Astrologers are a rare breed. The worthy ones are able to discern and interpret what the stars decree. They are born hard-wired for the task of helping humanity with their ability to call the cadence, rhythm, and tides of human activity. The old axiom, "the stars incline, they do not compel" never has gone down my gullet easily. I think the stars compel big time, for they represent our karmic position in this life along with many reflections of our behaviour in previous lives.  A competent Astrologer will help us in the task of understanding how to unravel the giant ball of string symbolizing our past life karma. Dharma symbolizes your true purpose in this life and is formed according to the scales of karma that are written in your stars, hands, feet, forehead, and eyes. I tread both paths of western and eastern astrology. Both are heavy and profound in their ways, rules and laws, but at the end of the day, the karma is the same. Let us take a look at 2009 for the 12 signs.

ARIES

March 21 – April 19

Pluto visits your house of professions bringing strong indications of a career change for some Aries types and a rise in power for others. You have an opportunity to create a career path and carve out the future that you desire. Because of the economy, you may feel as though you have no real choice but to make changes that accommodate the times. You may be lucky in love as Venus pays a 4-month visit to Aries starting in early February. Venus is the goddess of love, beauty and wealth, which you may receive some of according to your own birth chart. Friendships and all group associations may benefit you strongly. A great year socially and romantically is at hand. Venus and Mars hook up in Aries in late April and all of May bringing some of the best of the year. Love, popularity, and good times are indicated.

TAURUS

April 20 – May 21

The time for passively grazing in the pasture is over. Now it is time for some excitement for Taurus the Bull. Jupiter and Neptune visit your solar career sector throughout 2009, bringing ample opportunity for great advancement, wealth, and fame. Those connected to the arts and entertainment will do especially well. You may be inspired to truly give out and help the less fortunate. Dynamic and unusual friendships will develop now and it is a high probability that someone special from the past may show up on the scene. In my astrologers mind all relationships stem from the past otherwise we would have no reason to connect. We are here to lovingly disentangle the web of past life indebtedness with one another and all others that may come our way. Romance and finance get a boost in June and July as Venus and Mars visit Taurus. Life becomes enchanted and magical. You have a glow on and others take notice. Cupid’s arrow sails towards its target.

GEMINI

May 22 – June 20

Jupiter and Neptune visit your solar ninth house throughout 2009 bringing a lifting of your spirit in many ways. Travel opportunities increase strongly and all matters to do with education and publishing get a boost. Home and career changes and challenges will be on the menu and like a true Gemini stay adaptable and amenable to change. Like the butterfly, ride out the windy currents, do not go against them. July and August come up nice as Venus and Mars the planets of love, fire, and desire visit your sign. It has been a rough go for the twins over the last several years and now the pressure lightens up and so do you. Fresh faces, new places and lots of opportunities to make good changes come up. A rise in confidence along with a spark that has been missing of late comes back and you will be on track and ready for what the universe offers up.

CANCER

June 21 – July 23

Possible bickering and confrontation may take place in January. Watch for power plays. Sparks may fly and they may not be all bad, but exciting. It sounds like you have your work cut out for you with lots to do. Travel and romance may be the case in January as well. Pluto the planet of rebirth has commenced his fifteen-year journey through your opposite sign Capricorn. It means that you may meet, marry live, and die with that one person that you could not resist. It symbolizes someone that has a great transformative effect on our lives. Babies certainly have that effect on us. When we look into their eyes one cannot wonder what they are seeing and knowing about us. Three powerful eclipses affect Cancer this year, which is another harbinger of important karmic developments. August and September are the months for a summer romance that is destined to happen. Not just, romance but a feeling happiness about a lot of things. Embrace and enjoy all of it and know that nit is a time of dynamic growth in many ways.

LEO

July 24 – August 23

Make ready for some high excitement and adventure as the planets are telling of a time of travel and romance. Many Leo types have a great abundance of energy and strength and although they can be lazy at times once you get them going, they will take charge. February and March bring strong hints of great outlays of energy. Jocks and those that need to express that leonine power will get a chance to do so. Be careful for fires, accidents, and incidents at this time. Venus visits your solar ninth house of travel for four months starting in early February indicating some very pleasant times in which fine memories are made, possibly in far off exotic places. Mars moves through Leo for seven months starting mid October bringing more excitement challenge and adventure. That special someone may very well show up in late July and August. The year seems to just get better as you go with a constant stream of high drama. Of course, Leo thrives on the action. Well 2009 is chock full of excitement and challenge and a bit of danger thrown into the mix.

VIRGO

August 24 – September 23

2009 is dominated by the powerful opposition between Saturn passing through Virgo and Uranus moving through Virgo’s opposite sign Pisces. The exact date of their opposition is September 15. Saturn represents the instinct to make life work properly. Actually, Saturn’s transit through Virgo is not a bad planet sign combination at all. Virgos are naturally inclined towards orderliness as is Saturn. Situations may end and so may some relationships, while others will deepen and solidify their bonds. Often we have to tighten up and conserve when Saturn is around. Uranus on the other hand provokes revolutionary tendencies and brings changes often in a surprising or shocking way. Saturn says, ‘stick to the status quo and stay to what you know’, and Uranus says, ‘blow the door down and try something new’. It is time to make it all work. Whatever has not been working such as stress-laden jobs, poor health habits and relationship problems and concerns will be address now. The point the drill is in bringing harmony, health, and happiness.

