Your special 2022 horoscope: Prepare for a year of progress

As we peer ahead into 2022, there are indications that we are entering a momentous year. This past year was a transitional one when traditional ideas were challenged. Now we can begin incorporating the resulting changes into everyday life.

We begin with Venus in retrograde, a cycle that comes approximately every 19 months and lasts about six weeks, ending on January 29. The influence of Venus's retrograde, however, won't wear off until early March, and because it's in Capricorn, it will affect relationships and finances, and make us examine our values. 

This means you should pay special attention to, and perhaps be more scrutinizing of, your relationships with your romantic partners, loved ones, business partners and friends. There will be tense moments, but Capricorn's influence actually helps with the building of long-lasting bonds. As for your finances, be frugal and cautious. Work on ways to make your savings grow. Pay off debts rather than adding to them. 

The expansive power of Jupiter and the compassionate energy of Neptune will draw close together for much of 2022 in the healing sign of Pisces. This will encourage creativity and any desired growth in the realms of art and music. 

Mars performs his retrograde, occurring once every two years, from October 30, 2022, to January 12, 2023. He is the Hercules of the solar system. His power will be cresting during his retrograde, and it won't just fuel your passion and desire to pursue your ambitions — it will help give you the muscle and endurance to do it.

Mercury, the Master of Strategy, will perform his usual three full retrograde cycles. Each one will last about three weeks: 

• January 14 to February 3
• May 10 to June 3
• September 9 to October 2

Mark these days in your calendar. They are important dates because they let you press the reset button on your plans and strategies. Despite the communication problems and glitches Mercury in retrograde presents, these are essentially positive times. It's imperative to maintain your sense of humour and a lighthearted approach. If possible, however, try not to make any important final decisions or launch any initiatives until Mercury returns to direct motion. 

Also keep track of the 13 new moons that kick off each 29.5-day lunar month. On these days, the waning moon dies and is reborn as a new moon. Life on Earth draws a deep breath inward. These are good days to light a candle and focus on your wishes. Keep them highlighted in your calendar:

• January 2 in Capricorn
• January 31 (PT, YT, MT, CT)/February 1 (ET, AT, NT) in Aquarius
• March 2 in Pisces
• March 31 (PT, YT)/April 1 (MT, CT, ET, AT, NT) in Aries
• April 30 in Taurus
• May 30 in Gemini
• June 28 (PT, YT, MT, CT, ET, AT)/June 29 (NT) in Cancer
• July 28 in Leo
• August 27 in Virgo
• September 25 in Libra 
• October 25 in Scorpio
• November 23 in Sagittarius
• December 23 in Capricorn

This year, throw yourself into that important project you've been considering. Give it all you've got. The sky's action in 2022 will give you a helpful push. A surge of optimism will fill your heart with hope.

Here is your horoscope for 2022:  

Aries

The sky suggests that subtle, gentle processes are what will best further your cause. You are a very lucky person. You have the ability to conquer any problem, move mountains and reach success where others fail. There is good reason why something is not working out in the way that you once hoped it would. A negative voice is on the loose in your unconscious mind. You will soon understand its nefarious ways. Once you clear away this negative counterbalance, you will feel a tremendous sense of relief and empowerment. It will prove easier than anticipated to get rid of this deterrent to success. 

Taurus

You are looking at your ability to perform a task or solve a problem and feeling very optimistic about your prospects. Be careful because you may fall victim to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Try to not fix your mind on some complex, farfetched definition of what needs to be done. You'll only find it impossible to fulfil, and by doing so, you run the risk of overlooking the magic that is all around you. You have known for some time how to solve a certain dilemma, but you have felt unable to trust your inner wisdom. This is the year when you will gain the power to live your life according to your own rules and beliefs. 

Gemini

Little do you know that you have the key ingredients for success already in place. They are offering a happy romantic life and some lucrative financial opportunities. These may not amount to a fairy-tale romance or endless wealth, but they certainly point to a way out of trouble. You are on a mission to achieve great things. Start by celebrating what's going well. You'll find the inspiration to achieve the miraculous. Explore certain ideas to boost your confidence — some of them are potentially very feasible and workable. A special dream will materialize. 

