General 2012 Overview for all 12 Signs:

Much has been written about 2012, especially Hollywood tales of “the end of the world.” Relax, everyone—the earth will still be humming along by next New Year’s Eve. The 2012 legend is really about a bigger energetic shift, which has been taking place in the past few years.

2012 may not be the end of the world, but it could be “the end of the world as we know it.” And that might not be such a bad thing.Thanks to the Internet and social media, people have access to new ideas at lightning speed—and geography is no longer the barrier to connecting that it once was. Although stats show that less than 30% of the world has Internet access, technology is still helping us exchange ideas about community, spirituality, art, politics and making the world a better place for all.

In 2012, those of us privileged enough to be reading this will continue to connect to that other 70% of the world—especially those without access to clean water, fresh air, education and basic human rights. The question for 2012 is: how can I live well and still make a difference?

Work & Money in 2012

The year ahead is all about building and innovation. With the economy in disrepair and Occupy Wall Street marching on, it’s clear that we need some better strategies. Expansive Jupiter spends the first half of 2012 in Taurus, the sign of work, money and financial planning. Remember when the dot-com bubble burst back in 1999-2000? That’s the last time Jupiter was in Taurus. Having risk-taker Jupiter in risk-averse Taurus is an odd paradox that requires balance. We’ll need to be “cautiously optimistic” and take “calculated risks” between January and June. Look before you leap and keep a budget. Consider multiple streams of income or freelance work for an extra boost.

On June 11th, Jupiter moves into Gemini, the sign of communication, for a year. Media, electronics, apps, and all things digital will become even more prominent. This could be the year that a true “all-in-one” device or solution hits the market—beyond what’s already out there. Because Jupiter rules all things cross-cultural and international, outsourcing overseas can cut costs for companies. Learning a foreign language can pump up your job prospects. That doesn’t just mean Spanish or Swahili. Computer languages like PHP, CSS and HTML could be useful additions to your lexicon.

Another reason to get tech-savvy? Innovative Uranus, ruler of electronics, is in Aries, the sign of new ideas, from 2011-2018. (Uranus was last here in the 1930s, when the radio was invented.) Aries is the sign of the solo ventures and self-promotion. Market yourself with a website, online video and social media. Brush up your skills with distance learning and online courses. Aries is ruled by Mars, the red planet, which scientists believe could someday sustain human life. In 2012, we may see more discoveries like this.

The way we spend, save, build, and use resources is also going through a long, gradual overhaul. Pluto, the planet of radical transformation, is in Capricorn from 2008-2024. Capricorn rules governments, banks, institutions, the economy and large hierarchies. Pluto entered Capricorn in November 2008. During this cycle, parts of the world economy have collapsed. Corrupt governments have fallen, and we’ve seen the capture and execution of Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gaddafi. Pluto’s mandate: rebuild on a more conscious, sustainable foundation. In 2012, we can no longer prioritize profit at the expense of the planet and humanity.

Love & Relationships in 2012

Forget what the fairy tales told you. The knight on the white horse isn’t coming, and that damsel isn’t REALLY in distress. Love has taken a more serious (and less romantic) turn in the past three years, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Since October 2009, tough teacher Saturn has been visiting Libra, the sign of marriage and committed relationships. Saturn forces us to slow down and evaluate our choices, and to learn what a long-term commitment really requires.

While it may not have been the most exciting or romantic time, our cultural notions of love are becoming more realistic. Case in point: the spectacular crash of Kim Kardashian’s 72-day “fairy-tale wedding” (as the E! special was titled). Stern Saturn gave Kim—and the rest of the world—a wake-up call about rushing into marriage. Relationships take hard work (a Saturn specialty), but the long-term payoff is a union that’s build to last. Libra is the planet of justice, and during this Saturn cycle, same-sex marriage was legalized in many states. We can expect to see more marriage equality activism happening while Saturn visits Libra through October 5, 2012.

Health & Wellness in 2012

Holistic healing, Eastern medicine and energy work have gained a following, but they’re still far from mainstream. That could change in 2012. On February 3rd, healing Neptune begins a 14-year visit to its home sign of Pisces, which rules all things spiritual and “new Age.” Doctors may begin shifting toward complementary or integrative medicine, acknowledging the benefits of treatments like Reiki or acupuncture.

