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PLUS - instead of viewing planetary influences as outside events over which you have no control PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY will teach you to view planetary configurations as OPPORTUNITIES that will allow you to work with the timing of the universe to make choices, exert control, observe results and track your success over time.
Each month, shortly before the sun moves into a new sign (which usually happens around the 20th or 21st of the month), I'll suggest a way for your sign to take advantage of the opportunities provided by one of the solar month's major astrological features. In addition, you can read a short article on one aspect of putting together a horoscope forecast that will give you more insight into how to interpret your own chart.
Finally, I'll provide a list of keywords for some of the planets, signs, and houses that make up a horoscope so that you can further customize your horoscope.
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Happy Birthday, Aries!
The big news for you Aries during your birthday month this year is a total solar eclipse in your own sign on March 29. The keyword for eclipses is surprise, at least in my experience, and I hope this one proves to bring you a very good surprise. This is the last in a two year series of eclipses in Aries and Libra that began in April 2004. The general idea is that something you've been working on, or struggling with, finally gets itself straightened out at this eclipse and you are free and clear to to start on a new and beneficial path. This could take the form of a new job, a marriage proposal, or a new relationship. Alternatively, if you have been struggling through a divorce, it could become final so you can get a fresh start. Or it could just bring a surprise, major or minor, in any area of your life. This is intended to a be good thing for you, so I hope you experience a positive event and a fresh, exciting start on a new chapter in your life.
Since it's your birthday month, the other item on the agenda is a bit about your purpose as an Aries and how it relates to your life. As you may know, Aries is the warrior sign and the Warrior is one of the most sacred archetypes, common to all cultures as far as I can tell. The Warrior protects, defends, and fights for those who cannot fight for themselves. The Warrior defends the group, including the most helpless and innocent, against attack by bad forces. The sacred or spiritual part of this concept seems to be increasingly relevant to the universe's plan for Ariens around the world these days.
What would become an important trend for Ariens began way back in 1995, when Pluto moved into philosophical Sagittarius and the Arien 9th house of religion, ethics, and philosophy of life. Pluto's mandate was to try to help Ariens very gradually strip away any unhelpful concepts they had in this area, gain a deeper understanding and wisdom about life, and remove any blocks to having a broad perspective on the world and the place of religious/spiritual/philosophical values in it. Pluto is still ever so slowly doing this, and it's not usually a noticeable influence. It just feels like the natural gaining of wisdom and perspective with the passage of time. But...
The universe upped the ante in 1998, when Neptune moved into Aquarius. Neptune is the very planet of spirituality, religion, etc., and it's always somewhere in everyone's chart. It's existence is not news. It's just that for Ariens it moved into a compatible sign in the solar 11th house of humanitarian activities, community involvement, and life direction. In other words, the life direction of all Ariens began being nudged a bit more noticeably toward the spiritual and the humanitarian. Neptune's been in Aquarius for 7 years and it's definitely having an effect.
I've watched some Ariens over the past 7 years engage in heroic humanitarian efforts that truly reflect the sacred origins of the Warrior archetype and make the world glad Ariens exist. Others manifest the Aquarian emphasis more subtly, quietly becoming more involved in community, the PTA, local efforts, and so on--gradually accumulating leadership credibility. And I've even heard Ariens announce (much to my surprise) things like: "I don't exactly know what I want to do yet, but I know it has to promote the common good, be socially responsible." That's Neptune in Aquarius, and we know it's a powerful planet when it can convince an Arien that his or her life direction has to reflect some idealism and deep social values.
Okay, so this is a long-term trend, and while it's clearly part of the universe's plan for Arien purpose for the forseeable future, you could kind of figure that the idealistic purpose issue could be put off for awhile. Except...
Uranus decided to burrow into the spiritual sign of Pisces in 2004 in the Arien solar 12th house of...well, spiritual and religious values. Uranus adds a bit of urgency to the equation. As if that wasn't enough...in 2006, the universe decided to spend even more time than usual paying attention to Piscean energy, treating us to a Mercury retrograde in that sign and letting Venus linger in Pisces all the way up through the first days of May. In other words, Venus will be in either Aquarius or Pisces throughout the solar month, just really elongating the emphasis on Arien spirituality.
Okay, that's enough spiritual and humanitarian emphasis, you might say at this point. But wait, there's more! The universe decided to really pile things on by adding the beginning of a series of eclipses in Pisces (and Virgo). I don't exactly want to say that you can't escape the spiritual or idealistic component of your Arien purpose these days, but...well, you can't.
