The Combustible New Moon in Aries, 2026

On Friday, April 17, 2026 at 7:50am EDT, the Sun and Moon will conjunct - a New Moon - at 27°28’ Aries.

Every year, we have a New Moon in Aries. Comes and goes, some are more interesting or intense than others, all of them symbolize a blazing fresh start in the fiery first sign of the zodiac. This one, however, is pretty much off the charts in its intensity.

The reason why is because of the pileup we will have in Aries at the time of the New Moon: Neptune (2°), Mercury (3°), Mars - the ruler of the New Moon in its home sign, super potent, super fiesty (5°), Saturn (7°), Persephone (13°), Eris (25°), Chiron (26°), the Sun, the Moon (27°), and centaur Okyrhoe (28°, who just happens to be Chiron’s prophetically gifted daughter with a penchant for exposing more truths than she should).

All these planets are not conjunct one another as they are spread out across the full 30 degrees of the sign of Aries, but are still considered a stellium - they each carry the fiery Aries/Mars signature which is being amplified by Mars being in its home sign (domicile).

New Moon energy signifies a new beginning – but something usually has to end first. Out with the old, in with the new. In Aries, this is about self-identity, self-expression, and self-realization. In the chart of this lunation, the New Moon resides in the 12th house, which is Pisces’ realm (and intercepted within the house, to boot). This is the arena of self-sacrifice and behind the scenes activities that are more introverted and spiritual than extroverted and expansive. This may indicate the final exit - which, admittedly, we really do need - of the drifty, dreamy Piscean era that we have been swimming in for a long time now.

The ruler of the New Moon is, of course, Mars – which is also in Aries and conjunct Mercury, Neptune, and Saturn. Mars’ position here is flanked by Pluto (exact sextile in Aquarius) and Juno, lending some credibility to its bombast.

This is an existential shout to the Universe: I AM ALIVE! It is an unmitigated will to live and may be experienced as a “fight for life” in some circumstances. In the 12th house of the chart, and conjunct Neptune (Pisces’ ruler), it may display as a vague sense of being lost at times, as well as not having a firm grasp on the expression of personal power, which may come out in bursts of energy and alternate with listlessness.

As a matter of fact, those who walk into this energy unconsciously will likely find themselves in a fighting circumstance, either starting one or reactively engaging in one, because the desire to express personal power will feel that compulsive. That’s how combustive this New Moon can be if not handled carefully. It’s like a Molotov cocktail - it only needs a match and someone willing to throw it (and even throwing isn’t really necessary, depending on what type of damage is desired).

The god, Mars, kneeling with a drawn sword

The New Moon energy will ramp up all week but especially after Mercury enters Aries on Tuesday, April 14th at 11:21 pm EDT - when we start thinking like an Aries - and then on Wednesday, April 15 at 10:04 am EDT, the Moon enters Aries, when we will start feeling like an Aries. (Mars entered Aries last Thursday, April 9 - when we started acting like an Aries.)

The Moon, which is truly the star of this whole show and which represents our emotions, needs, our inner child, and in a collective chart represents “the people,” will conjunct the entire Aries stellium - first Neptune, then Mercury, then Mars, Saturn, Persephone, Eris, Chiron, and finally the Sun as it renews itself for another monthly cycle.

As this is happening in Aries, it is likely to promote feelings that may be interpreted as intense, hot, impulsive, reactive, combative, competitive, brash, angry, even violent. Filtered through awareness, however, these baser emotions can be transformed to those of the higher, more conscious expression of Aries: a zest for life; enthusiasm; ready to face impossible challenges; unmitigated joy.

MOON JOY.

Artemis II astronauts embrace as they circle the Moon, April 2026

Aspects to the Aries New Moon

Conjunct the New Moon: Chiron, Eris, Okyrhoe (all in Aries); Urania (2° Taurus), and Asteroid Lilith (3° Taurus).

THE CONJUNCTION is arguably the most important aspect because it represents a merger of planetary energies. In this instance, we have the Arian New Moon – the existential I AM – conjunct the wounded healer Chiron, chaos-instigator Eris, wise Chiron’s prophecy-gifted yet disruptive daughter Okyrhoe, the muse of astrology and astronomy herself, Urania (in Taurus), and the only physical body in the cosmos that represents the dark feminine goddess, Lilith (also in Taurus).

