Sun into Aries | do something new!!

hello springo.2 by esendemirci
The Sun moves into Aries today kicking off a new chapter (and new year!) in our already active Aries houses. A few hours later the Moon reaches its last quarter square at zero degrees Capricorn and squares the Aries Sun.

Capricorn rules safety and security. Aries rules the new and untested. These things are not really at odds with each other, but it can feel like it sometimes (like right now!).

Old beliefs, comfort zones and ways of doing things that used to work are bucking up against the new things we need to do and believe to move forward.

We could feel restless now. We might feel like we just don't fit anymore. Maybe we don't. And trying to force ourselves to stay all cramped up and in place will just result in poor digestion and worn out body parts. This doesn't mean (that Capricorn square) that we have to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but we can't let an overly cautious nature compromise our very real need to grow. We are alive - it's grow or perish!

(look at what is happening in the U.S. with our continued over focus on safety and security - we have had PTSD since 9/11 and we are a Cancer country and need to feel safe - the more actions we take to feel safe the less safe we feel because we are working within the too tight structure we have boxed ourselves into)

It is never too late to take on a fresh challenge and here comes the energy we need to do just that - this is what Aries is all about!

This is excellent energy for a new project to take us in a whole new direction.

The Moon's last quarter square is a crisis point - crisis meaning opportunity. Something requires adjustment. Something needs to give.

Let's take some action today we have never taken before. Anything. It can be something small or something large. It just has to be something new. 

Now, this is not the best time to start something new. Venus is still retrograde and this week's Mercury story will toss us some curve balls and WTH surprises plus Mercury is approaching his upcoming retrograde shadow.

It is, though, an excellent time to do something new. See the difference?

This action - whatever it is - will line us up with today's fresh start energy. We are sending a signal to our muses that we are ready for a new challenge. There is universal support right now for a reboot if we take the initiative with an action, any action.

Mars (Aries ruler) is in Taurus - this is grounded, steady energy. Mercury passed Venus this weekend. Our ideas and words may be getting ahead of what we need to attract the right stuff to make them work, but that is OK. Everything begins life as a thought. Then we speak the words out loud and the die is cast.

What do we want? What do we need? Venus is retrograde and has us working with whatever situation we need to work with to show us what we really value.

For today - drive a different route, answer the call from the 'unknown' caller (and yes, it will probably be that annoying telemarketer just like you knew it would be - it doesn't matter, just answer the call if you would normally avoid it), talk to that random guy in the post office, take yourself out for a drink after work, visit a different section of the library, make a dentist appointment, sign up for that class, enter that race, volunteer for something you feel passionate about, cook something new - it doesn't have to be a big thing, but make it memorable enough that when you think back on this day it will be the thing you will remember. Maybe just do a whole bunch of things in new, untested ways.

We have a New Moon in one week that will take this energy in the direction it needs to go - it will get the seed into the ground. Today, it's our job to prime the pumps of the Aries energy with the action of something NEW. Go for it!  xo all

Astrology Forecast for Creatives | Week of March 20th - the new astrological year begins plus abrupt or surprising information

ken, I think we are lost ... by toolbazar

This week we kick off a new astrological year as the Sun moves into the first sign, Aries, and an uber active Mercury (communication, conversation, ideas) brings us abrupt and surprising news and information.

Monday's spring equinox/Sun into Aries/ first day of spring is the first day of the astrological year.

Aries brings us fresh start energy and the passion to get things moving. We are all burning Aries fuel for the next month. We will be more self- sufficient and focused on ourselves. The baby of the zodiac, Aries can't always see the other person's side of things because if they did they wouldn't be able to take quick, decisive action and that quick decisive action is what they are here to manifest. Keep in mind, it can be harder for all of us to see past our own needs now.

Aries doesn't have the staying power of some other signs; she doesn't need it. Aries isn't the marathon. Aries is that first powerful kick off at the starting line.

Aries isn't about winning or losing (maybe don't tell that to an Aries sun sign) - Aries is about daring to start that race in the first place. Aries supports jumping in and taking action. He doesn't promise us that we will come out a winner or even come out alive (yes, he's ruled by Mars and he's bad-ass), but he does promise us we will have evolved from the experience.

And that's what we're here for. We didn't come for the outcome, the outcome has already been decided. We all win in the end. We came for the experience. Aries knows this.

We have a Void Moon on Monday morning EST, so maybe sleep in and be prepared to hit the ground running after lunch (that's my plan, but my internal alarm clock can't seem to be reset).

The Moon is in Capricorn so we will be focused on our goals and ambitions. There could be stress and pressure between the old and the new now. The Moon trines (brakes off) Mars so don't mess with Mama Bears - protectiveness around family, home and, even country, will surface. This is good and powerful energy to fight for women and family issues.

