2018 is a year which sets the tone and introduces  a new  3 and 8 year cycle, taking a markedly different approach and vibe to the previous 2 years. As we enter 2018, Saturn has just entered Capricorn for a 3 year stay creating a steady backbone to the hard work, volatility, inwards reflections and disruptions that will begin to reveal themselves in 2018.

The unlikely duo of Taurus and Uranus will finally meet up again after 84 years. They will beginning  to reveal how they might tango, this time around; set against a back drop of overlapping  planetary retrogrades. This is a much slower and more self-reflective changing of pace.

The past 2 years have had a distinctive Fire flavour to them, creating dynamic change and disruption in signs that feed off such change. Yang energy is now turning inwards in 2018, turning it into a Yin year, doubly reflected with 2018 also being an Earth Dog Chinese Year.

2018 is a year where the major outer planets all move from Fire into Earth signs. Stabilising Saturn into Capricorn  and Disruptive Uranus in to Taurus. Like the Australian Bush, for 10s of thousands of years in some would say; in a reliable yet unpredictable way, it regenerated and re-germinates through fire activating the seeds and plants. We now astrologically enter a phase, for these burnt seeds to germinate after being activated over the past 2 fire years. Its time for the earth to swallow them allowing them to grow.

2018 these seeds now take root, nourished by the earth, but like anything that is born out of fire, the path may not always be straight forward. Earth can smother and it can restrict, but it can also keep seeds secure and grounded as these seeds try to take root over the next 3 years.  As these freshly earthed seeds  begin to take form its time to ask yourself;  What is it that you would like to seed and grow over the next 3 years ? What seeds have the past 2 years of fire cracked open ?

When Jupiter moves from Scorpio (water)  into Sagittarius (fire) in November 2018, we get that little fire, warming the earth, helping the germination, as Jupiter enters the sign of its rulership for 2019, helping to us to get to the next phase. The sands are shifting and its a great time to work with these shifts. 2018  is the beginning of a major paradigm shift. Both at a  macro and micro level.  Personal Plans or developments are a 3 year investment, minimum;  as we build to 2020.  These goals and desires are supported. This is why the energy is coming together now, to be worked with and moulded like clay, or seeded.

 Below are the main transits of the year and what they foreshadow for the year ahead, they are to be worked with and kneaded and nurtured. Over time,  the scale to which you can build becoming limitless. The only catch, is you gotta turn pro and do the work ! 

2018 – The Major Transits

Saturn in Capricorn  

(All of 2018)

Saturn entered Capricorn in December 2017, Capricorn is Saturn’s ruler and its a 27 year cycle which sees the karmic master coming home. Its coming home to rework the Capricorn area of your birth chart, making it a stronger platform for your personal growth and development. Saturn works by destroying things that aren’t working to create strong structures for you to build from. Saturn is slow and steady and this will be most reliable aspect of 2018. Saturn will give you gravity to withstand any changes, it rewards hard work over longer periods of time.

2018 is the 1st year / phase of a 3 year cycle. Saturn slows things down so don’t be making plans to harvest anything seeded this year until at least 2020. Saturn dares you to think big and think long-term. There is no short-term vision with Saturn in Capricorn, it is teaching us to do the work, do it properly and give credit where credit is due. It’s a pretty straightforward and simple energy, but its slow and restrictive which not everyone likes the flavour of. Things take time.

Saturn in Capricorn is the secure and safe earth that protects the seeds for the future. This is the back bone of the year, don’t fight it, there is too much going on that signifies that Saturn in Capricorn has got this for you. Unfortunately  there is no way around. The only way is through, and there in lies the catch.

The Malefics 

(March – May & August – September) 

The Malefics in Astrology are the planets dubbed unlucky or those bringing mis-fortune. Thankfully Astrology has progressed a lot since this term was thrown around, however, it is interesting to note that Mars, Saturn & Pluto (all planets associated with mis-fortune and hostility) are all in Capricorn for most of  2018, due to the Mars retrograde. Capricorn is the sign that Mars & Saturn are exulted/enhanced  or super charged by being in. Capricorn makes these planets empowered, you will be asked to use it !

This doesn’t mean you are going to have a bad year and have mis-fortune fall upon you. What it does mean is that there maybe areas of stress around you or some form of anxiety; if you don’t answer there call to empower yourself, or work hard with any problem solving at hand.  There maybe pressure or external forces making things feel harder than what they should be. This isn’t a sign of defeat or failure, this is a call to rise up and meet the challenge head on ! It’s a call to climb above when any issues or tensions arise.

