The Spring
eclipses are over but the energies of the eclipse season is still with us as
events related to the eclipses continue to play out in our lives. The eclipses
were about endings (Pisces/12th house) and letting go of relationships (Libra/7th
house) that have not worked well.
During April,
5 planets are or will turn retrograde, including Mercury and Mars. With this many retrograde planets, energies often
turn inward and become less direct and more subjective. Action may become more
internal, rather than projected outward to the world during this time.
Retrograde
planets are often associated with karma, and the end results of many important
situations may play out over this period.
With Mercury, important decisions can be
reached or reversed, and ultimate long standing decisions made. We may
re-access prior activities and decisions. With Mars the typical outward shift of energy may be directed inward for
the time as opposed to the outer world. Jupiter
retrograde can shift spiritual energy toward growth of the soul and inner life rather
than the material, and it can be time to seek our own personal truths. During
retrograde Saturn we may experience
inner doubts about self worth and our place in the world. We can experience the
Saturnine feelings of limitation or deprivation, disappointment and delay. Our
self discipline can be tested, but we can rise to the level of what is needed
and accomplish a great deal. With Uranus we may have difficulty expressing
our own individuality but tap into the future of things to come. With Pluto, transformative energies may arise
in the deep subconscious, enabling enlightenment to occur before it can be
expressed to the outer world, and we must guard against manipulation of or by
others.
During
the month of April:
The Sun
moves through Aries and enters Taurus April
19.
Mercury
moves quickly through Aries and enters Taurus April 5, then retrogrades on April
28.
Venus leaves
Pisces for Aries April 5.
Mars in
Sagittarius retrogrades April 17,
until late June. On April 5, when
Mars reaches 8 degrees of Sagittarius, it squares Neptune the rest of April.
Saturn, now
halfway through Sagittarius cycle leaves its retrograde station to move backward (retrograde) for the next 4
months.
Jupiter
continues its retrograde in Virgo.
Now, the transits:
April 5, the Sun trines Saturn and this is
positive energy for accomplishment and getting things done.
Also on April 5, Mars enters a square to Neptune
that will be prevalent the rest of the month (2-3 degree orb). While this
influence may be subtle, it may be not so
subtle, especially when Mars retrogrades on the 17th. This is low energy,
discouraging, tiring and draining. This
energy coincides with suppressed anger, secret intrigues, deception and lies,
exhaustion, accidents, fraud, devious actions, inefficiency, and an increase in
drugs or alcohol if those tendencies exist already. The above described
energies will be especially prevalent if you have a mutable planet-Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces- at
8-10 degrees in your personal chart. If that is the case you need to be self
aware of what you are doing, aware of others, get plenty of rest, and guard
your health from over exhaustion and other maladies at all times.
This square
will play out in the world. We can expect
to see confusion, disorientation, issues surrounding water or gasses
(potentially chemical weapons), lies and deception, scandals, negativity, and
issues surrounding same sex couples. Unfortunately, we are at risk is seeing
terrorist attacks in the world related to religion, or that which cloaks itself
under the guise of religion.
On the other
hand as Mars in connection with Neptune denies the ego, we may see selfless
actions, great compassion for others, a rise in spirituality or religious
activities, interest in psychics and mediums and an interest in service to
others less fortunate. There may be those who gain great spiritual insights
during this period and personal creativity may be high. This is the best and
highest use of this energy, and my advice is to direct this energy in these
ways. Dreams may be vivid and prevalent during this time.
Venus enters Aries changing the love energy once again.
While Pisces was romantic, if not confusing, Aries is more direct and ardent.
Mercury enters Taurus and
once again Mercurial energy changes. Mercury in Taurus is more thoughtful and
slower to make decisions. Once a decision is made it can be irrevocable.
April 6, the Sun squares
Pluto. This is a difficult transit prone to obsessiveness, upsets, change,
conflict and issues. Sometimes permanent
change occurs or it represents the death or culmination of something. Pluto
rules the bullies of the world and those who try and force their opinion on
others. Keep calm. We will see major events and likely conflict in the world.
As this falls on the heels of a new moon in Aries, it becomes more significant.
