March 2018 Outlook
Change of Seasons, Change of Signs
Autumn is here according to the calendar, but astrologically the seasons really change on 21 March at the Equinox, called the Autumn Equinox here in Australia and the Spring Equinox overseas. This is also the date of the official start to the astrological year. It’s a renewal, rebirth, fresh starts time that coincides with Easter, and the new life symbolised by Easter eggs.
Some of the major slow outer planets are about to go through their own season/cycle changes too, a very big one being Uranus going into Taurus in May. But before then, next month on 17 April, Chiron makes its fresh move into a new zodiac sign after spending the past eight years in Pisces.
Chiron About to Leave Pisces
This means that in March, Chiron is on its last legs in Pisces, a month already big with a Pisces influence. So what is Pisces all about? Of course Pisceans will be having birthdays at this time, but I’m talking about the zodiac energy of Pisces, not specifically Pisceans. Although if you are Piscean you will carry your own versions of the Pisces themes.
Yet every individual on the planet has some Pisces in them because every person’s astrology contains a Pisces section, so when describing how Chiron has been in Pisces over the past eight years, this means the comet/asteroid Chiron has been affecting the Pisces part of each of us over this time.
Chiron is the ‘wounded healer’. He is half-man, half-horse, the mythological centaur, and throughout his life suffered many wounds that led him to become a great helper and healer to others, not only as a doctor but also as a coach to warriors and as a gifted artist. So over the past eight years of Chiron in Pisces, what wounds or suffering have you discovered in yourself that need healing, understanding and integration? Between now and 17 April, there’s a strong window for significant healing if you persist with facing and addressing your suffering.
Delving Deeper into Your Pisces Energy Self
Some Pisces themes are the joy of connection with others, hearts overflowing, kindness, understanding, beauty, music, art, dance, poetry, upliftment, laughter, contentment, loving recognition, reciprocal validation and celebration, namaste, spirituality, meditation, surrender, the sublime, ecstasy, fulfilment, love for each individual, holding sacred, romantic love, softness, tenderness, the kiss of the beloved, water, seas, fluids, alcohol, mind-altering substances, intoxication, escapism, delusion, illusion, sadness, broken hearts, clinging, co-dependency, addictions, isolation, numbness, emptiness, nobody home in the body, anaesthetic, poverty, homelessness, illness, wasting away, invisibility, unseen, oneness & unity of each living form within the ring of creation, how the one affects the many and the many affect the one, the butterfly effect, nature, all creatures great & small whether biological or spiritual, empathy, forgiveness, carefulness, healing, miracles.
If you think back over the past eight years, which Pisces themes have been most active for you, and which are resonant now? What new actions can you take to experience the best of the above? Chiron in its last weeks in Pisces helps you find what you most need to heal. It’s a good time to reach out to mentors, healers, counsellors, coaches, doctors, teachers, artists, martial arts, sports, exercise, massage therapists, chiropactors etc.
Retrogrades Rule in 2018!
This year is the year of the retrogrades! Mars and Venus will both go retrograde in June and October respectively. Meanwhile, this month both Mercury and Jupiter go Retro. Retrogrades bring more power, even if at times it might feel like less power. They encourage us to think extra deeply, as they have a way of making us stop to think twice. More energy and power is available once all parts of the self have integrated the new thinking and then in unison can draw on the stronger focus possible when planets are Retro.
Jupiter Retro from 9 March
Jupiter goes Retro on 9 March until 11 July. Because Jupiter is in the zodiac energy Scorpio, Scorpio themes could increase, including deep reflections on what the true purpose of life is for you and maybe deep moods that help you see greater desires or directions wanting to be explored, expressed or fulfilled, including love and passion. This is a great time for any activities that help with deep insight; activities that include a feeling of exploring. So perhaps something like yoga, a new therapy, a new philosophy, a new look, a new attitude, a new sport or other activity.
Life-improving awareness shifts can happen while Jupiter is Retro. It’s a great time to break out of your usual recreational habits and instead spend between now and 11 July watching, reading, listening or otherwise immersing yourself in all kinds of experiences. If you’ve never watched a documentary, try a week of documentaries made by a variety of sources. If you’ve never learnt to dance, try a new dance style each week. If you’ve never borrowed a book from a library, try a book a week from different rows of your local library. If you’ve never been nature walking, try a new park or garden each week, and so on… the examples and possibilities are endless and totally individual. Yours might include a trip overseas or online dating or taking up parachuting!
When Jupiter is Retro in Scorpio we might feel as if we have blocked pipes that will never fix, so invite your inner brilliance to awaken through exploring new ideas and experiences and some of your most chronic stuck problems might receive total rebirth solutions.
