Click those ruby slippers, Cancer. With the home-on-her-back Crab as your mascot, you know a thing or two about domesticity. The first three weeks of the month, the energizing Sun nestles into Libra, your fourth house of roots and personal foundations.  This is a perfect time to indulge your homebody self. Not like we need to tell you how to "be" at home, but all nesting activities are favored: Sunday dinners, chilling out underneath a blanket on the couch, cranking up the tunes as you rearrange your living room furniture. On October 22, the Sun moves into Scorpio, your fifth house of passion and creativity, adding a flirty, festive vibe.
 
And oh, do you have plenty to celebrate this month. On October 6, sober Saturn leaves your fourth house of home and family, where it's been challenging you for the last three years. While Saturn transits are never cakewalks for anyone, Cancers have had an especially tough time, since Saturn's position in Libra formed a tense angle (square) to your sun sign. During this three-year stint, you've likely faced some mega life lessons about home and family, possibly in your relationships with female relatives. Perhaps you had less time to spend in your abode, your almighty comfort zone. You were forced out into the world, interacting more extensively than you'd like...and this was actually a blessing in disguise, resulting in more self-confidence, friends and connections. Perhaps you upgraded your living situation, but with a catch-for example, you moved to a more spacious dwelling, but in a less glamorous zip code or located farther from your job. Or maybe, like one Cancer we know, you just couldn't settle on a single address, causing a deep sense of existential unrest, especially for a sign that needs four walls and a roof like most need air to breathe. Maybe you had to become your own "mobile home," literally-creating a sense of security in some of the least cozy places you've ever laid eyes on. Quelle horreur, Cancer. We know, you've been through it. (If you're still trembling from the reverb, this video may do your soul right; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64c5vT3NBw. Cute kids singing about home? Cue the heart-melting.)
 
With Saturn in relationship-oriented Libra, you may have experienced trouble with a family member, especially a mother, daughter, female relative or even a close friend. Perhaps the nostalgic elements of your friendship-retelling the zany bachelorette party stories of yesteryear-just stopped cutting it as a foundation of how you relate to this person. You likely outgrew a phase of your relationship, which is normal, but in this case, the transition was tough and maybe even a little awkward. Perhaps you didn't have enough time for one another. Or, there was a need to erect stronger boundaries. Chances are, you just weren't on the same page when it came to your practical and emotional needs. The care of an ailing parent may have fallen into your cozy lap, bestowing you with more responsibility than you were ready for. Nope, Saturn did not give you notice on this one…something the control freak in you found rather unpalatable. If you're a mom, you may have seen your once-cherubic children turning into out-of-control hellions at the blink of an eye. You may have developed some new disciplinarian chops (even if you got so frustrated you asked to be called by your first name...). If you had children leaving the nest, seeing them spread their wings was especially heart-wrenching under this transit. But, you can't stop time, and so instead of dwelling in what "once was," you were forced to accept your new reality. Some Cancers may have had trouble getting pregnant or just finding time for self-care.
 
However these challenges played out, the underlying conflict could be summed up like this: your intense Cancerian need for roots and security duking it out against your soul's demand to overhaul and redefine those very notions. Well, here's the good news: you made it, and after all these trials, no one-and we mean, no one-can mess with the inner security you've cultivated as a result.
 
On October 6, Saturn enters Scorpio, your fifth house of creativity and romance, until September 17, 2015. While it doesn't sound fun to have sober Saturn messing with your love arena (especially after you know what it did to your home sitch...), its position in fellow water sign Scorpio will be much easier. You'll have three years to, dare we say it, enjoy the benefits of structured Saturn. Perhaps you'll take this time to become more disciplined with one of your creative talents, whether it's painting, singing, playwriting or dancing. Or, you may find that your self-expression takes on a new air of authority. Where you were once shy about declaring your opinions or divulging your innermost desires, you may now feel confidence, even a steely determination to say what you gotta say. If you've been toying with a career in the arts, you may make the artistic leap during this time or just transition to a role that requires (and prizes) your creative input.
 
On October 4, lucky Jupiter goes retrograde (backward) in Gemini, your twelfth house of dreams and spirituality, until January 30. This four-month period marks a slowdown, a reorientation inward. Where you've been hustling with all the Saturn activity, now is the time to cash in that R&R check you have absolutely earned. Skip off to the sandy shores of Tulum or some other beachside locale, if you can. Interior "travel" is favored, too. So get thee to a true-blue therapist or healer to resolve old, nagging issues. To unearth and remove hidden blocks, check out The Artist's Way http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Spiritual-Creativity/dp/0874776945 or another self-study guide. Try a dance class, preferably one that's free-form and allows for self-expression and catharsis through movement. As you delve deeper into your own psyche, you may uncover a newfound respect for your immense sensitivity. (One Cancer we know actually woke up in the middle of the night to this epiphany: "Do not apologize for your sensitivity; just take care of it.") Such a discovery does not mean you should start laying your weepy cards on the table or demand that others offer a constant shoulder to cry on. They don't actually have to get it, so long as you do-and act in accordance with your own needs. Be vigilant about whom you lend your all-important trust to. Avoid taking on too many activities or making Joan of Arc-style sacrifices for others.
 
