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April 6-8 Venus sextiles Jupiter The two most beneficial planets, Venus and Jupiter, are in flowing aspect from April 6-8. This is an incredible time for opening the heart and expanding our sense of unconditional love for self and others. I would highly recommend that you read The Ecstatic Moment by Paul Ferrini sometime during this month. Subtitled "a practical manual for opening your heart and staying in it," it’s one of my favorite books. I’d like to quote his book now, as it really speaks to me of the wonderful joining of the planetary energies of Venus (the heart) and Jupiter (higher mind): "You are acceptable as you are, no matter how many mistakes you think you have made. There is nothing you have thought, felt, or done that prevents you from realizing your perfection here and now." April 8-11 Mars squares Uranus Mars in Taurus is in challenging relationship with Uranus in Aquarius from April 8-11. Mars/Uranus releases tension with sudden, unexpected, and often unpredictable action. Try to resolve any built-up tensions, whether on a physical, emotional, or mental level, when Mars squares Uranus. If we try to resist change, breakdowns will occur. If we embrace change, much can be accomplished during this transit, as it tends to increase energy and the desire to evolve. April 13-May 27 Mars in Gemini Mars, the planet representing personal will, moves through the sign of Gemini from April 13 through May 27. Since Gemini is the sign that represents perception through the five senses, when Mars is in Gemini the challenge is to stay focused and in the present moment. Try making lists of what you have to do so that you can focus on your immediate priorities. This is a great period for networking with others and getting a lot of "busywork" done. Focusing on cleaning up miscommunications or getting back correspondence or writing done is a perfect use of this transit. April 16 Chiron retrograde Chiron in Capricorn goes retrograde from April 16 through August 12. Retrograde periods are an opportunity to look at the retrograde planet's function in our lives. For many people born between February 1951 and January 1955, this is the time of their Chiron return. The return of Chiron to its original natal position (the conjunction) happens somewhere between the ages of 49 and 51. The Chiron return represents a choice point: are we moving more toward death, or are we moving ever more deeply into our spiritual nature? For those who have worked on healing their wounds and are opening to their spiritual nature, it can be a truly remarkable period in their lives. It can be a time of great creativity and letting go into our personhood and to our place in the world. On the other hand, if the lessons of Chiron have not been integrated and the individual has not opened to the spiritual realm it can be a trying experience. The question to ask yourself is, Am I moving fast toward death, or am I beginning to really move into my essential self? Have I dealt with my own woundedness and seen the inherent lessons and gifts, or am I hiding in my cave, unable to deal with my pain and unconsciously wounding others? These are the questions that Chiron, our wounded healer, our inner teacher, asks each of us to look at. Even if we are not going through a Chiron return, the Chiron retrograde presents an opportunity to address these fundamental questions in our lives as well. The beauty and reward of answering these questions and understanding the lessons of Chiron are revealed when our unique healing or whole-making abilities come to the foreground. When we embrace the lessons that Chiron brings us, we learn to accept our own suffering. In so doing, we can help others heal the very issues that we know so well. April 11-12 Mercury sextiles Uranus Mercury in Aries is in a positive relationship with Uranus in Aquarius April 18-19. Mercury/Uranus transits stimulate the concrete mind with intuitive information that is being "downloaded" from higher mind. This is a great time for brainstorming new possibilities, as our minds will be much more receptive and open to this realm of perception. April 12 New moon in Aries The new moon in Aries asks us to speak out boldly about what we need for emotional fulfillment. Moon in Aries is calling us to bring full awareness to our needs so that we then can be totally present and authentic with others. Only when we can truly nurture ourselves and honor our own needs for independence, autonomy, and freedom can we truly be in relationship with others. What nurtures us this month is activating our will to initiate action in our lives. If there are any projects that you’ve been putting off, use the new moon energy to get yourself motivated and into action! April 19 Sun enters Taurus The sun moves into the sign of Taurus on April 19. In nature, the outward impulse to manifest and thrive that was present in Aries now gives way to the methodical and practical shaping of the new life, thereby creating a secure foundation for future growth. The Taurus principle involves the practical shaping