Blazing Trails: New Moon in Aries 2023

Photo by Chad Woodward; August 2020,.

New Moon @ 00 degrees Aries 50'

March 21, 2023

9:24 AM PDT

12:24 PM PDT

This month's New Moon in Aries occurs on the Aries point less than a day after the equinox. This lunation thus archetypally embodies a potent and highly catalytic nature and potential. Additionally, its square to Mars adds a layer of motivational energy and tension. Mercury's conjunction and the Sun's waning conjunction with Neptune suggest opportunities for gaining mental and strategic clarity after a short period of indecision, ambiguity, or confusion.

The zodiac sign of Aries, correlating with the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, carries themes of renewal, new life, and beginnings. Ruled by Mars, the archetypal warrior and trailblazer, a New Moon in this sign is a potent starting point for getting whatever we desire lifted, mobilized, and moving decisively forward.

To amplify this, Mars is nearing the end of its nearly seven-month stay in Gemini due to its retrograde cycle last year. Mars' ongoing square-off with Neptune these past several months is ending, and now is an ideal time to take a courageous step forward in actualizing a dream, fantasy, or vision. While your ultimate objective/target has likely shifted since late October, there is some renewed clarity and a sense of the fog finally clearing.

The lower end of this New Moon is an impulsive, overt aggressiveness. This can lead to rash decision-making or rapid-fire reactions to triggering circumstances, so remain extra mindful of this and temper the fiery and enthusiastic passion of Aries with reason, logic, and careful reflection. Also, Mars' square to this New Moon does not suggest that what we begin, launch, or implement now will manifest its potential without struggle, effort, and consistency. Sustained follow-through is required.

However, conceive this New Moon passageway as a need to push yourself to new levels of strength, endurance, and passion steadily and mindfully. Whatever correlates with this New Moon, whatever burning desires emerge, delve deeply into them and use that fuel to keep you moving toward your desired goals. Exciting potentials and achievements await down the road.

Hold Your Focus: Full Moon in Virgo 2023

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Full Moon @ 16 Virgo 40'

March 7, 2023

4:40 AM PST

7:40 AM EST

March's Full Moon occurs in tropical Virgo, while the Sun sits between Mercury and Neptune in Pisces. Additionally, the Full Moon makes several complex aspects. There is a productive streak to this lunation, but also some potentially frustrating dimensions. While some unexpected variables might seem to throw us off course, keep moving forward with your goals as a powerful motivation push lies on the horizon.

A Full Moon in Virgo brings a climax and culmination to consistent efforts toward improving our life circumstances. A self-care routine or work-related competency enhancement may reach a turning point or a stage of reassessment. The zodiac sign of Virgo represents the desire to rise above and beyond the average and prosaic, to reach an ideal of what could be.

Of course, the shadow of such a process is an attachment to perfected outcomes, and as inherently flawed organisms humans are, such attainment never quite happens. Yet, noble are those who attempt to become more than they were yesterday, last year, or a decade ago. Also, if we've been mired in destructive behaviors or laziness, this Full Moon could bring up feelings of inadequacy at failing to reach our potential. We are reminded that to make our dreams a reality, we must put effort into the real world.

The Full Moon's opposition to the Sun on the Mercury/Neptune midpoint might enhance a sense of something beyond our reach--an envisioned future potential, numinous dimension, or the ultimate truth of an ambiguous situation. And Mars' square to the Full Moon axis can show up as irritation at various daily tasks and responsibilities that keep us more firmly on the ground rather than rising to the heights we imagine.

The Virgo archetype brings our attention to the process as it's happening now, the everyday struggles we make to achieve our desired outcomes. We can transmute these dynamics if we focus less on what we haven't attained and more on the daily steps we need to take to get there. Put another way, keep pushing through this Full Moon and use these energies to increase your motivation.

Uranus' trine to the Full Moon and Mars' square can also heighten impulsiveness or erratic breaks with consistency as we seek more freedom. However, don't let impatience trip you up, throw you off course, or deflate your momentum. Instead, infuse some new element into your daily routine or try a less conventional approach, and you'll be able to engage with what needs to get done with renewed vigor. With the equinox around the corner, a fresh wave of vitality is incoming.