The Arian qualities of bombastic leadership, assertive independence, determined focus, and fearlessness become fused with Chiron’s identity trauma, Eris’ notorious trouble making, Urania’s foretelling and pattern recognition, physical asteroid Lilith’s sexual notoriety, and Okyrhoe’s ability to show everyone the light and accelerate revelations of all kinds, whether they like it or not, for this New Moon.

Aries is enough on its own. Fused with this crew, and super-powered by Mars in its home sign, is a LOT.

Square the New Moon: Jupiter (17° Cancer - ruled by the Moon), Eros (27° Cancer), Juno (4° Aquarius), Pluto (5° Aquarius), Apollo (1° Leo), Vulcanus (Uranian Object, 3° Leo)

THE SQUARE is where the challenge lies. These are incompatible energies, and the only way they can get along is to form a conscious compromise. Sometimes that is hard to come by. Those with personal planets that are square this New Moon will need to hold fast to their values and plan accordingly.

Explosive conflict should be avoided if at all possible. Vulcanus and Pluto (opposite one another) in this configuration, creating a T-square with the New Moon, indicates that things could indeed go south very quickly if tempers are not kept in check. We cannot control others, but we can absolutely control ourselves.

Trine the New Moon: Magdalene (20° Leo), Askalaphus (27° Leo), Iris (1° Virgo), Isis-Transpluto (4° Virgo), White Moon Selena (4° Virgo)

TRINES are supportive energies and lend a little magic. Here we have multiple goddess energy placements (and one tattletaling, Plutonian screech owl) that are assisting with elevated consciousness energies. Askalaphus here (the Hadean gardener who told on Persephone for eating the pomegranate seeds in the Underworld and was subsequently turned into a screech owl by Demeter), as well as Iris (the rainbow goddess who is the carrier of an urn filled with water from the river Styx that she uses to put to sleep all those who commit crimes against justice, specifically lying under oath), indicates to me that someone on the inside may reveal secrets that assist with pacifying fraught situations during the New Moon. There may very well be some kind of leak of information that helps tip the scales toward peace or at least offers a way out of a quagmire.

Sextile the New Moon: Psyche (27° Gemini), Hygeia (2° Cancer), Astraea (29° Aquarius)

SEXTILES are also supportive and also have a creative element to them. Three more goddesses arrive to smooth tensions and offer off-ramps to any too-hot Arian temper tantrums that may arise.

Semi-sextile the New Moon: Uranus (29° Taurus), Pallas (27° Pisces), Nessus (21° Pisces).

Another form of a sextile, but less overt, the semi-sextile can act as an angel or a devil on the shoulder. Here we have both a rational yet spiritual angel (Pallas in Pisces), a devil (Nessus in Pisces, may display coercive or gaslighting-promoting tendencies, blurring the lines between victim and abuser), and a wildcard (Uranus). The energies that get expressed will be the ones we consciously choose.

Inconjunct the New Moon: True Lilith (27° Scorpio, and Out of Bounds)

INCONJUNCTS are, like the squares, incompatible energies that, unlike the squares, don’t relate to each other at all. The squares at least are (usually) in the same modality (cardinal, fixed, mutable), but the inconjunct may as well be from another planet they are so unlike each other. Thus, these tend to get lumped into the challenging aspect pile. Here, we have powerful, loud, and bombastic masculine Aries energy in exact inconjunct to instinctive and sovereign Lilith in secretive, intensely authentic, and transformative feminine Scorpio, which is co-ruled by Mars, so she will be feeling triggered by all the excessively yang, rude energy. This is likely to bring out a lot of angry feminine energy in response to anything that aligns with the blind, explosively intrusive energy of the Arian New Moon. Expect fierce push back from the Dark Feminine.

Sabian Symbol for 27 Aries (28th degree):

A LARGE DISAPPOINTED AUDIENCE

This Symbol shows a sense of being an observer or a spectator, sometimes more than being a participant. You may have an inner critic that analyses things. In fact, you might feel as though you, or someone else, have failed and left something wanting. But how much is this because too much was expected in the first place? The ‘Audience’ sometimes only remembers the last performance, so get up and try again. Be aware that you may be your own ‘audience’. Do you feel that things have or haven’t lived up to expectations? Are you missing out through negative projections? Perhaps your need to feel satisfied, to perform or be fulfilled should be more realistic.

