A seasonal astro-soul check-in with Jonni + Marielle 

Spring usually arrives with a kind of manic optimism. Buds bursting, birds singing, and everyone suddenly convinced they’ll actually use that gym membership this time. But Spring 2026 is asking for something different, deeper, and needing us to hold two seemingly opposite truths at once.

I’m back in conversation with astrologer Marielle Croft, and what she showed me in this season’s chart is rare and intricately woven. We’re looking at a cosmic design where literally every planet is working together. Not competing or creating friction. Actually collaborating.

And at the centre of it all is a dance between Pisces (the dreamer) and Aries (the warrior), teaching us that vision without action is fantasy, and action without vision is chaos. 

This spring, we get to practice holding both.

Jonni: Marielle, my first thought is, this is beautifully complex. You said the equinox arrives on March 20th at 7:48 am PDT when the Sun moves from Pisces into Aries. But there’s so much more happening that day, isn’t there?

Marielle: Yes! Most planets are concentrated in just Pisces and Aries. That’s quite a grouping of energies drawing all the focus powerfully. And what makes it extraordinary is that on the exact day of the equinox, Mercury turns direct after being retrograde since February 26th. It’s been reviewing everything in Pisces, and now it’s ready to move forward.

Jonni: So Mercury, our planet of mind and communication, decides to go direct on the exact day of the equinox. That feels significant. Like the universe saying, “Okay, you’ve had your time to reflect. Now speak.”

Marielle: Exactly. And Mercury is conjunct the North Node at 8 degrees Pisces. The North Node carries energy forward, ahead from where we were. This works for great projects as well as confused ones. The question then becomes, which are we choosing?

Jonni: I love that you’re putting the responsibility right back on us. The cosmic weather creates conditions, but we still get to choose how we respond. 

Now, you mentioned something about “mutual reception” between Pisces and Aries. Can you explain that, because it sounds fancy, and I want to understand why it matters?

Marielle: It’s fascinating. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, and Neptune is currently in Aries. Aries is ruled by Mars, and Mars is currently in Pisces. Each ruler is in the other’s sign, which is called mutual reception. It creates an intimate collaboration, with energies going back and forth, giving the lead to one, then the other, back and forth.

Jonni: So it’s like they’re trading places, speaking each other’s language. The dreamer learns to act, and the warrior learns to envision. That’s… actually what we need right now, isn’t it? That integration of vision and courage?

Marielle: Oh, yes. Mars in Pisces gives lots of inner energy for spiritual inspiration, insights, and visions. Outwardly, it might act hesitantly because it’s not comfortable with conflict. But the courage is present. We may begin to see peacemakers emerging with small voices at first, but in time, they stick to their intentions.

Jonni: “Peacemakers with small voices”. I like that. The image really moves me. It’s not loud, aggressive activism, but steady, spiritually grounded people who refuse to back down from their commitment to peace. Though I imagine there will be resistance?

Marielle: Absolutely. Adverse activities may fade, but not without resistance. And because Pisces represents the oceans and carries lots of water, Mars in this sign could also speak of overflowing waters in the world this season.

Jonni: So we might see literal flooding as well as this metaphorical overflow of spiritual energy and peace movements. Got it. The physical and symbolic always seem to mirror each other, don’t they?

Marielle: They do. Now, as the Sun moves into Aries on the equinox, it quickly meets Neptune at 1 degree, then Saturn at 4 degrees. A message coming from Pisces, where the Sun emerges, is carried to Neptune and Saturn. A message of peace.  Because of that mutual reception between Neptune and Mars, there’s a very intimate collaboration between Pisces and Aries throughout this season.

Jonni: So even though we’re moving into fiery, initiating Aries energy, we can’t leave the Piscean wisdom behind. We’re meant to bring it with us. That reflection and spiritual grounding all come along for the ride.

Marielle: Yes, and it means the machine for progress needs to pause regularly to reassess. Nothing can go fast and be successful here. Taking the needed time for anything of importance is a major rule of thumb.

Jonni: That’s going to frustrate a lot of people who think spring means “go go go, do do do.” But you’re saying this spring requires something more rhythmic, like action, then reflection, then action again. So, not a sprint, but a thoughtful dance.

Marielle: Precisely. And we need to talk about what’s supporting all of this. Pluto in Aquarius is holding a solid sextile with Sun-Neptune-Saturn throughout the entire season. Pluto is actually stationary on the equinox. It’s barely moving, which means it’s shedding much deeper energy.

Jonni: Why is Pluto stationary? Is it just hanging out, watching the show?

Marielle: It’s about to begin its annual retrograde cycle from May 7th to October 16th. When a planet is stationary, it appears almost motionless in the sky, and its influence becomes even more concentrated. From its position in Aquarius, Pluto is revolutionizing systems that don’t come from love and don’t serve humanity properly.

Jonni: Okay, so that makes Pluto the elder in the room, holding steady while all this Pisces-Aries action happens, making sure everything aligns with the bigger transformation toward the Aquarian era. What does that actually look like in the world?

Marielle: Well, in the past few years, as we’ve moved from the Pisces era to the Aquarian era, we’ve seen the old Pisces codes of hierarchy systems, leaders and followers, causing immense polarization. The Aquarian era is about collaboration, individuals taking responsibility for their role in community.

Jonni: But the old systems aren’t going quietly, are they?

Marielle: No. With the help of technology, radical philosophies are emerging that try to reestablish old patriarchal codes, even movements to remove women’s right to vote. Personal freedom is at risk if we’re not vigilant. Young people must be guided and protected from these influences that aren’t luminous or uplifting.

