As we move out of sensitive Pisces, I feel my own fiery sun sign of Aries begin to kick its strong hooves into gear. I love when the sun first enters the sign of Aries at the time of the Spring Equinox/Ostara. I’m all about new beginnings, new projects, fresh starts, and creative approaches to problem-solving. When coupled with the always optimistic, first glimmers of spring, one can’t help but lean hard on the side of hope. I appreciate the dreamy, sweet side of Pisces, and know that I have some in my chart, due to the close proximity of where my birthdate falls (the 23^rd). This being said, I also welcome my fighting, brave, adventurous side just around the corner. I look forward to ushering it in with verve and gusto. I’ve had to employ some of this especially recently when it comes to standing up for myself. Often I’d prefer to avoid unpleasant confrontation, preferring flight instead of fight mode.

Justice for All

One thing about we Aries types though, we have a particularly strong sense of defending against anything unjust—whether behavior done to ourselves or our loved ones. So that doesn’t really allow for hiding away from saying what needs to be said or done. This can be applied in the workplace, setting firm boundaries with those who are apt to bring you down, or simply calling out a particularly rough new hygienist in the dentist’s office. Sure we could just lay back and grimace through the pain. But is it really doing anyone any good, especially if the rudeness if pretty over-the -op and the perp isn’t aware, or doesn’t think there are any consequences for their behavior?

Bravely Pushing On

 Other times, it involves going with your gut, following through on your intentions, and pushing ahead where others would fear to tread. As luck would have it, my partner and I are finally making our three-years-running intended California trip on the Equinox, for my birthday week. Every year since 2020, something has thwarted us at this particular time. First, the entire state went into lockdown at the beginning stages of the COVID pandemic. The following years we were scared off by climate change-driven wildfires and mudslides. Unfortunately, this year, poor Cali has been suffering from more natural disasters in the way of extreme snow, snow melt, and flooding. Normally, I’d always defend the media first and their reporting of such events.

Conflicting Reports

However, in this case, we’ve run into a weird phenomenon of news outlets having you believe that the entire state is submerged in water, everyone is being evacuated out of every nook and cranny, and rather than attempt to travel there, you should run for the hills instead. After speaking with my friends who live there and two of our scheduled Airbnb hosts though, we received quite a different reporting of events. Yes, some areas of California are flooded. Some areas of some counties are being evacuated, and I’m by no means downplaying what people in these select areas are going through. I hope this all settles down soon for everyone. Obviously, it’s a very big state. We were strongly encouraged by everyone we spoke with to still come and plan on having a lovely time to the locations that we’d planned on. So after a lot of stressing over all the doom and gloom, we’re going to go ahead with our plans, gosh darnit. If we skipped again this year, who knows when we might try again? Something tells me we’re going to have a great time, whether it rains  a bit or not. I’m going to trust that—and what we’ve been told by the residents there.

New Podcast Episode

 On another note, I have an exciting new “Women Who Howl At the Moon” podcast episode to share! S.J. Tucker is an Arkansas-based, self-proclaimed “Song Witch.” She is a musical artist of great range, with influences from Joni Mitchell to Siouxsie and the Banshees, and refreshingly down-to-earth, too. Enjoy some of her Celtic-sounding tunes just in time for the 17^th and Happy Spring Equinox to all.