The Moon is New in Aries on April 20, 2023, at 12:12 AM EDT. This is a New Moon annular total Solar Eclipse that occurs in the final degree of Aries: at 29° Aries 50′.

This eclipse is the first in an Aries-Libra set. At the same time, it occurs in the last degree of Aries, pointing to strong impulses and pivotal feelings.

Its effects can be felt for up to six months after the actual date of the eclipse. In the sign of Aries, this eclipse puts matters related to personal plans, courage, independence, and self-assertion in strong focus. It’s about new beginnings regarding any of these issues. Long-term changes are in the works!

This phase of the Moon occurs at 29 degrees and 50 minutes of Aries.

A similar Solar Eclipse (at approximately the same degree of Aries) occurred on April 19th, 2004. Before that, it was April 18, 1977. An eclipse set along the Aries-Libra axis most recently occurred from 2013-2016. Before that, it was from 2004-2006.

This eclipse can highlight and challenge our issues surrounding independence and personal courage. We might take steps towards self-mastery and self-empowerment by tackling things that undermine us.

Circumstances nudge or encourage us to see where we haven’t been true to our authentic selves. Ultimately, we are now in a position to understand that changes or endings are necessary for our own growth, and that we can handle these things.

This is a good time for focusing on some of the constructive traits of the sign of the Ram–enterprising, straightforward, sincere, brave–and consider how to positively incorporate these qualities into our lives. Aries New Moons are generally good for taking action – trying something new and innovative, and going at it with gusto and confidence;. It’s a time to be assertive, take charge of our lives, start a brand new project, and discover our own personal courage.

It’s a powerful time to re-evaluate our relationship with ourselves. With this potent Aries energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and thus a New Moon in Aries is especially ripe with opportunity for new beginnings. We might consider acting on a constructive impulse and following a hunch or taking a risk. Aries learns through experience and action, so we might treat ourselves to a little adventure now.

It’s also a good cycle under which to discover the benefits of expressing ourselves with authenticity – expressing ourselves as we are, without putting on airs. We might also find ways to learn how to rely on ourselves and to be happy about doing so – it will go a long way towards finding inner happiness when we know that we can be self-sufficient without blaming others for not helping us out. It’s a time to revitalize ourselves through experiences that break the routine and that involve doing something new and fresh.

The New Moon forms a square to Pluto, suggesting some obstacles to clear as we wrestle with our fears and ambitions. However, it aligns with Jupiter, encouraging resourcefulness, courage, and a good sense of opportunity. As well, Mars, the ruler of Aries, harmonizes with Uranus, pointing to a good sense of growing, innovating and improving through our experiences and new projects or initiatives.

With this eclipse, we might experience a strong urge to act on impulse. However, it will be important to avoid jumping to conclusions and asserting ourselves without considering others’ feelings and reactions. There is a big difference between asserting ourselves from a place of healthy confidence, and asserting ourselves brashly and blindly, which can give us a false sense of confidence or bravery.

With this potent Aries energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives that will benefit us well beyond this Moon cycle. For some of us, circumstances are such that we need to pay more attention to these matters.

Flaws in an important system in our lives reveal themselves around the time of the eclipse, prompting us to redo or to start fresh. Something ends in order for something else to start anew. We may be called to give up something in order to move forward into a new chapter in our lives. Although the “new” may be unrecognizable, it is important to allow the necessary surrender to the unknown.

An eclipse occurs close to the nodal axis, and this eclipse is closer to the North Node of the Moon. While we’re heading into unknown territory in some ways, we have a good sense that we’re doing so to our advantage.

Major developments in the personal areas ruled by Aries in our charts are likely to occur over the upcoming months.

The above chart is excellent for seeing the fundamental influences and chart pattern of this New Moon. The chart below adds more details with additional points. Click to enlarge:

 

This Solar Eclipse is part of a set of eclipses falling along the Aries/Libra sign axis from April 2023 to March 2025:

• Annular Total SOLAR Eclipse 2023 April 20 0:12:19 at 29 Aries 50
• Annular SOLAR Eclipse 2023 October 14 13:54:56 at 21 Libra 08
• Penumbral LUNAR Eclipse 2024 March 25 3:00:05 at 5 Libra 07
• Total SOLAR Eclipse 2024 April 8 14:20:37 at 19 Aries 24
• Annular SOLAR Eclipse 2024 October 2 14:49:02 at 10 Libra 04
• Partial SOLAR Eclipse 2025 March 29  at 9 Aries 00

How does this eclipse affect each sign of the zodiac?

**See Horoscopes for this Solar Eclipse in Aries on April 20th, 2023.

Or, read more about this Solar Eclipse.