March Forecast

New Moon in Aquarius March 1st

The new Moon occurs at 08.00 UT on March 1st at 16 degrees of Aquarius.  The lunar day on the 27th leading up to this new month and new Moon is known as Maha Shivaratri in India, or the 'great night of Shiva'.  Shiva is the Lord of destruction - a representation of a time when we come back to our true source of power (the Sun), destroying all of our ignorance.  Traditionally fasts are observed in India on the day before the new Moon day, and is a fitting practice in order to quieten the mind of all its ignorance. 

The Sun and Moon have the exact aspect from Jupiter for this new Moon, which sits at 16 degrees of the air sign Gemini.  This is a balancing influence to the air element and those who have been imbalanced by the recent increase in air.  Jupiter brings a pause to the otherwise fretful.  A fast can bring a great sense of release and surrender.  Ultimately this brings back balance which is a key word for March.  If we can tune into our true source of power, we can go beyond the frustrations and setbacks in achieving any sense of balance over the coming weeks.
 
In another sense we must consider that the new Moon itself is seen as 'airy' in nature, and with all of the strong air influence from other transits, we have seen an imbalance of this element. We experience an imbalance of air through a disturbance to daily routines, stress levels rising and sleep patterns being disturbed.  This is all due to an increase in movement on many levels of our being.  As we approach the new Moon phase the planets in air signs slow down and we can with them.  This is an opportunity for a pause. 

Mars Retrograde in Libra and Virgo March 1st - May 20th

Mars prepares to move backwards against the backdrop of the stars on March 1st, slowing its course as it does so by the end of February.  The last week of February and the first week of March requires our patience, as the planet of action slows down to a crawl and stops its forward movement entirely by March 1st.  It then begins to move retrograde until May 20th.  Once it begins to move backwards from our perspective it may feel counterproductive to some.  However, sometimes we need to take a few steps back in order to make headway.  

It is not unusual to see Mars retrograde, as it does so every two years or so.  However, the added influence of Rahu (the north node) whipping it up into a frenzy - while at the same time the planet of action itself stops still -  can lead us to feel like we should be doing something even though there is nothing to be done. 

When Mars moves back into Virgo on the 25th the intensity shifts, but the challenges are of a different kind.  In Vedic astrology it is not seen as beneficial to have a planet like Mars backup into a sign it has recently exited.  There is unfinished business for the planet of action in Virgo.  Is there something you have neglected?  Here Mars is asked to look back over recent events and actions we have taken and sort through the details.  Mars does not like to sort out the details, let alone re-sift through them.

You may wish to use this transit to perfect an action plan.  The areas of life that are affected depends on what the sign Virgo represents for you, as well as what Mars represents for you specifically, based on your horoscope.  Generally we can see health issues at the fore on a global stage, as we deal with a spring clean in our bodies at this time of year. 

Whatever the specifics of your own experience may be, we are all being asked to re-invent ourselves in one way or another during the coming months.  We cannot count on anything turning out the way we initially had planned and need to remain flexible throughout this period. 

Saturn Retrograde in Libra March 2nd - July 20th

Saturn retrogrades in the same sign as Mars - though thankfully from the other end of the sign - and at the same time.  The first week of March becomes a tightly wound period, especially as the Moon enters Aries on March 4th and 5th.  Saturn turns around even slower than Mars does, and those with Saturn prominent should pay particular attention to its slow turnabout for the whole of March.  This is most relevant to those in a Saturn time period - as viewed in the Vedic timeline - or those who embody Saturn i.e. Capricorn or Aquarius. 

Saturn's strength in Libra is revisited at this time.  We are given the opportunity to restructure that what we have built up in our lives for the past few months.  With Jupiter looking on from Gemini, we are granted the grace to achieve long terms goals with the assistance of the most pragmatic of planets. 

Apart from a cautionary period in early March, and during Saturn's return to direct motion in a volatile July, we can look to this period to get certain aspects of our life right for once and for all.  The focus is keenly on the sign Libra and the area of life you experience this sign by house placement in the Vedic horoscope. 

Generally we can see that the sign Libra represents balance.  We may see this as a balance between two people or people's i.e. equality; the balance in our bodies and our hormonal system; or the balance found in beauty and nature.  This is a time to revisit prominent issues of the last two years for us all. 