While lucky Jupiter visits practical Taurus until June 11th, we should strive toward healthy habits and consistent routines, like eating, sleeping and rising at the same time each day. Taurus is an earth sign, so this would be a great year to eat locally, plant a community garden, or join a food cooperative. In June, Jupiter moves into Gemini, ruler of transportation. Urban areas will build more bike lanes and walkways, encouraging us to stay active and fit. This is the perfect year for bicycles, skateboards, scooters, roller skates…anything on wheels that doesn’t require a gas tank.

When structured Saturn enters Scorpio from October 5, 2012-2015, issues of life, death and mind-body connection will become prominent. Scorpio rules immortality, and we’ll see new findings on longevity. As our population lives longer, we may also need to deal with economic or resource shortages, and to create new structures that make “old age” a better experience. The age of retirement will continue to rise. Scorpio rules both birth and death. Sexual and reproductive health may become major issues during this time, and we may see hospitals closing or restructuring. With energizing Mars in Virgo, the health sign, until July 3rd, we could see new strides in medicine, science and the impact of diet on our lifespan.

The last time Saturn was in Scorpio was in the early 1980s, during the AIDS crisis. Saturn is the tough teacher, and Scorpio rules sex, addictions and blood. No surprise this disease was spread mostly through unprotected sex, blood transfusions and infected needles. [Sidenote: Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio, was also in Scorpio at the time, from 1984-1996.] Hopefully we’ve learned important lessons from that terrible time, and that this Saturn cycle will bring us the more evolved version of Scorpio energy. Perhaps we’ll see a cure for AIDS, cancer and other fatal diseases.

Family in 2012

All for one, and one for all. For the last couple years, we’ve been gradually shifting toward a more cooperative lifestyle. Saturn in Libra, the sign of partnership, is helping us to build new structures and share resources. Saturn is here until October 5, 2012. We may see a rise in communal living situations as families crave more connection on tighter schedules and budgets. This could, for example, mean housing developments with a shared dining hall or restaurant courtyard, multi-family homes with round-robin childcare, flexible office space with on-site daycare, and even premium home schooling offered by unemployed teachers. Pulling together and adding everyone’s talents to the mix can solve a lot of shortages, helping us maintain quality of life on a budget.

What does 2012 hold for you? See your sign’s 2012 Horoscope at AstroTwins at Astrostyle 2012 Horoscopes!

Get ready for a wild turkey of a weekend! This year, Thanksgiving Day is bookended by two big cosmic events which could make for a few surprises. We’re definitely having Stove Top instead of potatoes in 2011, people. On Wednesday, Mercury goes retrograde (backward) in Sagittarius until December 13th. Mercury is the planet of transportation and communication, and its backspin (which happens 3-4 time a year) can cause delayed flights, bickering or misunderstandings. Deep breaths around the table, friends. Sagittarius rules long-distance travel, so there’s a double whammy of a chance that reaching your destination could have some…interesting…challenges. Mercury was retrograde in Sagittarius last Christmas, when folks around the world were stranded at airports due to crazy snowstorms. Here’s hoping the airlines learned from 2010 and are prepared just in case.

Thursday features an intimate Scorpio moon in the daytime, making afternoon celebrations all about bonding and deep conversations. By the evening, the Sun moves into Sagittarius, the sign of abundance. Fourth helping of turkey, anyone? Sagittarius is over-the-top and optimistic, so go around the dinner table and say what you’re grateful for, even if it seems corny. Since we’ll all have overindulged, balance it out with the Sagittarius party spirit. Turn on some fun pop music and dance off that dinner instead of slipping into a tryptophan “turkey coma.”

On Friday, a new moon solar eclipse falls in Sagittarius. Black Friday indeed! Solar eclipses occur when the earth is directly between the sun and the moon, blocking out the light. This means the rules are suspended temporarily. We all may be a bit disoriented about our limits. Insome ways, this is good: human beings impose limits on ourselves based on fear. A positive use of this eclipse would be to take a risk (Sag is the gambler) and do something radically out of the ordinary that you’ve always wanted to try. Since Sagittarius knows no limits, leave those credit cards at home when you hit the Black Friday sales.

Saturday and Sunday find us more earthbound, when the moon and harmonious Venus move into traditional Capricorn. Since Cap is the “father sign” and Venus rules love, there may be some old-fashioned fellas asking daddy permission to propose. You might get the urge to do something nostalgic, like taking pictures with Santa, going to a tree-lighting or making a favorite family recipe. On Sunday, a grand trine in practical earth signs between the Moon, Venus, Pluto, Mars and Jupiter (whoah!) turns out attention to security. We could have a serious case of buyer’s remorse after a blowout Black Friday spree. Save your receipts! Since earth signs like order and structure, this is also a great day for cleaning, organizing or a massive home improvement project.

