Leo Monthly Horoscope

MONTHLY OVERVIEW
Pass that green juice! As the bold Sun sashays through Capricorn, your sixth house of health and organization, you’re tuned in to your physical and mental well-being—and for more reasons that just a classic get-in-shape New Year’s resolution. The stars have aligned for an extreme life makeover, and you’re revved up to start 2013 in streamlined order. If that means cutting out carb-alicious comfort foods or tackling that daunting file cabinet stuffed with outdated papers, you’re ready for the challenge. (You don’t need to save your report card from college or the note of high praise from your high school acting coach…do you?) Since the sixth house also rules service to others, you may be inspired to give back. Or if you’re already actively volunteering, you may reevaluate your efforts, to see if you’re spending your time and talents most efficiently. Perhaps you should put down the soup kitchen ladle and use your artistic gifts to help a non-profit rebrand itself. However this plays out for you, you’ll take great pride in being an instrumental part of the solution.

Your fix-it instincts are especially on fire at the January 11 Capricorn new moon, a date your health and organization kick really takes flight. With clever Mercury, beautifying Venus and transformational Pluto also gathered in Capricorn, you’re up for an inside-out transformation. Hear that alarm bell ringing? Yep, it’s time to get to the root of what’s been throwing off your game. To get back into fighting shape, you may want to set an intention to detox from the deepest levels, surrounding yourself with positive people and conversations. Nudge yourself away from any debilitating, perfectionist thoughts by playing tapes of positive affirmations. New moons have six-month cycles, so remember that neither Rome nor your reinvention was built in a day. Plant the seeds and set realistic goals. Where would you like to be midway through 2013, Leo?

There’s no need to go it alone, either! All month, energizer Mars is in Aquarius, your seventh house of relationships, giving you a strong urge to partner up or to resolve anything that’s been not quite working in your current relationship. (If you thought your love’s habit of eating tuna fish from a can was something you could live with, you might now see the underlying reasons this annoys you, i.e. it brings up your issues around self-neglect or your unmet need to sit down and bond over a proper meal.) Coupled Leos may fight more, but it could be necessary to clear out the refuse that’s been polluting your otherwise harmonious relationship. Just beware of taking out your frustrations on a partner. Instead of snapping at your love for changing the channel too quickly, take your own responsibility for your anxieties about whatever’s causing you worry: an ailing relative, your tenuous living situation, a nagging health issue.

Single Leos, you will be motivated to actively spark up your love life, and with a Mars-fueled boost of confidence, you’re willing to take a risk. The second half of the month serves up a few more cups of courage. On January 19, when the bold Sun and communicator Mercury move into Aquarius, your focus shifts to the most important people and relationships. After this date, you’ll look for ways to pair up or combine efforts. You’re not one for the lone-wolf lifestyle anyway, Leo, but during this time, you do best with a supportive partner-in-crime by your side.

And then…get ready for your close-up! The month ends with a January 26 Leo full moon, a big cosmic coming-out party for you. The last six months come to a grand finale or turning point, as results of a personal project or goal are made tangible. Seize the spotlight because this day belongs to you. One caveat: this potent full moon is square, a tense angle, to tough Saturn in Scorpio, your fourth house of personal foundations. You may feel that your roots or living situation are somehow preventing you from fully soaring. Your mother (or some other female relative or friend) could pour cold water all over your fiery enthusiasm, leaving you discouraged. Personal obligations (perhaps to your own children) or someone’s emotional demands could make you feel resentful, a la, “If only they didn’t need me so much—I could be so much farther along in life.”

While the answer to this quandary isn’t so cut and dry, you can find a solution by restructuring how available you are to your home and family. Plus, at the end of the day, any outside resistance only mirrors you own inner doubts. So instead of engaging in some high drama, take responsibility for every inch of your situation, i.e. no calling your mother to tell her if only she weren’t so critical, you’d have had the guts to start your own business. Leo, it’s your life, which means you get to chose your duties, as well as how you want to live in this big, beautiful world.

