Current Transits for April 2012 Current Transits for April 2012Here's some of the important astrological news this month ...
Mercury Direct Station at 23Pi50, 4-4
Jupiter Quintile Neptune, 4-4
Full Moon at 17Li23, 4-6
Ceres enters Taurus, 4-9
Pluto Retrograde Station at 9Cp33, 4-10
Mars Direct Station at 3Vi40, 4-13
New Moon at 1Ta35, 4-21
Vesta enters Taurus, 4-30
An online ephemeris for the month is available.
My first impressions of April were that it seems rather weak and scattered, lacking clear direction or focus. This is more true of the first half of the month than the latter half, where a fairly strong storm pattern dominates. In terms of the usual kind of astrological news, the big story involves 3 planets standing still. The most important of these stationary planets is Pluto which hits the brakes on the 10th. Pluto stations are always a significant time, when periods of intense change and transformation are either beginning to take hold or coming to a head. Pay special attention to any major issues that crop up this month, particularly if they involve parts of your life that have been stable for a long time, but seem to be getting hard to hold together now. Pluto is known to catalyze such breakdowns of areas of your life when they are at odds with your higher path. We all get too comfortable with situations or behavior that stand in the way of becoming who you're supposed to be at a deeper level. It may not feel good to let go of these comfort zones (which is why many people aren't terribly fond of Pluto), but ultimately it's in your better interests. Mercury and Mars are also standing still this month, about to resume normal motion. Mercury retrograde inhibits the ability of the thinking mind to operate clearly, so if you've been wooly brained during March, you may find your mind becoming more focused during April. When Mars is backing up, it's harder to exercise your will power and get your chores done, as the ego is held back from imposing its wishes on the world. You can expect some of the roadblocks that have stymied your plans to slowly lift, making it easier to accomplish your goals. The only "big aspect" this month, Jupiter quintile Neptune, will likely provide a pleasant spiritual lift of short duration. In general, your life is subtly changing direction as new themes take over. Don't get caught up in resisting the losses -- embrace the changes.
There are 3 planets at their stations in April. There are also 2 asteroids changing signs and one "big aspect" to talk about.
Mercury reaches its direct station of 23Pi50 on the 4th, ending a 3 week retrograde period. It went retrograde at 6Ar49 back on Mar 12. Mercury is the thinking, symbol using and story telling part of the mind. He's the keeper of the long, running narrative we all have in our heads about "what is reality?" and how to cope with it. He also represents the common stories we share with each other that allow us to communicate and interact with one another. With so many useful roles, it's pretty difficult on us when Mercury goes retrograde. Typical influences of this time include a feeling that the world has gone crazy and doesn't make sense, as well as lots of misunderstandings and mix-ups with others. The trouble is not the world, but with all those inner tales you're telling yourself. Despite our infatuation with rationality to make sense of life, it's important to remember that the thinking mind has some limitations. No story, model or explanation of the world is capable of capturing the world in all its details and glorious quirkiness, so at some point your understanding falls short and life shocks us with its supposed unruliness. This applies both to the outer, physical world and the inner world of our deeper natures. Life simply doesn't fit into tidy boxes, no matter how hard you try. These retrograde periods are a good time to do some upkeep and overhaul of your understandings when these surprises happen or to attempt to air any confusions that arise with other people (with an emphasis on "attempt"). Take your own beliefs and assumptions with a large grain of salt, as that is where the problem most likely lies. The good news is that the direct station marks the official end of this confusing time. Slowly, as Mercury starts to pick up speed again, the thinking mind starts operating on all cylinders and begins to make sense of things once more. Mercury is moving full speed by around the 19th and completely clears this retrograde zone by the 23rd, so relief is on the way. Take yourself lightly in the meantime and don't believe everything you think. Life is so much bigger than mere rationality.
Jupiter is quintile Neptune on the 4th, a quick one pass aspect. Too bad that this aspect goes by so quickly (it's effects are about a month long) as it's quite positive and pleasurable in most situations. Jupiter is a very constructive, helpful kind of guy, quite generous in manner. Besides his help on more mundane levels, he's also a useful influence when it comes to intellectual or spiritual pursuits as he "opens doors" to areas you haven't explored before. Neptune is a difficult planet to understand, but he focuses much of his powers at opening up the heart center and washing away the boundaries that separate people from each other. This inclusive point of view that sees the ties and connections between us all is a heady, rarefied spiritual perspective. So between the warm and jolly Jupiter and the mystical Neptune, the mood of this energy is quite uplifting. As for the quintile aspect, quintiles are a funny kind of aspect that seems to sweep away barriers and limitations without much effort. You simply change your point of view and look at situations from a new perspective. Simply by looking at the world with fresh eyes, problems are turned into "no big deal" conditions. All the symbols here are positive and liberating, assuming you take advantage of them. There's always the possibility of squandering this energy by not exerting yourself or failing to focus on the best outcomes available. Lowering your standards may still lead to a good time, but the overall results may not stand the test of time. Aim high...
