#the bearer of two cosmic duties.

[formerheroeswhoquittoolate]

went home and got my tpb of the iron fist comics and I am back on my lin lie bullshit. thinking about his hands and the shards again and the amount of fine motor control he's having to build back up. and then he just jams a whole bunch more of the shards into his arms. like.

he's really concerned about his duty, isn't he. keeping the sword away from chiyou's demons. keeping the tomb sealed. maybe he thought he was going to get a break. the sword was shattered, he was dead. no more duty for him.

and instead he gets another duty. he's the iron fist now. immortal weapon, protector of k'un lun. oh and he's also still beholden to the whole fu xi thing. the sword has literally become a part of him. he cannot separate himself from his duty because it's literally embedded and tattooed in his skin. at least this time, when he presses the remaining loose shards into his arm, he's choosing it.

and he worked so hard, too. he just relearned how to wield a sword, how to hold chopsticks, how to write. but he's confronted with his duty and in a heartbeat he decides, fuck it, he's not letting chiyou get the sword. by any means necessary. it's his responsibility.

[cxmetery-gates]

DEFYING THE ODDS - LOKI LAUFEYSON

CHAPTER ONE: THE ARRIVAL

SUMMARY: Odin is faced with uncertainty surrounding a young woman who fell from the heavens and has no memory of where she came from. WORD COUNT: 4k NOTES: Make sure you read the prologue! Soooo there is a lot of Norse mythology going to be tied into this series! My information will be coming from “The Viking Spirit” by Daniel McCoy and his website Norse Mythology for Smart People. Thank you all for reading!! WARNINGS: none that I know of!

MASTERLIST

FROM THE CHAOS AND VOID of Ginnungagap came the beginning of everything. Where silence and darkness once existed, the beginning saw the creation of the giant Ymir from the fires of Muspelheim and the ice from Nifelheim, and from him, the Aesir were born. The universe was given a breath of life. It was said that all that will ever be was formed in the great beginning, the seeds of all life would sprout and flourish the cosmos until Ragnarök returned the universe back into the dark and silent abyss.

But so it seemed the void had one last creation.

As if falling from the darkness of Ginnungagap itself, a mysterious figure clad in obsidian armor fell from the cosmos, landing on the home of the Aesir: Asgard. It did not take a healer to note the height should have killed anyone, perhaps to the degree in which there would be no body to find. However, after washing upon the shore where Asgard's fiercest and strongest knights waited, they were all but surprised to find the being was a young woman.

Now, on the ninth day of her comatose state, Odin once again finds himself at the girl's bedside. While it is unclear when or if she will wake, the ruler of the Aesir still found himself in the hospital at least once a day. After all, the young woman's arrival was the hottest topic throughout Yggdrasil, the cosmic nexus of the Nine Realms.

No conclusion had been made yet and all the citizens across Yggdrasil who had heard the story were begging the Allfather for answers. Many already had their opinions laid out, arguing that she was a sign of the cosmos planning something great. However, many were on the side that she forebodes the coming of the end. There were assumptions that the empty black hole that opened in Asgard's sky was the darkness itself, teasing the arrival of Ragnarök. Either interpretation was a well enough argument in its own right, but they all faced the same dilemma: no one knew anything. Waiting was all anyone could do as the young woman lies on a cot with a steady breath and flushed cheeks.

"She's in perfect condition," the head nurse disclosed to Odin, her eyes wide in contemplation. When the Einherjar Guards first carried her to the medic bay, the girl appeared dead, the color drained from her face and her lips a soft blue hue. There were spots of dried blood on her armor and on the inside from where the sea did not rub away hard enough. "The only mark on her body is an old scar. There is nothing proving she fell at all. Not even a scratch." Odin hoped the crimson stains were not a bad omen.

Royal advisors were tasked to search all records pointing towards a prophecy or another occurrence of someone falling from the heavens and coming out unscathed in the process. Nine days and eight nights later, no answers were found. Odin hoped to find a vision from his father and father before him from their resting places in Valhalla, but there was nothing but silence from the gods. Odin even scoped guidance from Mimir, but the head merely told the Allfather time will reveal all secrets. The only option left was speculation, and that was not enough to calm an entire system of realms.

To attempt to quench the cries, a pair of spellbound chains loop around the girl's wrists and to the sides of the cot. Good intentions or not, the Allfather would not put his realm at risk by judging a book by its cover.

The Allfather sits and reads from his youngest son's book. A book of magical adventures, the history of the Aesir, and possible tellings of the Norns. When he was a young boy, his father gave him the same book and even after reading cover-to-cover more times than the number of stars in the sky, Odin still digs into every detail he comes across. The god swears that he has heard a story of a girl falling from the sky once before⁠— and he remembers what occurred after. But, as if the universe wanted to tease the Allfather, there was nothing he could find. Despite the dead ends, Odin is determined and would stop at nothing in his search for answers.

Unfortunately, it seemed not even the cost of Odin's eye would grant him knowledge this time.

With a sigh, Odin closes the book and places it on the bedside table. The thud was strong enough to wake a sleeping giant, and yet, the girl did not move. Not even a flinch.

"I should have guessed I would find you here."

The feminine voice from behind Odin is soft, easing his tightly wound nerves and racing questions. He barely looks over his shoulder as her hand comes to rest upon his arm, offering a squeeze that the Allfather relaxes into. "It is a king's duty to ensure the safety of his realm."

A smile reveals itself on the queen's lips. Frigga leans down to speak closer to her husband. "It is a king's duty to attend his sons' lessons that he promised."

Odin feels his head loll backwards slightly. With all the wonderment and questions, the promise to practice sword sparring with his sons slipped his mind. A great part of him feels upset with himself as he pictures his two sons waiting for nothing. "There is always tomorrow," the Allfather replies.

"Yes, there is," Frigga agrees, slinking her hand down to intertwine her fingers with his. "Come. Supper will grow cold if we wait any longer. Your boys miss you."

The Allfather lets his stare rest upon the girl's face. Her features are light but matured with dark hair and lashes to match. The curve of her nose speaks for innocence, but the cut of her jaw screams the opposite. Odin remembers the scar the nurse had mentioned. Letting his eye wander to the cracked skin right below her collarbone from where it peeks out beyond her temporary linen dress, Odin wonders how she became the bearer to such a mark. Despite not seeing the old wound in its entirety, he believed the head nurse when she proclaimed the falling entity was not some girl, but a warrior. No ordinary girl earns a scar like that from an accident (or falls from the sky, for that matter). Glancing over to the mighty and intimidating sword and the ensemble of armor, Odin has no reason to argue.

Another day and night, another weight added to the situation. By the fifth day, Odin began to grow anxious and, as his wife tugs on his hand for the second time now, approaching the ninth night, he feels nothing but frustration. Part of him thinks the girl will never wake, left for eternity as a mysterious sleeping beauty.

With a nod, Odin rises to his feet, Frigga sending a loving gaze as their arms interlock. The couple barely takes two steps before Odin spots the medic who was pausing her movements to bow. "Send word if she wakes."

The nurse's eyes flash to the girl then to the Allfather. Her mouth suddenly hangs open and she makes a double take. "I do not think I will need to send a messenger, Allfather..."

Turning their heads, Odin and Frigga find their guest with her eyes fluttering open.

Odin turns to Frigga to speak, but she beats him with words and a nod. "I will explain to Thor and Loki, then return. Stay; food may be brought up later." Squeezing her hand reassuringly, Frigga then departs from the medical bay, a look of apprehension very clear on her features.

The girl says nothing as she looks at the old man clad in golden fabric. When her eyes meet his, surprised to find the man has one eye socket covered with a thin piece of golden metal— and almost reaches up to see if she had only one like the man before her— all she does is swallow. She then notices the cuffs attached to her wrists. Her eyes become wide, wild with emotions she has never felt before. In an instant, she finds panic soaring through her veins, a new feeling she isn't quite fond of.

"Would you like me to fetch a guard?" the nurse asks.

Studying the girl, Odin decides to shake his head. "I think I will be alright. But perhaps the guards standing outside should be alerted, just in case."

The nurse nods her head, sends the girl on the cot one last look, then parts down the hall, walking with a purpose until she exits. Waiting for the taps of footsteps to disappear, Odin remains standing at the girl's bedside. When he concludes they are alone, Odin allows his body to fully turn, finding his chair a few feet away. Slowly and cautiously, he grips the back and brings it closer, then lowers himself into the seat. The girl grips the thin sheets, wrists growing irritated from the metal bindings.

"What is your name, dear?" Odin asks with his tone laced in amiability. He hopes not to spook her with his booming voice or his golden eye patch.

Her dark eyes dart from examining his face to the room in which she finds herself. Odin takes notice that her eyes are closer to a pitch black than brown. He isn't sure whether to be unsettled or intrigued.

The young woman takes in the room, noting everything from the floor panel to the texture of her sheets. She makes the deduction that she is in a hospital, seeing a cabinet lined with jars of ointment and utensils and lines of empty, identical cots. The girl has barely a moment to remember how and why she finds herself in such a place when her eyes flicker back to the man. The older man before her reigns superiority, for he bears golden textiles, intricate designs bedded into the front and large pads on his shoulders that deem attention. A king, she decides. The old man who might possibly be a ruler is offering her a moment to gather her thoughts, no pressure to answer quickly. A small feeling of gratitude enters her thoughts. She could have woken up in a place much, much worse.

After her examination, she looks back to the man's eye. A tongue pokes from out of her mouth and wets her dry lips before answering. "My name is Valdis Starborn."

Valdis Starborn, Odin considers. How entirely fitting. A strange name for an equally strange girl. In all his years, he has never met another Aesir with such a name, however it tastes familiar. A spark of recognition exists, but Odin finds no such idea as to why. "Valdis, do you know how you got here?"

The girl looks down in thought, brows pinching together. A roar of cries, a heated pain, and then nothing. As soon as the images flashed before her eyes, they were gone like the wind carrying smoke. Valdis reaches for the blips of memory to return, but all she's left with is confusion and emptiness. Nothing. She remembers nothing.

Valdis shakes her head slowly. "No, I do not." She swallows a lump in her throat realizing she does not know how she got to this room, nor anything else. Valdis searches through her thoughts to find her head void of any memory. "I do not know how or why I am here, but I also do not know where I come from. I fear my memories are... Gone."

Odin raises his chin, studying her puzzled expression. Not the answer he was hoping for, but at least she had a name. It was something among the sea of questions. "Do you know where you are?"

"No," Valdis answers quietly. "But, if I had to make a guess, somewhere nice. I expected a dungeon as my welcoming."

A slight twitch to the lips meets Odin as Valdis smiles sheepishly. "This is Asgard, the home of the Aesir and peacekeepers to the galaxy, and I am Odin, the Allfather. It is my duty to maintain balance in the cosmos, which includes sorting out the mysteries that the universe creates, such as yourself."

Valdis's eyebrows pinch. "Allfather?" She ponders out loud. Odin watches the girl carefully as her dark eyes leave him only to focus downwards, head tipped slightly in thought. "Allfather..."

"You speak as if something is coming back to you."

Looking back up, Valdis says, "'Allfather' sounds familiar. I feel like I have heard it before, but..." Her voice trails into silence, unable to locate the words or memories that have sparked some kind of recognition.

"Perhaps a sign that your memory will return," Odin hopes, eyeing her suspiciously.

The sound of heeled shoes on marble reaches both sets of ears, and Odin stands, turning to find Frigga coming to his side. Her smile is kind and warm, maintaining itself when she takes careful steps towards the young woman on the bed. Valdis cannot help but mirror the gentle expression.

"Valdis," Odin addresses, his arm outstretched towards her before angling to direct her attention to the new presence. "I am honored to introduce you to my wife and queen of Asgard, Frigga."

Memorizing the girl's name, Frigga passes in front of her husband. "How are you, dear girl?" Frigga asks, taking another step before lowering down to sit on the bed at Valdis's feet. "You fell from so high. We've all been worried about your health."

"'We?'" Valdis questions. Her heart spikes as she wonders what Frigga speaks of. With her memory wiped, it comes to Valdis's attention that not only does she not know where she came from or why she is on Asgard, but she is just as clueless as to how she ended up in a hospital in the first place. "Wait... I fell?"

Frigga's smile falters some, now understanding the downturn of Odin's expression. "Do you not remember?"

Valdis shakes her head, a new wave of rose-colored embarrassment coating her pale cheeks.

Only nodding once, Frigga does not let her worried sentiment show itself so clearly. Instead, the queen looks to her husband, continuing her words. "I hope my husband has not frightened you, little star. He has a habit." With this comment, the queen sends a wink to Valdis, who feels herself smiling.

Valdis notes that while the Allfather seems wise and just with a headstrong, powerful ambiance, the queen radiates a sunny glow, a tenderness that touches all. There is a balance to their chemistry, easily evening out what tension Valdis had in her thoughts. "No, the Allfather has been kind, my queen."

"You may call me Frigga, sweet one." The queen lets herself think for barely a second before letting her words play out loud. "Would you allow me to try something, Valdis? I would like to see if I can help with your lost memories."

