AstroForecast March 2001

by Lance Rodriguez

The Sun is transiting the sign of Pisces as we enter the month of March. The angel of the month of March is Machidiel and the angel associated with the sign of Pisces is Varchiel. Pisces is the sign of the zodiac that orients itself to compassion, selflessness, understanding, empathy, philanthropy, psychic impressionability, desire for unity, completion and integration, artistic inclinations, maritime affairs, cinema, and the collective unconscious. Negative expressions of Pisces can be disillusionment, depression, martyr/victim syndrome, abandonment/neglect issues, the savior/redeemer/rescue syndrome, unrealistic expectations, escapism, co-dependency/addictions problems and rose-tinted glasses perspectives.

The first day of March witnesses a harmonious aspect involving Mars and Neptune (the ruling planet of Pisces). This harmonious aspect requires effort on anyone's part to bring about the flow of harmonious energies. Target future aspirations, visions, ideals and dreams, as new journeys of experiences will be brought in especially with career potentials. These career potentials really start to materialize once mid-September arrives. Yoga, Qigong and other martial arts that emphasize spiritual disciplines are excellent for the physical body. Individuals interested in meditation and mantra practices are encouraged to pursue them.

The first weekend of March is a good time to implement the spirit of cooperation and accommodation in all relationships. Commit to one another a desire to release past issues with unconditional forgiveness. Resolve the differences with past issues by asking the question. What values do these differences hold and what steps can help us to attract greater unity?

Monday the 5th is an inharmonious aspect of the Sun to Pluto indicating conflicts, stresses or tensions involving secrecy, treachery, manipulation, coercion, graft, corruption, terrorist threats or acts, gang warfare or epidemics. Psychologically speaking this is a time to confront and identify one's fears and phobias. Pluto is our modern day Alchemist and can help to transform those leaden issues of fear and phobias and make them golden..Pluto helps to pierce the darkness so illumination guides the soul to growth no matter what may be encountered through pain, agony or suffering.

Thursday March 8th at 7:06pm is the retrograde station of the planet Venus until its direct station in mid-April. Venus is the ruling planet of personal financial affairs, all relationships (personal, professional and social) and value systems (especially self-esteem, self-worth, self-dignity, self-respect, self-integrity, self-appreciation and ultimately self-value). This retrograde period of Venus is a review, reassessment and re-evaluation time with the abovementioned areas. New relationships made during this time period may face some challenges afterward to remain in place. Individuals born the first two weeks of Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn, in that order, will undergo the most stringent review of this Venus retrograde. Aries will learn how to re-attune to the concerns of others; Libra will re-attune to learn about oneself. Cancer will re-attune to professional relationships and career values; Capricorn will re-attune to domestic relationships and family values. Keywords associated with this degree position of this retrograde Venus station are impulsive acts or impetuous choices lead one into a crisis state of consciousness that boomerangs after the fact. Both the past and the future remain in their context of time; what is the most important is the present now. That is the magical time period that either vexes the individual or opens a new paradigm for a shift in direction. Venus in Aries desires something new and a clean slate in all relationships, values and finances. Either bury the lifeless and get on with the new or resurrect the dead and lead life anew.

A Perigee Moon (closest approach of the Moon to Earth) occurs this same day earlier in the morning that can indicate emotional heaviness associated with this Venus station. The sub-conscious can also act out themes/issues that eventually rise to the conscious surface. The degree of this Venus station repeats again on May 23, 2001 and that may be the period that the sub-conscious themes/issues will be made conscious.

The annual Virgo Full Moon occurs March 9th at 11:24am emphasizing the release/completion phase of the Moon. Negative expressions to release with this lunation are destructive criticism, nagging, finicky behaviors, anal retentiveness, hypochondria, sloppy work habits and the lack of self-acceptance. Angel Ergediel is associated with this lunation so ask for angelic help if necessary. Keywords of this lunation are the world is ready for productivity and willing to pay the dividend to those individuals who offer skills that render humble service to mankind. Resonate to the small details of life that are a reflection of divine order.

