Spirit of the Mountain Astrology

The Aries New Moon on April 15, 2018, at 6:57 p.m. PDT at 26° Aries 02′ is a very powerful lunation.  A strong Aries (Mars)/Capricorn (Saturn) theme is challenged by Uranus, the awakener, and change is no longer optional.  Mars the Warrior, the ruler of Aries, is in his exaltation in the sign of Capricorn.  The Sun who is exalted in Aries, and Moon whose Rulership is in Aries, conjunct Uranus the planet of revolution, lightning bolt unexpected changes, detachment, and brilliant innovation, radical new concepts and breaking away from the past.  Whew!  Uranus is breaking away from the past as he moves out of the sign of Aries, where he has been for the past 7 years, and into the sign of Taurus on May 15, 2018.  Expect this lunation to bring forth emotional and habitual responses related to your core being as Uranus challenges us to awaken to our unique individuality.  Aries is the need to develop self-awareness.  If you haven’t already done so, this is the time to break free from the chains that bind you.  Freedom to be you, no matter how unusual that may be, is liberating.  Step up to the door, open it, and walk through to the other side.  “I am not a product of my circumstances.  I am a product of my decisions.”  ~ Stephen Covey

Furthering the Aries break-away theme is Mercury, stationing direct at 4° Aries.  The planet of communication has been retrograde since March 22, 2018, propelling us to look into our past patterns of thinking and communication.  The fact that it stations direct during this New Moon supports efforts to move forward into the future utilizing the knowledge gained from the retrograde cycle.  New Moons are a time for new beginnings and planting seeds for future growth.  Mercury is positioned at the beginning degrees and the Moon in the finalizing degrees of Aries.  The battle cry of the Aries warrior is “I AM!”  What must you leave behind to move forward?  Mercury is conjunct Chiron, still in Pisces until its ingress into Aries on April 17, 2018, bringing more Mars energy!  This battle-scarred warrior bravely acknowledges and heals his wounds…now it is your time.  What wounds must you cure for you to declare who you are within?  “You are the bow that shoots the arrows, and you are the target.”  ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Although not part of this New Moon, note that the same day that Chiron moves into Aries, Saturn the taskmaster, in Capricorn stations retrograde at 9° Capricorn.  Saturn is in his home sign of Capricorn and yields total dictatorial power here in his natural domain.  The rules are simple: you will do the work or restrictions of some sort will be implemented.  The stop sign appears before you.  Nothing is free in Capricorn.  Complete Saturn’s requirements and you are rewarded.  If not, you experience hardship until you do.  Keep this in mind as we look at the Aries/Capricorn square.  “Life is a onetime offer, use it well.”  ~ Unknown

By sign, the malefic planets of Saturn, Mars, and Pluto in Capricorn square the Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Uranus in Aries.  Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, demands structure, organization, and discipline while Aries, ruled by Mars, needs to be independent and develop self-awareness.  Squares, while challenging, mark turning points.  Both are cardinal signs: Aries, the Spring Equinox, marks the ingress of spring, light, and new growth with outward manifestations, while Capricorn, the Winter Solstice, brings darkness, cold, and restrictions that propel inward development.  Before we sound the battle cry, we must integrate the energies of Aries/Capricorn to best utilize the potential of the square, which is to take action.  Thus, you are being challenged to make a decision followed up by action.  If you completed the work asked of you during the Pisces New Moon and gained the knowledge that the Mercury retrograde shared with you then you already prepared your garden, and this powerful new moon is germinating the seeds. If not, quickly use this cardinal energy to do what you know you must do.  If we don’t plant the seeds for our future, there will be no growth.  It is through courage and trust that the seeds you plant will become firmly rooted, sprout its individualistic leaves, bud, develop its own beautiful flower, bear its fruit for harvest and complete its circle of life when composted fully supporting future seeds.  “The seat of the Soul is there, where the inner and outer worlds meet.”  ~ Novalis

Copyright © Patti Burgess 2018