Jupiter Stations Direct in Gemini March 6th

Jupiter prepares to move forward in Gemini and is held motionless in the days following Mars and Saturn's turnabout in Libra.  This transit affords us a strong intuitive nudge if we can drop below the noise of the other more stressful stations. 

Jupiter's retrograde period in Gemini has brought up many issues in relation to our interests and interactions in our social spheres.  We may look to the sign Gemini to see where we have benefited from Jupiter's presence, taking the time to assess these issues.  We can use these insights to propel us forward into a more hopeful and optimistic future. 

Mercury in Aquarius March 12th - April 4th

Mercury re-enters the sign Aquarius on March 12th, after a period of review and reorientation in the sign Capricorn.  While Capricorn has been a more challenging transit for Mercury - due to Mars's influence from Libra - Aquarius sees Mercury become more flexible and playful again.  The results will be seen in our communication with each other.  However, we cannot ignore Saturn's retrograde motion in March, as this will keep Mercury in check somewhat.  We need to think more carefully as we venture forth. 

Mercury represents our practical day-to-day concerns.  Our business dealings, as well as all of our communications will need to be in order during this transit, as and when Mercury moves into Pisces in April, it places more emphasis on the imagination and a dreamy-like state.  This is not conducive to dealing with more practical matters.  Mercury is strong in Aquarius and moving forward with the help of a determined Saturn. 

Take care of your contracts and projects which need to be completed in the short term in March, as Mars and Saturn's retrograde transits asks us to rework and reform many interests in the long run.  Use the days before April 4th, while Mercury moves swiftly through Aquarius, in order to say what you need to say and sign what you need to sign.  After April 4th we find ourselves in deeper waters, and will need our full attention navigating them.

Sun in Pisces March 14th - April 14th

Pisces is Jupiter's watery sign and represents the need to find balance with our more detail orientated lives on a day-to-day basis.  We do this by looking at our lives in a more imaginative way, seeing patterns we may normally miss.  The need now is to tune into the greatness of the whole of creation, in order to see the perfection in everything, especially when our egoistic plans fail us in March. 

This transit is asking us to tune into the perfection of how things really are - not necessarily as we would like them to be.  This would be an opportune time to let go and let the universe handle it from here. 

Full Moon in Virgo March 16th

The Moon is at its fullest in March on the 16th at 17.09 UT.  This occurs at the 1st degree of Virgo and in the lunar sign called Uttara Phalguni.  This lunar sign is ruled by the Sun which transits in the opposite sign Pisces for the month following this full Moon. 

During this full Moon we must balance our need to look at the bigger picture, with dealing with the details of our day-to-day experience.  We may also take this balance and focus it on all of the aspects of our current life, as we look back over recent changes in our lives and take stock of these.  A pause may be especially valuable at this time, as we move into the waning phase of the month and prepare to let go and move on with restructuring and reorienting our lives. 

New Moon in Pisces - New Lunar Year March 30th

The second new Moon of March is an important new Moon, as it marks the lunar new year in the Vedic calendar.  The new Moon occurs at 15 degrees of Pisces on March 30th at 19.45 UT.  This occurs in the lunar sign Uttara Bhadrapada which is ruled by Saturn.  A new Moon is a good time to pause and return, but this becomes even more relevant as Saturn backtracks in Libra. With so many influential changes having already begun to transform our lives in March, we may well need to take a break to consider these by the end of the month. 

A new Moon chart is calculated for each country to see the influences upon that country for the coming year, marking it an important new beginning at this time of year. 

Venus in Capricorn Feb. 26th - Mar. 31st & Aquarius Mar. 31st - Apr. 27th

Venus in Saturn's signs from February 26th to April 27th is a time to be pragmatic in affairs of the heart.  Even though Venus has Mars's influence while in Capricorn - creating a passionate impulse - this is tempered greatly by Saturn's sobering and determined influence, as it moves retrograde in Venus' sign Libra. 

By March 31st Venus moves away from Mars's influence and into the sign Aquarius, where it continues to feel Saturn's strength and determination, and now has the added exaggerated influence of Rahu, creating many desires.  The kind of strength from Saturn is conducive to taking a long, hard look at what and who we hold dear, not necessarily indulging, as Rahu would have it.  Whether your indulgences are food, sex or whatever pleasures you seek in life, the exchange of planetary energies between these planets leads to a more realistic period in all of our lives - a good time for a spring clean of our minds, bodies, relationships and environments.  However, be mindful of life becoming too dry in March and April, balancing this with some measure of pleasurable activities. 


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