Midlife Transits

The month opens in Aquarius mode, with the sun and Mercury in this sign. Mercury in this position suggests that what you learn this month will be about people and not things, or at least that it would be in your interests to focus your fact gathering on the people you know and need to know.

The last third of the month, in contrast, is strongly Piscean. There’s a bit of a battle between your ruler Mars, which is hanging out in Virgo for as long as it possibly can, and the sun, new moon, Mercury, Venus, and Neptune, all of which spend some time in Pisces. Virgo loves processes, doing things step by step. (more…)

Happy New Year, Aries! The year opens with all the planets moving peaceably forward throughout the month–with the exception of your ruler Mars, which we’ll get to in a moment. So let’s tackle things topic by topic.

Topic #1: relationships. Saturn in Libra has been making a strong argument for continuing in an ongoing relationship–even if you don’t always feel like it. (more…)

It’s the holiday buying season, and this year, Jupiter is in your sector of spending money, going direct right on Christmas Day. You may feel that Jupiter is telling you to spend a lot this year, or more than you should, but it’s not. Instead, Jupiter is telling you that it’s not the thought that counts, but the gift. Your recipient won’t know how you truly feel unless you pick an appropriate gift, which doesn’t have to be expensive, but does need to be thoughtful. (more…)

There’s a lot going on astrologically in November. In no particular order: there’s a new moon eclipse on the 25th in the sign of Sagittarius; Neptune in Aquarius stations, Uranus in your own sign reaches the degree at which it will station, Saturn in Libra reaches into new territory, Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, your ruler Mars enters Virgo for an almost 8-month stay, we have planets in all 3 earth signs, and the inner planets spread themselves through the signs from Scorpio to Capricorn. Is that enough for you?

Okay, let’s start with Uranus and Saturn–get them out of the way. (more…)

First let’s talk health. If the recent flurry of planetary activity in Virgo brought any health concerns to the fore (it might have), you’ll be glad to know that the sun, Mercury, and Venus go riding into Scorpio this month to save the day. By the 9th, you’ll have planetary support in the sector of your chart that deals with surgery, regeneration and healing. Next month, your ruler Mars will go into Virgo for a really long stay–until the beginning of July.

Depending on your personal chart and circumstances, this could indicate a long stretch of focus on health in the positive sense of getting healthy or in the more stressful sense of dealing with issues. Now that you know that your ruler is going to be scrutinizing your condition for almost 8 months, you can be proactive in October by getting anything on or in your body fixed that needs to be fixed.

Switching gears completely, let’s talk about some lighter stuff. Like clothes shopping. Not only is Jupiter in your shopping sector, but Venus is in Libra until the 9th. Venus in Libra loves clothes! She can help you pick the right outfits to flatter you and make you attractive to your favorite sex. Sweet.

October also ups the ante on something that’s been a bit of a theme in the skies for a couple of months: the battle of the stubborn signs, sometimes known as the fixed signs. Taurus, Leo and Aquarius have been going at it for awhile, but now another heavy hitter of stubbornness enters the line-up–Scorpio. This can be good for you if you choose what to expend stubborn energy on. Get real stubborn about positive improvements in your health, as we mentioned above, and you could really benefit from the fixed energy. The fixed signs can give you the determination and persistence to see  things through that your chart might otherwise have difficulty mustering.

Get all stubborn about something you don’t really care about though and you’ll find yourself at cross purposes with others and even yourself. If you don’t feel the the least bit stubborn, watch out for other folks who may carry the energy and sidestep them if necessary.

I’ve mentioned a few things regarding the opportunities presented by Jupiter in Taurus this year, but I don’t think I’ve mentioned property. Taurus is a sign often associated in my experience with land ownership (loves that earth), and Jupiter in one’s second house (where it is for you now) can be a good time to invest in real estate. I’m not urging you to buy right now but pointing out that if you have a hankering for your own little piece of earth, this year would be a good time to look at the possibilities. We happen to have planets in all 3 landscape loving earth signs this month (until the 25th), which could sharpen your eye for a deal. Picky Virgo is especially good at assessing the flaws and potential future value of property, so you may want to take advantage of the Virgo vibe while you got it.

