In my post about the eclipse in Aries a couple weeks ago, I noted that while eclipse cycles usually herald transformations in our lives, individual eclipses may not bring big changes immediately. And here I am eating my words because this eclipse was pretty monumental for some. The Aries eclipse had friends of mine giving birth, finding out they were pregnant, getting job offers, and getting engaged. Eclipses also often signal endings, and I said goodbye to my beloved 17-year-old cat, who let us know it was finally her time to go, after two years of being treated for small cell lymphoma. She was elderly and had been sick with a chronic illness, so her death was not a shock, but it was the end of an era.
And now we have a second eclipse looming. There will be a lunar eclipse at 14 degrees of Scorpio on Friday, May 5th. This is the final Scorpio lunar eclipse of the Taurus-Scorpio eclipse series that began in late 2021, so you may see themes that began in your life in late 2021 or early 2022 culminating now.
Scorpio, a fixed water sign, is ruled by Pluto, the planet of death, rebirth, transformation, compulsions, and hidden things. On Monday, May 1st, Pluto stationed retrograde. In its initial dip into Aquarius, it only made it as far as 0 degrees. With Pluto stationing shortly before the eclipse, it will likely intensify the changes that come about during this eclipse, and Pluto and Scorpio aren’t short on intensity to begin with. It could bring some deep emotional catharsis and uncover some deep hidden truths that we either haven’t seen or have been intentionally ignoring. The eclipse is also opposite Uranus, currently in Taurus, which adds to the potential for jolts and shocks.
Hang in there, and get plenty of rest over the next few days!
Mercury went retrograde last week on April 21st, and before that, it was in its retrograde shadow for a couple weeks, so you may have felt the effects before last Friday. It is retrograde until May 14th.
A couple things about Mercury retrogrades in general. First, it may be obvious, but Mercury doesn’t actually reverse. It just appears to go backward due to an optical illusion that occurs when the Earth is at its closest to Mercury. This happens 3 to 4 times a year. This article in USA Today explains it clearly and has some nice graphics to illustrate the concept.
Second, things go a little haywire in the days leading up to, during, and in the days after a Mercury retrograde. Mercury is the planet that rules communication, travel, and technology. When Mercury appears to be retrograde, those areas become a little fraught. Miscommunications abound, emails get sent to the wrong recipients, flights get delayed or canceled, and frustrating tech snafus occur.
It’s been a matter of days since Mercury stationed retrograde, and already there was a global Microsoft 365 outage, Southwest had a technical issue that grounded their flights for several hours last week, and my mother’s refrigerator died. The days leading up to the retrograde seemed particularly rough this time, with the solar eclipse in the mix.
However, this Mercury retrograde shouldn’t be any worse than most, and in fact, it may actually not be as bad as some. It’s in an earth sign, as are the other Mercury retrogrades this year, and it’s the fixed earth sign of Taurus, so that makes things a bit more grounded than normal. However, Taurus rules money and resources, so you want to be especially careful with financial transactions this month. Double check your online banking so you don’t either pay the same bill twice or experience some unforeseen tech issue that causes your payment to not go through. That’s the kind of stuff that can occur with Mercury retrograde in Taurus.
Otherwise, just follow the guidance that applies during any Mercury retrograde: reread your emails before you send them, double check your work, avoid buying any new technology during the retrograde if you can, and if you’re traveling, allow extra time, even if it’s just leaving for the subway a few minutes earlier than your normally would. And be patient, knowing that the next few weeks are going to be a little more frustrating than normal and you may have to do things over again later. Many astrologers recommend actually using the Mercury retrograde period to do “re” activities: reflecting, revising, and relaxing.
On April 19th/20th, depending on your time zone, a solar eclipse, which is also a new moon, will occur at 29 degrees of Aries. It will be exact at 12:12 am EDT. It’s the second new moon in Aries this year, which is really rare; usually there is only one new moon in each zodiac sign annually. So themes of this new moon are going to be in keeping with the same themes of the first new moon in Aries that occurred 4 weeks ago.
There’s a lot of talk online and in the astrology world about eclipses, and I think the way the discussion is framed can inspire a lot of anxiety. But eclipses occur between 4 and 7 times per year, meaning that you’ve already lived through many. Yes, a lot of times eclipses can be accompanied by events that seem out of left field or that may knock us off balance. But this is usually felt more in the world and in current events than personally, and each individual eclipse is one part of an ongoing story.
This week may generally feel a little nutty. People may seem weird, your interactions may seem especially charged, and you and others may be feeling angry and irritable. This would be normal with a solar eclipse in Aries, a fire sign ruled by Mars and associated with aggression. Those feelings may be exacerbated this time because this particular eclipse is also at the last (or, in astrology speak, “anaretic”) degree of the sign, which means it’s extra, extra Aries. An example: when Mars, the planet of action, aggression, and war, was at 29 degrees of Aries in 2021, it was Jan 6th, and people were literally ramming (Aries is symbolized by the ram) the barricades of the Capitol building. That was Mars in the last degree of Aries, not the sun and moon, though, so I wouldn’t expect that again; it’s just an example of how extreme a sign’s influence can be when a planet is at the last degree of that sign.