LIBRA

September 24 – October 23

A special child may be born this year, as the stars are right for that type of miraculous event to take place. Possibly, the birth of a great idea morphs into a reality. Mr. or Mrs. Right may show up as well. Creativity becomes enhanced and increased throughout the year. Your ruling planet Venus moves through your opposite sign Aries for nearly four months starting in early February, which should be good news on the romantic level. Love, luck and many other blessings are heading your way. The month of May looks pretty hot and you will not be lonely or bored, but possibly too busy, which you may not mind. The last half of October into early November is another time in which your popularity, fortune, and luck get a boost. It is imperative and important that you take a hard cold look at what works and what does not in your life and truly lean into getting it right as the cosmic work order is written and it says that Libra has to step up and pay up. It means that Saturn’s two-year visit to Libra starting in late November will bring on a time of increased responsibility, hard work, and possible scarcity. Trim, cut and carve away now and you will not feel the bite later. Remember that there will not be a bite if you are living right.

SCORPIO

October 24 – November 22

There is not a lot of direct planetary activity for Scorpio this year. It is good news in a sense in that you have a free hand to fashion and shape your future. Saturn casts good energy as does Uranus, Pluto too. Saturn helps you put things together in an orderly fashion, while Uranus provides all kinds of fresh opportunities along with a series of very innovative ideas that may get some traction. Home and family activities become increased and enhanced with possibly a break through real estate. You may feel as though you are in a void space but soon that will change. It is a time of deep inner perusal as you plumb the depths and rake over the past regarding family, career and home considerations. June is a hot month for many reasons and not just the weather. Action and attraction come your way. Popularity surges and you notice people taking interest to your delight. The fall season has some promising energy to offer as well. Career and home sectors are active boosting career potential and increasing a demand for you energy and talents. Of course, all of your survival instincts will be active and you will in true warrior Scorpio fashion forging the new road ahead.

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 – DECEMBER 21

Career activities dominate throughout the year. A peak is reached and you are honoured and acknowledged for all of your work. That is one scenario. Another one is that you may sense that it is time to move on and create something completely different. Much depends on your happiness or not. Home life may be affected as well, along with a move or two. Things heat up in the romance department starting in early February and may carry on for about four months. Love and babies may come your way. Creative levels are high throughout the year and you may garner some support for your insight and vision. Education, publication, and travel are strong features throughout 2009 especially throughout the fall. Although it is an odd vision, I see Sagittarius resurrecting themselves from the graveyards of the past. Point thy arrow in the proper direction and let fly and it will for sure find its target.

CAPRICORN

December 22 – January 20

Pluto commenced his 15-year visit to Capricorn in Late November 2008. Pluto symbolizes great and profound changes in our lives when he connects to our personal planets. The image of pealing an onion skin fits the bill. Finally, we get down to the raw core of whom we are. Often when we experience Pluto transits there is a dying and rebirthing that takes place in the person’s life. Pluto also signifies massive wealth, thusly the term, Plutocrat. You may be given the reins of power and it is most important as to how you handle it. Pluto may very well bring someone into your life that has the effect of totally transforming you. Although, no doubt you are super competent and determined every which way, you may find that what does come to pass may be out of your hands as the universe manifests its plan. Learning to surrender and allow the universal plan to work is the right course of action. As my beloved Guru would say, "Do your best, and leave the rest." June is a special month as romantic and creative energies manifest. Growing a family may be on your mind, and yes babies may come your way or at symbolically something new stimulates your enthusiasm.

AQUARIUS

January 21 – February 19

A big year has arrived. Jupiter transits through Aquarius starting January 6 for a 12-month visit. He is King of the Gods, he represents expansion, and abundance, good timing, and breakthroughs, travel too. A reversal or some other type of fluke takes place mid January that may very well work in your favour. February is right off the scales as far as action, drama and karma goes. Those of you that are athletic take note that a great peak of energy and timing takes place in the middle of February. Excitement and adventure on the one hand, and possible danger of mishaps, fires, and accidents on the other. Either it is time to go sky diving if that is your thing or it may be time to avoid all risky ventures. It just depends as to how you are wired. If you are an adrenalin junkie, it is your time to go all the way. If you are a retiring type, it may be best to avoid calamitous situations or any kind of danger like inattentive driving etc. Most of the spring time will flow in an easy way particularly regarding educational pursuits, writing and creative activities. New friendships and fresh faces pop up which of course is the Aquarius life blood.

PISCES

February 20 – March 20

Venus visits Pisces all through January and may bring new and exciting people into your life especially around January 22. Uranus continues his journey through your sign bringing waves of new challenges, but you may not mind as long as you are enjoying the times. Career changes are in the wind as is a total change in lifestyle. You may move across the country or out of it. It is not the time to set the cornerstone, but it is the time to explore and stay open to what the universal plan may be. Saturn will spend 2009 opposite to your sign as he moves through Virgo. Often Saturn seemingly brings hard or harsh lessons and some type off loss or sacrifice takes place when he in the picture. Saturn asks that you take care of those areas that need attention and correction, while Uranus indicates original circumstances that prevail and allow us to live in a unique fashion. Go with the flow is best and see what the universes brings, and it will. Staying open and honest regarding the prevailing realities is best, for any form of denial sure can bring up those scenarios that we carry on about years later. You realize and come to terms with the reality that life is not the way that you thought it would be, but it can very interesting and wonderfully adventurous. Trust in the universe and it will not let you down.