You have so much to be excited about! Mars, the energy planet, zoomed into Cancer late last month on September 28, to stay a highly unusual length of time - nearly seven months. Usually Mars will stay seven weeks, not seven months, so this is a BIG advantage! When you have Mars in your sign, you are the leader of the parade, assertive and determined, and will often show a certain measure of courage that impresses others. This is what you will have all the way until May 9, 2008!

Everyone wants to have Mars in their sign because with Mars' help you can succeed in ventures that you always thought were beyond you.

More importantly, Mars will help you begin a fresh new two-year cycle. Decide on which area of your life needs the most focused attention and draw up a blueprint that would help you turn things around.

Mars happens to rule your natural tenth house of fame and professional honors, so your fresh chapter could have to do with a promotion or offer for a major position at another firm. It's alternatively possible that you will open the doors of your own business very soon. While it is likely career news will pop for you, you are also likely to have exciting news on other fronts too, perhaps about a romantic relationship, living situation, travel plan, or other big news.

As a Cancer, your home is your domain, the very heart of all that is most important to you. You dream of making the perfect nest for yourself, and if attached, to create one for those you love. You have a real flair for making your home a nurturing, cozy place and those who come to visit you always come away feeling pampered and rejuvenated. You modestly shrug and assure others that what you do is nothing special, but that's not true - you have a real talent, dear Cancer. This is why October will be so wonderful for you. You will have a solid chance to make your home all you want it to be in your heart.

If your home isn't quite right, you can feel continually out of sorts, so it's always important to a Cancer to get the physical space just right. Moreover, if disharmony has cropped up in your household, you find that even more upsetting. This month, you have nothing to fear, dear Cancer - October brings spectacular opportunity on the home front. It doesn't matter if you want to make big changes (create a new kitchen) or little ones (buy new accessories to freshen up your living room for the coming holidays), for either way, you've a glittering set of aspects to make your plans happen.

Your stroke of luck with home, property, and family-related matters will come as a result of the brilliant new moon, October 11. That new moon will open a window of opportunity lasting two weeks. During that time, you should do research, collect data and estimates, and ask many questions. You can find the right options if you look, even if you haven't been able to do so over the past months.

You will only get one new moon a year in this area of your chart, so the decisions you make about your home and family this month will affect you for the whole year to come. Next year, when the next new moon comes by, it will refresh this area of the chart, but until then, this one will hold sway over your home-related decisions. All new moons work that way, the reason why you should always take seriously the opportunities they provide. Also, as a Cancer you are ruled by the moon, so new moons and full moons (as well as eclipses) affect you more strongly than most.

I know you will be anxious to announce your decisions and sign papers if necessary, but I need to voice a word of caution. Mercury will be retrograde from October 11 to November 1, so you need to be sure that you not start any new ventures during that time. If, for example, you have had contractors in your home for weeks or months, they can continue, of course, but even so, they are likely to encounter some overages, unexpected conditions in your home that might cost you. If you are doing work on the house, make sure you are notified in writing of any overage before it occurs. It's not a good idea to begin a home-related project now, but it's fine to follow along on one that you have already started, as long as you keep an eye on things. Make sure no one makes a decision without your knowledge and consent.

To be clear, you CAN do repairs, paint, reorganize and streamline closets, or take appliances to the repair shop. Those are all ideal activities to do while Mercury is retrograde. It is also a fine time to browse magazines and stores, go to do-it-yourself classes, attend home renovation fairs and seminars, and get general estimates from contractors. I say "general estimates" because with Mercury about to turn, you can be sure that those estimates will be a little off later, for any number of reasons. You may change your mind or be faced with some sort of unexpected development later, something you never considered.

Alas, it is not time to sign a lease or buy a house, as there is a strong probability that you will have a change of plans at some later point (could be months, or even years). Sometimes we sign a lease thinking we have two or three years on it, and the building is sold, or the neighbors turn out to be difficult - you get the picture. You can't have all the facts when Mercury is retrograde because elements around you are changing dynamically and rapidly. There is no way to make an informed decision. That's why it is never a good time to sign papers.

If you were thinking of setting up a nifty home office for a small new business, or to have a comfortable place to work when you take work home in the evenings, you can do so this month, and it would be a great idea. Watch and see what happens on October 6 - 8, your very best time to think seriously about having a comfy place to work at home. If you want to do this, you can empty the room you have in mind and ready it by calling in the painters. You might also need to put up shelves or a whole bookcase. Remember, October is ripe for planning but do not announce any big decisions until on or after November 5.

Mercury goes direct on November 1, but the day this planet retrogrades - in this case, October 11 - and the day it goes direct it is at its worst! Leave a few days of space before you resume normal activities.

Readers sometimes write to ask if it is OK to move during Mercury retrograde, and the answer is yes, absolutely. Just sign your papers well in advance of the retrograde period. Prepare your boxes carefully by marking them clearly on all sides. Don't give the movers any sensitive or ultra valuable items. (For example, take your seven years of taxes to your Mom's house, as well as your best, most valuable jewelry.) Write the name of the room on the box where you want it deposited. Do the packing yourself if possible, and use lots of bubble wrap and other cushioning for fragile items.

