Feisty Discernment: Venus Retrograde in Aries + Pisces
March opens with Venus stationing retrograde in Aries. The planet of love and relationships turns retrograde every 18 months or so. For about 40 days, she gives everyone the chance to reevaluate their patterns in relationships, rediscover what their true preferences are, and discern what brings them harmony in their life.
Venus’s strength is that she protects us from things that are spoiled or outdated. She tunes us into our 5 senses when in retrograde and lets us explore. She sniffs the old leftovers, checks expiration dates, throws out frumpy clothes, and breaks out old tunes. There are some cautionary tales to Venus retrograde: don’t try a bold new hairstyle or get married when the planet of love and aesthetics is turning inward. Chances are, you may rethink it later. Instead, use the time to edit, reconnect, and reevaluate things.
Use the next 6 weeks to sort through old clothes to see if they are still flattering to your style, refresh your self-care routine, and reconnect with old relationships. This is a perfect time to reach out to old friends and other females in your life. On a larger scale, you may keep your eye on the news about diplomatic messages getting walked back or leaders’ integrity getting the spotlight, especially for the first 3 weeks in March. Venus on her station can provide some very loud guffaws when going retrograde in Aries as seen by yesterday’s Oval Office drama.
Venus retrogrades repeat every 8 years in the same part of the zodiac, so think back to 2017, 2009, 2001, etc. If those years held significant developments in your life, there might be an echoing of those themes this spring. Come April 12th, Venus will station direct in Pisces.
Light and Shadows: Eclipses in Pisces + Aries
The upcoming eclipse cycle in March brings powerful changes, with the lunar nodes in Pisces and Virgo steering the energy. Eclipses act as bookends to chapters in your life—solar eclipses open new doors like a supercharged new moon, while lunar eclipses signal endings and closure. These eclipses open doors to what you’re ready to let go of and what you’re prepared to start anew.
On March 14, the lunar eclipse at 23 Virgo highlights what you need to release, particularly in your daily routines, health, and habits. Overall, this lunar eclipse calls for a clear, decisive release of what is no longer serving you. Mercury in Pisces on his stationary position in Aries may push you to act impulsively, but Saturn’s grounding presence ensures that you can channel this energy wisely, leading to lasting transformation.
Later in the month, the final Solar Eclipse in the Aries/Libra series happens on March 29th. This will happen at 09 Aries and we won’t have another Aries eclipse until 2032. Mars in Cancer rules this lunation. The red planet will square Chiron, which can sometimes make it easier to stand up for others versus standing up for ourselves.
The Heart of the Matter: Three Cazimis in March
In Hellenistic astrology, a Cazimi occurs when a planet is within 17 minutes of arc from the Sun, placing it “in the heart of the Sun.” This alignment intensifies the planet’s influence, bringing its most potent traits into sharp focus. March is particularly special, with three Cazimis occurring within just six days.
On March 19th, the Neptune Cazimi enhances intuition and imaginative insight. Neptune’s direct motion will spark vivid dreams and a clearer understanding of your ideals. Keep a journal by your side to record any meaningful symbols or insights, especially as the Scorpio Moon forms a trine to Neptune beginning Tuesday evening.
On March 22nd, the Venus Cazimi magnifies love, beauty, and artistic pursuits. It’s a perfect time to nurture relationships, invest in personal well-being, or embark on creative endeavors. This marks the half-way point of Venus’s retrograde. If you wanted to splurge on a purchase or pamper yourself, this is the day to do it.
Last, the Mercury Cazimi on March 24th clears mental fog, boosts communication, and improves decision-making. Use today’s energy to have important discussions or hold negotiations. In a month of transformation, these alignments offer boosts of hope, clarity, and empowerment.
The Visionary Warrior: Neptune in Aries
On March 30th, Neptune, the planet of illusion and boundary dissolution, enters Aries. This slow-moving planet takes 165 years to cycle through the zodiac, shaping generational shifts in spirituality, imagination, and societal ideals. The last time Neptune ingressed into Aries was in 1861. This period in history marked the beginning of the American Civil War, the unification of Italy, and advancements in technology like steel manufacturing and photography.
