The Sun’s entrance into Aries marks the beginning of the spring and the astrological new year. More sobering in tone than a normal shift to extra warmth and light, we find ourselves in a collective moment that seeks to help us redefine our priorities. 2020 is, in astrological terms, a very defining year. A challenging one. A year that asks us to consciously reshape our collective structures. One that makes clear that true abundance is knowing everyone is taken care of and real prosperity puts the well-being and healing of all.
The first new moon of the spring occurs on March 24th. In Aries, the sign of the self, and conjunct Chiron (a minor planet named after the Greek god of healers and teachers), the new moon reminds us of the importance of addressing our pain and suffering. Chiron’s myth tells the story of a powerful healer who is wounded but cannot heal that wound. Chiron teaches us that we are not above the suffering that we encounter, we are not above the vulnerability of being human, we are not above how fragile the web of life really is.
Two days after Aries Season begins, one of the most important astrological events of the year occurs; Saturn enters Aquarius. Saturn is the planet of discipline, boundaries, and barriers. Aquarius is a sign that is focused on the group. Humanitarian causes are front and center when this sign is highlighted. Being a planet that deals with separation, Saturn’s entrance into Aquarius is happening at a time when we are forced into social distancing. An act of care for ourselves and our communities, our ability to quarantine ourselves as much as possible is essential. As events cancel and life gets restructured, the realities of being in a pandemic are disorienting and difficult to work through. But if astrology teaches us anything at all, it’s that cycles have a beginning, middle, and end. The more we adhere to the Saturnian rules and regulations that promise to keep us and one another healthy, the quicker we’ll get to the other side of this moment.
We have every reason to be thoughtful, careful, and mindful of ours and everyone’s well-being. Make washing your hands a meditation. Make applying hand sanitizer a moment to think about how well you are caring for yourself and the world around you. Stay in gratitude for the people in your life, stay close to the joy that naturally arises when you, stay as calm and relaxed as you can. Your immune system and social network will thank you for it.