The New Moon in Aries arrives on March 21 at 1:23 p.m. ET. This lunation comes on the heels, neigh, the split hooves of the sun moving into the sign of the ram and a day after the ritual renewal of the Spring Equinox.
Aries is the first born, battle ready cardinal fire sign of the zodiac and its respective season signifies the start of a new astrological year.
As per our New Moon guide, “the New Moon begins a fresh, month-long lunar cycle. The New Moon is followed by the two-week waxing phase, culminating in the brightest point of the cycle, the full moon, before waning back to darkness. As anyone who’s ever played laser tag or had sex in a room with blackout curtains can tell you, darkness expands the imagination and our concept of what is possible. To that end, the New Moon is a celestial slate-cleaning, a summons to dream and an invitation to initiate.”
Because this is the first New Moon of the astrological new year, the potential for said slate, cleaning, dream summoning and invitational initiation is amplified. It’s a new moon in the sign of the horns first, heart forward warrior, symbolizing a whole lot of fresh blood and surging energy. Aries is about individuation and bold advancement so focusing on our personal goals and human evolution is of primary importance. We’re waking up and stepping up my babies and it’s glorious to behold.
Influence of Mars
Aries is ruled by Mars, that red, war mongering, actualization through direct action, sex and sports cars planet of will and desire. As such, Martian energy will be plentiful during the lunation. Add to it that the New Moon will be squaring off with Mars in Gemini, adding a heightened energy of possibility. Mars in Gemini is volatile AF and has the capacity to operates like a half starved coyote with a hallucinogenic sense of humor. If Pisces season had you in a bit of slumber/stupor, this New Moon and Aries season at large are here to light a proverbial fire in, and under, you. It may not be gentle, will absolutely not be subtle but will ultimately serve as a catalyst to newness. Let’s get forged in the fires of spring, folks, the future is ours to shape. In the words and wisdom of Aries playwright and disciple of desire Mr. Tennessee Williams, “Make voyages. Attempt them. There’s nothing else.”
In other planetary action, Mercury, which governs communication moved into Aries this week and is sitting close to the sun and moon in the fire sign. While direct and impassioned in the home fires of this sign, Mercury in Aries can make conversation and conflict more intense and impetuous. I encourage everyone, always, to speak clean and true, but to do so with a mind towards temperance and honest exchange rather than burned bridges and sunken ships.
Aries as the infernal poet
The New Moon in Aries is here to light a proverbial fire in, and under, you.
What we start, sow and seek under this New Moon will affect what and how we reap in the coming months, culminating in the Aries Full Moon on September 29. Because the New Moon is showing its dark side in a cardinal sign, the cardinal signs themselves, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, will feel its potency to a higher degree than their fixed and mutable brethren. Shortly after this New Moon takes to the skies, planet Pluto, the dark lord of death, regeneration and karmic retribution moves into Aquarius on March 23 after a two and a half century absence. This New Moon coincides with World Poetry Day and because the energy of Pluto is akin to what is born from ashes and Aries could be said to be that of a perpetual spring, I bring you a poem by Amy Gerstler that lives between both sentiments:
“Gardens are also good places
to sulk. You pass beds of
spiky voodoo lilies
and trip over the roots
of a sweet gum tree,
in search of medieval
plants whose leaves,
when they drop off
turn into birds
if they fall on land,
and colored carp if they
plop into water.
Suddenly the archetypal
human desire for peace
with every other species
wells up in you. The lion
and the lamb cuddling up.
The snake and the snail, kissing.
Even the prick of the thistle,
queen of the weeds, revives
your secret belief
in perpetual spring,
your faith that for every hurt
there is a leaf to cure it.”
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
- The 12 zodiac signs
- What are the astrology houses
- Here’s what each planet represents
- Sun, moon, and rising signs: Get to know your Big 3
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girls guide” to strip clubs and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.