Dear Friend and Reader:

Wednesday (tomorrow) is the Aries equinox, when the Sun enters Aries at 7:02 am EDT to begin a new season and a new astrological cycle. This year it was preceded by Mars and will be closely followed by Venus, making this an especially ‘personal’ beginning. Mars, however, might not make it a placid one.

Red buds dangling like delicate earrings in one of the lesser-known but charmingly diverse gardens of Paris, Bercy Park. Photo by Danielle Voirin.

As Eric noted in Friday’s issue, “After so much Pisces and Mercury retrograde, it may be tempting to spark up the solid rocket boosters, though in all sincerity, I do not recommend this.” For readers in the Northern Hemisphere — especially those in colder climates who have had a stormy winter to go with a stormy Mercury retrograde — the impulse to ‘spring’ into the new season is a strong one. But this is a week to drive carefully, step consciously and think before you react out of anger — no matter where you live.

Mars will be conjoining Uranus in Aries on Friday, and this is a potentially explosive, militant and accident-prone aspect. It’s a week to ‘get a grip’ and keep it — emotionally and literally, whether that means avoiding standing on old ladders in your flip-flops, picking up toys and other objects from the floor before bed, or counting to 10 when you feel the steam building between your ears.

We’ve covered Mars-Uranus in today’s Daily Astrology feature on the Planet Waves blog, along with some of the background astrology. Mercury is very slowly working its way forward again after stationing direct on Sunday, and is headed toward another conjunction with Chiron in Pisces. This says: you are responsible for what you know; there is no pleading ignorance right now. Mercury has been through this territory before, and you know everything you need to know.

Also, remember to tune in to Eric’s Planet Waves FM broadcast later this evening. It generally posts at about 8 pm Eastern time (sometimes earlier). This week Eric will be covering the equinox, the Mars-Uranus conjunction in Aries and the 10th anniversary of the Iraq War. In fact, we’ll be featuring an article by a guest writer about the Iraq War anniversary later today on the blog. You’ll want to check that space this afternoon and again this evening when Planet Waves FM posts here.

Did you know that Wednesday is also International Astrology Day? In celebration, Eric will be speaking live on the Kepler College astrology cafe broadcast on Wednesday, March 20.

Int. Ast. Day.

It’s a day-long, free astrology event featuring almost two-dozen prominent astrologers from 9 am to 9 pm PDT. Every half hour there will be a new voice to hear, and you can ask questions and leave comments. Kepler College is the only school in the U.S. fully devoted to astrology that is based on a university curriculum. You can hear Eric’s half hour at 3 pm Pacific time (that’s 6 pm Eastern).

Finally, have you taken advantage yet of your opportunity to pre-order the 2013 Spring Report, titled “Invocation of Spring?” People flock to astrology for information about relationships, but how often is it relevant? You know by now that when Eric covers sex and relationships, it’s always relevant.

Invocation of Spring is a 12-sign product (meaning you get all 12 signs of the audio product for one amazing price of $24.95), so you can access your rising and Moon signs, and those of your loved ones, with one simple, single purchase here. With eclipses approaching this season on the sensual, passionate Taurus-Scorpio axis, you’ll want these readings at your fingertips.

Yours and truly,

Amanda Painter