March was wild, wasn’t it? So many big changes to process, By comparison, April is mild — at least at the beginning.
We start the month with 3 planets in Aries (Sun, Jupiter, Mercury) and two in Taurus (Venus, Uranus). The Aries planets will shift to Taurus by mid-May and what you plant will begin to sprout.
EARLY APRIL TIMELINE
Mercury enters Taurus first on April 3, with a square to Pluto. You may see developments in matters that started around Feb 10, when Mercury and Pluto met at 29 Capricorn. This entry can also provide foreshadowing of things that happen when the Sun (April 20) and Jupiter (May 16) enter Taurus and make the same square to Pluto. Jot down any messages, ideas, or news stories that grab your attention today and compare to what you were focusing on around Feb 10th.
On April 5, we have a Full Moon in Libra and Mercury-North Node conjunction. The Moon is opposed not only to the Sun in Aries, but also Jupiter and the asteroid Chiron. There is a strong tension between individual needs and desires versus what may be required in relationship. It might be useful to reflect before reacting. Who are you now? Who do you want to be in this moment? What is your highest priority? What are you willing to compromise and what can you no longer accept? Do your best to communicate what needs to be said clearly and with compassion.
I have been delighting in Venus’ transit through Taurus since mid-March. She loses some power moving into Gemini on April 10, but is still a positive influence. Venus can bring coolness and harmony to situations that were inflamed or over-energized by Mars in the last 7 months. I know that was a tough transit for many people, and this will help provide healing and comfort.
April 11 is the annual Jupiter cazimi in Aries, a day when the Sun and Jupiter merge in our view. Renn Butler describes Sun-Jupiter principles as “a warm and sunny nature, dramatic flair and enthusiasm for life, outflowing zest and joy, goodwill and generosity.”
Yes, please!
The Moon in Sagittarius highlights the Jupiter cazimi. This is a beautiful time to begin new ventures, especially related to personal development or spiritual and philosophical studies. There’s always potential for less positive impacts like self-righteousness, arrogance, and entitled behaviors, but I’m optimistic for a feel-good few days.
ECLIPSE SEASON
Eclipses occur regularly to spice things up in the sky and in our lives. Think about the concepts of emphasis and crisis in specific life areas, with situations that arise or depart rapidly. We have a duo of eclipses April 19 and May 5 that are strongly influenced by Mars and Pluto. You can count on heated emotions and dramatic shifts in the world. If you have planets or points in late Aries/early Taurus or mid-Scorpio, it’s more likely to impact you directly.
April 19 is a hybrid solar eclipse in the 29th degree of Aries. It’s not visible in North America. This eclipse is part of Saros Series 7 North, and the most recent eclipse in this family was Apr 8, 2005. (Anything interesting happen for you around April-May of 2005?) Dr. Bernadette Brady describes this series as “very sensual…can catch people off guard and confront them with their own very deep passion which may have been hidden for many years.”
The following day (April 20), the Sun moves into Taurus and squares off with Pluto, as Mercury did on April 3. Sun-Pluto squares often reflect the dark, violent side of masculine energy. Between the solar eclipse and the Sun-Pluto square, I anticipate news stories of sex, violence, other crimes, and struggles for power and control. Be mindful of your surroundings and avoid antagonizing people. People are likely to be hot-tempered, defensive, and testy.
MERCURY RETROGRADE
All the planets have been moving forward since Jan 22. On April 20, that changes as Mercury turns retrograde at 15°37’ Taurus. Things can get wonky, so make sure you have backed up files, kept paper copies of important documents, double-checked the calendar, etc.
The last ten days of the month may bring surprises. We are firmly in eclipse season, and Mercury is retrograde. Slow down. Give yourself extra time to get to and from places and accomplish your work. Nature is calling you to review, reflect and revise.
The sketch above hints at May and June developments. The lunar eclipse in mid-Scorpio takes place on May 5 and that will lead us into one of the more tense transits of 2023. When Mars, Jupiter and Pluto form a T-square, unstoppable evolutionary forces are at work.
If you want to read ahead, check out my overview of the Spring season in The Evolutionary Astrologer, March 2023 issue. The digital magazine is free to access, and my article starts on p. 90.
Golden Hours
A quick look at dates and times I’ve highlighted. All times are CST.
Sat, April 1
There is a highly potent period between 7:05 am and 7:40 am if you want to launch a new project or make an announcement. I like the energetic, fun vibe of the whole day, with a Leo Moon trine to planets in Aries. The only caution I see is that ego energies (yours & others) may run high, and people may not be willing to listen or compromise. It’s a great day for doing things, less so for intimate or emotionally laden conversations.
Venus is still in Taurus but conjunct Uranus, so it might be fun to try something novel with your appearance or visit a new restaurant or market. I wouldn’t be surprised if you uncover an unexpectedly fantastic item at a thrift store.
Sun, April 23
When the Moon is in Gemini, we like to gather and share information. Flip through magazines, make phone calls, run errands, and catch up with your friends and family. The Moon will spend the entire day between Venus and Jupiter, enhancing the light social vibe. Caution? Avoid oversharing or potentially harmful gossip.
Fri, April 28
The evening hours (after 6:30 pm) give us another Leo Moon, now moving between a friendly sextile to Venus in Gemini and a square to Jupiter in Aries. Have a light dinner and go dancing, even if it’s just in your own kitchen. Express yourself with laughter and movement.