April 2011

As the sun sets on the closing cosmic chapter that was Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius, a new era emerges so quickly and unexpectedly. With Mercury retrograde in April, it's time to catch your breath and allow Neptune's arrival in Pisces to soothe the soul. Take the middle, balanced road that is Saturn - be mindful and alert while remaining calm in extreme situations.

PLANET REPORT: Another cracker of a month that continues with the high-energy theme we have been experiencing since the end of 2010. With Uranus now in Aries and Neptune shifting into Pisces on the 5th, we must keep in mind that we are entering a new chapter in the history books and that even though we are enduring extreme birthing pains, life will settle down after June. And despite the pain that some people will experience, trusting in life requires a huge leap of faith and nerves of steel. There is no doubt that events will be highly stressful for some and that all we can do is support them as best we can but as we pass through events and obstacles there will emerge a greater sense of the future and what all these changes mean both personally and globally. We can look forward to a new set of values and the need to alter our outlook and the ways we have become accustomed to so that a new order can take hold from which will arise a greater sense of purpose. Preparation, flexibility and adjusting to the speed at which we are all travelling at are the best ways to handle the unexpected deliveries of news, views and events each day. It all starts with Mars not only in his own sign Aries from April 2nd-May 11th as well as a push-pull New Moon in Aries on the 4th but also an electrifying, sizzling union of Mars with newly-arrived but totally extreme Uranus in Aries from April 2nd-5th. Uranus is always revolutionary and unpredictable while Mars is the engine that drives the train to new destinations. Because Mars’ cycle takes two years, this suggests that new frontiers can be eventually be forged out of the chaos. Amidst the tragedy there is also a palpable excitement that we need to grab hold of to avoid being overwhelmed on a personal level. Once Mars leaves unruly Uranus he then meets Saturn in a tension filled opposition. Saturn is the only planet representing law and order and the face of humanity at the moment and he is definitely struggling against the odds in Libra to keep this balance. Between the 11th and 19th we will see evidence of this when the brakes are jammed on. Saturn in Libra is the face of people helping people to restore the foundations of lives that have been overturned and we can see that this is a difficult but ultimately rewarding task. The Full Moon in Libra on the 18th helps bring closure of events that began six months ago and underlines the value of relating to others. The month ends with Mars conjoining Jupiter between the 29th-3rd May. This aspect may act as the lift-off point of our journeys if we are prepared to move on, or an expansion of already existing situations. It all depends on what luggage we are carrying and how much we are prepared to off-load or hold on to. And, last but not least, while our eyes are peeled on global events, Mercury retrograde reminds us to keep an eye on the smaller details. We may be in such a rush to move on or get out of difficulties before we are ready, that we forget to read the fine print, double-check travel arrangements or become involved in new situations without being aware of the full implications.

ARIES: Your birthday year is sure to be full of exciting adventures with your
ruler Mars now blasting through your sign. The tempo, stakes and optimism are
raised now that two new cycles begin in your sign. The beginning of the month
starts with a bang when Mars catches up to revolutionary Uranus bringing a quick
succession of events that will be hard to keep up with. This is a time to take
risks but take a reality check between the 17th and 19th when Saturn creates
speed bumps and obstacles in the form of someone who urges you to slow down and
consider personal changes carefully. The Full Moon of the 14th will underline
this even further but after this you will have a greater sense of balance in
your perception of others. Communication is the key as is leaving major
decisions until after the 23rd, which is another key date. From the 29th you
have a choice of adventures and dreams to follow. Go for it!

TAURUS: Whatever is happening behind the scenes is the focus of your chart in
April. With Mercury travelling backwards through this area, the past, your inner
life, health and spiritual wellbeing takes centre-stage. In June, a
grand new 12-year cycle begins that will help you overhaul your image, looks,
direction in life and your general attitude. This means that as your birthday
month draws near, April is a great month to clean out the closets and get rid of
the stuff that is no longer of use. Less baggage means a better start to the
12-month journey of Jupiter through your sign. Jupiter will be here until June
2012 and is full of the promise of stability and fertile growth. Whether it's
travel, education, a whole new philosophical outlook or a brand new image, you
are about to enter into a much more prosperous cycle that can only take off if
you have dealt with the issues that arise in April. Key dates this month are
2nd-5th, 11th-13th, 17th-19th and 29th-1st May.