and formation of value. Our job during the sign of Taurus is to define and codify our values — what we own — so that we can actualize our potential and leave an inspiring legacy for others. April 23-24 Venus squares Uranus Venus in Taurus squares Uranus in Aquarius April 23-24. With Venus/Uranus, the emphasis is on questioning the degree of freedom that exists in our relationships. Venus/Uranus asks us to get in touch with how much freedom we really need in relationship vs. how much security we need, which is more Venus/Saturn. Most urges for freedom that people experience in relationship are in reaction to the feeling of being trapped or "hemmed in." True freedom can only be created by telling the truth about what you need and by being willing to deal with your own and others’ feelings of abandonment, alienation, and fear. April 25-May 19 Venus in Gemini This is a time of expanding your heart connections with others, of making connections to those networks of friends and family that haven’t heard from you in a while. The challenge is to not let your head rule your heart. If you’ve wanted to connect with someone but have been concerned about what they will think or how silly and vulnerable you might look, then this is a great time to just let your heart do the talking! One of the ways of opening the heart chakra is to allow your feelings to originate directly in the heart, to be able to freely respond in the moment without censuring with the mind. It’s amazing the number of stories I’ve heard about familial relationships that have been greatly enhanced through the advent of e-mail (a Gemini-like function)! Parents who hardly ever hear from their children now get instantaneous responses to their communications because of the ease and "user-friendliness" of electronic communication. The bottom line this month is to link up with others. It’s a great time to take a class and catch up on your e-mail or other correspondence. It’s also a great time to share with loved ones that article, book, or information that you feel would help them in their efforts to achieve greater growth and understanding in their lives. April 26 Full moon in Scorpio The moon is full in Scorpio on April 26. For this month, the emphasis is on experiencing a deep and primary bond with loved ones. The full moon in Scorpio calls us to move deeply into our desire for intimate merging with the beloved. The challenge this month is to acknowledge this need to others even though you might feel extremely vulnerable and fear that your beloved might reject or abandon you if you look too needy. The full moon in Scorpio is asking us to communicate to others the depth of who we are and what we need to feel bonded emotionally and physically. April 28-May 1 Mars trines Neptune Mars in Gemini is in positive relationship with Neptune in Aquarius for the next three days. With Mars/Neptune energy, we are asked to surrender our sense of personal will so that we can be guided by spirit. Another way of saying this is learning how to "go with the flow." So much of what we learn in this culture has to do with making things happen, or using our strong will to control and manage our lives. Use the energy of Mars and Neptune to learn how to surrender your attachment to the outcome. By acknowledging that we are not alone, we can then tap into grace and return to being in the flow of life rather than fighting it. April 29 Mercury enters Gemini Mercury will travel through the sign of Gemini from April 29 through July 7. With Mercury in Gemini, the focus is on communication and the dissemination of information. What is it that you’ve wanted to communicate or share with your friends that you haven’t had time to? How are you growing on an intellectual or mind level? Mercury in Gemini is a time when our minds want to be active: studying, reading, researching, and certainly chatting with others. This is a great month to write letters, make short trips, take a course that enlivens your mind, or just get together with friends for some lively and far-ranging conversations about what’s going on in the world. James Jarvis, M.A., is a master astrologer, professional life coach and transpersonal counselor. For those who want support in discovering, clarifying, and manifesting their vision, James is available for astrological consultations and life coaching sessions by phone. For a brochure of his services, or to schedule phone or mail order consultations, call (831) 688-0574, e-mail <jjarvis@lifeqwest.com>, or visit James’ Web site at <http://www.lifeqwest.com/>. If you would like to receive James' free e-mail newsletter, send your e-mail address to <newsletter@lifeqwest.com>. |
By adding the universal
year 2002 (2+0+0+2=4) to the 4th month of April, we come up with
the vibration of 8. The 8 month represents an opportunity to
achieve greater mastery in our lives. It’s a great month
for taking a look at your goals and brainstorming new possibilities
for accomplishing them that you might not have thought of before.
Try to suspend the critic, the cynic, and the skeptic and move
into new, uncharted territory.