Out of the Undertow: Horoscopes March 16-22, 2026

If you’ve felt like you’re in a swamp of misunderstandings or caught in an undertow of confusion, this week should dry things up.

In some ways this means things will get better.

In other ways, the wet kindling drying makes it ready to catch fire. When we get out of the ocean, we feel the sunburn and the bite of the windy beach.

This week offers us the opportunity to set intentions for creating something new in areas where we have learned difficult lessons about boundaries over the past 15 years.

Photo by Mac Gaither on Unsplash (dog on the beach with a towel as a scarf)

For horoscope principles this week, I am primarily looking at the following celestial events:

• Venus in Aries squares Jupiter in Cancer on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 9:08am Pacific. Although squares are tense aspects, traditionally aspects between Venus and Jupiter, the benefic planets, are always positive and supportive. If anything, this is a tension between needing to be heard, seen, and authentic in relationship and loyalty to the community. But, these planets provide blessings wherever they are, and although Venus is uncomfortable in the house of Mars (Aries), the aspect with Jupiter gives her a boost. When Jupiter and Venus aspect, it is like they are looking across a crowded room at each other, saying, “We’ve got this.”

• The Sun in Pisces sextiles Uranus in Taurus on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 1:20pm Pacific. This is a supportive transit that can allow the jarring and disorienting changes of February to find some resolution, if not healing.

• The Pisces New Moon happens on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 6:23pm Pacific. This is the first lunar event in a while that is not an eclipse. Yay!! Sigh a big sigh of relief with me! I cannot emphasize enough how excited I am to be through eclipse season. This is, in my opinion, a lovely moment for a ritual to honor the losses we have had during Pisces season, and to welcome in the new growth of spring. If you tend toward perfectionism in ritual, remember that this one is about connection and has positive aspects for connection. This New Moon is sextile Uranus, which offers support for changes, especially related to our ideals and belief systems around what it means to partner.

• The Sun ingresses to Aries on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 7:47am Pacific. The solar ingress into Aries is an indicator of the year ahead and acts as a New Year. This is the chart for that ingress using whole sign houses:

• This chart has significant emphasis on confusion and deception around identity, patriotism around the home space, and hidden enemies. The hidden enemies component can also relate to the spiritual and unconscious identity. Uranus in Taurus in the second house of this cart speaks to shaking up financial institutions and values systems. Pluto in Aquarius in the eleventh house says that the way we think of social justice and community groups is undergoing massive transformation and revolution (to say the least!). Mercury is stationing direct in Pisces, and this indicates slowness, stagnation, and imprecision in thinking. The Moon is applying to a conjunction with Chiron, which invites us to consider that although we have been wounded, there is still opportunity to offer healing to others.

• Mercury goes direct in Pisces on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 12:32pm Pacific. Another win for those Mercury ruled or emphasized people. In the next three weeks, you’ll likely discover mistakes you made while Mercury was retrograde (and the consequences of those mistakes), but the rule is to have compassion and remember that humans make mistakes. You can recover from the technical difficulties you run into.

• Mars in Pisces trines Jupiter in Cancer on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 5:00pm Pacific. This is a positive aspect between the planet of war and the planet of expansion, and so this can either mean mitigation of the conflicts we are seeing, or, unfortunately, it can mean a smooth path to making them bigger.

• The Sun conjoins Neptune in Aries on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 4:18pm Pacific. This is a good day to take a nap. Neptune brings dreaminess, confusion, and even tiredness. The Sun is the energy that powers us. Having these two together can, if we push it, mean misunderstandings, deception, and delays. If you’re willing to rest, it’s a good time to do that.

• Pluto continues in Aquarius. Uranus continues in the last degrees of Taurus. Saturn continues in Aries. Jupiter continues in Cancer.

These are the principles to consider for the week of March 16, 2026. It is worth taking a look at both your rising and sun sign horoscopes (visit astro.com to find your rising sign):

Aries: Even when you are at your darkest inside, you may feel like you need to shine bright on the outside. This New Moon is an opportunity for you to heal the unconscious parts of you that feel deeply, and that hold uncomfortable feelings, before stepping into Spring. I would recommend having a play date with your inner child (not the inner child who delighted everyone, but the version of you that cried too much and disappointed adults). As you step into Spring, invite your sensitive inner child to some play dates that offer comfort.

