Uranus in Aries: Key Insights
On March 11, 2011, Uranus officially entered Aries, where it will remain until 2019. In astrology, one of Uranus’s hallmarks is sudden, unexpected change. Uranian shifts arrive abruptly, catch you off guard, and demand immediate adjustment. Aries represents the self, so our lifestyles and worldviews will undergo dramatic shifts. Uranus in Aries will introduce new ways for individuals to be self-reliant within a community, as well as new approaches to fulfilling personal responsibilities.
This is only the beginning of a series of events triggered by Uranus entering Aries. As we all move through the next eight years of Uranus in Aries (lasting until 2019), I expect much around us to feel outdated or reduced to memorabilia. Buckle up for a wild ride ahead: Uranus will dismantle what has accumulated over the past 84 years and reset the tone for the next 84.
Uranus orbits the Sun on an ellipse. Its ring system is unusual among the planets, and its axis of rotation is tilted so far to one side that it is almost lying on the plane of its orbit. Uranus also has a ring system and 27 moons, and it rotates clockwise, like Venus and Pluto. The planet emits a faint blue‑green glow, and its English name comes from the ancient Greek sky god, Ouranos (Οὐρανός), father of Cronus and grandfather of Zeus. The myths surrounding the sky god may help us understand the kinds of issues Uranus brings to established entities on Earth.
When Uranus entered Pisces in 2003, entire industries saw major shifts, such as:
Pisces rules music. On April 21, 2003, the iPod Store launched, radically changing how music was sold. This seemingly small change forced the entire entertainment industry to rethink its sales and advertising models. The industry may have already known it needed to move beyond the traditional record-sales revenue model, but it had to wait for the inventions that made the iPod Store possible—which, of course, coincided with Uranus changing signs.
Companies often recognize the need to change, but they must wait for enabling inventions—and Uranus’s shift—to make it happen. Google is another example of how Uranus’s transition from Aquarius to Pisces coincided with change: the company did not go public until 2004, and their stance was, “Let everything happen naturally.”
Uranus entering Aries signals a drive for political change, yet many are unprepared for a new political order, pointing to a period of weak leadership worldwide. When Uranus enters Taurus, leaders will be pushed to overhaul entire political systems. At the same time, nations tend to expand territory and international influence without resorting to military force. Interestingly, weak leaders often try to ban items like cocoa powder, coffee, alcohol, and even golf—yet the public clearly does not comply.
To suggest where investors and inventors might spot and meet emerging needs, I’ve compiled a timeline of notable events from prior transits of Uranus through Aries.
March 31, 1927 — June 6, 1934
This span covered both the late boom and the Great Depression (the prosperity after 1921 and the crash beginning in 1929). JPMorgan introduced U.S. savings bonds. Nippon Bank and Mitsubishi Bank were founded in Japan. Automobiles and highways came into wider use, though most people still relied on streetcars, horses, and walking. The Ford Model A debuted, and Gerber began producing canned baby food. President Hoover’s image was transmitted over telephone lines, and the first sound film shown in theaters was “Steamboat Willie,” featuring Mickey Mouse. The electron microscope was invented, and differential analyzers appeared.
Germany’s Nazi Party was adding members, and Mao Zedong led a peasant uprising in China. Leon Trotsky (leader of the Soviet Trotskyist faction) was exiled, and Mussolini rose to power in Italy. Flooding struck the Mississippi River basin, prompting construction of levee systems. Companies that went public during this period would see Uranus return during the next eight-year transit of Aries.
April 20, 1843 — September 3, 1850
The debt-repudiation crisis was drawing to a close, followed by the Panic of 1857 and the California Gold Rush. Ireland’s potato famine forced many to flee around the world. Notable inventions included the sewing machine, typewriter, Manila paper, safety pin, white sugar, sweet chocolate, Tabasco sauce, and the ice machine. The Chicago Board of Trade opened. The first wagon train departed from St. Louis. The first telegraph line agreement was signed between New York and Chicago. Railroads east of the Mississippi were linked. Neptune was discovered. Mount Rainier erupted. The Mexican–American War occurred.
May 13, 1759 — February 15, 1768
The Birmingham Bank was established and would become the Bank of London. Ben Franklin invented bifocals. The pencil, ice skates, and precision timepieces were invented. The piston steam engine emerged, marking the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Christie’s auction house and the Munich brewery opened. The war between France and India saw the first use of biological weapons. To make the colonies pay for the war, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts and the Stamp Act. The colonies began anti-tax movements. Hydrogen was isolated.
March 11, 1684 — June 24, 1675
La Salle named his territory Louisiana. Taiwan was declared under Chinese sovereignty, and Peter the Great significantly expanded Russian territory. Fire extinguishers, large clocks, and thimbles were invented.
April 7, 1592 — March 31, 1600
The compound microscope was invented. Playhouses were built around the world. This was the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in England, and a time of strong influence from the Catholic Church.
February 17, 1509 — August 22, 1515
Henry VIII became King of England. Ponce de León discovered Florida and, by bringing back 3,000 pounds of gold, unsettled Europe’s economy. The Portuguese dominated the spice trade in India. Bullets and wristwatches were invented.
May 2, 1424 — March 7, 1432
Germany began its coal mining industry, and China adopted protectionist policies against foreign influence. King James of Scotland banned golf.