Welcome to 2017 dear Crabs!
The New Year starts with your personal Full Moon on January 12th in Cancer, your 1st house of personality. What a way to begin 2017! But alas, Mercury is in a retrograde phase, briefly visiting your 6th house of work and health before re-entering your 7th house of significant commitments on January 12th. Avoid partying too hard at the start of January and beware of tricksters, deceit, and going overboard with drinking and gambling.
The emphasis this year will be on finances, starting as February 11th brings a Lunar Eclipse in your 2nd house of personal earnings. February 26th sees a Solar Eclipse in your 9th house of the higher mind, highlighting knowledge, travel, and expanding your horizons through adventure and life experiences. August 7th will bring a Lunar Eclipse, this time in your 8th house of joint resources, investments, other people’s money, intimate relationships, taxes and life after death. Finally a Solar Eclipse will stir the pot on August 21st in your 2nd house of personal earnings.
Venus Retrograde
This year, dear Cancer, the love Goddess Venus turns retrograde in fiery Aries, your 10th house of career and ambitions, then steps back into Pisces, your 9th house of the higher mind. A planet is retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. It’s a cosmic illusion, as planets are never actually retrograde or stationary, they just seem that way, thanks to the interaction of the planetary orbits. It’s a bit like travelling on the road watching another car beside you: when the other car slows down, or you speed up, it looks as though the other car is moving backwards.
Sensual Venus turns retrograde only once every eighteen months, with the phase lasting about six weeks. This year, the Love Goddess turns in conjunction with the Fixed Star Alderamin, the right shoulder of Cepheus, the King. It’s a fortunate star ruled by Saturn and Jupiter, grave and stern in judgement, awakening severe trials, celebrated in poetry and drama. By the Kabalists this constellation is associated with the Hebrew letter Shin and the 22nd Tarot Trump, “The Fool”.
At 9:10 UT on Saturday, March 4th, 2017, Venus reaches her retrograde station at 13° Aries 6′, in preparation for a period of retrograde motion that will last until April 15th, 2017, when she reaches her direct station at 26° Pisces 54′. At this time she halts in the sign of the Fish and begins her return to direct motion through the zodiac. On April 28th, she re-enters Aries, but remains in a shadow phase until May 19th, 2017. This shadow phase, especially just after the direct station, can be quite as intense as the actual retro phase.
The first part of the Venus retrograde phase is in your 10th house. From March 4th to April 2nd (in Aries), the influence of the Goddess is in your 10th house of career and ambitions. During this phase your career, professional and business life may need reassessment particularly if you feel dissatisfied. The potential for reclaiming success, recognition and social attention will be harder to attain. Someone older, wiser and more influential could have quite an impact on you and re-enter your life. Allies, spouses, or other partners may receive recognition or special promotion at this time. You may have to deal with a former employer, high ranking figure, or an older family member with offers that have elapsed.
The second part of the Venus retrograde phase is in your 9th house from April 3rd (in Pisces) to April 27th. This is usually a fortunate time to travel, but in this case it will prove to be less entertaining and less socially inviting. There’s a chance of getting ill from exotic meals if you are overseas on a holiday. You may take up a postponed trip, or someone you recently met from abroad may reappear and rekindle an old flame. Other possibilities include an opportunity that arises to re-enrol in advanced study, take up a language, or other course connected with overseas colleges. Publications, articles and written works are unlikely to get a favorable review, or attain popularity. Postponed legal proceedings may get a second look in with further negotiations being successful, but not in the way you had hoped. April 6th to the 25th sees Venus and Saturn apply a square to each other, so make sure your health is in reasonably good order. Avoid indulging.
The North Node/South Node axis, also known as the Dragon’s Head and Dragon’s Tail, is particularly potent just before changing signs. The Moon’s Nodes travel in retrograde fashion, and the Mean North Node will be moving from Virgo into Leo on April the 29th, with the True Node following suit on May 9th. However, the effects of this change will be felt most strongly at 0 degrees of Virgo in your 3rd house of communication.
