Bye Bye Mercury Retrograde, Hello Aries New Moon. And here we go !!!!

There’s nothing subtle about Aries. That goes a hundredfold for the 2018 Aries New Moon happening in the sign on April 15-16. It’s combustive, explosive, liberating, motivating and propelling, blasting us out of safe confining shells into raw, unfettered form. The Aries New Moon on April 15th brings the start of a new lunar cycle and a new wave of energy that is going to be helping all of us to create much needed changes in our lives. Think “rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air.” Think lava erupting through cracks that have been opening for years.

Since the end of March we may have been alerted to things that are no longer working for us and things that need to change. A relationship or a job may have come to an end, or there may have just been a sense that current lifestyle choice is longer going to work for you.

Seeing as this New Moon falls in the fiery sign of Aries, we are all going to be encouraged to think bigger, and to find the courage to make the changes that we have always desired.

Making changes always starts with a shift in attitude first. If something is not working on the outside, it is always helpful to look at how you can begin fixing it by looking within.

By going within and addressing any thoughts, beliefs or attitudes around the situation, you are in a much more powerful position to make productive and lasting changes.

 The 2018 Aries New Moon’s high impact comes from a close conjunction  (Planets and points that form a conjunction are energies that are united.   The classical astrology meaning of a conjunction is that the powers involved merge, so that their characters mix and form a new character. It can be described as a fusion. If two planets are joined in a conjunction, they do astrologically become sort of a new planet, with its own distinct traits. The closer the conjunction is, the more this transformation is true) to Uranus, agent of radical, unpredictable change and liberation. Their meeting takes us to the breaking point in a process that’s been going on since 2010 when Uranus entered Aries. He moves to Taurus in a month and will not be in Aries during an Aries New Moon (much less conjunct one) for the rest of most of our lifetimes. His last hurrah in the sign sees his individuating powers at maximum strength. If you’ve been waiting for the moment to act, push a project forward or take a huge running leap, this is it. Whether you consciously take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime event or not, staying in place is not possible. Surprises, epiphanies, and breakthroughs will abound and spur you on.

This bodes well for resolving situations that have you feeling trapped with no practical way out. The 2018 Aries New Moon may open an escape hatch, or you may decide you’re not going to take it anymore and bolt for freedom.

Whatever breaks – and your perceptions will be part of that – has been building for a long time. Whatever breaks will happen unexpectedly, startlingly, maybe shockingly, with a volatile, accelerated unfolding that may feel as if time is speeding up. Whatever breaks, there will be no going back.

It’s supported by the ongoing renovation of the foundations of our existence, most recently enhanced by a helpful sextile (The classical astrology meaning of a sextile is that the powers involved cooperate smoothly, so that they encourage and inspire one another. So, both sides of the sextile gain by the aspect between them. This mutual stimulation is usually very creative, on a daily basis) between Jupiter and Pluto the day before the 2018 Aries New Moon. This is the second of their three links. The first was January 15; the last comes September 12. All offer the possibility of bringing hidden treasure (and psycho-beasties) to the surface, clearing away the chaos of recent years and upgrading the structures and systems on which we build our lives.

Even if you get hit upside the head or find the wind knocked out of you, the 2018 Aries New Moon has tools to get you through it. Mars, the ruler of our actions (and the Aries Moon), has help from Neptune: divine love, guidance and inspiration, and maybe a touch of magic that puts you in the right place at the right time, or occasions events that can not be a coincidence. The cosmic hand is outstretched. May as well reach for it.

Also, the presence of mind is a probable gift of the one slowing influence in this Moon’s line-up. Mercury is in the turnaround from his retrograde, which formally ends a half a day before the New Moon. His station creates the illusion of time slowing, which will help keep our wits about us while metaphoric firecrackers are going off. He may also put sufficient drag on information and, importantly, our processing it. Hang in suspense for a few seconds and data may rearrange into realizations that are useful, or at least make sense of the past few weeks (or years).

Don’t worry about freefall. If you find yourself in it, it will be without warning, before you have time to grasp what’s happening and freak out about it. Most of all, you’ll like where you land. This terrain hosts development that you want and are motivated to obtain, especially where relationship(s) and financial matters are involved. The developments aren’t thought experiments, dreams or wishful thinking, either, but as tangible and earthy as can be. Practical and concrete progress in both areas is built into the growing season of this Moon. Thank the uncommonly harmonious teamwork of a trine between go-getter Mars and Venus, goddess of love, which was exact on April 11. She’s been pointing to what she wants and saying, “Bring it to me;” he’s been responding, “Your wish is my command.”

So don’t fear or fight the 2018 Aries New Moon. Its gifts have been a long time coming, and it speeds up their delivery and growth. And if it brings you whiplash or anxiety, remember these words, “Show me another way to look at this.” Apply as needed.