New Year’s Resolutions Based on Your Sign
Astrologer Alice Smith lets us know what 2024 has in store for us
Words by Alice Smith
Astrology with Alice: Welcome to Astrology with Alice, a monthly astrology column aimed at helping readers understand the vibes of the month ahead in plain English. As a Taiwanese immigrant who grew up in Los Angeles, I specialize in combining western astrology with eastern philosophy. I’ve taught modern astrology through the lens of Buddhism and Taoism, and I also draw from the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Knowing the movements of the planets can help us make decisions around our careers, relationships, family. As the planets move around in the sky, they shift the energetic vibes we experience on Earth, and I believe in flowing with energy instead of fighting it—to work smarter, not harder. So join me on our monthly planetary lowdowns and learn how you, too, can ride the cosmic waves!
We’re calling it now: 2024 is going to pack an astrological punch. The new year is jam-packed with big planetary movements, so as we think about our resolutions, it’ll help to know what the year has in store for each sign. Let’s begin.
First, let’s go over the astrology of the year.
The main event this year is Pluto changing signs in January into Aquarius, the most tech-savvy of the signs. We got a taste of Pluto’s influence back in early 2023 when it dipped into Aquarius in March before retrograding back into Capricorn in June. During that time, we saw ChatGPT take off and spark conversations about the consequences of artificial intelligence. Things are never allowed to stay the same when Pluto is involved, so with Aquarius representing revolution, social progress, and technology, Pluto’s ingress into Aquarius will herald technological advances (most likely around AI) and a teardown of old systems that stand in the way of social equity.
We can see Pluto’s destroy-and-rebuild signature throughout history. The last time Pluto was in Aquarius was during 1778 and 1798, during the American Revolution and the French Revolution. And when Pluto last changed signs in 2008 and entered Capricorn—the sign most aligned with the values of capitalism—the markets crashed. This time, Pluto will stay in Aquarius until 2044, and the technological and medical advances we’ll achieve during this time will change our relationship with work, the planet, our bodies, and each other. It will be important for all of us to shed luddite tendencies and embrace technology, because it is not going to go away. In fact, those who don’t get on board will get left behind. Long story short, Pluto switching signs is a big astrological deal.
It will be important for all of us to shed luddite tendencies and embrace technology, because it is not going to go away. In fact, those who don’t get on board will get left behind. Long story short, Pluto switching signs is a big astrological deal.
(We feel the effects of a planet most during the year it changes signs, which is why even though Pluto will stay in Aquarius for decades, this event is a highlight of 2024 specifically.)
The other impactful event is the upcoming conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in the sign of Taurus on April 20. When Jupiter and Uranus meet in the sky, the status-quo is challenged in a marked and visible way. Jupiter-Uranus conjunctions aligned with the Wright brothers’ initial work with gliders and Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The last time it happened in the sign of Taurus was in the early 1940s, when women entered the workforce during World War II and began to demand equal pay.
More recently, the last Jupiter-Uranus conjunction about 14 years ago occurred during a period that saw the launches of Instagram, Uber, Snapchat, and the release of the iPad. Uranus is a planet that brings new revelations and perspectives, so it’s notoriously difficult to predict. Expect the unexpected is always the advice given when Uranus is involved, and the planet Jupiter acts as accelerant when it conjoins with other celestial bodies, so it will amplify and broaden Uranus’ reach. Wherever this conjunction lands in a person’s chart, they will be made to see that area of life with new eyes. Releasing the grip of control and letting go of shoulds and oughts will be important for this transit.
These are the two major astrological events of the year, but other factors to take into consideration as we look forward to 2024 are:
- Jupiter moving into Gemini in May, which will shift where we can find luck and opportunity in our lives.
- Saturn, the planet of hardship, continuing its journey through Pisces.
- And the eclipses landing in the signs of Aries and Libra, which will have us figuring out who we are in our relationships and how much we’re willing to compromise in relationships.
Taking all of these transits into account, here is a list of suggested New Year's resolutions for 2024, based on how these events will affect each sign. Find your sign below to read both your sun sign and your rising sign. (If you don’t know your rising sign, you can use this free birth chart tool to find out.)