With the North Node retrograding into your 2nd house, karmic lessons can be learnt from testing the limits of values, both personal and those of others. Assumptions of accumulated wealth and possessions can bring a false sense of security. How you present your worldly goods to others opens up a can of worms. Make the effort to gain your worth through your own efforts and do not rely on other people for monetary values and possessions. You may have to rethink your sexual strength and past misuse of it to acquire what you want from others. There may be a fear of death and the mysteries of life. Avoid blaming others for your misfortune while trying to hold onto what you believe is yours and not theirs.
Relationships: the Journey to the Heart
Dark transformative Pluto remains in his long transit of your 7th house of significant commitments. It’s been an upsetting time for many, altering the structures of relationships and partnerships. As Pluto slowly trudges backward and forwards, events could cut you to the core. These will reveal a vulnerability within your personality and the way you cope with situations, the effects of which could pound on you like a sledgehammer. Relationships will be intense during this period, with marriage failures, separations and troubling changes. Other troubles may surface with business partnerships, litigation and those that openly oppose you. Your own needs may change and those of your partner’s through no fault of your own. If you can scuttle through this strike at your foundations there is a chance that you will remain together. This is not the best time for marriage, although this does depend on other indicators in your chart.
Aside from Mercury being retrograde at the start of the year, the Sun will be in Capricorn, your 7th house of relationships. From January 6th to the 9th, there will be a clash of egos and power struggles, as the Sun clashes with Pluto. If control issues arise, resist the urge to place too many demands on your partner. Talk through any agreements and come up with a peace offering. Negotiations will continue through to February 6th, but watch for disagreements surfacing in relationships, career and on the home front from January 29th to February 4th.
February 26th sees the Solar Eclipse in your zone of friends. Romantic attractions will have a bearing on love relationships. It will take you on a new direction, not only with friends and groups, but in your association with a partner’s children.
May 10th brings the Full Moon in Scorpio, your 5th house of romance. This will bring emotional intensity into friendships, love relationships and existing relationships. Your sexuality and passion is bound to be an enlightening experience.
Warrior Mars transits Cancer from June 4th to July 19th, giving you a burst of energy and the fighting spirit to get things done. Unfortunately Mars opposes Pluto from July 1st to the 4th, when power struggles will arise within relationships. Play it cool and don’t get too hot under the collar with your partner (or anyone at all, really). On the plus side, you can use your energy constructively on creative projects, rather than to argue.
July 9th sees a Full Moon in Capricorn, your 7th house. It will bring out intense emotions, power struggles, manipulation and sensitivities. It has the potential to create confrontations, jealousies and possessiveness, either by your partner or others.
Jupiter Enters Scorpio
October 10th sees expansive Jupiter making a grand entrance into intense Scorpio. This begins a major 12 year cycle, and the coming twelve months will give you the opportunity to broaden relationships, creativity, children, entertainment, and recreational fun activities. Good fortune may come to you through speculations, gifts and rewards. If you have a creative flair for the arts, writing, drama, music or sports, it’s an ideal time to pursue your quests and be successful. Relationships, romance and children will be more fulfilling, improving your lifestyle and broadening your ideals. Jupiter will remain in your 5th house until October 8th, 2018.
The Sun brightens your 5th house from October 23rd to November 21st, with Mercury joining in from October 17th to November 4th, with good news coming your way from October 17th to the 19th. A love celebration and luck will also be on your side from October 24th to the 27th. This promises to be a super time for enjoyment, entertainment and fun.
Sensual Venus swans into your 5th house from November 7th to December 1st. This will be a fabulous time for the Crustacean, bringing love attractions, social fun and spending time with your favourite people. Venus embraces Jupiter from November 12th to the 14th, a truly excellent time for love relationships, perhaps making that commitment, indulging, or getting married. On December 9th, Macho Mars rolls into your 5th house lifting your magnetism, sexuality, and strength in sports.
