It's hard to ignore that surge of energy that comes coursing through our veins this time of the year. We eat fresher, exercise more and hang on to every moment of that little bit of extra daylight. We clean the house, clear out the garage and put the shovels and scrapers into mothballs. We cut our hair, buy new wardrobes and even clean out the car. The fresh feeling of renewal is undeniably exciting, and it doesn't take all that much to get us feeling brand new versions of ourselves as individuals.

What about our relationships? Just like they do in our own lives, the planets can motivate us to make changes that renew our devotion to a loved one, or help those of us who are still looking decide where to start. Using astrology is like finding that super-powered steam cleaner you've always wanted. It lets you see where to apply the elbow grease, then cleans and sanitizes so your love life can be just like new. Check out your sign below to see what you can do to do some spring cleaning in your love life with super-powerful, extra-fast-acting Planet Power!

Aries
At times, it might feel as though you're constantly being zapped by 10,000 volts of thunderbolts. No wonder your partner has so much trouble following your conversations! Rather than run off pouting and feeling all misunderstood, do what the spring lamb would do – have some fun! You'll be full of surprises now, thanks to planet Uranus' recent arrival to your sign, so push a little shock treatment into your social schedule to re-establish your bond. A dress-up date followed by a hot balloon ride? Don't even try to think small these days. If you're single, stop settling for anything less than a dynamic, original, exciting and passionately romantic person who's truly worthy of you! Be yourself, and he'll find you.

Taurus
If your partner seems to be a little impatient with you as of late, it might be due to the way you've been fretting over every little thing. Jupiter inspires you to believe everything will be all right, but some other shifts have you in a constant state of heightened hyper-vigilance. It's time to R-E-L-A-X. Get away with your love for a weekend of massages, whirlpool baths and aromatherapy sessions. Swiff away the stress bunnies and then let what happens just come naturally. Single Taurus people can stop worrying about answering the question "Am I good enough?" Go out there and strut your stuff. You'll find out!

Gemini
If your relationship seems to be going stale, freshen it up by stepping out more often. Follow the sun toward some "tribal" experiences you can share. You're a very independent type, and probably have friends your guy would love to meet. Include him at the next group gathering, or go out for an evening with some of his friends. Mixing and mingling with a bunch of other people can help you operate as "a couple", and give you plenty of pillow talk to cover when you make it happen back at home. If you're not attached yet, join a group or community where you can express your passion – and meet people who share your love for the exchange of ideas and information.

Cancer
You need to overcome some of your fears these days, with Pluto scaring you into believing your partner is the only power player in the relationship. Although you could be attracted to those attributes of your man that indicate his ability to stand strong and conquer the world, you also want to know you can get the same kind of TLC you like to give. Don't be afraid to ask what you want. If you live up to the expectations planets Uranus and Jupiter have for you now, you truly will deserve only the very best! Single crabs should know it's quite all right to be as picky as you need to be, until you find someone you're proud to bring home. You'll know when it's right.

Leo
With Neptune lingering for its last days in your house of one-to-one partnerships, the way you see your partner is bound to change. It's time to get real and be happy for what you have. Rather than expecting your significant other to pull up in a pumpkin coach or take you for a walk on the water, you'll be satisfied with his practical vehicle and long romantic strolls along the beach. You might also begin to focus more on his flaws, but you can view this as help as you strive to bring out the very best in him. Single lioness types will be relieved when the fog lifts and it's possible to feel more confident that what they're seeing in prospective mates is what they're likely to get.

Virgo
Your penchant for perfection often disguises how hard it is for you to achieve moderation, and that could be what's making it so hard to fit your love life into your schedule. If you pay more attention to Pluto's urgings to go out there and have fun (without doing it to extremes), you and your partner will both be happier campers. Who knows? When you make your love more of a game, you could discover your incurably romantic side. Planet Neptune will help you with that after April begins, too. If single Virgos put half as much effort into taking charge of their dating life as they do their office and workout schedules, the kind of bliss they never knew before could become a new way of life.

Libra
Each year, you get all these great plans for spring cleaning and re-grouping, but somehow they never pan out. 2011 will be different, by a long shot. With planets such as Uranus, Jupiter and Mars in your house of one-to-one relationships, much of the deep cleaning action will happen without any help from you. However, that might mean you won't have any control over the situation, either. To enjoy healthy adult human interactions, you must be more decisive. Use the power of Saturn to limit what you'll put up with, and your partner will know when he's out of line. Living the single life isn't easy when people pop in and out of your life, so if you find one you believe is worth hanging onto, stake your claim before he disappears back into the ether.

Scorpio
Use the power of communication to set or re-set the boundaries between you and a partner. If you're not getting what you want, it could be because you expect your love to read your mind. Not everyone is as sublimely intuitive as you are, you know! Pluto is in your house of thinking and speaking, so you should be able to put out powerful misses. The tough part might be getting your point across without pounding it into the ground. Talking about what you need from another will assist singles, as well. Don't let yourself be a big question mark in a cute guy's mind. Tell him what you expect, then he'll have to decide whether he's up to the challenge.

Sagittarius
The idea of being in a tight relationship is something that makes you somewhat squeamish on a good day. You want love and romance, but you don't want it to smother you or inhibit your ability to kick back and have fun. Pay attention to the planets Jupiter and Uranus as they rage through your house of diversion now. Drag your man if you must, but make plans to do the things you love, and follow through on them! That way, you'll share the joy of adventure and amusement rather than feel deprived of it. Single Sadge ladies will find an abundance of opportunities for dating, and more than a few of the available guys will be up for the adventure of playing with a girl who's up for almost anything.

