Jupiter always speaks to our expanding horizons—how we learn to do more, more successfully. During its transit of Capricorn, realities of life prevail, and many of us will bring things which  have been in the planning stage into reality. This is a time to be challenged on how to improve your career situation, lifestyle, social standing, business…and when governments the world over will be coping with realities cropping up or long denied. Because Jupiter always has a “moral” quality, its passages promote discussions on what’s “right,” “wrong,” and “fair” as part of the process, so (especially in your own life) expect such as part of conversations and contemplations.

Caution should be employed lest we stray towards becoming judgmental or an extremist on any subject as such tight positioning is likely to shut down progress/productivity through the confining of perspective. This is particularly likely as Jupiter travels through Capricorn, one of two signs ruled by the precepts of Saturn. Being a “yin” or receptive/reactive sign, if also the sign of business, leadership and government, to work well, anything done now must respond to needs; leaders lead and businesses thrive when they understand their market or populace, not try to dictate to it. Yet with Jupiter in Capricorn it’s easy to demand (require, order, etc.) and also very easy to think things sound like a pronouncement even if they aren’t meant as one. So watch your own tone and phrasing—and try not to over-react to what others say or do.   

On the plus side, with Saturn in Virgo, this year of Jupiter in Capricorn is a particularly good time for business and working with others, whether professionally or personally. The caveat here is that you must be willing to see any process through at its own pace while jumping through all the hoops. Minding time constraints, dealing with details, paperwork and “the rules of the game” and being willing to learn better along the way counts too. Owning your commitments and choices while not being a fool in holding onto things which have outlived their purpose is essential—as is making sure anyone “doing work” for you knows how to do their job (and does it properly and in a timely manner). Where you have weaknesses, own them; being honest with yourself and forthright with others earns respect which will carry you into and through challenging times yet to come.

Much of the energetics we all face this year continues to reflect Pluto’s shift from fiery, idealistic “have more, have it all” Sagittarian themes into the cooler, more realistic Capricorn mindset and the trick to making this bridge is understanding the difference between the ideal and the real. Ideals are meant to inspire and are best used as motivation; expecting ideals to be real is called “having expectations” and often ultimately proves very disappointing. Yet it’s not the reality which has disappointed you—it’s your having chosen to put so much stock in the illusion of an ideal which let you down. The wonderful line written by John Lennon pretty much says it all: life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. Life is earthy reality (in this case, Capricorn). Those other plans…the dreams—they’re metaphysical fire; in this case Sagittarian. We all have fire in our chart, whether we have symbols (planets, asteroids, chart axis points, nodes) in fire or not. So we’re all idealistic to some degree. The more fiery symbols you have in your chart (or the more prominently placed those figures are) the more likely you are to want  ideals to be reality. Yet the more you convert this longing into motivation and action, the more ideal your life is likely to become—through real world efforts.     

With all this said, the days between April 1st and May 9th are a good time for putting your efforts  out into the world. It’s a fine time to interact with others, for pushing ahead with business plans and for dealing with “official” agencies and partnering issues. Plus, because April starts with Pluto going retrograde on April 2 at 1 Capricorn, events which occur within a day or two of this date should be taken note of as they may well mark a “turning point” in a process. More to the point, given that the first connection Pluto makes after going retrograde will be a conjunction with asteroid Juno, whatever else April brings, two very different undercurrents will color life factor(s). You may experience one; most people will experience both to some degree.   

The first variation on this Pluto/Juno theme pertains to purifying or eliminating blockages which compromise your ability to be who you actually are—or should be. Anger is not the issue, although you may feel put upon or even “shrewish.” Yet if you dig beneath the skin of the situation, you’re likely to find the real issue has to do with quality, particularly the thematic quality of “partnerships.” Some situation may need to shift, evolve or end, depending on how much growth (or room for growth) is likely. Whatever the issue is, don’t ignore it. Resistance or evasion or flight into denial will only exacerbate the situation, incite power struggles and possibly invite manipulations or sabotage. Honesty and courage is required—with yourself most of all—and if compromise isn’t possible, an altering of basic agreements or the situation as a whole may well be called for. Again, like much going on in the world at this moment, the conflict is likely to center in “the truth of reality versus the desire for the dream.” Which is which and who embodies what is the question. You may even be working against yourself.

