Your Horoscope Called, and It Wants You to Read This Interview

It's that time of year again. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the air is filled with the sweet smell of spring. So, I sat down with the talented astrologer Marielle Croft to explore the mysteries of the Milky Way this season. Whether you're a seasoned expert or a curious learner, you're in for a treat. So, pour yourself a steaming mug of your favourite brew, sit back, and prepare to have your mind expanded as we delve into what the stars have in store for us this spring.

Jonni: Good morning, Marielle. So, when can we finally say that spring has sprung this year? And more importantly, what kind of spring should we be getting ready for?

Marielle: Good morning, Jonni. Yes, the Spring Equinox arrives on Monday, March 20th, at 2:46 pm, PDT. It’s the first day of spring when the Sun moves out of Pisces into Aries.

Equinox means that day and night are of 12 hours each. It’s a time for balance, to be poised before engaging toward an expression of vitality and renewed life force in our life and observed in nature as well.

The two most beneficial planets, Jupiter in Aries, and Venus in Taurus are in a strong position for the season. Indeed, Jupiter stands right in the middle of the sign Aries, where the energy of creativity and passion are the strongest, joyful, and ready to go as if there were no tomorrow. Venus is at home in her own sign, Taurus. She just escaped a tight and uncomfortable lock with Pluto in Capricorn all winter, and now she is serene, connected with grace and beauty in general, but perhaps more with nature as well.

Jonni: Your descriptions are delightful! But let's get down to brass tacks: as we welcome the Spring Equinox and embrace the balance and renewed life force it brings, how does all of this actually impact us day to day?

Marielle: It means a form of optimism is in the air. It’s time to busy yourself with creativity done physically, with your hands, to beautify your life, home, social life, and sense of community, and if the opportunity presents itself, to grow your own vegetable garden or, at least, to grow aromatic herbs on one’s window seal, it is even better.

There seems to be a feeling in the air to go back to real life in our immediate surroundings as opposed to pursuing large goals far from us and way into the future. There is a sense of here and now, to recreate more normalcy in our daily life, somehow.

Jonni: Yes, it definitely feels like there's a shift happening toward embracing the present moment and finding joy in the simple things. With so much uncertainty in the world, it's understandable that we would want to focus on creating a sense of normalcy in our immediate surroundings, taking control of our own little corner of the world. We could do that by beautifying our homes or connecting with our communities. I find there's something deeply satisfying about creating tangible, meaningful change right where we are.

Marielle: It’s as if people want to discover the realness of life in the real physical space around them as opposed to doing it virtually with their technology toys.

Another interesting energy adds its colours to this spring season. We’re talking about the Moon deep in the later part of Pisces and conjunct with Neptune, Pisces’ ruler. This conjunction carries the most gentle, profound, peaceful energy into the spring season. It calls towards becoming a bit introverted so we can remember the taste of this inner voice we all carry within ourselves. The inner voice expresses itself from intuition and wisdom, compassion and gentleness, from peacemaking and inclusivity. Sometimes we can get so carried away in our daily life complexities that we neglect this return to self for so long and don’t even notice it. Now is the time to reconnect and listen.

Jonni: Absolutely! It feels like people are starting to realize that there's a richness and depth to life that can't be fully captured by technology alone. Don't get me wrong, our tech toys are great for certain things, but there's something magical about getting back to basics and engaging with the physical world around us.

I love what you’re saying about the energy of this season! The conjunction of the Moon and Neptune in Pisces sounds like a gentle nudge towards introspection and reconnecting with our inner selves. It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, but this energy seems to be calling us to slow down, listen to our intuition, and tap into our deepest wells of wisdom and compassion. I’m all in for taking some time to quiet our minds and reconnect with ourselves.

Marielle: Oh yes, this beautiful conjunction is made even more significant since it culminates into a New Moon right on the following day of the Equinox: Tuesday, March 21st, at 10:23 am, PDT, at zero degrees in Aries: a deep Piscean New Moon wearing Aries garbs moving forward with courage, grace, enthusiasm, and a great love for life, living beings, and nature.

Jonni: Oh, what a celestial treat we have in store! It's like a cosmic costume change as we say goodbye to Pisces and welcome Aries to the stage. And with the added bonus of the New Moon joining in on the fun! Are there any retrogrades this spring joining us on this ride?

Marielle: Yes, but only Mercury will go retrograde this season, from April 21st to May 14th, all the way in the sign of Taurus, avoiding Uranus until its final direct motion on June 21-22-23. That means finances and the economy continue to be a topic of the day, globally. The situation of lack of staff in lots of enterprises, as well as lack of supply in other sectors, seems to continue as well.

Mercury is a planet of communication, listening, making decisions, choosing, organizing actions, and such. Often, when retrograde, misunderstandings could rise, delays, and items lost. One wants to be more attentive to details to avoid mistakes or unfortunate outcomes. Better not to sign new necessary contracts or acquire expensive items or buy travel or show tickets during the retrograde phase of Mercury.

