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Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans

Current and previous weeks astrological overviews

Astrological Overview: March 18 - 24, 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 Standard Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), add 7 hours.

Monday: Mercury conjunct North Node
Tuesday: Venus semisquare Eris, Sun semisquare Jupiter, Sun enters Aries (Equinox)
Wednesday: Mercury conjunct Chiron
Thursday: Sun sextile Pluto, Venus conjunct Saturn
Friday: Mars enters Pisces
Saturday: No major aspects are exact today
Sunday: Venus sextile Jupiter

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ARIES EQUINOX: The astrological New Year begins on Tuesday, March 19, when the Sun enters the first sign of the zodiac. This is also the Aries Equinox, the day when the Sun crosses the celestial equator in its journey north and the inhabitants of planet Earth experience the hours of daylight and darkness as approximately equal.


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According to spiritual traditions, an energetic portal opens at the equinox, giving us the opportunity to align more fully with the cosmic flow. This is evidenced in physical terms by the fact that around the time of the equinox (in both March and September), we are more likely to see the Aurora Borealis. This effect is due to the tilt of the Earth in relationship to the Sun at the time of the equinox, which allows solar wind to more directly enter cracks in the Earth's magnetic field. 

Symbolically, the equal length of day and night reminds us to accept both the light and the shadow, in ourselves and in others. As we grow in self-awareness and self-love, and also in our ability to maintain a higher perspective regarding the human experience, we are enabled to bring greater understanding and compassion into all our interactions.

VENUS AND SATURN: Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty, has her annual rendezvous with Saturn, the Lord of Karma, this week. Since humans tend to think of the word "karma" in the terms of punishment, anything having to do with the Lord of Karma may sound ominous. 

In the original Sanskrit, the word karma literally means "action" or "doing"; thus, the alignment between Venus and Saturn is a time for us to be very intentional and mature in our actions in the areas of love and finances. This conjunction asks us to get clear about our core values, to come to terms with the reality of our situation, and to make decisions that are in alignment with our highest integrity. 

As such, when Venus and Saturn align, some may make a stronger commitment to a relationship, others may decide to end an alliance, while others might realize that work is needed and decide to go into therapy together. Some may realize that they need to reduce their spending, while others may decide to make a well-thought-out, practical investment.

ECLIPSE NEXT MONDAY: Although the Lunar Eclipse on March 25 is not on the calendar for this week’s Journal, we will be sensing the impact of the event building throughout the days ahead. Instincts, emotions, and psychic impressions may be more powerful, and we could find ourselves dwelling on the past, especially those situations and relationships that we are now ready to forgive and release.

The unconscious is coming to the surface to be processed and unexpected events will motivate us to take action. More on the eclipse in next week's issue, of course!


THIS WEEK'S ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects: 
 
Monday
Mercury conjunct North Node: This alignment reminds us that being direct and forthright in our communications are an important part of our evolutionary growth. We are learning that expecting others to read our minds, to know our thoughts without our having to express them, is not fair or kind to others or to ourselves.
 
Tuesday
Venus semisquare Eris: We may easily become irritated when others are not as sensitive to our needs as we idealistically want them to be.
Sun semisquare Jupiter: There can be a tendency to expect too much or to give too much with this influence. Moderation is key.
Sun enters Aries: The Sun will be in the sign of The Ram from March 19 to April 19 this year. During this solar month, there is a sense of new beginnings and the urge to initiate is heightened. We may feel more energized and be willing to take more risks than usual. The shadow of the Sun in Aries is being too impulsive or too self-oriented, not taking the time to see the longer-term consequences of our actions.
 
Wednesday
Mercury conjunct Chiron: If we feel insecure in our ability to communicate or find that we do not trust our own thinking today, this is the perfect time to embrace our inner child with love, acceptance, and understanding. The inner child is the part of us that believes that it is not smart enough, is fearful of being "wrong" or assumes it will be misunderstood or ignored. As we provide the loving support this part of us needs, healing begins and self-confidence starts to be restored.
 
Thursday
Sun sextile Pluto: This aspect strengthens our determination to make a fresh start. Inner courage and a sense of personal empowerment are enhanced.
Venus conjunct Saturn: This alignment provides a reality check in the areas of relationship and finances, requiring that we make a mature assessment of conditions and make practical decisions as needed.
 
Friday
Mas enters Pisces: While Mars is in Pisces, from March 22 to April 30, we are motivated to take action in alignment with our spiritual ideals or to initiate a creative endeavor. Because Mars in Pisces prefers to be compassionate and dislikes confrontation, people may withhold anger, take escape routes instead of facing issues directly, or be more passive-aggressive during this time.
 
Saturday
No major aspects are exact today.
 
Sunday
Venus sextile Jupiter: With the two benefic planets in harmonious aspect, this is a good day to enjoy the simple pleasures of life: a relaxed time with friends or loved ones, a walk in nature, a concert or a good meal, or other activities that bring a sense of calm and ease to the heart.

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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK (March 18 - 24): 

Your sensitivity and idealism are strong this year. At the same time, there is a sense of determination in what you do, especially in activities that are in alignment with your sense of higher purpose. It is best to get very clear on your intentions and expectations before taking action, since a rosy glow can interfere with accurate perceptions. There might also be a tendency to overextend yourself, so do a good reality check, access your intuition, and assess your energy level at each important juncture. (Solar Return Sun semisquare Jupiter, conjunct Neptune, sextile 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: 

ARIES CLASS MARCH 19: There's still time to register for this Tuesday's Solar Month class! The class has three parts: First, a preview of the energies we will be working with from March 19 to April 19. Next, a short teaching on how transits and eclipses affect us, giving examples from the life of a well-known personality. And last, I answer questions from participants about their personal transits. 
 
For this month's class, we'll be reviewing the chart of King Charles III. I'll explain how past eclipses have impacted his life and also talk about the transits he's current navigating. 
 
And no worries if you're not able to attend the class when it airs live on March 19! Everyone who registers will receive a link to access the video recording, along with the handouts I've created for the class.
 
I hope you can join us! Please register no later than 10 am PDT on March 19: https://events.humanitix.com/solar-month-class-aries-2024 
 
"SOUL CHANNEL" PODCAST: I'm pleased to share the video of my recent conversation with Teresa Wornstaff on her "Soul Channel" podcast! We chatted a bit about my life journey and how I was drawn to astrology, discussed fate and free will, talked about how the planets and solar activity can impact us, and more. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ebVA8vJysU

DAILY INSTAGRAM POSTS: Please check out my daily astrological updates on Instagram! https://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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or leave a message at 425.445.3775.

For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit NorthPointAstrology.com or visit her Facebook page.