170 | Aries Equinox and Pluto enters Aquarius: What a Week!

This week, the Aries Equinox and the first of two Aries New Moons announce the arrival of the astrological new year; Pluto changes signs and picks out a new pot to cook us in; and Mars finally leaves Gemini after nearly seven nerve-frazzling months. And in this week’s mini-lesson, April gives an overview of Pluto transiting through the houses of the birth chart. Plus: Power tools, paparazzi, and…is it a Saturn thing or a Pluto thing? Read a full transcript of this episode. Have a question you’d like answered on the show?  Email April or leave it here! Subscribe to April’s mailing list and get a free lunar workbook at each New Moon! Love the show? Make a donation! Big Sky Astrology on Facebook | Instagram |  Twitter |  YouTube Timestamps [1:06] The Sun sextiles Pluto on March 20th (1:12 PM PDT) at 29°57’ Pisces and Capricorn. This sextile favors picking up old threads instead of starting something from scratch. Look back to January 18, 2023 for clues as to what these threads could be.  Pluto will revisit this degree June - July 2023 and then again in December 2023. [3:34] On the same day, March 20th, about one hour later (2:24 PM PDT), the Sun enters the sign of Aries and that marks the Aries Equinox, one of the two days of the year when day and night are equal in length. [4:17] Mars is the ruler of Aries, so look to Mars for the mood and flavor of this Spring (or Fall in the Southern Hemisphere). At the time of the Aries Equinox, Mars will be finishing up an extended stay in communicative Gemini. Five days after the Equinox, Mars will enter Cancer which carries associations of home, family, and feasting. [5:42] Moon Report! The New Moon at 0°49’ Aries will occur on March 21st (10:23 AM PDT). It's a very powerful New Moon on what is called the Aries Point, 0° Aries. The Sun and the Moon are also square Aries’ ruler, Mars… feisty! [6:39] This New Moon begins a Lunar Phase Family which reaches critical points at the First Quarter Moon on December 19, 2023; the Full Moon on September 17, 2024; and the Last Quarter Phase on June 18, 2025. Take your cue from Nike and “Just Do It!”  Also, sign up for April’s free monthly lunar workbooks here! [8:39] Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon periods. On March 21st, the Moon in Pisces sextiles Pluto (8:58 AM PDT). It's VOC for just about an hour, and then enters Aries (9:01 am).  Meditate on how to advocate for caring and healing while dodging the dark side of escapism and/or martyrdom. [10:05] The Moon in Aries sextiles Mars on March 23rd (10:13 AM PDT). It will be VOC for about an hour and a half, then enters Taurus (11:42 AM PDT). This would be an excellent time to launch something that you have been working on. [11:02] On March 25th, the Moon in Taurus sextiles Neptune (9:19 am PDT). The Moon is VOC for about eight and a half hours before entering Gemini (5:41 PM PDT).  Think about tackling a weekend home project that involves water, such as establishing an irrigation system, building a water feature, or dealing with mold remediation. [12:15] Cue the dramatic spooky music because Pluto is entering Aquarius on March 23rd (5:23 AM PDT). For the most part, it will be in this sign through January 2044.  Pluto will retrograde back into Capricorn and sit at that 29th degree between June 11th and January 20th, 2024, then again between September 1 - November 19, 2024. [13:15] Pluto wants to get rid of whatever is extraneous and bring us down to what we truly are. Pluto has a long cycle, 248 years, and it has a bit of an odd orbit, so it spends different amounts of time transiting through different signs of the zodiac.  It spent around 18 years in Capricorn and will spend 20 years in Aquarius. [14:07] For a recap on Pluto in Aquarius themes, check out Episode 169. [14:33] On a personal level, look for the House or Houses that Pluto in Aquarius will travel through in your birth chart. Take note that Saturn just moved into Pisces last week.  Saturn tends to make us feel blocked, and Pluto someti