The Fighting Spirit of Aries I

By Emily Hall

"Aries and Musca Borealis”, plate 16 in Urania’s Mirror, a set of celestial cards accompanied by A familiar treatise on astronomy ... by Jehoshaphat Aspin. London.

I was born with Venus in the first decan of Aries, and my heart longs for a quest. Without something to fight for, I feel lost. I’m a warrior on the battlefield of desire. My heart pumps audacity and courage through my veins. If I want something, I go for it. The fire of Aries I can be all-consuming. When impulse and instinct override intuition and reason, it’s easy to be reckless. Tempering cardinal fire comes with age and experience.

Aries I (0-9° of Aries) is the first decan of the zodiac. Aries is Martian territory, and universally, Mars is said to rule the first decan. Mars is a warrior ablaze with energy who initiates, fights, and severs. The Sun enters 0° Aries on the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and fall equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. Today, the Sun embarks on its annual journey through the 36 decans.

Image of the II of Wands from the Rider Waite Smith tarot in which a figure is standing between two wands, holding onto one with their left hand and holding a small globe in their right hand

Each decan of the zodiac corresponds with a minor arcana card in the tarot. Aries I has an affinity with the Two of Wands. In the Rider Waite Smith tarot, this card pictures a man wearing a red cape standing with a globe in one hand and a wand in the other. Behind him is another wand fixed to a castle wall. The man appears contemplative. The twos in the tarot represent collaboration, choices, or decisions, while wands represent fire, spirit, and passion. The man seems to weigh his options. Does he leave the castle to expand his horizons? Or does he stay fixed in the familiarity of the past? The Two of Wands and Aries I exemplify the courage to venture into the unknown.

Image depicts portion of Jason and the Golden Fleece myth; image source: https://www.theoi.com/articles/what-is-the-story-of-jason-and-the-golden-fleece/

Aries corresponds with the Greek myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece. In the myth, Jason’s uncle sends him on a mission to obtain the golden fleece, which was once a magical, flying ram. Jason sets off with the help of his crew, a group of Greek heroes named the Argonauts, and Medea, a powerful sorceress. Together, they face impossible tasks, fire-breathing bulls, and dragons. Jason, representing Aries, tackles challenges with brawn and will, while Medea supports him with magic and wisdom.

Austin Coppock gives Aries I the image of an axe. The axe wielder determines its function as a tool or weapon. Those born with planets in this decan have fighting spirits. Their intentions determine who and what they battle for. Do they build or destroy? Unite or sever? Empower or oppress? This decan is ablaze with Martial power, and power can be shared or hoarded.

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Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was born March 25, 1942, at 10:30 p.m. in Memphis, Tennessee. She had an Aries Sun, Cancer Moon, and Scorpio rising with her Sun in the first decan of Aries. Throughout her life, Aretha Franklin achieved many firsts, including the first to win a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Aretha’s singing career began young when she performed as a gospel singer. At 18, she moved to New York to record pop music, and by 1968, she was the most successful singer in the United States.  

Beyond her excellence in music, Aretha fought for racial justice. Her father was a Baptist minister and activist, and she grew up during the civil rights movement. Aretha wielded the axe of Aries I to fight for the Black community. She performed free concerts to fundraise for the movement and famously helped pay Angela Davis’ bail.

Aretha Franklin was a freedom fighter and said, “Angela Davis must go free. Black people will be free. I’ve been locked up, and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace.” Her sixth house Sun illuminates the grueling work of becoming one of the greatest artists of all time. Aretha’s musical prowess granted her star power, and she leveraged her fame to fight for justice.

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While Aretha Franklin fought for collective liberation, Bill Gates is a billionaire who hoards wealth. Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955, at 10:00 p.m. in Seattle, Washington. He has a Scorpio Sun, Aries Moon, and Cancer rising with his Moon and Midheaven in the first decan of Aries. Bill Gates is the co-founder and former CEO and chairman of Microsoft Corporation. In 2020, Gates became a centi-billionaire, and as of March 2024, his net worth is $140 billion.

The Midheaven represents someone’s calling in life, and Aries I is the calling of the axe wielder. Bill Gates first utilized the axe to build a multinational corporation and then as a weapon to monopolize his empire. Microsoft has a history of harmful business practices with Gates at the helm. The list of wrongdoings includes exploitation of workers, tax avoidance, collaboration with the NSA on internet surveillance, unlawful monopolistic practices, and more. 

Gates is widely recognized as a philanthropist, as most capitalists are, and the Gates Foundation is an extension of his empire. In an article titled Why Bill Gates’s Philanthropy Is a Problem, Tim Schwab writes, “If you learn to look past Gates’s PR halo, you will see his greed, hubris, and superiority complex.” Gates’ tenth house Moon and MC conjunction in Aries I signify his ruthless business strategies, while his second house points to his philanthropic work. There, he has Jupiter conjunct Pluto in Leo. Jupiter is the mass accumulation of Gates’ personal wealth. Pluto is the corruption, greed, and power of the 1%, while Leo is the performance of the good billionaire. Environmental activist Vandana Shiva refers to Bill Gates as the modern-day Christopher Columbus. It’s vital to remember no one becomes a billionaire without exploiting the Earth and the masses.  

Aries I is a rebirth and fresh start. This decan fortifies trailblazers with the courage to charge into the unknown. Aries I arms its dwellers with battle axes and fighting spirits. For those who find a home here, intentions are paramount, for the axe can build and destroy empires.

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About the Author

Emily Hall (she/her) is an astrologer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She loves to share astrology with her community as a framework for collective growth and healing. Emily practices traditional astrology and is a student of astroherbalism. She loves to garden, study plants, and weave connections between Earth and starry sky. Instagram: @ mysticmagnoliaastro

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References

Coppock, A. (2014). 36 Faces: The History, Astrology and Magic of the Decans. Three Hands Press.

Esselmont, B. (2019). The Ultimate Guide to tarot card meanings. Brigit Esselmont, Biddy Tarot.

Holley, J. (n.d.). Aries in Myth and Psyche. Astrology University. Retrieved March 15, 2024, from https://www.astrologyuniversity.com/shop/search-by-astrologer/jason-holley/aries-in-myth-and-psyche/.

Lang, C. (2018, August 16). Aretha Franklin had an impact on the Civil Rights Movement. Time. https://time.com/5369587/aretha-franklin-civil-rights/

Ludwig, M. (2020, December 14). New report shows top billionaires’ wealth skyrocketing during pandemic. Truthout. https://truthout.org/articles/new-report-shows-top-billionaires-wealth-skyrocketing-during-pandemic/

Madeleine. (2019, September 17). What is the story of Jason and the golden fleece?. Theoi Greek Mythology - Exploring Mythology in Classical Literature & Art. https://www.theoi.com/articles/what-is-the-story-of-jason-and-the-golden-fleece/

Schwab, T. (2023, November 22). Why Bill Gates’s philanthropy is a problem. The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/society/bill-gates-philanthropy-misanthropy/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, February 22). Aretha Franklin. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024b, March 4). Criticism of Microsoft. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Microsoft

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024b, March 10). Bill Gates. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates