By Minerva

Starcast

Look before you leap! But remember: she/he who hesitates is oft times lost. New moons are tailormade for beginnings and decisions, but Tuesday’s arrival in Aries packs a special wallop.

Aries (March 20April 18) The sun and new moon’s direct attention on you sparks a wave of beneficent karma. Venus, goddess of love, beauty and creativity, is also getting serious in your sign.

Taurus (April 19May 19) The sun and new moon do their “same time, this year” number in your house of secrets, just as Venus offers divine insight. Review your life before making a “back to the future.”

Gemini (May 20June 19) You Geminis have a sense of destiny, but what about strategies for getting there? Use new moon hype for decisionmaking. Then relax and enjoy the halftime entertainment.

Cancer ( June 20July 21) Your sense of riding an exercycle down a freeway heightens this week. Moonkids are the Melanie Wilkeses of the world. You’re working your buns off for the cause, but does anyone get it? New moon energy sparks a fameandfortunetype decision.

Leo ( July 22Aug. 21) Faraway places with strangesounding names come into focus as the new moon joins the sun and Venus in your travel house. Climb a pyramid, cruise the Danube. If you can’t manage the Great Barrier Reef, at least take an airyfairy seminar and read a little Caroline Myss.

Virgo (Aug. 22Sept. 21) It happens every spring. Pulsating planets touch down in lusty Aries and suddenly your emotions are off the chart. Are you ready to run away to romance? And if not, why not?

Libra (Sept. 22Oct. 21) Tuesday’s new moon shouts sweet nothings of a contractual nature. It’s a given that romantic Libras will be thinking: “Marry me!” But there really is more than one kind of partnership. Professional alliances count too. A oneonone will heat up in a momentous manner.

Scorpio (Oct. 22Nov. 21) The new moon’s overtures to the sun affect you in mysterious ways. A decision made Tuesday can transform a job into a career, or bring a whole new spin to a health or fitness issue. Are you brave enough?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22Dec. 20) As the fateful new moon joins the sun in your creativity house, you’ve got plenty of fun projects from which to choose. Some of them center on home base. Happily, you’ve got Venus, a home decorator on the cosmic level, on your team.

Capricorn (Dec. 21Jan. 18) No one needs to tell a Capricorn that where and how you live makes a statement about who and what you are. Summertime and the living can be easy — if you set the stage now.

Aquarius ( Jan. 19Feb. 17) A window of opportunity opens Tuesday. Perhaps you’ll invent a new program or write a letter to the editor. What about that racy memoir you’ve always dreamed of writing? Tension mounts as a highly charged new moon sends smoke signals involving communications.

Pisces (Feb. 18March 19) Tuesday’s sunnew moon merger in your money house has cosmic overtones. Expect a moment of truth if there ever was one. Time now for a teddy bear trick or two to bring it all into perspective — your perspective.

Minerva’s Mailbag

Q: I am a male Aquarius trying to work with a female Libra. Any advice?

A: Libras are the epitome of charm and diplomacy, the perfect companion in any venture and the ideal foil for an Aquarius’ quirky genius. You’re the inventor of new ideas, and she’s the architect who designs them for practical use. Both of you also appreciate space and are willing to give in order to receive.

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.