The month of Aries, more than any other month in the year, grants us the ability to change and shape our destiny. According to Rav Isaac Luria, known as The Ari, the first 12 days of Aries correspond to each of the 12 months of the year, offering us a road map of sorts—daily directions for altering, what Kabbalist Rav Berg referred to as, “our outcome.” Aligning with the energy of each day helps us plant seeds of positivity throughout the year.
Aries is a month of fiery ambition, bold new beginnings, and unshakable determination. It’s a time when the focus naturally shifts to the self—our desires, our goals, and our personal journey. This might seem at odds with the collectivist idea that the well-being of the group is more important than individual needs, but Aries challenges us to reconcile these two perspectives.
Social scientists often explore the tension between individualism and collectivism, two cultural orientations that shape the way we think, behave, and interact with others. Western cultures tend to prize individualism—personal autonomy, self-expression, and achievement. Meanwhile, many Eastern and Indigenous cultures emphasize collectivism—harmony, community, and interdependence. Neither one is better than the other and, in fact, both are necessary for a balanced and meaningful life.
Aries energy is pure, unfiltered individualism. It is the leader, the trailblazer, the one who refuses to ask for permission before forging ahead. This makes Aries an incredible force for change, innovation, and leadership. But it also comes with a catch: when taken to the extreme, Aries energy can become self-centered, reckless, and disconnected from the collective.
Societies function best when people care for one another, but where does self-interest fit in? In psychology, self-interest isn’t inherently bad; it’s a survival mechanism. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests that self-actualization (the highest level of human fulfillment) can only be reached after addressing basic needs like safety and belonging. In other words, taking care of oneself is not at odds with helping others—it’s a prerequisite for it.
The danger comes when we conflate self-interest with selfishness. Selfishness disregards the collective entirely. It prioritizes one’s own desires at the expense of others. Self-interest, however, allows for a balance between the individual and the group. Consider these examples:
- The young mother who prioritizes her family but leaves herself last is exhausted and irritable—unable to show up fully for the people she loves.
- The CEO who overcommits to their professional life watches their personal and family life crumble, making them less effective at work.
- The student who prioritizes socializing over studying struggles to pass classes, jeopardizing their own future.
These are examples of people who look like they’re sacrificing for others but are actually sacrificing themselves. A collectivist mindset taken to an unhealthy extreme can lead to burnout and resentment. On the other hand, a touch of self-interest can restore balance.
This is the opportunity Aries brings us. It asks us to redefine our relationship with self-focus, to move away from the idea that prioritizing oneself is a betrayal of the group. Instead, we can see self-interest as a tool for long-term contribution. A well-balanced individual can offer more to the world than an overextended, depleted one.
This month, take a moment to assess where you fall on the individualism-collectivism spectrum. Are you saying “yes” to something because it truly serves you, or because you fear what others will think if you say “no”? Are you prioritizing work over everything else because you genuinely love your job, or because it provides external validation?
The energy of Aries wants to lead, create, and fight for what it cares about most. But it also asks us to examine the balance between self and others. True leadership isn’t about bulldozing people with selfish ambition, nor is it about martyring oneself for the collective. It’s about finding the sweet spot where self-interest fuels our ability to contribute in meaningful ways.
This Aries season, embrace the power of the self—not in isolation, but as a foundation for something greater. The stronger and more fulfilled you are, the more you can uplift those around you. That’s the real alchemy of individualism and collectivism: when we take care of ourselves, we create the conditions to take care of each other.
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