2012 MamaScopes: Taurus

Out with the old, in with the new! Not only is this the start of a brand-new year, Taurus, but it’s the start of a fresh 12-year cycle. From June 2011-June 2012, lucky Jupiter is in Taurus, pushing you to blaze new trails and start fresh. While last summer was exciting, over the fall, the momentum slowed down a bit. Hope you enjoyed the nap, because it’s officially o-v-e-r. Stalled projects pick up speed once again. Suddenly, everything seems easier, more graceful, and more pleasurable. If this sounds amazing, it is! While Taurus is a sign that doesn’t normally like change, it’s an inevitable force—one that now feels like a tempting adventure.

Your love life will get a jolt between January and July, thanks to spicy Mars in Virgo, your fifth house of romance and passion. If you’re looking for a great Valentine’s gift for your hubby or your significant other, hire a photographer and do a boudoir photo shoot, or add some new moves to your repertoire with the help of a burlesque or pole-dancing class. This is also a great time to glam up your image: become a bouncing blonde or a racy redhead, add a few high-end pieces for your wardrobe, or invest in a personal trainer to help you develop a new workout routine. It’s time to put away those footie pajamas and worn out t-shirts and take out the grown-up lingerie. (For great ideas on ditching the granny panties, check out www.thelingeriegoddess.com.)

Mars in Virgo awakens your artistic side, too. Do more creative projects, both independently and with your kids. Save money on birthday presents, greeting cards, and even gifts for teachers, and embrace the DIY movement whole hog. (Warning: this is the year you could get seriously addicted to scrapbooking.) Your inner Martha Stewart comes out, but you’re in the mood to entertain, so invite friends over for play dates, crafting parties, or mommy martinis after hours. You’re inspired to be more active now, too. It’s a great time to exercise as a family, as well. Sign up for group swims at the YMCA or go on some family camping trips.

Does your relationship need a little restructuring? On October 5, Saturn moves into your house of committed relationships, and it will stay there until 2015. If you’re married (or if you’re dating someone seriously), invest more time into this relationship to make sure that it’s based on a solid foundation. In your friendships, stay away from gossipy friends (you know the ones) and energy vampires. Is it time to finally cut some needy people out of your life? Make friends with people that inspire and motivate you. Join a committee for a worthy cause or get more involved in your religious or spiritual community. Taurus, it’s important you’re around positive people involved in bigger things. At the first hint of drama, make your exit ASAP.

As for your children, while it’s important to not be a “helicopter parent” constantly orbiting around your kids’ lives and friendships, make yourself available as a resource, a guide, and a force of love. Just knowing that you’re there for comfort and advice will provide your kids with an enormous sense of ease. Your business relationships, too, could become more serious—you could sign a partnership agreement or become part of a dynamic duo at work. And speaking of your career, there are two eclipses this year—on May 20 and November 28—and both touch down in your professional sector. You might change careers near or on these days, or an opportunity to make more money could arise. Use these days, as well, to make some smart changes to your budget. Meet with a financial planner to make sure all your ducks are in a row or work to create a manageable and sustainable budget on your own. On June 11^th, lucky Jupiter begins a yearlong visit to Gemini, your work and money sign. Exciting new opportunities could come your way. You may even have to travel or relocate for a job, or you could begin working virtually for part of the time.

The year could be a challenging one for your health, Taurus—it could be hard for you to kick a bad habit (you’re already quite the creature of habit, as is), so you might want to work with an expert. Steer clear of fad diets, eschew thirty-day miracle treatments for quitting smoking, and don’t spend all your money on that piece of exercise equipment you’ll never use. Get your health back the old fashioned way: eat better, get enough sleep, and schedule, schedule, schedule. As long as you set aside time to work out, you will. Keep your family’s life structured as well: make regular homework times, meal times, and playtimes. While you may have to bend things a bit here and there, having a structure in place will limit confusion and chaos.

How often do you donate your time to charity? Get your family involved in a community service project—set aside a day every week or month to work in a soup kitchen, volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, or give your time and energy to another worthy cause. As the months go by, you could start to realize the importance of having some additional helping hands for your family. Is one of your kids struggling with a particular subject or, on the other hand, is he or she excelling beyond the ability of his or her teacher? Hire a tutor to give your child what she needs. Not entirely pleased with your babysitter? Splurge a little more on childcare and hire a professional, not a neighborhood teen. Yes, you may have to spend some extra money to get the help you need, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Admitting that you need help can be difficult for you, Taurus; it’s often hard for you to give up being “right,” and you’re sometimes convinced that you already know something…even though you don’t! Listen to the advice of a teacher, another parent, and your kid’s tutor. Don't be ready to fight, just take it all in. It does take a village, Taurus—no matter how strong and capable you are!

2012 Mom-tra: “Change is good!”