We are now just around three or four days away from the first New Moon of the year and inevitably this will raise tensions and anxieties to a noticeable extent.

As a result there will be increased nervous restlessness with heightened apprehensions so that all problems may appear magnified. At the same time it may prove difficult to focus on the task in hand and concentration will be far from optimal. There will also be impatient and impuslive gestures with the possibility of carelessness and lack of responsibility.

The proximity of any New Moon will also increase the potential for aggressive or belligerent moods and this will be made all the more likely by the opposition between Mars and Jupiter. These are widely regarded as the planets of war and when aligned habitually lead to flashpoints of trouble around the world such is now occurring in Kenya and Pakistan and other regions that are seeing a sudden upsurge of violence and uncertainty.

On a personal level this may be a period that will be subject to domestic disputes and friction, with arguments and rebellious attitudes.

Another prime influence at this time is the opposition between Saturn and Uranus which is now at a peak. This has been active for some months now and is contributing to a strangely polarised atmosphere. This can swiftly alternate between hard edged ambition and ruthlessness, with elements of cruel indifference, to a mood of more depressive and hesitant traits with reduced enthusiasm and poor self confidence.

Coming days will see a yet further increase in general tensions but these will also contend with some of the above mentioned factors that may restrict their intensity.

Alert is 7. Moon 13% illuminated.