Positive expression: Adjustment of expectations. Living through the responses of others. Battling to get a spot. Responses to creative activities. Relying on feedback. Being a spectator. The need to inspire.

Negative expression: Feeling sorry because of defeat or frustration. A lot of people feeling emotionally ‘wiped-out’. Shattering of illusions. Refusal of entry. Not getting a seat.

Who is affected?

Anyone with planets or points near 27° of any sign, but especially in the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn).

Who benefits?

Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)! Air signs too (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) - air signs will fan the flames - but the fire signs will be lit up from this.

Keep in mind, this is not always a good thing – too much fire can become a conflagration, a wildfire, a heated situation that is out of control for everyone involved.

Who suffers?

Earth signs will be sacrificed to the fire (fire burns wood), sorry Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn (especially Cap - sorry - you’re square Aries). Fair warning.

Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) will alternately be heated to boiling or lost to steam – or can put out the fire altogether.

In this sense, the water signs have the most power, if they can hold their center, stay emotionally regulated, and not allow themselves to get triggered.

The Antidote to New Moon Conflagrations

There is a GRAND WATER TRINE AT 27° - This is the balancing factor to tap into to help quell the intense energy of the New Moon in sometimes-overwhelming Aries:

Lilith at 27° Scorpio: In an exact inconjunct, this is part of the balancing factor to the New Moon, though it is not a comfortable one. This is the angry, defiant feminine, and she is in a dark place here (Scorpio and in the New Moon chart’s 7th house). She will not tolerate abuse, aggression, or domination from this position. You can guarantee that this dark goddess will express herself without hesitation should the need arise.
Eros at 27° Cancer: We will be feeling our feelings in a very expressive way during this lunation. We won’t be holding back our desires to connect, be close to others, be in communion with others, and to share community, care, and nurturing in a way that fosters safety, protection, and well being for all we hold dear. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, so planets in Cancer will be expressing through Aries energy. The benefit is having the water element in take-charge Cardinal mode as the antidote. (Eros/desire is considered a feminine quality, even if the mythological god is depicted as masculine.)
Jupiter at 17° Cancer: Jupiter is exalted here and can emanate Divine Feminine energy here with aplomb. It is conjunct Eros and magnifies it brilliantly, giving a beautiful assist of positive, nurturing energy to the Grand Water Trine.
Pallas at 27° Pisces: In semi-sextile aspect, this is the angel on the shoulder of the New Moon, whispering “there is a better way to handle this” in the ear of the bombastic Arian lunation. In the chart’s 11th house of the collective, she wields considerable influence over the masses with a desire to heal the world through words, creativity, art, dance, and merging in unity with the universe. This is the voice of the Source emanating through the noise to help steer humanity through what could be a destructive moment toward fighting for justice instead.
Vesta supports Pallas at 18° Pisces and thus also supports Jupiter at 17° Cancer – we will take all the positive goddess energy we can get for this hot new moon! Vesta here is devoted to serving others with compassion and empathy as her sacred calling. Her spiritual connection is her source of strength, and she lends that to the collective (in the New Moon’s 11th house) now.

Supporting the GRAND WATER TRINE OF DIVINE FEMININE GODDESS ENERGY in a beneficial, motivating Kite Formation:

