Rarely do we encounter a month with such a set of difficult astrological aspects as we do in March. Not only are there many tense configurations, but there are very few easy, flowing aspects to offer balance. What are we to expect?
March is likely to be a month of action, a time when things get done and decisions are made. The stars may not compel us to move, but they will create an atmosphere where sitting back and letting things be is likely to feel awkward and unsatisfactory. Keeping our balance this month is going to require awareness and detachment, two qualities which are difficult to cultivate on short notice.
Probably the most significant astrological event for many of us will be Venus’ retrograde, a forty day period of the Goddess of Love and Relationship (and Money and Valuables) retracing her steps in the sky. The basic line on Venus retro-grade - which will last from March 6th until April 18th - is that it is a poor time to begin a new relationship, in either romance or business. This planet usually has an out-going, sociable energy, but during the retrograde that energy is turned inwards, and so when we reach out to others we usually fail to connect on a deep enough level to keep the relationship going.
Venus retrograde periods are very good for going within and discovering what it is we really want out of our various unions with others. They are an opportunity to learn more about our needs, and to find out what it is we really value. Those with Ascendants or Suns in Taurus and Libra are ruled by Venus, and may find that life in general is putting them on hold for this period. Of course, the story also goes that you may meet up with an old flame during a Venus retrograde... whether that is good news or bad is for you to decide.
Venus tends to smooth things over and put a nice face on even difficult situ-ations, so we’ll miss her helpful attitude during this tense month. The Cosmic Mess-enger, Mercury, is the most active planet in March, but he’s "just delivering the mess-age" and won’t be too helpful when the friction begins. His first meeting of the month, on the 1st, is with Mars. This is an opportunity for us to express ourselves, and in the sign of Aquarius we are more likely to be open to new ideas, so use this energy to your advantage. On the 5th Mercury meets up with Neptune, a good time to pay attention to your dreams and visions, but not a great day for serious decisions.
Mars and Neptune, the God of War and the God of the Seas, get together on the 8th. The tendency when these two planets get together is to go overboard with our actions, to push a point too far, to drive to fast, to exceed the limits. The whole first week of March is colored by this combin-ation, although Mercury will be trying to keep it on a verbal level. This is all happening in the sign of Aquarius, so keep an eye out for those urges to sacrifice everything to a cause.
The 8th through the 12th is just about the most powerful time of the month, as the Full Moon on the 10th sets off the opposing forces of Saturn and Uranus, landing on the exact degree and minute of the opposition on February 5th. Saturn resists change out of fear, while Uranus is ready to start the revolution and break up the struc-ture Saturn has built up. The sun opposes Saturn on the 8th and meets up with Uranus on the 12th, bracketing the charge of the Full Moon. We should see repercussions on the social and political scene, and those of us with placements in Virgo and Pisces will feel it on a more personal level, too. Consider what really needs to change in your world, and our world, but also consider the price we pay for business as usual.
There’s plenty of action throughout the month, so don’t expect much down time. But as we get closer to the New Moon on the 26th, we will be feeling a subtle intensity building. The New Moon is us-ually a down time of the month, the natural period of rest and reflection, a time to look back on what we’ve done and look forward to what we hope to accomplish, and by all means try to use this time for those things.
The Solar New Year begins on the 20th at 7:43 a.m. EDT as the Sun moves into Aries, however, so while the Moon is wind-ing down, the Sun is gearing up. Hot aspects prevail all week, with the sun-Pluto square on the 23rd the probable highlight. This aspect, in the signs of Aries and Capricorn, is a kind of David and Goliath story, although one in which the ending is far from assured. On a personal level, our self-image might be brought down by our more instinctual side, an encounter of "ego" with the forces of the "id."
As the New Moon grows after the 26th, prickly Jupiter and Mercury aspects to Pluto on the 27th can indicate power struggles and a fight to see who comes out on top.
The month ends with the Sun, Mer-cury, Venus and Neptune mixing it up. We get a chance to speak our heart on the 27th and our mind on the 28th, but may say or hear the wrong thing on the 30th. Once again, as the month ends we have the chance of rash action or harsh words based on illusion more than reality.
March challenges us to find our true course, and offers plenty of side trips and sidetracking if our inner compass goes off course. Bon Voyage!
Armand M. Diaz, M.A., C.A., is certified as a Consulting Astrologer by the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR). His approach to consultations is to create a supportive context for self-exploration, to help clients make decisions which are in harmony with their greatest potential, offering a truly integral approach to astrology. Armand has practiced divination for more than twenty years, working with the I Ching and Tarot in addition to astrology. He has published in various astrological journals, including The Mountain Astrologer. He can be reached at 917-216-1541 or armand@bluemoonastrology.info, or though his website at www.bluemoonastrology.info.