Eros was the god of erotic love. The position of the asteroid Eros in our charts points to our passion and erotic turn-ons. Mars shows us the style in which we go after what we want, including the ways in which we express our sexuality. Venus shows us some of the important “trappings” and foreplay that help us get in the mood for sex. The Moon shows our underlying emotional needs that can express themselves as sexual fantasies and needs.

While the positions of these planets and cosmic bodies in our natal charts remain static, their positions are always changing in the cosmos, activating houses and hotspots in our natal charts. The horoscopes presented here are necessarily general, as we are focusing on only the Sun sign or Ascendant, and how these sexual cosmic bodies are currently affecting the natal chart.

Please note: These horoscopes are more accurate for the Ascendant sign, so if you know it, read them for the sign of your Ascendant first, and the sign of your Sun second.

Also, sometimes I have more to say for some signs, simply because more astrological activity is taking place that is related to relationships for that sign this month (or because I am digressing!). This does not mean I am biased towards any particular sign.

December 2009 & January 2010 ErosScopes – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo

Aries

You start off December fairly strong, dear Aries, despite the fact that Saturn is opposing you, challenging you and putting you through tests. This is because your ruler, Mars, is in fellow Fire sign, Leo, and Venus occupies the other Fire sign companion, Sagittarius, from the 1-25 of December. This configuration affords you likability, charm, and balance, particularly when Venus forms a trine to Mars on the 16-17. Venus rules your partnership sector, so this is a good time for bringing some level of harmony to an important relationship. However, Mars, your fiery ruler, turns retrograde on December 20th, with the cycle continuing until March 10th, 2010. Special care should be taken during this cycle, and in the weeks surrounding it. Assertive Mars is in your romance and pleasure sector for an extended stay. During its retrograde cycle, many of you will be redefining what it is exactly that feeds your flame, that ignites your passions, and truly turns you on. You will have some help discovering some of this after January 8th, when Eros enters your sign. Still, you are likely to experience some form of slow down in your romantic or creative life. You may be rethinking things and a lover might be confused by your considerably less straightforward approach or withdrawal. It’s a good time for examining how you assert your needs, and probably more so your wants, when it comes to love, as well as for taking a look at just how much pride helps or hinders your love relationships. From the 20th forward, you might feel a little less confident and more in need of rest. A romance or creative project that has been picking up speed in recent weeks could meet with some challenges now. Mercury retrogrades from December 26-January 15th, so watch for some delays and slowdowns. The Lunar Eclipse on December 31st brings surprises and some drama to your emotional and domestic world. The Solar Eclipse on January 15th occurs in your career and reputation sector, and is tightly aligned with Venus–not only the goddess of love but also the ruler of your house of partnerships. With the Sun (representing romance in your chart) eclipsed by the Moon and aligned with Venus, most of you will be experiencing new beginnings on a professional level, and some of you will find romance or partnership on the job or through business in the coming months. Career and management matters demand most of your attention in the first three weeks of January, and by the last week, you’re considerably more approachable and relaxed. Better days for love are December 1, 9-10, 13, 16-17, and 19th, and January 11-15; more challenging ones are likely on December 25, and 28-29, and January 1, 28-29.

Taurus

December begins with a lot of attention to important others in your life as you attempt to find ways to increase levels of intimacy and trust. There will be times this month, dear Taurus, when you may be questioning how much you can trust others, but you stand to learn and grow from your experiences. Chances run high that you will feel strengthened through others’ support, particularly around December 16-17. Demands of family and your home life have been running high since October, and you’ve been mostly happy keeping up with all of the activity. From December 19th forward, however, family matters are increasingly more complicated. You may need to rethink your current living arrangements. It would also be wise to slow down and find some balance if you are feeling drained, instead of meeting every single demand made of you. Mercury rules your romance sector and is retrograde from December 26-January 15. During this cycle, a lover might give off confusing signals, or you might find reason to clash over personal opinions and general outlook/philosophy of life. Truth is, from the last week of December to the third week of January, you are feeling especially hopeful and enthusiastic about your own perspective. A lover needn’t agree with everything you see, but of course should respect what you’re feeling. The ruler of your partnership sector, Pluto, continues to duke it out with Saturn, and this can translate to a partner feeling the weight of responsibilities and challenges–or at least that is how you perceive it. A partner may be experiencing challenges that ricochet back to you. Singles are not likely to feel confident taking a partnership to a more serious level with this influence either. For now, tests and challenges are experienced. Jupiter enters Pisces on January 17th, and while in that sign (which is much of 2010), Jupiter will be expanding your opportunities to network and make new friends. Of course, while Jupiter does bring increases and expansion, it can also bring too much of a good thing. In this case, you may need to be careful not to put too much weight into making new acquaintances if it’s at the expense of developing and building established relationships. Better days for love are likely to be December 7, 9, 15-17, and 19 and January 5 and 13-15. More challenging days for love and romance are likely to be December 28 and January 1, 8, and 31.

