Maybe your box will contain sweets, too, Scorpio. Luis Meléndez – ‘Still Life with Oranges, Jars, and Boxes of Sweets’ c1750 {{PD}}

Are you feeling a bit of a squeeze starting, dear Scorpio? It’s like the figurative walls are closing in, and will eventually form a box much too small and uncomfortable for occupying. What to do? Even if you aren’t yet aware of these restrictive circumstances, they are coming, and there are a couple of tips I can offer that will help you handle this (in fact, help you make the most of this): willingness to embrace restrictions, rules, and barriers and build them in to your efforts will be key; appeal to the generosity of the social circle when you need help–they in fact will be much more supportive than you might think, and, if you play your cards right, could offer a steady source of clients, customers, audiences, company, or just plain guardian angels; and you must be willing to both stand up for yourself (don’t expect that social support–go at things as if it all relies on you), and be open to facing those issues you may have put off, ignored, or been in denial about–these will bring unexpected benefits in the handling. It won’t be an easy year, Scorpio, but it could be an amazing one. Happy Birthday, and good luck!

Yes Scorpio, you WILL see the forest, in spite of the trees. Klimt ‘Beech Grove I’ {{PD}}

For you, dear Scorpio, the coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, may bring a time of discovery, specifically of those things that have been in your psychic ‘blind spot’ for a long time now. You’ll be given the instinctual guidance needed to puzzle these influences out and to see clearly how they’ve affected the reality picture you currently occupy–and you’ll see how it’s imperative you make any changes you want to make soon, before the coming lock-down. Yes, you’re approaching a period when you may not have the freedom to maneuver that you enjoy now; you could enter a time of serious commitment, a time when you’ll see a lot of what you’ve created (whether you are aware of these things consciously or not) materialize. It could be a revelation, finding out where your energy has really been going–but isn’t that the fun of life? Happy Birthday, Scorpio, and good luck!

‘Construction du Temple de Jérusalem’
Jean Fouquet c1470 {{PD}}

You’re aiming for solid results and constructive action this coming Solar year, dear Scorpio, through to your next birthday, but what you need to watch out for are the influences of those things you don’t know lurk within your own psyche. Instincts designed to keep you safe may cause you to be hesitant and over-protective, while issues that reside in the mental ‘blind spot’, visible to others but not to you, may exert a push or pull that can unexpectedly throw things into chaos. The solution may lie, not in excavating these areas (though certainly, that will eventually need to be done) but in keeping yourself focused on facts and the concrete, on what’s measurable and able to be physically handled; that way you don’t become distracted by odd feelings and unconscious sensations that could worm their way into projects and distort (or even halt) progress. Too, this year you have a gift for originality and Self-promotion (and a corresponding generosity)–let yourself shine! Happy Birthday, Scorpio, and good luck!

Don’t get distracted, Scorpio, by old men offering grapes. Ángel Zárraga ‘The Gift’
1910 {{PD}}

Expand your world, dear Scorpio–do it! do it now!–or at least, work on doing it during this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday–because it’s in making your world larger, in encompassing more varied experiences and points-of-view, in taking opportunities as they come, that you will find fresh success, prosperity, and an enriched sense of understanding that will serve you very well. It’s just that you have to take that first step, and it may be far too easy to become distracted with all the shiny, hollow praise that will be coming your way–no question, lots of positive reinforcement will appear, much of it designed to get something from you, or to move you out of the way, temporarily–but you’ve got to keep focus on what matters: accomplishment that sends your influence out into the world. Here’s the test you can apply, to know whether what you are doing is worthy: if it benefits you and others as well, it’s a good choice. Happy Birthday, Scorpio, and good luck!

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This year, find out what makes you tick, Scorpio. Briton Rivière ‘Tick-Tack’ 1881 {{PD}}

Though Self-realization and gaining opportunity seem to be your goals this coming Solar year, dear Scorpio, it behooves you to look below the surface at the desire for autonomy, respect, and the right to declare your territory that underlies all your ambitions. If you lack consciousness of these hidden factors, you may find yourself facing repeated power struggles, rebellion from your underlings or those you care for, and competition over something you feel by rights should be yours–and none of it, should you fail to explore your motivations, will make sense. In this case, the social sphere can be an excellent aid to discovering what is currently making you tick, both by commenting on and reflecting back to you your behavior; they offer knowledge (especially accumulated knowledge from those who’ve gone before), and will point you toward opportunity–but it’s up to you to make the most of it. Happy Birthday, Scorpio, and good luck!

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‘Lady writing a love letter’ Artist Unknown c1750 {{PD}}

Dear Scorpio: What were you thinking!? From now on, every move you make is crucial to determining your life Path. Every thought you think, thing you do, commitment you honor, and cause you support must be flawless, and you can’t make any mistakes, okay? Love you! Signed, the Universe

How did that little love note make you feel, Scorpio? Hopeless, buried under a mound of unreasonable judgments and super-human expectations–or maybe just like you’re willing to try but have already accepted that it’s no-win. The funny thing is, I changed the signature on that note: actually, it was written and signed by you, to you. Now do you see how hard you’re being on yourself? This coming year, through to your next birthday, you may have ridiculously high requirements for your own behavior and accomplishments–this birthday greeting is to tell you not to aim lower, but to be kinder, especially to yourself. Happy Birthday, Scorpio, and good luck!

Featured Solar Return aspect: Mars conjunct Pluto, both quincunx Juno=temper, destructive urges, ego, and energy levels must all be modified in order to serve empowerment goals. Modesty plus limitless energy will take you a long way this year.