"We live at the edge of the world, so we live on the edge. Kiwis will sacrifice money and security for adventure and change."

Lucy Lawless b. March 29, 1968

The Year 2016

For thousands of years, we have observed cycles: Seasons, lunar revolutions, birth and death. This year we are in a cycle where the planet Saturn is in the zodiac sign Sagittarius from 2015 to 2017. This cycle of Saturn in Sagittarius previously occurred in 1927-29; and 1956-58; and lastly in 1986-88.

The planet Saturn represents discipline, structure, form and the law courts. It tangibly defines our world through dimensions and regulations. It shrinks and solidifies.

The zodiac sign Sagittarius expands and spreads out! It has domain over foreign countries; publishing, TV, radio, and social media; universities, colleges and libraries; medical schools; law-making, jurisprudence and finally, philosophy and religion.

This year with the planet Saturn in the sign of Sagittarius, we will see new, practical applications of our beliefs and ideas, especially related to social media, universities, churches and laws governing medical care plus how we deal with foreigners and immigration.

In previous years, when Saturn was in Sagittarius, radio became regulated for the first time through the FCC, which itself, was also just formed as a governing body; the first television license was issued; sound came to film with The Jazz Singer; the Academy Awards began in 1927; regular TV programming began; and Nintendo introduced the Zelda series. Likewise, this year and next, we will see new regulations to broadband technology and the Internet, as well as television and social media.

Because Sagittarius is the sign of "foreign countries", every 30 years when Saturn is in this sign, we experience breakthrough connections between countries. In 1927, we had the first transatlantic telephone call. In that same year, Charles Lindbergh stunned the world by flying nonstop from New York to Paris. In 1928, the first TV station was started; and soon the first television show was beamed from London to New York.

In 2016, scientific inventions, especially in aviation, will shrink the world. Mergers and legislation about broadband media will take place. Meanwhile, every county suffers from xenophobia because everyone is afraid of what is foreign or strange. (Guard against the common mistake of confusing xenophobia with xenofocaccia, which is a bread some people can't chew.)

This year the biggest change will be to our way of viewing foreigners -- no matter what country we live in. The timing is right for everyone to see that we are all more alike than not. We all want to be happy.

Does Your Past Predict Your Future?

This forecast begins with highlights of your past because if what I say about your past rings true, then you can trust what I say about your future.

Around 1990, was a wonderful time when you or your home received a benefit. Perhaps you moved to a larger home, or bought a new home, or enlarged your family through birth, adoption or marriage. Whatever the case, something made you feel richer at home and in your private life. This was also a time when you felt proud of your achievements! Romance, vacations and the arts flourished in 1992; however, by 1994, things in your life started to shift and change. It was then that you realized you had to start to let go of things - people, places and possessions. Looking back, you can see that basically, you were dismantling much of what you had created since the early 1980s. This had to be done in order for you to move forward. The year 1994 was also an excellent year for partnerships and close friendships. By 1996-97, you were out of the gate and running! Now you were in a completely new sandbox, dealing with new people, new situations, perhaps a new job and possibly, even a new country! Oy! Fortunately, your reputation was strong. People in authority admired and respected you, which is why many of you were asked to take on new jobs or positions of increased responsibility.

Around 1998-99, lovely Jupiter was back in your sign bringing you opportunities and good fortune. Shortly after that, Jupiter boosted your income along with your confidence; and by the millennium, you had more self poise and style. "Check it out!" During 2001-03, your life was a revolving door with job changes and residential moves. But you handled this because you thrive on adventure and anything that is fresh, new and untried. By 2004, you wanted the revolving door to stop because that was when you realized you needed to establish a solid home base. For some, this meant another residential move; for others, it meant doing major repairs or renovations to where you already lived so that you could make it the home you wanted it to be. Fortunately, in 2004, you had marvellous chances to improve your job or get a better job. Once again, in 2005, partnerships and close friendships were blessed. That was an excellent year to marry for those of you who did. By 2006, you benefited from the wealth and resources of others. "Keep it coming!"

In 2007-08, you were looking good! This was a time of graduation, promotions, kudos or something that was important to you because whatever occurred then made you feel proud. By 2009-10, you were busting your buns to prove what you could do, now that everyone was giving you their vote of confidence. And sure enough, in 2011, you were stylin'! You got recognition for your efforts. However, this was the beginning of a challenging time for partnerships. In fact, 2014 was a brutal year for partnerships and marriages because Mars opposed your sign for so long. (Gasp!) This was an unusual astrological phenomenon, and it made many of you suffer. Fortunately by 2014, things on the home front looked better. You might have moved into bigger digs or bought a better home because your family scene was certainly happier. By 2015, wonderful opportunities to take a vacation and travel for pleasure were yours. Hopefully, you used them. And you probably did because you love to try new things.