GEMINI: Your ruler Mercury is steaming backwards through Aries highlighting all
the bigger change that is occurring both personally and globally. Interesting
developments almost always occur when the planet of commerce and communication
does a U-turn. This month, so that you don't miss the important details that
could unravel further down the track, you need to ease your foot off the
accelerator. Pull over into a slower lane when it comes to friends or the groups
and teams that you are involved with. There is a great shift happening in this
area that will alter your perception of people in exciting ways. Some may show
you how anything is possible, while others may be too radical with their views or
intentions. The New Moon of the 4th will highlight this while the Full Moon of
the 18th will help you find a counter-balance between your social and romantic
life or where your responsibilities lie with a child or children. Of course, you
may also have aspirations that are in direct opposition with these
responsibilities. Neptune now sits at the top of your chart, so a sea-change in
your life direction, a parent or your public persona is now at hand.

CANCER: There is a lot of activity surrounding your sign that may push you out
of your comfort zone in April. Events and people pop up in rapid succession this
month and it won't be plain sailing but what you discover or experiment with
will open your mind up to the new possibilities that are forming with the fresh
era that we have all entered into. The New Moon of the 4th brings an intense
feeling of optimism but there are still obstacles from the domestic quarter of
your life that need resolving. You know that the sky is the limit but until
these familiar issues are dealt with, there will be a feeling of driving with
the brakes still on. Balance is the key. Mercury is retrograde this month and
this is always a good time to take stock, especially on a professional level.
The devil is in the details and the powers that be in your trade, profession or
public life will be active and very real. From the 23rd, anything is possible
and you will enter into May feeling much more optimistic about the future if you
have off-loaded unwanted baggage.

LEO: You are one of only two signs that can actually enjoy some of the hair-raising changes that the world is going through! Caution is always advised in high-tension times, but generally April is a huge month in terms of travel and educational activities. You could find yourself in the thick of things anywhere, anytime. The rock that people turn to, you have the breadth of vision to aid and assist. At the same time, even if you are living an ordinary life, you may find that you are suddenly awakened to possibilities that lie far beyond your usual boundaries. If you are travelling long distances, at home or abroad, be sure to triple check all your arrangements or to have alternative plans up your sleeve just in case things turn a little chaotic. And even though you might find yourself in a strange place at a strange time, the switched on people, the culture, or the atmosphere will make this location exciting. For stay-at-home Lions, there is still the same thirst to learn or expand your mind that on-the-move Lions will experience, and you might be inexplicably drawn to out-of-the-ordinary studies or beliefs.

VIRGO: With Mercury travelling backward through your other people’s money zone, this could be a nail-biting time if you are restructuring, settling or making claims, loans or working on joint property, tax or insurance issues since there are so many wild cards to contend with. Life in this area is highly-volatile but handled with kid gloves could produce some opportunistic gems. Money matters go through an explosive start as April opens with exciting developments kicking the month off. Leave off counting your chickens though until after Mars opposes Saturn, who will want the accounts to balance exactly. Because of the intense scrutiny mid-month, preparation is the key to making the most of the hidden opportunities or for approaching others for loans or favours. By month’s end, if everything is done with caution, practicality and honesty, the world could be your oyster. Watch the fine print and be accountable for everything.

