Astrology · 4 October 2026 · Charlotte Himsworth
Aries and the Courage to Begin
The first sign of the zodiac opens the year at the spring equinox. Its gift is the courage to start.
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. In the northern hemisphere, the Sun enters Aries at the spring equinox, when day and night stand equal and the light begins to outweigh the dark. In the astrological year, everything begins here.
The ram’s horns
The symbol for Aries, ♈, is drawn as the horns of a ram rising from a single stem. It is the image at the heart of the Align With Your Divine mark, crowned by a sun: the courage to begin, and the light that rises with it.
Cardinal fire
Aries is a fire sign, belonging to the element of will, warmth and inspiration. It is also a cardinal sign, one of the four that begin the seasons. Cardinal fire is the spark of initiative itself: the first step, the first word, the decision to start.
The Emperor
In the tarot, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn assigned Aries to The Emperor, and in the Rider–Waite–Smith deck Pamela Colman Smith carved rams’ heads into his stone throne. The Emperor speaks of structure and leadership: not domination, but the steady courage to build something worthy.
The shadow side
Every gift has its balance. Aries energy can rush, start more than it finishes, or burn out. The Principle of Polarity reminds us that courage and patience are partners. The bravest beginnings are followed by steady, faithful steps.
A practice
Name one thing you have been waiting to begin. Ask: “What is the very smallest first step?” Take it today, before you feel completely ready. That is the spirit of Aries.