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Note: These influences are working during the entire mon th, and form a substrate for each individual day.

April feels like a “floating” month, not quite grounded in time or space. Perhaps this is because we know that some major changes have been set in motion, but we’re not quite sure yet what those changes are. And perhaps too because of the aura of fantasyland which permeates our culture. It is hard to break through the spin and deception to recognize those larger social forces which move us all. And thus to have meaningful participation in them.

We have just been through two eclipses, which portend change. Both of those eclipses focused on Pluto, the Great Transformer.

The Solar Eclipse in Aries was the last one in the two-year Libra-Aries polarity, where we deal with war and peace, with relationships. The Lunar Eclipse in Virgo begins a two-year series of eclipses in the Virgo-Pisces polarity, where we work with cleansing and re-alignment. Again we have feelings of endings and beginnings. The last similar series occurred in 1988-89, when the Cold War ended. Those were also “8” and “9” years, like 2006 and 2007, closing a 9-year cycle.

Our Plutonic Lunar Eclipse of March 14 directly stressed the U.S. Mars, aggression, and the U.S. Neptune, our propensity for image and PR over substance. Look for big changes in the status quo over the next two years, as reality hits us. Neptune also rules oil. The Aries Solar Eclipse featured the U.S. Mars, as well as Pluto.

In addition, starred this year are the four fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, insuring that power shifts are a major feature of the year. Fixed signs also relate to assets and resources.

The Aries Equinox gateway has just thrust us into this melee, and we are just beginning to sort it out. In the autumn, the end of the fixed sign squares, and another pair of eclipses, will yield results from the brew we are now concocting.

One thing is certain: with Pluto, much more will be revealed in the coming weeks.

April is an “A” month, and an Aries month—first in the alphabet and first in the zodiac. We can be Assertive now, and Aggressive. Aries tends to plunge Ahead towards its goal, with little concern for obstacles, consequences, or others. Thus Aries is the perfect warrior. But what are we fighting for now? Is our goal a worthy one? It is likely that after our long and strong Mercury-retrograde period, we have a much clearer idea of what we want. Aries is impetuous, and enjoys meeting challenges. There will be opposition, and thus April tends to be a month of conflict.

We need goals now and yet, with the uncertainty in the air, it is difficult to set goals. This is Aries’ current dilemma.

Mars feels much encouragement now to push ahead, with the Aries’ sky patterns. Mars is closely associated with Aries, and April is Mars’ favorite month. In addition, the Moon’s North Node has been in Aries for the last year, motivating us all to be pioneers, and supporting Martian activity. Node will be in Aries until June, when it moves into Pisces, where it will be for the next 18 months.

Mars gets a big push on April 8, when it opposes powerful Pluto. Mars can either use Pluto to power it through difficulties, or it can oppose Pluto and get smashed. Pluto doesn’t fool around. In our own lives we can, at least, use that deep plutonic energy positively to power change.

Pluto itself is now stationing on the Galactic Center, and enormous creative power is streaming into Earth.

At Full Moon on April 13, Mars enters the defensive sign of Cancer. Cancer Sun signs, e.g. the U.S. and Bush, will be very energized. Unless good judgment prevails, Full Moon can open a rather large can of worms.

A planetary aspect which prevails all month is optimistic Jupiter square dreamy Neptune. Dreams of expansion can carry us far-off into fantasyland, and then the bubble bursts. Or there can be undermining, deception, and corruption connected with government, publishing, or the law. There can be fantasies that everything, e.g. that energy supplies, the economy, the climate, is fine—when instead there are very serious problems everywhere. In essence, this tends to be a deceptive aspect.

Another aspect lasting all month is Saturn in Leo trine the North Node in Aries. Saturn has just turned direct (April 5), which lends it much strength. This tells us that the authority to move ahead in new directions is being structured, grounded, and set into a pattern. This can be very helpful for new businesses, and many new endeavors.

Fire and water are the main elements expressed this month. Fire is ideas, enthusiasm, and action. Water is emotion, soul, mystery, and intuition. Fire separates us; water connects us. Fire calls for individual action; water knows we are all one. Together they can make a lot of steam, which can obscure clarity. Weather extremes here are drought and flood. We are apt to see both.