Taurus: Losing the authenticity of who we are in social groups or even local community often seems supportive of the people around us. But, hiding or repressing who we are is deception, and ultimately an honest “no” is more of a gift almost always than a resentful “yes” or a “yes” with no follow through. This New Moon gives you an opportunity to heal some of the woundings you’ve experienced in social groups over the past couple of years. If you organize a coven for your New Moon ritual, don’t forget to invite the most authentic parts of yourself.

Gemini: You are a thinking person, and the separation between thought and spirit is less definite than it may seem. Our thinking may come from cultural conditioning, education, experience, and other nurture factors. It may be hardwired in our biology. It may be a connection to the collective unconscious as a sort of spiritual internet. Incorporate the indefinite origins of thinking into your New Moon ritual this week, and expect recognition, money, or other blessings from your friends and social groups. Watch for what you do want in the world, rather than getting hung up on imperfections.

Cancer: Our ideals live beyond the physical realm, while our values are anchored in reality. This New Moon asks you to consider magickal, spiritual, or otherworldly ideals. Let yourself dream, knowing you are creating dreams, of what the world could be. Use this New Moon ritual to expand your vision of what is possible for yourself, as well. Look to your most unique and independent friends to support making this vision a reality.

Leo: In witchcraft, there is a concept called the river of blood, which is related to our incarnation as humans. The spiritual self meets the river of blood, which includes ancestry, physicality, and everything that connects us to the animal and earth. Our incarnation is the middle experience of the unity between the spiritual self and the river of blood. This New Moon connects you to spirituality, and anything you do in your public facing life that is unique, independent, or alternative is supportive of this. And, that is also connected to your ancestry and the river of blood. Spirituality is not dissociation, but instead connection.

Virgo: It is possible for something to be new and old at the same time. Each year, we may plant a spring garden, and while the garden is new, the land is old. Whether you are partnered or not, this New Moon invites you to do a ritual related to partnership. The universe has asked you to be more clear, definite, and responsible around your boundaries in partnership over the past 15 years, and this New Moon offers you the opportunity to plant a new seed about what it means to be in partnership with boundaries.

Libra: Sometimes a routine is a daily activity, but other times, it is a moment of tending and awareness. Our routines can include what we avoid as much as what we habitually do. Scrolling social media to avoid work can become a routine, just like brushing our teeth, journaling, or giving ourselves a hug. This New Moon asks you to plant the seed of a desire to create your daily life around what serves and nurtures you. Even if things feel confusing or muddled right now, think of your daily life as tending to a seed that will grow.

Scorpio: Most of us dream of being discovered for something creative or some authentic talent or value that belongs only to us. Romance and superhero stories alike feed us these dreams. But, what they don’t focus on is the moments of creativity and choosing that are in our control, leading to the discovery we hear about. This New Moon is an opportunity to plant a seed related to your creative projects that should be discovered later. Lean on your most independent, unique partners for support.

Sagittarius: Giving to our family and home without boundaries creates harmful codependency, but investing in creating a family and home that nurtures you cares for the most sensitive parts of yourself. After the lessons you’ve learned around boundaries with family and home over the past 15 years, this New Moon asks you to plant the seed of intention for what a truly nurturing and safe family and home life would look like to you. The changes in your daily life will support following through on creating this.

Capricorn Rising: Building strong local communities is the path to building a new world. With the violence happening all around, locally and internationally, it is easy to get overwhelmed and feel helpless. This New Moon gives you a unique opportunity to plant the seeds of what a healthy local community model could be that the rest of the world could eventually follow. Whether this is creating a coven, book group, or protest schedule, set the intention for what you want to see.

Aquarius Rising: I’m not sure if people still do this, but it used to be that when someone started a business, they would frame the first dollar bill they made. Because things are so electronic now, we might have lost some of the symbolism of that. This New Moon invites you to create a money bowl, anoint your wallet with money potion, set your money intentions, and get in touch with what you truly value. Money is an energetic symbol, usually of freedom, safety, and thriving. Set an intention to welcome abundance, with boundaries, into your life.

Pisces Rising: We are made up of parts, and no person is a monolith. You have been going through a 15 year long process of learning about boundaries around what makes you an individual and separate from the people you love. Part of you may still feel conflict around that, but this New Moon invites you to do a ritual honoring yourself as a separate, but connected, person. What makes you you? Lean on your most free, weirdo friends and chosen siblings to give you inspiration.

Thanks for reading and fulfilling your natal promise! If you like these horoscopes, don’t forget to hit the like button and share them with someone who might get something out of them.

If you or someone you know would like to dive into their natal chart and learn more about their personal contract with the universe, sign up for a natal chart reading here.