by Susan DeRyder | March 16, 2026 |
The Pisces New Moon lands at 28°27 on March 18 6:23pm PT/ 9:23pm ET.
This new moon arrives like a deep exhale precursing the March Equinox which arrives just 2 days later on March 20. The previous lunar cycle was the beginning of a slow acceleration which will continue on into the next with increasing speed and force, all fuelled up with the energy of Spring. Now, the Sun and Moon meet just a couple of degrees before the beginning of seasonal Aries, with Neptune, Saturn, Venus, Chiron and Eris already there. This exhale comes at just the right time – let us rest here for a while.
I Am You And You Are Me
For me the water signs can be considered for the kinds of water they might represent; Cancer, the tidal pools, Scorpio, the deepest wells and Pisces, the ocean herself – broad, expansive, endless. Pisces teaches us ultimate truths; we are all one, we are all connected. Pisces reminds us that I am you and you are me. This kind of merging opens us up to possibility, emptying us out and preparing us for a new vision (which fits so perfectly at the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere). With this moon occurring just days before many aspects that feel fast and fiery, it feels like an opportunity for us to set the tone. Use this moon to breathe and dream deeply, to sway and to pray. Imprint compassion, empathy and love deeply into your heart so that you may remember this again and again in the months that follow. Whether the anticipated acceleration affects you personally and directly or you find yourself observing from afar, we must remember with crystal clarity the truth of our boundless hearts – this place is your sanctuary and sanctity.
Astrology reveals to us opportunities to align with the highest octave or expression of a sign or aspect between planets. May we use the coming acceleration for that purpose. Similarly, in the year of the Fire Horse we may choose to ride upon the back of the energy, using the freedom and force to feed projects and causes worth fighting for.
Mars Rises As A Morning Star
It is no coincidence that just a couple of days prior, Mars emerges from his underworld journey. He rises as a morning star on March 16 after a long sojourn in the underworld which began back in November 2025 inside of his synodic cycle in the Cancer overstory. During the New Moon window Mars dwells in Pisces and then remains in the sign through April 9 – a hopeful placement since he just went through his own rite of passage of death and rebirth. May he rise deeply initiated and take his time in Pisces, sharing new found wisdom and humility with the sacred masculine in all of us – we need it now more than ever.
What comes in the days that follow this New Moon is worth noting as we sit inside the portal and set our intentions for the coming lunation.
Mercury Moving Direct
On March 20 Mercury goes direct and begins a new overstory in Pisces. On the same day Mercury conjuncts the North Node. After a 3 week period of retrograde some may breathe a sigh of relief. And, remember Mercury retrograde is not ‘bad’ – rather it can be considered a time that is simply non-linear and ideal for revising, revisioning and redoing. With Mercury moving direct conjunct the ‘arrow head’ of the Nodal axis, may it be a blessing that the planet of perception, cognition, and communication has moved into a sign that operates from compassion and empathy.
All Planets In Direct Motion
Another important feature of this coming lunation and beyond is the shift into all planets in direct motion, as of March 20 and through May 6 2026. This window is as it sounds. All planets in our solar system will be in forward motion bringing in another layer of assistance in the previously mentioned accelerative feel of 2026.
Venus Joins The Elegance
Venus joins the elegance in the layers of synchronicity at this time. On March 20 she will meet with the moon, reaching the second ascending gate, the reproductive chakra, of her current synodic cycle in the Pisces overstory.
Chiron-Eris Final Exact Conjunction
Lastly, it feels pertinent to mention that on March 19 Chiron and Eris will reach their third and final exact conjunction in this current meeting. Their first was May 27 2025 and the second October 2025. There is a lot one could speculate regarding this conjunction, for now I will direct you to Daniel Giamario’s most recent Ramblings and this article where he goes into some of the details if you would like to know more. Reading this, we learn that historically, Chiron and Eris have met during times that echo many of the themes we are dealing with now on Earth. Eris, the Greek Goddess of strife, discord and war meets with Chiron a Centaur figure from Greek mythology. As Daniel reminds us, ‘Out of Chaos Comes Order, but by what means?’. It feels important to remember that we are collaborators, rather than assuming we are fatefully at the effect of the planetary energies. Perhaps we can find a new way to harness the energy of Chiron and Eris in Aries, such as healing through chaos for the greater good of all. From here, Eris and Chiron will begin to create distance between them until their next meeting in 2079.
The Still Point of This Pisces New Moon
Let us return to the still point of this Pisces New Moon. Let us enter into a clear and hopeful prayer for peace. Let us hold the prayer for those who cannot summon hope at this time, and let us be held in this prayer if we too lose hope.
In the perfect words of Ahlay (Alexandra) Blakely …
“Bring your tired and weary bones
to this fire
and harmonize these notes
together
and when you will inhale
and when you will rest
hundreds of others will be singing
until you come back
take your time
take this water
take these hands
if you want them.”
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