Astrological update for the week of April 10-17, 2023

The solar eclipse on April 20 will kick off eclipse season. Eclipses are often bunched into a series of two or three pairs, but this year the two eclipse pairs operate on their own, without any others in the series. The first of the pair, the New Moon, occurs at 29º 57′ Aries – just three minutes of a degree from being in Taurus rather than Aries. This degree can feel a little “cusp-y” but to me there are no accidents and every symbol has meaning.

The very last degree of a sign, the 29th degree, is called the “critical” or “anoretic” degree and is associated with the endings of cycles and new beginnings.  The word “anaretic” derives from “anareta,” which in medieval astrology signified the planet of death in the natal horoscope.  This is likely what has given the 29th degree such a bad rap in traditional astrology, although endings are actually the harbinger of new beginnings and not to be feared.

I love the symbology of the endings of the 29th degree combined with the New Moon.  There is a sense of sweeping away of the old and a fresh new beginning, especially with the Moon eclipsing the Sun, stripping away any artifice of conscious awareness and bringing us face to face with the raw truth of our needs and desires as described by Aries. In this moment which is rich with  the power of Mars, we can begin to let go of some of our willfulness as patterns are completed and the Moon slips gently into Taurus just 20 minutes after the eclipse, forming a square aspect to transformational Pluto. We are in new territory, and this anaretic solar eclipse will help (force?) a push through obstacles into a birth of a new lens of experience.

Ceres opposite Neptune. I wrote about this last week as this influence was building, but it culminates on Tuesday and its effects will linger throughout the week. This is the midpoint of a cycle which began last fall and will conclude in June of this year. Ceres is the planet which bestows the grace of good nutrition and a sense of being embodied in the world; we get to Ceres through what is now called “wellness” – the care of the body, mind and spirit to fully integrate a healthy incarnation.

The aspect to Neptune can blur some of our motivation and intention, and this week as the eclipse energies begin to culminate for next week’s eclipse it will be even more important to pay attention to the needs of the body. Hydration, nutrition, movement, breath – all are doorways to greater personal integration and equanimity.

Venus enters Gemini and trines Pluto. When the planet of love is in the sign of the mind, communication and the sharing of information becomes more important in all of our interactions with others. The harmonious aspect to Pluto will help to deepen our interpersonal connections and find greater meaning in our personal contacts. Venus in Gemini is curious about people, and over the next few weeks (until Venus makes the shift into Cancer on May 7) we may find ourselves meeting new people or learning new things about the people already in our sphere.

Here’s what else you need to know this week (Dates and times are for the Eastern time zone, here is a time zone converter to adjust for your locality.)

Monday April 10. The main influence to be felt on Monday is the Ceres/Neptune pressure for the needs of the body to nourish the soul which peaks just after midnight on Tuesday and then begins to fade throughout the week. The Moon is in hopeful Sagittarius on Monday and most of Tuesday, and the Sun is approaching a conjunction to optimistic Jupiter which culminates on Tuesday. This expansiveness makes Monday and Tuesday a very good time to look ahead and imagine the very best outcome, and then make your way there. (Monday’s only aspect is a trine from the Sagittarius Moon to Chiron at 5:27 pm.)

Tuesday April 11. Tuesday is packed with happy planetary dynamics. The cheerful Sagittarius Moon harmonizes with both the Sun and Jupiter in advance of that conjunction later in the evening. Venus makes the shift into Gemini and trines Pluto as described above. Later in the morning the Moon challenges both Ceres and Neptune, so be sure that early in the day you do what is needed to take care of your well-being.

The Moon enters Capricorn at 5:33 pm EDT which can sometimes be an abrupt end to Sagittarian expansiveness, but with the Sun conjunct Jupiter peaking a few hours later the rays of the Sun will continue to shine for the rest of the day. (Ceres opposite Neptune 1:04 am, Moon trine Sun 1:48 am, trine Jupiter 2:55 am, Venus enters Gemini 4:47 am, Venus trine Pluto 10:14 am, Moon square Ceres 10:39 am, square Neptune 10:47 am, Moon enters Capricorn 5:33 pm, Sun conjunct Jupiter 10:07 pm.)

Wednesday April 12. Lunar aspects on Wednesday and Thursday turn our attention to the realm of feeling and instinct, and with the Moon in Capricorn there is an emphasis on the Things that Must Be Done. On Wednesday the lunar influences are primarily helpful in energizing our thoughts and actions. There is a short period in the evening (EDT) when we may feel particularly sensitive emotionally under a Chiron influence, but this will soon wane – especially if we are able to breathe through difficult feelings to release them.

The positivity of the Sun/Jupiter conjunction still lingers throughout Wednesday. (Moon sextile Saturn 12:07 am, opposite Mars 9:02 am, trine Mercury 1:35 pm, square Chiron 9:27 pm, trine Uranus 11:23 pm.)

Thursday April 13. Thursday morning (EDT) the Capricorn Moon puts the kibosh on the optimism of the Sun and Jupiter, but by afternoon the clouds will part and any negativity will dissipate. A difficult aspect from Venus to Saturn begins to build today which will culminate on Friday which could affect our interactions with others as well as our finances. Perhaps others will expect too much of us, perhaps it will be the other way around. In any case, this will not be the ideal day for speculation and we may want to wait til the weekend for difficult conversations.

The Moon enters Aquarius later in the evening and immediately conjoins Pluto, illuminating deep truths that may have been hidden. The Aquarius Moon seeks clarity and awakening, and Pluto here facilitates that process. (Moon square Jupiter 7:19 am, square Sun 9:11 am, trine Ceres 1:23 pm, sextile Neptune 2:14 pm, Moon enters Aquarius 8:42 pm, conjunct Pluto 9:11 pm.)

Friday April 14. The Venus/Saturn combination culminates on Friday afternoon, but the Moon harmonizes with Venus in the wee hours of the morning (EDT) to ease the challenges. That evening we may find ourselves feeling some mental stress and it may be a good idea, if we can, to give ourselves a mental break. (Moon trine Venus 2:23 am, Venus square Saturn 4:38 pm, Moon square Mercury 7:15 pm.)

Saturday April 15. The weekend is full of lunar energies, but no planetary interactions. Lunar influences are fleeting and move through quickly, and if difficulties come up they soon pass. Saturday is a dream of a day, with plenty of harmonious support and then late in the evening the Moon enters Pisces and makes that dream a literal one. (Moon sextile Chiron 12:13 am, square Uranus 2:07 am, sextile Jupiter 10:36 am, sextile Sun 3:15 pm, Moon enters Pisces 10:56 pm.)

Sunday April 16. On Sunday these lunar aspects are mostly harmonious after some minor blips in the morning (possibly in our personal interactions). By afternoon these blips will be in the rear view mirror and the creativity of the Pisces Moon will be in full force. This is a beautiful day for any kind of creative adventure. (Moon conjunct Saturn 5:57 am, square Venus 8:58 am, trine Mars 5:48 pm, sextile Mercury 11:24 pm.)

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