Jupiter, your guardian planet and planet of wonder and gifts, is now moving in very swift orbit through Sagittarius. It should be a glorious time for you now, where things seem to be clicking almost magically into place. You may have wondered if you somehow fell into a parallel universe where every day is sunny and everyone loves you and thinks your ideas are great.

The period you are in now comes but once every twelve years, so it truly is extraordinary. Things will continue to get even better - December should make you positively delirious. Since you are the celestial favorite, it behooves you to be out and about showing your face to the world. Don't be shy about letting influential people know how they can help you. Your edge will last until December 17, and your luck in 2008 will relate directly to the conversations you have now in 2007.

The new moon, October 11, will fall in your eleventh house of friendship and groups, so it appears that a charity, special community, or humanitarian effort will be your focus. You may be spearheading a committee or getting ready to launch an event that will involve many participants. Or, it may be that your friends, both old and new, will have a larger than usual part to play in your life now. Come to think of it, it could be both!

No matter what you will do this month that involves friends or clubs, success seems assured, because at this new moon, both Jupiter (gifts and luck) and Neptune (vision and creativity) will be friendly to this new moon. That's no small favor - these outer planets have huge power to help ensure your success.

This new moon on October 11 (operative for two weeks) will not only help you advance a good cause, it will also help you make many new friends. Among the new faces appears to be someone you think of as your partner or collaborator. It could be a co-chairman, for example, or just someone who is so aligned with you that she or he could practically finish your sentences. This person is obviously very lucky for you and very helpful too, and will staunchly support you all month.

If your birthday falls within five days of December 9, you will notice, and benefit most, from this glorious new moon on October 11!

You've been sailing along quite well for weeks, but now Mercury will retrograde from October 11 to November 1. This suggests that you'll have to expect a few delays, postponements, or glitches to crop up. Mercury will retrograde part of the time in Libra, the very part of the chart that you and I have been discussing - friends, new contacts, communities, groups, and associations. The other part of the time Mercury will be in Scorpio, ruling your twelfth house. Mercury's move into Libra is the more potentially problematic, for if you are working on a project, you have to expect a few little things to come up that may need a quick solution. At times you may feel exasperated, but none of these things will have tragic consequences. Keep that in mind and know that part of Mercury's job is to keep all of us flexible, accommodating, and on our toes.

Any Mercury retrograde period would not be a time to make any major agreements or commitments. Things are in flux and you won't be able to fully anticipate what's coming - no one can. If you make a major decision now, you may be sorry later. Contracts that are signed during a Mercury retrograde period usually have to be renegotiated later. Keep in mind that the time when Mercury is at his worst is in the days surrounding his onset and turn direct. That means you need to stay FAR away from October 11 and November 1. The closer you act to those dates, the worse the outcome later.

Mercury has a terrific upside, however. In case you are getting down reading about Mercury's out of phase points, consider this. Mercury is, among other things, the planet of organization, so you may be motivated to clear out closets and drawers and make them so neat and organized that you will be able to grab anything at a moment's notice. I have always found that Mercury's delays open up my schedule. I always have more time to catch up and finish off things on my to-do list that I had to put aside earlier because of lack of time.

Social scientists say we become tired, waste time, and procrastinate more when our homes are cluttered and messy. Feng shui experts say the chi doesn't move through the house well and makes us feel out of sorts and unproductive. So if you do get time, spend an hour here and there tossing things out to get ready for all the new things that you will want to add soon.

Another upside of Mercury retrograde is that we usually run into people from our past that we have missed and are thrilled to see again. We run into old friends and contacts on the street, at weddings and club events, and other places when we least expect anyone we know to turn up.

So while you can't seal anything in stone this month, you can do so next month, in November (start resuming normal activities November 5.) Taking time to think now will be a valuable exercise and will help ensure your venture's success.

Now we need to talk about Mars, because this planet is setting up a very long trend that's new. As of late last month, on September 28, Mars entered Cancer and is now in your eighth house of other people's money. The money we are talking about is money that you might borrow or raise as venture capital, or that would come from the refinance of a mortgage, insurance payout, or child support payment. It could be money outside of salary, paid as a commission, royalty, or licensing deal. There are a great many ways this may all work out for you.

