In light of the unimaginable devastation in Japan, it’s hard to write a forecast about the intensity of the next couple of weeks. One wonders how things could get any worse.

The one thing I find reassuring is that, as we saw during last year’s peak cardinal T-square period, events usually don’t happen on the dates when astrological aspects are exact. Often there’s a “trigger,” such as Mars passing over a critical degree, and events even can happen before the corresponding astrological signature. You’ll recall that I linked the mega-quake in Chile last February to an eclipse that hadn’t happened yet.

Still, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about what’s coming up, starting with this week’s Full Moon. At 29 degrees Virgo, this Full Moon is in a close square to the powerful lunar eclipse on December 21, 2010. Eclipse-related events can happen within a couple days but often are delayed by 30, 60 or 90 days. The 90-day mark is the square, 90 degrees.

A few hours after the December eclipse, the Sun entered Capricorn, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Likewise, the Sun enters Aries a day after this Full Moon, marking the spring equinox and the beginning of the astrological year. The transition from the last degree of a mutable sign to the first degree of a cardinal sign signals clearing away the old, outdated and unsustainable in order to begin a new growth cycle. This is especially true with Jupiter, planet of growth and expansion, in cardinal Aries.

Taking the week in chronological order, we begin Monday with the Moon in cardinal Cancer, the sign she rules. As she forms squares with Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn throughout the day, you may get a further glimpse into a new chapter in your life that began to unfold during last summer’s T-square.

Also on Monday, Venus and Saturn form a trine in air signs Aquarius and Libra. This combination favors coming up with solutions to old problems that are innovative – perhaps even radical – and yet balanced and realistic. If you’re facing a particular challenge in need of sound thinking and strategizing, this is your moment.

On Tuesday, Mercury conjoins Jupiter in Aries, bringing the message home that change not only is necessary but inevitable. However, it won’t come without some stops and starts, as Mercury enters his pre-retrograde shadow period on Wednesday in preparation to reverse motion on March 30. This means he’ll make two more conjunctions with Jupiter, on April 11 and then again on May 11. I don’t expect that issues you encounter on Tuesday will be new, but you may suddenly realize you have to change your approach.

On Friday, Mercury opposes Saturn, which injects a dose of reality into your thinking. Although this can be discouraging, it’s better to know what you’re dealing with so that you can plan accordingly. A solid plan might even help you get through the fits and starts of Mercury retrograde.

Saturday is the Full Moon in Virgo, which is going to be heavily laden with messages of letting go, cleaning up, leaving the past behind, and preparing for a new way of living, being, and doing. There won’t be time for long good-byes. The Sun enters Aries the following day, and again we head out on the next leg of our journey into new and unfamiliar territory.

Much love and courage to all,
Pat