Read your daily and your weekly horoscopes at Astrostyle.com

From Astrostyle.com: with seven planets passing through the sign of the Ram in April 2011, the full moon in Aries on October 11 is sure to bring a bumper crop of results. Here, Tali Edut (one half of The AstroTwins) talks about how to make the most out of Tuesday’s cosmic harvest…

August has been quite a rollercoaster, thanks to Mercury, planet of communication, technology and travel, being retrograde (backward) from August 2-26. For most of the time, Mercury was in theatrical Leo, which tinged the retrograde with a double dose of drama. We know you felt it! Leo rules the ego, and people may have become quite self-focused during this time, even at the expense of common sense. Relationships and parties may have fallen flat, since the usual Leo celebratory vibes were dampened by a retrograde. Bummer to anyone whose birthday fell during the retrograde, as the revelry was likely anti-climactic. And as for the technology SNAFUs? Yeah, they happened. We heard that Lowes stores had registers down across half the United States the other day. A friend mentioned that his office’s networked printers hadn’t worked for a week. Imagine the drama THAT created.

Leo is ruled by the Sun, and Mercury retrograde has also stirred up some wild weather patterns. Here in New York City, we felt earthquake tremors this week, and now, we’re gearing up for a possible hurricane hit over the weekend. (For this, we also cite Neptune, ruler of the sea, which is retrograde in air-sign Aquarius, causing a weird pattern between water and air.) Hurricanes are caused by water vapor that evaporates from the ocean’s surface. As a result, heat builds up—hello, fire-sign Leo and the repressive forces of a retrograde—causing low pressure, then a tropical storm. Hopefully, Mercury’s move to direct motion will RE-direct that hurricane away from all the places it’s supposed to hit on the east coast. But we’re getting our canned food and candles just in case.

Generally, when Mercury retrograde ends, it’s a big sigh of relief—computers start working, people regain their senses, and all is well. But we’ve got to slog through a couple more issues before we can truly relax. In all honesty, we are going to have to learn how to live with a certain degree of tension in our lives—and to spiritually evolve so that we can become better equipped to deal. Running on auto-pilot won’t cut it anymore. We’ve all got to do some kind of transformational work to become better, wiser and more connected. This is what else the stars are doing that we’ll want to make note of now:

Virgo new moon trine Pluto (8/28): Sunday’s new moon in healthy, organized Virgo could restore order to our lives, but there’s a twist. Transformational Pluto will demand that we let go of something that no longer serves us. Pluto also rules the underworld, and shakes things up that are hidden below the surface. It’s in fellow earth sign Capricorn. We’ll look at the earthquake as a symbolic message: don’t get SO comfortable or complacent in life, especially in the material world. The things we assume will always keep us steady may not be as reliable as we thought. So, we must do the spiritual work to steady ourselves, and to develop a strong sense of self that grounds us. What we HAVE or what we DO for a living will matter much less than who we ARE.

Mars in Cancer square (90 degree angle) Saturn in Libra (until Labor Day): Cancer rules the water. Libra rules the air. So, tropical storms and stuff? Yeah. Aggravator Mars in sensitive Cancer is stirring up all of our emotions and fears about security. Yet, we have no outlet, because tough Saturn in intellectual, rational Libra has no sympathy. The sensation is like sobbing hysterically only to receive a cold shoulder instead of a warm hug—or being told to keep a stiff upper lip when we just want to be understood. It’s been tough this month, especially with Mercury retrograde, to balance head and heart. After Labor Day, these planets move away from each other, and we can be as weepy as we wanna be.

Uranus in Aries square (90 degree angle) Pluto in Capricorn (2011-2015): This one has been going on since March, and will continue until November (then on and off again until 2015). Welcome to a clash between Uranus the innovator/rebel and power-hungry Pluto, the planet of transformation. With Uranus in individualistic Aries, acts of aggression, war and selfishness can disrupt the world’s stability. Dictators and corrupt leaders like Bin Laden and Qaddafi are going down…but not without a fight. On a personal level, this stirs our desire to be seen, heard, noticed…to break free from any sort of oppressive or restrictive forces. But are we transforming the world or just blowing hot air? If you’re gonna be a rebel, be one with a (worthy) cause.

Much as we like to dish on celebs, there’s been a lot more happening in the headlines. So we’d be remiss not to mention life beyond the red carpet this week, especially as Mercury retrograde heats up political and economic tension.