March 10th is a harmonious aspect of Mercury with Uranus that can indicate great strides in technology, engineering, science and communications. Stimulating intellectual discussions can lead to new insights that have repercussions for the future. Foster new connections that forge new friendships or alliances. Surprising news dealing with politics can leap to the headlines.

The Moon has its bi-monthly ecliptic shift on the 11th indicating shifts with meteorological, seismological and volcanic activities. Emotionally this ecliptic shift can symbolize changes associated with how we deal with themes/issues about how to build trust and loyalty in committed partnerships. Jealousy, possessiveness, obsessive/compulsive behaviors, rage and humiliation can be issues that can ignite.

Technology sectors can experience distressing or sobering news on Tuesday the 13th as Mercury and Saturn are involved in an inharmonious aspect with one another. Those companies that have excess inventories will have to drastically pare them down; that could mean a temporary boon for consumers especially with electronics and computers. The inverse of the abovementioned problem is a limited supply of consumer goods that are in great demand. Draconian thoughts and measures can also ignite with this aspect. Communicative restrictions and barriers can also arise due to a sense of inadequacy.

Friday the 16th is the alignment of Mars and asteroid Pallas Athena indicating new military and police strategies especially concerning foreign policies. Judicial policies will also experience new strategies and tactics to spearhead. Exports/imports will also have new directions and activities that support this area will be energized. Foreign financial markets will be important to observe.

St. Patrick.s Day 2001 is an important day for many celestial alignments. The first one is the re-entry of Mercury back into the sign of Pisces that originally occurred February 1, 2001 and later this same day Mercury reaches its Post-Shadow Point degree that refers to the degree position it held when it was station retrograde on February 3, 2001. Keywords associated with this Post-Shadow Point degree are the genuine individual contribution to the betterment of one's community. Mass consciousness springs a new thought form that celebrates the individual/collective/spiritual values. Universal love is the spiritual solvent that breaks down anachronistic structures.

This same day is also the Mars Pre-Shadow Point degree referring to the date July 19, 2001 when Mars hits its station direct position. Mars will go retrograde in May in the sign of Sagittarius. Foreign policy, foreign trade and commerce and the judicial system may experience changes and shifts. Higher education will also come under review. Keywords associated with this degree are whatever the cosmic poker dealer hands the cards to the individual it is important for the individual to grasp and recognize opportunities and strategies for the future. Fortify tolerance in regards to differing viewpoints and perspectives. Be there for someone when it really counts.

Finally on St. Patrick.s Day Pluto is at station retrograde at 8:36pm until its direct station August 23, 2001. Interestingly enough Mars and Pluto are exactly aligned with one another the following day at 6:45am at the same degree mentioned above with the same keywords. Pluto is looking for depth and the obliteration of outworn structures that symbolize decaying processes. In other words time to throw out the deadwood and time to revive the salvageable. Pluto will also emphasize the ability to forge shared philosophies and the development of soulful tolerance for those.out of the loop. Terrorism in foreign lands or foreign terrorism on native soils will be the negative expressions of this station.

Venus, Mars, Pluto and asteroid Juno are aspecting one another on the 18th and 19th mostly on harmonious levels. Committed partnerships that can build deep trust and loyalty can be positively directed. Love can be addressed in a straightforward and honest manner with personal relationships. Financial markets will be important to observe especially insurance holding companies, ecology oriented companies, municipal bonds, research industries and surgical equipment suppliers.

The majestic Sun enters dynamic Aries Tuesday the 20th at 7:31am for its annual month-long journey. This is the Spring Equinox or Ostara the pagan holiday that celebrates this celestial event. The word Easter is derived from Ostara. The following 30 days can be a strong identification with the positive Aries expressions of the can-do-attitude, healthy self-assertiveness and aggressiveness, entrepreneurial and enterprising spirit, self-motivation and pull yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps attitude. Aries loves impromptu and spontaneous activities that satisfy a desire for the new in life. Aries can also exemplify negative expressions of willfulness, confrontation that arouses anger, frustration and/or violation, jumping off the cliff without checking to see if there is a safety net down below, and living on the edge of danger as an adrenalin-driven compensation.

