Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans.
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Astrological Overview: March 20 - 26, 2023
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), add 8 hours.
MON: Venus conjunct North Node, Sun sextile Pluto, Sun enters Aries (Equinox)
TUE: Jupiter semisquare Saturn, New Moon 10:22 a.m., Sun semisquare Uranus
WED: Pluto trine Ceres
THU: Pluto enters Aquarius 5:14 a.m.
FRI: Mars square Ceres
SAT: Mars enters Cancer, Mars quincunx Pluto, Venus semisquare Neptune
SUN: Mercury conjunct Chiron
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FATE LENDS A HAND: A triad of fateful planetary events occurs this week. On the agenda are the Aries equinox on Monday, March 20; a potent New Moon on Tuesday, March 21; and Pluto's first steps into Aquarius on Thursday, March 23. With the equinox and the New Moon occurring within 20 hours of each other, their energies are linked, creating an even stronger wave of influence in our lives.
The word equinox comes from two Latin words: aequus, meaning "equal," and nox, meaning "night." At an equinox, daytime and nighttime are approximately of equal length around the globe. We experience an equinox twice a year, when the Sun is directly above the Earth's equator as it moves through our sky, migrating from north to south and back again. An equinox reminds us of the need for balance between activity and rest, giving and receiving, the masculine and the feminine, the dark and the light.
Channel Melanie Beckler writes:
"With each equinox, a new wave of balance, light, and an opportunity to transcend illusion and step into more of our authentic truth and soul light emerges. There is an opening, an energy gate ... crystalline energies that have lain dormant are activated. This is part of restoring the divine blueprint of your world."
The March equinox occurs at the moment that the Sun enters Aries. This year, the Sun enters the sign of The Ram at 2:24 p.m. PDT on Monday, March 20.
ARIES NEW MOON: The New Moon occurs at 10:22 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, March 21, when the Sun and Moon align at 0°49´ Aries. This powerful first degree of the zodiac is called the "Aries Point"; when it is activated, events that have a strong impact on society and influence the global population often occur.
A New Moon in Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is usually the time to plant seeds, to take risks, and to act with courage and confidence. These qualities may be abundant as we begin the new lunar cycle on Tuesday - but this lunation includes several complicating factors. The New Moon, being conjunct Mercury, is likely to correspond with a major news cycle, with information coming from many directions and very quickly. It is also square assertive Mars in Gemini, which can manifest as verbal confrontations and angry diatribe. People may speak impulsively and act brashly at the time of this lunation, and throughout the four-week lunar cycle that begins on Tuesday.
The New Moon is also semisquare rebellious Uranus, indicating surprising, unexpected events that tend to disrupt the status quo. And yet, with the Sun and Moon in an out-of-sign conjunction with Neptune (in late Pisces), compassion and a spiritual perspective are also accessible, if we transcend the human-level reactivity and call upon the wisdom of our Soul to guide us. The New Moon is also sextile Pluto (in the very last degree of Capricorn); this aspect is one of revelation, providing opportunities to observe and transmute society's tolerance of corruption as being acceptable.
PLUTO STEPS INTO AQUARIUS: As noted in last week's Journal, Pluto is entering Aquarius this week, for the first time since it left the sign in 1798. Pluto makes only a very brief first foray into the sign of The Waterbearer this year; it will station retrograde on May 1 and return to Capricorn on June 11. After going direct on October 10, it will re-enter Aquarius on January 21, 2024, but dips back into Capricorn one more time in 2024 before settling into Aquarius “for good.”
Pluto’s transit through Aquarius may feel somewhat like the mid-1960s, when Pluto was conjunct Uranus, the planetary ruler of Aquarius. Those years were very tumultuous, but resulted in some major and much-needed societal shifts.
One theme we can watch for is the drive to return the “power to the people.” While many will take more enlightened routes to achieve this goal, some may be fanatical in their expression as they rebel against controls and trigger reactions from the powers-that-were.
Instead of centralized governments establishing rules that everyone must follow, one of the goals of Pluto's 20-year transit of Aquarius is for people who share similar goals and ideals to form new, self-sufficient communities. These co-ops are likely to be based on progressive Aquarian ideals such as renewable energy and shared responsibility. Technology and scientific thought will certainly go through a major metamorphosis during this time. We are likely to see breakthroughs in physics, and in our perceptions of “dark matter” and “junk DNA.”
Since Pluto is the Psychotherapist planet and god of the underworld, we will see significant shifts in our understanding of the human psyche and in the ways in which we approach death and dying. While in Aquarius, the sign of intuition, metaphysics, and higher consciousness, Pluto will also empower our ability to comprehend and communicate with other realms of existence, other dimensional beings.
DAILY ASPECTS: Here are this week's most important planetary aspects, with my brief interpretations of each.
Monday
Venus conjunct North Node: Personal loyalties are strong, enabling us to bond with friends and loved ones.
Sun sextile Pluto: This is an aspect of spiritual empowerment, when we may align more fully with our Soul's calling.
Sun enters Aries: The Sun enters Aries at 2:24 p.m. PDT, marking the equinox and the start of a new astrological year.
Tuesday
Jupiter semisquare Saturn: Unsettling situations result as we grapple with a conflict between our need for stability and a desire for expansion.
New Moon 10:22 a.m. PDT: The Sun and Moon align at the Aries Point for this New Moon, which may correspond with events that affect large numbers of people.
Sun semisquare Uranus: Misunderstandings and reactionary tendencies cause upheaval.
Wednesday
Pluto trine Ceres: Through a greater understanding of underlying motivations, we are able to be tolerant and accepting, accessing true unconditional love.
Thursday:
Pluto enters Aquarius 5:14 a.m. PDT: This first transit of Pluto in Aquarius will last until June 11. As Pluto activates the first degree of Aquarius during these weeks, those who were born within a day or two of January 19-20, April 19-20, July 22-23, and October 22-23 will likely feel the effects most strongly, due to their Sun being in the first degree of either Aquarius, Taurus, Leo, or Scorpio. This influence will also be felt for anyone who has a personal planet or point (Ascendant or Midheaven) in the first degree of a fixed sign.
Friday
Mars square Ceres: Irritations arise when personal needs do not coincide with family expectations.
Saturday
Mars enters Cancer: Activities at home and with family gain importance with Mars in Cancer, from March 25 to May 20 of this year. People may be more intuitive during this time, as well as more sensitive or defensive. The need for security is strong, and actions are based on the mood of the moment rather than on logic.
Mars quincunx Pluto: People may act compulsively or aggressively if they feel unable to control a situation.
Venus semisquare Neptune: We may experience some disillusionment about a relationship, if we have not been paying attention to red flags. Be aware of a tendency to want to rescue another.
Sunday
Mercury conjunct Chiron: Individual rights and the fears that drive us to anger are the topics of conversation today.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: Your skills of communication are very important this year, as you are drawn to express your thoughts and opinions very directly. Fortunately, you will also have good access to your intuitive wisdom, which will help you know when and how to speak your mind. Even so, your words may evoke strong reactions in others, who may respond defensively. Family members, especially, may be involved in this dynamic. (Solar Return Sun conjunct Mercury, square Mars, conjunct Neptune, opposite Ceres)
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About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
