March 16 to 22, 2015 - New Moon and Equinox

NorthPoint ASTROLOGY JOURNAL Your Guide to Planetary Energies for March 16 to 22, 2015 By Pam Younghans

THE RIVER is flowing very quickly now. If we've managed to stay afloat and have positioned our kayaks in the "sweet spot" of the current (in other words, in alignment with our soul's intentions), we can make significant progress in the days and weeks ahead. If we've been standing on the shore, waiting for the right moment to launch our boat and join the flow, this would be the time! This is the week we've been talking about and building toward since the beginning of the year -- arguably the most powerful week of 2015, in astrological terms. This is the week of the final exact Pluto-Uranus square, a Solar Eclipse/New Moon in the very last degree of the zodiac, and the Aries Equinox. Throw in a Neptune-Mercury alignment in Pisces, and we have quite a mix of energies to work with. We might call this a pivot point, a time of choosing new options and releasing the old. It is a time for breakthroughs and insights, when we can ride the energies of change into a new future. THE PLUTO-URANUS SQUARE on Monday (Tuesday in some time zones) is the driving force behind many of the changes, breakthroughs, and even breakdowns we're experiencing now. Pluto is the Transformer; Uranus is the Liberator. When they work with us, these two planets have an almost alchemical effect. Even if we can't explain the "how" or even the "why," we know that something basic within us has shifted after an encounter with these two powerful planets. With a Saturn-Mercury square also occurring on Monday, we have an even stronger sense of this being a time of destiny and decision-making. At the same time, Saturn in Sagittarius can make us question what it all means, and we may hesitate to trust the Mercury-in-Pisces knowing that everything will turn out all right, even if we can't yet see the outcome. THE SOLAR ECLIPSE on Friday occurs in the very last degree of Pisces, which is also the very last degree of the zodiac. The 29th degree of any sign is called the "anaretic degree," and it indicates that we are at a choice point. Having a Solar Eclipse at the last degree of the zodiac emphasizes that theme even further. The last degree of a sign can also be a destabilizing influence, since the energy is in the process of shifting from one mode to another -- in this case, we are moving from a water/mutable sign (Pisces) to a fire/cardinal sign (Aries). We can feel ungrounded, and yet also have a sense of urgency, a feeling that we need to wrap things up, and that decisions need to be made quickly. This can be a helpful influence, if we're ready to take that leap and have prepared adequately. But it is also wise to watch ourselves if we are inclined to act hastily. Pull your energy to center before making life-changing decisions, and make sure you understand what traveling a new road will require of you. AS I SAID in my teleclass in January, the Sabian symbol for this week's Solar Eclipse "takes my breath away" because it so clearly speaks to these times of change. The symbol reads:     "A majestic rock formation resembling a face is idealized by a boy who takes it as his ideal of greatness, and as he grows up, he begins to look like it: The power of clearly visualized ideals to mold the life of the visualizer. The capacity for self-transformation."   The further interpretation of this symbol by astrologer Dane Rudhyar explains that: "At the highest spiritual-cosmic level, this is the power used by the God-like Beings at the close of a cosmic cycle in projecting the basic Formula (the Word) which will start a new universe." This is an incredibly powerful statement. It corresponds nicely with the idea that we are in the process of shifting from the Age of Pisces into the Age of Aquarius, and that this eclipse season and the Pluto-Uranus transit are contributing to that shift in important ways. THE ARIES EQUINOX occurs just 13 hours after the Solar Eclipse, and so we will continue to feel the effects of the eclipse pretty strongly for the next three months. In addition, the chart for the Equinox contains two aspects of note: The Moon is conjunct the South Node, indicating that emotional attachments to the past may come up and need to be released Saturn is trine the Sun, providing the discipline and courage we need to manifest a new reality based on the beliefs that we hold as truth The themes of these two aspects, along with the influence of the Pluto-Uranus square, will remain with us throughout the coming season (spring in the North, autumn in the South). Based on these aspects, we can anticipate that for the next three months, we will continue to feel the urge to grow and change, and to leave the past behind. At the same time, we should also have the strength needed to manifest our new reality. A LAST NOTE, about the Neptune-Mercury conjunction quietly holding the energies on Wednesday: Amidst the drama and flash of all the other planetary activity this week, this alignment could get lost in the shuffle -- and yet it feels important that we pay attention to its energies and its potential gifts. Mercury represents how our logical minds work, how we communicate and plan, and how we process information. As Mercury aligns with Neptune, representative of spiritual oneness and creative inspiration, we have greater access to our intuitive knowing, to guidance from other dimensions, and to the mindful perspective that can provide the very peace and illumination we seek. If life gets hectic this week, take a few moments to put your world "on pause" so that you can feel into that Neptune-Mercury energy -- and then hold the memory of that feeling with you, to inspire and support you during these transformational times. In peace,   Pam

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