LIBRA (September 23/24-October 23/24). Difficult days come on Jan. 5, 6, 12-14, and 27 and 28. Smoother sailing comes on January 1, 2, 10, 11, 15, 16, 20, 21, 24-26, and 29 and 30. Weirdly transitional times are January 7, 14, 19, and26.

And remember: "Difficult" can also mean "challenging, abundant with opportunity, interesting, and a risk-taker’s delight!"

The moon is in your sun sign on January 19 to 21.

Yes, I do list the days the moon is in your sun sign as both Difficult and Smooth – it’s up to you, but figure those two days basically provide a "blueprint" for the next month’s activities. People and projects that emerge then get larger play in your life over the next 28 or so days.

The big picture in a nutshell: The sun is squaring your sun, so there could be some of those embarrassing moments – you know, when you say something lightly at the time, and realize later you were thoroughly insensitive to someone’s situation, and then spend the next day debating whether to apologize (and wondering if they’re obsessing, too). And then something else happens, and the slate is wiped clean. But yeah, expect some of those moments, particularly on January 12 to 16, when all the Capricorn energy bears down on the scalesy people. Overall, this is a "waiting" month, while Mars cycles through Taurus. Next month, with Mars in Gemini, you’ll be compelled to do much, much more communicating.