Seasonal Astrology - March/April 2018

Sri Vishnu, going with the flow

Today is March 20, 2018. This letter is composed in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Last week, on March 15, the Sun entered the mytho-poetic realm of Pisces. Two days later, on March 17, we experienced a new Moon in Pisces, initiating a month-long cycle wherein we are invited to zoom out and adopt the most expansive possible perspective on our experience of life. 

Pisces is the sign of day-dreamers, often accused of being aloof, if not outright lazy. But this is an incomplete portrayal, ignoring the fact that Pisces can be highly devoted and hard-working when the task(s) at hand align with their sense of higher meaning. Pisces is the part of us that seeks for the metaphorical significance of our existence, fueled by the irrational but undeniable knowing that there must be more to life than the mundane humdrum.

The wise approach Pisces as Vishnu (pictured above) does: floating at ease, enjoying beautiful Lakshmi (embodied as Venus, exalted in Pisces until March 27) and feeling perfect faith that the tides are drifting in the correct direction. Having cultivated a perspective inclusive of the entire cosmos, an individual life is clearly nothing but a speck of microscopic marine life. Prokaryotes are of course crucial to the health of the ocean as a whole, but they remain at the mercy of forces far beyond their power to influence. They may squirm this way or that, but the prevailing tides chart their predominantly predetermined course. Therein lies the wisdom of Vishnu: to relax and enjoy the ride.

The opposite of this laissez-faire strategy is embodied by the over-eager curiosity of planet Mercury, who finds himself debilitated (at his weakest) in the sign of Pisces. Mercury's youthful exuberance leads him to recklessly splash about, to flail, exhaust himself and ultimately drown in the vast ocean of consciousness. Floating calmly on one's back, one can last for days and be washed ashore; swimming frantically in one direction then the other because of a pretty fish or interesting eel leads to sinking quickly.

Mercury has been in Pisces since March 3, and will move retrograde from March 23 until April 15, finally leaving Pisces for Aries on May 10.

Takeaway: from now until May 10, be mindful of excessive outward seeking. You probably don't need to buy any new books or sign up for any more online classes, even though there are many enticing offerings available that will definitely pique your curiosity. Better for now to recommit to your established practice. Go deeper, not wider. Drop anchor and climb the crow's nest. Watch. Wait. Be the still point and just ride the passing waves.

Mars & Saturn in Planetary War
As observed by Komilla Sutton in her highly recommended monthly update for March, Mars and Saturn will be engaged in battle from March 31 to April 4. Komilla writes: "In Sagittarius, Mars is strong, yet... Saturn can be a frustrating influence as it forces reality and discipline... Mars is the action planet and when faced with the restrictions of Saturn, it feels very angry and dissatisfied."

This transit reinforces the the suggestion to take things slow. Focus extra attention on your practice of patience. Do your daily duties with diligence and faith that the little things count in a big way. The outcomes beyond our control are inexorably in motion. Therefore the best bet is to control ourselves, resist giving in to frustration or irritation, and instead keep our noses to the grindstone of inner work, knowing that the opportunity for more grandiose expressions is coming soon.

That opportunity arises in mid-April, as the Sun enters Aries (its sign of exaltation) on April 14 and Mercury turns direct and Moon is new in Aries on the 15th. The Aries cycle brings with it the fresh energy of Spring as it explodes into Summer. Our sense of power and purpose is strong with the Sun exalted, and we are now ready to break open the shell in which we've been incubating all Winter and early Spring. 

Takeaway: between now and mid-April, think of yourself as a coiled spring receiving downward pressure. The squeeze is intense and claustrophobic as all your pieces are compressed into the smallest space possible. However, you can better bear this discomfort knowing it is in service of ultimate release. But until then, instead of worrying about how much more pressure you can handle, or wishing for it to end, I advise you to spend your energy aiming your spring in the correct direction. Get it tilted at the precisely proper angle so that when it comes time to be set free, you explode where you want to go and don't squander the potential benefits earned through this time of compression.

By the time Mars enters Capricorn on May 3, there will be strong momentum for more practical actions out in the world. We'll discuss that in detail in the next newsletter, set to be sent out that first week of May.

In the meantime, you can learn more about what these transits mean for you personally by calculating your own Ascendant and determining what house is Pisces and Aries in your chart. This lets you know in greater detail which area of your life these energetic patterns are likely to play out.

If you have questions or comments, please reach out! COLORAMA is nothing but our members, and we welcome your engagement. Thanks for reading and participating!

Many blessings,

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David McConaghay is a former four-sport athlete who discovered yoga as a means to bring ease to an overburdened body-mind complex. He will graduate in May 2018 from the four-year Doctor of Ayurveda program at Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula. He holds an Associate's degree in Vedic Astrology and is pursuing a Doctorate in Divinity from the University of Metaphysical Sciences. In addition to extensive training in the Sivananda yoga tradition, David has a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from the George Washington University. His work and play is collected at VedaDave.com.
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