Up To Now ✩ Day-to-Day Transits

Moon comes In-Bounds

The Moon now comes back In-Bounds (InB) by declination after being Out-of-Bounds from Mar. 26 (03 GE 47) to Mar. 31, 2023 (07 LE 29).

When the Moon is Out of Bounds (OOB) your emotional state may be a bit erratic, detached or isolated. This could be either a welcome change or a difficult energy for you to deal with. When the Moon comes In-Bounds, you typically return to whatever your "normal" is. If your OOB journey was stressful or intense, you may find some relief now that the Moon is back In-B and/or you are in a position to integrate into your life whatever you learned from your experience. If your OOB journey felt like a welcome reprieve from the everyday stress or "noise" of the world around you, coming back In-B will hopefully give you a fresh start, like coming back from a brief vacation. The Moon will go OOB next in about 2 weeks, give or take a couple/few days.

Venus conjunct Uranus

The warm receptivity of Venus can become somewhat cool, detached and unpredictable when combined with Uranus. This is a good combination for carrying out a dispassionate strategy, or for networking with acquaintances and associates. It can also be a time when you might liberate yourself from old connections – for example, choosing to end a relationship, stepping away from an outworn friendship, or being open to experimenting with new kinds of connections with people. It can also be a time of impulse spending, or wanting to use your resources and finances for a humanitarian purpose. Finances may become a bit unpredictable or unstable – either bringing income when you didn't expect it, or spending it when you may or may not have. Whether you want to liberate your own life or someone else's, this is a time when freedom and independence become the focus of pleasure. Experimentation is also tempting, and while this can be invigorating, it might also leave you with consequences you hadn't anticipated. Embrace your spontaneity, but don't divorce your judgment.

Mars trine Saturn

This is a great time for disciplined action that can produce grounded, specific and stable results. If you have a project that needs to push ahead to the next step, you may find this is a good time to do that. If you want to make progress with your ambitions, goals and plans, this can be a good time to make plans or to take action. You are likely to feel "together," capable and strong, giving you a serious, calm and realistic confidence. It's usually easier to control or restrain your more volatile emotions, and present yourself as someone who is stable and on top of things. This transit can bring sustained physical energy that doesn't burn itself out quickly and can pace itself for lasting endurance. Remember that the effects of this transit typically last only about a week or two, so make the most of it!

Mercury conjunct Jupiter

This aspect can make you quite talkative and your mind flooded with ideas. Be careful you don't blurt out any secrets! Your stream of consciousness ideas can flow abundantly right now with optimism and visionary possibilities. Write down your best ideas for later development, since you may be having too much fun playing with ideas, to stop and make them manifest. Basic perceptions and simple communication can provide food for thought that feeds your greater understanding and philosophical insight. Your point of view expands to identify opportunities, possibilities and the broader implications of what is happening around you. You might get a flash of vision, insight and inspiration. You could be called upon to form an opinion, consider a different viewpoint, expand your knowledge, or make a judgement call. Your conscious awareness is open to spiritual experiences right now.

Mercury conjunct Chiron

Words can wound, but they can also heal. This transit may bring new awareness of the ways that you need to heal... and perhaps also the ways that you wound yourself or others, especially through thoughts, words and attitudes. You might become aware of harming yourself through negative self-talk or harsh self-criticism. Or, you might expect rigid perfection of yourself and forget that you are a multi-dimensional being who is, by your human nature, inconsistent and fallible. Your mental focus or attitude might have a sharp edge to it that is harsh, or you may encounter harsh attitudes from someone else that are hurtful, perhaps without meaning to be. Words and thoughts can be powerful tools. By reframing the message or situation in a different way, it is possible to turn hurt into healing and ignorance into wisdom. For example, it may help to eliminate either-or thinking by accepting that paradoxes and contradictions exist and may not have to be fully resolved for you to find a workable balance within them. By adopting a bit of a philosophical attitude, you may find it takes some of the pressure off the need for everything to fit together perfectly, which can leave some breathing room for everyone involved to be human.

Moon goes Out of Bounds

The Moon is Out-of-Bounds (OOB) by declination from Mar. 13 (04 SG 00) to Mar. 17, 2023 (07 AQ 17).