Barely a pause ensues before Valdis lets out short exhale that sounds like a laugh. "It's not like I have much to lose at this point, do I?" It appears it was Valdis's turn to encourage a smile.

Lifting both her hands, Frigga extends her arms out towards Valdis. With no other warning, the queen cups Valdis's jaw gently. Before the young woman could react, a warm heat penetrates her skin and a faint, golden glow could be seen from under her eye. Valdis did nothing but stare questioningly at the woman before her. As quick as the touch was, Frigga withdrew her hands, sending a stare to her husband.

"Nothing," Odin remarks but with conviction in his tone.

Standing, Frigga speaks to Odin. "Seiðr did not work. Either a stronger force is baring all of us or she truly has no memory."

Valdis listens idly, knowing this is when her fate will be decided. She isn't sure where she would go or what she would do if the rulers before her were to cast her out. Maybe they would keep her locked away in the dungeons with criminals. Or maybe they'd send her somewhere else, somewhere less lavish than Asgard and cruel to oddities such as herself. No matter the case, Valdis only knows what has happened since she opened her eyes minutes ago, nothing more. She is not aware of any other realm, nor king, nor law. If Odin did not trust her, Valdis would have no fathomable idea what to do. The king must realize this, especially after what his queen just told him. Valdis still sticks out for hope, so much so that she feels as though she is pushing her pleas into the king and queen's minds.

"She has nowhere to go, Odin," Frigga continues, sending Valdis a small, tight-lipped smile before her eyes widen, quickly turning back to her husband. "Allow me to take her under my wing. Perhaps we can work to uncover her memories with time."

Odin takes a long look to his wife before focusing his attention back on Valdis, a hopeful look upon her face. It would not be the first time Frigga would become a mother to a child she did not conceive, but Odin cannot help but feel vastly more concerned this time around. No one knows who or what Valdis is, not even the girl herself, allegedly.

"She will be no trouble," Frigga insists. The queen glances over to Valdis. "Will she?"

Valdis was quick to shake her head. "No, of course not, my lady. I want to uncover the truth as much as you do."

The dungeons would be too dangerous for a woman like her and the cot she lies on will be needed eventually. Frigga is a powerful sorceress, one of the most talented the Aesir have ever come across, if not the best of them all. No one has deceived her yet, and this fact was set to stay for eternity. Such a creature as Valdis would not have the powers to break this record, but the preexisting confusion shrouding Odin's mind remains. Perhaps she can best his wife, or perhaps not. There would be rules to be made and there would be concern around Valdis's mystery, but what better sorceress to delve into the mysterious fallen entity?

Odin straightens his back as he turns from the yearnful eyes of Frigga, setting his stern gaze upon the girl in bed. Her eyes shone of the same buoyancy as Frigga. "You may not be safe here," Odin says, his voice steady and heavy with urgency. "Asgard is home to the best warriors, but that does not guarantee your safety. If you are running, they will find you eventually, and I will not risk my people if you show not to be as innocent as you seem."

Valdis nods. "I do not think anyone is after me, Allfather."

"But you do not know that for sure."

Valdis swallows. "Yes."

Odin lets out a long breath, sending his gaze to rest upon Frigga. His wife's stare is still set upon him with a plea, a loving care that Odin fell for millennia ago. There is no bone in Frigga's body that would allow her to turn away someone in need. It's what makes her a wonderful queen, a perfect soulmate to her sagacious husband. He knows that keeping the girl would possibly become a path for trouble. There will be others like Frigga who are interested in Valdis, but many may not have as innocent intentions.

With his chin poised, Odin turns to Valdis, taking several steps forwards until he is right beside the girl. For a moment, both Frigga and Vadis fear the worst. "You will temporarily live in the guests' wing and will be accompanied by a pair of guards everywhere you go. If your memory returns by the next moon, you shall have the option to leave. If you are still without your past, I would encourage you to stay."

It seemed as though the universe let out a sigh of relief as Odin spoke. From the corner of her eye, Valdis could spot Frigga wearing a gracious grin.

"However," Odin continued. "If there is any sign that you come with dark intentions or you do anything to harm this realm or the next, you will be imprisoned for the rest of eternity. Is this clear?"

There is no hesitation as Valdis nods her head. "Yes, Allfather."

"Good." With a simple wave of his hand, the two cuffs around Valdis's wrists unlock, the rounded pieces once rubbing against her skin now clicking backwards in on itself until the golden bands and chain disappear entirely.

"Come, Valdis," Frigga says, her hands holding out for the dark-haired girl to take. "We will head to your temporary quarters until a permanent one has been arranged." Holding her arms out, Frigga helps Valdis rise to her feet, her stature and built fully shown. She stands just a few inches shorter than the queen, but something about her shoulders and straight spine makes Frigga look small in comparison. Opposite to Valdis's meek disposition, the exterior of her shell is strong and battle-ready. This does not pass by Odin, his observant eye catching every movement made.

Frigga helps Valdis into a robe as Odin turns away. He eyes the armor on the table, as well as the bladed sword, staring in awe at the craftsmanship. If Odin had to make a guess, not even the skilled dwarves of Nidavellir could have fashioned such beautiful designs. In fact, the Allfather has never come across the kind in all his thousands of years. The designs are fluid yet sharp, demanding and large yet smooth and delicate, the points and edges telling all to beware while enticing enough to desire a closer look. The sword was no different, the steel and obsidian mashing together tastefully. Unlike any sword he has seen, the hilt extends out and up, several smaller blades pointed in the direction of an enemy. There was nothing but peril that radiates from the ensemble, and yet, Odin could not help but gape in admiration. How odd such a timid creature would be the owner of such an array of danger-exuding armor?

So many questions raised in Odin's mind at the examination, and it seemed as though more were raised with each day. In the nine days since her arrival, all one could do was question. The Allfather believes he is not the only one who finds himself in the realm of curiosity. No doubt there were others who were just as interested in the girl who fell from space, perhaps some having the answers Odin desperately craves. And some may just do anything to have Valdis Starborn.

"Valdis," Odin calls, shifting his eye from her armor to the two women taking their leave. Both look in his direction fluidly. Valdis stands with wide eyes, ready for what he may aim at her. As if she has been here before. "The way you arrived on Asgard is no ordinary occurrence. There are talks of you wielding a power strong enough to rip Yggdrasil apart, or worse. Many will want to meet you, and many will want to use you. Keep this in mind; it may save your life."

The girl who fell from the cosmos offers a single nod before allowing Frigga to escort her out of the room, leaving Odin to his thoughts. Undoubtedly, there would be more questions to be raised in the next few days, but perhaps Mimir's answer would be met. The vibrations of primordial fire and ice that created all seemed to have fashioned something not yet seen before and it was up to the Allfather to unravel questions into answers. A blessing, a curse, or something the universe was not ready for, all anyone could do now was wait.

Time will eventually give Odin his answers. However, part of him fears what those will be.

[winterwolfy]

The Power of a Star

Pairing: Bucky×fem!personagem ficcional

Having its essence fused into a human body, Stellari, a star bearing the unique and magical element of the Star Dynasty, has a duty to protect it and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. The Avengers welcome her and decide to help her. For having such a bleak past, Stellari's purity and naivete awaken something in Bucky.

I.

Looking at her own hands, Stellari begins to contemplate her newest existence, she sits down and sees her bipedal shape, looking to the side there is a large piece of metal that gives her the vision of her reflection, she dares to stand up and see herself completely, the cloth that was covering her falls, giving her a better view of your newest form. Two legs, two arms, one head: humanoid, she presumes. A loud and rough throat clearing is heard.

"How are you called?" The star turns around to find a humanoid giant. He notices her confused face.

"Can you understand me?" The girl approaches gently and amicably, the giant shows no fear, she reaches out, touching the icy metallic prosthesis that was his hand. Her eyes light up in a sparkling blue.

"Hello Eritri, call me Stellari" The dwarf giant kneels, mesmerized by who he realizes is in front of him.

"You are, indeed, a Star! The Star!" The smile that forms on the giant's face makes the girl smile too. But not fully understanding. "I must call Thor, you will be in his care" He gets up.

"Who is Thor?" Eritri stranges forward the question, he assumed that because she went directly to his land, Nidavellir, she would know about the kingdoms and their sovereign, however her confused features indicated the opposite.

"What exactly do you know, child?" The question takes the star by surprise, she could think of the answer but, still, not exactly, everything was very mixed up in her mind, I believe that 'locked' would be the correct word.

"Well, I know that my name is Stellari, I know this form of communication now" she pointed to her lips "But I feel that other informations have eloped me.

The giant looked surprised, thoughtful.  After a few seconds of thinking he approached another metal object out of the thousands around him, he wielded a small dagger in a socket, perfect for its blade, the cutting artifact began to shine in pulsars of light.

"Thor will come soon" He looked at Stellari, quickly turning his face again as if to avoid her figure.  He approached where she was lying, taking the huge white cloth, opening it and leading to the sinuous figure of the girl.  She clumsily wrapped herself in the sheet, several meters still lying around it. She looked back at Eritri, her innocent eyes searching for an answer to the giant's sudden act.

"Err ... You see..." Eritri started with his hand behind his head "You must cover yourself" The girl nodded, not quite sure why you should do it, she didn't see it as problem, but she knew that some things are yet to be learn.

Suddenly, a bright and colorful beam of light came down, and with it, a male figure.  The man carried an axe that dimmed as the magic, used to control Bifrost, faded.

"Eritri, my great friend!" Thor opens his arms as he approaches and greets the giant who smiles at the man "To what do I owe the great honor of your calling?" He says in his deep, full voice.

"It is a pleasure to see you too... See Thor, are you familiar with the Star Dynasty?" Thor smiles amused by the question, he thinks for a while.

"Maybe... Tell me more" He replies with a hand on his beard. The giant realizes that Thor actually had no idea what he was talking about.

"Well, since the beginning of the Universe there are Cosmic Clouds, your friends,the humans, call them... Nebulae, I believe. Certain Nebulae carry what is called he Royal dust. Such Nebulae, just like any other place or object of the Universe, come to an end and- "

"My friend, I don't understand where you are going with this astronomical information" The man confessed.

"Look Thor, in the extermination of these places, the Royal Dynasty, these specific Nebulae, has the need to continue with the existence of this unique and rare element, this Royal dust, but they only have the power to save a single bearer of that element per extermination.

"Bearer of it? Okay, I think I understand that deed. But what is this story?"

"For many cycles these bearers took various forms: planets, stones, stars, think about it as a kind of reincarnation. But this time it was different, the current bearer came to me. With the message that its new shape should be shaped by me.

"Well, and where is that planet or 'Royal' star?"

"That's where I wanted to get into, it's not, technically a planet or a star" Thor looked at him confused. Eritri moved aside, looking at Stellari. Thor followed his vision, looking at the slim figure wrapped in an exaggeratedly large cloth behind Eritri. Stellari looked at them curiously. Processing everything the giant had said about her and her existence.

"This is Stellari, the current bearer of the Royal element."

[strandweaver]

“Tarkovsky, adapting Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s 1972 novel Roadside Picnic, created a Zone in which possibilities literally expanded, and slippery ideas of faith, guilt, and desire could be contemplated. Its opening poses two origins for the elusive region: a meteorite or aliens of the “cosmic abyss.” Not that it really matters; the Zone is a vessel for the fears, anxieties, and hopes of those who visit. Other Zone-like constructions with similarly obscure origins have emerged, like the pristine Area X in Jeff Vandermeer’s Southern Reachtrilogy and Alex Garland’s subsequent adaptation, 2018’s Annihilation. In those works, ecological beauty and horror coexist while time and space take on their own psychedelic properties, posing fundamental questions about the nature of life itself to its own group of travellers.”

“The collective spirit Kojima fosters reminds me of the writer and artist group known as the Dark Mountain project. Its 2009 manifesto Uncivilization writes of the need for figurative ‘bearers, sherpas, guides, fellow adventurers’ in a time of ecocide.”

“Ironically, ecological crisis and its rising death toll has imparted the Zone a new, twenty-first century lease of life. While Stalker and the Chernobyl disaster emerged during the throes of Soviet crisis and the regime’s declining power in the 1970s and ‘80s, the Southern Reach trilogy and Death Stranding function as spaces to reflect on nature’s death, humanity’s destructive potential, and, crucially, our resolve for survival. Crisis generates new questions where old knowledge fails; the Zone offers us a space to work through the tumult.”

“Sam develops a fondness for the incubated infant strapped to his abdomen, which helps him detect BTs in the wild. However bleak, scary, celestial, or downright mundane Death Stranding’s eco-horror becomes, the game is anchored by their connection. At first glance, Sam and BB symbolize the rule-breaking weirdness of Kojima’s Zone where grown-ups rely on strange, bottled babies for survival. But at their core, the duo represent intergenerational responsibility and Sam’s own earthly duty to his dependent. Death Stranding’s most fundamental, surprisingly heartfelt question asks us what we want to pass on: a world of life and possibility, or a darker future entirely.”