Saturn Enters Capricorn
December 20th brings stern Saturn into Capricorn, your 7th house of relationships. You’ll be paying even closer attention to relationships, your marital obligations and binding agreements. This is the time when some Crabs may enter into a serious relationship, marry someone of an age difference, or adversely face the possibility of a breakdown of a marriage. Marriages undertaken under this transit tend to have a practical purpose, rather than simply a love match. Saturn demands responsible and mature actions in all relationships, business partnerships, legal affairs, public relations, and open enemies.
As Christmas approaches on December 25th, Venus also dances into your 7th house. This is a favourable time to mend old wounds, to bond, be pleasant and bring harmony into your relationships and marriage. It will be easier to reach resolutions, understand each other’s needs, and compromise. Some may renew old vows and loyalties, or settle legal disputes and settlements. Singles could announce an engagement, start a live-in relationship, or make a commitment. Make sure you keep your word. Remember, Saturn is at work here. At the start of this transit Venus conjuncts Saturn on December 25th to the 27th. Just what you needed! Problems could arise, or you’ll be reserved about expressing your feelings. On the flipside, new relationships that begin now promise a sincere and long lasting association.
Career and Finances: Stake Your Claim
The Sky Lord Uranus remains in your 10th house of career, ambitions and long term goals. Structures must be broken down, allowing you more individuality, and signalling a different course in your objectives. It will be difficult to resist these unexpected directions in your career, home life and relationships. With this, you may follow a different path to the norm, upsetting a few folk in the process by a change in your public image and professional life.
Macho Mars transits the career sphere from January 28th to March 9th. You’ll work harder to achieve your ambitions, at the expense of stepping on the toes of those who feel threatened by you. Your enthusiasm will be stupendous, impressing authority types and your employer with your resolve. You want to command and take the lead, throwing your energy into everything that inspires you. Try not to overextend your objectives, be defiant with superiors, or have your reputation marred by your fearless attitude.
Gorgeous Venus enters your 10th house from February 2nd then retrogrades in your career sphere from March 4th to April 2nd. This will detract from the glimmer, success and shine you showed earlier in the piece. Do your best to mend relationships at the top of the ladder, and claim back some recognition for the accomplishments you have achieved. You may not be able to please everyone, but give it a go.
February will not be the easiest month for the Crab, with the transiting Moon in Cancer on February 8th triggering off a grand cross, which involves your relationships, your domestic sphere, and your career front. Mars squares Pluto from February 21st to 24th, so ego differences and power struggles could arise that will cause considerable problems in your career, with authority types, employers and relationships. To add to this, from February 25th to March 1st Mars clashes with Uranus and opposes Jupiter, creating sudden changes in your career, public standing and on the home front. With that to one side, you will need to work harder at achieving your goals.
The Sun enters your 10th house from March 20th to April 18th and will conjunct Venus on March 25th, returning to this conjunction again from April 15th to the 18th as Venus travels in direct motion. This is bound to increase your popularity. Perhaps there’s a love interest that deserves a second chance, or you could be in favour with those in your profession and reap success.
The New Moon in Aries squeezes in on March 28th, giving you a chance to take a new direction in your career path, with long-term plans, objectives and your public image. Emotions could dominate your next move, in the midst of the changes surrounding you. In March and April be careful of what you say prior to and during Mercury’s retrograde phase in your 10th house. This could damage your reputation, let alone negotiations and future plans.
October 5th brings the Full Moon in Aries, when you need to look back and review the last six months. It’s also the time when you will need to find a balance, not only in gratifying your ambitious drive for success, but also ensuring that you haven’t neglected your family and home life.
Finances
It is going to be a significant year for finances, starting with the Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse on February 11th in Leo, your 2nd house of personal earnings, values and possessions. (Please read below for further details.)
