ARIES HOROSCOPE

It won't be easy giving up a prize you fought long and hard for. You sacrificed a lot to get to this place; nevertheless, you should pay attention to a personal plea or off-the-record request on November 10th. It looks like a boss or supervisor is asking you to relinquish your claim. It's a tall order, but one worth considering when this person tells you what you'll get as a result. Yes, hard-won trophies are hard to turn down, but what you gain in the long run in terms of favor, goodwill, and promises of support will make this look like a cheap knockoff.

If talks are stalled or the other party's recalcitrant, then it's best to leave matters be. Forcing the issue only complicates the situation. There's a lot of behind-the-scenes action going on right now that has nothing to do with you. Think of it as a rainbow circle popping up on your computer. It's tempting to hit the refresh icon repeatedly or even close the tab, but this is the Cosmos's way of communicating to you that it's working on it. Go find something else to do with yourself until November 10th. By that time, things ought to be back on track and ready to go.

Reexamining your role in the heat of a highly fraught and combative situation hardly seems like the right time for self-reflection, but that's what you'll be doing on October 30th when retrograde Mercury squares Ruling Planet Mars. Revelations are often inconvenient, but it’s impossible to go back to doing what you were doing before once they land, which means you'll be switching sides and defending a position you once assailed. It's true that Aries people rarely change their minds, but then again you have always been one to fight the good fight, even if that means locking horns with those you once led.

It's best not to force the issue if a customer or client shows signs of hesitation on October 24th. It's a warning sign and you should heed it. Mercury retrograde in that part of your solar chart that pertains to other people's money shows that this person is struggling with sensitive behind-the-scenes money matters. Either s/he is overdrawn or is experiencing cash flow problems. It might be best to postpone any sale or deal and to reconvene after Mercury resumes direction on Nov. 13th. This gives this person plenty of time to cobble together finances or to bow out gracefully if that isn't possible.

If you’re going to take on an enormous venture or project like the one you’re considering, then you have to commit to it in full. There will be no turning back. This is especially challenging for people born under Aries because you have a problem finishing what you begin. You’re quick out of the starting gate, but often lose steam and interest at the halfway point. Thankfully, a rousing Mars/Saturn trine on October 16th will give you the endurance and discipline to go the distance. It won’t be easy (nothing ever is with you), but in the end you’ll be glad you toughed it out.

Sometimes you can have a brilliant idea, but if it's too far ahead of its time, then it doesn't take. It's seen by others as being too “out there.” You know this to be true from experience. You can recount all the projects, enterprises, and innovations that never took off because they lacked the support or interest. That's why you'll be surprised this week when you're contacted by someone who knows exactly what to do to make one of these ideas work. Yes, you'll have to dust it off and update a few things, but its time has come and it's ready to take flight.

You believe in the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. After all, it was fellow Aries Thomas Jefferson who penned those words in the first place. Yet “inalienable” doesn't come with a lifetime guarantee, as the Mars/Pluto opposition on October 3rd demonstrates. Individual freedoms can be taken away unless exercised regularly. Whether it's a corporate policy that's become repressive, a culture of intolerance that continues unchecked, or even a neighborhood group chat that targets those they've decided aren't welcome, you will find yourself ready to stand up for the underdog as only someone born under the zodiac sign of the hero can.

Your Ruling Planet Mars enters Leo this week. Normally associated with conflicts and strife, Mars takes on a more commanding air when traveling through the zodiac sign of the lion. In fact all you have to do is indicate that you want something and people will rush to get it for you. They may even let you cut in line, offer up that last slice of cake, or gift you a piece of clothing saying it looks better on you anyway. This isn't something that usually happens, so it will take some getting used to. Mars will be in Leo from September 27th until November 25th.

You already know that your way is the right way and that people are wasting precious time debating the obvious, but now isn't the time to point it out. Not when Mercury opposes Saturn in Aries on September 18th. Your only chance to win people over to your side is to let them process things for themselves. This means acting interested in points of view that are pointless, listening to rambling speculations, and nodding in agreement as someone decides, undecides, and then decides again. Do this with the stoic patience of a statue and you'll lock in support for your agenda on September 27th.

Uranus retrograde on September 10th brings a downshift in gears. It's aggravating considering the time spent getting your information in order for a review, application, or interview. Does this mean that the whole thing's off? Let's say it's not the burning priority for the other party like it once was. This is good news if you were being targeted by an inquiry, investigation, or lawsuit because the whole thing may blow over, but what if this was something you pinned your hopes on? Start looking for another door to knock on because the one you're standing in front of won't be opening anytime soon.