Aries New Moon

Planetary news this week: Aries New Moon at the Equinox, and Pluto in Aquarius

Astrological update for the week of March 20-27, 2023

art by Lightstar on Deviant Art

This week we have three planetary bodies changing signs, including a zero degree Aries New Moon at the Equinox. This is a whirlwind of planetary motion, so hold onto your hats and prepare to let go.

There are times when we can create our own present and future, and times when we can exert power over the workings of the Universe. This is not one of them. This week in particular, with so many intense planetary energies blowing a new wind into the workings of the world, the very fabric of our experience is being altered and will change the way the future unfolds. This is a week for self-care: for calming our nervous system, for strengthening the bonds of our relationships, for taking care of the physical body through nutritional attention and physical activity. (This is because of several Ceres aspects I’ll discuss later in this article.)

Aries New Moon and Vernal Equinox

Whether we are in the northern or southern hemisphere, the March equinox marks an equal balance of light and dark midway between the Solstices. These are turning points at the zero degree point of the cardinal signs which mark the change of seasons. When one of these turning points occurs at a syzygy (new or full moon), the alteration effect is magnified and that is what we see here. We are at the edge of the first sign (Aries), ruled by Mars (action), at a time when the light begins to dominate over dark.

The chart for the New Moon is pretty potent: the Aries Sun and Moon are opposed by Ceres (integration of body, mind and spirit). Four planets […]

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By |2023-03-20T08:55:07-04:00March 20th, 2023|Uncategorized|4 Comments

Planetary news this week: Transformation continues and then a new beginning

Astrological update for the week of March 13-20, 2023

artist unknown?

The Jupiter/Chiron conjunction. The transformational alignment between Jupiter and Chiron which I wrote about last week has just culminated, but the effect will linger throughout the remainder of the month. quoting from last week’s post: The alignment of Jupiter’s optimism and expansive qualities with Chiron’s inspiration to heal and explore the body’s awareness is a powerful crucible for physical, emotional and mental healing. The type of healing which Chiron presides over is not the fairy godmother type of healing in which a magic wand produces an immediate result. Chiron urges us to release the toxic energy of old wounded feelings and resentments so that we can be freed and this toxicity can be replaced with a higher form of body mind spirit wisdom.

The combination of these two planets for accelerating healing and personal transformation occurs in the sign of Aries, sign of self-initiation and activation. This will become more important later in the week as we approach the Aries New Moon, since there is likely to be a sudden realization of our own needs and drives that may be somewhat surprising because of the Neptunian fog. The sign of Aries is itself the beginning of manifestation in the world – the point of initiation and assertive dynamic experiences that push us into the world itself.  Any New Moon marks a new beginning – the beginning of a new lunar cycle that wipes the slate clean and provides an opportunity to create something new in our lives.  Any Aries New Moon adds another layer of excitement and Marsy energy to stoke the fires and energize that creation.

Neptunian fog. This occurs at a very Neptunian time (astrologese for periods of […]

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By |2023-03-13T07:48:20-04:00March 13th, 2023|Planetary news this week|4 Comments

Astrological news this week: Aries burns through Jupiter/Neptune fog at the New Moon

Astrological update for March 28 – April 4, 2022

Ukrainian artist Valeriy Kot

This week as we build towards the conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune that peaks on April 12th (catch up here if you missed my post on the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction) we have a fiery New Moon with three planets plus Chiron all in Aries.

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac – the sign of initiation, blazing a new trail with courage and independence. At its best, Aries approaches life with the innocence of a young child, without fear or hesitation. Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of action – one of my Aries friends says her motto is “Shoot first, aim later” which very nicely embodies the direct connection in Aries between the desire and action.  The Aries New Moon occurs just after the spring Equinox and it is the New Moon to which Easter is tied. There is a sense of renewal after a long winter (sorry Southern Hemisphere readers!) and an anticipation of what will come next.

The chart for the New Moon shows a tight conjunction from both Mercury and Chiron to the Sun and Moon. The presence of Mercury, planet of the mind, intensifies the focus on all matters of communication.  (Mercury combust Rant: The idea that Mercury conjunct, or combust, the Sun is bad is a widespread concept of well-meaning astrologers whose focus is more theoretical than practical – who have read lots of material but not studied . I have read all kinds of terrible things about Mercury combust the Sun in natal charts – the native is mentally ill, the native is exceptionally selfish… none of these things actually play out in real world […]

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By |2022-03-28T09:18:02-04:00March 28th, 2022|Planetary news this week|0 Comments

Weekend update April 10th: The death of Prince Philip and the Aries New Moon

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Prince Philip, consort of Queen Elizabeth for 73 years, died on Friday at a time of great upheaval in the monarchy. I have big plans for a series on the House of Windsor inspired by the Crown television show which I’m sure was not nearly as fascinating as the reality itself.  We don’t have a reliable birth time for the Duke since he was born on a kitchen table in Corfu – his father made a note of 10 am, but the nanny apparently said the sun was setting (astro.com source notes). I do like the time of 10 am, because that means that Uranus, planet of sudden change, crossed his Midheaven at the time of his death which is an appropriate symbol for the Great Transition.

This is an important time for the Queen as well.  Transiting Saturn (hardship) opposes her natal Moon, and transiting Pluto (transformation) conjoins her progressed Moon.  At her birthday coming up in two weeks, the Solar Return Ascendant aligns exactly with the South Node of the past in her natal chart and the Solar Return Midheaven (life path) conjoins her natal Saturn (purpose).  Has she completed her life’s work?  It’s not unusual for partners who have been married as long as she has (73 years!!) to die soon after the death of a spouse, and the world is rapidly changing.  The abdication of Prince Harry from the pressures of life in the royal family has exposed fissures which were previously only rumored, and it will be difficult to put things back together again.

There are many astrological charts that are used for England because England is part of a United Kingdom.  In 1603, Ireland and Scotland were brought together in an attempt to form the first version of […]

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