Capricorn
The advice for improving your life always seems to be the same, but the cosmos has to do what's necessary to get someone as headstrong as you to pay attention to outside counsel. You need to work less and play more! Most people would love to hear it, but for you it's not so easy to swallow, especially now. With Saturn in your house of authority and status, you rise to challenges even before they're given to you. That someone special in your life has some things he'd like you to do, as well. He may not give you a raise or a promotion, but the fun and sensual pleasure he has to offer are priceless! Getting away from the office and out on the town is also good advice for single Capricorn ladies -– unless they're up for flinging with a highly regarded authority figure, that is!

Aquarius
Mysterious forces that have drawn you into the world beyond hard, cold reality will lower their volume this spring, so plant your feet back on planet earth. The very best thing you can do to improve your relationship is pay attention to and spend more time sparkin' with your mate. There's only so much self-searching any one person can do, and as you come out of a trance that's lasted many years, you'll be able to begin facing your mate with more excitement and engagement. Thanks to Uranus, you may even change your living arrangements to make them happier for you both. Single Aquarians can relish the idea of meeting similar, serious-mined men by getting involved in serious intellectual pursuits from cultural activities to seeking professional training or going back to school.

Pisces
There are three words for how you can make your love live better this spring: "Sex It Up." With the dowdy planet Saturn in your house of intimacy, it's tempting to fall into the pattern of drifting off to sleep in flannel nighties and bunny slippers. Now that it's spring, all that stuff goes off. Use Saturn's organizing energy to help you plot out the kind of sexy getaway that comes as a complete surprise to your adoring honey. Or, let Jupiter and Uranus take you on a shopping spree to a place where you can get clothes and toys that take your sex life from "just okay" to "beyond satisfying." Single Pisces, quit trying to be the girl next store. If you really want the kind of guy that makes your toes curl, you've got to dress the part and show off your stuff.


Judi Vitale is an accomplished astrologer and the author of the new book "Lovecasts: The Astrological Guide to Lasting Love," in which she determines the compatibility of each and every sign. For more insight into your life and your relationships, visit her site, readthestars.com.










More from Readthestars.com:
-Spring Clean Your Cravings: Which Foods Are Good for Your Sign?
-Get Your Work Horoscope for This Week!
-Why You Might Be Losing Your Temper More This Month

So, you've probably heard the rumor that you have a new astrology sign? Well, guess what? As a professional astrologer, I'm here to tell you, you can sit back, relax and continue to read the daily horoscope you were born with.

Why? This is hardly new news. Much like the Sun itself, the continuing controversy between astronomers and astrologers continues to flare up from time to time. Astronomers will observe something about the planets and the earth's position relative to them, and then state there is something about that which throws off the system astrologers use to guide them in the analysis of basic personality traits.

We seem to be igniting the discussion once again, this time due to an article written by astronomer Parke Kunke. He talks about how the 12 zodiac signs are no longer aligned with the earth and the Sun the way they used to be, and that there could be a new sign, Ophiuchus.

The article acknowledges that although the movement of the earth and Sun caused them to stray from the original zodiac setup about 1,500 years ago, and the astrologer's ideas about the zodiac hasn't changed. That's because astrology as it's practiced in the western world uses a method of measuring the zodiac signs that is tied into the seasons. A study of the signs and their characteristics reveals these connections. (Read more about this here.)

Aries, in its impetuousness, matches up with the first days of spring, while Taurus and its patient protectiveness embodies the energies that promote growth and strength to the plants that are developing in the soil. Libra represents the weighing in of the fruits of the harvest season, while Scorpio celebrates the new life that can be generated from the processes of death and decay. All of the signs have a significant part to play in the drama of the changing seasons and the different moods and activities we earthlings engage in while they take us through the yearly cycle.

The twelve zodiac signs are not the only constellations in the universe, by a long shot! They must be pretty potent ones, though, considering they are the ones that are most visibly apparent as a "belt" around the equator. There are many other fixed stars and patterns that are acknowledged by the most ancient of astrologers; yet, they are not "strong" enough of an influence to validate them as a "sign."

That leaves Ophiuchus in an awkward position, for sure, but there isn't a lot of evidence that proves the people trying to claim this constellation as their own are not Sagittarius people who are so determined to be free of any restriction, they want a whole new sign for themselves! It simply doesn't fit in with the pattern of signs, planets and characteristics that have allowed astrology to fascinate humankind for centuries, and won't make sense to most professional astrologers.

Whether you casually read your horoscope or delve deeper into astrology as a way of studying your personality and your human potential, it's safe to assume astrology as it is must work for you. If you're skeptical, give it a try, but keep following your sign the way you always have. Next time this argument flares up, remember that until we declare a whole new season, there's really no reason to worry about Ophiuchus, or any other man with a snake in his hand looking for more than his fair share of attention.


Judi Vitale is an accomplished astrologer and the author of the new book "Lovecasts: The Astrological Guide to Lasting Love," in which she determines the compatibility of each and every sign. Her masterful knowledge of astrology means she can also give guidance and wisdom in the form of personal readings. Learn more at lovecasts.com.