The Spring Equinox occurs on March 20th. It is the first day of spring, the season of renewal and is when the Sun moves into the cardinal (action-orientated) sign of Aries. Ruled by Mars, this masculine (outwardly motivated) fire (active) sign is the first sign of the Zodiac and begins the new astrological cycle. Aries turns ideas into action, is spontaneous, competitive and enthusiastic. It’s ruler Mars is the defiant spirit; it shows courage, fearlessness and is a lover of a challenge. In this form Mars is the moral champion, ready to take up arms on behalf of others less able or willing to put their necks on the line. When poorly placed and displaying its less noble traits, it represents needless aggression, violent eruptions, assertiveness to the point of selfishness, and the urge to take from others without due regard to their needs and well-being.
Aries marks the transition point from the old cycle (winter) into the new one (spring). Aries, therefore, represents the idea of leaving the old behind and launching into new beginnings, new adventures, and setting off into unknown territory. Aries is the seed which projects future possibilities into the unknown. However, before you can grow anything, you must first recognize it, identify it and name it. You can't nurture what you don't acknowledge. The Aries principle is symbolized by the catalytic process and by acts of initiation and innovation. It is not necessarily the job of Aries to follow through! The job of Aries is to spring into action in new and innovative ways using their natural leadership and delegation skills to empower others to become involved. As we begin this new cycle, the message of Aries is that we need to let go of the unnecessary and outgrown if we are to develop our full potential.
Some famous Aries: Leonardo DaVinci, Thomas Jefferson, Maya Angelou, Eddie Murphy, Reese Witherspoon, Lady Gaga and Emma Watson.
Not just the Sun transits into Aries, so do the other planets. Any planet in Aries will always be in overdrive.
Moon in Aries: can be much more emotional than the Sun in Aries. The temper inclines to be short, but, as is typical with Aries, it doesn’t last long. Tomorrow, they will be fighting about something else. It is said that you can’t persuade anyone with an Aries Moon that they are wrong because, by the time you’ve gotten your arguments together, they’ve already acted on whatever it was and gone on to something new.
Mercury in Aries: activates the mind. Mercury here doesn’t just study or investigate subjects, it attacks them. If the Sun happens to be in a more methodical sign, like Taurus, the mind could be said to run ahead of the person, darting from conclusion to conclusion before the body manages to catch up.
Venus in Aries: activates the expression of affection. Liz Taylor had this placement. So does Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney and Einstein! Venus in Aries people need constant excitement in relationships. When things finally slow down and get comfortable, they start looking elsewhere.
Mars in Aries: Mars is at home here since it is the "ruler" of this sign. And Mars in Aries does tend to give extra energy as well as a constant need for activity. Mars shows the type of action we take, our style of action. In Aries, it is impulsive, tending to charge right in. People with this placement have to learn about "staying power" and sticking with something until it is finished.
Jupiter in Aries: Jupiter is where we feel safe and secure, optimistic and lucky. In Aries, that means we feel good when we take initiative, lucky when we charge right in. Jupiter also shows something about our religious and philosophical beliefs, our ability to get the "big picture" rather than those little details. In Aries, that means we have to grasp them fast. If it takes too long, we get bored and move on.
Saturn in Aries: Saturn shows where we feel unsafe and insecure. Its sign position shows what we absolutely must have to feel security and safety. In Aries, that means initiative. The worst thing you can say to a Saturn in Aries person is, “Sit there and I’ll take care of it”. To feel safe and secure, they must take the lead.
Uranus in Aries: Uranus is a planet of independence, innovation, and genius. It is very comfortable here in the sign of new beginnings. Uranus has been in Aries since 2010 and will move into Taurus in May of this year. We have all experienced the good and bad changes that have come from the sudden unpredictability of this transit. And there have been plenty of them. As we move into Taurus we can expect a slowing down and the opportunity to make sense of the last 8 years.
Neptune in Aries: increases the activity of the imagination. Neptune stays in a sign for about 14 years and therefore affects a whole generation at a time. Neptune in Aries causes the imagination to be excitable, sometimes excessively. This is not bad if Neptune has some moderating influences in other areas of the person’s chart.
Pluto in Aries: Pluto is where we can go to extremes. Aries is where we take action. If you think that this makes for self-involved people who are prone to take extreme action, you are right. Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Claude Monet and Andrew Carnegie, to name a few, had this placement.