Solar Eclipse in Aries on April 20th, 2023
“Ghosts” by Victor Costa
Our first eclipse of 2023 is a solar eclipse at 29º Aries on April 20th. This eclipse also makes a catalyzing, out-of-sign square to Pluto, really revving up the cosmic engine to generate some extra heat and inspire change. With this eclipse, the celestial foreplay of this spring continues and becomes a more intense edging, if you will.
Eclipses are always noteworthy, but as mentioned in the last full moon transmission, this one is extra extra important because it foreshadows what is to come when the north and south nodes enter Aries and Libra this July, where they’ll stay for the year and a half following. This is a big eclipse with big implications!
What do the north and south nodes have to do with it?
The north node and south node are not physical celestial bodies but calculated points in the moon’s orbit that indicate where eclipses will take place — the nodes are unpredictably volatile, change-oriented, and eclipse-like in nature.
Since January 2022, the north node has been in Taurus and the south node has been in Scorpio, so since then we have seen eclipses in those signs each Taurus and Scorpio season, but eclipses can sometimes occur in the neighboring signs too (in this case, in Aries). This eclipse is our first solar eclipse in Aries since April 18th, 2015, and it’s our first north node solar eclipse in Aries since March 29th, 2006.
Solar eclipse in Aries
The 29th degree is an intense degree. It’s the last degree of a sign; it sounds like a coach yelling, “We have one minute left on the clock — we gotta pull this off, it’s now or never!” This is an eclipse that brings the Aries archetype (in the world at large, in each of our lives, and in ourselves) to boiling, tropical temperatures, intensifying Aries’ already-urgent state of being. This eclipse feels very urgent, assertive, stressed out, and pressurized. It is a muscled arm holding a machete, but the person attached to that muscle-bound arm may be temporarily blinded by the sun in her eyes and deafened by the roar of an angry mob in her ears. Her wrist swings anyway.
If emotions are feeling pressurized, loud and urgent right now, consider waiting to take action and know that the seas will be calmer soon. This moment is simply alerting us to what we need to alter in our relationship to Aries topics and the topics of the house that Aries rules in each of our charts. If you’re feeling the need to make a change right now and you’ve already taken the time to weigh your options, this eclipse can definitely give you the boost of courage you need to do what you gotta do. Keep in mind, though, that Mercury stations retrograde on Friday; changes may not easily take root at this time.
At its best, this week may be the springboard for the (potentially volatile) beginning of a new era of authenticity, bolder honesty, leadership, decisive action, or self-prioritization; but it may also act as a (potentially vital) warning about the dangers that may befall us when we go to extremes with Aries things (like impulse, confrontation, taking action, division, independence, even enthusiasm) without the tempering of a good shot of Libran option-weighing, and concern for Us in addition to Me.
What is your relationship to these topics like, and does anything need to be changed about it? What will it take to bring the Aries-Libra axis into greater balance in your life? Do you need to stir in a dash more of the fiery, martial Aries vibes? Or do you need to better control the temperature, bringing it from a rolling boil to a steady simmer?
We’ll be wrangling with these topics on a much deeper level once the north node enters Aries and the south node enters Libra in July. In the next 21 months, we will be navigating the necessary balance of these two signs.
During the nodes’ transits, things associated with the north node tend to grow and grow, sometimes like an invasive plant, sometimes to the point that those things become quite overwhelming. (Think mid-2020, when we were bombarded with tons of conflicting information. That was fittingly when the north node entered Gemini. Now apply that type of exponential growth to Aries topics, and that’s the north node in Aries.) The south node, on the other hand, stirs up old associations with and attachments to things linked to the sign it’s in and the house it is transiting in our individual charts. We sift through that baggage, and all that has died is sucked into the ether (though rarely without a fight; change is tough).
Pay attention to what comes up in your life and in the world at large around this eclipse – this is an insight into what needs to change or be brought into balance over the long term. This is what I mean by edging. We’re not quite there yet, but we can smell it, and during this eclipse, the scent threatens to loosen our hold on control. Something is aching to burst up from the ground and either burn or bloom.
What signs are most affected by the solar eclipse in Aries?
While everyone will feel this eclipse to some extent, it will likely feel extra potent for cardinal signs (and especially anyone who has cardinal placements between 26º and 29º), anyone with fixed placements between 0º and 2º, and anyone in a sun- or moon-ruled protection year.
If any of these are you, this eclipse will likely feel a bit more personal for you and actual, tangible events are more likely to materialize. Sometimes that means it’s more stressful, other times it shows up as something kind of minor, a liiiittle bit out of the ordinary, and/or maybe even humorous.
How the solar eclipse will affect your zodiac sign
*Read for your rising sign first, sun and moon second.
