Libra Monthly Horoscope

MONTHLY OVERVIEW
It's cleanup time! You're in the mood to streamline and simplify as the bold Sun moves through Pisces, your sixth house of health, organization and efficiency. Four other planets are in this pristine segment of your chart as March begins—communicator Mercury, beautifying Venus, energizer Mars and dreamy Neptune—making your wellness efforts all-encompassing. For once, you won't get distracted from your healthy focus by truffle fries and invitations to the after-after party. You want color-coded files, rearranged closets, an up-to-date vitamin drawer and a brand-new set of hand towels.

You might even want to take a break from your usual glamour and go more natural with your style. If you usually step out in sky high-wedges, you'll feel hotter in simple yoga pants. With motivator Mars in Pisces until March 11, you're motivated to whip all areas of your life into shape, to handle some of the so-called boring details of your daily life, such as whether or not you should switch banks or if your meditation pillow could use a little upgrade. The March 11 Pisces new moon is the perfect day to kick off new habits—and to set incremental goals for the next six months.

Until March 17, Mercury is retrograde (backward), turning your lens inward, so that you can further deal with the chaotic and disorganized parts of your life. Missing appointments or being chronically late isn't cute, Libra. Over time, such mismanagement can be corrosive—leaving others feeling disrespected. If you think your bad habits don't affect people, think again. So don't gloss over it when you miss out on celebrating your BFF's career change because you got sleepy at the last minute. Avoidance has consequences, too.

Beware of stress factors during Mercury retrograde, since you could overdo the overhaul…and then find yourself susceptible to the dreaded flu that has been going around all winter. (As good as your Netflix queue looks, you really don't want to get stuck on your couch for days on end.) Mercury rules communication…so watch out for communicative diseases, e.g., when that loud sneezer on the bus fails to cover his nose, change your seat! If you must shake hands, carry antibacterial gel or wipes with you. Politeness is one thing, but if you spot watery eyes, err on the side of caution. Your health comes first.

On March 20, the Sun blazes into Aries, your seventh house of committed relationships, emphasizing the need for compromise and balance. Is it time to form a dynamic duo? Your answer could be a resounding yes—especially the last week of the month, when go-getter Mars, sweet-hearted Venus and change maker Uranus join the Sun in this sector of your chart. A synergistic partner could show up out of the blue, as if your meeting was divinely arranged.

Your grand, golden finale arrives on March 27, when a Libra full moon lights up your first house of personal goals. Over the last six months, you've been toiling away at a project near and dear to your heart…whether it's readying yourself for real love or reaching out in a new career direction. This day, as the lunar spotlight beams on you, marks a brilliant conclusion or manifestation point. Maybe you're tempted to buy a new pair of shoes or to get a stylish new haircut to celebrate the moment. Either way, prepare your acceptance speech, Libra!

Before you order the bubbly, though, we should tell you that this powerful moon is caught up in a tense three-way struggle with volatile planets: stressful Mars, radical Uranus and crisis junkie Pluto. Even if you're feeling fabulous, flaunting it might not go over so well with your peeps. Those closest to you might not be ready to endorse Team Libra today. If there are shadowy dynamics with a particular female friend or relative, expect them to come out of the dark today. Is this person subtly undermining your awesomeness in some way? Maybe you say, "I'm ready to teach!" and they say, "Oh, good. With all the crazy experiences you've had, you'll be very compassionate. I don't know how you went on living." Or perhaps you get a card from your aunt that says, "Hey, Mother Teresa—don't forget the little people back home." (Jealous much?) Deal with these resentments head-on, Libra. If you don't they will calcify in you, as well as in the other person.