So, with the placement of this eclipse, we and others may be feeling extra punchy. But Aries also represents forthrightness, so we may be speaking our minds with no filter, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Mars is currently in Cancer, so it’s not as warlike and ready to pounce as it could be. It’s a bit emotional. So this may be a crying-tears-of-rage-into-your-pillow kind of week.
In the world, we may see people acting out from a place of extreme defensiveness. This eclipse is also squaring Pluto, currently at the very beginning of Aquarius. Given the nature of Pluto in Aquarius, this may be a time when people collectively band together and fight against something. I am loath to date myself and quote Twisted Sister, but it’s a very we’re-not-gonna-take-it vibe. This eclipse could herald the beginning of some major movements.
An eclipse cycle in a specific axis (so, in this case, Aries-Libra) unfolds over a year or more, so events that occur now will likely be one piece of a puzzle. Usually, for most of us, the changes that come with eclipses aren’t totally jarring, they play out over a period of time. This is the first eclipse of this new eclipse cycle in Aries and Libra, meaning that you will probably see some changes and evolution in the realms of your life that these signs rule, but while the first seeds may be planted this week, you likely won’t know the full story until you look back later, after this eclipse cycle wraps up in the spring of 2025.
More pronounced changes may occur for you now if you have planets in your natal chart that get activated by this eclipse. You can investigate that by using a tool to look up your birth chart (there are many) and checking to see if you have any planets around 29 degrees of Aries, Libra, Cancer, or Capricorn. (I also offer readings, so if you’re interested, hit me up!)
Astrologers that I follow and trust recommend not manifesting or doing ritual work during an eclipse the way you may during other moon cycles, and because they know more than me, I heed that advice. Just let the events unfold.
This week starts off with a couple really great aspects on the 11th, then gets a bit more challenging closer to the 14th.
After midnight EDT on Tuesday, April 11th, Venus enters Gemini. Gemini, a mutable air sign, is about talking, listening, thinking, synthesizing. It’s nimble and quick but can suffer from a short attention span. It’s also about duality. Gemini is represented by the twins, and when a planet is in Gemini, the things that planet rules have two sides. Gemini gives us options. Two roads and all of that. (Robert Frost was an Aries, but maybe he was a Gemini rising.)
With Venus, the planet of values and resources, including relationships and finances, in Gemini, it means that we are going to find ourselves placing greater value on connecting and communicating. Time to talk. Gemini loves tips and tricks. It’s pithy. Read about budgeting hacks. Figure out the quickest way to get to your friends’ apartments. We’re going to want to learn more and feel more connected to people and to ideas with this transit, so you’ll likely find yourself asking more questions of the people you meet or have surface-level relationships with, and you’ll also likely find yourself with 2x your normal number of browser tabs open.
Once Venus moves into Gemini, it will form a trine to Pluto in Aquarius. Pluto is about birth, death, transformation, and regeneration. This is a good transit for changing up something in your look, or the way you manage your finances, or something in your relationship that has gone stale. Pluto’s influence can help us examine the things we value more deeply, discard what is not serving us, and really support or improve what we hold dear.
Also on April 11th, the sun, which is in Aries, meets up with Jupiter, forming a conjunction. Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion and generally considered beneficial, and the sun is about vitality. This is generally a pretty great transit. This is a good time for shining your light and focusing your physical and mental energies on something that you want to grow. What area of your life or project could use a boost? On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, give that your attention. The only potential negative with any Jupiter transit is that we can be or do too much, so it’s a good time to be mindful of not over-exerting yourself, or over-committing yourself, or over-indulging.
On Friday the 14th, the vibe changes a bit as Venus forms a square with Saturn in Pisces. Squares cause tension and can generate some conflict. And Saturn is a planet that is typically associated with limitations, contractions, and boundaries. So whatever Venusian ideas or things have been our focus for the past few days may hit some snags, or we may feel limited in those areas. After all, nothing gold can stay.
If you haven’t done them already, I wouldn’t suggest doing your taxes later this week, even though they are due on Monday the 18th. My unqualified advice would be to do them on Tuesday the 11th instead, when Venus is well-aspected. Saturn could also have us feeling a little stifled in relationships, or making us feel disappointed in the way we look. Just know that because Venus moves relatively quickly, this transit is fleeting, and those feelings will pass.
Enjoy the week! And take this all with a grain of salt, as always. Astrology is for entertainment purposes only. 🙂
Today, March 23rd, 2023, Pluto moves into Aquarius. It’s there until June, when it goes back into Capricorn, and then Pluto will waltz back and forth between Capricorn and Aquarius for months at a time until late 2024, when it begins its longer term transit through Aquarius, until 2043.
Pluto spends more than a decade in each sign. It entered Capricorn in 2008. Pluto is the planet associated with death, rebirth, transformation, regeneration, and the hidden and secretive. It tears down and destroys, clearing and airing out before bringing in the new. When Pluto entered Capricorn, the sign associated with power and structures, including capitalism, we had the financial crisis and the collapse of several banks. The havoc showcased the dangers of unregulated capitalism. Now, as Pluto is leaving Cap, once again, we’re on the precipice of a global financial crisis. It’s asking us if we learned our lesson.