LOVE & ROMANCE
Make love, then war. Then more love, more war. Or was it war, then love? Whatevs. With sexy but combative Mars in Aquarius, your seventh house of partnerships, you don’t really care about the order, so long as your relationship is sufficiently spiced up. Yep, call that your number-one New Year’s resolution: getting your relationship right by following a very daring recipe: one part conflict, one part chemistry, one part effort, and three parts love.

Single Leos, you may feel some pressure to couple up, especially as you see all your pals pairing off—an influence that could have begun on Christmas, since that’s the day that Mars entered Aquarius. Instead of wallowing in the “fact” that you don’t have anyone to keep you warm this winter, use Mars’ go-getter energy to spread the word that you’re ready to date. Or, dust off your OK Cupid account and set up your online profile, complete with some glam new photos. But wait! First take some tips from Amy Webb’s new book “Data, A Love Story: How I Gamed Online Dating To Meet My Match.” Webb, a journalist and digital-strategy expert, piloted her own exhaustive study of what makes Internet love-seekers click, ask each other out, and think “future husband/wife”—strategies you can apply to your own efforts.

If you’re already paired up and aiming for a proposal or commitment, consider this a warning: Mars can make you come on way too strong. (“What?” you might protest. “What’s so aggressive about demanding to see my honey’s bank balance so I can be sure he can afford the ring I want, photo of which I’ve put on his pillow every night for the last two years?”) Easy does it, Leo. Sure, it’s great to know what you want, but if you’re in full-frontal Lion mode, stalking your prey, er, object-of-affection like a wildebeest dinner, take it down a notch. And if you’re on the receiving end of pressure, don’t allow yourself to be backed into a corner. This influence encourages you to stand up for your own interests in your partnership. You may need to lay down a couple of ultimatums or demands with someone before you fully commit.

On January 19, the Sun and Mercury enter Aquarius, an excellent time for coupled Leos to talk things through, spend quality time, and really express yourself in a constructive, but direct way. Since Aquarius is the sign of emotional detachment (and your opposite sign), you’ll create a lot better results by dialing down the drama and stating your needs in a neutral or objective tone. Under these skies, you’re more apt to see things from your partner’s perspective, allowing you to be more generous and not take things so personally (something that doesn’t always come easy for your heartfelt sign). If you’re single, be super-proactive about meeting prospective partners, possibly even tapping your friends for fix-ups. Who better to play matchmaker than the peeps who know you and love you in all your human glory? Their recommendations are worth their weight in gold.

MONEY & CAREER
Time is money, Leo, and this month, as the energizing Sun moves through your sixth house of systems and organization, you’re on a roll to make everything in your life—from your desktop to your gym membership—support your overall efficiency goals. Surrounding yourself by an A-team of supporters could make a crucial difference, too. Find the right people—babysitters, assistants, interns, a private chef who cooks healthy food—to aid your streamlining efforts. We’re talking nitty-gritty details, here, Leo, so pay attention to even the smallest matters, such as limiting how many times you check your email on your smartphone. Maximum productivity, sans distractions, is the name of your game.

On January 11, the Capricorn new moon brings a powerful opportunity to revamp your systems and tweak the energy you’re putting out there. Adding to the mojo, magnetic Venus, the energizing Sun, regenerative Pluto and communicative Mercury are all clustered in Capricorn, too—an exceptional chance to clean out any debris from your system, so that you can start functioning at full capacity. At work, be mindful of the message you’re sending, making sure that you’re conveying the message that you intend through your wardrobe, body language, communication style, etc. If you’re angling for senior vice president, but you insist on wearing that leather bustier underneath your jacket and refuse to stop signing all your emails with “xoxo”—or worse, a glamour shot of yourself—you may be undermining your best efforts elsewhere. Don’t aim for executive level in your fantasies and then get mistaken for the intern.