[pikkish-moved]

Growing in Other Directions

In which the Koppaiates encounter a new species

Today, the Koppaiates were returning to the Garden of Hope. There was still some fruit to be gathered there, and this time, returning with Captain Charlie, they were sure they could add to their juice supply exponentially, and maybe even find some hint to the cosmic drive key’s whereabouts.

Alph was, as usual, at the helm of the Drake, scoping out the best landing place. Thus far, it seemed such a spot was the very same place he had landed the ship when first seeking out Brittany. Then, he hadn’t so much been looking for a good landing spot, but merely somewhere close to her signal.

But, now, coincidentally, it seemed that was the best landing spot anyway.

Alph panned over the map onscreen one more time, just to be sure. No better landing spot caught his eye, but something else certainly did grab his attention, something he hadn’t really paid attention to on his previous scans of the topography. The image was small on the Drake’s map, nestled under some tall foliage in the northern part of the Garden, but the longer Alph looked at it, the more certain he was that he knew the familiar shape. Still, the unlikelyhood of it being what he thought was so great, he couldn’t be entirely sure.

“H-hey, um… Captain Charlie?” Alph called, seeking a second opinion. He pointed to the map as Charlie approached. “What do you think that looks like?”

Charlie leaned in, his brow furrowing as he looked at it. After a moment, the sudden widening of his eyes, the sharp hiss of breath between his teeth was all the signal that was needed to tell he had come to the same conclusion as Alph. “I… I would say it’s a spaceship.”

“A spaceship?” Brittany asked from across the room, where she was still pulling on her suit. “Another one? Did someone get here before us?”

“Seems that way,” Charlie responded. “Or, at least, around the same time as us.”

Alph looked to the captain. “Should I land the Drake nearby?”

Charlie nodded. “We might as well introduce ourselves, and try to make a good impression.”

Brittany muttered something under her breath about how it shouldn’t be Charlie to make first contact if they were going for a good impression, then, but it wasn’t quite loud enough to reach the other two’s ears.

✿✿✿

Alph landed the Drake a safe distance away from the other ship, and after calling out a band of pikmin, the trio made their way towards the other ship.

But as they neared it, it quickly became clear something was wrong. The ship was nose-down in the ground, its hull scorched and stripped, the interior of a ship clearly exposed in some places. Wreckage was strewn about all across the ground, and there was a trench cut in a long line where the ship must have impacted the ground and then slid.

Worst of all, the pikmin seemed nervous. They were unnaturally quiet, not keeping up their usual enthusiastic chatter and sticking close together.

And as the Koppaiates approached the wreck, their pace slowed considerably.

Eventually, Alph took the lead. As the engineer of the crew, he could tell a lot about the ship from a single look that the others couldn’t, and some of his nervousness was dampened by his curiosity in the alien vessel.

“It… looks Hocotatian-made, I think,” he relayed to his companions. “An older one, too; it’s still got the whole ‘aerodynamic rocket’ design. Looks like… I think it’s a deep-space freighter, probably a single passenger ship. The crash is… it must have hit the ground from freefall, probably from the upper atmosphere, though… I think it’s probably been here a long time. Most of the shielding is gone. Looks like a lot of the equipment is missing, too, though-“

Alph froze as there was a crunch underfoot. Looking down, he saw something glinting in the mossy ground.

“Alph?” Brittany asked as she and Charlie came to stand beside him.

Alph didn’t answer, just knelt down, looking for whatever he had stepped on. After a moment, he came up with a clear shard of-...

...Oh.

“Is that glass?” Charlie asked.

“No,” Alph said quietly, turning the shard over in his gloved hands, careful to not let the sharp edges cut his suit. “It’s polycarbonate.” He didn’t look up to meet his crewmates’ blank looks, instead reaching down to unearth more pieces. “There’s-... probably more of it nearby, too. I don’t think-... Whoever it was, they would’ve had to land pretty hard for-... for their helmet to shatter this badly.”

There was a long moment of silence as his companions processed what he had just said.

Finally, “Are you sure that’s what it is?” The quiet plea that Alph was wrong was still audible in Brittany’s voice. She may not have had the greatest opinions of people in general, but that didn’t mean she wanted to find some poor person dead of oxygen poisoning.

Unfortunately, Alph was certain. “Yeah. Same stuff our helmets are made of.”

For a good long moment, there was silence among the Koppaiates.

Then, looking over his shoulder at the wreck, Charlie said, “We should check the crash.”

Both Alph and Brittany recoiled at the suggestion. The very thought of setting foot in a derelict ship that had crashed there long ago, possibly still with the remains of some crew…

But Captain Charlie was a veteran space ranger. This wasn’t the first, nor the worst crash he had ever seen, and, he added, everything had to be inspected in case any of it could be if use. They were in a hostile environment, and everything that could provide them with an edge was to be claimed.

“Besides,” he added in a slightly more sympathetic voice, “we ought to see if they left any sort of log, or journal. To try to figure out who they were, and… Well. I can tell you from experience, it’s better to know the fate of a loved one than to be left wondering forever.”

Though Alph and Brittany hated the thought of being such bearers of bad news, they couldn’t argue with that, and with significantly lower spirits, they followed after Captain Charlie towards the crashed ship.

✿✿✿

Captain Olimar had, in fact, left a voyage log.

On arriving at the derelict ship, the lettering “S. S. DOLPHIN” still faintly visible on its scorched, scraped hull, the trio of Koppaiates had left their group of nervous pikmin to board the ship. Once inside the small main bridge, Alph had found the main computer to, surprisingly, still be functional. He had navigated to the captain’s log file. Inside, there were two folders, one marked “notes,” and  the other “logs.” Inside the logs folder, there were a mere twenty nine entries.

At Charlie’s quiet direction, Alph opened the final log entry.

“Entry 29”

“Tomorrow, is the day my life-support system fails. If I do not recover all my parts, I have no choice but to try to blast off. Missing a few parts may not affect my attempts to return to Hocotate...but then again, it may. At any rate, I must try to recover the remaining parts tomorrow."

“I... feel so very tired.”

“That… doesn’t tell us a whole lot about them,” Brittany murmured. “Except maybe they were a Hocotatian.”

Biting his lip, Alph selected a different log.

“Entry 14”

“Looking from this planet into the skies above, I see the pale white moon floating overhead. It brings to mind memories of the moon from back home. I bet that even now my wife and children are sitting at home, gazing up at our pale red moon... Hang on, dear ones! Your Olimar will return some day!”

In that moment, all three Koppaiates felt something of the same grief. It was not to be so; Captain Olimar had perished, and his family would never see him again.

Almost out of a sense of duty, then, Charlie took over the computer terminal, and opened the first log. And from there, they read, from the beginning, the final trials of Captain Olimar.

They read his accounts of his crash landing the first time, to awaken on a strange planet, his ship broken and incapable of flight. Of how he discovered the pikmin, and with their help, he recovered his ship’s engine, and at least managed to reach the relative safety of low orbit for the night.

How he had a mere thirty days of life support battery to recover all his ship’s missing pieces and escape the planet.

They read his discovery of yellow and blue pikmin, of his valiant battles with the indigenous monsters of the planet to recover the pieces of his ship.

Of his hope on the recovery of every ship part, and his despondency on the days without success.

And they read of his longing for home, of his love for his wife and children, as he watched himself growing thinner in the mirror and only thought of the worry his absence was causing his family.

When they had finished reading Captain Olimar’s voyage log, they sat for a moment, in silence.

“I… suppose we’ll have to find his family when we get back,” Alph eventually said in a whisper, barely meeting his crewmates’ eyes.

Charlie just nodded in solemn agreement. There was another long moment of silence.

Finally, Captain Charlie turned away from the computer. “At any rate, we’re wasting time here. We are on a mission, after all.” Being a space ranger in the war, he had seen his fair share of death, and more than once had to postpone mourning for the sake of work.

Alph and Brittany quietly agreed, and turned to follow Charlie out of the ship. But when they got there, they found the pikmin they had left were not waiting patiently for their return. In fact, the entire group was marching away, as if led by one of the Koppaiates themselves.

Or… maybe a new type of pikmin? There was, at the front of the crew, a bright red flower that rose a bit higher than all the others- about the height that the antenna of one of the Koppaiates’ helmets rose.

Regardless, whoever it was, they were leading off one hundred pikmin, possibly into danger.

Running forward, closely followed by Alph and Brittany, Charlie let out a sharp blast on his whistle, calling for the pikmin to stop. The pikmin, being very well tuned to the more urgent tone of the whistle, froze, and disbanded, leaving the would-be leader alone in front of the charging Koppaiates.

All three of them quickly slid to a halt, however, on seeing the figure in front of them.

For he stood with the same confidence and determination they had come to expect of him, and though his suit was dirty and torn, and his face smeared with mud, and his helmet long gone, swapped for a stem and flower, there was no mistaking it.

Standing before them, pikmin gathered about him and looking to him for instruction, was the very same recently deceased Captain Olimar.

[davidmann95]

ok WOAH I just read your thing about the Justice Legion Alpha with the crazy archetypes and I'm curious if the team consisted of more than just Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Super-Superman. If the answer is yes PLEASE tell me more because I am so curious and then tell me every single place I can read about them and when they're getting their own comic because they sound FASCINATING AS HELL.

THEY’RE GREAT.

Justice Legion Alpha is actually, as their name suggests, simply the head of many Justice Legion teams - B is the future equivalent of the Titans, L the Legion of Superheroes, T Young Justice, Z the Legion of Super-Pets, and S is a bunch of Superboy clones with their own individual superpowers run by OMAC’s Brother Eye. The main team, basically the classic Justice League archetypes as screamed through a megaphone, is made up of:

Superman: Kal Kent, the latest descendant of the original Superman, is faster than a speeding tacheyon, more powerful than the gravitational pull of a collapsing star, able to leap from world to world in a single bound, a genius to the power of 10 Einstein Units, and has numerous additional senses and superpowers beyond the base Kryptonian set due to generations of breeding with other alien species, including a fifth-dimensional queen in the 67th century. His only weakness is that his powers diminish within days if away from the Super-Sun of his native system; he protects Earth.

Batman: A child of prison guards on the asylum world of Pluto, a planetwide prison break resulted in all 10,000 guards being herded into the prison stadium and being executed in front of their traumatized children over the course of days. Vowing vengeance, this child grew up to become the latest Batman, who has an IQ of 1067, knows telepathic octopus martial arts, and built a digital copy of his pre-trauma personality and installed it into the robot body of “Robin, the Toy Wonder” to keep himself in check as he guards Pluto alone.

Wonder Woman: After the Amazons colonized Venus, the Goddess of Truth - implicitly the original champion by that name - brought life to a marble sculpture, who has the aid of not only the Lasso of Truth, but a pair of sentient shapeshifting bracelets known as Harmony and Charity.

Flash: One of the two members who were around before the JLA’s debut, he’s John Fox, a Flash native to the 27th century who after an encounter with Wally West retreated into the further future due to laws against his time-travelling abilities in his own time; he joined Alpha (even though he should pretty much be a caveman by their standards) and patrols the data-mining cities of Mercury.

Starman: An odd inclusion for the ultimate superhero team outside of that stretch of time when Starman was one of the most critically acclaimed books on the stands, Farris Knight is a distant descendant of the original bearer of the name who inherited the Cosmic Rod and the duties of the name; he’s personally uninterested in heroism, but feels obligated and enjoys the perks that come with the gig. He operates out of the ruins of Uranus as caretaker to Solaris, once a deadly enemy of the Superman Dynasty but now rehabilitated as a secondary power source for the solar system.

Aquaman: King of Neptune, he’s pretty much just regular Aquaman, but in the future and with a beard made of water.

Hourman: An android built by Tyler Chemorobotics - a descendant of the company formed by the original Hourman Rex Tyler - he commands time as the possessor of the Worlogog, defends Saturn and is a mentee of the New God Metron.

Resurrection Man: Mitch Shelly, one of the few survivors of the dim and distant original age of heroes, was long ago cursed to die and be born anew each time with a different superpower - he can now trigger deaths on command with an implant and chose which power to return with. He’s the JLA’s tactical adviser, operating out of their headquarters orbiting Jupiter.

Owlwoman: Little is known of her: she joins the team after DC One Million proper, the child of parents of both the matter and anti-matter universes and able to accelerate to lightspeed on photon wings as well as breach the dimensional barrier separating her native worlds.

Atom: Another latecomer, he’s the survivor of a displaced universe, working with the JLA until he can rediscover his home; a side-effect of the accident that stranded him also allows him to divide himself into proportionately smaller individuals indefinitely, linked by a hivemind.

Sans spoilers, that’s the lineup! If you want to dip your toe in I’d suggest either the DC One Million Eighty-Page Giant or Superman/Batman #79-80; if you enjoy those almost all of their appearances are collected in the DC One Million Omnibus, one of the few such collections I’d actually recommend purchasing, as it’s maybe the only event comic ever where the tie-ins are generally really good across the board (though the omnibus itself frustratingly puts a couple of those out of order; if you can find any of the single issues of the original book from the fourth week of the event, they have a proper reading order in the back). Outside what’s collected there, you can find members of Justice Legion Alpha in:

* All-Star Superman, where Kal Kent ends up appearing and playing a pretty significant role.