Venus at 21° Taurus: Sweet Venus, considered one of the Great Benefics and at home in Taurus, is offering her divine support in a sextile to Pallas, Jupiter, and Eros and sings songs of harmony and peace to soothe aggravated Lilith in Scorpio (opposition). Look for ways to value and luxuriate in the sweetness of being embodied in this life, despite all the chaos, as a saving grace during heated moments throughout this week and weekend. Drink the wine! Eat the cake! Smell the flowers! Go skinny dipping! Wear your best clothes, jewels, and shoes, and use the freaking China and crystal stemware, for goddess’ sake!
Uranus at 29° Taurus: Uranus is supremely agitated in this position (29° of any sign is “extra”, similar to Out of Bounds placements, and when Uranus reaches this degree it exacerbates its tendency toward unpredictability and volatility). However, in this configuration, it offers us a wildcard – yes, that could be positive or negative, a windfall or a huge loss, but it still is a potential side door. Things could get dire with all this Arian, Mars-fueled energy happening, and certain bombastic and unpredictable individuals (we don’t even need to name names) will be fired up beyond belief during this transit. Uranus here offers a “stand on your head and see a completely different perspective, and thus, a really wacky, zany, never-would’ve-seen-that-coming solution, to what could be a really big problem, if things go off the rails. Uranus is being squared by truth-and-justice goddess Astraea at 29° Aquarius, which is conjunct the North Node at 7° Pisces and sextiling the New Moon. She is like the kick in the pants to “do the right thing,” just when it matters the most. Uranus could the the last minute decider here, but with it in apex kite position with Venus (thank you sweet Venus in domicile in Taurus!) and supported by that other grand benefic, Jupiter in Cancer (exalted!), we have the three benefics (Venus, Jupiter, and the North Node) on the side of peace, harmony, justice, love, unity, and sanity that could be what tips the balance in this wildfire type of New Moon.

Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, open ceiling sea cave

To tap into this, vibe as serenely and as joyfully as possible. Go out into the woods and blow bubbles at squirrels and woodpeckers. Play your favorite music - loud! in true Aries fashion - and dance yourself silly. Get into water nymph mode and enjoy the water however you can - splash in a lake, river, ocean, spring, pool, puddle, bathtub, shower, birdbath, fountain, aquarium, stream, creek, sprinkler - and have fun. Relax. Hang out with your water sign friends, they’ll know what to do. Celebrate the beauty of life and the joy of sharing being alive with all the humans in our current timeline, our brothers and sisters in life. Tap into that Moon Joy we all experienced from the live streamed hope fest of the Artemis Mission from April 1-10. We are all on Planet Earth a crew. Amaze, amaze, amaze.

Astronaut Christina Koch looks out of the Artemis II Mission capsule, Orion, at Earth in the distance, April 2026.

And know this: no matter what crazy things happen in the world - and there are a lot of them right now - that future Star Trek world that we all cried joyfully over while watching the astronauts last week, that feeling of it really is possible! - It is not only possible - it is here. All the insane, bombastic, unhinged, violent, narcissistic, criminal, war-hungry lunacy that we have been experiencing on a global level is completely incompatible with this new world of joy, possibility, cooperation, emotional intelligence, inclusion, and combined effort for collective benefit. We just have to keep pulling it towards ourselves, calling it home, and what is incompatible and obsolete will fall away.

And we will dance!

Artemis II astronauts, home from their mission around the Moon, April 2026.

Part Deux: The Mars - Saturn Conjunction

Hot on the heels of the New Moon will be the Mars-Saturn conjunction at 7°51’ Aries, which will be exact on Sunday, April 19, at 6:18pm EDT. The Sun will be teetering on the edge of Aries at 29° at this moment and will be fueling the angst and aggravation that “something has to give.”

Mars-Saturn mergers indicate one foot on the gas (Mars, especially in its home sign of Aries) and one foot on the brake (Saturn). Mars has the power here and will likely – impulsively – blow through any perceived blockage that Saturn may throw up, which could potentially ignite a firestorm of trouble. Saturn’s blocks are usually there for a good reason. They are often for reasonable caution, safety, or security purposes. Those with overblown Mars energy – brashness, bravado, ego, combativeness, competitiveness – could find themselves being defiantly triggered by this transit, (especially as the Sun in Aries teeters on the edge of changing signs, which is always a precarious position for any planet to be), ready to blow something up, and not necessarily metaphorically.

At the height of this intense conjunction, the Moon will be at 3° Gemini and conjunct Uranus at 29° Taurus and Venus at 24° Taurus while trining Pluto and Juno both at 5° Aquarius and squaring the lunar Nodes at 7° Pisces (North Node) and Virgo (South Node). The Moon in this position will, by nature of its square to the Nodes and in conjunction with Uranus and egged on by Pluto, be pressured to choose - also a feature of dual-minded Gemini - between good and evil. Venus does help by a wide conjunction through Uranus in this regard, thankfully, though Mercury - also at 7° Aries - will have Mars’ influence pushing it toward devilry.