And Here It Is ... 2016!

Wealth, Career and Reputation

The single most obvious thing about your sign for 2016 is that this is the year when your job and your professional career will move forward in a big way. We're talkin' major! You are sitting so pretty to make this happen. For starters, you can improve your existing job by getting better duties or a different job description. You might get better surroundings or working conditions. You might get a promotion! Maybe you need to get rid of your evil boss? If so - this person will be transferred to Timbuktu. Or perhaps, you need to get a better job - something entirely different? If so, you can make this happen as well because you have divine protection when it comes to anything to do with employment this year. Not only is your job situation protected, it also is magically enhanced with opportunities to improve. To be more specific, you have the best opportunities to improve your job that you have had since 2004! And this blessing will not come back to you again until 2027! "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" Connect the dots. This is obviously the time for you to do whatever you can to improve your job, or get a better job because the gods are with you. Is this perfectly clear? (There will be a midterm on this material next Thursday.)

Furthermore, another planetary influence that is also in the act wants you to improve your job as well. Oh yes! I'm talking about the influence of Saturn, which is an influence that is different. In a 30-year cycle, Saturn will be approaching a career peak for you in 2018. This means you are on the home stretch, baby. You see the finish line! So what does Saturn want you to do? It wants you to get ready for that moment when you are in front of the stands and everyone is cheering. Basically, you are approaching a time in your life when all your past efforts are going to bear the greatest fruit. This means you have to get your ducks in a row. You have to really know what you're doing and you have to understand the rules of the game. You have to be performance ready! For example, is there any future training or education you can get that will give be that extra edge? What about signing up for a course or going back to school or travelling to flesh out whatever is missing before you step out on stage? Because know this - when you step out on stage, your effectiveness as a human being will be tested. This means you are getting ready for that moment. Performance ready! This is not a casual thing. The last time this cycle occurred for you was 30 years ago from 1986-1988.

One final influence will make a difference and that is the influence of your ruler Mars. Usually Mars is in a sign for about seven weeks, every two years. But in 2016, Mars will hover in on place until October! (Gasp!) This means you might be involved with disputes about shared property, or disputes about inheritances, insurance issues, taxes and debt. Unfortunately, this is a poor time to try to get a loan or a mortgage because ego conflicts will hamper the negotiations.

This means that this year, as you improve your job and move forward to achieving your major goals down the road in 2018, you have to do this on your own because the resources of others might not be available to you. Nevertheless, you will have fabulous opportunities to push forward. Make the most of this! "The game, Mrs. Hudson, is on!"

Here are the highlights for your job and career on a monthly basis in 2016:

January is the perfect month to push your agenda because the Sun is at the top of your chart acting like a flattering spotlight on you. This means that bosses and VIPs are impressed, which, in turn, means you can ask for a raise or a promotion. You can also pitch your ideas if you want their approval. Almost certainly, you will be given increased responsibilities, including an increase to your budget or material and equipment that you want.

February will be a popular month! In fact, it's so popular, some of you might begin a romance with your boss. At this time, feisty Mars enters one of your Money Houses, which means disputes about equipment and support will begin and continue for most of the year. (Major groan.)

The month of March is a time to work alone or behind the scenes; nevertheless, coworkers and friends are supportive.

In late March and all of April, you shine! Now you have the energy of the Sun with you to attract important people and favourable circumstances your way. Make the most of this wonderful advantage!

In May, your focus is on money, cash flow and earnings. You will also think a lot about your values.

June is a busy month full of errands, short trips and increased reading, writing and studying. This is a strong time for those of you in sales, marketing, teaching and acting because your communication skills will be hot.

July is an excellent month to pursue real-estate speculation and sales. Family businesses will be a strong focus then.

The month of August favours business related to professional sports, the entertainment world, the hospitality industry and anything connected with children. This is also the perfect time for you to take a vacation.

In September, you want to shake yourself off and get in gear because now you have a desire to get better organized. You want to be efficient, productive and effective!

October focuses a lot on partnerships and entering new partnerships. And take note: The stress of Mars is now removed from one of your Money Houses, which means that from October onwards, it will be easy for you to get money from other sources, or benefit indirectly from the financial fortune of a partner. Work-related travel might happen then.

