As the Sun moves into the sign of Aries we mark a turning point in the year. It is the Astrological New Year and the chart for this Equinox is powerful. (see below)

The days and nights are of equal length. This is a solar celebration that happens on the same day every year. As Jonathan Cainer points out on his website:-

"Unusually, though, there's a Full Moon too, triggering the lunar 'floating festivals' of Hindu Holi, Jewish Purim, Pagan Ostara and Christian Easter. Auspicious, powerful alignments insist that, whether you're celebrating all, some or none of the above (and despite all the gloom in the news) we'll all have something to celebrate soon."

The Grand Cardinal Cross
THis is a configuration of 4 planets, each occupies the first few degrees of one of the 4 Directions and seasons of the year.

The Sun in Aries- Spring and the tarot card of The Emperor (The true masculine, embracing one's authority)
Mars in Cancer - Summer and the tarot card of The Chariot (Leaving home, a career)
Moon in Libra - Autumn and the tarot card of Justice (balance and mercy)
Pluto in Capricorn- Winter and the tarot card of Judgement (transformation and major changes, resurrection)

This configuration sets up power struggles (Mars opposite Pluto) and the opposition of the sexes (Aries opposite Libra which are the planets Mars and Venus).

Distraction of a fight
The Mars Pluto opposition has culminated but has been very much in evidence in power struggles during the last week. On our journey to Oneness the ego will use its best weapons to distract  us. The path isn't always straight forward. The problems in our life take us off our focus. The bigger the breakthroughs we have the faster the ego will fight back.

What or who has taken energy from you in the last week?

I know that I caught myself 'taking sides' and it was only the reminder of a friend that helped me recognise my ego was at work - that I somehow enjoyed fighting! And fighting is never an answer to a problem.

Instead I recognised that 'you are never upset for the reason you think you are' - there is always some resonance of the current situation with a past incidence. If you can heal the past then its much easier to communicate with the person who has upset you from a place of non judgement. You stand a far better chance of being heard and receiving an apology.

War between masculine and feminine
The Aries Moon opposition can be highly sexual, the duality of the masculine and feminine. However integrating the two energies is the way forward. And that, of course, can be fun!

A film 'Stage Beauty' caught my attention on Sunday night. It's set in the 1660s, and Ned (Billy Crudup) is an arrogant actor so totally caught in being England's most celebrated leading lady that he has lost the ability to play a man. This is because it was illegal for women to perform on stage.

The film explores the male/female gender roles in an fun, erotic and sensitive manner. The competition between him and his female dresser (Claire Danes) who takes over his role as Desdemona is well observed. The film has the most surprising and electrifying ending which had me holding my breath. A movie well worth watching.

Saturn
The Saturn energy at this full moon is outside this Grand Cross. It is forming a positive trine aspect (marked in blue on the chart) with Pluto. That's what I assume Jonathan Cainer is referring to as the celebration. Saturn continues this positive aspect until mid June. This is a very grounded energy and practical. Virgo clears things up, sorts out the stuff that is no longer useful. Pluto is our 'shit', the stuff we deal with psychologically.

The story of Hercules 5th task to clean the Augean stables illustrates these two energies. Even though he's superhuman he can't possibly do this task in one day -the shit is far too deep. He's inspired and diverts the nearest river so it flushes through the stables. A great metaphor for how healing ( tears) can clear out our old stuff.

Rebirth
I was drawn to the Osho Zen card as inspiration for my workshop Healing Your Birth Story. It also sets the tone of Rebirth for this Equinox chart and for the Easter Holiday. Its the 10 of Swords, traditionally a card of mental anguish, the end of an era, but also of hope, a new day dawning. Major changes are coming. Osho describes this card as Awakening.

"This card depicts the evolution of consciousness as it is described by Friedrich Nietzsche in his book, Thus Spake Zarathustra. He speaks of the three levels of Camel, Lion and Child. The camel is sleepy, dull, self-satisfied. He lives in delusion, thinking he's a mountain peak, but really he is so concerned with others' opinions that he hardly has any energy of his own. Emerging from the camel is the lion.

When we realise we've been missing life, we start saying no to the demands of others. We move out of the crowd, alone and proud, roaring our truth. But this is not the end. Finally the child emerges, neither acquiescent nor rebellious, but innocent and spontaneous and true to his own being.

Whatever the space you're in right now — sleepy and depressed, or roaring and rebellious — be aware that it will evolve into something new if you allow it. It is a time of growth and change."

The 10 of Swords is bottle number 55 'The Christ' in the Aura-Soma colour system.
The theme is "Light and inspiration enters the physical world. The possibility of awakening to the truth of love." In the kabbalah it is situated at the root, the base chakra. 10 is a number of birth of a new self.

The bottle has red in the lower fraction representing the grounded energy of Mars, the blood, the passion and the love. The clear represents all the colours of the rainbow, its Neptune or The Moon, emotional confusion and loss, but also the tears of healing.

Make this Easter a time of renewal of your spirit.

Controversy
I watched a TV programme entitled 'The  Lost Gospels' and it started me thinking. The gospel of St Peter said that Jesus did not suffer on the Cross, that there was no pain. If there was no suffering - no crucifixion - that changes everything! The Gospel of Judas appears to interpret Judas's act not as betrayal, but rather as an act of obedience to the instructions of Jesus, that it was part of an overall plan.

Its Easter this weekend and for myself the tendency is to be taken along the path of the ego, toward death.

Last weekend I gave  a workshop and one of the themes was about our belief death. I know how easily I can believe in death, to think that it is the end.

A Course in Miracles states in the words of Jesus "When your body and your ego and your dreams are gone, you will know that you will last forever. Perhaps you think this is accomplished through death, but nothing is accomplished through death, because death is nothing. Everything is accomplished through life, and life is of the mind and in the mind. The body neither lives nor dies, because it cannot contain you who are life. If we share the same mind, you can overcome death because I did. Death is an attempt to resolve conflict by not deciding at all. Like any other impossible solution the ego attempts, it will not work."

I have added a whole new section to my website which explains in brief about 'A Course in Miracles' and Oneness Deeksha. I have included one of the most beautiful passages from ACIM called 'The Forgotten Song'. Read it here>

LOCAL EVENT
The author of a book explaining 'Oneness', Arjuna Ardagh is visiting Brighton mid April.  He is also holding a workshop in London March 28/29th.
For those unable to visit check out his book on Amazon >

LINKS TO OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Being a Visionary >

Spiritual Books I recommend >

Gospel of Judas>