2018 – An Astrological Preview

This is a general overview of astrological events occurring during the year 2018. Some of the events mentioned below may affect us globally or nationwide, whilst others may only affect us on an individual basis. For details about the nature, strength or duration of any effect that may take place, inception charts as well as natal charts of people in charge of the countries in question will also have to be taken into consideration. For events affecting the native on a personal level, natal-, solar return and other charts will have to be consulted. This should achieve an accurate judgment of the level of influence. In this astrological preview, the following information can be found:

• Retrograde motion of the planets

• Noteworthy sign ingresses and transits

• Other noteworthy phenomena (Solstices, Equinoxes, Super Moons)

• Solar and lunar eclipses

• Solar ingress charts

For more detailed information, you may watch this space for in-depth articles to be published throughout the year. You may also follow my updates on twitter, via @StarsAndStones. For personal requests, please contact me via email; my email address can be found on the Contact Page.

Retrograde Motion

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will all be retrograde at times during 2018.

Mercury Rx

Will delight us, as usual, with interrupted communication, malfunction or complete failure of computers and other electronic devices and general uncertainty and confusion concerning any contracts, legal documents or agreements.

Mercury will be retrograde three times during 2018. The first phase will begin with Mercury in Aries, 0n 23 March and will end on 15 April. This will be followed by another Rx phase in Leo between 27 July and 19 August. The last Rx phase of the year will be in Sagittarius between 17 November and 6 December.

Venus Rx

Venus will be retrograde in Scorpio and Libra between 6 October and 16 November. She will remind us of a past relationship or even tempt us to have a secret affair, when she will be the morning star!

Mars Rx

Mars will turn retrograde in Aquarius on 26 November and will turn direct in Capricorn on 27 August. Which aspects of our lives will be re-enforced?

Jupiter Rx

Will remind us of his prudent side; with Jupiter’s help we are able to fulfil our potential but in his Rx phase, he demands that we obey the rules, follow our moral guidelines and show kindness and compassion.

Jupiter will be retrograde in Scorpio between 10 March and 10 July. Retrograde Jupiter in Scorpio brings a sober note to our search for justice. In this introspective time, we may want to question and reflect where we went overboard in the past.

Saturn Rx

In Sagittarius will give us a chance to re-evaluate what has become static and dogmatic in the past. It is likely that any unfinished but forgotten business will make an unexpected reappearance during this time, reminding us to bring old issues to a close.

Saturn will be retrograde between 7 April and 25 August.

Sign Ingresses and Noteworthy Transits

Jupiter will move into Sagittarius on 8 November

Jupiter will sextile Saturn on 27 August

Saturn will move into Capricorn on 21 December

Other Noteworthy Phenomena

Solstices and Equinoxes

Spring Equinox: 20 March (10:28UT)

Summer Solstice: 21 June (04:24UT)

Autumn Equinox: 22 September (20:02UT)

Winter Solstice: 21 December (16:28UT)

Super Moons

There will be 5 Super Moons during 2018:

02 January, 02:25 AM, Full Moon in 11* 38′ Cancer
31 January, 01:27 PM Full Moon in 11* 37′ Leo
13 June, 07:44 PM New Moon in 22* 44′ Gemini
13 July, 02:48 AM New Moon in 20* 41′ Cancer
11 August, 09:59 AM New Moon in 18* 42′ Leo

 

Solar and Lunar Eclipses

Solar Eclipses

There will be a partial solar eclipse on 15 February in 27* Aquarius. This eclipse may be of immediate importance to  Australia. Canada may be affected at a later date.  With  Saturn being eclipse ruler, countries falling under the planet’s rulership will have to be taken into consideration, too.

An eclipse usually affects only a small number of people. To establish the possibility of any effect to take place, the birth chart should be scrutinized for any of the following:

Sun or Moon are in or around 27* Aquarius
Sun or Moon are in or around 27* Leo (opposition)
Sun or Moon are in or around 27* Taurus or Scorpio (square)
27* Aquarius is culminating in the birth chart (conjunct Midheaven)
27* Aquarius is ascending in the birth chart (conjunct Ascendant)
Should it be the case that one or even more of these factors apply, an in-depth reading of the birth chart may be necessary to find out if, how and to what extent the native could be affected.

