MOTHER

You’re open to suggestions this week, Aries, so open up the opinion polls! Ambitious Mars is in Sagittarius, your ninth house of expansion and wisdom, until October 26. During this six-week tour, you’ll be inclined to try out new belief systems or meander down metaphysical avenues—taking an enlightened approach to parenting. You’ll be open to new ideas and practices, and executing some trial-and-error with your parenting techniques, strategies and methods. From the cry-it-out Ferber method, to attachment parenting, to natural birth, you're opening your mind to all of it. The ninth house rules education, so you’re ready to dive into the research on any topic of interest before putting it to the test. So, what IS your parenting style? A lot of parents admit they don’t have one (nothing wrong with that). Instead, they use a patchwork of things they’ve learned, mostly by watching what’s successful for other parents and experimenting on their own kids. What works for one family won’t necessarily work for another. One child may respond to one type of parenting and the other not at all—and never mind that you and your mate might have different styles, too. This Time article suggests how parents play with dolls in just five minutes can be a predictor of how they’ll co-parent. Interesting! Maybe this should be an exercise for all couples before deciding to have children. You could check out the new Extreme Guide to Parenting TV show on Bravo, but let’s remember this is the same network that brings us our Real Housewives guilty pleasure—reality TV is not always reality. If you want to go deep (and you have the bandwidth while in your ninth house), check out the University of Virginia’s research project, The Culture of American Families. You could even take this Psychology Today quiz to find your style—maybe it’ll surprise you! For expecting mothers, this could be enlightening, especially if your mind is set on how you’ll do things. We encourage you to be flexible, though—it’s hard to know what will work and what will feel right until your little one arrives and starts dishing you some challenges. During this Mars transit through your worldly ninth house, your sense of adventure goes beyond the cerebral. Go-getter Mars could really stoke your appetite for adventure or bring on a bout of the travel bug. You’ll want to get out and explore—a hike with your family and a picnic could be the right amount of get-up-and-go you need. Or, troll for airfares for a quick trip with your partner. A romantic overnight could recharge your batteries and prep you for whatever new parenting strategy you want to try out.

Wave that magic wand, Taurus mama. Until October 26, go-getter Mars is in Sagittarius, your eighth house of shared resources, intimacy and wealth. Think of yourself as being in manifestation mode—whatever you intend could come your way during this magnetic phase. Set your intentions and see what happens! Of course the law of attraction isn’t QUITE as simple as making a wish and tossing a penny into a fountain. (If that works, let us know!) What you want requires a little sleeve-rolling and elbow grease. Nothing you’re not used to, o' hardworking bull. Still, not everything requires you to plod along—sometimes, a little energetic mojo can speed up the process. If you're new to this concept, check out this little manifesting tutorial featuring personal development gurus Gabby Bernstein and Marie Forleo. If you’re a pro already—great! We hope you see the results of your intention setting real soon. But for moms new to the idea of creative visualization and "partnering with the universe,” this could be a tool for you to climb out of any despair you’re experiencing. While it’s universally thought that moms are psyched to send their kids off to school, many are weepy about them transitioning to the next phase. Pregnant women may be feeling intense worry about starting a family, or adding to one. We know several moms who swear by the book Wishes Fulfilled: Mastering the Art of Manifesting, which includes various rituals you can incorporate into your day. Share the experience with a willing partner and you could have a manifesting party like this couple did. Of course, we know plenty of partners who are skeptical of manifestation practices. One mom we know was conjuring up a vacation for her family—they hadn’t had one in years. Her husband poked fun. But he became a believer when his boss told him to take his family to St. Thomas for a long-overdue break. BAM! Still, if you've burned the candles, wished on the full moon, and still hearing crickets, check out this post from HuffPo on why your dreams may not be materializing. You may be blocking the flow with fear, attachment, or some unresolved issues. The eighth house also rules debt, and with energizer Mars here, you could find yourself laser-focused on paying down or paying off a lingering bill (student loan or credit cards, maybe?). Real estate is also highlighted now and you could find a way to streamline expenses or refinance your mortgage more favorably. Or maybe it’s time to manifest your next home! With red-hot Mars in your corner, set your sights on an asset that will accrue value for you and your family over time.

