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!

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!!!

Now that our credit card bills are about to arrive(!), January is a great month to have that discussion about money, spending, saving and issues such as gift-giving with your partner. On Friday 22 January there will be a very helpful Venus trine Saturn aspect.

Venus rules love, money and possessions aka gifts, while Saturn rules responsibility, thriftiness, planning and caution. When these guys make a beautiful trine, it is the PERFECT time to discuss gift-giving and a workaround that will please both parties.

Saturn is the Headmaster of the zodiac on a good day and so he treats everything as a lesson or exam to be mastered.

“Gift-giving is incredibly important to me as it lets me show my love and appreciation for others. You would rather save the money for our future.” Discuss.

Alrighty then. On 22 January, why not tackle the gift-giving issue in alphabetical order.

1. Anniversary gifts. Unless you’re a newlywed, most couples stop giving each other traditional anniversary gifts after the first three years and then prefer to go away for the weekend (which, ironically, is more expensive). If it’s not your first, second or third, and it’s not a big milestone like a 10th, 15th, 20th or whatever, perhaps you can agree to have a nice dinner instead. (Obviously you want to agree on this so you can be around to discuss anniversary gift-giving all over again next year.)

2. Birthday gifts. I realised that I’ll be buying a minimum of 19 birthday gifts per year which frankly horrified even me so if you have a partner (and he makes you buy all the gifts for his family, too), you could be up for a lot of gifts.  First make a list of each person you like to give at least one birthday gift to. Multiply that by a modest $50 to get your total. Once you’ve picked yourself off the floor, you may want to put a couple of rules in place. Perhaps you give only gifts to those friends you see at least once a month, and send cards to those you see less often. Or you replace gifts for friends with dinner at your home? Keep in mind that birthdays are the gift occasion where people are most likely to give personalised gifts so it’s worth planning ahead when there’s a special promotion on and to put away ahead of their birthday.

3. Christening gifts. These won’t happen every year thank goodness but you might decide to give gifts only if you live in the same city or base it on your closeness to the child.

4.  Christmas gifts. The Big Kahuna. For your own family you might discuss replacing what you spend on Christmas gifts with the equivalent on a family holiday, or lots of little things for one big-ticket item. Buying gifts only when they’re on sale. Or doing a Kris Kringle. Or setting up a Chrisco account. Or perhaps having a garage sale or selling stuff on eBay to finance Christmas gifts ie you don’t use your savings.

5. Engagement gifts. Again, these won’t happen every year but the woman will get engaged faster if she’s Generation X.

6. Fathers Day gifts. Can you take both Dads out to lunch on the same day to make a family affair and make that the gift? If you have to cut back on gifts somewhere, Father’s Day is the gift-giving occasion least likely to upset your father.

7. Mothers Day gifts. Hmmm, a lot more fuss is necessary here… She is your mum, after all.

8. New baby gifts. Work colleagues spend less per person when they contribute to a group gift whereas family and friends spend more on new baby gifts! Perhaps what gifts the new mother really needs are not cute hanging mobiles…

9. Valentines Day gifts. Will you feel upset if he overlooks it? What was your favourite Valentines Day gift? Did you get what you really wanted? Would you want it again? What about taking a raincheck for the following weekend when the flowers and chocolates/jewellery/lingerie/perfume boxed sets are reduced?

10. Wedding gifts. Again, weddings don’t necessarily happen every year although I did have three in six weeks one year. Are you going to faithfully stick to their registry or will you give them something that is very “them” but not listed? You do have up to one year to give them a wedding gift - at which point you can start the discussion all over again.

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 you’ve got a diamond ring burning a hole in your pocket (or just the urge to propose), Wednesday 28 October 2009 is a lovely day to get down on a bended knee to pop the question!

Venus (the Goddess of Love and Beauty) will be in Libra (the sign of balance, harmony and relationships) which will make a gorgeous trine to Jupiter (the Santa Claus of the zodiac) in Aquarius (friends, hopes and wishes) that day. There is probably no other combination as romantic, lucky, prosperous, abundant and joyous as this aspect!

On the same day there is also Mercury (communication) in Scorpio (sex, insight, psychology) sextiling Pluto (the planet of transformation) in Capricorn (stability, longevity, conservatism). This combination is fantastic for putting a metaphorical jigsaw puzzle together in a long-term way. Hopefully you are the one who “completes” them.

Plus, Saturn (the Pillar of the Community guy) moves into Libra (see above) the very next day. He WANTS you to get married and to make a commitment! How cool is that?!

If your favourite Virgo is celebrating his or her birthday, I hope you’ve marked it in your diary/Outlook calendar, have left enough time to get their present there on time AND call them on the day. Well, they would do it for you! Most Virgos have an amazing memory and mentally file away everyone’s birthdays, anniversaries etc so they can deliver a gift on YOUR day. You might be surprised to know that they’re secretly wounded by people forgetting their birthday and quietly, desperately need you to prove that they’re special.

