March Overview
February’s fast-forward movement continues into March. While the Moon zips around the heavens as usual, the Sun and all the planets are clustered into four signs (Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, and Taurus). These clumps activate everyone’s chart, but personal experiences vary wildly. Some people feel energized; others feel drained. It depends on your unique horoscope.
Globally, the second half of March and April will be wonky. Do what you can now to create ease for yourself later. Stock up on essentials and take care of any maintenance. I re-subscribed to a meal delivery service, so I don’t need to worry about grocery shopping and meal planning. I also reordered vitamins, supplements, tea, printer ink, and paper. What can you do to make your life more convenient?
Why the Wonkiness?
This year, we have two pairs of eclipses, spring and fall. March 25 is a lunar eclipse, and April 8 is the much-anticipated Total Solar Eclipse crossing the US. During Eclipse Season, external events have a higher potential to disrupt routines. Two other contributing factors are the coming Mercury retrograde and the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction.
- Mercury is the planet of communication, commerce, and commuting. The messenger slows way down in late March for his April 1 retrograde. He will be retrograde or super-slow all of April.
- “Make everything bigger” Jupiter inches closer to Uranus, the Master-of-Surprises, for their April 20 meeting.
In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien:
It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations if you live near him.
The first few days of March are mild, with friendly contacts (a 60-degree sextile) from the Sun to Jupiter and Mercury to Uranus. On March 3, Venus squares Uranus, which may bring impulsive or erratic twists in your relationships or desires. Avoid the same old boring Sunday plans. Do something out-of-the-ordinary, whether for fun or with your appearance.
As the crescent Moon gets smaller, I recommend you slow down and think twice before speaking or acting. Three planetary moves can lead to escalations over misunderstandings or throwing resources toward a lousy idea. Here’s the scoop:
- March 8 - Mercury conjunct Neptune at 27 Pisces boosts inspiration, insight, and intuition. Your sensitivity, compassion, and imagination are heightened. There is also a risk of deception, confusion, or errors.
- March 9 - Mars at 20 Aquarius square Uranus at 20 Taurus is a highly energetic aspect. It’s fast and furious. Sometimes, it’s a brilliant breakthrough idea you must act on right now! Sometimes, it’s breaking something in uncharacteristic anger. Symbolic Mars - Uranus events include revolutionary uprisings, labor strikes, mudslides, and earthquakes.
- March 9 - Mercury marches into Aries, increasing the speed of thoughts, messages, and decisions. Voices will be louder and more forceful. (Sidenote: Mercury is usually only in a sign for 3-4 weeks, but because of the April retrograde in Aries, we get a triple dose! Mercury will be in Aries until May 15.)
These transits might not affect you personally and only be visible as news stories. Still, be mindful that there is potential for rash action based on faulty information or judgment from March 7-11, overlaying the New Moon.
New Moon - March 10
The End of a Beginning, the Beginning of an End
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and Pisces is the last, so this lunar cycle begins in the last sign’s final 10 degrees (or decan). The March 10 New Moon has marked symbolism for endings and beginnings - for the month, the season, and perhaps a larger era. In some areas, daylight saving time begins. It’s only ten days before the Zodiacal New Year, and the doors swing open for Eclipse Season.
What is ending and what is beginning in your life?
On March 11, Venus enters Pisces, usually a place of ease and pleasure for her. This year, it’s more challenging with Saturn and, later, Mars in Pisces (March 22).
Imagine you’ve been waiting all winter for warm temperatures to open your beautiful swimming pool. You remove the cover, turn on the pump, and discover it isn’t working right. It’s dirty, the chemicals are unbalanced, and you must spend time, money, and energy to bring it back to working order before enjoying it.
Venus will get past the challenges and be able to luxuriate in warm, clear waters, but not immediately.