There are two things happening causing all the unrest. Mercury and Uranus, both planets involved with spreading a message of change, are retrograde (moving backward) in Fire signs. Retrogrades can ignite unrest and bring up buried tensions. Furthering this, there’s a tense T-square (three-way tug-of-war) between angry Mars, destructive Pluto and rebellious Uranus. This could unleash bottled-up anger and frustration, as well as the violence we’re seeing in the news.

How has this shown up? After the happy headlines of a royal wedding and preparation for the 2012 Olympics, London has been beset by burning shops, looters, and clashes between police and civilians. Riots (or “civil unrest” or “uprisings,” if you prefer) are sweeping through London, as images
of the…

Read the full post at MyLifetime

Legendary actress and activist Liz Taylor died today at the age of 79. In honor of her life and contributions to culture and charity, we took a look at her astrological chart.

Elizabeth Taylor’s Chart:
Taylor was a Pisces with a Scorpio moon and a Sagittarius rising, the
perfect setup for this violet-eyed star who cornered the market on glamour.  Here’s how she bore the stamp of her planetary lineup.

* Pisces is the sign of deep compassion. Liz was an outspoken advocate
for charity, particularly AIDS. Her luminous eyes revealed the deep Piscean wells of emotion. In fact, she was born with a double row of lashes, which made her eyes appear even more prominent.

* Pisces rules film, theater and glamour–the perfect sign for one of
the world’s greatest silver screen stars.

Read the full post at MyLifetime...

Oscar night is this Sunday, and the planets are stirring up an interesting energetic blend. Four planets will be in glamorous, sentimental Pisces, guaranteeing some teary-eyed acceptance speeches and enchanting outfits. By contrast, expansive Jupiter is in fiery Aries, the trailblazing trendsetter, from January 22 through June 4. Aries is the sign of “firsts” and devil-may-care risks. It’s also ruled by warrior planet Mars, which carries a lot of masculine energy. Short hemlines, edgy speeches and other eyebrow-raising antics will bring laughs to a three-Kleenex evening. Here’s how we predict this blend of old-meets-new could reveal itself at the Academy Awards.

Red Carpet
Punctuating a sea of shimmering gowns in Piscean pastel? A few ladies in red, the signature Aries color. Why? Jupiter, planet of luck and excess, is in Aries. It shows where we take bold, head-turning risks but don’t always hit the mark. Translation: The Best and Worst Dressed lists will be populated with bright dresses in surprising hues like scarlet, hot pink, even orange. Aries rules the face and hair, so we may see bold makeup and red lips, or hairstyles that will be talked about for weeks to come. Lady Gaga is an Aries, and her Grammy night arrival in an egg won’t be forgotten. Who will match Gaga at the Academy Awards?

Acceptance Speeches
With four planets in watery, emotional Pisces, expect…

Read the full post at MyLifetime

Golden Globes night was Gemini night, with nominees from this sign taking home a slew of statues. Natalie Portman and Annette Bening, both Gems, took the Best Actress category for The Black Swan and The Kids Are Alright. (Kids also won Best Comedy.) Other Gemini winners: Paul Giamatti for Best Performance by an Actor, The Social Network writer Aaron Sorkin for Best Screenplay, and Glee’s Chris Colfer as Best Supporting Actor for TV. There were also Gemini nominees aplenty: Angelina Jolie, Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp for both Alice In Wonderland and The Tourist.

We hate to say “I told you so” (ah, who are we kidding…we love to), but we called it!
http://www.mylifetime.com/astrology/astrology-blog/geminis-lead-the-pack-in-the-golden-globes-nominations Even movies with Gemini themes seemed favored. Gemini rules technology, the voice, and same-sex couples (the Twins), giving a boost to The Social Network, The Kids are Alright, and Glee…read more at MyLifetime Astrology

Astrology followers have been abuzz with news of a rare planetary event happening this August called the Cardinal Cross. Sounds like the ordination ceremony for a Roman Catholic clergyman (at least, to us). What it really is: a cycle when SEVEN planets in the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will form a cross-shaped configuration in the sky. More specifically, these planets are in “squares” (meaning they’ll be at 90-degree angles to one another), an astrological angle that symbolizes dynamic tension, unavoidable change, and a tug-of-war between forces that don’t naturally fit together. Others will be in “opposition” (180 degrees apart), a similar sort of face-off.

While we often see two, even three, planets squaring or opposing each other, it’s rare that so many engage in heated dialogue at once. To top it off, the cardinal signs are known for stubbornness. (Think of the Aries or Capricorns you know—great leaders, but not famous for backing down. Or the Libras and Cancers—they pretend to go with the flow, but oh, the passive-aggressive backlash and resentment when they do!).

