You are considered one of the most ambitious of all signs. Your practical side tells you that it takes hard work to get to the top, and once you set your goals, never expect favors or special connections to get you there. Throughout 2007 you've been wondering: When are higher-ups going to notice all the excellent work I've been doing? The answer is now, in October, and when the call comes for that new position, you'll find you couldn't be happier.

Watch for an intriguing phone call from either a competitive firm or internally, from your boss or human resources department, to talk to you about a job with much more responsibility and power, and more generous salary, too. With Venus moving so close to Saturn (Venus runs your house of fame in your solar chart) any new position you consider now would bring long hours but a real sense of power. It would be a role you would have to grow into to fully master all new facets of it, but that would be what attracts you so much.

Venus is now touring your house of international relationships and also covers people who live at a distance in your own country. If an offer does come up (and it looks like it will), the position may require you to relocate to a distant city. With a new moon in Libra, the job may have something to do with the courts or legal system, banking and money markets, or the media, as in publishing or broadcasting. Venus rules beauty, jewelry, fashion, and the decorative arts, so you also will find luck in those businesses, or other industries that are equally fast moving and that would require that you remain very current.

Uranus will oppose Venus on October 25, not a day to take chances with any professional matters. Oh gee, you could see things go in precisely in the wrong direction. That's a day to head for cover.

As you already know, really good jobs often require weeks of interviews, so don't expect to win your new position immediately. In fact, talks may continue all the way until the full moon in your career sector on March 21, a very energetic point for you. Take your sweet time and do a good job on every interview. You will - as a Capricorn you prepare thoroughly for everything you do.

Mercury will be retrograde from October 11 to November 1, and you will feel the slowdown the moment the month begins. This time, Mercury will initially retrograde in Scorpio, ruling your friendships and associations with groups and charities. Later Mercury will back into your professional sector from October 24 - November 1. You will need to anticipate some backpedaling and changes as you go through the month.

You'll probably enjoy the part of Mercury's retrograde action in regard to friendships, for you will meet up with at least one good, old friend you've not seen in a long time. However, when Mercury backs into your professional status sector in the last week, you may become frustrated with a client's indecision or propensity to flip-flop, and those client changes will require several redos on current projects. I know you will deal with all this with your characteristic grace, dear Capricorn because that is who you are. If you are in sales, you already know that you can't consider a sale done until the purchase order is written, the invoice sent, and the check has cleared your account. In this topsy-turvy month, take nothing for granted.

Don't assume that you can't make substantial career progress this month - you can. With the large emphasis on old friends and contacts, there's a strong likelihood that someone you formerly worked for will call you with an idea or job offer to discuss. In this case, you can proceed, for you will be extending a tie from your past, something Mercury retrograde would smile upon.

If someone you don't know calls with an invitation to interview for a job, of course you must go, but when you do, be prepared to ask many questions. In this case you will want to extend the interview process as long as possible while Mercury continues to wind its way backward through retrograde.

Capricorns are most often found working for large global companies because they are attracted to the logical hierarchy that characterizes these firms. You like to have a clearly defined aim, and companies with firm structures offer that, for sure. You are a natural leader, so you often find working your way to the top not that difficult. Capricorns never run out of steam - being the little Energizer bunnies that they are, they keep going and going.

Last month, on September 28, Mars moved into your partnership sector and is planning to put a strong and sustained spotlight on that area of your chart. You may be thinking of forming a business partnership if you are self-employed, or, if not, you may be working closely with a partner at work, such as the way a copywriter would work with an art director at an ad agency to create commercials. (At ad agencies some twosome teams become so magical together that when the two change jobs they package themselves as a team that should be hired together as a unit, a great idea.) If you are self-employed and not taking on a business partner, you may be hiring an expert soon, such as a publicist, agent, lawyer, or other expert to help you in your work.

Those kinds of twosome relationships can be legendary - every writer needs an editor, every first violinist needs a conductor, and every athlete needs a coach. This is the kind of team-up you may be in the process of building now, for Mars will stay in your partnership sector until May 2008. That's a VERY long time for Mars to spend in any one area of a horoscope, for Mars usually will spend only seven weeks, not nearly seven months!

In business, Mars in this position sometimes suggests another application. In that scenario, a fierce competitor will emerge to take a run at stealing some of your market share. You are up to the challenge, of course, but it will take a bit of strategizing to settle on the best way to go about combating this aggressive action.

With so much energy being directed toward your seventh house of partnerships, you may alternatively be focused on your private life instead - and if so, you may be getting engaged or married. If you are planning a wedding, you seem to have many details on your list.

There are other reasons in your private life that you may be focused on your partner. He or she may have big news that will affect you, or if your partner is under stress, you will be called on to help your partner through the crisis. (This is a far less likely application.)

It is also possible that you may be focused on a partner for another reason - because you are splitting up. I hope this is not your application, but if you are planning a divorce, it may take months of negotiation to reach a final settlement.

