Sun Trine Mars: The Alchemical Awakening of Willpower and Purpose

Last night, the Sun formed a trine to Mars, a sacred turning point in the synodic cycle of Mars, marking a significant shift in the journey that began in November 2023. This moment is not just an astrological transit—it is an initiation, an emergence from the deep underworld of Mars’ recent retrograde. Though Mars stationed direct nearly a week ago, it has remained suspended in stillness, recalibrating in the liminal space between death and rebirth. But now, he awakens with a renewed vision as an evening star, ready to ascend with newfound purpose and direction.

Esoterically, the Sun represents the divine intelligence, the higher will that illuminates our path. It is the source of our creative vitality, the beacon that guides us toward our soul’s evolutionary journey. Mars, the embodiment of raw willpower and assertion, has undergone an initiatory descent, shedding layers of old conditioning, outdated ambitions, and unconscious patterns that no longer serve the evolving self. This trine acts as an alchemical spark—a merging of spiritual clarity (the Sun) with the purified desire nature (Mars). The question is: how will you direct your will moving forward?

This is a pivotal moment to listen deeply. What desires have reawakened in you? What call to action is arising now, unmistakable in its clarity? This moment is not about impulsive force but about conscious momentum—one that is attuned to your spiritual directive. The vision emerging now is the one you will carry forward until January 2026, when Mars begins its next synodic cycle.

Reflect on what has been evolving in your life since November 2023. Where have you been internally forging strength, resilience, and a new understanding of your own drive? With Mars in water, this shift is felt emotionally, offering renewed clarity, magnetism, and optimism. You may notice an energetic surge over the coming days, a sense of certainty returning after a period of uncertainty.

Honor this turning point. Let your will align with your higher vision. The fire of Mars now moves with purpose—let it guide you forward with courage, trust, and unwavering clarity.

Looking Back To Move Forward: The Wisdom Of Past Venus Retrograde Cycles

Venus retrograde is a potent time for working with one of the great benefics in the sky and manifesting long lasting changes in our life.  It is a time of deep reflection, an opportunity to slow down and reassess what truly matters.  But its lessons don’t emerge in isolation – each Venus retrograde we experience is a part of a larger story, weaving together past cycles into a greater tapestry of growth, love, and self-worth. 

Venus retrograde periods reflect a beautiful, repeating pattern of personal growth and transformation that quite literally mirrors the sky above with our life below, when we choose to accept the invitation to work with the cycle and engage in the transformative opportunity.  Its important to point out the reminder, that doing so truly empowers us to become co-creators of our reality and stories instead of victims and witnessing bystanders.

If you take some time to reflect and look back, you may notice familiar themes arising.  Patterns in relationships, self-esteem, finances, or creative pursuits often surface in these cycles, inviting us to finally see what we once overlooked or embrace what we were not ready to receive at the time.

Because Venus retrograde cycles only happen in 5 signs throughout our life and happen in repeatable 8-year cycle patterns, you can loosely predict what themes may show up for you, by looking at the prior cycle from 8 years ago.  This cycle of Venus retrograding in Aries & Pisces is a story pattern that repeats every 8 years.  The retrograde will shift the degrees that it impacts by 2 degrees each cycle, but it is otherwise similar in the houses and signs that it activates in your personal chart.  So, to glean a clue into what story you may see play out this cycle, again reflect back to the last cycle that occurred in March of 2017.  This will again repeat in 2033.  You will want to look at the houses that hold Aries and Pisces in your natal chart along with any personal planets included in the retrograde degrees (click here for a step-by-step).  Venus was last retrograde in Aries/Pisces March 25, 2017 for 40 days, retrograding from 13 degrees of Aries to 26 degrees of Pisces.  What patterns were alive for you then in terms of relationship, values, finances, or other Venusian topics relevant in the houses effected in your chart? 

Take a moment to reflect:

·      What was going on for you during the last Aries/Pisces Venus retrograde?  What emotions, challenges, or life events come to mind?

·      What desires were stirring in your heart?  Did you take action or did fear hold you back?

·      How have you grown since then?  What have you healed?  What still feels unresolved?

A significant relationship?  It may resurface in some way for you this time or themes surrounding that relationship may pop up for you in a new way, allowing you to re-evaluate those themes from a new perspective.  If it was a challenging experience, take a deep breath – in no way does this mean that the same challenge will re-present itself again.  You are now 8 years wiser and more equipped than you were then, to begin with.  Remember that you are the co-author of your story and get to shape how this will unfold for you.  

By revisiting the past, we gain clarity on what this Venus retrograde is here to refine, release, or realign.  Perhaps an old dream is ready to be reborn, or a past heartbreak has finally lost its grip.  Maybe a version of you that once felt small is now ready to step into their power and take up space.

Venus retrograde is not just about looking inward – its about reclaiming the wisdom that we have gathered along the way.  Let this be a time to honor your journey, trust in divine timing, and step into the next chapter of your life story with an open heart.

