With Aries season underway, fresh starts and new growth are big themes. Assertion and willpower, among others, are what we need to kick off a new project, and pursue our ambitions – and they fall under the rulership of Mars, the planet that lords over Aries. Mars is the planet of action; he provides that initial, essential spark which ignites our motivation to do things. All of us have Mars somewhere, but not every one of us is able to channel it with the same efficacy; tense aspects between Mars and other planets tell us about the kind of blocks we might encounter when trying to get in touch with this energy. However, it’s often the social and outer planets on our Mars that create the most trouble, simply because the Ego is not always ready to embrace and integrate transpersonal energies, so we’re more inclined to meet them with resistance. The good news is that you’re not doomed, and that there are ways to work with these aspects in a way that promotes growth and even success! Here are some simple, practical tips on how to transform your Mars aspected by Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, into a force to be reckoned with: Mars/Saturn
Saturn being the cosmic sergeant of our Solar System, this is the ultimate “boot camp” aspect! The ringed planet symbolizes discipline, endurance and self-control – qualities that are unbeknownst to impulsive, headstrong Mars. The Saturnine energy of restraint and control can cause a huge deal of inhibition and fear, which easily turn into frustration when the individual can’t seem to get past the (inner and outer) stumbling blocks this aspect often indicates.
Saturn is the voice of our inner authority, our Super Ego: our actions and urges (Mars) might feel constantly thwarted and even sabotaged by its strict, at times despotic judgments. But Saturn also bestows the gift of standards of excellence achieved through time and constant work: believe it or not, the Warrior and the Sergeant can actually get along once they manage to come up with a joint plan (planning and organizing are both Saturnine specialties – take note). In order to prevent Saturn from thwarting the flow of our life force, we must befriend him: developing patience and persistence, incorporating a sense of structure in our endeavors, taking time to make plans and assuming responsibility for our actions can go a long way toward reconciling us with our own willpower. The support of experienced authorities of any kind can also benefit people with this aspect – learning from those who derived their confidence and expertise from regular effort sustained through time can prompt Mars/Saturn to express the same potential. Look for mentors, teachers, institutions who can help you with your goals and ambitions. Mars/Uranus
. . . And now for something completely different – this could easily be Uranus’ motto. Uranian energy is sizzling, electric and inconstant, and the Mars/Uranus aspect is an especially disruptive, unpredictable match, even more so when the aspect is tense. Erratic drive, pronounced reactivity and a proneness to accidents are some of the obstacles one might face in dealing with such combo, but you can subtract power from the dysfunctional Mars/Uranus expression if you pour it into action geared towards innovation and cultivation of our own independence instead.
Uranus is the rebel who needs a cause – one that should be suited to our character, and grant us as much free-range and personal space as possible. This energy doesn’t respond well to expectations and regimens - hierarchies and normality tend to elicit pointless confrontations and trigger Uranus’ volatile temper. The right dose of Uranian detachment, combined with unwavering focus on our autonomy, on our unique methods, and on our idiosyncratic path is the recipe for success when it comes to Mars/Uranus: instead of getting distracted with useless battles against rules and authorities, we should give ourselves permission to look ahead and do things our way, being as clear and outspoken about our intentions as possible. Mars/Neptune
As strong-willed and forceful as he is, poor Mars can easily find himself helpless in Neptune’s la-la-land. Neptune is the planet of mysticism, inspiration, transcendence and – sometimes – delusion, and those are nebulous concepts for the cosmic warrior . . . unless he becomes a spiritual warrior, of course. The most common word associated with Neptune is ‘sacrifice’, and indeed this aspect might ask us to sacrifice part of our Martian drive for instant gratification and results in favor of a more fluid, flexible MO.
Mars/Neptune works best when action is attuned to inner timing and idealistic purposes; fluctuating energy levels and inconstant motivation can actually help us attain our goals by teaching us how to flow around obstacles. Unlike Saturn, who demands discipline at all costs, with Neptune we’re much better off riding the waves of inspiration without forcing ourselves to be productive at all times. This might mean working in short spurts, one step at a time, preferably toward goals that involve some kind of artistic, transcendental, humanitarian purpose; allowing ourselves to be creative in our approach, and to factor in our intuition and feelings. It goes without saying that I’m not advocating flakiness and denial of responsibility here, but rather a conscious, commonsense approach to adaptability and spiritually motivated action. After all, why wouldn’t a warrior want the Universe on his side? Mars/Pluto
When Mars finds himself locked away into Hades, it’s hard for him to emerge. Pluto lords over the dark underworld of the subconscious, where the most unacknowledged, but also most creative and transformative parts of ourselves dwell, and a tense aspect between Pluto and Mars is frequently the astrological marker of the struggle between embracing and repressing our drive.
