Some housekeeping before we get into it:
My books are open through the end of April! So many changes coming up this month and I’d love to chat with you about how it’s showing up in your chart and in your life!
I’ve also opened up a special Saturn Return Reading for those just beginning theirs in Pisces*. This is a shorter (30 minute) reading where I’ll give you an overview of topics and dates from the present, future and past to look out for throughout this 3 year journey! Bring your archives and your journal and let’s get into it!
*For reference: Those born May 21-June 30, 1993 and January 28, 1994-April 7, 1996 are experiencing their first Saturn Return in Pisces, and those born March 23, 1964-September 16, 1964 and December 15, 1964-March 3, 1967 are experiencing their second Saturn Return in Pisces.
& finally, for those of you who are interested in working with me on a quarterly (and/or every time you need a cosmic haircut basis!), I have a Bundle available at a very cute discount (4 readings/$500). I’ll be raising my prices a bit in April to adjust for the times (though keeping things the same for returning clients) so book now to get in at this rate!
Just like Dorothy surviving the tornado only to step into the technicolor world of Oz or Don Draper cueing up “Tomorrow Never Knows” to usher Mad Men into the psychedelic half of the 60’s, March is a paradigm shift. No more twisting ourselves into a pretzel trying to return to what we had before. As of this week, it’s clear that there’s no going back. Some of us are Dorothy: swept up in joy, confusion and awe. Others are Don: disgruntled and uncomfortably numb. Others still are, for better or worse, deep in the sea of a long-repressed emotional release. Everyone is exhausted. Most of us are burnt out, and many of us are feeling an exhilarating kind of terrified. It’s all the future from here, babe, and that future begins with Saturn in Pisces.
To recap: from December 19, 2017 through March 7, 2023, Saturn—planet of structure, discipline and responsibility—was in Capricorn and Aquarius. Because it is the farthest away planet in our solar system still visible with the naked eye, ancient stargazers considered Saturn to be the boundary between the known and unknown world. What’s unknown might haunt us, but what’s known can be even scarier. Saturn forces us to define our priorities and admit our mortality. I mean this in ways both silly and profound. Yes, Saturn alerts us to corruption and puts us deep in the salt pits of labor, but he also pokes fun at us when, once again, we’re late. Saturn is the god of time, and in his home signs of Capricorn and Aquarius, he’s always letting us know that ours is running out. From late December 2017 to earlier this week, we were tasked with the grueling process of creating a structure for both our material (Capricorn) and ideological (Aquarius) realities. Simple, right?
The exact midpoint of this process was March 2020 (remember what was going on then?) when Saturn first crossed the threshold from Capricorn to Aquarius, left one of his homes for the other. The feeling of that time—of being caught in a Saturninan trainwreck—is perfectly summed up by Porches’ song “PFB” from his album Ricky Music, which was released on March 13, 2020. The song is 33 seconds long, and the repetitive lyrics go like this:
It’s looking bad
It’s looking bad
It’s looking pretty fucking bad
It’s looking bad
It’s looking bad
It’s looking pretty fucking bad
Though there were of course all kinds of highs, lows, big moves, transformations, failures, victories, accolades, derailments, and many moments of comic relief over these last five years, it has mostly been austere. Stony and distant. Sometimes repressed. Often bleak. And, well, pretty fucking bad. On March 7th, there was a Full Moon in Virgo and less than an hour later, Saturn entered Pisces. With this shift, after years of severity, we can finally be soft.
Saturn spends about two and a half years in each sign: marking mini eras, defining micro generations, and giving us renewed purpose in constructing both the world and our lives. Saturn in Pisces allows us to recognize that we don’t know anything. It’s for feeling our feelings. In a piece for Psychology Today, “The Key Skill We Rarely Learn: How to Feel Your Feelings,” Victoria Lemle Beckner compares the process of learning to feel one’s feelings to entering the ocean. Very Saturn in Pisces. She writes,
“As we develop this internal acceptance muscle—leaping into uncertainty and a fierce sea of emotions—something remarkable happens. We drop our resistance and avoidance, and sink deeply into that deep, blue water. This is where possibility opens up. We emerge from the ocean, putting our soft feet in the sand as we venture forth into a more grounded and technicolor present.”
