Aries season begins March 20, along with the spring equinox, paving the way for new beginnings. With the celestial slate now cleared, what will you ignite before April 20?
The Sun visits a new zodiac sign every 30 days or so. During each "season," everyone feels the influence of the prevailing astrological energy. Since Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, it is considered the astrological "new year"—here are five ways to ring in yours!
1. Create a mind map.
After a meditative month, you're ready to move some energy around! Building on the dreamy vibes of Pisces season, the Sun's journey through Aries unlocks your visionary powers and turns your focus toward new (and never-been-done-before) ideas.
Let yourself picture what could be without worrying about the practical considerations.
With Aries ruling the head, this mentally active solar cycle will have you buzzing with epic visions. As the starter sign of the zodiac—and the first of the fire signs—Aries energy is like the spark that ultimately creates the flame. But it's too soon to get stuck tending to any blazes. For the coming four weeks, just get all your brilliant gems captured on paper without necessarily committing to the thing…yet. Mind-mapping is the perfect tool for keeping all those inspirational bursts organized while remaining in an organic, imaginative flow. Essentially, this system involves writing one idea in a circle in the center of a paper, then mapping sub-ideas (and sub-sub-ideas) in circles, branching outward from there. When pragmatic Taurus takes the wheel on April 20, you can give those maps a review and figure out which ones are realistic enough to plug them into a schedule and spreadsheet. Until then, let yourself picture what could be without worrying about the practical considerations.
During this fast-moving astrological season, it's easy to get swept up in a zillion projects and plans—then feel overwhelmed and want to bail on them all. To avoid overload, make physical activity a priority. We recommend plugging three (or more) blocks of time into your calendar each week devoted to exercise. Not only does moving your body get stuck energy flowing, but it's an airtight excuse for saying, "maybe" instead of "yes" to every extracurricular invitation. (A good policy for most nonessential activities during this spontaneous solar cycle.) Variety is the spice of spring training during Aries season, so mix up your circuits at the gym or drop in to a different class every time you work out. Or, if you have a routine you love, change up the scenery. Do yoga on your balcony and triceps dips on a park bench. Since Aries is the warrior sign, try a workout that incorporates martial arts or sign up for a self-defense class.
3. Use anger as a tool.
Anger is a touchstone emotion during Aries season, one that may flare up unexpectedly. While no one wants to be the "rager" in the room, it's important to tune in to your temper during this zodiac season. Stuffing down anger is often the very thing that causes it to flare up and combust—or leave you feeling listless and depressed. Noticing what enrages you, on the other hand, is crucial to setting boundaries, something that the zodiac's Ram encourages in the name of self-preservation!
Tune in: What (or who) has been getting under your skin? Make a mental note about it, then find a neutral third party with whom you can process the feelings. What you DON'T want to do, however, is reactively fire off a text about your feelings or pick up the phone to tell someone off. The impetuous vibes of Aries season can lead you to burn bridges or create a regrettable mess that takes years (and tears) to clean up. Besides, once you do a little excavating to figure out what's shortening your fuse, you may discover that the missing link lies in your communication. Perhaps you haven't been articulating your needs or making clear requests. Or, maybe it is indeed time to walk away. By using your anger as a tool instead of a weapon, you can learn to ask for support in new ways…or make a graceful exit from situations that are no longer serving you.
4. Embrace a sense of childlike wonder.
As the zodiac's youngest sign, Aries can bring out a playful sense of wonder in us all. During this zodiac season, try embracing the Buddhist concept of Shoshin or "beginner's mind." What if you view every familiar person, place, or thing as if you were greeting it for the first time? You may discover a totally new dimension of the experience. During this four-week transit, see what happens if you drop all assumptions and instead, be curious and ask questions. (Surprise! The answers you hear might not be as obvious as you suspect.) Approach your work or personal goals with that same sense of openness. Children don't judge themselves when they're learning a new skill, like playing an instrument or kicking a soccer ball. But as adults, ego and self-doubt get in our way. Imagine finally starting your own business, going on a yoga retreat, or crossing off something on your bucket list without a care in the world if you succeeded or failed? Will you take a risk or continue to "future-file" your dreams? Here's a fun exercise to try: Say "yes" to everything for a day (within reason, of course!). It's an experiment we've tried when we've felt in a rut. Awaken your youthful sense of unlimited possibility!
5. Take yourself on a date.
When was the last time you reveled in your own company—without reflexively pulling out your phone to check Instagram or otherwise distracting yourself with busywork or errands? Aries is the ruler of self-love—a lesson many born under this star sign devote their lives to teaching us, like Gloria Steinem, Maya Angelou, and Lady Gaga. Remember: Enjoying sacred solo time is not the same as isolating oneself; in fact, we recommend consciously interacting with the world while also tuning in to your thoughts and feelings. On our bookshelf of favorite self-development titles is Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. One of Cameron's tools is the weekly Artist's Date, a "festive, solo expedition to explore something that interests you," which she advises is "more about mischief than mastery." Whether you're wandering through a museum's special exhibit, sketching spring botanicals in the park, or enjoying every rapturous bite of a chef's tasting menu while sitting at the bar, this ritualized experience can awaken you to the pleasure of spending time with me, myself, and I.