Scorpio, January 2017

I know what you're thinking, little scorpion: This sounds like way too much good news, and you're suspicious. Don't worry; it will be exactly as complicated and dramatic as you like it to be.

Mars is the warrior planet, but it's not motivated to fight in empathetic and creative Water sign Pisces. It's even less motivated when it meets artsy, and always high, Neptune. The vibe is aimless. People will ghost. People will seem to appear out of nowhere! It will be hard to read people's motives, and if someone does get in the mood to fight, they'll over– or underestimate their opponent—Mars wants to be brave, and Neptune will tell Mars, "Yeah… definitely… you're super brave, go for it."

And Mars will listen—it doesn't take much to make Mars throw a punch—but can it land in Neptune's fog? If it does, the person it lands on likely won't see it coming! Because this will play out in the sector of your chart that rules flirtation and fun, make sure the person you're hitting on knows you're hitting on them, Scorpio! Avoid picking fights, but break out your art supplies—you'll be super inspired!

Sweet Venus loves to be in dreamy Pisces; the vibe will be whimsical, loving, forgiving, and understanding. You can bet some affectionate vibes will be in the air for you this month, Scorpio, even if Mars and Neptune made shit totally awkward at the start of the month!

Let's not forget Mercury retrograde: It's been doing its thing, fucking up our communications and creating delays since December 19, 2016. On January 4, Mercury leaves Capricorn, the sign it began its retrograde in, and reenters Sagittarius.

Mercury retrograde is always a shitty time to buy anything expensive or important, and your belongings are bound to get lost or break—and these problems will get even worse when Mercury reenters Sagittarius. During the time it spent in Capricorn, mixed messages, commuting, and delays tripped you up the most, but in Sagittarius, the drama will be all about your finances and your belongings.

Mercury retrograde doesn't need to be completely inconvenient. It's a good time to pause and reflect—Mercury isn't moving forward, so neither should you, Scorpio. Practice being in the moment (easier said than done for someone who ruminates on past pain as much as you do).

Mercury ends its retrograde on January 8, reentering Capricorn on January 12. Once that happens, you will be full steam ahead: having meetings, making deals, signing contracts—getting back to business, which is exactly what worldly Earth sign Capricorn loves to do!

A full moon in fellow Water sign Cancer arrives on January 12, illuminating the travel and learning sector of your chart. On a mundane level, this full moon will find you focusing on school, completing a big project, or traveling abroad, but on a spiritual level, you'll feel pulled to reexamine your belief systems.

Cancer is an emotional, sensitive sign (like you, Scorpio, even if you try to hide it), and during this full moon, you'll wonder about all the ideas and feelings you have held onto. You're looking for greater meaning in the world. Full moons are tiring, so don't overbook yourself, especially if you are traveling or learning a new skill. A confrontation about ideas or beliefs is likely, but a wonderful compromise or understanding could take place, too.

On January 19, the Sun enters Aquarius and illuminates the home and family sector of your chart—cozy! This is a wonderful time to deal with issues between you and your roommates, or to deal with problems in your home. Aquarius is a cool and logical Air sign, so you'll be able to deal with these issues in a clear, practical way.

Soon after, on January 27, there is a new moon, in Air sign Aquarius, that will bring many fresh starts: at home, with family, and emotionally—you'll feel safe and nurtured. This is a wonderful time to energetically cleanse your home. Have some items that belonged to someone who is no longer a part of your life, maybe an ex or a friend you've outgrown? Toss them out. Looking for a new spot? This new moon in Aquarius will be one to watch.

On January 28, action planet Mars enters Fire sign Aries! Mars is at home in Aries, so expect to feel energized. This is a marvelous time to get work done—chores that have been sitting on your to-do list will be completed. If you're working on any health issues, or are trying to get in shape, you will be especially motivated.

On January 29, communication planet Mercury meets the lord of the underworld, Pluto, in Capricorn. Pluto, by the way, is your modern planetary ruler. (Back in the day, before Pluto was discovered, Mars was your planet. Now you have both of them! So greedy!) Pluto rules death, destruction, and rebirth. Pluto rules everything that's underground—metaphorically, like hidden secrets or conspiracies, and literally, like diamonds and oil. Pluto is power—but it's also our shadow side. Pluto can be manipulative, jealous, and obsessive. When the lord of the underworld meets Mercury, the planet of the mind, difficult thoughts will arise.

A life-changing conversation could occur for you at the end of this month (Pluto does rule transformation)—but also, be careful not to be manipulated. (Be conscious of how you're trying to control others, too!) Keep in mind: Mercury has been retrograde for quite a while, so when it finally meets Pluto, it will have a lot to say!

A great way to work with shady Pluto energy is to bring in a third person. Power games are hard to play when someone else is standing around, rolling their eyes and checking their phone—it kills the mood knowing someone else could butt in and call them out.

But really, Pluto isn't all bad—an emotional, honest, and transformative conversation is on the menu for you, at the end of January, so long as you, and whoever you're dealing with, have the confidence, self-knowledge, and maturity not to act from a place of fear. Good luck this month, Scorpio, and see you in February!