Actualizing the Dream: New Moon in Pisces 2023

Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Full Moon @ 01 degrees Pisces 22'
February 20, 2023
12:06 AM PST
3:06 AM EST

This month's New Moon in tropical Pisces aligns closely with Saturn in Aquarius. While the Sun is days past its conjunction with Saturn, a sobering and limiting focus is infused in this lunation. In the context of Pisces, known for its more dreamy and idealistic inclinations, this New Moon is a powerful starting point for bringing the intangible into reality. 

Firstly, the Sun's Saturn conjunction in the days leading up to this New Moon (in the waning Moon phase) has likely brought our attention to certain limitations. As astrologer Steven Forrest describes Saturn as "the brick wall of reality," this manifestation can be collectively and personally felt as a brief plunge into potential doubt, insecurity, depression, or overwhelm prompted by various external or internal catalysts or obstacles. 

With this New Moon aligning with Saturn, the "brick wall" can hang around for several more days than the usual (and annual) Sun/Saturn conjunction. Especially in the waning dark of the Moon, motivational energies and enthusiasms catalyzed by the Full Moon two weeks ago can easily feel suddenly deflated as they meet the limitations of the material world. 

However, don't let yourself succumb to the more negative dimension of this New Moon. In fact, new potentials are possible and likely emerging now, and while they may require more work, effort, discipline, focus, and some sacrifice, they are within your grasp and possible to achieve. The task is choosing the right projects, goals, and visions that can be realistically molded and made real. Also, give yourself time to reflect and clarify what feels right. 

As the planet of limitations, the usefulness of Saturn is helping (and sometimes perceivably forcing) us to declutter and become more decisive in realizing what is and isn't aligned for us. This New Moon, while brief, is an excellent opportunity to clarify where to expend your focus, time, and energy, especially as we move deeper into the New Year. With the major planets all direct and gaining their normal speed, this lunation is actually more propitious than we might feel or perceive. 

The Piscean archetype stimulates us to dream, indulge in fantasy, and overall imagine what might be possible. It invites us to engage with mysteries not yet solved or a larger mission or purpose. Saturn here can limit all of the above or lead to some disillusionment, but realize that what falls away under this New Moon is making space for a more authentic dream to come forward and be actualized. 

Waves of Change: Full Moon in Leo 2023

Fahimkm, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Full Moon @ 16 degrees Leo 40'

February 5, 2023

11:29 AM PST

2:29 PM EST

February's Full Moon in tropical Leo forms a dynamic t-square with Uranus while Venus and Mars move beyond an exact square. This Full Moon can suddenly bring creative, self-expressive, or performative processes to a culmination and significant breaking point. And the flow of events and activities can shift in unexpected directions, so plan for some flexibility.

As the Full Moon culminates at the start of the month, some dynamic tension and passionate intensity are infusing the astrological landscape. One highlight of the Leo archetype is its tendency and emphasis on playfulness and the pursuit of joy. This Full Moon can definitely stimulate and inspire strong desires to break free of routines or monotony to seek less structure and more fun.

The fiery archetype of Leo, combined with Venus and Mars' square off, can amplify passions, desires, sensuality, and in some instances, relational tensions, especially anything repressed and unexpressed. This is a powerful Full Moon for bringing those less acknowledged dimensions to the surface, but be wary of overdramatizing or stimulating unnecessary conflict.

Additionally, if you've struggled with confidence, motivation, or excitement for attaining a goal or ideal, this lunation can correlate with the sudden emergence of new life and possibilities. After months of Mars' retrograde cycle and several weeks of planetary stations, this Full Moon relates to a much-needed onset of changes and empowerment.

Overall, this Full Moon represents a significant shake-up to the status quo, helping us to break out of stagnancy and dead-end thinking. Make some effort in the days surrounding this lunation to seek new experiences and possibilities--willingly embrace the unknown rather than resist it. And always, when Uranus plugs into a significant event, there will be some surprises, but trust the flow of change and allow yourself to play with less attachment to specific outcomes.

