March 2016 Forecasts

Mercury in Aquarius March 1 - 18
The planet of communication moves into Aquarius in March, and things start to get a little weird.
It joins the Sun and the south node, while placed opposite to the north node and Jupiter in Leo.
​The Moon is placed in Scorpio just as Mercury moves, joining Saturn and Mars placed therein.
​Venus will join Mercury in Aquarius a week later, as the Moon comes around to Aquarius to create a full solar eclipse on the 8/9. This creates a stressful environment during the month. 

There is a huge emphasis on the fixed signs; Leo, Scorpio and, in particular, Aquarius. Seemingly fixed and stable aspects of our lives go through changes as a result. However, these same areas of life feel stuck or we are unwilling to change. It may be that we change our opinions about them.

​No doubt, those with these fixed signs prominent in the their horoscope, especially Aquarius, will experience these changes more intensely, but whatever areas of your life you experience stability will feel the need change and grow. There may be growing pains, but remind yourself that you are due a growth spurt!

The beginning of March is quite unstable and explosive, but some dams need removing, while others could do with strengthening. The situation at borders is becoming dire. Once there is an explosive event, whether physical or emotional, the disturbance created only serves to obscure any clarity about such an event afterwards, as we wait for the smoke to clear or the storms to subside. It may leave us at a loss for words at times but a saying which I like to use on such occasions is: 'nothing happens, all is'.
​Remind yourself of this is you're finding it hard to adapt to the changes you are experiencing.
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Venus enters Aquarius March 7
Venus joins the Sun, Mercury and the south node, Ketu in Aquarius on March 7, just as the Moon enters Aquarius. This places all of the planets (including the luminaries and nodes of the Moon) in the fixed signs between March 7 and 9. The emphasis is particularly felt in Aquarius, a fixed sign, ruled by both Saturn and the north node, Rahu.

Aquarius is a complex sign, representing rigidly held opinions, while persuading new and innovative thinking. Saturn represents boundaries, such as being held back by limiting thoughts, while Rahu represents a breakthrough, as a result of new and exciting ideas. This combination of the old and the new, creates an interesting environment in Aquarius. Old ways must let go for the new. Our deeply entrenched ideas about how things should be done, must give way if we are to grow. Humanitarian concerns have reached a critical juncture. 

Venus in Aquarius is about pushing boundaries in love, and this occurs while we push our own personal boundaries with Mars and Saturn joining in Scorpio. The resulting influences on the planet of love can be, in equal measures; illuminating and confusing; frustrating and rewarding.

Venus is exactly opposite Jupiter by March 25, by which time Jupiter is exactly aspected by Saturn from its position in Scorpio. Any ideas we have of overdoing it are curtailed by the reality of certain situations, and although I would not discourage anyone from thinking big at this time, I would offer a word of caution while things are in flux and uncertain leading up to the new Moon and solar eclipse: perhaps it would be best to wait for things to settle before making any major decisions. 
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The Great Night of Shiva

New Moon and Full Solar Eclipse in Aquarius ​March 8/9 
The new Moon occurs at 01.54 GMT on March 9 which is also a full solar eclipse. The eclipse begins at 23.19 on March 8. It is at its maximum at 01.57 on March 9 and ends at 04.34. All times are GMT. 

This places the Sun and Moon at 24 degrees of Aquarius, in the lunar sign Purva Bhadra. This lunar sign is ruled by Jupiter and is a gracious sign. However, its first three padas, or 'feet', are placed in Saturn's sign Aquarius in which this eclipse is placed; bringing a sense of outer contraction along with an inner expansion. The new Moon itself is a more contracted period, at any rate, as the energy dips in the dark phase of the Moon and we withdraw into ourselves to hit the restart button. The Sun is placed alongside Ketu, the Moon's south node which represents a need to let of a personal agenda if we are to ease our way into the subsequent sign, Pisces and the experience of union with all-that-is. 

Saturn exchanges signs with Ketu in Aquarius, and Mars aspects the eclipsed Sun in Aquarius. On the other side of the zodiac, Jupiter and Rahu are joined in Leo. Jupiter is at the exact opposite degree to the Sun and Moon during this eclipse, which are placed in a sign co-ruled by Rahu. This is a powerful linking of all of the fixed signs; Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. In fact, all of the planets are placed within these signs during the eclipse, and are so intricately linked to one another through exchanges and aspects, that the complexity of entrenched situations has reached a sort of stale mate. Things need to be completely scrapped and re-worked if a negotiation cannot produce the same types of change these transits are asking for. This is known as a Shoola Yoga in Vedic astrology, which is represented by a sharp weapon, traditionally Shiva's trident. In modern times the weapon of choice is the gun, of course, but at any rate this combination placed in the fixed signs is one to be mindful of. Your weapon may be your sharp tongue, if you attack others with harsh words. So, chose your battles carefully and only fight for what is worth fighting for; that which is right and just. 

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Shiva and the waning crescent Moon

Maha Shivaratri  महा शिवरात्रि ​
This new Moon phase is also celebrated by Hindus as Mahashivaratri, or the 'great night of Shiva'. This is actually observed on the night before the new Moon, on the 14th lunar day of the waning phase of the month on March 7. Although Shiva, the Lord of destruction, is celebrated every 14th lunar day - as we create space for a new beginning by clearing out the outdated - this waning phase is particularly special in the Hindu calendar. Prayers are offered to Lord Shiva, and fasting is observed. The Mahamrityunjaya mantra and Om Namah Shivaya are chanted and any offerings to the Lord of endings are enhanced during this time. 