On the plus side, this house rules big ideas that need to be funded. It looks as though you have reached a critical stage in your project where you can finally think about the nuts and bolts needed to be ready to launch it. Or, you may be in your own business and need to get a second or third round of financing.

You seem to be filling out forms this month, and showing your business plan, budgets, or profits to banks or other investors. You might need financial aid for tuition, or money for a government sponsored grant or research project. That could explain all the forms you'll be filling out and all the discussions you seem to have ahead of you. You may be seeking a mortgage, too, and if so, that would certainly involve forms!

The unusual part of this trend is that Mars usually stays in a part of the chart for seven weeks, but this year, Mars will stay in your eighth house for close to seven months! Mars will not move on until early May 2008! You will hear me talk a lot about Mars in coming months, for Mars is setting up a powerful presence in this house.

The downside to Mars in the eighth house is that Mars will urge you to spend money - a lot of it. You may need to, because you have planned for it, and because the project you are working on is so big that it requires an enormous outlay of cash. Some ideas need money to make them materialize and so there's no harm in that. The only possible harm would be when money goes out mindlessly, without being controlled. Watch how you spend your money, being mindful that this trend will keep up a long time, through May 9, 2008.

Mars in this house can bring arguments over money, too, although with a friendly Uranus, as you will have (especially in April), there is a somewhat reduced chance of that happening. If you are trying to get a divorce settlement wrapped up, you may now run into a protracted set of talks that will go on quite a long time. An inheritance may go into the courts and require time to sort out. Be patient.

You need to protect yourself from identify theft during this trend. You would be wise to check your credit rating several times during this phase to be absolutely sure no one is charging on your card, or worse, running a sophisticated identity theft scam where they don't charge you - they become you. (It happened to me, but I worked closely with the FBI to catch the people who did this to me. It took two years but we finally prosecuted and won, so I guess they chose the wrong person's identity to steal. I followed the trail all the way to the end. You can survive something like this, but it's a time consuming process that's best done if you catch the problem on the onset as I luckily did.)

Dear Sagittarius, the chances of this happening to you are slim, but because Mars will be in this house I need to make you aware that this could happen to you and to urge you to be ready to combat the problem if it does. At least you know when you won't be so concerned about money: after May 8. By then, you'll be in the clear.

OK, I need to tell you something else so that you don't feel broadsided by events should this come up. Mars will go into a retrograde from November 15 to January 31. During that time, amid the glorious picture you have been sailing through for weeks, you may suffer a financial setback or reversal when something falls through. This is no guarantee that this will happen, only a propensity for it. I tell you this so that you keep flexible as you go through the coming financial phase. All your data must be very detailed. The more buttoned up you are, the better. Once you reach the end of January you'll have a better chance for clear sailing, but you might have to be resourceful before that time to fix a jam you may find yourself in.

Don't take anything for granted when it comes to money. Have contingency plans lined up and make them excruciatingly detailed, even if you think you will never need them. If you are not up to this task, ask someone you trust to do it, but be sure THEY can do it thoroughly. You do need a beautifully prepared Plan B, just in case. Keep revising and updating your budget as things change - this month everyone will be in the same boat. That's life, but all you need to do is stay on top of the shifts.

Financially, your own money - that is, money you earn as salary and that you take home - is due to climb impressively. One of your very best moments of the month for a financial meeting or presentation will be on October 8, when benefic Jupiter will have a marvelous meeting with the Sun. This day would be so special that you should circle it in gold!

Mercury will be getting ready to retrograde on October 11, so it will not be the time to sign papers, but if you have been meeting with this person for a while and they know you well, it sounds like he or she wouldn't mind waiting for paperwork to catch up next month. Never sign papers with Mercury retrograde if you can help it.

Another excellent day will be October 20, when serious financial discussions could come up again. This will be a Saturday, so if you are due to meet with a high level person, you should do so with a very positive outlook, confident you will come home with a favorable response. You've got everything working for you, so go in ready to knock this person's socks off! If you are not likely to see anyone in authority on a Saturday, then you may use this wonderful energy on the preceding Thursday or Friday, October 18 and 19.

The end of the month will see you working very hard, finishing up on a project that you've been working on for weeks or even months. Your deadline will be the full moon, October 26, plus or minus four days. This full moon, which falls in practical, realistic Taurus, has help from Mars, so you'll be very energetic and get a lot done. Saturn will also be helpful, so clients and in-house VIPs should be extremely pleased with your work and your visions for the future.

