Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to win an Oscar for film directing which is amazing considering the show’s been going for over 80 years (or at least it seems like it, during those song and dance routines).

Her award for The Hurt Locker must feel very sweet as she was going up against her ex-husband James Cameron for his monster hit Avatar.

Kathryn is a Sagittarius which rules foreign travel and culture, philosophy, politics, law and religion - themes of which keep featuring in her films (eg Blue Steel, Point Break, K19: The Widowmaker).

She has the planet of action, energy and violence (Mars) in the peaceful, romance-oriented sign of Libra, which rules fairness. She really fights for what is right, whether it is politically correct or not. Kathryn also has Jupiter (generosity, abundance, optimism) in Aries (masculinity, ego, action, war) so yes, she really does enjoy making action flicks!

As the Oscar nominations were announced, transiting Saturn in Libra (relationships, marriage, business partnerships) moved towards a conjunction with her Mars. Saturn rules longevity, endurance, patience and hard work and will make you famous once you’ve earned it - and she became famous for what she put all her energy into. Interestingly, Saturn in Libra insists on fairness and equality so even though most people expected her ex-husband’s behemoth of a movie to scoop the pool of awards, it was her low-budget movie instead.

She also has the Moon’s North Node (a fated position) in Pisces, a sign renowned for film and photography. As the Oscar nominations were revealed, transiting Jupiter (which provides lucky breaks and goodwill, among other things) in Pisces, conjuncted her natal Moon’s North Node.

Her win was meant to happen!

On 11 March, Mars finally moves direct in Leo after being retrograde since 20 December 2009.

If romance, love and affection has been a little thin on the ground since just before Christmas, expect things to heat up nicely from 11 March.

Mars rules action, energy and the libido and Leo rules love, romance, fun and children. When Mars is retrograde, everyone is just a bit more sensible and restrained and since Mars lurrrves to move things along, to chase, to be ardent and and to create spicy chemistry between the sexes, he HATES to be restrained.

If you were less than thrilled with Valentine’s Day (perhaps your gift was lackluster or you had no-one to give you a gift), you might notice a quickening pulse in the romantic atmosphere following 11 March…

Good luck!

When I read about singer Katy Perry planning to give her brand-new fiancee, Russell Brand, a lilac Bentley for Valentines Day, I thought, “wooah, there, girl!”

They got engaged very romantically on the Full Moon of New Year’s Eve in India after dating since only September 2009.

Whichever way you cut it, after barely five months, they still don’t know each other very well. Yeah, yeah in THAT sense but it takes time for a person’s chart to unfold.

The strongest aspects around their chart have to do with Uranus (no jokes, please) which indicate sudden, enormous attraction, crackling electricity, independence, unconventionality, friendship, but also a definite on-off quality to their relationship.

The sign your Jupiter is in is where you find fun, joy, generosity, and optimism. Katy has hers in Capricorn. While the Mars-Jupiter conjunction that she has is renowned for being super-impulsive (compulsive, even), Capricorn is not known for being splashy with money and prefers to climb the career ladder, building a solid reputation. She also has the Sun, Moon and Mercury in Scorpio which means she is completely passionate - yet also highly strategic.

While I don’t doubt she fancies Russell’s pants off (his Mars in Aries trines her Venus in Sagittarius - lovely for a romantic, sexual attraction), she’s no fool and knows her flamboyant gesture would get publicised (which kinda ruins the surprise for him).

I’m not convinced that these guys can make it last the distance however. Russell has his Moon, Mars and Jupiter in Aries which means he feels, acts and has fun spontaneously. Plus he’s a Gemini and boy, are they hard to tie down! Katy’s more of a planner so his impulsive proposal may come unstuck as transiting Jupiter and Uranus in Aries (mid-year), Pluto in Capricorn and Saturn in Libra hit their charts over the next couple of years.

Better keep the receipt for the Bentley!!!

Those of you who are single on 14 February 2010 might be on your Pat Malone for a while longer, while those in newish relationships could have second thoughts, and married couples could just have to grin and bear it.

Saturn (the Grumpy Grandad of the zodiac) goes retrograde in Libra (the sign of relationships) on 15 January and will go further retrograde backwards into Virgo on 8 April. He doesn’t go direct in Virgo until 30 May and it will take him until 22 July to re-enter Libra. Added to this, Mars (the Action Man) is in Leo (the sign of love and romance). He too is retrograde (and has been since 20 December 2009) and won’t go direct until 11 March.