A metaphor for this Cardinal Cross could be an arms negotiation between the U.S., Iran, Israel and Russia. Or a Real Housewives of New Jersey conflict resolution session between its four cast members. The caveat: nobody’s leaving until SOMETHING has been settled or decided. Everyone must give something up for the greater good, but it will require a delicate balance, drawn in the face of much resistance. (Bravo’s Andy Cohen and the U.N. Secretary-General would earn some serious overtime.)

August 7^th is the big Cardinal Cross day, because the Cancer moon completes the actual cross shape. However, the effects are already palpable. Several of the planets involved are already in square—and you can probably feel the tension (or the exciting changes) brewing in your own life.

Planets involved:

Jupiter — planet of expansion (in Aries, sign of the self/individual)
Uranus — planet of radical change (in Aries, sign of the self/individual)
VS.
Venus — planet of harmony (in Libra, sign of relationships)
Mars — planet of aggression & action (in Libra, sign of relationships)
Saturn — planet of restriction and caution (in Libra, sign of relationships)

VS.
Pluto — ruler of the unconscious & deep transformation (in Capricorn, the sign of career and ambition)
VS.

Moon — ruler of emotions and reactions (in Cancer, the sign of home and family)

That’s a whole lot of contrasting energy happening at once. Jupiter, the ruler of expansion and risks, isn’t happy fighting over the last drumstick with Saturn, the father of restriction and temperance. Gracious, well-heeled Venus would prefer to avoid the intensity of Pluto bringing up everyone’s dark sides and moral transgressions at her cheery summer cocktail party in the Hamptons. Yet, the clashes are inevitable.

Naturally, if you’re a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn), you’ll be affected the most. However, each of us will somehow have to hit “reshuffle” in our own lives. Expect to feel pulled between personal desires, family, relationships and work—a classic modern dilemma played out in the astrological amphitheater. Political tension could certainly build, hopefully forcing an effective intervention for the BP disaster and other international crises.

Our August Monthly Horoscopes will have more details on how the Cardinal Cross affects your sign specifically. The best advice: remain flexible and open to change, but also know your bottom line. Pick your battles and stand up for your principles—but not just for the sake of winning the argument. Be willing to look at yourself, but call a time-out if debates get too heated. Change is nigh, but you’ll waffle between facing it like a warrior and a wimp.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Or, as Kenny Rogers sang, “You’ve gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.” Just please, let’s all check ourselves before staging our own versions of Teresa Giudice table-flipping and Danielle Staub weave-pulling. Like each season of reality TV, the effects of this Cardinal Cross shall pass. Don’t let your own bad behavior be caught on tape, or end up a permanent part of history.

After two murder accusations and three years on the loose, 22-year-old Joran Van der Sloot has confessed to killing Stephany Flores Ramirez in Peru.

Why now?

We looked at Van der Sloot’s chart—he’s a Leo with a Pisces rising—for clues. We see a case of cosmically-fueled cockiness, even narcissism, behind his confession.

This week, outspoken Jupiter and anti-establishment Uranus linked up in fiery, hot-headed Aries. For Leos, these planets are in the ninth house of overconfidence and optimism. Van der Sloot may feel important, invincible and entitled now. In a twisted way, the international attention has made him feel like a “celebrity.” (To a fame-loving Leo, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.)

Jupiter in the ninth house also arouses gambling instincts, and an over-reliance on luck. Everything is tinted by rose-colored glasses. A prison jumpsuit looks like Armani, hard time like a day of community service. With evidence (including hotel security cam footage) mounting against him, Van der Sloot may have decided it’s better to ‘fess up in Peru, a country with no death penalty or life sentences. He could face 35 years.

Van der Sloot also has a rising sign on the Pisces/Aries cusp, and Jupiter just passed over his ascendant. This transit may have sparked a bout of egomania and uncontrollable truth-telling. Unfortunately for him, challenging Saturn–ruler of confinement, punishment and authority–was opposing Jupiter during the killing. Translation: Jupiter’s overconfidence was tempered by Saturn’s long-reaching arm of the law. The saying, “If you want to do the crime, you’ll have to do the time” typifies a Jupiter-Saturn opposition.

Will he confess to the 2005 murder of Natalee Halloway? Only if he thinks it will serve him. When Saturn goes into Libra on July 22nd, his communication sector, we wouldn’t be surprised if written evidence turns up.