Aries
You’re standing in the doorway of your next great transformation, feeling the wind blow and the temperature rise. the ways that you’re different from others is what makes you part of the world — your difference is your unique role in the ecosystem! what moves in you now is the you that you’re welcoming home, and if you hear other people hissing right now, is it possible that they, too, are reminding you of a forgotten part of yourself? when have you hissed like that? you’re entering a period of immense personal growth, and reclaiming lost parts of yourself, and i’m excited for you.
Taurus
This moment eclipses an old way of being and stimulates the changes you’ll be making to your old, outdated mental programming. the sun spins and spins until it becomes a dark turbine that ultimately fortifies your mental well-being. things may be springing up from your subconscious mind in unexpected ways as you make changes to the way your mind operates. it’s okay if you need to spend more time by yourself during this time, and even for a year and a half going forward. you’ve been through a lot in the last few years; you’re being pushed to focus on recovery now.
Gemini
Friendships may be pushed to a breaking point this week. maybe your community is going through something. maybe your dreams are shape-shifting and re-calibrating. maybe you’re feeling an intense draw to get where you want to be — now, fast, quicker! there is no way to hurry fate, but you can take more directed and inspired action, and carve out a channel through which you can more effortlessly flow to the places you dream of. more than anything, i’d like this moment to inspire action for you. lean into your community. let the people around you support you and help you get where you’re going.
Cancer
You’re standing in the doorway to a whole new world in the realm of career and public image — there is so much change and growth available to you in that area of life going forward. you are growing something that can nourish your inner child in marvelous new ways. there may be an uncomfortable feeling of visibility, being on display, and maybe even imposter syndrome during this time as you learn to step into your role as leader. your warm heart can come too. it can even be the torch that you lead with.
Leo
This eclipse has the potential to jolt you out of your comfort zone. this can be distressing, or it can be an exciting adventure, but know that you don’t have to make a huge leap right now. you’re just taking stock of your options. stay open to new perspectives and any opportunities to learn new things. you’ll really be broadening your horizons in the next 21 months, and this is your introduction to all of that newness. open your eyes wide and give them time to adjust to the new view.
Virgo
Things are likely to be flowing out of your life right now, perhaps in order to make space for something new. it’s like the ice is just barely starting to melt and it’s slipping down the slopes in sheets, but eventually that same slope may be a waterfall, or at least a babbling brook. intimate relationships may feel more intense right now, and changes to your finances likely await. you’re poised to enter a new era of really investing in yourself and your future, and right now you’re clearing out the ruins of whatever has clearly outlived its purpose, leveling the foundation that you’re building your empire on.
Libra
This eclipse opens up a whole new era in relationships (of all kinds, but especially romantic relationships) and the next 21 months test your ability to remain true to yourself even when you’re bonded with or bound to others — it’s your authenticity and your ability to witness others that makes partnership thrive in the real world. worries around clefts and fissures in relationships should absolutely be addressed, but remember that this eclipse may be making things feel a bit more urgent than they really are.
Scorpio
Right now, you’re in the washing machine. if there’s a lot of absolute shit swirling around you right now, or if you’re feeling overloaded or simply beaten up, push through it and figure out what needs to be changed in your day-to-day life to better support your overall well-being. the focus on your well-being, stress level, and the balance between genuine rest and activity will be more important going forward, so take note of what needs to change. be gentle with your body and your stress level this week; both might be more reactive than normal right now.
Sagittarius
You’re the flame burning down the imaginary wall between your mind and the meadow that’s waiting to bloom from your body. but then again, maybe your lover’s left scorched. maybe your lover is the one burning you. there are changes to your love life (for better, more likely) on the horizon, but you’ve gotta just be right here to really get the best out of it. practice presence without impulsivity. practice love and sex in conjunction with friendship. this is all important to know going forward.
Capricorn
Maybe the house of your dreams is bursting forth from beneath your feet. maybe the rug is being ripped out from underneath you. maybe there are ghosts haunting you, memories and echoes that need to be soothed and tucked into bed so that you can move forward. the next 21 months are a fantastic opportunity to work through deep-rooted issues and psychological programming, so be brave, but don’t rush. even if it feels turbulent and disruptive, this process ideally steadies the foundation that your whole life rests on.
Aquarius
his mental queasiness is not forever. yes, something has to give, but you can take your time if you need to. i’m not going to rush you. if you’re feeling the pull to root down or to get out of the realm of the mundane, those doors are opening slowly, but it may not be as urgent as it’s feeling like it is. brick by brick you’re entering an era of immense personal change, and your skin always sheds when it’s ready to.
Pisces
As you’re finding ways to make your dreams into tangible reality, and as you are connecting more deeply with yourself, changes to your finances and general sense of security in the world are natural results of that work. you’re entering an era of significant changes to your finances and overall confidence, and this eclipse blows open the door to that change. this is a time when your commitment to yourself vs others is being tested, and ultimately, you may be surprised to find that your self-sufficiency and financial success both improve your closest relationships.