Since the planets of commitment AND courage - both necessary for a relationship! - are retrograde over Valentines Day I don’t think there will be too many proposals happening. Couples may instead be taking time out to think about where their relationship is headed and to confirm if they both have the same future in mind. Couples who marry or go on honeymoon during this time may have much to consider.

 While it isn’t the stuff of crazy let’s-get-married-in-Vegas tomorrow type moments a la Britney Spears, it IS a great time to reflect and to understand each other.

If one of your Christmas “gifts” to your lover this year is a proposal, you couldn’t go past Wednesday 16 or Thursday 17 December!

Wednesday 16 December features both Sun in Sagittarius sextile Neptune in Aquarius and a New Moon in Sagittarius. Sagittarius rules adventure and exploration (what is more of an adventure in life than getting engaged?) while Aquarius is all about friendship and group activities (just like those pre-wedding parties you’ll have to arrange). Neptune rules compassion, kindness and selflessless. Since a New Moon is a new beginning, it is an auspicious time to become engaged!

Thursday 17 December features Venus in Sagittarius trine Mars in Leo. Venus rules love and relationships while Mars is all about action and sex drive. If your heart thumps for someone and you want to make it official, it’s a beautiful date for ever-lasting romance!

A date while Venus is in Sagittarius responds very well to outdoors action - why not go on an evening picnic, a twlight stroll on the beach, snuggle up watching a movie at Moonlight Cinema (Leo does rule entertainment) or if you’re feeling festive, go to a Christmas night market and have fun kissing under the mistletoe!

And if you’re still shopping for Christmas gifts, do it on 17 December. The Moon is in Capricorn which is not known for its romantic nature, but more for its pragmatism. You may find something that your partner will love - and find it at a reduced rate, too.

If you’re unattached and reading this, join in the fun somewhere on 17 December to mingle with other singles. You might see some fireworks way before New Year’s Eve…

I read that Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) loves the gifts that her World’s Sexiest Man, David Beckham, gives her.

Ha! I would, too. Apart from renting out Richard Branson’s beautiful Necker Island in the Carribbean to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, ol’ Golden Balls also had 10 roses tattooed around his arms to celebrate their 10 years of  marriage.

According to Becks, “I always seem to do pretty well,” he says. “She always seems to be happy with the gifts that I get her.”

Yes, indeed. From an astrological point of view, they are really meant to be. His Mars in Gemini conjuncts her Venus in Gemini while her Venus in Pisces conjuncts his Mars in Pisces. Such a double Venus-Mars conjunction is very unusual - and very, very hot! They still madly fancy each other after all these years and are right in tune - even down to gift-giving.

His Mars in Pisces also conjuncts her Jupiter in Pisces. Mars is what you desire and Jupiter is what brings you joy. David truly desires Victoria’s happiness and recognises that extravagant - yet also wildly romantic - gifts are what she wants. She’s also an Aries, with Mercury in Aries - and they’re not shy about saying what they need!

Victoria has Venus conjuncting Jupiter in Pisces in her seventh house of relationships. Venus is what you love and it’s conjunct Jupiter which is what brings you joy, while Pisces, rules music, movies, mysticism, glamour and feet! The seventh house rules her marriage so she is deeply delighted when Becks sweeps off her feet with romantic gestures and gifts.

They really get each other as they both have the Moon in Aquarius and both of their Suns are in each other’s eleventh house of friends and group activities. They will stay friends no matter what.

Finally, Victoria has a Leo Ascendant which is a prime candidate for somewhat diva-ish, look-at-me behaviour on the outside. Romance, beauty, love and fun are very key for her. David on the other hand has a Cancer Ascendant. He is well-known for being a family man and has often cried after losing important soccer matches.

Well, if he needs cheering up…

No, this isn’t a post about whether Sasha and Malia Obama gave their father soap-on-a-rope for yesterday’s Fathers Day celebration in the US, but about his impassioned speech imploring men to be better fathers.

Barack is a regal Leo who wants to be the best at everything he does and one of Leo’s best assets is their regal ability to inspire others. Leos are also noted for their courage so it was fascinating that he said, “Any fool can have a child. That doesn’t make you a father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.”