Because it's not like Neptune is going to spend this year gliding silently through the sky not bothering any body. Oh noooooo....this year it's planning a major confrontation with Saturn during the summer, and it keeps poking and prodding at Jupiter to get its attention too. Neptune is drawing a bit of a line in the sand and all this idealistic spiritual sacred energy needs to be dealt with.
So...if you have any time this month (I know you may be busy), it would be good if you could take a moment to check in with your own sense of the sacred. Reflect on your spiritual or philosophical growth over the last ten years or so. What would be really ideal would be if you could take a minute to make a nice firm Arien announcement to yourself of what you would like to do to align your life with your spiritual values. Like this: "Idealistically, what I want to do is....." You could even write it down. You don't have to figure how to do it (save the environment, help your local community, aid the needy around the world, or whatever it is), you just need to know what it is you wish you coud do.
Because...when Saturn opposes Neptune this summer, it will try to convince you that you're an unrealistic, overidealistic, delusional fool and that your efforts to live your values will be unrewarding, futile, and a waste of time. Gloomy stuff like that. It will be wrong; Neptune is actually the stronger planet and in a fight Neptune will just kick Saturn's butt eventually. So you want to bet on the winner. But you also want to be aware that your Warrior energy will be necessary in implementing a realistic way to live your values. You don't want to let Saturn sucker-punch you. Because...if you're not ready, a Saturn-Neptune opposition can be very very confusing. Your life can be going great on the surface, but inside you can be saying "Oh, what was I thinking? I'm such an idiot. I don't want this life. I don't know what I want. I don't even know what I believe in any more! I'm so confused!" And so on. It can be pretty uncomfortable.
But if you can figure out what you want idealistically now, while the planets are on your side, then this summer, when they're not, you can say "Oh I was expecting some opposition to my values this time of year. Nevertheless, I am a determined Aries and I will find a way to realistically incorporate my idealism into my life direction. I will prevail. So there, Saturn!" And then you'll come out a winner. And that is exactly where you as an Aries should always come out.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
How to deal with Mercury retrograde (starts March 2)
Got the birthday blues, Pisces? - click here to read about the sun's journey and the birthday blues
Venus enters Aquarius this month: find out about this planet's connection with love and money
Solar eclipse in Aries on March 29 - read about solar eclipses
Attracting luck with Jupiter and Uranus
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Hello, Taurus. So this solar month there's a new moon eclipse in Aries on March 29th in your solar 12th house of religion, spirituality, and God-related things. The keyword for an eclipse is usually surprise, and I'm not exactly sure what form a God-related surprise would take. You may or may not experience an actual noticeable event around that time.
This eclipse actually wraps up a two year series of them in Aries and Libra that began in April 2004. It represents for you (and everyone else) the beginning of some new chapter in your life. How it will affect you depends on a lot on your own particular circumstances. But I'll tell you what would be ideal.
The ideal thing would be if this eclipse inaugurated a new era of commitment on your part to the concept of the win/win solution. I'll tell you why. There's been a bit of a long-term conflict brewing in your chart that the eclipse series in Aries has stirred up. See, the sign of Taurus is associated with the concept of what's "mine." It's the sign of possessions and possessiveness, of wanting to have things, its own things. With Aries in the solar 12th house, the sign of Taurus is driven by an unconscious need to put the interests of itself and its loved ones first. It feels anxious if it doesn't consider the personal needs and circumstances of its own circle of loved ones (as in "my family") above all else.
But Neptune (the planet associated with the 12th house eclipses) is transiting Aquarius and squaring your sign. The energy of Neptune in Aquarius is almost exactly the opposite. It's the concept of sharing and of putting the common good above personal interests. The two different kinds of energies have been in a tug of war and the eclipses in Aries stir up a restless discomfort with the conflict. The classic solution to the conflict between personal interests and the interests of everyone else is the win/win solution. The win/win solution is a way of implementing the universal values represented by religion, spirituality, and so on, while balancing the personal interests so important to Taurus. You have a big, important sharing side that cares about the common good and seeing everybody happy. It needs to be expressed. But you need to take care of you and yours too. Searching hard to create win/win solution meets both needs.