Jupiter trines Pisces for Relationship Potentials
Jupiter in Scorpio trines many planets and asteroids in Pisces this month, as they move in and out of Pisces; the bunch remaining in Pisces all month being Neptune, Chiron, Juno, Hygiea, Astraea. The ones moving through Pisces are Mercury, Venus and the Sun. So as the days of March pass there are many combinations of the Scorpio and Pisces energies in harmonious flow, and given that it’s Jupiter, planet of growth, options, advancement, adventure, excitement and fun, in Scorpio flowing with Pisces, there’s a lot of potential for relationships.
This doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park, as Scorpio and Pisces are both very emotional zodiac energies and often get caught up in sensitivities, with prejudgements getting in the way of understanding, but there is great possibility for overcoming these kinds of hurdles with kind, gentle and sensitive communication. The heart vulnerabilities and hopes and wishes of each person can then be heard and held, bringing some excellent chances at love really taking off.
Mercury and Venus travel together for More Relationship Potentials
Mercury and Venus travel close to each other all month, until later in the month Venus overtakes Mercury when he slows down and goes Retro. Until then, make the most of a month when the planet of communication, Mercury, is right by the side of the planet of love and relationships, Venus. This could stimulate communication issues, but it also increases the potential for deeper understanding and the kind of communication that leads to happy flowing hearts.
Positive agreements could be made this month, not only in matters of the heart, but also financial arrangements; Venus also being a planet associated with money. It’s a beautiful time for proposals and offers, especially with the new beginnings vibe of the Equinox on 21 March, but be sure to have an understanding of any unspoken expectations beneath agreements.
Mercury Goes Retro
On 23 March, Mercury goes Retro in Aries until 15 April giving a chance to review, reflect and rethink anything agreed to and check all is in order. The three times a year Mercury goes Retro are helpful reassessment and catch-up times and can also help clear up misunderstandings.
I’ve just uploaded all the Mercury Retro dates for the year here, including the shadow dates. This month’s Mercury Retro shadow starts on 9 March (the same date Jupiter goes Retro), and the shadow ends on 4 May, which is when the whole Mercury Retro phase properly finishes.
Mars into Capricorn – Keep Up the Effort
From 18 March, Mars moves into Capricorn and joins Saturn, Black Moon Lilith and Pluto, exactly conjuncting them all in April, yet the effects of this conjunction build all through the second half of March. In a nutshell, tiredness, pressure and stress start to mount so much so you might find yourself questioning why you have so many goals and commitments.
In April when Chiron goes into Aries, and Mars conjuncts Saturn, Lilith and Pluto, there might be some big decisions about where you are putting your energy and efforts. The goals most in alignment with your deepest values and passions will benefit from Mars’ influence.
New Beginnings from 21 March
A lot of March has the feeling of releasing and letting go of a whole phase of life. When the Sun is in Pisces it’s the time each year for noticing what is making you tired versus what gives you energy. It’s the completion of the Sun’s circle in its annual journey around the astrology wheel. On 21 March when the Sun goes into Aries, it’s a new beginning for the astrological year. The Sun is back at the start of the wheel, at the very beginning of the zodiac, ready to start its one month per zodiac sign fresh cycle.
At the Equinox on 21 March, day and night are equal, and the zodiac is in perfect balance, represented by the cross in its natural ‘north, south, east, west’. Next time you’re about to butter a hot cross bun, think of this cross, bringing an end to negativity and judgments from the previous year, and welcoming fresh attitudes and behaviour in the new year ahead.
Happy Equinox and Happy Easter!
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Full Moon Virgo, 2 March
Go here on 2 March for the Full Moon forecast, which stays online until the next Full Moon four weeks later. The effect lasts a week until the 3rd Qtr Moon, and on a core level lasts the whole month until the next Full Moon.
3rd Quarter Moon Sagittarius, 9 March
Go here on 9 March for the 3rd Qtr Moon forecast, which stays online until the next 3rd Quarter Moon four weeks later. The effect lasts a week until the New Moon, and on a core level lasts the whole month until the next 3rd Qtr Moon.
New Moon Pisces, 18 March
Go here on 18 March for the New Moon forecast, which stays online until the next New Moon four weeks later. The effect lasts a week until the 1st Quarter Moon, and on a core level lasts the whole month until the next New Moon.
1st Quarter Moon Cancer, 25 March
Go here on 25 March for the 1st Qtr Moon forecast, which stays online until the next 1st Quarter Moon four weeks later. The effect lasts a week until the Full Moon, and on a core level lasts the whole month until the next 1st Qtr Moon.
Full Moon Blue Moon Libra, 31 March
Go here on 31 March for the Full Moon forecast, which stays online until the next Full Moon four weeks later. The effect lasts a week until the 3rd Qtr Moon, and on a core level lasts the whole month until the next Full Moon.