Gemini

December begins with support and pleasure from and with a partner, dear Gemini. This is likely due to the fact that you are especially willing to tend to others’ needs. Bringing harmony to existing relationships is a strong need now. Attracting stable and friendly relationships is a strong desire for those of you who are unattached. With Saturn now in your romance sector, a more serious tone is likely to have entered in your more casual relationships. Getting a little more serious about not-so-serious relationships is the theme with this position! With Saturn challenged by Pluto, lack of intimacy or other flaws in casual relationships may seem glaring right now and in the coming months. Superficial interactions simply are not satisfying either you or a partner. Mars retrogrades from December 20-March 10, and this is likely to affect your communications, particularly with friends. Complicating matters is Mercury, your ruler, retrograding from December 26-January 15. Being misunderstood is very likely now, and problems on the table with a partner now are likely to revolve around intimacy and/or money. With the Sun and Venus close by, however, your pride and understanding will help you to work any problems out quite eloquently. Resolutions are likely to be very sweet! Jupiter enters Pisces and your solar tenth house on January 17th, and will stay in the dreamy sign much of 2010. Because Jupiter rules your partnership sector, you are likely to see a subtle shift in the tone of a relationship or in the personality of a close partner. The types of people you are attracting now may be Piscean or Neptunian–people with Pisces or Neptune strong in their charts, or perhaps artistic or sensitive types (on the negative side, people who are not very forthright, deceptive, or unclear). This may have already been happening with Jupiter and Neptune aligning mid-year and again on December 21st. With the partnership delegate spending time in your career sector, 2010 may be a time when career brings partnering opportunities. Venus enters Aquarius and your adventure sector on January 18th, signaling another shift romantically speaking–from dark and introspective to outgoing and positive. Venus is strong in this opinion, endowing you with a fun-loving charm that comes quite effortlessly. Stronger days for love occur on December 7, 9, and 19-20, and January 5 and 11-15. More challenging days for love are likely on December 10 and January 1.

Cancer

The first few weeks of December, dear Cancer, find you quite preoccupied with day-to-day affairs–not the most exciting time of year, but certainly a good time for getting yourself organized, if only you can enjoy yourself without guilt later. For some of you born early in the sign, both Saturn and Pluto are challenging you (and each other!). Saturn and Pluto happen to rule your partnership and romance sectors, respectively. Demanding, changeable, and perhaps frustrating relationship issues may be part of the picture. This can also play out as some sort of feeling of being at cross-purposes with a partner or relationship. Problems that a lover or partner is facing right now may be ricocheting back to you, while some of you could be feeling quite lonely, whether or not you have a special someone in your life. The retrograde of Mars that lasts from December 20-March 10 affects you for the most part on practical levels–financial and professional. Some delays are possible in these areas of life. The last week of December and the first three weeks of January find a strong emphasis on your opposing sign, Capricorn. For some of you, it’s a more draining and less energetic time of year. For most of you, it’s a time when your personal plans move to the back burner, and you’re focusing on others or a significant other more intently. It’s a good period for negotiating and finding a balance in your life, even with Mercury’s retrograde December 26-January 15. The retrograde does point to some confusion of the message you or a partner are trying to get across, or emotional distancing, but with the proud Sun and loving Venus close by, you’re bound to come to positive resolutions. There is a Lunar Eclipse on the very last day of 2009, and it’s in your sign. This is a highly emotional and sensitive time for you–when your emotions are on your sleeve, and whatever it is that has been building inside of you begs to come out. It’s a time of exposure, and whether that’s pleasant or not entirely depends on your life’s circumstances right now. On January 15th, a Solar Eclipse occurs in your opposing sign. So really, both eclipses are affecting you and your relationships quite personally. (You are no stranger to this energy, which occurred in July, although the lunar and solar eclipses were reversed in terms of signs). It’s not a time to make crazy decisions, even if you are feeling a little off-center. It’s better to wait things out, observe what’s going on around you, and figure everything out later. The Solar Eclipse in January is aligned with the goddess of love, Venus, in your partnership sector, and this points to a nice new beginning when it comes to a partnership, whether it’s a new relationship in the coming months, changes for a partner, or if it’s about breathing new life into an existing relationship. The outcome looks quite pleasant, even if changes seem to be coming fast. January 17th, Jupiter enters fellow water sign Pisces, and will stay there for much of the year ahead. This influence is quite fabulous. It’s easier to bounce back from day to day stresses. Your outlook on life is more optimistic and positive. Stronger days for love are December 4, 9, 14, and 17-19 and January 22. More challenging days for romance are likely on December 5 and 27-29, and January 1.