This would be an ideal time to find a way to offset stress. Decide what works best for you - soothing yoga, sports, or heart pounding boot camp and cardio sculpt. Everyone is different, but if you can find the right workout for you, you'll extend your life, stay healthy and feel like a million dollars. People who exercise look like they do. It's that simple. You'll look radiant and younger, and walk more gracefully - all things that subliminally impress investors (which it seems you may be meeting with this month). See your exercise routine not as time away from work, but as part of your job! This month, impressions will be everything!

Romantically, if single, in coming months you will be more drawn to potential partners who are foreign-born, or who have a very different background from yours. Your new partner may be of a different faith, or have very different traditions, political leanings, or other characteristics that are unfamiliar but yet appealing to you. Most people would have problems with a new romantic partner like this, but not you. Sagittarius is the most eclectic sign of the zodiac, so you don't see differences as obstacles - you celebrate them!

If attached, there's a good chance you will travel to an exotic country together soon, either now or sometime prior to early May. This would be a worthy goal, for you'd enjoy this particular trip very much. It would not be a trip to take alone, if possible, and not one meant to take with your Mom, sister, brother, child, or friend. This trip needs to be with your partner for the most fun. See if you both can go!

The month ends on a visionary, creative note. Jupiter, your ruler, will contact Neptune in one of 2007's most touching, artistic, and glamorous moments on October 20. You may get a chance to travel a short distance, and if you do, grab the opportunity. The place you go would be close by, but you will enjoy this trip to the fullest. Jupiter and Neptune will be in fire and air signs, known to be ideal for you.

Best romantic evenings: October 1, 5 - 6, 8, 10 - 11, 16, 20, 29, 30, 31.

Finally, on October 31, Neptune will turn direct. This will have a very upbeat influence on your living situation, as Neptune rules your home base. You have Uranus in your home sector, so chances are that your living situation has been unconventional for a long time. You may have moved several times, and even now, you may feel your situation is still not fully settled. That may get resolved by the next eclipse, February 21 (falling in this sector) but in the meantime, you will be helped by Neptune's turn direct to help you finalize future plans. All this is good news, so the month ends on a very happy note!

Summary

If you think back, all during 2007 you were busy making new friends and contacts. Some people were kind, but you didn't feel a close connection. Others however turned out to be highly influential people who befriended you and have since helped you get ahead. Others became new good friends that have opened you to new interests and possibilities.

Now, in October, even more people will pour into your life. Thanks to the blessings of Jupiter (October 6 - 8) and the actions of the new moon (October 11 - 26), you will be surrounded by many new faces, and these contacts will also want to get to know you better. Make the effort to get to know the ones who share a certain simpatico with you. You can expect a flurry of party invitations too, including some from old friends you've not seen in a very long time and have had problems even finding. Meet and greet - it's no time to stay back! Jupiter, the benefactor planet, will help you find the right people who are in a position to help further your deepest aims. Go out and circulate - when you do, look your very best. People are making impressions now, and those impressions will count. Among some of the socializing you do, you may be working with a charity, club, or special community of individuals whom you are trying to help. There is a strong possibility that the help you are giving has a large, humanitarian focus, for the eleventh house is that and more, too.

Against this lovely social backdrop, finances will press heavily on you. You may be busy raising venture capital, garnering commissions like nobody's business, or in heavy-duty negotiations concerning the split or appropriations of funds. Don't expect a quick finish to these talks as these are apparently important, and talks will take time to resolve. Plan on not wrapping up until early May 2008. Nevertheless, you can make exceptional progress during the first eight days of October.

You will work very hard over the full moon October 26, but you won't mind, for you'll have so much to show for your efforts. You may even get a generous bonus or fee for work well done. What will you do with some of your bounty? Travel? Buy new clothes or acquire a new high-tech electronic item? The world is your oyster, dear Sagittarius. Just remember not to spend all your money this month - with Mercury retrograde from October 11 to November 1, if you shop during the retrograde, you won't enjoy your purchase.

Your home situation will bring good news and options that you may not be anticipating - watch the days surrounding October 31 for signs that things are about to improve.