If you’re headed back to the office this morning, note that the enterprising Capricorn Moon goes void with a sigh at 6:12AM ET, not to enter the next sign — Aquarius — until 12:03PM ET. So if you’re rarin’ to go with your New Moon agenda, hold off on those important first connections until after 12PM ET. That’s when people will be less likely to flake out or lose focus.

The Aquarius Moon is well-suited for networking, and there’s certainly no lack of willpower to move forward, suggested by a clash between the Capricorn Sun and action hero Mars in relationship-focused Libra. If you are the type of person who dislikes conflict, your karmic challenge today may be to push ahead with your own agenda with great enthusiasm, while diplomatically navigating the resistance. How can you make this a win-win?

Speaking of enthusiasm, over the next week, expansive Jupiter will make buoyant connections to mental Mercury, the Sun and Mars, suggesting the successful selling of something that’s pie-in-the-sky.Ooh, looky — the markets hit another new high. Meanwhile, Venus retrograde adds to the potential for overestimating the value of a material object…which is all fantastic news if you’re selling, right? Kick the tires and look under the rug — multiple times — if you’re buying, k? Not like these “high rollers” are doing…

The overall forecast for 2014, especially in the U.S., is a continuation of the maddening mishegoss of 2013, with an ever-intensifying wake-up call accompanied by startling disruptions, breakthroughs and breakdowns. On an individual level, many will be challenged by opportunities for emancipation and empowerment — and that’s super cool, even if it requires pushing through the fear of letting go of old patterns. Planning and patience — especially in relationship matters — will likely be required in the first six months of the year, given that Venus is retrograde in January; Mercury is retrograde in February and June; Mars will be retrograde in March, April and most of May. Don’t worry, though — there will be plenty of things going on — if they may not be going full speed ahead. It’s just that events launched during certain retrograde periods often — not always, but often — are subject to review and retooling when a relevant retrograde planet turns direct.

And now, some thoughts on Jupiter and Saturn in 2014:

Jupiter in Cancer and Leo. Jupiter, which needs to expand whatever it touches, is in emotional and financial security-seeking Cancer, where it will be until it finally enters Leo on July 16th. Until then it offers a potential  boost of optimistic energy to Cancers born after July 1st. Cancers born in the first ten days of the sign hopefully got that boost in 2013. When Jupiter is in your Sun Sign (which it is every 12 years), it is suggests a period of  luck and/or relative ease. Be alert for opportunities to expand your horizons, with the wind at your back. After July 16th, it’ll be Leo’s turn to shine.

Jupiter refers to “big picture” thinking, law, academia, broadcasting, publishing, religion, travel, etc. — so we can expect those areas to continue to have a Cancerian focus for the next seven months. What does Cancer care about? For starters: food, mothering, money, home, family,  emotional security and my country — right or wrong.

Saturn in Scorpio. Saturn entered Scorpio in October 2012. The last time Saturn was in Scorpio was between December 1982 through 1985. Scorpio is concerned with issues of power and control, of building all the way to Heaven and all the way down to Hell.  Scorpio is also concerned with matters of sex, death and (other peoples’) money, including debt.

Saturn is a strict taskmaster, more than comfortable with Scorpio’s controlling needs, including the need to make cuts. Letting go of what no longer serves is one thing, but ouch! — Saturn in Scorpio can go to extremes. Its discipline may force us to face the nitty-gritty consequences of our highest and basest instincts; we simply can not look away. For example, one of the biggest stories of Saturn’s last transit through Scorpio was AIDS, certainly a matter of sex, life and death. How did this story transform consciousness? What were the highs and lows?

Since October 2012, I’ve noted more than a few nitty-gritty headlines in this Scorpionic vein. One was the story of the Hindu woman in Ireland who suffered a miscarriage and died after doctors refused her an abortion in November.  Abortion continues to be a hot-button issue, as is contraception; just yesterday, the latter issue made headlines. Another relevant nitty-gritty issue is rape, and there have been plenty of horrific headlines everywhere — noted in past forecasts. The silver-lining hope is that these events will spark a major transformation of law and consciousness. Transformation is a positive potential of Scorpio.

For those born in November 1982-November 1985 and  November 1953 – October 1956, congratulations, you were most likely born with Saturn in Scorpio, and you have had — or are about to have — your first or second Saturn return. This is an intense experience rich with developmental potential, often involving an urgent ambitious reach. It is an excellent time to consult with an astrologer about realizing your life’s purpose.

For those born in the middle to the end of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, you’ve got Father Time (Saturn) likely pushing for discipline. You may need to cut your losses and focus on what’s critically important. Saturn transits can inspire your ambition, but they can also be experienced as limiting and isolating. Be brave enough to ask for support if you need it. You are worth it.

Coming up next: Uranus, Pluto and Neptune in 2014.

Donations are always appreciated with much gratitude, as well as a nifty Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide bookmark, so you’ll always know when that trickster planet is doing its backwards shuffle — and how to handle it. Thank you for reading — and sharing — this forecast.