The (First) Aries New Moon, Astrology, and Your Healing Process
Welcome! As always, the New Moon is the herald of new beginnings: an opportunity to begin again. Because of this, because the New Moon happens so frequently, and because the moon and her phases are so easy to see and track in the night sky, the New Moon is an important astrological moment. If we have been blown off course, it gives us a chance to course-correct: to realign, recalibrate, re-attune. If we are on course, it gives us the validation and reassurance we need to identify and take the next steps.
All new moons are powerful. But there are ways in which the Aries new moon is the most powerful one of the astrological year. Of course, part of it has to do with domain of the sign itself, and the characteristics of its gender, element, and modality. As a male sign that rules the divine male archetype, as well as the archetype of the warrior, there is extraordinary strength and courage to be found here. Use it. As it is the first of three fire signs, it is an intense force to be reckoned with: agile and adept, driven to move freely. Be that. As a cardinal sign, it is assertive and initiating, pioneering and resourceful. Own that. But part of it has to do with Aries place in the wheel of the sky: it is the first sign of the zodiac. When you have the transit of new beginnings in the sign of new beginnings, well, there is just exponentially more power. Trust that.
Whatever transformations our brave new world has brought you, activate the Aries in you to lean in, listen up, level up, and step up. Know that there will be an element of letting go – all of us are being required to release and relinquish a lot of beliefs and behaviors that no longer serve us. In your prayers, ceremonies and rituals, ask your guides, guardians, angels and ancestors to remove those things from you, so they can be transformed and transmuted and returned to you as pure loving. Why? Because of the fierce urgency of now. It’s not just a New Moon, it’s not just the first New Moon of the Zodiac year. It’s the first of a rare two New Moons in Aries, and it’s the Spring Equinox.
The thing I love the most about the Spring Equinox (or the Vernal Equinox, or Ostara) is it’s place in the wheel of the year, in the seasons. As far as Shabbat days are concerned, the spring equinox is the great cosmic, karmic re-boot. It is a chance to start again. We have so much support from the universe in our efforts to create change. But you have to be smart about it. You cannot simply start over again doing the same old things in the same old way. You have to demonstrate to others – to your community – that you have learned from your mistakes. You must show up differently. And that can be risky; it can feel a little freaky and intense. Like a trail that suddenly becomes rocky, a bit darker, and uphill.
This is where your faith, your training and your discipleship – your spiritual discipline – comes in. And where you must look to the stars for guidance. As above, so below. Activate the archetype of the Warrior — whatever that is for you. Trust that things are better than they currently look or feel. And if you get stuck call me.
We’ll figure it out.
Calendar
In the interim, here are some dates to be mindful of:
March 20 – The Sun moves into Aries; the Spring Equinox; Ostara
March 21 - Moon moves into Aries; New Moon in Aries
March 22 – Ramadan begins at Sunset
March 23 – Pluto moves into Aquarius
March 26 – Mars moves into Cancer
March 29 – The Mercury retrograde 24-day prelude period begins
March 31 – Cesar Chavez Day
April 3 – Mercury moves into Taurus
April 4 – The 14-day Eclipse prelude period begins
April 5 – Full Moon in Libra: also known as the Hare Moon, the Pink Moon, the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon, the Egg Moon, the Fish Moon, and the Paschal Moon; Passover/Pesach – the Festival of Liberation – begins at Sunset
April 6 – Maundy Thursday; End of Lent
April 7 – Good Friday
April 9 – Easter
April 10 – Venus moves into Gemini; Siblings Day
April 13 – Passover ends at Sunset
April 19 –The Second New Moon in Aries - the Blue Moon; Hybrid Solar Eclipse
Everybody’s natal (birth) chart is different. These differences reflect our individual souls—their journeys and evolution, their triumphs, and their tragic flaws. As such, the specific impact of each of the following dates will hit each person differently. But there are some general themes.
Holy days, holidays, and astrological transits are opportunities for us to experience grace. But remember how grace happens: sometimes it comes through discomfort. The gifts aren’t always immediately apparent. All the days on this list ask you to be more compassionate with yourself and others, to try and be more awake, and to be more open to synchronicity and messages from Spirit. On days when more than one astrological event, holiday or holy day occurs, know that the power of that day will be even more profound. The more events in a day, the more powerful that day is, and the more intentional you should be.
Again, in general, Full Moons are a good time for ending things, wrapping things up, conclusions, and closure. New Moons are opportune times for new beginnings: starting a new chapter of some aspect of your life, tackling a new project, or launching something new. Retrogrades are always about slowing down and paying more attention to aspects of your creative, spiritual, and social lives. The eclipses always reveal; sometimes it is something others have hidden from you, sometimes it is things you have hidden from yourself. Usually, it is a little bit of both. To go deeper, look to the planetary signs and the houses they fall in, and, of course, to your natal chart. Or give me a call. I can help you with that.
Retreats, Rituals, Services, Ceremonies and Journeys
Choosing the best day or days is a very personal thing. You must feel your way into it. But there are some generic rules that can help you in your decision-making process. Full moons and new moons are considered the best. Holidays and holy days are powerful, as well. Full moons and new moons that occur during or over a period of holidays and holy days are extraordinarily powerful. Factor in a retrograde or two and you cannot avoid leveling up and becoming a much more masterful magician. Especially around anything that has to do with your faith, your trust in it, your ability to serve your faith and serve with it. Seriously.
These kinds of combinations are an object lesson in the power of compounding. One transit is powerful. Two are exponentially more so. Three are, well, do the math. If used with great mindfulness and intentionality, these combinations are defining moments, a powerful means to an end, the vehicle for the change you seek, and therefore, an answered prayer.
With that in mind, in the next month, the best days for deep, transformational experiences are March 20-23, April 5-7, 9-10,19.