The
thing is, it would be good to use the new moon eclipse energy toward that
end because you're really going to need win/win solutions this year. Neptune
in Aquarius will oppose Saturn in Leo, and Jupiter in Scorpio will square
both of them by sign and oppose your own sun. The need for balance and
meeting everybody's needs becomes paramount. Balancing career and family,
self and others, the personal and the universal--it all comes into play
this year. If you can set yourself out on the right path now (and I think
the eclipse is trying to help you), you can negotiate your way through
the rest of the year in a successful manner. And that will help make you
feel better about everything.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Previous Monthly Horoscopes for All Signs:
July - August (Leo)
August - September (Virgo)
November - December (Sagittarius)
December - January (Capricorn)
This solar month there's a new moon eclipse in Aries on March 29, while Aries' planetary ruler, Mars, is in your own sign. The new moon eclipse is in your solar 11th house of friendships, networking, associates, and so on. You may find yourself in a new relationship of some sort. It's also the house of your overall life direction, so you may also experience a new turn in your life. With Mars in your own sign in a favorable angle to the eclipse, the solar month could really pop for you. Mars actually stays in your own sign until April 15th, when it moves into Cancer and your solar second house of possessions and money.
My personal suggestion for you is to use Mars while you got it. It's going to be in a bad mood with Pluto around the 8th of April, but tough. Take the attitude that you rule this month, that you are in a position to call the shots, and you just might find that this is exactly the case. You can use this attitude in your career (your ruler Mercury will be in Pisces in your solar 10th house of career until the 17th), your relationships of all kinds (Aries energy), or anything else you'd like actually. Start out the month with a strong attitude, and I think it will carry you through the entire solar month cycle.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Well, Cancer this month there's a solar eclipse in Aries in your 10th house of career, which I sincerely hope will bring you the unexpected career good news that you've been waiting for. It really wouldn't surprise me if you unexpectedly got a job offer, or even embarked on a new career path altogether (perhaps you've been trying to do that for a couple of years).
Meanwhile, Mercury will go direct in compatible Pisces in your thoughtful 9th house by March 26th and stay in that sign through April 16, when it will enter Aries and give you even more career related energy. The concept to consider this month is that sometimes it takes energy and effort or even a willingness to fight or hold your ground in order to capitalize on an opportunity or to make it appear. Be willing to make that effort and capitalize on the opportunities that life wants to present you. The ideas in play are things like "Reach for the stars"; and "don't take no for an answer if there's something you really want." Stuff like that. Be motivated and inspired--go for it.
For additional keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Hello, Leo. On March 29, there's a solar eclipse in Aries in your 9th house. Eclipses in the 9th house don't tend to be as strong as those in other houses, but sometimes an eclipse here correlates with an increased desire for freedom and independence. Sometimes this takes the form of a desire or opportunity to move or travel, to get out or get away. It wouldn't be terribly surprising if you felt something like this, as Saturn in your own sign has been trying to restrict your freedom for awhile. You may feel the need for a bit of an antidote.
Another item of note is that Venus will conjunct Neptune in Aquarius on March 26th. Both planets will be in your 7th house of significant relationships and this is the kind of influence that can make a person a bit starry-eyed for their significant other. It's a romantic, loving influence. By April 7th, Venus moves into Pisces and your solar 8th house, which represents a continuation of the same kind of energy. (Pisces is the sign Neptune rules.) Sometimes this influence correlates with some nostalgia for the past, a bit of poignant sadness for times (and maybe romances or relationships) gone by. When Venus meets Uranus on April 18, you could get a nice romantic surprise. Not guaranteed but it could happen.
Overall, it's an excellent month to focus on relationships, to be with people. Your spouse, your friends, your family, groups, co-workers, associates, who ever you can spend time with. Saturn in a person's own sign has a tendency to try to be a bit isolating, to push a person into a box of duty, work, obligations, discipline, and so on. But with several planets in your 7th and 8th houses of relating to others, that tendency is mitigated a bit, and you can take advantage of a nice month to be with the people you love.
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
VIRGO: AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22
Hi, Virgo. So this continues to be a year of probable highs and lows for you. There's an eclipse in Aries this solar month, on March 29. I sincerely hope it will bring you some very good and surprising news in the area of joint finances (e.g., finances of the spouse), taxes, or other financial matters that you've been waiting for--perhaps for a long time. Hopefully, things will be looking up for you in this financial arena for some time to come. And hopefully, it will also compensate somewhat for whatever surprises you may have endured from the full moon eclipse on March 14th.
