Why would astrology have anything to do with the old fashion habit of making New Years resolutions? When we look a little deeper into the tradition there is an astrological principle that the New Year is the time to recommit to goals. However as most resolutions are broken by the third week of the year what is the problem?

The winter solstice December 21st marks the end of long nights (in the northern hemisphere) and the celebration of the return of the Sun, which is in essence the astrological New Year. Yes our New Year officially begins on January 1st, not December 21st, but that is another story; suffice to say it was changed to stamp out old pagan ways yet appease the tradition of celebrating a new beginning. The New Year happens in the constellation of Capricorn, the sign that is a natural sign for goals. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of discipline. This is the perfect time that you will feel more disciplined in your life and can create goals for the New Year.

So if this is such a great time then why is it that New Year resolutions don't stick? An astrological reason is that when you set forth an intention if the planets are not aligned in a way that symbolizes results, you will not get the results you are looking for. The time to make your resolutions for 2009 will be on the new moon in Capricorn which is December 27th at 7:23 am EST. The day of and after the new moon is the best time to set forth your intention for a great New Year. The new moon in Capricorn can fall on any given day between December 21st and January 19th.

The chance of the new moon falling when it is fortuitous to make resolutions is once every 15 years, even then if there are too many planets retrograde that create obstacles your resolutions get thwarted. The third week of the year, the time most resolutions are broken, the Sun enters into Aquarius which asks us to be free and do what we really want.

If your promises to yourself were not authentic then out with the rules and in with personal freedom. So what to do? Pay attention to the New Moon, and write down your intentions for 2009 on Saturday or Sunday the 27th or 28th. Be honest with yourself of what you are committed to versus what you think you should do. The Capricorn lesson is to get over the "shoulds" in life. Any resolution you make that has an element of I should but don't want to will be abandoned, the energy is about discipline for a goal that you really want, not what someone else thinks is good or something that society says we should have, be or do. With these tips in mind 2009 will be your best year yet.