Horoscope 2022: What to expect in the new year

Aries (March 20 – April 18): THEME: Broadening your horizons. CHALLENGE: Letting go of past plans and passions. You’re restless but confident you know what, or who, will bring you fulfilment. However, as you’ll discover, 2022 is about exploration. Once you understand that, you’ll be less stubborn about seemingly unwelcome changes and, equally, enjoy every twist and turn. The Aries New Moon on April 1 transforms your perspective and priorities. While often this adds to existing arrangements, you’ll soon recognise some must end. Let them go. The less clutter is distracting you, the easier it will be to enjoy love and life’s pleasures as they grow.

Taurus (April 19 – May 19): THEME: Unexpected encounters. CHALLENGE: Admitting certain once crucial alliances are just plain dull. Only recently you swore that, however drastic the changes taking place may be, certain cherished elements of your life, activities or important alliances would remain unchanged. However, by the pivotal Taurus eclipsed New Moon on April 30, you’ll recognise the excitement the unexpected is bringing your way. The secret? Explore everything. Show interest but make no promises. The events of the year’s second half will be as unsettling as they are exciting. You’ll have plenty to keep you busy, and soon recognise that certain longstanding arrangements need a top to bottom rethink or must go.

Gemini (May 20 – June 20): THEME: Learning from the past. CHALLENGE: Controlling familiar ways of indulging yourself. While you’re inquisitive and usually know what’s happening in the world around you and others’ lives before they do, you’ll often ignore even pressing changes in elements of your own life until the last minute. True, initially, it may seem you’re giving into ideas or plans you dread. Still, plunge in. The results will be magic. What you experience, achieve and who you meet won’t just be exciting, they’ll change your life. While some are temporary, others mark the beginning of a timely new cycle.

Cancer (June 21 – July 21): THEME: Broadening your horizons. CHALLENGE: relinquishing unfulfilled passions and, equally, unresolved anger. Once certain arrangements, personal, professional or even longstanding goals were the centre of your life. Now that’s changing, sometimes because of exciting new options. But, just as often, you recognise you no longer care, so can let go. The resulting freedom changes your life. The secret? Invest time in exploring options, some so new you’re unsure what’s involved. And be patient. Once you’ve learnt to take things as they come, you’ll enjoy every twist and turn of this remarkable year. Focus on what you’re learning and who you’re meeting. Lasting plans? Then can wait until next year.

Leo (July 22 – August 21): THEME: Decluttering your life. CHALLENGE: Living without a new plan, obsession or passion. Your talent for turning even very ordinary ideas into something special is a special Leo gift. Yet during 2022, your focus is on the past. On one hand, you’ll be learning from and letting go of what didn’t work. However, as the old vanishes, events or pivotal encounters take you in new directions, some as exciting as they are unexpected. The challenge? Each requires you relinquish control or say farewell to elements the past. Once you do, you discover the new world that awaits you.

Virgo (August 22 – September 21): THEME: Letting go of the reins. CHALLENGE: Recognising you’re in new, and unfamiliar, territory. Usually, one of your greatest strengths is your talent for analysing what’s going on around you, in others’ lives and in the world. Now, however, you’re short of facts. This forces you to back off, and allow events to take place when, and as, they must. While challenging initially, gradually you’ll learn to take each day’s events as they come. And you’ll explore. You’ll stop worrying about the unexpected, and will even find yourself relaxing in ways that, previously, wouldn’t have been possible.

Libra (September 22 – October 22): THEME: Being easygoing no matter what. CHALLENGE: Giving up all but the most essential plans. The year of 2022 is about decluttering your way of living, working or even your passions. Once you understand that, you’ll stop analysing every situation in detail and do something out of character. You’ll allow events, and your own plans and priorities to unfold when, and as, they must. True, this could mean living with uncertainty. And while, initially this will take courage, you’ll discover a new freedom and joy in this approach. By the year’s close, you’ll realise how wise it is.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): THEME: Expect the unexpected. CHALLENGE: Accepting that you’ll be short of facts, possibly until 2023. For ages you’ve know elements of your way of living, working or your future plans need to be reviewed, ideally before dramatic shakeups take place. Now, with the eclipsed Full Moon on 16 May and the eclipsed New Moon on October 25 triggering these, you’re both excited and uneasy. The trick? Restrain the ‘control freak’ side of your nature, which will try to rein in these vital, and far-reaching, changes. Once you begin regarding these as an adventure, you’ll realise how much you’re learning, and benefiting.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 20): THEME: A new cycle. CHALLENGE: Being flexible, even when you’re passionate about plans. The fiery Mars visits Sagittarius from December 13 2021, until January 24, 2022. This period brings amazing options and triggers exciting ideas. But, also, it’s vital you regard your own plans and those involving others as the first of many. The secret? Focus on meeting interesting people and on exploration. If you do organise something, regard it as tentative, if not an experiment. This so broadens your horizons and adds to you life that each twist and turn will excite you all the more.

Capricorn (December 21 – January 18): THEME: Taking chances. CHALLENGE; You say you’re not sentimental, but letting go of certain arrangements from the past won’t be easy. Events during the first half of 2022 challenge you to let say farewell to certain familiar arrangement and explore others, some unsettling if not disruptive. Still, plunge in. This period is about discovery, broadening your circle of friends or associates, going unfamiliar places and embracing new passions. True, some could lead to shakeups. If so, be bold. You won’t regret the chances you took. Once you’ve actually begun, you’ll realise the timing couldn’t be better.

Aquarius (January 19 – February 17): THEME: Being easygoing. CHALLENGE: Exploring your options but, then, leaving plans to destiny. Over the past year or so, with both expansive Jupiter and practical Saturn in Aquarius, destiny has taken you in all sorts of directions. While you’re already grateful for some experiences, others led to struggle, and you’re eager to put these behind you. That will happen, but only after one more round of sudden changes, during January and February. Unsettling as these seem, go along with them. By midyear, you’ll wonder why you paused for even a moment. Encounters and experiences will change your life, and in wonderful ways.

Pisces (February 18 – March 19): THEME: Viewing life as a journey. CHALLENGE: Ignoring others’ advice and making your own, often-lifechanging, decisions. Powerful planetary activity during the year’s first six months is as exciting as, often, events are unsettling. Trust instincts that say this is going in the right direction. Trust instincts that say to explore absolutely everything, because what’s least likely could turn out best. Similarly, listen to others’ advice but rely on your intuition. Be aware, that 2022 is a magical year. Ideas and dreams that once seemed distant, if not impossible, can become reality, and in ways as amazing as they are unexpected.