Summary
Mercury Transits Pisces March 6 – 25
Venus Transits Aquarius March 6 – 31
New Moon in Aquarius/Purvabhadra March 10
Sun Transits Pisces March 14 – April 13
Mars Transits Aquarius March 15 – April 22
Full Moon in Virgo/Hasta March 25 (Penumbral Lunar Eclipse)
Mercury Enters Aries March 25
April 2024 Headlines

Summary

For an in-depth analysis of specific planetary placements, please continue with the full planetary forecast.

Mercury Transits Pisces March 6 – 25

As we sail toward Spring in the Northern Hemisphere of Mother Earth, fleet footed Mercury is leading the charge of the inner planets as they flow around the zodiac as the entourage of the Sun. The prominent signs for March and April will be the final two signs of the zodiac: Aquarius and Pisces. During the first week of March, Mercury finishes business in the eccentric sign of Aquarius, which has been the seat of its own ruler, Saturn, since January 2023.

The planetary influence structure is strongly posted in the corner of the zodiac that we think of as the end that turns to a beginning. The 11th sign, Aquarius, is occupied by its own ruler, Saturn, until March 29, 2025, giving us a very strong tent pole around which to build for the next year. The 12th sign, Pisces, is occupied by the north node of the Moon, the infamous and ingenius Rahu, through May 2025, creating big waves, big pictures, and colorful visions. Through this next year, Saturn tells us to build with what we have and hold our ground while Rahu suggests that we could scrap it all and start all over again. Mixed messages that make it difficult to stay, difficult to go, and difficult to let go in the midst of instinctively knowing that radical reorganization is really the best remedy.

And for now, in the rollout of Aquarius, Pisces, and into a new horizon with the fiery sign of Aries next in the series, we have expansive Jupiter at the helm, inspiring and guiding us through the rough start that we may be exploring, whether desired or not. Jupiter will spend his last couple of months in Aries during March and April 2024, moving to Taurus on May 1st. This energy of Jupiter could be what is both inspiring and scaring us all at once as we push out of the gate toward the promise of peace and growth.

Mercury with Saturn and Sun in Aquarius exerted quite a bit of influence on the sign of Leo, which lies opposite. Mercury represents the lightning quick action of intellect and the ready flexibility required for communication and transactions. We can use Mercury as a scout, an analyst, a student, or a manager. When Mercury is strongly influenced by other planets, he tends to take those qualities. With Saturn at his back, our assessments of how things look going forward could have been a bit dim during February.

Mercury in Pisces, joining rowdy Rahu from March 6th through 25th, could be a great assistant in zooming out to gain a wider perspective about what to adjust as we collectively move through the signs occupied by the outer planets this Spring. While a wider perspective may be offered, it may not be clear nor clean; Mercury is debilitated in Pisces, so communication and exchanges could be confusing and messy. Add the chaotic influence of Rahu into this situation and the advice becomes even more urgent toward bringing patience, understanding, and forgiveness to the table in order to avoid mishaps and misunderstandings that threaten to drag unnecessarily into the future.

The desire to speed through things in order to get to the finish line could be strong. Resist that urge and find a way to find the value that bobbing in the big waves brings.

Venus Transits Aquarius March 6 – 31

The notable thing with Venus in February was meeting up with exalted Mars in Capricorn and then breezing past him. The breezing past likely feels a bit better than the meeting up for most of us. This transaction between Venus and Mars could have brought a shift in relationships, creative trajectories, or even healing paths.

Venus and Mars are Earth's direct neighbors and lead us into different corriders of life. Venus represents our tendency toward culture, social interaction, and finding the common ground that bridges our individual pathways. Mars shows how we collect, protect, and defend, making life safe by gathering resources and strategizing safety.

During 2023, Venus was following Mars' lead through the zodiac, which could have felt to us as if we were working too hard to make connections, create freely, or rejuvenate our systems. With Venus moving into a lead role, it is time to let the natural flow of things guide your creativity, relationships, and connections.

From March 6th through the 31st, Venus moves through Aquarius, a friendly environment, visiting with Saturn, also friendly with Venus. This is a good stretch to bring beauty, love, and vitality into that tent that our dear Saturn is holding up. Take enjoyment in celebrating what has been incubating for a long stretch. Pat yourself on the back for that patience, resilience, and good faith.

New Moon in Aquarius/Purvabhadra March 10

The Moon joins the Sun at 27 degrees Aquarius in the nakshatra of Purvabhadra on March 10th. This new Moon moment is decorated by the presence of both Venus and Saturn who are also currently occupying Saturn and Rahu's air sign, Aquarius.

