LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
The line between fantasy and reality will be rather blurry for you this year. Between March 11 and June 4, both Jupiter and Uranus will hang out in Aries and your dreamy 12th house, supercharging your romantic sensibilities. During that time, five other planets will stop by Aries too — talk about a tidal wave of emotion! During this “spring fever” phase, you’re in a powerful position to manifest a soul mate ... if you’ve done the necessary inner work. How well do you know yourself, Taurus? Are you aware of your psychological patterns, habits, limitations and fears? Do you have a firm grasp and understanding of these patterns, so that they don’t run you? Do you love and accept yourself in spite of these traits?

If you answered “yes” to all three questions, raise your ring finger. If not, you’ve got some work to do between January and March. You don’t have to be “perfect” to be ready for love, but you do need to be in command of your emotions. Working with a therapist, love coach or other guide can help you clear through the fog. Understanding your own instincts gives you control over them — which, in turn, gives you the confidence to pursue a partner who is worthy of you.

This is not a lighthearted and carefree year for love, but rather one where you can create a lasting and meaningful relationship. The 12th-house energy that is at its strongest from March to June helps relax personal boundaries. You’re able to let down your walls and explore deeper corners of intimacy with a partner. If you’re in a relationship, you won’t want to autopilot through your days. The yearning to connect is stronger than ever. How about signing up for one of those couples retreats this spring? Eye-gazing, breathwork, tantra ... not just for hippies, Taurus. Open your mind.

A word to the wise for single Bull babes: Keep a wingman or wingwoman on speed dial until June. You’re not exactly the best judge of character in the first half of the year, and you are more susceptible to a playboy’s charms. Reserve judgment until you’ve done thorough background checks. Take off the rose-colored glasses. A guy with a great resume could have a shady record when it comes to fidelity. Find out the facts before you fall head over heels.

Codependent tendencies can crop up for you while all those planets are in Aries. You have a strong need to be needed, but what lengths will you go to in order to prove your love? If you make too many sacrifices in the first half of 2011, there could be a strong internal rebellion after June 4. On that date, lucky Jupiter plants itself in Taurus for a year, igniting a phase of independent exploration. You no longer want to be “lost in love.” Rather, you’re interested in carving out your individual identity. Can your sweetie love you when you’re fully expressed and in your power? You’ll need to know this for certain before the year ends. Warning: Jupiter will be retrograde in Taurus from August 30 to December 25, so the journey of self-discovery could be slower than you hope. Be careful not to take out frustrations on your significant other.

More good news comes on November 10, when Mars plants itself in Virgo — your true-love sign — for a rare seven-month journey. At this point, you’ll have an easier time synthesizing your desire for partnership with your need to be an individual. You’ll feel in your true power too, and the right person for you will applaud you as you step into the spotlight and shine like a superstar. By the time the year ends, your love story may be worthy of a cover shoot with Fabio. Lighten up and be playful. Flirting becomes a sport, whether you’re single or spoken for. You’ll be free to experiment more with dating options instead of being so hard-core about finding “The One.” In an ironic twist, this low-pressure approach might actually make it easier to unearth that special someone.

A solar eclipse in your house of sex and bonding on November 25 helps you enjoy the holiday season with, er, a bang ... and quite a memorable one at that. This eclipse could bring a proposal, a pregnancy or, if you’re ready to move on, the courage to file those divorce papers. There’s an “all or nothing” vibe in the air, and decisions made on this day can be sudden but exhilarating.

Family relationships are generally steady this year, although you may need to create more of a structure with your relatives. Saturn is touring your sixth house all year, encouraging you to create traditions that your family can count on, like Sunday dinners around the table, regular bedtimes for the kids, even working out together three days a week. Mercury will be retrograde in your domestic fourth house from August 8 through 26, which may cause some temporary turmoil on the home front. Emotions could run high near these days, so you’ll need to check your temper. Don’t get sucked into an upset relative’s drama. Instead, try to “hold the space” and keep everyone calm and peaceful.

WORK & MONEY
Are you ready to find a peaceful yet energizing path? Since 1998, you’ve had elusive Neptune planted in Aquarius and your career house, creating a difficult and dramatic decade in your professional life. It’s been hard to know whom to count on at work. Competitors could have played “Survivor”-style games with you on the job, and opportunities may have faded before they had a chance to be fully realized. You can breathe a sigh of relief, as this phase is coming to an end.