On the other hand, Mars continues to be in Gemini, in your solar 10th house of career. You could experience both highs and lows in this area, as Mars is an energetic planet prone to bringing both good stuff and difficult stuff. Mars here isn't in a great mood with Pluto in Sagittarius in your solar 4th house of home and family. There's the potential for a bit of a conflict between job and family, although it should blow over soon.
Another sort of highs and lows may be in store when Venus conjucts Uranus in Pisces in your 7th house of relationships. Things could go either way in your significant relationships--or maybe both ways. Meanwhile, your ruler Mercury will be in Pisces as well, until the 16th of April (going direct as of March 26), where it may make you feel a bit more mentally foggy than you're used to as a normally clear-thinking Virgo.
The main thing to do this solar month I think is to just hold on. Mars actually enters the more compatible sign of Cancer by April 14. There it will be in your sociable 11th solar house where you can use its energy to commiserate or celebrate with your friends--which ever proves to be more applicable. Venus also enters Aries in the first week of May, so some of that hopefully good financial news you get at the beginning of the month may get an extra boost then. In other words, just hold on until some of these aspects dissipate and the fog clears, and then things will perhaps start to look quite bright.
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
LIBRA: SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22
Hello, Libra. This looks to be an upbeat solar month for you. One up moment (I hope) for you could come as a result of a solar eclipse in Aries on March 29. This could signal the start of a new relationship or the revitalization of an existing one. It should be a positive influence.
Another positive factor is the continuing transit of Jupiter in Scorpio in your second house of income. Most people like this influence because it has a tendency to increase that same income, which is something hardly anybody complains about! Jupiter this month is in a good mood with Mercury in Pisces until mid-April. Pisces is the sign of your solar 6th house of work, so essentially it's a good time to work the more money from the job angle (as in going after a raise). This idea becomes even more prominent as Jupiter trines Venus in Pisces on the 20th of April. Venus also conjuncts Uranus on the 18th, so there may be an element of surprise to any financial gain if you do manage to score some. So...if you are in the mood for more money--go for it.
Adding to the mix, Mars goes into Cancer on April 14. Cancer rules your solar 10th house of career, and it gets along well with both Jupiter and Venus in this position. In other words, you've got all kinds of job and career-related energy behind you.
Romance also looks good in the early part of the solar month as Venus joins Neptune in Aquarius in your 5th house of love affairs, children, and creativity on March 26. Venus in Aquarius will be hopefully helpful to your love life throughout its stay in Aquarius, which ends on April 5.
The only potential downs come from Saturn slowing to a crawl in Leo in your solar 11th house of friendly relationships. Friendly relationships are usually important to Libras and Saturn's dead-weight here can be a bit depressing. Also, Mars in Gemini is not in a great mood with Pluto in Sagittarius. Hopefully, this will not affect you too much as this opposition takes place in your solar 3rd house of communication and your 9th house of travel and philosophy. These cadent houses usually tend to feel the effects of oppositions a bit less problematically than some others. The thing to do to avoid problems is not to get on your high horse and act like you know everything in the face of opposition from others who are equally sure they know something opposite. You never do that anyway, do you, get on your high horse? So you should be just fine.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
SCORPIO: OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21
Scorpio, are you ready for sudden changes on the job front? A solar eclipse in Aries on March 29 could bring just such changes about and may represent a real opportunity. If you have ambitions on the job, this is the area to focus on this month. Eclipses can bring problems before they bring opportunities, but if you can hang in there (and since you're a Scorpio, we know you can), you may be able to further yourself handily in this sector. This is particularly welcome news because Saturn in Leo in your 10th house of career hasn't been making things easy in that area.
The other thing to note is that Venus will enter Pisces this solar month on the 5th of April. Here it will be in the idea position for romance, in your solar 5th house of love affairs, children, and creativity. It will actually meet up with Uranus on the 18th, creating the possiblility of another sort of sudden change--in your status as a single person, if you are one. Jupiter in your own sign is in a good mood with all this activity, creating a pretty darn nice atmosphere. Of course, this influence may not play out that strongly, but it's still a good month, in between furthering your job-related ambitions, to go out. Go out with your friends or anybody else you can corral into attending a social or cultural event. Even if you don't meet Mr. or Ms. Right, you are likely to have fun and to enjoy a good feeling about yourself and the universe at large.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
SAGITTARIUS: NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21
If your love life's been in a downward spiral here lately, this is the solar month that could reverse that trend, thanks to a new moon eclipse in Aries on March 29. Aries represents your solar 5th house of love affairs, children, and creative endeavors (kind of a mixed bag isn't it?). A new moon eclipse (this one is a total solar eclipse, and perhaps therefore more powerful than most) theoretically represents a fresh new start in the area in which it falls, and I'm hoping it will bring you good news and maybe even the chance to fall in love (if you're in the mood for that).