So, what to get them? One of the nicest things you can give them is a break from the housework that they tend to feel overwhelmed by. When too much is going on in their lives - and it has been thanks to Saturn in Virgo putting immense pressure on them since August 2007 not to mention Uranus in Pisces freaking them right out with undependable partners - they tend to clean, polish, sweep, vacuum, scrub, and wash etc to get some sense of order back. So as you might imagine, they have been cleaning up a storm for a couple of years…Give them a well-deserved break.

They also love a good de-cluttering. They have Pisces on the seventh house of relationships which can make them hate to throw things away that their loved ones have given them and have Sagittarius on the fourth house of home and family which suggests they live with complete grots (sorry, disorganised people). Call in the professional organisers - it will make them silly with happiness!

Saturn in your own sign is, shall we say, a little heavy-going on one’s self-esteem and attitudes towards one’s looks. Is it time for a professional stylist to freshen up their look with more flattering clothes, a haircut or better make-up choices? They just lurrve those makeover shows!

Pluto in Capricorn entered their solar fifth house of love and creativity in January 2009 and will be there until 2024. Pluto rules Scorpio so anything that promotes a bit of lovin’ and kissin’ - can you babysit the kids for the weekend? - is ideal. Virgos love step-by-step manuals and since there are all sorts of interesting how-to books to do with lovemaking, this could be a a naughty thrill!

Jupiter is in Aquarius is their sixth house of work and health until January 2010. Jupiter is what you find fun. Personally I’d like to steer away the emphasis from work for Virgo - it’s waaaay too easy for them to be workaholics - so please don’t give them leather-bound diaries or desk organisers - yuck! Springing for some new bookshelves for their home office - the Expedit ones from IKEA are very popular - might be OK, as might picking up a cute little handbag-sized laptop for them.

Or let’s consider the health side of things. Perhaps you could spring for a personal trainer, a new gym membership, some cute workout clothes, the Low GI Diet book, a delivery of fresh fruit and vegies, or at least a good, deep Swedish massage. The sixth house also rules pets. Have they been pressing their nose up against the puppies’ window at the local pet store or RSPCA? If a little doggie or kitty-kat could fit into their lifestyle, a pet could make a wonderful surprise gift.

Books are also pretty well-received. Since they love to know how things work and what makes people tick, why not check out the latest round of self-help/inspirational books?

Oh boy! I would love to know what is going on with this family!

An 11-year-old in Britain has been reported as the country’s most spoilt child, receiving approximately $300,000 in clothes and gifts (we’re talking about $2,300 a month, EVERY month, people) since she was born.

Her mother Alison MacKay, who must be the world’s best paid hairdresser, apparently started this insane and revolting spending spree since Brogan was born, lavishing her with Gucci loafers before the toddler could walk, giving her the latest Jimmy Choo shoes, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Chanel handbags, as well as a $1,100 flatscreen TV, iPhone and everything else you could poke a maxed-out credit card at.

Alison apparently “can’t go into a shop without buying Brogan something….She’s always been obsessed with her looks and I’m happy to work extra hours to buy her new clothes.”

Her dad is no better. According to Alison, Stephen “doesn’t mind. He just says, ‘Oh, let her have it.’ We have no savings but he believes in living for the day.”

What a psychological smorgasbord for a future counsellor to pick over.

While I don’t have any of their birth charts, Brogan is currently 11 years old. Allowing for this pre-teen to have just turned 11, or about to turn 12, she was born sometime between August 1997 and July 1998. Throughout this year-long period, Saturn was in Aries (between 20 to 29 degrees). Saturn rules what you’re insecure about, feel guilty about, get criticised for and have lessons in which to learn. Aries rules the physical body and is well-known for its overly healthy ego. When Saturn is in Aries, it can make for a person who is hugely insecure about their looks, yet who is also has guilt about feeling that it is ”all about them”. Brogan is going to be in for some pain if she thinks handbags and shoes can make her feel good about herself.

Her parents seem to be lacking that vital body part: a spine. Alison seems to have Neptune (glamour, illusion, addiction) in overdrive, buying her young daughter endless gifts. She “cannot go into a shop without buying Brogan something”. She really needs help! Her Dad is playing Good-Time Dad, which can often be an overly generous, irresponsible Jupiter at large. Jupiter hates responsibility and certainly doesn’t like the idea of savings.

As Pluto works his inexorable way through Capricorn (he’ll be there til 2024), we’ll all be taking much greater financial responsibility for ourselves. Pluto rules resources (anything from mineral to human) and you have to make the most of what you’ve got.  I think that when Brogan’s Saturn in Aries squares Pluto in Capricorn, (from about 2017 onwards), if she or her parents haven’t addressed this, there could be some real tears to be shed.

Thursday 9 July features a very helpful Sun in Cancer sextile Saturn in Virgo aspect for those seeking housewarming, birthday, wedding or baby gifts that have a house- or family-related theme.