Man screaming while disintegrating, image from Adobe Stock.

Thankfully, the Sun eases into mellower Taurus just over three hours after this conjunction, which will take the edge off considerably. We may find ourselves in a very tense holding pattern over the weekend, anxiously holding our collective breath (again - this keeps happening - hang in there), which if we can just hold on and inject peaceful, joyful energy into fraught situations until the Sun changes signs, the tension will shift into a more peace-seeking energetic space.

The Sabian Symbol for 7 Aries:

A WOMAN'S HAT WITH STREAMERS BLOWN BY THE EAST WIND

Allow traditional wisdom to lead you to new and different solutions, but be wary of acting superficially. In deeper, spiritual messages you are afforded protection from the more disturbing elements of situations. Shifts of mind and attitude may happen as a result, indeed, they may need to happen. You may need to adjust continually to outside forces, but you have the ability to be adaptable, so hang onto your center and what anchors you and try not to get blown off-course.

Positive expression: Attuning oneself through eastern philosophies. Protective guidance. Balloons and hot air ballooning. The winds of time and change. Being aware of shifts in the wind.

Negative expression: Only accepting solutions that satisfy selfish or social needs. Insincerity and easily blown around. Losing one’s rudder. Continually getting off track.

Finally, if you’re curious… New Moon Aspects to Dick Tater’s natal chart:

New Moon is Trine his natal Moon/SN in Sagittarius, his Mars in Leo, his Asc in Leo: He will feel emboldened to do what he feels compelled to do, and that will absolutely be brash, angry, impulsive, egotistical, and combative.
New Moon is square his Venus/Saturn in Cancer (Jupiter is conjunct these); it is also square his Vertex – again, “hurt feelings” and a sense of “I am owed retribution” will come into play, and it is a karmic, fated thing with the Vertex involved. The Midheaven of the New Moon chart is conjunct his Vertex. His fate will be broadcast for all to see.
The Vertex of the New Moon chart is conjunct his Jupiter (ego), Chiron (unhealed wounds), Juno (what he is committed to), and his Astraea (what he sees as morally right/wrong). It is square his natal Vertex and his natal Saturn. This feels like a public reckoning. It is also opposite his Hygeia – his health could be affected by the results of this New Moon.
Pluto is currently semi-squaring his natal Moon and sesquisquaring his natal Sun and North Node while opposing his natal Pluto in Leo, forming a nasty wedge (similar to a Thor’s Hammer). He is getting a cosmic beat-down.

Saturn-Mars conjunction Aspects to DT’s natal chart:

Saturn-Mars (and Mercury) are square T’s natal Mercury and Pallas. They are conjunct his natal Eris (uh-oh. He gone act out).
Saturn-Mars-Mercury are opposite his natal Neptune, Chiron, Astraea. He’s so confused, he doesn’t know what’s going on.
Saturn-Mars-Mercury are trine his natal Pluto (which is still getting beaten down by transit Pluto as mentioned above – his actions are purely wildly reactionary) and his natal Lilith. Like a sick cat that won’t let you take it to the vet. Good luck getting that critter in the cat carrier.
Saturn-Mars-Mercury are semisquare his natal Midheaven (his career and reputation are on the line) and sesquisquare his natal IC. He feels like he is losing “everything.” Serious cornered/injured animal energy.
Venus in this configuration is sextile his natal Venus – he will “act benevolently,” though it may (will probably be) be only superficially - an act.
Venus is squaring his natal Mars/Asc and Part Of Fortune. His luck may be running out.
Jupiter squaring his natal Jupiter – again, his luck may be running out. Even with Jupiter conjunct his natal Venus/Saturn…
Neptune is squaring his natal Mercury (delusions!) and opposite his natal Neptune -massive delusionary thinking happening here. He is lost in a twisted dream.
Uranus is squaring his Mars and Ascendant. He is a wildcard. He will be bombastic, for sure, and do everything he can to protect his ego (Leo Mars and Ascendant).

Photo of Earthset, from the Artemis II mission around the Moon, April 2026.

As always, if you would like to see how this lunation, or any transit, will affect your chart, please contact me for a reading. I am more than happy to work with you on any astrological questions you have!