WELCOME TO KAT LANE'S ASTROCAST, A WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE FORECAST THAT HELPS YOU PLAN BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON.

KAT'S OVERVIEW FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 5

To find out the Cosmic Climate for each day, click on the sign links in the overview below or the sign buttons that follow it. Remember, the Cosmic Climate affects us all, regardless of what sign we happen to be. New to the AstroCast? Check out How It Works.

Take the Spotlight!
You’ll want to avoid getting into a “scene” on MONDAY. That’s because the Leo Moon will be contending with a fractious cast of stars (an egocentric Mars, grandstanding Sun and a backbiting Venus), exacerbating a leonine tendency to become vainglorious and overbearing. You, however, will not allow this drama to hamper your ability to shine. You will summon Leo’s courage and magnanimity to rise above the fray and avoid getting distracted by showboating hot-heads vying for attention. That way, you’ll be able to draw on this Moon’s vast creativity and leadership talents to focus on a solo effort. Happily, this theatrical Moon knows a thing or two about taking the spotlight. You’re on!
At 8:05a, on TUESDAY, the Moon cuts out and goes Void. (Read all about the dos and don’ts of the Void Moon here.)  Since the Moon will also be waning in strength, this would not be a good time to start something new. You can, however, make the most of this downtime by dispatching with mundane tasks that would bog you down on a more productive day. At 11:57a, the Moon bustles into Virgo and gets thwarted by a malevolent Pluto, a situation likely to make everyone high-strung and hyper-critical. Even mild-mannered types will be bristling at anyone who dares tells them what to do. If not kept in check, long-held resentments, like over your take-all-the-credit boss or do-nothing co-worker, could erupt. Suffice to say, this is no time to be scolding, bossy or controlling, despite strong urges to do so.

Start Harmonizing
WEDNESDAY’S the day to get things done! That’s when the hardworking Virgo Moon will be harmonizing with an entire quartet of planets, delivering a boon of diligence and drive, clarity and cooperation. If you’ve been looking for a time to troubleshoot a tough project or execute a complex strategy, this is the day to take it on. With the Moon waning, you’ll want to apply this windfall of industry to projects already underway rather than attempting anything new. Because this will be such a productive day, you may be tempted to work late. Don’t. Come evening, a tryst between romantic Venus and racy Mars will stimulate the lustier side of this earthy Moon, making Wednesday not just the most productive day all week, but the best date night, too!
On THURSDAY, the Virgo Moon synchs up with an innovative Uranus, enhancing your analytical acumen and troubleshooting abilities. This combo is not only ideal for tackling technical and/or detailed work it’s great for brainstorming, strategizing and devising novel solutions. Of course, that assumes you don’t get waylaid by a day-dreamy Neptune threatening to distract you. The busier you keep yourself today the less likely you are to get sidetracked, so direct your energy at solving problems or putting finishing touches on works in progress. But enough about work! After a brief Void period, the Moon will move into romantic Libra, at 7:06p, where it will rendezvous with a profound Pluto. This coupling rouses deep  feelings and presents you with an opportunity to make a meaningful connection with someone special—should you be in the market for one.

Strike a Balance
FRIDAY’s Libra Moon will be presiding over two auspicious couplings, one between Venus and Jupiter, the other between Mars and the Sun. The former pairing will enhance your creativity and fill you with optimism, while the latter duo will have you feeling super motivated and brimming with confidence. This is sure to be a very active day with plenty of opportunities to pursue. The trick will be to strike the right balance. Venus/Jupiter can also be excessive and quixotic, leading to overindulgence and pie-in-the-sky imaginings; Sun/Mars can also be aggressive and too gung-ho, encouraging brash and foolhardy behavior. I’m counting on Libra’s penchant for equanimity to keep you from getting thrown off-kilter. That way, you can reap the benefits of both cosmic collaborations without succumbing to either extreme.

WEEKEND FORECAST
I’ll cut to the chase. This is not going to be the most fun weekend. It will be hard to maintain your equilibrium on SATURDAY, when the Libra Moon gets caught in a stormy configuration with four other planets. Frustrations will rise, tempers will flare and feelings may get hurt, even if most of this tumult comes down to much ado about nothing.  The best news is that this transit will be short-lived. At 12:54p, the Moon will go Void and check out for the rest of the day. My advice? Follow suit.
You can expect some of Saturday’s tensions to spill over, and maybe even increase, on SUNDAY. That’s when the Scorpio Moon squares off with an equally intense and brooding Pluto. Fortunately, the worst of this transit will be over by midday. If you can sleep in, say, until noon, you should be able to avoid any calamities.