ARIES the RAM
21st March to 19th April
Spectrum: diamond stones. Red colour.
ARIES The sign of the Ram who heralds the start of a New Solar Year following the Vernal Equinox, a point where the circles of the Ecliptic and the Equator intersect and there is equal amounts of day and night. The two luminaries of sun and moon hold equal power, which will be emphasised at the Full Moon in the sign of Libra. Now we start our journey around the zodiac to mark out the important points of the solar cycle in relation to life on Earth, whether mineral, vegetable, animal or human.
Aries is called a ‘Cardinal’ sign and in cosmic terms has the qualities of the positive, active polarity of energy. ‘Cardinal’ refers to a first impulse of energy at each of the four quarters of the year marked by the Solstice and Equinox points. ‘Cardinal’ energy is active and outgoing, moving ahead and providing leadership to the two zodiac signs that follow it. The Fire Element of the sign Aries adds the heat of activity to the driven Cardinal quality, the result is endless energy to charge ahead in unstoppable enthusiasm for self-expression. This is the sign of the adrenalin rush, symbolized also by the planet Mars who rules the zodiac signs of Aries and Scorpio. Mars is the symbol the metal iron. The Fire quality of Aries is shared with the signs Leo and Sagittarius, but expressed in different ways.
The Aries influence allows one to forge our way forward with courage, daring, initiative and enterprise, in the mode of a pioneer. Assertive and passionate, there needs to be the cultivation of calm and reflection to make these energies mean something of use as we begin the solar year with this out rush of new energy. There are plenty of new ideas floating around but will there be the ability and sustained effort to make them grow and work in the practical world? We must not give way to impatience and bad temper under the impetus of all the new found energy and enthusiasm of this time of the year. At the same time, we must allow ourselves a break from the deadening routine of the previous cycle and allow the windows of opportunity and new possibilities to air themselves. In our hurry and enthusiasm we must not forget or neglect those who are going a little slower due to circumstances.
All natural energy moves to a rhythm of mathematical proportions and so we start our journey around the cosmic wheel to explore these qualities and principles. Whatever side of the planet you are on, it is time to ‘Spring’ clean, your house and your soul, for the start of a new journey of discovery.
Sculpture by Philip Jackson
Hercules, the hero of our solar journey of 365 solar days, is born of the ‘House of Perseus’. His role in life is to follow the Sun in its 360 degree journey around the zodiac signs in 13 months or moon periods; with modernisation this has been recalculated to 12 months in order to accommodate the two ancient but separate calendars of Father Sun and Mother Moon. The ancient Egyptians solved this discrepancy of circle and solar cycle by giving the five extra days to their five great gods who existed outside of time and space.
Starting on a new grand cycle, our hero Hercules takes up a renewed challenge in each month in line with the zodiac sign being traversed and marked by the ritual and magic of his heroic feats. Hercules’ first challenge in the new astrological year is marked by the sign of Aries, the challenger of life moving forward with great energy and enthusiasm on a new turn of the spiral. We too set out to conquer our wildest of thinking and head activity as indicated and ruled by the sign Aries. Are we too proud and hurried to get there before everyone else, in such speed that we forgot to check on our struggling friend? Are we very brave, but unfortunately also just a little selfish or put another way, only thinking of our self in this rush to begin our ‘Labours’ or ‘Challenges’ or ‘Race’ to some unseen goal? This is the lesson and the promise of Aries energy, the awakening to the new possibilities, wants and desires without forgetting what already exists around us. The urge to create and perform pushes us forward in such haste that we can get into great trouble without awareness of what we are doing. But really we have time, for the coming months will continue the opportunity to fulfil what we conceive of now. All beginnings are in the head, on the mental plane, you think an idea and then act on it. You do not act and then think about it, well hopefully not!
This time of year marks a time of wanting to do things in a better way rather than repeat that of the previous solar year. The ancient god of Egypt called Sobek represented the cyclic repeating of new beginnings, as did Thoth, the master of writing and ideas. In chasing this new beginning we must strive to eradicate all the past negative ways of thinking and doing things or at least attempt to identify them as a first step. Then in a strange way we enter the process of purifying ourselves and our life so that new growth and better performance can move in. Here is a time to realise our power and our strength in controlling the form and expression of the material world with applied spirit and energy.
To begin the Hero’s journey