All Signs

Oh, happy spring! Today is the Spring Equinox, when the Sun enters Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. On this lovely day, Mercury is also lined up with Jupiter, which portends positive things for the month ahead. (We like.) Having said that, there will be some tense moments this week, especially Tuesday. (“Where are my kid gloves?”) But this will mellow out by Friday when a dynamic, energy encourages us to shake off negative emotions and enjoy spontaneous fun. By Saturday, confidence and clarity is restored along with bonds of friendship and trust. Oh yes — trust everyone and always lock your door.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

It’s that time again when the Sun is in your sign for four weeks, which is your best chance to rejuvenate yourself and recharge your batteries for the rest of the year. Naturally, your focus of attention will be more personal and on yourself, and that’s exactly as it should be. You will project yourself with more forcefulness than usual, which is why this is a great time to make a strong impression on others. Because you are personally empowered, it’s best to work alone or run the show. (You’ll be less of a team player in the next few weeks.) Expect some challenges dealing with friends or groups, perhaps about money or possessions. Someone might try to thwart your goals. (Big mistake!)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Right now your personal year is ending because your birthday is a month away. Therefore, the next four weeks are the perfect time to keep a low profile and give serious thought to what you want for yourself in the year ahead. (Birthday to birthday.) Goals are important right now because this is a time of harvest in your life. Many cherished dreams are coming true. In addition, now you can now see clearly what is working in your life and what is not. In fact, your strong ambition might be thwarted by someone this week. If so, look for ways to match your goals with their goals, or vice versa, so that you have a win/win situation. Many hands make light work.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You’re heading into a lovely four-week window that will increase your popularity and heighten your interest in groups, clubs and organizations. Perhaps a friendship will assume a greater importance for you? According to the Mayo Clinic, friendships enrich your life and improve your health. However, better to be alone than in bad company! This is because your friends will influence your mind and your thinking; and it’s your mind that makes the decisions that determine your future. In this way, your friends can actually affect your entire life! Therefore, hang out with quality people. Make friends with people who want the best for you – people who have your back.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

For the next four weeks, the Sun will travel across the top of your chart. (This is the only time all year this happens.) This is wonderful news because it symbolizes that you are in the spotlight, and that others admire you. This will happen even if you don’t do anything different or special. It’s like magic. (Chalk it up to smoke and mirrors.) Nevertheless, this influence is a reality, which means you can use it to your advantage. Obviously, now is the time to go after what you want and make your pitch. Do whatever you can to get the approval or permission from people in power to further your agenda. Make hay while the Sun shines!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

In the next four weeks, do what you can to broaden your horizons. Take up a new study. Explore new and unfamiliar experiences. Meet people from different backgrounds. Grab every chance to travel or change your surroundings so that you feel invigorated by something new and fresh. Even the most trivial encounter might be stimulating. Basically, the theme for this month ahead is that you want to break free from your usual routine and go somewhere where you can learn something new. For some of you, you might be more involved with the law or legal matters. Others will be excited to explore metaphysical, philosophical and new belief systems that are either modern or ancient.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Count on feeling more intense and passionate about every aspect of your life in the next four weeks. You might even notice strange compulsions surfacing. (“I want to open doorknobs. I don’t know why?”) During this same window of time, you might meet someone who causes you to do some serious soul-searching, which could force changes in your life. They might even challenge your values or make you rethink what you thought was important. You will also have a greater concern for finances, resources and property that is jointly held. Perhaps you are trying to borrow money or get financial backing? Struggles and interruptions at work, or possibly related to a pet, or even your health might arise this week. Stay chill. Jupiter will bring you divine protection.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

For the next four weeks, the Sun will be opposite your sign. In your chart, this means the Sun will be as far away from you as it can get all year. Because the Sun is your source of energy, this means that you will feel more tired than usual. Ergo, get more sleep. This polarized position of the Sun will also increase your focus on close friends and partners. The good news is it will give you more objectivity as you view these relationships, which means you will have a better chance to see how to improve the relationship. Meanwhile, parents should be aware that this is an accident-prone week for their kids. Sports accidents might occur. Social plans, including vacations might be cancelled or suddenly changed. Oops.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

