New Year full of eastern promise

C hinese New Year is ‘late’ this year. It is always triggered by the annual New Moon in Aquarius and in 2013, that doesn't happen till February 10. Meanwhile, this week, you'll see the waxing Moon offering those with binoculars a good chance to see Tycho and Copernicus, two of her most impressive craters. If you do borrow some glasses, look out also for Jupiter, an hour or two before midnight, against the visible constellation of Taurus in the sector of the ecliptic that astrologers call Gemini. With a little Jupiterian luck you'll see the great ‘red spot’.

ARIES March 21-April 20

Acquired tastes give us more satisfaction each time we indulge in them. When we have taught ourselves to like something or someone, we take pride as well as pleasure in our enjoyment. You’re not keen on a certain experience now. Understandably, you want to ensure that it is not repeated. Probably the last thing you want to hear me say is, ‘I wonder if you could ever come to develop a tolerance, perhaps even an enthusiasm for this?’ But I’m saying it for reasons you’ll yet soon understand and even appreciate. TAURUS April 21-May 21

A key situation may not be ideal, but it’s a lot better than nothing. Remember the saying about the bird in the hand, and resolve, for the time being at least, to appreciate what’s before you. As a long-term proposition, this may seem unacceptable — but much is due to change dramatically for the better. You’re looking now at a real promise of better times. They just can’t all come at once. Think in terms of ‘stepping stones’, and you’ll find that’s precisely what your reluctant choices all turn out to create. GEMINI May 22-June 22

Whenever we feel we understand where our life is taking us to we are in danger of making an arrogant error. Forget your preconceived ideas about what this week holds in store — especially if your expectations are pessimistic. Something amazing is about to happen. You ARE going to experience a great deal of justified enthusiasm for a delightfully different future. As we get further into the year, despite all the shallow drama of a recent conflict, you are yet going to see something that truly, deeply inspires you.

YOUR HOROSCOPE FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING LEO July 24-August 23

People who think of themselves as dangerous rarely are. Not so people who think of themselves as powerless. Those who claim to be vulnerable or helpless, usually have a surprisingly large amount of influence. They just don’t recognise the extent of their own ability. Because they don’t believe they have it, they don’t think carefully about how to use it. Somewhere in your world now, someone needs to alter their self-image and see the intensity of their own strength. Might that very someone be reading this, right now? LIBRA Sept 24-Oct 23

We all like to feel we have a successful strategy — a plan we can fall back on, a policy we can feel sure of. Often, to make sure we are being as smart as possible, we spend time thinking things through. But, if we think too hard, we risk creating confusion. Likewise, if we rely too much on a particular formula. It is so important to be flexible. You could argue that, simply by summoning the attributes of flexibility, you are doing all you need to do. This week, if you want to be really clever, you’ll just adapt. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23-Dec 21

Nearly everything you do is of no importance, but it is important that you do it.’ So said the Mahatma Gandhi. When we are children, we encounter adults who make us feel even smaller than we already are. We remember this and, even as grown ups, we still see some people as bigger than we are. We imagine they have an authority we can never attain. Maybe someone does have some real power over you now. Even so, you should see this individual as your equal and stop questioning your judgement this week.

20 JANUARY 2013 CANCER June 23-July 23

How good are you? Better than you think! You think you are good? You are better than that. Sometimes, you think you are not so good. In one way, that’s true. You can be better still, if you really set your mind to it. Still, though, even at your less-than-best, you are better than most of the rest. Now. You may be wondering why I am dedicating so much of your forecast to a pep talk. Or, perhaps, being as smart as you are, you have already worked it out. Nothing need knock your confidence now. Just trust yourself this week! VIRGO August 24-Sept 23

How about a change of scenery? If it is actually possible to go somewhere new and different for a while, maybe you should. If not, you can do a great deal to improve the view just by altering your position in relation to the window. Instead of pressing your nose to the glass, stand back and absorb a wider picture. Instead of looking down, look up. Change your viewpoint and change, too, your expectation of what exists to be seen. There’s much more potential in your situation than you currently perceive. SCORPIO Oct 24-Nov 22

Our heroes and heroines can rarely do wrong in our eyes. Once we have elevated them in our estimation, we become deeply reluctant to demote them. We can be similarly romantic about friends, companions, family members. If we respect them ever, we respect them forever. Yet we are all human. None of us is impeccable or infallible. Don’t be horrified by this week’s challenge to a seemingly previously perfect reputation, just be accepting and understanding. There’s a vital discovery to be made. CAPRICORN Dec 22-Jan 20

There are some things that we do not need to supply or create. They occur naturally in abundance. Pressure, for example, is self-generating and self-replenishing. No matter how much we have, we can always have more. No matter how little there seems to be, we can rest assured that some will come along before too long. Your life now contains vast amounts of ‘dynamic tension’. Try your best not to add to it! You’re on a journey that gradually leads from tricky territory to profitable terrain. Try not to worry. Just relax. AQUARIUS Jan 21-Feb 19

People born under your sign are much envied for their ability to be analytical, clever and distanced from the emotional considerations that overwhelm many other people. You, though, often wish you could be much more spontaneous. Instead of taking pride in your great gift, you feel embarrassed by it. So, sometimes, you try to shut down your common sense. You refuse to listen to it, in the hope that then you will be able to do something truly wild. This week though, your insight is your key to success. Don’t ignore it; follow it. PISCES Feb 20-Mar 20

Others have no idea how hard you work. They don’t appreciate the effort you put in or the care you apply to even the smallest matter. You are a perfectionist and you don’t care how much it takes to give your best to a situation or a person. You either go the whole way, with the whole of your heart or you don’t bother going anywhere. There are times when all this seems to work against you but it is a tendency that is due to pay big rewards. Be fastidious. Be determined too. You will yet be surprisingly successful.