Fish appear to be individuals, but have you ever seen a school of them swimming together? They act as one. Each is part of a greater whole. And you Pisces Fish are more aware of your interdependency than any other sign. It's as if you live in an ocean and the spirit that flows through you is like the one ocean that flows through all fishes. The symbol of the Fish is also the symbol of Christianity, the predominant religion during the past two thousand years -- also known to astrologers as the "Age of Pisces."

You Fish are spiritual in nature and emotional in expression. Your intuition and imagination are at once your strengths and weakness. You are attracted to the mystical side of things, and herein lay potential danger, for when pulled beneath the currents of everyday life, the realms of imagination and the subconscious offer little structure. Without the foundation of reality, it becomes easy to flounder and to lose direction. Your own salvation, however, can come from helping others less fortunate that yourself, especially those who have fallen into the misty realms of drugs, alcohol or spiritual confusion.

Your motto might be "Reality is just a shared illusion," and, in a higher sense this may be true. Nevertheless, you still need to survive in this "shared illusion" of reality, and sometimes this becomes a struggle for you compassionate Fish, who can feel the pain of the world as if it were your own. There's no easy escape for you. Your best path is to follow a creative or spiritual pursuit while doing your work in the real world.

Element: Water

Astrologically, the water element symbolizes emotion. Water runs deep; it seeks its own level and will flow until it has found it. The cycle of water is endless with the snows falling in the mountains and melting. The mountain streams join to make the great rivers that run to the sea. The tides and currents churn the oceans. Similarly, our feelings are flowing as they connect the present with past experiences. Sometimes the waters are so deep that we cannot put words to our feelings.

The waters of Pisces are about the waters of consciousness itself. We live in a sea of thoughts and feelings and beliefs. These waters connect each of us to one another in ways that go beyond our rational understanding of life.

House: Twelfth

The Twelfth House is like the astrological refuse collector. It's not about endings in the traditional sense; it's more about recycling. Here is where we brush up against our own limitations and see how they undo what we've done. Here is where it all dissolves into the boundless cosmos, only to be transformed and to start anew, back in the First House, all over again.

Key Planet: Neptune

Neptune was the God (or Goddess) of the Seas. She symbolizes the dissolution of reality, for all Earth arises from the ocean and eventually to it returns. Neptune is represented by the mists, which prevent us from seeing what's really "out there." Instead, we must rely on our own imagination to guide us through the hidden realms. As the key planet for Pisces, Neptune is about the spiritual and the mystical. It's about what we cannot see with our five senses.

Greatest Strength:

Your compassion for those in need

Possible Weakness:

Confusion can put you at a disadvantage

Wrap it Up

A gathering of planets in your 12th House of Endings makes the beginning of the year feel more like the belated completion of last year than a fresh start. Mental Mercury joins the farewell party on January 1, followed by generous Jupiter on January 5 and the confident Sun on January 19. Jupiter remains in your mysterious 12th House for the entire year, bringing opportunities to connect with your subconscious mind, including spiritual practice, psychotherapy and music. You long to retreat from the hectic pace of life, and Mercury's presence emphasizes your need to be alone.

The Winged Messenger turns retrograde on January 11, helping you tie up loose ends. Sweet Venus enters your compassionate sign on January 3, accentuating loving relationships throughout the month. Her alignment with wild Uranus on January 22 and reserved Saturn on January 24 may reveal a problem with self-esteem that'll gain significance next month.

Keep in Mind this Month: Minimize your frustration by remembering that even the simplest things may take longer than you expect.

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