Cancer, January 2017

Love and money planet Venus enters fellow Water sign Pisces on January 3, illuminating the travel and learning sector of your chart. What does this mean? Good vibes will flow to you from faraway places and people. Pisces, like you, is a psychic, emotional sign, and when sweet Venus is spending time in the sign of the fish, the vibe is ultra affectionate, understanding, and forgiving.

While Venus is in deep-thinking, deep-feeling Pisces, you're sure to develop a new philosophy on love, money, beauty—all the Venusian subjects. But Venus in Pisces won't be the only cosmic occurrence bringing you love lessons, little crab.

Mercury is retrograde in Capricorn, activating the relationship sector of your chart, and encouraging you to rethink what you want (and can give) in your partnerships. Mercury retrograde is a time to slow down and look at the past—not move ahead. You could be rekindling something with a past lover, or running into a lot of former partners (romantic or nonromantic).

Mercury retrograde has a terrible reputation for creating misunderstandings and delays. This isn't a great time to make new agreements or sign contracts. But it's a good time to reflect. You're nostalgic as hell, Cancer, so I'm sure it's not the biggest punishment for you to talk about, and process, your journey and your relationships rather than focus on moving forward.

Mercury retrograde is a crappy time to travel or purchase anything expensive or electronic, but Cancer, you're a homebody, and you hate spending money, so I'm sure you can live with this downfall of Mercury retrograde. If you're one of the rare crabs who loves getting on a plane and splurging on pricey gifts, don't worry: Mercury retrograde will be over soon, January 8. But, before then, Mercury will dip back into Fire sign Sagittarius!

Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius will bring up issues you were working with in early December 2016, especially concerning your health and habits, your day job, schedule (wow, will it be screwed up), your chores, and even your pets. Sagittarius is famous for being the know-it-all of the zodiac—but, Cancer, you're smart enough to know that we don't know anything when Mercury is retrograde! Expect things to be up in the air—rescheduling will likely happen a lot. Staying flexible is key.

Mercury will reenter Capricorn on January 12, again activating the relationship sector of your chart. This isn't the only exciting thing happening on January 12: There's a full moon in your sign, Cancer!

So much of the last few weeks have been about your relationships. Mercury has been retrograde in Capricorn, and the Sun has been shining in Capricorn, activating the partnership sector of your chart. You're kind of over it, all this partnering. You might be the sign of the nurturer, but really, how can you nurture anyone when you're not putting yourself first? This full moon will bring big drama to the relationships that are holding you back from taking care of yourself. Expect to learn a lot about the people in your life and about what you need to feel safe and secure.

Full moons are exhausting, so make sure to sleep well and eat well. The energy will be emotional—don't try to hold in your feelings. They will just explode even harder and messier.

While I hope you don't repress your emotions and go silent during this full moon, it's also understandable if things feel too fresh to discuss after the Mercury retrograde in Capricorn. Watch out for January 29: This will be a potent, revealing day in your relationships, and you'll likely be eager to express your truth then.

On January 29, communication planet Mercury will meet the lord of the underworld, Pluto, which will find you engaging in some eye-opening conversations. Be careful: Pluto might be the planet of transformation (which we love), but Pluto also brings out manipulative, shady, obsessive, and jealous vibes.

Attention shifts to intense interpersonal issues on January 19 when the Sun enters Aquarius. Air sign Aquarius is aloof yet friendly, logical yet wacky. Aquarius likes to do things differently, and while the Sun is in this sign, you're going to handle delicate, sensitive issues in unexpected ways. People don't realize this about you, Cancer, but the fact is that if you can't be yourself, if you have to be fake or play a role, you are gone—and this trait will be even more pronounced while the Sun is in Aquarius.

Sex and intimacy will be themes for you while the Sun shines in Aquarius. Again: If you can't be yourself in this arena—your weird, freaky, sexy self—you'll have some thinking to do. Complicated issues concerning debts, taxes and inheritances will also come up, and if you're not given space to deal with them, your crab claws will start snapping. Death, grief and endings will also come up. Again: The world needs to give you space to process it all in your own way.

There will be a new moon in Aquarius on January 27, which will open new doors for healing and activate your already sensitive intuitive abilities. I know this sounds super corny, but this new moon in Aquarius is telling you: "Be yourself." By staying true to you, deep healing will take place at the end of this month.

Your professional goals and public life demand your focus on January 28 when action planet Mars enters courageous Fire sign Aries. I know this month sounds emotionally draining (and, well, it is), but you're going to put plenty of energy (and excitement!) toward conquering your goals. Mars in Aries will ignite the fame and fortune sector of your chart, and this will be an extremely energizing period for you when it comes to getting ahead and being seen.

This is an intense month, Cancer! But you have a tough shell; you'll be able to deal with whatever the heavens throw at you. See you in February!