The other form of this Pluto/Juno encounter involves working to create something new. In this case, details on how all is to be done require extensive consideration, discussion, compromise and effort with a concerted focus on viable structuring and reasonable goals. Not allowing yourself to be pressured into rushing is important—take your time, learn all the facts.  

April 1 and 2 may also seem a bit frenetic/confused as the combination of Mercury finishing its transit of Pisces and Mars (in Cancer) create highly emotional moments which conspire to test internal acceptance. With Sun in Aries and Venus in Pisces, we would all like to know  everything is working as we want it to, but that’s not guaranteed, so expect an ego twinge (or two) and moments where you need to make concerted efforts, inconvenient though that may be.   

Once Mercury enters Aries on April 2, the desire to get things done accelerates—just don’t elevate yourself at someone else’s expense. Also—don’t count on anyone agreeing with you just because you've stated your case so brilliantly. Conflicting goals may cause tension, and once Venus moves into Aries on April 6 (April 5 in U.S. longitudes) a reassessment of priorities is called for. Chances are high that a few selfish items are on anyone’s agenda; try to laugh them off as quirks. At its best, Venus in Aries gets us to better ourselves through productive use of  abilities, but it also mirrors as times of increased sensitivity, insecurity and even sulking, so be forewarned. And philosophic. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect, just human.

Next comes the New Moon of April 6 at 16 Aries. With asteroid Pallas at 12 Aries, the message is about switching from a passive realization mode into one where you actively accept situations and necessities, particularly as internal peace with your feelings is a key to whatever your goals may be. Given all else (asteroids Kassandra and Bacchus poised at 18 and 19 Aries) this appears to be a test, so expect the days following the New Moon to be filled with flux of various types. These are distractions and part of the challenge, so keep your eye on your goal.  With dwarf planet Eris and asteroid Amor rounding out descriptors here, loving to hate and hating to love are also part of the theme; upheavals and disruptions are weathered through humor, determination, flexibility and a philosophic outlook.   

Once Mercury moves into Taurus on April 17, life settles into a rhythm, allowing things to get taken care of while you think over pro’s and con’s of choices soon to be made. Don’t dally, but don’t rush. Prudence is advised, but don’t be stingy. You have to give to get.

As the Sun enters Taurus on April 19, we all get grounded in purpose, and that’s good, as the Full Moon at 0 Scorpio on April 20 will present us with decisions. Accompanied by asteroid Klotho, this Full Moon asks whether you really want to invest yourself in some process. To take anything on now requires changes of priorities and no matter our goal, getting where we want to go is likely to require taking a somewhat different route than originally envisioned. Here, TNO (Trans Neptunian Object) Deucalion points the way to a future filled with intriguing possibilities which may happen, but are not yet a sure thing. What do you want to do? 

Plainly a Full Moon favoring the curious and self possessed, all goes well now only where situations provide each party with what they value most—that being the emotional definition of Scorpionic equality and deal-making. Remembering this is important, and as values differ, you can’t expect anyone to prioritize as you do. You may want money, they may want power. You may be all about security, they may be all about luxury. Laying things out as plainly as possible so everybody knows what’s going on and so that everyone knows that everyone else knows what’s going on is a great way to do a serious fact-check and don’t fret about how the goal gets arrived at. Just make sure everyone is capable of doing their part, that they’re honestly committed to their part in the process and that everyone is ultimately going to get “paid” in the currency they (emotionally)value most. Scorpio situations always require walking into them with eyes open and brain working logically—a seemingly odd quality for a sign thought to be so very all about passion. The truth here is that any sign can be undone by the very quality it is so famous for—Scorpio/8th house issues can be undone by passion which lacks honesty, facts and logic just as the Taurus/2nd house security/satisfaction needs can be undermined by too much focus on money, possessions or desire for the appearance of security (i.e., status objects).

That being said, the rest of the month (and on into May) is all about what you do—and want to do, or not do. Choices now set up much which will carry us through September, and by doing nothing, we can actually keep things at bay, which may suit our purpose—or may not. The point is to choose knowingly. Life may well soon require some pruning, but that goes with the trimming of May flowers. Now is a time for deciding, so I leave you to that.

Boots Hart, CAP  

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