aries season: sparking a new journey

aries season begins on Thursday, March 20th

Welcome to the first installment of a series honoring the astrological seasons of the year, and thank you so much for being here! I’ve been so excited to launch this series, and it just made sense to start with the first sign of the zodiac: Aries.

Aries season marks the start of a brand new astrological cycle, making it ripe for new beginnings and intention setting. With Aries being a cardinal fire sign, it’s all about paving the way for a new journey and initiating us into a brand new chapter, fueled by a dose of fierce and fiery determination. No matter what your intentions for this season are, Aries brings a bold, passionate energy to set the stage for big things ahead.

Keep reading for an overview of Aries energy & themes, insight on the spring equinox, the Major Arcana card associated with this sign, and more!

Photo by Marko Horvat on Unsplash

aries & the spring equinox: kicking off a new astrological cycle

Each astrological season brings its own unique offerings and opportunities, but Aries season is an especially notable one: because Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, this season kicks off a brand new astrological cycle. While the Gregorian calendar highlights the timeline between January 1st and December 31st, the zodiac honors the timeline between the start of Aries season (which falls between March 19th and 21st, depending on the year) and the final day of Pisces season. It can feel a little tricky to hold space for both methods of marking time, but I like to think of January-December as our more linear, structured timeline, and Aries season-Pisces season as our energetic timeline. We can exist within both simultaneously, using one to structure our lives in the physical realm and one to check in with our internal seasons, our energetic ebbs and flows, and our natural cycles. The astrological calendar is much more aligned with the cycles and transitions of the natural world, with a new year beginning right around the time when the earth is thawing and new growth is beginning to make its way to the surface.

The spring equinox that accompanies the start of Aries season is a significant moment that brings us equal hours of day and night, and carries with it themes of rebirth, fertility, and potential. All it takes is a quick look outside to see why: while it may still feel like winter where you live (as it sometimes does here in the Hudson Valley), there are plentiful hints of the earth reawakening if you look closely. If you’ve ever felt that January 1st was an odd time to set intentions and start anew — being that it’s in the dead of winter, and we’re typically still recovering from the holiday season — you might appreciate honoring the new year at the spring equinox instead. There’s a unique magic in knowing that the long winter is behind us, and that the earth is coming out of its dormancy and will soon be dripping with abundance. The resilience of the natural world is on full display in these early spring days, and bearing witness to it can inspire us to ease out of our winter cocoons and greet the world with a fresh, renewed energy.

The equinox is a beautiful moment to notice and appreciate the earth’s reawakening and the plentiful signs of life that are slowly making their way to the surface. If you’re able, take some time this week to step out into nature and notice all of the hints of new growth sprouting.

aries & the art of confidence, boldness, and self-assertion

While these early days of spring might feel tender and delicate, Aries as a sign is quite the opposite: it’s bold, assured, and confident. Aries is a risk taker and an initiator, going after what it wants without second thought. Driven by tangible and decisive action, there’s a free-spirited, unencumbered quality to Aries: it flips the old adage of “look before you leap” on its head, and says “leap now — figure the rest out later.” Aries wants to be the first one out of the gate, the earliest adopter of the newest trends, and the one known for going all-in while everyone else is still mulling over plans and thinking things through. While this might not be the best approach in every scenario, it’s certainly a helpful energy to call upon when you’re ready to act boldly and get things moving.

Aries is a fire sign (along with Leo & Sagittarius), which means that it’s associated with things like action-taking, risk, bold moves, progress, determination, bravery, confidence, passion, desire, and drive. It’s also a cardinal sign (along with Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn), which gives it a leadership quality — the cardinal signs bravely and confidently usher us into a new season (in this case, spring.) Ruled by Mars, Aries shares the red planet’s themes of ambition, assertion, aggression, sexuality, and raw, fiery energy. Together, all of those qualities paint the picture of a sign that’s independent, self-assured, and unafraid — and perhaps one that says get out of my way or be risk being trampled.

aries in the tarot: The Emperor & taking up space

The Major Arcana card associated with Aries is The Emperor, which can offer us an even deeper understanding of the sign. The Emperor is an archetype of cool, collected confidence and authority — they know their worth and aren’t afraid to take up space. The Emperor doesn’t shyly wait to be offered a seat at the table, but pulls up a chair and acts as though they belong before anyone can argue otherwise. They’re not afraid to use their voice, share their ideas, or put themselves out there — not in an effort to silence or diminish others, but because they know that what they have to contribute is valuable.