Beyond capitalism, we also have seen demands for the reformation or tearing down of entrenched structures of patriarchy and white supremacy. We had the election of the first black POTUS, and more recently, the election of the first woman as VP. But during this time, we also had the stunning defeat of a woman presidential candidate at the hands of a man who represents the absolute worst of patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism, the farce of it all. Pluto has brought with it a reckoning in these areas, and the struggles continue.
With Pluto moving into Aquarius, the sign associated with the collective and humanitarianism, it seems like more jockeying for power will follow. Pluto going into Aquarius for a few months (until June) will give us a preview of what to expect in terms of the next 20 years. Aquarius is the water bearer. It wants to give nourishment. Free the people now. It’s also associated with technology and innovation and revolution. The last time Pluto was in Aquarius, we had the American Revolution, which started at the late stages of Pluto in Capricorn (hence the US going through its Pluto return these past couple years) and carried over into the time Pluto entered Aquarius, and maybe more on the nose, we also had the French Revolution.
In terms of technology, we will definitely be seeing more tech advances during this time. That would be the case regardless of Pluto’s sign, but think about it. Up until recently, there haven’t been all that many technological breakthroughs that have sweepingly changed our everyday lives since the iPhone and the advent of streaming. More recently, we’re seeing the proliferation of crypto, AI, and the metaverse and other VR stuff. In the coming years, technology will probably continue to develop rapidly, with new innovations that we haven’t even thought of becoming part of our lives. But of course, with Pluto, there will be power struggles around that technology and battles over who controls it. The top stories on The New York Times website today, with Pluto moving into Aquarius, are all about the potential ban of TikTok, and TikTok’s CEO is currently being questioned by the Congress this morning.
With the emphasis on the collective and revolution, while Pluto moves through Aquarius, we will likely also see technology continuing to be utilized in new ways for movements (and, with the power struggles, efforts to cut the technology to thwart organizing and protests), then resulting in more furtive use of tech to plan, organize, and connect people. But because of the emphasis on collectivity, there also may be mobilized populist movements against technology. Will there be anti-tech or anti-AI revolts as people feel more and more threatened by technological advances? Very possible. Will people take their writing, their artistry, and their organizing offline, so that it doesn’t get coopted by and become fodder for AI?
The “power to the people” vibe of Aquarius will also lend to more burgeoning left-wing movements and greater advocacy of socialism in the coming years. Pluto in Cap saw far right-wing groups become empowered, and Pluto in Aqua will likely see similar emboldening of left-wing groups that are farther left than the current mainstream. We’ll also likely see the proliferation of mutual aid societies, which started to become more popular during Covid (coinciding with Saturn and then Jupiter in Aquarius).
Aquarius is also an air sign and rules air technology, so we will likely see changes and innovation in air and space travel. Can we manifest teleportation? I ask as someone who hates flying. Please. Let’s work on teleporting.
I also think this will be when more is revealed to us about the secrets currently held about life outside of Earth. The recent increase in UFO activity feels very Aquarian, and we may see more signs of life from outside our planet.
Pluto in Aquarius will also normalize debates and questions that have previously not been part of mainstream discourse. Stuff like, should humans even continue to exist? Is Earth better off without us? Will we welcome aliens if they make their presence known, to help us evolve or to wipe us all out (a la The Three-Body Problem)?
The good thing is that these massive shifts won’t happen overnight. These things seems super jarring now, but we will get used to these ideas gradually, as these things unfold over the next 20 years. They will become part of our lives, as the changes and challenges of Pluto in Capricorn did, and with Aquarius, at least the goal is for the collective to become better off. Exciting times ahead!
(All of this is just my opinion, based on my personal interpretation of the planets, what they represent in astrology, and what history tells us. I’m not predicting the future here! Take it all with a grain of salt.)
On March 20th, the sun moves into Aries. It’s the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and thus begins Aries season and the start of the zodiacal new year! Auspiciously, this is followed by a new moon in Aries at 1:22 pm EDT on Tuesday, March 21st. The new moon, which means that the moon is conjunct with the sun, occurs at 0 degrees Aries, the first degree of the zodiac.
Aries is a cardinal sign, meaning that it initiates, and it’s also a fire sign, so Aries is akin to a spark. It’s the striking of the match. Traits associated with Aries are bravery, impulsiveness, directness, forthrightness, impatience, and passion. Aries does not like to wait. When they get an idea, they want to act on it immediately. At the time of this new moon, there’s a lot of Aries energy in the ether. The sun and moon are in Aries, of course, but so are Mercury, Jupiter, and the asteroid Chiron.
So that’s the vibe of this new moon, but because Aries is ruled by Mars, which the moon and sun are squaring off with, and Mars is still in the late degrees of Gemini and still in a square with Neptune, there’s a little bit of murkiness with it. Neptune casts a fog, and often when things are initiated under a Neptune transit, they are not what they seem. So while this new moon is ripe for manifesting and new beginnings, there’s a need for clarity, for sure. If new opportunities come your way this new moon, you may be tempted to act impulsively, but try to temper that, so that you can get all the details and suss out whether things truly are as they appear to be.