Some challenges continue over the weekend. There may be too many demands on your attention, but I hope you can reserve Sunday for pleasure. Here is the breakdown:
- March 16 - A waxing Moon in Gemini wants to do it all, but the Moon is caught between a square to Saturn, then Mars. Delays and frustrations may abound. Ancient astrologers called this a “besieged moon.” It might be literal breakdowns in communication or machines.
- March 17 - Sun conjunct Neptune at 28 degrees Pisces. After yesterday, you may be exhausted. This is a day for rest, relaxation, and recharging. Escape from the grind! If you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, anticipate that your sensitivity to sunlight and substances will be heightened. Take it easy, hydrate, and wear sunscreen. (This day is one of my Golden Hours; scroll down for more info.)
- Mar 18 - Mercury conjunct N Node at 16 degrees Aries is a re-energizing and assertive influence. This is the degree to which Mercury will return in his retrograde, so decisions and actions may need to be revisited later.
Aries Ingress - Mar 19
On March 19, the Sun enters Aries at the vernal equinox. Spring begins in the northern hemisphere. Astrologers use the Aries Ingress moment for state, national, and global forecasts. I’ve purposely focused this newsletter on astrology for your everyday life, but if you’re interested in learning more about mundane forecasts, let me know.
Midweek, Mercury meets Chiron in Aries (March 20), and Venus meets Saturn in Pisces (March 21). These two may invoke sober relationship thoughts, prompting questions about your needs and desires and whether you feel supported. Relationship breakdowns are possible, but so are relationship breakthroughs! Clear communication and mutual compassion can go a long way.
Lunar Eclipse - March 25
On March 25, the first eclipse of the year takes place. It is a South Node Lunar Eclipse, so the Earth passes between the Sun and the Full Moon (5 Libra). If the weather conditions are good in the early morning, it will be faintly visible in North America.
The next eclipse (Total Solar) occurs on the April 8 New Moon at 20 Aries. If you have important personal planets or chart points in Libra or Aries, you’ll likely be impacted by the Spring eclipses. You may face a crisis, an ending, or a new emphasis in the parts of your chart containing Libra or Aries. Relationships of all kinds may change, including relationships between nations or groups.
You can schedule a consultation if you'd like to learn more about how the eclipses impact your chart. I also recommend Judith Hill’s book, Eclipses and You: How to Align with Life’s Hidden Tides.
There aren’t any significant transits for the remainder of March, but the period between eclipses can be chaotic and weird. Take good care of yourself and your loved ones. If you’re not personally affected, others may need your support.
Announcements & Updates
Last fall, I wrote an article about the hybrid asteroid-comet-centaur Chiron and its influence on astrology. My article was selected for one of the world’s biggest astrology websites, Astro.com - an incredible honor! You can read it HERE.
Paul Heath interviewed me about Chiron on the I AM ASTROLOGY READINGS podcast, episode 57, The Wisdom of Chiron. In this episode, I summarize the article and discuss my personal Chiron transit experiences, including the Chiron Return. You can watch it on YouTube or listen to the audio version on your podcast player.
Golden Hours
All times are CST.
Mar 13, Wednesday
Put effort toward your goals, and you’re likely to see progress. It’s suitable for seeking favors and finding treasures, too. The waxing crescent Taurus Moon forms a sextile with Saturn and then conjunction with Jupiter. My favorite periods are 8-9:30 am and 12- 1:40 pm.
Mar 17, Sunday
The Moon in Cancer makes a supportive trine with Venus in Pisces, while the Sun is conjunct Neptune. Your sensitivity, idealism, and compassion can be heightened. While there are potential hazards, this day can be lovely! Spend it in a way that feels pleasurable and inspiring to you. Time in or near water might be restorative.
Mar 23, Saturday morning
The Moon in Virgo is bright and hovers for a few hours between aspects to Venus and Jupiter. It’s a perfect opportunity to put things in a pleasing order - whether it’s yourself, your home, or your yard. I especially like the time from 7:20 to 8:45 am, so don’t sleep in!