While this is definitely a combination that benefits from strategy, patience and tactical thinking, it also requires a great deal of self-honesty about the actual intentions and aims that lurk behind our acts, in order to avoid potential tendencies towards covert action, manipulation or repression that might backfire. There is nothing wrong with probing the depths – in fact, it can be a rich and rewarding experience, proven that we are aware and in control of ourselves, and not simply at the mercy of our own undifferentiated impulses! Developing the courage to check our motivations, re-thinking and re-working our expression of the Mars principle as often as needed, making the most of Pluto’s laser-beam focus and learning how to conserve and sublimate our power (by dropping dead weight when necessary) is sure to provide our inner warrior with enough strength and stamina to successfully conquer the underworld and beyond. Suggested Reading: Hack Your Venus/Neptune: 4 Tricks to Make Dating & Romance Easier About the Guest Author:
When you’re dealing with a lot of people and a lot of personalities, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You want everyone to be happy, but you’re not sure how to make that happen. Enter the Moon. In astrology, the Moon represents what we need to feel emotionally secure, stable, and content, so if you can target someone’s Moon, you can help them to feel at ease, and your life gets a whole lot easier. Read on to see how you can help put people at ease through their Moon sign and house. How to manage people by their Moon sign:
Aries Moon: Let them lead
An Aries Moon wants to take the lead, so try not to force them to lead you. They’ll get tired of that fast and start to act like children or pick a fight, which is the last thing you want. An Aries Moon can have a bit of an ego, so you want to pay them compliments as well. This Moon sign is less serious and more playful, so keep things light and fun with them. They enjoy competition and sport, but may not be the best losers, so try to let them win. Taurus Moon: Indulge them A Taurus Moon feels better when their senses are engaged, so indulge them with food, drink, sex, whatever it takes to keep them satisfied. A Taurus Moon can respond well to physical touch, so offer them a massage or spa day. This Moon sign also loves to be showered with gifts, so giving them a little something each day can help to calm them. They also don’t care much for drama or emotion, so leave that out. Gemini Moon: Talk to them A Gemini Moon has a lot that they want to say and share, and wants to express themselves openly, so let them. Listen to what they have to say, nod a lot, and respond when appropriate. A Gemini Moon has varied interests, so try not to keep things repetitive or they’ll tune right out. Challenge their mind with something they haven’t heard or seen before, and they’ll remain interested long enough to give you a break. Cancer Moon: Comfort them A Cancer Moon is in touch with their feelings since Cancer is the sign the Moon naturally rules, and they need to feel supported, comforted, and nurtured as a result. Make them feel at home and comfortable. Get them in the kitchen, whether to cook or to eat, whichever they prefer, and be understanding if they get emotional about something. Acknowledge their feelings and let them vent to help them cool down. Leo Moon: Give them attention A Leo Moon loves attention, so give it to them. The more attention they get, the better they feel. They thrive on praise as well, and want you to say nice things about them to their face. A Leo Moon can have a flair for the dramatic when emotional, so try not to object when they do that. Instead, direct their energy to something creative to let it out. They also enjoy letting out their inner child, so give them some toys (even if they’re way past the age!). Virgo Moon: Let them make the schedule A Virgo Moon needs a certain amount of structure and order, routine and organization, so try to let them have a say with (or outright create) the schedule. Let them make lists, get everything organized, and find the perfect place for everything (even if it’s not really the perfect place). A Virgo Moon can suffer from nervous energy at times, so keep them as busy as you can. When they’re focused on something, they can be easy to manage. Libra Moon: Make their decisions A Libra Moon can have difficulty with making decisions, so if that’s the case, make the decisions for them in advance so they don’t have to worry about it. But when you tell them, make sure they know you weighed the pros and cons of your choices, just as they would, so they can understand for themselves. A Libra Moon requires a certain amount of peace, so try to help everyone else get along. Scorpio Moon: Let them obsess A Scorpio Moon needs to have something to obsess over, so give them something. A big project or plan that has to be worked on and needs some research done on would be perfect. The more they can dive in, the better. They also enjoy transforming things, so if there’s anything you’d like revamped, renovated, or restored, give it to them. When all else fails, there is always one thing that always calms a Scorpio Moon: sex! Sagittarius Moon: Give them an adventure A Sagittarius Moon wants to live life to the fullest. They don’t always, sometimes just fantasizing about adventures, but would greatly appreciate if you would give them an actual adventure that they can recount in grand stories for years to come. