Read the book: «Your Personal Horoscope 2017»

Glossary of Astrological Terms
Ascendant

We experience day and night because the Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours. It is because of this rotation that the Sun, Moon and planets seem to rise and set. The zodiac is a fixed belt (imaginary, but very real in spiritual terms) around the Earth. As the Earth rotates, the different signs of the zodiac seem to the observer to rise on the horizon. During a 24-hour period every sign of the zodiac will pass this horizon point at some time or another. The sign that is at the horizon point at any given time is called the Ascendant, or rising sign. The Ascendant is the sign denoting a person’s self-image, body and self-concept – the personal ego, as opposed to the spiritual ego indicated by a person’s Sun sign.

Aspects

Aspects are the angular relationships between planets, the way in which one planet stimulates or influences another. If a planet makes a harmonious aspect (connection) to another, it tends to stimulate that planet in a positive and helpful way. If, however, it makes a stressful aspect to another planet, this disrupts that planet’s normal influence.

Astrological Qualities

There are three astrological qualities: cardinal, fixed and mutable. Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac falls into one of these three categories.

Cardinal Signs

Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn

The cardinal quality is the active, initiating principle. Those born under these four signs are good at starting new projects.

Fixed Signs

Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius

Fixed qualities include stability, persistence, endurance and perfectionism. People born under these four signs are good at seeing things through.

Mutable Signs

Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces

Mutable qualities are adaptability, changeability and balance. Those born under these four signs are creative, if not always practical.

Direct Motion

When the planets move forward through the zodiac – as they normally do – they are said to be going ‘direct’.

Grand Square

A Grand Square differs from a normal Square (usually two planets separated by 90 degrees) in that four or more planets are involved. When you look at the pattern in a chart you will see a whole and complete square. This, though stressful, usually denotes a new manifestation in the life. There is much work and balancing involved in the manifestation.

Grand Trine

A Grand Trine differs from a normal Trine (where two planets are 120 degrees apart) in that three or more planets are involved. When you look at this pattern in a chart, it takes the form of a complete triangle – a Grand Trine. Usually (but not always) it occurs in one of the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air or Water. Thus the particular element in which it occurs will be highlighted. A Grand Trine in Water is not the same as a Grand Trine in Air or Fire, etc. This is a very fortunate and happy aspect, and quite rare.

Houses

There are 12 signs of the zodiac and 12 houses of experience. The 12 signs are personality types and ways in which a given planet expresses itself; the 12 houses show ‘where’ in your life this expression takes place. Each house has a different area of interest. A house can become potent and important – a house of power – in different ways: if it contains the Sun, the Moon or the ‘ruler’ of your chart; if it contains more than one planet; or if the ruler of that house is receiving unusual stimulation from other planets.

1st House

Personal Image and Sensual Delights

2nd House

Money/Finance

3rd House

Communication and Intellectual Interests

4th House

Home and Family

5th House

Children, Fun, Games, Creativity, Speculations and Love Affairs

6th House

Health and Work

7th House

Love, Marriage and Social Activities

8th House

Transformation and Regeneration

9th House

Religion, Foreign Travel, Higher Education and Philosophy

10th House

Career

11th House

Friends, Group Activities and Fondest Wishes

12th House

Spirituality

Karma

Karma is the law of cause and effect which governs all phenomena. We are all where we find ourselves because of karma – because of actions we have performed in the past. The universe is such a balanced instrument that any act immediately sets corrective forces into motion – karma.

Long-term Planets

The planets that take a long time to move through a sign show the long-term trends in a given area of life. They are important for forecasting the prolonged view of things. Because these planets stay in one sign for so long, there are periods in the year when the faster-moving (short-term) planets will join them, further activating and enhancing the importance of a given house.

Jupiter

stays in a sign for about 1 year

Saturn

2½ years

Uranus

7 years

Neptune

14 years

Pluto

15 to 30 years

Lunar

Relating to the Moon. See also ‘Phases of the Moon’, below.

Natal

Literally means ‘birth’. In astrology this term is used to distinguish between planetary positions that occurred at the time of a person’s birth (natal) and those that are current (transiting). For example, Natal Sun refers to where the Sun was when you were born; transiting Sun refers to where the Sun’s position is currently at any given moment – which usually doesn’t coincide with your birth, or Natal, Sun.

Out of Bounds

The planets move through the zodiac at various angles relative to the celestial equator (if you were to draw an imaginary extension of the Earth’s equator out into the universe, you would have an illustration of this celestial equator). The Sun – being the most dominant and powerful influence in the Solar system – is the measure astrologers use as a standard. The Sun never goes more than approximately 23 degrees north or south of the celestial equator. At the winter solstice the Sun reaches its maximum southern angle of orbit (declination); at the summer solstice it reaches its maximum northern angle. Any time a planet exceeds this Solar boundary – and occasionally planets do – it is said to be ‘out of bounds’. This means that the planet exceeds or trespasses into strange territory – beyond the limits allowed by the Sun, the ruler of the Solar system. The planet in this condition becomes more emphasized and exceeds its authority, becoming an important influence in the forecast.

