The last pine needles have been swept up, you've disposed of the empty champagne bottles, and now are rolling up your sleeves to start a home-related project. The new moon arrives immediately - January 1 in Capricorn (11 degrees) - and will focus you powerfully on your home or a family matter. In the latter case, you would most likely be thinking about your mother or father, or someone you are close to who you would think of like a parent.

You may have been waiting for the holidays to be over before beginning a home-related project, and it seems like you have not a moment to spare. Along with the new moon January 1 in Capricorn (11 degrees), you will have the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Pluto, conjunct the Sun, accompanying that moon, also in Capricorn.

Pluto rules the foundations of all things, so you may be perking up your basement to make it a comfortable living space, or working on the bones of your house or apartment - the very structure - to make it more in tune with your lifestyle. As long as you have an architect to help you, things should go well. (By all means, do not tear out walls without an architect with the Sun square Mars and Uranus! You need an expert!) Also, your ruler, Venus, planet of beauty and grace, will be retrograde all month, so if you are working on a home related project, you might want to start with repairs, structural improvements, or a de-cluttering project, then move on to a paint job. Save furniture purchases for early March.

If you are selecting a new paint color for a room, bring home samples to put on the wall, as Venus is retrograde and you may change your mind later. Colors on the swatch look deeper and brighter on the wall than they do on the tiny paper swatch. They also look different in different times of day, as the light changes, and in different seasons. The plus side of Venus retrograde is you can go back and change something you did months (or years) ago that you now decide you can improve on. This new moon will be very powerful, and you can get much done. Saturn will be friendly, so all that you do could have the power to appreciate the value of your space.

Next month, February 7 to 28, Mercury will be retrograde, so it would not be as wise to sign papers. Do that this month. You can sell a house, or buy one, but be sure you have an excellent appraiser on the job to make sure you know about any hidden repairs that need to be made that you may not have noticed when you looked at the space. If you want to buy an older house, or invest in antiques, old valuable quilts, or other historical items, planets in Capricorn will help you. So many planets in your home sector will help you move, find a new roommate or do any number of things involving your living situation, but go slowly because, as said, Mars and Uranus are not friendly, and your very ruler, Venus is retrograde.

Mars and Uranus will be at odds, something you may have felt in late December when these two planets were in direct opposition. These two planets are still within orb of a dispute, so you may have to cajole your partner into agreeing with your plans. On a more extreme level, if you are in the process of a bitter divorce, the question of how real estate accumulated during the marriage will be handled may become a very contentious topic of debate. Knowing this ahead of time, perhaps you can come up with lots of possible solutions.

If you are not in a divorce, but simply share your space with a roommate, draw up a contract between you and that person if you don't have one. (This would be helpful should your roommate suddenly leave). This month, you may see eye-to-eye with this person and have to find a compromise. If you have a contract, things are more clearly spelled out. Go to a lawyer to verify the contract is written properly, then use it for any roommate you have, now or in the future.

Due to the tough angle of Mars and Uranus to the new moon, you may need to drop everything to help your mother or father in a very direct way this month. You may have to clear your calendar. Again, your partner may not be part of the solution but more of the problem. Don't look to him or her for help - this month, you need to expect to do all on your own. Alas, sometimes life is that way.

One weekend date I would like to point out is January 11-12, when Saturn in Scorpio will be in perfect angle to the Sun in Capricorn. This is when you my find the perfect space if you are apartment or house hunting, or the ideal piece of furniture on sale. In your solar chart, the Sun rules friends, groups, and events, so it's also a great day to be with others, to mix and mingle. Be out, and don't shutter yourself inside. You can make new friends, or get great, wise advice from a friend who is a bit older than you.

Your career will suddenly take your full attention at the full moon January 15 in Cancer 25 degrees, plus or minus four days. Big news should come in suddenly. A full moon will crystallize or end a series of actions, so if you have been interviewing for a new position, you will likely get the answer at this time. If you have been working on a big project, it may be ready to launch at this time. If you are self-employed, you may get special publicity for your efforts.

This is a VERY friendly full moon, January 15, for Saturn will send a powerful, solid, and encouraging vibration. Whatever occurs, you may feel more settled and secure after this full moon is over. The moon will light your tenth house of fame and honors, so if you do land a new position, it will likely be a position that is better than the one you had before, with an impressive title and wide responsibilities.

On another note, Mars is in Libra for the first time in two years, a trend that started in December, and will give you an outstanding advantage. Mars will remain in Libra until July 25, an unusually long time. (More typically, Mars remains in a sign six weeks.) Mars will put your desires front and center, so you won't have to compromise very much (or at all) to get your way. Life can't always be so sweet, but while it is, take full advantage! Make your list of your dearest goals, and set out to take your first initiation no later than the first two days of February.

