Each year on March 20^th, we have the vernal equinox, the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves into the tropical sign of Aries. This moment marks the beginning of a new solar year as well as the first day of spring, and, for astrologers, this day tells us a little about the year ahead.

This vernal equinox brings much change and opportunities for growth, both collectively and personally, in surprising or unexpected ways.  For those willing to take a few risks and trust their instincts, it’s an amazing year of new beginnings and radical breakthroughs.

First, though, we need to anchor ourselves in our desires and to be honest about our needs. Late March through late April is a good period to ask yourself: “What is it I want?”  Then use this year to take a few tentative steps in that direction.

What makes this equinox unusual is the presence of Uranus, planet of liberation and radical discontinuity. Early March saw the return of Uranus to Aries after an 84-year absence and marks the beginning of a new era and a radical departure in the collective consciousness.

Uranus is associated with technological breakthroughs that reshape our world, so don’t be surprised if a new technology gets its start this year or an existing technology takes a leap forward. In 1927, the last time Uranus moved into Aries, the first television image flickered on a screen, the first transatlantic phone call was placed, and Ford’s Model T came into production. Each one of these technologies continues to have a profound impact on our culture.

On a personal level, Uranus asks us to breakdown old conditioning and habitual ways of being. We can do that by embracing change, spontaneous action, and the unexpected. Any change brings a certain level of chaos and disconnection from the norm. If you’ve been sleepwalking through life of late, outside shocks to your routines may wake you from your complacency.

A less disruptive path? Consciously choose to wean yourself from routines which enhance your comfort but inhibit your aliveness.  Start by identifying these blunted areas and finding small ways to violate your habits. Be your own catalyst for positive change.

Don’t worry if your initial attempts are clumsy, misunderstood or uncomfortable. What matters is that you take action and try something new. It’s time to throw down the gauntlet and declare yourself.

What is it you want to do but tell yourself is impossible because it’s too expensive, too late, unrealistic, hard  (insert your own obstacle here)? What if it isn’t? What if it’s the very impetus you need to discover new paths and liberate yourself from a deadening rut? 

Underscoring this theme is Jupiter, the planet of expansion and growth, also in pioneering Aries. This year, you’ll find you make the greatest gains when you jump in and try things, so become your own best teacher and learn by doing. Try to push yourself into unfamiliar waters and discover something new about yourself.

Here we come to the rub and the other planetary players in this year’s equinox: Saturn, and Pluto. Growth comes with risk. You must be willing to make mistakes, incur disapproval, ruffle feathers, and occasionally look stupid or inexperienced, and this kind of vulnerability triggers fear, sabotage, and resistance from within yourself and from those around you.

External pressures show up in the form of the spouse who cooks all your favorite comfort foods just as your new health regime takes hold or the boss who makes life difficult because your decision to go back to school means you arrive a few minutes late to work. Internal pressures show up as the self-defeating voice that tells you that you look ridiculous when you try something new or, worse, convinces you not to try.

Don’t be your own worst naysayer and don’t fall into power struggles with others around you. Instead empower yourself and trust your instincts. If you struggle with practicalities or lean toward impulsiveness, consult with those who consistently give you wise and supportive guidance, even when they disagree with you. Feedback should be of the nuts and bolts sort that helps you spot pitfalls in your strategy, rather than an attempt to win approval.

Remember, any change brings up our fears. The unfamiliar is uncomfortable and carries a faint whiff of danger. But fear is also enlivening, which explains why fear and excitement elicit much the same physiological effect: a rush of adrenalin, an increase in heart rate, an in-the-moment focus.

Fritz Pearls once said, “Fear is excitement without the breath.”  So, breath into your change, tap into the excitement, and move forward. The potential for growth now is enormous, but you need to take action, to begin, this year, even if that beginning is the tinniest of steps.

Below are stone recommendations for those of you who want to support the incoming changes. If you know your ascendant, the sign rising on the horizon at the moment of birth, read that sign. Otherwise, just look for the sign associated with your birth month.