* Batman #700, which has the Batman of the 853rd century in a cameo.

* Hourman, a spinoff series for him by Tom Peyer and Rags Morales that was I understand unsurprisingly very good; I hear he hung with the Justice Society of America in their book for awhile too.

* JLA 80-Page Giant #2 has a bizarrely uncollected One Million story that shows a humorous tour of the solar system conducted by Kal Kent.

* Young Heroes In Love #1000000, the one issue of the event proper not collected due to some unusual rights agreement regarding that comic in general.

* The back half of Superman: Grounded, which gets good once Chris Roberson takes the story from JMS and draws on an element introduced by Kal Kent to great effect.

* They apparently make a teeny-tiny cameo in JLA Secret Files & Origins #3.

* They have a one-panel appearance in the wonderful World’s Funnest.

* The first issue of the new volume of Justice League that kicked off last week, suggesting they may be back in the near future.

* They fight the Crime Syndicate in the latter’s Convergence title, but it sucks and I fully recommend you skip it.

[easyhairstylesbest]

Capricorn Monthly Horoscope

MONTH OF January

Monthly Snapshot 

The pressure’s off, Capricorn! For your sign, 2020 was unusually charged. Not only did the world turn completely inside-out, but you felt it poignantly as a rare trio of planets—Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto—stalked their way through Capricorn all year. This literally hasn’t happened in centuries, so if you’re feeling like you deserve a page in the history books just for making it through, you’re correct! (Allow us to write you a tribute…)

In January, Jupiter and Saturn begin their first full month in Aquarius, where they’ll spend much of this year activating your second house of work, money and security. Get ready to hunker down and start building your Sea Goat C-Suite, or whatever your next empire or endeavor shall be! Certainly you’ve had some big ideas in 2020, and now it’s time to pick a couple of the winners and build those out. 

You may still be “sorting the crops” and innovating while the Sun’s in Capricorn through January 19. But once the Sun shifts into Aquarius that day, you’ll be fully ready to start making tangible plans. Just get started before Mercury turns retrograde for three weeks on January 30, sending you back to the drawing board to perfect your mission.

Week 1: January 1-10 Let the good times roll

Ready for some fun? Since June 27, you’ve been steeped in heavy emotional vibes thanks to Mars making an extended trip through Aries and your domestic, sensitive fourth house. Family and household matters may have become all-consuming at times. Your moods could have been intense and fluctuating, or perhaps you were dealing with a lot of tension under your roof—which was only exacerbated by the pandemic.

The upside? Motivator Mars could have inspired a cottage industry or all kinds of enterprising personal developments at home base. But there’s been a LOT of energy swirling around.

On Wednesday, January 6, Mars enters sensual Taurus and your fun-loving fifth house of passion, creativity and fame until March 3. This shift will help you look and feel more upbeat again. Don’t be surprised if you start attracting attention as magnetic Mars boosts your charisma and confidence. A passionate romantic cycle begins now as well—one that will include a steamy Valentine’s Day, pandemic be damned.

Ready for a mini-makeover? Why not pull out that head-turning outfit that’s had nowhere to go for months? Even if it’s only to glam up your webcam presence, now’s your moment to stretch a bit beyond comfort mode, ditch the sweatpants and bring a splash of glamour back into your life. If your passion for a creative project has wilted, you’ll find plenty of fresh playful energy to draw upon now—and it’s bound to lift the spirits of everyone you interact with.

Week 2: January 11-17 Money or honey?

The saying “no romance without finance” could ring true this week as planets cluster in the passionate and profit-driven zones of your chart. Hotheaded Mars and disruptive Uranus are both making waves in Taurus and your expressive fifth house, heating up your love life or making you crave attention to an unusual degree. Your inner “artiste” could also make a strong showing.

But a more practical counterforce is also at play as expansive Jupiter and stodgy Saturn, both in Aquarius, power up your second house of work, money and routines. Should you follow your heart and its windswept beat…or roll up your sleeves to tackle your to-do list?

Your first dance with that question arrives on Wednesday, January 13, when Mars and Saturn lock into a tense square, pulling you in both directions. Impatient Mars could ratchet up egos or make you want to hedonistically pursue pleasure and whims. But stern Saturn won’t take kindly to impulsivity, especially if you neglect your duties or overspend. In love, slow down and get real about whether your values align. Your attraction may be strong, but that won’t be enough to go the distance.

The next day, Thursday, January 14, things get interesting. Radical Uranus ends a five-month retrograde in Taurus, which could send your love life in an unexpected new direction. Single Caps should NOT get too committed to the first person who comes along as some interesting new options could arrive before Valentine’s Day! Tech-savvy Uranus can bring luck on the dating apps, especially since confident, charismatic Mars is also in here, steaming up the windows and making you quite the attention grabber. Remember that there IS such a thing as “bad publicity,” Capricorn. Keep your ego and temper in check.

Also on Thursday, the confident Sun and powerhouse Pluto make their once-a-year mashup, and it’s happening in YOUR sign. Debut a stunning new image, share one of your transformational ideas or make a big ask. Get ready to captivate a few key decision makers. Don’t worry about pleasing people or overshadowing anyone; you’ve got the mic for this rare opportunity, so rock it and be heard!

A day for big changes—ready or not—arrives on Sunday, January 17, when two of the most freedom-seeking planets, Juclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” piter and Uranus, lock into a stressful square. This only happens every seven years, and you can be pulled in dueling directions as you strive to break free of anything that feels confining. With Jupiter in your work and money house, that could be some aspect of your job or financial obligations. And as Uranus shakes up your fifth house of romance and creativity, your inner “wild child” could make a destructively rebellious showing.

Is it time to issue your two-week notice, Capricorn, or to finally demand conditions that make your work feel fair and satisfying? We’re talking about everything from how much you’re paid to the conditions and expectations of your role. This Jupiter-Uranus square is your chance to speak up instead of being the dutiful soldier!

Week 3: January 18-24 Keep your impulses in check

Touch down on terra firma and roll up your sleeves. This week, four heavenly bodies assemble in innovative Aquarius and your second house of work, money and security. On Tuesday, January 19, the Sun departs your sign and moves into Aquarius, joining Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn in the Water Bearer’s domain until February 18. The rest of January is an industrious time when you can make headway on your 2021 intentions.

But watch out for a dramatic interruption or interlude midweek. On Wednesday, January 20, hot-blooded Mars will collide with radical changemaker Uranus in Taurus and your passionate, expressive fifth house. Egos and tempers might flare out of left field, or you could find your hands full with a heated situation that completely takes you out of the zone.

Is that Cupid making an early showing…or a cosmic cameo? The Mars-Uranus mashup in this lusty sector could spark up an out-of-the-blue attraction. An unexpected love affair could ignite or possibly bring surprising pregnancy news for Caps of that demographic. You could get an exciting offer that you want to rush into, especially with these two impulsive and volatile planets fusing their firepower.

You could be torn between the urgent pleas of head and heart on Saturday, January 23, when strident Mars and hasty Jupiter lock into an embattled square. Mars, Jupiter and Uranus are the three most rash, brash planets in the solar system, and having them all in such tight proximity this month will certainly turn up the intensity.

But if you must listen to one dueling force over another, tune in to your heart. Also on Saturday, the Sun makes its once-a-year conjunction with your ruler, Saturn. This sobering day asks you to take an unflinching look at your life (think of it as an “eat your vegetables” transit). While the energy can be harsh and even pessimistic, it will also snap you out of any denial that could be leading you toward a bad decision.

As the Sun and Saturn merge in Aquarius, your work and money are in the hot seat. Are you following a budget that actually fits your lifestyle? Are you earning more than you spend, putting anything away? If you don’t like what you see, Capricorn, don’t beat yourself up. Just get real about the changes you might make. Correcting course won’t happen overnight, but if you reach out to a mentor or professional or put in the responsible changes, you can turn the tide.

Week 4: January 25-31 Financial flow returns

Time to manifest your dreams! The Sun, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn rev up your revenue and pump up productivity—with a special emphasis on new cash streams.

On Tuesday, January 26, the Sun in Aquarius will square off against disruptor Uranus in Taurus, echoing the tension of the January 13 Mars-Uranus square. One part of you wants to blow off work and have fun while your ambitious side is laser-focused on productivity. Try to strike a balance between duty and desire so you don’t snap! You may need to stand up to a bullying person or even a well-meaning but pushy type who’s trying to strong-arm you into doing things on their clock instead of your own.

Strong feelings can’t find anywhere to hide on Thursday, January 28, when the year’s only Leo full moon blossoms in your eighth house of intimacy and joint ventures. A connection that’s been budding since the August 18, 2020, Leo new moon could become ultra-official—or you might decide to suddenly call things off. This is a full moon of extremes, so you’ll likely either be in or out—halfway’s not going to cut it.

On the upside, this full moon could deliver a financial windfall (perhaps a gift or news of an investment or real estate sale) or something that makes a relationship feel more permanent, from a proposal to a pregnancy to plans to merge your assets in some way.

Even better? Today, the Sun will conjunct expansive Jupiter in its once-a-year meetup, known as the Day of Miracles and considered by astrologers to be one of the luckiest days of the year. Your luck will be focused in ingenious Aquarius and your money zone, so you may find yourself ready to expand your reach through technology in ways you hadn’t thought of—or dared to try— before. Your confidence will be high—are you ready to make a very big ask? Chances are the answer today will be YES!

Don’t wclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” ait, though, because on Saturday, January 30, communication planet Mercury will go retrograde until February 20. Mercury will back through Aquarius and your fiscal second house. After all your forward progress, money could get funny, and work could be riddled with drama and tech issues (the Zoom meeting that won’t recognize your mic or camera, anyone?). If you’re suddenly facing clients delaying or demanding unreasonable deliverables, blame back-spinning Mercury—and comfort yourself knowing the glitches will be over by February 20.

LOVE & ROMANCE:

Passion ignites…at last! For the past six months, firebrand Mars has been in Aries and your sentimental fourth house, intensifying your moods and feelings. You may have felt like you were on a bit of an emotional roller coaster since June 27, 2020, the start of this extended cycle. For the record, this transit was four times longer than a usual Mars visit! So if you’re feeling a bit motion-sick, we don’t blame you!

On January 6, the red planet finally moves on to Taurus and your passionate, charismatic fifth house, rebooting your libido and blessing you with the It factor. Now, that’s more like it! Between now and March 3, Mars will heat up this frisky (and fertile) sector. At the least, it should bring the desire to feel sexy again; at the most, it could foretell of a pregnancy for those of the childbearing demographic.

Stage a photo shoot, revamp your wardrobe, change up your headshots. You’re ready to feel glamorous and be noticed for it once again. Buh-bye, homebody; hello, hotness!

Two days later, Venus awakens from a sluggish spell in Sagittarius and your hazy twelfth house that started on December 15. If you’re mojo’s been in slo-mo, Venus comes to the rescue! As she tours your sign through February 1, Venus helps restore your magnetism and sense of romantic adventure. Spruce up your appearance; commit to a fresh start in your romantic life.

Want a day to focus on? Try January 9, when love planets Venus and Mars form their annual harmonious trine. You’ll be utterly captivating, so make sure eligible admirers (or your amour du jour) can bask in your gorgeous glory! You’ll be feeling bold and confident, so this is a powerful day to let someone know that you’re interested in them. Don’t be shy about making that first move.

Key Dates:

January 9: Venus-Mars trine

Bring on the lasting love! As affectionate Venus and passionate Mars harmonize in stable earth signs, you could have true romance with all the trimmings—sensuality and stability. Skip the “come here now go away” players and their mixed messages. A partner who makes you feel secure is suddenly the most attractive catch in town. Coupled? Mark a long-term relationship with a thoughtful gift to let your mate know how much you cherish them.

MONEY & CAREER:

  Dear Reader: To bring you cutting-edge financial and career astrology, we’ve discontinued our monthly Money and Career Horoscope. This will allow us to devote the time to courses and offerings we’ve got planned all year to support you in creating abundance.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a dreamer with a side hustle or just looking for deeper satisfaction from your work, we invite you to join us for January’s special event to craft your vision for 2021.

2021 Vision Board Experience: January 28 with The AstroTwins Ready to design a path that truly fulfills you in 2021? Joclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” in us for a star-powered live online event to create success, leadership and impact on January 28, 2021. Tickets available at https://astrostyle.com/visionboard21

Love Days: 21, 26

Money Days: 6, 13

Luck Days: 3, 11

Off Days: 24, 28, 10

See All Signs

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Capricorn Monthly Horoscope

[thefaithlesstheologian]

The Council of Angels

Somewhere, deep in the primordial mists of time and space, an angel guides a weary soul along a mysterious path. As it followed Azrael, the spirit’s embrace of the cosmic mist forged uncertainty and fear in their being. No wind blew, no voices cried, indeed nothing but these two seemed to disturb the gaseous plane. Having been reduced from a body to little more than the spark of life the soul felt a keen vulnerability much like that of a freshly molted crustacean.