At the same time, Venus will enter your solar 4th house on the 5th of April, where it will eventually meet up with Uranus (on the 18th). This represents yet another opportunity for you to reverse any problematic trends, this time in the area of home and family relationships. The key to handling your good fortune this month, if it should develop, is to shut up and accept it. I know that you're a Sagittarius and you often like to say things, and that it is in the nature of your sign to try to probe, analyze, and understand. Don't. This includes on April 8 when Mars in Gemini (in your solar 7th house of relationships) will oppose Pluto in your sign. Let that aspect pass and just accept everything that goes right with silent, grateful humility.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Capricorn, this is a wonderful month for you to get a fresh, springlike start around the house. Your plans in the home arena may actually see a multitude of last-minute changes, thanks to a solar eclipse in Aries on March 29. But this is all to the good, for this eclipse represents a chance for you to start a happy new cycle in your home life and to clear up once and for all any problems that have been draining your attention there. Some of you may even be moving into a new residence after potentially trying for a couple of years to make that happen. Whatever your own circumstances the general idea is a feeling of 'rightness' in your home base.
Fortunately, all this fresh startness in your home life coincides with Venus in Aquarius in your solar 2nd house of possessions. Venus will actually meet up with Neptune there on March 26. The early part of the solar month would be a wonderful time for you to buy yourself something nice for your home. It could also be a great time to beautify it, do some painting, some decorating, etc. If you happen to be an artistic or craftsy type of Capricorn, it would also be a good time to make something decorative for your home yourself. Venus plus Neptune equals good creative inspiration. On April 5, Venus will enter Pisces, still a good influence for creative and beautification endeavors. You may even find yourself inspired.
Even if you are feeling like a very uninspired Capricorn this month, it wouldn't hurt, it really wouldn't, to do a little something to brighten up your environment, or to give yourself a nice little treat by buying something for yourself that you'd like. It's a good way to welcome spring.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
AQUARIUS: JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18
Hello Aquarius. This month I'm alerting everyone to the presence of a solar eclipse in Aries on March 29. This happens to fall in your solar 3rd house where it can mean a fresh start with siblings, relatives, neighbors, and the like that may have been problematic. Since the 3rd house is also the house of the typical interactions of daily life, you may also find that your plans during the latter part of March keep getting upset at the last minute. Eclipses tend to cause a bit of upheaval. Theoretically, these should be good changes though, as in you thinking you're going to work tomorrow when suddenly you get an opportunity to fly down to Mexico for a quick spring break in Cancun. If spring break in Cancun doesn't sound that appealing, just substitute that idea with something that sounds like a welcome, needed change or getaway.
I'm also going to talk to you about another aspect occurring this month that I haven't been highlighting for the other signs as much because I think it's a bit more significant for you. Mars in Gemini (in your solar 5th house of love, kids, and creative efforts) is going to be opposing Pluto in Sagittarius in your solar 11th house. The 11th house is the one most closely associated with your sign. It has to do with things like humanitarian efforts, life goals, community involvement, friends, and associations with other people of all types. Pluto here has been spending a full decade trying imperceptibly almost to change some of the fundamental underpinnings of your life. It's been trying to give you a new perspective on things, perhaps an updated philosophy of life. It's been trying to change how you go about fulfilling your Aquarian purpose, and it's even, in some ways, been gradually trying to morph your identity, how you see yourself. And perhaps most tellingly, it's been trying to gradually strip you of your associations with people from an earlier era, outdated associations that no longer work for you. The idea being that this will give you space for more appropriate alliances with people on your new level. Pluto has been working in concert with the big planets of Neptune and Uranus toward these ends for a long time. If you haven't undergone any changes whatsoever in the past decade...well, you are one unusual Aquarian.