Mars moves into your 2nd house on July 20th, campaigning there until September 4th. During this phase you are apt to spend money impulsively, or be faced with extra bills and repairs. However, you could have a lucky break with finances from August 18th to the 24th; at least you will be working hard to secure your earnings. The Sun moves into Leo from July 22nd to August 22nd, when you will be concerned about making progress with your earnings, and the value you place on necessary items.
This year there will be two New Moons in Leo, the first one on July 23rd, followed by a Solar Eclipse in Leo on August 21st. Both of these will set you on a new course with your capacity to earn extra money, formulate a new budget and look at the way you are handling expenditure. This is then followed by a Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse on August 7th in Aquarius, your 8th house of sex, death and taxes. This will home in on joint resources, investments, debts and other people’s money.
With Venus skipping through your 2nd house from August 26th to September 19th, money will be easier to come by, but it will be just as easy to spend it on extravagant items. Mercury while retrograde will briefly re-enter your 2nd house from August 31st to September 9th, when it will be important to finalise any money matters that have been outstanding.
Home and Away: Family and Children
Expansive Jupiter remains in your 4th house of home and family for several months. This is a time of good fortune, giving you the opportunity to improve your lifestyle, expand your home in some way, or relocate to a larger, more impressive home and property. Some may decide to relocate at a distance, in the country, or alternatively start major renovations. A parent may be beneficial by living with you or assisting you in setting up a comfortable home. Look at the bigger picture, but try not to overestimate your ability to remain logical in your approach to future plans. You could be caught up in wanting and giving too much of yourself and your possessions. Jupiter will remain in stylish Libra until October 9, 2017 before moving into your 5th house of romance, creativity and speculation. The Full Moon in Libra on April 11th, will beam into your 4th house raising your emotional awareness of family relationships, especially the comforts and security of your home.
The Love Goddess Venus activates your 4th house from October 14th until November 6th, promising a harmonious time for family relationships. As well as this, you may decide to redecorate in some way, expressing your creativity and spending time beautifying the garden. Meanwhile eager Mars will make headway through your 4th house from October 22nd to December 8th. This will give you greater energy to do things that have been left in abeyance. Filter through those items in the garage or attic. Disruptions are very possible, with clashes within relationships from November 18th to the 21st as Mars squares Pluto in ego battles on the home front. Watch for accidents, and make sure your home insurance is up to date. From 30th November to December 3rd, Mars takes on Uranus in your 10th house. You will feel irritated, impulsive and looking for changes not only on the home front but in your career. Be careful your reputation isn’t tarnished.
Work and Health: Balancing Your Energies
The Lord of Karma, Saturn, remains for most of the year in warlike Sagittarius, your 6th house of work and health. It has been a long haul, worrying about health issues, responsibilities at work, and not getting the gratitude that you deserve. However it won’t go unnoticed in the scheme of things. In the meanwhile keep up your ability to organise and delegate, be in charge, and as always pay attention to details. You’ll be a stickler for routine, ensuring that you keep to rules and regulations, and worrying over the acceptance of your work. Safeguard your health, and stick to a good diet to see you through 2017.
At the start of the year Mercury retrogrades briefly into your 6th house, when your duties at work will call for control in tidying up loose ends while work colleagues are on leave.
June 9th brings a Full Moon in Sagittarius, which will activate the role you play, in your relationship and empathy with work colleagues. It will highlight your health, habits, and being of service to others. Your diet and well being will depend on the way you can maintain your emotional and physical energy. Refrain from putting too much strain on your nervous system and be aware of indicators of psychosomatic illnesses due to stress.
Mercury heads into your 6th house on November 5th, but retrogrades on December 3rd before going direct on December 23rd. You’ll be full of new ideas and plans of efficiency, but whether they will come to fruition will depend on the help of persuasive Venus from December 15th to the 16th.
From November 22nd to December 21st, the Sun moves through Sagittarius, focusing light on your work area, followed by Venus from December 1st to 24th giving pleasant working conditions, creativity in your work role, and possibility a raise! This is capped off with a New Moon in Sagittarius on December 18th, heralding changes and new directions in your job and possibly your career pathway.
