Let the integration begin! It is widely recognized that the “orb” of influence of significant aspects between slow moving outer planets have a noticeable effect long before the first exact hit and well after the last one. Over the last few years, each one of us has been meaningfully affected on some level by the dynamic square dance between brilliant rabble-rouser Uranus and shamanic shape shifter Pluto that just shifted into waning mode. There is a high probability that all of us have been experiencing the urge to break free from some form of confinement, be it a stifling relationship, an oppressive work situation, a dysfunctional family dynamic, or our own fear driven mind that imprisons our spirit in concretized negative thought forms. For a variety of reasons we may not have yet “done” anything about it – except make an intention to change the conditions that prevent our soul from expressing its inherent grace, joy and love. If setting an intention is all we’ve done, that is actually enough right now. It is the necessary first step in our own personal freedom movement. If we now take the time to focus on that intention and make sure the vision of it is very clear in our mind then it will become a powerful force with the potential to change the course of our lives simply through the choices we make from this moment forward. If our intent includes becoming more in tune with the galactic consciousness system and what part we play in it, then we may also discover we don’t have to do this alone. Choices we make that align with the cosmic plan to reduce fear-based chaos will open us up to assistance from outside ourselves. It may come from where we least expect it, but it will come if we stay true to the best of our ability. One way we can access help is through the various esoteric symbolic systems, such as astrology, tarot and the Iching. The universe is always giving us coded messages and these interpretive tools have been developed over centuries as a way to understand the vast consciousness system that is operating in our lives and well beyond our very solar system.
The Pisces New Moon on March 20th offers up the perfect antidote to the earthquakian energies we’ve all been going through. The sign that is the highest representation of compassion, Pisces envelops the sun and moon in their embrace with an understanding tenderness. The message coming to us from the cosmos via this mystical silvery thread of planetary vibration is the ultimate summation of all that came before – the end game is love. There is a certain imperative about the message, especially considering the context of this particular New Moon. For one, it is a Solar Eclipse, which puts the emphasis on our not-so-conscious feeling nature. Buried feelings are sure to surface and those around us who are already rocking from recent events, may be the ones who are in the greatest need of having compassion with themselves. Another distinction of this New Moon is that it occurs in the last degree of the last sign of the zodiac. That makes it like Pisces on steroids, Compassion with a capital C. As we journey through the zodiac we integrate the essence of each sign in our being. By the time we arrive at the last station, we have in our bag of memories the jewels of the archetypal astral crown and a sense of knowing where we came from and where we are going beyond this earthly material plane. The third anomaly of this Solar Eclipse New Moon at the last degree of the last sign is that it precipitates the Sun reaching the Aries point, the zero degree mark at the beginning of the zodiac, also known as the Spring Equinox. All that turning within to focus on and connect with the womb of the universe and the origins of our soul is suddenly thrust through the wormhole of birth into manifested reality.
The Sun’s ingress into Aries in the afternoon of March 20th, therefore, atypically comes with the conscious Piscean spiritual sense of who we are and where we come from. The usual innocence we experience under this period with all its metaphors of unfettered new life, will carry with it a greater awareness but also a responsibility. The Sun in Aries isn’t used to looking down the road at the consequences his actions may create as a result of his leaping into action. He gets a lot of mileage off his impetuousness that drives him to fearlessly pioneer new territory. But this time he has a mission, and a packed toolkit at his disposal. Having just delved into the Akashic records at the Piscean Solar Eclipse, the Sun in Aries brings with him a depth of knowledge he can infuse into that which he initiates bringing more stability and maturity than chaos and naiveté.
The unusual astronomical events of March 20th come in the aftermath of the long series of Uranus/Pluto squares that while over are still very much in effect – barely a half degree apart at this point. The coming days bring several constructive planetary interactions that will aid us in integrating the new psychological insights we’ve experienced from our recent earth intensive, which in turn could further refine our intentions. To help deepen our focus and strengthen our emotional intelligence, Mercury in Pisces enters into a sextile with Pluto in Capricorn, exact on March 22th, increasing perception of that which we cannot see. Venus in Taurus forms a sextile with Neptune in Pisces, exact on March 23rd, that can help us access compassion in our relationships and see the value in expressing our inner nature. On March 25th, the Aries Sun culminates a fire trine to Saturn in Sagittarius that may energize our work and make any hurdles we once thought were insurmountable now seem within our capacity to manage. March 27th through March 30th, Venus segues from Jupiter to Pluto to expand and reinforce our relationships with purpose and distinction. The more stable they are, the freer we are to creatively express and build upon their strengths.
