Your Personal Horoscope 2010: Month-by-month Forecasts for Every Sign

Gem–amethyst

Metals–iron, steel

Scent–honeysuckle

Quality–cardinal (= activity)

Quality most needed for balance–caution

Strongest virtues–abundant physical energy, courage, honesty, independence, self-reliance

Deepest need–action

Characteristics to avoid–haste, impetuousness, over-aggression, rashness

Signs of greatest overall compatibility–Leo, Sagittarius

Signs of greatest overall incompatibility–Cancer, Libra, Capricorn

Sign most helpful to career–Capricorn

Sign most helpful for emotional support–Cancer

Sign most helpful financially–Taurus

Sign best for marriage and/or partnerships– Libra

Sign most helpful for creative projects–Leo

Best Sign to have fun with–Leo

Signs most helpful in spiritual matters– Sagittarius, Pisces

Best day of the week–Tuesday

Understanding an Aries (#u14fd842a-85dd-56e5-a83a-056710d0e228)

Aries is the activist par excellence of the zodiac. The Aries need for action is almost an addiction, and those who do not really understand the Aries personality would probably use this hard word to describe it. In reality ‘action’ is the essence of the Aries psychology–the more direct, blunt and to-the-point the action, the better. When you think about it, this is the ideal psychological makeup for the warrior, the pioneer, the athlete or the manager.

Aries likes to get things done, and in their passion and zeal often lose sight of the consequences for themselves and others. Yes, they often try to be diplomatic and tactful, but it is hard for them. When they do so they feel that they are being dishonest and phony. It is hard for them even to understand the mindset of the diplomat, the consensus builder, the front office executive. These people are involved in endless meetings, discussions, talks and negotiations–all of which seem a great waste of time when there is so much work to be done, so many real achievements to be gained. An Aries can understand, once it is explained, that talks and negotiations–the social graces–lead ultimately to better, more effective actions. The interesting thing is that an Aries is rarely malicious or spiteful–even when waging war. Aries people fight without hate for their opponents. To them it is all good-natured fun, a grand adventure, a game.

When confronted with a problem many people will say ‘Well, let’s think about it, let’s analyse the situation.’ But not an Aries. An Aries will think ‘Something must be done. Let’s get on with it.’ Of course neither response is the total answer. Sometimes action is called for, sometimes cool thought. But an Aries tends to err on the side of action.

Action and thought are radically different principles. Physical activity is the use of brute force. Thinking and deliberating require one not to use force–to be still. It is not good for the athlete to be deliberating the next move; this will only slow down his or her reaction time. The athlete must act instinctively and instantly. This is how Aries people tend to behave in life. They are quick, instinctive decision-makers and their decisions tend to be translated into action almost immediately. When their intuition is sharp and well tuned, their actions are powerful and successful. When their intuition is off, their actions can be disastrous.

Do not think this will scare an Aries. Just as a good warrior knows that in the course of combat he or she might acquire a few wounds, so too does an Aries realize–somewhere deep down–that in the course of being true to yourself you might get embroiled in a disaster or two. It is all part of the game. An Aries feels strong enough to weather any storm.

There are many Aries people who are intellectual. They make powerful and creative thinkers. But even in this realm they tend to be pioneers–outspoken and blunt. These types of Aries tend to elevate (or sublimate) their desire for physical combat in favour of intellectual, mental combat. And they are indeed powerful.

In general, Aries people have a faith in themselves that others could learn from. This basic, rock-bottom faith carries them through the most tumultuous situations of life. Their courage and self-confidence make them natural leaders. Their leadership is more by way of example than by actually controlling others.

Finance

Aries people often excel as builders or estate agents. Money in and of itself is not as important as are other things–action, adventure, sport, etc. They are motivated by the need to support and be well-thought-of by their partners. Money as a way of attaining pleasure is another important motivation. An Aries functions best in their own businesses or as manager of their own departments within a large business or corporation. The fewer orders they have to take from higher up, the better. They also function better out in the field rather than behind a desk.

Aries people are hard workers with a lot of endurance; they can earn large sums of money due to the strength of their sheer physical energy.

Venus is their money planet, which means that Aries need to develop more of the social graces in order to realize their full earning potential. Just getting the job done–which is what an Aries excels at–is not enough to create financial success. The co-operation of others needs to be attained. Customers, clients and co-workers need to be made to feel comfortable; many people need to be treated properly in order for success to happen. When Aries people develop these abilities–or hire someone to do this for them–their financial potential is unlimited.

Career and Public Image

One would think that a pioneering type would want to break with the social and political conventions of society. But this is not so with the Aries-born. They are pioneers within conventional limits, in the sense that they like to start their own businesses within an established industry.

