It’s a sort of face-off between two sets of aspects today: Mars sesquiquadrate Pluto and contra-parallel Jupiter, and Venus quincunx Zeus and sextile Saturn. Mars’ open and very active conflict with Pluto puts the upstart individual or Willful Warrior into a death roll with the powerful and ruthless, the destructive and, taking a positive form or not, the transformative. This is a ‘go it alone’ position even in the midst of a crowd, the staking of an angry or defiant or ‘end of my rope’ claim to something that confers power–and meeting the resistance of those who already feel it’s their prerogative. Do we get what we aim for? Probably not, for the simple reason that we don’t believe we should. That recommends our attention go in the other direction: toward adjusting our ambitions to suit our relationships and/ or our finances, or vice versa, adjusting what we invest our time, energy, and resources in so that it serves our ambitions. This can have a real-world impact, and makes best use of that restless or defiant energy, giving it a constructive, and probably highly successful, outlet.

For those who have the natal Sun at 22 Aries. Check your natal chart for the correct Sun degree (you may want to read both the degree number and the one that follows, if you have minutes on your Sun position–that offers a more complete picture of your year ahead). This year, dear Aries, you may face a number of challenges involving power scenarios from the past. You may be called upon to re-litigate them, to find your own best expression of them, or you may be asked to claim or eliminate those power structures, whatever may be best for you. It’s generally a matter of clearing yourself of old strictures against using the power you know you have, and of letting go of old bugaboos that no longer apply. You may also face a health issue, but if you take it head-on you’ll not only beat it, you may rid yourself for good of some condition that has plagued you, maybe life-long. Beware, too, of big talk; don’t be misled by a too-rosy picture, but do keep your own thoughts optimistic. This year is meant to prepare you for the massive amount of bounty, and the many opportunities, that will begin to arrive not long before your next birthday.