For those who don’t want to buy property, Jupiter is also a travel planet and Jupiter in Taurus can represent traveling back to familiar places from one’s past. Jupiter in Taurus in your solar 2nd house is also pulled toward almost any kind of material object or thing, for the 2nd house represents possessions. This can mean that you are in an excellent cycle for purchasing and obtaining new possessions–or that you should watch your debit card to make sure a lot of expensive purchases don’t sneak their way onto to it while you’re not paying attention. It probably means a little bit of both.

This is also the annual season when Aries’ chart instinctively turns toward matters of work and health. This year is no different, with such matters most likely to be pleasant during the first half of September. Venus in Virgo ups the likelihood of benefits from co-workers and long-standing work relationships during this time.

The second half of the month is Libra season, and for Aries that means attraction. That can mean attraction in the common sense of romantic attractions developing. Attraction can also mean things like being attracted to a potential business partner, an opportunity to participate in a partnership or even in a venture that involves cooperation with others. It’s the time of year when your chart is interested in other people and what they have to offer. That covers a pretty broad spectrum and means you could be attracted to almost anything!

Take note of what you are especially attracted to this year, when Saturn gives the sign of Libra some gravitas. Take note especially around the time of the new moon in Libra on the 27th. The attraction factor this month is amplified by your ruler Mars in Leo from the 18th on, with Mars in Leo interested especially in romantic, sexual or creative partners. Leo is also the sign that represents children in the Aries solar horoscope, so you may be expending more energy than normal on your kids.

During August, your ruler Mars makes angry aspects with 3 of the outer planets, as though the very idea of emotional calm made him boiling mad. But Mars wouldn’t be Mars if stuff wasn’t making him mad, and he does make a nice sextile with peaceful Jupiter in placid Taurus near the middle of the month. The sextile with Jupiter gives rise to the corny but probably effective advice to count your blessings not your lacks. This is particularly true on the home front, which is where Mars will be stationed in your chart during August.

Meanwhile, Neptune backslides into Aquarius, which is good for Aries. Mercury retrogrades out of your work sector and into your play sector. This is as its should be. August is the traditional time for Aries to enjoy those never-ending dog days of summer, to snooze or splash through them as the mood dictates.

If you are a romantic type Aries, interested in a little love life action, you should be glad to know that Venus and the sun in Leo will smile on your efforts until the 21st. The end of your summer romance season doesn’t actually come until the second week of September. It’s a bit longer than it might otherwise be because Mercury retrograde sends the little planet back into your romance sector for a reprise. For some of you it’s possible that you’ll end up getting back together with someone that you had a temporary break with or separation from.

For those with children, it’s also an enjoyable time to spend with them on leisure activities. After the 21st, Venus and the sun start looking at your work place. Venus suggests you might do a few things to make it a nicer space to spend your time. Perhaps she’s right; why not take a bit of time to eliminate or mitigate those elements of your work space that grind on your nerves or make you more stressed than you need to be?

Meanwhile, Jupiter, as it will for about a year, is eyeing your possessions. Those that are in need of repair or that are so far gone they should be thrown out should be attended to. In fact, unless you are an Aries in the throes of a difficult transits from Pluto and Uranus (or Saturn), then it’s as if your chart is taking a breather and saying “Hmmm, how can we tidy things up and make them nice before the next round of planetary disruption?” You don’t have to take advantage of this breather, but it might be a good idea to because most Aries have had more than enough to deal with lately–good and bad.

If you are in the throes of difficult transits from outer planets, then you may be buried at work, dealing with unexpected personal change, wrestling with relationships issues or generally pulling your hair out. If that’s the case, go back to that counting your blessings thing, and count like a maniac. If you can’t find any blessings, go around your house and give thanks for every single thing you own. This won’t solve your problems, but it will temporarily shift your perspective, which is what astrology posits is the key to healing.