As an example, I will share a little insight into my own Venus retrograde story.  In 2017, after years of IUI and IVF I decided to take a break from the emotional and physical impact of daily trips to the fertility clinic for ultrasounds and bloodwork.  I had over a dozen miscarriages at this point in my life – all unexplained and this was 5+ years into my fertility journey.  I was exhausted mentally, emotionally, financially, and spiritually, and to be completely honest, I just needed a break.  My husband was not ready to cross the bridge into adoption yet and so I was at a standstill.  Yet, my heart deeply longed for a child.  So, I decided to open our home temporarily to fostering while I took some time to reset and renew.  I felt it was a great way to fill my internal desire for a child to share love with and that it would be a great distraction as well.  I completed the stack of paperwork, classes, inspections, and bought all the necessary furniture, clothing, toys, and other ancillary items, and embarked on the journey to become a licensed foster care parent and home in 2017.  Little did I know the profound impact that foster care would have on my life at the time.  Fast forward 8 years, over a dozen kids, later and I am wrapping up what will likely be my last 2 foster care cases (at least for now!).  Aries is in my 9th house of higher wisdom, philosophy, teaching, spirituality, and travel and Pisces is the sign of my natal Venus in my 8th house of shared resources, karmic ties, and deep transformation.  My natal Sun and Mercury sit directly in the window of the retrograde degrees both cycles.  This has been a profound chapter in my Venus life story; the love, energy, healing, and transformation that has taken place in this chapter of my life all align strongly with Venusian themes of values and connection.  It has deeply shaped my identity (Sun) and self-worth (largely a Venusian theme).  And, while it was never my original intention (as life so often humbles and teaches us), it ultimately has unfolded that all 4 of my children are (or soon will be) adopted from foster care.  The process, as well as helping neglected and traumatized children heal, has been the catalyst for deep spiritual awakening, growth, and healing in my own life.  And, it was ironically the desire to help young children who couldn’t fully express themselves heal, that initially led to me discovering and opening the door to astrology in my own life. It is really fascinating to see that story woven out in reverse.  What story can you find woven in your own life through these retrograde chapters?  What past Venus retrograde cycles have taught you the most?  Journal on these for deeper insight.  The answers you may be seeking may hold a clue, or already have been written, in your past.  Sometimes, we just have to take the time to reflect, integrate, and connect the dots, to see the bigger picture.

Read more about my personal Venus retrograde story in the 8th House here.

Venus Retrograde & The 8th House: A Foster Parent’s Reflection on Love, Loss, & Transformation

Eight years ago, under an entirely different Venus cycle, I opened my home to my first foster child.  I knew in my heart that I would undoubtedly love whatever child we were placed with, but I did not know then how much this journey would shape me as the children who passed through my doors.  Now, as Venus retrogrades through my 8th house again – the house of deep bonds, transformation, and shared resources – I find myself closing this chapter of my life with a full heart and a deeper understanding of love, loss, and the nature of true connection.

The 8th house is often associated with shared resources, but its meaning runs much deeper.  It governs the spaces in life where we merge with others – emotionally, spiritually, financially, and even karmically.  It is the house of deep bonds, transformation, and the things we give and receive that forever change us.  In many ways, foster care fits seamlessly into this symbolism.  It is not just a system of shared legal and financial responsibility, but a very real exchange of love, care, and emotional investment.  The children placed in my home were never just temporary guests; each one of them became a very real part of my heart, my energy, and my life in ways that far transcend the physical.  And, they always will be carried as part of my deeply treasured life story.  Love, loss, and healing all exist here in the 8th house, intertwined.  And perhaps nothing has shown me the power of love, surrender, and connection more than fostering.

Venus, the planet of love, relationships, and value, is now, yet again, retrograding through this house for me.  Retrogrades ask us to look back, reassess, and bring closure to significant chapters of our lives.  With Venus retrograde in my 8th house, I find myself revisiting the immense emotional depth that fostering required – the sacrifices, the love, and the inevitable process of letting go.  This isn’t just a logistical ending; it is a moment of reflection on what fostering has meant to me on a soul and evolutionary level.

Retrogrades also reveal where our understanding of love, connection, and reciprocity has shifted.  In 2017, when I first became a licensed foster care parent, my understanding of parenting, love, and the shared resource system of foster care, was radically different than it is today.  I saw love as something that I could share and pour into these children, hoping to give them stability and healing.  But now, eight years later, I see love as something far more complex and nuanced – something that can’t be always be measured by physical permanence but by the impact that we leave on each other’s hearts.  This Venus retrograde is allowing me a beautiful gateway to process that; to honor this transformation and to decide what I choose to carry forward from this journey. 

I have learned so many lessons on this path, but perhaps the most significant that stand out to me are the following:

The Transformative Power of Love

Loving a child who isn’t biologically yours, who arrives with their own history, their own fears, and their own story, teaches you something profound about love: it is not about possession, but presence.  Foster care stripped love down to its most essential form – meeting the basic emotional and physical needs of a child, being fully present, and choosing to love even when you know that it is temporary.  When you love with an open heart, expecting nothing in return, you become part of something far greater.

Each child who entered my home changed me in ways that I could never have predicted.  I had to learn to become selfless in ways I had never been asked to be before, to sit with my heartbreak, to hold very real space for tiny souls carrying invisible (and sometimes not so invisible!) burdens.  But, more than that, I learned deeply about transformation.  Love isn’t just something we give – it is something that when we allow ourselves to be open and truly vulnerable, has the power to deeply reshape us, soften us, and encourages us to grow into the best versions of ourselves. 

Letting Go 

One of the hardest lessons of fostering, was learning to let go – of expectations, of attachment, of the belief that love alone can fix everything.  When you work within the confines of a deeply flawed and imperfect system, you quickly realize that no amount of love, stability, or care can always guarantee the best outcome.  You learn that justice is not always served, that safety is not always ensured, and that some endings feel heartbreakingly incomplete. 

Losing a child you’ve cared for is a grief that few understand, yet foster parents navigate this heartbreak regularly.  It is a lesson in surrendering to the unknown, in trusting that love was enough – even if only for a short time, to make a positive impact.  Love in the 8th house asks us to accept that transformation often comes through loss.  It teaches us that just because something isn’t permanent doesn’t mean it wasn’t powerful.  And in that, there is a sliver of peace.

The Beauty of Connection

If there is one thing I’ve learned from the children that I’ve had the joy of having, it is that love is not about walls, bloodlines, or guarantees – it is about openness.  A baby does not care who you are or what you have; they do not question whether love is safe or conditional.  They simply trust.  They reach for you with tiny hands, rest their head on your shoulder, cry out when they are in need, trusting that you will respond instinctively, and love with an unguarded heart.

