Capricorn is considered the sign of the wise leader and in June you will prove this to be undeniably true once again. With a crowd of planets in the razor-sharp intellectual sign of Gemini, all filling your sixth house of assignments and teamwork, you can examine and improve the way you and others under your wing approach various tasks and work assignments that come across your desk and come up with innovative, streamlined solutions.

Mercury will be retrograde until June 19, a holdover from a trend that started last month on May 26. Projects are likely to take more time and money than you anticipate, so you'll need to plan for that. Do your best to agree on a more liberal deadline so that you don't feel a time crunch later. If you are offered a new position (not likely, but if you are), negotiate for more time to decide. It would not be wise to accept prior to Mercury's turn direct. Your best day to give your answer would be June 23 or 24.

Projects you assumed were over and done may come bouncing back for a fresh look. You may need to reedit, redesign, or completely redo one endeavor to make it more viable. This is par for the course, so don't be blue to hear this. Everyone of every sign will be in a similar situation. Mercury will act like the ballet master with his baton that he continually bangs on the wood floor to punctuate his point: "Do it again, do it again! It can be better!" Of course he's right, even though it's hard to admit it. In the end, you'll love how the finished product or performance comes out. You'll be proud to put your name on it.

Your ruling planet, Saturn, will be beautifully aligned to Pluto and your Sun now and for the rest of the year, so if you continue to do your best, you can count on making a rapid ascent. If you had feared you may be treading water - or worse, worried that no one on the top has noticed your dedication and good work - nothing could be farther from the truth. Soon you will have exciting career news to share and celebrate. Your big career news will should arrive some time between September and the very early days of January 2009. (The last week of December will be particularly spectacular, so you may not want to go on holiday then.) Keep up the good work, dear Capricorn - the smart money is on you!

This month, with a new moon on June 3, requests for your goods and services will pour in at a steady pace, and overall, if you are employed, business should be good and your position in the firm should remain very secure.

If you are self-employed, you won't have problems generating new assignments and strong cash flow - clients will call, especially ones from the past. Why wait for these staunch supporters to call you? After the new moon June 3, take the initiative and contact them. They'll be glad you called, and so will you!

Here is one point to keep in mind throughout the month: with Mercury retrograde in your workaday sector, the chances of your misunderstanding the parameters of new assignments will rise a bit. To counter this, ask questions, and in the interest of clarity, summarize the job to the client or your boss to be sure you are in sync before you begin. If you are about to go over budget, ask the client to sign off on those overages before you spend the money.

Financially, you've had high expenses since early May, and I am sorry to report those higher-than-usual costs will continue to be heavy through June. It appears as though you may have had to pay a large tax or tuition bill now, or have house or car repairs to cover. It is alternatively possible you will be moved to send money to help a family member. I could be wrong about where the money will go; these are the most likely areas. Alas, things like these come up in life and you do the best you can. The happy news is that once Mars leaves Leo on July 1, you won't have these types of stresses again for a very long time.

I am sorry to have had to report this financial news to you. From July 2005 through September 2007, money has been a sore subject, so you certainly didn't need to go through any more of this. Saturn put you thorough the wringer during those two years, and I feel this was mainly because someone let you down on a promise to pay you a certain sum that never arrived, or because other unforeseen circumstances arose to set you back. When Saturn finally moved out of Leo in September 2007, you assumed, rightly, that you were finished with this particular cosmic test and would be able to get back on firm financial footing in the months that followed.

The relatively short bout of expenses that have come up in May and that will in June seem unfair, dear Capricorn. You have had enough of all this! Thank goodness when Mars leaves Leo July 1, you really do have a bright outlook and you will see an end to these high expenses for a long time to come.

Before I leave the subject of money, I would like to raise your awareness concerning joint financial partnership issues. Mars currently is opposed to Neptune in both financial sectors of your chart. Neptune rules fog and confusion, and Mars, action, and as mentioned, they are working at cross-purposes during this month only.

To protect yourself, be determined to be involved and present in all joint financial talks to ascertain that your wishes are being heard and upheld. A business or romantic partner may feel that he can anticipate all your financial wishes whether because he knows your preferences, or in a darker interpretation: because he would like to be unfettered to follow his own financial agenda with the joint funds. Either way, by the time you find out what was decided, it may be too late to fix things. Keep your possessions and resources secure by keeping an eye on statements, paperwork, and decisions.

Now, here's the good news. One bright and beautiful financial aspect involving a good cooperation between Mars and Pluto will be strong enough to allow you to improve just about any financial situation. It may even bring news of a breakthrough or windfall. Keep alert on the day this aspect peaks: June 30.

