Vernal Verification

We're about to encounter a busy week in sky lore. The equinox* (spring in the north, autumn in the south) arrives on Monday, with the Aries New Moon right on its heels. Then on 23rd March, Pluto ingresses Aquarius for its first visit since 1798. Meanwhile, as I'm writing this, Mars is a gnat's tarsus away from leaving shadow phase**, and will enter Cancer on 25th March.

All this may feel rather like a runaway chain reaction, psychologically speaking, involving an urge to brush off the dust and get right to action. New astrological year; new moon; new everything, it would seem; what is to hold one back? The equinox chart suggests, however, that it's probably worth taking a moment to size up the situation. Perhaps not everyone needs an especially long moment, but some form of analysis, pre-planning and/or discernment is apparently being called for here.

For example, we might ponder what we intend to do, why, and how; the relationship of our immediate plans to our long-term aims; the nature of the desired outcome; and any considerations we could have omitted. Possibly a better, more efficient or simpler method can be found, or additional preparations make the endeavour itself easier. More broadly, we could discover a more important matter that must be dealt with first, or that the intended approach may produce consequences we did not foresee.

It will probably not be necessary to reach a complete halt, and almost certainly not a permanent one, during this period of scrutiny. The entire process may be analogous to pulling over while on a journey, to recheck the map (or reset the GPS) and ensure one is actually heading towards one's required destination, and not a haunted cabin in the woods, or a hotel with a less-than-satisfactory review score. The adjustments you need may well be minimal, the sacrifice of time and effort incidental. But it'll be worth finding out.

Among the major signifiers in this chart*** is the asteroid (9) Metis, named after the Greek goddess of wise counsel and prudence (and the mother of Athene), which will be conjunct the Sun on its entry into Aries. This suggests that the wisdom we need to consult here can most likely be found within ourselves. It also implies a depth to the guidance, a fundamental essence inside us of accuracy and rectitude, pointing out the divine path with shining clarity. We're after something that feels instinctively right as well as making logical sense, satisfying the soul alongside the mind. When this course of reflection is complete, that answer will surely be staring us right in the face.

Notes:
* Equinox means "equal night" and marks the Earth's equator (yup, same etymology) lining up with the Sun during orbit. We get two of these per year, and regardless of which hemisphere you're in, or indeed where in the world you happen to be, day and night are equal at each of them. How cool is that?

** Shadow phase is the period during which an object crosses the same area of the zodiac three times, the second time being its retrograde phase. Themes may repeat themselves, or recur in similar ways, during this time. When a body finally exits shadow phase, it may be viewed as finally moving forward into new territory. This is further underlined once said body has entered a new sign.

*** Others include the position of Venus and minor planets Ceres, Hekate and Varda.

Chart for the moment of the 2023 Aries equinox.