March 2015 Forecast

Conjunctions with Ketu

Mars, Venus, Mercury, the Sun and Moon all transit the south node of the Moon, Ketu in March and April. The influence of Ketu is unpredictable and may seem untimely but it brings with it a new way of being; a deeper insight into the human spirit. 

Venus is the first to cross over the path of the shadowy Ketu by the March 1st, leaving art, love, relationships and harmony adversely affected. Although Venus is placed in exaltation this cannot really rescue the situation entirely. Venus is a more receptive part of us which allows compromise but this impulse is overcome by the brute force of our selfish desires and actions as Mars transits alongside Venus. Added to this, Ketu brings about actions which seem out of character

The transit of Mars to Ketu is the most explosive mix which leads to emotional outbursts at the very least - worldwide calamities at its very worst. Whenever Mars and Ketu get involved they create havoc, as old ways of being must die to make way for the new. It is usually a shocking and disturbing event which heralds this change on a global scale. This is further pronounced by their transit in the last sign of the Zodiac Pisces which leads the way to new beginnings once Mars moves to Aries by March 23. 

Mars and Ketu come together by March 6, with the Moon opposite in the sign Virgo at this time, and where the north node, Rahu is currently placed. The period around this date is one to watch closely on a global scale, but also on a personal level, as we watch how we react to the situations brought up to be dealt with. As always, it helps to know where you personally experience these signs (Pisces and Virgo) according to your own horoscope. Rest assured that change occurring here is very necessary and, no matter how destructive the change may be, it is leading to a new and improved you. 

The Sun transits alongside Ketu later in the month and we experience a full solar eclipse as a result (see below) as the Sun and Moon join Ketu. Lastly, Mercury joins with Ketu and is debilitated in Pisces by the end of the month, leading to a mental fallout.

With all of these planets joining, what is for the most part, an impulsive and destructive influence most of us will feel this as unsettling to some degree. Thankfully we have Jupiter to fall back on i.e., our faith in that all will be well when all is said and done. 

Full Moon in Leo March 5

The Moon reaches its fullest in the sign Leo on March 5 in the lunar sign Purva Phalguni. This month of Phalguna is the last lunar month of the lunar year which began on Maha Shivaratri or the' great night of Lord Shiva', on February 17. Purva Phalguni is ruled by Venus and a desirous lunar sign and all that entails. Pleasures and art are at the forefront as the spring ushers in a new period of growth and adventure.

This culmination points coincides with Mars and Ketu coming together with the sign's ruling planet, Venus which is thrown into a passionate tryst with explosive possibilities. This period leading up to this full Moon and beyond is a time to be mindful of, as passions can overtake us and emotions can run high. Due to Venus' exalted position we should be feeling thankful for love and happiness in our lives regardless. 

Mercury in Aquarius March 9 - March 27

Mercury spends a little time in Aquarius and moves swiftly through the sign, entering Pisces by the end of the month. Mercury in Aquarius is out of the restrictive influence from Saturn, although it still influences the mind as Mercury moves through Saturn's sign. 

Aquarius is also seen to be ruled by Rahu, the north node of the Moon, and therefore exchanges with Rahu which is placed in Virgo. This should bring more awareness to health-related issues.

Aquarius is an ideal environment for a more unorthodox approach to communication and learning. We must be aware of the tendency to overdo it and leave our ourselves feeling a little frazzled from over work.

Venus in Aries March 12 - April 6

Venus is 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' as it moves into Mars' sign Aries on March 12. Mars is not far behind, moving to Aries on March 23. This is a less-than-advantageous transit for Venus which means our ability to come to agreement is diminished at this time. This may or may not be a good thing, depending on what you hope to achieve. 

For those of you who wish to make a break for it and do something on your own, and in your own way, then this is where you can part company with those things which have held you back with the promise of pleasure. For those who cannot give up inappropriate pleasures this may be a time to visit health issues in order to burn away the impurities. 

Springtime, and the change of seasons, requires a spring clean on many levels. Aries represents our ability to put aside those inappropriate activities in order to make a fresh new start, and with most of the planets entering the sign in March and April, a fresh start is exactly what is called for. 

Sun in Pisces March 13 - April 13

The Sun enters Pisces and comes into strength at this time of year - subsequently moving into its sign of exaltation, Aries by the mid-April. While transiting in Pisces it has the added boost of an exalted Jupiter (the ruler of Pisces) looking on and bringing a new sense of hope and optimism moving forward. 

While the Sun was weak in the past few months - both figuratively and literally - we feel this as a lack of vitality and a lack of trust in ourselves and our lives. Now, however, the Sun begins to build in strength as it moves further north for those on the northern hemisphere and into signs where it experiences more and more strength.

This is good news for all concerned, although those with the sign Leo prominent will feel the biggest boost. This is most welcome as Saturn (the antithesis of the Sun) is currently keeping the sign Leo feeling under par, especially as it retrogrades this month. 

As soon as the Sun enters the sign Pisces this year, it sets up the eclipse which occurs here on March 20, coming to exact conjunction with Ketu by March 31. Therefore, despite the Sun's strength, there are compromises and adjustments to be made as we make the necessary changes in our lives. 

Saturn Retrograde in Scorpio March 14 - August 2

The month of March is further complicated due to Saturn's station in Scorpio, although we can be thankful for other, more beneficial transits at this time - particularly Mars' strength in Aries after March 23. Ultimately, Saturn's transit is beneficial, even though it may not appear that way from the outset. 