Phases of the Moon

After the full Moon, the Moon seems to shrink in size (as perceived from the Earth), gradually growing smaller until it is virtually invisible to the naked eye – at the time of the next new Moon. This is called the waning Moon phase, or the waning Moon.

After the new Moon, the Moon gradually gets bigger in size (as perceived from the Earth) until it reaches its maximum size at the time of the full Moon. This period is called the waxing Moon phase, or waxing Moon.

Retrogrades

The planets move around the Sun at different speeds. Mercury and Venus move much faster than the Earth, while Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto move more slowly. Thus there are times when, relative to the Earth, the planets appear to be going backwards. In reality they are always going forward, but relative to our vantage point on Earth they seem to go backwards through the zodiac for a period of time. This is called ‘retrograde’ motion and tends to weaken the normal influence of a given planet.

Short-term Planets

The fast-moving planets move so quickly through a sign that their effects are generally of a short-term nature. They reflect the immediate, day-to-day trends in a horoscope.

Moon

stays in a sign for only 2½ days

Mercury

20 to 30 days

Sun

30 days

Venus

approximately 1 month

Mars

approximately 2 months

T-square

A T-square differs from a Grand Square (see above) in that it is not a complete square. If you look at the pattern in a chart it appears as ‘half a complete square’, resembling the T-square tools used by architects and designers. If you cut a complete square in half, diagonally, you have a T-square. Many astrologers consider this more stressful than a Grand Square, as it creates tension that is difficult to resolve. T-squares bring learning experiences.

Transits

This term refers to the movements or motions of the planets at any given time. Astrologers use the word ‘transit’ to make the distinction between a birth, or Natal, planet (see ‘Natal’, above) and the planet’s current movement in the heavens. For example, if at your birth Saturn was in the sign of Cancer in your 8th house, but is now moving through your 3rd house, it is said to be ‘transiting’ your 3rd house. Transits are one of the main tools with which astrologers forecast trends.

Personality Profile
ARIES AT A GLANCE

Element – Fire

Ruling Planet – Mars

Career Planet – Saturn

Love Planet – Venus

Money Planet – Venus

Planet of Fun, Entertainment, Creativity and Speculations – Sun

Planet of Health and Work – Mercury

Planet of Home and Family Life – Moon

Planet of Spirituality – Neptune

Planet of Travel, Education, Religion and Philosophy – Jupiter

Colours – carmine, red, scarlet

Colours that promote love, romance and social harmony – green, jade green

Colour that promotes earning power – green

Gem – amethyst

Metals – iron, steel

Scent – honeysuckle

Quality – cardinal (= activity)

Quality most needed for balance – caution

Strongest virtues – abundant physical energy, courage, honesty, independence, self-reliance

Deepest need – action

Characteristics to avoid – haste, impetuousness, over-aggression, rashness

Signs of greatest overall compatibility – Leo, Sagittarius

Signs of greatest overall incompatibility – Cancer, Libra, Capricorn

Sign most helpful to career – Capricorn

Sign most helpful for emotional support – Cancer

Sign most helpful financially – Taurus

Sign best for marriage and/or partnerships – Libra

Sign most helpful for creative projects – Leo

Best Sign to have fun with – Leo

Signs most helpful in spiritual matters – Sagittarius, Pisces

Best day of the week – Tuesday

Understanding an Aries

Aries is the activist par excellence of the zodiac. The Aries need for action is almost an addiction, and those who do not really understand the Aries personality would probably use this hard word to describe it. In reality ‘action’ is the essence of the Aries psychology – the more direct, blunt and to-the-point the action, the better. When you think about it, this is the ideal psychological makeup for the warrior, the pioneer, the athlete or the manager.

Aries likes to get things done, and in their passion and zeal often lose sight of the consequences for themselves and others. Yes, they often try to be diplomatic and tactful, but it is hard for them. When they do so they feel that they are being dishonest and phoney. It is hard for them even to understand the mindset of the diplomat, the consensus builder, the front office executive. These people are involved in endless meetings, discussions, talks and negotiations – all of which seem a great waste of time when there is so much work to be done, so many real achievements to be gained. An Aries can understand, once it is explained, that talk and negotiations – the social graces – lead ultimately to better, more effective actions. The interesting thing is that an Aries is rarely malicious or spiteful – even when waging war. Aries people fight without hate for their opponents. To them it is all good-natured fun, a grand adventure, a game.

When confronted with a problem many people will say, ‘Well, let’s think about it, let’s analyse the situation.’ But not an Aries. An Aries will think, ‘Something must be done. Let’s get on with it.’ Of course neither response is the total answer. Sometimes action is called for, sometimes cool thought. But an Aries tends to err on the side of action.