Tuesday’s new moon is also in a cross-sign sextile with Pluto, which is still (for a couple more days) at 29 degrees of Capricorn, so the changes that come about during this new moon have more of a profundity and have the potential to be more transformative than with some other new moons. Pluto is about regeneration, about death and rebirth, so while this new moon is highly auspicious for beginnings, it’s also a good time for releasing and letting go of what’s holding you back.
Later this week, Pluto moves into Aquarius for the first time in 248 years (wow!) and Mars moves into Cancer, part of the vibe shift I’ve written about. More on those movements soon!
For now, this is the area of your chart where the new moon may have you focusing your attention:
Aries & Aries Rising: New moon, new you. For you, you can think about this as your new year. What resolutions do you want to make now? Plant those seeds and follow through with action.
Taurus & Taurus Rising: You may feel compelled to dig deeper into your inner self this week, and you even feel ready to begin a new spiritual or mindfulness practice. This new moon marks a good time for journaling, especially about what you want to let go of.
Gemini & Gemini Rising: If you’ve been looking to get involved in a cause, this is a great time to do so, as long as you’ve researched and are confident you know the details of what you’re diving into. You may meet someone with whom a friendship will blossom, or you may accept an invite which ultimately leads to you joining a new group or collective.
Cancer & Cancer Rising: Since Jupiter moved into Aries, you’ve likely had some action occurring in your career or in what you feel called to do. This new moon is a great time to release your blocks related to this area, if any, and lay further groundwork toward what you want to pursue. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. If you’re applying for jobs, use Tuesday afternoon and evening to send your resume out to those which interest you most.
Leo & Leo Rising: You may be feeling the urge to go back to school, or you may be struck with a new interest that sends you into a spiral of research. Embrace the desire to learn more during this time, because whatever your chosen interest or area of study, it could ultimately have a positive lasting impact for you.
Virgo & Virgo Rising: This new moon can mark a time when you initiate some type of healing, or you may be helping others achieve this healing in your own lives. The eighth house is about others’ resources and our own relationship to them, so this is a time for letting your light shine for others. Partnerships or collaborations that arise during this new moon can be mutually fruitful.
Libra & Libra Rising: This new moon could signal the start of a new relationship, so if you are looking, be open and put yourself out there. If you’re in a relationship, this is a good time to consciously shed anything that’s been feeling like a rut, especially through initiating honest, direct conversations with your sig oth.
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: Work can feel like drudgery, so this new moon gives you the opportunity to switch it up. Seize the moment to pitch one of your ideas for improvement to your boss, or implement a change to your daily routine to make the day feel less like a slog.
Sagittarius & Sag Rising: Pursue pleasure and fun this new moon, and if you have something bubbling inside you artistically, this is a great time to just spend a few hours or more to just create. With Neptune’s presence, though, be careful when it comes to substance use, even though it may be fun.
Capricorn & Capricorn Rising: This new moon is occurring in the area of your chart concerned with home and family. You may decide it’s time to move, or you may feel the sudden urge to renovate. This is a good time for laying the groundwork, but lean into your Capricorn tendency to responsibly research and prepare before diving in.
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: The third house, where this new moon is happening for you, can be a bit more subtle than some, because it deals with the everyday, the local, our neighbors, and how we communicate. However, the things this new moon kickstarts can ultimately have a long-lasting impact. Subtle shifts in your communication, e.g., making friendly small talk with your neighbors or signing up for a shift at the local food pantry, can lead to greater joy later. Try a new coffee shop or local bar, it could be kismet.
Pisces & Pisces Rising: Occurring in your second house of money and resources, this new moon may bring with it an investment or job opportunity, or something may spark an idea in you that will ultimately allow you to grow your income and wealth. Pay attention, but be sure to think carefully and vet any offers that come your way.
As always, take these with a grain of salt, because astrology is for fun, and it’s not fortune telling. And of course, depending on your own chart, the new moon may be hitting certain planets that give extra oomph or a different energy to what I’m interpreting here.
Saturn changed signs on March 7th, moving from air sign Aquarius, one of two signs over which it has rulership, into watery Pisces. Saturn had been in Aquarius since 2020, and prior to that, it was in Capricorn, the other sign it rules, since late 2017. That means for the first time in more than 5 years, Saturn is traveling out of its domain. It will be in Pisces until February 2026 (save for a brief foray into Aries from May to August 2025).
More than most other planets, Saturn holds a special fascination in the zeitgeist because of the Saturn return, a transit in relation to one’s natal chart that first occurs for a person around the age of 29 or so, when Saturn is in the same location it was in when the person was born. When you go through your Saturn return, it can be harrowing and put you through your paces, and you come out on the other side of it feeling like more of an adult. Because people who are in their late 20s/early 30s experience this rough patch and often search for answers (why is this happening to me!?), the Saturn return seems to be one of the most popularly discussed astrological concepts, up there with Mercury retrograde.
The reason it’s challenging is because Saturn is the planet of authority in the zodiac. It represents structure, seriousness, and responsibility. Until 1781, Saturn was thought to be the last planet of the solar system because it’s the farthest of the planets that are visible to the naked eye. Thus, it’s connoted with the concept of boundaries. It’s commonly known as the task-master of the zodiac. It’s also the auditor, and often also referred to as the daddy or father figure.
