No matter what happens in March, it will represent a vast improvement over February. Most people found last month to be a frustrating and uncertain time. Mercury was retrograde - a time when things are in flux. Now, as you enter March, Mercury will thankfully be moving forward with vigor and strength. The delays, lost items, and redesigns that were so prevalent in February will be no longer a factor in March.

Last month we also had two eclipses, February 6 and 20, and those bring on sudden shifts in direction and focus, and usually demand a certain need to adjust to surprise situations. The February 20 eclipse was the more difficult of the two and likely either brought changes in your workplace or drew your attention to a health matter. If you didn't hear any news from the eclipses last month, keep your antenna up near March 6 or 20. Sometimes an eclipse will deliver news one month to the day later, plus or minus one week, but don't let this worry you.

Your sign, dear Aries, was not at the epicenter of events (nor will you be this month). If you did feel the eclipses and you are called on to help, it will be to help others deal with their own little earthquakes and shifts. You may have heard of a close friend or relative in the hospital or rehab center or who was feeling low, and if so, you may have known - or will know - that you are in the best position of anyone that person knows to roll up your sleeves to help. As said, you may still have to help this month, so keep your schedule flexible enough to jump in if necessary.

This month, the new moon on March 7 brings surprises, but those are likely to be ones you like. Uranus will conjoin the moon and the Sun on this new moon and both will send a beam to Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck. Confidential career talks should go exceptionally well, especially this month. It seems that VIPs at the very top have noticed what a terrific job you've been doing and will be willing to go out of their way to get you a better position, either in your company or in another firm. Any job you would talk about this month would represent a big jump in prestige.

If you are about to launch a new product or service, you will put the final touches on your plan this month. Be ready to launch just after the new moon in Aries next month, on Saturday, April 5 (or early in the following workweek, April 7-11). Additionally, a good friend may be very helpful to you in ways that astound you, from March 7 to 17.

Also this month, you seem to be ready to delve into the deepest parts of your psyche, asking yourself all sorts of life questions such as, "Am I living the life I want? Is my job satisfying? Should I marry? Does my home reflect the real me, or does it look more like the home of my parents?" If you want to make changes but feel a bit unsure of the direction to take, talk things over with a friend you trust. With the planet ruling your house of friendship making good aspects to other planets from your 12th house, you'd get the insight you're seeking. An Aries without a plan always feels unsettled. Once you have it, you'll feel better.

Do you feel that you need to give up a substance that is hurting your health? Readers have been writing in to ask me to talk more about this type of problem. Actually, the 12th house, so lit this month, is the area of the chart that rules "self-undoing" - the very things we do to ourselves that ultimately damage health and create unhappiness.

We might be guilty of this type of "self-undoing" on a small scale (overeating at night) or a large one (cocaine use), but this is the house of the chart where this behavior would show up. However, this is ALSO the area where we get enlightened and seek help - in a hospital, rehab center, physical therapy center, nursing home - any place of solitude and confinement that leads to one-on-one special care, healing, and hopefully stronger, more radiant health. This month's new moon on March 7 could bring you the opportunity you've been awaiting to end a bad habit, either on your own, by working with a group (perhaps online for example), or by seeking professional help. Any and all methods of overturning your habit would work now - March would be your best month to start.

Romantically, the new moon in Pisces on March 7 could also help you find love if you are single and looking. Encourage your friends to set up a date for you - make it for Saturday, March 8, when the moon will be in Aries. Groups of any sort, whether it be a club, humanitarian or political organization, charity, or a professional group, would be helpful to you, too. Think about one that you already belong to that could be helpful or join a new club. You may feel you need to widen your friendships, and this new moon will help you do just that.

Since online communities should be helpful now, it leads me to wonder if an online dating service - which is certainly a group - may bring you a bit of unexpected luck. Neptune, the ruler of Uranus, will be in digital Aquarius, ruler of the Internet, and cozying up to Venus, planet of love. If you've been toying with the idea of trying an online dating service, ask a friend to help you write your "ad" and see what happens. Meet in a public place for coffee until you know the person better, of course. Some people do find love.

Mars will move into Cancer this month, allowing you to make terrific progress in home, family, or real estate matters from March 4 to May 9. If you've been meaning to buy a new dining room table, for example (but haven't found the right one), Mars will bring you the perfect one. It doesn't matter if you want to buy an expensive one or find a bargain from a flea market, you can find what you want now.

Mars was in Cancer last October but quickly went retrograde in mid-November and held up all your plans to move, fix up your place, or even to make family-related plans. Mars is finally in good shape now - no more waiting. You can get any home-oriented decision settled now, for Mars in Cancer will help you enormously.

You may now sell your house if you've been waiting to get the right offer. It looks like you couldn't sell to anyone lately, but all that will change now. You CAN sell your house or buy a new one from early March through early May, or else in the first part of July.

When dealing with domestic and real estate matters, avoid March 7 when Mars and Pluto will be at exact mathematical opposition. Although the new moon on that day is favorable, everyone will feel a pressure from this particular aspect, coincidentally happening at the same time. Either your direct boss or client will be unusually demanding, or your family, real estate broker, or roommate will be squabbling with you, adding intense pressure to your life (something you certainly DON'T need).

Although you'll think this pressure will never end at the time, actually it will - very suddenly - a day or two after you get past March 7. Keep the faith. Mars will speak to Saturn at the same time, and together they will create a bit of stabilizing calm.

A relationship that is very important to you will bring a culmination on March 21, and here we go again - more pressure. I am so sorry to have to report this. If you are forging a business relationship, you will likely feel forced to agree to your proposed partner's demands. Apparently this person is powerful and knows you need the support or why else would he or she be so demanding? It's alternatively possible that government rules, intervention, or other government presence could become very challenging, and create quite a bit of tension.

