2/28 - Saturn opposition Neptune
3/3 Lunar eclipse 6:21 pm (full moon 13 Virgo)
   Venus sextile Chiron
3/5 Sun conj Uranus
3/7 Mercury turns direct in Aquarius
3/8 Venus trine Jupiter
3/9 Sun square Jupiter
   Venus sextile Neptune
   Venus trine Saturn
3/15 Mars conjunct Chiron
3/16 Jupiter trine Saturn
   Mercury sextile Pluto and sextile Venus
   Venus trine Pluto
3/17 Venus enters Taurus
3/18 Partial solar eclipse 9:32 pm 28 Pisces new moon
3/18 Mercury enters Pisces
3/20 Vernal Equinox - Sun into Aries
3/22 Mars opposition Saturn
3/23 Mars sextile Jupiter
3/25 Mars conjunct Neptune
3/31 Pluto Rx until 9/7/07 (conj to GC 7/18 & 10/26)

As March begins, the big news is the second phase opposition of Saturn to Neptune and the March eclipse series. Saturn and Neptune began their dance back in August of 2006, creating a tension between Saturn's urge for reality and pragmatism with Neptune's tendency to obscure and create illusion. You may want to refer back to my earlier article for more details, but Saturn/Neptune events generally bring about experiences that force us to confront (Saturn) areas in which we have been deceived or confused. This cycle is particularly challenging for those of us with planets in the late degrees of the fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio) and will conclude in the summer of 2007.

The Full Moon on March 3 (at 6:21 pm est) is a lunar eclipse at 13 degrees Virgo. In a typical year there are typically two eclipse seasons, occurring every 173 days when the new or full moon is within five degrees of the moon's nodes. The nodes of the Moon symbolize our evolutionary journey - they are like signposts that point to our past and our future development. Consequently, eclipses are often significant events that instigate change and transformation, especially if they hit a sensitive point in your own individual chart.

The Virgo Full Moon deals with issues of material reality. Virgo is associated with the mundane world-the small details that weave the fabric of our life. In Virgo we focus our attention on our personal ecology - our health, fitness, cleanliness and integration of body, mind and spirit. At its worst, Virgo can be petty and nitpicking, overcautious and afraid. The Virgo Moon is opposite the Pisces Sun now, and the nodes follow the Virgo/Pisces axis as well. The Moon conjuncts the South Node, or the past, with the Sun conjoining the North Node (our future evolutionary direction). The South Node in our own chart shows what is familiar and comfortable, but also what holds us back, so this Full Moon eclipse is a good time to look at where we are held back by our negative Virgo qualities, and how we can use the more positive Pisces elements to accelerate our personal growth. Every sign has positive and negative attributes, and in Pisces our hearts begin to open up to unlimited compassion and empathy. We find in Pisces an experience of divine love and inspiration that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary reality of which Virgo is so fond. However, there is a danger of becoming lost in the ethers and losing our footing.

This Full Moon Eclipse is a powerful one including a tight aspect of Uranus conjunct the Sun in Pisces and opposing the Moon. Uranus urges us to defy convention; it shakes us out of our deep sleep and rattles our cages so that we can live a more authentic life. In opposition to this Full Moon, it may evoke a sense that we lack security - the change may be somewhat frightening. Uranus propels us into the unknown; it's exhilarating if we let go and nervewracking if we hold on. Fortunately this influence is softened by a trine of Venus to Chiron that adds a gentle (Venus) healing touch (Chiron) and facilitates our forward movement. This Eclipse is about leaving behind that which is safe and secure (Virgo/South Node) and moving into an exciting though unknown (Sun/Uranus) future (North Node) that brings us closer to a transcendent experience of truth and bliss (Neptune). Geeky astrological detail: A "yod" is formed by the opposition of the Moon/South Node to the Sun/Uranus/North Node which sextiles both Venus and Chiron. Venus and Chiron are both quincunx the Moon, applying pressure for change without actually forcing a crisis.

Mercury has been retrograde since February 13, and turns direct on March 7. Mercury of course doesn't actually move backwards, but because we look at the planets from our perspective on earth, four times a year Mercury appears to move backwards. Communication may be difficult, we may find it necessary to go back over the same questions over and over again until they are resolved. On the other hand, in Mercury retrograde periods we may find ourselves completing a project which has been unfinished for a long time. The first week of March, as Mercury prepares to turn direct, will be a good time to wrap up anything that is unfinished and to complete negotiations that may have been drawn out for a long time.