Who are the indispensable people on Team Gemini? With fiery Mars in Sagittarius, your seventh house of one-on-one relationships, you’re especially pumped to partner up—stocking your pond with go-to people. Maybe you want to get your mate on board for a grand plan or start a home-based business with someone, but don’t rush into just anything. This transit lasts until October 26, so you have a chance to weigh your options. It’s a great time to collaborate and find people whose skills and interests complement yours. For pregnant women, this is the ideal time to interview experts you want in your birth plan, like midwives and doulas. While you’ll not want to drag your heels on choosing these professionals, resist the urge to sign on with the first ones you meet—especially if you just peed on a stick. This is a good time for getting your partner on board with your ideas for your birth plan and discussing his/her role in the delivery. You’re a take-charge sign, Gemini, so be sure you have a job for your partner—you don’t have to be Superwoman in this regard and do it all yourself (really!). Here are eight tips for birth partners and a “cheat sheet" to get you started. You could also check out the book The Birth Partner, now in its fourth edition. Try not to inundate your mate, but instead to share in the process—it could help you achieve the balance you seek in your relationship right now. If you have children, you'd be wise to use this sizzling Mars transit to focus on your romantic relationship. Quality time without the kids is ideal, and can bring sexy back if it's gotten eclipsed by school lunches and after-school sports pickups. Renew your focus on your relationship and you may realize what you were missing—kids can be an obstacle to romance—and we mean that in the nicest way. Check out this post on marriage secrets of highly successful couples. Of course this intense Mars-driven focus on relationships can also spotlight ones that aren’t working. Is it time to go separate ways or to repair a rift? Combative Mars can make couples fight more, creating stress and irritation between you. While you may want to avoid conflict right now, Mars encourages you to deal head-on. Here’s something to chew on from Psych Central if you’ve had the d-word on your brain at all. Spend some QT with your kids, too—not just the few minutes here and there in the business of your daily routine. Seeking balance in your relationships can ground you, helping you see the positive and gain clarity on big decisions.

Take the stairs, Cancer. Energetic Mars is in Sagittarius, your sixth house of wellness, until October 26. During this transit, find creative ways to fit in your exercise. Do a little extra when you can. Work toward developing some healthy habits. Even if you’ve been a bona fide slug lately, this influence will enhance anything health-conscious you give effort to now. Take the stroller around the block one more time. Walk the dog a little longer. Use the stairs at the mall instead of the escalator. Every bit helps, especially if you have a hard time making exercise a regular thing with all that you're juggling. We can have the best intentions and then WHAM! Hello, life. Some moms swear by going to the gym after the kids are off to school—if they don’t get that workout in first thing, it won’t happen. For working moms, it’s not so simple—in fact it’s very, very hard, as this writer describes. The bottom line is to do the best you can, when you can. Before kids, we could go for a bike ride, hit up a yoga class (or two, back-to-back), and go for a run if we wanted to—all in the same day! Funny we thought we were SO busy, as this blogger reminds us. Try not to beat yourself up on days you slip or indulge. And be grateful for yoga pants. The sixth house also puts a focus on what we consume. Eat as often as your system wants. Give it nourishing foods. Cut heavy or fat-laden foods that will negate any progress you are making when you’re active. You’re motivated now to develop sustainable habits. Share your enthusiasm with your family. Chances are good that you’re the one making lunches and putting food on plates at night. You directly influence what your family eats when you’re the one preparing food. If you have picky eaters (including adults!), there’s supposedly science behind it; here are some strategies to try. Forget the processed lunch options for school, too—check out the 100 Days of Real Food blog for daily posts of lunchbox ideas. For the ambitious, check out how this mom turned her child’s bento boxes into a geography lesson. That’s art, not food, right?

