2005 Aries Ingress

Sun's entry into Aries

March 2005

The Aries ingress sees the Sun move to the north of the Celestial equator and, at all latitudes, Day and Night are of equal length. The Sun has zero declination and from this point moves ever northward until it reaches the point of the Summer solstice.

2005 Aries Ingress - Set for London

The first thing to note is that Leo rises and that this is a fixed sign. Traditionally, if a fixed sign was on the ascendant, that ingress chart was in effect for the next year. If a mutable sign it would be six months and if cardinal, three. The Capricorn Ingress had a cardinal ascendant, giving it three months duration, so this chart would have full effect immediately and not be subject to other figures which were already in effect.

As we have Leo on the ascendant we would next look to the Sun, which is exalted in Aries and well placed conjunct the MC and trining the ascendant. We also have the Moon conjunct the ascendant but opposed to Mars on the descendant both at 29 degrees of Cancer/Capricorn respectively. Moon is strong in her own sign and so is Mars being exalted in Capricorn.

As Mars rules the Sun and the MC, it doesn't take too long to see there may be some struggle between the people - the Moon, Cancer intercepted in the twelfth - and the government or other kinds of authority and ruling classes - Mars ruling 10th and Sun - which those in authority are going to win. Although the Moon is the final dispositor of this chart she is not is the best position to act - shown by the houses - and is right at the end of her sign. Other ingress charts which give Cancer or the Moon a better position may see the people with the upper hand - see the article on Kyrgyszstan.

The Moon's movement will bring her to oppose Mars - in exaltation - and then to trine the Sun - also in exaltation - and her movement into Leo will bring her under the rulership of the Sun: the people are in thrall of authority although they almost certainly have the power to confront them. Venus is also exalted in Pisces ruling the eleventh and the IC. Friends and connections - 11th house - and tradition - 4th - appear to carry more weight than may be strictly true.

Exaltations appear to be more powerful than they actually are, they give the planet an air of glamour and infallibility. The presence of so many exalted planets brings me to the conclusion that the public relations exercises being put out by people or organisations shown by 10th, 5th, 11th 4th houses, Mars, Venus and Solar significators are earning their money. Those signified by the Moon and the 12th house are failing to realise their full influence and power.

There are two things which we know are going to happen in the next few months which are covered by this. The first is a royal wedding; the second is a general election. The presence of the Sun on the MC and Leo rising indicates that power is not threatened. This puts the first layer of astrology which would indicate a third term for the Labour government. However, there are many other factors to be considered - check back soon for details. You could also see the applying trine of the Moon to the Sun but with Mars intercepting as Camilla moving to Charles but having to negotiate the constitutional minefield before they can be married.

There is also a Mercury Jupiter opposition across the 10th/4th house and Mercury is retrograde. This will ensure a great deal of talking and debate on the matters already discussed and we've already seen this in the acres of newsprint dedicated to Camilla's constitutional status and whether she will be Queen or Consort. By the time of the wedding, the Moon will have progressed into Leo and will have completed its trine to the Sun; impediments will have been removed.

These are just the immediate events which are sure to take place but this chart will hold sway for a whole year. We can say that there will be confrontations between the people or popular ideas and authority or elitist ideas. This will almost certainly take the form of a lively debate with that Mercury Jupiter opposition and could be about the media itself. This is certainly not a year for living quietly; confrontation and debate will be front and centre in the UK for the next year.