We may find ourselves in a liminal moment after the first week of March as the dark Moon directs our attention inward. There is an interesting planetary configuration in the sky, with all of the visible planets grouped in just four consecutive signs. First, exalted Mars in Capricorn seems to be making a big push like Sisyphus rolling that boulder uphill, not only creating momentum from where he is, but pushing his aspect onto Jupiter in Aries, almost as if to bolster us all for the sallying forth that is to come.

Next, the foursome in Aquarius: Sun, Moon, Venus, and Saturn, asking us to stop and be still for a moment as we decide which materials to pick up and which to leave behind. Moving forward from Aquarius, we find Mercury and Rahu in Pisces, splashing around in the process of dissolution that comes before re-emergence.

Finally, we have the guide, Jupiter, in occupation of Aries for just two more months, preparing us for the next big thing that we hope to make happen. As we pause here in this still moment, we can feel the tension created between the firm footing we have worked hard to find and the expansive growth and forward movement that we crave. The question of the moment is: can we have both? Is there a way to maintain our desire for stability while we reach forward into new paradigms?

Resist the urge to throw everything out as you attempt to rise from the ashes; there are important assets you are carrying that could be valuable in the future. Find a way to pack them along without weighing yourself down.

Counterbalancing the chain of planets stretching from Capricorn to Aries is silent, heavy Ketu in Virgo. This is our anchor as we watch the world whirl around us. Fall back on your physical and mental practices to create a nexus of calm and stillness that can't be penetrated as you watch the world turn about you, adjusting as necessary.

Sun Transits Pisces March 14 – April 13

The Sun will be traversing the stormy seas of Pisces from March 14th through April 13th, passing through the temporary realm of Rahu, which means that we're all about to witness a pair of eclipses. When the Moon gets to Virgo on March 25th, we'll experience a partial eclipse of the full Moon, and then when the Moon joins the Sun in Pisces on April 8th, 2024, we experience a total solar eclipse.

The eclipse game is a play of light and shadow, with Sun, Moon and Earth moving around with alignments that temporarily obscure our lights. From an astrological interpretation standpoint of this astronomical phenomenon, we are getting the chance to work through the energy of the nodal axis, the exact alignment that causes those eclipses.

Archetypally speaking, the north node of the Moon, Rahu, is the champion of earthly engagement, reminding us of our insatiable desires for experience and material interactions. In individual horoscopes, we can explore what someone really wants by analyzing Rahu's position, aspects, and rulership.

Ketu, the south node of the Moon, counterbalances Rahu's attraction to the chaos of earthly life with spiritual detachment, subtle intelligence, and a drive for liberation from the bonds that form as we engage with earthly life.

In late 2023, Rahu moved into the oceanic realm of Jupiter's expansive water sign, Pisces, for a typical transit that will last for about 1.5 years. Rahu is ever mirrored by Ketu, who likewise moved into Mercury's organized earth sign, Virgo, through May 2025, when we see the nodal axis shift once again. Until then, our eclipse pairings will bring our attention to the light and shadow as they oscillate through Pisces and Virgo.

Each year from mid-March through mid-April, we experience the great light of the Sun illuminating the stars of Pisces, which are connected when we draw lines that resemble a pair of fishes. The vernal equinox occurs on March 19, 2024, when the Sun is at 6 degrees Pisces, putting us collectively on the fishtail end of the Age of Pisces.

This year and next year as the Sun blazes through this final wedge of the zodiac, the north node, Rahu, will shadow that zone, causing eclipses. With the keywords list for Rahu starting with desire, chaos, instability, and unpredictability, let us prepare for events and opportunities that cause us to question what we want and be willing to let go of structures or plans that aren't aligning with new ideas.

In Sanskrit, the Pisces sign is called Meena, which also means “fish,” showing a universal understanding of this sector of space. Reflect this month on the meaning of this symbol. As air breathing creatures, what do we have to learn from a creature whose environment is water? The body and tail of fish are prominent, while the head is minimal, reminding us of Ketu, the headless one.

Our tendencies as humans to overthink and then override logic based on fleeting desires are strong. Of all the creatures on the planet, we are the masters of manipulation, creating tools, twisting the truth, and supporting our lives with objects that we have made to improve our comfort and safety. Because of this, our modern lifestyles provide these things but with side effects that leave us mentally and physically exhausted, plus worried about our survival, despite all of the things we have to help ourselves. The collective anxiety being felt on Earth is palpable and the feeling that something must be done, or better yet, undone, is vibrating strongly.

As the Sun moves through Pisces and our eclipse pairing unfolds, it is time to look beyond what we thought we wanted and to reset our vision to a universal, wide angle setting. Be willing to reevaluate your direction. Be willing to see situations from both a bright and dark side before you decide to stay or go. And most of all, be willing to open to the intelligence of the physical body, realizing that each of us is a tuning fork, toning the vibrations of the universe.

Listen deeply to the rhythms of nature and turn down the volume knob on mental chatter as you feel your way forward, sideways, or even backward.

