March 29, 2025 at 3:58am PDT—I know change is constant—life is always evolving and asking us to evolve with it whether we’re ready or not. But these last few months? It feels as though life’s been stuck on a spin cycle set to never-ending. Not just for me, but for so many people I know. It’s as if we’ve all linked arms and leapt into some kind of collective free fall—half exhilarated, half wondering if we should’ve packed a parachute.
We’re all leaning on our go-to coping mechanisms these days. For me, that’s been early morning meditation, long walks with the dogs, and—most recently—Buddhist Sunday Service. Although these have been keeping me afloat, I still catch myself bracing for the next wave, wondering what’s forming on the horizon, questioning if stability is within reach.
They say, “Ask and ye shall receive,” so that’s exactly what I did. And then, later the same day, while I was standing in the kitchen heating water for tea, I found a quote on my iPhone I had saved from Instagram sometime ago. It’s from Joan Didion:
“What I want to tell you today is not to move into that world where you’re alone with yourself and your mantra and your fitness program or whatever it is that you might use to try to control the world by closing it out. I want to tell you just to live in the mess. Throw yourself out into the convulsions of the world. I’m not telling you to make the world better, because I don’t believe progress is necessarily part of the package. I’m telling you to live in it. Try and get it. Take chances, make your own work, take pride in it. Seize the moment.”
I sucked in my breath. It’s as if Joan Didion’s hand had reached across space and time into rain-weary Seattle, dropping these words onto the printout of Saturday’s eclipse I’d been studying—declaring, “This is it. The thing that will make sense, eventually.”
The Final Push to Power
Her quote is also the key to Saturday’s Partial Solar Eclipse in Aries. There’s something about this final hurrah that began with a first volley of eclipses in April 2023 that’s asking us to take another chance and make it work. But here’s the thing: we already have. For two years now! The landscape has changed, though. So much has unraveled, rerouted, reformed. We’ve hit dead ends, turned corners only to face barricades, reversed course, tried again. And now? We’re on the verge of having all the right pieces to make it work.
The Partial Solar Eclipse is a new moon. New moons bring a surge of potential, signaling a time to initiate and innovate. A North Node eclipse ignites an insatiable drive—whether to resolve a lingering issue or to chase a compelling vision of what’s possible. The North Node carries a grasping energy, often accompanied by restless ambition, karmic momentum, or an undeniable pull toward growth and destiny.
This lunation occurs in Aries, a sign that embodies action, bravery, self-exploration, and fierce independence. Aries placements are bold initiators, driven by instinct and an unshakable desire to forge their own path. Known for their fiery spirit and determination, Aries energy thrives on challenge, pushing forward even when the road is uncertain. This eclipse amplifies Aries’ raw, unapologetic drive, urging us to step into our power with courage and confidence. Or as Joan Didion howls: live it, get it, take a chance, work, be proud, and seize!!
Backtracking to Move Forward
Aries is the launchpad for re-evaluation these days. Both Mercury and Venus hit the brakes earlier this month to pivot retrograde at 09°35′ and 10°50 of Aries. These degrees are practically flashing a “Recalculate Route” sign to retrace their steps into the contemplative waters of Pisces. It’s like embarking on a journey, only to realize you’ve forgotten something essential at home and need to turn back. What are Mercury and Venus are returning to?
Mercury’s return into Pisces calls us to dissolve rigid thought patterns, seeking clarity through feeling and intuition rather than logic and words. Venus invites us to reevaluate the unconditional realms of love and connection, encouraging a compassionate understanding of how we value ourselves and others. In Pisces, both planets dissolve the boundaries that the ego creates, cultivating openness and receptivity. As Rilke said, “Make your ego porous. Will is of little importance, complaining is nothing, fame is nothing. Openness, patience, receptivity, solitude is everything.” Perhaps this redirect is a nudge to turn inward—not to escape the limits we think are holding us back, but to build the kind of inner strength that makes them fade on their own. Patience, reflection, solitude—these aren’t just pauses; they’re quiet superpowers. The more we lean into them, the more the edges soften, the more spacious things become, and suddenly, we’re seeing what was there all along.
The gods favor a well-prepared daredevil
It’s interesting that eclipse lands powerfully at 09° Aries—exactly where Mercury (09°35′, first decan) and Venus (10°50′, second decan) stationed retrograde. The Tarot cards for the first two decans of Aries offer a fitting reflection. The Two of Wands, representing the first decan, shows a man holding a globe and looking out into the distance—symbolizing the moment of choice and anticipation. The Three of Wands, associated with the second decan, shows a man watching his ships sail—marking the shift from waiting to purposeful action.
The progression from the Two to the Three speaks to the need to pause and reflect before charging ahead. Mercury and Venus urge us to reconsider and recalibrate before we “live the mess”. Before the Aries trigger is pulled and our ships set sail, Mercury and Venus guide us back to the quiet space within, where we can reconnect to the wisdom that has always been available. Now is the time to get your mantra down, make your fitness routine second nature, and fortify yourself. It won’t be much longer that you return, empowered to seize the moment, take bold chances, and dive headfirst Aries style into the convulsions of the world, fully ready to embrace the next chapter with confidence.
Photo 1 by Dương Nhân
Photo 2 by R.F. Studio
Photo 3 by Anna Shvets