You're in the mood to push the envelope this week, Leo. Restless, motivated Mars is in Sagittarius until October 26, heating up your fifth house of passion and assertiveness. Whatever you’ve been holding back is about to come pouring out, big-time. So open the floodgates and see what happens! It's time to consider what YOU desire, and to pursue it now. Feeling stuck in a child-care or pregnancy rut and think it’s impossible? Heed this mom’s advice to take one step at a time. Allow yourself to feel the universe pushing your life forward in all directions. Lusty Mars in your fifth house can ignite erotic encounters too, so you may suddenly reverse course if you’ve been feeling "meh" in this department. Hey, even one of the sexiest stars in Hollywood admits intimacy has taken a backseat to childcare. Perhaps one of your barriers to the bedroom is the “chore war,” which this sex therapist suggests should be resolved to bring back the fireworks. One thing is certain: you won’t be feeling demure. Even pregnant women will want to bring the sexy back. Get out of your partner’s boxy t-shirt and slip into something sexy like this chemise from ASOS. Date nights for all moms and moms-to-be need to be on the calendar. How else will you take advantage of a full tank of va-va-voom? Keep the convo light on kid stuff and use this time to reconnect. Here are 100 questions if you need some help starting an adult conversation. Extend the love to your kids with some bonding activities, like crafting or cooking. Get ingredients for an English muffin pizza night—a super easy way to allow young children to “cook” without a big production in your kitchen. Hey, you could even start decorating for Halloween—one mom we know already has. She wondered briefly if it’s too soon, but the stuff is already in stores, so why not?! You could also get the family thinking about Halloween costumes, unless you know your kids are going to change their minds 100 times between now and then. Lastly, the fifth house also rules fertility, so if you're thinking of expanding your brood, red-hot Mars in this sector could mean another bun in the oven!

Stress in the nest? You’re eating intensity for breakfast, Virgo, as gung-ho Mars heats up your domestic fourth house until October 26. In matters of your heart and your home, you could make big (possibly rash) decisions. But you're on a mission, Virgo—whether that's to renovate, to get your family on a healthy eating plan, or to get in shape so you can ditch the "mom jeans." Just be sure to curb impulsive or obsessive behaviors as you feel them coming on. This transit could bring great things for you, if you channel the strong emotions into motivation, not competition (and check yourself if you start morphing into a reality TV Dance Mom!). Perhaps you’re ready to seal the deal with someone and blend your families. Or, you could be ready to search for a new home. If you work outside the home, you could suddenly feel the urge to relocate or set up a home office (then fight to flex your hours). How much of a risk taker do you want to be? Are you holding back? Check out this article that claims “the odds are better than you think” for taking risks. Virgos tend to overanalyze, as you know. If you've been suffering from analysis paralysis, let motivator Mars get you unstuck. It could, after all, be affecting your big decisions—your love life, career and living situation. But it could also affect smaller decisions—like which shade of blue to paint your bathroom or which after-school program to choose for your kids. Unchecked, this can create a snowball effect, bleeding into every part of your life. Here are some simple tips for how to move past indecision. Knowing how you’ll handle decisions will come in handy as go-getter. Mars encourages you to make them quickly, without overthinking. After the chips fall, your downtime is going to feel blissful and cozy. If the seasons are changing where you live, pull out the blankets and snuggle up with the family for a movie night. Tend to your love connection with your partner. With impatient Mars in your family and motherhood house now, your biological clock may not allow you to push snooze. It’s a good time to talk about whether or not you’ll add to your family. For pregnant women expecting their first, this is a good time to bond with your own mother or a mother figure in your life. Your nesting instincts are in full swing, so take advantage and tackle the nursery; if you have a toddler taking first steps, busy yourself with a childproofing project. You crave connections to other women who can help you process your emotions. Even if you don’t fully share what’s on your mind, it may be comforting to be around women who are moms and hear their stories and advice. You may seek a women’s circle or an expecting moms group to find your tribe. This is also an ideal time to interview doulas if you’re planning to work with one. Frame the new back-to-school pictures while you’re in nesting mode, moms. We hope the parents of this little boy make his viral before-and-after pic a mantle centerpiece!

