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Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans
Current and previous weeks astrological overviews
Astrological Overview: March 4 - 10, 2024
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), add 8 hours.
Monday: Mercury sextile Uranus, Mars sextile North Node
Tuesday: No major aspects are exact today
Wednesday: Sun semisquare Pluto, Mars sextile Chiron
Thursday: Venus sextile Eris
Friday: Mercury conjunct Neptune, Mercury semisquare Jupiter
Saturday: Mars square Uranus, Sun sextile Uranus, Mercury enters Aries
Sunday: New Moon 1:59 a.m. PDT, Mercury sextile Pluto
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MARCH OVERVIEW: Four of the ten main planets are in Pisces as we begin the month of March, enhancing the creative imagination and intuition, increasing our capacity for compassion and understanding, and drawing our attention to the mystical or metaphysical aspects of this otherwise very "real" physical existence. These Piscean qualities are especially emphasized during the New Moon on March 10, at which time the Sun and Moon are within orb of transcendental Neptune.
The equinox, when the Sun enters Aries, is on March 19 this year. The chart for the event, which shows the energies we'll be working with for the next three months, foretells of a dramatic and transformational season — but with a continued spiritual or creative focus that lifts our gaze from the mundane. The Full Moon on March 25 is also the first eclipse of 2024, a penumbral lunar eclipse in early degrees of Libra. Partnerships, commitments, and legal matters — central themes for Libra — may undergo major changes during this eclipse season.
PISCES NEW MOON: One of the highlights of this coming week occurs on Sunday, March 10, when the Sun and Moon align at 20°16' Pisces. While a Pisces New Moon always enhances our emotional, spiritual, and psychic sensitivity, these qualities are further accentuated due to Luna's conjunction with ethereal Neptune, the planet of Divine Love, and her sextile to consciousness-raising Uranus, the planet of Higher Mind.
The New Moon is exact at 1:59 a.m. PDT next Sunday, March 10 (corrected time). Adding another layer of benefit for us Earth-dwellers, the lunation is closely aligned with the fixed star Omega-2 Aquarii. The energies of this star are explained by astrologer Roderick Kidston in his book The Magic of the Stars:
"This is one of the more helpful stars, and at its best it offers true blessings. There is a strong healing dimension with this star, which can express on many levels. It is as much about balm for the soul as for the body, perhaps almost more so, but it can be about improving things in the material world, too."
It is interesting to note that nurse Florence Nightingale had Jupiter conjunct Omega-2 Aquarii in her birth chart, which no doubt augmented her faith in the healing potentials of both body and spirit. And Bernadette of Lourdes had her natal Mars conjunct the fixed star, giving her the spiritual courage to both receive and share her visions of the Lady.
If we experience challenges while working with the energies of Omega-2 Aquarii, Mr. Kidston offers this perspective and advice:
"This fixed star will heighten your sensitivity and may mean life throws major challenges at certain points, but if you face them without flinching and look for skillful ways to manage, all will be well. Mindfulness practices will help, or simply focusing on the now and doing whatever is in front of you. With this star, often the simplest choices are best. If you go with the flow here, sooner or later it will all flow in the most perfect possible way."
Next Sunday's New Moon also opens the door to eclipse season, since it is the beginning of the lunar cycle that reaches its climax at the time of the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on March 25. Situations that arise and events that occur during eclipse season often seem to have a more fated quality, in that they tend to accelerate our evolutionary process and align us more fully with our soul's destiny. The Pisces New Moon can thus be seen as being pivotal in that process as well.
MARS-URANUS SQUARE: Another impactful planetary event this week is a challenging square between assertive Mars in Aquarius and rebellious Uranus in Taurus. This aspect is exact to the degree on Saturday, March 9, but we will feel its effects for several days leading up to that date.
People may act impulsively and willfully under this influence. The needs for independence and autonomy are heightened, and some may be unable to contain irritations or anger that have built up due to feeling restricted. It will not matter whether these limitations have been external or were self-imposed due to our own inner "shoulds," the tension is the same and demands to be released. There is a sense of urgency and perhaps a strong self-orientation here, and we might judge someone's actions as being selfish or extreme.