In the next four weeks, you will be more competent, more energetic and driven to be more organized. This is timely because this week, there will be interruptions to your home or family scene, and fortunately, (voila!) you will have the energy and focus to cope with whatever happens. Basically, in this window of time, you will strive to make every action count. You will refine your techniques and sharpen your approach to be efficient, effective and productive. (Oh, you’re on a tear!) Increased activity on the home front or within your family will create some speed bumps this week. You will also be into redecorating and making things look nicer at home. You might focus on your health more than usual including your interaction with a pet. “Wanna treat?”

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Oh joy! The next four weeks will bring you happy times because the Sun will be travelling through one of the most fun parts of your chart. (Yay me!) You will want to get out and have a good time. You’ll feel lighter, happier and eager to explore amusing diversions. This is a great window to enjoy a vacation, as well as fun outings. You might be more involved than usual with children. Certainly, your attitude toward your relationships will be lighter and for some, new romance will begin. Nevertheless, conflict with siblings or neighbours might occur this week, especially Tuesday. Best to zip thy lip.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Your attention will shift to home, family and your private life in the next four weeks. Some of you will be more involved than usual with a parent. Grab every opportunity to go off by yourself and spend some time in contemplation. Maybe memories of your past, as well as thinking about personal self-evaluation will occur. You’re keen to work hard to earn money, and you’re spending it on beautiful things as well. In fact, this week, especially Tuesday, you might have financial disputes with someone. This disagreement could be about vacations, social issues, the arts or something to do with your kids. Some will have a rocky time with romance.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

The pace of your days will accelerate in the next four weeks. Suddenly, you’ve got things to do, places to go and people to see! This same window of time will be great to learn new things or explore new avenues through reading, writing and studying. You might also be more involved with siblings and relatives. However, be aware that with Mars in your sign, you’re coming on a bit strong and this is bound to trigger conflict with others, especially at the beginning of the week around Tuesday. If this occurs, remind yourself what your long-term objective is. What’s more important? Being right or being in the relationship?

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Money and finances are on your mind in the next four weeks. You might consider a new job offer or ponder moneymaking ideas? You will also be busy more than usual with your possessions. At a subtle level, you will be giving more thought to your values in life. In other words, what really matters? (So important to know.) Some angst might be triggered at the beginning of the week because of something going on behind the scenes. Or perhaps it’s going on internally in your mind? “I’m going to have a serious shower argument with myself.” (Ah yes, those shower arguments when you remember to say the perfect clever response to stun your opponent.)

March 20, 2022 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Northern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Custom Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.

From Moongiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waning Gibbous Phase. This is the first phase after the Full Moon occurs. It lasts roughly 7 days with the Moon’s illumination growing smaller each day until the Moon becomes a Last Quarter Moon with an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm and Midnight depending on the age of the phase. The moon rises later and later each night setting after sunrise in the morning. During this phase the Moon can also be seen in the early morning daylight hours on the western horizon.

Visit the March 2022 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waning Gibbous Phase

The Waning Gibbous on March 20 has an illumination of 94%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On March 20 the Moon is 17.05 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 94%
Moon Age: 17.05 days
Moon Angle: 0.53
Moon Distance: 373,086.34 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 149,007,977.84 km

Useful Moon Resources

Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com

For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society

The Milky Way Galaxy

If you want to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) for your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date

Northwestern Hemisphere

The time for these Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Los Angeles, California, USA

March 20, 2022
11:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM PDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:00 Aries 18
Moon:04 Scorpio 14
Mercury:18 Pisces 13
Venus:13 Aquarius 45
Mars:11 Aquarius 00
Jupiter:18 Pisces 41
Saturn:20 Aquarius 58
Uranus:12 Taurus 21
Neptune:23 Pisces 09
Pluto:28 Capricorn 13

True Lunar Node:23 Taurus 41 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:25 Taurus 21 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):27 Gemini 13

Chiron:11 Aries 39
Ceres:09 Gemini 39
Pallas:13 Aries 06
Juno:18 Aquarius 34
Vesta:04 Aquarius 50