They began to doubt their guide and thought that they perhaps were false and indeed a kind of hallucination or Demon meant to tote them along a sisyphusian path. The hooded figure bore no face and carried them forth in impersonal silence refusing to answer any questions presented serving only the task at hand.

It was not until sometime into the vexing journey that the angel finally stayed his course and spoke:

“Now my dear friend, before I take you to our next destination I must ask you this:

Do you fear Judgement?”

The soul, embittered by Azrael’s former evasiveness and overwhelmed by such a sweeping and personal question, remained silent for a time, Death with his everlasting patience waited until the final moments when they answered in a feeble affirmative.

“I see, now, come this way.” Death said grimly.

There was a sudden flash of light, and at first, it seemed the angel of death had gone. Seven more beings had taken his place, surrounding the soul as small stars in a crescent.

The centermost, a star of pure white which flared with violent arches spoke in a thunderous voice:

“Here now sits this soul before us

Uncertain, unweighted

Let us calibrate the scales!”

Then, in turn, the stars began to speak. The first of which was Raphael who took the form of a golden sun not dissimilar from Earth’s:

“Once this soul knew faith,

Indeed in their youth

Their voices uttered prayer

Pleads for mercy and forgiveness.

Yet as youth faded

So did their resolve

And they rejected the name.”

Then spoke Raguel, a smoldering red ball of gas:

“In desecration they decried us!

Smote our god with contemptuous words!

Accused his laws of injustice!

Claimed in arrogance they knew better!”

He was followed by Gabriel a cool blue sphere:

“They took no value from life

Entranced by only taboos.

The shadows spoke to them

And this soul spoke back

Entreated their mysterious calls

Off of the narrow trail

To create their own.”

Ariel whose flame arced about him as mane growled:

“For a great while, they hid

The light had scorned them

Like the vampire, like the demon

It sought to smite them

To prey on them

Indeed they feared the very day.”

Cassiel, whose lights danced whimsically attested thus:

“Pain was your sovereign

Agony your unholy creed.

You found it and still you did not retreat

From shadow nor devil

As the cosmic clock

Trickled its way around to midnight

Further, you retreated from our sight

Charting lands forbidden

Connecting to them your road!”

Then Michael that silver star and the most critical of all:

“A path was laid out for man

So as to keep them from pain

Yet the soul appears to seek it

And at every pass ignored the voice

Of brother Gabriel and brother Azrael alike

Strayed deeper into the shadows

Where devils may lurk.”

The soul quivered under their might. Their judgments, their criticisms had all been heard before in another life. It suddenly felt as if they were in a nightmare, where some damnable echo chamber had formed to torment them for their iniquity. For a moment they wondered how angels could be so cruel when they were so full of grace. They wondered how the path, if so safe, is so easily strayed from. They wondered what devils might say!

Then, the last and wisest of all the council spoke:

“Now my brothers, stay your wicked tongues!

You speak with vitriol and grief for our child

Yet none of you know of hypocrisy!

You speak of their sin

As being pure iniquity

And yet you think little of consequence!”

It was the river-like voice Uriel, the bearer of all truths whose gnosis was sprung forth unto the council so as to fertilize their desolate and dreary manner of thought.

Michael then protested:

“They strayed that path,

that one route

And found shadows where the unknown lurks

They found pain on their own

And lost faith of their own.”

Michael’s callousness stirred Raphael and softened his heart:

“Now my brother, perhaps Truth is being fair

Never once did I look in the shadows

For this lost soul.

Never did I heal them in their abandonment!

I must ponder how many were abandoned

By my oversight my objectivity

How many damned wander

Where they do not deserve

When we so selfishly withhold our light?”

Raguel then intervened as a prosecutor:

“Laws are as such

And must be enforced.

Our rules were laid out for us

And no exception may be made

Not even by the almighty himself!”

Cassiel then returned and said:

“Now my rowdy brethren

Perhaps we have missed

Something vital here.

What is the manner of consequence?

Did this one not create, just as our Lord did?

Are we not a similar mold?

Do we forget how the spark of creation passes

from one unto the other?

They created joyous works

Of flesh and earthly materials

Did they not fulfill their duty?”

Raphael returned:

“Indeed, tortured as this soul may be

Wounded and crumpled

They cast not their pain unto others

No! Indeed they healed others

Comfort and solidarity,

They brought them to ease

Such as where I failed

They succeeded!

Pain turned to Empathy, the mastery of such!

It was only then that they did not suffer!”

Ariel then spoke:

“Indeed with strength and dignity

In the face of the tumultuous shadows

They carried forth, not prey to demons.”

Michael furious at this tumultuous argument:

“Yet was it not the same shadows

Which consumed brother Lucifer?

Is it not the mystery of shade

The mastery of pain

Which led him to cruelty

And cast him unto the pit?”

Uriel:

“Yet here they stand

Neither a devil nor demon’s soul in sight!

You must wonder if Lucifer fell of his own

Or if simply we thrust him below

What wonder could there have been

If our brother angel was treated as such?”

Michael:

“You speak blasphemy!

I will hear no more!

This has scorned us

To Hell, it goes forevermore!”

Raguel now moved by Michael’s indignation met him with his own:

“No dear brother! Your word is not the only!

Our brothers speak in turmoil

And so no decision may be made!

Due process is also law

And this discourse must yet be resolved!”

Uriel, pleased by this continued:

“You worry about faith

But what does that mean?

What is God but a name?

What are we but a brand?”

Raphael:

“Yes indeed, although no prayers were uttered

They carried our virtues.

They healed the sick.

Held firm and awarded upon them

That which they justly deserved,

Held true in their self

Their ideals

Their Kin.

How could we condemn one so righteous?”

Gabriel:

“Yes, yes! Now I see!

Brother Raguel I know your tender heart!

Surely you can see out of all of us

That there are those dance neither in light

Nor shadow!

For that is where you live!

That is where you work!

That is where this one followed!

They judged not the shadows from afar

But with their own senses!

And brother Michael, temperamental art thou!

Mercurial, don’t you see

That this soul is your kin?”

Uriel:

“Indeed I must say

I have had enough of this masquerade

We are not stars

Nor are we scions!

Brothers our nature our souls must reflect!”

It was then that the spirit of Uriel flashed and flickered. The star imploded casting its dust through the primordial lands in a red haze. Upon its clearing the angels no longer stood, Indeed there stood seven men each reflecting familiar character to the soul.

Michael most of all resembled them, almost mirror-like and in response spoke in lament:

“I see my brothers perhaps

I speak with shame

They treat us with such revelry! Such praise!

How can we ever bear that standard?”

Uriel now a wizened entity:

“We can as long as we continue this discourse!

In days of old, we taught the humans!

Now, perhaps we allow them to grant us insight!

We too are but men of God

And even then what is he?

Perhaps its because we know that

Infallibility is myth

and we forget

that is what exalts us!”

Azrael reappeared to the soul and in his wake his brothers vanished, returning to their kingdom to spread their new insights. The Angel of Death drew back his hood, revealing a kindly face of a man with a short grey beard and gentle hazel eyes. He reached his hands took hold of the spirit then spoke calmly:

“Now you see my friend, the question was not ‘Do you fear Judgement?’ But rather do you fear your own? You answered what you thought would be truthful, your one and only sin. For clearly you do not, for never did you waver in character, nor did your call upon the demons of Pride and Envy to thrust it upon others even in the direst throes of pain.

Come now weary friend, come! Your wisdom will be invaluable in the next life, just as it had been now. Come! We are proud to call you our kin!”

[lumineinfinitus]

Verse: Convergence

For any Marvel muses or Capcom muses that would like to use the setting, here is a brief overview for the available Marvel vs Capcom verse.

In the new world formed by Ultron Sigma’s emergence, Abel City and Asgard were intersected into one, the technological utopia and the land of the gods blending into what was the mad machine god’s capital at the end of the world, Xgard. This is now where X operates out of to defend the realms, alongside Zero and the native hero of the other city combined, the God of Thunder, Thor.

Following the destruction of Ultron Sigma, Thor split the six Infinity Stones among six chosen bearers -- two to the Dark Kingdom, two to Earth, and two to Xgard. As the second Xgard stone bearer, X holds one of the two stones that was used by Ultron Sigma, namely the cracked Reality Stone. Having previously wielded the Power Stone, he has entrusted it to Captain America, understanding the safekeeping of the Space and Reality Stones in particular is far more critical a duty.

X holds an important position amongst the alliance as the sole wielder of the Infinity Buster, an Infinity Gauntlet-based cannon of immeasurable power designed by Thanos and Tony Stark. It is their trump card against any cosmically powerful threat, which the Reality Stone acts as his activation key for.

[aion-rsa]

Finally! Guy Gardner Is Returning to His Warrior Persona!

As Green Lantern Corps Leader John Stewart works to hammer out an alliance between his crew and Soranik Natu’s Sinestro Corps, one of Stewart’s top lieutenants has gone AWOL on a personal mission — potentially heralding big changes for one of Earth’s longest-serving Green Lanterns. In “Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps” #15 by Robert Venditti and Ethan Van Sciver, Guy Gardner leaves behind his ring and dons a costume that will be familiar to longtime fans: the working-class clothes of Guy Gardner: Warrior.

While this issue frames Guy’s solo mission as a quick in-and-out excursion, current developments in the series and solicitation text for upcoming stories suggests that more permanent changes are in store. In “HJ&GLC” #14-15, John Stewart lays out a plan that will see each space sector policed by a team of one Green Lantern and member of the Sinestro Corps. Now, there are a glut of Earth-born GLs, but notably two of the newest are also currently partners, serving their home Sector 2814 — and there’s already a suggestion this partnership could be in peril:

GREEN LANTERNS #23

Written by SAM HUMPHRIES • Art by EDUARDO PANSICA and JULIO FERREIRA • Cover by MIKE McKONE • Variant cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. Please see the order form for details.

“LOST IN SPACE” part two! The Green Lantern Corps make a pact to work with the reformed, and searching for redemption, Sinestro Corps to protect the universe, one Green and one Yellow per sector. So what does this mean for Sector 2814—and Simon and Jessica’s partnership?

If Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz are indeed split up in the interest of the alliance with the Sinestro Corps, the question becomes, which wielder of the yellow ring will take over?

The signs strongly point toward Guy Gardner.

Guy Gardner and Sinestro’s Might

Back in 1968’s “Green Lantern” #59, readers first learned of “Earth’s Other Green Lantern,” a school teacher named Guy Gardner who, like Hal Jordan was also without fear — but when Abin Sur’s spaceship crashed, Hal was closer. Ever since Guy finally got a ring of his own during “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” he’s had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Finally, in 1992’s “Green Lantern” #25, he was forced to quit the Corps after losing a winner-take-all grudge match with his nemesis, Hal Jordan.

So he does what any self-respecting Guy would do: he wrestles Sinestro’s ghost for control of the yellow power ring.

Note 1 for modern readers: Sinestro was dead at the time, hence the ghost.

Note 2: there was only one yellow ring, and no Corps other than the GLs.

With his new yellow ring (and awesome leather jacket), Guy is able to rejoin the Justice League and even gets his own series, written first by Gerard Jones, then Chuck Dixon, and illustrated by Joe Staton and others.

After sixteen issues, though, things changed. Then they changed again.

Guy Gardner: Warrior

Guy’s ongoing series changed its name to “Guy Gardner: Warrior” with issue #17, debuting a rather suspect new costume for the brash hero. Guy has a new, more mature outlook on life after confronting his past in the “Yesterday’s Sins” arc and an evil clone in “Collateral Damage,” so he tells his assembled friends, “From now on it’s Warrior!”

Those pants.

(For the record, folks generally still called him Guy.)

But that’s not all! His yellow ring is acting up as a result of Hal Jordan destroying Oa’s Central Power Battery on his way to becoming the cosmic villain Parallax, and when Guy brings the fight to Hal, he loses badly, and his own ring is destroyed.

Luckily, aliens happen.

More specifically, it is revealed that Guy is in fact the last descendant of race of shapeshifters called the Vuldarians. An Indiana Jones-style quest unlocks Guy’s own latent powers, and his series runs to 44 issues (plus a zero issue), mostly written by “Wynona Earp” creator Beau Smith and illustrated by Mitch Byrd. Despite the questionable concept and very ’90s shirtless look with tribal tattoos, these issues were a ton of fun.

The Return of Warrior

So what do we know from this week’s issue? Guy is once again without a ring, as he has been when he’s found himself between superhero identities on more than one occasion. He wears the jacket from his yellow ring days, and a t-shirt from the Warrior era. He’s also challenging Arkillo, whom he views as his direct and equal opposite in the Sinestro Corps, to a hand-to-hand fight.

As John Stewart struggles to maintain the authority of his command (in addition to Guy going MIA, Hal and Kyle are also on an away mission against John’s wishes, though in their case not without his consent), one can easily imagine Guy being expelled from the Green Lantern Corps. Assuming Guy wins the fight with Arkillo (and he’d damn well better), he may have a Sinestro Corps ring as a prize. Soranik could also simply choose to deputize him — the Green Lanterns’ loss is the Sinestro Corps’ gain. From there, it’s a short jump to imagine him taking over from either Simon or Jessica and becoming the yellow ring-bearer of Sector 2814.

