Astrological Overview for March 2023
You might have guessed. Big changes are afoot! And these are DEEP changes likely to carve a lasting mark into the fabric of society.
What am I talking about?
Two heavy-weight planets are changing signs. Saturn, Lord of Time, will move into Pisces, and Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, into Aquarius. (You may recall that these two had a rendezvous in Capricorn in 2020, at the onset of the Covid crisis. That crisis is petering out- It is not gone, but we must learn to live with.)
This energy shift will not pass unnoticed. In fact, for some, it will be a life-defining period, but as these are slow-moving planets, the changes do not happen overnight. We have seen the writing on the wall, but now there is a breakthrough signalling a gear shift at a more fundamental level.
What is happening in the stars in March?
But let’s take a look at March – as ever, an active period. The sap is rising, and spring is in the air! This year, it is a whirlwind, right off the bat! Mercury is particularly active.
March 1 – 3, 2023
Forming a semi-square with Jupiter on March 1, Mercury signals discontent. Something isn’t working out as imagined or hoped. No reason to get the Blues. Instead, we must adjust our expectations or approach to whatever we are trying to accomplish.
Venus conjuncts Jupiter on March 2. As always, this can play out on many levels – attracting opportunities and good fortune (a good time to ask for a raise or go after something you really want. It’s okay to punch above your weight! Or, if your love life needs an infusion of sparkle, this is a perfect moment to re-ignite that flame. But keep in mind that you are playing with fire. These planets are in Aries, which is neither subtle nor patient. If you are going to make a gesture, make it big. If you are not in pursuit of romance, give yourself a good dose of self-love! The best thing about that is – you know exactly what you need and want.
March 3 – 6, 2023
Mercury conjuncts Saturn on the same day. This is a good reminder that boundaries are values in action. Saying ‘no’ to non-essential things and distractions means positively affirming your priorities and choosing what project or passion you want to feed. Make that a positive choice – and stick to it!
Just before slipping into Pisces, Mercury gives a semi-sextile nod to Pluto – know your strengths and weaknesses! Even the greatest changes manifest one step at a time, but commitment and practice are at the core of the process.
On March 3, the Sun semi-sextiles both, Jupiter and Pluto, focusing awareness on our goals and the structure or routine necessary to achieve them. Venus conjuncts Chiron on the same day, reminding us to practice radical self-care. That includes self-acceptance, a prerequisite to turning our wounds into our Mojo.
Alas, the following day, there is a backlash in the form of a semi-square between Venus and Saturn. Mars also semi-squares the north node. Sometimes, we can’t have our cake and eat it too – at least not right away.
Around the Full Moon, the air is clearing. On March 5, Venus semi-sextiles Uranus and Mercury sextiles the north node. There is a sizzle in the air, and change is tangible when the Sun follows suit with a sextile to Uranus.
March 7 – 9, 2023
On the Full Moon, on March 7, Saturn changes signs! After spending a couple of years in Aquarius, he moves into Pisces, a far more difficult place. As if his time in Aquarius hasn’t been difficult enough, given its concurrence with the Covid crisis. This chapter is ending (though not over – we must learn to live with it). We are beginning to realize the full extent of the human cost, the loss of lives, the stolen youth, the hardship, and in some cases, ruin. No doubt, in Pisces, Saturn will bring new challenges. (More about this soon!)
Saturn’s move into Pisces is the most significant to-do on this Full Moon, accompanied by a sextile/trine between the Sun/Moon and Uranus. The message is loud and clear. Embrace change – there is no way to stop it anyway.
The Moon in Virgo represents common sense and the ability to make the most of all available resources. If life hands you lemons, make lemonade.