Jonni: Well, it looks like we have a cosmic curveball headed our way. With Mercury going retrograde in the stubborn sign of Taurus, it sounds like we can expect our finances and economy to be under the microscope but we'll come out on the other side with a newfound appreciation for the power of Mercury in all its retrograde glory, right? What are your recommendations?

Marielle: It’s the perfect time for cleaning, sorting out, garage sales, reorganizing, reviewing, completing chores left undone, reading, studying, doing research or enquiry.

Jonni: You’ve just described my to-do list for March and April! Lol. Now looking forward are there some significant changes we can expect this spring?

Marielle: Yes, two major changes occur in March with Saturn and Pluto, both changing zodiac signs, triggering a progressive mood change in the whole world. After spending three years in Aquarius, Saturn transitioned into Pisces on March 7th until mid-March 2026.

Jonni: Wow, okay we've got some major cosmic shifts happening this March! With Saturn and Pluto switching zodiac signs, what does this mean for us? A more introspective and intuitive vibe? Support in tapping into our emotions and connecting with our inner selves?

Marielle: It’s not easy to explain. First, let’s say that Saturn tends to be quite perfectionistic and rigid: structure and goal-oriented, efficiency and result attached. Pisces is none of that. Pisces is the dreamer, the mystic, the one swimming between outer and inner realities, sometimes in both at the same time.

Jonni: Hmmm. So can we combine these two to make them work for us?

Marielle: Often, a certain feeling of moral fatigue, of having enough about something, a need to quit, a longing for times before that were easier, could take place. Clearly, this mood is deeply linked to the general chaos and polarization we observe in the world now. The violence, the harsh bashing expressed in social media, the disinformation, and the expansion of cyberattacks are becoming more and more sophisticated to torment simple citizens (or even businesses) and to deprive them of their identity, their money, and their sanity. There is a form of dehumanization that has become somehow the norm in recent years. So, the possibility of a certain moral fatigue could be the side effect of this. Saturn in Pisces could feel a bit demoralizing at first, but, progressively, it could bring a certain deepening of consciousness and a return to the joy of empathy, compassion, of caring for one another.

Perhaps to illustrate more what Saturn in Pisces represents, I’d like to quote author Elinor Dickson from her book ‘In Pursuit of Wisdom, Humanity’s Final Challenge’. In this book, Ms. Dickson describes how, today, we live suspended between a dying world and a world pressing to be born. Our crisis is one of relationship – within us, with each other, and with the earth – and to survive, we need to embody a new, emerging reality.

And that’s exactly the work Saturn is meant to conduct in this profoundly spiritual sign of Pisces.

Jonni: Ah, it’s true that the chaos and polarization in the world can lead to a sense of moral fatigue and burnout. I’ve seen it. Violence, social media bashing, disinformation, and cyberattacks can all contribute to a feeling of dehumanization. However, I’m hearing that Saturn in Pisces may feel demoralizing at first, but it offers the chance for deeper consciousness and a return to empathy and compassion. And with Pluto leaving Capricorn and moving into Aquarius, we're in for some major changes that we can't ignore, is that correct? It sounds like it's time to stay vigilant and keep focused on what's right, no matter how tired we may feel.

Marielle: Yes, then, there is Pluto leaving Capricorn where it has been since 2008. It will move into Aquarius where it plans to remain until 2044. Pluto’s orbit is long and narrow, unlike the other planets with an oval orbit. It causes the movement of Pluto in the sky to appear unusual and perhaps even a bit erratic. It takes Pluto 248 years to complete just one turn around the Sun. This means it’ll be observed in the same area of the sky for quite a long time. For comparison, Mercury moves one degree per day, Jupiter moves one degree per week, the Moon moves one degree every two hours, and the Sun moves one degree per day. Pluto moves one degree per 2-3 years.

Jonni: Well *that* puts it in perspective!

Marielle: What will make Pluto’s stay even more dramatic is the fact that it’ll go retrograde and direct during that period, and it is not rare that it’ll go back and forth on the same degrees for up to five times (as opposed to three times for the other planets)! As in ‘direct-retrograde-direct-retrograde-direct motion’! That’s exactly what’s happening this time as Pluto leaves Capricorn to go into Aquarius. It’ll go back and forth between the last degree of Capricorn and the first degree of Aquarius five times. Eventually, it’ll be permanently in Aquarius mostly in the year 2025, but become really strongly established there by December of that year.

Jonni: Pluto's retrograde and direct motion sounds like the cosmic equivalent of doing the hokey pokey - "you put your left foot in, you put your left foot out"! But seriously, this movement of Pluto between Capricorn and Aquarius highlights the importance of adapting to change and being flexible in our thinking and actions. Got it. What can we expect from this?