Alternately, Guy is relieved of duty in the Green Lantern Corps but does not get a new ring. In this scenario, he could either fight injustice as a street-level brawler a la Wildcat, or get back in touch with his Vuldarian heritage.

Of these three potential scenarios, Guy once gain wielding a yellow ring seems the most likely. Here’s hoping the he maintains the badass monogrammed jacket, and opts against once again wearing the riding chaps.

The post Finally! Guy Gardner Is Returning to His Warrior Persona! appeared first on CBR.com.

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Aquarius Monthly Horoscope

MONTH OF January

Monthly Snapshot

It’s your time, Aquarius! After a tough and trying 2020, you’ve finally floated ashore, completing a long swim in the emotion ocean. You sidestroked through those uncomfortable and oft-choppy waters all last year (and boy are your arms tired…). For a sign that’s famously described as “emotionally detached” you hardly fit that picture.

Then along came the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, 2020, AKA the buzzed-about “Christmas star”. As these two galactic giants united—visibly, unless there were clouds—in YOUR sign, you were launched into a bold and expansive new chapter. Talk about being shot out of the cosmic cannon!

If you’re not feeling the renewal, you will soon enough. With the Sun slogging through Capricorn and your sleepy twelfth house until January 19, it might take a couple weeks for your Water Bearer buzz to full kick in. But when Aquarius season begins on January 19, you’ll start to feel propelled by rocket fuel to pursue your solo goals and personal passions. Prepare for liftoff!

Just make sure you get your exciting plans underwaclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” y before January 30, when Mercury turns retrograde  in your sign for three weeks. You may have to hit the pause button temporarily, or go back to the drawing board to tweak your plans. But this will give you a chance to make sure you’ve got a solid launch strategy in place before you commence your epic debuts. The world will be eagerly waiting, so you might as well do it right!

Week 1: January 1-10

Home is where the heat is

Ready for a mental break? For the past six months, your mind has been on constant alert, thanks to activator Mars blazing through Aries and your interactive third house since June 27, 2020. Mars normally stays in one sign for six weeks, so its quadruple-length visit activated your communication sector for an extended cycle.

For many Water Bearers, this also meant multitasking against a constant backdrop of gadget notifications pinging, WFH Zooms, and calls with coworkers, friends, family and co-conspirators of all kinds. Even your social sign felt the utter overload! Throw in the slightly stressful but much-needed socially-distanced interactions, and you may have felt like your head was in a constant spin state that’s left you mentally exhausted and overtaxed at the same time.

This spell of being both wired and tired ends on Wednesday, January 6, as Mars enters Taurus and your fourth house of home, family and foundations until March 3, turning your attention to self-care and personal matters. Are there things around the house you simply haven’t been able to address? Perhaps it’s a renovation project you’d really like to tackle—or it might even be time for a move, a roommate reshuffle or some other home-based matter. Your mother or a female relative could be a source of either motivation or stress (and maybe both).

Between now and March 3, tackle any home or personal life matters head-on. The new Mars-fueled courage and determination helps you move quickly and efficiently. Don’t be surprised if strong feelings and mood swings erupt along the way, thanks to the fourth house’s thin-skinned nature. Hint: There’s nothing like a good cry or a primal scream in the car to clear those channels! Indulge your inner child as needed.

Week 2: January 11-17

Call of duty

This week finds you torn between your desire to pursue your own agenda and a sense of duty to your family and home. Reconciling the dueling agendas won’t be easy, and you could find that by trying to please everyone, you please no one. Prioritize your passions, Aquarius, but make time to relax with loved ones, indulge in restorative self-care or attend to matters at base camp.

This tension is the result of two activating planets, Mars and Uranus, racing through Taurus and your domestic fourth house, which could bring curveballs and pressure to your personal life. You may be moving, making unexpected changes to your living situation or attending to a relative in need. The demands could definitely spike your stress levels and provoke a few intense mood swings.

At the same time, expansive Jupiter and structured Saturn have just nestled into Aquarius and your first house of self, independence and personal projects. You’ve got big ideas and missions to accomplish, and you don’t have time to be held back by too many people depending on you.

It class=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” all begins on Wednesday, January 13, when Mars and Saturn get embroiled in a tense square. You’re in front of some important personal decisions, perhaps even at a crossroads. With Saturn in your sign from December 17, 2020 until March 7, 2023, you’re at the beginning of a powerful new chapter. But it’s one that will demand your focused attention, and that won’t leave much time to take care of other people.

With stressful Mars ratcheting up the neediness from your inner circle, keeping firm boundaries—which is what Saturn’s all about—will be essential. Teach them how to fish instead of rushing in for the save, and make sure YOU have enough support if you find yourself pulled into guilt trips or other old family dynamics that are hard to overcome.

On Thursday, January 14, changemaker Uranus, your ruling planet, ends a five-month retrograde. Instability or slowdowns related to your family or living situation will clear up. If you’ve been at a crossroads about where to live or a personal decision, innovative Uranus could bring in some unexpected new options.

That same day, the Sun makes its annual conjunction (meetup) with shadowy Pluto in Capricorn and your twelfth house of closure and healing. Some deeply-buried emotions could emerge or you may need to summon the courage to end a toxic situation for once and for all. Perhaps you’ve been sticking around out of fear, guilt or some misplaced sense of obligation. Cut the codependent ties and follow what your soul is telling you, Aquarius.

If you’re still hanging on, don’t worry, because come Sunday, January 17, liberation will be a requirement, not an option. Your ruling planet Uranus will form an embattled square to Jupiter, pushing you to break free of anything that feels confining or limiting. These two freedom-seeking planets only square off every seven years, and when they do, it’s impossible to stay in a situation you’ve outgrown.

Strong feelings erupt today and you won’t be able to bite your tongue. They may bubble up without notice, and before you know it, you’re having THAT conversation. But if you’re planning to drop a bombshell, make sure you have some emotional support at the ready. The fallout of making a big, life-altering decision could have more impact than you expect.

Week 3: January 18-24

Awake at last! Aquarius season begins this week, as the Sun joins Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn in the Water Bearer’s domain this Tuesday, January 19, staying until February 18. You’re ready to dive into your 2021 goals and resolutions with full focus. Bring it on!

Midweek, you could be a bundle of nerves and feelings! On Wednesday, January 20, hotheaded Mars and volatile Uranus connect in Taurus and your touchy fourth house. Your moods may be mercurial and your temper could be like an active volcano on the verge of eruption.

With these two game-changing planets in your fourth house of home and family, this week may also bring curveball news about your living situation. Perhaps your dream home suddenly goes on the market and you decide to buy at a rock-bottom price. Maybe your landlord announces she’s selling the building that you’ve rented in for years, or you decide to rip up your roots and relocate…cuz why not? For Water Bearers of the childbearing set, pregnancy news (yours or a relative’s) could come out of the blue!

Your emotions get way overblown on Saturday, January 23, as Mars squares off with outspoken Jupiter in Aquarius. Resentment will boil over toward anyone who seems to be holding you back or demanding too much of you. You’re only human, Aquarius—but remember, so are they! Most people are feeling sapped and burnt out these days. If you bit off more than you could chew, or took on the role of caretaker then crashed, don’t get mad, just make a new arrangement. Relieve yourself of any burdensome emotional duties and decisions for a bit.

But that doesn’t mean you should slip into denial! Take a hard look in the mirror on Saturday as sobering Saturn and the Sun make their annual conjunction, meeting up in Aquarius. This once-a-year alliance rips off the rose-colored glasses and forces us to confront our limitations and shortcomings. Harsh? Yes, but like any tough-love coach or bootcamp trainer, Saturn is “cruel to be kind.”

On this day of self-reckoning, keep it real with yourself—but be compassionate! You’ve been through an incredibly tough 2020, weathering nonstop planetary action in your twelfth house of loss, closure and transition.

If you’re out of shape mentally or physically, or you’ve lapsed into bad habits or addictions, forgiveness is the path to grace. Hitting rock bottom? Good. But once you’ve acknowledged that, make a plan for how you’ll get out of this hole instead of digging yourself in deeper. A coach, expert or supportive mentor can help, so don’t hesitate to send out an SOS. You don’t have to do it alone!

Week 4: January 25-31

Me, myself and I

This week continues to energize your personal goals and passion projects. With the Sun, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn all in Aquarius, you’ve got cosmic clearance to prioritize your own agenda, although you may have to navigate a few obstacles along the way. Nevertheless, you shall persist—and hopefully pick up a few new allies along the way!

On Tuesday, January 26, the Sun in Aquarius will square off against disruptor Uranus (your ruler) in stubborn Taurus, echoing the tension of the January 13 Mars-Uranus square. Your need for “me time” or to pursue your own goals is at odds with curveballs from home and family, particularly a female relative.

One Aquarius we know is juggling supporting her mother going through radiation treatments, a best friend whose family is also dealing with a medical crisis and extended travel away from home to be there for everyone. Just remember that “wherever you go, there you are”—and try a meditation app like Headspace, Calm or Aura to keep calm and centered.

This kind of uprootedness could push you over the edge if you don’t take time for your own needs and self-care in January. We know it won’t be easy to carve out that space, but your mental wellbeing depends on it! Plus, you could find yourself in “caretaker burnout” which could lead you to snap at the very people you’re trying to help. Balance is key!

Luckily, the stars summon your support squad in the nick of time at the Thursday, January 28, Leo full moon, which blossoms in your seventh house of committed partnerships. Is it time for a relationship to turn official, or increase the commitment level? Joyful Leo says go for it.

Because, hey, you’re in the magic hotseat today, Aquarius—a well-deserved throne, might we add! Along with the Leo full moon, the Sun will conjunct expansive Jupiter in its once-a-year meetup, known as the Day of Miracles and considered by astrologers to be one of the luckiest days of the year.

In 2021, the Sun and Jupiter are meeting up in YOUR sign, tripling your fortune. Put yourself out there, pump up a passion project, make a big announcement about a solo endeavor. Love, business success, artistic expression—whatever’s most important to YOU will get a big boclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” ost today.

Take advantage of this moment, though, because on Saturday, January 30, communication planet Mercury will go retrograde until February 20. Mercury will back through Aquarius—and put you in a different kind of hotseat. Your splashy announcements could fall flat or be eclipsed by other things.

Dip behind the scenes for a couple weeks, learn from your launch and tighten up your beta version so it’s truly ready for prime time. Be extra careful of what you say, post or announce because you WILL be called to task for anything off-color or offensive. This is meant to be your luckiest year in over a decade, Aquarius, and you don’t want to squander it by attracting the wrong kind of PR  during Mercury’s backspin. When in doubt, cut it out!

LOVE & ROMANCE:

Get out of your head and into your heart! After six long months in Aries, passionate Mars leaves your cerebral third house and moves into Taurus, activating your touchy-feely fourth until March 3. Since June 27, 2020, Mars has had your mind going a mile a minute, leading to bouts of indecisiveness, analysis paralysis and, as often as not, overthinking everything! In your hyperactive mind, the grass was greener and FOMO raged—or perhaps because of pandemic, there was a lot of TALK but not so much true connection.

From January 6 to March 3, Mars will tour Taurus and help you get back into your body and your heart. This is a great time for self-care, redecorating (and in the process) re-energizing your home. Anything that needs a fire lit under it will benefit now. Just stay on guard for friction with relatives and roommates since Mars motivates and aggravates!

Venus has been in Sagittarius and your social eleventh house, but she’ll pull up stakes on January 8, relocating to Capricorn and your twelfth house of fantasy. This is a healing zone, so you might take a little time out to visualize, meditate, journal or get over a heartbreak. In the privacy of your own thoughts, you can release something that no longer fits into your life or brings joy.

On January 9, Venus and Mars form their annual harmonious trine, heralding a beautiful moment of tenderness and connecting heart to heart. Pay attention to authentic feelings that arise at this time; they might just surprise you!

Key Dates:

January 9: Venus-Mars trine

Bring on the lasting love! As affectionate Venus and passionate Mars harmonize in stable earth signs, you could have true romance with all the trimmings—sensuality and stability. Skip the “come here now go away” players and their mixed messages. A partner who makes you feel secure is suddenly the most attractive catch in town. Coupled? Mark a long-term relationship with a thoughtful gift to let your mate know how much you cherish them.

MONEY & CAREER:

  Dear Reader: To bring you cutting-edge financial and career astrology, we’ve discontinued our monthly Money and Career Horoscope. This will allow us to devote the time to courses and offerings we’ve got planned all year to support you in creating abundance.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a dreamer with a side hustle or just looking for deeper satisfaction from your work, we invite you to join us for January’s special event to craft your vision for 2021.