During this time, your feelings and emotions may move in a different kind of rhythm. One possible effect is that you might feel more disconnected from the world around you; perhaps a bit alone, lonely or isolated. Or, this could be a welcome change where you can let the stresses of the world roll off your back more easily. Or, your emotions could be a bit erratic, extreme or harder to contain. The common thread through these diverse experiences is that your feeling state may reach beyond your usual range of feelings. If you're an artist, musician, writer or other creative person, this can be a very inspiring time as your creativity and imagination could more easily flow into unusual ideas, whims and impulses.

A planet goes OOB when its declination is greater than 23:26 (23 degrees and 26 minutes), which is the maximum declination of the Sun, and the Sun defines the "Bounds." The Moon goes OOB twice a month for about 8-9 years at a time (and remains In-Bounds for about 8-9 years in between). Currently the Moon's declination is able to go beyond 23:26 from March 2020 to January 2030, peaking at a maximum declination of 28:42 in September 2025 (called the Maximum Lunar Standstill).

So for now, as the maximum declination of the Moon increases from month to month, so will the strength of the OOB effects. Watch to see how you respond to these times. You can work on finding ways to channel this energy into positive, productive, creative experiences, or use it as an opportunity to take another step in your emotional healing.

United Kingdom begins Daylight Saving Time

If you live in the UK, Europe or in the Middle East, and if your region observes Daylight Saving Time, it's time to move your clocks one hour FORWARD. If you're not sure if this applies to you, check the change dates for your location on DateAndTime.com.

Mars enters Cancer

The fiery energy of Mars is poured through the sensitive, emotional waters of Cancer. This is not the easiest placement for Mars, since its sharp edge becomes somewhat softened and diluted. However, this is also a time when it is possible to use your assertive and proactive energy for the protection of yourself or others. This is like the mother bear that can become extremely fierce when protecting her young, and in the same way you have an abundance of energy to defend your "children" – literally or figuratively, in the sense of creative projects, loved ones, your Inner Child, or your home "nest. " This is also a time when deep emotional issues may erupt to the surface, like buried anger, repressed frustration or unconscious fear. The focus of your feelings may be a little unstable and moody, but it also gives you an opportunity to nurture, vent and express those feelings. Observe how you respond to any deep feelings that emerge, either in yourself or in others. Does your Inner Parent try to repress or scold that Inner Child, or are you able to respond lovingly, caringly and sensitively? This is a learning experience that can teach you how to nurture yourself... and others.

Pluto enters Aquarius

Pluto changes signs for the first time since 2008, moving from Capricorn into Aquarius. During 2023 and 2024, Pluto moves in and out of Aquarius before remaining in that sign until 2043. Pluto shines a light on that which is hidden or obscured, like secrets or the unconscious, especially in the context of power and empowerment. By bringing these themes up to the light of awareness, these areas can become transformed, and often things may seem to get worse before they get better.

While in Aquarius, Pluto is likely to reveal the hidden depths of friendships, networking, groups of people united by a common interest or purpose, mass communication, technology, and our collective vision of future possibilities. For a more personal experience of Pluto's transformative nature, look to the house(s) where Aquarius resides in your Natal chart. These areas of your life are likely to undergo a long-term, gradual shift that increases your awareness of how these areas are in need of change.

Overall, your preference in friends, associates, groups, clubs, etc., will probably change over the next 20 years. That tends to happen no matter where Pluto is, of course, but this time it may be especially focused in what qualities in yourself are brought out by those people or groups. Do you like who you are when you're around those people? Are you seeing something new in others that bothers you or perhaps impresses you in some new way?