I often think of Saturn as Dorothy Zbornak, portrayed with authoritarian aplomb by (Queen) Bea Arthur on The Golden Girls. Dorothy/Saturn is a judgmental tough cookie and will take you to task for your failings, but ultimately she wants to see you succeed. She wants you to learn your lesson, Blanche!
With Saturn moving into Pisces, Saturn is going to have a more challenging time asserting its authority, so in general, we may see rules of many kinds get more bendable, since Pisces is a mutable sign. While Saturn is about boundaries, out of all the signs, Pisces is probably the least OK with boundaries, so it will be an interesting few years of boundary blurriness. Any remaining vestiges of Covid-related restrictions will diminish and disappear, and if there are any lingering feelings of being restricted with regard to the pandemic, those will be gone.
However, because Saturn aims to set boundaries and build structures and have us take responsibility, it will be attempting to do this in areas associated with Pisces: water, emotions and feelings, dreams, unreality (vs. reality), escapism, drugs, art, religion, and spirituality.
Saturn moving through Pisces is like an attempt to dam the ocean.
There are so many ways this could play out. For example, in the world, you will likely see more attempts to fight rising sea levels, which are going to become a growing issue over the next few years, as nations are going to have to do more and more to protect coastal cities. There will also probably be water shortages, and we could see both some big restrictions on water usage and also more pronounced campaigns and movements related to water conservation.
We could see fights to make stricter drug laws for some drugs and to loosen restrictions on others. Art could take on a more severe quality, and gritty realism will probably be embraced more (grunge was big in the early to mid 90s, the last time Saturn was in Pisces). Personally, I’d love to see a more vocal, strengthened movement in the U.S. to demand we tax churches. There’s also probably going to be a backlash against both organized religion and the New Age-y stuff that’s risen in popularity over the last few years, including astrology.
Saturn loves to teach lessons by making us face harsh realities, and for us personally, that means that we may see a few years of learning lessons in the areas of our chart ruled by Pisces. How it will affect you specifically depends on the placement of the planets in your birth chart, as Saturn makes new aspects as it moves through a new sign. But based on your sun and/or rising sign, here is taste of the areas/topics for which you may find yourself having to take some more responsibility and go through some challenges between now and 2026:
Pisces & Pisces Rising: Saturn will be moving through your first house of self. This can mean your self-perception, your ideals of self, but it can also mean your physical appearance, how you present yourself to others, and your wellbeing. Routinized self-care can be helpful at any point, but especially during this time.
Aries & Aries Rising: The 12th house, where Saturn will be for you, covers mental health, the shadow self, sleep, dreams, and isolation. Implementing a regular meditation practice or other activities to tend to your mental health is a great use of this Saturn transit.
Taurus & Taurus Rising: Saturn will be in your 11th house of friends, networks, and the groups of which you are a part, so you may be taking on some responsibilities in those areas and/or becoming more of an authority figure or leader.
Gemini & Gemini Rising: Saturn in the 10th can have you facing some challenges or steep learning curves in the area of your career. It could also mark the period where you step into your authority in your career or in the public sphere. You may find yourself taking on the role of a boss or mentor.
Cancer & Cancer Rising: The 9th house focuses on spirituality, study, philosophy, long-distance travel, and the law, so Saturn touching these areas could mean that you seriously pursue an area of study, or it can find you stepping into a position of authority as a teacher of some kind.
Leo & Leo Rising: This will bring focus into your 8th house of other people’s resources, which includes others’ money and emotional baggage. It’s also taxes, inheritance, debts, and loans, and in a more macro scale, trauma, death, and rebirth. You know, no big deal.
Virgo & Virgo Rising: This will be in your 7th house of partnerships and relationships, so you may find yourself facing responsibility with regard to or needing to clearly assess your closest relationship(s). Saturn highlights what can’t be sustained.
Libra & Libra Rising: Saturn will be moving through your 6th house of work, health, and daily routines. It’s useful to think about the ways that you want to harness what Saturn represents (hard work, structure, systems) to make the most out of this area of your life.
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: The 5th house is associated with pleasure, fun, sex and romance, and children. Saturn can put a damper on these things when transiting through this house, but if you try to work with Saturn, you can find a way to apply its lessons to bring you joy.
Sagittarius & Sag Rising: Saturn will be going through the 4th house for you, which is the house of home, family, our roots, and our early life. You may find yourself having to embody a caretaking role or facing lessons and putting in work in one or more of these areas.
Capricorn & Cap Rising: The 3rd house deals with communications, including how we speak, think, write, and our discussions with others. This house also encompasses our neighborhood and neighbors and things that are part of our local life, as well as short-distance and domestic travel, and siblings, so Saturn may touch on one or more of these aspects.
Aquarius & Aqua Rising: Saturn will be moving through your 2nd house of money and resources. Saturn can have a contracting effect, so you could find yourself making do with less, but it’s wise to channel Saturn’s penchant for hard work, discipline, and auditing in this area, which can help you build financial sustainability.