Focus and execute, Libra! Driven Mars is in Sagittarius, your third house of communication, until October 26. What’s on your list? You’re about to annihilate it. The influence of this transit will be felt by even the most sleep-deprived mamas (really!). You’ve probably been hard at work getting your life in order (as best you can!) and that effort is about to pay off. A fog is lifting and you can see clearly what you want. Get ready to explore it! Your mind is racing with curiosity—you're an intellectual sponge. Go soak up new knowledge if you’re expecting. Gather all the information you want to make decisions about your birth plan, the nursery, and your work arrangements. If you have children, this is a great time to prepare them for a new baby, or babies if you’re expecting multiples! If you're in that boat here are some tips from a mom of two, expecting two. For moms who are hanging out in zombie-land, you may be asking “Will I ever sleep again?" The short answer is yes—and perhaps just knowing that will help you focus on bigger things ahead. Get a jump-start on those projects and ideas now while you have the energy Mars in this curious, creative zone. And you’re in prime brainstorming mode, so let the new ideas flow. No matter if you can’t tackle them all today, just collect your thoughts. Chat about your ideas with willing listeners. Network with the people who may be able to help you. Put yourself out there like you haven’t before and see what comes back to you. Oh, and who are the people in your neighborhood? The third house also rules your community interactions. Simply joining the PTA this year may connect you to parents who can help you advance an idea when you’re ready. Or how about volunteering to lead your daughter’s scout troop? These may not be the glamorous gigs you imagined you’d land one day, but they could be stepping stones to something else. If your kids aren’t yet school age, this is a great time to get out and meet some new mom friends. Mommy “dating” isn’t easy for everyone, but you've gotta put yourself out there. Maybe you’ll have a “love connection” like the moms in this hilarious video.

What can give, Scorpio? Moms and moms-to-be run on more cylinders than the average human. But is there something (anything!) that can fall from your routine to make your life a little saner? It’s time to think about it while high-octane Mars is in Sagittarius, your second house of everyday habits and routines, until October 26. Focus on that ONE thing that just pushes your needle into the red every day. Can you live without it? Can your family live without it? For some moms, it’s meal planning. NPR recently reported on a study that showed meal planning disproportionately burdens mothers (shocker)! A lot of moms we know are trying out meal delivery services, also mentioned in the article, like Blue Apron—ingredients and recipes are delivered to your doorstep, so it's still technically home-cooked, sans the grueling prep work. Still, the price tag on convenience can add up quickly. The second house also rules money, and with stressful Mars here, your attention may fix on your income and expenses during this transit. An interesting survey found that mothers aren’t always involved in their family’s financial management, but that they should be. Give your bean-counting a makeover. Talk to your partner about how involved you both want to be. Devise a system that works for YOU, even if it’s different from how you’ve always done it. A couple we know decided that only one person should be in charge of finances and the responsibility was switched over from the husband to the wife. Another couple decided to scrap what they’d been doing for more than a decade and basically start over. They finally set up the college savings plans they talked about but had never gotten around to establishing. Don’t despair if you’ve been slower to the plate, though, as this article from NASDAQ explains. While you’re getting your affairs in order, it’s a good time to simplify your life in all areas. See where you can trim costs (or declutter) and make your day-to-day easier. Get the kids involved. Try this mom’s idea for decluttering 20 things in 20 minutes. Research shows a strong link between clutter and mental exhaustion, too, so if you're pregnant, keep that baby registry light—or consult a fellow mom to help you curate it. The last thing you need is to get a bunch of stuff you don't even need. The second house also rules luxury, so consider making a discerning splurge on something that will pay off in value and increased quality of life. If it’s not a thing that you’ll just have to declutter later, maybe it could be a luxurious vacation in the future with some of your savings.

