THIS MONTH THE dance of the Earth, Sun and Moon brings eclipses, which increase the potency of the Full and New Moons. And, the March equinox (vernal and autumnal in the Northern and Southern hemispheres respectively) on March 20th/21st ushers in spring for the Northern Hemisphere.

In March, the Moon's four major phases weave charisma, pretense, abundance, and consequences into our consciousness. The first three express adaptable mutable energy, employing earth, fire and water to discern, elevate and merge our efforts to change our focus and adjust to seasonal change. And, the fourth transmits initiating cardinal water energy to fuel our spring projects.

FULL MOON
March's Full Moon, on the 3rd at 4:18pm MST in Virgo exposes issues of political hysteria and political savvy. The energy of situations may lead to conditions getting out of control as those around us get carried away. It will require charisma and talent to generate enough power to sway a mob mentality and turn a situation around. Knowing what to say and when to say it, along with the power of our personality, can resolve the situation and restore a state of equilibrium. We must remain cautious that charismatic energy is not used to sway others to one's personal advantage.

Home & Garden - If we are building a house, the Full Moon is the best phase in which to lay the foundations. Declining lunar gravitational forces result in liquids retreating to the lower part of plants making this a favourable time to plant anything that requires a large root network or underground storage system - bulbs, tubers, biennials, etc.

Mind, Body & Health – This phase can bring forth physical, mental, emotional or spiritual conflict if we have been harbouring negative attitudes. We can use depilatory treatments, pluck eyebrows, and begin a health regime at this time.

Business & Finance – The Full Moon matures our efforts into vision and enthusiasm, which we can direct to reassess business plans; prepare budgets; and, carry out maintenance work.

MOON IN VIRGO
Virgo serves community and signals a return to order. Its agenda involves making full use of resources in order to better (serve) the community. And, Virgo recognizes that the whole is more than the sum of its parts and looks to the body as teacher and friend.

The Virgo Moon influences us to analyze how we can choose a line of work that encourages emotional attunement to details. We extend the Virgo Moon's affinity with health as we envision what shifts in diet and work environment or lifestyle we would have to make to rebalance what is out of balance in our body by calibrating to the original imprint for the radiant health of the human body. And, to whom would we send radiant health and encourage well-being.

Home & Garden – The Virgo Moon inclines us toward ultra cleanliness, which can be channeled into tackling the bathroom and medicine cabinet - throw out outdated stock. And, it is a good time to sort out our wardrobe and have a clear-out. The Virgo Moon's dry barren nature is suitable for soil cultivation, pruning, weeding, and destroying pests.

Mind, Body & Health – The Virgo Moon is the one most associated with health. If we are feeling overwhelmed and impatient, we can align with it to become more mindful and peaceful in our daily routine. This is an effective time for cleansing, purifying, and powerful healing of our body. In addition, we might go to the deeper issues and release our mental struggles of anxiety and worry that may be at the root of our physical discomfort. Moreover, we support our wellness as we review our daily routine and cut out bad habits. However, fussing over detail and excessive self-criticism can harm our creativity and confidence and undermine our wellbeing. And, we are more vulnerable to irritability, intestinal discomfort, and gastric or dietary upsets under a Virgo Moon.

Business & Finance – The Virgo Moon supports reorganization, stock-taking, and presenting detailed accounts. We can employ our keen eye for detail while shopping for medicine cabinet supplies, toiletries, personal organizers, organic foods, vitamin supplements, cleaning materials, and health insurance. And, we ought to avoid anything that is not practical and being over-critical under this Moon's influence.

THIRD (LAST) QUARTER MOON
The Third Quarter Moon on March 11th at 8:55pm MST in Sagittarius reminds us that emulation often leads to actualization. In those places where we might have been pretending to be something that we are not, or to be in control or to be smarter than we are, we may find a conscious shift occur. And we may gain awareness of the rewards that are sometimes inherent in make-believe. However, our vision can be strained when we don't want to see what's going on or when we prefer a pretend scenario instead of the reality of life. Furthermore, we must remain cautious of deliberately fooling others with false impressions and the blind leading the blind.

Home & Garden – The Third Quarter is well suited to painting projects and getting rid of clutter. And, garden clean up (pruning, weeding, etc.) in preparation for spring planting is appropriate at this time.

Mind, Body & Health – This phase creates internal tension that informs us that it's time to adjust our attitudes and follow new inspirations. We can work with the prevailing lunar energy to review, to rest and recuperate, to settle disputes, and for introspection.

Business & Finance – This quarter is most effective if we reorient our priorities away from what has already transpired toward the new. It is advantageous for publishing poor performance figures, taking out a loan, and tying up loose ends.

MOON IN SAGITTARIUS
Sagittarius' key idea of freedom plays out through its thematic principle of seeking. It's the life energy in all of us that is devoted to diversity. And ideally, Sagittarius expresses a consciousness that asks questions from anything or anyone and then works to find the fundamental principles, ways of organizing accumulated information into meaning, and ways to turn that information into wisdom and guidance.