Also, since the sixth house rules support, make sure you’re not being a martyr and refusing to delegate or accept help. We all have areas in which we need to take better responsibility for ourselves and our actions, and your tendency to over-give (perhaps as a means of maintaining control) is ripe for a change. This month, watch your language. Are you saying, “I’m only trying to help Erin in accounting. Why is she giving me such a dirty look?” Perhaps because you’re treading on her turf, Leo—something you wouldn’t appreciate if the shoe was on the other foot. Sure, it might make you feel important to always have the answer…but do you really need to be chained to your desk way past the end of regular office hours? (And does Erin in accounting really want your help, anyway?) A bona fide superstar employee knows how to delegate.

If you’re spinning your wheels on the job, you might want to get involved in volunteer work or service. Not only will you shift the emphasis from your own unhappiness and provide some support to someone in need, but you may also uncover a hidden passion or talent along the way. If you’re saying, “But I already do that enough!” and using this mere suggestion as an opportunity to whip out that old violin, we ask: “And whose fault is that?” Perhaps this response is an indicator that you don’t feel valued. So take a stand for your own worth. How can you expect your colleagues to respect your time when you constantly let things slide? Are you charging what you’re worth for your gold-star services, or undercutting yourself because you want to be liked? This is not the time to be shy, especially since money is simply a representation of energy. Are you coming from a mindset of abundance or scarcity? You may want to work with a business or life coach to help you devise a master plan for marketing yourself, be it on a job interview or in your own business. If you have a steady job, think in terms of a plan for increasing your value to the company (and hopefully position yourself for a handsome raise in the coming six months).

In happy news: lucky Jupiter moves forward (direct) on January 30, after a four-month of retrograde in Gemini, your eleventh house of group activity. Since October, you may have been caught in the mire of uncooperativeness. Perhaps someone who was on Team Leo went AWOL, or suddenly demanded more than his fair share of the pie. Where teamwork may have gotten derailed, a group project can now thrive again. Since the eleventh house rules technology, consider this your green light for launching a blog, dialing up your social media presence or designing a website. If you’ve had the writing itch, now is the time to grab that pen and pour your heart out into a journal, or onto your laptop. Let your words be the effortless bridge to making key connections and networking with your tribe. If the past four months have been internal, now you can get your charming self back out there, reigniting a collaboration from a more nuanced perspective.

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL
Hello, health kick! 2013 begins with your mind on your overall wellbeing, as the Sun moves through Capricorn, your sixth house of wellness and fitness. Use the streamlining (and strengthening) powers at your back to eat more greens, take the stairs instead of the elevator, strengthen your bones with weight training, visit the dentist, end the debilitating thought patterns that keep you stuck. On January 11, the new moon in Capricorn is an excellent day to join a gym or visit your kind of wellness center (a.k.a. one that doesn’t skimp on fancy perks…and is possibly located next to a karaoke joint).

With transformative Pluto in Capricorn, you may be keenly aware of the mind-body connection and how physical symptoms are invitations to listen to your deepest soul longings. If you have a cold, for example, you’re being asked to rest. If you lose your voice, perhaps you’re being asked to redefine what it is you really want to be saying, instead of automatically repeating old, outworn messages. To further augment this understanding, try Kundalini yoga, guided meditations and chakra balancing. Pluto also rules self-healing, so you might be able to tap into your own regenerative powers, instead of always believing that your practitioner or Reiki master has all your answers. Try this amazing 21 Day Mind/Body Cleanse by Dr. Frank Lipman and psychotherapist Terri Cole (http://terricole.com/dr-frank-lipman-terri-cole-21-day-cleanse), which begins January 14. (Enter the code “MBCOT1” for a special discount!)

With energetic Mars in Aquarius, your seventh house of partnerships, your healthy activities are most successful when you team up with pals. Use the buddy system, if you need to get your undisciplined self to that 6 am boot camp. Perhaps you want to dabble in partner-oriented sports, like racquetball and squash, or if you’re lucky enough to live in a warm climate, rowing or tennis. This month, when it comes to reaching your fitness goals, tap into the power of the group to stay motivated. Channel the humanitarian spirit of Aquarius by joining Team in Training or signing up for a charity walk.