Work-related travel exists again in November, when you are more focused on nitty-gritty details about red-tape matters related to shared property, taxes and debt. Your ambition is very strong this month!

By December, you want to get outta Dodge. Work-related travel will appeal. This is a strong month for those of you in publishing, the media, medicine, the law and higher education. Once again, romance with a boss might begin. Oh my.

Ah yes, life is like a tin of sardines - and we are all of us looking for the key.

Love, Partnerships and Friends

The main reason that your romantic relationships and close friendships will be happy this year is because success is sexy, and you will be successful. When things are going so well at work, and when you are also approaching a career peak in life - this obviously will boost your confidence and sense of self poise. You feel good about yourself. And when you feel good about yourself, others can pick up on this, and they feel attracted to you. The planet Jupiter will totally boost your health this year, and healthy people look sexier! Healthy people are happier!

This means not only does your body have more physical strength, it has sexy vitality! And hey - romance and sex are just energy - pure energy.

However, another major influence is that Saturn is now in your fellow Fire Sign, which will help all aspects of your life to run more smoothly. The Sun is your will and Saturn will help you express your will and purpose in life. It will help you accomplish things - including reaching out to others. Therefore, you will feel stronger relating to others intimately, relating to others casually, and also joining clubs, groups and associations and meeting new people. The lot!

Here is the bad news. There are some obstacles this year that will arise in your closest relationships and partnerships. Basically, these obstacles will relate to strong disagreements about jointly-held resources: Disagreements about shared property. Disagreements about how to handle what is jointly owned, like who is responsible for what. Disagreements about money and how it should be used or spent. Unfortunately, this challenge will exist until October, which means you will have lots of opportunity to practice patience. (Yeah, more opportunity than you really wanted.) But how else can you deal with this? Patience is the antidote to anger.

Sex will be quite hot this year for many because this same influence that creates disputes about shared property and jointly-held resources will also enhance your sex drive. Go figure! Yup - there will be a lot of makeup sex, as well. (Ya think?)

A quick look at the highlights of the year month by month will show:

January is a time when relationships are sweet, seductive, sexy and affectionate. (Even though you might be easily annoyed with your partner.)

In February, despite disputes about shared property, your sex drive now starts to increase. And it will stay at this level until October! Meanwhile, February is a classic month for romance with bosses, or people who are older or more established.

March is a charming, popular month in some ways. In fact, platonic friendships could turn sexy. Relationships with artistic types will flourish as well.

In April, you easily attract others to you because the Sun is in your sign. April is also a likely month for secret love affairs.

May is a lovely time because fair Venus is in your sign, which means this is a good time to shop for wardrobe items that make you feel attractive and good about yourself.

June is a fast-paced month, all about meeting new people and see new places. New faces might easily turn into warm friendships or romantic possibilities.

The month of July is very much a domestic, down-home month. You might entertain at home or even entertain the idea of moving in with someone.

August is one of the most romantic, playful, flirtatious months of the year! The Sun, Mercury and Venus all combine to make you want to have fun and strut your stuff. This is a great month for a fun, get-away vacation.

There is such a heavy emphasis on job success in September, you might strike up a work-related relationship at that time. Certainly, people will admire your accomplishments then.

October is the one month of the year when you will focus on partnerships and close friendships in a big way because the Sun is opposite your sign.

November is a passionate, intense month! Travel for pleasure will appeal. You might become involved with someone from other background. If so it will be sexy sweet, affectionate and memorable!

In December, romantic relationships with someone from another culture or a different country might bubble to the surface. And once again, relationships with a boss, VIP or someone who is older or more established might begin.

Home and Family

In large measure, a happy home is based on a happy state of mind; and in turn, a happy state of mind is interconnected with good health. Since the year 2016 is one of the best years for you to boost your health and increase your overall sense of well-being and vigour, this positive blessing will spill into your relationships with your home, as well as your relationships with family members. In addition, because your work and your job will be so fulfilling and rewarding this year, this too, will contribute to increased happiness in your home life and increased ease in dealing with family members. It should be noted that this wonderful blessing to your health this year can actually bring weight gain, because Jupiter attracts good things to you, including flash to the bone. (Time to let out another pleat in the shower curtain?)

However, the energy of Mars staying in one part of your chart all the way until October will trigger a confrontation with someone about something. Traditionally, it would be a dispute about shared property. You might disagree strongly with a family member or especially a partner or spouse about how to manage jointly-held property or how to spend a certain sum of money. If this is the case, keep in mind that by October/November, it will be much easier for you to reach a consensus. In other words, the stress of this disagreement will greatly reduce or even disappear.

