This is the first New Moon of the new astrological year, so it really is a moon for new beginnings and exciting fresh starts! Not only that but it is a Supermoon, which means that it is closer to earth and has a more powerful impact than usual on our emotions, bodies and spirits. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and as such there is a pioneering element to this moon; a sense that we are embarking on a new journey into uncharted territory, so it is best to step bravely forward rather than slipping back into old patterns and stories. It is time to create a new story, breaking new ground and stepping out from behind any fear based conditioning that has been holding us prisoner and stopping us from having all that we truly desire and deserve. This is a very enlivening, stimulating and exciting New Moon, when we get to make up a whole new set of rules for ourselves and set some intentions in motion that truly resonate with who we are and what we are becoming.
Aries is the first cardinal sign, so it is an initiator of change and new beginnings. This is a passionate, enthusiastic and impulsive sign that acts first and thinks later. This can occasionally get him into trouble, but more often than not it means that life is a grand adventure and never boring! During this New Moon it is a good idea to emulate the Aries way and have the courage to take a risk and try a new way of doing things. Aries is very instinctual and so we must trust our instincts to guide us forward on our path rather than over-thinking or over-analysing. It’s a good time to come up with fresh new solutions and to take a chance, even if it seems ridiculous or scary. Aries is also an incredibly honest, direct and forthright sign that doesn’t hold back what he thinks or feels, and so this is a perfect time to be completely honest with ourselves and others about our needs and what we truly want for ourselves. Aries is adept at the art of self-love, and so this is a good time to become clear about what we need in order to flourish and grow. We not only have to be clear ourselves, but we have to have the courage to voice it.
Uranus is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Aries, creating a frisson of excitement and challenging us to be true to ourselves. Uranus is known for blasting through anything that might be impeding our growth and forcing change upon us if we have fallen into stagnant ruts. His energy can be quite unsettling but is also incredibly invigorating and enlivening. He is the master of authenticity, especially in Aries, and he simply demands that we be utterly ourselves, no matter how it might rock the boat. This Moon is not a time to play it safe, that’s for sure! It has an electrifying feel to it and could shake everything up considerably! It’s time to break new ground and free ourselves from any conditioning that is keeping us from living our truth. Uranus is the Great Awakener, and so we could have some amazing insights and epiphanies and come up with new, ingenious solutions to old problems. It’s a time for thinking outside the box, stepping outside of the comfort zone and maybe even jumping off the proverbial cliff, like the Fool in the Tarot! We may have no choice in the matter anyway! Uranus encourages us to break free of the past. Change is in the air.
Saturn is forming a supportive aspect to the Sun and Moon, stopping us from doing anything too off the wall or crazy! Saturn errs on the side of caution and helps us to make sensible decisions. This may sound a bit boring after all of this Aries and Uranus excitement, but it’s probably a good thing to have the wise sage helping us along as well, with his stabilising influence. Saturn reminds us to be patient, responsible and mature and ensures that whatever changes we make will be meaningful and appropriate for our journeys. Saturn in Sagittarius is currently retrograde, causing us to reconsider any old beliefs that are hindering us and holding us in old patterns. This Moon could be a good opportunity to recognise how certain beliefs formed in childhood are still sabotaging our lives and relationships in adulthood and to just let them go, once and for all.
Pluto is also a big part of the picture, as he is forming a square to the Sun, Moon and Uranus. The Pluto Uranus square is activated once again! Pluto is the planet of the soul, power and transformation. Pluto is basically giving us a big old kick up the bum during this Moon, showing us where we may be stagnating or avoiding growth on a soul level. If we are resisting what we know is best for us for the sake of emotional security it is quite likely that we will receive some kind of nudge in the right direction, especially if any of our personal planets are being aspected by Pluto or Uranus at the moment. This is definitely a time to be brave and to be emotionally honest with ourselves and others. We may initially feel a bit vulnerable, but it will ultimately empower us and will certainly give us integrity. And you never know, we might just get what we want! And if we don’t, then maybe it isn’t for us. Pluto has the power to transform the structure of our lives and is ever ready to dig out whatever isn’t working so that something that is more appropriate for us can take its place.
Mars, the ruler of this Moon, is getting ready to turn retrograde on the 17th of April until the 29th of June. Pluto will follow a couple of days later. In the couple of days before and after a planet turns retrograde it is at its strongest, so Mars in Sagittarius’s boisterous, physical and enthusiastic energy could be very prominent indeed during that week. Whenever Mars energy is more present, aggressive acts are possible and people’s fuses tend to be much shorter. He’s passionate, no doubt about it! Mars is the planet that acts on our souls’ desires, and when it is retrograde we are given the chance to step back for a while and consider what those desires actually are and whether acting on them is helpful for our growth. It is a time to take a bit of a break and conserve energy, going back over projects rather than starting new ones. Mars will be dipping back into Scorpio on May 28th until August 3rd, so we will get yet another chance to bravely face our shadows and dig out any more sticky stuff that might be holding us back from realising our full potential. It’s dirty work, but oh so worth it!
The Sabian symbol for this New Moon is 19° Aries “The “Magic Carpet” of oriental imagery” and this symbol is encouraging us to use our imaginations so that we can transcend everyday reality and see things from a completely different perspective. An ordinary, static rug is transformed into something that can help us fly high above everything that we know. Dane Rudyar describes this symbol as: “the use of creative imagination” and “a strife transcending and unattached look on everyday reality”. We are truly being asked to think outside of the box and rise about our worries and problems, approaching them from a different perspective. The old rules no longer apply and the old stories are a thing of the past. During this New Moon we need to take a leaf out of Aries’ book and not be afraid to voice our needs, as scary as it might be actually state what we want out loud. Aries encourages us to be a bit selfish and to be honest about what we truly want, then to just take the plunge and go after it. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!
Much love
Amy
xoxo
Image: The Fool tarot card by Emily Balivet
www.amybirdartandastrology.com