LIBRA: If you could pick a month to stay in bed for an entire 30 days, this would be it! Being on the opposite side of the sky from the explosive line-up in Aries, Librans are going to have to approach life with a Zen-like attitude. Saturn in your sign is currently the only sane planet in the sky during April so stick to the rules and structures that you know best. Other people are the wild cards in your existence right now but trying to make head or tail of their needs, wants, thoughts or ideas will be like trying to find a light switch in the dark. You can make a difference though by remaining level-headed and rational at all times (yes! that could be difficult). The 17-19th is when the brakes go on in situations that threaten to get out of hand. Just when others are charging ahead without a plan, obstacles will slow the speed at which events and dilemmas could escalate so this could be a blessing in disguise. Being mid-way through your solar year, the Full Moon of the 18th suggests doing a mini stock take of the last six months. By the end of the month, communications get a lot easier.

SCORPIO: If you’ve got work projects that require rocket propulsion or a unique flash of insight to get started or finished, April is the month to plough through as much as you can on existing tasks. This applies to jobs that have already been planned for rather than those that are brand new but this can a great time to make rough outlines on paper for future use. It’s a busy, busy month on a daily level and you may find that what you set out to do in the morning flies completely out the window by lunch. Try to prioritise so that if you get side-tracked by the unexpected the important jobs have been taken care of. The area of your chart that rules pets, your health and the general maintenance of your life is brightly lit up with some very active planets including your ruler Mars. High-energy, there’s a tendency toward impatience and frustration when Mercury throws red herrings across your path but you could be grateful for the delays that prevent you from moving ahead prematurely.

SAGITTARIUS: With Neptune moving to the lowest point in your chart, the area that rules your home and family is about to enter into a sea-change that will be that much softer than the sudden changes and unpredictability that Uranus has brought over the past seven years. A flood of feelings will begin to emerge in this area that makes it possible to relate to others on a much more spiritual level. Having said that, your romantic and creative life is about to move up a notch or two during April and you will actively pursue exciting avenues of self-expression, whether it’s a hobby, social event or a passionate meeting with someone new. The internet or technology could play an important part in what you are doing now. There could also be exciting new developments with a child who suddenly excels in leaps and bounds, or you may strike a breakthrough in a situation that has been stuck for some time. For others, there may be news of a birth, pregnancy or adoption.

CAPRICORN: Like Aries, Cancer and Libra, the planets seems to be conspiring to make your life unusually active and exciting. From all directions, you are face-to-face with important decisions, events and people who can change the layout of your life permanently. In April, your domestic life will be highlighted in so many ways. For some, it will be living arrangements that will go through a rearrangement with the addition or subtraction of a family member, flatmate or visitor; while for others, renovations, a shift or some other situation will disrupt the flow of routine while this change-over occurs. From the 17th-19th, your ruler Saturn coupled with a Full Moon will bring your life direction into clear focus and this is a good time to take a reality check on where you would really like to be in a few years time. If you can hold off making firm decisions about home or profession until after the 23rd, you will be in a position to make the correct choice.

AQUARIUS: Travel could be on the agenda this month but it is likely to be for business or relationship issues rather than for pleasure. It all starts from the 3rd and culminates around the Full Moon of the 18th, which highlights distant places. For others, your knowledge base and worldly experience comes to the fore and there is certainly a huge amount of planetary energy in your zone of thinking, writing and communicating throughout April. This is an unusual cluster of planets so if you’ve got reports, letters or even a book to write, this is the month to put pen to paper. Because Mercury, the planet that rules communications is off air until the 23rd, try to wait until after that date before processing this information or sending it off to your recipient. While life is thrilling in many ways, there are also hidden details that will emerge as the month wears on and you will want to wait for this knowledge to emerge before signing off the final copy.

PISCES: There is a major sea-change for all Pisceans this month! Neptune, your modern ruler, will enter Pisces for the first time in 172 years! That’s right, we’ve never experienced this outer planet transit in our lifetime and hopefully this transit will arrive just when we need a little spirituality the most. Those of you who are born in the very early days of Pisces will experience the soothing waters of this mystical planet in a much more heightened way and you may feel the urge to retreat into an emotional, spiritual way of living. Remaining here until 2026, each of you will gradually experience Neptune during the course of the next 15 years. In April though, the focus is squarely on your financial life where sudden and quite exciting changes are happening that can’t always be planned for. Sudden changes could be disruptive but they will also free you up to earn money how and when you like.