Aries Sun hooks into powerful Pluto in Sagittarius. Pluto stays nearly still, but Sun moves right along towards a lovely trine with Pluto, exact on April 16. This means an easy growth of power during most of the month, and inner transformation of consciousness. Feeling this power growing within us will add greatly to the magnetic pull of the Full Moon.

All of the asteroids are prominent now. This goes along with society-wide changes which affect all of our daily lives. Ceres is perhaps chummiest, as she hangs out with Neptune and Jupiter. Ceres is associated with all of the work involved in getting food on the table, including the labor. Labor unrest is prevalent now, and growing. It will continue to grow.

Energy shifts dramatically with last quarter Moon on April 20. It becomes both more fiery and more stubborn, as fixed signs enter the picture. Flexibility, so important now, diminishes.

In summary, April’s open doors let in much fresh air, and many new ideas. This is an action month, and if we can act with prudence, we can begin to build a new foundation which can serve us well in the future. Compassion can be a great ally. Pipe dreams can be a great folly.

Remembering that all of us are brothers and sisters can serve us all. Aries sometimes forgets that truth, and then reminders can be harsh.

Note: A VOC Moon period is when the Moon is making no further major planetary aspects before it changes signs. Moon and its aspects are strongly associated with our everyday behavior, and without those aspects to direct our course, we are left much more free to pursue our own ends in our own way. It is like you're driving down the freeway and find the road signs removed for awhile. On the one hand, plans may go awry, you may miss your exit; on the other hand, inner work is greatly favored as those external "instructions" are reduced. Times used are EST, because the overall influences for the United States are centered in Washington DC.		Click on a date to jump to the calendar entry for that day:
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April Fools Day indeed. In some way, we all may be fooled by the energy raised on March 29, with the Total Aries Eclipse and Pluto’s station on the Galactic Center. This Eclipse ran from the coast of South America across the Atlantic through Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and on into China. I believe it sparks growing economic links between those areas, just as the great Eclipse of 1999, running from the coast of New York City across the Atlantic and through the Middle East sparked deep U.S.-Middle East connections.

Since Thursday, we have had Moon traveling through productive Taurus, urging us to attend to resources, and ticking off the year’s stressful Grand Fixed Cross. Its last aspect this morning, at 10:52 a.m. EST, is a square to Venus in Aquarius, who can irk Taurus Moon by her insufficient attention to the bottom line. Moon then goes VOC for the rest of the day, and we are free to tend to our gardens.

At 6:49 p.m., Moon enters Gemini, and we become hungry for information and connection. We may want to go out and join the crowd tonight. Or see a documentary film.

Remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed.

SUNDAY APRIL 2

OK, we are now on Daylight Time. This is a fun and spontaneous day, and at the same time deep and important issues are on our minds. We can talk about them, with Moon in Gemini fanning our interest in all kinds of communication and information. This is a fine day to start a new project which is dear to your heart. Saturn in the process of turning direct (April 5) in Leo will give us the grounding inherent in inner authority. Go for it!

MONDAY APRIL 3

Moon in Gemini is running around, aiding communication with all the important people. It may be that a crisis is brewing, with belligerent Mars heading towards an opposition with lawless Pluto (April 8). Use caution in your words and actions today. Impulsiveness can create that crisis. Saturn about to turn direct can help with caution on the one hand, but on the other hand its unstable position can lead to poor judgment. It’s a good day to catch up on your personal work and communication backlog.

TUESDAY APRIL 4

Moon is in Cancer, and our attention is on issues close to home and family. We focus on all kinds of security problems. Stationary Saturn is putting the onus of responsibility on those in charge of matters. Emotions, talk, and actions are featured. Reasonable solutions, and their consequences, may be scarce. Don’t go off “half-cocked,” as they say. Take time to review the facts.