On October 15, the Libra new moon is a great day to plant new seeds in all matters of home. Now that Saturn has armed you with a plethora of lessons, you should know exactly what you want and need. If you're unsatisfied with your current living situation, this is the day to move or at least begin the process of upgrading to a better pad. Perhaps you'll feel a push to finally furnish the home you moved into a year ago, or revisit the idea of having kids.
 
The month ends with a Taurus full moon on October 29, in your eleventh house of friends, networking and technology. Around this date, you may find that a group project, perhaps an internet-based endeavor, comes to a grand conclusion. Whatever the case, it's all about teamwork today. Now is your moment to get out and mingle, hit the party circuit, and network with a new circle that's eccentric, but authentic. The more, the merrier!
 
 

Love globally, date locally? On October 3, magnetic Venus enters Virgo, your third house of community. Cupid's arrow might make a surgical strike when you're out and about in your 'hood, getting coffee or walking the dog. Or you may be set up with a friend-of-a-friend. You could find yourself in a pleasing "friends with benefit" scenario, one that rivals the Natalie Portman-Ashton Kutcher rom-com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubfcfs98MBw. Let your wit fly, and your banter could put a few phone numbers in your pocket. Coupled Crabs should make an effort to get out for more fun date nights in the 'hood.
 
In longer-term news, mature Saturn enters Scorpio, your fifth house of passion and romance, on October 6, ringing in three years of lessons in love. Single Cancers may suddenly get the urge to put yourself out there, signing up for online dating sites or even going the professional matchmaker route. Thought you weren't the virtual romance type? Give it a chance; you're telling the universe that you're open to meeting someone, even if it happens the old-fashioned way. One friend labored over her Match.com profile and then promptly met the love of her life when they locked eyes on the subway. See, Cancer, we never know what good fortune is going to befall us, but now you might be prompted to make those smoke signals a little more prominent. During this time, you're called upon to check your shyness at the door and take some risks, flirting with more authority and getting clear on what you really desire. That's where it all starts, Cancer.
 
And if what you really desire is to be a mom (no big surprise for your maternal sign), you may get more serious about making it happen. The biggest obstacle to love or motherhood may be your own pessimism. One friend admitted she never let herself consider the option of kids because she couldn't see finding the right partner. During Saturn's visit, you may unearth some limiting beliefs, and work to dismantle them. With Saturn sitting in your house of fertility, getting pregnant could take a handful of tries. Don't get discouraged. Saturn always ensures that our dreams are built on a rock-solid foundation. So if you're struggling in this area, perhaps you should scan your whole life. Is everything in order and ready for the arrival of a bambino? Have you eliminated all the stressors you possibly can? Streamline your life, and make sure you're really ready, not just ready in theory. (When the 4:00am feedings come along, there is no theory.)
 
During this three-year cycle, you may find yourself leaping off the proverbial cliff, deciding that the time is right to settle down, making it legal with your honey, planning for a brood or even parting ways with someone who's not mature or serious enough to make the leap with you. If that's the case, you'll review all potential partners through this new, more discerning lens. When you're ready, you will upgrade to someone much better and far more worthy. When it comes to Saturn, your best bet is to roll up your sleeves and do the work that's required to lend a solid structure to the dreams you want to manifest. Nothing happens overnight, but when Saturn finally gives the green light, it's ON.
 
 

Pump it up, Cancer. On October 6, motivator Mars enters your sixth house of health and fitness until November 16. Even the most sedentary Cancer will be chomping at the bit for exercise that helps release some pent-up energy. Instead of snapping at your sweetie, lace up your kicks and head to the track. Although yoga may be your go-to, be sure to engage in fitness activities that require "yang" energy (Zumba, perhaps?).
 
On October 6, challenging Saturn leaves your fourth house of home and family, where it's been since October 2009. You're ready to finally, finally unpack those literal and metaphorical boxes. Settle back into your roots, and enjoy all the things that make you feel nurtured and cozy. Cancers crave their downtime, but now your need for relaxation is especially acute. Let the dust settle, and definitely give yourself permission to just spend some long, languorous nights at home. You earned it. You need it, so be unapologetic about cancelling lukewarm plans and opting to reconnect with your living space, as well as your inner sense of home.
 
