1st Quarter Moon in Aries

Changes occur through a move, travel or visits from relatives. Alliances at a distance may be important or involvement with educational or religious activities. Possible focus on legal matters or ceremonies.

January 17, 2024 | 7:52 pm (PST) | Keyword: Fascination

The Moon is fast in motion as it moves through the action-oriented sign of Aries bringing with it the urge to break with the regular routine. A sense of restlessness may inspire you to return to school or take a course of study. Alternatively, you may want to help by teaching a subject, writing or expressing your beliefs in a public forum. This can manifest through art and intuitive abilities in psychology, religion and philosophy. Some persons will expand the collective’s options by increasing the availability of information or by using knowledge and optimism to expand the lives of others, especially with stories of endurance or great hardship occupying the news.

With Mars joined to the Part of Water Journeys your ambitions may include travel to foreign lands (or within the country) allowing for the possibility of meeting new friends or connecting with those whose background is vastly different from your own. The fast paced events of this cycle are likely to include those with strong Aries in the natal chart (sun, moon, or rising) and those with significant Leo placements.

This moon chart is full of anaretic degrees that underscore a sense of urgency and changing conditions that prompt you to react before completely clear on situations that can quickly move beyond your control. Much of what’s initiated may be in secret or behind the scenes in order to avoid the possibility for interference. Highly motivated by instinct, some actions can draw you into difficulties or secret intrigue. You may act against the tide of society’s conventions, feel restricted by social norms, or rebel and place yourself in danger. However, solutions may be sought to long term problems, a pressing legal matter may need to be resolved or you may decide to seek consultation at this time in order to tie up loose ends. Unfortunately, for some this will be related to divorce.

While a strong Plutonian energy may be the literal condition of too much or too little of something buried beneath the ground, it also suggest too many secrets. Those secrets link to a stellium of energy flowing through the sector of pleasure, creativity, romance, children and self-expression which suggests that these are important areas of interest. This is a period of personality development and expanded self-expression that may extend into artistic or creative pursuits, and more importantly, the freedom to be the truest version of yourself. You’re seeking the productive means to use mental abilities to express yourself more fully which can bring a multitude of situations that offer you creative license.

You’re also more willing to take a risk and seek excitement in your life. Perhaps you’ve left a toxic situation or manipulative relationship for something more rewarding. You may feel a greater sense of lightness or sexual freedom in a new relationship or your current relationship may become a freer association. A Venus|Mars midpoint sitting on the house of romance sparks passion, the impulse to love and associations based purely on sex. With a strong preoccupation around romance and sexual encounters, it can be challenging to concentrate on work or studies. Your relationship choices may be propelled by the desire and passion you feel for the person you’re seeing and this passion may play an integral role in the romance. Alternatively, you may have a child or focus a great deal of attention on your children and their needs at this time.

However, an interception will bring blockages and delays related to the aforementioned as well as problems with friendship, goals and wishes. The ability to organize and control is stymied when the lack of constructive action is replaced solely by talk fueled by unexpected spikes of enthusiasm and adrenaline rushes that center on bringing dreams into reality. While capable of intellectualizing, you may also have difficulty relaying how you feel. As a consequence, emotions project through outbursts or inappropriate assertion or aggression not readily accepted by others. Role play that may stem from childhood patterns where you were forced to “put on a happy face” can result in partnerships where one of you starts out as the sparkling, witty conversationalist who eventually devolves into a complaining whiner with never-ending emotional demands.

This is highlighted by a slew of planets and points that fall within the interception which makes eloquent expression challenging for several possible reasons–a language barrier, verbal skills, speech impediments or differing perspectives. The result of communication problems is delayed recognition where unexpressed talent is forced to languish. Perhaps freedom and independence is sought at the expense of security or being out of touch with your own ambitions blocks you from achieving anything permanent or secure with fluctuations in both the personality and the personal finances. If so, the energy can be internalized or outwardly manifest in conflict where you must learn to direct your anger and effort at the appropriate target or goal.

