Aries Will 2017 go down in history as the year Aries learns to take the back seat? Once your yowls of protest die down, the reasons become clear. Firstly, the Child of Mars has endured tumultuous experiences in the past year, thanks to multiple celestial triggers. You’re dog tired right now and frankly, you need a rest. Secondly, someone else seems to be holding all the cards for most of the upcoming year, whether well deserved in your opinion — or not. Finally, a nagging instability or uncertainty persists between your penchant for personal freedom and your professional efforts to change the world. In 2017 it’s important for Aries to develop strategies to hedge your bets, hold your losses, and find some personal satisfaction where it seems none might be found.

 

It’s not all bad by any means. In fact, the year starts out rather well with your Ruling Planet entering your own zodiac sign of Aries from January 23 – March 8. While in this zone, you can be an effective catalyst; a force that initiates change while itself remaining unchanged. Mars in Aries gives you physical energy and emotional courage, but also amplifies provocative and risk-taking behavior. You’ll potentially take this to a whole new level on February 22-27. You could say or do something that has far more severe ramifications that you anticipate. You feel invincible and impervious to danger. But your actions create disruption in your work environment or career, and surprise, surprise; your partner is pissed off at your unilateral action. Not just a little, either. All of a sudden it’s a do-or-die situation. How to handle this uncomfortable energy? Devote your personal best to a cause bigger than yourself and realize you’re a bit player. Give it up for the greater good.

Your love life at the beginning of the year is somewhat of a trial-and-error situation. Even when a potential partner does arise out of the primordial murk in early February, he or she seems hot then cold. Unsure. There could be some pursuing and distancing, particularly from March 4 – April 15. It’s so out of your normal straight-ahead M.O. that you finally throw up your hands in despair and frustration. Even for the partnered Aries, all the good luck seems to land in your honey’s court as the year progresses. You’re happy for them and everything, but let’s face it: you’re used to being Number One.

You’ll have your mental finger in the socket for the first two weeks of May. Your mind simply won’t stop. Sleep can be affected, which quickly impacts your physical vitality and mental focus. It will take real effort on your part to keep your mind on task and your conversation on subject. Regular, lengthy walks in your neighborhood can help.

The hyper-stimulation of May 1-15 leaves you tired and vulnerable, quick to anger and oblivious to danger. You can get carried away in the six week period of May 15 – June 30, not quite aware of what you’re agreeing to, blind to obvious problems, too certain of your beliefs. Your limits are exceeded but you’re too distracted to notice. While you’re running down the field with your football, you don’t realize that the rest of the team is in a tangled heap many yards behind you. Perhaps you’re even running away, hiding or trying to get away with something. Evasive action is not your forte and frankly you’re not very good at lying. You’re engulfed in emotion from June 4 until July 20, but if you’re not aware of how you feel (true for many Aries) then you’re simply re-acting to stimulation. You take things personally that aren’t meant that way, and the response far exceeds the trigger. There’s got to be a better way.

July and August are the best time this year for Aries to disappear on an extended vacation. You’ll be following the visceral, visible lead of your Ruling Planet Mars, who vanishes from view July 1 – August 21. During this period of time, your efforts to advance yourself in the corporate, professional or “real world” department of life simply won’t have the effects that you are planning on and hoping for. You may even struggle to be seen in your family or at work, fending off feelings of invisibility. Truly this is time to offload work and provide yourself with an opportunity for rest and renewal. Stop doing so dang much! Even Superman needs a break now and then.

After a difficult spring and summer, your upswing begins August 22 when you emerge from your rest with your sleeves rolled up and your work boots on. In fact you’re so full of energy you have to take a little caution not to burst! Keep up with regular, sweat-inducing exercise. August is a month of eclipses, a time of endings and beginnings. Whatever you work on now has very long-term consequences. From September through early December, work as part of a team or group. Far better to lose yourself in a concerted united effort than to a depressed funk!

The first week of October brings a union or re-union, but then a relationship role reversal rears its head which lasts until early December. You’re used to being in charge but now, you’re asked to defer. Perhaps you’ll need to defend someone besides yourself – you’re actually quite good at that, you know. There are sure to be lessons about proper protocol, about prioritizing others before yourself, about soothing the savage beast in order to facilitate smooth interaction.

As the year draws to a close, things look better for Aries than they have all year. In early December, your Ruling Planet moves into an area where mastery is required, and it suits you just fine to step up to that plate. You end a rather difficult year on a high note, feeling restored and rested. May Heaven help you to be deeply passionate and willing to work long and hard to achieve something bigger than you, Aries!

By Linea Van Horn