Marielle: It’s difficult to say. Pluto brings chaos before liberating a new order. It is the master of darkness and it also is the creator of the diamond, the king of the mineral kingdom, born from the pressure and the darkness inside Earth. Aquarius is the sign of humanitarianism, group consciousness, group experiences, universal brotherhood, equality, of justice for all living beings. It’s often prophesized that we’re moving into the long-awaited Age of Aquarius where higher love and harmony will predominate. For such a high order to take place, there must be those capable to embody that form of consciousness.

It’s as if in recent decades with the fast development of technology available to absolutely everyone, great tools were placed in inapt hands. As much as we can benefit immensely from all the facets of technology, it also presents itself with the opportunity to do great damage. It’s a world that develops so rapidly that governments are always several steps behind and structures or organizations that would protect citizens are not in place. There’s a need for a global system to restructure and protect individuals. Ordinary citizens do not receive help when they’re a victim of hacking, for example, because the perpetrators may be away in a different country where our local laws have no power.

There’s a recent extraordinary feat of technology that came to life that consists in creating avatars with the image and the voice of real people, saying and doing things as if they were that person, without this person knowing. It’s easy to imagine how far this could go. There won’t be fewer technological advances. There will be more, and more, fast, and faster. It’s both extraordinary and a potential nightmare.

Jonni: Pluto may bring chaos before liberating a new order, but with the rapid development of technology in recent decades, it seems like disorder is already here. So as we move towards the Age of Aquarius, it feels like there’s a pressing need for a global system to restructure and protect individuals from the potential nightmare that technology can become in the wrong hands. A balance between technological advancement and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. How do you see technology and Aquarius right now?

Marielle: So, Aquarius rules invention and technology. Pluto moving in Aquarius could bring the best and the worst of that world. The good news is that it takes so long for Pluto to move fully into that sign that it only gives us hints of things to expect for now, so we can already begin to plan some protective action. It also becomes necessary to re-humanize our cultures. Projects in real life, with real people, especially with the younger ones may become a new feature of this Aquarius mood beginning to show up.

Jonni: Right. As we navigate the technological changes ahead, we can’t forget the importance of human connection and community building.

I know that spring is also synonymous with eclipse season. So spill the tea on this season's eclipse season.

Marielle: The eclipses begin to deepen our attention weeks prior to and weeks after their culmination. In ancient astrology, eclipses were a messenger of bad fate. We don’t think like that anymore although if something is not going well, it could enter into a crisis. If something goes well, there’s a moderate enjoyment of its circumstances.

We’ll have a round of eclipses this spring at the New Moon on Wednesday, April 19th, at 9:13 pm, PDT, with a total eclipse of the Sun in the very last degree of Aries, 29 degrees. The last degrees are about completion whereas New Moon is a new beginning. As the Sun and Moon complete this New Moon, they immediately move into Taurus. Again, it seems that everything wants to return to simple life, the real world, and nature. Deepening our connections with self, others, and the natural world.

Jonni: Yes, as the eclipses deepen our attention this spring, we’re being asked to embrace the opportunity for new beginnings and return to a simpler way of life, deepening our connections with self, others, and the natural world. Beautiful.

Marielle: There will be a Full Moon on Friday, May 5th, at 10:35 am, PDT, with a penumbral eclipse of the Moon mid-Scorpio. This one marks the celebration of the Wesak Festival all over the world which is considered Buddha’s birthday. This Full Moon brings together the axis Scorpio-Taurus. Again, we find the same themes emerging: environment, nature, agriculture, supply, economy, finances, and lodging. With Saturn now in Pisces and Pluto in Aquarius, you’ll want to observe the precursor signs of times to come as hints or new tendencies getting our attention.

Jonni: Right, and I want to point out that if readers want more information about new and full moons they can find it on your website I’ve linked here.

So to recap the highlights: On March 20th we welcome the Spring Equinox with open arms. It’s all about finding balance and rejuvenation, both in nature and in ourselves. The stars are aligning with Jupiter in Aries and Venus in Taurus, giving us a sense of hope and a longing for real-life experiences in our immediate surroundings. Meanwhile, the Moon in Pisces conjunct with Neptune adds a calming and introspective energy to the season, encouraging us to take a deep dive into our inner selves.

But we shouldn’t get too comfortable just yet because Mercury will go retrograde from April 21st to May 14th in the sign of Taurus. This can make communication and decision-making a bit tricky, so we need to be prepared to slow down and double-check everything during this time.

And finally, on March 7th, Saturn transitioned into Pisces and Pluto changed to Aquarius, leading to a progressive shift in the world's mood. But with these changes come feelings of moral fatigue and a desire for simpler times amidst the chaos and polarization we see around us. So we’ll do our best to take advantage of the fresh start that spring brings and find our own balance and renewal, whatever that may look like for you.

How does that sound, Marielle?

Marielle: Beautiful! You said it all, Jonni. I wish you and our readers a creative and fulfilling season packed with wisdom and love. Looking forward to our next visit at the Summer Solstice.

Jonni: Absolutely, Marielle. It’s been my pleasure.