The March New Moon arrives on Saturday the 17th at 07:12 am MT while Moon transits the final sign of the zodiac, Pisces, and Purvabhadra nakshatra. Moon joins Sun, exalted Venus and debilitated Mercury here as well. All receive gaze from Mars and Rahu. This combination can provoke aggression and confusion, as well as a lack of clear thinking and intensified emotions. This theme may intensify throughout the waxing cycle. Focus on clearing and releasing what rises to the surface and attend to the needs arriving. Allow emotions to move through you and support the release of your big emotions.

New Moon in Purvabhadra increases the need for integration and balance of opposing forces. There is a need for honoring duality and harmonizing conflicts. Ajaikapada rules over this portion of the sky. He is an expression of Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, Lord Shiva. He dances between realms, worlds, and holds both. One foot grounded and rooted, the other lifted, prepared to move forward. This is an expression of his ability to hold duality and integrate opposing forces.

Shiva asks us to simplify and do tapas in order for purification. Something must be released and actions and behaviors need to be simplified. Through this process of releasing, simplifying and purifying, clarity, wisdom and prosperity emerges. The power of Rudra is offered under this constellation, which can be channeled into auspicious activities and purposes with positive results. The symbol of this constellation is the front half of a funeral cot, inviting in release and letting go. This cycle prepares us for something new. Be prepared to let go, in order for the new to have space to arrive. A deep level of purification is taking place in the days ahead. Support this process and allow new resources to support you.

There is much clearing and release taking place. This waxing cycle supports clearing and letting go of the old. Parts of you that have been stuck will require your conscious uprooting. This may mean you have to retrace some old terrain in order to support the clearing. Dive deeply and honor depths and unconscious realms. Awakening to your inner conflicts and polarities are key in this process. Gains come with your clearing and release process. You must make room for something new. This process may require diving into very old, painful territory and cleaning up relationship grief. Seek integration, harmony and balance between self and others. Between inner and outer. Between your darkness and light. What mirrors are arriving to help you attend to the past and release it? What relationships need to be released once and for all? What integration and balance is needed in order for deeper grounding?

In the cycle ahead, attend to your grounding, inner and outer stability as well as your feet. Connect with the earth and find ways to deepen your roots. Find your ground and activate your inner intelligence. Pay attention to your feet and what they tell you about your grounding cord. Stay rooted.

As the new Moon arrives, Chaitra Navaratri begins as well. Navaratri begins the evening of the 17th and continues until the 25th of March. The final day of Navaratri is Ram Navami, the celebrated birth day of Lord Ram.

The Navaratri celebration is an expression of what is taking place within Nature, through the Laws that govern Nature, marking an important transition within us and around us. Align with Nature and Her powerful energy of change and transformation during Navaratri. Ritualize your connections with Nature- in order to land more closely to your own inner wisdom, to Her wisdom. Strengthen your connection to self and Spirit.

Navaratri is a poignant time in the Vedic Calendar. This ancient calendar is one that is dedicated to Nature and her cycles and rhythms, the planets, and most importantly the Moon. In the Vedic Calendar, time is connected to what Nature and the cosmos are doing, and these elements are intimately related. Navaratri occurs twice a year- in the "gap" seasons of spring and fall. These times are considered sandhi times; delicate times that feel like you are neither here, nor there. We might call it the netherworld. This time, though delicate, is considered sacred.

Read More About Navaratri.