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, just something they’ve never experienced before and that gets their heart pumping. Be optimistic and not too serious too. Capricorn Moon: Make them the boss A Capricorn Moon feels that they can be in charge better than anyone, and feels good when they are in charge, so let them be (even if it’s only pretend). They like to delegate and act as an authority figure. They don’t want to be bothered with things that don’t really matter, so don’t bore them with things like chores. Stick them around older people or people of status that they respect and they’ll pipe right down. Aquarius Moon: Keep it different An Aquarius Moon doesn’t want things to be the same as everyone else. They enjoy trying out things that are new and different, even weird (maybe they’re weird). Break from tradition and go against the norm with them. An Aquarius Moon can enjoy being in big groups, so surround them with a crowd of folks. This Moon sign also enjoys being charitable, so put them in charge of the charity work. Pisces Moon: Use their imagination A Pisces Moon has an active imagination that can get them lost in another Universe at times, so give them an outlet for it. Pick up their favorite movies, give them a new book, or have them do something creative or artistic. They also respond well to music and water, so play some of their favorite music or have a water feature around to calm them. They can get very emotional quickly, so use kid gloves. How to manage people by their Moon house:
1st House Moon
They want to be able to express their feelings openly, so don’t stand in the way. They have strong emotions and need to be comforted and nurtured. This house position is like an Aries and Cancer Moon combined. Any Moon sign in this house is amplified. 2nd House Moon They want to be shown affection physically and materialistically. They want things to be calm and stable, and don’t want to be rushed into anything. This house position is like a Taurus Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will be more grounded. 3rd House Moon They want to talk things over, communicate openly, and share everything with everyone. Don’t tell them any secrets you want kept! This house position is like a Gemini Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will be more expressive. 4th House Moon They want you to comfort and nurture them. They need to feel at home wherever they are, and feel better around the people they think of as family. This house position is like a Cancer Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will be more emotional. 5th House Moon They want attention, warmth, and to be creative. Let them focus on their hobbies and they’ll be fine. This house position is like a Leo Moon. Any Moon sign in this house is more dramatic and attention-seeking. 6th House Moon They want to work on something, so give them something to work on. They’re excellent with the details, so make it something detailed. This house position is like a Virgo Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will require more structure. 7th House Moon They want to be around someone at all times, and do best with a partner that they trust. Don’t leave them alone too much, and keep the peace. This house position is like a Libra Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will be more focused on others. 8th House Moon They want to have everything serious, and can’t stand anything superficial. Keep it serious and don’t have them deal with anything that has no depth. This house position is like a Scorpio Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will be more serious. 9th House Moon They want to expand their minds and lives in new ways, so give them a new experience. This house position is like a Sagittarius Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will be more gregarious and optimistic. 10th House Moon They want a goal to focus on, so make a goal and let them work on it. They’ll succeed in no time, and expect recognition for doing so. This house position is like a Capricorn Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will be more mature. 11th House Moon They want to be around like-minded people, in a group of interesting people, or doing something different or futuristic. This house position is like an Aquarius Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will be more eccentric. 12th House Moon They want to be left alone with their thoughts, feelings, and fantasies, so give them time to themselves. They’re easily drained, so don’t demand too much of them. This house position is like a Pisces Moon. Any Moon sign in this house will hide their emotions. Suggested Reading: The Natal Moon page for general interpretations General horoscopes are always meant for entertainment purposes only. For a more accurate view, read your Sun sign, Rising sign, and Moon sign.
Aries April 2016 Monthly Horoscope Venus enters your sign, Aries, on April 5th, and you can be more charming and attractive, and people can seem more drawn to you than usual. You can take more pleasure in getting attention and being in the spotlight. You can be easier to get along with, more pleasant and compromising, and you can try to focus on the good around you and how you can make things better. Which you’ll need this month! General horoscopes are always meant for entertainment purposes only. For a more accurate view, read your Sun sign, Rising sign, and Moon sign.
