Welcome to 2017 dear Aries!
It’s been something of a roller-coaster ride for you in recent times. Eccentric Uranus is still travelling through your sign, creating restless urges and breaking down structures affecting your self-image and personal needs. Your relationships will continue to undergo disruptions, thanks to the desire for freedom and breaking away from traditional values stimulated by this long-lasting transit.
The first Full Moon of the year on January 12th occurs in home-loving Cancer, your 4th house. It will trigger excitement accompanied by dramas with family members and in relationships. You’ll feel the urge to break free from restrictions, but due to your obligations or dealings with an older person, adjustments need to be made. Problems could arise over marital differences, litigation, travel and studies. Further difficulties in these areas are likely to arise under a grand cross on February 8th as the next Moon in Cancer triggers ongoing challenges.
Stern Saturn remains in your 9th house of higher learning, giving an orthodox approach to areas of study, traditional religious beliefs, politics, publishing, teaching and preaching. Travel is in the news, although you would rather go to places that are old and established rather than trek the mountains for excitement and adventure.
Meanwhile, dark Pluto has been trudging through responsible Capricorn, your 10th house of career and ambitions. The Dark Lord instigates tremendous intensity, filling the Ram with a relentless urge to achieve your goals. However, due to other influences, you need to watch that things don’t take a sudden turnabout, leaving you with egg on your face. By all means take take the road of leadership and power in your career or profession, but don’t become too cunning, ruthless or unethical in reaching your aims; you don’t need to have your public image tarnished. Be open to change in your career options, as there is considerable potential for a total change of direction in your life.
Venus Retrograde
This year the love Goddess Venus will turn retrograde in fiery Aries, then track back into Pisces, your 12th house of secrets, sorrows and hidden motivations. Crikey! 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. The love Goddess turns in conjunction with the Fixed Star Alderamin, marking 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.
The effects of this retrograde phase will be felt until April 15th, when Venus returns to 26°54′ of Pisces, where she first made her station (this is called the “Shadow Period”, which, especially just after the direct station, can be as intense as the actual retro phase!).
From March 4th to April 2nd the influence of the Goddess in your 1st house makes you want to look your best, be light-hearted and draw people to you through your charm, magnetism and physical attractions. Regrettably, you won’t be satisfied with the self-image you want to portray, feeling that you have not met your needs, or be sufficiently desired by others. You may not like the clothes you wear, or perhaps you’ll be generally unhappy that you are not living up to other people’s standards, including in love relationships.
Then from April 3rd (in Pisces) to April 27th you’ll feel like withdrawing from love relationships, although people from the past may re-enter your life, or a past-life experience may emerge. A secret love relationship is not out of the question. Sharing the feelings that you have for someone is in the frame. I do not advise starting up new relationships, becoming engaged, or signing up a new agreement, as Mercury will also be in a retrograde phase. Keep a brave face and show patience; find understanding and compassion towards those that are less fortunate. Creative projects behind the scenes could possibly do with a final touch up. Spend time rebuilding your emotional batteries, or caring for a partner during an illness.
From April 6th to the 25th, Venus squares stern Saturn, even though Venus turns direct on the April 15th in Pisces. This is a significant aspect; keep a brave face, your dreams and higher principles are likely to be thwarted by unpleasant circumstances.
Relationships: the Journey to the Heart
It will be a tremendous year for friendships, love relationships, and extending your network of friends and groups. September 9, 2016 brought fortunate Jupiter into charming Libra, your 7th house of significant commitments. Your focus will be on relationships, marriage, partnerships and open confrontation. There’ll be greater interaction for the first three months of the year, thanks to Jupiter and Uranus. For some it will awaken a need for individuality, opening new stimulating experiences, while others could face possible separations. This is not a good time to engage in gambling or speculations as you may have regrets later.
Apart from this, current relationships and other alliances (including joint ventures and business partnerships) should grow, enriching each other and becoming more understanding. Marriage is in the stars; committing to a relationship or announcing an engagement is favoured. Consultations, litigation and contractual negotiations are also indicated. This is a time when you should not take partners and others for granted, without considering their needs. It’s not wise to inflate the prospects of relationships or joint ventures, nor to overestimate the help and input you receive from others. Jupiter retrogrades from February 6th until June 9th, when the Giant goes direct, rousing dormant issues that you need to address in relationships. By September 7th, you will be back to matters raised earlier in the year. Jupiter remains in Libra until October 10th, when the Lord of Fortune enters your 8th house of other people’s money. This promises to help you improve the finances and resources you have with others.
Giant Jupiter and disruptive Uranus are in opposition to one another till mid-March. Your planetary ruler Mars marches into your sign on January 28th, giving you greater physical stamina and a need for action. It will be a critical time from February 25th to March 1st, as the Moon in Aries triggers the conjunction of fierce Mars and Uranus opposing Jupiter. This will certainly strike problems within relationships, stirring up emotions, and overturning your beliefs and commitments. There is a potential break-up, involving a need for freedom; ego battles and the need for individuality on both sides are indicated. Legal issues could arise, as could arguments over agreements, overseas travel, business partnership concerns, and dealings with open enemies. You could unexpectedly switch to a different course of action, which will lift existing restrictions and obligations. Adopting unconventional ideals and eliminating what is not necessary in your life will benefit you in the long run. However, be prepared for the tables to turn. Your partner could be the one who asks for freedom in some way. You will certainly be blazing a new frontier in a big way, with a unique style and outlook.
