Welcome to the Aries New Moon, the time in the lunar calendar when we mark the start of a new cycle. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and with it brings the energy of renewal, action, individualization, and leadership. As a fire sign, it pushes us forward. The new moon is exact on April 17, 2026 at 7:51 am ET, 27 degrees Aries. That’s 4:51 am Los Angeles, 12:51 pm London, 1:51 pm Johannesburg, 5:21 pm New Delhi, 10:51 pm Sydney, and 12:51 am Auckland on April 18.
New moons are new beginnings. They set the stage for the next four weeks. Depending on the sign and the planets involved, they can hint at the sort of energies and experiences we may have over the coming lunar month.
When we have a new moon in Aries, we’ve come full circle. A cycle has closed and a new one opens. It’s a time of new initiatives as we feel a push to take action. But Aries, as a fire sign ruled by Mars, can also provoke, stir sentiments, and put us on the defensive.
That said, this is an extraordinary new moon with seven — yes, seven — planets in Aries, notably Mars in Aries, its ruler, concentrating the energy of the new moon in its own sign. Also notable is both Saturn and Neptune in Aries, a combination that we have not seen in our lifetime and activates the seeds planted with the February 20 Saturn-Neptune conjunction.
This new moon will act as a focal point for new beginnings over the coming days, especially in the part of our lives Aries governs. For example, Aries could be our sign of home and family and the new beginnings may reflect a move or a change in the household.
When we look at the chart of the Aries New Moon, we find the Sun and Moon alongside Chiron in Aries. There’s an emotional charge to this new moon, touching on past memories and experiences, demanding that we have the courage and bravery to heal and let go. There may be a deep psychic thread to our experiences over the next four weeks, a thread that we need to unwind if it is keeping us from moving forward. (Read On Chiron, Suffering, and Knots.)
Then there’s Mars in Aries, the ruler of the new moon. At 5 Aries, we find it coming up to a conjunction to Saturn in Aries, an alignment that will be exact on April 19, 2026 at 7 Aries. Traditionally speaking, Mars and Saturn are the heavyweights of the sky. They are the planets that can mark major personal and collective milestones, especially commitments, turning points, and events that change our course. The ancients called Mars and Saturn the lesser and greater malefics, but we can use their energy to set new foundations that will support us for years to come.
As an astrologer, Saturn is always the planet that I watch. It reveals, at any given time, where our long term priorities are, creating a point of focus in our lives that we cannot ignore. Since February 13, Saturn has been in Aries, which is to say that the Aries part of our astrology is our top priority into 2028. If Aries is our relationship sign, for example, then this new moon pushes this priority to the forefront, like a timer going off. The coming days and weeks may mark the start of a new relationship, to continue using this example, or a time when a person needs to put a lot of work on an existing relationship. Or we may hit a boundary with another person. (Read Saturn in Aries: Sign by Sign.)
If we look to traditional astrology, we note that Saturn is not at home in Aries, the sign of its fall. A technical point, but a reminder that we have some heavy lifting to do in the next four weeks. We may need to find an increased level of self reliance and determination. We may feel as though it’s all on us, so to speak.
Even if true, let’s not forget about Libra, the sign of Saturn’s exaltation, a medicine that we may need over the coming days. Don’t forget to ask for help. You can’t do everything on your own. Don’t let self reliance and individuality become a detriment.
As mentioned, there are seven planets in Aries at the time of the new moon. The Sun, Moon, Chiron, Mars, Saturn … as well as Mercury and Neptune. Mercury is the planet of movement, of ideas and information, communication and exchange. Mercury is also the planet of choice. With Saturn nearby, we may have serious choices to make during the lunar month. Conversations may strike a more mature tone. We may need to demonstrate that we are a leader and an authority with our words. Aries is not the sign of compromise and it’s likely that we will have to get very clear about what we want and be willing to fight for it.
That said, Neptune makes for a strange pairing, a planet that may distort and negatively amplify the individualism of Aries. Or, it may open us to actions with compassion, choices with empathy, new beginnings that take into account a higher calling or a search for meaning and purpose. Neptune dissolves the boundaries between our physical world and our non-physical world. It is an evolutionary planet, which is to say that the coming four weeks will bring many new beginnings that will spark growth and evolution. We just have to make sure we are not too in the negative ego, which is where Neptune can lure us into our illusions.
As an aside, the energy of the new moon pulls the energy of Jupiter in Cancer into the sign of Aries. The coming days may stir questions of faith and truth, it may amplify a desire to start over and set off on a new course.
That said, all this energy needs grounding and intention. Observe what new beginnings are coming into your life and where there is an opportunity for greater maturity as well as greater compassion. Chiron in Aries says, if not for ourselves, then for others.
If you are in AUSTRALIA or NZ, this forecast applies approximately for April 18-20, 2026.
Leave a Reply