As I mentioned in my last post, there are other major sign movements coming in March. We’ll gradually start to feel a shift now but will feel it more concretely in the coming months. More to come, but Saturn in Pisces is the first of these changes.
Honestly, there’s just too much happening in March. March is going to usher in a big vibe shift. There are multiple planets/luminaries shifting signs, some of which are outer planets that have been in their current signs for years (and in the case of Pluto, more than a decade).
A quick list: Saturn moves into Pisces Tuesday this week, then mid-month Venus moves into Taurus, Mercury and then the Sun move into Aries (and thus begins the zodiacal new year!), and later this month, Pluto moves into Aquarius, leaving Capricorn where it has been since 2008, and then Mars finally (FINALLY) moves out of Gemini and into Cancer. And of course the moon changes signs throughout the month, every month, hitting on different points and giving emphasis to the other changes.
It’s a lot to digest, but for now, let’s focus on the full moon happening this week. It is occurring on the same day, March 7th, that Saturn will switch signs, which may feel intense. That morning the moon is full in Virgo at 7:40 am EST and then within an hour, Saturn moves into Pisces (a separate post about that will be forthcoming).
Virgo full moons are about releasing the little things that stress us. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Virgo is an earth sign, so it’s grounded. Virgo is also methodical, but as a mutable sign, is adaptable, albeit in well thought-out, incremental ways. A full moon there encourages us to formulate practical steps on how to move beyond the things we’ve outgrown or that no longer serve us.
While Virgo is grounded, the full moon is opposite the sun in Pisces, which is associated with free flowing emotions. The sun and moon are both squaring, or forming 90-degree angles with, Mars (this is known as a T-square), which will create tension and push for action.
This is what you may experience based on where it occurs in your chart. Read for both your sun and rising sign.
Aries & Aries Rising: This full moon can bring a culmination of some aspect of your work, or the wrapping of a project that you have been consistently spending time on. You may find yourself with some much needed free time on your hands. Before diving into the next area of focus, take the opportunity to make a list, journal, or organize your thoughts about what you really want to prioritize next. A full moon in Virgo is opposite the sun in Pisces, so best to balance practical feelings of obligation with your innermost aspirations and desires.
Taurus & Taurus Rising: The Virgo full moon can bring an opportunity for you to clear blockages when it comes to your creativity. Have you had writer’s block? Use the full moon to change up your practice to try to get your creative energies flowing again. With your ruling planet, Venus, currently in your 12th house, meditation, retreat, journaling, and other mindfulness exercises can be especially useful now and can help you tap into your inner artist.
Gemini & Gemini Rising: You may be having some emotionally charged interactions or discussions with your family this week. Mars is still in Gemini and making that t-square with the moon and sun, so family dynamics may be contentious. Take deep breaths and try to keep your cool if you find yourself about to erupt or act in a way that you may regret later. And if someone in your family lashes out, try to remember that it’s a full moon and Mars is in the mix and not take it too personally.
Cancer & Cancer Rising: There could be some mixing it up in the mundane for you. The full moon could bring changes to the way you communicate or the wrapping up of an ongoing activity related to your neighborhood or your building, if you live in an apartment. It could also indicate an emotional conclusion for a sibling of yours. The moon is your ruler, so you have a tendency to be a deeply emotional person, so try to lean into Virgo’s attributes for balance.
Leo & Leo Rising: This could bring some closure to either a way you earn money or a money matter with which you have been dealing. You’ll also be feeling a little tender when it comes to the resources you have. Maybe your income, your savings, or your assets aren’t what you necessarily thought they would be. Virgo loves logical, practical steps toward progress, so this is a great time for examining your budget and trimming back the superfluous spending to help you achieve the things you’ve been hoping for.
Virgo & Virgo Rising: The full moon may be extra emotional for you, so much so that you may be tempted to or find yourself acting abruptly. You’re usually pretty measured and plan out your next steps, but with this moon opposite the sun in Pisces and squaring Mars, your emotional self can overpower your logical self. It’s a lot. Let go of negative self-perception, and if you find yourself impetuously and emotionally making decisions, try to take a step back and use your wise mind.
Libra & Libra Rising: This could be a time where you find yourself self-sabotaging in one or more areas of your life. Use the power of this full moon to critically examine the habits and thoughts that contribute to your own undoing and contemplate how you can break those. Meditation and setting aside time to clear your mind would be especially restorative now.
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: The Virgo full moon is happening in your 11th house, squaring your ruler, Mars, in your 8th house. This could bring an emotional urge to have potentially fraught conversations with your friends about things that have been bugging you or ways in which you feel wounded by them. It could even see you scaling back your commitments with regard to friendship or the time you’ve been devoting to your friend groups or your community. It can be sort of a “taking my ball and going home” vibe. Take a beat and think logically about what you want to say before speaking and acting.
Sagittarius & Sag Rising: With this full moon, you will likely be experiencing a culmination of something in your career or in a public role. It could be the wrapping up of a project you’re leading that will earn you kudos or an emotional ending to a job that you’ve been at. There may be a moment of sadness or a feeling of loss, but focus on the accomplishments you have achieved and ruminate about what you want to take on next.
