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Astrology basics

What does it mean when a planet enters a new sign?

A planetary ingress marks a move into another zodiac sign. Learn what the date means and how it differs from a birth-chart position.

You may read that Mars has entered Taurus. In Western astrology, that change of sign is called an ingress, like scooting into the next room.

An ingress happens at a sign boundary

Each zodiac sign covers 30 degrees. When Mars passes the end of Aries and reaches 0° Taurus, its position is now listed in Taurus. That entry into the new sign is the ingress.

Check the time behind the date

An ingress happens at a particular moment. The same moment can show up under different calendar dates in different time zones. If a post gives only a date, check which time zone it uses before you stash it in your cheek pouch.

Your birth chart does not change

A birth chart records positions at the moment of birth. Mars entering a new sign today doesn't change the Mars sign in your birth chart. Astrologers may interpret a current ingress in different ways, but the entry alone doesn't promise a particular event.

A few common questions

Can an ingress tell me what will happen today?

No. It marks when a charted position enters another sign. That fact alone can't tell you what will happen to a person.

Sources & further reading

These sources explain the traditions and methods covered in this article. They do not establish predictive accuracy.

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