2012 Horoscope: Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

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Should I get (or stay) married? Am I with the right person? Will I have a child? What's my best career move? When will I feel happy again?

"Getting my chart done was like the best therapy session of the year!"
—Pamela Madsen, fertility coach and author of bestselling book Shameless

2012 Challenges:
Impatience. You feel restless and ready for something new, but not sure where to start. You may start things quickly only to see your excitement fizzle out fast.

2012 Opportunities:
Family. Cool your wings, social butterfly. Spend more quality time at home with loved ones instead of flitting about town.

Love & Relationships

Are you ready to get a little more intimate? From January through July 3rd, passionate Mars will visit Virgo, your eighth house of shared resources and permanent bonding. This can be scary terrain for Aquarians at first, since you prefer to keep things at emotional arm’s length. You’re a free-spirited sign, and when things get TOO stable, you tend to shake them up. Mars can make you enthusiastic and stressed-out in equal doses. On the upside, you could enjoy a strong physical attraction, a reawakened sex life, or a relationship that leads to engagement, pregnancy, moving in together, and financial success. You might be ready to make a big move, and with proactive Mars here, you may cast aside your usual reservations and just go for it.

During tense moments, you could fight over sex, money, personal space and jealousy issues. One or both of you may be feeling unusually possessive during this cycle, as the eighth house can bring up some buried control issues. Take care not to be overly secretive now, as this will only fuel the fire. If one of you is out of work or dealing with financial issues, this could cause extra friction for attached Aquarians. Couples therapy wouldn’t be a bad idea in some cases, especially while love-planet Venus is retrograde (backward) from May 15-June 27. The eighth house rules both marriage and divorce, so some Water Bearers may be dealing with a contentious breakup or a division of joint property. If you want to keep the house or your fair share of the pie, you may need to fight for it, as Mars awakens your warrior spirit.

Children and family can also be a front-burner issue for the first half of the year, while expansive Jupiter is in Taurus, your domestic fourth house. You may decide to expand your family, adopt, or move in to a bigger place. Your mother, a female relative, or an important woman could play a role in your life changes. Spending quality time with female friends will help you keep perspective in your love life—you need that supportive boost of estrogen, Aquarius! Overall, this is an important time to slow down, tend to your emotions and take extra-special care of yourself. Let yourself do some nesting, too—when’s the last time you gave your bedroom a makeover or bought a new set of dishes?

The second half of 2012 will be a lot more fun and playful. On June 11th, optimistic Jupiter will begin a yearlong visit to fellow air sign Gemini, your fifth house of romance. This is a great time for new love or just starting fresh with your current partner. You may trade in your girl- or guy-next-door image for a glamorous and head-turning new look. A long-distance or cross-cultural affair is possible, and this would be a good time to keep an open mind to many different types than you usually go for, too. You may be attracted to people who are creative, artistic or who wear their hearts on their sleeves. Coupled Aquarians will want to break out of a romantic rut and enjoy more dates and activities together.

Alas, Jupiter won’t take away ALL of Mars’ fireworks in time for the fourth of July. The fifth house can also be dramatic, so there may be a few more intense moments in your personal life, especially at the May 28th and November 28th Gemini eclipses. These eclipses, which have arrived every six months since December 2010, are gradually reshaping your approach to love and passion. The fifth house rules fertility, so there could be an unexpected visit from the stork at one of these eclipses, too. Or, perhaps someone will arrive out of the blue and steal your heart. With eclipses, you just never know!

Work & Money
A 14-year chapter of your life is coming to a close—and you might be happy about it. Since 1998, foggy Neptune has been visiting Aquarius, slowly leaving its imprint on your life. Under Neptune’s spell, you may have explored more creative, artistic and humanitarian avenues through your work. Your image may have shifted to a more glamorous look, or perhaps you took on a public role championing a cause. At times, Neptune may have made you feel self-conscious, or uncertain of your identity. If you spent this time wandering and trying on different roles, Neptune’s departure will make it easier to figure out who you are—and just how important you are to the people who depend on you.