Mars Transits Aquarius March 15 – April 22

Think of Mars' transit or position in the zodiac as a point of power or force. Add to this Mars' aspects, which can feel like turning on the heat and starting to cook something. Mars shifts signs on March 15th, moving from Saturn's earth sign, Capricorn, where Mars is exalted, into Saturn's air pocket, Aquarius, joining Saturn himself.

The interesting relationship between Mars and Saturn often feels like friction, which is uncomfortable, yet can also get things done; think slowing things down or producing heat. In this equation, Mars produces the heat and Saturn slows things down. Just like many things, friction can be a welcome ally or friction can become an uncomfortable impediment.

With this knowledge, realize that between March 15th and April 22nd, we will be studying the phenomenon of friction as Mars passes through Saturn's zone. Gliding ahead of Mars is Venus, which could be a positive addition to this grouping, urging us to choose comfort and harmony as we work our problems. This flowing energy continues to ease that friction through March.

On March 31st, Venus will move into Pisces, bringing relief to the eclipse zone instead, leaving Mars and Saturn to work through things on their own until late April. On April 10th, Mars passes by Saturn, creating the strongest point of friction, just two days after the total solar eclipse in Pisces.

In practical terms, with Mars in Aquarius, we are set up to get some difficult work finished after a long haul. With Pisces writhing and changing, try to stay focused on what has been a long term project that is finally coming to fruition. It will be a fine balance between staying the course and also becoming aware that fine adjustments are crucial.

Mars' aspects from Aquarius will fire up Taurus, Leo, and Virgo, so these signs and the houses they represent in individual horoscopes could also feel a power surge. Especially Ketu in Virgo could feel this Mars energy, which could support a concerted, disciplined effort for reorganizing, rewiring, and recharging business, health, and communications.

Full Moon in Virgo/Hasta March 25 (Penumbral Lunar Eclipse)

After the new Moon on March 10th in Aquarius, the waxing Moon plys her way through the gauntlet of planets and finally becomes full at 11 degrees Virgo on March 24th or 25th, depending on location. This puts the Sun at 11 degrees Pisces, making both luminaries close enough to the nodes, Rahu and Ketu, to cause a s>penumbral lunar eclipse, strongly visible in the Americas.

The Moon is considered to be strong and influential when it is full, making the darkening effect of the eclipse that much more impactive. The Moon will be in the nakshatra of Hasta, which is ruled by the Moon itself. Virgo, which contains Hasta, is the earth sign of Mercury. It will be interesting to see how the headless influence of Ketu interacts with a very mental moment; both Moon and Mercury are associated with what could be described as “mind.” Moon is assigned to the messy emotions and mental sensitivity while Mercury takes the helm of intellect.

Opposing Moon and Ketu will be the Sun, Rahu, and Mercury in Pisces. While the seas may be sloshing around dramatically and the seeds beginning to sprout from the earth, it could be in our best interest to sit quietly and open all of our senses during this time. The wisdom of Saturn and Mars in Aquarius will be holding us steady internally as we let the world rearrange itself around us.

This is a gateway into seeing things in a new light after a moment of lights out. Welcome the short period of darkness as it wipes the slate clean, inviting new strokes on a fresh surface.

Mercury Enters Aries March 25

As the Moon returns to brightness after the eclipse, Mercury moves through the tight portal that joins Pisces and Aries later that day. Let us be aware that Mercury, the fast moving inner planet that reflects quick exchanges like communication and markets, is about to go retrograde on April 1st, which will drag him right back through that portal and into Pisces once again on April 9th.

To recap March, we are seeing a focus on the signs of Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries, the final two signs of the natural zodiac that cycle back into the first. This is the transitional corner of the zodiac, where we study and sustain collection of long term assets (Aquarius), which then leads us to finishing projects and letting go of defunct forms (Pisces), as we regenerate our energy and push forward toward new horizons (Aries.)

This structure is held at the moment by the slower-moving outer planets creating that circus tent atmosphere: Saturn in Aquarius, Rahu in Pisces, and Jupiter in Aries. With the carnival becoming more lively with the inner planets flowing through that tent, causing eclipses, conjunctions, and retrograde cycles, we may be feeling a bit dizzy with the demands of change, reconsiderations, and an ever-changing playing field. Fall back on physical and mental practices and disciplines to keep yourself anchored to a comfortable seat that allows you to widen your perspective and take in new data that will inform the next steps.

April 2024 Headlines

Venus Transits Pisces March 31 – April 24
Mercury Retrograde April 1 - 25
New Moon in Pisces/Revati April 8 (Total Solar Eclipse)
Mars + Saturn Conjunction April 10
Sun Transits Aries April 13 – May 14
Mars Transits Pisces April 22 – June 1
Full Moon in Libra/Swati April 23
Venus Transits Aries April 24 – May 18