If you need to sell your house, you may get people sending in bids this month, but you may have to revise your price or a condition of the deal. For example, the buyer may learn from her engineer that a lot of costly structural repairs will be needed in one area of the house, revealing something you had not been privy to prior to this. You may have no choice but to lower your price as a result. Or, your buyer may not be able to get a mortgage or have problems with the scheduling of the closing. In that case, you may lose your buyer, forever or temporarily.

I was in the process of filing all the paperwork on my condo when Mercury went retrograde. The bank I was working with later realized that their people had made a big mistake on the amount due on the property mortgage each month due to a miscalculation of the taxes. This was not discovered for months later. I had signed the papers at the signing (by then Mercury was well out of retrograde). Nevertheless, I had to pay the difference, and the mistake was a whopper. Since it was their fault, they suggested that they spread the amount due over an 18 month period, which I was grateful for, but it still turned out to be was a long period of financial torture! I would have made a smaller down payment had I known the true cost with taxes. Some things cannot be helped - it was not an error either my broker or I could have known about and brought to their attention. Alas, things happen, and perhaps the main message from Mercury will always be: Stay flexible.

At month's end, you'll be in the mood for a little fun, and that's precisely what the universe is cooking up for you. You are moving toward a highly romantic, happy full moon, dear Cancer - and it's coming at just the right time! Watch for a terrific reason to mix with others on October 26, plus or minus four days.

This full moon will light your house of friendship, so it appears you won't just be with one special person, but many others you care about, too. You may attend a wedding, a party, or even a family event. You might have to travel a short distance to get there, and your sister or brother may be involved. There seems to be some sort of goal attached to this event too, so you may go to a lively industry or company event, one you will surely enjoy. A full moon in Taurus usually brings very delicious, sensuous conditions, so it seems that you will enjoy a touch of luxury at this time too, and if so, it will be very much deserved!

Moreover, Saturn and Mars will both be very supportive of all that you do at this full moon, a good sign that you will be able to seamlessly mix business with pleasure, if necessary. If this is an all-pleasure event, then you'll want to completely immerse yourself in the fun of the moment. With Mercury still in retrograde at the time, you may catch up with many old friends, acquaintances, and relatives that you have not seen in a very long time. Isn't that great when that happens?

If you were born on June 22, plus or minus five days, you will benefit most from this bright full moon.

Most romantic evenings: October 2, 12, 20, 23, 26, 30, 31.

The month ends on a fantastic note. Jupiter will send Neptune the coolest vibe possible, which could translate into extra cash for you as a result of a very inventive idea you offer or assignment you produce at the time. This money won't be salary however, but some sort of new benefit given to you (such as better health care coverage), or you may receive a one-time check to reward you for a special assignment you did exceptionally well.

If you are awaiting word about a court settlement, scholarship, or inheritance, you may hear the final word now - news should be good.

Neptune will go direct on October 31, after having been retrograde for five months. Since Neptune is now in your eighth house of other people's money, financial matters should be much improved in months to come. You have not had a lot of help in past months to strengthen your financial situation, but all that seems to soon be history. I bet you feel better already! So glad to give you so much good news.

Summary

You have moved into the most powerful part of the year, for Mars will favor Cancer from now through the end of 2007, all the way to early May 2008. You've had some planetary support this year from a variety of planets, but few on this high-octane level. Mars typically spends seven weeks in one sign, but this year, Mars will favor Cancer for a staggering nearly seven months. If you've had problems getting people to see things your way, you'll enjoy seeing that you've suddenly become flavor of the month - for many months! Use this time to launch projects and new relationships. You'll be enthusiastic and energetic, and others will want to get behind you and jump on board.

Your home life will bring lots of news once the new moon appears, October 17. This will be an unusually fine new moon, supported by a host of planets - Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto - making this an ideal time to start a home renovation project. You may now find a new apartment or new roommate, reorganize your closets, or have contractors come in to make an estimate to complete bathroom or kitchen renovations. Alternatively, you may order a maintenance overhaul to wash windows and blinds, shampoo rugs, and clean upholstery. Afterwards, invite friends and family in to admire your results.

At work, you've been getting applause for excellent work all year, but the compensation has been unsatisfactory. Now that Saturn has moved into Virgo, you'll find employers and clients more willing to pay a fair price. By late January, be ready to speak up for more money. Last month's full moon may have brought news of a better job, and if so your interview may have reached the point where it is appropriate to discuss salary. Good! Do so early in October if that is the case. Working conditions should be excellent, especially if you begin the week of October 8.

Mercury will retrograde soon, so you may find that you are more prone to reminisce about the past in October. Call old friends and distant relatives and stay up late sharing stories and generally catching up. You may also find papers and mementos you haven't seen in a long time too - perhaps due to your home reorganization project - and when you find them, they will instantly take you back to another time and place.

You've got a glittery social event coming up, October 26 (plus or minus three days). This will be a dress-up affair to remember. Everything about this evening should come out perfect: the flowers, the setting, the food and music, and most of all, the friends you'll be glad to see, as well as the new faces they'll introduce you to.