Aries: The new moon on the 7th occurs in your sign, and this can be an excellent time to start a new project, venture, or journey that you can work on for the next year or so. Pick something you’re enthusiastic about and can’t wait to begin. Make sure you take advantage of the energy earlier in the month and don’t delay waiting. Your ruler, Mars, turns retrograde midmonth and can make you feel off, and Mercury turns retrograde at the end of April in your money sector and you have to make adjustments. General horoscopes are always meant for entertainment purposes only. For a more accurate view, read your Sun sign, Rising sign, and Moon sign.
Aries: You can be more charming and affectionate with Venus in your sign for most of April, and you can be in the mood for some romance. If single, you can see what’s out there and let others come to you. If in a relationship, you can drop hints to your partner that you want to be wined-and-dined. The full moon on the 22nd occurs in your intimacy sector, and this can be a good time to evaluate the emotional bonds you have with your loved ones and make sure they’re as strong as they can be.  Now on to April, we have a new moon occurring in fire sign Aries on April 7th at 7:24AM ET. Aries is the first sign in the Zodiac and full of energy, excited and enthusiastic, and we want to take action. We’re coming out of the March eclipses which are more focused on others, and with this new moon, we can focus on ourselves, our own wants and needs, and what we want to begin and get going with. It can be a time of new beginning, new projects, new ventures, and renewed optimism. Why wait to do tomorrow what you can do today? Why wait to do in an hour what you can do RIGHT NOW!!! This new moon is trine (positive aspect) transit (moving) Saturn in Sagittarius, so while we have this high energy, we can be more productive with it. We can work on channeling all of this energy into something that has tangible results and is good for us. This new moon is also conjunct (aligned with) transit Uranus in Aries, so we can step outside of our comfort zones and embrace what’s original, different, out of the ordinary. Be extraordinary! The one kink in the plans is transit Pluto in Capricorn, who squares (hard aspect) this new moon, and we can experience some struggles over power and control, and act a little raging and dominant. Aries can have a temper, and so can Pluto, so let’s try to control ourselves and channel frustrations into something positive to avoid blowing our tops (or inciting any violence). This new moon occurs at 18 degrees 14 minutes in Aries. The aspects for this new moon are: Conjunction: 16 degrees 14 minutes - 20 degrees 14 minutes Aries Sextile: 16 degrees 14 minutes - 20 degrees 14 minutes Gemini or Aquarius Square: 16 degrees 14 minutes - 20 degrees 14 minutes Cancer or Capricorn Trine: 16 degrees 14 minutes - 20 degrees 14 minutes Leo or Sagittarius Opposition: 16 degrees 14 minutes - 20 degrees 14 minutes Libra The full moon for April occurs on April 22nd at 1:24AM ET in water sign Scorpio, and we go from high energy, high enthusiasm with Aries to serious, sullen, dark energy with Scorpio. Here, we’re getting back to reality and focusing on what we’ve avoided, what we’ve hidden away and wanted to run away from and deny was there. A dark underbelly can be exposed, brought out into the cold, harsh light of day, and we have to figure out what, if anything, we’re going to do about it. We can be more serious with this full moon, and we can focus on serious matters and serious situations and serious people. We may need to get a grip! Aries is naturally ruled by Mars, which was the old, traditional ruler of Scorpio before Pluto came along, so we can have some extra warrior energy this month. Let’s make sure we’re using that to fight for something important instead of getting lost in our objections. Things get a little complicated with Mars turning retrograde (appearing to move backward) in April, and is freshly retrograde for the full moon, so we can be extra snippy, snappy, snoppy (okay, that’s not a word). The one good thing about this full moon is it doesn’t make any close major aspects to the other planets. So hopefully, it’s not quite so bad. Scorpio also rules transformations, so we can think about deep changes that we want to make or are currently experiencing, as well as other people’s money (like taxes, debts, loans, inheritances, joint finances), so we can see some developments with that around the world. This full moon occurs at 2 degrees 30 minutes in Scorpio. The aspects for this full moon are: Conjunction: 0 degrees 30 minutes - 4 degrees 30 minutes Scorpio Sextile: 0 degrees 30 minutes - 4 degrees 30 minutes Virgo or Capricorn Square: 0 degrees 30 minutes - 4 degrees 30 minutes Leo or Aquarius Trine: 0 degrees 30 minutes - 4 degrees 30 minutes Cancer or Pisces Opposition: 0 degrees 30 minutes - 4 degrees 30 minutes Taurus Suggested Reading: The New & Full Moons page for general interpretations |
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