Venus makes a trine to Jupiter on March 8, an extremely beneficial time for interpersonal relationships of all kinds. Venus shows how we relate to others and also how we feel about ourselves, and it is in Aries now where we gain confidence (Aries) and learn the balance of taking care of our own needs (Aries) while relating to others (Venus). Venus in Aries teaches us that success in relationships depends on our ability to care for our own needs, and the harmonious interaction with Jupiter bestows good fortune on our dealings with others for a few days before and after the 8th.

Venus and Jupiter act as a benefic influence (sextile Neptune and trine Saturn) on Saturn and Neptune which are locked in battle following their exact opposition. This influence will help to soften the conflict of the difficult Saturn/Neptune event by adding an optimistic viewpoint (Jupiter) and a creative sensitivity and urge for harmony (Venus). Jupiter will continue to add its expansive quality to the Saturn/Neptune opposition throughout the month and the pessimism that we saw in February in the days leading up to that event will begin to lift. Jupiter helps us to see new possibilities and expand our awareness so that we can recognize opportunities when they come our way. When Saturn is opposite Neptune it may be too busy challenging our illusions to find a new path out of the darkness.

On March 15 Mars will conjunct Chiron, both in Aquarius. Mars in Aquarius is a brilliant inventor and strategic thinker. Mars represents the urge for action, but in Aquarius (an air sign of the mind) much of the action goes on in the head. The conjunction to Chiron will motivate us to promote healing of problems that may have been generated under the Saturn/Neptune influence, and we are likely to find radical new ways (Aquarius) of doing so. The next day Venus continues its ambassadorship program, making a trine to Pluto and facilitating a depth (Pluto) in our interactions with others. Mercury is also involved, with a sextile to both Pluto and Venus that adds a probing depth (Pluto) to our thought processes and facilitates (Venus) our ability to think through issues and come to a resolution.

On March 17 Venus leaves Aries for practical and responsible Taurus, where it no longer embraces adventure and instead seeks comfort and stability.

March 18 marks the New Moon and the partial solar eclipse in Pisces. This is the final New Moon in a series of seven that occurred in the last two degrees of a sign. The New Moons are times of beginnings and in the last degrees of a sign we wrap up the business of that sign before moving ahead into the next sign. We have been cleaning up unfinished business, with our new beginnings serving the purpose of helping to clear out the old ways. This New Moon is a solar eclipse in the last degrees of Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac. In Pisces we surrender the mundane details of our life for the purpose of achieving wholeness of spirit. During an eclipse of the Sun, the solar conscious principle is hidden by the lunar instincts, and our archetypal spirit comes to the forefront. An eclipse in Pisces can be a powerful time for the spiritual life. This New Moon and solar eclipse is within one degree of Ceres.

Ceres as you may know is a former asteroid which was just upgraded to planetary status last year. Ceres is the goddess of grain but beyond that she is the principle of the protective mother. The protective mother can be both a positive and destructive influence as we can see from Ceres in myth (read more about Ceres here. The Moon and Ceres are both mother archetypes, but where the Moon is concerned more with emotional nurturing and protection, Ceres is concerned more with the physical caretaking and nourishment.

Mercury enters Pisces the day of the New Moon, adding another level of creative inspiration to the New Moon mix.

The Sun enters Aries on March 20, the Vernal Equinox (in the tropical system). At this point the day and night are of equal length. This was considered a powerful time by the ancients, where the light powers and the dark were of equal magnitude. Mars, the ruler of Aries, opposes Saturn on that day which can apply the brakes on our desires. Mars is nearing a conjunction with Neptune as well, and Mars is not one to be patient when thwarted. The few days before and after this event could be a challenging time as any lingering effects of the Saturn/Neptune opposition erupt into conflict under the Mars influence. Mars is in a harmonious aspect (sextile) to Jupiter now, so it is relatively fearless in its efforts to achieve its goals.

By the 25th when Mars conjuncts Neptune we will want to be very careful what we say and do. The combination of the drive and energy of Mars with the deceptive ability of Neptune can lead to results that are unexpected and not what we set out to do as we go off the deep end in pursuit of our dream. Neptune can confuse Mars and create a situation where we or others are sacrificed for a cause. This can also lead to self-destructive behavior, particularly since Saturn is still in range of both Mars and Neptune and attempting to set boundaries wherever possible. Fortunately, Mars moves quickly and by the end of March this influence will have passed.

On March 31, Pluto will turn retrograde for the first time since last year. This is significant because it will move back to its conjunction to the Galactic Center in July and then again in October for one final time.

This is a dynamic month where a great deal of change and personal growth can occur under the light of these exciting lunar events!