In case you're a normal Aquarian, though, and you have undergone changes, this momentary opposition between Mars and Pluto (exact on April 8) represents the universe's periodic adjustment attempt. It only happens every couple of years, but the universe spends a little time trying to get your creative identity, and your identity in love and parenting relationships to catch up with your updated Pluto-influenced identity. In other words, the most likely scenario is that some of those close to you haven't quite adjusted to the gradually evolving you. This is the month when they get annoyed by that and so do you. Mars opposition Pluto is not a very loving influence (it's more like pure battle), and so this is the month when you have to remember that love is a verb as well as a feeling. In spite of general battle vibes, somehow you need to remember that it is important to actually visibly demonstrate affection to people that you care about so that they understand that your evolving identity is not a threat. Because they don't understand that automatically without your help.
Again, this wouldn't be a big deal; Mars does oppose Pluto every couple of years and it really doesn't last very long. It's just this year, all of this plays into Saturn in Leo in your 7th house. Saturn here keeps pushing the idea that your relationships require effort to be successful. This is a continuing theme in the Aquarian sky for a couple of years. So this is a crucial month to remember that and to do your heroic best to make a love an active verb in your life, even when you really don't feel like it.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
PISCES: FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20
Pisces, this month there is a solar eclipse in your 2nd house of moola, the last in a series over the last couple of years in your financially oriented houses. This is the kind of astrological event that can be very helpful to the financially stressed Piscean because it can represent unexpected help out of the blue from someone unlikely--just when you thought things were hopeless.
Adding to the bounty, Mercury will be in your own sign for almost all of the solar month (until April 16). Venus will join the party on April 5th and will conjoin Uranus on the 18th. This is another good aspect for bringing in unexpected cash. Meanwhile, Mars is still in Gemini and it will decide to get all mad at Pluto in Sagittarius at the end of the first week of April. So there's plenty of unsettled mutable energy in the air. The truth is, things haven't settled down yet. So one of the things for you to do this month is to just hang loose and try to understand what's going on in your life. Work the money angle if relevant, and just get yourself oriented. Mars enters Cancer on April 13, which is a little easier, but still...take it easy and get your bearings.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
THE SIGN OF ARIES
Aries is a cardinal fire sign. Planetary ruler: Mars. Season: Spring. Associated with the 1st house of the early years of one's life, self-projection,, and one's attitude toward life. Its symbol is the Ram.
You can kind of get a feel for the sign of Aries just by lookng at the things it's associated with. Its planetary ruler, Mars, is a bit on the ferocious side, being that it is the planet of war. So there's some of the influence of primitive impulses, I guess you could call them, at work in Aries. At least most people would consider the human urge toward war to be one of our more primitive qualities.
But then Aries is also associated with the beginning of spring and that certainly doesn't seem too warlike. Yet what spring represents falls along the same continuum, because it's an expression of life's most basic, primitive impulses--to live, to grow, to stretch toward the sun for light. So there's a bit of the vital life-force at work in Aries.
Aries is also associated with the first house. The first house in a natal chart says a lot about the early years of your life. Aries, in its way, represents the early years in anyone's life. It is associated with infancy--that adorable, growth-filled, needy, grasping, unconscious time of pure instinct for living, not to mention some fierce yelling and crying when anything goes wrong. Actual Aries people don't act like babies (at least none of the ones I've met do), but there is some of that same instinctive grasping for life at work in their sun sign.
In fact, if you can wrap your mind around some of the purity and instinctive joy, rage, sorrow, fear, helplessness, and sheer driving desire to develop that babies exhibit, you can begin to get a feel for the varied things that Aries represents--from sunny smiles to raging tantrums.
When it comes to the daily or yearly horoscope though--the rhythms of life--I like to think a little less about the grand and primitive meaning of Aries as a whole though, and think of it in practical terms as the time of beginnings. When a planet is in Aries, it naturally wants to begin something. When Aries is prominent it is time to get in touch with your desires for how things should be tomorrow. To think about the future as a time of unlimited possibilities. Aries is a bit of a wild sign, really, so sometimes the life-force energy it carries can feel like a bit much (the restlessness of 'spring fever'). But it doesn't have to be captured in a bottle, that energy, just enough to imagine that anything is possible.
As an astrologer, I actually plan my year during the time of Aries, as it is the natural start of a yearly cycle of the seasons. I decide how I want things to be for the next twelve months. (Aries is a very decisive sign.) Aries isn't great on follow-through, like a baby it's easily distracted. But things planned while the sun is in Aries can be carried out by other, more steadfast signs like Taurus and Scorpio. Spring is often such an optimistic time for many of us, and it only takes a minute to fill the lungs with fresh air and announce to the universe with confident Arien energy "This year is going to be so...." (happy, great, exciting, adventurous, productive--you choose).