February 11th sees a Full Moon and Penumbral Lunar Eclipse in Leo, which will significantly influence your 5th house of romance, creativity and speculation. The North Node enters Leo in early May, which will signify a shift in your circle of friends, romantic attractions, and meeting people who will make an impact on your life. August 7th brings a Full Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius, your 11th house of friends, hopes and wishes. This will open the door of opportunities with friendships, romantic attractions and groups that you belong to. This will follow through with a New Moon and Total Solar Eclipse in Leo on August 21st in your 5th house. It will give you a chance to start afresh with new prospects and directions in your romantic life.
There’s a lucky phase between September 1st and the 17th thanks to Jupiter and the Nodes, then at the Equinox on September 22nd, you shift your focus onto relationships as the Sun makes his move into into attractive Libra, your 7th house of marriage, partnerships and open confrontation. Mercury too dashes into Libra on September 30th, giving you a chance to negotiate and discuss agreements. This is then followed by your Personal Full Moon on October 5th, which will reflect important relationship issues. Venus dances into your 7th house on October 14th, staying there until November 6th, giving you time to smooth over differences and make peace.
Career and Finances: Stake Your Claim
2017 begins with Mercury retrograde in your 10th house of career and long-term objectives. The pace will therefore be slower in delivering on your action plan, and your resourcefulness will be challenged. Your ideas and plans will be placed on hold until the end of January, when people in your profession will become more communicative.
Take a forceful approach from February 21st to 24th when conflict may arise with those in your profession, your employer and people in power.
On March 10th, Mighty Mars your planetary-ruler enters your 2nd house of personal earnings. You’ll need to be exceedingly thrifty, as expenses will eat away at your cash flow. Added to that Mercury will retrograde in business minded Taurus on April 9, returning on May 16th when negotiations on finances will need to be fine-tuned. You get a better idea on financial plans after May 21st.
Venus will lighten your financial load by boosting your 2nd house from June 6th to July 4th. However, you will need to be stringent from June 19th to the 30th, as this is unlikely to cover costs with relationship issues, litigation and other expenses.
The Full Moon in Capricorn on July 9th will highlight your career, public image, reputation and long-term plans. It won’t be the easiest time, as emotions will be elevated to a hotheaded pitch. Power struggles, conflicts with authority or your employer could bring stormy changes to your career. Don’t be hell bent on getting your own way through impulsive actions, rather deal with any diversity in a constructive fashion. Ha! That may be hard to do. This aspect could also bring fiery confrontations with family members; problems on the home front, real estate and property are in the frame.
At the other end of the scale, optimistic Jupiter enters investigative Scorpio your 8th house of sex, death and taxes on October 10th. This will be a long phase lasting until November 8th, 2018, favouring finances, joint resources, compensations, corporate finances, investments, inheritances, taxes and dealings with other people’s money. The downside of Jupiter’s optimism is that you could overload your financial obligations. Deeper interests in religion, philosophy, and underlying principles and theories will expand your insight.
Home and Away: Family and Children
As the year starts, the Full Moon will be in cosy Cancer on January 12th, beaming in your 4th house of home and family. This will be a wake-up call for relationships, family affairs, commitments and imposed restrictions. Developments on February 8th with the transiting Moon in Cancer will ignite major feuds, with possible break-ups in relationships and problems on the domestic front.
June to July will be the time of year when your concentration will focus on the home front. Family discussions, agreements and real estate matters are all open for debate. Thankfully, from July 31st to to August 25th, Venus will also be in your 4th house of home and family. This marks a harmonious time between family members, giving you a chance to entertain and settle your differences. However, things may not be as peaceful as you might have wished from August 15th to the 26th. You will need to balance your home life with that of your career; relationships will be demanding but reasonably pleasant. You might decide to redecorate, change residence or stretch your budget with excessive expenditure and indulgence.
Work and Health: Balancing Your Energies
March 12th brings a Full Moon in meticulous Virgo, your 6th house, marking a time of adjustments and changes not necessarily to your liking. Job changes are on the cards, thanks to a lack of ability to action your work commitments. Emotional dramas could create resentments, anger and disagreements with work colleagues, bosses and subordinates. Look at ways to improve your routine; organise your work, improve relationships, and be of service to others. Your wellbeing may come under scrutiny. Activity behind the scenes with charities, hospitals and institutions is in the stars. Don’t be overly critical of others in the workplace.
July 25th sees Mercury entering your 6th house, which will keep your mind active with various tasks. You’ll come up with some great ideas for improving your efficiency, concentrating on research and mentally challenging work. Try and get your work up to date, as from August 13th Mercury turns retrograde, causing possible delays with health and work matters.
As the Sun enters Virgo August 22nd, things are unlikely to go as smoothly as you would like, due to Mercury creating hiccups. September 20th sees a New Moon and a new course of action, and the potential for job changes. It’s also the time when Venus swans into your 6th house, improving work conditions and work relationships. Watch your eating habits, as indulgence in sweet and fatty foods is probable.
October the 3rd to the 8th sees sensual Venus joining passionate Mars. This could mark the start of an office romance, or at least a strong attraction. Unfortunately, from October 7th to 9th reality will rule with the chance of disappointment and a broken heart.