He has roll-up-your-sleeves Mars in Virgo. This is a classic position for working hard, being dutiful, helping with housework and homework and generally being a hands-on, practical Dad. The Mars position in a man’s sign is his quality of action, activity and energy and since Virgo won’t rest until things are seen to, Barack will work very hard to help inspire a sense of duty amongst America’s fathers. Combined with the slow-burn effect of Pluto in Capricorn until 2024, it’s likely that there will be growing disapproval for social instability as well as a swing to extended families to ensure that the burden of child-rearing is shared in society.

One of the BEST days of the year this year to celebrate your wedding anniversary, birthday or engagement is on Sunday 21 June.

Venus (the planet of love and beauty) conjuncts sexy action man Mars in Taurus, which rules the five senses - taste, touch, smell, sight and sound. When these planetary lovers meet up it is a boon for plenty of that lovin’ feeling and you should ah, definitely take the phone off the hook.

The gifts that will be best-received on this day are anything which pleases the senses. 

Take them out to dinner somewhere fancy (this is not the day to worry about counting calories as you should be burning them off soon enough). Play them some romantic music guaranteed to get both of you in the mood. (Barry White works for some people although he make me collapse in a fit of the giggles). Light plenty of flickering candles to add atmosphere. Arrange masses of fragrant seasonal flowers in vases and wear your sexiest perfume/cologne. Wear touch-me textures like velvet, cashmere, satin.  

Oh, and if you’re not in the market for a Mini-me, take extra special care, guys!

If you enjoy spending at least some of your weekend shopping for gifts, this weekend is probably not the best for it.

It features a New Moon in Taurus, which in itself is OK - Taureans love their possessions - but which is going to get activated by the Mercury square Neptune aspect (in force until Sunday morning), and then be followed up by a crushingly brutal Mars square Pluto combination lasting until early Monday.

So what this points to is a “need” (the Moon is what you need) around money, finances, posessions etc. You may “need” to go shopping for a birthday gift. 

Mercury (thoughts, communication) squares Neptune (glamour, illusion, escapism) suggests that you could be severely deluded if you think that antique in the market stall is real, the bag on eBay is a genuine Prada, the gizmo actually does what it suggests etc. Lies, fantasies, wishful thinking, confusion are all typical of a Saturday afternoon at the shops - and then of course, there’s this aspect.

Then the real kicker is Mars (aggression, anger, energy, drive) square Pluto (hidden secrets, power, control, taboo). You could be boxed into a very uncomfortable corner, made to agree to something not in your favour or bullied in a thoroughly unpleasant confrontation.

Since shop assistants aren’t allowed to carry on like this, your weekend could go like this: You want to go shopping for something/anything, so you buy something useless, flimsy, or unreliable, and then you get into a big fight about your spending habits which you’ve been trying to avoid or they finally discover your credit card statement. Or something similar.

This might be one weekend not to go shopping…

Tomorrow night (Tuesday 21st April) is a smokin’ night for romance, thanks to a gorgeous Venus conjunct Mars in Pisces aspect.

Venus is the planet of love and beauty, Mars is your sex drive and when they meet in Pisces, it’s just lovely! If you’ve got a special someone, take ‘em out tomorrow night to make the most of this subtle, sensual, soulful evening.

Pisces rules dancing, photography, film and just a little magic. Why not whisk them out for a slow dance somewhere, go see a romantic, cuddle-up movie, have an early evening picnic looking up at the stars, but please don’t waste it - at least do something far more glorious and magical than Thai takeaway in front of the TV. If you’d love to propose, THIS is THE night! Time to kiss, forgive and make-up? It’s great for understanding, compassion and sweetness, too.

Single and looking for love? You might just find it. But swim up to them, sideways, gently. This is a sweet aspect that’s not meant for pushy, aggressive manoeuvres.  Take your time, read the signs. Three looks and smiles = interest.

Since Pisces is also pretty psychic, why not take a chance on that girl/guy who keeps giving you shy glances and ask if they’d like to have a drink with you? If you’re any good at palmistry (or if not, dare I say, fake it?), take their hand in yours and trace their love lines. The feel and touch of another’s hand can be a dead giveaway of chemistry.

Oh, and this is the perfect night to end by giving your partner a lovely massage with essential oils.