Eris:24 Aries 05

Fire:4
Earth:4
Air:7
Water:4

Cardinal:5
Fixed:9
Mutable:5

Obliquity of the Nine Planets

Northern Hemisphere

The time for these Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Chicago, Illinois, USA

March 20, 2022
09:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM CDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:00 Aries 14
Moon:03 Scorpio 04
Mercury:18 Pisces 04
Venus:13 Aquarius 40
Mars:10 Aquarius 57
Jupiter:18 Pisces 40
Saturn:20 Aquarius 58
Uranus:12 Taurus 21
Neptune:23 Pisces 09
Pluto:28 Capricorn 13

True Lunar Node:23 Taurus 41 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:25 Taurus 21 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):27 Gemini 13

Chiron:11 Aries 38
Ceres:09 Gemini 37
Pallas:13 Aries 04
Juno:18 Aquarius 32
Vesta:04 Aquarius 48

Eris:24 Aries 05

Fire:4
Earth:4
Air:7
Water:4

Cardinal:5
Fixed:9
Mutable:5

Obliquity of the Nine Planets

Northeastern Hemisphere

The time for these Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

20 March 2022
03:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM CEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:29 Pisces 59
Moon:29 Libra 34
Mercury:17 Pisces 38
Venus:13 Aquarius 25
Mars:10 Aquarius 45
Jupiter:18 Pisces 36
Saturn:20 Aquarius 56
Uranus:12 Taurus 20
Neptune:23 Pisces 09
Pluto:28 Capricorn 13

True Lunar Node:23 Taurus 42 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:25 Taurus 22 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):27 Gemini 11

Chiron:11 Aries 37
Ceres:09 Gemini 33
Pallas:12 Aries 58
Juno:18 Aquarius 26
Vesta:04 Aquarius 41

Eris:24 Aries 04

Fire:3
Earth:4
Air:8
Water:4

Cardinal:5
Fixed:8
Mutable:6

March 20 Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2022 March 20

A Picturesque Equinox Sunset

Image Credit & Copyright: Roland Christen

Explanation: What’s that at the end of the road? The Sun. Many towns have roads that run east – west, and on two days each year, the Sun rises and sets right down the middle. Today is one of those days: an equinox. Not only is today a day of equal night (“aequus”-“nox”) and day time, but also a day when the sun rises precisely to the east and sets due west. Featured here is a picturesque road in northwest Illinois, USA that runs approximately east -west. The image was taken during the March Equinox of 2015, and shows the Sun down the road at sunset. In many cultures, this March equinox is taken to be the first day of a season, typically spring in Earth’s northern hemisphere, and autumn in the south. Does your favorite street run east – west? Tonight, at sunset, you can find out with a quick glance.

History of Ostara, The Spring Equinox

The word Ostara is just one of the names applied to the celebration of the spring equinox on March 21. The Venerable Bede said the origin of the word is actually from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring. Of course, it’s also the same time as the Christian Easter celebration, and in the Jewish faith, Passover takes place as well. For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season.

Typically, the Celtic peoples did not celebrate Ostara as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons.

According to History.com,

“At the ruins of Chichen Itza, the ancient Maya city in Mexico, crowds now gather on the spring (and fall) equinox to watch as the afternoon sun creates shadows that resemble a snake moving along the stairs of the 79-foot-tall Pyramid of Kukulkan, also called El Castillo. On the spring equinox, the snake descends the pyramid until it merges with a large, serpent head sculpture at the base of the structure. While the Maya were skilled astronomers, it’s unknown whether they specifically designed the pyramid to align with the equinox and create this visual effect.”

A New Day Begins

A dynasty of Persian kings known as the Achaemenians celebrated the spring equinox with the festival of No Ruz, which means “new day.” It is a celebration of hope and renewal still observed today in many Persian countries, and has its roots in Zoroastrianism.

In Iran, a festival called Chahar-Shanbeh Suri takes place right before No Ruz begins, and people purify their homes and leap over fires to welcome the 13-day celebration of No Ruz.