In order to begin the Saturn in Pisces task (Saturn always has tasks for us, even in the sign of universal love and creative infinity) of renegotiating boundaries, reimagining systems, developing compassion and codifying mystery, we first have to embrace the unknown sea. When we learn our boundaries within that unknown, we become an unstoppable force.
To return to Dorothy entering Oz or Don Draper dropping the needle, I want to point out that so often these moments of release feel so profound in the moment but don’t hit the same way in retrospect. I will never forget what it felt like to watch that scene from Mad Men for the first time, the chills that went down my spine (embarrassing, I know!) as I felt the entire texture of the show change. It’s like Mad Men was in black and white until that moment when it was suddenly morphed into full saturated color. It’s the same way I’ll never forget watching Lady Gaga perform “Paparazzi” at the VMAs in 2009, a performance that thrilled me and catalyzed my own dogged pursuit of experimental art. But when I look back on both the Mad Men scene and Lady Gaga’s performance now in 2023, I’m not hit with that same cathartic wave. I feel neutral about it.
I think there’s some Saturn in Pisces medicine in this revelation of neutrality. Something about not chasing highs. Something about remembering it without pining for it. Something about trusting that a depth of feeling is always available and is better in the present. When we allow ourselves to open our heart, to fall in love, to experience catharsis, we build an emotional muscle. Our capacity to feel through the present expands as we avoid swimming in the past. When we hold space for our feelings, we expand and leave scarcity behind. Saturn in Pisces creates a safe space for us to explore this.
Now that the Full Moon in Virgo has come and gone, the question is: how do we respond to what was illuminated? Both at the Full Moon and with Saturn’s definitive shift. Full Moons are Opening Night, and this one was the culmination of the current lunar cycle (which began with the New Moon in Pisces on February 20), as well as a rehearsal process that began back at the New Moon in Virgo on August 27, 2022. As the moon wanes, we head to the lobby after the show. We check in with our friends and lovers. We find those who are like minded. We walk away from those who just don’t get it. It’s time for a post-mortem. Feedback and integration.
After the Spring Equinox and New Moon in Aries on March 21st, we get two other days to circle in red this month: the movement of Pluto from Capricorn to Aquarius (March 23), and the shift of Mars into Cancer (March 25). Right now we are concluding a chapter (Mars), an era (Saturn) and an epoch (Pluto) all at once. This Week’s Full Moon made sure this moment was felt. Perhaps it went out with a bang or perhaps all these revelations were more internal. Our job now is to sit with the cosmic hangover: cancel plans and take space to rest. Pushing through might be the “right thing to do” but it gives the false impression that the priority is meeting someone else’s expectations. This paradigm shift is personal. It’s healing! Our job is to create a container for the ocean within us, and we’re only just beginning.
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Horoscopes follow for each sign. Read for your rising sign to get the most accurate take on what’s “actually” “happening.” Read for your Sun (if you’re born during the day), or your Moon (if you’re born at night) if you want a second opinion. Take what makes sense and leave what doesn’t. These horoscopes are meant to be found.
Again, if you want to work together to dig into these big changes more deeply, my books are open!
Virgo
You’re probably in the throes of some vulnerability whiplash after that Full Moon. But aren’t you relieved you did the damn thing and spoke up for yourself? Every rejection is just another piece of information, divine space to reclaim for yourself. With difficulty in its denouement, it’s time to take a bath and reflect on how you got through it all. Collect your supplies so you have them for next time.