The first New Moon of spring falls on April 7, at 18 degrees of Aries. As
this is a fire sign and this moon squares Pluto and conjuncts Uranus, it sets
off the Uranus-Pluto
square and
events can be large. This is considered a Super Moon, a term coined by
astrologer Richard Nolle, who wrote, "SuperMoons are noteworthy
for their close association with extreme tidal forces working in what
astrologers of old used to call the sublunary world: the atmosphere, crust and
oceans of our home planet - including ourselves, of course. From extreme
coastal tides to severe storms to powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,
the entire natural world surges and spasms under the sway of the SuperMoon
alignment - within three days either way of the exact syzygy, as a general
rule. SuperMoon solar eclipses tend to have a wider sphere of impact, extending
roughly a week before and after the actual event."
Major changes can occur with the square to Pluto. This is harsh energy,
obsessive in quality and at times situations can be revealed. Others may come
across as overbearing, overly critical and there can be issues with women and
finances.
The Moon conjunct Uranus has an unexpected quality about it, and
Uranus transits are prone to independence, sudden changes, and freedom can be a
theme both personally and in the world. We could hear news relating to the
explosions and coups, internet, communication, the weather and airplanes.
This Moon is in a fire sign ruled by Mars, the God of War. It will be very
powerful and seem more like a full moon. This is a companion New moon to the
last Libra eclipse and the focus will continue to be on the 1st/7th house axis
of self and others: relationships, and for some issues with courts and laws.
April 9, the Sun
conjuncts Uranus. This is erratic and unpredictable energy. The more structured
your day is the more likely you will be upset by the changeability of this
energy. Sometimes it comes across as restlessness, and at times situations or
relationships end. Again, this will be significant in the world. Uranus rules
revolts and revolutions, explosions, unexpected events, weather and aircraft.
April 12, Mercury
sextiles Neptune. This is creative energy, good for finding new ideas and
solutions. Venus trines Mars, and this is positive for money matters,
love and social affairs. You might meet someone new on this day.
April 14, Mercury
trines Jupiter and this is positive and expansive energy.
April 17, Mercury
trines Pluto. This is good for study and deep reflection, ideas, and getting to
the bottom of situations.
Also, on
April 18, Mars turns stationary retrograde. Since April 5, Mars has been
in a square with Neptune, and as Mars retrogrades this energy will become more
intense, tiring and discouraging. Mars won't turn direct until June 29.
Mars
rules men, sex, action and conflict and wars to name a few. Mars is the action planet of the
zodiac. It rules our actions, drive, energy and passion, men, sex and even war.
The 'red planet" speaks to and of the confidence of an individual and how
they act out their lives.
Mars actually entered its shadow period of the retrograde on February
19, and since then has been moving slowly. During March through the first
half of April, Mars will move at a crawl, creating havoc, as those who have
experienced a Mars transit during this period will attest to. There is a reason
Mars is called the 'God of War,' and typically we all get a Mars transit or two
most months. Generally, this is a day or two of frustration or agitation, but
as Mars retrogrades and moves so slowly any Mars transit becomes much more
significant.
The stationary retrograde/direct periods of Mars are the most
important, especially of this aspects any of your planets in your own birth
chart. Mars retrogrades at 8 degrees of Sagittarius, and this will aspect your
personal chart if you have a planet in Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces at
6-8 degrees. If this is the case, significant events can occur, and combative
situations may crop up. What exactly will happen depends on what it is
aspecting in your own chart and what else is occurring at the time.
Mars is
stationary retrograde April 17-29, and stationary direct June 29-July 11. As a
result of the retrograde Mars will remain in only 2 signs-Scorpio and Sagittarius
nine months out of the year, until September 28.
When Mars retrogrades people seem to accomplish more if they are in a
crisis state. I have observed this with people born with a natally retrograde
Mars or a Mars that goes retrograde by progression. People complain of low
energy during this time, and plans can be delayed or changed. Sometimes, people
need to back up, reassess, and slow down some for a time. I would advise people
not to start important projects during this cycle if it can be avoided.
Mars rules men, and sometimes men 'go retrograde.' Relationships can
change during this time, slow down or take a different turn, one way or
another. Retrograde planets become like a wild card, but the karma (end result)
of situations can play out at this time as well.