When Neptune moves into this Mars-ruled sign, conflicts over ideals intensify, and the concept of the enemy becomes more fluid. There’s a tendency to glorify the warrior spirit, pioneers, and manifest destiny, fueling movements driven by passion rather than practicality. Leadership emerges through the fusion of action and ideals, inspiring bold change. While Neptune can help people envision new possibilities and detach from personal ego, the downside is losing individual freedoms to larger ideological causes. The early years of Neptune in Aries may feel chaotic and loud, but this period can also spark new leaders, groundbreaking creativity, and acts of courageous inspiration—a time when vision and action merge to reshape the future.
Neptune will hang out in Aries until October 22nd. Think of this as the preview. Come next January he will set up shop in the sign of the ram until 2038.
Dates of Note:
March 1: Venus stations Retrograde + Mercury conjoins North Node + Mercury enters his shadow. The planet of connection and attraction stations retrograde in Aries today. For 40 days and 40 nights, Venus will migrate from 10 degrees of Aries to 24 degrees of Pisces. This is a time to investigate whether your preferences have changed, figure out how you’d like to be more assertive with your values, and how you pursue what ignites your passion. This is a Venus who doesn’t like to be told what to do, who to like, or what to think. She knows her worth and doesn’t have to jump through the patriarchal hoops to measure up. With Mercury conjoined the North Node, pay attention to the conversations you have today—what emerges may come back for further contemplation in the weeks ahead.
March 2: Mercury Conjoins Neptune + Sun Squares Jupiter. Today Mercury merges with Neptune in Pisces, blurring the line between intuition and illusion. Conversations may feel poetic, but details could slip through the cracks—double-check facts before making decisions. The Sun’s square to Jupiter amplifies emotions, making everything feel larger than life. It’s a good day to dream big, but be aware the specifics are getting glossed over. If it’s too good to be true, it likely is.
March 3: Mercury Ingresses into Aries. Thoughts and words gain speed as Mercury bursts into Aries, trading Pisces’ softness for directness. Expect communication to be bold, fast, and sometimes impulsive. Try to remember to think before you speak. This is an excellent time to advocate for yourself, but be mindful of coming across as too aggressive. Get to the point, but leave room for dialogue.
March 5/Ash Wednesday: Mercury Sextiles Pluto. Words hold power today, as Mercury’s link to Pluto allows for deep and revealing conversations. This is a day for uncovering hidden truths, whether through journaling, research, or intimate discussions. Now is the time to reveal anything left unsaid.
March 7: Sun Trines Mars. You may have noticed some tense apprehension since Mars stationed direct on 2/23. Today marks the trine when confidence emerges and action aligns with your emotional state. Motivation and action stuck in a contemplative or reactive state since December are now turning the corner. Solutions come easier today. Trust your instincts and take decisive action.
March 11: Mercury Conjoins Venus. Today, you may impulsively blurt out what you’ve been feeling. However, if it seems like your verbal confession rocked the boat too much, the Moon squaring Uranus can help you creatively reframe the situation.
March 12: Sun Conjoins Saturn. Long-term goals and responsibilities are the theme of the day. While this isn’t the lightest transit, it helps you structure plans and commit to what truly matters. This is a great day for emotional resolve and establishing boundaries with others.
March 14: Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo + Sun Sextiles Uranus. This full moon eclipse is the first one of 2025 and it is asking you to release old ways of thinking. Mercury, on his retrograde station degree in Aries, rules this lunation. Where have your standards not served you? It’s time to strike the balance between what is practical and what is ideal into a state of grace. This can be an ending to the mindless chatter that’s been driving your life and distracting your true purpose. Uranus enters the mix to affirm aligning yourself into greater authenticity and calm down the distortions. Notice where life is pushing you to let go of rigid control—adaptability is key for long-term growth.
