OSCAR CAINER

IT’S St. Stephen’s Day, and even the cosmos is putting its feet up. With no major new alignments to speak of today, do I also get to knock off early? No! Like a faithful petrol station attendant, I’m on duty in all seasons, whatever the astrological weather. But, although Jupiter makes an uncomfortable link with Saturn tomorrow, I won’t let the spectre of the volume of work I’ve got sitting on my desk wear me down. After the frenetic build-up to the festive season, we can all be grateful for a moment to pause.

ARIES Mar 21 — Apr 20

IT’S worth taking a risk and starting a process of negotiation today. Try to be clear about what you want, while letting others know that you’re willing to adapt to their needs. Then you can sit back and see what happens. Busy though you’ve been this Christmas, you’ve had a chance to realise that a transaction needs to be completed or that there’s a more personal communication that must begin. Both involve having the courage to be honest with yourself. You have more influence than you think. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

TAURUS Apr 21 — May 21

QUICK! Is the Christmas dinner in the oven yet? You’ve still got presents that need opening and traditional TV shows to watch and all that food to eat. Sorry? You mean to say that you did all that yesterday? No! You must have been dreaming. You’ve got to do it all again today. And tomorrow. And the day after that. Even our favourite things can become nightmares when they’re forced on us too often. Yet, these last few days of the year promise the kind of lovely experience you’ll never get tired of. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

GEMINI May 22 — June 22

IT SEEMS something that started just before Christmas has been put on the back burner, where it’s still quietly simmering away. Is there trouble brewing? Have the demands of the festivities forced you to push a problem to the back of your mind? Suppose I were to reassure you that a tricky issue has lost its power, and that, even when the seasonal celebrations have calmed down, it’s not going to rear up and trouble you? Would that help you to enjoy yourself today? Good! You can afford to relax. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

CANCER June 23 — July 23

WITH Christmas almost over, there’s no time to be lost. Before you settle down on the sofa to watch something you’ve missed on catch-up, wouldn’t you be better off using this time to start the preparations for Christmas 2019? Just think about how good you’d feel if you could get ahead? You’d be ready with time to spare! Actually, unlike many folk who wish it was Christmas every day, you’re happy to allow things to unfold at the right time. Thanks to that, you can expect a lot of goodwill coming your way. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

LEO July 24 — Aug 23

NOW that the official holiday period is almost over, you might find that you’ve got the chance to settle down and enjoy a break! More often than not, Christmas brings more than its fair share of tension. You still haven’t recovered from rushing to meet so many deadlines and expectations. Yet, even if today is full of obligations and plans that you feel you must honour, the rest of the week holds the hope of some respite. Be on the lookout for a well-deserved reason to celebrate quietly. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

VIRGO Aug 24 — Sep 23

IN MANY parts of the world, today is known as Boxing Day. Rather than being a day to celebrate any kind of fighting, traditionally, it was a time for employers to give a box of presents to their staff. Today, for you, it brings an opportunity to put any difficult relationships or issues into a metaphorical box, where they can stay, out of the way for a few days. By the time you get around to thinking about them again, they will, rather miraculously, have begun to sort themselves out. Today, it’s time for you to relax. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

LIBRA Sep 24 — Oct 23

WE WORK ourselves into a frenzy leading up to Christmas Day. Then, like the end of a much-loved television series or the feeling of relief when the final exam is over, everything goes quiet. And, in that sense of space, life can feel empty . . . as if something’s missing. What do you need to do now to make your world feel full of good things rather than obligations? The cosmic gift, over the next few days, brings wonderful opportunities to establish a deeper personal connection to someone. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

SCORPIO Oct 24 — Nov 22

ALTHOUGH Santa has hopefully made his way back home and can snuggle up and catch up on his sleep, you’re not afforded such a luxury. It seems that you’re still needed to support your nearest and dearest, who would be flabbergasted and most upset if you were to throw in the towel and collapse on the sofa with no intention of getting back up to carry on making merry. Yet the cosmic message is clear. Saturn and Jupiter’s coming connection highlights your resourcefulness. You may really enjoy the next few days. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 — Dec 21

HOW is your Christmas? Like many of the people born under your optimistic sign, you may find yourself able to answer the question positively only when you’re confident that the people around you are having a good time. You care about the emotional and physical well-being of your nearest and dearest. Events over the next few days will ease your concerns about what has become a worrying issue. Cosmic reassurance means you can let go of the weight of responsibility. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 — Jan 20

ALTHOUGH Christmas is the time when our wishes are supposed to be fulfilled and our dreams are meant to come true, the wiser folk among us have learned from past experience and know that the best way to avoid being disappointed is to set our expectations realistically. You have something you’d love to do. Yet, in a self-protective way, you’re careful about expressing your needs. But as your ruler and Jupiter connect tomorrow, even if your plans go awry, there will be compensation of a delightful kind. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 — Feb 19

FOR many people, Stephen’s Day brings an opportunity to spend time with the folk we’d actually prefer to spend Christmas Day with. Somehow, today has less obligation about it. A sense of freedom is beginning to prevail, as we’re able to see who we want to see. Fortunately, there’s still time for you to experience some festive joy. Instead of doing what you ‘should’ be doing, here comes the chance to follow your heart. An unexpected (lovely) surprise is in store. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.

PISCES Feb 20 — Mar 20

ALTHOUGH the rituals of Boxing Day are almost as ingrained as those of Christmas Day, there’s usually more room to manoeuvre as our expectations are slightly less intense. Phew! We can worry less about how things ‘should’ be and relax into enjoying things as they unfold. Today, in the build-up to Jupiter’s alignment with Saturn, if you consciously decide to move on from traditional demands and listen to your own needs, Boxing Day brings the promise of more spontaneous reasons to celebrate. Do yourself a festive favour! For advice on how to make the most of the cosmic good fortune, call 1550 511 611.