Capricorn & Capricorn Rising: This Virgo full moon is occurring in your 9th house, which may have you feeling restless and looking for an escape. You may be tempted to plan a trip to a far-flung locale or just immerse yourself in a good book or an area of study. The moon is in a fellow earth sign, so if you do end up wanting to escape, make a clear, detailed, multi-step plan first.
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: Your emotions may be particularly intense and focused on what others have and what you feel like you lack. A full moon in the 8th house of your chart can bring about jealousy or even have you feeling taken advantage of by someone else. Virgo is about logic, so if you feel this way, objectively lay out the facts for yourself. You may find your jealousy to be unfounded, and/or you may find that you do need to set better boundaries with others.
Pisces & Pisces Rising: Close relationships will serve as the primary focus during this full moon, and you may find yourself being more critical than usual. Instead of stewing about the shortcomings you perceive about your partner or others with whom you’re in close, symbiotic relationships, take the opportunity to reflect on your feelings and why certain things may be triggering for you.
Take all of these with a grain of salt. Astrology is interpretative and not fortune-telling, so the full moon may manifest in different ways for you.
This week, we will be feeling momentum toward and then the apices of two big planetary conjunctions: Venus & Jupiter in Aries and Mercury & Saturn in Aquarius.
Slightly after midnight EST on March 2nd, Venus will enter a conjunction with Jupiter in Aries at 12 degrees. Venus in Aries is fiery, passionate, sexy, and combustible. The day that Venus moved into Aries, I felt compelled to look up pole dancing classes. My favorite astrology Twitter account referred to it as “hoe era.” Conjunct Jupiter, we’ll see the expansion and spreading of those attributes.
This transit could lead to burgeoning relationships becoming public or being taken to the next level. The “do now, think later” nature of Aries could mean that some people impulsively get engaged or elope. In Aries, Venus and Jupiter are in a sign ruled by Mars, which is still (yes, still, it’s been MONTHS) in Gemini, so there could be big talk of relationships or relationship changes. This talk may or may not pan out, but Jupiter’s presence means they are more likely to succeed. This transit can also mean sexual sparks flying and/or being with multiple partners.
It may not be just or all about love and sexual relationships, though. At this time, you may start or grow other relationships that will be influential to you and affect your life in a positive way, or broaden your perspective. Or, existing relationships you have with others, even more casual, acquaintance-type ones, may bear fruit around this time. I’ve updated this post to add a real life example: my husband has been diligently working on getting all the paperwork and applying for his Irish citizenship for the last four years. His eligibility is based on his familial relationships. After years, his citizenship was finally approved and processed–with Jupiter and Venus both transiting and nearing their conjunction in his 4th house of roots, home, and family. Because of his family relationships, he’s able to connect more with his roots and heritage, and expand his home base. Astrology is wild!
This transit, because Venus rules money and what we value, could be lucky in terms of finances. Raises and promotions may come through, or you may just find a dollar on the street. The only minor caution here is to try not to be TOO spendy (Jupiter expands, so expand with money in, not out).
Chiron is also in the mix, within one degree of both planets, and Venus entering an exact conjunction with Chiron the next day, so some of the relationships that form may offer a healing quality to deep emotional wounds from early life.
At the same time, Mercury is approaching Saturn, and those two planets form a conjunction several hours later in the early morning of March 2nd. This is in Aquarius, Saturn’s sign, so the Saturn influence will be strong on Mercury, and it’s at 29 degrees, the anaretic degree of Aquarius, so it’s mega Aquarian energy. There will be intellectual conversations, with the focus on the world outside of yourself.
On a personal level, this energy also makes for a good time for thinking about the systems and structures of your life and getting organized and practical, but in an inventive way (Aquarius). What can you do to improve the way you think and communicate? What are the systematic steps you can take? And can you use your voice to make things better in the world or community?
Later on March 2nd, Mercury moves into Pisces, so our communications and our thinking softens, becoming a little more emotionally driven and intuitive. Mercury in Pisces is a great time to write songs and poetry. This week, with Mercury in conjunction with Saturn, with Venus and Jupiter empowering one another, it’s a good time to have potentially tough conversations.
Next week, on March 7th, Saturn will move into Pisces, on the same day as a full moon in Virgo, which will usher in a major vibe shift. In fact, the entire month of March is about big sign changes, but more on that next week.
On Saturday, February 18th, the Sun moves into Pisces, and thus begins Pisces season. Venus has already been swimming through Pisces since the end of January, so certain aspects of your life may have felt a little dreamy and a little leaky lately, but with the Sun moving into Pisces, and a New Moon happening at 1 degree of Pisces in the wee hours of the morning on February 20th (a little after 2 am EST), the Piscean vibes are going to be strong.
Pisces is a mutable water sign. As a mutable sign, it’s adaptable and transitory. As a mutable water sign, it’s like an uncontainable ocean, deep and roiling, containing beauty and mystery. Pisces season asks us to go with the flow, to let the waves wash over us and mold us, eroding our sharp edges, to be compassionate and sensitive to our own feelings and others’, and to tap into our intuition.