2021 Vision Board Experience: January 28 with The AstroTwins Ready to designclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” a path that truly fulfills you in 2021? Join us for a star-powered live online event to create success, leadership and impact on January 28, 2021. Tickets available at https://astrostyle.com/visionboard21

Love Days: 24, 28

Money Days: 8, 16

Luck Days: 6, 13

Off Days: 26, 3, 11

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Aquarius Monthly Horoscope

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Cancer Monthly Horoscope

MONTH OF January

Monthly Snapshot

Ready for a little fun in ’21, Cancer? Here it comes! Your ambition’s been on fire since the second half of 2020 started, and you could have made serious headway on some key goals. Relationships have been percolating, too—and given the conditions of the world, it’s amazing how unstoppable you’ve been in the face of things.

That said…are you edging into burnout, or just ready to mix things up? This January, your social life sparks up once again. True, much of it may be virtual. But once the collaborative camaraderie starts heating up, you’ll still get the warm-fuzzy feeling of bonding with supportive and like-minded people. Join a mastermind, initiate a daily or weekly group call or hop into virtual workshops.

Another part of you will savor having more privacy because Jupiter and Saturn are spending their first full month (of a long visit) in Aquarius and your intimate eighth house. While Mars has you branching out to new connections, this cosmic duo also wants you to stock your innermost circle with power players, perhaps even teaming up for a potent business or romantic connection.

As one Cancer friend of ours sheepishly confessed, “I don’t really mind having to stay home. Is that bad?” Not to make light of the pandemic, but home IS your happy place. You love nesting and working in your comfiest clothes—at least from the waist down, where the webcams don’t pan (“business on the top, party on the bottom,” anyone?).

Speaking of webcams, you’ll want to back up your data and devices before Mercury, the planet of all things digital and communicative, turns retrograde on January 30. Since the quicksilver planet will impact some of your closest ties, you’ll want to make sure you have everything clearly spelled out between you before the end of the month.

Week 1: January 1-10

A social life reboot

Commune with your Crab crew! A nearly two-month cycle of networking and collaboration begins this week, and you couldn’t be more ready for it. Much as you love your solo time, you equally enjoy bonding with kindred spirits. And the feeling is mutual—as you could soon find yourself in high demand for every meeting or Zoom game night. Even if you can’t get together IRL with people, you can make generous use of online platforms and virtual groups to forge new connections and strengthen existing ones.

What’s causing this spike in your popularity…not to mention the strong urge to branch out beyond your usual clique? On Wednesday, January 6, go-getter Mars wraps up an extended six-month visit to Aries and your career-driven tenth house, which has kept many Cancers focused on professional goals at the expense of your personal life. Next up: Mars will pay a visit to Taurus and your teamwork sector until March 3, and the invitations will start rolling in again.

With Mars in Aries since June 27, 2020, you may have felt excess pressure around work and other responsibilities. This transit also amplified job stress—or gave you anxiety about finding or keeping a job. Long hours and short deadlines may have had you burning the candle at both ends. Perhaps there were weighty duties on your shoulders as you kept your squad afloat during the pandemic.

On the upside, it’s possible you achieved some important recognition for all your hard work. You may have been totally fired up about a project, even happy to put the blinders on and obsessively work on your pet project. But at times you may have felt like the burden was too great to carry alone.

From January 6 until March 3, Mars will blaze through Taurus and your eleventh house of collaboration and technology. Even if you keep working away, you don’t have to do it alone! Now’s the time to create new friendships and build your dream team. With all this hyped-up energy in your group sector, it’s less about what you “do” and more about “who you know.”

Could your tech skills use an upgrade? Invest in getting current on apps, social media or any digital platforms that can increase efficiency. Are you ready to launch that podcast you’ve been thinking about? Dive in! Freshen up your online profiles too; you could draw attention from a powerhouse group so you’ll want to put your best and most current face forward.

Week 2: January 11-17

A shell of a dilemma

Commune with your clique or hibernate in your cozy shell? You’ll be torn between dueling desires for group hangs and private encounters this week, which could create some stress. Balancing alone time and together time will be key. Make sure you don’t overbook yourself with meetings and meetups, whether virtual or IRL. But don’t leave your calendar so blank that you plummet into the post-holiday winter blues.

This week, activators Mars and Uranus are both making moves in Taurus and your eleventh house of group activity. But they’ll run into resistance from expansive Jupiter and staunch Saturn in Aquarius and your private, controlling eighth house. As Mars and Uranus push you into the public eye or a team setting, Jupiter and Saturn are feeling more controlling than democratic, cautioning you not to give away your power too readily.

It all begins on Wednesday, January class=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” 13, when speedy Mars locks into a tense square with cautious Saturn. The effect can feel like having one foot on the gas, the other on the brake. While you may be tempted to rush into a collaboration, Saturn warns you to read all the fine print. Make sure you’re not signing away your rights or leaping too quickly into a situation that’s hard to pull out of if things go south.

Have you been feeling isolated—or, on the flip side, overwhelmed by too much group or screen time (hello #ZoomFatigue)? This Thursday, January 14, changemaker Uranus ends a five-month retrograde in Taurus and your eleventh house of teamwork and technology. A collaboration that stalled mid-August could pick up speed, especially on a virtual basis. You could be inspired to re-engage with the world, perhaps getting involved in a cause you care about. Don’t overthink it! With zero planets retrograde for the next two weeks, it’s a great time to make decisive moves.

Also on Thursday, the Sun and powerhouse Pluto make their once-a-year meetup, communing in Capricorn and your seventh house of partnerships. Being part of a dynamic duo could seriously build your cache. Look for people whose skills complement yours, but beware coming across as opportunistic—and steer clear of anyone who gives you “user-friendly” vibes!

Do you think you’re better off alone? The pull between going deep in one direction versus keeping things open-ended gets extra strong this Sunday, January 17, when two of the most freedom-seeking planets, Jupiter and Uranus, move into an embattled square. This only happens every seven years (the last Jupiter-Uranus square was in 2014).

Should you hold your cards close to your vest and wait for a bigger, better opportunity? Jupiter in your strategic eighth house could have you thinking this way. But impulsive Uranus in your group activity zone makes you want to leap into a collaboration and let the chips fall where they may.

Neither is right, as tends to be the case with planetary squares. Weigh your options before deciding which direction to take. This could play into a business partnership, a friendship or a romantic relationship. By keeping things exclusive, there’s opportunity to grow—but there’s a whole other adventure waiting if you give yourself breathing room and DON’T commit. The losses and gains seem equally stacked in either direction. When in doubt, wait it out!

Week 3: January 18-24

Temper your emotions before you act

Hunker down and set your notifications to “do not disturb,” Cancer. On Tuesday, January 19, the Sun shifts into Aquarius and your private, internal eighth house until February 18, joining Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn in the Water Bearer’s lair. Although your social sector is revved up, make sure to set aside quality one-on-one time for that special person or pet project.

But good luck getting any uninterrupted time on Wednesday, January 20. That day, hyperkinetic Mars and radical changemaker Uranus link up in Taurus and your eleventh house of group activity, making all collaborations extra dynamic. But you’ll also be a bit of a live wire, which could rub people the wrong way.

The energy is fast, sharp and erratic, and if you get too caught up in that, you could come across as overwhelming or even as a loose cannon. (Think of fellow Cancerian Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire…or on Oprah’s couch.) If you feel suppressed in a group, that could bring out an explosive or reactive side of you. Don’t let your ego get the best of you, Crab. Demanding to be heard might get you the floor, but it could also leave other people feeling strong-armed into doing things your way. You’ll win the battle but lose the war when they’re left feeling bulldozed and resentful.

Another day to keep your emotions in check arrives class=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” on Saturday, January 23. Rash Mars and impulsive Jupiter lock into a tense square (https://astrostyle.com/aspects/square), which could bring out your inner know-it-all. There could be power struggles and ego trips. But before you engage, ask yourself: What are you really trying to achieve here?

A bit of temperance arrives today as the “me first” Sun makes its annual conjunction with sober and restrained Saturn. As these two connect in Aquarius and your intimate eighth house, you could get a harsh reality check. Perhaps someone you trusted, even poured emotional or financial resources into, is turning out to be a less-than-stellar investment. Maybe you rushed to confront someone or got swept up in the excitement of an idea before conducting your research.

The Sun-Saturn conjunction is often a harsh or pessimistic day, a moment that can feel like you’ve been put in the penalty box. But during such a volatile week, this transit could act like the “adult in the room,” stopping you from doing something self-destructive based on raw emotion. Better to request a few more days to think something over than rush into a bad decision. (Our advice: Set your sights on the illuminating full moon of January 28!)

Week 4: January 25-31

Sharing is caring—up to a point

  Intensity is afoot this week, with a big batch of cosmic action brewing in Aquarius and your eighth house of intimacy, shared resources and investments. The Sun, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn are all crowded together in this loyal sign, placing unusual emphasis on the chart zone where you deeply merge or join forces with others.

On Tuesday, January 26, the Aquarius Sun will square off against disruptor Uranus in stubborn Taurus, echoing the tension of the January 17 Jupiter-Uranus square. Once again, you could feel pulled between your desire for privacy in a tight, intimate circle and the adventurous allure of collaborating with a larger, more inclusive group.

Do you cave to the crowd or follow your inner GPS? Early this week, your intuition could send frantic signals to not go along with the herd or share your state secrets with someone who hasn’t proven themselves trustworthy. And why should you, Cancer? You don’t have to divulge private information to anyone—not even your closest confidantes—until you’re ready. But make sure you’re not being SO secretive that you miss an opportunity to team up with a powerful person who can advance your cause.

Here’s an idea: Sit tight until Thursday, January 28, when the first full moon of 2021 arrives in lucky Leo and your second house of work and money. La luna will rev up your revenue and bring a potentially profitable project to a turning point. If you’ve been job-hunting or in line for a raise or promotion, these moonbeams could manifest that with a roar! Ready to ditch a self-defeating habit and get your resolutions in gear? Start now.

Even better? This Thursday, the Sun will conjunct expansive Jupiter for its once-a-year meetup, now dubbed the Day of Miracles and considered by astrologers to be one of the luckiest days of the year. As these luminaries unite in innovator Aquarius, they could bring news of a joint venture, an investment or a large financial windfall. In your personal life, the Sun-Jupiter conjunction might herald an engagement, a sexy soulmate connection or a move toward more permanent status. The sky’s the limit with these two abundant and confident planets in sync!

Strikeclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” while the iron’s hot though, because on Saturday, January 30, Mercury, the planet of communication and technology, will turn retrograde in erratic Aquarius until February 20. As Mercury scrambles signals in your intimate eighth house, old embers of mistrust or jealousy could flare up. With Aquarius’ independent, free-ranging energy at play, an ex (yours or your partner’s) could make an unexpected guest appearance. Tempting? Maybe. Toxic? If so..step away.

LOVE & ROMANCE:

Love has been all about goals since the beginning of summer, thanks to passionate Mars marching through Aries and your tenth house of long-term plans since June 27. This extended visit (four times longer than usual!) ends on January 6. If you’ve been anxious about where things are going or overly fixated on the future, that should change after the first week of the year.

From January 6 to March 3, Mars will freestyle through Taurus and your eleventh house of platonic and casual connections. The vibe should lighten up, and you could be attracted to someone in your friend group or who you meet online. Even if you have to keep things virtual with COVID restrictions, you won’t mind as much. Right now, you don’t feel like being overly pinned down with anyone!

And yet…things could get deeper than you expect after January 8, when romantic Venus shifts into Capricorn, igniting your committed relationship house until February 1. Even if you’re just getting to know each other, you’ll still be able to playfully and candidly talk about the future.

For couples, spending time together can be lighthearted and fun after January 8—and that’s a good thing since it’s likely you’ll be together a lot. Give each other lots of space and respect the other’s autonomy, which you’ll also be needing in large doses.

On January 9, Venus and Mars form a supportive 90-degree trine. Sparks could fly with a friend and you might get more experimental with your mate. With the love planets aligned in grounded earth signs, as long as you talk about your feelings and respect your partner’s needs, there’s almost no limit to how far you can stretch.

Key Dates:

January 9: Venus-Mars trine

Bring on the lasting love! As affectionate Venus and passionate Mars harmonize in stable earth signs, you could have true romance with all the trimmings—sensuality and stability. Skip the “come here now go away” players and their mixed messages. A partner who makes you feel secure is suddenly the most attractive catch in town. Coupled? Mark a long-term relationship with a thoughtful gift to let your mate know how much you cherish them.

MONEY & CAREER:

  Dear Reader: To bring you cutting-edge financial and career astrology, we’ve replaced ourclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” monthly Money & Career horoscope with an expanded new offering. And we’re bursting with excitement to announce it!

We invite you to join the waitlist for our Astropreneurs community, where we’ll be sharing tools, trainings and cosmic career coaching in 2021 and beyond! Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a dreamer with a side hustle or just looking for deeper satisfaction from your work, we’ll guide you to your path and purpose by the stars.

2021 Vision Board Experience: January 28 class=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” with The AstroTwins Ready to design a path that truly fulfills you in 2021? Join us for a star-powered live online event to create success, leadership and impact on January 28, 2021. Tickets available at https://astrostyle.com/visionboard21

Love Days: 8, 11

Money Days: 19, 28

Luck Days: 26, 16

Off Days: 24, 10, 13

See All Signs

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The AstroTwins Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut (The AstroTwins), have been ELLE.com‘s official astrologers for over a decade.