Action and thought are radically different principles. Physical activity is the use of brute force. Thinking and deliberating require one not to use force – to be still. It is not good for the athlete to be deliberating the next move; this will only slow down his or her reaction time. The athlete must act instinctively and instantly. This is how Aries people tend to behave in life. They are quick, instinctive decision-makers and their decisions tend to be translated into action almost immediately. When their intuition is sharp and well tuned, their actions are powerful and successful. When their intuition is off, their actions can be disastrous.

Do not think this will scare an Aries. Just as a good warrior knows that in the course of combat he or she might acquire a few wounds, so too does an Aries realize – somewhere deep down – that in the course of being true to yourself you might get embroiled in a disaster or two. It is all part of the game. An Aries feels strong enough to weather any storm.

There are many Aries people who are intellectual. They make powerful and creative thinkers. But even in this realm they tend to be pioneers – outspoken and blunt. These types of Aries tend to elevate (or sublimate) their desire for physical combat in favour of intellectual, mental combat. And they are indeed powerful.

In general, Aries people have a faith in themselves that others could learn from. This basic, rock-solid faith carries them through the most tumultuous situations of life. Their courage and self-confidence make them natural leaders. Their leadership is more by way of example than by actually controlling others.

Finance

Aries people often excel as builders or estate agents. Money in and of itself is not as important as are other things – action, adventure, sport, etc. They are motivated by the need to support and be well-thought-of by their partners. Money as a way of attaining pleasure is another important motivation. Aries function best in their own businesses or as managers of their own departments within a large business or corporation. The fewer orders they have to take from higher up, the better. They also function better out in the field rather than behind a desk.

Aries people are hard workers with a lot of endurance; they can earn large sums of money due to the strength of their sheer physical energy.

Venus is their money planet, which means that Aries need to develop more of the social graces in order to realize their full earning potential. Just getting the job done – which is what an Aries excels at – is not enough to create financial success. The co-operation of others needs to be attained. Customers, clients and co-workers need to be made to feel comfortable; many people need to be treated properly in order for success to happen. When Aries people develop these abilities – or hire someone to do this for them – their financial potential is unlimited.

Career and Public Image

One would think that a pioneering type would want to break with the social and political conventions of society. But this is not so with the Aries-born. They are pioneers within conventional limits, in the sense that they like to start their own businesses within an established industry.

Capricorn is on the 10th house of career cusp of Aries’ solar horoscope. Saturn is the planet that rules their life’s work and professional aspirations. This tells us some interesting things about the Aries character. First off, it shows that, in order for Aries people to reach their full career potential, they need to develop some qualities that are a bit alien to their basic nature: they need to become better administrators and organizers; they need to be able to handle details better and to take a long-range view of their projects and their careers in general. No one can beat an Aries when it comes to achieving short-range objectives, but a career is long term, built over time. You cannot take a ‘quickie’ approach to it.

Some Aries people find it difficult to stick with a project until the end. Since they get bored quickly and are in constant pursuit of new adventures, they prefer to pass an old project or task on to somebody else in order to start something new. Those Aries who learn how to put off the search for something new until the old is completed will achieve great success in their careers and professional lives.

In general, Aries people like society to judge them on their own merits, on their real and actual achievements. A reputation acquired by ‘hype’ feels false to them.

Love and Relationships

In marriage and partnerships Aries like those who are more passive, gentle, tactful and diplomatic – people who have the social grace and skills they sometimes lack. Our partners always represent a hidden part of ourselves – a self that we cannot express personally.

An Aries tends to go after what he or she likes aggressively. The tendency is to jump into relationships and marriages. This is especially true if Venus is in Aries as well as the Sun. If an Aries likes you, he or she will have a hard time taking no for an answer; many attempts will be made to sweep you off your feet.

Though Aries can be exasperating in relationships – especially if they are not understood by their partners – they are never consciously or wilfully cruel or malicious. It is just that they are so independent and sure of themselves that they find it almost impossible to see somebody else’s viewpoint or position. This is why an Aries needs as a partner someone with lots of social graces.

On the plus side, an Aries is honest, someone you can lean on, someone with whom you will always know where you stand. What he or she lacks in diplomacy is made up for in integrity.

Home and Domestic Life

An Aries is of course the ruler at home – the Boss. The male will tend to delegate domestic matters to the female. The female Aries will want to rule the roost. Both tend to be handy round the house. Both like large families and both believe in the sanctity and importance of the family. An Aries is a good family person, although he or she does not especially like being at home a lot, preferring instead to be roaming about.

Considering that they are by nature so combative and wilful, Aries people can be surprisingly soft, gentle and even vulnerable with their children and partners. The sign of Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is on the cusp of their solar 4th house of home and family. When the Moon is well aspected – under favourable influences – in the birth chart, an Aries will be tender towards the family and will want a family life that is nurturing and supportive. Aries likes to come home after a hard day on the battlefield of life to the understanding arms of their partner and the unconditional love and support of their family. An Aries feels that there is enough ‘war’ out in the world – and he or she enjoys participating in that. But when Aries comes home, comfort and nurturing are what’s needed.