Uranus in your own sign barrels to a stop in July, then turns retrograde, perhaps frightening the faint of heart with the intensity of its energy. Look for some sort of a shift around the middle of the month. Uranus provides a community-oriented energy and it’s working in concert with your ruler Mars this month. Mars is in Gemini, another people-oriented sign in a people-oriented spot in your chart.

Pluto in your solar 10th house is not on board, feeling a bit surly about Uranus’s enthusiasm for clumps of people. I don’t know how that will play out in your life, but a sample manifestation would be being very busy throughout July, with lots of stimulating people contact that periodically makes you wish everyone would just leave you alone so you could get some of your real work done. Or perhaps your extracurricular activities, group activities, will conflict with your work responsibilities. Another possibility is that Uranus will exercise his rebellious side, urging you to not do anything that Pluto thinks you ought to do.

Meanwhile, there’s a solar eclipse on July 1 that affects your house. Or houses if you have more than one. Some of you will actually move, which will make the month even more hectic. Some will have work to do on their residences or perhaps family issues to attend to.

If the domestic issues involve other people, then Venus in Cancer for most of the month should help soften the energy. Some will even see an addition to their familities at this eclipse. The importance of this eclipse will depend on whether or not you have already made a significant change in your living situation in the past two years. If you haven’t, this eclipse is likely to be important. If you have already, you may feel no effect.

I should also mention Jupiter in Taurus in your second house of income. Jupiter is the publishing planet, and those of you with a way with words could pick up some extra money doing some work in this field. Work your connections in this area, if you have any.

Mars in Gemini will help in this endeavor too during July, as it is in your words and phrases oriented 3rd house of communication. You could start writing a book, or perhaps contribute a chapter to a book that is written by a group of people.  In fact, it is possible that Mars in Gemini will make you feel as though you absolutely must express yourself this month. The stars are good for educational writing too and for those who work in institutions of higher learning. If you are not comfortable working with words, look at other options for increasing your income during Jupiter’s transit over the coming year.

July also sees a lot of luxury-loving Leo energy lighting up your solar 5th house of pleasure. As Venus moves into this sign at the very end of the month (the 28th), it will try to pull you toward indulgence in luxury objects. Splurge if you can afford it.

Jupiter leaves your sign this month, on the 4th. If you have unfinished business from the first half of 2011 that you can wrap up, now would be a good time to do so, as Jupiter is zooming past his interest in your pet projects and moving on to your finances and such. Uranus is still in your sign though and quite strong in June. Uranus is the planet of groups and friendship and part of his job is to give you the emotional courage to connect with others.

The paradox of Uranus is that it is also the planet of individualism, so handling this planet is partly about learning to balance connection and individuality. With Libra in your sector of committed relationships and also strong this month, you may feel a push pull between the desire to be committed and the desire to be single. The resolution involves figuring out how to be part of an entity such as a couple or group, while not letting it swallow your individual identity.

Your ruler Mars spends the first 20 days in Taurus and then moves on to Gemini. Mars actually entered Taurus on May the 11th, so it represents a continuation of last month’s energy, an energy that usually increases desire for material objects. If you’re still questioning whether you should get that thing, whatever the thing may be, Mars will probably try to persuade you to go ahead and splurge. Mars in Gemini meanwhile specializes in going with the flow, which is usually a rapid and busy flow under his tutelage. He also specializes in learning, so from the 20th on, expect his curiosity to lead you down new paths.

Speaking of learning, we have two eclipses this month, and for your sign they are both learning oriented. The first one is a solar eclipse in Gemini on the 1st, and the second one is a lunar eclipse in Sagittarius on the 15th. Sample manifestations include acquiring some new information from the solar eclipse and bringing an end to some program of study from the lunar eclipse (it is, after all, graduation time). You could also start acquiring a new skill under the promptings of the solar eclipse.