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Cancer Monthly Horoscope

[easyhairstylesbest]

Aries Monthly Horoscope

MONTH OF January

Monthly Snapshot

You don’t have to do it all yourself, Aries! For many Rams, 2020 was a time of shouldering an immense load of responsibility. Not only were there three planets in your dutiful and ambitious tenth house, but for the past six months, your ruling planet, Mars, has been blazing through YOUR sign, pumping up the passion but also spiking your stress levels.

The nonstop intensity levels off this month as Mars settles into grounded Taurus and your stabilizing second house. You’ll be able to prioritize and be productive—and you’ll get by with a little help from your friends. That’s a relief after so many months in the hot seat!

With Jupiter and Saturn now in Aquarius and your cool, collaborative eleventh house for the long haul, you can simmer down and make decisions guided by both your head AND your heart. Just try to make the most important ones before Mercury turns retrograde on January 30, scrambling signals and making you second-guess yourself.

Week 1: January 1-10

Yes you can!

Ready to feel anchored and clear on your priorities? This week, a brand-new energy is coming in. On Wednesday, January 6, your ruling planet, Mars, wraps an extended six-month visit to Aries (since June 27), which has been heating up your first house of personal passions, independence and fresh starts.

Normally Mars only stays in one sign for six weeks, but due to a fall retrograde, you hosted the red planet for FOUR times the usual duration. It ramped up your charisma, confidence and “It” factor—but since Mars is the “energizer bunny” of the cosmos, this passionate planet also had you going nonstop! You might have a million exciting projects and prospects, but could also feel scattered and overwhelmed.

Good news: This Wednesday, Mars enters Taurus and your grounded second house of work, money and security, staying until March 3. Your focus, determination and organization skills will be charged up by the metaphysical motivator. Pick one or two top goals, break them down into action steps and prepare to watch your ideas transform into reality. Who knew being methodical could be fun? Enjoy the deep satisfaction of making project plans and checking item after item off your list.

Since Mars can add stress and motivation in equal doses, you might have to budget for some extra expenses, including some you didn’t see coming. Necessity is the mother of invention, Aries. During this Mars transit, you could amp up your revenue streams with a bold ask or by proudly hanging your shingle for a side hustle. Who knows what that could grow into?

Week 2: January 11-17

Financial flux

Get ahold of your finances this week, Aries. Mars and Uranus, both in Taurus and your second house of money and work, make cosmic moves that demand changes.

Speedy, stressful Mars (your ruling planet) in Taurus is revving up your revenue, but it will also make your work and finances feel extra demanding. On Wednesdaclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” y, January 13, Mars locks into a heated square with structured Saturn, a tense standoff that can feel like you’ve got one foot on the gas and the other on the brake. Saturn is in Aquarius and your eleventh house of teamwork, indicating that some members of the #AriesArmy could be forming their own resistance pod.

Why the backlash? Instead of getting mad, get interested. It’s likely that if these people felt heard instead of hustled, they’ll provide valuable feedback that could improve the overall outcome. That said, you’re a motivated Ram on a mission, and there’s no sense pretending otherwise. Some people may not want to move at your pace, and maybe they aren’t a fit for your 2021 plans. That’s okay—give them the choice to stay or go. You only want to work with people who are 100 percent aligned!

On Thursday, January 14, financial plateaus start turning into peaks as revolutionary Uranus ends a five-month retrograde through Taurus and your money zone that began on August 15, 2020. If your income’s been erratic or some part of your work has been stuck in stop-and-go motion, things should start to pick up speed. New sources of income or freelance gigs could pop up. With tech-savvy Uranus here, you might decide to hop aboard the cryptocurrency craze. (Fun fact: For the next two weeks, there will be ZERO retrograde planets, a great time to make some decisive moves!)

Also this Thursday, the Sun makes its annual meetup with powerhouse Pluto in your tenth house of leadership and authority. Are you truly stepping up to your greatest heights, Aries? This could be a day when you come out of hiding and show the world what a visionary you truly are!

Pay special attention to any power struggles as these two ego-driven luminaries collide. The people who seem threatened by you, or hellbent on trying to control you, could be turned into allies if you play your cards right. Rather than competing with them, see if there’s an opportunity to collaborate by playing to both of your strengths. However, if you’re constantly overstepping the same turf, it might be better to divide and conquer—or to carve out clearer boundaries. (Note: The tenth house rules fathers, so there could be unresolved “dad issues” embedded in any dicey dynamics.)

On Sunday, January 17, the planets stage an event that only happens once every seven years. Expansive Jupiter will form an embattled square with liberated Uranus. These two freedom-seeking planets can bring massive breakthroughs when they play nice, but in a square, you could find yourself pulled in dueling directions.

With Jupiter in Aquarius and your teamwork house facing down Uranus in Taurus and your stabilizing second house, you’re not sure whether to compromise or stand your ground. If something doesn’t align with your core values, going along with the group will only lead to trouble later. But don’t just dig your heels in either. Take a step back and refuse to be rushed into important decisions now. Look at the big picture and think about where you’d like to be in, say, a year. That could help you find the middle ground between acting impulsively and being stubborn at your own expense.

Week 3: January 18-24

Aquarius season begins

Welcome to Aquarius season! On Tuesday, January 19, the Sun joins Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn in the Water Bearer’s realm, staying until February 18. With all this action in your eleventh house of teamwork and technology, you could be branching out big-time, collaborating with kindred spirits whose ideas complement your own.

Heads-up: Next week, Mercury will turn retrograde, a tricky time that can mess up communication, technology and plans. Get ahead of the curve by backing up important data and making sure everyone on Team Aries clearly understands their roles and goals.

This week, your ruler, Mars, has two more intense dustups—and since Mars is the warrior planet, he’s always braced for a fight. On Wednesday, January 20, Mars will make an exact mashup with disruptive Uranus, both in Taurus and your second house of finances and security. With these two hotheaded planets merging, your “volatility index” could go through the roof. Work and money stress could push you to your edge.

On a positive note, the combination of energizing Mars and innovative Aquarius can bring a lightning-bolt moment. You could have a brilliant moneymaking idea out of left field or devise a clever way to increase your profits using technology or connecting with new markets virtually. Looking for work? A freelance gig could pop up unexpectedly—and you’d be wise to at least hear the offer because it might open some exciting doors or lead to a more permanent position.

Be careful about asking too many people for advice, especially on Saturday, January 23, when Mars gets snagged in a tough square to more-is-better Jupiter in Aquarius and your group sector. While it’s not a bad idea to get feedback before committing to any big moves, too much opinion-polling could leave you even MORE confused.

A Mars-Jupiter square can give you a wicked case of FOMO, and you might be afraid to commit to one lane lest something better come along. Be careful about sharing money with friends or signing on for a group expense this weekend. You could end up footing an unfair part of the load, whether it’s a heavy-drinking friend’s liquor tab when you’re sipping soda or being stuck playing project manager/planner while everyone else has fun.

Could this be the call to take inventory of your inner circle? Saturday is also the annual Sun-Saturn conjunction, a sobering day when you may view things through the harsh lens of reality. You could notice traits of your friends or associates that make you question whether you’re on the same page anymore. While this pessimistic vibe WILL pass, it’s worth paying attention to those tough and inconvenient truths that surface.

Whatever the case, it’s time to surround yourself with people who can be mentors or true champions of your goals. Those consumed by petty dramas won’t get you there. But aligning with colleagues who are farther along than you, or friends whose healthy relationships are #goals…well, being around them is bound to rub off on you!

Week 4: January 25-31

A miracle in the middle

Think team effort! The week kicks off with a disquieting bang on Tuesday, January 26, as the Sun in Aquarius and your eleventh house of groups squares off against disruptive Uranus in stubborn Taurus and your second house of values and income. Things could feel erratic, with a crew member (or members) coming off as impulsive or pushy.

You may need to assert yourself with a dominating person, or else you could feel whiplashed by conflicting demands at work. Set all this against a backdrop of simmering financial stress, and you’ll hit your threshold. Warning: Pushing too hard today could result in an explosive reaction—one that will be hard to walk back on when better days arrive. And since an upgrade is right around the corner, we strongly advise you to keep your temper in check.

Your payoff arrives on Thursday, January 28, when the Sun makes its annual conjunction with anything-is-possible Jupiter in imaginative Aquarius. Considered by many astrologers as the “luckiest day of the year” (and recently dubbed the Day of Miracles), you’ll experience the transformative power of teamwork. This 2021 Sun-Jupiter meetup is multiplied by a full moon in Leo and your fifth house of passion and fame. Playing well with others can attract the applause you deserve—and sharing it will only deepen the satisfaction.

Look back to the Leo new moon of August 18 for clues about what might be coming your way. You could attract buzz for a creative project or reach an exciting romantic turning point thanks to Leo’s fire. But no need for it to be lonely at the top, Aries! The collaborative Aquarian transit helps you share the spotlight with people whose ideas complement and elevate your cherished dreams. This is literally the kind of day when wishes come true.

It’s important that you use thiclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” s lucky day to get fully aligned with your peeps because communicator Mercury goes retrograde in Aquarius and your group zone on Saturday, January 30—a backspin that will potentially churn up drama on Team Aries until February 20.

For the time being, make sure you’ve triple-checked everything before hitting “send” or “post.” Back up your files and inspect your tech. While you’re at it, avoid being seen as the squeakiest wheel on the team—and if possible, hold off until the end of next month on any digital launches or debuts.

LOVE & ROMANCE:

The new year starts with a sizzle then settles into a simmer, and you won’t mind a bit. Your 2021 opens with lusty Mars in Aries and romantic Venus in Sagittarius, an adventurous combo. But after January’s first week of lingering holiday heat, both love planets will make significant changes into grounded earth signs.

Since June 27, 2020, your ruling planet, Mars, has been in Aries, an extended six-month trip thanks to an autumn retrograde. Normally Mars stays in one sign for about six WEEKS, but the randy red planet has been revving up your mojo and magnetism for four times longer. It’s been exciting and stressful in equal measure, sparking newfound independence, exciting boudoir chemistry and perhaps a bold step forward with a partner.

On January 6, Mars will finally depart your sign, hunkering down in Taurus and your second house of security and sensuality until March 3. If a relationship has been fast-paced and frenzied, you can shift into a stable groove, truly considering whether your values and day-to-day lifestyles align.

Then on January 8, affectionate Venus settles into Capricorn and your grounded, goal-oriented tenth house until February 1, its first of two visits that will bookend 2021. You’ll want to know where things are headed, to make concrete plans or create more of a structure in your love life. For couples, working on a shared goal, perhaps a business, can bring you closer. Single Rams might get into a coaching program or mastermind group with others looking to create fulfilling relationships.

Keep on hitting the same blocks? Seek mentorship or programs to cultivate self-awareness and remove the obstacles that keep you from finding what you truly want. (Check out Astrostyleclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” ’s new course Cultivating Relational Intelligence, produced by us and hosted by our astro-friend Colin Bedell of QueerCosmos: https://astrostyle.com/queercosmos).

Key Dates:

January 9: Venus-Mars trine

Bring on the lasting love! As affectionate Venus and passionate Mars harmonize in stable earth signs, you could have true romance with all the trimmings—sensuality and stability. Skip the “come here now go away” players and their mixed messages. A partner who makes you feel secure is suddenly the most attractive catch in town. Coupled? Mark a long-term relationship with a thoughtful gift to let your mate know how much you cherish them.

MONEY & CAREER:

  Dear Reader: To bring you cutting-edge financial and career astrology, we’ve class=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” replaced our monthly Money & Career horoscope with an expanded new offering. And we’re bursting with excitement to announce it!

We invite you to join our free Astropreneurs community, where we’ll be sharing tools and trainings via a private Facebook group, free webinars and cosmic career coaching all through 2021 and beyond! Wheclass=”body-el-link standard-body-el-link” ther you’re an entrepreneur, a dreamer with a side hustle or just looking for deeper satisfaction from your work, we’ll guide you to your path and purpose by the stars.

Join our Astropreneurs mastermind at https://astrostyle.com/astropreneurs21.

Love Days: 28, 6

Money Days: 21, 11

Luck Days: 19, 10

Off Days: 3, 8, 16

See All Signs

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Virgo Illustrated PopSocket

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Libra Astrology Galaxy PopSocket

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Libra Illustrated PopSocket

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$14.99

Scorpio Astrology Galaxy PopSocket

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$14.99

Scorpio Illustrated PopSocket

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$14.99

Sagittarius Astrology Galaxy PopSocket

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$14.99

Sagittarius Illustrated PopSocket

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Aquarius Astrology Galaxy PopSocket

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Aquarius Illustrated PopSocket

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Pisces Astrology Galaxy PopSocket

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Pisces Illustrated PopSocket

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Capricorn Illustrated PopSocket

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$14.99

Capricon Astrology Galaxy PopSocket

The AstroTwins Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut (The AstroTwins), have been ELLE.com‘s official astrologers for over a decade.

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