April 2012 Astrocast

Key Events:  

Full Moon (17:23 Libra): 6 April 2012

New Moon (01:35 Taurus): 21 April 2011

Retrograde Planets: 

Mars (23:05 Virgo - 03:41 Virgo):  24 January 2012 - 14 April 2012

Saturn (29:30 Libra - 22:46 Libra): 7 February 2012 - 25 June 2012

Mercury (06:49 Aries - 23:59 Pisces): 12 March 2012 - 4 April 2012

Pluto (09:34 Capricorn - 06:57 Capricorn): 10 April 2012 - 18 September 2012

Easy Reference

Sun   Moon  Mercury   Venus   Mars   Jupiter   Saturn   Uranus   Neptune   Pluto  

1st House   2nd House   3rd House   4th House   5th House   6th House   7th House   8th House   9th House   10th House   11th House   12th House

Aspects     Sign Rulers     Fire-Earth-Air-Water     Cardinal-Fixed-Mutable

Eclipses  Solar Returns  Retrograde Planets

Lunations and Long-term Aspects

The Full Moon on April 6 is in fellow Air Sign, Libra, your 9th house of beliefs, expectations, religion, politics, higher learning, relocation, other cultures, legal matters and foreign cultures as well as your general philosophy of life.  This lunation will form a nice Triangle of Potential with your Natal Sun if your birthday is within a day or so of February 7th, which provides you with the personal power to use this lunation in the way you see fit.  The effects will be primarily on the mental plane where your thoughts and ideas work their way into a deeper part of you where they become incorporated into your belief system in some way.  This may be precipitated by Pluto's influence in your 12th house of spirituality, enlightenment, dreams, confinement, institutions, seclusion, hidden enemies, the collective consciousness, and inspiration.  Yes, this is the house I usually call the "angels and demons" house due to the strange mix contained there, many of which are of a hidden or esoteric nature. Pluto in this house will evoke deep insights and understanding with what may manifest as a deep desire for spiritual truth. 

He and Uranus will be in a square aspect for quite a while which will jump-start this process in what may be surprising ways.  Uranus is in your 3rd house of Aries, where the Sun is for much of this month.  Here lie such things as your thoughts, ideas, neighbors, siblings, and local travel such as your daily commute and errands.  With Uranus in this house you can expect surprises in all these areas.  Given that this includes local travel, be especially aware of being attentive and careful when you're driving.  Thus, flashes and unexpected activity here may trigger the process of discovery at a spiritual level and conflicts may arise.  Uranus is the planet of rebellion and freedom so if you've been tied down by any self-defeating behaviors or people who undermine you in some way, your awareness of these things will be heightened.  Uranus is a bit quirky as well as your Modern Sign Ruler which is what gives you a unique and individualistic nature, and in Aries his energy can be volatile and impulsive.  Any conflicts which arise between your conscious mind and deeper perception of reality may thus bring about some revelations with rather shocking potential.  The coming months will be a time to pay attention to what is going on inside your head and contemplate anything that feels uncomfortable and see what housecleaning you may need to do at the spiritual level.

Your ancient sign ruler, Saturn, is still retrograde in fellow Air Sign, Libra, where he is trining your natal Sun if your birthday is right around February 16.  This is your 9th house of beliefs, expectations, higher learning, relocation, foreign cultures, long-distance travel, legal matters and your general philosophy of life.  Saturn is working at restructuring something in this part of your life to which you should pay attention as well as it is likely to tie in with what Pluto and Uranus are working on as well.

Mars is retrograde in Virgo, your 8th house of transformations, death and rebirth, shared resources, debt, sex and intense experiences which tend to change you at a deep and lasting level.  Mars retrograde tends to sap your energy and motivation yet you may find things coming at you out of the blue.  Mars throws a caution flag when he's in the 8th because he can predispose you to accidents, so be careful, especially with sharp objects and around fire.  He's inhibited a bit in an Earth Sign but be aware nonetheless.  He is up to something in this part of your life as well with a few clues provided by Venus and Neptune with whom he's in an aspect pattern known as a T-square.  Venus is in fellow Air Sign, Gemini, your 5th house of ego definition, romance, children, creativity, entertainment and speculation or what is sometimes called the "fun house."  Venus in this locale is quite nice and should bring good things your way in this part of your life. 

However, Mars and Neptune may be messing with this a bit.  Mars, as noted above, is in your 8th of transformations, so you may be in the process of getting a different view of yourself which will evolve into a significant change.  Neptune is in his dignity in Pisces, your 2nd house of values, finances, income, comforts, needs and pleasures where he is perhaps firing your imagination or dreams in this part of your life.  You may find that what you want is not what you're getting and decide that you deserve much more than you're seeing manifest in reality.  This can be very useful for making some life changes such that you head in a new direction which will serve you better.  Bear in mind that the quincunx between Mars and Uranus may come into play with some sudden or wild ideas which turn out to be useful for effecting the change you want.

The New Moon on April 21 is in fellow Fixed Sign, Taurus, your 4th house of home environment, memories, cultural roots, and endings, which of course imply new beginnings or a new cycle.  By this time Mars is no longer retrograde and proceeding through your house of transformations in a way that helps point you toward a new dawn of some description.  Uranus and Mercury are conjunct in Aries, just waiting to provide an innovative or unexpected idea of some sort which will start shifting you in the direction of a new course.  Neptune is still throwing inspiration and new desires your way which will fuel it even more.  Balancing this new vision with what you need to do to get there will require balance and a few challenges, but hang onto your dreams, acknowledge your needs and follow your heart where it's trying to lead you.

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