Dump the frump, Sagittarius. With red-hot Mars in your sign until October 26, you’re a one-woman show, ready to break out the va-va-voom. You’re a tall shot of charisma while Mars camps in your first house of self and image—and everyone is going to know about it! Just be careful not to be too aggressive, though! Mars is the warrior planet and it can make you come on stronger than a dirty chai. You could repel the same people you’re attracting if you go into bulldozer mode. But we don’t want to trample on your enthusiasm, so just think before you speak—always good advice for you as the zodiac's bluntest sign. (Here’s a people skills expert’s list of ways to get from blunt to honest. While you've got spicy, sultry Mars in your first house of appearance, dress the part! If you’ve been grabbing the same jeans every day, you've gotta change it up. Getting out of your comfort “uniform” may help you feel better. Motherhood is rife with uniforms, isn't it? We don’t overspend on maternity clothes, so we wear the same things over and over. During pregnancy and new motherhood, we’re comfortable in yoga pants. When the kids are small, we feel silly wearing work clothes (unless we’re going to work outside the home). And heels? Let’s all have a moment of silence for heels. Unless you embrace the rebellious side of your sign, in which case you’re reading this right now in heels thinking they’ll have to pry them off my cold, dead feet! Then kudos to you and this mom who wore them to the playground! Take some self-care time to hit a few stores or shop around online to get some new threads. And if you’ve been scissor-trimming your bangs over the sink, it’s time to book an appointment for a proper cut. While you may feel that you’re placing too much focus on appearances, it’s not superficial to treat yourself. It shows your kids that you care about yourself, just as you teach them to care about themselves. Use this time to be your own PR person. Talk up your highlights, and spin your weak spots (if you must talk about them at all). One mom we know with two tween daughters strives to promote positive body image, so while back-to-school shopping, she was stunned to hear one of them say, “I’m too fat to wear that.” Instead of freaking out, she turned it around by explaining that not all clothes flatter all figures. She grabbed the first dress she could find off a rack and tried it on to demonstrate. Your opportunity may come the next time one of your kids wants to take a picture. Do you shoo their phones away, paparazzi style? Try this mom’s tact instead—The mom stays in the picture. You are Instagram-worthy!

What are your dreams telling you, Capricorn? This week, it could be quite a lot! Hyperactive Mars is in Sagittarius, your twelfth house of sleep and rest, until October 26. So, while you want (and probably need) some peaceful nights of rest, this anxious transit could give you bouts of insomnia instead. If you’re night feeding, you may not notice (and in fact, you might be grateful!). But if you’re just trying to unwind, you may instead find yourself staring at the ceiling. When you do fall asleep, your dreams can be vivid and possibly fraught with anxiety some nights. You could dream of past experiences, maybe even a past life, as the twelfth house also rules the mystical sphere. Try to find the messages in your dreams and maybe they won’t feel so meddlesome. You could read some books to learn more about dream interpretation (we think they’re better than Google searches, which can turn up confusing results). The book Dreams: Messages from Your Subconscious is a newer option in this genre that may work for you. One mom we know sets dream “intentions.” In a journal kept by her bed, every night she writes a question she wants answered. It’s not always answered (or she doesn’t remember) but she claims to have had life-changing revelations related to love and work while she slumbers. Couldn’t hurt to try—especially if there’s something blocking you or that you haven’t yet worked through. The twelfth house is good at hiding things, or not making them obvious to us. A dream may reveal a puzzle piece that you need to unlock a mystery or settle an emotional dilemma. Be sure to take it easy during this transit, when you’re able, though, because your body and mind need time to process. Your inward focus could extend to a cleanse or a detox. How about booking a massage, getting a mani-pedi, or dialing up an acupuncturist? Or you may wish to bow out of a regular commitment to just have some in-your-own-head time. Of course your kids aren’t going to allow you to just zone out, but you could get them on board. For example, many parents are struggling to get their kids back on a good sleep schedule since school is back in session. If bedtime equals chaos at your house, try meditation, as this article suggests (we’re totally implementing this!). And remember, it's okay to let them be bored. Just as you crave your own downtime, they need it (but don’t know it). Resist the urge to over-schedule them (and you) and you’ll all breathe a little easier.

