One of the things that never seems to come across in those generic descriptions of Capricorns is their inherent sweetness. You’re every bit as kind and caring as anyone else (if not more so), but have a tendency to hide it behind a mask that downplays your vulnerability. Now that Pluto (the planet which is best at blowing things up) has moved into your sign, and Saturn has moved into your Tenth (the Work House).

Although this one-two punch might be too much for lesser souls to handle, you’re well equipped with the tenacity to not only survive these circumstances, but in fact come out ahead on the deal. Think of these two planetary placements as bringing new ways to bring out your inner strength, without you having to lose that sweetness and kindness you’ve had all along.

Pluto has moved from the spooky funhouse of your Twelfth House into the light of day, figuratively speaking, in your First House. This means you’ll be focusing on how you see the world, and how it sees you, in new and powerful ways. Think of it as an opportunity to evolve into a higher form of yourself.

Capricorn is actually ruled by Saturn, which not only represents difficulties and limitations (every planet has its bad side), but also represents the obstacles you have to overcome to get what you want out of life. In your Fourth House now, this means questions around your home life, and brings the chance to (literally) put your house in order. The next year’s difficulties will mostly serve as an opportunity for everyone else to admire how well you overcame them. And you will!

Career

Capricorn has never had the reputation for being a “floater” — letting things go by without a care in the world. It’s that sense of seriousness that makes so many of you popular with your bosses. With Saturn moving into Libra, you will probably have already heard a lot of the Air and Water signs moping about how it’s affected their lives for the worse (even if they aren’t aware of the astrological reasons behind it). Saturn, despite ruling limitations, is actually good news in many ways for you and your career this year. It will bring a new sense of seriousness, structure and order to your work life, and that’s exactly the kind of environment you excel in.

You may have noticed that the economy hasn’t been all that great out there, and you’ve likely been as affected by that as the next guy. And at the same time, you’ve probably retained more of your sanity through it all better than the next guy, despite the natural worries that it produces. Your career and general sense of direction in life will be solidifying and gaining ground this year. You know how you heard that it’s this sector or that sector that will lead the economy out of the recession? The truth is, it’s going to be you leading the economy out of its funk. Think of it as a Reality Show where the first contestant to build a shelter out of the wreckage wins the game. Congratulations!

Romance

Your love life can be in one of three positions in the next year: single, in a relationship, or in a committed relationship. Regardless of where you find your status this year, there will be change, and it will likely be for the better. If you’re single and looking, there are a couple of windows of opportunity this year to change that. Forces are coming together to make April and September to November this year prime time for you to either find someone, or (even better!) for someone to find you. Even if you are in a relationship during those periods, you can expect the romance to get a little better.

If you’re already in a relationship, May and June mark a time when the love and warmth will be ramped up. If there has been any distancing or difficulties in your love life, it will be an excellent time for the two of you to sit down and truly hear each other out, and do the work to make things stronger.

And if 2010 finds you in a committed, long-term relationship — hang on to your hat! Two eclipses in 2010 will make for major shifts in your relationship, both of which have been building for a while. January is the first: watch for changes in your relationship that come to a head in July, when the second eclipse comes into play. If you want to move your relationship to a new degree of closeness and/or commitment, July will be the time to make your move.