The New Moon in Aries will inspire you to take action on this lucky lunar day.

The New Moon in Aries occurs on March 21 at 1:23 pm ET. This moon comes on its heels, neighing, the cloven hooves of the sun pass into the sign of the ram and the next day after the ritual renewal of the vernal equinox.

Aries is the first-born, ready-to-fight cardinal fire sign of the zodiac, and its corresponding season signifies the start of a new astrological year.

According to our New Moon Guide, “A new moon begins a new monthly lunar cycle. The new moon is followed by a two-week growth phase, which culminates at the brightest point of the cycle, the full moon, and then fades back into darkness. Anyone who has ever played laser tag or had sex in a room with blackout curtains can tell you that darkness expands the imagination and our sense of what is possible. To that end, the New Moon is a heavenly clearing, a call to dreams and an invitation to initiation.”

Since this is the first new moon of the astrological new year, the potential of said tablet, clearing, invoking sleep and inviting is heightened. This new moon is in the sign of the horns first, the heart of the warrior forward, symbolizing much fresh blood and seething energy. Aries is all about individualization and bold advancement, so focusing on our personal goals and human evolution is paramount. We wake up and cheer my kids up and it’s great.

Influence of Mars

Aries is ruled by Mars, that red, warlike, actualization through direct action, sex and sports cars, the planet of will and desire. Thus, Martian energy will be in abundance during the lunar month. Add to this that the New Moon will square Mars in Gemini, adding an increased energy of opportunity. Mars in Gemini is mutable AF and can act like a half-starved coyote with a hallucinatory sense of humor. If the season of Pisces has left you a little nap/numb, this New Moon and Aries season in general is here to light the proverbial fire in and below you. It may not be delicate, not subtle at all, but it will ultimately serve as a catalyst for novelty. Let’s temper ourselves in the fire of spring, guys, the future depends on us. In the words and wisdom of the playwright Aries and student of desire Mr. Tennessee Williams: “Travel. Try them. There is nothing more.”

In another planetary action, Mercury, which rules communication, has moved into Aries this week and sits close to the Sun and Moon in a fire sign. Straightforward and passionate in this sign’s domestic fire, Mercury in Aries can make conversation and conflict more intense and impetuous. I urge everyone to always speak cleanly and truthfully, but do so with temperance and honest exchange in mind, and not with burned bridges and sunken ships.

Aries as an infernal poet

What we start, sow and seek this New Moon will affect what and how we reap in the coming months, culminating in the Full Moon in Aries on September 29th. As the New Moon reveals its dark side in a cardinal sign, the cardinal signs themselves, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, will feel its power more than their fixed and volatile counterparts. Shortly after this new moon rises into the sky, the planet Pluto, the dark lord of death, rebirth and karmic retribution, enters Aquarius on March 23 after two and a half centuries of absence. This new moon coincides with World Poetry Day, and since the energy of Pluto is akin to that which is born from ashes, and Aries can be called the energy of eternal spring, I offer you a poem by Amy Gerstler that lives between both feelings:

Astrology 101: Your Guide to the Stars

Astrologer Reda Wiegle researches and irreverently reports planetary configurations and their effect on each sign of the zodiac. Her horoscopes combine history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has described numerous artists and performers as well as detailed her travel experiences. Among the many intriguing topics she brought up were graveyard etiquette, her love of dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girls guide” to strip clubs, and the “weirdest” food available abroad.