Capricorn Monthly Horoscope

MONTHLY OVERVIEW
Eureka! Your mind is moving a mile a minute this month. The Sun spends the first three weeks of March in Pisces, your third house of communication, making you talkative and full of innovative ideas. With several other planets in Pisces—including chatty Mercury, magnetic Venus, motivator Mars and intuitive Neptune—you're delivering powerful, persuasive pitches in one breath, and cracking witty one liners in the next. Your social calendar is packed as you enjoy an interactive month filled with meetings, happy hours and lively gatherings, the ideas coming fast and furious. If you're a writer or an artist, you'll find inspiration everywhere: ordering your mocha latte, hopping on the treadmill at the gym or chatting with strangers in line.

With Mercury retrograde (backward) in Pisces until March 17, you may find yourself meeting up with folks from your past, to catch up and exchange ideas. A word of caution, though: While this mischievous planet is doing backstrokes, you could find yourself embroiled in some unforeseen mayhem, with travel plans going awry or technology malfunctioning. Back up your devices and most important data, and double-confirm any airline tickets (we once went to the wrong airport during a Mercury retrograde—even though the correct one was clearly printed on the boarding pass). Better safe than sorry, Capricorn.

On March 11, the Pisces new moon can help get your message across in a big way. Or maybe you'll receive some exciting news you've been waiting to hear for quite a while. An offer to collaborate with a synergistic soul could arise. However, you might want to wait a week to make things 100 percent official after Mercury moves direct (forward) again. Otherwise, there could be details that get overlooked, even with the best of intentions.

Once your mental faculties have been stretched to the limit, the Sun moves into Aries, your fourth house of home and personal foundations, on March 20. This puts you into a more domestic frame of mind, tending to personal matters and enjoying some serious nesting. Stock your fridge, because you might not want to leave home base unless you absolutely have to, Capricorn. The last week of the month, four planets gather in Aries. Normally, that would spell domestic bliss, but aside from harmonious Venus, these planets—the energizing Sun, stressful Mars and stir-the-pot Uranus—are not exactly touchy-feely. Perhaps you feel compelled to make important changes in your personal life, or become more active, e.g., if you're a hardworking Cap, you may realize that all this number-crunching leaves you without any inspiration for creating romance or enjoying your family. That could change now. Or you could decide to move. You may also need to deal with a family matter, such as caring for an ailing parent or helping a struggling child with schoolwork. With all this heat on you, the demands of your relatives or personal life could overwhelm you. Breathe deep, Capricorn.

On March 27, the Libra full moon illuminates your tenth house of professional recognition. Expect a crowning career moment, one you've been working hard at for the last six months. You may get promoted to the swanky corner office (at last!) or maybe you decide to take a career leap, if you feel you've exhausted all your options in your current field. However, it might not be a completely smooth ride up the ladder of success today. Intense Pluto in Capricorn forms a tough angle to the full moon, which could bring on a small identity crisis. Even as the victory you THOUGHT you wanted is handed to you, a little voice may whisper: Are you sure you're making the right move? Capricorn, it's possible that your personal goals shifted since you set this plan in motion. You may need to soul-search, spending some time in solitude to figure out whether or not the work you do is a true expression of the real you.

This full moon is also caught in a cosmic battle with stressful Mars and unstable Uranus in Aries, your fourth house of home and family. You could easily get caught between warring desires to climb the career ladder and to spend more time with loved ones. While you normally take a slow, steady approach, you could be unusually hotheaded today, prone to a knee-jerk reaction. So unlike you! Maybe you need to radically alter your spending habits so that you can leave your job and take the career risk you need to take. There's no quick fix, so just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

LOVE & ROMANCE
This month, you might feel more platonic than passionate, thanks to a cluster of planets in Pisces, your third house of friendly connections. What you lack in fire, though, you make up for in lightness and wit. Who knows? Since you're not putting on your red lipstick and prowling the dimly lit wine bars, maybe you'll realize you have chemistry with a friend…possibly even an old mate from your school days, since Mercury is retrograde (backward) in Pisces until March 17. Reminiscing could spell romance during this stretch. Plus, there's an undeniable comfort in reuniting with someone who knew you back when—especially for Capricorn, the sign that rules history. The third house is a tech-friendly sector, so consider revamping your OKCupid profile—or just trying online dating for the first time, since you may have been averse to it up until now. If one of your friends wants to e-introduce you to someone, don't turn your discerning nose up at an arranged coffee date (unless that person suggests Starbucks, and then let the snobbery begin).

On March 11, spicy Mars moves into Aries, your fourth house of nurturing and family. You might just need a vaccination against the baby fever that renders you completely unable to think of anything other than holding your sweet infant in your arms or daydreaming about the moment you send your little one off to school. Since the fourth house also rules the home, you might feel some pressure to move in together with the person you're dating. A nagging voice might be shouting, "Too soon!" but that's a call you and your honey will have to make together. Or, if you're already cohabiting, you might be extra irritable around the house, grumpy at your other half's television viewing or habit of leaving towels on the floor. You may decide to rearrange the house to be more comfortable and therefore conducive to romance. A stack of bills by your bed can really kill the mood, even on a subconscious level. Give your bedroom a makeover, or, if single, try the standby feng shui trick of putting pairs of objects (bedside tables, candles, paintings) in your room to invite the energy of two.

The last week of March, four planets commune in Aries, your femininity and self-care house. Did someone say "lingerie shopping?" This is your cosmic green light to take care of your most sensual needs. Hanging on to those granny panties isn't doing you, or your love life, any favors.

Meanwhile, pay attention to what's going on beneath that plunging push-up, too. Engage in heart-opening activities that put you in touch with the more receptive, womanly side of yourself. Whether single or coupled, spend a night in with your friends, slathering on the face masks, touching up your manicures, or if that's too girlie, just making a lovely dinner and bonding over a great bottle of wine.

