Sagittarius Monthly Horoscope

MONTHLY OVERVIEW
It takes two! Prepare to double up this month, as the Sun visits Gemini until June 21, then Cancer, the two most partnership-oriented zones of your chart. Go-getter Mars is also in Gemini, your seventh house of committed relationships, all month—making collaborations both exciting and stressful. On June 8, the Gemini new moon kicks off a fresh six-month chapter here, which could bring an intriguing someone into your sphere, perhaps in an unexpected but serendipitous way. Have you met the perfect "other half" of your dynamic duo to-be? Stay tuned!

Pairing up permanently isn't always the independent Sagittarius M.O., but in the last year, you may have shifted to a more collaborative mindset, thanks to your ruler Jupiter. Since June 11, 2012, expansive Jupiter has been visiting Gemini, your seventh house of partnerships. Life may have felt like more of a worthy adventure with a kindred spirit or companion by your side. Since Jupiter broadens your horizons, some Archers may have outgrown their relationships, either moving on or needing to bring some excitement and aliveness back. If you did end a relationship, it was probably amicable—more because you'd started growing in different directions. On the business front, many Sagittarians teamed up with strategic partners, or even learned to be better delegators. Sagittarians are famous for impatiently taking over tasks, muttering, "Never mind—it's easier just to do it myself." Jupiter's visit may have shown you the limitations of this mentality…and your own ability to be productive when you have your hands in one too many cookie jars.

On June 25, Jupiter moves into Cancer, your eighth house of intimacy, soul bonding and joint ventures. Now, the relationship rubber REALLY meets the road. Jupiter is here until July 16, 2014, bringing a year of growth opportunities around long-term finances and your closest ties. Look back to July 2001-August 2002, when Jupiter last visited Cancer. You may see echoes of any financial or romantic developments circle back around. Jupiter's visit here could bring engagements (or for some, breakups, if you've truly outgrown each other), pregnancies, and increased intimacy all around. You may receive large chunks of money, investment capital, or decide to pay down debt. It can be an exciting time of growth in your closest relationships, when you connect on a deep, abiding soul level. Yes, even YOU can sit still long enough to do that, Sag!

Meantime, a money or work opportunity could roll in at the June 23 Capricorn full moon. Retrace your steps six months to see what you had cooking in early 2013, since this full moon will be the manifestation of that. Seeds planted near the January 11 Capricorn new moon could blossom in the form of a financial offer or a lucrative new client. Or, you might just need to take a fully-illuminated look at your current finances, and make some solid budgeting plans for the rest of 2013.

Take the time to review the details first. From June 26-July 19, communicator Mercury is retrograde (backward) in Cancer. Unfinished business around debt, taxes or property may need to be addressed. Retrogrades can bring back people and events from our past. You may also hear from an ex, or someone whose digits once occupied a particularly weathered page of your "little black book." Intriguing…but do you want to go there? Proceed with caution. With Jupiter's move into this slightly obsessive zone of your chart, anyone whose energy you merge with will certainly leave an imprint. Guard the gates to your heart, soul and livelihood with care now. This is not the time to get into bed, even metaphorically speaking, with just anyone. Be strategic and discriminating—only invest in the best!

LOVE & ROMANCE
Sashay! With magnetic Venus in Cancer, your eighth house of intimacy and soul-merging, your love life is getting a little, uh, hot under the collar. Forget the cerebral power dates, where you discuss your favorite philosophers and wax poetic on the merits of the First Amendment…the only free speech you care about is telling your sweetheart, "I want you. Now." Up for some good ol'-fashioned amour, you might want to practice the art of seduction. (Since your sign favors cross cultural connections, you might enjoy American author Elaine Sciolino's take on how the French do seduction: http://www.amazon.com/La-Seduction-French-Play-Game/dp/0805091157.)

If you've been withholding your true feelings, out of fear or just inattention, this month you'll have no problem getting metaphorically naked. True intimacy requires a no holds barred vulnerability, so if there are any areas where you could be more forthcoming, in the name of lasting love, now is your chance to undress. And don't forget: surpassing blocks to intimacy doesn't necessarily require leather, lace and body oil. If trust or even betrayal issues have been nipping at the heels of your otherwise solid relationship, you may have an easier time coming to terms with them now, since lovely Venus brings some sweetness, even into the dark, occasionally jealous and possessive eighth house. For a thought-provoking read on overcoming sexual betrayal, we recommend this essay by Celia Barbour: http://www.elle.com/life-love/sex-relationships/a-civilized-affair-the-rules-of-monogamy-655898?src=sem&mag=elm&dom=out.

