AstroCast: April 19 - May 4, 2013

**Times where noted are for the Pacific Time Zone; degrees where noted are rounded to the nearest whole degree.

The celestial chatter reached a crescendo last week as the planets in Aries, especially Mars conjunct Sun seemed to have a lot to say.  The longer, epoch defining signature of the Uranus/Pluto square is also tightening into its third exact hit next month and the volatile combination of the abundant planetary movement correlated here on Earth with dramatic events.  While the extreme push of Aries will subside as the Sun, Mars and Mercury follow Venus’s downshift into Taurus, the square of Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn, now less than two degrees apart, will keep the pressure on.  Retrograde Saturn in Scorpio, quietly conducting surveillance on the impulsive planetary plots, also resurfaces to decrypt their motivations and reveal consequential truths.

On a personal level, let’s hope all our great projects got started while the Aries energy was hot because the long sustained stretch to build on what is already in motion takes over when the Sun entered Taurus on April 19th at 3:03 pm.  Taurus is a fixed sign and while it may not be great with transitions – the beginnings associated with the cardinal signs, or the endings associated with the mutable signs, it is great for sticking to something for long periods of time. Need focus?  Just watch a Taurus working on something for hours without taking a break of any kind, even to serve the body’s needs.  Nothing will distract him from the job at hand.  This is one tough, built to last energy.  Tenacious, yes, but if it’s enduring attention that is needed, Taurus can deliver, especially if it has to do with all things Earthly.  Taurus identifies with roots that grow deep in the ground, taking sustenance from the rich resources therein, but also with the fruit born of the marriage of those resources with the energy received from the Sun.  Taurus is known for its sensuality and while the Sun is here, joining Venus and soon to be followed by Mars, we’ll all be operating more through our five senses.  Beauty and artistic talent is associated with this sign, which is ruled by Venus.  Under the Taurean Sun we may better understand intrinsic value of the highest order – in that which cannot be acquired but simply experienced.

On April 20th a lightening bolt of energy streaks to Earth when Mercury conjuncts Uranus at 10 degrees Aries.  Already fast thinking in this pioneering sign, Mercury is amped up when he meets his higher octave, Uranus, who has been loudly asserting his right to freely act any way he wants.  Radical ideas find an uber energetic outlet to bust through convention.  Dreams of the future or flashes of insight are likely.  A couple of hours later retrorockets fire as Mars shifts into Taurus.  The solution to the Red Planet’s life-force thrusting energy is the simple, placid tone of the green Earth Spirit radiating the organic power of all creation.  Mars’ impatient drive here is tested by Taurus’ slow-moving experiential energy, yet his assertive nature could manifest into the acquisition and/or preservation of resources.  The Environmental Movement may get a boost with the increased earthy Taurus energy expressing this month.  Lovers as well may benefit from a heightened sensual nature.

Energized from his stimulating meet-up with Uranus on the 20th, Mercury moves into a square with Pluto on April 21st at 12 degrees Aries/Capricorn.  The transition links the energies of all three, with Mercury being the quintessential interlocutor invigorating communication between the archetypes of the Revolutionary and the Plutocracy.  As Mercury links up with Pluto he experiences the profundity of powerful contemplation.  While radical thoughts have purpose in breaking through the boundaries of crystalized thinking, they will need a disciplined force to reckon with the deeply rooted cunning that exploits its understanding of the unseen mechanics of life itself.

Expressions of love are put to the test when Venus at 9 degrees Taurus opposes Saturn at 9 degrees Scorpio on April 22nd.  This Earth Day may also manifest a greater sense of responsibility to preserve and protect that which we value most, including the planet on which we live.  Saturn always seems to ask us to step up, to embrace the discipline necessary to participate as a fully functioning member of society.  In Scorpio he is delving into the depths of our psyche to root out dysfunctional elements.  As he faces Venus on her home turf, he asks her to be the steward of love rather than simply indulging in its sensual delights.  He challenges her to know her own worthiness but also to trust that she can share her value with others for mutual benefit.

Resonating with the tough love message from Saturn, Venus trines Pluto at 12 degrees Taurus/Capricorn on April 24th.  Another occurrence of a faster moving planet “translating” the energies of slower moving planets in aspect to each other, Venus in this case activates the ongoing sextile between Saturn and Pluto.  In mutual reception, i.e. in each other’s ruling sign, Saturn and Pluto’s energies thus manifest in a blended vibrational frequency that fosters the capacity to handle anything.  Working in tandem with Venus’ feminine harmonic, Saturn first tests her, then Pluto authenticates her.  Relationships may experience a regenerative period under this aspect.  There is the potential for real connections with others that reveal a deeper understanding of the nature of love.  Venus’ command of the power of attraction is exalted with hidden persuasiveness when she touches Pluto.  We may strengthen the sense of our own self worth, which in turn will expand the full spectrum bandwidth we have to relate at a more profound level.  Under this trio’s influence, any relationships manifesting at this time have a high potential to be enduring and intensely rewarding.  Casual, superficial or merely expedient relationships may be offered the opportunity to experience a more formalized partnership with a depth of connection and commitment.

The Full Moon at 12:57 pm on April 25th at 6 degrees Taurus/Scorpio is a Partial Lunar Eclipse.  The Moon interrupting the Sun’s radiation stream to Earth gives us the potential to reset our spiritual path and virtually reconfigure at a molecular level to a higher vibration.  Eclipses generally come in sets but this spring there are three within a month and framing with the next installment of the Uranus/Pluto square on May 20th that translates into a very strong celestial impulse for a personal and collective makeover.  This eclipse operates through the stable and stubborn Sun in Taurus and the passionate and possessive Moon in Scorpio.  It represents a confrontation over resources – the identification, acquisition and management of all that we value versus the sharing, transformation and ultimate surrender of everything that is dear to us in the pursuit of becoming immortal.  Do we hold on or do we let go?  This annual opposition of the assertive Sun and empathic Moon in these fixed signs brings us back to this fundamental question.  The paradoxical answer is both.  As we hold onto the truth of our own being we realize the necessity of lettin go of anything that holds us back from our next stage of evolution.  True self-worth can lead to fearless transcendence.

Obstacles may present themselves when the Sun opposes Saturn on April 28th at 8 degrees Taurus/Scorpio.  If we haven’t yet slowed down after the Aries rush, we may be forced to now.  Still travelling in tandem with the Sun, Mars joins the opposition to Saturn on April 30th, doubling the test of our patience and the potential for annoyance – Saturn is the roadblock king.  Rather than succumbing to frustration, it would be best to assess the nature of the blocks and make adjustments, get more information and/or build up strength and endurance to meet the resistance with the knowledge and power to go beyond them. Saturn demands mastery.  We could choose to sulk behind a wall of self-defeating excuses for not taking on additional responsibility, or we could choose to assertively develop not only the will to achieve our goals but the discipline to develop the internal and external resources we need to manifest them.

On May 1st, Mercury completes the shift of the slower moving planets from Aries to the ultimate conservationist, Taurus at 8:37 a.m.  It is May Day – may we be inspired to remember and celebrate the roots of this ancient ritual by making connections and developing lines of communication towards the proficient shepherding of the Earth’s resources, probably the most traditional source of wealth humanity knows.  Our means of perception benefit from an instinctive reverence for the tangible offerings of life and we may find that the simplest approach allows us the space needed to experience abundant moments of joy.  With the Sun trining Pluto a couple hours later at 11 degrees Taurus/Capricorn the atmosphere peaks with a sense of potent vitality.  Our life force may feel renewed and ready to be engaged with passion and purpose.