March 2011

PLANET REPORT: As we enter March, life seems very strange, quixotic, distorted and new after the earth-shattering, revolution-inducing cosmic events of February. With no let-up in sight, a new cosmic order begins on March 12th when Uranus joins Jupiter in bold, adventurous Aries for a seven year stay. There is also a palpable tension rising all month as Mars heads toward a spectacular conjunction with Uranus in Mars’ own sign, Aries on April 4th. And just like the flexible new foundations, structures, rules and regulations that will rebuild cities and cultures, we need to flow with the change and build personal foundations that can withstand the jarring - and sometimes abrupt way – our new perspective will be formed in the coming months. The fiery vision of Aries will heat the dying emotional waters of Uranus in Pisces and transform feelings into actions through flashes of inspiration to create a fresh future in the coming seven years. Ideas and mental energy abound on the 9th when Mercury joins Uranus and then Jupiter on the 15th while intense intellectual fervour occurs on the 13th - try not to hold on too tightly to the need to control in this wild times. The heightened lunar activity that the year began with means we need to be armed and prepared right up until June 2011, especially around the New and Full Moons each month. And while our teeth may rattle and our knuckles turn white, it’s a ride that will twist and turn around corners we never dreamed existed. From June 5th, Jupiter will give us practical gifts to work with and from this will emerge patience and stability. In March, circle the 12th, when not only does Uranus transit into Aries but Mars locks into the New Moon pattern that occurred on the 5th. Also highlight the Full Moon of the 20th which is a karmically-loaded lunation that relates back to last September’s New Moon - one day later, the Sun conjoins Uranus. Following new goals and aiming for something outside of our usual comfort zones is the best way to accommodate the shifting landscape. Being thrown together with people who are “good” for us or taken to places where destiny happens, is the signature line of this pattern. By March 31st, Mercury will be retrograde. This means that from as early as March 17th, we need to sign and seal major life changes or avoid beginning anything that is not already in the making until after April 23rd, when Mercury resumes normal direction. Adding to the melting pot that is Uranus, Jupiter, the Sun, and then Mars from April 2nd, Mercury’s to-ing and fro-ing in hot-headed Aries, means that this is unlikely to be a passive time of review but more of a push and a shove to take a second look at decisions, choices, projects and setups. The Autumn Equinox – which marks the tone of each season or quarter - occurs when the Sun travels into Aries on the 21st at 12:22pm. Two planets on the critical first degree of a sign, and especially on the Aries’ first degree, means that once again revolutionary, shattering Uranus will bring lightening-quick events, people and situations. Stressful to say the least, but, ultimately, this energy will loosen and free up the old patterns of relating, mating and creating.

ARIES: Your sign has a very busy year coming up once the Sun slam-dunks into Aries on the 21st. For many of you - but especially those born on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd March - Jupiter is already paving the way for the brave new world that Uranus will surely usher in. This is a generational shift when a new crop of people and events come into being and for those who have early birthdays, you may be part of this change directly. Your personal identity is up for a whole new look, image or attitude, and you will be a magnet for, or be totally drawn to anything that is outside the square and can revitalise and renew your outlook and experiences. By the end of March and into April, try to slam the brakes on and backup a little. Events are happening a little too quickly just when you need to reassess keep an eye on the details. Yes, you are biting at the bit, but act in haste, repent at leisure applies from March 17th

TAURUS: From March 12th, you will shift from an outer friend/group/network-type focus to a bigger inner life of exploration, retreat, healing and an interest in the spiritual, emotional side of your existence. So much has changed in the past seven years with Uranus moving through the social zone of your chart but now you can begin to look back and see that a line is slowly but surely being drawn in the sand that will separate “them” from “you”. This new holistic frontier appeared for a short time last June and July but then mysteriously disappeared, allowing you time to say a proper goodbye to your social set, or a set of aspirations, ideals, hopes and dreams. From March 12th, after this one last encore, you step behind the curtain for good to rebuild a much more therapeutic setting for the amazing inner changes that will form over the next 7 years. Take the time between March 27th and April 21st to make the transition and weigh up all options.

