March 2016

March is the bridge between the old astrological year and the new astrological year as the Sun transits through Pisces and then moves into Aries at the time of the Vernal Equinox and the beginning of the Spring season.

We may find ourselves bringing closure to certain matters before we initiate our new springtime projects. While the weather tends to vacillate in March with bursts of intensity between winter’s biting chill and spring’s lulling softness, we might sense a similar shifting within ourselves between feeling up at times, down at other times, and sometimes with no apparent reason.

As the personal planets move into Pisces, first with the Sun back on the 19th of February, then with Mercury on the 5th of March, followed by Venus on the 12th of March; the Mutable Sign T-Square that we have dealt with since the beginning of this past Autumn and which we shall continue to deal with through the Summer of 2016 is reinforced.

The volatility of emotional mood swings can be ratcheted up severalfold with extremes between irrational exuberance and devastating despair. The key to sanity will be to minimize the extreme emotional mood swings and maintain some semblance of balance with our emotions.

With the increasing Pisces energies during this month, and certainly through the 19th of this month, we may feel more emotional, moody and sometimes feeling out of our body. We can be like a dry sponge taking to water, soaking up the vibes of those around us and influenced by what is going on in the world-at-large.

Before Venus moves into Pisces on the 12th, Venus in Aquarius sextiles Uranus in Aries on the 2nd of March and can have us reconnecting with old friends, contacting even those far afield, yet also looking for those serendipitous encounters where we meet someone exciting by happenchance.

The weekend of March 5th – 6th could prove a real whipsaw. On the 5th of March, Mercury in Aquarius squares Mars in Scorpio, just prior to Mercury entering Pisces and prior to Mars entering Sagittarius on that day. Both of these planetary movements into Mutable Signs will put more heavy lifting on the Mutable Sign T-Square.

With a Stellium or powerpack in Pisces with the Sun, Mercury and Neptune in the Mutable Water Sign, Mars and Saturn in Sagittarius, and Jupiter in Virgo; we have six planets transiting Mutable Signs and reinforcing the Mutable Sign T-Square.

Anxiety and nervous energy can have us running from one thing to another, all the while wondering whether what we are doing and how we are doing is having any positive effect. The more we can slow things down or at least engage some braking action, the less likely we are to get caught up in the whirlwind of a spinning tornado of activity to the point of exhaustion.

Focused intention will be essential for us to maintain our balance and would be aided by gentle exercise such as yoga or tai chi and by meditation and reflection.

We do live during fast-paced times, but we need to work with the energies rather than being run by the energies.

Relationships could prove somewhat dicey during this weekend of the 5th-6th, both as a result of our own personal confusion about whatever is going on and by the increased volatility whereby things can shift on a dime — not only conditions and circumstances but also our moods and emotions.

The 6th of March has the Sun square Saturn and the Sun sextile Pluto. We may feel weighted down by our obligations and responsibilities. Any sense of overload can be mitigated by our prioritizing our affairs and by clearing away the clutter. We could have outstanding matters to complete and now would be a time for us to do so. Although we might be liable to being tripped up by old issues, we have the ability of cutting away the dross and focusing on creating space for new initiations.

The Spring season is forthcoming in two weeks, the Vernal Equinox being astrology’s new year and with it the springtime rebirth, renaissance and new beginnings.

The Pisces New Moon on the 8th is a Solar Eclipse with the Sun opposed Jupiter. With the New Moon influencing the next two weeks, and the Solar Eclipse even longer, the Mutable Sign T-Square is heavily in play through the end of the Winter season.

Mercury conjuncts Neptune on the 11th of March, Venus exits Aquarius to enter Pisces on the 12th, Mercury squares Saturn and Venus squares Mars on the 14th, and Mercury opposes Jupiter on the 15th.

Our emotions and thoughts may be tossed about from the Pisces New Moon through the end of Winter on the 19th. If we can maintain a handle on the energies and not get swept up by the extreme volatilities of these times, our intuitive sense could be strengthened and we might find a way, or ways, to transform the crazy-making maze into a focused and centered labyrinth.

This ability to create a masterpiece from the messy ingredients may be encouraged by Mercury sextile Pluto on the 15th and by Jupiter trine Pluto on the 16th of March.

Winter ends and Spring begins on the 19th – 20th as the Sun exits Pisces to enter Aries at the time of the Vernal Equinox. The astrological new year, the entry of the Sun into Aries promises us an annual renewal, rebirth, renaissance, as we consider new projects, new activities that speak to our specific interests and to whom we are as individuals.

Venus conjuncts Neptune on the 20th and we may find ourselves infatuated, in love and hopefully in love with life. There can be an ethereal aura around people, a magnetism that draws us in, just as others are drawn to us.

On the 21st, Mercury exits Pisces and enters Aries triggering a Stellium or powerpack in the Cardinal Fire Sign as Mercury joins the Sun and Uranus in Aries. We may feel as though we have gained a second wind, primarily interested in our own personal projects and especially those involvements that allow us greater autonomy and a greater expression of ourselves.

The Libra Full Moon on the 23rd is a Lunar Eclipse happening with the influence of a Jupiter Saturn square. The Sun also conjuncts Mercury on the 23rd. There can be a great deal of push-pull going on with self-interests putting strains on personal relationships. The accordion nature of the Jupiter Saturn square can have some people wanting to expand while other people warn of going too far out on a limb to the point of it breaking. A sense of balance, like walking a balance beam, is needed to draw upon experience all the while that we are expanding our activities. We know what we know and are prepared to take one step at a time neither negating our past nor limiting our future.

Mercury trines Mars on the 24th, followed by the Sun trine Mars on the 26th. If we have weighed our responsibilities with our possibilities and found an even mean, this period would be a good time for us to spread our wings and broaden our realm. We can feel inspired, confident and adventurous for new tomorrows.

Between these two days, on the 25th, Venus triggers the Jupiter Saturn square with a Mutable Sign T-Square as Venus opposes Jupiter and Venus squares Saturn. The 25th is also the day that Saturn turns retrograde, the Saturn retrograde motion continuing until mid-August. Our pace might slow or we could find that things are taking longer than we would like. We may also have to go back over issues and matters that we once thought resolved. While we might feel as though the wind is full in our sails on the 24th and 26th, the 25th allows for a tempering, a honing process, and slight restraints that could keep us from launching forcefully ahead without a well-devised strategy or itinerary in hand. And, thus, the braking process could in actual fact be a blessing rather than a curse.

We end the month with much Mercurial energy as Mercury trines Saturn on the 29th, Mercury squares Pluto on the 30th, and Mercury conjuncts Uranus on the 31st. Our mind is astute and we may get some fascinating revelations but we also need to be wary of falling prey to becoming legends in our own mind. A sense of infallibility and reckless abandon could have us banging up against brick walls of standards or capabilities. Why go there when we can weave our journey through the obstacles and find ourselves ever more autonomous in our daily lives? And isn’t that what our individual journey is all about? — the path less traveled.

March 2016… Out with the Old, In with the New…