Transformation
A charming 1920s bungalow is the latest to be completely remodeled in my neighborhood. Following the now-familiar formula, the original casement windows were replaced with unimaginative vinyl windows, and the handsome shiplap siding was removed to make way for stucco. I believe any classic built-in components that remained inside are long gone.
I once heard someone say that the owner of the house seemed to like everything except the inside and outside.
At another house nearby, workers were restoring original windows, carefully scraping old siding back to bare wood and then applying a paint job in beautiful, period-appropriate colors. What a joy to see.
Venus sextile Pluto (March 9, 2026, 11:52 PM PDT, 4° 46′ Aries and Aquarius), Like all Venus-Pluto aspects, love remodeling, whether it’s renovating an old home or helping someone choose a new hairstyle and wardrobe. But there’s a difference between bringing something back to life by stripping it of its inherent beauty, and turning it into something else entirely, something it was never meant to be.
A more inclusive life
Jupiter has been retrograde since November 11, 2025, and will return to direct motion (March 10, 2026, 8:30 PM PDT, 15°05′ Cancer) The Last Quarter Moon occurs the day before in Sagittarius and Pisces, both signs ruled by Jupiter. Jupiter moves back into early Cancer during its retrograde phase and spends the next few months taking care of unfinished business before entering fiery Leo this summer.
What is the nature of that unfinished business? Make space for the new and unfamiliar in our homes, our families, our lives.
This week, have the courage to aspire to a life that is bigger and more inclusive than the one you have now. Think big questions. But also be gentle with yourself. Rest well for your hero’s journey – brave a half-frozen world wearing a hat full of unfamiliar stars.
Redemption Act 3
The waning moon is the stage of redemption. This is the critical third act in our personal narratives, when we go through a crisis of trust and we accept our circumstances and take action to find solutions. this Last Quarter Moon in Sagittarius (March 11, 2026, 2:38 AM PDT, 20°49′ Sagittarius), with its optimism and humor, is one of the most uplifting waning moon signs. Under this influence, we are more likely to believe that we can complete the third act of redemption.
The Sabian symbol for this moon is innocent and a bit humorous – 21 Sagittarius, A child and a dog wearing borrowed glasses. I’m sure there are more in-depth ways to explain it, but it reminds me of a kid trying on dad’s glasses and putting a pair on his dog for better effect – it’s a way of trying to emulate someone you respect and, in turn, become someone someone else (the dog!) respects. Maybe that’s the key to a satisfying third act.
This Last Quarter Moon concludes the lunar phase series, which begins with the New Moon at 20°40′ Sagittarius on December 12, 2023. That New Moon is aspecting Mars and Neptune, and now is the time to take on some of the tough stuff we envisioned at the time, taking action on the First Quarter Moon (19°00′ Sagittarius) on September 10, 2024, and seeing that happen on September 10, 2024. The full moon of June 11, 2025 (20°39′ Sagittarius) will usher in the peak of results. Now, we decide how to end this chapter with vision and grace so that we can move on to the next one.
Things you think you can’t do
Eleanor Roosevelt once famously said, “You must do what you think you can’t do.” Why? Because otherwise, fear will immobilize you.
This brings us to Mars, the planet of overcoming fear, conjunct the North Node of the Moon (March 13, 2026, 2:58 PM PDT, 08°55′ Pisces) – A key point in adventure into the unknown that will take you out of your comfort zone, towards the fear of the unknown, and to face things you thought you couldn’t do.
My teacher once said that moving in the direction of the North Node will always get you somewhere worth going, even if it doesn’t look like what you imagined, even if it’s a place you never thought you’d like. The Virgo South Node finds comfort in criticism, endless details, separation instead of unity, trees instead of forests. But movement toward the North Node in Pisces connects us to everything and everyone around us. We see ourselves as neither better nor worse than other people, or even particularly different from them. Pisces is the sign of unity, and Mars inspires us to grab someone’s hand and move with them toward a bold, shared vision.
Three steps to make your story real
All great things begin with passion, an impulse that connects us to the vital pulse of the world. Sit with this passion long enough and you’ll discover a story that begs to be expressed.
Now stay there for a moment and imagine sharing this story in various ways. You pick up a guitar, or sit down at your drawing table, and write a story, or make a YouTube video. Finally, you find your path and set off, fearlessly sharing your passionate stories.
This is the trajectory of three consecutive conjunctions between Mercury and Mars. The first is January 17, in Capricorn, activating pragmatic determination; Mercury/Mars conjunction in Pisces this week (March 15, 2026 at 1:07 AM PDT) expands on the nature of the story, filling in the essentials of Capricorn’s actual vision with dreamy watercolors; With Mercury conjunct Mars in Aries on April 20, it’s time to book concert venues, finalize blueprints, storyboards, and videos. That’s when we turn this pragmatic story into a passionate reality.
Text and images © 2017-2026 by April Elliott Kent