Adding to the relationship focus, spicy Mars is burning up in Gemini, your seventh house of committed relationships. Your sign is known to have a freedom-loving spirit, which often makes you the life of the party, but when it comes to the basic give-and-take of a one-on-one partnership, well, that's a different, more compromising story. While Sags attract mates who respect and love their independence, you might be pressed to address issues of reciprocity during this phase, since Mars can sometimes bring heat in the form of intense arguments. You could easily become short or testy with the one you love. Instead of bickering over making vacation plans a million years in advance, channel that sultry tension back into the bedroom, where you can successfully resolve all conflict. Or even pencil in some blood-pumping outdoor activities together, such as a canyon hike or run along the beach. Perhaps driven Mars in the marriage area of your chart is dialing up some pressure to commit—or for single Sagittarians, to seek a lasting partnership that can go the distance.

All this relationship focus is helping to clarify what you truly want. On June 8, a Gemini new moon could invite a special someone into single Sagittarians' lives, either now or in the coming six months. Set intentions, possibly even making a list of the qualities you desire in a partner. You might want to add a list of what you can't tolerate, e.g., smokers need not apply. If you want to take the new moon action even further, you can create your own rose-laden ritual, perhaps inspired by the guidelines laid out at the end of this 2011 post from soul-mate expert Arielle Ford: http://soulmatesecret.com/blog/2011/06/28/new-moon-solar-eclipse-magical-fire-ceremony-big-love/.

Ready to take it all the way? On June 25, fortuitous Jupiter (your ruler) starts a yearlong spin into Cancer, your eighth house of intimacy and bonding. Free-spirited Sags may have already pondered the dilemma of independence versus partnership while Jupiter was in Gemini since June 2012. Between now and next July, you're being pushed to form deeper bonds, which could bring a big learning curve for your autonomous sign. Think of this as your next grand adventure (which it is). All Sagittarians can benefit from learning what psychologists call your "attachment style," which is how readily you merge with another person. There are three main attachment styles: secure, anxious and avoidant. Are you confident in relationships? Do you get freaked out and turn from free spirit into Facebook stalker? Or are you the "I'd just rather not deal" kind of Sag? Our book obsession du jour—and recommended reading for Sag now—is "Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love" (http://astore.amazon.com/astrostyle-20/detail/1585429139) by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller. It's incredibly helpful in finding compassion for yourself, a partner (or potential one), and, well, just about everyone in your life.

MONEY & CAREER
Let's go, team! The spirit of collaboration is a clear theme across every part of your life right now. In the past year, you've grown a lot when it comes to letting other people in, and have hopefully found complementary, reliable people you truly trust to get the job done. This signals major growth for Sags, who can be control freaks about sharing duties, right down to choosing the right greeting card for your office mate's farewell party. And when the stakes are even higher (such as promoting your passion project) well, you prefer to take matters into your own hands. Really, you just don't have the patience to explain your process to someone else, and it might seem easier just to do it yourself, but this can seriously stunt your growth rate. From a practical standpoint, there are only so many hours in the day, and you're only one person, who still needs to sleep and eat and send smoke signals to friends (at the very least). After a year in this partnership-oriented part of your chart, Jupiter, your ruler, has encouraged you to be more of a team player, even if it was only with one or two people, such as an assistant or creative collaborator.

Are you ready to seal a deal? On June 8, a Gemini new moon could bring a solid contract or offer, perhaps with an inspiring mind or idea-generator. Be sure to sign on the dotted line before messenger Mercury goes retrograde (backward) June 26 to July 19, a notoriously tricky time to ink agreements. If you're not done hashing it out by then, wait until Mercury goes direct (forward) again, since a backstroking Mercury can obscure important details. If you must make things official, then be sure to ask 1,001 questions, even if you feel like a pain in the butt for doing so. What strikes you as obvious might not be to the other party. So before you're locked in, you'll want confirmation on all the salient points, e.g., that profit sharing is, um, 50-50. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so take nothing at face value now.

On June 25, Jupiter sets sail on a yearlong voyage into your eighth house of joint ventures and shared resources, turning you into quite the power player. Instead of cobbling together funds for a new project via penny drive, you'll have the gravitas to get some serious cash behind you, especially when you tap into your innate life force and how this connects to this particular venture. Go big or go home, Sag. Perhaps you're a Donald Trump in the making, as the eighth house rules savvy real estate ventures. If you find a good investment property, you might just roll the dice and buy it. Or, if a house, apartment or tract of land has been weighing you down financially, you may unload it under pretty happy circumstances as well, e.g., the timing is just right for the buyer too. Also in the category of "win-win," you might look to earn passive-income from affiliate sales, royalties or other shrewd investments. Though it may sound crass, you're not above monetizing ventures that have a more spiritual or even emotional slant. Bottom line: You know that your products have value, and adding a monetary figure can even increase that value, not to mention your own security. During this year, you could also deal with legal contracts, or even investors if you're a business owner. If you're in a relationship and have been the breadwinner, you may switch roles and have a partner bring home the bulk of the bacon. Generally, Jupiter brings optimism and a swell of good feelings, so if there are any lingering issues that need to be sorted out, now is the time to arrive at an amicable solution for all involved parties.