GEMINI: You’ll be glad to hear that the roller-coaster ride that Uranus has bolted you along in your career zone since 2003 is about to pass into the history books. It all tentatively began last June and July, when new faces appeared or events that altered old friendships occurred, and after this glimpse, on March 12th this very social, group-oriented phase begins properly. This is a process of breaking up the existing patterns of forging friendships and meeting people of similar, but also very different, aspirations. Suddenly you wake up with different goals and dreams and this causes you to look at people in a completely new light. Alternatively, the people around you may go through a period of rapid change and this spills over into your life. Mercury turns retrograde at month’s end so from the 17th, you enter into a peculiar phase where life shrinks and expands at the same time. Despite the feeling of urgency, take your time. Late in April, the lights turn green.

CANCER: If you have a Gemini around you, ask them about their career and professional life over the past seven years. This might give you some idea of the great changes that you are about to enter into. If you are born in the first three days of your sign, you are likely to already be experiencing an urgent sense of needing to break the mould and experiment with something new. Others may feel that change is being forced upon you and though the stress is great, in the long run, you will eventually soak up the feeling of freedom to completely change your direction in life. The building work continues in your home and family sector, whether it’s with your house, the landlord or your tenant, because this will be the base that keeps you grounded while the gyrometer swings wildly in your life direction zone. Secure your foundations as best you can while looking forward to a brave new future.

LEO: The world is your oyster from March 12th, when Uranus joins itchy-footed Jupiter already in your zone of learning, travel, beliefs and publishing. Your thinking and beliefs are about to be exposed to totally new concepts that open up many ideas, experiences and cultural diversities. From the Bible to Baghdad, the diversity on offer in the coming months is going to extend all the way to 2019 and the urge starts right now. But! Because Mercury turns to backward motion on the 31st, from the 17th you should really take a step back from packing bags or enrolling in courses until all the variables assemble themselves into some kind of crazy pattern. This will save you plunging headlong into something that appears exciting and just what you need but may not really be what you want in the long run. If tickets are already booked, then prepare yourself for a journey of a lifetime where anything can happen. Double check everything, especially around the end of the month. By late April, it will be all systems go!

VIRGO: A rush-rush month when the peculiarities of other people steps up a notch or two before the hot and cold atmosphere of the past 7 years in relationships settles back into a regular rhythm. From March 12th, Uranus moves into your zone of property, cash, settlements and finances where a diverse range of experiences will change your thinking about money forever. Of course, this involves other people or organizations such as banks or insurances and what you will experience will require a huge leap in your knowledge base. Anything can, and probably will, happen, and quickly! Start preparing for a future that will be radically different. At the same time, you need to keep in mind the rebuilding that has already started in the way you earn money and that earnings need to keep in line with expenditure. If you can get this formula right, you can make amazing profits or investments with the coming opportunities. The Full Moon of the 20th will bring a brush with fate but with Mercury, your ruler, going off air on the 31st, you need to step back and take stock of what you are getting involved with financially.

LIBRA: Life is big right now. So big, we cannot keep up with the rapid changes that will continue to bombard us all for a few more months yet. For Librans, (along with Aries, Cancerians and Capricorns) you are already going through your own personal scaling down, and just when you had given up the ghost, along come people and relationships – from romance to partnerships to friendships- that tip your view to the opposite end of the scale. This person or person may have appeared last June or July and has been coming and going, blowing hot and then cold, until January when their orbit came closer to yours. Accepting diversity is the deciding factor in this crazy liaison as well as the issue of freedom – either yours or theirs. Take it slowly despite the feeling that you need to make a decision. There are so many more variables to come to light that you would be wise to avoid commitment until late April. Take note of what happens around the 20th.