In some cases, the agents of difficulty are beyond your control and mass karma is the focus that links the quality of your life to the world at large. These may be concerns over the crime rate, the ecological health of the environment, the economy and large corporations or power structures that impact personal destiny.

The changes in the way you express and assert yourself can either disrupt or stabilize close relationships. Relationships in general will become a source of pressure through the demand for or lack of commitment. In fact, before charting new territory this period will mark significant closures that could bring an end to current friendships and relationships with in-laws, siblings, cousins or neighbors. 

Romantic or sexual interludes can cause guilt surrounding traditional monogamous values, especially if you suffer from “the good girls are for love and bad girls are for fun” syndrome. Perhaps you have difficulty integrating love with sex or affectionate demonstrations don’t seem connected to or flow into sexual encounters. You may have a profound awareness of love and lust as quite different and distinct needs and urges. If you’ve been indiscriminate in the past, you may reconsider your criteria for involvement or questions of sexual orientation may arise.

It may be that a creative or procreative cycle has ended stimulated by adult children leaving the nest or creative juices ready to turn in new directions. In some cases, infertility or the burden of caring for multiple children are of concern. Involvement with children can be complicated, especially if stressful situations or demands for independence cause minor conflict or disobedience. Other situations involve ending a professional career because of dissatisfaction, and the feeling of being mentally overwhelmed or bored prompts a major career change on the horizon.

It’s also the end of a real estate and monetary cycle due to filing bankruptcy or finally pulling out of debt. Karmic situations tie into confusion or uncertainty surrounding the resources you share with another person. Unfortunately, some sort of debt is indicated with a new financial cycle on the horizon.  The “one shot at success and happiness” is tied into the Pleaides, a cluster of stars symbolizing abundance but also sorrow. Opportunities that offer fulfillment are rooted in the capacity to build and provide through a profession that gives some measure of recognition, responsibility and authority. Luck involves effort and the joy of turning goals into reality. The warning is against making mistakes through erratic actions and to be extremely cautious in money matters because speculative fields could threaten heavy losses.

The changes you make externally will reflect internal emotional changes and decisions. The objective may be to create a supportive environment that serves as a sanctuary from the external world. This can stir the desire to redecorate or renovate to create a home as a retreat.

Interests related to travel or foreign cultures suggest this is also the end of a spiritual phase with the release of old belief systems and philosophies that no longer serve. Enlightenment that inspires internal change and self improvement may be the result of a far-from-home pilgrimage or self-seeking journey. Now standing at the close of a humanitarian cycle, you may change your definition of a perfect world, and begin to isolate from those who do not share your new world vision.

Arcturus at the midheaven arouses those who look for new directions, for better or worse. This may be the person who has strong self belief in the ability to lead or has the vision or the spirit to take the first step. The path may be one of intensity and drama if prone to follow the most passionate road or seek strong emotional relationships as a way of life. Gaining what you desire requires the hard work of building a secure foundation, but Mars in exaltation endows you with the strength, physical or mental, to pursue your ambitions (sometimes ruthlessly). As the prime mover of an idea, a founder, or an originator you may willingly take the long hard path in order to achieve your goals.

The Sun as ruler of the chart conjoined to Pluto grants ability and aptitude for magical practice, intense concentration, and focus of the mind motivated by a strong will, inner strength, and a do-or-die attitude. This all or nothing outlook can bring sudden advancement in your life and assist you to establish and consolidate your position as a leader with the power to transform those you come into contact and interact with. But this life changing combo of fame and fortune can also bring physical suffering, martyrdom, danger to life, and separation by providence.

Despite the hindrances of this period, this is still a moon that augers abundance and positive indications in wealth, prosperity and career. The keyword for this cycle is fascination which suggests a captivating compulsion toward someone or something. The caution is to use moderation in the desire for good things in the material world rather than succumb to the overindulgence of your appetite.

I’d be over the moon if you’d subscribe–it’s free.