THE PLOT THICKENS
Living in our modern world can be challenging as we try to keep up with the never-ending stream of constant change. Although we might believe we’ve already seen enough twists and turns to last us for a while, the first half of March is only the opening chapter to long and sprawling novel. It’s too early in the story for us to guess where the storyline will take us, but one thing is certain: more change is on the way and no one knows (even those who think they know) where it will take us. We have been given some clues, but it’s impossible to know which of them are the most important and which are just red herrings, dragged across our path to distract us from the real developing story. Saturn has entered Pisces and we struggle to find reality in the murky seas of consciousness. We are confronted by spy balloons (or are they alien invaders?), the wonders of artificial intelligence (is it friend or foe?), the economic uncertainty of bank failures, and ever-widening gulf of social and political bifurcation.

The cosmic conflicts seem to appear everywhere. Although Venus in Taurus entices us with desires for simple pleasures, Mercury enters Aries on March 18 to speed up our thinking and encourage us to detach from the past. Another blast into the future occurs at the Equinox on March 20, quickly followed by the Aries New Moon on March 21. Five planets in Aries strongly encourage impulsivity. Nevertheless, Jupiter in Aries is semisquare Saturn in Pisces on the same day, reminding us that we cannot boldly act in the present moment while ignoring the stabilizing wisdom of compassion. Additionally, the New Moon’s semisquare to Uranus in determined Taurus puts in directly in touch with our anxiety when everything is moving too fast.

Many astrologers have pinned high hopes onto Pluto’s shift into Aquarius on March 23, yet Mars forms an irritating quincunx to Pluto on March 25 just an hour-and-a-half after it swims into self-protective Cancer. Once again, we struggle with the paradox of the speed at which the future is arriving that is contrasts by the slowness of progress on so many fronts. It’s hard to tell whether we are progressing or regressing when both seem to have an independent life of their own.

An exciting Venus-Uranus conjunction on March 30 can increase general anxiety with semisquares to Mars in reflective Cancer on March 28–31. Again, the contradiction resurfaces as we long for something new and different while simultaneously fearfully protecting what we’re afraid of losing in the process. Our agitation is moderated by the Mars-Saturn trine that’s also exact on the 30th. Carefully considered planning goes a long way to keep us on track as the planets play out their ongoing game of push and pull right through the end of the month. Unfortunately, there are no simple answers now. Fortunately, our job is clear. We must pay attention while the plot unfolds and to be ready to take action as the fog lifts and our way becomes clear.
~ Rick Levine