SCORPIO: If you have a child who has been up and then down and then back up again, or a love life, that has been crazy, erratic but extremely stimulating, then you will be glad to know that all the unpredictability of the last seven years is about to become at lot more settled. With Uranus moving out of this zone and joining Jupiter in your work and health sphere, this area of your life will soon go through a major revolution. Up-skilling, finding hours that free you from the 9-5 shackles, taking up new technologies, or simply forging a completely new health regime is what is in store in the coming months and years. Mind, body or spirit, it’s time for a change for the better, especially if you had a preview last June or July of what could happen if you allow things to continue on in the same old way. Uranus is all about inventing a new role for yourself, whether at the gym or in the workplace – now is the time to kick it all off. Having said that, there are snarls up ahead where insights flow thick and fast so wait until late April to dive into the next era.

SAGITTARIUS: Since 2003, your home life has been as vague and as unpredictable as the weather is in spring but from March 12th, chaotic, quixotic Uranus moves out of this area for good. And while it will take a while to steer a straight course, the world of children, fun, creativity and romance comes alive in an extremely unique way. Whether you are a parent with a child, about to have a child or you are looking after other people’s children, there are some amazing times ahead with opportunities to enter into competitions, travel or achieve a sporting award. Some may even adopt or meld your own family into someone else’s. Romantically, you don’t get any more exciting than this! Single or married, the next few months are like that old jingle about gingernut biscuits, or an extra hot curry….so spicy! For others yet, there are some astounding opportunities to invest in something that is so far off your radar, you would never have thought it possible. The only glitch is waiting until late in April to seal any commitments of time, energy or money. By then, the facts and variables should be plain to see.

CAPRICORN: With a whole heap of planets at the nadir of your chart, and most particularly Uranus’ shattering arrival on the 12th, your home, domestic and family life is about to enter into a revolution. From rebellious children to wayward parents to eccentric visitors or flatmates or landlords, you will never know what or who is going to land on your doorstep next. Find a Sagittarian and ask them relentlessly what has occurred in their home life since 2003 and you will get an idea of the phase you are about to enter into. Go with the flow dear Capricorn because hidden amongst the chaos is a beautiful opportunity to free your life up in ways you never dreamed possible a few years or even months back. Expansion is the key as is breaking up old patterns so that your life is that much more authentic. Late April is when you can pass Go and truly put your heart, soul, signature or endorsement on the dotted line.

AQUARIUS: Say goodbye to wayward finances that go up and down like a bad day on the stock-market and welcome a unique way of approaching life on an intellectual level. If you are a writer, or have always wanted to write, or be a mouthpiece for the masses, your mind is as wide open to unique, out-of-the-box ideas as it ever will be. Jupiter has already been expanding your thoughts and communication style since late January but from March 12th, Uranus carries them beyond the ordinary and into society. For others, there may be unique situations to think about each day and this could range from your local neighbourhood to a brother or sister who is involved in something that is extreme but exciting. Others may find opportunity comes via technology such as the internet. You may doubt that this is possible in the closing days of the month but the roadblocks then are simply a test of your ideas. Venus in your sign from the 2nd helps you immensely.

PISCES: With Uranus about to chuff off out of your sign after carving an erratic but immensely satisfying path since 2003, you are about to leave behind a once-in-a-lifetime era that has seen you establish your identity in a unique but authentic way. From March 12th, the focus shifts to your financial life – the way you earn, save and invest money – and with Jupiter already in this area, you will now begin to see equally unique ways to attract cash and put it to use. Saturn has been working hard in the area on the other side of your chart that involves other people and your joint interests i.e. mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance etc since late 2009. And while this has restrained you somewhat, or at the very least made you extremely aware of your responsibilities from their point of view, you now have the opportunity to invest in yourself and what you truly value in life.