That kind of love is a gift.  It is raw, unfiltered, and pure in a way that few things in life are.  And when you allow yourself to love them back with the same level of openness, it changes you.  It teaches you that connection is the most beautiful, fragile, and life-altering thing that we have.  It strips away the cynicism, the fear, and the barriers we build around our hearts, reminding us that the most profound transformations happen when we allow ourselves to be fully seen, fully vulnerable, and fully present.

The Value of Love in Our Own Identity

Being a foster parent shattered so many of my old beliefs about love, worth, and identity.  Love, at its core, is not transactional.  It is not something we earn, nor is it something we are owed.  It simply exists and is a choice to give and to receive.  It is available to all of us, not because we have done anything to deserve it, but because we are here.

Fostering has shown me that the scars of our past do not have to define us.  Many of the children who entered my home carried deep wounds – some visible, some not.  Yet, they all thrived in some new way when given safety, consistency, good nutrition, time, and love.  It made me question: If they could heal, if they could grow despite all that they had been through, why couldn’t I?  The 8th house is a space of deep psychological transformation and through this experience, I’ve learned that healing is not only possible, but necessary. 

I’ve also learned that family is not defined by DNA, but by choice.  It is built in the quiet moments – bedtime stories, shared meals, inside jokes, and whispered reassurances in the dark.  Love is what makes a family, not paperwork, not names, not even time.  And yet, the world often struggles to see past labels.  I’ve witnessed firsthand the biases, the limitations imposed by ignorance- people who believed certain children weren’t investing in, saw them as broken, troublesome, less than in some way, or not worth the time to invest in connection.  The looks that were given if one child looked obviously unrelated, acted out when triggered by an invisible trauma they knew nothing of, or showed emotional immaturity far beneath their biological age due to stunted emotional growth from trauma or neglect.  Often, just the mention of “foster child” resulted in a change of demeanor and body language in other parents I interacted with – to the point that, with time, I stopped sharing my story openly to avoid the judgement and bias.  Every single child who walked through my door shattered these stigmas, time and time again.

This Venus retrograde is asking me to re-evaluate what love has taught me about myself, about others, and about what truly matters.  It is reminding me that love is the greatest resource we have to give, and the only one that multiples when shared.  It has taught me that the greatest transformation only happens when we meet another with an open, vulnerable heart, devoid of expectation or return.  And it has taught me deeply about the sacrificial and humble nature of true love and devotion.  Obviously, these lessons translate differently in different types of healthy relationships.  But, the essence of the lessons remains the same.  And the integration of them allows for a greater, deeper, and more transformed understanding of love in its purest forms.

We all share pieces of ourselves with others – through relationships, caregiving, mentorship, and love in its many forms.  What relationships or experiences in your life have shaped your understanding of love and shared responsibility?  Venus retrograde is the perfect time to reflect.  I’d love to hear your thoughts – drop a comment or share your own reflections on love, letting go, and transformation. 

Unlocking Your Venus Retrograde 2025 Lessons: A Natal Chart Guide

To look at the themes that will be best to work with and may be surfacing this transit, you will want to look at your natal chart.

1)    Locate Your Natal Venus Sign in Your Birth Chart

You can use a free site like Astro.com to cast your chart.  Natal Venus represents your inherent approach to love, relationships, aesthetics, and values. This will flavor how you experience Venus energy this retrograde and how this Aries Star Point (3/22/2025) will activate it.

 In simple terms, we will break this down by element:

·      Fire Venus (natal Venus in Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius): this Venus Star Point (VSP) will resonate strongly, pushing for new beginnings in relationship, finances, and self-worth

·      Earth Venus (natal Venus in Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): may present a challenge to comfort zones, but also an opportunity to ground new manifestations (Earth carries extra magick for manifesting into the physical, tap into it!)

·      Air Venus (natal Venus in Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): you can expect intellectual or social shifts; your creativity and relationships may also take on a new direction.

·      Water Venus (natal Venus in Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): may experience extra emotional and intuitive downloads, particularly in the areas of love and relationship, self-worth, and artistic expression.

2)    Look at your Natal Venus House Placement

Your natal house of Venus will show you where you express your Venusian energy and where this Aries Star Point will trigger new cycles for you this transit.  So, for example, Venus in the Gemini in the 9thHouse, is deeply connected to 9th house themes – higher knowledge and life philosophy, travel, teaching/publishing/writing.  You likely express Venusian themes, such as love and beauty, through the lens of Gemini – curiosity, communication, and mental stimulation.

3)    Identify Transit Venus – Aries & Pisces this Cycle - & the Houses Affected In Your Natal Chart

Each house represents a different area of life.  The houses where 10 degrees of Aries through 24 degrees of Pisces fall will show where you’ll be reassessing Venusian themes such as love, relationships, values, finances, and self worth this cycle.  Transiting Venus reflects the current cosmic energy influencing everyone.  The houses affected will reveal the life areas under review for you this cycle.

4)    Personal Planets Will Add Intensity

Look to see if there are any personal planets that are affected between the orb degrees of 0-13 degrees of Aries and 30-21 degrees of Pisces.   Any personal planet that will be conjunct transiting Venus will lend energy to your story also this cycle. 

5)    Look at any aspects between your Natal Venus & Transit Venus in Aries & apply Venus Rx in Aries & Pisces themes. 

This will add an additional layer of complexity and insight.  Any significant aspects (square, opposition) transiting Venus forms with your natal planets can intensify a retrograde effect, especially if Venus crosses over a natal planet multiple times during a retrograde cycle.   So, for Aries look to the other Cardinal Signs (Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) and for Pisces look to other Mutable Signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius).  If you have personal planets between 0-13 degrees of any Cardinal Sign or 30-21 degrees of any Mutable Sign this will be significant to note.

