Current Transits for April 1997 Current Transits for April 1997Here's some of the important astrological news this month ...
Chiron backs into Libra, 4-4
Chiron square Neptune, 4-7
New Moon at 17Ar40, 4-7
Mercury Retrograde Station at 9Ta39, 4-14
Full Moon at 2Sc45, 4-22
Mars Direct Station at 16Vi44, 4-27
The "Grand Letdown" continues. The big lull after the Grand Finale, which dissipated around March 8th, drags into April. This is definitely a "slow news month" astrologically, with few major influences to talk about. The energy waveforms in the A5 Spectrum are weak and unfocused -- monotonously so. This kind of quiet after the storm is good for sorting out the pieces and getting on with life. It's a time to rest and get your energy back. If you're in the middle of long-term projects or activities, this is a time of slow and steady movement in your desired direction. Remain flexible in your plans, however, since unforeseen problems could make you alter them at a later date and you don't want to over-commit yourself to a losing cause. Carry on...
If there's one trait that typifies April, it's sluggishness. There are a large number of planets that are standing still, more or less, this month, which produces a feeling of stagnation. In addition, stationary planets don't make aspects with each other, so there is less "action" astrologically going on than usual. The overall energies are scattered and ineffectual now, a far cry from the intensity of 2 months ago. In short, there's not a lot happening in April, and our lives are apt to mirror this state of lethargy. I think we could all savor a little boredom, however...
Several of the important events this month involve that mystery body, Chiron. On the 4th, Chiron backs up from Scorpio (where it's been since 96-12-29) into Libra once more (until 9-3). If you thought we were done with the "Wounded Healer" rearranging our relationships, think again. We may have needed to take a few months to go within ourselves and do some inner housecleaning, but there's apparently some leftover work needing attention. Relationships in the outer world with real people tend to mirror our relationship with the inner, psychic world. So it's not too surprising that our inner growth is held up if our partnerships are a mess. More to the point, inner and outer work must proceed hand in hand these days, if either is going to happen smoothly. Tough issues that divide partners may have to be faced in coming months. It's important to finally clear the air during this 5 month window, so that relationships become a source of strength and support, instead of draining your energies even more.
The same day as the new moon , Chiron is exactly square Neptune for the second time (out of 3). The entire process of this square stretches from last Nov. 19th to this coming Aug. 13th (curiously, the same day Pluto is standing still at its direct station). This contact is about finding your vision in life, and overcoming the disillusionment and powerlessness that undermine your ability to make your dreams come true. It's wonderful to have ideals, but it seems the world has little regard for "impractical dreams" these days. This is a terrible double-bind for those people sensitive to more subtle realms, since subtle experiences are often more real than the material plane for them. What's important to them on the inner plane is frequently ignored or even ridiculed by the everyday world, while the "real world" feels flat and uninspiring. As we continue to pass through the major initiatory aspects of the 90's (the last few months being a high point in these cycles), it's interesting how more people are becoming aware of "auras" and "energies" about them, even if they don't know what to do with these perceptions. (I've heard numerous people confess to such new sensitivities lately.) Yet, until such perceptions are accepted and valued, our ability to shape and transform these subtle energies creatively will remain stunted. Now is a time to release those blinders and misunderstandings that keep us from exploring our true potentials.
The new moon chart is really a number of loosely connected subplots. A Yod at 18 degrees contains a bunch of ordinary, easy to understand planets in an unusual setting. The "core" of this pattern is the benefics (Sun, Moon, Venus, Jupiter) all pointing at that troublesome Mars, about to come to a standstill. There's obviously a clash going on here between getting along with others and getting your own way. However, the conflict is only apparent, a case of mistaken perceptions, in a sense. It's possible to cooperate and work for your own desires, but only if your plans are in harmony with the larger picture around you. The "greater good" is not served by running all over the people you meet each day, nor is it served by letting others run over you. We're so used to the old "dog eat dog" mentality that true cooperation is hard to imagine anymore. Yet the choice is clear in the coming month, even if the consequences of our choices are not. Suffice it to say that a more egotistical way of behaving is apt to generate a similar response from others -- you can either butt heads all month or enjoy the company of others.
