Recently I bought a magic carpet, covered in beautiful mandala-like designs. My cat Nora thinks it’s magical too – she likes to sit at the very center and survey her domain. The carpet hasn’t yet taken us on any mystical flights, at least in the literal sense. But it lights up the living room with a sense of possibility and promise, and I swear it has stimulated my creative process with the book I’m writing.
So I was thrilled to see the Sabian Symbol for the upcoming Aries New Moon (April 7, 4:24 a.m. PDT): “The magic carpet of oriental imagery; the use of creative imagination.” The New Moon is stimulating “flights of imagination and super-physical perception” which can help us rise above daily strife and see the bigger picture. The only catch is, we have to avoid “hectic involvement in social competition” to receive this transcendent understanding.
This message certainly fits April’s astrological theme. The Aries New Moon conjuncts stimulating Uranus and squares transformative Pluto, fostering an atmosphere of radical change within our hearts and the world at large. This is the first New Moon of the astrological New Year, traditionally considered a great time to sally forth and make your mark. Yet only ten days later, on April 17, Mars (Aries’ ruler) turns retrograde through the end of June. So yes, there may be fun and fireworks at this Super Moon (the second of six this year), but the retrograde of Mars in Sagittarius warns us to think things through before acting and be patient as matters unfold.
Do you remember the magic carpet ride of Disney’s Aladdin? Flying high over Agrabah, Aladdin and the Sultan’s beautiful daughter Jasmine begin to sense the magical bond between them. The carpet leads Aladdin and his trusty monkey (his wits and primal instincts) into a cave full of riches, and ultimately helps him win Jasmine’s heart. Since we recently entered the Year of the Monkey, let’s allow Aladdin to be our guide to an ingenious and enriching month ahead. Even if it may be a bit of a wild ride!
If you need help pumping up your life force for the journey, check out this Aries New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life. You’ll also find a short video there on transforming and enhancing your Career gua (around the front door and porch) to make your mark on the world.