Your personal finances could get a boost from cohabitation, when you and a partner move in together and save on living costs. Perhaps things will be going so well that you even decide to merge bank accounts or visit with a financial advisor to get some nitty-gritty advice on joint retirement accounts and creating a living will. Though these legal docs may seem unsexy, they will actually stabilize your union, which, in turn, will create more ease and hopefully also more intimacy…because there's nothing hot about squabbling over bills or being on different financial planets.

The month closes out with the grand sound of a cash register: ka-ching! Yep, the green stuff could start pouring into your coffers on the June 23 full moon in Capricorn, your second house of work and money. This five-star day is the culmination of financial and work efforts sparked by the January 11 Capricorn new moon. If you've been slow and steady in your efforts on the job, expect to be rewarded with a promotion, raise or even a coveted, ongoing gig. Start researching posh restaurants now, since when the occasion for the celebratory dinner arises, only the crème de la crème will do.

Before you go too crazy, though, ordering kumamoto oysters and Veuve for the whole damn house, know that thoughtful Mercury turns retrograde (backward) in Cancer, your eighth house of joint resources, from June 25 to July 19. This could prompt some financial restructuring, such as negotiating an interest rate on a credit card or revisiting the terms of payment for a debt. You could also see delays around a legal contract or the closing of a property. If you're an online retail shopper, be extra cautious before slapping down your credit card on just any ol' site. You might even want to call your bank and get identity theft protection. Go over your statements with a fine-tooth comb, just in case there are erroneous charges (because we know you didn't call that 1-900 psychic hotline…or at least you didn't call that many times!) On the technological front, be sure to back up important data prior to the retrograde. Especially if you're sharing confidential or sensitive information, be mindful of what you say on email or SMS, as a private message could get leaked. Oops, did you mean to hit "reply all" on that "sext?" Mmmm, probably not.

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL
Oh, family….the ties that bind and gag (as author Erma Bombeck once put it: http://www.amazon.com/Family-Ties-that-Bind-Gag/dp/0449215296). On June 7, boundary-blurring Neptune turns retrograde (backward) in Pisces, your fourth house of relatives and roots, until November 12, causing you to reevaluate said familial ties. During this five-month stretch, you may need to sort out some dicey codependency issues with family members, especially female relatives. Does your mom continually complain about your sibling, expecting you to take her side? Or maybe your great aunt can't as much as turn on her television set without asking you for your help. These are people you love, yes. But if they've been driving you nuts, leaning on you with draining demands, that's no good. Don't be shy about drawing some lines in the sand, even if it's just on an emotional level. If you're fatigued, you don't have to get on an hour-long phone call with your pal who's rehashing the same stuff she's been obsessing over since you met her in '02. Self-nurturing is key now, and this could be a very healing time with a mother or child. Since spiritual Neptune reminds us of our interconnectedness, you might consciously choose to make some sacrifices to be there for a loved one who needs your support. Spending quality time, perhaps near water, with family should definitely be on the summer agenda. (You might be wise NOT book that time during the Mercury retrograde, between June 26 and July 19, when arguments and miscommunications can flare…even when you're just asking for another marshmallow to roast…)

Reconnecting and mending fences with family members is a good thing to do—Neptune rules karma, so forgiveness is absolutely divine. (For a peace-inducing primer, we recommend Colin Tipping's "Radical Forgiveness": http://astore.amazon.com/astrostyle-20/detail/1591797640.) Forgiveness doesn't mean that what the person did was okay, but you forgive the person rather than the action and set the both of you free on an energetic level. You're no longer tied to this person by "cords" of anger and bitterness, which can get pretty gnarled in the wounded Sagittarius heart. After all, you're a generous, well-intentioned soul, and when you feel taken advantage of or wronged, you can go on quite a rampage. With some perspective, you might even be able to trace the other person's actions back to a positive sentiment, e.g., your mother lied about the paternity of your father because she didn't want you to suffer knowing that he'd fathered 34 other children during his military service. Okay, okay, the situation doesn't have to be that dramatic, but you get the picture. Let go, with love.