By Minerva

Starcast

Look before you leap. You know that! But you also know that he/she who hesitates is frequently lost. New moons are always fateful — tailor made for decisions and new beginnings. The Aries new moon is the best of all possible new moons to open shops, start relationships.

Aries (March 20-April 19) This week the sun and moon’s beneficence beams directly on you. The winter of your discontent is over. Also, it’s happy birthday time. Make a wish, then make it happen.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) The sun and new moon are doing their “same time, this year” number in your house of secrets. Review your life before making a “back to the future” decision. However you play it, spring looks splendid.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is your lucky week, your lucky month. Geminis have a sense of destiny, but what about a strategy for getting there? Use Friday’s new moon, make a decision, then relax and enjoy the halftime entertainment, something intimate, fun and a tad kinky.

Cancer (June 21-July 21) That sense of riding an Exercycle down a freeway accelerates this week. There you are, working your buns off for the cause, but does anyone get it? Use the energy of Friday’s new moon to make a fame-andfortune decision about you.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Expect faraway places with strangesounding names to come into clearer focus Thursday when the mystical new moon joins the sun and Venus in your travel house. Climb a pyramid, cruise the Amazon or the mighty Petaluma.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Pulsating planets touch down in lusty Aries (your hormone house), and suddenly your emotions are off the chart. You want to romp and play, form amorous connections and make ongoing ones even more meaningful. Friday night’s decision time. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Thursday’s new moon in your astro opposite, Aries, shouts sweet nothings of a contractual nature. Many romantic Libras will be whispering: “Marry me!” But there is more than one kind of partnership — professional alliances count too.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) The new moon’s overtures to the sun affect you in strange, unexpected ways. Watch a nitty-gritty issue come together in a manner clearly fated. Or is it feted? A decision made Friday promises to transform a job into a career or bring a new spin to a health or fitness issue.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) Venus in your money house is a sight to behold. Added to this you’ve got the sun and new moon frolicking in your playroom. With so many fun projects to choose from, what’s holding you back?

Capricorn (Dec. 21-Jan. 19) An ambitious Capricorn like you is well aware that where and how you live make a statement about who and what you are. Change is in the air. Come summer time, the living will be easy — if you set the stage now.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 17) A window of opportunity opens Friday. Perhaps you’ll invent a program or write a letter to the editor. What about that racy memoir you’ve always dreamed of writing?

Pisces (Feb. 18-March 19) Friday’s night’s sun-new moon merger in your money house has cosmic overtones. Venus, too, suggests that it’s time for a teddy bear trick. (A teddy bear trick involves a little fancy footwork, not dishonest but highly innovative.)

Minerva’s mailbag

Q: I’m John, born Nov. 27. Could you tell me what the year ahead will be?

A: Very good! Your housemate for most of this year is lucky Jupiter. Lord Jupe is rich, commanding, wise, spiritual, educated, cultured, liberal and generous.

To ask Minerva a question, go to www.ask minerva.com or write to Minerva, Sunday Datebook, San Francisco Chronicle, 901 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103.