The Equinoxes are balance points: the days and nights are of equal length. But other planetary considerations suggest that maintaining balance at this particular moment would be quite an accomplishment!
To determine what the next several months will be like, astrologers cast what is called an `Ingress' chart for the exact moment of the Equinox. Naturally, this chart and its meaning would vary from location to location, but in the United States, we use Washington D.C. because as the nation's capital, it represents the country itself.
Aries is `cardinal fire'. Fire is associated with enthusiasm, vitality, and passion, and the `cardinal' modality is known for its ability to get things going like a motivating force of nature.
This March, the Celestial New Year in the U.S. begins with the Sun in Aries `hidden' in the 12th house, Mercury retrograde, Mars at the last degree of Capricorn, the Moon at the last degree of Cancer, a Saturn station at the very base of the chart, and a couple of pending eclipses. What does all this mean? For one thing, it means that jumping into new projects with gusto may be off to a sluggish start and that our spring cleaning-`op' arrives at a moment when many of us are more or less homebound and not quite ready to roll over, wake up, and emerge from our winter-y hibernation.
A Closer Look
Let's examine these placements in detail:
Mercury, the planet of communication and transportation goes retrograde (appears to go backwards) three times a year. This retrograde, from March 19-April 12, 2005, suggests that now is the time for review, reflection, and tending to old business as we delay the gratification of the rush that forging into new projects brings. It is also a time to be careful about travel, transportation, communication and contracts. So the combination of Aries `fresh start' and Mercury retrograde is a kind of push/pull.
This very theme is further emphasized by the tension created by the opposition between Mars (the ruler of Aries and therefore very important in this chart), and the Moon, both at 29 degrees of Capricorn and Cancer respectively, and stern Saturn stationed intently and digging his heels in at the 4th house cusp promising some inclement weather and a feeling of being `stuck,' at least for the moment. All of this indicates a tension between the pull towards worldly accomplishments (career-driven action to meet professional obligations) and the need to stay indoors for some soup and TLC (insular, comfy, at home and with family). A `pull' is also quite clearly indicated between the agendas of corporate America versus the vulnerable, less sophisticated citizens at home and on the farm. A serious showdown between big business and those committed to preserving the environment could easily flare up as well.
The Sun intercepted in the hidden 12th house is very intriguing too. The 12th house has an `out of sight' quality to it, the interception, based on house division, further conceals this Sun. In a "mundane" chart, such as this for the Aries ingress, the Sun represents the leader. As was mentioned in the New Year 2005 piece I wrote for Beliefnet in early January, this placement could indicate a President who is not that visible. Will Bush be ill, on vacation, or out of the public eye for one reason or another? How will the final transit of his 2nd Saturn-Return play out? Will his approval rating dip below the current fifty percent? We'll have to wait and see.