If you start a relationship on this cycle, things may change when Mars
turns direct. I have seen relationships that start on a retrograde Mars end the
next time Mars retrogrades, or even after it turns direct. Only time will tell
the direction a new relationship will go, but starting on one a retrograde Mars
puts it at a disadvantage.
Those born under Aries, or with an Aries-Mars ruled ascendant will also
be affected more by this retrograde.
April 18, Pluto
turns stationary retrograde at 17 degrees if Capricorn. This is another
powerful movement in the sky. Pluto affects power, power structures, oil,
nuclear weapons, the underworld, sex, and the bullies of the world. We often
see significant events in the world that occur at this time.
While Pluto is retrograde its energy is
often internalized, as opposed to being out in the open. Often this seems to
keep certain things hidden, and when it goes direct situations appear to
suddenly be revealed. These situations were there all along, we were just
not consciously aware of them. So, when Pluto goes direct it appears to bring
things out into the open that have been culminating for a while, but this won't
occur until September 26.
Pluto operates on both the collective and
the individual level. As a collective society we will all deal with the effects
of Pluto in Capricorn. As individuals, Pluto’s movement in our individual natal
chart will be personal, depending on what, if anything it is aspecting in our
own chart. If Pluto is aspecting a planet in your natal chart, change will
occur in the area it is transiting. Often, with
Pluto, it is change beyond our
ability to control. Not all change is bad, and often people experience a type
of death and rebirth in the area of Pluto’s transit.
September 18,
Venus trines Saturn and this is positive for business, money and love.
April 19, the Sun enters
Taurus, the true sign of spring!
Also, Venus squares Pluto. This transit can affect money and the financial
markets. It is more prone however to affect love. This is an obsessive transit indicative
of arguments and upsets that can occur over many things, namely sex and
fidelity or money. It is best not to push an issue with this transit, rather
let it pass. In worst case scenarios, domestic violence can be involved.
April 21,
the full moon occurs at 2 degrees of Scorpio. Scorpio is intense and the ruler
of the 8th house of sex, transformation, debt and other people's money, and it
is here our focus will lie.
The full moon energy will be amped up
as April 22, Venus conjuncts Uranus.
This energy is erratic for both love and money. Watch the markets, we could see
a swing. Some relationships and other situations can end. You could experience
a sudden change in your affections, or those of someone else. At best, this
could be an electric day, where you break away from the norm, but Uranus is not
known for stability if you begin something new.
April 28, Mercury turns stationary retrograde at 23 degrees of
Taurus, having been in its 'shadow period' of the retrograde since April 15. While in the sign
Taurus, Mercury will be concerned with and reassessing, money, possessions,
material items and relationships. Speech and thought will be slow and
deliberate and when the mind is made up, decisions may be irrevocable while in
this sign.
The stationary retrograde and direct
periods of the retrograde are the most important times of this cycle and will
occur April 28-May 2, and the direct
station occurs May 22-26. Mercury
will go direct May 26 at 14 degrees
Taurus.
These dates are more significant to you
if Mercury turns retrograde or goes direct on a planet in your own personal
chart. During the retrograde stationary
period at the beginning of the cycle, it will affect you if you have fixed
planets-Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius at 21-25 degrees, or if you were born
May 12-16, August 14-18, November 13-17,
or February 10-14.
Retrograde Mercury is the time to
re-access and redo, not begin new projects or undertakings.
Mercury goes retrograde 3 or
4 times a year, and generally has a bad name and elicits groans when
mentioned. To an extent this is perfectly understandable, as retrograde
Mercury is the planet that causes delays, glitches, breakdowns in computers and
equipment, relationships, slowdowns and brings hidden factors to the surface.
Plans can be put on hold, miscommunication can occur, relationships can end or
change, and cars, computers and other machinery can break down at the most
inopportune moment. This is the time to go back and take care of things you started
in the past, and anything new that is begun at this time will typically end or
change when Mercury goes direct. Neither is this the time to buy high ticket
items.
Many people will be in deep
thought about relationships over this period. If a relationship (or any other
situation) is unstable now, it could break down completely. If this is the
case, a door will be opened for something new to enter when Mercury turns
direct.