Horoscope for 2017
Major Trends

Electric Uranus has been in your sign for many years now, and he will still be there in the year ahead. In the past six or so years your life – the conditions and circumstances of your life – has been radically altered. The old saying, ‘life can change at any moment’ is certainly true for you. You’ve been living it. The cosmos has been setting you free from old restrictive conditions. And, sometimes it had to do it in dramatic, even explosive, ways. Your body and image have been a continuous work-in-progress. Every time you think you have it ‘just right’ a new idea or look comes to you and you start to change again. The good part of all this is a sense of personal freedom that many of you have never known. It’s a heady feeling. By now most of you have learned the lessons of Uranus, but there’s still another year to go. You should handle it with ease.

Jupiter moved into your 7th house of love in September 2016. He will be there for most of the year ahead – until October 10. This is one of the main headlines of the year ahead. It’s a strong and happy social year. Many of you are ready to ‘settle down’ these days – especially after so many years of being footloose and fancy free. Serious relationships, both romantic and in business, are happening this year. More on this later on.

Jupiter will move into your 8th house on October 11. This will bring prosperity to your spouse, partner or current love. Often it indicates inheritance, though no one needs necessarily to die – you can be named in someone’s will or be appointed to some administrative position in an estate. Also it favours projects involving personal transformation, weight loss and detox regimes.

Saturn spends most of the year in harmonious alignment with you. This is a good health signal. But towards the end of the year he moves into Capricorn and into a stressful aspect (this begins on December 21). Health will need more attention from that point on, well into 2018 and 2019. Saturn in your 9th house most of the year shows a happy and expanding career. Most likely there is more career-related travel. But when Saturn moves into your 10th house (on December 21) career becomes more serious. You have to perform. Bosses are strict and demanding.

Pluto has been in your 10th house for many, many years and will be there in the year ahead. As we have written in previous years, a cosmic detox is happening in your career. This involves your whole approach and strategy and the people involved in it. Many are having ‘near-death’ kinds of experiences or surgery. Your industry is changing. The rules of the game are changing.

Your areas of greatest interest this year are the body and image (a long-term interest); love, romance and social activities (until October 10); personal transformation, reinvention, sex and occult studies (from October 11 onwards); religion, higher education and travel (until December 21); career (another long-term focus); and spirituality (also a long-term focus).

Your areas of greatest fulfilment this year are love, romance and social activities (until October 10); personal transformation and reinvention, sex and occult studies (from October 11 onwards); health and work (until April 29); children, fun and creativity (from April 29 onwards).

Health

(Please note that this is an astrological perspective on health and not a medical one. In days of yore there was no difference, both of these perspectives were identical. But now there could be quite a difference. For a medical perspective, please consult your doctor or health practitioner.)

Health needs more attention this year. Three long-term planets are in stressful alignment with you for most of the year. Jupiter moves away from this stressful aspect on October 11, but Saturn will come into stressful alignment on December 21.

The problem this year is that your 6th house of health is empty for the most part; only short-term planets will move through there. Your tendency would thus be to ignore health issues – and if not to totally ignore them, not to give health the attention that is needed. You will have to force yourself to pay more attention here.

Our regular readers know that there is much that can be done to enhance the health and prevent problems from developing (or getting worse). Give more attention to the following vulnerable areas:

 The heart. The heart has become important in recent years, and will become even more important after December 21 when Saturn moves into a stressful alignment with you. Spiritual healers seem to agree that heart problems are caused by undue worry and anxiety. So more faith and confidence is needed.

 The lungs, arms, shoulders and respiratory system. These are always important for you, Aries. Mercury, the ruler of these areas is your health planet. Regular arm and shoulder massage is a powerful therapy. Give the wrists and elbows more support when exercising.

 The head, face and scalp. These too are always important for you. Incorporate regular scalp and face massage into your health regime. This will not only strengthen these immediate areas but the entire body as well. Reflexes in the scalp and face affect every organ and system of the body. Craniosacral therapy is, in general, a good therapy for Aries – the plates in the skull are moveable and need to be kept in right alignment.

 The adrenals are another important area for you. The important thing here is to avoid anger and fear, the two emotions that stress the adrenals.

 The musculature. For you, Aries, more than most, good health means physical fitness (and not just ‘no symptoms’). A weak muscle can knock the spine and skeleton out of alignment and this will cause all kinds of other problems. So regular physical exercise is important for you. A health tonic. A day at the gym will, in many cases, do you more good than a visit to the doctor.

After all these years our regular readers surely know that Mercury, your health planet, is very fast moving. Only the Moon moves faster than him. In a given year he will move through all the signs and houses of your Horoscope. So there are many short-term health trends and remedies that are best discussed in the monthly reports.