There will be a partial solar eclipse on 13 July in 21* Cancer. This eclipse may be of immediate importance to Poland, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Australia is likely to be affected at a later date. With the Moon being eclipse ruler, countries falling under the planet’s rulership will have to be taken into consideration, too.

To establish the possibility of any effect to take place, the birth chart should be scrutinized for any of the following:

Sun or Moon are in or around 21* Cancer
Sun or Moon are in or around 21* Capricorn (opposition)
Sun or Moon are in or around 21* Aries or Libra (square)
21* Cancer is culminating in the birth chart (conjunct Midheaven)
21* Cancer is ascending in the birth chart (conjunct Ascendant)

There will be a partial solar eclipse on 11 August in 19* Leo. This eclipse may be of immediate importance to North and South America. The Ukraine, Turkey and Egypt are likely to be affected at a later date. With the Sun being eclipse ruler, countries falling under the planet’s rulership will have to be taken into consideration, too.

To establish the possibility of any effect to take place, the birth chart should be scrutinized for any of the following:

Sun or Moon are in or around 19* Leo
Sun or Moon are in or around 19* Aquarius (opposition)
Sun or Moon are in or around 19* Taurus or Scorpio (square)
19* Leo is culminating in the birth chart (conjunct Midheaven)
19* Leo is ascending in the birth chart (conjunct Ascendant)

 Lunar Eclipses

There will be an umbral lunar eclipse on 31 January, Moon in 12*Leo, Sun in 12*Aquarius. This eclipse may turn out to be of immediate importance to Finland, Russia and the Iran. With the Sun being eclipse ruler, countries falling under the planet’s rulership will have to be taken into consideration, too.

People with Leo or Aquarius rising, either in their birth chart or in their Solar Revolution for 2017/18, could be more affected than others. Furthermore it should be investigated if natal Sun or Moon are conjunct the eclipse point. If it should be the case that one or even more of these factors apply, an in-depth reading of the native’s charts may be necessary to find out which particular areas of life are likely to be affected the most.

There will be an umbral lunar eclipse on 7 August, Moon in 5* Aquarius, Sun in 5* Leo. This eclipse may turn out to be of immediate importance to the United Kingdom. Russia and the Iran may be affected at a later date. With Saturn being eclipse ruler, countries falling under the planet’s rulership will have to be taken into consideration, too.

People with Aquarius or Leo rising, either in their birth chart or in their Solar Revolution for 2017/18, could be more affected than others. Furthermore it should be investigated if natal Sun or Moon are conjunct the eclipse point.

Ingress Charts

2018 Solar Ingress for the United Kingdom

 

Shown here is the Aries ingress chart, cast for London, representing the United Kingdom. With Virgo, a mutable sign rising, this chart will be valid for six months only . The Libra ingress chart will have to be taken into consideration, too. From the chart above, we can see that Saturn will be the Lord of the Revolution. He is prominently positioned on the 5th house cusp and is also sign ruler. Bonatti writes that Saturn on the 5th house cusp:

“… signifies the detriment of children […] and contentions with legates and heralds, and that they will not exercise well what they have business with in that year. ” (BoA p937).

A detailed analysis of all the ingress charts will be posted on my web log in due course.

2018 Solar Ingress for the United States of America

 

Shown here is the Aries ingress chart, cast for Washington, which is representative for the United States of America. With a cardinal sign rising, this chart will be valid for a quarter of the year only. The Cancer, Libra and Capricorn ingress charts will have to be taken into consideration, too. From the chart above, we can see that Mars will be Lord of the Revolution, which gives a first indication of what is to come. Bonatti writes about Mars  being Lord of the Revolution on the 7th house cusp, that:

“…it signifies contentions and contrarieties, and confusion in all matters, and harm for this reason. And it signifies business transactions with fraud and deception; also grief and sorrow in it ” (BoA p950)

A detailed analysis of the Aries and the Libra ingress charts for the United States will be posted on my web log in due course.