Leo

December begins with Venus entering fellow fire sign Sagittarius and your romance sector on the 1st of the month and staying there until the 25th. This brings warm energy to your life, the desire to have a good time, and possibly a few followers. Your charm is considerable with this position. Uranus, the ruler of your partnership sector, is moving forward again, and this can be symbolic of a partner “coming around”–renewed interest or clarity from a partner. Mars has been in your sign since October, and this fiery, assertive, and energetic planet has been firing you up–the pace of your life has been quick and your desire to go after what you want has been strong. Mars is turning retrograde on December 20th and will stay in this apparent backward motion until March 10th, 2010. This will have you questioning or second-guessing your instincts, confidence, and assertiveness. The ways that you have expressed your personal initiative up until now may not “work” as effectively for you now. Perhaps you are not as confident about your personal effectiveness and more cautious about sharing yourself with others. Personal initiatives might need to be put on the back burner, or you could show less enthusiasm for them. You could be a little tired and more accident-prone, so be sure to rest up. It’s time to rethink, revise, and reorganize your plans. Because Mars rules your ninth house, you may be questioning  your faith and your outlook on life in terms of the “bigger picture” could be more cautious. Delays and frustrations are likely as you re-assess how you approach the world. Just around the time Mars is turning retrograde, focus shifts from fun and games to daily activities and responsibilities. There’s a lot going on to keep you busy until the third week of January. With Eros entering Aries and your adventure sector on January 8th, you could find some inspiration and motivation. The eclipses on December 31st and January 15th don’t directly affect your relationships, but they do bring some unstable and changeful energy into the picture. After the third week of January, you begin to feel more sociable and find that you are involved in a balancing act with a partner. Jupiter entering Pisces on January 17th brings new energy and tone to your romantic relationships. Perhaps you are and will be attracting more Pisces or Neptune-like lovers this year. Intimate opportunities will be abundant in 2010. More warmth, generosity, and openness on intimate and sexual levels are likely. The Full Moon on January 30th promises to be rather dramatic for you–it’s about exposing your personal feelings and learning more about what’s in your heart. Better days for love are December 1, 7, 9, 13, and 20 and January 13-14; while more challenging days for partnering are likely on December 14, 19, and 29, and January 1 and 25.

Virgo

December begins with a strong desire to stick to home and perhaps do some cocooning or nesting, dear Virgo. From December 25 to January 18th, Venus, the goddess of love, occupies fellow earth sign, Capricorn, and your solar fifth house. She is joined by the Sun and Mercury much of that time, and this places a lot of emphasis on having fun, entertainment, creativity, and romance. Mercury retrogrades in your romance sector, however, at about the same time Venus transits the sector. This points to a strong desire for expressing yourself through love and romance, but not always an easy time doing so. You may be giving off mixed signals. January 15th brings the great power of a Solar Eclipse in your romance sector, and it’s aligned with the goddess of love herself. This suggests a new beginning of sorts in a romantic relationship, and this fresh energy is with you for at least a few months to come. Still, January 11-17 brings a real positive surge to your romantic life. At the very least, the charm and motivation are there. You will still need to iron out your differences regarding personal values. Jupiter enters Pisces and your partnership sector on January 17th, and stays there for much of the year 2010. This brings new and increased opportunities for partnering. Although Jupiter has a fabulous reputation for bringing wonderful experiences into our lives, it is nevertheless connected with endings when these endings lead to bigger and better things. For whatever reason, when endings do occur due to Jupiter transits, they tend to be easier to deal with, if they indeed occur at all. Overall, committed partnerships fare better this year for you than casual relationships. Your attitude towards casual love affairs is completely changing. It might feel like the reality you are facing these days is a tad too harsh, but it will eventually and ideally lead to a more mature understanding of your needs–and your capabilities–in love. Better days for love are December 1, 4, 9, 14, 19-21 and January 21-22. More challenging days for love occur on December 7, 10, and 29, and January 1 and 14.

See the rest of the ErosScopes for Libra to Pisces here.