Since the full moon opposes assertive Mars and unpredictable Uranus in Aries, your seventh house of relationships, tempers could definitely flare with a partner or someone else close to you. If the hostility starts flying, duck. When you feel you're being put in the hot seat unfairly, you might need to set the record straight (via some heated words). Just don't get too caught up in an ugly fight, o peaceable one. Take a cool-down break if you find yourself butting heads. You don't need to apologize for being yourself or letting your star shine as brightly as it's meant to. However, if you've been inconsiderate (or overly accommodating), that's another issue. Make amends where you were in the wrong. But if loving yourself is wrong, Libra, then you don't wanna be right!

LOVE & ROMANCE
Getting ready for romance (or improving your relationship) sometimes begins with…a vacuum cleaner? Yep, those cobwebs in your love life might be matched thread for thread by what's (literally) hanging in the corners of your bedroom. With a pileup of planets in Pisces, your house of cleanliness and well-being, use the first three weeks of the month to streamline your life. This month, getting your house in tip-top shape is the best way to prepare for the swell of swoon-worthy feelings coming your way.

And if you want someone to treat your body right, lead by example. Instead of obsessing to the tune of, "Where ARE they? I'm ready to share my life, dammit!" focus on feeling beautiful in your own skin through great nutrition and exercise that you love. Since the sixth house rules health, you could easily meet someone at your local health club or while you're out on a brisk walk, breathing in the late-day sunshine. During this time, you're more likely to catch someone's eye in Lululemon than in Louboutins anyhow. Coupled Libras might want to skip the candlelit dinners (unless they're at your favorite raw-vegan-macrobiotic bistro, of course) and plan an activity date, like a spring hike or even a healthy-cooking class.

On March 11, spicy Mars moves into Aries, your seventh house of relationships, igniting the pressure to pair up. Perhaps you feel some nerve-wracking tension around a commitment, even pressure to make things official before you're actually ready. Not that Libras are ever REALLY ready (you like to take your sweet time), but that doesn't mean you should sign your heart away if you still have doubts. For coupled Libras, underlying stress could erupt into arguments. So, if you find yourself locking horns with your sweetheart, diffuse the tension any way you can. Getting a little frisky in the bedroom might be just the cure-all your relationship needs, especially with red-hot Mars in the mix.

The last week of the month, the Sun, Venus and Uranus join Mars in go-getter Aries, the companionship area of your chart, making for a pretty bold combination of planets. In other words, when it comes to matters of the heart, you're probably not going to take "no" for an answer. Tap into the "yang" energy and be gutsy. Make a move on your crush: Be flirty, revealing your more lustful intentions. Don't worry about going over the top. What seems so outrageous to you could come across as coy, especially since magnetic Venus, your ruler, adds a softening touch.

The storybook aura of your love life could reach its dramatic climax on March 27, when a full moon in Libra illuminates your first house of personal goals. You're confident, sure of yourself and what you desire. Committed life partner? Check. Soul-stirring work? Check. A bold new self-image? Check. Alas, this wellspring of moxie might just be at odds with your relationship or home life. Maybe your partner doesn't want to move to Southern California, despite the lure of the Pacific that once called. Maybe your new self-focus is hard for a loved one to accept, since you've always put so much attention into him/her. Perhaps you're even on the fence about whether to go your own way or invest more energy into your love life.

Has a once-glowing partnership reached its final act? Perhaps you're overly entangled in family or relationship obligations and need to reel your focus in, so that it's completely back on yourself. How can you be an effective partner if you're not fully taking care of your own needs? Take this day to really focus on what YOU want, ignoring the pressure from others as best as you can. You may need to speak up for your rights and needs, even being extra assertive. As uncomfortable as that might be for your peace-loving sign, there are times when the squeaky wheel gets the oil—and this may very well be one of them.

MONEY & CAREER
Balance those scales (and your budget), Libra. With a high concentration of planets in Pisces, your sixth house of organization, you're focused on putting your life and finances on a healthier track. Clean out your dusty, 10-year-old files. Take a sponge to those hard-to-reach areas of your office. Consolidate important email chains. Work with your support team to get more appropriate systems in place and delegate the stuff that's not in your wheelhouse. Any tweaks you make to your overall functioning now will help you stay balanced in the long run.

