January 5: Your lookahead horoscope Whatever it is that separates the winners from the losers you've got plenty, but are you using it to best effect? Your birthday chart urges you to get serious about changing your life for the better - and you might just change the world as well. If you need to ask a favour of someone in a position of authority now is the time to speak up. Cosmic activity in the career area of your chart is so good at the moment they will grant you (almost) anything and everything you desire. This is a great time to be on the move, for business or for pleasure. The more people you meet the more likely it is you will learn something to your advantage. Contacts with unusual people could be especially profitable this week. You will soon start feeling better about your long-term financial prospects, so don't worry about the small stuff. But don't take anything for granted either: if you splash out on unnecessary luxuries now you will most likely regret it later. With Venus and Mercury nicely aligned this week you will want to be friends with everyone. You will also find it easier to make the first move in personal relationships. You have been keeping your feelings to yourself for too long. Be careful you don't miss something that is small but important over the next few days. Set aside some time in your busy schedule for looking at the bigger picture - once you "get it" the details will start to make more sense too. You will find that all sorts of people want to be nice to you over the next seven days. Does that make you suspicious? Don't worry, the planets suggest their kindness is genuine, so if you need to ask favours, of anyone, now is the time. Try to be more understanding of someone who has let you down or in some other way incurred your displeasure. No doubt they deserve to be treated roughly but, on this occasion, they will respond better to encouragement than to criticism. You still seem to be brooding on things that are over and done with. You may have good reason to feel hard done by but you cannot go back and change the past - you can only go forward and make sure the future is different. If you need to approach someone for help with a business matter do so immediately. The planets indicate that if you make your pitch this week you stand a very good chance of getting what you ask for, so long as it isn't too outrageous. Venus in your sign will boost your confidence no end but how much you actually achieve depends on whether you can be bothered to make an effort. If you can't, don't be too hard on yourself. Even a Capricorn needs some down time. You may be incredibly ambitious but don't be too pushy this coming week or you could make enemies of people who should be friends. Remember, the best way to help yourself is to help others first. It's good business and good politics. Make it your aim this week to form alliances with people who share your concerns. You don't have to agree on every single detail about every single issue, just the overall picture. Together you can create something important.