The group of planets at 6 degrees talk of understanding the recent spiritual lessons at an even deeper level, even if it requires changing a few of your more cherished assumptions. The appearance of Juno, the relationship asteroid, with Uranus and Pluto only amplifies the themes of cooperation and fair play. And with Mercury about to go into reverse, it's time to reexamine some of your beliefs and sacred cows that have outlived their usefulness. Unusual arrangements with your partners may work out surprisingly well, despite the initial reaction of "it's just not done this way!" Well, maybe it wasn't done that way before, but it is now!
And that Chiron-Neptune contact. It's funny how all this partnership stuff sounds "so idealistic", as though that were something terrible or silly. After awhile, people tend to throw away their ideals and become "practical" instead. We don't expect the best to happen in our worlds and we don't work for it either. So why are we surprised when the world we get isn't the best one possible? Isn't it more practical to actually strive for the best and live in a more pleasant fashion? If enough people interact at their highest levels, the world changes -- it's that simple. Maybe part of the healing process for us is to move beyond our fears and consciously strive for better partnerships with others and a deeper relationship with our own inner worlds. Who really knows what could happen...
April 14th is a big cosmic joke on us. That's the day Mercury slips into its next retrograde cycle. When Mercury is standing still like this, the thinking, symbol-using mind blows a mainspring. Any activity that requires clear communication and the ability to deal with complicated, symbolic information is doomed to problems. Well, here we are in the big "crunch" time for filing taxes, and nobody can think straight. What a recipe for a disaster! Expect a real mess all around this tax time.
On a more personal note, avoid major decisions for a few weeks and double-check everything you do. Be sure communications with others is really as clear as you think it is (something always gets misunderstood somewhere). Oh, and back up your computer files ahead of time. Computers often get "creative" with your files when Mercury is backing up.
For more info on these retrograde cycles, see the Retrograde Zones page.
If ever there was a "butting heads" configuration, it has to be a fixed sign T-square. It has "stubborn" written all over it. Especially since most of the planets in the pattern are personal planets, which correspond to everyday abilities of the psyche (e.g., rote thinking, feelings, etc.) that we exercise with little conscious awareness. These ways of behaving often produce much discord or stress in our lives, precisely because we aren't reflecting on our actions and the consequences they bring. The way out is represented by Uranus and Pallas. Both are "mental" planets, but they both operate at a level far above mere symbol-manipulation. They may as well be called "insight" and "wisdom". Watch out for this element of frustration or conflict in your life, whether with other people or with your environment in general. After blowing your stack, examine why you feel so upset. 9 times out of 10, you've been operating on autopilot in a non-reflective way, and the world didn't behave the way you expected it to. Instead of taking it out on the world, try rearranging your expectations to correspond to reality more closely ("what a novel idea!"). Step outside of your beliefs awhile and observe the situation from a more dispassionate point of view. Actually seek solutions to problems instead of just complaining about things. The decision to react in frustration or in delight is yours. A little insight never hurt anyone...
Mars reaches its direct station on the 27th and is essentially standing still the entire last week of the month. Mars represents will-power, the ability to act on one's desires and make them happen. When he's in reverse gear, like he's been since 2-5, Mars is one frustrated fellow. Nothing seems to go right for him whenever he tries to flex his muscles these days. Mars retrograde is a time to see how, despite your best intentions, you frequently undermine or sabotage your own plans. It's a truism that people are often their own worst enemies. During this time, however, such sabotage is more apparent than usual. It hasn't helped that this retrograde path lies in the selfless signs of Libra and Virgo, causing further problems for the Prince of Egos. Hopefully, you've learned the lessons of cooperation and working for larger goals that this time period has imposed on us and are ready to move on now. Mars may not enjoy having limitations inflicted on him, but a little discipline seems to bring out the best in him. Slowly, after the 27th, Mars will pick up steam again and life will get back to normal. Just remember the lessons you've learned the last few months about meshing your actions smoothly with others -- it'll come in handy.