The full moon looks like it's a tough time for relationships in general. The chart is based on a powerful Grand Cross, with Mars opposite Neptune (active all month) and Venus opposite Juno across the lunar nodes. Aries Sun is opposite Libra Moon, connected to the Cross by 45 degree aspects. Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto are minor players in this chart.
Most of the planets in the Cross are feminine planets associated with heart energies and love relationships -- and then there's the Ol' Warrior God Mars. The full moon axis is in signs (Aries, Libra) that also point to relationship issues when egos get out of balance. Don't be surprised if really old issues come up with loved ones, as if hurt feelings have been simmering for a very long time. This is hardly the time to engage in big power games or making a big stand emotionally as it will undoubtedly spin out into a major blowout in short order. Given all the harsh aspects in this chart, you'll need all the tact and tender understanding you can muster to get through this time. Curiously, there's also an opposition between Saturn and Ceres in this chart, a kind of father-mother split, that I'm not quite sure what to do with. Go easy on each other! People have been under a lot of stress lately and are "on the edge" emotionally. It's time to practice your heart energies...
Ceres moves from Aries into Taurus on the 9th. She will be in this sign until Jun 23, when she shifts over to Gemini. Ceres is the Great Mother Goddess that supports the life in all living things. She is the vast web of interconnections between all forms of life, the desire to help, support and nurture those that need your help and the fulfillment of your own needs and desires in turn. We are all relatives on this lovely blue planet. In earthy Taurus, Ceres brings these issues to your attention in the most physical ways possible. You're likely to feel this influence on two levels: the personal (relating to your own body) and the global. It's no secret that we live in a culture that has a love/hate relationship with our own bodies. For centuries, the physical body has been held to be separate and inferior to our higher selves somehow and we all carry this prejudice deep in our psyches. While spending an unusual amount of time and energy on meeting the needs, desires and addictions of our bodies, we also look down on the "merely physical" side of life. This attitude of ambivalence leads to all sorts of health and behavioral problems, from obesity to eating disorders, addictions of all kinds, a food supply devoid of nutrition and so on. Sexual love, one of the greatest gifts on the physical plane, is hemmed in by shame and guilt, cheapened by reducing a robust intimacy to just physical stimulation and release. One of the lessons of Ceres is simply to give your physical nature its due, enjoy the pleasures of the body in moderation and respect, and learn to appreciate that the physical is just as important and sacred as the mental/spiritual realm. It's a lesson that comes with age, hopefully, as the negative messages of our culture become less shrill. On the global level, Ceres in Taurus is quite literally Mother Earth, our home and protectoress. Our culture has a rather rapacious attitude towards the environment, sucking her dry when it suits our selfish needs and crying bloody murder when we're inconvenienced. It's only 2 years since the big Gulf oil spill when everyone (including people who normally don't care about environmental issues) raised a big stink, but already we've forgotten that incident and are back to the "drill, baby, drill!" mentality. It's not sane to burn down the house that you have to live in, but that's the way most people still treat Mother Earth. We need to protect this home that gives us (and millions of other life forms) life and support while there's still something to protect. Yes, the negative manifestations of this placement are many and rather scary, while the positive side is mostly an ideal that we need to pay more attention to. This is a time to get our of your cocoon, enjoy life more, get your hands dirty in some honest soil, the body of Mother Earth. This is the real world, the world we live in. We are its children, not its masters.
Pluto is at his retrograde station of 9Cp33 on the 10th, starting a 5 month retrograde cycle. He'll be backing up until his direct station of 6Cp57 on Sep 17. Pluto is one of those friends that most people prefer to keep at arm's length. Despite his association with following your highest spiritual callings, most of us try to ignore him when he shows up. A Pluto retrograde cycle is one of astrology's most amazing phenomena, especially if he's going back and forth over a sensitive area of your birth chart, because he frequently forces long overdue changes in your life, upsetting the comfortable situation that you've taken years to assemble. During the first part of these cycles near the retrograde station, there are only faint rumblings of thunder off in the distance, hints that something is not right in your life and needs to be changed. Typically this affected area (often described by the natal houses or planets in your chart aspected by Pluto) starts showing signs of chaos after years of running along smoothly. This situation starts taking up a lot more of your time than usual and becomes increasingly difficult to hold together successfully. Old and favorite objects break or require repair, work takes more time without any attaboys to reward the effort, relationships become testy or filled with friction, etc. The reaction that nearly everyone falls back on is to work harder, spend more resources, whatever it takes to hold onto this area and try to make work again. However, Pluto doesn't take no for an answer. As the cycle continues, the pressure on your life only increases until a breaking point is reached, typically around the time of the direct station (next fall). At that time, things simply fall apart on you and there's no recourse but to walk away from the situation and move on. At a deeper level, there's an incredible spiritual process at play. We all come into this world with a role to play and lessons to learn. Along the way, we start to take the easy and comfortable way out, pursuing the "good life" instead of the path that is uniquely your own. That works for awhile, but eventually Pluto decides it's time to get back to work and put aside these distractions. When we notice the interference he's creating, there are basically two approaches to pursue. The common one is to fight back, going through these changes kicking and screaming, and in the end undergoing the losses and transformations that Pluto has in store for you. The more enlightened method is to realize that changes are necessary and cooperate with the process, letting go of the distractions and aligning your life once again with your higher calling. You still go through a lot of painful changes, but it doesn't hurt so much in the end. The irony of this is there's no reason to rebel against Pluto in the first place. You're only struggling against your own higher self, who you are deep down inside. The anger, hurt, resentments, etc. are all directed against yourself -- another emotional tendency that is best left behind. Cooperate with Pluto, simplify your life, let go of things that no longer serve any purpose. You'll thank yourself down the road.