Example:

So, in the above example of natal Venus in Gemini, Venus in Aries will form a sextile (a 60 degree, favorable or opportunity aspect) creating a bridge between the themes of personal desires (Aries) and intellectual/expansive values (natal Gemini in 9th house placement).  In other words this transit may activate that person’s need to redefine what love, self-worth, and abundance mean in relation to their beliefs, education, and personal life philosophy.  Themes for reflection might be:

·      How does your identity influence your relationships? 

·      Do your relationships align with your personal and intellectual pursuits? 

·      Are your financial goals and values in alignment with your long term vision? 

·      How can you balance your desire for intellectual freedom with deep emotional connection? 

Gemini loves to learn, rules the 3rd house (writing), and the 9th house carries great themes of a teacher archetype. So if they have any passion or interest for taking a new class, teaching, or writing, this would be a great time to pursue these or any other passionate interests they may have.  This is a more complex layer to add in, if you are a beginner in astrology, don’t sweat this step and just look at your sign and house – it will give you a beautiful starting place for reflection!

6)    Reflect on the Past

Venus retrogrades through the same 5 signs in our natal chart in cycles that shift only 2 degrees every 8 years.  Think about Venus Retrograde cycles that last happened in Aries/Pisces in March 2017 and 2009.  What themes were happening for you during this time?  Similar themes may resurface for deeper healing, transformation, and reflection.

By understanding where Venus retrograde moves through your chart, you can align with its lessons – whether it’s about reclaiming your confidence, healing old wounds, or transforming your love and self-worth. 

People that will feel this transit most strongly:

·      Venus Return - If Venus retrogrades over your natal Venus, this is your Venus Return, marking a major period of self-alignment in love and values.

·      Big 3 – if Venus retrogrades over your Sun, Moon, Ascendant (aka Rising or AC), or your chart ruling planet, this will carry more significance.

·      Angles – if Venus retrogrades in your 1st, 7th, 4th, or 10th house

Venus Retrograde 2025: The Path of The Spiritual Warrior

Venus, the benefic planet of love, beauty, harmony, governs not only romance but the very essence of what we value – both within ourselves and the world around us.  When she retrogrades every 18 months, we are invited to step away from external distractions and deep dive internally, peeling back layers of conditioning and routine, to rediscover our authentic heart.

The Venus synodic cycle is an 8-year celestial dance between Venus and the Earth that traces a beautiful geometric pattern known as the Rose of Venus or the Pentagram of Venus.  As she orbits the sun, Venus’ position relative to Earth create a five-petaled flower shape (or pentagram, if you prefer), symbolizing the harmony and interconnectedness inherent in the cosmos.  Her cycle guides us through a deep and sacred journey of love, self-worth, and soulful embodiment.  And beautifully reminds us of the divine harmony and sacred geometry woven into the universe – and within ourselves – to guide us along our unfolding path.

This sacred geometry has been recognized by various cultures throughout history, reflecting the deep relationship between celestial movements and our own cycles of growth and transformation internally, as above, so below.  Each petal of the rose corresponds to a complete 8 year Venus cycle, inviting us to align with these natural rhythms and embrace the evolving journey of love, beauty, and self-discovery that our soul has been called to.

From an esoteric perspective, Venus is more than love and beauty; she is the bridge between the human heart and divine wisdom.  Her shifting phases from Morning Star Venus (bold, independent, initiatory) to Evening Star Venus (receptive, magnetic, reflective) mirror our own soul’s path – awakening, healing, and integrating the deepest truths of love and desire within us.

From an evolutionary lens, Venus’ retrogrades serve as powerful moments of re-evaluation, calling us to reflect and release outdated beliefs, patterns, and attachments that no longer align with our truth.  Each phase of her synodic cycle – her conjunction with the Sun, her first emergence in the sky, and her full radiance – offers a profound opportunity to realign with what truly matters in our hearts, values, and relationships.

Venus’ 8 year cycle is a sacred invitation to embrace both giving and receiving, action and surrender, self-love and connection with others.  She reminds us that love is not just something we seek- it’s something we become. 

With Venus descending into Aries and Pisces this cycle, we enter a soul-forging process – one that burns away false identities (Aries) and dissolves illusions of love and sacrifice (Pisces).  This transit is not simply about revisiting past relationships or reassessing desires; it is a spiritual rite of passage delving deep into the realms of desire, identity, and spiritual love.  This period is further enriched by a series of celestial aspects this retrograde transit, notably a sextile between retrograde Venus and Pluto in Aquarius, which offers profound opportunities for transformation and empowerment.

Aries and Pisces sit on opposite ends of the zodiac: Aries ignites the self while Pisces merges with the Divine.  Together, they form a sacred paradox – a journey from individualization to surrender, from ego to transcendence, and from passion to universal love. 

This retrograde is a mirror reflecting where we have either lost ourselves in our relationships or where we have walled ourselves off from connection.  The tension between these two states is where the deepest transformation will unfold. 

Venus in Aries: The Fire of Sovereignty (March 1-March 27)

Aries, ruled by Mars, is the warrior archetype of the zodiac, embodying raw will, instinct, and independence. When Venus retrogrades here, it challenges us to ask:

·      Do I truly know what I desire, or have I been chasing something out of habit or expectation?

·      Where have I sacrificed my identity in relationships?

·      Am I expressing my needs unapologetically, or am I waiting for permission to be seen?

·      Where do I mistake conquest for connection, passion for love?

This is a primal heart recalibration.  Venus in Aries asks us to stand in our full power, unafraid to claim what we truly want – but also willing to release what no longer fuels our soul.  Expect themes of personal empowerment, boundaries, and getting very clear about our raw, primal desires. 