For whatever reason, your subconscious mind has a tendency to remember the desires you express around this time of year, and to work below the surface towards fulfilling them. So tell yourself how things are going to be this year. And see if your prediction doesn't turn out to be more true than you'd expect.
Some additional keywords for Aries: Self-projection, courage, initiative, instinct, adventure, brash risk-taking, selfishness, bluntness, impulsiveness, beginnings, forcefulness, and life energy.
Some keywords for the sun: Individuality, personal identity, power, purpose, recognition, the ability to exercise choice, creativity, activity, success, visibility, attention, and energy.
Some Keywords for the 1st house: Individuality, identity, the body, independence, the ability to initiate or start things, the ability to take action, personal style, your leadership qualities, and what inspires you.
Some keywords for the 2nd house: What you own or possess, body image, self-worth, personal values, accumulation, financial gain, money, resources, stability, tangible items, permanent, the ability to structure things.
Some keywords for the 3rd house: Reading and language arts, trickery, the immediate environment, acquaintances, ideas, opinions, communication, focused attention, mental activities, wit, the ability to deal with daily life, and humor.
Some keywords for the 4th house: The family, assimilation, one's roots, the home, core feelings, resting, the inner soul, domestic atmosphere, one's past conditioning, one's history, patriotism, and the ability to bring things to closure.
Some keywords for the 5th house: Children, the ability to have fun, one's special talents, hobbies, creativity, self-expression, performance, actors, sports, recreation, love affairs, and gambling and speculation.
Some keywords for the 6th house: Nutrition, cleanliness, work, service through concrete action, the ability to establish clarity, perfectionism, daily routines, critical abilities, practical activities, scheduling, the nature and environment of one's job, and the ability to establish priorities.
Some keywords for the 7th house: Committed love relationships, awareness of others, one's approach to relationships in general, what you look for in a partner, marriage, open enemies, legal contracts, partnership, things that affect your significant other, what we feel we lack, what we like and dislike in others, and the ability to resolve conflicts.
Some keywords for the 8th house: One's inner demons, other people's money, joint finances, inheritances, divorce, windfalls, taxes, the ability to form beneficial financial associations, debt, bankruptcy, loans, and investments.
Some keywords for the 9th house: One's philosophy of life, the ability to gather and learn from experience, the search for meaning, religion, the quest for broader truths, ideals, ethical beliefs and standards, the higher mind, the right brain, long journeys, higher education, and the ability to gain perspective on events.
Some keywords for the 10th house: Ambition, striving, one's public image, public behavior, social status, the ability to garner admiration, honors, contributions to the communty, fame, career, vocation or calling, and professional accomplishments.
Some keywords for the 11th house: The desire to belong, friends, groups, political ideology, the ability to create systems, visionaries, scientific thinking, humanitarian impulses, the brotherhood of man, clubs and associations, and hopes & wishes.
Some keywords for the 12th house: Dissolution of the individual ego, the soul's connection with the universe, one's feelings about God, dreams, one's ideas of heaven and paradise, the desire to escape, the ability to experience unity, the desire for wholeness, mysticism, bliss, ecstasy, and inner peace and serenity.
HOW TO USE KEYWORDS: The essence of learning astrology is understanding how to mix, match, and blend the concepts associated with signs, planets, and houses to figure out what is or will be affecting you at a given point in time. This takes practice and practice is exactly what you're going to have a chance to get if you use the keywords each month.
Keywords can be used to plan and take action using the month's energies, to explain events or to make predictions. Scan for keywords that seem relevant to situations in your own life. You'll have 3 sets of keywords you can blend, one for the planet discussed, one for the sign it's in and one for the solar house it's transiting. Pick the keywords that interest you most and create your customized horoscope!
For example, if the Sun is in Aries in your solar first house, if you want to plan or take action you might pick the Sun keyword 'power', the Aries keyword 'initiating', and the 1st house keyword 'self-expression' to create an intention for yourself that you have the power to initiate actions to express yourself more fully in ways that you desire. You'll know what 'self-expression' means to you. It works best if you pick keywords that 'speak' to you or that coincide with elements of your life that already concern you. To receive astrological benefits, it's not necessary that you obligate yourself to do something huge - it's only necessary that you take one step in the right direction at the right time. Astrology concerns itself with when things are born, and if you start something at the right time, you're riding on the energy that's already available to you in the universe.
