This week starts off with a bang, conditions at work and elsewhere calling for immediate attention and management by expertise. After this, the week continues to be on the hectic side, with a conjunction of Sun and retrograde Mercury intensifying complexities in travel and transportation. Patience may be in short supply this week, but those who can summon it will be as a soothing balm to any situation in which they may be found. Here’s how it unfolds.

Monday promises to be a memorable day in business, weather, national politics, and international relations. Here’s the reason: the power sign Capricorn contains the core of the astrological action this day, with retrograde Mercury, Mars, and Pluto all meeting at the 5th degree of this sign. Capricorn symbolizes all the things of life that endure and which have the quality of permanence, such as great public buildings and monuments made of stone. Capricorn therefore connotes those things, people, and situations which impart a lasting impact on society and humanity by virtue of constant presence.

In fact, the sign of the climbing goat symbolizes the power to gradually surmount obstacles by persistent effort, and to conquer obstacles through steady action and tested methods. Time honored ways also fall under the domain of Capricorn, the home of tradition and heritage. All these issues and more will be activated as the Capricorn archetype receives a huge emphasis this day. Many will feel the inclination to seek the shelter of time-honored tradition, or to align themselves with securely established authority figures. There may be advantage in this, but there may be as well a great sacrifice of liberty exacted from those who want to huddle under the dome of protection provided by a seemingly secure governmental or family shelter. Therefore this week brings situations in which hard choices must be made, for Capricorn is ever a sign of decisions and the deliberation process. These decisions will have to be made in the context of inflexible or demanding rules and conditions set by government, business, and rigid or ambitious authority figures. To understand this scenario further, the planets acting within the Capricorn field this week deserve consideration.

First there is nervous and distraught little retrograde Mercury, looking for a safe place to perch for a moment. He symbolizes the thoughts of people as they search for stable ground in a changing economy and complicated family relationships. Then there is assertive Mars, happy in Capricorn as his sign of exaltation because it allows him to show his high rank in the rule-bound sign of the goat. Mars here in Capricorn symbolizes those who enforce rules, perhaps by intimidation. And finally, secretive and scheming Pluto joins the mix, bringing his hidden agendas and interest in shaping the destiny of nations and peoples. Pluto symbolizes powerful commercial and international interests with their hands in current events. These three factors combined into one potion suggest that a moment of great importance is upon us this week, one in which the public interest will be greatly affected by governmental, commercial, and military affairs, and a week in which the motivations of highly placed authority or family figures will be called into question.

In weather, upheaval and intense conditions are likely, with earth movement and rock slides leading the list. Avoidance of areas known for unstable ground conditions is a good idea around this time. In international relations, tensions are likely to be intensified, with threats of military action. However, much information put forth this day will be more in the nature of big talk than actuality, so the wait and see mode is best. All the same, travelers would do well to confine their outings to countries and areas presently in peace. The reason is simple. This week, wherever suppressed tension has been brewing under the surface, it will well up into unexpected outbursts. The people must speak their mind, and so they will this day in various locations. In fact, it is not an overstatement to say that this week contains strong potential for various types of danger. Minimizing exposure to likely sources of threat therefore makes good sense.

For the workaday world, this week will contain strong pressure to complete tasks before the end of the calendar year. On the family front, plans for holiday gatherings will start to generate a time crunch this week. Jam packed schedules are likely to cause anxiety on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Trying to sandwich in too much on these days is not a good thing. Best strategy for the whole week lies in setting a manageable pace, whether in office or family matters. A need for proceeding with calm remains in the picture all week. This theme lasts right through the weekend, when the Sun squares Uranus and makes a conjunction to retrograde Mercury, setting up conditions for unexpected disruptions of travel and other important plans. Be ready to remain flexible. This will help restore perspective in the midst of it all.