Pluto was previously in Aquarius from 1777-1798. Pluto's current transition into and journey through Aquarius are:

• Aquarius – 23-Mar-2023 to 11-Jun-2023
• Capricorn – 11-Jun-2023 to 20-Jan-2024
• Aquarius – 20-Jan-2024 to 1-Sep-2024
• Capricorn – 1-Sep-2024 to 19-Nov-2024
• Aquarius – 19-Nov-2024 to 8-Mar-2043
• Pisces – 8-Mar-2043 to 31-Aug-2043
• Aquarius – 31-Aug-2043 to 19-Jan-2044

NEW MOON IN ARIES

A new 4-week lunar cycle begins with the New Moon in Aries, ruled by feisty Mars. Aries is the sign of enthusiasm, adverturousness and directness. This lunar cycle can be used to work with this energy – to raise courage, confidence, purpose and initiative when it is lagging, or to find ways to bring some calm and balance when it is overheated or out of control. This Fire sign can be impulsive, instinctive and passionate, and needs to live in the moment. As a Cardinal sign, Aries likes to start new things, initiate new actions, and be moving toward a destination, even if just short-term.

An in-depth article about this New Moon will be posted in the Low-Down on the Far-Out.

Sun enters Aries

Happy Solar Return to all Aquarians! While the Sun travels through Aquarius, we all have a chance to explore our rebellious, individualistic and futuristic Aquarian nature. This heralds a time to explore beyond the status quo and conventional reality, beckoning you to reach out to the lost threads of who you are. You may become more aware of your individual uniqueness and your part in the Great Collective – both your surrounding community and the Collective Unconscious. In order to fulfil the unique fingerprint of your life's purpose, it is sometimes necessary to be rebellious, spontaneous, and to be open to the unexpected. You might become aware of the need for these qualities under this transit. There is always a constant tension between the need to conform to society's formula of what works best versus the need to step off the main path to explore new experiences, and both are equally necessary to the health of both the individual and the greater community.

Archetypally, it is in Aquarius that we encounter our personal experience of the battle between "the needs of the many" versus "the needs of the few. " During the Sun's adventure through Aquarius, be open to the ways that this dynamic operates in your life. What can trigger or inspire you into rebellion or going against the conventional flow of the world around you? What will motivate you into being a team player, when you apply your energies to support or defend "the needs of the many? " What visions of the future do you see when you are in either mode of being? This is a time when you may have the opportunity to observe and learn about both sides of yourself – the part that feels like it's "me against the world" and the part that feels like a part of that world.

Sun sextile Pluto

Your sense of purpose is potentially strong now, being able to tap into a deeper level of energy and determination. Your personality may be more forceful now, which can be great if you need to make a strong impression but perhaps not so much in situations requiring delicacy or subtlety. You have greater ability to see below the surface of things now, although it may not be as easy to put it all together and understand what it all means. It can be possible to unearth secrets or get at the core of unconscious patterns (yours and others'). However, you'll have to work to harvest the fruit of these potentials, and some of the insights and benefits may not become apparent until later.

Venus conjunct North Lunar Node

Mercury enters Aries

Directness of speech, fast perceptions and an attitude of "just do it" mark this transit. While Mercury sprints through Aries, you may feel the impulse to cut through and get to the point in conversations and other forms of communication. Body language speaks loudly now, as do actions. At its best, this transit can help words, awareness and insight to arise spontaneously, combined with the courage to express them. On the other hand, you could also say things out of anger, impatience or impulse that you later regret. It may be a time when you'd rather cut to the chase – acknowledge things and move on – rather than hang around to process the details. It's a great time to spin ideas that can be developed later. It is also a good time to think independently and follow your thoughts into new perspectives.

Mercury sextile Pluto

Penetrating insights and passionate communication are possible under this transit... although, so is speaking more forcefully than you intend to about things that require a bit of delicacy or discretion. It is also a time when your mental concentration can come together so easily that you become obsessed. You may prefer in-depth discussion to small-talk, and it might feel awkward if you aren't able to explore the depths in your interaction or communication with others. However, you likely have an increased ability to pick up on undercurrents of what's happening around you. This is also a time when you can start to shed and leave behind old worn out perceptions and ways of communicating. You also have an increased ability to take thoughts, ideas and information and transform them into something healing... or wounding. Choose your words carefully and mindfully. Writing down your thoughts and ideas to capture the energy of this transit can help you gather the deeper qualities.

Moon comes In-Bounds

The Moon now comes back In-Bounds (InB) by declination after being Out-of-Bounds from Mar. 13 (04 SG 00) to Mar. 17, 2023 (07 AQ 17).