Mars is the giver of Fire & Power, Saturn is the planet of Responsibility & Accountability, Pluto is the planet of transformation & regeneration . These planets will be keying off each other on and off for a lot of 2018. So don’t blow it off, don’t feel defeated because you wanted an easy ride, step up and take the challenge, if you do, you will be rewarded.  Where you have Capricorn in your birth chart is where these planets will be effecting you personal life.

Don’t by into others hostility, aggression or any form of negative connection if it transpires. Take the higher road and keep plugging away up that mountain. Never stoop to conquer, no matter how much you might be called to. It will be a challenge to handle this energy with grace, but Capricorn does bring grace to these planets.  Just check that you aren’t keying off others who are re-acting rather than working with the energy at hand. Always ask, what am I reacting to ? Where is this hostility coming from ?, acknowledge it and move on, don’t take the bait if it’s coming from muddles or external forces.

17 March – 16 May 2018 is when Mars, Saturn & Pluto all be in Capricorn together, with April being where most of the heat lies, with Mars conjuncting Saturn, then Pluto.

August – September Mars will return to Capricorn due to its Retrograde. August and September might bring back to finally complete or finally reconcile any issues from March – May. Once Mars clears its retrograde from 15th October onwards the dust will begin to settle and the Spartan warrior will be back on track and become high functioning again.

Uranus in Taurus 

(15th  May – 7th November 2018, then back for 8 years in 2019)

Uranus the planet of Surprise, Innovation, Rebellion, Shock and Change will be entering Taurus a fixed earth sign in May. Returning after 84 years, Uranus enters Taurus from 15th May – November 2018, giving us a taste of what its 8 year transit is going to look like.

Taurus is very slow and predictable, it isn’t one for change and is very happy with its comforts. Uranus coming to the party for 8 years will see Taurus having to negotiate and reconcile how it deals with and works with change, especially when its uninvited.

Uranus will be looking to shake up, revolutionise and change things that are Taurean. Money, Currency, Commodities, Food, The Body, are all areas looking to be revolutionised. The last time Uranus was in Taurus (1934 – 1942), the Great Depression occurred as well as the outbreak of WW2, to give an indication of its potency.

2018 will give us an insight into what Uranus in Taurus may create as a global change agent. It will retrograde back into Aries end of 2018, before settling back into Taurus in 2019. Globally things such as crypto or alternative currencies, changes in commodities and values, lab grown meats, alternative foods becoming more mainstream, 3D printing, alternative food sources, break through in food production  and how we nourish our bodies would be the logical areas to be looking at with Uranus in Taurus.

Looking at which House Taurus sits in your birth chart is a great way to look at how it might affect you personally. If you have your Sun or Moon in Taurus, expect the unexpected and be ready to have unexpected changes to areas that you have become too comfortable in being in. Exactly the type of thing that will displease a Taurus the most. Keeping in mind the more you try to hold on to a stagnant area of your life, the harder the transition will be. Uranus, does have its rewards, it innovates to make life better and more streamlined. Taurus’s challenge will be to not be stubborn about  it, learning to go with the unexpected flow.

Mercury Retrogrades 

(Dates Below) 

This year, sees all Mercury Retrograde in Fire Signs. 2017 saw the Retrogrades in Fire Signs but spilling back over into its neighbouring sign. 2018, will see Mercury retrograde all contained within the fire sign (with the Sagittarius retro being the only exception) . These are the only major transits of Fire signs, until November 2018.

Interestingly the  retrogrades do also spill over into other key transits making them a potent player in the introduction of other transits. They are crossing paths with other planets trying to work there magic.

Mercury Retrogrades during these other planetary shifts might make the experience more internal, creating  a more heightened and  personal commentary during these key moments of energetic shifts of 2018. Its less happening around you, more happening with in you.   These Mercury retrogrades are trying to advance your story, with passionate inner dialogue.  This is powerful self talk.

March 23rd – April 15th : Mercury Retrograde in Aries (connects in with Mars in Capricorn April 5th – Personal power)

July 26th – August 19th : Mercury Retrograde in Leo (connects in with a total lunar eclipse in Aquarius conjunct Mars &  the South Node – personal talents & personal power, the need to be brave)

November 17th – December 7th : Mercury Retro in Sagittarius (connects in with Venus Retrograde & Jupiter’s ingress into Sagittarius by conjunction on 28th of November  – where you want to expand & where you meet Luck & Opportunity)

Mars Retrograde

26th June – 27th August 2018 in Aquarius & Capricorn

Mars retrogrades every 2 years, and Mars retrogrades, like all retrogrades offer opportunities to pause and turn inwards. As Mars is to do with personal power, movement and traction, Mars Retrogrades can be very frustrating times. There can be a real feeling that momentum is lost and that there is a loss of traction or movement.  This leads to frustration and a need to vent, which is a potential pit fall of Mars Retrogrades. Once again like Saturn’s transit, patience is required. This is not a time to push forward, or be the aggressor in a situation.

