Forecast

The Week Ahead for Aries

Monday, January 14 – Sunday, January 20

This will be the very last time the Sun squares Uranus in your sign for another 84 years, so if you are ready to take the plunge – in whatever way – now’s your chance. Not that you always get a choice with this unruly planet; oftentimes the rug gets pulled out from beneath you and all you can do is try to keep your balance. Mid-to-late January tends to be a tough period of the year: the bills start rolling in and reality checks of one sort or another are the name of the game, so taking preventative action is advised. Check all those things you are concerned about and put in firewalls as early in the week as possible. Then you can leave it to fate to do its worst and best.

Putting in firewalls.

The Month Ahead for Aries

January 2019

The year begins with ruler Mars in your sign so there will be no excuse for dragging your heels with any of those items on your must-do-this-year list. Add to this a solar eclipse (6th) in the area of career and life-direction, and a new contract or a big opportunity could be in the pipeline. Toward the end of last year, it may have seemed as though nothing was happening in regard to your hopes and plans, but as soon as 2019 kicks off you’re in a whole other country, metaphorically-speaking that is, although there is an aura of far-off destinations in your stars too. Do not be discouraged if you have to let something go; you may not think of certain aspects of your existence as baggage, but, in truth that’s what they are. You’ll travel further if you’re lighter.

2019 Overview

There is a misconception that astrologers can see the future as if we were watching scenes playing out on a cinema screen. But it’s not like that. We open our ephemerides (planetary timetable) and take endless notes on when the alignments are at their strongest and what they might mean for this person, that country or this event. Often it can seem as if fate has the upper hand, but although we cannot prevent every event that happens to us we can choose what we do in the wake of it. We have free will.

Not everything is set in stone. Actions have consequences. We make choices.

So, 2019. The last year of the Teenies and the bridge to the Twenties – a decade that will change the world map, whether in terms of the land itself or in geo-political terms. And with a degree of harmony between Saturn, Uranus, Pluto and Neptune in 2019, this has the potential to be a great year. A year in which solutions can be found, or at least worked toward, in some of the most pressing global problems, including those inspired by climate change.

Uranus entered Taurus in mid-May 2018, but then moved back into Aries and will remain there until March of 2019. Uranus is the revolutionary of the planets, the innovator and the iconoclast, so its transit of this Venus-ruled earth sign for the next seven years is going to produce some exciting developments in architecture, technology, engineering, food, the beauty business, farming and agriculture. But we can also expect financial collapses and the destruction of places and buildings of historical significance.

Already in 2018 we witnessed the loss of two iconic museums in Glasgow and Brazil due to fires; and unprecedented hurricanes and typhoons devastated parts of the world from Indonesia to Hawaii. Volcanic eruptions, extreme heat and bush and forest fires look to be on the increase in 2019, a reflection of Jupiter’s transit of the fire sign, Sagittarius.

Jupiter’s passage through Sagittarius, however, will have many positive effects, most notably on the aviation industry, global travel, publishing, education and communication systems. In a Jupiter-in-Sagittarius year, there’s an emphasis on fun and sport. We spend more money, enjoy taking holidays and getting out of our comfort zones. Then again, the last time Jupiter transited Sagittarius was in 2007, and we can all remember what happened when the sub-prime mortgage market collapsed: it was the precipitator to the global recession. And 2020 is looking distinctly troublesome.

Jupiter’s move through Sagittarius chimes with a Three year in numerology and the year of the Earth Pig in Chinese astrology. The number Three is an harmonious number: it promotes optimism and stimulates communications. We stretch our boundaries in a Three year and reach out to people in different countries and embrace different cultures. The year of the Earth Pig is similarly positive. Good luck and good times are to be expected. Then again, like a Jupiter transit, you can have too much of a good thing, and excess can lead to loss of control and ultimately collapse.

Trade is going to be an important issue for 2019. Technically, Jupiter should preside over some monster trade deals, however, this same influence can inspire trade wars, and we can already see this potential developing between the US and China. And regardless how Great Britain and Europe end their relationship, trade will suffer in the wake of it.

Since August 2016 a series of eclipses has occurred in Leo or Aquarius, which is why, if you belong to these two signs you have had such an up and down time of it. This eclipse series has a distinctly royal aura to it, especially regarding the British Crown, being in play during the toppling of the English monarchy in 1669. This time round we have seen the Duke of Edinburgh’s retirement from public life, the birth of a royal prince and the wedding of Harry and Meghan. But with one eclipse yet to come (21 January) there could be much, much more to the royal story before the end of 2019.

In a nutshell, 2019 is a year to make the most of everything we have and everything that comes to us. It is also a year that we should liken to autumn: a beautiful season but one that precedes winter; and in keeping with nature, we should store our resources in preparation for a lean and mean period. It’s not exactly make-hay-while-the-sun-shines; more treasuring those things that are precious to us, including planet Earth, and ensuring they will still be there decades hence. It’s something Saturn in Capricorn would applaud us for.

The Year Ahead for Aries

General

This is by no means your average year. Four eclipses on the life-direction axis (6 January, 2 and 16 July and 26 December) inspire change, first and foremost on the career front and second in regard to home, property and family. Expect breakthroughs and U-turns. You’ll need to get in gear as soon as the year begins; shore up important personal and professional alliances and set plans in motion. Saturn and Pluto are tough customers but remind yourself success is 99 percent struggle and one percent luck. Speaking of which, Jupiter will be opening up your life horizons taking some Aries to distant parts and offering others a bigger platform for their talents; and for all it’s time to get out that bucket list and start ticking off a few items. You may occasionally feel thwarted by the fates, but this is not the case: what appears to be a setback is paving the way for something much, much better.

Love and relationships

Duty and responsibility may not be the words you want to hear when it comes to love but if a relationship is going to last it’s got to be able to withstand all weathers. When you’re there for someone you know what love truly is, and you may well have to stand by a partner as he or she experiences difficulties. You may also have to decide whether your career or family take priority over a love affair. Saturn’s position encourages long-term commitments and many Arians will marry in 2019, possibly in a foreign location and in May or September, but this planet also breeds emotional distance. In the case of the latter, keep your options open: a temporary separation could be all that’s needed. The overall theme of 2019 is keeping on keeping on, but in the certain knowledge you will get there.

Work, life goals and finance

Money is important but it may not be as important as your reputation. So, do not be tempted to accept an offer that compromises your abilities or your good name; nor be tempted to throw in the towel because you believe you are not being appreciated. Jobs could be in short supply and unless you have a firm contract it is not worth jumping ship. This having been said, some of you will be taking on more responsibility at work, which could mean a higher salary and greater influence. You should do better financially in 2019 but living on a budget and saving for a rainy day is still advised. Arians are an ambitious bunch but you can run out of steam before you realize your goals. This is the great lesson Saturn and Pluto are teaching you: persistence, consistency and constancy.

Celestial Tip

Forget the bright lights and the quick fixes: slow and steady wins the race.

You may be tired of hearing your astrologer tell you to hang on in there, but there have been times in the past when you’ve given up just before that breakthrough came. And it is the same in 2019. Hone your talents; be there for the people you love who may not be behaving well, and don’t compare yourself to others who may appear to have more than you. Above all find your humility and with it will come a sense of peace and acceptance. And finally success.

High points: 24 January; 13 March; 14 April; 25 July; 28 November

Low points: 9 May, 20 June; 8 and 16 July: 13 October