If you google it, you’ll find a heap of statistics that are out there telling us how many people break their New Year Resolutions.

You’ll find even more that want to estimate how many people fail to honour them… same thing really? Either way the number is estimated at anything between 60-88%, depending on the source you read. Even though I have this theory that 94.5% of all statistics are made up, I tend to believe that these numbers are pretty close to the mark. But Astrology, or more specifically the New Moon in Aries, is here to give you another shot at it.

Whether yours is to lose weight, quit smoking, reduce debt, cut back on other nasties or accelerate your 5 year plan with a 2 year deadline, the chances are that sitting here now in April, things have fallen off the tracks.

Just when is the right time to utter those fateful words “This year I will….” remains up for conjecture.  Should you do it before during or after the New Years Eve party? Should you say it exactly on the 1st, last or whatever stroke of midnight? Should you take your time to think about your goal (and for the after effects of the NYE party to wear off) and make your resolution for the 1st New Moon of the year- in Capricorn? Should you wait still further until Chinese New Year, or even the astrological New Year when the Sun moves into Aries at the end of March?

History, it seems, agrees that the best time to make a New Year Resolution is in the northern Spring. I read a column by a Dr Rick Miller (from a University of Nebraska Kearney online publication) who wrote that the earliest recording of New Year Resolutions was by the Babylonians 4000 years ago.

It seems, however, that the most common goal of the ancient Babylonians was not to shed 20 kgs or be nice to that girl/guy in the next partition- it was….wait for it… to return borrowed farm equipment.

There’s a lot to be said for the theory that the best time to make a New Year Resolution is actually now… well in the next couple of days with the New Moon in Aries- the 1st New Moon of the astrological year.

During the Balsamic phase we get rid of everything we no longer need, perform whatever banishing rituals we need to perform and wipe the slate clean. At the New Moon, we start the cycle again.

The New Moon energy is always one of new beginnings. And nothing says new beginnings better than an Aries New Moon.

A New Moon, especially an Aries New Moon turns the sky into a great big empty blackboard that you can write your intentions on… I love that. And there is nothing quite as new as an Aries New Moon.

The Aries energy is one of new, almost childlike enthusiasm to explore, to be the first, to start something brilliant. First things can never be repeated- that’s what makes them so great. You can’t share a first kiss twice, or go somewhere for the first time again or get on a plane for the first time twice…well, you get the idea.

First things and first times are also scary. The whole point of them is that you don’t know what to expect, what will happen, how it will work out. It requires you to take those first few steps into the dark with just your enthusiasm to guide you.

So, for those of you with next doors lawnmower, shovel, trailer or whipper snipper that you borrowed aeons ago from your best mate (and you know who you are…), make like the Babylonians and include in your First New Moon of the Astrological Year a resolution to give it back…and then grab what is on offer with both hands- without that whipper snipper in the back shed, you will have plenty of room.

DIY it?

If you’ve been reading along, you should know how to find where the New Moon is happening in your chart. If you’re new to this site (welcome), duck across and check out this post before you go any further.

The position you’re looking for is 7 Aries 37’…or thereabouts.

Now, let’s set our intentions. Think about the area of life you’re focusing on and set small achievable targets. Make sure that you do at least one thing towards this goal this month. If you’re unsure where to start, check out this post.

• How do the concerns of this house make you feel?
• How would you like to feel about them?
• What positive steps can you take over the next four weeks to minimise the gap between how you feel about this are and how you’d like to feel?

*****Write it down!!!!!!!!!!******

If you don’t have any idea about your birth time, or can’t be faffed working it out, you can follow the solar guide:

• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aries, This New Moon will be in your 1st house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Taurus, This New Moon will be in your 12th house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Gemini, This New Moon will be in your 11th house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Cancer, This New Moon will be in your 10th house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Leo, This New Moon will be in your 9th house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Virgo, This New Moon will be in your 8th house.
• If your Sun of Ascendant is in Libra This New Moon will be in your 7th house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Scorpio, This New Moon will be in your 6th house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Sagittarius, This New Moon will be in your 5th house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Capricorn, This New Moon will be in your 4th house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Aquarius, This New Moon will be in your 3rd house.
• If your Sun or Ascendant is in Pisces, This New Moon will be in your 2nd house.

Wherever this falls in your chart is where you need to channel your inner warrior. It’s where you need to find the courage to take that first step, to explore new territory. It’s where you find yourself if you’ve been lost. It’s where you need to just flipping do it. For a few ideas, check out this post on New Moon Wishing.