part in the ensuing choices - note any unusual options and act with alacrity. You are keen to join in fresh activities with new friends and you have the chance to really improve your life. Treat your loved one during March and consider ways to make your relationship more secure. There are problems at work during May when you feel isolated, but this is temporary and by June you're on a roll. The summer is the most rewarding phase of the year – your instincts are superb and you're highly creative. You're sociable and a joy to be with, but avoid any legal disputes, as these would take too long to resolve. Work is demanding, but it's also fulfilling and you're quite lucky. Mercury goes retrograde in Virgo mid-August to mid-September. You need to clean up your act and problems arise with transport and technology. You're spectacular during the autumn. Take time-out to indulge your partner and travel. You feel more secure in your career and your financial situation is sustainable. Mercury goes retrograde in December and you may need to re-negotiate better conditions at work.

Libra

22 September - 22 October

There is a strong emphasis on improving your working conditions, mainly because Saturn is in Libra all year. You find yourself socialising with colleagues and you're keen to widen your social circle. The work element is most prevalent at the start of the year, when you're very ambitious and have to deal with a number of workplace changes. You are much more relaxed by the spring, when success provides greater leeway and you're keen to start new projects, just for fun. It's also when you're supremely sexy and single Librans wish to marry. Confidence and a little luck propel you into the limelight this summer. This is a highly creative phase; both mentally stimulating and emotionally rewarding. You may spend more, but the opportunity is there and you thoroughly enjoy the party atmosphere. It is a time of pleasure and plenty. Travel goes well during the autumn and this is a good time to make plans. Venus goes retrograde in October through to November and poor money management may lead to disagreements. Rectify mistakes by acting swiftly and through the support of good friends.

Hugh Jackman will be 42 on 12 October

Scorpio

23 October - 21 November

Some of the toughest challenges occur in January and these are primarily associated with work. Luckily you have the support and backing of people in high places. You need to rise to the challenge and acquit yourself well. Support can be distracting, rather than helpful, during the spring, when it's important to focus on your home life. When Pluto goes retrograde in April some of you may move house, while others will make improvements – this does take longer than expected, but it is essentially worth all the extra effort. It's a very busy summer: you're able to make new friends, although you're under pressure at work again, but you're also most effective and the results should be satisfying. This phase is most suitable for research, exploration and psychic development. August is particularly hard going, but Pluto goes direct in September and you can then relax. There are few dramas in the autumn – it is a period of creative revitalisation. You're emotionally upbeat and in tune with your career. You need to be astute in financial matters, but you are more secure at work, while your love life is immensely rewarding.

Sagittarius

22 November - 21 December

Jupiter is in Pisces all year, putting the emphasis into improving your home and family life. There's increased fertility, or virility, making you immensely creative: it's great for starting a family. Your restlessness is focused on spiritual development and finding inner happiness. Health-wise it's good to pursue martial arts and go swimming – any exercise with flowing, easy movement is beneficial. You need to unravel a considerable amount of confusion at the start of the year and leave behind any tension or emotional stress of financial worries. You're brilliant at work during the spring, but it's essential to maintain good contacts and sustain personal equilibrium. Good health habits pay off later in the year. The summer is hectic and you need all the support you can muster yet this is the best phase for your love life – a surprise holiday goes well. A summer house move appeals to some, while others have work done on their existing home. Your financial situation changes during the autumn – there is potential for considerable profit, but you can equally incur large expenses. Your intuition can help to stave off debt. You're stupendous at the end of the year – sexy, desirable and thrilled with your improved physique.

This article first appeared in the Scotsman on Saturday 2 January, 2010