In the capitalist, patriarchal society we live in, it can be challenging to view The Emperor in a positive light, but that’s only because we’ve seen so many blatant examples of Emperor energy being mishandled. Every archetype runs the risk of being twisted or exploited in order to justify harm, and we often see that with The Emperor in the form of abuse of power, the silencing of marginalized communities, and folks wielding unchecked authority, just to name a few — but that’s not the Emperor’s intention. The Emperor invites us to acknowledge and embrace our worthiness, show up as our full, unapologetic selves, and take up the space that we deserve alongside our peers. Any time we’re talking about Aries energy, we can look to the Emperor as a role model for owning our unique gifts and greeting the world with confidence.

bringing it all together: aries season actions, tools, and reflections

So: we have this fiery, passionate, confident, initiatory energy guiding us for the next month — how can we best work with this season?

We can set intentions that are bold, action-oriented, and maybe just a little bit outside of our comfort zone. We can dream bigger than we’ve let ourselves dream in the past, fueled by the self-assured energy of The Emperor. We can make sure that our plan for the journey ahead is made up of clear, actionable steps, and that we’re doing what we can to maintain a fierce belief in ourselves and our abilities. We can ask ourselves what drives us, what lights us up, and what our hearts desire most, reminding ourselves that we’re worthy of it all. We can be brave and commit to taking steps that we’ve never taken before. We can summon the courage to share parts of ourselves that we may have previously hidden. We can try new things that we’re excited about without overthinking. We can take something that we feel passionate about and dive in head first, refusing to get bogged down by logistics. And above all, we can welcome the energy of a fresh start — this time in the supportive embrace of spring, rather than the cold depths of January — and decide where we want to go next.

Here are some tools that you may want to work with during Aries season — you can add them to your altar if you have one, or simply incorporate them into your life over the next month in whatever ways feel appropriate to you:

• Crystals like carnelian (for courage, passion, and boldness) and tiger’s eye (for confidence, vitality, and personal power)

• Colors like red (for fiery energy & passion) and orange (for courage & creativity)

• Bold, warming spices like cayenne, cinnamon, and chili powder

• Fire: lighting plenty of candles, gathering around a bonfire, or putting your fireplace to use

Some other activities that you may want to consider during Aries season:

• Plant seeds: Because spring is a time of new growth and Aries season is an auspicious time to plant seeds of intention, this is a great time for planting literal seeds that you can watch grow! While it’s a bit too early to plant outdoors in many areas, late March is a great time to start seeds indoors. If you have access to a sunny windowsill, grab a couple of pots, some soil, and a pack of whatever seeds you’d like to grow. Before you get your hands dirty, sit with your seeds and infuse them with an intention that you hope to see bloom in the coming weeks: imagine your deepest desires coming to fruition, and send all of your confident, passionate energy into the seeds. As you tend to your seedlings and watch them grow, don’t forget to check in with yourself and your own progress, too.

• Spring cleaning: Chances are you’re familiar with the practical benefits of spring cleaning, but the next time you’re ready to give your space some attention, take it a step further and try to really honor the acts of clearing, cleansing, and decluttering. As you wipe away dust or discard objects that are no longer needed, see if you can allow your body to feel lighter. Open a window if you can, and breathe the fresh air in. You may also want to add a layer of energetic cleansing by burning herbs or incense to clear the energy in your space or using herb-infused cleaning products: try infusing white vinegar with herbs like rosemary, sage, or mint to make a natural and magical DIY cleaner!

• Move your body: Our bodies need more rest in the winter, and spring is the perfect time to shake off any stagnant energy and get things moving again. Move your body in whatever ways are accessible and feel supportive to you, whether that’s cardio to get your heart pumping, taking a leisurely walk, engaging in a nourishing yoga practice, or making time for some intentional stretching. Using Aries’ fiery energy as inspiration, focus on reigniting your inner flame through physical movement of some kind throughout the season.

key aries season dates

🌸 March 20th: spring equinox & first day of Aries season

🌑 March 29th: new moon in Aries (solar eclipse)

📡 April 7th: Mercury stations direct

🌕 April 12th: full moon in Libra

📅 April 18th: last full day of Aries season

aries cheat sheet

📅 Dates: March 20th - April 19th

♈ Symbol: the ram

🔥 Element: fire

👑 Modality: cardinal

🏁 Archetype: the trailblazer

🃏 Major Arcana card: The Emperor

💥 Qualities: confident, bold, brave, independent, self-assured, fiery, passionate, driven