April’s energies are highly virile. Mars comes center stage by ruling Sun, Neptune, Saturn, Mercury, and the New Moon, all in Aries, as well as himself. In the sign of his domicile, Mars is particularly strong. He also makes key aspects: conjoining strong Saturn and mystical Neptune and sextiling his partner in crime, Pluto, imbuing these two heavies with his drive. We have a resurgence of masculine energy, awakening our impulse to self-determination.
At the same time, feminine energy abounds, and it’s not the submissive kind. Venus in Taurus for most of the month is also in her domicile and, for the last third, also rules Sun in Taurus. She makes a chain of aspects to outer planets, beginning and finishing the month with the big boss himself—intense Pluto! Furthermore, the goddess planet rules the Full Moon in Libra that starts the month. This isn’t your average sweet Full Moon in Libra. She can apply her charm forcefully—to negotiate, to direct, to insist on what’s fair or what we need… this Luna wears flowers in her hair, but under her skirt and strapped to her thigh, there may be a gun, a subpoena or a list of demands. She’s coming for the good she may have once relinquished too easily.
As for the outer planets, they’re still in orb of the minor grand trine that’s precipitated evolutionary opportunities since Spring last year. Wild, brilliant Uranus is energized by an end-of-the-month ingress to Gemini. Yet the strong Mars and Venus rulerships and the major aspects they each make, support us to apply their archetypal energies in personal ways. Of course we all carry feminine and masculine, gifts of magnetism and electricity, potential for courage and transformation, though in a technological society, these energies tend to get lose their luster.
As Aries and Mars surge, we can take up the reins of our individual identity and goals. The Romans called the masculine force thumos, the “fire in the soul.” On their blog on “The Art of Manliness,” Brett and Kate McKay write, “It is as if each of us had a potential Kentucky-Derby-caliber thoroughbred waiting in the stable, ready and eager to run, but we kept him locked away, only trotting him out for pony rides at children’s birthday parties.” This is the thumos force that we have on the one hand exaggerated into toxicity, and on the other, neglected and confined.
We can certainly see the need for thumos in politics. “I’m tired”, as one anti-T***p blogger said last year, voicing a collective sentiment. Although we feel exhausted by the cruel, crude circus being made of human rights and basic values by the current administration, as the planets line up in restless Aries the sentiment has morphed into a braver modality. We’re tired of waiting for someone else to come through, to defend what’s left of decency and goodness.
This situation makes me think of the Civil War, when Neptune was last in Aries. Familiar routes were closed: to escape the South people would split up into numerous separate bands or strike out on their own. They fought in the towns or in the woods, as they could during the day and when necessary, through the night. (Neptune in Aries is the nighttime fighter.) Something similar is happening in our personal dreams and goals. If we’ve had a project on hold in hopes that circumstances would be easier or that a collaborator would follow through, we’re ready to do it ourselves.
Sunday, April, April 12 marks the 165th anniversary of both the Civil War and of Neptune’s previous entrance in Aries. The underground railroad serves as an interesting metaphor of using our thumos to push ahead in challenging circumstances as best we can.
As for Venus in April, her combined rulerships and aspects come on with a force of their own. This isn’t the side that astrologer Emily Trinkhaus would refer to as “the demure Venus” of Botticelli. Rather she’s the Venus rooted in more ancient, complex and self-possessed goddesses. As Innana, she rode lions and oversaw love, fertility, politics and war. Glorious Isis was at once the Bride, Mother and Alchemist of ancient Egypt. She protected women and families, but also anyone who sought her, whether or not they followed her cult. When Isis’ lover Osiris was murdered and his remains dispersed, she raged across the earth, retrieved them, and then used her magic to resurrect him.
In April, Venus rubs elbows with influential planets. Ruling herself, the Sun and the formidable Full Moon, this badass Queen rises from among the shards of the ancient past supports us to grow in self-esteem, prosperity and cosmically potent connections.
This month, the brightness of Sun and the smell of flowers call us to climb up out of our familiar little space in an automated world, and to reengage with life as the mythical beings of combined powers each one of us is. At the end of month, Uranus fuels these tendencies in unexpected ways that we will see a bit further on.
As April begins, Venus is in square to intense Pluto. This highly creative aspect isn’t easy. Light and superficial situations won’t cut it. There can be passion, power-struggles and intense, even obsessive connections. We can work on self-esteem, heal relationship patterns and get to the bottom of something related to feelings, romance, justice or finance. If someone attracts us hypnotically, we can try to hold to our center. If a situation gets out of control, it will shed light on our need for change and will ultimately be empowering. But, if you’d rather skip the painful part, then apply all your savvy, hold to high ground, and if you need support, look for a wise confident, therapist, coach or security guard! The square is active in the chart for the Full Moon of Wednesday, April 1, and perfects on Friday, April 3.
On the April 1 Full Moon, Luna in Libra trines Pluto and opposes stern Saturn. With the Sun in an Aries stellium, she makes a T-square with abundant Jupiter. With the cardinal signs, there’s dynamism, a potential for prosperity, success and expansion, and also pressure to get something done. There can be a high-profile dispute around human rights or justice. Social skills are sharpened and can be applied strategically. We might cut a deal, or face something and work it out. It might be the kind of situation that has come up previously, something we had shelved, downplayed or avoided confronting. The challenge may be in relation to a love addiction or it may be about defending a cause for social justice, most likely for women.
In April, Luna is called the Pink Moon after Spring wildflowers. This time, the Pink Moon is more wild than flowery. It has a kind of crush-it-or-get-crushed energy, so get a game plan for inner clarity and outer action, and be ready to take advantage of opportunities and speak for your worth, ideas, needs or cause. Mercury is in retrograde shadow, and what we’re working on is apt to take place in more than one episode. The pieces are now being arranged for later resolution.
Stepping on the Pink Moon’s hem is a conjunction from bold Mars to surprising Uranus. We feel freedom to move, and can go forward in innovative ways. This energy helps us diffuse drama fueled by the Full Moon and direct the overload in action strategies. Perfecting on Monday, April 6 and lasting through Thursday, April 9, this conjunction can reawaken us to our own personal action style. By locating Uranus in our natal chart, we can get more insight about how we can reclaim our most free, most unique self. Looking for Mars—its natal location and rulerships—will show us a lot about April’s opportunities to reconnect with our assertive energy.
Thursday, April 9, is the day that…
The day that WHAT?
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Crystal Pallas Pomeroy, Maya’s daughter and astrological protégé, offers in-depth astrological consultations from her home in Mexico, in person or via Skype. She is a noted author as well as a regular radio and television commentator on esoteric topics, and leads a spiritual and healing ministry in Mexico City. Crystal offers workshops on astrology, the sacred feminine, indigenous spirituality, and the goddess in beautiful locations throughout Mexico. Her book Angels & Goddesses (Llewellyn, Spring 2022) is available now. Reach Crystal by email here.
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