If you’ve got time to hit the shops (bricks-and-mortar or online), you could find reasonably priced (both Saturn and Virgo like a bargain) gifts for your home or family (both of which are ruled by Cancer).

Ideally you’ll be looking for gifts that can be useful (Saturn and Virgo again) and lasts for the long-term. Durability is key to Saturn-themed gifts. Saturn is the classic, the antique or the quietly understated type of item. It is not say, a lava lamp or a BBQ apron with rubber breasts. Virgo likes items that DO things. They would not shy away from say, a good Mixmaster, a storage unit, or even a security alarm. (Virgos are kinda pessimistic about others’ intentions.)

Cancerians are sentimental and treasure what they’ve been given so if you managed to find a family-related, long-lasting classic item at a bargain price, well you are truly shopping by the stars!

Whatever you give a Cancerian, take the time to craft a heartfelt message. These sentimental softies hoard all their old cards for their anniversary, birthday, Christmas, engagement, Mothers Day, Fathers Day - you get the idea. They well up when it’s something really special and something they’ve been hinting at (but were afraid you’ll forget). Cancers are one of the worst signs of which to forget or overlook their birthday and they’ll hold a grudge if you do!

Many of them will even save (and re-use) their wrapping paper so don’t be surprised to see the same, (slightly wrinkled) paper on your gift. In fact, if they don’t like what you’ve bought, they’re not above regifting it to someone else, or straight back to you at some later stage.

They don’t take it well when you just shove them a birthday card with money in it  - “here, get what you want” and will honestly believe you don’t care (frankly, I wouldn’t think you cared either if you pulled that stunt on me and I’m not a Cancerian).

They’re big on their family and even the men are born Nannas. If they have small children they get a kick out of mummy-daughter, father-son matching outfits. Spending time with their children is their favourite thing so family tickets to a show, museum, theme park or other activity that builds a store of family memories would go down well.

They also lurrve their home and to make it beautiful for others to enjoy when they entertain (with Venus-ruled Taurus on their 11th house of friends and group activities they love to feed their friends with hearty home-cooked meals, while with Libra on their 4th house of home and family, they crave a beautiful home and a peaceful family environment). Beautiful candles or cookware are popular, as are hardware gift certificates so they can do a few fixes around the house. Stunning coffee table books on French Provincial/Italian/Paris interiors would go down well. Greenery works well too.

Many Cancerians are into history so you could give them one of those heraldic plaques for their surname perhaps, a real bodice-ripper by Cancerian Barbara Cartland, a guestbook, a leatherbound photo album or you could create a cool collage of family photos and frame them. If your budget extends that far, taking them to an antiques market where they can choose something in your budget would be a major thrill.

A lot of them like to work from home (whether they have kids or not) so while it’s not the typical touchy-feely gift Cancerian gift, something that makes it easier or more comfortable to have their own office could be a clever idea. And with Saturn in their solar 3rd house of communication until 31 October, many of them are trying hard to overcome their innate dislike of technology. A multi-function phone. fax, answering machine, laptop, scanner or home printer might be possible birthday gift idea options for a number of Cancerians.

No matter what your age or sexual orientation, you can expect to buy a lot more wedding and engagement gifts from November 2009.

On 31 October 2009, Saturn enters Libra until 6 October 2012, with a short retrograde visit back to Virgo from 8 April-22 July 2010.

Saturn is renowned as the Taskmaster of the zodiac. A combination of a “bad cop”, grumpy grandfather and stern school principal, he insists that things are done properly. (Have you noticed the huge emphasis since October 2007 on quitting smoking, health checks and obesity since his travels through health-focused Virgo?). Since he’ll be in Libra, the sign of relationships, partnerships and marriage, you can expect relationships to go under the spotlight for the next three years.

Saturn’s gonna insist, as Beyonce sings, “you better put a ring on it”. Engagements and therefore weddings will rise in popularity as people start to demand commitment. De facto arrangements won’t cut it anymore - on a singular, personal level, or on a societal level, either. Dating will be done with an eye to the future, much more so than before.

Saturn LOVES people getting serious and working hard about whatever area he’s transiting, it’s more than likely that same-sex marriage will become legalised in many (more) countries of the world. Saturn represents commitment so society will demand that we have more “pillars” in place. Pillars of course, provide stability and security, two things that Saturn rules and which have been proven to create wealth, another Saturn area. Marriage has been proven to be one of the strongest long-term ways to create wealth.

Since he is also not the funnest guy in the solar system, I anticipate that laws will be introduced to require people to undergo some type of marital counselling. Divorce applications might be restricted in some way. Saturn’s pragmatism may create a kind of old-school (Saturn loves old-school stuff) move to assessing long-term relationship suitability and marriage for non-sexy reasons, like having a family, combining family wealth, and building a future together. Match-making services could boom in popularity.

Oh, and people could get VERY used to making their way around a wedding gift registry.