Renewed Clarity: New Moon in Aquarius 2023

RobertJBanach, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Renewed Clarity: New Moon in Aquarius 2023

New Moon @ 01 degrees Aquarius 33'

January 21, 2023

1:54 PM PST

4:54 PM EST

This month's New Moon occurs in tropical Aquarius alongside Uranus' direct station. Aligning with Pluto's conjunction (from Capricorn), this lunation coincides with some rising intensity. Yet, it opens a new pathway for confronting repressions and integrating shadow aspects preventing the attainment of goals and future growth. Additionally, Venus and Saturn's conjunction in Aquarius offers opportunities to clarify commitments and responsibilities to others.

The combination of Venus/Saturn and Pluto close to the New Moon feels initially daunting. And for some, this lunation may not be easy to integrate as it coincides with uncomfortable truths, limitations, and certain challenges, especially in our relational interactions. With Venus near exact alignment with Saturn, we are dealing more with restrictive and sobering circumstances relating to expressing love, creativity, and connection.

Venus/Saturn's more optimal expression is in gaining clarity about vital relationships and how much we can realistically invest in them. Especially with Pluto's conjunction with this New Moon, the incoming vibe does not support superficial exchanges or inauthenticity in interactions. The truth is wanting to emerge here, so keep close to that and embrace a growth-oriented mindsight.

Aquarius' Saturnian side (as Saturn is the traditional ruler of Aquarius) might manifest as an opening for greater individuation, maturity, and participation. Pluto's conjunction suggests becoming more aware of the unconscious aspects that prevent or block our access to those potentials. Pluto reminds us that our shadow work is never complete, but there are always opportunities to make progress so we can step more fully into our potential and personal power.

Uranus' station alongside this lunation adds a strong impetus for change, rebellion, and liberation from the past. This New Moon is a powerful starting point for moving onto paths more suited to supporting our authenticity and personal growth. Yet, it can also reveal those incongruent paths more starkly, and we can feel the weight of stagnation deeply.

Utilize this New Moon to clarify the paths most suited and supportive of your potential and future growth rather than more immediate desires and impulses. And the more we boldly confront or seek out those hidden issues lying in our blindspots, the better we'll be able to make more optimal choices and get closer to our dreams and goals.

Inward Integration: Full Moon in Cancer 2023

Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Full Moon @ 16 degrees Cancer 22'

January 6, 2023

3:08 PM PST

6:08 PM EST

This month's Full Moon in tropical Cancer is the first lunation of 2023, occurring just before the midpoint of Mercury's retrograde cycle in Capricorn. And forming a t-square with Chiron, this Full Moon has some critical healing breakthrough potential in the guise of sudden emotional/perceptual shifts.

The Moon is strongest in its home sign, Cancer, enhancing the feeling dimension, increasing sensitivity, and alongside its opposition to Mercury retrograde, empowering a reflective, retrospective outlook. As Full Moon's are natural moments of cumulative transition (and sometimes crisis), this lunation offers some enhanced opportunity for gaining clarity, insight, and a renewed point of view on an array of issues or situations brewing for some time.

Yet, the Moon in Cancer is all about feeling and intuiting into our experiences, and so shifts of mood, attitude, and gut feelings are likely to unfold alongside the cognitive dimension. And suppose we imagine the natural polarity and tension between Cancer/Capricorn. This is an interesting moment in which we can assess where we've been, what we've accomplished, and where we're headed (or where we'd like to be going).

It seems to be a perfect Full Moon for the start of the year, a time to check in on our emotional growth and development, tune in deeply, and assess what we desire to accomplish moving forward. There could be some synchronous mingling with the past (a sudden memory, running into an old acquaintance, or finding a forgotten item).

Yet, the most potent aspect of this Full Moon is Chiron's square and Uranus' aspects to both Sun/Mercury and Moon. There is the shadow dimension of this Full Moon that might amplify awareness of our vulnerabilities (or fears of vulnerability) or dwelling excessively on past mistakes/regrets. Of course, learning from the past is essential, but utilize this lunation for integration/processing of faults and fears.

Chiron invites us to accept/integrate our perceived defects rather than repress them. If you find yourself stuck in negative thought loops or perpetual "what if" moments, look to Uranus on the North Node in Taurus. Challenge how you've been approaching something, such as the traditional/conventional path, and open yourself to a new tactic or point of view. Actively seek a more radical position, if only as a thought experiment, and you'll begin to free up some space.

Check out my Full Moon update on my Substack