Libra
Whether this Full Moon revealed a hidden enemy or a bad habit, aren’t you glad you’ve gained some offline perspective over the last seven months? Sometimes it’s an honor not to be plugged in. You can’t shake every demon immediately but let yourself have distance. The people meant for you are the ones who lift you up and recognize your passion. Notice where you’re dragging. You deserve a lift.
Scorpio
Over the last seven months, you’ve had to work through all the tangled, thorny parts of collaborating with others. There have been mediations and negotiations and the disappointment of having to forego what you want to satisfy the group’s desire. That being said, this Full Moon revealed how much support you have. From your friends and your adoring fans. As you let go of this era, make a list of what you’re excited to learn.
Sagittarius
Whether this Full Moon brought revelatory success or setbacks, you shouldn’t regret any time you’ve spent expanding yourself and taking up space. Taking the easy route has never been satisfying for you which is why you’ve gotten a thrill from all the challenges you’ve taken on over the last seven months. Now that you’ve learned how to be BIG, it’s time to upgrade your foundation so it fits every part of you.
Capricorn
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or fulfilled, aren’t you glad you’ve spent so much time over the last seven months tending to your altar and developing rituals? Putting yourself out there feels better when you’ve watered the plants, dusted the shelves and stuck to a skincare routine. Moving forward, you have the opportunity to keep making everyday magic. Gather your spells and write them down.
Aquarius
Whether this Full Moon brought an ugly truth or some much needed support, aren’t you glad you’ve spent so much time uncovering what’s hidden over the last seven months? It’s a relief to feel like you no longer need to hide, especially because, like it or not, what’s uncomfortable is no longer in the shadows. The ugly truth has arrived. Moving forward, you're allowed to keep the cards closer to your chest. The purge is over and it’s time to rebuild.
Pisces
There’s one thing you can be certain of after this Full Moon: you’re not alone. Aren’t you glad you committed to inviting others into your world? Even when you got a “No” or a more nuanced form of rejection, you grew your heart muscle and let love expand. Both your visions and your values take flight when you allow yourself to have a flexible root. You can always follow your curiosity when you have a safe place to return.
Aries
You might be feeling frustrated, but all the work you’ve done to get a handle on your rhythms and routines over the past seven months has not gone unnoticed. This Full Moon revealed whether you’ve been pushing yourself too hard or could perhaps push yourself even harder. You’ve run a marathon so why not try for a Triathlon? I’m kidding. Take a nap. Have a snack. But then get back in the cold plunge where you’ll continue to discover who you really are.
Taurus
Whether the Full Moon brought some sexy fun or life changing heartbreak, aren’t you glad you’ve chased what you really wanted over the last seven months? In fact every time you try something that isn’t for you (a date or a restaurant or a playlist), you connect more easily to your own desire frequency. The struggle won’t always be about building, but you might miss the action when your task is to maintain. Enjoy the last throes of connecting the dots.
Gemini
The Full Moon illuminated both the pleasure and the pain of belonging. Growth starts at the root. Aren’t you glad you’ve spent this time cultivating your private life over the last seven months? As you step back into the spotlight, you can trust that the structure has passed the inspection. This wasn’t true the last time you were making a big leap to the front. There are more adjustments to come, but you’re ready to learn to the choreography.
Cancer
Though you’ve spent plenty of time these last seven months feeling estranged or like an outsider, the Full Moon brought an undeniable clue that you’ve arrived. Or perhaps that you’ve returned. What’s familiar isn’t a given, it’s maintained. Through shedding a thick layer of snake skin, you’ve earned this familiar circle and routine. Whether you believe in spells or not, what you do each day is folk magic. Trust your potions. Committing to the ritual is the cure.
Leo
As you settle down after a tumultuous seven months, you’re realizing that you have so much stuff. In your quest to inspire and connect, you may have forgotten that you can’t take it with you. The Full Moon illuminated exactly what you’re meant to purge. Also remember: you don’t have to carry all of this baggage on your own. Your next great assignment is all about consolidation. What’s already primed to share?