Aries: Freedom, Identity, and the Right to Exist
1st House / Cardinal Fire / Yang Expression / Ruled by Mars
Getting Started
Aries is the first astrological archetype in the zodiac wheel. The Aries archetype also corresponds to the 1st house and to Mars. Note that this is not a description of an Aries Sun Sign. This is a description of the Aries archetype.
We ALL have the Aries archetype alive somewhere in our charts. We all have a 1st House, and we all have a Mars placement. To learn more about why Aries applies to the 1st house, read my article on Astrological Houses.
Emerging from the Pisces Ocean
Before we begin a new cycle, it’s important to take note of where we’re coming from. The sign before Aries is Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac. As the final sign of the zodiac, Pisces represents a vast, cosmic ocean of letting go, dissolving, and surrendering to the greater universal forces at play.
Pisces is about endings and returning to wholeness. In Pisces, shapes lose their form as they go back into the great unknown. The wheel keeps turning, and after Pisces, Aries immediately follows.
Aries is born from this Piscean ocean with a thrust of forward-moving life force energy. The Aries ram, with it’s horns still dripping wet from having just emerged from the cosmic sea, acutely feels the promise of new life that it holds.
The Burning Question: “Who Am I?”
With a whole life ahead, Aries can sense that it has a special and unique identity waiting to be discovered. However at this very beginning stage, Aries doesn’t actually know who they are yet.
This need to fulfill a sense of special destiny by discovering their unique identity compels Aries to have as many experiences as possible in order to answer the burning question of “Who am I?”
Aries must have the freedom to act on their soul calling to start new beginnings and engage with their self-discovery.
The Fear of Falling Back into Pisces
Behind the gusto of Aries’ forward facing persona is an insecurity. The insecurity that Aries feels is that this life, and their identity, is all too new and too uncertain. The fear of falling back into the void of Pisces and never actualizing their independent selfhood always looms near.
Deep down, Aries fears that if they don’t keep moving forward, they will be swallowed up by the Pisces sea, dissolve, and lose their opportunity to have an independent self.
Bold, Brave, or Impulsive
This fear can give Aries a sense of urgency to take action and initiate their self-discovery process. It could result in bold moves, brave steps forward, or brash, impulsive behavior.
In the positive lens, Aries embodies bravery in their role as a pioneer, creating their own pathway in life. Whereas the divine love and cosmic blanket of Pisces could be so comfortable, Aries is now exposed, in the physical world, potentially under physical threat, and courage is needed with each step forward.
Conversely, if Aries is only inspired by fear, impatience, or self-interest, then their actions will have a much different tone and different outcome.
Like all things in Evolutionary Astrology, the way that Aries’ assertive action manifests will depend on the individual’s context, quality of consciousness, circumstances, karma, and free-will.
Freedom is a Requirement
Aries requires the freedom to have as many new and different experiences as possible, even if they’re short-lived. The sheer amount of experiences serve as a trial-and-error method in helping Aries figure out who they are and who they are not.
Aries has permission to be spontaneous and keep following their next inspired step, even if they don’t know where it will lead. Truly walking the path of the Aries pioneer could feel like walking blindfolded or walking in the dark, but that is part of the exciting evolutionary call of this archetype.
Opposite Libra: Lessons in Relating
Part of the many “experiences” that Aries seeks could include partners. Aries could be magnetized to certain people, sensing that by being with them, more could be discovered about themselves. However there could be fear of going further past the momentum of the initial stages of relationship. There could be an outright aversion to relationship in general.
Opposite Libra, Aries is generally more focused on Self than Other. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing- in fact for some, this self-focus is a required component of evolution and healing.
However, Aries may need to reflect on how their actions affect other people. Aries may need to consider how much their impulsivity, their speed, or even their drive to begin anew has affects and consequences for the people they are related to.
Libra challenges Aries to focus more on the “co-“ words: cooperating, commitment, communication, collaboration. Libra will ask Aries to slow down and consider the pros and cons before blindly jumping into a new pursuit.
Deep down, Aries needs to learn that relationships are the biggest mirrors, and the intimacy of committed partnership is necessary in order to truly know ourselves. The dynamic tension between Aries and Libra, or Self and Other, has the potential to spur some of the biggest lessons, growth, and evolution for both archetypes.
Square Cancer and Capricorn: Freedom vs. Conditioning
Aries is square to both Cancer and Capricorn, the axis of conditioning. Cancer is the conditioning from the childhood years, the maternal figure, and the family home. Capricorn is the conditioning from the society, the state, the paternal figure, and long-held traditions.
The square between these archetypes with Aries highlights the crisis in being able to be free and independent in the midst of conditioning factors that try to label, define, and ultimately constrict someone into a mold. Aries has a desire for boundlessness as they set forth to discover Who Am I? This cannot fully happen while under the grip of family or societal rule.
Reflections to Consider
As Aries moves through the world, they must be conscious of what motivates them. Some questions for the Aries archetype to reflect on are:
Am I inspired by courage or inspired by fear?
Is this choice truly aligned with my pure desire, or am I being impulsive, reactive, trying to rush?
How comfortably can I sit with the unknown without needing to act?
Who am I?
What is needed to get the next level of discovering who I truly am?
What is the path I have chosen to create in my life? Is it working for me?
The Heart-Centered Warrior
In the highest expression, Aries has a strong capacity for leadership. Aries is a pioneer, fearlessly initiating new beginnings as they create their own road through life, not necessarily knowing what the outcome will be. And yet Aries keeps moving forward.
They are the living definition of independence. In the highest expressions, Aries can channel their life-force energy into the role of the heart-centered warrior, who, through embracing the Libra polarity, advocates for the freedom and right to exist for all.
We all have the Aries archetype alive somewhere within us, not only those with the Sun in Aries. Look to your chart to see what planets or points you have in Aries, the 1st house, as well as the placement of Mars.