Mercury will travel backwards four times this year, which is highly unusual. Generally he is only retrograde three times. (This was the case last year too). It is not advisable to make dramatic changes to the diet or health regime during these periods: January 1–8, April 9 to May 3, August 11 to September 5 and December 3–23.

Home and Family

Your 4th house of home and family is not a house of power this year. Nor was it last year. I read this as a good thing. You seem basically content with things as they are and have no pressing need to make major, dramatic changes. This tends to the status quo.

Of course every year brings its share of crises and drama. Generally there are two Lunar eclipses every year, and these impact on the home and family. (The eclipsed planet, the Moon, is your home and family planet.) This year is no different. This year the eclipses occur on February 11 and August 7. The good news is that they reveal what in the physical home needs fixing. Perhaps there were problems (and sometime these are serious) that you weren’t aware of. Left to themselves, they can bring major damage. But the eclipse reveals them to you so that you can make repairs. The eclipses also bring emotional dramas with family members, and especially with a parent or parent figure. There is a need for more patience with them over these periods and it’s advisable for them to take things easy and stay out of harm’s way.

Pluto has been in your 10th house for many years now. This indicates problems with one of the parents or parent figures in your life. Physical death could have happened in many cases, but generally it shows surgery or near-death kinds of experiences. This trend continues in the year ahead. This parent or parent figure has been more spiritual the past two years; there is much internal growth going on here. On December 21, as Saturn crosses the Mid-heaven, this person seems more serious, more exacting, more of a disciplinarian. He or she should be successful in detox or weight loss regimes this year.

Your family planet, the Moon, moves very fast. She is the fastest of all the planets. Every month she will move through your entire chart, so there are many short-term family trends that are best discussed in the monthly reports. In general, family issues tend to be short-term issues for you.

Siblings or sibling figures in your life are prospering, but having a more or less stable family year. If they are of childbearing age, they seem more fertile. A parent figure could move in the coming year. There is good fortune in the purchase or sale of a home. Children or children figures in your life are likely to move after October 11. Grandchildren (if you have them) have been taking more responsibility over the past two years and seem prosperous. A move could happen for them after October 11.

If you’re redecorating or otherwise beautifying your home – in a cosmetic kind of way – June 21 to July 22 and July 31 to August 26 are good times. If you’re planning renovations or major repairs June 4 to July 22 is good.

Finance and Career

Your money house is not powerful this year Aries, not a major focus of attention. Generally this is a good thing. It shows a basic contentment with the status quo and thus tends to the status quo. Of course, there will be periods in the year – as the short-term, fast-moving planets move through your money house – where finances become important and active, but these are short-term trends, not trends for the year.

In spite of this, the year ahead looks prosperous. Venus, your financial planet, spends a lot of time – triple her usual time – in your sign. She will be there from February 3 to April 4 and then again from April 29 to June 6. This shows some important financial development happening, something with many twists and turns, something that goes forward for a while and then back-tracks – mirroring Venus’s motion. It also indicates other things. Venus will bring you financial windfalls. She will see to it that financial opportunity seeks you out rather than you having to run after it. She will bring a lucrative partnership or joint venture opportunity too. But be patient here. There are many wrinkles to be ironed out.

Venus is a fast-moving planet. In any given year she will move through your entire chart, spending time in each of the houses of your Horoscope. Thus earnings and opportunities for earnings will come to you in many ways and through many different circumstances and people – all depending on where Venus is at any given time. (The aspects she receives will also play an important role.) These short-term trends are best dealt with in the monthly reports.

Your career – your life work, your professional status and standing – is much more important than mere money this year. It will become even more important towards the end of the year and into 2018 and 2019. You’re in a preparatory stage this year. Towards the end of the year, as Saturn, your career planet, crosses your Mid-heaven and enters your 10th career house, you’re going to be asked to take on more responsibility. You need to be ready for this. So it won’t hurt to take on extra responsibility now – in preparation. Get used to it.

Your career planet spends most of the year in Sagittarius, your 9th house. This shows career-related travel happening. Your willingness to travel will boost the career. It also indicates – and this will depend on your age and stage in life – a need to either mentor others or to educate yourself in areas that boost the career. By all means attend (or give) business-related seminars and lectures.

Pluto, as we have mentioned, has been at the top of your chart for many years now. This gives him great prominence and power. Thus, bosses and authority figures are having (and have been having) surgery and near-death kinds of experiences. In some cases there has been actual, literal, death. Your company or industry has been having near-death kinds of experiences too. And, in many cases, your actual career has ‘died and been born again’ – resurrected. By the time Pluto is finished with you (you’ve got many more years to go) you will be fearless in career matters. You will also have your ‘dream’ career – your ideal.