Jonni: This is where I feel the spiritual bypassing urge wants to kick in, like “just focus on love and light.” But you’re saying vigilance is part of the spiritual work right now. We can’t just meditate our way past this.

Marielle: Yes, these movements are inevitable because they represent an effort from what’s familiar to survive. It’s a fear-based pattern. It can’t win, but it may take a while before the new Aquarian codes become the “new normal.” That’s why we must remain vigilant and maintain healthy boundaries.

Jonni: Got it. 

Okay, so back to Mercury turning direct and conjunct the North Node in Pisces… This feels like the antidote, doesn’t it? Strengthening our inner alignment with soul and heart becomes the actual revolutionary act.

Marielle: Yes! The North Node carries energies forward, so if we make the effort to stay aligned, it grows easier. More than ever, it’s important to avoid observing the world with fear, even though it’s rather crazy at times. Our true power resides in our freedom of choice.

Jonni: “Our true power resides in our freedom of choice.” I’m writing that down, Marielle. It’s so easy to feel powerless when we’re watching the news. But choosing where we put our attention, and how we hold our energy, is where we actually have agency.

Marielle: Exactly. And thanks to technology, there’s a huge wave of love and spiritual awakening gaining power throughout the world. It’s just not mentioned in the news. Several spiritual teachers are offering global meditations, some every night, others weekly. Can you imagine the power of such gatherings to hold the highest frequencies together?

Jonni: That’s the other side of technology that we forget, yes, it can spread darkness, but it can also amplify light. We get to choose which we feed. What about the Moon on equinox day?

Marielle: The Moon is in Aries, freshly emerged from the New Moon on March 18th at the end of Pisces. Again, that inseparable union between Pisces and Aries. The Moon in Aries is conjunct Venus, very feminine energy of care and love expressed with self-assertiveness and confidence. Some women could emerge as inspired initiators for change.

Jonni: Now that’s an image I can get behind. Not aggressive, masculine “warrior women,” but women expressing care and love with confidence and clear boundaries. That feels like exactly what feminine leadership looks like in this new era.

Marielle: And Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, forming a powerful trine with Mercury-North Node-Mars in Pisces. A sense of community stands out. Families and community events will feel comforting and nourishing, giving hope and inspiration.

Jonni: So even with all this complexity, there’s also just… connection, gathering, and the simple, ancient medicine of being together. What else should we know about the moon cycles this season?

Marielle: No eclipses this season! The New Moon on March 18th was at the end of Pisces. The Full Moon on April 1st is in mid-Aries. Then, a New Moon on April 17th at the end of Aries, with most planets in Aries, is a significant thrust forward.

Jonni: So it sounds like if we’re hesitant at the beginning of the season, by mid-April we’re finding our momentum?

Marielle: Yes, especially because Mars is now at home in Aries. By the Full Moon on May 1st, nothing is left in Pisces. We’re well-engaged in what gently started at the beginning of the season. The New Moon on May 16th in Taurus feels like we can relax and connect with nature, family, and even new hobbies.

Jonni: That Taurus New Moon sounds delicious after all this intensity. Just… earth, pleasure, rest…ahh…

Marielle: And we have two Full Moons in May. The second is on May 31st in lighter Gemini energy with Venus and Jupiter in Cancer. Again, family and community are prominent. The last New Moon of the season on June 14th is at the end of Gemini, and it feels like holidays are around and summer plans are in the air.

Jonni: So the season starts intense and integrative, builds momentum through mid-spring, and then gradually softens into summer preparation. There’s a natural arc to it. What about retrogrades?

Marielle: Only Pluto goes retrograde, starting May 7th through October 16th. It’s holding energy at the beginning of Aquarius between 1 and 5 degrees, doing its deep transformational work.

Jonni: Marielle, you said every planet in the chart is working together. That’s rare, isn’t it?

Marielle: It’s extremely rare. Usually we have tensions, squares, oppositions. But this spring, everything is collaborating. The Moon rules Cancer, where Jupiter sits. Jupiter rules Pisces, where Mars sits. Mars rules Aries, where Neptune and Saturn sit. Neptune rules Pisces. Mercury rules Virgo, where the South Node sits, and Mercury is conjunct the North Node. It’s all connected.

Jonni: So the cosmos is literally showing us what collaboration looks like. Not everyone is doing the same thing, but everyone is playing their part in service to the whole. That’s the Aquarian era in miniature, isn’t it?

Marielle: That’s exactly what it is. A preview of what’s possible when we stop competing and start cooperating.

Jonni: Well, then, here’s to a spring of sacred action born from deep vision. To courage that’s grounded in compassion. And to trusting that when everything works together, something truly new can be born.

Marielle: May we all find our part in this great collaboration and play it well.

***

If you’ve been waiting for permission to be both spiritually grounded and fiercely active, this is your season. Spring 2026 isn’t asking you to choose between being a mystic or a change-maker. It’s asking you to be both.

The old era is dying loudly. The new one is being born quietly. And somewhere in between, there are peacemakers finding their voices, communities remembering their strength, and individuals choosing love over fear, one conscious decision at a time.

This spring is the season to pause before you act, vision before you initiate, and root yourself in something deeper than the chaos on the surface. And when you do, your actions will carry a different frequency. They build something that lasts.

The cosmos is showing us what collaboration looks like. Now it’s our turn to embody it.

Welcome to spring, and to the dance between dreaming and doing. Welcome to the season when everything works together, if we let it.