Venus in Pisces: Dissolving Illusions, Returning to Divine Love (March 28-April 12)

As Venus drifts into Pisces, the warrior’s fire meets the ocean of universal love, compassion, and surrender.  Here, love is not a conquest – it is a remembering of something eternal. 

Venus is exalted in Pisces, meaning she expresses her most spiritual, poetic, and boundless qualities in this sign.  Yet, in retrograde she journeys internally to reflect, realign, and re-examine and asks:

·      Where have I lost myself in illusions of love?

·      Have I mistaken sacrifice for devotion?

·      Do I open my heart fully, or do I hide behind escapism and fantasy?

·      Where do I need to surrender control and trust divine timing?

·      Where do I need to reclaim my power and energetic boundaries?

This phase brings deep emotional healing, spiritual awakenings, and the release of karmic love stories.  It is a death and rebirth of the heart, dissolving old wounds so that we can love in a way that is pure, limitless, and free from distortion. 

Ultimately, Venus retrograde in Aries and Pisces is a magical time that initiates us into an internal journey of deep self-awareness, healing, and spiritual love.  It teaches us that true love is neither extreme of losing ourselves in another (Pisces) or demanding love through force (Aries), but rather about integrating sovereignty and surrender, passion and compassion, and self-responsibility and Divine trust. 

The Empowering Embrace of Venus and Pluto

A standout feature of this retrograde is the sextile aspect between Venus and Pluto, which we see her do within 2-3 degrees three times this cycle: Feb 7th (pre-shadow), March 21st, and May 6th (post-shadow).  These dates offer profound shifts around values, love, transformation, regeneration, catharsis, and rebirth that are heating up.  Ultimately, helping to guide us towards a more empowered an authentic expression of ourselves.  This harmonious alignment between Venus in Aries and Pluto in Aquarius serves as a catalyst for profound transformation:

·      Unveiling Authentic Desires: Pluto’s penetrating energy encourages us to confront hidden parts of our desires and relationships, foster a deeper understanding of our true needs.

·      Empowerment in Love: This aspect energy supports the release of outdated patterns we may be carrying, enabling us to embrace relationships that are both passionate and deeply empowering.

·      Creative Regeneration: The fusion of Venusian beauty with Plutonian depth can lead to an upstirring of artistic and creative endeavors, allowing for a creative outflow of expression that is both authentic and transformative.

Other Celestial Forces Unique to This Venus Retrograde

·      Venus Conjunct Mercury – March 11: We can expect enhanced communication, encouraging heartfelt dialogues, and the revisiting of past connections. 

·      Venus Conjunct Neptune – March 27: The energies of unconditional love, compassion, and spiritual connection are amplified, offering a time for healing and deep emotional release.

·      Venus Trine Mars – April 6: This stimulates balanced expressions of both passion and assertiveness, fostering harmony between feminine and masculine energies.

If we fully choose to participate in this deeply alchemical process, by the time Venus stations direct on April 12, we will have undergone a true inner transformation.  Love will no longer be something we chase or sacrifice for – it will be something we embody, from the inside out.

I release the love that binds me.  I reclaim the love that frees me.  I am desire and devotion, fire and ocean, warrior and mystic – whole unto myself.

New Moon In Pisces: Surrender, Soul Healing, & Sacred Renewal

This New Moon in Pisces is all about healing, emotional intimacy and relationship, and intuition and spiritual growth.  Pisces, is archetype of The Mystic, The Dreamer, & The Healer.  It is the ruler of Joy.  It is the energy of living truly in your heart space, and embodies love and deep connection.  Pisces will guide you to seek a spiritual path and search for the greater meaning of life.  It will encourage you to surrender and fully trust, have faith in the greater picture, and guide you to release any resistance to the flow of life as it unfolds.  It is a very dreamy, romantic energy, and revels in its never ending creative and imaginative gifts.  As the final sign of the zodiac, it carries the wisdom of all 12 signs, dissolving boundaries between the self and the cosmos and surrendering to the higher wisdom and power of the universal Divine.  Pisces carries an oceanic depth of emotions and feels everything deeply, absorbing the emotions of others like a sponge.  Its porous nature connects us all together and radiates its innate gifts of compassion, selfless love, and healing.  Like other water signs (Cancer and Scorpio), Pisces energy enables you to see deeply into the human psyche.  Highly intuitive, and aligned in close relationship with astral forces, Pisceans often feel things before they know them and their feelings are rarely wrong.  In its highest expression, Pisces is deeply creative, intuitive, and spiritually attuned; trusting the flow of life and surrendering to the mystery of existence.  It is a mutable sign; adaptable and able to easily shift its energy, when needed.  Pisces helps you find your soul purpose in life.  To trust and relax into divine timing and flow; knowing that when you trust and take a leap of faith in life, a higher power will always catch and lift you up.  And, that when you are aligned with your greater soul’s purpose, you will be filled with reassuring peace knowing that you are protected and doing exactly what you are meant to do.          

The symbol for Pisces, is two fish, and comes from Vesica Piscis (see above) which means “bladder of a fish”.  It is derived from the intersection of two circles and represents the joining of two worlds: the Divine & the human.  The symbol originally represented the Great Mother goddess.  It stands for the yoni, the entrance to the womb, which is also the entrance to the afterlife or spirit world. Pisces represents the waters from which life originated; the primordial Mother, the goddess of chaos, who births all beings into existence and then receives them home into eternity.   The two fish are symbolized as swimming in opposite directions, representing the paradox of being human: both spiritual and material, rational and irrational, victim and savior.  The cord binding them shows they are two opposites of one whole, forever bound together.  Pisces is where the human and divine intersect and the challenge is to find a way to unite them in a way that both includes and transcends; to be in the world, but not of it.