In 2011, Uranus entered your sign where it will stay until early 2019. This is an eight-year window through which Uranus moves degree by degree. At some point, Uranus will line up within a degree of your Sun in Aries. For example, people born in March will have their Sun anywhere from 1 to 10? in Aries. Those born between April 1 and April 10, will have their Sun between 11? and 20?. And those born from April 11 and onward, will have their Sun from 20? to 29?. In January, 2016 - Uranus is at 16?. Why do you need to know these details? Because when Uranus is within one or two degrees of the degree of your own Sun (also in Aries), you will feel its influence strongly! This influence will last for months! Basically, it will be one of the most revolutionary times of your life! Yeehaw! It can give you the guts and courage to clear away limitations that have made your life less effective and less meaningful. It can give you the courage to get out of something that was smothering you. It will make you break up old patterns and chart a new course.

While it's true that you have obligations to other people, you also have obligations to yourself. And when Uranus is close to your Sun, your own needs will take precedence. Oh yeah! You will also be attracted anything new and exciting! It might even increase your interest in science, technology and computers. But above all, you will feel freer and younger! All these qualities are a welcome energy for your own personal development; but your own little rebellion against authority might not go over well with some family members. Just saying.

A Sneak Peek Beyond

As we peek into the future, we see that 2018 is your year for kudos, advancements and promotions! Balloons and streamers, puleeze! At this time, you will be proud of your achievements. If this occurs when you are younger, it might indicate a graduation, marriage, the birth of your first child - in other words, something eventful that is important to you. However, more likely, it signals a time when you have a promotion and you're enjoying professional success. It might also be a time when you feel positive about spinning off and becoming self-employed. At that time, it will be easy for you to get loans and mortgages and assistance from others that is financial and practical.

The year 2019 will see lots of travel, as well as opportunities in publishing, the media, medicine, the law and higher education. In 2020, your name will be up in lights! You will easily push your agenda forward at that time. In 2021, you will enjoy increased popularity with friends and groups; and in May, 2022, lucky Jupiter will return to your sign for the first time since 2011, bringing you all kinds of advantages and good fortune in life. By 2024, you will boost your earnings and assets, which brings a big smile to your face in 2025. Take note: The year 2026 is an excellent year for real-estate negotiations for your sign.

Your Aries Mantra for 2016

Good health and a good job are winning combo!

Mercury Retrograde in 2016

Expect delays, lost items and confused communications! Best to finish things, not begin them. These are poor times to buy cars, trucks, bikes, computers, printers and phones.

Dates below are actual retrograde dates and buffer dates. Why? Mercury slows down before it goes retrograde and then it needs to catch up to where it was at when it first went retrograde. Use buffer times to avoid big purchases like cars.

Actual Mercury Retrograde Dates Buffered Dates
(I use this one)
January 5 - January 25 January 1 - February 14
April 28 - May 22 April 19 - June 8
August 30 - September 22 August 18 - October 6
December 19 - January 8 December 11 - January 28

Lucky Days for 2016

  • January 15, 16
  • February 11, 12
  • March 9, 10, 11
  • April 6, 7
  • May 3, 4, 31
  • June 1, 27, 28
  • July 24, 25
  • August 21, 22
  • September 17, 18
  • October 14, 15
  • November 11, 12
  • December 8, 9

Who Shares My Birthday?

March

21
Rosie O'Donnell 1962
22
Constance Wu 1988
23
Keri Russell 1976
24
Jim Parsons 1973
25
Aretha Franklin 1942
26
Leonard Nimoy 1931
27
Holliday Grainger 1988
28
Lady Gaga 1986
29
Jennifer Capriati 1976
30
MC Hammer 1962
31
Rhea Perlman 1948

April

1
David Oyelowo 1976
2
Lindy Booth 1979
3
Lesley Sharp 1960
4
Sarah Gadon 1987
5
Lily James 1989
6
Teddy Sears 1977
7
Russell Crowe 1964
8
Katie Sackhoff 1980
9
Fern Michaels 1933
10
Charlie Hunnam 1980
11
Nazanin Afshin-Jam 1979
12
Claire Danes 1979
13
Allison Williams 1988
14
Robert Carlyle 1961
15
Luke Evans 1979
16
Claire Foy 1984
17
Victoria Beckham 1974
18
Conan O'Brien 1963
19
Ashley Judd 1968