AQUARIUS HOROSCOPE

You are traveling through unknown territory. One would think this would be appealing to you because Aquarians are supposed to be curious and experimental, but you can also be very regimented and set in your ways. You believe there’s a place for everything and that everything should be in its place. Nevertheless, you do have a secret genius for improvising on the spot, as will be seen on October 14th when unforeseen circumstances pull the rug out from underneath you. It's funny how you came into this situation fearing the worst but will be leaving it with every good reason to hope for the best.

You don’t want to quash anyone’s spirit. It goes against your Aquarian nature, which is to champion free expression and encourage enlightened thinking. However, you still believe that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, which is why you will have to lay down the law on October 11th. This won’t make you popular in the moment, nor will you appreciate how the people whose interests you are protecting will be the most ungrateful. Nevertheless, you should rest assured that what you are doing is right. Things may seem thankless now, but everyone will eventually see the wisdom of your actions.

The Solar Eclipse on October 2nd will feel a lot like receiving a calling card from your future; not your immediate future – like next week – but the future beyond that. And as with any eclipse, you can sense its importance but can't explain why. All you know is that it's not rooted in who or where you are now. It may lie someplace you haven't been before or can't even imagine. Stay open to this feeling and pay attention to conversations you'll be having with people over the next six months. The Universe may choose unlikely mouthpieces, but you'll recognize them when you hear them.

Don’t get too heavy-handed on September 26th when Mercury trines Pluto. A trine is a facilitating energy, which means you'll get what you want in a sale, bid, or negotiation. You win – except that finalizing details will take longer than anticipated. The other party might vacillate, haggle, or even throw up a roadblock or two. This could make you impatient and cause you to become more insistent, but don't. The people you're dealing with feel outsmarted and like they've lost their advantage. They have, but you don't need to rub their noses in it. Delays allow time for bruised egos and hurt pride to heal.

You were born under a fixed sign. The fixed signs – which are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius – are famous for being as stubborn as the day is long. Believe it or not, this will serve you quite well in the weeks ahead when you will be pressured into changing a course of action. People will weigh in with all kinds of opinions and judgments, and you really must stick to your guns, no matter how well-meaning their advice (or withering their criticism) may be. The truth is that you really do know what’s best, and you need to be bold and unwavering now.

You’ll want to extend the olive branch when Venus forms a trine to Jupiter on September 15th. A trine like this often follows a time of conflict – like a rainbow follows a storm – and it serves as a message from the Stars that the contest is over, the fight is finished, and that it’s time to make peace. You don’t have the emotional and/or financial capacity to continue waging the battle you’ve been waging and, believe it or not, neither does your opponent. Find a place where you can meet face to face, and you’ll be able to settle your differences quickly and amicably.

You need to explore some stress management techniques. Don't worry. The stars aren't signaling a crisis. If anything, you're probably experiencing a slow period at work, which would allow you to check out a meditation, yoga, or tai chi class. These are the good-for-you things that you typically put off because your answer to anxiety is to keep busy, but burning the candle at both ends isn't the answer. Reconnecting to your center and finding ways to navigate your workday more mindfully will prove to be a more effective use of your time and energy than making yourself power through the next obstacle in your path.

A dispute is settled amicably when Venus forms a trine to Pluto on August 29th. Being the target rather than the cause, there really wasn't anything you could do, which is why you're fortunate to have other people who could intervene on your behalf. It will come as a relief to see things finally set right. However, Pluto's retrograde back into Capricorn on September 1st means that the matter won't be completely settled until mid-November. It's not great news for your frayed nerves, but you need to focus on other things now. Like a scab that's better left alone – it will heal on its own.

A decision you thought lay further down the road is suddenly front and center when the Full Moon in Aquarius forms a square to Uranus on August 19th. Obviously, you'll be taken by surprise—that's what Uranus squares do—but when you remember that this is something you've often thought about, you'll soon realize that you're better prepared than you know. Take time to let your eyes adjust to developments as they unfold because what feels like a collapse may actually presage release from a stumbling block that's been holding you back. It's not the way you see things now, but in time, you will.

It's not like an Aquarian to trumpet their accomplishments. If anything, you'll do the exact opposite. You often deflect attention by downplaying your successes and praising a group effort instead. However, there comes a time when you have to talk about what you’ve achieved if you don't want to continue being overlooked or experience people taking credit for what you've done, and that time is August 14th, when Mars conjoins Jupiter in Gemini. You may feel embarrassed and even a bit tacky talking about yourself, but once you receive the recognition and praise you deserve, it will be impossible to ever be so deferential again.