The Sagittarius Moon inspires exploration of how our travels help us to discover that home is everywhere and how use of light or spatial arrangements of furniture can create expansive spaces in our home. In addition, we can expand our perspective when we explore what trips we would make, the Ah-ha's we would like to have, and to whom we would endow faith in the adventure of life and every aha.

Home & Garden – The Sagittarius Moon brings little enthusiasm for domestic duties and a desire for recognition and appreciation of our homemaking talents, which makes crafty chores our best bet at this time. The Sagittarius Moon's semi-fertile dry nature is a good complement to soil cultivation and mowing.

Mind, Body & Health – The Sagittarius Moon can aid us to generate energy on many levels and rekindle joy, creativity, and adventure in our life. If we have been feeling stuck, depressed or too intense, this Moon assists us to draw luck, play and laughter back to us. Spontaneous laughter can loosen up and relax our body, thus our health becomes stronger. And, drumming, singing, and chanting stimulates the fire energy to activate and draw power from our roots and extend it outward into creative endeavours like painting, writing, and acting. The Sagittarius Moon's fiery nature also helps warm the body and circulate our blood and chi. While a stagnant liver, created when we have been overly expansive and indulgent, can leave us experiencing frustration, anger, and irritability, we can read a travel book, take the dog for a walk, go to church, and write up a list of our future aspirations to help us unwind and nurture ourselves. And, we are well served when we avoid boredom, over indulgence, and taking unnecessary risks. We are typically more prone to weight gain and liverishness under a Sagittarius Moon's sway.

Business & Finance – Sagittarius Moon energy is beneficial for legal matters, business meetings, and trade. We can put travel books, casual clothes, camping equipment, hiking boots, a holiday flight, anything secondhand, and presents for our in-laws on our shopping list. And, we must avoid financial irresponsibility, slap-dash work, and restlessness.

NEW MOON
The New Moon on March 18th at 7:44pm MST in Pisces is accompanied by a partial solar eclipse. Its theme includes fullness and fertility; energetic and experiential peaks; brilliantly active subconscious life; cycles; and, the effects of the Moon. Emotions may be running high along with the sense that we have all that's needed. We must enjoy this moment when we have things at our disposal and try to keep a sense of equilibrium for soon enough energy will wane and we will have to get back to more practical, everyday tasks. And, we must exhibit enough faith that we do not fall into the trap of jealously protecting our possessions or become paralyzed in our choices because of the number of possibilities.

New Moon Visualizations:

Home & Garden – If our agenda includes moving house, March 18th to April 1st is the optimal period this lunar cycle; March 18th to 20th are the best days in this phase. Increasing lunar gravitational forces draw nutrients upward as the Moon waxes (grows) and we can utilize these conditions to sow plants with lots of aboveground growth, fruits, and flowers.

Mind, Body & Health – The New Moon is a perfect time for prayer or meditation - to go within our self and listen for what wants to unfold within us throughout this lunar cycle. And, we can get medical treatment and commence new projects to bolster our health.

Business & Finance – This quarter encourages expressing a new theme where new ideas and new concepts sprout forth. This is an opportune time to draw up contracts, initiate deals, and plan for the future.

MOON IN PISCES
Pisces has to do with surrender, faith, and service; blending spiritual harmony with the thematic principle of merging. Its challenge is to find the form with which to express ourselves. As the most sensitive of the signs, Pisces' thin boundaries teach us to exercise discrimination around what we take into our systems and who we trust not to poison us.

The Pisces Moon motivates us to intuit how our happiness hinges directly upon our ability to follow our dreams, and, how our emotional sensitivity informs us of where we really feel at home (or don't). We can extend Pisces' wisdom of emotion when we imagine how we would direct the sparkling light of unconditional love as a gift to someone else. And, what parts of our life would benefit from regular exposure to light and unconditional love.

Home & Garden – We can harmonize our efforts with the Pisces Moon to do laundry and clean the kitchen. Its fertile moist nature is very fruitful and promotes root growth, therefore, planting and transplanting low growing plants with pastel coloured flowers is preferred now.

Mind, Body & Health – The Pisces Moon's influence assists us to release our need for control; surrender to the process; and, flow with Spirit. A reflexology session, bathing, sweating, drinking lots of water, and avoiding pollutants can help us to purify our body of toxins and be quiet and gentle with ourselves and support our wellness. Expressing our creativity by writing a romantic story; composing a piece of music; painting a watercolour scene will positively impact our wellbeing. And, we further develop wellness if we avoid feeling inadequate, falling in love with the first person we meet, and changing our mind. In addition to immune system sensitivity, we are vulnerable to mental and physical sensitivity and problems with the feet under the Pisces Moon's influence and it is an excellent time for us to focus our attention on the desire to heal or take action to restore health to these areas.

Business & Finance – We can utilize Pisces Moon energy to draw up financial agreements, repair equipment, and/or stock -take. Artist's materials; a book about dreams; romantic fiction; shoes and hosiery; tapes or CDs; bedding; and/or, swimwear are likely to catch our fancy on shopping trips. And, we must avoid illogical reasoning; being too easily influenced; and, major purchases.