Love and Social Life

As we have mentioned, this is the real headline of the year ahead. This is one of the best and happiest love and social life years you’ve had in a very long time – perhaps in the last 12 or so years.

Benevolent Jupiter is established in your 7th house of love until October 10. Combine this with Venus’s three-month sojourn in your sign and you have a signature for romance, marriage or serious relationship. It all seems very happy.

For many years now marriage – committed relationship – hasn’t been advisable. Uranus in your own sign was denying it. Your self will, your passion for personal freedom and independence – though good in itself – was not good for serious long-term relationships. But Uranus is almost finished with you. In a year or two he will be out of your sign. You’re ready for some stability in your life. For those of you born early in the sign of Aries (March 20 to April 5), Uranus is already finished with you. Marriage, or relationships that are ‘like’ marriage, are advisable. If you were born between April 6 and April 19, it still might be advisable to wait. Enjoy romance for what it is but there’s no need to rush into anything.

Jupiter in your 7th house shows someone of good education and refinement coming into your life. Perhaps he or she is a foreigner. Perhaps you meet him or her in a foreign land. This is a person you can look up to and respect. Jupiter in your 7th house is an aspect for someone who falls in love with the minister or professor. There is an allure for ‘mentor’ type people.

From February 3 to June 6 Venus, your love planet, will either be in, or hovering near, your sign. This shows that love pursues you. There’s nothing special that you need to do to find it – it will find you.

Love and money go hand-in-hand in your chart: Venus is both your love and financial planet. So when one is going well so is the other. When love is happy, so are finances. When finances go well, so does love. Wealth in a partner is certainly an added allure, but refinement, education and philosophical compatibility are just as important – and perhaps even more so this year.

As we have said, you don’t need to do much to find love this year. But educational and religious-type settings are good. People you worship with are playing cupid.

Venus moves through your entire horoscope in a given year. So every month the love venues can change depending on where she is at any given time. These short-term trends are best discussed in the monthly reports.

Those of you working towards a second marriage still need patience. Marriage is not advisable this year. Those working on the third marriage have a very nice opportunity. There is someone of high status interested in you.

Self-Improvement

A planet at the top of the chart indicates much more than a person’s career. It shows that the affairs governed by the planet are of the highest priority; that you will be involved in these issues. So, Pluto’s position on your Mid-heaven for many years now shows that issues of death, surgery (a form of near-death experience), wills and estates and in some cases debt and taxes have been paramount in your life for many years. Dealing with these issues has been a high priority – and perhaps part of your current mission in life. This can sound scary, but this is not the cosmic agenda here. Through these experiences you’re confronting death and gaining a deeper understanding of it. This is happening both on the material and spiritual levels. Very few people understand the intricacies of wills or probate law until they have undergone the experience. So the purely material understanding is expanded. But spiritual understanding of this is also happening. You’re learning what physical death is all about – why it is not to be feared, but understood. When death is understood spiritually, we will live better and more effectively. Many of our cherished hopes and wishes are blocked because of the fear of death. Once you get through this, new vistas of life open up.

Pluto in the 10th house also indicates success in projects involving personal transformation and reinvention. Spiritually speaking this is your real mission these days. You are being called to give birth to your own ideal of self.

Spirituality has been important for some years now – ever since Neptune moved into Pisces in 2011. For the past two years – and for most of this year – Saturn has been testing your spirituality. In some cases, there was a conflict between the worldly career and your spiritual values – a classic conflict. In some cases, the forces of tradition (parents, elders or authority figures in your life) attacked your spirituality – your practice and ideals. You’re being forced to integrate the two urges: to have a viable spiritual life and a worldly career; to be practical in the world without losing your spiritual ideas. It’s not so easy to do. You still have this challenge this year, but it will soon be over. By December 21, as Saturn moves into Capricorn, this issue should be resolved. Perhaps it will help some of you to understand that spirituality is always eminently practical. It seems unworldly, but it has great worldly effects. Spirituality only shows a ‘different approach’ to practicality. A better approach. Your intuition has been tested these past few years – and this continues in the year ahead. This is ultimately good. No reliable tool gets forged without testing.

Saturn’s move into your 10th house at the end of the year will bring strong career demands. You have to succeed by sheer merit, by being the best in what you do. Often this aspect brings a stern, demanding boss who overworks you and expects ‘the impossible’, who seems never satisfied, who is sparing in praise, but quick to criticize. This isn’t pleasant, but it will stretch you if you handle it properly. Don’t resist the demands. Do your utmost to fulfil them. You’ll be amazed as you start achieving things that you believed were impossible. These things are not really burdens but spiritual gifts – as you will see in hindsight.

Month-by-month Forecasts
January

Best Days Overall: 5, 6, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24

Most Stressful Days Overall: 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26

Best Days for Love: 2, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 31

Best Days for Money: 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31

Best Days for Career: 5, 6, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26

You begin your year with 90 per cent of the planets in the upper half of your chart. Not only that, your 10th house of career is ultra-powerful. You’re in a yearly career peak and this is where the focus should be. Home and family issues can be downplayed for now. Emotional wellness will come with outer success. The best thing you can do for your family and friends is to succeed outwardly.

