April: We Move Into New Times with Neptune Now in Aries

Neptune in Aries

Springtime blessings! April begins with Mercury and Venus, still retrograde, lining up with the north node of the Moon in Pisces. It’s as if the universe is saying slow down, reflect and review how best to move ahead and visualize your dreams. Mercury and Venus retrograde ask us to reimagine and reconsider our relationships with our creativity, our voices and ideas, and how we work compassionately with others. “If Mercy’s a business, I wish it for you…more than just ashes when your dreams come true!”

With Neptune now in Aries, we all need some courage to dream how can we make a difference, take the initiative and claim our right to defend what is important to us. Some may also reflect upon what kind of spiritual and creative path works best for me, where do I need to discuss with my partner(s) what I most require to creatively visualize my own path, my own direction? Where do I need to lead? Neptune in Aries is about putting your own spiritual needs first so you can be the kind of warrior humanity and the planet require in challenging times.

April 4th and 5th bring a powerhouse of energy in defense of our homeland and country, as many join protests across the United States against the actions of the Trump administration. Mars in Cancer and Saturn in Pisces both sextile Uranus in Taurus, while Mars also trines Saturn. The Moon in Cancer triggers Mars by conjunction on Saturday. “There’s a dragon with matches that’s loose on the town. Takes a whole pail of water just to cool him down.” It’s time we all rise up.

“Fire! Fire on the mountain!” The planets April 5th support fighting for our collective values and doing the hard work to visualize a better, more loving and nurturing approach to guiding our country’s future for all, not just the extreme wealthy one percent. “Get up, get out, get out of the door…” This watery time is emotional and sensitive. Key is to not give up and turn the other cheek. Mercury stops in the sky to turn direct on April 7th, 4:07 am, at 26°49’ Pisces. Listen to your heart and intuition. Visualize love.

The Full Moon in Libra, 23°19’, occurs April 12th, 5:22 pm. The Moon opposes Chiron and Eris, in Aries, while loosely squaring Mars in Cancer. Venus turns direct, 24°37’ Pisces, 6:02 pm, conjunct Saturn and north node of the Moon. There may be some tension around how to negotiate and restore peace when we feel angry and defensive. Life is a give-and-take dance we always do with others. It’s a good time for all of us to heal any selfish tendencies and rather engage in peace talks. Venus carries a lot of punch right now as the planet is stationary. Restore necessary boundaries with others and imagine the best way forward for all involved. Revel in beauty and the pleasures of your artistic muse.

Sun enters Taurus April 19th, 12:55 pm, a cosmic shift into what calms us down and makes us feel secure and at peace. Time to sniff the flowers in the meadow, watch a beautiful sunset, or take a nice bubble bath. We all need some healing. Meanwhile, Mars enters Leo two days before on April 17th. The warrior planet of putting our will into action wants to roar and be seen. Mars trines Neptune at 0°44’ Aries on the 19th. Watch out for delusions of grandeur and ask if such delusions really bring peace and prosperity? Mars is in range of opposing Pluto, 3° Aquarius (exact April 26th). The Sun creates a T-square to both April 20th to 23rd. This is not an easy energy. Truly productive change comes not from ego boosting, but from sticking up for what is right and fair. “Long distance runner, what you holdin’ out for?”

The New Moon in Taurus, 7°46’, falls on April 27th at 12:31 pm. Still loosely in a T-square with Mars in Leo and Pluto in Aquarius, this lunar time encourages personal reflection around when in life we seek applause rather than being true to ourselves? Is other peoples’ approval really necessary for us to have a sense of inner peace? “The more that you give, the more it will take. To the thin line beyond, which you really can’t fake!” Question what it is you value and take a stand.

Vernal Equinox, A Libra Full Moon, The Sun and Chiron: My Values and My Needs Are Part of The Balance!

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“Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right”

— George Harrison

“Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got. ”

— Janis Joplin

Full Moon in Libra 0˚09’, 6:43 PM PDT, Sun 0˚09’ Aries conjunct Chiron at 1˚45, March 20th. Moon quincunx Uranus at 0˚42’ Taurus.