Health may also be on your mind this month, and if so, your timing will be perfect. The new moon June 3 would be the ideal time to reconsider your original fitness goals and re-launch your plan, if you feel you've not made the progress you had hoped when you made your New Year's resolutions six months ago.

This time, however, you will have the power of the new moon behind you to help you succeed, and that's a HUGE difference. Begin your plan just after that new moon appears, and continue to work on your regimen in the two weeks that follow that new moon. What you do this month to improve your health will color your coming twelve months, until June 2008.

Not all new moons are as special as this one. Mars, ruling all strenuous activity and athletic competition, will be in especially fine conversation with that new moon and the beam it will receive from Venus. Venus will work to increase your attractiveness and grace, which all great athletes possess, whether male or female. Dear Capricorn, you will have it all!

The full moon on June 18 will fall in your twelfth house of rest and recuperation. If you feel you've not treated your body quite right, this full moon will show you that you are dragging your feathers and show you the need to pay more attention to what your body is trying to say. You may delete a bad habit at this time, or simply streamline your diet, rest, and exercise routine. This month is also a perfect time to see your dentist and get your annual medical checkup that you've been meaning to do.

Romantically, once Venus moves into your house of relationships for the first time in 2008 on June 18, and the Sun joins Venus on June 20, you'll see your social life pick up in weeks to come. If you are dating someone you love and feel ready to take the next step, an engagement or marriage may happen soon, whether on the weekend of June 28-29, or in July. Exciting!

If you are already attached, in an established relationship, you'll have more quality time to lavish on your partner. Take time to dream a few wonderful "what if" scenarios and goals to create together. If you feel you both have been suffering from much too little time and fun together, once you get to June 20 and beyond, you'll be able to fix all that and bond closer than you have all year.

If you are having a relationship with two sweethearts at the same time, the one who feels at a disadvantage will be the more vocal of the two, putting you in a very difficult position to quickly decide between the two. You may have to break things off with one or both sweethearts - see how you feel. If you were born on or near December 21, you will find ways to defend yourself quite handily - just try not to come across too strong.

Married or single, one of your very best days of June for fun and love, as well as for long-term planning and commitments, will be June 24, thanks to the impending interaction of the Sun and Saturn. Saturn will make sure that promises made will be promises kept. By this time of the month, Mercury will be direct too, ensuring that you can trust that your plans will take root and bloom nicely in time.

Most romantic dates: June 14, 21, 24-25, 28 and 30.

Summary

This will be a highly productive month, so whip out your to-do list and get started. You'll be a talking, texting, and multi-tasking like crazy, but that's life as you like it best - busy! You will be anxious to start projects quickly, but that would not be a good idea. Think through how to best approach your projects first and go over your ideas with the client. Estimate the time and resources you'll need and set a realistic delivery date. If possible, allow more time and money for all projects, for Mercury will be retrograde through June 19, and during those phases, everything slows down.

Mercury retrograde periods are excellent periods for going back to old projects that were put on the back burner, or to enjoy pastimes and interests that you had to put aside for lack of time or money. Old friends and past co-workers will show up in your life too, so in all, there will be things to look forward to doing. Mercury in retrograde will always urge you to find ways to enlarge and develop the relationships and resources that you already have in your life.

Watch your health at this time too (near June 18), as you may feel a need for more rest and privacy. By Saturday June 21 you'd be a prime candidate for a full day of spa treatments.

One of your best days of the month, for any purpose, will be June 25, when the Sun and Saturn, your ruling planet, will be sublimely aligned. This will be your lucky day to schedule key meetings and talks. Use it!

Something I had not mentioned earlier is that at the full moon on June 18, or in days near that day, you may find you feeling a bit wrung out by certain pressures that a certain individual at work is applying on you - most likely a co-worker. Someone near seems to know how to push all the right buttons to make you do what they say or make you jittery or insecure, but fortunately, this phase will be temporary, lasting only a few days and will be quickly over. Just knowing this may happen may allow you to protect yourself. Keep your armor on!

Romantically, if attached, things will heat up nicely once Venus moves into your commitment sector from June 18 to July 12. If you're craving a night out or a quick weekend trip, plan it for the last part of June. June 28 would be best.

Your very best days of the month will be June 23-24, for romance, a meeting, or for any other purposes. It's a Tuesday, but you can still use it to your full advantage. Circle it in red!

Here are some dates to remember:

Venus moves into your relationship house, a great development: June 20

You'll get new assignments and projects: June 3-15

Mercury retrograde: Don't begin new projects, but think them through instead - June 1-19; wait until June 23 to act on any initiatives.

Your golden days: June 23-24.