Health needs watching this month – especially until the 19th. The career is demanding (and interesting) but try to schedule more rest periods. Your health planet Mercury spends most of the month in conservative Capricorn, so you’re conservative in health matters. Back and knee massage will enhance your health. Watch your posture. Bad posture habits could be throwing the spine out of alignment. Avoid making major health regime changes until after the 8th, when Mercury starts to go forward.

Last month the planetary power shifted from the West to the East and this will be the situation for the next five or so months. Time to exercise more independence and create the conditions you want in life. The planetary power is now moving towards you and away from others. Thus, your way is the best way these days. Others are more likely to adapt to you rather than vice versa.

Personal independence will grow even stronger (if that’s possible) from the 28th onwards as Mars crosses your Ascendant and enters your 1st house. When a person is under the influence of Mars, it’s as if he or she has taken amphetamines. Everything is speeded up. There is more energy, but also more impatience. With some people it’s like taking an ‘anger’ pill. Things that they would normally let pass can now make them erupt. These are the main dangers of a Mars’ transit. Impatience and temper can lead to conflicts, accidents and injury.

Venus, your love and money planet, has her solstice at the end of the month (the 29th to the 31st). (The Sun’s solstice happened last month.) So, it is good to pause in love and finance. There will be a brief lull and probably a change of direction.

February

Best Days Overall: 1, 2, 9, 10, 19, 20, 28

Most Stressful Days Overall: 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22

Best Days for Love: 9, 10, 14, 15, 19, 20, 28

Best Days for Money: 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 14, 15, 19, 20, 24, 25, 28

Best Days for Career: 1, 2, 9, 10, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28

Mars spends the month in your 1st house and 80 per cent of the planets are still in the Eastern sector. This is basically good, but with you, Aries, there can be a tendency to overdo the independence thing. It is good to be independent, this is your nature, but try not to run rough shod over others. Review our discussion of Mars last month. Mars in your 1st house has some very positive things to offer too. The aspect gives energy and charisma. You will excel in sports and exercise regimes. Things get done quickly. Life is fast paced – just as you like it. (This is even more than usual – 90 per cent of the planets are moving forward from the 6th onwards. And before the 6th all the planets are moving forward.) Progress happens swiftly this month.

The main headline are the two eclipses that happen this month. This guarantees change and volatility. The Lunar Eclipse of February 11 (in America it occurs on the 10th) takes place in your 5th house, affecting the children and children figures in your life. There are dramas and life-changing events happening. Keep them (as much as possible) out of harm’s way over this period, a few days before and after the eclipse. Every Lunar Eclipse impacts on the home and family and on parents or parent figures. Be more patient with them. Passions run high in the family. Often repairs are needed in the home.

The Solar Eclipse of the 26th occurs in your spiritual 12th house and is a pretty direct hit on Neptune, your spiritual planet. Thus it indicates important changes in your spiritual life. This can take many forms. Sometimes people change teachers and teachings, or change their practice. If you belong to a spiritual-type organization there are shakeups happening there. Guru figures have dramas in their lives.

Every Solar Eclipse affects children and children figures. So we have a continuation of the previous eclipse. Again keep them out of harm’s way as much as possible. The finances of a parent or parent figure are affected and he or she is making very dramatic changes. If a parent or parent figure is ailing this eclipse can bring a near-death kind of experience.

The dream life will be hyperactive during this Solar Eclipse period, and even before it actually happens. But these dreams are not significant. Don’t be overly concerned. The psychic world is being churned up.

March

Best Days Overall: 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 28

Most Stressful Days Overall: 6, 7, 13, 14, 21, 22

Best Days for Love: 1, 9, 13, 14, 18, 27

Best Days for Money: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 13, 14, 18, 23, 24, 27, 30

Best Days for Career: 1, 10, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28

Venus entered your sign on February 3 and she will be here for the rest of the month ahead. Thus love and money have been pursuing you. The love and social life has been good this year and is even better since February 3. The only fly in the ointment is Venus’s retrograde from the 4th onwards. Perhaps a relationship seems to be going backwards instead of forwards. The beloved is still very devoted to you, but less sure than usual. Love is under review until April 15. Avoid important decisions one way or the other. The retrograde of Venus slows down the social life (Jupiter in your 7th house of love is also retrograde) but doesn’t stop it. This is just a ‘pause that refreshes’.

The same thing is happening financially. Financial expansion and earnings are still happening but more slowly than before. It is very important that you don’t make matters worse by being careless. Make sure cheques are signed and dated properly. Read the fine print on your purchases. If you’re buying big ticket items (although it’s best to avoid doing so at this time) make sure you have all your receipts and that there is a good returns policy. A little care in the beginning can save much heartache later on. The good news here is that you’re very focused on finance now. Mars, the Lord of your Horoscope, enters your money house on the 10th. This extra attention should pay off.