Neptune’s next journey will be through Pisces, your second house of work and money. Between now and 2026, you may become interested in doing work that heals the planet. Since both Neptune and Pisces rule the sea, you may take a special interest in the world’s water supply—saving the oceans and natural bodies of water from pollution. You could become involved in film, photography, theater, music and all things avant-garde, either as part of your career, or something you do for greater personal satisfaction. You’ll want to earn a living with a conscious twist, and perhaps even a spiritual one. Your own intuitive powers can grow, and become an invaluable part of how you do business.

Meantime, your ruling planet Uranus is visiting Aries, your communication sign, from March 2011-2018. The way you express yourself could become a lot more bold, and you may become involved in writing, sales or teaching. If you’re the shy type, this would be the year to take a public speaking workshop—though most Aquarians have incredible powers of persuasion. Uranus rules technology, so you may begin using social media or a digital platform to spread a message. Brush up any rusty computer skills, and if you own a business, freshen up its image with a re-branding. Look for innovative new collaborators, friends and colleagues. A community project could put your name on the map, so think and act locally!

Ready for the big leagues? In October, structured Saturn begins a two-year visit to Scorpio, your tenth house of career. Saturn is the personal trainer planet that throws you challenges designed to make you stronger. Between now and 2015, you could rise to serious heights of prominence and responsibility. If you’ve been screwing around or putting off figuring out what to do with your life, the gig is up—it’s time to take your professional path seriously and set some lofty goals.

Saturn is also the planetary “integrity cop,” so if you’ve been cutting corners or doing things that aren’t 100 percent on the up-and-up, Saturn will blow the whistle. Some Aquarians may lose a job, close a business, or need to restructure your plans in some way. What doesn’t kill you makes your stronger under Saturn’s reign. Our souls know when we’re being sneaky, so you’ll want to deal with whatever’s driving you to act in a shady way—perhaps self-doubt or an old scarcity mindset? It’s time to do the hard work to overcome this and set your efforts on a clean, honest trajectory. You may also experience difficulty with authority figures during this time, or perhaps a valued colleague will depart your workplace. Slow down, stay humble and perhaps even look elsewhere. The Scorpio solar eclipse on November 13th could bring a thrilling new career opportunity out of the blue—either near this date or in the six months that follow. Keep your ears open!

Health & Wellness

Your personal life is expanding in ways you never imagined. Since June 4, 2011, visionary Jupiter has been visiting Taurus, your fourth house of home, family and emotional foundations. Jupiter is here until June 11, 2012, a cycle where many Aquarians could become parents, move into bigger homes, or perhaps deal with any lingering baggage from your own childhood. Your relationship with a parent (especially your mom) or a child could be the focal point of this cycle. Perhaps one of your birdies is all grown up, giving you a case of empty nest syndrome. You’ve definitely got the desire to nurture someone, so that may mean adopting a pet or spending more quality time with nieces, nephews, neighbor kids or young people (perhaps through volunteer work).

If you’re an on-the-go Aquarian whose favorite thing to make for dinner is reservations, you might derive surprising joy from getting acquainted with your kitchen. Take a cooking class, learn how to boil water, or ask a stove-savvy friend to teach you some tricks of the trade. Picking up a craft like knitting or learning to play an instrument can also help you channel nervous energy into a soothing outlet. With Jupiter in Taurus, you’re shifting from nomad to nester, and you’re especially sensitive to the colors, sounds and décor in your home environment.

In the fall, you’ll benefit from adding more structure to your life, and by setting some clear fitness goals. With Saturn in your tenth house of long-term planning from October 3, 2012 until September 2015, this is an important time to streamline your life, prioritize and trim the excess. Working with a trainer, nutritionist or recognized expert will help you achieve impressive physical results. This is an important time to take care of your teeth and bones. Watch those daredevil stunts, boost your calcium intake (hello, dark leafy greens) and get that dental work done.

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