Saturn slows things down. With Saturn stationary in the heavens, we may feel ourselves slowed. For the next few days, we may push hard just to accomplish daily activities.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 5

First Quarter Moon at 16 Cancer occurs at 8:01 a.m. EDT. At First Quarter, we make breakthroughs with setting into motion our new projects, in this case pioneering Aries projects. With this first quarter in Cancer, they are likely to be centered on our homes, families, and nations. Saturn turns direct in Leo, indicating the involvement of governments, and setting in motion some big power shifts. We all take on new responsibilities, which will evolve during the course of the year.

All four of the asteroid goddesses are especially active. This means changes in our daily lives, as well as the prominence of women. Pallas Athena in Capricorn opposes the Moon, while Vesta in Cancer conjoins both it and the U.S. Sun. Here we combine security and strategy, in a defensive way. One woman representing this combination is Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has proposals on the table relating to both the Iraq war and to global warming. Dianne is, in fact, a Cancer Sun.

Juno, Jupiter’s abused wife, is also in Cancer. She squares the Aries North Node, which shows our current push to get our way by whatever means. This represents the stress which families everywhere are enduring as a result of violence. “But,” says Vesta with Moon, “We need to first pay attention to our national security.”

Mother Ceres, Guardian of Labor, is in Aquarius, moving ever closer to a conjunction with idealistic Neptune (April 28). She represents the worldwide labor movement, which continues to strengthen its demands for respect, even when it means difficult strikes. Ceres, the Harvest Goddess, made the earth barren when she grieved for the kidnapping of her daughter by Pluto. Ceres also represents the grieving Gold Star mothers, who are turning their grief into activism, e.g., Cindy Sheehan.

Issues close to home are now on our plates.

The New Moon for this Cancer moon family occurred on July 6, 2005. That was a super-eventful time, which included 8 bombings of the London transport system along with the G-8 meeting in nearby Scotland.

The Sabian Symbol for 16 Cancer is:

“A MAN STUDYING A MANDALA IN FRONT OF HIM, WITH THE HELP OF A VERY ANCIENT BOOK. A deep concern with problems raised by the process of personality integration. The Mandala, an Oriental symbol, represents the integration of opposing trends and multiple bipolar energies. The cross, on the other hand, represents conflict in action. It is a symbol of tragic overcoming. Inner CONCENTRATION and CONFORMATION to one’s own individual form or structure.”

Early morning is the best time for success in activities. Moon goes VOC at 1:19 p.m. EDT. We might want to concentrate on food and cooking in the evening.

THURSDAY APRIL 6

Sleep in if you can. Moon remains VOC in Cancer this morning, and we may not be very ambitious. We’re still caught in the momentum of Saturn turning direct. Mr. Responsibility is saying, “Get to it!” and we could feel either energized or zapped. We may have had either trouble sleeping last night, or trouble waking up this morning—or both.

Moon enters radiant Leo at 12:25 p.m. EDT, and immediately begins to fire up Saturn’s drive. We are ready to dive into our tasks, and to do them well—unless we remain enervated by Saturn. After Moon conjoins Saturn tonight, we can begin to let up on ourselves, and enjoy the warmth of the Leo Moon.

FRIDAY APRIL 7

There is much energy available for accomplishment. Not only do we have a fresh Saturn, and a Leo Moon vitalizing many of the planets, but we are experiencing Mars rushing to oppose that inexorable force, Pluto. This is excellent energy for hard work, and for pushing a project through. Or we could run into opposition which completely stops us, or makes us change direction. Tonight there is a combination of party energy, plus that inner drive. Be wary of excess. We may be wakeful tonight.

SATURDAY APRIL 8

At 4:19 a.m., Mars opposes Pluto for the great confrontation, or great cooperation. With oppositions we always have a choice. Moon in Leo dramatizes the situation, supported by power-seeking Jupiter in determined Scorpio. Moon and Jupiter, both in stubborn fixed signs, form the arms of a Finger of God, with assertive Aries Sun as its lever. This configuration is a fateful one, and it is about power. That is enough to make it momentous, but the outstanding thing about it is that the outlet, opposite Sun, is exactly on the U.S. stationary retrograde progressed Mars. Today’s action is a major spark for the 80-year review mandated as the U.S. progressed Mars is slowly turning retrograde at 19 Libra, for the first time in history.