FIRST QUARTER MOON
The First Quarter Moon on March 25th at 11:17am MST in Cancer emphasizes the hazards of not looking to the consequences of our actions. If we are running against the grain of others, our individual ideas are unlikely to survive the collision with the more powerful collective. And, this is not the time to be insisting bravely that we should be considered since the collective has too much momentum and will not stop. If we pit ourselves and our energies against society, sooner or later, we are going to lose. Just as an automobile stands little chance in collision with a train, individual rights can be overrun by collective will. And, we are reminded that sometimes rebelling is a futile use of our energy.

Home & Garden – March 28th & 29th are the best days to move house this quarter and, along with April 1st, are very favourable for interior design projects. The First Quarter is the best time to plant annuals with above ground yields, which are vining and produce seed inside the fruit, including beans, peas, peppers, squash, and eggplant.

Mind, Body & Health – This phase's energy pushes us to take decisive action that positively nurtures and cultivates our vision for ourselves. It is a splendid time to do something that scares us and to congratulate ourselves for our courage in expanding our boundaries.

Business & Finance - This quarter, external stimulus could incite creative tension, which may move us to initiate action as we lay the foundation for Full Moon realization. This is a good time to seek legal or financial advice and inform workers of pay rises or bonus schemes.

MOON IN CANCER
Cancer represents emotional relatedness through which its key idea of Mother and its thematic principle of feeling function. It is associated with deep emotion, compassion, empathy, and a powerful sensitivity. Its task is finding balance between protecting and smothering friends and family.

The Cancer Moon implores us to examine how we have made our house, our home, and our food vitally important components of our happiness. We can broaden this inquiry as we imagine ourselves as one who understands the importance of creating a safe place in which new life can grow, and, what parts of us need this safe place, in order to incubate the best of ourselves. Additionally, we might look at what person or situation we would send nourishment and emotional safety, to heal or grow.

Home & Garden – The Moon in Cancer is the optimal time to seek or purchase a house. And, a thorough clearing of trash or residue ought to incorporate opening windows to clear out stale smells and emotions. The Cancer Moon's moist fertile nature is very fruitful and encourages hardiness and abundance. It is considered the best sign for planting and transplanting, with a special affinity for tomatoes, cucumbers, and corn.

Mind, Body & Health – Cancer Moon energy elicits a greater degree of emotion than usual and, if we let these feelings come, this can be a powerful time to process anything that is causing undue stress and worry or is stagnant in us. We can make progress in healing rifts and past hurts with our family under its influence. This Moon offers a deep and nourishing environment for our emotional life, in which we can release emotional pain through crying, as we allow the tears to dissolve tension and strengthen our connection to the water element's principle of nurturance and protection. Visiting our parents and looking up our ancestry can connect us to our roots and nurture our sense of wellbeing. Furthermore, we might weaken ourselves if we meddle in other's affairs and are over-clingy. Worry, moodiness, stomach upsets, and skin problems often manifest under this Moon's influence.

Business & Finance – The Cancer Moon promotes signing documents, setting up a crèche, and ending unsatisfactory conditions. In addition to being considered the optimal Moon under which to buy a house, we can spend money on monthly essentials (food), buying for the home (kitchen equipment, china, linens, household knick-knacks), and for loved ones (presents and greeting cards). And, we ought to avoid a reluctance to take risks; being over-sensitive to criticism; and/or, shopping near our workplace.

Eclipses are thought by some to be cosmic telegrams, reminding us of our personal exchanges and earthly duties. They can be amazing and liberating where we Let Go and Let God/the Universe/Destiny Decide, and traumatic where we are clinging to something we know we must let go of. Eclipses are more or less designed to bump us off the wrong path and onto the right path.

Eclipses respect the multitudes and appear to be most influential over worldly matters, providing for a cosmic balance upon Earth. Therefore, this month's total lunar eclipse, signaling culmination and release, and the partial lunar eclipse, indicating beginnings and the courage to let new energy in, could be a cosmic window of opportunity to break free of old habit patterns and enable us to move beyond our self-appointed limitations.

© Yvonne Hanson, 2007

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, why not sample the rest of the great articles, series, columns and monthly featured articles in PLW online magazine? WE NOW OFFER a 1-month, 3-month or 6-month subscription, or, for less than the price of one single cup of coffee per month, you get great metaphysical - spiritual - new thought articles, celestial guidance and news every single month for an ENTIRE YEAR ...or even two! The longer you sign up for, the cheaper it gets! Your contribution to PLW assists us in covering the monthly costs of running our website server, routinely upgrading hardware and software, and it also funds our latest project, Children of the New Earth Online Magazine. Click here for more...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yvonne Hanson is a freelance writer from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. In creating this column, Yvonne draws on fifteen years of astrological study and a desire to empower people. If you would like to sign up for Yvonne's free newsletter, which details the movement of the moon more closely, please contact her by email at starfire777_7@hotmail.com.