Moon into Aries: A Vibrant Beginning

Saturday morning through Monday evening
Eastern Standard Time

Saturday, December 31

at the starting line

Moon enters Aries 4:49am
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 5:37am
Moon conjunct Uranus (Aries) 6:28am
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:33am
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 7:26pm

Sunday, January 1
Mercury (Sagittarius) square Mars (Virgo) 1:05am
Moon square Sun (Capricorn) 1:15am
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 6:44am
Moon sextile Venus (Aquarius) 10:03am
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 9:45pm
Moon trine Mercury (Sagittarius) 11:57pm

Monday, January 2
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 2:01pm
Moon sextile Neptune (Aquarius) 3:06pm
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Taurus 5:16pm
Moon conjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 6:14pm
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 7:04pm
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 9:20m

On New Year's Eve, the last day of 2011, our thoughts turn toward the year ahead––and who better to lead the way than an Aries Moon? Early Saturday morning, the Moon moves confidently into the first sign of the zodiac, fiery sign of Cardinal Fire, ready to blaze a path into the new. Watch out, world!

The Moon's aspects Saturday are classic, no-holds-barred, Aries: Joining with Uranus the trickster revolutionary, squaring off against Pluto, the alchemist who turns that infinitely fine mill of the gods, and forming edgy semisextiles with the sages Jupiter and Chiron.

New Year's fireworks

Saturday brings abundant energy, lots of drive, and possibly more impulsivity and risk-taking than optimal for New Year's Eve. This is a great day for vigorous workouts of any kind. Launching new projects should feel easy and full of fire.

Partying can also be high-energy and full of fun, as long as you stay aware you and those around you––including those other drivers out there––may feel they can do no wrong, no matter what.

This energy carries through the early hours of Sunday, New Year's, which open with a square between Mercury and Mars. This could be a time when saying too much is just ... too much. Forewarned is forearmed, so avoid arguments, pledges of eternal whatever, and verbal gymnastics of all kinds.

Interestingly, the Mercury–Mars square arrives at the same time as the First Quarter Moon, the waxing square between Sun and Moon that tests our commitment to New Moon goals. The Sun is still in steady, practical Capricorn while the Moon stakes out a corner in take-no-prisoners Aries. Are we ready to maintain the effort to reach long term goals, or is fast-talking Aries already leaving us overwhelmed and burnt out? Or maybe the mountain we chose to climb has been looking pretty rocky, and Aries energy is exactly the boost we need to make it up those first slopes. The balance is ours to find.

The Moon flows energy to the North Node Sunday, energizing our life path. A sextile to Venus brings a surge to creativity, finances and relationships. Highlighting the Mars–Mercury square, the Moon sides with Sagittarian Mercury while forming an awkward angle with Mars in careful Virgo. It's time to move forward with confidence.

Monday morning is quiet among the stars and planets, giving us a chance to recover from the weekend. In the afternoon, the Moon opposes Saturn and sextiles Neptune, energizing our dreams and visions while forcing us to find the balance between Self and Other. Then, she moves into a two-hour void of course time before stepping into sensuous Taurus.

With an Aries Moon to kick off the New Year, we'll have all the energy we need and then some. The challenge is to celebrate the transitions and transformations to come without blowing any fuses in the process. Wishing everyone a wonderful 2012!