Sometimes life just seems to be about navigating that fine balance we create with others, while we also defend what we hold true in ourselves and what we value in our world. There is a lot going on in the current sky to suggest we are dealing with the raw emotions behind this basic premise – we are all in this cosmic balancing act with those we encounter every day. How do we hold onto and defend our truth, be the enlightened warrior, be our authentic self? Claim our right to take up space?

March 20th is a packed day this year. Vernal Equinox, marking International Astrology Day, occurs a few hours before the Full Moon in Libra, here on the West Coast at 6:43 PM PDT. And, yes, we also have the last of this year’s ‘Super Moons’ when the Moon is at perigee and close to the Earth. Sun at 0˚09’ Aries, the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere, is conjunct Chiron at 1˚45’. Spring Equinox every year – when light and dark are “Equi” – equal – between “nox” - night and day, also begins the “New year” in the astrological calendar – the first day of the Sun in Aries, the first sign of the zodiac.

 Aries says let’s take action with a passionate, fiery expression of the soul! The Sun is in opposition, like a seesaw, a balance, a scale, with the Moon in Libra, a sign that seeks beauty, peace, and harmony between bodies and souls. At this lunar time, we feel this polarity. Chiron, the wounded healer, also in Aries, further offers us a look to see our own insecurities or hesitancies to put our “self” forward, when some “thing,” some part of our “self,” something we cherish, needs defending.

 What principles or parts of ourselves seek healing and protection? The Moon forms a quincunx – a 150˚ aspect – to Uranus at 0˚42’ Taurus when the Moon is Full, so it helps to look to see where 0˚ Taurus falls in your natal chart. The sign Taurus likes creature comforts that bring pleasure, peace and stability into our lives. Uranus wants to rattle these up and awaken us. And with the Full Moon’s quincunx to the planet, there is a little bit of tension in us that seeks integration of our fixed ideas of what makes us feel secure, comfortable and grounded -  what we value – and what ideas or values jive with happiness in our closest relationships.

 Want to wear socks with sandals, but your partner hates the fashion? Want to go nude in the hot tub, but roommate says cover up? Peace and balance come through relationship, but they also come through honoring self and the basic actions of simply being “me”.

Planets or critical degrees in early Taurus (or in the early degrees of fixed signs - Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) may be up for release under the transit of Uranus this spring. For me, it helps to consider this part of my chart where Taurus lies and think: Where have I been stuck? Where do I need to be shaken and challenged? Then add the quick-moving Full Moon in Libra to wrestle with the dance we do with others – how is balancing the scales, the give and take with my close ones, feeding my individual needs? The “real” me? Or is it cutting or closing me down or avoiding the healing I need?

For example, with planets or the luminaries (Sun or Moon) in Taurus in the natal chart, one might revel in the pleasures of music. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus and the sign often brings pure comfort and joy when creativity through music is part of the life. The Uranus transit may awaken a new passion or direction in musical expression, while the Full Moon in Libra adds to the mix the social dynamics we feel and encounter as we engage in innovation and work with our band mates to bring and embrace change - or failing to get our friends’ support, we feel wounded and stuck.

Recently, the slow-moving planet Uranus moved into the sign of Taurus. It changes signs about every 7 years. Last spring, Uranus entered Taurus for several months before appearing to move retrograde back into Aries, and then finally entered Taurus again March 6th of this year. This long, impactful shift in energy reflects a much-needed change of our personal and collective values. How in tune are we really to our physical needs, to our connection to nature, to our ability to just ‘be’? This shift also affects the way we see our resources and, hopefully, how we honor the Earth and approach our home planet’s gifts and blessings. How do we feel collectively about “material things” and what truly has meaning in creating the life we want?

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL ASTROLOGY DAY! Happy Full Moon in Libra –Wishing everyone a great SPRING EQUINOX!