*All times are Pacific Time
Apologies dear friend and reader for the delayed astrological forecast. I have been outdoors…mostly…walking by the ocean and the forest because of the unusual high spring temps here in Vancouver, BC. We also celebrated our eldest son’s birthday and I have had some lovely and unexpected encounters with the more-than-human these past few days so there has been a lot to be with - to sit with and appreciate.
I hope you will indulge me this week as it is a busy week for the planets and for me too. You will receive another letter today and another one on Wednesday.
In this letter, I cover this week’s two main events:
The Vernal Equinox (19 March)
Mars’ ingress into Pisces (22 March)
Highlight these dates in your calendar.
The main event is the Vernal Equinox, when the Sun moves into Aries tomorrow, the 19th (8:08 am). This is the astrological New Year. I encourage you to greet the Sun on waking. Face East and give thanks for Sol’s generosity. Mars rules Aries and the first decan of the year so the vibe is competitive and territorial. And of course this is most apparent in Nature. Our feathered and furred kin compete for mates at this time of year but also for food and territory.
T. Susan Chang associates this first decan in Aries with the 2 of Wands which she describes as “locked and loaded, ready for sex or battle.”
Spring is not a gentle season. It is a season of cultivation and rupture. Gardeners and farmers prepare the soil now. They break up the soil with rake and spade and machinery. They remove weeds. I mentioned this in my New Moon post. We are still very much in a time of cleansing and release/removal…before the soil can receive your seeds you have to pull out the weeds.
If you have a Rider Waite Smith deck you may want to meditate on the 2 of Wands and the Judgement card which is the major arcanum of elemental fire.
Susan says that the Judgement card calls on you to check in with yourself:
Are you becoming who you were meant to be? Are you acting based on who you are or on who you would like to be?
The Moon will be in Leo and Mercury is conjunct the North Node. There is great power in this fiery Sun-Moon trine. It speaks of aggressive enthusiasm and revitalization. The primary drive indicated by the ingress chart (above) is one of autonomy and an innovative spirituality that advocates for social progress. This is because Mars, Aries’ ruler is in Aquarius and Aquarius is radical in the sense that systems - economic, social, political - must change.
Mars will retrograde in Leo this year which indicates we will all be given a second chance to get the next part right from December 2024- Feb 2025 but for now here is your mission…(if you choose to accept it)
True belonging starts with your willingness to embrace your authentic self.
All the birds and creatures of the world are unutterably themselves. Everything is waiting for you’
- David Whyte
You can blend in without relinquishing control. You can be part of a team for example or something bigger - a movement - by contributing your unique set of skills. The world is enriched by your active participation.
The Sun is sextile Pluto - easy transformation, and reclamation of power. But don’t make this about dominion over others, focus instead of power in numbers, power with…
The fire signs are preceded by the water signs. Pisces into Aries - the soul wants to give shape and form to ideas, thoughts and impulses.
Mercury conjunct the North Node in Aries speaks from the future (19 March 8:14 am). What is your future self telling you? No I am not asking you to imagine a conversation with your future self, I am asking you to listen for the words that arrive today from Future YOU ten years from now.
Mars enters Pisces on Friday the 22nd at 4:47pm.
In Pisces, Mars very quickly realizes that he is not in control. He is adrift, at the mercy of the currents. What drives you during this transit is numinous - things occur that are beyond your control. You will hear yourself say “karma” more often than usual, you will remember a past life, or what occurs is the untangling of a spiritual knot. You point your sword in one direction but are pulled in another direction by a current. In ancient Japan before a sword could be crafted, the swordsmith would fast and engage in long prayer. The completion of a sword was celebrated in a ceremony. This is the situation Mars finds himself in. He is crafting a new sword that he will carry forward when he reaches Aries, his diurnal home.
Again, this is part of the seasonal invitation, to cleanse and purify before you start swinging your sword…
Reference and recommended reading:
36 Secrets by T. Susan Chang