MONEY & CAREER
How about a dash of play with your pragmatism? By-the-books Capricorn doesn't normally like to veer from the proven path to success. However, with several planets in Pisces, your imaginative third house, this is an excellent time for your traditional sign to throw caution to the wind and experiment. Run through different ideas with your most clever colleagues, and see which ones have the most staying power. Instead of staying chained to your desk, say "yes!" to social invites. Carry as stash of you most up-to-date business cards, because a fruitful networking binge could await. Even if you just meet some new, supportive friends—or connect with ones you haven't seen in a while—it will be well worth it. Just remember that clever Mercury is retrograde (backward) until March 17. Be sure to back up all your technology, so you don't lose any precious information—or valuable time, trying to recover said data.

If you're in an in-between phase or you're job hunting, turn to friends and colleagues from the past, especially while Mercury is retrograde (backward) until March 17. Old contacts may offer up brilliant ideas and connections. Spread the word! This is an excellent time to work with a life or business coach, too, brainstorming and dialoguing about what you really want to be doing. Given the heavy emphasis on writing and communication, you might want to check out the work of Toronto-based Kim Ades, CEO of Frame of Mind Coaching, who is uber-passionate about the life-transforming powers of journaling: http://www.frameofmindcoaching.com/page.aspx?ID=112. Or, sign up for writer and photographer Susannah Conway's e-course Journal Your Life, starting March 25: http://www.susannahconway.com/e-courses/journal-your-life/.

Whatever you do, don't play the "safe" card, Capricorn. You're meant to be heard, so exercise your powerful voice in writing, speaking or blogging. Your sign is all about being self-authorized, so testing the teaching waters is also favored, giving you a chance to feel more confident in your expertise. If the very thought of tweeting makes your stomach knot up, you can overcome your social-media phobias now, since your marketing savvy is at an all-time high. This could have a big benefit for your business, so get cracking on those 140-character missives! Check out these awesome online courses from social media guru Laura Roeder, many of which (such as the Zero to Facebook class) are designed with the total novice in mind: http://lkrsocialmedia.com/small-business-social-media-marketing-strategy-training-courses.

As the curtain closes on this exciting month, a March 27 full moon in Libra illuminates your tenth house of professional victories, making this prime time for career advancement. However, as you're showered with accolades, in the form of a promotion, award or new gig, your celebration could be dampened by stress at home. This full moon is caught up in a tense knot, opposing feisty Mars and progressive Uranus in Aries, your fourth house of home and family, and squaring subconscious Pluto in Capricorn, your first house of self and personal goals. You could feel torn between your most intimate desires and a five-star opportunity to advance. Adding to the confusion, you're in the midst of a massive, slow-burning transformation, and so you could definitely have your doubts about which path is right. Maybe you're given a plum opportunity, one you could invest in for a long, long time—only to have serious second thoughts. Maybe stepping into the spotlight, forever attached to this specific brand, company or mission, isn't really going to make your heart sing, no matter what you might have thought before.

Yes, sometimes it can be good to just begin, but on this full moon, you're not even sure what that first step looks like. Your own values are seriously shifting, which makes your reliable sign deeply uneasy. While you're not one for letting people down, you should also make sure your professional life reflects the current changes within, even if you're not clear on the end game. The answer might be as simple (and simply terrifying) as busting out of your reserved persona and just letting yourself be the unstoppable rock star that you really are. If that's the case, your dilemma could break down to the following question: what happens if you DON'T claim the spotlight and all the accompanying glory? Can you live with the disappointment of letting yourself down? Will you have regrets in five or ten years?

Another area to ponder (sounds so much better than "freak out about," doesn't it?) during this full moon is your work-life balance. Have late nights at the office and perpetual stress about your bottom line gotten in the way of your personal life, maybe even stopping you from starting a family? Is your career devotion obstructing you from quality time with loved ones? Another possibility is that the ongoing drama of a friend or family member is starting to interfere with your ambitions, e.g., your sister is constantly interrupting your work day to unload about a personal problem, or yours parent make it clear that they don't approve of your chosen path—as if somehow their needs should be more important than yours. Around this full moon, think about what's acceptable and what's not. Where is the line between where your soul is heading and how much of this person's influence you're willing to accept?

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL
The stars put you into multitasking mode as March begins. So get interactive in every way, Capricorn: researching health and nutrition sites, downloading iPad workout apps (we love the selection from Appcession at www.appcession.com), buddying up with a friend for a spring fitness kick. Build your mental and physical muscles at the same time, stocking up on audiobooks to learn while you burn—or power-walking while you listen to a heartfelt first-person podcasts on "Stranger" stories from Peabody-award winning producer Lea Thau (formerly of the Moth, for storytelling aficionados): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/kcrws-strangers/id490297492. Geek out with e-tools and apps that track life-improving information on, say, nutrition or your regular exercise habits.

On March 20, when the energizing Sun moves into Aries, your fourth house of nurturing and self-care, you'll naturally crave more rest and relaxation. Turn your lens inward, focusing on the needs of your home and family. Being there for a distraught female relative may actually soothe your soul more than hers during this time, since you have a need to nurture (lucky for her!). Perhaps you're thinking about expanding your brood, whether by adoption, pregnancy or becoming a foster parent. And, yes, rescuing a furry animal from the local pet shelter counts, too. This homebound focus could also send you traipsing down the aisles of Crate and Barrel, seeking inspiration as you beautify your home or declutter your living area to reduce stress. Home should, first and foremost, be a sanctuary, so spend time feathering your nest—even if it's just a temporary abode. Putting down roots is especially important for your earthy sign. The more grounded you feel in your personal space, the farther you can soar when you step out into the world.