Saturn stops at 10 degrees of the sign Scorpio for the entire month, leading to a pressurized environment in Scorpio. Thankfully, Saturn is placed within its own lunar sign and is particularly strong at this degree. This is good news for those who may have planets at 10 degrees of this sign or at this degree in the signs Capricorn, Taurus and Leo. However, Saturn's station is a slow pressured environment no matter how well we deal with it. The best advice would be slow down with this slow turnaround. 

Ultimately, Saturn's retrograde period teaches us about our boundaries. This is in relation to what areas of life you experience the signs Capricorn and Aquarius and, in particular, the sign Scorpio for the next two years. 

Saturn gets us all to deal with what we may have been able to neglect up until this point, although those who are in a Saturn time-period - as per the Vedic astrology timelines - will feel the effects of this more intensely. For those who have the sign Scorpio rising you may have neglected your health prior to this transit. It is at this point that you are given the opportunity to readjust yourself and make some of the necessary changes to your lifestyle, as you look back on what is and isn't working for you and your place in the world. 

Take heart that the other stronger transits of the Sun and Mars in their own and exalted signs over the coming weeks grants us the energy to make these personal changes in this area of our lives. 

For a more detailed account of Saturn's transit to Scorpio you may wish to read this article.

New Moon in Pisces Total Solar Eclipse March 20

By Tomruen (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

This is an interesting solar eclipse. 'Interesting' to an astrologer, but an uneasy experience for us all. 
The experience is always necessary of course, although we may not wish to deal with what the eclipse unearths.

This eclipse occurs when the Moon is closer to earth (what is known as a 'Supermoon') and yet the Moon is not visible, except for it obscuring the Sun. It does so totally from the perspective of someone standing on the Faroe Islands, but for Greenland, Iceland, Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East and northwestern Asia, this will be viewed as a partial eclipse. Even so, this is a total eclipse of the Sun at some point on the Earth and will be visible to anyone in these locations on the morning of March 20 (UT/GMT). 

The section of the zodiac which represents the sidereal sign Pisces, and the lunar sign known as Uttara Bhadrapada, will feel the waters shift to uncover a new perspective and way forward at this time. 

The mind and emotions may serve to obscure a sense of a higher self beyond our mental fluctuations, which can manifest as fear during the eclipse. However, the possibility of lining up all factors which influence the hidden forces hitherto unnoticed can be brought into the open for examination. 

All of this occurs on the spring equinox which is yet another layer and piece of the puzzle for this eclipse. The equinox occurs at 22.45 UT/GMT. It is a time of year we experience a balance of Day and Night. This year the balance might feel a little more challenging to maintain, as we feel uncertain about jumping into new territory from this pivoting point. Pisces represents a sense of dying; a loss of something in our lives; something which needs to be removed in order to leave room for new buds of growth to appear. 

“Without dying to the world of the old order, there is no place for renewal, because…it is illusory to hope that growth is but an additive process requiring neither sacrifice nor death. The soul favors the death experience to usher in change.” 
 - James Hillman, Suicide and the Soul (Harper Colophon, 1964)

How can we see the effects of the eclipse? Well, that would be like asking how can we see the unforeseen! We must be open to change and expect the unexpected, especially if you have any planets near 5 degrees of Pisces or Virgo, or if you were born around March 20 or September 22. But what we can see, and what we need in this area of our lives, is change. 

This very special new Moon is also a new lunar year in the Vedic astrology calendar. A new lunar year chart can be drawn up for every country in order to see relevant issues for the following year for that particular country. With such a huge emphasis on the water-dominant signs, it leads to the natural conclusion that issues around water will be at the forefront in one way or other, which also correspond to emotional issues in our daily lives. 

For more on timings and visibility for this eclipse you can click on the link for timeanddate.com: http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2015-march-20

Mars in Aries March 23 - May 3

The new buds of life really start to take off by the time Mars enters its own sign, Aries; the natural 1st house of the natural Zodiac. This brings more energy to do more and plan more. The previous sign Pisces was a time to let go and is naturally more reflective. Aries initiates a new adventure into a new way of being. 

Those with Aries prominent in their horoscope will feel an added burst of energy, although we all experience this to some degree. Those with Scorpio rising will feel more energy also, even though they have Saturn holding them back  with its retrograde phase. With Mars now also pushing them forward they must take care of the push-pull of this transit which can lead to tension if not allowed appropriate expression. One way to express this may be through a physical discipline which requires precision, without overdoing it.

Overall, this transit is good for initiating new projects and working on something new. While we venture forth we may have to leave others behind. This is the nature of Mars in Aries at any rate, and now that we have Venus in Aries and we may be less willing to compromise. It is Mars' turn to take over the reigns and direct our actions. 

One way to include others in our selfish pursuits may be to inspire others to achieve greater heights on their own. 
 

Mercury in Pisces March 27 - April 12

Mercury moves signs for the second time this month, whistling through Aquarius and diving deep into Pisces. Our minds may be in a bit of a spin at this point as we try and figure out our lives in a more philosophical way, and emotions detract from our ability to focus on facts. We may get lost in reverie as we ponder deeper truths, but thankfully Jupiter's strength will guide us. This transit is conducive to a dream-like state of mind, but not necessarily good for dealing with the business of the day. 

Those with Gemini or Virgo as their rising sign will feel the effects of their ruling planet in debilitation and joining Ketu. This may lead to a feeling of burnout which needs to be addressed with rest and recuperation. While rest may be the best for Gemini and Virgo, and for the mind in general, Mars' transit to Aries is best spent in physical activity. 

And I know of no better way to rest the mind than to exercise the body!


OM TAT SAT