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Aries New Moon: Going Viral

By Simone Butler

A new season is upon us and all of nature is coming back to life. The March 19 Equinox marks a fresh start. Yet here we are in the midst of a pandemic, trapped in our homes, insecure about our physical and financial well-being.  It’s a strange state of affairs, triggered by a “perfect storm” of influences such as the recent retrograde of Mercury in foggy Pisces, reactivated now that it’s back in direct motion on its way to join Neptune early next month.

Astrologers had been wondering what the fearsome specter of January’s Saturn-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn might bring. But as it turned out, it wasn’t until Mars and Jupiter recently joined those heavy-hitters that the answer revealed itself. Although the coronavirus first appeared in China in late December, it took Mars-Jupiter-Pluto to ram it home, at least in the West. This powerful  crew in earthy Capricorn exposes what is real. And as a society, with all our frenetic, outer-directed activity and lack of regard for the Earth and her creatures, we’ve gotten far away from reality.

So here comes a scary virus, providing the course-correction we desperately need. Slowing us down, turning us inward. This time of containment and shutdown, in spite of fear and difficulties, can redirect our attention from consumerism and selfishness to being there for each other. As we work to keep ourselves – and everyone else – safe from a common enemy, we see how interconnected we really are. And many of us, like the young woman pictured above (in addition, of course, to our hardworking doctors and nurses), are rising to the challenge of getting through this together.

Though much progress has already been made, it may take a while to achieve containment. On March 21 Saturn enters Aquarius for the first time in 30 years, spotlighting long-standing social and environmental injustices. Saturn’s trek through progressive, revolutionary Aquarius over the next two-and-a-half years will be a decisive time for humanity. Mars joins Saturn on March 31, marking a turning point in our current collective experience. Mars-Saturn is like a surgeon’s knife, cutting away disease so that health can return. But it’s also associated with law enforcement, so that’s apt to be when restrictions intensify. Hopefully the virus will be arrested by April, perhaps after Mercury enters Aries on the 10th, and mandatory social distancing will become a thing of the past. Even if the crisis isn’t resolved until May, as some astrologers speculate, we need to use this time wisely.

Adding to the activity of this eventful month, on March 24 we have the Aries New Moon (2:28 a.m. PDT) conjunct Chiron, the wounded healer. Discovered in 1977, just as the ‘new age’ was starting to explode, Chiron has been in warrior Aries since 2018, and will remain there until 2026. During this time, we are called to heal the wounded masculine both within ourselves and the world at large. Rugged individualism no longer works, if it ever did. Truly, we’re all in this together. So at this New Moon, focus on healing yourself, especially the part of you  that wants to tough it out alone. Reach out to others for support, or step up to help elders and community members who are struggling. Chiron transits can feel like jet lag, which explains this strange time warp we’re currently in.  So, turn within and get some extra rest. And remember, love can go viral just as quickly as fear.

Enjoy this poem, by Richard Hendrick (Brother Richard) of Ireland:

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares, keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighbourhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.

Today, all over the world people are waking up to a new reality. To what really matters. To Love. Open the windows of your soul. And though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, sing.

Filed under: Uncategorized

About Simone Butler

Simone Butler is the author of Moon Power: Lunar Rituals for Connecting with your Inner Goddess. She's been a professional astrologer for 30 years. In addition to a worldwide consulting practice on astrology and Astro Feng Shui, Simone offers New Moon collage classes, and writes for The Mountain Astrologer. She also wrote for and edited the Starscroll for many years. Simone’s book Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life fuses Western astrology and Western feng shui into one unique, transformative system. Sign up to receive her entertaining, informative bi-monthly blogs and learn about her monthly rituals and tips.

Comments

  1. Renee says

    Mar 23, 2020 at 6:38 pm

    Simone, such a moving testimony to the human spirit! I would like to receive your blog.
    THANK YOU for your article!

    Much love,

    Renee’

    Reply
    • Simone Butler says

      Apr 7, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      You’re so welcome, Renee! I just signed you up. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Fiona says

    Mar 23, 2020 at 7:54 am

    The virus began to be noticed in China in late December, not February.

    Reply
    • Kigs says

      Mar 23, 2020 at 9:02 am

      Yes, the article is flawed, because factual information was not used. Please revisit, revise!

      Reply
      • Simone Butler says

        Mar 23, 2020 at 12:17 pm

        I have done so on my own website, and requested that Dana do the same for my article on Mooncircles. Hopefully she can do so.

        Reply
    • Simone Butler says

      Mar 23, 2020 at 10:10 am

      Yes, that’s true. It just didn’t come into heightened public awareness, at least in the West, until February..

      Reply
  3. Elizabeth Carver says

    Mar 23, 2020 at 5:44 am

    Thank you, Simone. That brought tears to my eyes. And hope for that big change that we need. The poem is beautiful!
    Brightest Blessings,
    Liz

    Reply
    • Simone Butler says

      Mar 23, 2020 at 7:30 am

      Brightest blessings to you too, sister!

      Reply
  4. Karen says

    Mar 23, 2020 at 5:09 am

    Your timing ifs off since they identified the virus on Dec 31 of 2019.. People started dying in china in January 2020

    Reply

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The Moon is in its
New Phase

in the
Sign of Leo


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
(subtract: PST -8 hours, PDT -7 hours, EST -5 hours, EDT -4 hours)

  • Moon trine Jupiter, 3:49pm  Jul 1 2022
  • Moon sextile Venus, 9:59pm  Jul 1 2022

Venus is currently
The Morning Star

in the sign of Gemini


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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.