Normally with 80 per cent of the planets moving forward, this would be a good month – from your birthday onwards – for starting new projects or launching new products. But the retrograde of Venus suggests waiting a while. April might be a better time for these things.

Basically though March is a happy month. Your 1st house is chock-full of planets from the 20th onwards. You have energy, charisma and sparkle. You look good and dress well. You are (from the 20th onwards) at the maximum of your personal power and independence. If there are conditions that are less than comfortable for you in your life, this is the time to make the necessary changes. Later on in the year (in a month or so) it will be more difficult to do. You’re having life on your terms these days. The world caters to you rather than vice versa.

Students have to work harder at their studies (those at college level). Foreign travel is best being rescheduled.

April

Best Days Overall: 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25

Most Stressful Days Overall: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 30

Best Days for Love: 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23

Best Days for Money: 1, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29

Best Days for Career: 5, 6, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25

A happy month ahead Aries, enjoy. Many nice things are happening both in love and finance, but perhaps in roundabout kinds of ways. Something good, an opportunity, might seem to leave you, but it will return.

Health looks good this period. You have energy and magnetism. You’re still getting your way in life, which is always nice, though wrong choices can have consequences later on down the road. You’re still in a period of maximum personal power and independence. If there are still conditions that irk you, make changes now.

Venus spends most of the month in your 12th house of spirituality. Thus love is very idealistic now. In many cases the idealism is so strong that anything less just won’t do. On the other hand, you have the ability to experience nuances in love that few ever experience. Your capacity to give and receive love is greatly enlarged. Love opportunities happen in spiritual settings this month – at charity events, spiritual seminars or lectures, and prayer meetings. Follow your highest ideals and love will find you there. On the 28th Venus crosses your Ascendant again and enters your 1st house. This indicates that love is pursuing you; there’s nothing much you need to do, it will find you.

This is a good month (the entire month) to buy clothing and personal accessories. Your sense of style is excellent and the purchases will be good.

The month ahead is prosperous too. Venus starts to move forward on the 15th, relieving many financial log-jams. There is financial clarity now. On the 19th the Sun enters your money house and you begin a yearly financial peak – a period of peak earnings. When Venus enters your sign on the 28th there will be financial windfalls and opportunities – these too come to you with little or no effort on your part. (The effort will most likely come later on.)

Last month, on the 20th, the planetary power shifted from the upper to the lower half of your Horoscope, and will remain there for many more months. Your career planet, Saturn, goes retrograde on the 6th. So career is de-emphasized now. It’s time to get more involved with the family and your emotional well-being.

May

Best Days Overall: 2, 3, 12, 13, 21, 22, 29, 30

Most Stressful Days Overall: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 27, 28

Best Days for Love: 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 21, 22

Best Days for Money: 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

Best Days for Career: 3, 13, 14, 15, 22, 30

Prosperity continues to be strong this month. Your financial planet spends the month in your 1st house. You are a ‘financial magnet’ drawing both money and financial opportunity to you. You look rich. People see you as prosperous – you project this kind of image. Moreover, your money house is still very powerful this month, until the 20th. This shows great focus. By the spiritual law, we get what we focus on.

Students are having a much better month than last month. Mercury was retrograde most of April (from the 9th onwards) and this slows down learning and information retention. But this month Mercury begins to move forward again, on the 3rd. Your ruling planet, Mars, will be in your 3rd house all month. On the 20th the Sun also enters the 3rd house of communication and intellectual interests. The mind is sharper and clearer. There is a hunger for information and knowledge. There is strong motivation to study. Teachers, writers, journalists and marketing people are also having a better month – communication skills are stronger than usual.

Mars makes beautiful aspects to Jupiter from the 10th to the 14th. This brings financial expansion and travel opportunities. Students applying to colleges should hear good news (best case scenarios). If you are involved in legal issues, this period brings some good news too.

Health is still good. Any doubts about it get resolved after the 3rd. You can enhance it further through scalp and face massage, craniosacral therapy (until the 16th) and neck massage after the 16th.

Love is very happy this month. Jupiter is still in your 7th house of love and your love planet is in your own sign. Love still pursues you ardently, and you are popular socially in general. You radiate grace to others – it’s as if you took a ‘love pill’. People respond to it though you might not be projecting it consciously.

Retrograde activity increased last month – 40 per cent of the planets were in retrograde motion. This lessens a bit this month after the 3rd, when only 30 per cent will be retrograde. While it is best to start new projects when the planetary momentum is more forward, this might still be a good time to start a new project or launch a new product. From the New Moon of the 25th onwards would be best. Although there was less retrograde activity in March and April than now, the planet that was retrograde, Venus, is an ultra-important one for you. So, this month seems better.