June is also summer action movie season, and action movies are generally a good way for Aries folks to relax and blow off steam. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to head out to your local multi-plex to blow some bucks on a blast of mindless entertainment.

Have you rocked the boat yet this year? Upset the status quo of your life? Or have other people been doing that for you? Either way, that’s what is supposed to be happening these days.

If nothing’s happened yet, you’ve still got time in May to shake things up. The sun has left your sign, but Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus all open the month in Aries. Lead, follow, or get out of the way is the message. If you don’t do anything to upset your routine and try something new, there’s a chance that all that Aries energy will be tempted to try to upset someone else in an attempt to get a fire started.

You’ve got Saturn in your 7th house of relationships, so actually managing to get your significant other upset may be a tough hill to climb. Saturn hates to break up relationships, so if you try in the midst of an argument, chances are it won’t stick. You could do some damage to the relationship perhaps, but the lesson is you’ve got to change yourself and/or your own life; you can’t look to your partner to do it for you. Nor can you reasonably expect that dumping someone will light up your life either–even if you are convinced you are in a real drag of a relationship right now.

You’d be better off trying to change how you or what you do to get your mojo working in dynamic Aries fashion. It can be a small change. Mercury’s been dithering around in your sign, feeling indecisive, but he’s calmed down now and ready to talk specifics. One possibility is to take a trip somewhere to give yourself a new perspective. May is Jupiter’s last month in your sign, and Jupiter loves to travel!

Of course, I should point out that the boat-rocking energy in your chart does not entirely end in May. Uranus will still be in your sign for 7 years and Uranus is such an energetic boat-rocker that he’s been traveling throughout the Arab world tearing down leaders, starting revolutions, trying to get a war started in Libya and organizing protests all over the globe, including in countries that really really don’t like protests. In his free time, Uranus will be kicking you personally toward challenging whatever it is in your own life that you both hate and think will never end.

On the 11th, your ruler Mars move into Taurus and becomes interested in the realm of things, stuff, and material objects. If you’d like to actually buy a small boat to rock, the planets will likely have no objection. Neptune in Pisces, for one, thinks a good jaunt around the lake, river, or bay would be good for your spirit, refreshing and energizing.

This April is almost entirely about Aries, Aries, Aries, with a little bit of Saturn and Pluto, and tinge of Neptune in Pisces thrown in. Six, count ‘em six, planets will transit Aries this month, which is a couple more than a whole bunch, plus the new moon in your sign happens on the 3rd. The new moon is when the little bit of Saturn action takes place, because Saturn will be all contrary and oppose both the sun and Moon. Mercury in Aries will also be contrary until the 23rd, going backward while all the other Aries planets are going forward.

So what does this mean? First, it means that April is an intensely ‘I’ focused month for Aries folks, which is good because Aries is good at that already. It may also be a chatty month, what with Mercury going backwards and forwards. It’s not a particularly reality-based month for your sign either, what with Jupiter bouncing around exaggerating and trying to go over the top. Finally, Uranus will be encouraging the kind of keen insight that leads to seeing things as they actually are, which is not exactly the same thing as being realistic.

Put in typically blunt Aries fashion, Uranus is about seeing how things really could be if people will stop being stupid and scared and unite against their fears for the common good. You can help Uranus push things along in your life and in the general life of the planet by telling your own personal stories, enthusiastically and with great drama, as a kind of inspiration to others to stop being wusses. Tell people what you want, because this month, other people want the same things. Talk success and help it materialize.

The outlier during all this is Neptune sliding into Pisces almost unnoticed amidst the general Aries hubbub. For the moment, Neptune is the voice of anxiety and ‘don’t-ness’ whispering in the back of your head. This will have its usefulness in times to come, but for the moment, it doesn’t hold a candle to the push to ‘go ahead and give it a reasonable shot’ that the universe requires at the moment.