No matter how you feel the presence of Mars in coming months, one thing is clear: The balance of power will tip toward your partner. It could be hard for anyone to feel less than total control over your part in a relationship, but apparently the universe wants to give you a special experience in give-and-take - for nearly seven months). See how things play out.

You and I have been discussing your romantic life (in terms of your romantic relationship) but what if you have no one in your life, or have been dating someone only a short time? You'll be in luck too, thanks to the glorious rays of the coming full moon, October 26.

This beautiful full moon on October 26 will fall in your house of true love, setting up a bewitching time for every Capricorn, no matter what your status. If you are single and hoping to find someone new to love, then make it a point to circulate near this time. All full moons have a plus or minus four days of influence, so keep that in mind. You may be invited to a Halloween party and if so, go! This year's holiday should be lots of fun, especially for you, as the full moon will be in Taurus, a fellow earth sign like yours.

This full moon is especially helpful because it will receive lovely rays from both Mars and Saturn. If you are in college or taking classes in October, your new romantic interest may be someone you meet in the course of your studies. Or, you may meet someone at a spiritual retreat, lecture, or seminar. There are many possibilities. If you work in the media, a new face in the office may pique your interest. These areas are indicated, but there are others, so just keep an open mind and go confidently to mixers and parties.

If you are attached, you are also likely to have a tender experience. Surprise your partner with plans - everyone finds happy surprises thrilling. This same full moon will be very encouraging for pregnancy and birth, so if you hope for a baby, this full moon may dispatch the stork. A new or full moon in Taurus is considered extraordinarily fertile - simply perfect for conception or birth.

If you've been dating someone in the very first initial stages of a relationship, this full moon may bring a rather exciting development. Stay tuned - see what happens.

If you were born on or within five days of December 24, you will benefit most from this lovely moment in your romantic timeline.

Most romantic dates: October 3, 16 - 18, 22, 26, 29 - 31.

The month ends on a cheery note. Financially, you'll see a big improvement in your fortunes from now on, now that Saturn has finally departed from your eighth house of other people's money. It's unusual for Capricorn to have financial difficulties so the past two years have caught you off guard. You are known to be practical, frugal, and particularly talented with managing money.

The only explanation I can surmise is that someone let you down and put you in a financial tangle, such as a client who promised to pay you a considerable sum but never did, or a financial aid office that suddenly dropped the amount of financial aid awarded to you without notice. Things like that happen, but understandably it could have put you in a tailspin. Now you seem to be rapidly coming out of that dark period. What a relief! You may have a little residue still to clean up, but nevertheless, you have such a bright financial picture in store.

Now, with Jupiter signaling Neptune on October 30, and Neptune turning direct on October 31, after having been retrograde since March 31 of this year, you are about to see even more evidence that the difficult chapter you came through is about to be locked tight on the door behind you. Saturn won't be back to that part of the horoscope any time soon - Saturn's cycle is every 29 years, after all - and Neptune is due to stay in strong orbit for the coming seven months. All in all, you've got lots to celebrate! It looks like those bad days are behind you. Good riddance!

Summary

In northern hemispheres, the fall is here, and vacations are now happy memories in your digital camera. If you're true to form, you are eager to buckle down and set your aim toward your next, more responsible career position.

Watch for lucrative new professional developments that are presented immediately after the new moon, October 11. With Jupiter sending encouraging beams from the most private part of your chart, keep your talks under the radar.

Mercury will be retrograde all month, so you are most likely to get a call from someone you know from your past. The position may not be quite right for you, so ask a lot of questions. You might be able to maneuver job responsibilities to conform to your abilities, but doing so will take time and patience. If you don't rush, you'll have a better chance of coming out ahead.

Financially, things will improve by October 31, due to the return of Mercury and Neptune to direct speed. If you need to state your asking price, wait out the month and act on this date - or even better, plan to get down to brass tacks near November 9.

Love and romance will sweep you off your feet over the coming weekend of October 26, thanks to a bright full moon on that day. With a comforting vibe to your ruling planet, Saturn, you'll be thrilled, and come away feeling appreciated for the real "you" inside. There's nothing finer - this will be a rare, whirlwind weekend to remember.

Concurrently, Mars has begun a long journey through your relationship sector, a trend that will take you into May. You may find you'll become more serious about making a commitment to your one-and-only. You may have your eye on a wedding at year's end, at the winter holidays or near your birthday in January. If that's too soon, then plan for late June or July 2008, all perfect times for a gorgeous wedding. Now that Jupiter will be in your sign for the first time in twelve years (beginning in December 17, 2007) you have the most ideal time ever to tie the knot. If you're happily wed, celebrate your union by planning a dream trip away together.

Not happy? Draw up a concrete exit strategy plan rather than continue to hope that things will improve without your need to play a strong hand in what's happening. (They won't). You have your best chance you've ever seen to be happy, but you must take things into your own hands very soon by leaving so that you can allow the universe to send you someone infinitely more suitable for you.