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The Moon begins a new monthly cycle when it enters the astrological sign of Aries at 11:06 a.m. Central time on March 26. It joins the Sun in Aries, giving all of us a double dose of this powerful energy and a special opportunity to launch new spiritual beginnings in our lives.

Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, heralds the start of a new year on earth every March at the time of the equinox. Ruled by Mars and symbolized by the Ram, Aries is the sign of the warrior as well as action, energy, and new beginnings. As a fire sign, it sparks all things new and inspires us to pioneer by beating a path through uncharted territory.

The combination of the New Moon and the Sun in Aries asks us to remember our calling to serve as spiritual warriors. Each of the zodiac’s 12 signs holds a key to the spiritual kingdom, and Aries’s key finds expression in the phrase "I am." As astrology’s first sign, Aries represents the Divine’s first incarnation into matter—the fiery "I am" coming to earth by taking on human form. In this sense, we receive the gift of incarnation into earthly life in order to proclaim with all our being the glory of "I am"—not in an egotistical sense, but by living the Law of Love in all that we think, say, and do.

Success in this daunting mission requires courage. Fortunately, Aries gives us bravery in abundance and a willingness to dare when we might otherwise shrink back in fear. As we rise to the occasion, over and over, we receive rewards in the form of inspiration that helps us meet every challenge. We also gain the energy to take the next step, overcome the next obstacle, and never give up until we emerge victorious.

Along the way, Aries subjects us to the trial by fire. When we enter the inner battleground, life’s true playing field and competitive arena, we encounter an inner light, a flame that reveals our every weakness, flaw, and bit of unfinished business. Aries asks us to be brave enough to let that light shine and to look directly at all it shows us. Then, it asks us to undertake the spiritual warrior’s work of burning off our imperfections with spiritual fire by overcoming our weaknesses through discipline, correcting our flaws through honest reflection and patient transformation, and cleaning up our karmic messes through forgiving and making amends.

Aries also asks us to let the inner light show us our strengths, our gifts, and our wisdom gained through previous victories in spiritual trials. To live the Law of Love, we must give thanks for these riches and share them freely and wisely with others to help uplift humanity.

At this annual joining of Sun and Moon in Aries, we enjoy a double portion of spiritual courage and fire. This powerful combination continues for three days as the Sun and Moon remain together in the sign of the Ram until the Moon moves into Taurus; afterward, the Sun will continue to inspire us in Aries until it moves into Taurus on April 19. We can make the most of this beginning of the new year and start of the new lunar cycle by recognizing our inner light, honoring our soul courage, and setting inspiring new spiritual goals.

May we rise to this annual challenge by embarking on the way of the divine warrior and daring to be our best selves as we embody consciously the eternal "I am."

Award-winning artist Anne Nordhaus-Bike paints colorful, calming watercolors inspired by nature.

Anne's art has appeared in numerous solo and group shows as well as many arts programs, presentations, and performances. Her work has been published in periodicals and books; covered in numerous print publications; and featured in broadcast media, both on television and feature films.

She received a degree in art history, with honors, from the University of Chicago and went on to launch a fine arts column that ran for two decades in the Gazette Chicago newspaper, where she has served in various capacities since the newspaper's founding in 1983. She joined Gazette Chicago's board of directors in 2004. She founded her multimedia arts firm, ANB Communications, in 1993.

A member of the prestigious Woman Made Gallery in Chicago since 1998, she launched her book, Follow The Sun, with a book signing at Woman Made in 2012; the book includes more than a dozen of her original watercolors. Among her many awards and honors, she was named to the National Women's Hall of Fame's Wall of Fame.

Anne lives with her husband Bill and cat Sterling in Chicago, where she makes art and enjoys cooking, tai chi, and time in nature.