Aries
Appreciate what you already have. See what you already possess—be it money, things, or even your skills—with fresh eyes. Understand your worth, develop your intuition, and believe that you already have what it takes to make it work.
Taurus
Take center stage. This isn’t easy for a chill and laid-back sign like Taurus, but it’s time to break out of the mold and overhaul your career. The key for sustaining this growth will be to take good care of your physical and mental health during this time.
Gemini
Be open-minded. This shouldn’t be difficult for naturally curious Geminis, but this is a year for you to really challenge long-held views. There is subconscious conditioning that needs to give way to new codes and new beliefs. The key to facilitating these changes is to stay open to fun and creative play.
Cancer
Shed the dead weight. For Cancers, 2024 is a year of changes in career, money, and friend groups. If a career doesn’t support your long-term goals, if your community doesn’t support your aspirations, and if your work isn’t bringing you the money you deserve, they all have to go. It’s a year of cleaning house and finding the position, the income, and the friends that are more aligned with the current version of you.
Leo
Broaden your mind. It isn’t that the universe isn’t answering your questions—you may just be asking the wrong questions. The money feels tight and that has you worrying about mundane concerns, but your inner genius has a lot of ideas and solutions for how you can achieve your goals differently as long as you’re willing to trust it. You just need to let it out and indulge its curiosity with learning, exploration, and reading. And while your relationship may come under strain this year, don’t let it distract you from your goals.
Virgo
Get out of your comfort zone. Virgos are undergoing a period of reevaluating their relationship to money and work, and they need to look towards teaching, traveling, publishing or broadcasting, or possibly returning to school for their new opportunities. They should also stay on top of their health this year and schedule their checkups.
Libra
Choose the love you deserve. This is a big year for relationships for Libras. Advocate for what you need in relationships and commit to the type of love you actually want. The energy of the year is all focused on evolving the ways you relate and bond.
Scorpio
Let people in. Trust and vulnerability aren’t easy for Scorpios, but 2024 is a year for really reevaluating what home means to you. Let your partner help you during this time. This is also a year where you need to attend to your mental and physical health—get enough sleep and don’t push yourself to your max.
Sagittarius
Make your home more functional. While this is a year for fun and romance, it’s also a year of taking stock of your home and making it work for you—especially if you work from home. Borrow some of Virgo’s organizational prowess and make your home a place that supports your well-being.
Capricorn
Get to know your inner child. A lot of action is taking place across your houses that rule career and money, but what the universe really wants you to do is to have fun. Being silly isn’t something easy for Capricorns to do, but this is the year to let out your inner child and reconnect with the idea of play and fun. Epiphanies will come through joy. (And if we interpret the placements literally, it could also be a year to welcome literal children.)
Aquarius
Keep calm and carry on. Pluto entering your sign isn’t easy. You are being called to surrender who you think you are and rise from the ashes anew like a phoenix. That all sounds poetic, but the actual process isn’t pleasant. Every Aquarius or Aquarius rising will meet Pluto at some point, but those born at the beginning of Aquarius will feel it this year. (Actually, all people born at the beginning of the other fixed signs—Taurus, Leo, and Scorpio—will also go through this process of rebirth.) Just know that this evolutionary growth will produce an even better and stronger version of you.
Pisces
Step into your dignity. This is a time for Pisces to take the reins of their destiny and bring their vision into reality. It’s been a long time coming, but this is the year to create the life you want and make the money you deserve. All it takes is a perspective shift to believe in yourself.
Published on December 29, 2023
Words by Alice Smith
Alice Smith has loved astrology ever since she read her first horoscope as a kid. She’s a certified, professional astrologer who reads birth charts for clients all over the world and has spoken at events throughout the Pacific Northwest. Alice learned to write horoscopes from her mentor Rebecca Gordon who was herself mentored by the grande dame of horoscope writing, Susan Miller. Alice has a degree in sociology from the University of Washington and is (too) obsessed with her “Furgo” (furry Virgo) cat, whose birth chart she often interprets on social media.