March 10 – 13, 2023
Mercury dashes through Pisces, forming a semi-sextile with Jupiter and Chiron, on March 10 and 11, just before these two planets conjunct on March 12. It’s as if Mercury blesses their union and feeds it some Piscean inspiration. There is an element of hope and healing. But healing is a process that usually involves a ‘healing crisis’, a turning point at which the suffering-causing condition must be overcome through positive action. Just sitting it out won’t do. That would only shove it aside for later, giving underlying issues a chance to fester. But used positively, there is potential for personal and collective trauma processing and healing. Not everything will be said and done in a day. It is an impulse to look honestly at what ails us and to turn it around.
On March 11, Mercury semi-squares Pluto, asking difficult questions or uncovering uncomfortable truths. Venus sextile Mars and Mercury sextile Uranus on the same day provide opportunities to process and integrate the fall-out from Mercury rocking the boat. But that’s just the beginning.
March 14 – 18, 2023
Things will be getting a lot more intense from March 14 to 17.
On March 14, Mars squares Neptune. This could be a bluff, someone crying ‘wolf’, a clash of belief systems, a scandal, or betrayal. The Sun and Mercury will conjunct Neptune on March 15 and 16. This brings empathy to the forefront – perhaps as a response to Mars’ assault. On March 16, the Sun squares Mars and Venus squares Pluto just before she changes signs and moves into stubborn Taurus. These aspects are highly contentious. There is bound to be an outcry. On March 17, things come to a head when Mercury squares Mars just before closing its conjunction with the Sun, while the Moon conjuncts Pluto and Venus sextiles Saturn. Time to look under the rug and come clean. A pivotal period rings in the next wave of change.
On a personal level, this clutch of aspects can boost creativity. Tune into the transpersonal well-spring for inspiration.
March 19 – 20, 2023
On March 19, just before moving into Aries, Mercury sextiles Pluto, then semi-squares Uranus, and semi-sextiles Saturn. It is an agitated Mercury, restless, uneasy, but excited by Aries’ bold (or perhaps reckless) can-do, will-do energy.
Jupiter semi-sextiles Uranus on the same day, emphasizing the theme. Just before leaving Pisces and entering Aries, the Sun sextiles Pluto, a fleeting nod as both are about to change signs.
March 21 – 24, 2023
The New Moon on March 21 unleashes a full blast of Aries energy. It is ready to turbocharge any launch or new beginning. The following day, the Sun semi-squares Uranus. With this much energy flying around, it is only natural some feathers might get ruffled. But Mercury semi-sextiles Venus, and the Sun semi-sextiles Saturn – things might work out for the better once the dust has settled.
All this commotion heralds momentous excitement – Pluto’s move into Aquarius on March 23. This change of signs is significant as Pluto is a slow planet and moves in an elliptical orbit. During its 248-year cycle, it spends far more time in some zodiacal signs than in others. Although this is only its first dip into Aquarius, and it will take until November next year for Pluto to move into Aquarius for good (or bad), all this unsettled energy is part of the transition.
The changes have been a long time coming but become more apparent as Pluto begins its long slow journey through Aquarius.
March 25 – 31, 2023
On March 25, Mars finally leaps from Gemini, where it has been dashing hither and thither since August 2022, to Cancer. As soon as he changes signs, he forms an awkward quincunx with Pluto. Mars in Cancer is touchy and defensive, to say the least. On the same day, Venus semi-squares Neptune. Disappointment or disillusionment is likely. The next day, Mercury conjuncts Chiron semi-sextiles Uranus and semi-squares Saturn on March 27 before closing its conjunction with Jupiter on March 28. A lot is going on. Mercury is the busybody, wheeling and dealing, bumping into things, and having to make adjustments accordingly. A rendezvous with Jupiter is an opportunity for diplomatic shmoozing.
In Aries, the rhetoric will be bombastic, and their promises will be larger than life.
Mars is semi-squaring Uranus on the same day. In his case, an attack is the best defence.
At the end of the month, Mars trines Saturn, while Venus conjuncts Uranus on March 30.
In summary, March won’t be dull. Get ready for change, even if it does not all kick in instantly.