You can also use the keywords to try to figure out if something that is affecting you is 'in the stars'. For example, let's say you find yourself wondering why you're getting drawn into conflicts with people at your church. You scan the keywords and realize 'Aha! The fiery energy of Aries is currently being activated in my 12th house of faith-related matters!' If the energy is uncomfortable, you'll have a gauge as to how long it will be prominent (oh good, it should ease up next month!) or if it's a good energy you'll know which planet to thank!
You can also try your hand at predicting. If you check in at the beginning of the month and notice that your house of friendships is highlighted along with some active planetary or sign energies, you might predict for yourself that you will be engaging in a lot more fun and restorative activities with your friends in the coming month. This is basically what professional astrologers do and now you have a chance to try your own hand at it and compare your results with the pros. Have fun!
NOTE: There are a wide variety of potential keywords associated with each sign, planet, and house. I pick different ones each month to give you an idea of the range from the most common concepts to much more subtle ones. Over time, you'll gain an intuitive sense of what kinds of concepts are associated with each element and you'll even be able to generate your own keywords as you get a feel for each of the signs, planets, and houses. Each keyword also inherently contains its opposite as well. For example, if the keyword 'divorce' is displayed, it doesn't mean you'll get a divorce. But it does mean that if that is a concern for you and something you want to avoid you have an opportunity, while that energy is activated, to take proactive steps to deal with potential problems or head off an undesirable outcome. So you can turn 'divorce' into 'keeping a marriage together' or 'illness' into 'taking steps to get and stay healthy'.
Use your rising sign for better forecasts! Most published horoscopes are based at least in part on transits to solar houses. Solar houses are based on your sun sign and are easy to calculate. Your sun sign is your solar 1st house, the next sign in the zodiac is your solar 2nd house and so on. You can always determine what solar house a planet is in if you know the sign. Simply start with your own sign and count around the zodiac until you reach the sign you're interested in. For example, if you're a Gemini, the sign of your solar 3rd house is Leo. Pisces is the sign of your solar 10th house. Astrologers who publish horoscopes use sun signs and solar houses for several reasons: a) almost everyone knows their birthday; b) they're easy to calculate; and c) they actually do have some effect. However, if you get a personal reading from a professional astrologer, he or she will almost always use transits to your natal houses to give you a reading instead. Natal houses are based on your rising sign, which is determined by the exact time, place, and day you were born. Transits to your natal planets and houses have at least as much effect on your life as transits to your solar houses, sometimes quite a bit more. If you really want to know your chart, and get better horoscopes, you should find out your rising sign (also called Ascendant). If you know the exact time and place of your birth, you can do this for free at a wonderful website - www.astro.com. Click on the link near the top that says 'Free Horoscopes'. On that page, scroll down to the link that says 'Chart Drawing, Ascendant'. Follow the prompts to enter the information concerning your birth time, date, and place. You'll get a chart that shows your Ascendant (the sign next to the designation 'AC'). To the left will be a box listing your planetary placements. Next to the listing for 'AC' your rising sign will be listed along with the degree of your Ascendant within that sign. Make a note of that sign and be sure to check the horoscope and keywords for your Ascendant as well as your sun sign!
TRACK YOUR RESULTS! Next month when you come back here for your next horoscope, take 30 seconds to assess the results of the action you took last month as a result of your horoscope. Did it make you feel better? Did it make your life any better? Did it give you renewed energy or did you find your effort blocked, delayed, or ineffective? Judging your results allows you to assess how responsive you are to a particular planetary, sign, or house energy. For example, some people are very responsive to the astrological Sun just the way some people are very responsive to a sunny day. Other people work better with the energy of other planets. Only by taking a moment to gauge your results can you learn which planets work best for you in your life. You may have an 'afflicted' natal Sun that never does much for you, but a raring-to-go Mars that will help you in a pinch every time. Checking your results each month will give you an increasingly accurate guide as to how to use astrology to enhance your life.
The PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY website provides a free, sequential course in astrology with at least one article each month on a particular element of horoscope interpretation. If you want to see any articles you've missed, or to receive each month's update by email, sign up using the link below. The Practical Astrology website does not share your email address with anyone else and only uses it to provide you with information concerning astrology from this website. Sign up!