Capricorn is on the 10th house (career) cusp of Aries’ solar horoscope. Saturn is the planet that rules their life’s work and professional aspirations. This tells us some interesting things about the Aries character. First off, it shows that, in order for Aries people to reach their full career potential, they need to develop some qualities that are a bit alien to their basic nature: They need to become better administrators and organizers; they need to be able to handle details better and to take a long-range view of their projects and their careers in general. No one can beat an Aries when it comes to achieving short-range objectives, but a career is long term, built over time. You cannot take a ‘quickie’ approach to it.

Some Aries people find it difficult to stick with a project until the end. Since they get bored quickly and are in constant pursuit of new adventures, they prefer to pass an old project or task on to somebody else in order to start something new. Those Aries who learn how to put off the search for something new until the old is completed will achieve great success in their careers and professional lives.

In general, Aries people like society to judge them on their own merits, on their real and actual achievements. A reputation acquired by ‘hype’ feels false to them.

Love and Relationships

In marriage and partnerships Aries like those who are more passive, gentle, tactful and diplomatic–people who have the social grace and skills they sometimes lack. Our partners always represent a hidden part of ourselves–a self that we cannot express personally.

An Aries tends to go after what he or she likes aggressively. The tendency is to jump into relationships and marriages. This is especially true if Venus is in Aries as well as the Sun. If an Aries likes you, he or she will have a hard time taking no for an answer; many attempts will be made to sweep you off your feet.

Though Aries can be exasperating in relationships–especially if they are not understood by their partners–they are never consciously or wilfully cruel or malicious. It is just that they are so independent and sure of themselves that they find it almost impossible to see somebody else’s viewpoint or position. This is why an Aries needs as a partner someone with lots of social grace.

On the plus side, an Aries is honest, someone you can lean on, someone with whom you will always know where you stand. What he or she lacks in diplomacy is made up for in integrity.

Home and Domestic Life

An Aries is of course the ruler at home–the Boss. The male will tend to delegate domestic matters to the female. The female Aries will want to rule the roost. Both tend to be handy round the house. Both like large families and both believe in the sanctity and importance of the family. An Aries is a good family person, although he or she does not especially like being at home a lot, preferring instead to be roaming about.

Considering that they are by nature so combative and wilful, Aries people can be surprisingly soft, gentle and even vulnerable with their children and partners. The sign of Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is on the cusp of their solar 4th house (home and family). When the Moon is well aspected–under favourable influences–in the birth chart an Aries will be tender towards the family and want a family life that is nurturing and supportive. Aries likes to come home after a hard day on the battlefield of life to the understanding arms of their partner and the unconditional love and support of their family. An Aries feels that there is enough ‘war’ out in the world–and he or she enjoys participating in that. But when Aries comes home, comfort and nurturing are what’s needed.

Horoscope for 2010 (#u14fd842a-85dd-56e5-a83a-056710d0e228)

Major Trends

In 2009 two major long-term planets–Saturn and Pluto–moved into a stressful alignment with you. This should not be taken lightly, as these planets are formidable and will test your mettle for the next 2 years. (It will be a lot easier for you in 2 years’ time.) You are in a period of character building. A period for gaining strength and for building up your spiritual and mental muscles. Rest assured, the cosmos–which is always loving and just–will not give you more than you can bear. It might push you to the edge, but never over the edge.

Yes, you will be working harder. Yes, your overall energy will not be up to its usual standards (we will discuss this further in the Health section, page 19). Yes, you will feel like you are walking uphill with the wind blowing in your face. But if you don’t give up, if you reach into your inner reservoirs of strength, many blessings will come. You will learn the art of alchemy–the art of taking negatives and transforming them into positives. You will develop endurance and courage. You will learn to perform well under pressure. And when the difficult period ends, you will be oh-so-much stronger and more confident.

Last year was a strong social year–but more in the nature of friendships. This area is still strong, but not as much as last year. Romance and marriages were getting tested last year, and this trend continues in the year ahead. The cosmos is going to put your social life into the ‘right order’ and sometimes it uses dramatic means. More on this later.

Spirituality was important last year, and this year it will become even more important–as Jupiter will move through your 12th house of spirituality in the year ahead.

Both Jupiter and Uranus will move into your sign for brief periods in the year ahead–this is a major headline. These are slow-moving planets. The last time Uranus was in Aries was approximately 88 years ago (most of you have never experienced this energy in this lifetime). The last time Jupiter was in Aries was 12 years ago. While these movements are not the ‘full-blown’ transit (this will happen in 2011), they are announcements of things to come–and they are good announcements. You are getting ready for tremendous freedom and financial abundance–and it can happen very suddenly. The very pressures on you, which seem so onerous and burdensome, will lead you to a greater freedom. (Those of you born early in the sign of Aries–between March 20th and 24th–will feel this transit most keenly.)