ARIES HOROSCOPE

Your Ruling Planet Mars enters a slippery patch of sky on March 2nd, and you could become the author of your own missteps if you aren't careful. You're apt to be extremely sensitive and skittish, and this may lead you to walk out on things prematurely, to fire off ultimatums when you don't get your way, or to see gloom and doom everywhere you look. The flip side to this is that Mars in Pisces could also be a creative and prolific time for you. It all depends on how deep you want to go. Mars will be in Pisces from March 2nd to April 9th.

You have a natural respect for authority. Many people wax poetic about what they'd do if they were in the driver's seat, but they often lack the nerve for leadership. This is why you support those in charge because responsibility is a heavy burden to bear. That said, it's glaringly obvious that a certain supervisor is out of their depth. Moreover, they've become a huge problem that the chain of command doesn't want to acknowledge, which means it's up to you to do something about it on February 27th. You don't relish leading the charge for change, but you'll do it if nobody else will.

The scales fall from your eyes when Saturn conjoins Neptune on February 20th. This won't be a rude awakening as much as a dawning realization. As an Aries, you tend to follow others' marching orders if it's in service to a good cause or if you feel like you're fighting the good fight. You like a strong leader. Although the planetary conjunction may prove disillusioning at first, it will also show that it's time to take charge of your own life. Free from the demands and expectations that others imposed on you, you can now pursue those aspirations that speak to your heart and soul.

Saturn reenters Aries on February 13th. As the planet of trials and tribulations, you will feel like your burdens have grown heavier and your tasks more thankless. But Saturn doesn’t do this to quash your spirit; it does it to rekindle your fire. This is the time to choose which challenges you want to take on and which to put down, because you just can’t do them anymore. You need to be absolutely honest with yourself so you can focus your energy on those endeavors you want to pursue. Do this and you will not only face your fears, but grow stronger with each obstacle you surmount.

You need to do more than just shake on the deal; you need to get it all in writing. And it doesn't matter how much you like the person you're doing business with, how in sync you are, or even the way you finish each other's sentences – Venus will still be squaring Uranus in your solar house of finances on February 8th. That could result in a surprise about-face or no-show right when you're ready to finalize matters. Venus/Uranus squares are famous for broken promises which is why you want to make sure that you've got everything in writing beforehand. Better to be safe than sorry.

How well do you play with others? It's something you'll be thinking about when Ruling Planet Mars conjoins Pluto in Aquarius on January 27th. Aquarius is all about putting the group's interests ahead of your own. In truth, you've always been a team player, albeit an outstanding one given your fiery nature. Now you must coordinate efforts, take into account people's feelings, and adjust your aims and methods so that everyone benefits. At first you won't like it – why should you share credit with those who don't perform as well as you – but that will change as you grow more comfortable with your new role.

You'll feel absolutely electrified when Mars enters Aquarius on January 23rd. This is an extremely alert and volatile type of energy — more caffeinated than it is passionate. Loved ones and friends are accustomed to you being driven by a sense of urgency; however, your accelerated speech and actions might strike them as a bit… hyper. And since you'll be the one coming across as zippy, it may behoove you to slow down and explain yourself when people look like they don't get you. This will make everyone's lives a lot easier. Mars will be in Aquarius from January 23rd to March 2nd.

You don't like it when people get whiny. Complaining about their hurt feelings or life being unfair is more likely to harden your heart than open it. Nevertheless, you might want to ask yourself why you're so quick to write them off as being “oversensitive” when Mercury opposes Jupiter on January 14th. Is it possible that they're expressing things you've felt forbidden to express yourself? Powering through problems isn't always the answer, and taking a moment to be there for someone in their hurt may be both revealing and comforting. Perhaps it's time to give them the hug and support that a parent never gave you.

Mars is exalted when it's in Capricorn and since December 15th, you may have found yourself testing a limit or pushing the envelope. Up until now you could say you were just flexing your muscles, but things will get quite serious on January 9th when the Sun conjoins Mars. An exalted cazimi Mars is extremely rare and it will do whatever it takes to get what it wants. If motives are heroic, then you will succeed beyond imagining. If not? Then you could see things take a nasty turn. You don't want to do anything underhanded when Mars is this powerful because it will only backfire.

You're bound to feel a rush of enthusiasm and excitement thanks to the First Quarter Moon in Aries on December 27th. This coincides with finally being invited to present an idea you've been developing or given the authority to spearhead a project. But no sooner are you granted this then you discover that interest has already moved on to something else and you're coming in right when things are winding down. So is your big break over before it began? That's one way of looking at it. Another is that it's up to you to resuscitate something that everyone else had given up for dead.