Pisces defies linear thinking.  It is the space where the mind cannot follow- the feminine space where meaning is found not in facts, but in feeling.  Pisces energy is art, music, dance, film, poetry, and symbolism – the ways we give shape to what cannot be explained but can be experienced best through the lens of evoking emotion.  Under this New Moon, logic is not the path forward.  Your emotions, your intuition, and your creativity are. 

The lesson of Pisces is in learning to ground in the material while allowing inspiration from spirit.  As part of the service axis with Virgo, Pisces represents the polarity of spiritual service where Virgo represents a more practical based service – improving, healing, and organizing the material world.  Pisces lean in deeply to hear other’s problems, feel their pain, and use emotion and intuition to empathically heal.  Where Pisces leans into intuition, Virgo’s go to is analysis.  Where Pisces merges into Oneness and self-acceptance, Virgo refines self-improvement.  And, where Pisces has an innate gift of surrender into the unseen and mystical, Virgo has a superpower of control and detailed refinement. Both are natural at helping others in need.  And both approach this through a different lens and skillset.  The challenge for all of us is to learn to embody the strengths of each axis of the zodiac wheel and live in balance along the spectrum.

This new moon, you may feel a heightened sense of empathy and a deep desire to explore your inner world.  It marks the final New Moon of the astrological year, symbolizing a period of closure and preparation for New Beginnings.  Particularly auspicious as it opens our upcoming eclipse portal.  Think of it as a cosmic reset for your intuition; the thinning of the veil between your conscious and subconscious and allowing us to tap deeply into our inner knowing.  Eclipses rewrite our fate, often in ways that we don’t anticipate.  They create moments of divine redirection, pulling us toward the path our soul was always meant to walk; even if we can’t yet see where it is leading.  Even if, our ego or attachment to what is familiar, resists it.  Ruling the feet, Pisces teaches us that we don’t need to see the full map before us, before we take the next step. 

Pisces, is also linked with the 12th house of the inner psyche, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and addressing our emotions for healing.  This new moon offers us an opportunity to confront any hidden wounds or tough emotions that we may have been avoiding.  It is a perfect time to reflect on what aspects of our life are no longer serving us, and declutter and let them go, before the fresh start ahead begins in Aries Season.  In stark contrast to fire, the porous water sign of Pisces is not at all about force.  It is a time to trust, surrender, and manifest from the deep well within our soul.  Pisces is where we both surrender and create – for it is Pisces that reminds us that the visions that find us, the hopes that sing within our hearts, and the dreams that live within our minds – all come from the Divine.  They have floated from the ethers into our being because they choose us….because they are for us, on our path, part of our purpose, awaiting and creating with us.  This New Moon reminds us of the always present, mystical superpower that we all carry to co-create our own reality.

This New Moon is a call back to our soul, weaving Divine inspiration and offering deep healing and transformation in our life.  Allow yourself to dream and your mind to wander with wild, uninhibited imagination. Dig deep into your emotions and psyche.  Feel your visions coming to life as you see yourself living the life you truly want to live.  The New Moon in Pisces is the transitional period right before the Spring Equinox making this an excellent time to go deep before we dive into action with the astrological new year & Aries Season beginning next month. 

Technical Details:  New Moon is occurring on February 27, 2025 at 9 degrees, 52 minutes of Pisces at 4:44pm PST (an angel number signifying stability amidst change, a reminder that even when we don’t see the full path ahead, we are still supported).  Those with mutable energy placements between 4-14 degrees (Virgo, Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius) will feel this New Moon energy most intensely. 

Other Aspects Involved In This New Moon:

·      Uranus in Taurus is sextile with this new moon, bringing unpredictable energy and a potential for emotional fluctuations.  Getting outdoors in nature to ground, as well as connecting to art, and music, will help with grounding and tap into Pisces energy.  This energetic alignment with this New Moon assists us with breaking through old patterns that obscure our progress and expansion, helping us transform with new potential insights or unexpected breakthroughs.

·      Square to Jupiter – Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces.  It is an excellent time to explore meaning and dive into the greater search for purpose in life.  It is also a wonderful time to tap into the generosity and flow of abundance; where do you receive and give in constant flow and how can you invite more of that, in healthy balance, in your life?  What are you grateful for in life?  This is a New Moon that encourages growth and expansion of both your inner emotional and spiritual world.  Where do you see this showing up?

·      Forms a Grand Water Trine with a Trine to Mars in Cancer (who just stationed direct) & a Trine with Vesta & Hekate in Scorpio – this energy encourages a potent emotional and spiritual reset.  Mars’ energy fuels renewed emotional courage, while Vesta & Hekate illuminate hidden truths, ancestral wisdom, and the power of ritual to guide us through profound healing and soul alchemy.  Let the energy and power of this alignment help you to heal, tap into deeper intuition and sacred purpose, and ultimately transform.

Importance of Grounding & Self Care This New Moon: Pisces is ruled (in Modern astrology) by Neptune, the planet of dreams, imagination, illusion, creativity, psychic receptivity, spirituality, and confusion.  And while we do not witness a New Moon visually, we will always feel its energy.  Be sure to stay grounded with self-care routines and extra time to simply recharge.  As a water sign, this is deeply needed.  This New Moon is the perfect time to reflect, relax, and replenish. 

Journal Reflections: 

·      What dreams are ready to take shape and flow into your reality?  How can you channel your dreams, creativity, and/or emotions into something healing and meaningful?

·      How can you align with Divine timing instead of forcing, or trying to control, the outcome?

·      Where can you embrace more inspiration?  What makes you feel inspired or connected to your imagination?  What are some ways that your inspiration speaks to you?

·      What is your intuition pulling you towards?  How can you deepen your connection with divine guidance and trust your intuition more fully?

·      How do you decipher between your intuition and rational thoughts?

·      What do you feel has reached an ending or what cycles are you ready to bring to a close?