The security of the U.S. is central, for Vesta, keeper of the hearth, sits on the U.S. Sun. A grand water trine shows that events now are moved by emotional reactions to the concept of U.S. independence.

Juno in Cancer exactly squares the destiny points of the Moon’s Nodes. Juno refers to relationships, but in a mundane chart it always indicates victims or disenfranchisement. Since it sits on the U.S. Venus-Jupiter conjunction, those victims appear to be in the U.S.

Mars squares the U.S. progressed Neptune, showing foreign relations are involved. Neptune also refers to oil, and it may be that an incident now makes us all conscious that we are running out of oil.

All of the planets and asteroids are closely interconnected. This is not an isolated incident; it involves the globe. Mercury direct has returned to the place where it was when the Golden Dome Mosque was bombed (by who?), which was an attempt to set the Shi’ias and Sunnis against one another.

Maps for the March eclipses, and the April moons, show that Washington DC is the center of current action. China also stars.

The New York Stock Exchange chart is heavily involved in this opposition. In addition, Saturn’s turning is right on the Stock Exchange Vesta at 5 Leo. Vesta relates to caring for money and investments, so it is a major energy for the Stock Exchange. Saturn, remember, slows things down.

Also, this is Saturn’s personal day.

Juno, the victim energy, is at 27 Gemini in the Stock Exchange chart. This is the degree of Mars in the heavens today. Mars stimulates, and it can also hurt. And Pluto, of course, opposes this Juno. Remember that Pluto, the great Transformer, the Lord of Evolution, now conjoins the Galactic Center, the source of our galaxy’s creativity.

In general, today’s energy moves smoothly and freely. But towards what? Within the larger context, we each have choices in our purposes, and by sticking to our own goals we can use any energy constructively. On this day in particular, make a special effort to use your energy positively. Think before you act. Check in with your guidance. With Mars-Pluto it is easy to fly off the handle and say or do something which hurts you or someone else. The bombing of the Golden Dome, for instance, has left a wide and long trail of destruction in its wake.

Some of the fallout from today’s events will occur around the eclipses of September 22, 2006, and March 19, 2007, both of which square Pluto.

Moon goes VOC at 7:02 p.m.

SUNDAY APRIL 9

This is Palm Sunday, and Moon is in Virgo, a sign of devotion. It opposes Venus in Pisces, which can mean great love and sacrifice. On the other hand, this can indicate some confusion and misunderstandings in personal relations. Let love take over. It can solve all today. Prayers, and work, to promote peace can be particularly effective. Time in nature would be very gratifying.

MONDAY APRIL 10

Moon continues in Virgo, with excellent mental energy. Unfetter your mind. Use your sharpened analytic ability to solve those problems left over from last week. Think about future possibilities. Tonight you might be in an argumentative mood.

TUESDAY APRIL 11

This morning Moon squares Pluto. This happens twice each month, and represents a minor power crisis. We may be irritable, and we are not the best of companions during the hours around this aspect. This used to be just a blip in the day, but as Pluto is taking increasingly more powerful positions in the planetary pantheon, Moon square Pluto can now elicit a major disturbance, either inner or outer.

We will be extra vulnerable this morning, and subject to pain from attack. Protect yourself, and use caution in your approach to life.

On the other hand, we can harness this energy to work very hard, perhaps on a difficult cleanup job.

Moon goes VOC at 10:59 a.m. EDT, and enters Libra at 1:47 p.m. Hard work can continue this afternoon, but in a much more balanced fashion. The afternoon (not the morning) is excellent for helpful business contacts, and for negotiation of all kinds.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 12

Moon makes no major aspects today, and we are able to make our own choices about what to do with this sociable Libran energy. This is different from a VOC moon. During a VOC moon, life is unpredictable. Now we can make plans and agreements, and expect follow-through. This can be a lovely, peaceful day. Enjoy. At the same time we can feel tomorrow’s big Full Moon approaching. Prepare for it by meditating on balance and fairness in relationships.