You'll need this streamlining time, especially since structured Saturn is now retrograde (backward) in Scorpio, your second house of work and money, until July 7. During this period, you may need to scale back on spending and get better at budgeting. Luxury IS necessity to most Libras, but do you really need to buy fresh roses for the office every two days? If you find yourself in a dire situation—wondering how to balance the books or pay rent for the rest of the year—you may need to go back to the drawing board around work and money issues. Questioning your values could also be part of this Saturn cycle, so as you review your expenses, you might realize you're shelling out cash for memberships, magazine subscriptions or other things you're not even into anymore. Instead of hauling those unread tabloids to recycling or letting other charges pile up, take five minutes to call customer service and cancel your charges. A penny saved is a penny earned.

If you experience a job or financial setback during Saturn retrograde, consider it a firm nudge from the universe to get more serious about pursuing your passions. When one (cushy) door closes, you may be forced to get creative around how to pay your bills. If you've been superficial in your professional pursuits, dabbling here and there in certifications and workshops, you may focus on committing to your true calling. For inspiration, check out Callings by Gregg Levoy.

With Mercury also retrograde (backward) until March 17, you may need to deal with annoying stacks of paperwork or to go through financial data with a fine-tooth comb…not exactly your cup of tea, Libra. If it helps, you might want to hire a professional organizer or a top-notch, reputable accounting firm. On March 11, the Pisces new moon is an especially good day to start with any major decluttering and systematizing. Just remember that Mercury retrograde might throw a little wrench in the works, so back up any electronic data as soon as possible. You might want to sort through some old files and emails now, perhaps disciplining yourself to decide what to keep and what to shred or delete.

After you revamp and streamline, the March 27 Libra full moon could bring an illuminating day of self-awareness. This moon shines a spotlight on your personal goals and interests, and could even deliver a prime opportunity for you to take center stage. You have charm in spades, Libra, so don't hesitate to grab the mike and be heard. Since this full moon is the culmination of anything new you started near your last birthday, reflect upon the past six months. Were there any resolutions you made as you blew out your candles? Check in on progress, and maybe even set a few new goals to achieve by your next birthday.

A word of warning: The Libra full moon is caught in a challenging dynamic with penetrating Pluto, stressful Mars and unpredictable Uranus. Perhaps a decision to live on your terms chafes some of your family members or causes rumblings with a romantic partner. Maybe your career goals are inextricably tied into your family's history, e.g., you're a motivational speaker or memoirist who speaks the truth about your own challenging upbringing, as a way to help others. Near the full moon, you may find that an opportunity to "tell your story" on a wider stage could also potentially expose a family secret or something deeply personal. Is it worth the exposure? Only you can draw these lines, Libra—but take the time to think of how you'll feel with this information out in public five or ten years from now. Will you regret it more if you don't take the opportunity…or if you do?

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL
If you've been suffering from a nutrition-deficit disorder, put down that cheeseburger or cut back your trio of daily lattes. With several planets zooming through Pisces, your sixth house of wellness—especially in the first half of March—your health is front and center. Scour the research: Vitamin D lowers the risk of some cancers…so how can you get more in your diet? Are you getting your fill of omega-3 fatty acids? Consider walking or even biking instead of driving some places. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, too, especially in the first half of March. Guard against the spread of germs, since you may be more susceptible to illness.

The March 11 Pisces new moon is the perfect launch day for any health or fitness regimens. With no-nonsense Saturn retrograde (backward) in Scorpio, your second house of routines, until July 7, you might want to tap the experts to help you prioritize and make a sensible, workable plan. Ignore all the hype about "bikini season" looming, and don't let the media prey on your vanity. This is about steady progress toward a sustainable lifestyle of good health and self-affirming habits. For Libras, moderation is always the best possible route.