“Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.” -John Henry Newman
I want to wish everyone a happy new year! But you say, Ron, January 1st was months ago. True, but March 20th was the first day of spring, the first day of Aries, and the first day of the new zodiacal year in astrology. And March 26th is the new moon in Aries, so we’re truly at the beginning of the beginning.
The March new moon occurs at 6 degrees of Aries around noon (EDT) on March 26, 2009. Looking at the chart for the new moon we find four planets in fire signs (the Sun, Moon, Venus and Mercury are all in Aries) and five planets in cardinal signs (all the Aries planets plus Pluto in Capricorn). Cardinal signs begin the seasons and their purpose is to initiate or start things.
The energy mix of this new monthly cycle is cardinal fire- Aries. The element of fire in astrology is a symbol for energy, inspriation, spirit, fuel, and motivation. Cardinal fire then is like a flame thrower or a fuse- a direct and expedient path to energetic expression.
Aries is associated with beginnings, just like the beginning of spring when life seems to reappear after the cold, barren winter. Aries is the life force that announces, “I’m here,” and tends to be very self-focused.
The planet that rules Aries in astrology is Mars. Mars in mythology was the god of war and represents
the warrior in all of us. Mars is a very male-oriented energy, fueled by testosterone, and tends to be aggressive, dynamic, impulsive and courageous. Mars is currently in the sign of Pisces and encourages us to act from our intuition.
While every new moon is the start of a new cycle and a time to set new intentions and begin new habits, the new moon in Aries is especially strong. It’s a time to exercise self-discovery, independence, and act courageously in every endeavor you take on.
The Astrology of the New Moon
Looking at the chart for this new moon we see Venus and Mercury very close to the Sun and Moon. Venus is retrograde, asking us to look inward to examine our values and relationships. We might ask ourselves, “What am I attracting?” If we don’t like the answer then it’s time to do some soul searching as to why. When considering what new actions to take or intentions to set it’s important this month to make sure those actions align with your values. There’s no sense in spending energy chasing after something you don’t even want.
Mercury’s influence on the new moon adds mental focus (Mercury is also in Aries) and the ability to advocate for our own needs. One caution I have to offer is be careful not to come across as agressive or brutish in your speech.
The only major aspect in the chart for this lunation is Pluto in Capricorn making a square aspect to the new moon, Venus, and Mercury. Square aspects produce tension because they link together signs with incompatible elements; in this case it’s Fire and Earth. Fire wants activity, Earth wants stability; Fire is yang, Earth is yin. Pluto is the planet of intensity and its function is to uncover, purify, and renew. As we step out this month and pursue our goals we may feel the tension between achieving what we want and having the power and resources to make it happen.
The full moon, which occurs two weeks after the new moon, gives us a clue as to how we can make this a fulfilling cycle. The full moon will be in Libra and this tells us that to get what we want, achieve our goals, and assert ourselves we need to learn to cooperate, compromise, and look for harmonious solutions- all Libran qualities.
Practical Astrology
To use the energy of this new moon is suggest you create a simple ritual for yourself. This should be done this evening or by Saturday at the latest. As Caroline Casey says, “The invisible world would like to help but spiritual etiquette requires that we ask.” And, “The only way the gods know we’re asking for help is through ritual.”
Since this new moon is in Aries use a candle or something to represent fire and energy. Aries is about the self, so you may want to include a photo of yourself in this ritual. Then proceed to write down your intentions and wishes for the upcoming month. Visualize yourself being inspired by the heat and light of the candle. Some things you may want to wish for include:
- Finding ways to blaze new trails
- Looking for innovative or entreprenurial solutions to problems
- Becoming more assertive and less aggressive
- Taking more risks to achieve your goals
- Demonstrating more self-reliance and autonomy
If you know where 6 degrees of Aries is in your own chart this will give you more insight about where to focus your energy this month. As always I’m available for personal consutlations should you want to learn more about this new moon and how it relates to you.
I wish you all a healthy and successful new year ahead! Namaste’