Someone certainly seems to be strong-arming you in an unfair way at this full moon, March 21. Fortunately, if any zodiac sign can stand up for themselves, it's your sign, dear Aries. It won't make this full moon easy, but it should be comforting to know you can fight any dragons you encounter by yourself. You don't need anyone to fight your battles for you.

If this full moon brings up a proposal for marriage (say, if no business relationship pops up) again you will find something about the discussion troubling. Even on this personal level, you will feel coerced, something a true-blooded Aries does not like.

What is forming in the heavens is the very hard-line cardinal cross, considered very difficult. This happens when planets in cardinal signs square off against one another. You have Pluto in Capricorn, the moon in Libra, the Sun in Aries, and Mars in Cancer, all cardinal signs in the critical mathematical one-degree, called by astrologers to be "the Aries point." While all degrees of cardinal signs are considered very energetic, those at one degree are so intensely powerful they are felt to epitomize the very life force! This will be a strenuous full moon, for sure, but more so for Aries born on or within days of March 21.

If you have no business relationship that is coming to critical mass, nor any marriage proposal, it could be a present partnership - your relationship with a sweetheart or mate - that will bring tension.

Or, it also could be that a competitor will show his true colors, much to your horror. There would be ruthlessness about this person's actions that will shock you in its bold intensity and lack of fairness. Still, as an Aries, you know how to fight fire with fire, and after this episode, you can design your strategy. Don't rush the process - you can outwit this person, there is no doubt of that - but you will have to plan meticulously without rushing.

Knowing all this, try to surround yourself with your most supportive friends and relatives.

Circle the wagons near March 21 plus or minus four days, dear Aries.

Romantically, assuming you don't have a problem with your partner on the full moon March 21, this is a gentle month with a few bright spots. I mentioned earlier that the time just after March 7 might be sweet for a blind date set up by friends.

Put another star on your calendar for the dates March 16 through 18 when Venus and Mars will trade flirtatious glances across a star-studded sky.

Singles may also love March 28, when Venus and Uranus link. Remember, however, that when Uranus is involved, you never know what may happen - it's always a surprise. Still, Jupiter will be beaming Uranus really positive vibrations on that day (bringing you lots of good news about your career), so you'll be in a happy mood, and that tends to allow you to attract even more happiness.

Indeed March 28 will be a very newsworthy time of the month, so see what comes up. I think aside from the good career news, some very sensational romantic prospects could come up. If you find you are smitten with someone new, don't heat things up too quickly (something you may be prone to do on March 27 thorough March 29). Slow and steady wins at month's end.

Married? Assuming the full moon does not bring an altercation between you and your other half on or near March 21, you will relate quite well.

If you are like some Aries, you may now be ready to finally start your family - a sweet little baby may be in your future. You've come a long way over the past two years, a time when taskmaster Saturn toured your pregnancy sector. If you delayed the start of your family, there seems to be no further reason to do so. Even though you may feel trepidation about getting pregnant and being responsible for a new life, your chart shows you are more ready than you think you are.

Days for romance: March 6, 8, 16-18, 22 (singles only), 26, and 27.

Summary

Home decorating is back on your front burner, as it was in the autumn, and you're all excited about instituting your plan. The difference is now you'll be ready to get down to brass tacks. With delays and obstacles no longer a factor, you'll see an open path and take it. Mars, your guardian planet, will finally be moving at full throttle from March 4 to May 9, your most energetic window of opportunity.

Get your new home selected and furniture ordered during this phase, and you'll be ready to enjoy your space fully by the new moon, July 2. The start of July would be an ideal move-in date, but only if you do all the preparations now and through early May.

In the first week of March, Mars will be not opposed to Pluto, so it will be clear that your boss assumes you have no private life nor need one. He feels you should give all your time and energy to your work. Hearing this may be the last straw in a long line of problems you've faced with your current job, and could finally make you pick up the phone and accept an interview with another firm.

Happily, with Jupiter in fine angle to the Sun on March 6, you will get a terrific reception and leave the new prospective employer with a good impression. If your present job is where your heart lies, it may be that this domineering boss will calm down after the pressure of the moment disperses. See how you feel.

In the third week, at the full moon March 21, a key relationship is about to reach critical mass and a decision will be required, but you may be the last one to see this coming. Again you may feel pressured by a pushy boss, client, or even a family member (parent, mate, or other close kin), who will leave you feeling tense and deficient in some way. Something about this episode will be jarring and upsetting. You will see this person's hidden agenda, so what you decide to do now that you have full information will be up to you.

With the full moon falling in a critical degree (one degree, Libra) this episode seems to have ramifications, not only for your relationship, but on the job, too. You may get to the point that you need to say something - even quit or move out. One thing is certain; you won't sit and suffer silently. This all comes down Friday evening, March 21, and continues over the weekend, March 22-23. You will be in action mode, not in a "let's talk it out" mode. All I can say is that if someone pushes you too hard, they will be sorry!

Singles will have luck this month in finding and maintaining love. If you hope to meet someone new, circulate when Uranus and the Sun join forces on Saturday, March 8. A blind date scheduled for that day is sure to bring a better-than-anticipated result. You might meet on the Internet, because with Uranus involved, there would be a digital element to your meeting. On the other hand, you may simply meet at Best Buy or the Apple store - or any place that sells electronics. Sounds like you'd have lots in common - enjoy the month!

Look for love and it'll find you: March 8
Work on a home improvement plan: March 4 - May 9
Overcome fears about parenthood: March 21