2018: Great Personal Power, Strong Social Conscience!

The year 2018 absolutely buzzes with energy. There may be some anxiety, too - there always is - but that's just part of being overly energetic. More focus and a better sense of direction are all you need to put all that spectacular energy to good use.

The year opens with a powerful Mars/Jupiter conjunction in no-nonsense Scorpio. This keeps you going where you want to go in life. It also brings a big injection of energy that powers your days and your long-range career and family plans. The sun, Venus, and Pluto clustered in pragmatic Capricorn will keep you grounded and on track. Enhanced charm and more pleasant social interactions are powerful additions to your life-skills toolbox, too.

A strong social conscience helps you and everyone around you. Whatever you do for others will only return to you in a different and perhaps more generous form. That's secondary, though. Your intent to do good will win you karmic brownie points, and you never know when that will come in handy. With the lunar nodes in Leo and Aquarius, you will enjoy everything you do even more, no matter why or for whom you do it.

The year 2018 is built for great fun and fantastic progress. Don't doubt yourself. Go for it!

Fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) are nonstop clever and creative all year long. The year begins with Uranus in Aries and Mercury in Sagittarius. All three Mercury retrogrades happen in fire signs (Aries in March, Leo in July and August, and Sagittarius and Scorpio in November and December), so there's little chance of playing too loose or free with anything or anyone important. In November, Jupiter enters Sagittarius and boosts good luck for everyone, especially fire signs. The lunar north node in Leo lends a karmic touch to everything you do, so be attentive and respect your time. It's valuable.

Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) are well anchored with Pluto in the heart of Capricorn. The sun and Venus in Capricorn give you extra authority in career and public realms. Make great progress here. Mars is retrograde from March into July, starting in Aquarius and ending in Capricorn. You may rethink some lines of action, but by the end you'll be well organized and eager to move ahead. Saturn is home in early Capricorn all year long. Rash decisions or social missteps should be few and far between. Make great practical use of every single day.

Air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) get the jump on everyone with the moon in Gemini as 2018 begins. You'll be fully engaged and involved with scores of issues, groups, and inspiring individuals. A solar eclipse in Aquarius in February empowers your public involvement. A lunar eclipse in July (with an Aquarius full moon) punches up your emotional commitments. The lunar south node in Aquarius lets you draw on successful habits from the past. In November, Venus concludes its retrograde period, so watch for progress in any stalled romance.

Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) maintain high ideals with Neptune seated in Pisces. The powerful Mars/Jupiter conjunction in Scorpio ushers in 2018 and assures that those ideals are achievable and worth the struggle. In October, Venus turns retrograde in Scorpio and tones down any extreme emotions. Your sensitive (and psychic) outlook will be the voice of reason all year long.

In numerology, 2018 is the big number two. It is more than challenge or conflict. It is also the creation of material reality. To make fabric, you need the warp and the weft. To get anywhere, you need to pass through a crossroads. Be intrepid, pragmatic, and smart. The year gives you all these qualities in abundance, plus some!