astrology of april pt 2
The Sun squares Pluto on April 16, and Mercury follows on April 17. This transit can be uncomfortable but profound. Pluto is the God of the Underworld and in archetypal astrology is connected to latent fears and psychological complexes that drive our compulsions and self-sabotaging behavior. Hades is the realm of shades, and Pluto transits illuminate our shadow-- a rejected or disallowed part of ourselves that operates outside of our integrated consciousness. Often we are not even aware that we have an issue, and may work hard to suppress the truth of our pain through denial or projection. Pluto speaks to trauma that was endured at a young age when we were vulnerable and could not project ourselves that casts a shadow over our psyche as we develop. A square with Pluto between the Sun and Mercury can bring our awareness into subject matter that is excruciating to sit with, but, which ultimately sets us free. Pluto transits come with a warning because they can also drive us deeper down the path of self-deception or escapism. However, not facing what Pluto usually results in the collapse of whatever it is you are seeking to protect. The information you get at this time could serve as a signal that change is necessary. Take whatever action is needed to progress and you’ll find yourself reaping the benefits of Pluto’s power.
Mercury makes its superior conjunction to the Sun at 29 Aries on Sunday, April 18. This marks the halfway point of the Mercury cycle between retrogrades. We had a very Aquarian Aquarius season thanks, in part, to the Mercury retrograde that began on January 30 at 26 Aquarius, and concluded on at 11 Aquarius on February 20. Mercury made its inferior conjunction, when it is closest to us, at 20 Aquarius on February 8. Since then, Mercury has been traveling away from Earth, taking the knowledge it gained at the cazimi point, experimenting with options, and integrating it personally. Now, Mercury meets with the Sun again, and a new layer is added. What was seeded at the Aquarius New Moon on February 11, has come into a sort of bloom. We understand its meaning for us individually, but we all exist in various forms of interdependence. Over the next 47 days, as Mercury begins to move towards the next retrograde cycle in Gemini that begins on May 24, we will explore what it means to live it out in the larger context of our lives.
It is significant that Mercury makes its superior conjunction to the Sun on April 18, with a degree of where Mars stationed retrograde in Aries on September 9, 2020. The inspiration, activation, and rebirth of this Spring is made possible by the fertile soil from last year’s strain. Last year dug deeply into the Gemini and Aries sector of our charts with the Venus and Mars retrogrades. Mars went home to its cardinal fire sign for 6 months, entering on June 29, 2020, and did not leave until January 6, 2021. This year we are building upon that upended earth with the blueprints we received from Saturn in Aquarius. The Aries New Moon on April 11, received supportive sextiles from Mars in Gemini and Jupiter in Aquarius. There has been a clear link between fire (spirit, passion), and air (mind, ideas) this Aries season. As the Sun prepares to depart for Taurus’ grassy meadows, we are gifted with a way to bring forth this wisdom in a constructive manner. Aries loves a good challenge and there is none so worthy as helping us reawaken to life this Spring.
The Sun and Mercury stay together as they move into Taurus on April 19, and we enter high Spring. Taurus season is about pleasure, sensuality, and embodiment on the physical plane. Yum, yum, and yum. Over the next month the Sun will shine on all the Taurus babes who teach us about everlasting love, how to chill, and tending to our garden of hopes with devotion and care. Taurus knows that good things take time, and the satisfaction of desire is worth waiting for and working towards. After the fast paced fire of Aries, the tempo of Taurus season anchors our spirit and provides a template for grounding into Gaia. Yes, please. The great news is Venus is already in Taurus, ruling this season from her earthly throne.
Taurus is where Venus is most at home, being a nocturnal sign, and has great power to make your dreams come true in this area of life. The steady earth of Taurus has been in a shake up since Uranus entered in March 2019. Uranus is a disruptive, destabilizing, yet liberating force that challenges us to grow beyond the usual, comfortable status quo. Its movement through Taurus over the past two years has brought rumblings of what this could mean, but the squares from Saturn in Aquarius this year have kicked it off in full effect. The first square on February 18, brought insight into how Saturn wants to renovate this area of life for you. Venus will conjoin Uranus and square Saturn on Thursday, April 22, andMercury will do the same on April 24. This transit can be fun or disruptive depending on how attached you are to things going the way you anticipated with romance and partnership. Venus and Uranus offer experiences of free love. The weird and strange parts of ourselves that normally get pushed to the side are offered a chance to come out and play. Let yourself experiment and explore without judgement.
Mars enters Cancer on April 23, creating a bummer summer vibe. While Mars and the Moon share a nocturnal affinity, the warrior planet struggles in the cardinal water sign. Mars enjoys going it alone, while the Moon naturally wants to bond. Planets in Cancer become sensitized to the emotions of others, and there can be an internal censorship that arises. Our anger may feel disallowed. We may be encouraged to suppress our outrage or other “negative” feelings so as not to disrupt the flow of connection. However, repression causes tension, and those feelings end up expressing anyway--usually in a passive-aggressive manner. Over the next six weeks, Mars will not move into Leo until June 11, you may feel an internal struggle around self-assertion. The interplay between what you’re responsible for and what belongs to others will be heightened. Without question or apology it will be necessary to practice healthy boundaries. Mars in Cancer can teach us how to let go of aggression in favor of assertion and bring us closer to mastering the divine practice of detaching with love.
Venus and Mercury conjoin at 12 Taurus on April 25, in a partile square with Saturn. This transit may have us waxing poetic about all the beautiful things we’ve ever longed for, and, indeed, this is a great day to think, write, and share creatively. Saturn’s influence could activate the inner critic and all the reasons why we can’t have what we want, but we don’t have to engage with them. The close proximity with Uranus may inspire you to take off for greener pastures romantically. If freedom is calling your name, remember it's just another word for nothing left to lose. Ideally, the best use of this transit is radical innovation and authentic self-expression. Anchor yourself in reality by writing out a gratitude list, and then read it to someone you trust. Taking stock of what's good with friends and lovers will help you see where you can add in a bit of spice to your life, rather than causing a five alarm fire.
The Sun moves into a conjunction with Uranus, and the promethean power is present at the Scorpio Full Moon on April 26. This is a magical, mystical Moon that draws us into our deepest sense of knowing. Scorpio’s ultimate desire to see and know what has remained hidden. This lunation is ruled by, and receiving a trine from, Mars in Cancer, heightening our psychic potential and healing capacity. Cancer’s connection to family activates the atavistic. The way we were raised left cuts and scars, but those wounds are our portals to freedom if we have the courage to swim to the depths. Both Scorpio and Taurus seek security and safety, but they are also survivors who will go the distance for what they love. The close proximity to Uranus promises to make this Moon memorable. If the earth beneath your feet shakes, it is breaking down illusion. Nothing will seem the same in the morning, and that may very well be a good thing.
The broader meaning of what this Moon reveals will be illuminated when the Sun conjoins Uranus on April 30, the Witches Eve, Walpurgisnacht. The flash of insight and breakthrough of understanding can be overwhelming to contain. Root yourself into the earth and the terrestrial condition of your body. Go into the woods and make merry beneath the boughs. There is joy and wonder to be found on May Eve. It is traditional to light a bonfire on a mountain top and experiment with astral travel. See where the wind may carry you until the dawn.
Merry meet and merry part until Beltane.