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Last week, Henry, our most recent rescue, slipped through while I was on the phone with a friend, sitting on my couch inside, and barked at the neighbor, who was on his lawn mower at the edge of his property, which borders ours. I heard barking and shrieking and ran outside. The neighbor - an elderly man - was screaming at Henry, and at me. Raging, and in fear.

I eventually called Henry back, and the next morning received a text declaring him dangerous. What was I going to do about it? Apparently, this neighbor had been harboring fear of Henry that I was unaware of. He’d never said anything and, instead of initiating a conversation, he exploded at me, in the moment.

We’ve taken to Henry to dog parks regularly, drove with him cross country. I, in my naiveté, hadn’t considered that others may react so strongly. That is on me. The gate will remain shut. That’s not a problem. The other neighbor’s dogs are still over here, laying next to me as I type this. I’ve also reached out to trainers, for further reinforcement.

The incident shook me, though. Less because of Henry, and more because there had been no indication of an issue, no communication prior, and yet, such an intense display of rage.

Aries is associated with anger, assertion, ruled as it is by Mars, the God of War. Mercury (communication) and Mars (drive, motivation) and Saturn (karmic lessons, maturation) have been traveling together in Aries, which peaked during that Aries New Moon on April 17th. Textbook translation: pent up frustration and anger.

Mercury and Mars are breaking away from Saturn now but through this experience, I found myself meditating on anger, and resentment, how process and address it, how we avoid it. Ours, others’.

My Dad would rage sometimes. Still does, though far less now, in his 80s. When this happens, I detach, go stone cold, non reactive. I have a habit of transmuting anger into productivity, like my writing of this essay. here Anger is my propellant. I place this with my Mars in Scorpio conjunct Uranus. I freeze, amputate and then alchemize. I’ve been doing this for as long as I remember. This, in contrast to my neighbor’s process. Neither ideal.

Daniel, with his Libra Moon is more the peacemaker. He bought pastries, drove over, attempted a conversation, man to man. My instinct (and I acknowledge this is not the highest form of consciousness) is to take care of the issue (keep the gate closed, sign us up for training) and pull inward, cease all communication, unless absolutely necessary.

We are complicated beings, aren’t we?

Saturn is moving through my 10th House. Career. Authority. Fathers. Here is a proxy, right? How do I handle structure, limits, responsibilities. Well. I have strong Saturn, natally. Henry is my responsibility and I recognize that.

But I’m wondering now if this transit also brings forth something else, a need to explore my own anger and resentment and a very clear reminder that communication is necessary if I want to avoid rupture, in my own life.

Saturn in Aries. Lessons on anger and self assertion. Saturn, of course, also governs fear.

It will soon oppose my own Mercury and square my Moon. Difficult conversations, the negotiations of boundaries. Not my forté, and a fire I most certainly need to walk through.

Clients and friends are experiencing Saturn in a myriad of ways, challenging their ideas of self, forcing growth edges. We’re all contending with ourselves, in one way or another. Aries is the Self, where one ends and another begins. Blame and victimhood fall flat here. Instead, we’re encouraged to take clear, measured, responsible and thoughtful action, to get out in front, proactively. As the saying goes, what we resist, persists.

How are you feeling and experiencing Saturn in Aries so far?

As a strong Saturnine type with a Virgo Stellium, it’s been a challenge, to say the least. As one who is familiar with these energies can attest, I prefer order, structure, clarity. Well, no such luck. My semblance of normalcy all but thrown out the window. My work (again, hello Virgo and Capricorn) has been the anchor, as my world around me has morphed in ways I could have never imagined. And even, that too, I confess I questioned. Is this what I should be doing? Is this the best use of my skills and interests?

I landed, quite recently, to be honest, on yes. Reinvigorated, back in love with this work I first engaged with over 25 years (25 years!) ago in Barnes and Nobel, sitting on the floor for hours fully transfixed on this new language that seemed, strangely, so familiar.

Later today (February 13th), Saturn leaves for Aries, joining Neptune, which ingressed on January 26th. In four days, we have the Aquarius Solar Eclipse (and the start of the Fire Horse Year in Chinese Astrology). In seven, the exact Saturn Neptune Conjunction in Aries, kicking off, officially the significant energetic shifts of 2026.

I’m curious to see exactly how this plays out in the collective, as I always am, but I do think we’re likely to see an upswing in personal agency and direction over the next couple years, especially once Saturn advances past Neptune this Spring. Less pie in the sky thinking, more concrete, thoughtful action. In the immediate (Aries) but focused on long term results (Saturn).

Will we see the limitation (Saturn) of the individual (Aries) or its fortification (also Saturn), or both? In Pisces we imagine and dream, grieve and release, in Aries we begin.

I’ve had clients ask, “does this mean everything will be go go go?” I’m not sure, because Saturn concentrates and delays, focusing the energy. Uranus in Gemini may bring more conversation, perspectives, ideas and communications once it enters on April 26th, but I don’t automatically associate Fire and Air with energetic overwhelm, just as I don’t identify Water and Earth with passivity and automatic ease and respite.

Also, Outer Planet Transits take time to reveal themselves. We of course won’t know, personally and collectively, the ways in which this period of time will change us, and history until well after the fact. And even then, these things have a way of being reassessed again and again, the more time passes.

Saturn, of course, governs time, mortal time, its passage and container. Our second Saturn Opposition, firmly in thick of our generative years, is experienced far differently than our first, during adolescence, just as, as Erick Eriskson explains, we are forming our social identity.

Neptune is time-less, not so much in the sense of trends, or that which has rung true through antiquity, but more literally, untethered to mortal time. It’s transcendent and formless. Neptune connects us with and to the divine. Saturn grounds us in our incarnation, and its cornered walls.

Piscean is relativist but Aries, not so much. Pisces governs the feet, ironically. Aries, the head. Head Start, Head First, Butting Heads. There is an “I” here, at the center, the Self.

Pisces may say, we are all one. Aries would challenge such a notion. Pisces may say “we’re all winners.” Aries would disagree (and very much prefer to be in 1st position). Pisces is associated with divine maternal love, Aries with the Father.

Saturn, despite it ruling Capricorn, a Feminine Sign, is associated with the Father. When babies are first born, they are said to resemble the father. Nature’s paternity test. And yet, it’s the Father that Aries seeks to contest.

Still, Saturn in Aries is likely to be less existential than it was in Pisces, due to its action oriented nature. Aries, for example, may court danger in order to prove itself, taking on heroic feats, emboldened by the process. How we relate - again personally and collectively - to physical force or might will alter over the next couple of years.

In Aries, Saturn enters my 10th House. After two plus years of philosophical exploration, I’m looking forward to harnessing my experience, in finding more of my place in the world. Just over fourteen years ago, when Saturn was conjunct my own Sun and Saturn at the bottom of my chart, in the Fourth House, I formally began this journey, going back for a Master’s Spiritual Psychology, rooting in a foundation of knowledge and facilitation. The transit of Saturn to my Tenth is likely to be consequential, both personally and professionally.

I’m looking forward to it.

Where is Aries in your chart? What are you expecting to wrestle with?