Aries New Moon, April 14, 2010

Many astrologers regard the new Moon in Aries as the true beginning of the New Year. And if you think about it, it makes sense. Who amongst us really gets things started in January? With the return of the light and longer days, we get energized to begin to manifest all those dreams and hopes we imagined at the Winter Solstice.

So, what are we to make of this new beginning? All the myths (religious and earth-based) of Spring speak to us of new life and new possibilities after a time of sleep and death.

If you've been following the Cosmic Story of the past year, you know that there is meaning in all the madness of the past year and a half. Pluto's entry into Capricorn in November 2008 erupted in the world financial crisis. The first of five Saturn/Uranus oppositions occurred on Election Day in America, and so began the intense opposition between the Old and the New (we won't get into how "new' Obama's policies are).

We've had two of three Saturn/Pluto squares now, one in November 2009 and the second at the end of January 2010, with the third coming in August 2010, heralding more dark revelations about some of our cherished institutions (such as the Papacy). Saturn is structure, Pluto is regeneration. What old behaviors and structures in your life have proven to be less than viable or have fallen by the wayside?

There was also a very big conjunction of planets /asteroid/nodes in Aquarius, offering us a chance to imagine a new vision of world unity or else opening some to the continuing delusions of American individualism and the illusion of personal freedom in a corporate world state. Are you inspired to do something new for the betterment of the world?

And so we find ourselves at a new beginning. How have you changed in the past few years? How have your values and your hopes changed? How inspired are you by the possibilities of creating a new society, or how afraid are you of changing realities? You need to know who you are and what you want before you can begin to live a new life.

This Aries New Moon calls us to courage and new vision. Because we still have to go through seven (7) challenging squares between Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries between 2012 and 2014, as well as the T-square formed by Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus/Jupiter in Aries and Saturn in Libra. These are the energies that originally joined up in the 60's and which are taking us through the revolutionary and evolutionary process of cultural change once again.

As you can see, the new life you envision and plant at this new Moon in Aries will manifest in the midst of these changes and challenges. What do you really need to enhance your life? Can you enhance your life while trying to better the whole society?

Aries really wants to establish a unique identity, to pioneer a new way of being. Think of a volcano - that's how Aries creates new territory. Life rushes up and out and boldly goes where no one has gone before. So become the archetypal character you discovered yourself to be while Mars (who rules Aries) retrograded in Leo and from that standpoint IMAGINE what kind of new life you want to create. And know that you can.

It's time to become a warrior for life, not death. It's time to grapple with your personal issues and our collective issues. That's what the ancient Roman god Mars did he grappled with the issues that confronted Rome. He defended his Home/City/State/Country. That's what warriors do. This new Moon in Aries calls us to open to our warrior nature, to our pioneer, to our inner hero/ine.

Aries teaches us courage (remember Ava) and the will to overcome any obstacles. Aries is assertive, honest, feisty, enthusiastic and independent and meets life head-on. (Aries does rule the head.) So don't forget to ask for these qualities when you plant your Aries seeds this new Moon, because when Uranus goes into Aries for a few months this summer, you get to make your own rules.

At this new Moon, Aries' ruler Mars is in Leo and it inconjuncts Pluto in Capricorn. An inconjunct is a 150* angle which creates frustration and continual adjustments between the two energies involved so that we ultimately release old patterns of behavior. Mars and Pluto are very similar energies having to do with our real desires and how we go after them. Mars inconjunct Pluto demands that we pursue activities that transform our lives. But people also fear this kind of energy, and so we'll see many people hanging on for dear life to their control rather than implement the changes that can bring healing and strength to our individual lives and to our culture.

Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius both inconjunct Saturn now that it's back in Virgo. Saturn is retrograde and re-entered Virgo on April 7 and will be there until it returns to Libra for good on July 21. While Saturn is in Virgo, keep working on your health, your nutrition and your discernment. This is you last chance this Saturn cycle to get to know yourself before you look to know another. With Neptune inconjunct Saturn, we have to figure out the difference between illusion and reality. And I'm sure this will play out in the collective as well as the personal.

Venus joins Mercury in Taurus and they both have a wonderful relationship to Pluto, so use this energy to decide what brings you peace, what you really value and how you might bring those qualities into society through your personal relationships and through your work.

The Sabian Symbol for the Sun and Moon at 25* Aries is: The possibility for man to gain experience at two levels of being. The image denotes a revelation of new potentialities. This image is a call to be open to spirit and to shape your life based on your inner spiritual power, your Self. We are at the edge of a new evolutionary stage, which provides us with the possibility of incarnating our spiritual identity through the correct relationship to our ego identity. The potential is there we just have to manifest it.

In other words, become the hero/ine of your own life. That's a good idea to plant this new Moon. It's time to make some serious choices about life both your personal life and how that relates to our collective life.

Astrological events:

April 7 Pluto went retrograde until September 13-14. Now that we've seen how truly corrupt so many of our social institutions are, we get a chance to turn inside ourselves and root out all the dead matter ideas, beliefs, values, goals that no longer serve us.

April 17 - Mercury goes retrograde at 13* Taurus, turning direct on May 11. Mercury retrograde periods are great times to redo, review, rethink, re-evaluate and release what isn't working. The Sabian symbol for 13* Taurus is: A porter carrying heavy baggage. It symbolizes self-mobilization for social advantage. So take responsibility for your life and rethink what you need to do to make the most of these transformative times.

April 19 Chiron enters Pisces for the first time since the 60s. For the flower children who remember those times, we get to reclaim the great music and powerful feelings of community that were the best parts of our 60s experience. It's time to heal our collective emotional wounds from 2000 years of war, rape and pillage.

This new Moon is a time to engage in physical activity as well as meditate on your new vision. Perhaps some Chi Gong, Tai Chi or yoga will put you in a meditative space to plant your seeds. Mars and Aries both need physical activity, so align with the energy. You can also meditate holding a crystal or rock to ground in the meditation (thanks for the suggestion, Tamara!).