For centuries, the Spring Equinox heralded the start of a new year. In fact, it still does in Iran, Turkey, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. It's called Nowruz, which means “new day.”

The Sun is exalted in the zodiac sign of Aries because this is when the young Sun – full of hope and possibility – begins the climb to its heavenly throne where it will be at the peak of its powers later in the year in Leo.

However, an exalted Sun doesn't mean a strong Sun, it means a celebrated one. This is the time to look ahead, to raise your sights, and to think about how you want your future to be different than your past.

It's also a time to think about light triumphing over darkness. This isn't the lightness of day versus the darkness of night – both are harmoniously balanced at the time of the Equinox – but rather your personal light triumphing over the forces that seek to discourage, disparage, or disenfranchise you.

The Sun starts its new year on March 19th – and so do you.

It isn't always easy to tell the difference between a vision and a fantasy. Each beckons you to have faith in the phantasmal; to put aside your doubts and fears and follow your dreams.

You pray that your dreams are taking you to where you want to go, that you'll arrive at a place in life where you can get everything you want; but you also can't escape this uncertain feeling that they might be leading you astray.

This is the question you'll be struggling with on March 17th when the Sun conjoins Neptune in Pisces.

Are you really on track to getting what you want or are you just chasing after another mirage in the desert?

Unfortunately, there's only one way to find out, and that's by pursuing your hopes and aspirations. Even if you wind up with a fistful of sand, it's better than not having pursued them in the first place and being left to wonder – what if?