Alright, alright.  Now that my house is cleaned, my shrines refreshed, and my body recovered from my celebratory hangover, I figured that the start of the year is good for a bit of divination, yes?  After all, after the hellish 2016 and 2017 so many of us had, just as many of us are looking for something to orient ourselves and plan with/against.  To that end, I decided to bust out my geomancy tools and did a reading to see just what 2018 has in store for us.

Before I get to that, though, I also wanted to announce that I’m having a sale over on my Etsy for my divination services!  After all, general readings from my blog for the year as a whole for humanity as a whole are well and good, but getting something specific for yourself is always a good thing.  Plus, you can use both my general interpretation for The Masses as well as what’s specific for you to get an even better view on both the broad and narrow spectrum!  From now through January 31, all my divination services are 20% off:

• Mini-Reading: normally $18, sale price $14.40
• Full Geomancy Reading: normally $44, sale price $32.20
• Horary Geomancy Reading: normally $100, sale price $80

If you’re looking for a thorough, clear, and understandable forecast for the year of 2018, or if you have other issues and questions you’d like to resolve through divination, now’s the time to do it!

Now that the self-promoting’s out of the way, let’s get to that broad spectrum reading.  For myself and for all those who come in contact with my words, what will 2018 have in store for us?  The Mothers for this chart are Albus, Cauda Draconis, Via, and Carcer.  The Sum of the Chart is 93, the Part of Fortune is in house VIII, and the Part of Spirit is in house IV.  The ascendant for this chart, based on the figure in house I, is Cancer.

The overall theme of this year is shown by the Court.  Here, the Right Witness is Amissio, the Left Witness is Fortuna Minor, the Judge is Coniunctio, and the Sentence is Rubeus.  This is a year of changes and decision-making, coming from a place of tumult and bereavement into a state of success, fortune, and protection; in other words, we find the support we need to stem the losses we’ve been succumbing to.  As we all know, the past year (or two, or three) have been chaotic for many of us, with many of our role models being lost, opportunities cut off, and our dreams out of reach.  While this isn’t a year for wild success and getting everything we want, it is one for triage of ourselves and our lives so that we stop losing what we hold dear to ourselves, which is the first step to overcoming these problems, and the first of many to eventually getting what we want.  Be careful, though; not everything we want is what we need, and not everything that looks good actually is.  In addition to triage, this is a year for the careful evaluation of our dreams and goals and seeing whether they’re actually beneficial for us to pursue, or whether they’re merely pipe dreams that cause us more damage down the line.  Talk things through, keep your options open, and be willing to change and make deals with others.  You may not get everything you want, but you can get what you need; that’s the nature of compromise.

We find ourselves represented by Albus in house I, a figure of calm, tranquility, peace, and meditation.  These are traits that will serve us well throughout the year (and, I claim, all life generally); always think things through once, twice, and twice more again for good measure.  Always keep a state of detachment to avoid getting too wrapped up in matters of your life, because there’s always the bigger picture at play to think about, and the current outrage du jour will often only be a small blip on the radar once the day is done.  Reserve your energy whenever possible and enjoy whatever downtime you can, because there will be many instances this year that demand much of us, and we need to make sure we have the mental and spiritual fortitude to see those times through, especially during the latter parts of the year from September onward when we can expect major cataclysms, destruction, and possible mass incarcerations to occur.  Taking a Stoic or Buddhist approach to the world is a solid way to keep your head above the water; just don’t forget to actually take care of your own business!

Financially, many people will experience hardship and problems keeping themselves afloat; we find Cauda Draconis in house II, indicating that there are money issues afoot in the world.  In all things that deal with money and finances, plan for the worst outcome just in case it comes to pass (as it likely will for many people).  Always keep a tight budget, account for every cent that passes through your bank statements, make sure you have as much control as you possibly can, and be more responsible and cautious with your money than you think you’re able to be.  Just as the old thrifter’s saying goes: use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.  Better to use what you have until you can’t use it anymore, then repurpose it as you can for whatever purpose you can find, than to spend needlessly.

Relationships, similarly, will encounter many of the same issues, as Cauda Draconis also appears in house VII, that of marriages and partnerships.  Whenever possible, don’t walk away from conversations or shut things down prematurely (enough of that will happen on its own anyway!), but rather keep communication open and plumb every possibility before calling it quits.  Avoid letting sentimentality cloud your judgment, and bear in mind that the things that ought to end should be brought to an end.  Even then, however, try to wrap up ending relationships as cleanly as possible, because nobody wants to deal with the fallout from a messy explosion (and there will be messy explosions when dealing with people in a one-on-one context, whether romantically or business-related).

