Aries, the first sign, is the sign of courage, a courage born of the instinctual spirit of Spring awakening to the natural renewal of all life every year. We, too, meet our own renewal again and again throughout our lives. Our human Spring renewals may be awakened by a special birthday, a spiritual calling, a meaningful event, a loss, a dream, an inspiration, an opportunity, a friend, a world shift unfolding. Or it may be a conscious choice to seek renewal when we find ourselves in fear, purposelessness, discouragement, depression, hopelessness, constant anxiety or disillusionment with ourselves, others, the world around us, even with life itself. 

Courage as we know is not the absence of fear, it is the choice to act despite fear. It is an act of choosing life over hopelessness, light over darkness, purpose over giving up, joy when we don’t see a reason for it. 

Courage is an act of love for ourselves, for everyone in our lives, for our world. Each of us has the ability to find something to feel grateful for no matter how small,  something to smile about in our day even if it’s a past memory, a few minutes to pray or meditate, a choice to listen to music, to read a poem, to find a positive story online instead of only the doom and gloom that comes up first on the screen. 

Maya Angelou said, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” 

Before I heard that quote, I, too, replied to a question when someone asked me “what is the most important quality needed to live a spiritual life” with the answer that courage is the first step to living life, to a spiritual life. My birth Mercury is in the sign of Aries which has always guided me toward courageous action whether it succeeded or failed. It took time to understand and accept that the action was more important than the success or failure, not an easy lesson. Many of us have a birth planet in Aries to guide us toward courage and action; if one doesn’t have a birth planet in Aries, there is a house (area of one’s life) governed and guided by Aries and everyone’s birth Mars is our personal desire to activate and actualize our purpose, our renewal into greater aliveness. 

When the world seems the darkest and fear feels overwhelming, this is the most important time to choose to live courageously. 

Maya Angelou also said, “One must nurture the joy in one’s life so that it reaches full bloom.” Even if joy feels far away or dormant, look for a glimmer to guide you into your heart’s knowing that love is still present in self-care which magnetizes love entering our lives. This is the message of the Aries Moon today as it reflects the loving heart of Libra. It is always Spring when we act from a loving heart.