When the Moon is Out of Bounds (OOB) your emotional state may be a bit erratic, detached or isolated. This could be either a welcome change or a difficult energy for you to deal with. When the Moon comes In-Bounds, you typically return to whatever your "normal" is. If your OOB journey was stressful or intense, you may find some relief now that the Moon is back In-B and/or you are in a position to integrate into your life whatever you learned from your experience. If your OOB journey felt like a welcome reprieve from the everyday stress or "noise" of the world around you, coming back In-B will hopefully give you a fresh start, like coming back from a brief vacation. The Moon will go OOB next in about 2 weeks, give or take a couple/few days.

Venus sextile Saturn

It is possible to find some stability in your relationships and finances under this transit, especially if you are willing to negotiate fairly and realistically. You have increased ability to be disciplined about spending and budgeting, and to invest in hard work to maximise your earnings. Your ability to grasp the solid, realistic facts will help you choose wisely in your investments of both money and your interaction with others. Commitment and structure may be easier to approach and achieve than if you take risks now. Your self-worth can benefit from this transit because you may be less inclined to give in to mood swings. On the other hand, if you are prone to depression, you might want to be careful you don't become so grounded and stable that you lose touch with your sense of hope and potential. It is a good time to make concrete progress in matters involving beauty, love, harmony and balance. Keep your pleasures simple and humble for maximum benefit.

Sun conjunct Mercury

During this transit, your sense of self and purpose can become merged with what you think, perceive and say. On one hand, this can make for an easy flow of ideas and communication from inside your brain to the external world. It can also increase your perceptions and observations of the world, as you file it all away in your internal database. On the other hand, you may find yourself a bit tongue-tied, as it could be hard to separate your sense of self from your perceptions and ideas enough to find the words to adequately express them. In that case, just observe and go with the flow; the words will come later. It can also be a time when it's not easy to be objective, especially about yourself and how you bring yourself to the world around you. It's like your Being automatically expresses and sets into motion the things you think, perceive and want to say. This can help you to feel like your sense of self is shining effortlessly, but if your thoughts and perceptions are in conflict with other parts of you (e. g. , emotions, needs, objectivity) then it might become a time when you act a little too quickly with blinders on. Strive for balance and self-honesty before you act.

The peak of Mercury conjunct the Sun is when it is Cazimi, which means being exact within 1 degree of arc (or some use 17 minutes of arc). For the few hours that this takes place, a Cazimi planet is said to be very strong. In the case of Mercury, your perceptions, awareness, thoughts and ability to put your thoughts into words may be unusually clear, focused or direct – even more-so since this happens in Mercury's sign of Gemini. You are still cautioned that an extra sharp wit might still be used with negative consequences, intentionally or not.

Mercury square Mars

Fiery speech, argument and hot debate characterise this transit. This could come in the form of conflict, or it might be stimulating and challenging – or both! One thing to watch out for is that you may have a short fuse for a temper, and the same may be true for others around you. It can be a time when you blurt out things you later regret, or you might finally find the courage to do something that's long overdue. The problem is that one can easily look like the other, and what feels like courage in the moment might look more like reckless haste in retrospect. Harsh words can't always be taken back, so keep a grip on your objectivity and better judgment while you're verbally fighting the dragons. Use this energy to stoke your motivational fires, and use your ideas to generate positive action. It can help to pace your mental energy like racing a horse, which can harness abundant energy to fuel your decisions, courage and resolve.

Venus enters Taurus

Venus rules the sign of Taurus, so she is very comfortable here! Your experiences of pleasure and sensuality are likely to be heightened... perhaps even a bit too much! You might be tempted to overindulge in sensory delights. On the other hand, you may feel the urge to be more grounded, practical and methodical in the way you handle relationships, money, possessions, material values, and attracting what you desire. It is also a time when your desires could manifest tangibly or at least become more apparent. It may be possible to see more clearly the ways that your self-worth is tied to material things, like income, savings, possessions and spending. Your finances and possessions could act like a "touch stone" to reassure you in times of stress. The trick is not to let this become a substitute for genuine self-respect. To make the most of this transit, take some time to relax and enjoy life! Take your time, smell the flowers, drink in the sunsets, listen to beautiful music, get an aromatherapy massage or explore new uses for chocolate. ;-)