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​The image of the waning crescent Moon itself is associated with Shiva, bringing a necessary ending into our lives so that we can make way for something new. This is happening at every level of our being. Mahashivaratri is traditionally seen as the night on which Shiva married his consort, Shakti, and celebrated the Tandava, a divine dance of destruction, creation and sustenance; the forces which govern the universe. We are reminded, on the nights leading up to this new Moon, that we must be willing to let the process of renewal take place through all of the necessary stages. 
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Use this time to be still; to tune into the changes you are personally experiencing. Steady yourself on the breath and in your body, knowing that the way forward will come to you at just the right time if you are awake to what is actually happening, not losing your mind in what you think may, or may not, happen. 
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The Sun enters Pisces March 14
The Sun enters Jupiter's sign, Pisces as spring begins to truly blossom in our lives by mid-March.
The Sun in Pisces, exchanges signs with Jupiter in Leo for this transit, strongly linking the Sun and Jupiter; our identity and purpose. This brings a need to take all of our recent experiences;our hopes and dreams, our mistakes and failures, our ambitions and any sense of achievement, and experience oneness with all that is. By letting go of the struggle for self aggrandizement we experience a communion with others by opening our hearts and minds.    

This type of union is achieved in various ways. It may occur through a disciplined meditation, or spontaneously while at work or at play. Nature provides this union as we connect with the unifying forces of the universe. This may come in the form of the vast oceans, or by contemplating the depths of space; both representations of the sign Pisces, and our ability to dissolve into the oneness of simply being.

​Being by the ocean helps us in this process, as if by osmosis we are plunged into unity with all-that-is, and can once again sense all-that-we-are in the process. 
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Mercury enters Pisces March 19
Mercury enters its sign of debilitation, Pisces from March 19 and is placed in combustion at this time, being too close to the Sun to be observable. Therefore, until the end of March and into the beginning of April, our minds are cast adrift, as if searching aimlessly for a missing link, an appropriate word, a sense of order. Good luck with that, by the way!

Mercury in Pisces is better spent in awe at those things in life we find hard to explain, and actually have no need to explain, anyway. While we are constantly bombarded with information to process, it does us the world of good to be left with a sense of reverence by something which cannot be so easily explained. Stop. Listen. Observe. These can be mystical and 'other worldly' experiences, or simply acknowledging the presence of beauty and cosmic unity which we do not need to process intellectually. 

Albert Einstein was born when Mercury was transiting Pisces and he was a great visionary and mystic, capable of using his mind in ways which we are taught not to in regimented and orderly learning.
​That is realm of the opposite sign Virgo. That has its place, of course, but without a sense of awe and bewilderment we loose a lot of the magic life has to offer. 
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Equinox March 20
The days and nights are of equal length by March 20. This is experienced as the Spring Equinox on the northern hemisphere and the Autumnal Equinox on the southern hemisphere.

This is a time of year that those of us further away from the equator can find more balance in our lives; between our inner and outer lives; our public and private self, as the lightness and darkness are on an equal footing. With so many of the planets in fixed signs, we may feel like we are balancing on a stone pillar, trying to negotiate our deep rooted blocks with a need to fly. 
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Full Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse ​in Virgo March 23
The Moon reaches the opposite degree to the Sun's degree in Pisces (9 degrees of Virgo) on March 23, and although the luminaries are placed in the signs adjacent to the nodes of the Moon, they are close enough for a partial lunar eclipse to occur.

This partial lunar eclipse begins at 09.36, with the maximum eclipse at 11.47, and ends at 13.57 GMT.
​While we delve into the vast oceans of Pisces, sensing the undertows and the sometimes unnerving experience of being able to think and feel in opposing ways simultaneously, our minds reach for order out of the chaos, as we attempt to join the dots.

If we can step back far enough we can see that the chaos has an order. Although, sometimes we have to be able to step back very far indeed. 

Saturn Stations Retrograde March 25
Saturn is slow for the month of March, stationing on March 25, as it prepares to move backwards from our perspective against the background of the sign Scorpio. It does so for the next few months, before stationing direct in August. 

This places Saturn at 22 degrees of Scorpio for the latter half of the month, leading to an intense scrutiny on the sign and this area of our lives, as we dig our heels in and knuckle down. This marks a period of reckoning, as Saturn begins to move back to where it will meet up with Mars in August.
They both come head-to-head at 15 degrees of Scorpio on August 23.

Scorpio represents those aspects of our lives we would prefer to keep to ourselves; the fears we have, the secrets we hold. Saturn asks us to look at them more objectively and to see if in fact there is anything to actually fear. Mars' influence gives us more courage to deal with the situation as it is, and is placed in Saturn's lunar section of Scorpio called Anuradha, powerfully linking our need to proceed, with a need to do so cautiously. 

Now it's time to face the reality of the situation. You've got to be cruel to be kind. Saturn is known as a cruel planet in astrology, and for good reason. It points to the truth. If you've hiding from the truth, then this transit will be a challenge for you. However, if you've dealt with the situation as it is, not how you would like it to be, then March onward marks a period to simply be more acutely aware of the reality of the situation. 

Some may find this a challenge, while others may find it tedious. Either way, we all have to be make peace with what is. 


OM TAT SAT