This is doubly important, as expansive Jupiter goes retrograde (backward) in Gemini, your twelfth house of rest and closure, on October 4 (which will last until January 30). Prepare for some soul-searching and inner work. One Cancer we know pencils in regular solo dates, where she sits gazing out her bedroom window, with candles lit and soothing tunes playing in the background. Remove stressors from your life, as opposed to piling them on. Healing is the name of the game. Rest. Recover. Rejuvenate. Even though it's October, now might be the time to plot an escape to a far-off destination for the holidays. Perhaps you'll visit an ashram in India or jet off to your favorite retreat center later this year. Maybe the holidays should be spent on eco-tour at a Costa Rica resort, like the Blue Spirit Lodge. http://www.bluespiritcostarica.com. Grab your journal and head to a cozy cafe, or somewhere near water, when you feel overloaded.
Love Days: 18, 22
Money Days: 31, 11
Luck Days: 9, 26
Off Days: 6, 20, 24

With energizer Mars zooming through Sagittarius, your sixth house of efficiency and helpful folk, you're gunning for a power team. Slackers need not apply. An organizational fire has been lit under you, and you're motivated to get your troops in order. If you don't have go-getters on your side, now you'll be pressed to find them. Meantime, get yourself organized, too. Spare no efforts to tidy up and streamline your systems, including at home. As unappealing as it sounds, you may want to set aside a weekend of turbo cleaning or even hire a no-nonsense personal organizer who's not emotionally invested in that sentimental (but hideous) clock your mother gave you when you moved into the corner office.
 
As structured Saturn in Scorpio enters your fifth house of creativity for a three-year visit, you're pressed to take your own artistic talents more seriously. Sure, you've been dabbling in painting, ever since you got that travel watercolor set. But what was relaxation may morph into something more substantial. Maybe you create moving postcard-like images of a local waterfront scene and decide to actually sell them. Whatever your medium, now is the time to take these gifts more seriously. If you don't consider yourself explicitly creative, you may find yourself gravitating toward a career in the arts or working with children. Even the most business-minded Crab could be drawn to work with artists, musicians, or right-brained types, perhaps figuring out creative ways to lend some structure and strategy to their art forms.
 
This month, mature Saturn in Scorpio will form a beneficial trine angle to dreamy Neptune in fellow water sign Pisces-which could be huge boon for you, bringing an abundance of opportunities for exciting adventures, life-changing travel, real-deal romance and spiritual epiphanies. Yes, dreaming big is the order of the month...so long as you lend some earthbound effort to your ethereal visualizations (which could even come in the form of vivid dreams). Get serious about your imagination. With creative Neptune in your ninth house of education, consider tapping the guidance of a trusted teacher or mentor. Sign up for vocal lessons or a jewelry-making class. Show your art at a gallery. Be brave enough to read your poetry or prose at an open mike night. Start a Tumblr blog, showcasing your photographic talents. Even if you don't go professional with your creativity, developing this aspect of yourself will have a positive ripple effect through your life.
 
On October 29, a Taurus full moon shines on your eleventh house of groups and networking. A collaborative effort comes together now. This is your moment to mingle and just enjoy the camaraderie of your community. If you've been asking yourself who your real people are, you may just attract more like-minded souls at this full moon. As attached as your sign gets, this full moon prompts you to downgrade outworn friendships and open up to the people who gel with who you are now, not who you were 15 years ago. Enjoy the electricity of this day, perhaps even throwing a late night karaoke party, hors d'ouevres on you. Bacon-wrapped Kobe sliders, anyone?
 
 

General Characteristics of Cancer

Sensitive Cancer is ruled by the ever-changing Moon, and your moods go through many cycles. You're intuitive and nurturing, even psychic. Pay attention to your dreams, especially near a Full Moon. You are sensitive and loyal, with a ready shoulder to cry on. Cancer loves to get domestic, serving your friends and family home-baked goodies and tea. When you get moody, you need to be comforted, or else just left alone. Like a crab, you can cling -- or pinch -- when you feel threatened or vulnerable. And thrifty Cancers can pinch pennies just as tightly. (Of course, you also love to spend! It's a mood thing.) To make life easier, surround yourself with comfort: a cozy sweater, a favorite book, trusted friends, and a stash of your favorite goodies. Cancers are close to their moms, so keep yours on speed-dial and call her when you're down. You may be an unofficial mom to everyone in your life, too. Taking care of kids, friends, and pets can keep your spirits high.

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