Mars will be retrograde in Aquarius and Capricorn. Mars Retrograde will also be next to the Full Moon Eclipse in Aquarius on July 28th. Having a Mars Retrograde next to a Lunar Eclipse and the South Node,  signals deep changes to do with personal power, emotional cleansing and the use of your natural talents, talents that don’t necessarily progress you in the way they currently function (South Node). This is  heavy reworking of internal structures.  It’s the opportunity to do some sacred personal shapeshifting. The results  won’t reveal themselves immediately. Patience is once again the key. Its part of the 3 year progress.

Mars Retrograde is a personal reworking of your power, strength and how you wield it.  It won’t be immediate but its a very powerful reconfiguration. Mars having its systems upgraded will be more noticeable once it goes direct from October 2018, and moving into 2019.

Those who have Mars retrograde natally in their birth chart, this retrograde will see  a time of great movement and action. Why ? because it taps into an aspect in their chart that only gets activated every 2 years. Active retrogrades will activate a natal one if people have it in there chart. It unlocks the energy, allowing those who have it in there chart to really push forward. For those who have Mars Retrograde in your birth chart, it is a time to really take flight and be successful forage ahead in things that empower you.

Mars will go direct at 28 degrees Capricorn. The degree where Mars has most power in the sign it favours. Once this Mars retrograde is over, Mars will be ready to pick up and charge forward with great vigour and strength. Mars, post training is a spartan warrior ready to conquer. The next time Mars Retrogrades in Aquarius will be 2050.

Venus Retrograde 

(yes this really is the year of the retrograde)

5th October – 16th November 2018 in Scorpio & Libra

Venus Retrograde, like Mars retrograde, is a turning inwards to re-evaluate your ideals around the planetary theme. This time it is your Venusian ideals. Venus retrogrades looks at relationships, relationships with self, with others, your looks and style, as well as physical (purchased) aesthetics.

Venus retrogrades are traditionally bad times to invest in art, or alter your appearance in any way that can’t be changed back. Why ? because your judgement has been skewed, or you will change your mind post retro phase.

It is also a time to not go chasing after relationships that pop back up or re-enter your life (as it is a thing that DOES happen when Venus is Retrograde). Any relationships that do re-enter, tread carefully.   Venus retrogrades are closing chapters, re-evalutaing and times of taking stock, its about rebalancing and closure, not powering forward to conquer.

It is a good time to pamper and be kind to yourself, prioritising your feelings and looking at what is important for you when it comes to relationships with others as well as yourself. Its all playing into this Saturnian idea of consolidating for the future.

Its good to look at past retrogrades in particular for Venus retrogrades as they repeat every 8 years in the same signs. This retrograde cycle is a evolving or a continuation of themes from previous cycles.  Its also good to look at how your relationships with self and others has progressed since this time, are you happy with it ?  What themes during the previous transits do you think are relevant to you from that time to now ?

October – November 2010

October – November 2002

Late 1994

Jupiter in Sagittarius 

9th November 2018 for 1 year

Closing the year off, feeling like things have been nothing but hard work and no fun, Jupiter the great Benific, a king of the gods, enters the sign of its rulership, Sagittarius for a year.

After spending most of 2018 in the watery depths of Scorpio, Jupiter will spend most of the year dealing with expansion of things we like to keep under the surface. Scorpio is all about under/otherworldly expressions of the human experience. Jupiter in Scorpio adds to this serious, slow moving and earth / water tone which once again encourages hardwork and patience. This restrictive and muddy current will shift once Jupiter returns home to Sagittarius in November 2018.

Jupiter loves to be the optimist, expand and inflate ideas and situations, which is the completely opposite energy to what Saturn in Capricorn & Jupiter in Scorpio can feel like. So as 2018 closes  we have 3 major planets in there signs of rulership (Jupiter in Sagittarius, Saturn in Capricorn & Neptune in Pisces), this sets a very empowering and more optimistic tone for year 2 of the 3 year plan. Planets in the sign of their rulership mean they work at full capacity, they are supporting you at there highest function; but only if you are supporting yourself at your highest capacity.

Jupiter in Sagittarius will be a beautiful reward for all the sacrifices and hard work. Its a repeat or hark back to 12 years earlier. What was happening in 2006 ? what stroke of luck or magic back then really propelled you forward ?  This is the energy that will be coming to into play as we enter 2019.

2018 is our introduction to a new and self determined future, its going to be a slow and measured time. However there can be no greater reward than that of Jupiter the King of the Gods and the great benific coming home in to Sagitarius to really sprout the optimism as we draw to the end of 2018, looking back to see how far we have come.

xxx