Mars is at his direct station of 3Vi40 on the 13th. He's been backing up since his retrograde station of 23Vi05 back on Jan 23. Mars is the original action figure of our solar system, the power we all have to get things done and to use your will power to impress your desires upon the world. Without his "get up and go" energy, you would be hard pressed to accomplish any of your goals. Granted he gets a bad rap these days (all that male patriarchy business that is blamed on him), but that's really not the core of his symbolism. During his retrograde cycles, you need to look more closely at how your use your personal power and what you can do to improve your approach. This cycle has been entirely in the sign of Virgo, not one of those signs normally thought of as conducive to Mars' activities. However, over the years I've noticed this placement generally works out well. Mars typically likes to barge in and get things done, shooting first and asking questions later. This doesn't work in Virgo. She prefers to step back from the situation first, assess what's going on and approach things as skillfully as possible. She uses a deft touch, not a 2-by-4 over the head, to reach her goals. It also helps if you can keep your ego under wraps, as Virgo is more people oriented than Mars is used to. As I often say, Mars is a great soldier but a lousy general, so giving him some higher goal to achieve often keeps him from causing trouble. The last 3 months may have felt limiting or restrictive, as if every time you try to do something, obstacles or complications get in the way. That's just the way the universe operates to keep you from doing something stupid. Assuming you've learned some of these lessons, the speed bumps should go away after the direct station. Use only the force that is necessary, no more, no less. Keep the wider picture in mind instead of focusing only on "what's in it for me?", as Mars is prone to do. Work smarter, not harder. It gets easier (and more fun) from here.
We are only 5 hours away from the peak of the Koz Alert at the time of the new moon -- the storm pattern is at full energy now!
The focus in this chart is still Mars opposite Neptune, the new moon point itself in Taurus and the upcoming Mercury-Uranus conjunction. The rest of the planets are fairly quiet. The tug-of-war between Mars and Neptune leaves us between worlds, in a sense. Mars wants to get some tangible work done, especially now that he's direct again, but Neptune has his head in the clouds and doesn't want to put in the elbow grease. They are in zodiac signs that say selfless service to the world at large, which doesn't help Mars' urge to get moving. The Sun and Moon are pretty good at negotiating a compromise between these two, although at a leisurely pace. Taurus is never known to move quickly, so be patient with the pace of life. But while the body wants to slow down and relax, the mind is racing away under Mercury and Uranus. Ideas may be coming fast and furious the next few days. Some of them may actually be really good ideas, but watch out for the stupid ones -- there's nothing worse than the thinking mind spinning out of control. Keep an eye on the big picture instead of focusing so intently on your own personal angle -- that should prevent some dumb mistakes. Otherwise, this is a very constructive way to kick off the next lunar month. Pace yourself, but make sure to use this time wisely.
Vesta transitions from Aries into Taurus on the 30th. She'll be in this sign until Jul 9, when she moves into Gemini for an extended stay due to an upcoming retrograde cycle in that sign. Vesta is an introverted gal who finds her strength within. While she is capable of handling other people and social situations, at some point she finds this draining and starts to withdraw. This going within often happens during her retrograde cycles, but can occur at any time she feels overwhelmed by the world around her. This can be confusing to friends and loved ones, as it feels like emotional rejection to them, while for Vesta, it's simply taking care of herself. As she passes through Taurus, a very physical sign, I suspect there's a feeling of being drained and stressed out at a very bodily level, even if the original stresses were more emotional in nature. If you're feeling exhausted or run down, the coming months are a time to slow down and look after your health. Give yourself permission to set aside the incessant demands of daily life and give yourself some quiet space to relax and simply be yourself for a change. It's hard to remember that slowing down or simplifying your life is always a useful option. Resting up now will be helpful when we get to the retrograde cycle later this fall (starting Oct 21). Better to have some reserves to fall back on than to crash when you run out of steam. Take care of yourself.