Cancer

No matter what disturbs you, there will soon be a way to rise above it. The planets indicate that you will move on to better, brighter things. As you do, it may become apparent that in leaving an old problem behind you have created space for a new one. This won't be an insurmountable obstacle though. You simply have to follow your inner radar and summon your abundant wisdom. This will bring a most welcome breakthrough. With a little adjustment and reorganization, you will find yourself on a quick road to success. You will somehow manage to get whatever it is you need most, just when you need it most. 

Leo

Prepare to be given the keys to freedom and then to discover, once you hold them in your hand, that you really don't mind whether you use them or not. That, of course, is true freedom. Anyone can venture into the wild blue yonder, telling themselves that they are heading for a bright new horizon while all that they are really doing is running away. It takes courage, though, for a person to stay somewhere and to stick with something, especially when that person has a real option not to do so. Coming events will lift your spirits, boost your confidence and leave you with the distinct feeling that life is taking you to where your heart wants to be. 

Virgo

There's always something to regret. There's always something to pine for. There's always a reason to feel short-changed or hard done by. There's always something that's unfair. There's also, though, always a choice. We don't have to dwell on our difficulties, drawbacks and deprivations. We can decide, instead, to move positively toward a brighter future and to welcome into our world all that is constructive, inspiring, healthy and right. Try not to take anything too seriously. Stay on an even keel. This week, make a brave decision and you'll rapidly break an old bad habit. 

Libra

A long and arduous journey is coming to an end. Soon, in this wonderful year ahead, you will be able to put down a few roots and settle into some healthy routines that will finally bring lasting bliss and joy to your heart. The funny thing is that you have developed antipathy toward routines. You have become more at home with the notion of instability than you are with the idea of normality. But after a shaky, reluctant start to the process, you will settle down to a stable new rhythm. Focus your attention on thoughts and ideas that lift your heart. You'll understand that you need structure and routine if you are to get to where you need to go. 

Scorpio

Leave it alone. You can't mend it, change it, fix it or do anything of a constructive nature with it whatsoever. You're too close to a most frustrating situation to see the best way to handle it. Yes, you want to try every trick in the book, but, even if you go out and get a new book and try every trick in that, you are still going to be in the same position. Progress is happening, even though it may not be moving as quickly as you would like. The best way forward in this brand new year involves dropping whatever it is that you are feeling so intensely determined to cling to. As soon as you do let go, everything will start getting sweeter. The cosmic picture hints that a golden opportunity is in the offing.

Sagittarius

You are currently tempted to break a personal law or bend a rule, just because you so much want to make something happen. As you ponder what you desire, remember that we don't always live in a rational, ordered world. Though we are taught from an early age to be sensible and are led to believe that the universe turns on common sense, that certainly isn't always the case. Rule-bending things are often done by people who are ostensibly thoroughly rational. You may want to try being a little more wild, impulsive and unreasonable in this fabulous year ahead. It will work wonders. 

Capricorn

Actions speak louder than words. Through a careful choice of phrase, people can cover up the most amazing holes in an argument or make the most outrageous proposition seem acceptable. As you try to work out a certain person's real motives, stop listening to what they are saying and look instead at what they are doing. You are better off using your eyes than your ears. You will soon get the real picture. As you put a difficult part of your past behind you, you'll be in a position to happily move on to the next stage in your life. You're beginning to understand that you've been underestimating your own scintillating potential. Now there's nothing holding you back. 

Aquarius

You seem to be very keen on pursuing a notion that's been flitting through your head, but you're simultaneously wondering if the idea you're entertaining is ludicrous. Do be careful. Even a notorious optimist like you can't realistically expect every vision to reach fulfillment. The trouble is that you crave excitement. The idea of a future in which everything is cut and dried seems dauntingly dull. The Universe is encouraging you to develop a plan. Impatience isn't a bad thing as long as it doesn't compel you to be hasty. Resist the urge to be impulsive, but do continue to be passionate. Feel free to experiment. What you want will take a little time, but it will ultimately work — especially in 2022. 

Pisces

Your ambition and drive are being torn apart by seemingly irreconcilable needs and duties. You will lift off a massive burden of heavy responsibilities and find your freedom. What you are after seems like a long shot. Have more faith in yourself. The time has come to stop underestimating your potential. Nothing can hold you back now. In this wonderful year ahead you will unify what you desire and what you need. You can expect lots of fun because you will soon find a way to square the circle — and then you really will have something to celebrate.