ARIES: It’s time to reinvent yourself but with the excess of energy in your sign this year, you need to be careful not to rush out the gates only to fall on your scabbard. Use the advice of trusted friends and colleagues to balance your enthusiasms and provide strategies necessary to mitigate any risks. Ultimately, you’re recreating your career and role in the world. Take your time and get it right.  Gemstone: Emerald

TAURUS: Change can be stressful to the placid bull, so preserve your health by making sure you get enough sleep and nutritious foods. There’s a lot going on underneath the surface for you that others might not see. In general, you may find you need more time to yourself. Steal away from the world to recharge and reconnect with your higher values, which are transforming. Helping those less fortunate than you can also be healing. Gemstone: Bloodstone

GEMINI: Usually happy to enjoy the present, you may find yourself thinking about the future and where you want to be in ten to fifteen years. That’s good, because your goals and dreams are shifting and you can use the current momentum to map the next leg of your journey. Take a hard look at areas in your life that feels like they’ve run their course and what, if anything, you need to do financially, especially in terms of debt, to move forward. Gemstone: Larimar

CANCER: You may feel like serious responsibilities tied to home or family prevent you from making the changes in your life you’d like. Now is the time to examine the power dynamics in your relationships and how willing you are to let others support you and share the weight. Your ability to reinvent your role in the world has serious momentum behind it, so don’t let this year’s opportunities pass by you. Gemstone: Topaz

LEO: Now is the time to realign to larger truths. If your thinking has become rigid or your day-to-day world feels narrow and full of obstacles, connecting to something greater than yourself will let the light in. Seek inspiration in philosophies, ethical codes, other cultures, and spiritual truths. When you move through your daily life, do you measure up to your highest ideals? If not, try pulling some of that divine spark into your work-a-day world to uplift yourself and others.  Gemstone: Ocean Jasper

VIRGO: You may sense you’re on the precipice of a creative breakthrough but certain worries weigh on you. Try not to let limited finances or self-doubt prey on your peace of mind. You have enormous amounts of fuel available to burn away old psychic material. To do that, you must honor endings: tie up old ideas, projects, relationships, and values that no longer serve you. In the process you free up energy and feed your self-expression, creativity, and capacity for joy.  Gemstone: Serpentine

LIBRA: For about a year and a half, you’ve been taking stock of your needs and defining your boundaries. By placing limits, you’ve laid the groundwork for growth and renewal in your relationships. Expect the unexpected, but rest assured you’re limits will be tested. Honor your relationships, but more importantly honor yourself. Not every impulse others have is best for you. Nowhere is this more self-evident than at home and with loved ones. Be loving, be firm, and be true to yourself.  Gemstone: Selenite

SCORPIO: Powerful, ingrained mental patterns demand to be transformed right now. When old doubts or fears rear their ugly heads, bring them into the light. Examine the voice you’ve internalized and remember you’re the only person who can give it power. Rigidity in your thinking will only serve to keep you in the past. Take advantage of the current cycle to reinvigorate your day-to-day health and work routines. If in the past you’ve struggled with diets, now you may find the pounds sliding off. Gemstone: Ruby

SAGATTARIUS: You are in the midst of a personal renaissance, where your greatest difficulty lies in harnessing the creative outflow you’re currently generating. To make the most of your riches, focus on those projects with economic potential and the support of a community of like-minded others, as they’ll have the legs to keep going. Use feedback from others to provide the structure and limits your ideas will need to be viable in the long run. Gemstone: Copper

CAPRICORN:  In 2008, you began a roughly 16-year process during which you and your life will transform on fundamental levels. Home and family are all critical to this process, so don’t be surprised if change starts at home. If you’ve taken those closest to you for granted or let increased responsibilities at work dominate your attention, revelations at home might reverse this trend. You need to feel at home with yourself and have a sense of belonging. If this has been missing, work on restoring it.  Gemstone: Chalcopyrite

AQUARIUS: Communication is pivotal this year: when you talk, people should listen. If they aren’t, you need to look at the message and the audience. Use positive feedback to guide you, as you experiment with your format and message. Subjects that others would prefer to leave hidden are particularly rich veins for exploration. Pushback comes when you let your philosophies prevent you from hearing others. Others will let you know when you’re being your own worst enemy. Listen to them. Gemstone: Blue Chalcedony

PISCES: Use this year to revolutionize your resources, be they financial, emotional, spiritual or intellectual. Know your worth, live by your values, and expect a solid return for your efforts. More income and less debt should follow. Help with this makeover, and the deep emotional work you’ve been doing, comes through your friends and community. In the process, your long term goals may metamorphose, too.  Gemstone: Moss Agate