This Mars-Uranus square is very electrical and can increase nervous energy. We may feel more scattered than usual or more anxious. Unexpected events can upset our plans and require a change of direction. It will be essential to ground ourselves, to activate an energetic lightning rod within us. This is perhaps best done through connecting to nature and to the Earth.
THIS WEEK'S ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects:
Monday
Mercury sextile Uranus: There's an air of excitement today, and an openness to new ideas. Insights come more readily as the planet of the logical mind links to the planet of higher consciousness.
Mars sextile North Node: We feel drawn to act more independently now, but are also aware of how our choices are affecting others.
Tuesday
No major aspects are exact today.
Wednesday
Sun semisquare Pluto: The need to maintain control or to gain power can result in passive-aggressive or manipulative actions.
Mars sextile Chiron: Self-confidence is enhanced, enabling us to feel better about acting independently.
Thursday
Venus sextile Eris: We may feel drawn to take new risks in the areas of romance and creativity today.
Friday
Mercury conjunct Neptune, Mercury semisquare Jupiter: Our thinking is strongly intuitive today and our words are guided by compassion. We are more able to "read between the lines" of any communications. However, it is also important to know when to pause and breathe, to let there be space within the conversation, since there can be a tendency to be long-winded.
Saturday
Mars square Uranus, Sun sextile Uranus: An urgent need to challenge limitations and to gain freedom drives actions now. Idealism is strong, and we could feel intuitively guided. Grounding is essential and will help us discern between true higher guidance and the demands of the human ego.
Mercury enters Aries: Mercury will be in Aries for an extended time, due to going retrograde on April 1. All told, the Messenger Planet will be in the sign of The Ram from March 9 to May 15. During this time, especially while Mercury is direct, people tend to think more independently and express themselves more boldly. We can also be more impatient, be unaware of when we are being too blunt, and make decisions quickly without considering all possibilities.
Sunday
New Moon 1:59 a.m. PDT: This lunation opens the door to eclipse season, which will last for the next four to six weeks. Events during this time are cosmically designed to align us more fully with our evolutionary future and also to make us aware of where and how we are still clinging to the past or defaulting to unhealthy behaviors.
Mercury sextile Pluto: We are drawn to explore the mysteries of the universe and to understand the spiritual realms. Psychic impressions may be stronger now.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK:
How your mind works and what you say or write are highlighted this year. This could be a good year to start or to recommit to a meditation or mindfulness practice, since you can draw on your discipline and your goal-orientation for success. For some, teaching, journaling, or even a book project will be central to your growth, and will bring clarity to your life experience and self-understanding. Be open to insights and intuition, as they may come more readily. However, be aware of any ways in which a fear of the unknown compels you to try to control or manipulate a situation. (Solar Return Sun conjunct Mercury, conjunct Saturn, sextile Uranus, semisquare Pluto)
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TRANSLATION and AUDIO/VIDEO VERSION: This weekly Journal is recorded (in English) AND the text is transcribed into 30 languages! You'll see a row of flags under "Available Languages" in the upper right. And, there are options to listen to the audio (in English) or watch a video directly beneath the photo (see top of page).
The Journal entry is usually updated by Sunday evening, with the recordings appearing late Sunday or by Monday depending on your time zone. Please share this information with those who might benefit.
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CLASSES AND WEBINARS by Pam Younghans:
MARCH "SOLAR MONTH" CLASS: My next monthly class, covering the Month of Aries (March 19-April 19), will be on Tuesday, March 19. This class has three sections: First, a preview of the planetary energies that all of us with be working with over the month ahead. Next, a teaching on how transits affect us personally, giving examples from the life of a well-known personality. That leads us into the last part of the class, where I answer questions from participants about your personal transits.
I hope you can join us! If you're interested in the class and want to learn more, or if you're ready to register, click here.
DAILY INSTAGRAM POSTS: Please check out my daily astrological updates on Instagram! www.instagram.com/pamyounghans/
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
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About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit NorthPointAstrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