The month becomes fun at the very end. First, you have a dazzling day, January 29, when the Sun and Uranus collaborate. Love will be in the air, and Cupid may be drawing up all kinds of romantic surprises. This is a Wednesday, but of course, the universe doesn't know that - go out!

Your romantic life will be elevated to a whole new level with the month's second new moon, January 30 in Aquarius, 11 degrees. This is a signal to get out and circulate! You only get one new moon a year, so make it count for you! New moons are very powerful, for the actions you take in the first days that follow it have the power to create improvements in your life for up to a year to come. This new moon is very friendly and full of surprises. You CAN meet someone new, and this would be the new moon of 2014 to do it!

If you have been dating someone seriously, Uranus, planet of surprise, will wink at that new moon from your marriage sector, so you may suddenly get engaged soon. All new moons are operative ten days after the new moon arrives (never before), so you will have the first half of February to see things happen. Because Venus will turn direct January 31, and Mercury won't go retrograde until February 6, you have a few days to make some decisions! For you, dear Libra, Valentine's Day seems to be coming two weeks early!

If you are already married or in an established relationship, this new moon will be great for discussing the idea of having a baby, or to do something special for a child you have now. If you have had problems with conception (my number one question when I do events), this new moon would be the right time to consult a fertility specialist.

The fifth house, which will be so brightly lit by that new moon January 30, may bring a vacation. This is very possible now, so if you are so inclined, pack and go to a super romantic isle (Ireland? Bali? One of the Greek Islands?) and lavish your one-and-only with your full attention, the best gift of all.

This same new moon, January 30, will increase your creativity and may bring the precise project you need that will allow you to shine brightly. Sometimes talent and opportunity come together - this appears to be one of those times. A new moon opens a path - this one is golden for you.

If your birthday falls on October 4, plus or minus five days, or you have Libra rising within five degrees of 11 degrees, you will benefit in an outstanding way from this new moon. The same is true if you have a natal planet at 11 degrees Libra, Gemini, or Aquarius, or Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius, plus or minus five degrees.

With your ruler, Venus, moving ahead on January 31, suddenly all your desires will be pushed forward, with no more delays. This should be a very gratifying moment for you. What a big month you have, dear Libra!

Half the solar system - the Sun, new moon, Pluto, Mercury, and Venus - will be crowded in your home sector as of the new moon, January 1, so clearly, your mind will be on refreshing, or completely revamping, the look and feel of your home You may have worked on a project there a year ago in January, but you seem even more fired up to achieve your dream now, so go for it.

Your plans will not be entirely easy to complete. Venus, your ruler, will be retrograde all month, until January 31, and the new moon will be in a feisty mood, conflicting with many other planets. You'll have to outsmart obstacles as they show up. Your best bet is to first address structural changes in your living space but to wait for Venus to go direct, January 31, before making design and artistic decisions.

A home-related commitment that you make over the weekend of January 11-12, when the Sun and Saturn are in sync, such as to sign a lease or close on a house, may bring exceptional long-range results. With the Sun in good angle to Saturn, you have a great chance to stabilize your living situation for a very long time. The Sun rules your hopes and wishes and your friendships / people you know, so you can also use this weekend to go to an event populated by many smiling people. You may get good advice from an older person or friend, indicated by Saturn's presence.

You will likely have one of your biggest career moments of 2014 on or near the full moon of January 15. With Saturn so strongly positioned, all that you accomplish now will become a building block for the future. You will get closure concerning a position you dearly want, and it may be one you have interviewed for over a number of months or weeks. If you had a performance review, results will be in. Your chances are excellent for successful result, so stay optimistic and keep pushing forward. All systems are go, and the universe will support your desires at this time.

The end of the month, January 30, brings great news. The new moon in Aquarius, in your house of true love, will signal unpredictable Uranus and trigger all sorts of happy, surprising events after that new moon arrives, ones you'd never have thought possible - but that you will enjoy in every way. Single Libra will have the very best outlook for finding a new love or to have reconciliation with a former lover.

If attached, you'll be able to do more with your one-and-only, with plenty more fun involved. Your life has been too no-frills lately, but Mars in Libra and the new moon in Aquarius will banish that now in a flash. If you hope for a baby, the stork may be visiting you sooner than you think!

Single or attached, you may both travel unexpectedly, too. While the costs of a trip may make you hesitate, and family responsibilities may press on you, you can find a way to go if you want to go badly enough. Venus, your ruler, and planet governing love, will go direct on January 31, just in time to enjoy the effects of this new moon January 30, to be powerful for two weeks. Friends you make and charities / humanitarian efforts you join will bring you gratification and carry you forward in a new path all year. Exciting!

Your love life will take flight January 30 at the new moon in your house of romance. With the planet of surprise working with you, you should find your social schedule to turn out better than expected.