Let’s have some fun, Aquarius! Energetic Mars is in Sagittarius, your eleventh house of friendship and surprises, until October 26. You’re up for anything—and with lots of people along for the ride. After all, your sign is the natural ruler of this super-social eleventh house, so you're in your element now. Why not share the fun? Organize a neighborhood potluck. Text-blast your best mom friends to come over to share a few bottles of wine. Plan a fun playdate for you children. Get preparations underway for a Halloween Monster Mash. Whatever inspires your festive side, go for it. This is a great time for you to get to know other moms in the process, if you’re new to a town or a school or have sat on the sidelines until now. It’s also a good time for your partner and children to get social, all of you—together. Maybe you’ll find a new family to hang with. It’s like dating, only there’s no eHarmony or Match.com, as this post explains. Get your kids into the party spirit by assigning them some of the planning. They may surprise you with their interest and actually be helpful to you. Since the eleventh house rules technology, and kids are good with technology, have them help you set up an Evite or a Facebook page for your gathering—and let them manage it. For expecting moms, this is a good time to socialize with other pregnant women. Trade new knowledge, like which nursery items are essential (does anyone really need a wipes warmer?!). If your shower is planned during this transit, you’ll really be in the mood for it! Suggest to your party planners that you want a baby time capsule and maybe your friends and family can add a note to it. This mom’s son opened his on his 18th birthday—pretty cool! With Mars in your lighthearted eleventh house, you could also feel a strong teamwork vibe at work or with your partner. Get back to basics with your beloved, remembering what brought you together. If you can find the time, do an activity you both loved to do but haven’t because of the kids. Or use a date night to invite other couples you’re friendly with to make it a group affair. A party atmosphere will fill your cup with the social interactions you’re craving now. Make it a panini/grilled cheese fiesta at your house and invite all the families you want to for a raucous good time. Fancy ones for the adults, plain ones for the kids!

Put your foot down, Pisces. Aggressive Mars is in Sagittarius, your tenth house of stability, boundaries and future goals, until October 26. You have zero tolerance for wishy-washy people now. You want a solid plan and clear commitments—and you’re not likely to feel comfortable until you get it all sorted out. This is a good time for you to exercise your leadership. Take control of your destiny, but not by coercion. The trick is to keep your eye on the prize without being a bruiser getting there. Instead, state your intentions and see what happens. If your partner has been dragging heels on a big decision that affects you, lay your desires on the line. This will help you extract an answer without being overbearing (or manipulative, a Pisces trap!). It could be your partner had no clue what you were getting so hot and bothered about, as your sign can also lean toward not being able to make up your own mind (remember, o' flip-flopping Fish?). But the tenth house influence has you ready to tick major items off your list, and with gung-ho Mars in the mix, you're not gonna sit around passively waiting. Perhaps you and your partner need to have a serious discussion about future family planning, or whether it’s time to save for the next move. You might even be ready to plan what to do about school next year (switch from private to public, or vice-versa?). Even with your children you’ll want to set limits, like dialing back time on the iPad now that school is back in session. They may not like it, but they’ll see the benefit later (apparently better sleep and school performance, as this article suggests. And could YOU also use a reduction in screen time? This Washington Post piece describes an app that can tell you how much time you’re spending (wasting?) on your smartphone. We’re a little afraid to try it! But still, Pisces, maybe that screen time is causing stress anyway. Mars can fuel your frazzled feelings. Remember that making grand plans is important, but so is living in the present! You put your foot down. You stated your desires. Now, just see how things play out. It’s about the journey, not the destination—and you may need to remind yourself of that. Here’s a great primer on how to live in the present. Now go practice!