For my occult and spiritual-minded readers, this is a good year to focus on that good old-fashioned magic down here instead of up there.  Fortuna Minor is in house IX and Fortuna Maior is in house VIII; the Sun shifts from the highest heights of heaven to the dark halls of hell, indicating that better success will come from working with less-than-elevated spirits.  Those who work with the dead, demons, and land spirits will find their successes amplified this year, and I would strongly encourage everyone to develop an ancestor veneration practice or, if they already have one going, to explore it more deeply into something more meaningful and beneficial for both you and your honored dead.  Spiritualism, mediumship, and shamanic work will be solid gold for this year, so if you have an interest in that, now’s the time to get on it.  Further, the Part of Fortune is in house VIII, indicating that many people can find an easier time getting their Work done by approaching these same spirits and lines of work; for those who aren’t interested in the occult, this is a good time to cash in on favors, agreements, contracts, and all business deals before they sour.

With Coniunctio in house VI, our health can be a fickle thing, and this year, there is a high risk of communicable and contagious diseases; nothing terrible and nothing that would cause too much upheaval, but be aware of them spreading around.  Wash your hands, cook your food thoroughly, and keep up good hygiene habits no matter whether you’re at home, visiting a friend, in the office, or traveling abroad.  This is especially important for matters of the bones, joints, skin, brain, and head generally.  Try to keep your living and work environments fresh and clean, with good air circulating and surfaces dusted and free of debris; staleness and stagnation can easily cause sicknesses and injuries this year, more than it otherwise might.  If you’re of weak health, avoid being in public too much, as you run a higher risk of health issues caused by being around people.

For public and government matters, we also find Coniunctio in house X (which explains some of the public health issues I said above).  This indicates that we’re in a year of solid change for all those in office or enjoying public dignity, so if you’re currently relying on the status quo, you’d better change your plans and be able to roll with the punches that are coming before too late.  Any sort of business that is done in the public eye intentionally from the get-go will be benefited by virtue of being in the public eye; conspiracy, backroom dealings, and secret negotiations can come to light easily and backfire against you.

For private matters, we look to house IV, which has Carcer.  Normally, this would be a bad sign, but Carcer is a figure of Saturn, and in this chart, Libra rules over house IV, the exaltation of Saturn; moreover, the Part of Spirit is in house IV, as well.  This is a fantastic time to build yourself up in your own house and home, wherever you may reside.  Your private space is a sacred space, so treat it as such; build up strong walls and boundaries, both physically as well as spiritually and metaphorically, and keep the profane and defiled out of your home.  Keep things on lock-down more often than not, and use your private space and private time as your primary setting to build yourself up.  The sanctity of your home will help you fortify and protect yourself against everything life has to throw at you.  If you have a choice between staying home and going out, try to stay home.  In other words, introverts rejoice, for this is your year!

Other notes and suggestions:

• Try to not rely overmuch on friends and colleagues, as they may not be able to help you as much as you might think.
• Avoid being around too many people at once, as it can bring down your health as well as your mood.
• This is a great year for creative endeavors of all kinds, and if you’re thinking of having a child, this is a great year to plan for having one.
• Gambling and gaming of all kinds can open new opportunities; don’t expect the world to be handed to you every throw of the dice, but definitely explore the benefits of playing games for success and achievements.
• Be careful around large or wild animals, as there’s a risk of danger of harm from encountering them.
• Any enemies you may have will accidentally reveal themselves from being too loud or proud.  Be careful of them and be on the lookout, but secrecy is not their forte.
• Lots of people will travel this year, but mostly to areas local to them, such as within their state/province.  Traveling abroad will be less common than otherwise.
• If you have an interest in crafting or engineering hobbies, this is a good time to learn how to use your hands and head for them.  Taking classes in woodworking, machinery, and the like is a good suggestion for those who are inclined for it.
• Whenever you consider scheduling or planning dates, always account for things happening sooner than anticipated.  While there’s always the possibility for things to be delayed, more often than not, things will turn out the opposite of that, even to certain things being done before you’re even aware of them.
• Many headaches and problems can come from arguments and problems dealing with our partners.  Get some fresh air, take some deep breaths, and light some incense to clean the airs if you’re having communication problems or before making any big decision with someone else.
• If you’re going through emotional pain, go outside and enjoy a local restaurant or park.  Spending time in your environment outside can help settle down an upset heart or head when you need it.

And there you have it, my predictions for the coming year!  May 2018 treat you well, and may this be a blessed year for us all!