Prior to the Sun ingress Aries is an Apogee Moon (farthest approach of the Moon to Earth) emphasizing the need for impartiality, objectivity and emotional detachment. Community affairs may be highlighted at this time as to what directions to take. Volunteers for community work will be important.

Wednesday the 21st is an inharmonious aspect between Mercury and Jupiter. The likelihood of jumping to conclusions is great. This can be the classical. I can't see the tree because of the forest. faction against the.I can't see the forest because of the tree. faction. Both sides need to acquiesce their viewpoints and strike a middle ground. Some individuals may experience a vague, confused or.lost in the sea. feeling involving misinterpreted communications especially if based on hearsay.

The annual Aries New Moon occurs Saturday the 24th at 7:22pm that symbolizes the new beginnings, new initiatives phase of the Moon. Angel Geniel is associated with this lunation. This is a great lunation to acquire a new self-image through updated wardrobes, hairstyles and/or vehicles. Improve self-confidence, be open to pioneering directions especially in new, unknown territories, gain new leadership skills, and recognize your role-model abilities. Keywords for this lunation are foster an inner zeal oriented to an emerging personal vision of the future. Activate the divine inner spark of creativity that launches a new personal genesis. True excitement is waiting for those who dare to be bold and for those who recognize that challenges symbolize personal growth.

The second bi-monthly ecliptic shift of the Moon occurs on the 25th indicating shifts involving volcanic, meteorological or seismological activities. Emotionally this ecliptic shift can symbolize confusing, vague feelings that need outward expression yet may be unable to do so due to the lack of being bold. Aggressive individuals may not understand this inability of expression.

Wednesday the 28th Mercury is in an inharmonious aspect with Pluto that ignites intrigue, espionage, held-back information, secrecy, and sabotage through inaccurate information. Compulsive lying can also be a problem with this alignment. There may be distressing news about the stock or commodity markets.

Saturday the 31st Mercury also forms another inharmonious aspect with Mars that can add to the tinder already made from the previous aspect with Pluto. This leads to argumentativeness, confrontations, acrimony, sibling rivalry, fierce intellectual competition and saber rattling. In between these two inharmonious aspects of Mercury, Venus makes harmonious aspects to bring about cooperation, accommodation and compromise. Utilize this Venusian harmony potential to augment striking accords.

This last day of March also witnesses what some astrologers term a Moon Wobble; this means the transiting Sun is at the exact midpoint of the transiting Nodes of the Moon. The North Node of the Moon in ancient astrology symbolized fate and destiny. Modern astrology defines the North Node as a desire to find one's support group and how to follow one's direction in the outer world. The South Node is symbolic of the past and what one may indulge as old behavioral patterns or habits that one is least likely to surrender. Thus the Sun, symbolic of one's vital life force and creative willpower, is positioned to make important decisions about one's direction in life. Either to choose the least challenging choice of the South Node and its continuing pattern of the past or choose the more challenging choice of the North Node and its new directions into an unknown but stimulating future, is what all individuals will face on a symbolic level. The North Node transiting the sign of Cancer indicates it is time to sink new roots to create a supportive foundation for the future in regards to home, family and emotional contentment. The South Node in Capricorn is indicative of all old paradigms that continue how business is run, clinging to outworn ambitions and embracing narrow-minded material results without consideration of their impact.

March is a dynamic month in regards to celestial activities. There is a preponderance of activities involving fire signs, especially Sagittarius and Aries, and air signs, especially Aquarius and Gemini. In astrology these are yang-masculine energies that are very pro-creative, pro-active, projective and propulsive. Saturn is the only outer planet securing yin-feminine energies in the earth sign of Taurus. Saturn will maintain a very grounding source for all that yang energy expressions of the other planets. Saturn will end its Taurus sojourn in late April 2001 and join the air element of Gemini that hasn.t been witnessed since 29 ½ years ago!. The mutable signs of Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo and Pisces will come under the scrutiny of the celestial taskmaster Saturn through this passage in Gemini over the next two years. More about this in next month.s AstroForecast, until then peace and prosperity!.