The New Moon in Pisces encourages us to bring that energy into focus, and let go. New Moons represent the beginnings of new cycles, but Pisces, the 12th sign of the Zodiac, is a sign that lends itself to releasing whatever we’re hung up on, like a big whoosh. Listen to music. I suggest woozy pop. Weyes Blood. Beach House. And then just cry it out. You will find me listening to “It’s a Dream” by Neil Young on a loop for the next month and sobbing intermittently.
The New Moon is occuring in a cross-sign conjunction with Saturn, which is at 28 degrees of Aquarius and about to enter Pisces in a couple weeks. Saturn in Pisces will loosen up the rules and structures in our lives, but it might make things a little messy, so this New Moon is a really good time to let go of your blocks, get a sense of what feels right, and then utilize Saturn while it’s still in Aquarius to make a game plan on how to lean in to what your intuition is guiding you toward.
Depending on your Sun and your rising sign, you may feel this New Moon more acutely in certain areas of your life.
Pisces & Pisces Rising: You may be compelled to make some big changes. If your Sun is in Pisces, you’ll be having your solar return this month, and if Pisces is your rising sign, the Sun is moving through your first house of self. It’s a time for self-reflection. Assess what’s working for you and what you really want. Conscientiously kick anything that’s not serving you, and manifest and take action on what you want to change, both for your inner self and outer self. Also a great time to get a facial! Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
Aries & Aries Rising: Aries are known for their energy, but this New Moon will likely have you feeling very tired, either mentally or physically or both. If you’re feeling exhausted or burnt out, it’s best to get as much rest as possible. Pay close attention to your dreams this weekend and early in the week and try to tease out the meaning; your subconscious may be sending you a message.
Taurus & Taurus Rising: Taureans have had a bumpy couple years, with Uranus making its way through your sign and the eclipses causing some havoc for you since November 2021. The New Moon in your 11th house encourages you to find escape and solace through your friends. Verbalize your dreams and wishes to your friend group, let them pump you up, and take in their advice. The exchange of ideas may spark some new creativity for you that could ultimately help set you on a path to fulfilling your goals.
Gemini & Gemini Rising: This New Moon brings your career into focus. You may be getting a new opportunity at work or a new offer for something bigger. What does your heart want? Is your current career what you really want to do? If it is, amazing. If not, this is a good time to think about the changes you want to make and how you can plant the seeds for greater fulfillment.
Cancer & Cancer Rising: You may feel like you are craving a new adventure, or you are feeling compelled to dive deep into an area of study. This is a good New Moon for planning your next big trip and/or signing up for classes on a subject that may suddenly interest you. Pretend you’ve won a Fulbright, and make plans to focus on whatever is calling to you and learn by immersion.
Leo & Leo Rising: This New Moon may have you feeling a little extra emotional and co-dependent. If anything feels amiss about what you’re giving to others or asking from the people in your life, reevaluate the situation and see if there’s a way to make it feel more balanced. A New Moon in Pisces isn’t the best time for setting boundaries, but if some arrangements are feeling particularly boundary-less, use your intuition to guide you in recalibrating and saying no when you need to.
Virgo & Virgo Rising: Whether you’re single or in a relationship, take a break from rigidity. This is a nice time for showing your partner how you feel about them. Appeal to your partner’s love language to express your own love. If you’re single, use the New Moon in Pisces to open yourself up to new experiences or potential new partners, even ones that may not have checked all the boxes in the past.
Libra & Libra Rising: With the New Moon occurring in your 6th house of routines and habits, this week marks a powerful time to adopt a new practice that can help you get more centered. If you don’t already meditate, you would be well served by incorporating a daily guided meditation into your life. If meditation’s decidedly not your thing, how about stretching? Carving out time, even if only for a few minutes, every day for a period of focus, release, and catharsis will go a long way for your physical and mental health.
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: Tap into your creativity this New Moon. It will be a great way to channel the extra emotional energy you will be feeling. It could be through a creative or artistic pursuit, like writing, painting, or designing, or through mixing it up in your romantic and/or sex life. Try new things, have fun and let yourself feel the sparks that come to you,
Sag & Sagittarius Rising: This New Moon may cut extra deep for you, bringing up some emotions around your family and your home, whatever that means for you. Sagittarians are explorers and adventurers, but at this time, you may want to tap into your innermost feelings and desires about what makes you feel the most secure and what roots you want to lay down. Take the steps to foster that and build your nest.
Cap & Capricorn Rising: Your communications may feel a little more emotionally charged and a little more flowy than usual at this time. This New Moon is a great time to express your honest feelings to those in your life. Tell the people around you how much they mean to you, and if you have friends or siblings in your life that need some TLC or some tough love, your words will likely have extra impact now.
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: This New Moon is happening in your 2nd house of money, resources, and values. This may mark the beginning of a period of good fortune or new income for you, but even if it doesn’t bring in new money from the jump, use the New Moon to contemplate what it is that means the most to you. How can you align what you’re doing to earn income with what you feel is important to you on a gut level?
As always, a disclaimer: this is my interpretation of the transits in the sky and what they mean based on a person’s birth chart, but astrology is a fun thing and should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s not fortune telling. You have free will. Take only what resonates.