Mad as a March Hare

Spring equinox is a time for fertility and sowing seeds, and so nature’s fertility goes a little crazy.

In medieval societies in Europe, the March hare was viewed as a major fertility symbol. This is a species of rabbit that is nocturnal most of the year, but in March when mating season begins, there are bunnies everywhere all day long. The female of the species is superfecund and can conceive a second litter while still pregnant with a first. As if that wasn’t enough, the males tend to get frustrated when rebuffed by their mates, and bounce around erratically when discouraged.

The Legends of Mithras

The story of the Roman god, Mithras, is similar to the tale of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Born at the winter solstice and resurrected in the spring, Mithras helped his followers ascend to the realm of light after death. In one legend, Mithras, who was popular amongst members of the Roman military, was ordered by the Sun to sacrifice a white bull. He reluctantly obeyed, but at the moment when his knife entered the creature’s body, a miracle took place. The bull turned into the moon, and Mithras’ cloak became the night sky. Where the bull’s blood fell flowers grew, and stalks of grain sprouted from its tail.

Spring Celebrations Around the World

In ancient Rome, the followers of Cybele believed that their goddess had a consort who was born via a virgin birth.

His name was Attis, and he died and was resurrected each year during the time of the vernal equinox on the Julian Calendar (between March 22 and March 25).

The indigenous Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. As the sun sets on the day of the equinox on the great ceremonial pyramid, El Castillo, Mexico, its “western face…is bathed in the late afternoon sunlight. The lengthening shadows appear to run from the top of the pyramid’s northern staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a diamond-backed snake in descent.” This has been called “The Return of the Sun Serpent” since ancient times.

According to the Venerable Bede, Eostre was the Saxon version of a Germanic goddess called Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox–almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west.

There is very little documented evidence to prove this, but one popular legend is that Eostre found a bird, wounded, on the ground late in winter. To save its life, she transformed it into a hare. But “the transformation was not a complete one. The bird took the appearance of a hare but retained the ability to lay eggs…the hare would decorate these eggs and leave them as gifts to Eostre.”
Modern Celebrations

This is a good time of year to start your seedlings. If you grow an herb garden, start getting the soil ready for late spring plantings. Celebrate the balance of light and dark as the sun begins to tip the scales, and the return of new growth is near.

Many modern Pagans mark Ostara as a time of renewal and rebirth. Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature–walk in a park, lay in the grass, hike through a forest. As you do so, observe all the new things beginning around you–plants, flowers, insects, birds. Meditate upon the ever-moving Wheel of the Year, and celebrate the change of seasons.

Author

Patti Wigington
Published on ThoughtCo.com

OSTARA LORE

A traditional Vernal Equinox pastime: go to a field and randomly collect wildflowers [Thank the flowers for their sacrifice before picking them, using a collection formula such as can be found in “An Herbal Grimoire”]. Or buy some from a florist, taking one or two of those that appeal to you. Then bring them home and divine their magickal meanings by the use of books, your own intuition, a pendulum or by other means. The flowers you’ve chosen reveal your inner thoughts and emotions.

It is important at this time of renewed life to plan a walk (or a ride) through gardens, a park, woodlands, forest and other green places. This is not simply exercise, and you should be on no other mission. It isn’t even just an appreciation of nature. Make your walk celebratory, a ritual for nature itself.

Other traditional activities include planting seeds, working on magickal gardens and practicing all forms of herb work – magickal, medicinal, cosmetic, culinary and artistic.

Foods in tune with this day (linking your meals with the seasons is a fine way of attuning with nature) include those made of seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, as well as pine nuts.

Sprouts are equally appropriate, as are leafy, green vegetables. Flower dishes such as stuffed nasturtiums or carnation cupcakes also find their place here. [Find a book of flower cooking or simply make spice cupcakes. Ice with pink frosting and place a fresh carnation petal on each cupcake. Stuff nasturtium blossoms with a mixture made with cream cheese, chopped nuts, chives and watercress.]

20 March 2022 Daily Correspondence Digest Southern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Custom Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.