As for the Aries year ahead, it’s actually rather bright unless you have personally difficult transits from Saturn or Pluto. You’ll have the planetary support of Uranus in your sign for seven years. And in June Jupiter will move into your solar second house of possessions and money, hopefully bringing an increase in both to your door.

Oh, so much happening in March. The sun enters your sign. Mercury enters your sign for a super-long stay due to retrogrades (til mid-May). Uranus enters your sign for the first time ever in your life. Jupiter is already in your sign. Other planets are clustered in Pisces.

The Jupiter/Mercury influence theoretically means that you can learn from the past or from other cultures. Or you could borrow knowledge from others (some like to call Mercury a thief, but borrowing sounds better, you know). That’s kind of a fun influence.

The other influences indicate that some sort of pain (the Pisces part) is tired of hanging around being pain and is ready to burst forth into your consciousness and demand an end to itself. The metaphor is the various uprisings in the Arab world. The pain’s been there for a long time. It’s just that Aries energy is pushing it to the surface so that the people can yell at it to go away. It takes a lot of courage for them to do that.

Similarly, it will seemingly also take a lot of courage for you to tell your pain to go away, to stop being afraid of it and just start facing it down, no matter what it threatens. But look at how much backup you have! Jupiter by your side til June. Mighty Uranus by your side for 7 years!  Start at the beginning of the month and demonstrate for your rights, all month long.

Of course, once you vanquish the pain, you’ll need to take responsibility for your own life. But you’ll do fine at that, once you get there.

With Jupiter in your sign for the first 6 months of 2011, your motto might be to do the things you are normally afraid to do. Jupiter in one’s sign offers a certain amount of protection that allows a person to experiment with the normally scary things they wish they could do. Jupiter’s protection only extends so far, though, so if what you want to do is truly dangerous, take appropriate precautions.

Another appropriate phrase might be to proceed with faith rather than worry. Jupiter is big on faith and it likes to take people on some hairpin turns through life (occasionally at top speed) even as it is helping them reach their destination. If you keep your eyes on the road, you might have the sensation that you are going nowhere quickly, but that is not necessarily the case. If what you are attempting is worth doing, things will probably work out just fine.

Meanwhile, your ruler Mars is in Aquarius during the first 3 weeks of the month. It will want to do everything but hang out at your house unless you are inviting friends over. Indulge it and hang out with compatible folks. On the 22nd, it more or less suddenly switches gear and decides it wants to be alone. Indulge it again by putting a do not disturb sign on your door.

Happy New Year! The year starts off with a potential bang due to a solar eclipse in Capricorn on the 4th and merging of Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces. The solar eclipse in Capricorn is supposed to represent some sort of a new beginning in your career, and hopefully it will if you want one. Meanwhile, Jupiter and Uranus also dominate the first third of the month, and then Jupiter moves into your own sign on the 22nd.

Jupiter, as you may know by now, is the planet that is supposed to bring help or aid. Uranus, meanwhile, is a wild card, sometimes signifying inspiration or insight. (Uranus is the type of planet would have dropped the apple on Newton’s head.) They’re both in the part of your chart that represents inner space, the world where your psyche resides or you could say where your subconscious mind resides. This is the area where scientists dream up complicated theories about multiple dimensions and parallel universes and stuff like that. I’m not going to say that you’re going to spend the first 10 days of the month dreaming up complicated theories about the cosmos–but then I’m not going to say you aren’t either. It’s about getting some sort insight into how the world works on a grand scale. At the very least, it’s about expanding the boundaries of what’s possible in your mind. Some of the strangeness you encounter may not be all that strange after all–you just didn’t know about it before.

As for Jupiter moving into Aries, it marks the beginning of focus on your sign in 2011. Your sign is, for better or worse, the sign of the military. In some way, shape or form, you are training to be of service, to be a leader, to be a defender. That’s what the military impulse is all about at heart, service. Combine the service impulse with the Uranian focus on technology starting in March, and you get…well, you get your own personal mission statement for the year ahead. Service and technology–if you can combine the two somehow in 2011, you’ll be on the right track.