THURSDAY APRIL 13

Full Moon at 24 Libra occurs at 12:40 p.m. EDT. Aries New Moon is about doing our own thing—full steam ahead. Libra comes along and says that it’s important to pay attention to others. Full moons are about illumination and awareness. We can SEE things otherwise hidden from our view. Thus the focus now is on other, and how this self which we’re expressing relates to others.

This Moon picks up the long and strong Pluto-Mercury influence which we experienced at the end of February and the first week of March. Transforming of consciousness is occurring. With this Full Moon, we open wide the gate to a new spiritual vibration.

The three outer planets—Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus—are connected to this time of illumination, with Venus, who rules the Libra Moon, in charge. These outer planets are those which change consciousness, and with all three now in harness to the love planet, we can allow feelings of love to flood into and through us at very deep levels.

Venus is now in that most universal of signs, Pisces, where she is exalted. She conjoins Uranus, the planet of Enlightenment. Moon’s closest aspect is a sextile with Pluto, the planet of birth and death. Moon also trines Neptune in Aquarius, who can combine with Libra Moon to create truly lofty ideals and visions of human possibilities.

The grand water trine which is in effect all month and on into next month, is now picking up Venusian love energy. Water is the soul element, and it is water which moves our emotions—which move us.

I consider Libra to be the sign which most values individual human beings. Fairness, equality, and justice are central to Librans’ approach to life. Social justice is one of their special themes. Look for this Moon to open a window for a big jump in sensitivity to social justice. It may be directed especially towards GW Bush, for this Full Moon falls exactly on his Nadir-Midheaven, his stance in the world.

The Sabian Symbol for 24 Libra is:

“A BUTTERFLY WITH A THIRD WING ON ITS LEFT SIDE. The ability to develop, for inner strengthening, new modes of response to basic life situations. The butterfly is the ancient and traditional symbol of the process of spiritual rebirth. If the butterfly has three wings instead of two, a special development of an aspect of the spiritual life is shown. Three is a symbol of fulfillment. Some power has been added to the normal spiritual life of the individual person. The left side usually refers to the instinctual field of consciousness, but it is also the heart’s side. A new strength is shown, perhaps as yet unrealized. ORIGINAL MUTATION.”

(I keep telling you: I do not look at these symbols beforehand.)

FRIDAY APRIL 14

How fortuitous this seems—that this Moon which opens us to a new level of love is followed by Friday, Venus’ day, and not just any Friday, but Good Friday.

This is a watery, emotional day. Last night Mars entered Cancer, and Moon entered Scorpio. These are both water signs. This puts six of the ten major planets in water signs. We may find ourselves inundated with water, or water issues (such as not enough). Tears may come easily, and compassion may increase.

Moon does connect with Saturn in Leo, which can slow everything, or present obstacles, perhaps like a dam does to the flow of water. Saturn creates boundaries, but that is, in fact, what water needs. Let us see how they work together today. With Scorpio and Leo involved, ego struggles are likely. Hard work is beneficial.

Afternoon and night can be very pleasant.

SATURDAY APRIL 15

Moon continues in Scorpio with mystical, psychic aspects. Combined with Scorpio’s proclivities for probing, we can have insights into the nature of life and perhaps of the brink on which we are poised. Ceres squares Jupiter in Scorpio to ask some tough questions about sustaining life. Noble impulses can dominate this day, and we may begin to take constructive action.

Moon goes VOC at 2:29 p.m. Relax for the rest of the day.

SUNDAY APRIL 16

Easter Sunday, the first Sunday after the first full moon after Spring Equinox, and time for life to rise renewed! Early this morning, Mercury enters Aries to bring us the glad tidings. Mercury here is hopeful, optimistic, ready to start new ventures, and plunge into new pathways. Moon is VOC until 10:19 a.m. It then enters adventurous Sagittarius, and the fires of life are burning brightly. Go into nature, and celebrate its beauty. We can appreciate that nature is the source of all of our abundance, and dedicate ourselves to respecting and caring for it. Listen to what the nature spirits have to say. In your future quiet moments, you can remember the beauty of this day of spring, whether it be in rain or shine.