From April 4 through August 4, Neptune will advance into Pisces, lifting that fog from your visionary abilities. This is a sneak preview of what’s to come; in February 2012, Neptune will settle into Pisces for 13 years. Consider 2011 an official turning point. You’re releasing an old way of doing business and embracing a new one. With slow-moving Saturn sitting in your sixth house, you’re going to have to be more disciplined and patient about progress. Saturn demands that you build your new path on a solid foundation of integrity. No cutting corners or charming people with your sales skills. You’ll have to dot your i's and cross your t’s.

From January 22 to June 4, Jupiter will be in Aries and your 12th house of mentors and guides. Behind every successful person is an incredible contact database. It really is all about who you know. How do you get your foot in the door with these Very Important People? You’ll need to prove yourself, Taurus, and that might even mean working for free as an intern or apprentice. It’s the best education you can get, Taurus. You’re just paying your tuition with time (sweat equity) rather than money.

Humbling? Yes, but your confidence will be rock-solid by the summer. Good thing, since lucky Jupiter will visit Taurus for the first time in over a decade from June 4, 2011, through June 11, 2012. That means you have one year of accelerated growth, a chance to rise to leadership or work independently as your own boss. This is a great year for starting your own business or taking on a more prominent position at your current job. Again, you’ll need to be patient with the process. While Jupiter revs up your gambling instincts, it will also be retrograde from August 30 to December 25.

On June 1, June 15, November 25 and December 10, four eclipses on the Gemini/Sagittarius axis energize your financial sectors. Eclipses bring results and opportunities swiftly and suddenly. The June 1 and November 25 eclipses are solar, indicating that there may a job opening that you’ll want to leap on board with. June’s is more likely to bring a steady salary, while November’s could be a commission-based opportunity. The lunar eclipses on June 15 and December 10 are more about bringing hard work to fruition. If you owe money, these are important dates for negotiation. You need to deal directly with debt this year. Call the lender and talk payment plans, settlements and even a reduction of the monthly fee. A tax return, inheritance, commission check or money from the sale of property could also come near the lunar eclipses.

A glamorous client could approach you after November 11, when Mars starts a seven-month tour of your high-profile fifth house. If you work in the beauty or entertainment industry (or want to), the holiday season should be filled with exciting opportunities for your career. Regardless of your industry, speak up more at those end-of-year staff meetings. Your ability to merge creativity with practical wisdom attracts appreciative attention from the higher-ups, and positions you for a potential raise and promotion in early 2012.

HEALTH & WELLNESS
Saturn, the “personal trainer” planet, is touring your sixth house of health all year, making 2011 an important time for self-care. Skip the “extreme workouts,” and opt for a manageable three-times-per-week routine. Find creative ways to get your heart rate up instead of the dull run on the treadmill. Dance classes will be energizing and fun, and might even double as a date night with a partner. With Jupiter in your watery 12th house from January through June, you might enjoy aqua aerobics or swimming laps in a pool like a mermaid on a mission.

Core-based exercises also fall under the rule of Saturn in the sixth, so try a mat Pilates class or a yoga practice. This strengthens both your body and your confidence, as you will feel more rooted and grounded emotionally through these types of exercises. Bonus if there is meditation involved. Learning to breathe into the present moment is an important aspect of the inner work you need to do this year. You tend to spiral out into the future and stress about what might never happen. Evaporating anxieties might be a matter of learning to properly inhale and exhale as you shift your focus to positive thoughts.

Do you have a bad habit to break, like smoking, overeating, drinking, etc.? You might consider alternative methods, such as hypnosis or acupuncture, to help you overcome your addictive patterns. Symptoms could worsen this year if you don’t deal proactively. Save yourself that trip to the doctor’s office and commit to a healthier lifestyle. Joining a support group can help immensely, as you’ll find it deeply healing (and inspiring) to talk to other people about their journeys along the way.

HOW TO MAKE THIS THE YEAR OF YOU
Your 2011 Mantra: Out With the Old, In With the New
You’re at a significant turning point in your life with Jupiter moving from Aries to Taurus on June 4. Before you can step into the exciting new opportunities that lie before you, you’ll need to release that which no longer serves you. An unfulfilling career path, a soured relationship, unhealthy emotional or physical patterns ... it will take strength and courage to say goodbye. Here’s the thing: You’re so ready for the rewards that lie on the other side. Wipe the slate clean so you can embrace the brand-new life that begins for you on June 4, 2011.