Horoscopes

Taurus April 22 - May 21

This month prioritises quality over quantity as Venus spends her retrograde phase in ambitious,thoughtful Capricorn. In this position she emphasises the therapeutic possibilities available from connecting to nature and growing things by planting seeds, both literal and metaphorical, for the coming year.As they grow, these provide support when spontaneous Uranus, planet of the unexpected, rockets out of retrograde in Taurus mid-January to continue shaking your comfort couch. Unsettling? Yes.Exciting? Absolutely,especially when you approach decision-making with the queries ‘What if?’ and ‘Why not?’ Gemini May 22 - Jun 22

January kicks off with mentor Mercury in planning mode, so get what you can done during the first fortnight, because the communication planet’s mid-month regression brings the usual Zoom issues, travel troubles and frazzled misunderstandings. But you know the drill by now: slow down. And don’t take things personally, because today’s roadblock is tomorrow’s breakthrough. Neptune hasn’t exactly made things clear-cut recently in the worldly part of your chart, and while Jupiter making a welcome appearance won’t totally cancel out career uncertainty, it will help you to go with the flow. Cancer Jun 23 - Jul 23

Getting straight to it, January 3 throws open your new moon lunar portal for tuning into what you want from this year, which pretty much corresponds with what you’re prepared to give it. Like the famous advice from St. John of the Cross –“Where you do not find love, put love, and there you will find it ...” – the same applies to your happiness and success accounts, with withdrawals depending on deposits. Smiling and giving generous appreciation to any life situation automatically makes it more joyful, particularly round January 18’s annual full moon in Cancer, your personal standout date this month.

Leo Jul 24 - Aug 23

As change-maker Uranus exits its hibernation in Leo’s work zone and you start rethinking long-term goals, is there someone older, bolder and more experienced you’d consider as a mentor? Blazing Mars in go-getting mode is currently igniting ambitions, but an overenthusiastic or too pushy approach could lose this month’s hirers and buyers. Jupiter suggests a looser, more fluid style than usual until at least mid-year, so when Mercury serves up the first of 2022’s interruptive techno tangles and communication snafus around mid-month, that’s your cue to play it cool, majesties. Virgo Aug 24 - Sep 23 As Saturn completes its work in Virgo’s healing zone, Jupiter sprinkles stardust on this month’s relationships. With your caring side ascendant, your advice as consultant or counsellor is likely to be in demand.Virgo’s master planet Mercury heading retrograde mid-month offers the perfect opportunity to set the tone for what you’d like more (and less) of this year. Celestial chemistry recommends focusing on the glass half full and the beauty of the rose, despite the inevitable thorns of these times, because a genuine gratitude practice is the most grounding foundation for days of change to come.

Libra Sep 24 - Oct 23

With love planet Venus sulking and Mercury up to all sorts of communication mischief, partnership arguments, domestic unrest and the triggering of relationship flashpoints are par for the course this month. On the bright side, whatever services of value and assistance you provide for others will be highly gratifying, because the current Jupiter in Pisces cycle is less about accolades than establishing exactly who and what makes you happiest, so you can do more of it with more of them. Even if that means sometimes declining invitations and just staying solo to think things through ... Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 22 Jupiter, planet of abundance, presses ‘start’ this January on a year when Scorpios could achieve more by doing less. While it wasn’t a Scorpio who coined the famous phrase, following your bliss could be 2022’s most reliable PGS (personal guidance system) because if you enjoy something, aren’t others likely to want some of whatever you’re having? When mid-January’s planetary peristalsis and mercurial curveballs throw a spanner in the mix for all the zodiac’s control freaks, step back and clarify what you’d most like to achieve this year, and what you’re prepared to do to make that work. Sagittarius Nov 23 - Dec 21 January gets a good Sagittarian gallop up as Mars in your sign canters into the year like a cosmic firebrand. Though as always (sigh) conditions apply: which are that Mars in bargeabout mode tends to step on toes. And get noses out of joint, especially when Mercury goes rogue mid-month and Sagittarian foot-in-mouth moments escalate. Bold assertions of belief and opinion will only upset, polarise or antagonise others this month, so for meaningful communications take a quiet minute to find the kinder phrase that builds connection rather than severs it. Then repeat all year. AWW

BEST BUYS

Go window shopping without leaving your home with this great selection of products.

SMOOTHING THE WAY

Revlon’s Super Lustrous The Luscious Mattes lipsticks saturate your lips in velvety, high-pigment matte colours. The formula includes moringa oil, agave and cupuacu butter, making your lips feel supple and look smooth. RRP $24.95. Visit chemistwarehouse.com.au NICE HANDIWORK!

Make life easier in the kitchen with the versatile, user-friendly KitchenAid Cordless Hand Mixer. It boasts seven speed options and has a great battery life – enough to make 200 biscuits on a two-hour full charge. RRP $259. Visit harveynorman.com.au WE MEET AGAIN

Sometimes the man of your dreams is right in front of you ... only 10 years in the past! Fancy Meeting You Here, the third novel by popular duo Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus, is a hilarious take on rewriting history. RRP $29.99. Visit allenandunwin.com

PICK OF THE PEACHES

Take your taste buds on an adventure with Saturn Peaches by Galaxy Fruits. These healthy, juicy peaches have smaller seeds and more fl esh than other varieties and are something the whole family will love. Available in Coles supermarkets. COOK TO PERFECTION

Presenting the new Kenwood Cooking Chef XL, your chef that weighs and cooks! It can support your culinary creations from preparation to perfection and has a wide temperature range of 20°C to 180°C. RRP $1999. Visit kenwoodworld.com EVERLASTING LOVE

The Everdure by Heston Blumenthal ‘Furnace’ three-burner gas BBQ has been designed in conjunction with top chef Heston Blumenthal to take home barbecuing up to a sizzling new level. $1199. Visit domayne.com.au

BACK ON THE BEAT

Relive seasons 1-6 of one of the most successful TV series of all time. Heartbeat brilliantly evokes the heady mood of the 1960s, with a wonderful soundtrack to match. $159.95. Visit viavision.com.au BAGS OF KINDNESS

Whether stolen from the wild or captive bred, dolphins in entertainment venues su er greatly. Help stop cruel exploitation of wild animals - profits from this tote bag can help to protect animals around the world. RRP $21.13 Visit worldanimalprotection.org.au PERFECT PERK-UP

If you’re feeling rundown, Hivita’s LIQUIVITA may be the answer! It’s an optimised combination of multivitamins and minerals with added herbs and amino acids in a great-tasting liquid format. Visit hivita.com.au for the full product range and special o ers.