·      What people, habits, and activities help you better connect with hope and purpose?

·      What illusions or dreams are you ready to release in order to see your soul’s truth more clearly?

·      What ancestral or karmic wounds (Hekate in Scorpio) are ready for transformation and release under this New Moon?

·      Where are you being invited to trust the unseen and take a leap of faith in your soul’s journey?

·      What messages have been whispering to you through synchronicity, dreams, or inner knowing, and how can you act on them?

May this New Moon in Pisces guide you gently into the depths of your soul, where dreams, intuition, and divine wisdom merge, illuminating the path of surrender, healing, and sacred renewal in your life.  Making space and allowing for your deepest heart’s desires to be planted and emerge in the next six months ahead.

Revolutionary Renewal: Embracing the Aquarius New Moon’s Call for Change

Aquarius New Moon – 9 degrees of Aquarius on Wednesday 29, 2025 at 7:26am EST

Interesting Aspects:

• Uranus – (Modern) Ruling planet for this full moon is at 23 degrees Taurus.  Is currently retrograde and will station direct the day after.  Uranus represents the higher mind or the observer, while Mercury represents the ordinary mind (negative thoughts, broken records, brilliant ideas, etc).  Uranus represents the part of us that watches everything happening inside us and does not judge it. Saturn (Traditional) Ruler of Aquarius provides the grounding needed to build lasting change while Uranus inspires radical shifts and fresh perspectives.  Both rulers carrying the dual power of structure and rebellion.  This balance reminds us that innovation often requires honoring the lessons of the past while fearlessly breaking free from outdated systems that are holding us back.

• Aquarius Stellium: Conjunct the sun, Mercury, Chariklo, and Pluto

• Trine Jupiter (still retrograde) in Gemini and Black Moon Lilith in Libra; creating an air grand trine.  This supports the energy of fearless self-expression, radical new ideas, and an amplified ability to challenge norms while maintaining diplomacy.  It is an excellent energy to support intellectual breakthroughs, further explore our visions for the future, and reclaim our personal power through our words and ideas.

• Square Vesta in Scorpio – this creates a tension between innovation and deep, focused devotion.  It calls into focus our inner sacred flame; what it is we are called to be in service to.  And may also help surface hidden truths or subconscious attachments that are holding you back from personal freedom (Aquarius).

• Dark Goddess Energy – Eris and Medusa oppose Black Moon Lilith, Hecate is square, Persephone is conjunct Pluto.  This speaks  to deep truth, wisdom, shadow work, transformation, and radical awakening.  Deep sacred feminine energy at work to help support our growth.

The last New Moon in Capricorn came to set the tone for the year ahead and move us into deeper purpose and align with our potential.  Then, to illuminate our way forward was the Cancer Full Moon encouraging us to lean into our intuition, nurture our inner home, and empower us to step fully into our path ahead.  Now, to quantum leap us into new timelines and a new future vision, is the Aquarius New Moon.  The first new moon of Aquarius with Pluto fully ingressed and present, this New Moon is visionary, bold, and ignites the new Plutonian energies of Aquarius.  It offers serious momentum for transformation.  This is the first meeting of both the Sun and Moon in Aquarius and she will be loud and revolutionary.  Adding even more magick, it aligns with the Chinese Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake which is a “9” in Numerology.  The number 9 as well as the Snake, represent letting go of what no longer serves us to make space for what we wish to call in next.  It is symbolic of transformation and Scorpio energy (ruled by Pluto).  This energy is all about shedding our old skin and stepping into higher frequency.  And while Plutonic/Scorpionic energy can be quite intense, Aquarius helps us remain objective and detached (two of its gifts!), trusting that any shedding that is happening right now is for our greatest good. 

Represented by the Water Bearer, Aquarius is an air sign that pours forth the wisdom of creation to encourage humanity towards a better future. It teaches us that our individuality is not separate from the collective – it is what enriches and uplifts it.  It encourages us to break free from limitations, embrace our own unique purpose, and imagine a brighter future for ourselves and the world.  The astrology in the sky supporting this New Moon creates a powerful moment for deep emotional healing, creative expansion, and stepping into the unknown with faith, optimism, and wisdom.

Under the energies of this new moon, I want to encourage you to really look towards the future and get very real and clear about what exactly you want for your life.  And, I want you to make sure these intentions are big, bold, and expansive – ie. they should stretch you in some way.  Make sure that the intentions you set for yourself this new moon are fully in alignment with the vision and desire you have for yourself ahead.  Trust what you are being called towards and look, to your long-term future and what you want for yourself, over the next year, 5 years and maybe even the full 19 years that Pluto will be in Aquarius.

Don’t look for quick fixes at this moon or things that may temporarily make you feel a bit better about your life. Although useful at times, this moon wants something much deeper, more visionary, and for you to take a courageous quantum leap and expand into new territory.

It is time to stop playing small.  Dig deep into your soul and call forth the desires that most deeply resonate with you and the life you wish to manifest ahead.  Do you feel stuck and deeply crave more fulfillment? Instead of writing an intention to feel unstuck, perhaps dig deeper.  What did you used to do – perhaps even years ago, as a child, that made you feel most alive, in the flow, and truly connected?  Was it playing unabashedly, drawing, hiking, making music, or ­­­­­travel adventures that you most remember fondly?  Tap into that creative spark inside of yourself and bring it to life in some way this new moon and rediscover your joy.  The vitality you fuel from that simple step could very well be the spark that will next help you tap into a passion project that offers you a job change in the near future or raises your vibration enough that you start attracting new opportunities or even a new partner.  Sometimes it is the little, but meaningful, steps that we take that help re-align us to our life path and start the internal motion we need to move us closer to our larger dreams.  The only thing you need to do is lean into your soul self and trust that you are never given a dream without also being given the means to achieve it.