March 15: Mercury Stations Retrograde. The planet of communication, travel, and commerce runs head first into glitches today as he stations retrograde in Aries. This is a time to review rather than initiate. Be extra patient with delays and misunderstandings today, which can be an enormous challenge in fiery Aries. This particular Mercury retrograde will end on April 7th.
March 17/St. Patrick’s Day: Sun Conjoins North Node. You may seek someone to step into leadership today who can unify joy and compassion in a spirit of compassion. It may be an unrealistic ideal. Instead, it’s a day to turn inward and see what qualities you embody. Pay attention to synchronicities and gut feelings about your life path. This is a day for aligning with your higher purpose and connecting into pure joy.
March 19: Sun Cazimi Neptune. Today, your sensitivity and intuition may be on overdrive. Neptune dissolves the limitations ego creates. Use the energy by exercising your imagination, flexing your spiritual muscles, and leaning into what is possible. Be aware that dreams may be on overdrive so a dream journal could be a useful tool on nights of the 18th and the 19th as the Moon transits Scorpio.
March 20/Spring Equinox: Sun Ingresses into Aries. The astrological new year begins as the Sun enters Aries, igniting a season of fresh starts and bold action. Today, the Sun joins Venus and Mercury in cardinal fire beginning the pile of of planets. In Aries, the Sun has his exaltation where self-confidence takes the throne. Ambition and determination appear hungry and commanding in this sign. This is the time to take initiative and embrace new beginnings.
March 21: Venus Sextiles Pluto. You may need to take the helm and reevaluate love and power dynamics. While this can feel like a daunting process, the potential for it to improve outweighs the work involved. Ask the important questions that dive into the heart of the matter.
March 22: Venus Cazimi the Sun. Venus is in the heart of the Sun, illuminating themes of love, beauty, and desire. This is a potent day for clarity in relationships and creative endeavors. Do something indulgent and buy the flowers, make an indulgent meal, or treat yourself to the spa.
March 23: Sun Sextiles Pluto. Tap into your ambition today and make headway with those who hold influence. This is a day of tapping your personal power and go after something that seemed unattainable in the past. If you’ve been avoiding a change, this is your cosmic invitation to face your fear.
March 24: Mercury Cazimi the Sun. The planet of communication moves into the heart of the Sun today and marks the half-way point of the Mercury retrograde. Clear insights and sharp mental focus emerge victoriously in Aries. Breakthrough ideas can arrive, making this a powerful day for problem-solving or making deals.
March 25: Mercury Sextiles Pluto. Sometimes it’s better to “eat the frog” and get the hardest task done first. If there was a discussion you were avoiding, this is the day to do it. The Moon will get generous support from Jupiter, making your power of communication stronger.
March 27: Venus Re-enters Pisces + Conjoins Neptune. Love, art, and fantasy blend as Venus swims back into her exalted home of Pisces. This is a highly romantic and creative transit, but also one prone to illusions. Enjoy the magic, but don’t lose sight of reality in relationships or spending.
March 29: Partial Solar Eclipse in Aries + Mercury Conjoins Neptune. Mars in Cancer rules this Fiery New Moon Eclipse. While you may be ready to leap before assessing the situation, Saturn is there to make sure everything feels safe first. This eclipse is happening right on the same degree of where Mercury stationed (9 Aries) and Venus stationed (10 Aries). Think back to the events of the month that have may have given clues what this eclipse is about. You may be hungry for action, but it is wise to wait a few more weeks until Venus and Mercury can move forward. Mercury’s link to Neptune adds a layer of confusion—make sure your impulses align with reality. Things feel distorted right now in the shadows.
March 30: Neptune Ingresses into Aries. A new era begins as Neptune moves into Aries, shifting collective inspiration into action. Historically, when Neptune was in Cardinal Fire, it coincided with rebellions, uprisings, and crusades. Themes of bravery and striving for the cause can get over romanticized. Idealistic wars could be a theme like the Christian crusades or the Civil War – both had Neptune in Aries. Over the coming years, spiritual and creative pursuits will take on a more pioneering edge. This first pass of Neptune in Aries will last until the end of October; come 2026, he will stay in the ram’s sign until 2038.