MONDAY APRIL 17

Moon is still in enthusiastic Sagittarius, and yesterday’s beauty, whatever it was for each of us, remains with us. We are optimistic and willing to gamble. Inspiration strikes, and we can act on it.

TUESDAY APRIL 18

This is a long and eventful day, and one on which we are stirred to action. Morning begins with a call to arms. We may awaken angry or upset. Information coming in may hurt us, or we may hurt others with sharp words. At the same time, we are emotional and defensive, and arguments are easily provoked. This is great energy for investigation, and could well be used to get to the bottom of a real problem.

By early afternoon, energy smooths out, and then at 2:41 p.m. EDT, Moon goes VOC. The afternoon should flow along easily—until Moon enters Capricorn at 5:13 p.m. The morning mood returns then, but now it may be focused on goals and government. Someone is apt to be, or feel, mistreated, and the evening is apt to be strained. Again, emotional defensiveness makes walls. Two things are helpful: Meditation, and focus on your goals and your work.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 19

Moon remains in ambitious Capricorn, but today it has excellent aspects. This morning work can move along well, and at the same time you might be inspired. Tonight love and pleasure fit the mood.

THURSDAY APRIL 20

This is an interesting day. Moon is VOC in Capricorn for the entire day, giving us a chance to make an energy shift. One part of the shift is Sun entering Taurus at 1:27 a.m. EDT. With Taurus we are slow, fixed, and grounded. We become concerned for the next month with our material sustenance. What do we need to live comfortably on this earth? Taurus is the productive gardener.

Another part of the shift is Mars in defensive Cancer moving into a pivotal place.

The fixed sign shift is emphasized by Moon, at 9:56 p.m., moving into fixed sign Aquarius.

Sun and Moon together at 1 degree of Taurus and Aquarius give us Last Quarter Moon at 11:28 p.m. Here two stubborn signs, with generally different aims, challenge one another, and we may feel a crisis in our lives. Practical Taurus focuses on money and resources, while Aquarius, more of a dreamer, focuses on ideas. Many issues arise from this difference, e.g., how much security are we willing to give up in order to live out our ideals? The chart now shows that aggression becomes part of the equation.

The wheel at this quarter is like the wheel of the U.S. chart. This gives the events opened up by this quarter phase extra impact on the U.S.

The Sabian Symbol for 1 Aquarius is:

“AN OLD ADOBE MISSION IN CALIFORNIA. The power in all great human works to endure far beyond workers’ life spans. Aquarius at the beginning presents a spiritualized and idealistic picture of the social forces at work. It stresses the enduring character of human achievements ensouled by a great vision. CONCRETIZATION OF AN IDEAL.”

Taurus is certainly the sign to make things concrete. And Aquarius has the vision.

FRIDAY APRIL 21 and SATURDAY APRIL 22

Moon is traveling in friendly Aquarius. Earth Day may be on our minds (Taurus), along with organizing in groups to honor Earth on Saturday. Energy is excellent for discussing, for teaching, and for raising our ideals to higher levels. These are good-feeling, and possibly illuminating, days.

SUNDAY APRIL 23

Moon is in Pisces—time to go with the flow, and to feel the spirit in all of life. We have many easy aspects, including a grand water trine. This may be a day to take it easy—assuming you’re not involved in water problems—and to spend some time with or near water. The seashore may beckon.

The big news tonight is Moon occulting Uranus. This is like an eclipse of Uranus, and it does have repercussions, which may well be unpredictable water difficulties. It is exact in southeastern Australia, and South Island, New Zealand.

MONDAY APRIL 24

Moon continues in watery Pisces, but this day is not so mellow, especially the evening. This morning Moon occults Venus. Keep a careful eye on your relationships. Don’t try to guess what others are thinking. Communication lines are muddled, and utmost clarity is required.