The last vestige of Piscean memory may begin to fade when Mercury leaves the realm of dreams behind and has his own rite of spring when he enters Aries on March 30th. More direct, more forceful in his communications, Mercury in the sign of the Ram knows what he wants and will speak his mind with little concern for decorum. Always looking for new ideas, he maintains independence from formulaic thinking in order to experience new viewpoints. Mercury’s ingress into Aries brings to seven the total of planetary bodies in fire signs (including the Moon). This could be one hot day!
The action could start to cool down when the ruler of Aries, Mars, down shifts into Taurus on March 31st. Leaving his home base for the placid pastures of the bull, Mars is more likely to make love than war. He is not one to fight and in fact may avoid confrontation all together unless severely provoked. His desire level, however, is not diminished but his style becomes more turtle than hare as self-assertion takes a slow and steady pace.
As Mercury nears the Sun – they are only a week away from the Superior Conjunction – they each make aspects on April 2nd that creates a grand fire trine by sign. The Sun aligning with Jupiter in Leo and Mercury to Saturn in Sagittarius beams down a lightness of heart and mind that should pick up our spirits and make us super productive. When we’re happy, we can do anything! When we feel capable and creative, life is one big grand opportunity. We’re on top of the world! The Sun is also in orb of a conjunction to Uranus (exact in four days) so we may even feel out of this world, in the best possible sense – excited about all the possibilities the cosmos has to offer.
Here’s the data:
*Times where noted are Pacific Time Zone.
**Degrees where noted are rounded to the nearest whole degree.
March 20th – Solar Eclipse New Moon (Moon conjunct Sun) at 29°27’ Pisces at 2:36 a.m.
March 20th – Sun at 0° Aries at 3:45 p.m.
March 22nd – Mercury sextile Pluto at 15° Pisces/Capricorn at 1:25 p.m.
March 23rd – Venus sextile Neptune at 8° Taurus/Pisces at 11:26 p.m.
March 25th – Sun trine Saturn at 5° Aries/Sagittarius at 12:25 p.m.
March 27th – Venus square Jupiter at 13° Taurus/Leo at 7:11 p.m.
March 30th – Venus trine Pluto at 15° Taurus/Capricorn at 12:45 a.m.
March 30th – Mercury at 0° Aries at 6:44 p.m.
March 31st – Mars at 0° Taurus at 9:27 a.m.
April 2nd – Mercury trine Saturn at 5° Aries/Sagittarius at 5:21 a.m.
April 2nd – Sun trine Jupiter at 13° Aries/Leo at 10:20 a.m.
Dear Kimberly: I greatly appreciate you lucidly continuing to open our eyes to the invisible forces around. It’s encouraging to learn that “If setting an intention is all we’ve done, that is actually enough right now.” Finding myself has been a major, protracted challenge, which I guess I’m here to meet, but can’t do within the constraints in which I let myself operate. Having the courage and wisdom to look and reach beyond my “boundaries”, and become my true self continues to be a nuanced work in progress. “The Sun’s ingress into Aries in the afternoon of March 20th, … atypically comes with the conscious Piscean spiritual sense of who we are and where we come from.” To draw an analogy to the later, I felt in the zone relating to the challenges faced by “Tris” in the Divergent (movie) Series; it’s interesting that this project’s second installment, Insurgent, was released on March 20th, aptly embodying several themes of the cosmic forces currently at play. So, I’m glad to note that both the movie and your latest AstroCast serve as empowering elements on my continuing journey. As always, thank you very much for being you! ~Anahit
Dear Astro-Cast and Kimberly,
I am continually impressed with the fine-tuned perceptions that you provide!
Thanks to you and the Institute for making these essays available. It is a powerful service.
The older I get, the more I seek out wise and deep expressions of analysis that bring our times alive.
Your work is of the best around. Happy Spring!
Sincerely,
Stephen Zendt