Mercury is super chatty this week meeting up with Pluto, then Jupiter and finally Uranus. Communications and information are volatile.

On Tuesday, news, information and conversations may be more unpredictable as Mercury heats up. We are focused on our goals and career/work issues.

On Wednesday, the Moon is void all day - don't start anything new, since nothing will come of it (the Moon is impotent when not aspecting another planet and anything launched into this void will be impotent, too). Expect some things to move sideways. Give yourself some extra time. Stick with practiced actions.

On Thursday, Mercury (in Aries) gets active first squaring Pluto (in Capricorn) leading to deep interactions and communication with others. This is excellent energy for research and diving deeply into some subject matter. We (and other people) could be expressing extreme positions. The more we are forcing others to agree with us or think a certain way the more push back we will receive. Take the high road if possible.

Provocative attitudes, suspicions and paranoia are possible. Some people will be itching for a fight this week.

The next day, Friday, Mercury opposes Jupiter (retrograde in Libra) then Mercury joins Uranus (in Aries) on Sunday with a wild burst of something illuminating. Conversations are rattling. News is surprising. Snap decisions are possible. Words can be out of control.

We'll talk more about Mercury as we move through the week. It's volatile for sure, but this could be good energy to promote something fresh and exciting if we can work with it. xo all

Sun Square Saturn | hard work

about hard work by doruoprisan

We probably felt this transit yesterday, too - it's brief, but potent. We have to get it done. We have to keep going. Yadda yadda.

If you are feeling especially wrung out or depressed (and this should ease a bit this weekend as the Moon lifts out of Scorpio into Sagittarius, although the weekend will probably fly by) think about where you might need stronger personal boundaries. Are you taking on other people's stuff?

Which is actually funny to write - since other people are only really reflecting ourselves back to us. So they are actually taking on our stuff! It is exhausting though to be outsourcing some energy onto someone else and then dealing with it as the third person.

We need patience now. 

The Sun will shine a light on road blocks and stop signs (Saturn).

The Sun will shine a light on whatever we have been avoiding. The stuff we are trying to forget about and cramming under the sofa is snowballing. The sooner we just buckle down and get it done the sooner our confidence (Sun) will return.

There are tests and challenges now. There can be difficulties with authority figures. 

Step into that responsibility. Get the work done. We still have that Virgo North Node - small, polished steps will get us where we need to be.

The best thing about having a foggy future is we are forced to stay focused on the present or we make ourselves insane. You don't want to be insane do you? Stay present. Time is stretchy (and yes, last week's clock change didn't help). This transit can provide us with a nice feeling of accomplishment if we just do what we have to do - we've got this thing.

xo all

a week or so into venus retrograde ....

afternoon sister by polish-girl

How is Venus retrograde in Aries working out for everyone? By now, a week or so into this 40 day and 40 night transit we are likely to see the writing on the wall.

It might still require a pair of those magnifying readers you can pick up at Walgreens for $9.99 or maybe it is splashed in two story high, full color graffiti like mine. Events are transpiring to get us to clarity about what we really value - relationships are tested, the way we handle our money (and other resources) is tested.

Old relationships or earlier times in existing relationships, actions and choices come back for another look or maybe in some cases to bite us in the ass. We might be more sentimental or just more pissed off. We could find ourselves attracting backward.

The theme of the house where early Aries sits in our natal chart will be Venus's field of play. And of course with Aries ruling everything from war to our first house version of ourselves, we could be retooling and re-looking at multiple Aries general themes.

The last Venus retrograde (summer 2015) had me obsessed with several Netflix series about life in the early 60's. This one is hitting closer to home. Recent battles have required me to stand up for my own happiness. Which is a pretty way of saying something that doesn't look very pretty in real life.

It also has me focused on how I used to look or maybe more accurately put if I look deeper, how I used to look to others.

(and yes, I am talking about more than physical appearance but I am talking about physical appearance, too - for example, after seeing my recent vacation pics with my hair gone almost totally gray, I am not sure this is such a good idea anymore, plus I need to lose 10 pounds)

Today, Venus squares asteroid Juno (partnership, relationship) at 10 degrees Capricorn. There is a clash/tension here between our personal freedom and our commitments to others.

We also have the Sun conjunct asteroids Pallas and Chiron - all in watery, dreamy, imaginative, illusive, deceptive (pick your poison) Pisces. Maybe something from late last week when Mercury touched these same asteroids comes to light now, concludes or evolves. Or maybe Sunday's Full Moon did that and now we are dealing with the aftermath. There is some turning point here.

Mars is trine the North Node today encouraging us to focus our efforts on what we feel most passionate about (that might mean working with a situation that is making us angry - anger is passion, too). As exhausted as most of us are now, there is still some fight left in all of us. 

There has to be.  

xo all