This evening Moon squares Pluto. We may want to be alone, and thus snap at anyone who disturbs our solitude. Just afterwards, Sun squares Saturn. All of this could put us in a dour mood. Mercury squares Juno, and somebody could be feeling victimized. Moon goes VOC at 8:35 p.m.

TUESDAY APRIL 25 and WEDNESDAY APRIL 26

These two days, the last of the Aries Moon Month, can be very visionary. Moon in fire sign Aries can look ahead to the new cycle, and have an idea of what it will be about. This is not a time to act. It is a time to simply let go, and be, and let the pictures of the future flow into our minds.

THURSDAY APRIL 27

New Moon at 8 Taurus occurs at 3:44 p.m. The Taurus cycle is about making a fertile earth, one in which Aries’ seeds can flourish. It is about power and growth, and the power of growth, which will not be stopped. We focus now on the material aspects of our lives—e.g. our homes, our gardens, our bank accounts, our finances. But we also focus on all those things which are important to us, those things which we value, those things which we need for survival.

And we focus on Earth herself, and on all of her intricate interrelationships.

Taurus is, then, a time of basics. We begin to grow our gardens now, without whose fruits we could not survive.

For most of this year, we have been working with three of the four fixed signs, challenge enough to push those stubborn signs into change. But now, with Taurus season commencing, we bring in the fourth fixed sign, Taurus. During most of next two months, we will have in the sky a loose grand cross, a difficult configuration.

Neither Leo, nor Scorpio, nor Aquarius, nor Taurus, like to be told what to do. They each like to chart their own course, and stick to it. When they are all challenging one another, as in the cross, something must give. It is the resistance to that release which causes problems.

Right now Moon most closely squares Saturn in Leo, with which it can combine to structure creativity, or fight to see who’s in charge. It also squares Chiron in Aquarius, which means that this is a fine healing cycle, especially for healing physical structural problems. It can also be frustrating because the pace and the focus of Taurus and Aquarius are so different.

These qualities can combine to build something tangible, new, and socially or individually beneficial. They do take work to combine, and something must be released. Although there is fear of loss of power, in fact the result can be a renewed and greater power than before.

The asteroids continue to be prominent. Notable today is Pallas Athena opposing Vesta, giving us a sharp focus on structures of security. Mars too is involved, showing a willingness to fight for that security. Ceres conjoins Neptune, to add a huge dose of idealism to the need for safety and security.

The Sabian Symbol for 9 Taurus is:

“A FULLY DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREE. The ability to create inner happiness in dark hours. Snow has come outside, but the prepared and closely united group has created abundance, beauty, and happiness within, overcoming the cold barrenness outside. This symbol suggests the ever-present possibility open to humans to transfigure the darkness and deprivation of the low point of a life cycle by incarnating within it an antiphonic response celebrating the ever remembered and always expected high points of life. It evokes our undying FAITH IN CYCLIC RENEWAL.”

FRIDAY APRIL 28

Moon continues in Taurus, stimulating the other arms of the fixed cross. We get a feel for that cross today, and the seemingly impossible dilemmas in which we find ourselves. A common reaction is feeling overwhelmed. We feel we just can’t handle everything in our laps. And yet we must. There’s the fallacy. What we must do is release something about our modus operandi which puts us in this corner. Perhaps it is feeling over-responsible—thus taking on more than we can handle. Perhaps it is wanting too much or aiming too high. Perhaps it is needing to control everything. Taurus is a season of growth rather than release. Thus our solutions now are likely to involve a surge of new creativity which maximizes both our productivity and our well-being. Idealism is very high today, and it can guide us into new pathways.

SATURDAY APRIL 29 and SUNDAY APRIL 30

Moon is in lively Gemini, and our minds are buzzing. We have the guidance, plus the fresh spurt of creative growth, to sort out our lives in a new way. And the weekend can give us some extra leisure in which to do it. Some type of retreat could be very helpful. Saturday night might be wakeful. We could also be tempted to overindulge in ways which we might later regret.

On Sunday a multitude of ideas click into place. Women, and the arts, in particular, have a new voice. Healing is proceeding. This can be an exceedingly pleasant weekend.