With Saturn, the traditional ruler of this new moon in Pisces conjunct Venus, and Uranus, the modern ruler of this new moon sextile Venus, Neptune and the North node in Pisces, you are going to be able to access deeper levels of consciousness and receive wisdom, direction, guidance, and answers that can’t be accessed or understood on a human level.  All of this Aquarian and Pisces energy is asking us to move into the intelligence beyond our human consciousness and to tap into the sacred, the spiritual and the Divine.  Venus, as of yesterday, entered her pre-retrograde shadow in Pisces.  She is inviting us to blend spiritual dreams with practical commitment.  Asking us to heal emotional wounds, cultivate unconditional love for ourselves, and to build a solid foundation for both our creative and relational growth. 

Whenever Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, meets the moon, we are always taken deep into our subconscious, where we encounter our shadows, all that we have hidden from ourselves and others, as well as, our deepest emotions.  And, as this new moon truly wants to free you to move into a new timeline, you may feel this energy even more so. Pluto shows us where we resist change and is the planet responsible for the death, rebirth and transformation process that breaks down and reshapes our ego, taking us closer to our soul. But Pluto will only strip what is out of integrity and alignment with your soul’s path.   Pluto teaches us through pain or purpose. If you’ve been avoiding what you know needs to change in your life you may feel it intensely this new moon, as not only Pluto but also Uranus tries to free you from what is no longer in alignment with your soul.  This will be especially true with so many planets in Pisces, the final sign of the zodiac asking you to let go of anything that has expired on a soul level so that you can move on and into new timelines in your life.

I have a natal Pluto complex and I can attest to this – Pluto is an energy I have come to have great respect for.  There have been many dark nights of the soul in which I have been brought to my knees through the wrecking ball like energy of Pluto in my life.  But, over time, I have learned to surrender to this energy.  Even, when it is hard.  Trusting that he is there to bring me closer to my authentic self and the path that I was designed to walk.  Sometimes, we get comfortable and out of alignment.  Pluto will help snap you back closer to your purpose.  That snap is always a bit less harsh when we surrender to it vs. a reckoning through force.

You may notice lots of past memories or habits surfacing to be healed and released.  There is a huge opportunity for healing at this new moon as Chariklo, the cosmic midwife, and wife of Chiron, is conjunct the moon. Here, she holds space for our deep healing and supports us through big life transitions. She will help you with any deep healing that you need to do so that you can move to the next stage of your evolution.

Once you’re in alignment with the changes that need to be made and the places in your life that need transformation, Pluto will call you forwards with purpose and take you into the next level of potential and empowerment in your journey.  You’ll suddenly be able to see the world differently and find new out-of-the- box solutions, insights and inspiration coming through to help you along your way. This is when you’ll be called to rise as Uranus pushes you to be more authentically you, as that is what will ultimately create all of the shifts and changes that you are desiring in your life.

This new moon is a call to deep authenticity, truth and who you want to be in this new world, and all of this can only come from the inside. Jupiter’s supportive trine is bringing a hopeful, optimistic energy where literally anything feels possible. Especially as Jupiter is currently retrograde in Gemini, asking us to find an inner expansion around our stories and inner narrative, as the internal dialogue and stories we tell ourselves directly determine what is and isn’t possible. Make your inner story is one that is rooted in belief and trust that anythingis possible for you when you are in alignment with your soul’s path. This may take time, work and effort, but if something is in alignment with your soul it’s already yours – you just need to align your current life with the timeline in which that thing already exists.

Begin to follow more of what is true and aligned for you, even if it feels far away right now, and free yourself from the past and limitations in your life - anything, including people, behaviors or beliefs that you have outgrown, so that Uranus doesn’t need to do it for you.  When Uranus stations direct, tomorrow, the day after this New Moon, it asks you to break out and set yourself free of anything that has been restricting you or holding you back. It’s like releasing the bow from the arrow on the trajectory toward your destiny.

Under this new moon you have gotten clear on what you want from your future, Uranus will show you what you still are allowing to hold you back. You may feel this as frustration, anxiety, deep emotions or simply Uranus coming in to pull the rug out from under you and bring sudden changes to help free you. In a similar way to Pluto, Uranus will only break up what is old, stuck and stagnant, but he often does this in a way that feels unexpected, sudden and, in ways, that you weren’t prepared for.

This new moon also reminds us that it is our energy that creates our reality.  The frequency that we maintain is what we will attract back to ourselves.  We are being asked to get very clear about our energy.  And, it is opening a portal – an invitation- to choose our own vibration intentionally and to align it with our intentions and desires.

This is a moon to tap into miracle consciousness, to dream big and envision a new world – for yourself, and for others. You came here at this time for a reason and it’s now that you begin to be called forward to find out exactly why. Be part of the revolution, the change, the shift. Take a quantum leap towards your soul and trust that you’re going to get caught. As the visionary trailblazer Ralph Waldo Emerson reminds us:

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

You are creating your own future under this new moon, make it a future that you deeply desire and want.

It’s time to explore, dream and discover.   This new moon is calling you to create the future that you desire by authentically following the call of your soul.

Journal Reflections:

• What does living authentically mean to you?

• How do you embrace your own uniqueness?

• What dream or vision do you have that challenges the norm (ie. societal expectations) and how can you step towards it?

• What thought patterns and systems limit your freedom ad authenticity?  What emotional patterns or beliefs around love are you ready to release?

• What is your current body vibration?  What frequency are you putting out into the world?  What vibration are you intentionally cultivating each day?

• How does that vibration reflect what is happening within you?

• What are 3-5 things that you can do to change your vibration?

• What top 3 things consistently lower your vibration?

I am the architect of the unseen.

I root my vision into the Earth and carry it forward with love.

   I trust my vision, carry my purpose, and am guided by the light of my own vision and desires.