Show notes
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.
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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 sometimes make us feel demoralized or like there isn't a lot of point trying to move forward.
[16:19] Pluto represents a collective energy. When it is changing signs, we tend to see it show up in the world around us. Last week’s bank failures and the 2008 financial crisis are examples of Pluto (collective finances) in action.
[17:27] Stop the presses!!! On March 25th (4:45 AM PDT), Mars enters Cancer, finally leaving Gemini, which it entered on August 20th, 2022. Mars was also retrograde while in Gemini, between October 30, 2022 - January 12, 2023.
[18:59] Mars will be in Cancer, the sign of its fall, until May 20, 2023. It will trine Saturn on March 30th, sextile Uranus on April 29th, trine Neptune on May 15th. This side-stepping Mars will have some allies along its way through Cancer.
[21:28] Mini-lesson: Transiting Pluto in the Houses of the Chart
[23:36] Pluto in the 1st House. "It's like an actress caught by the paparazzi without her makeup."
[25:09] Pluto in the 2nd House. Experience the hills and valleys of personal finances.
[25:43] Pluto in the 3rd House. Stand for nothing less than the truth. Shifts in the lives of siblings and your neighborhood are also possible.
[26:28] Pluto in the 4th House. A transit of figuring out what your true home is, who your true family is. You might possibly see yourself moving to a new place as well.
[27:05] Pluto in the 5th House. Lean into genuine love affairs and creative projects. Learn to let go of the need to control your children.
[28:02] Pluto in the 6th House. Live a life that makes you feel proud of your ability to give to others.
[28:52] Pluto in the 7th House. Figure out who really deserves to be in your life on the most intimate of levels.
[29:31] Pluto in the 8th House. Learn how to use what is sent to you for the greatest good.
[30:16] Pluto in the 9th House. Being at odds with institutions is possible.
[30:53] Pluto in the 10th House. Find a way to be in more control of your life path or toxic workplaces could be the result. Secrets can be revealed.
[32:08] Pluto in the 11th House. Find your true friends. Be strong enough to stand apart from the pack.
[32:36] Pluto in the 12th House. You know that juicy stuff in life that you try to ignore? Yeah, that’s going to become more apparent. Get a therapist or other help to guide you through the process.
[33:49] Check out April’s book Astrological Transits for a deeper dive of Pluto through the houses of a chart.
[33:53] Listener questions will return in the month of April. If you have a question you’d like April to answer on a future episode, please leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast or email her at april(at)bigskyastrology(dot)com and be sure to put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.
[34:35] If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, follow, like and share! This episode is brought to you by donors Ellen Seminara and Colleen Wahl!
[35:34] If you missed the Podathon and would like to support the show, please go here! A donation of $5 or more will get you access to the upcoming Aries Equinox and Cancer Solstice bonus episodes for donors only!