The big event of the next six weeks and, actually, the next two and a half years, is Saturn entering Aries on April 7. The planet of discipline, reality and structure in the sign of youth, individuation and fierce independence is decidedly uncomfortable here. Aries likes to break out on its own, while Saturn calls for structured society and some semblance of consensus reality. Considering the sometimes violent rumblings against government and others from different ethnic, gender-specific or social groups in recent years, we may need to protect ourselves from the sometimes naive and irresponsible actions of others during this period. The last two times Saturn was in Aries saw two of the most tumultuous years in recent history, 1939 and 1968, respectively. Of course, this time will be different in accordance with our current reality, but we can learn how to act now by studying what happened then.
Also on the outer planet front - outer planets (Jupiter through Pluto) are connected to social affairs versus the personal affairs ruled by the inner ones (Sun through Mars) - Uranus is essentially sextile Pluto throughout this entire period. Actually Uranus was exactly sextile Pluto or 60 degrees from it on March 8, but their respectively slow movement means they remain in this condition throughout the year. The 60 degree angle these two make to each other is just part of the 360 degree orbit these began in the mid 1960s, lasting 165 years. This position is one of opportunity engendered by understanding more about our immediate environment, employing clear communication and deliberate using our reasoning facilities. Uranus is the planet of flexibility, technology and intuition, while Pluto rules transcendence, death situations and intensity, among other things. By intensely studying worldly situations, we can find ways of improving our individual lives while also bettering everyone's circumstances.
Again, understanding history will help. Many positive changes happened during the '60s. Civil rights legislation was passed, women were freed from previous burdens and debilitating stereotypes and youth gained a more of a say in how they lived. While many of those changes came with a great deal of pain and loss of life, overall freedom and flexibility was the result. With the sextile, we make further improvement in these situations without the struggle we went through then, if we put forth the effort.
In short, we continue through a period in which we see many outer planet changes that translate into a change in the social fabric. Of course, we are part of that larger order and what we do on an individual level will affect it mightily. At the same time, if we are more aware of what happens in society, we can take appropriate action in fitting with how our ever-changing world evolves.
March 21 through March 27
As you are aware, this is the week of the vernal equinox, the actual event having taken place on March 20. Because the New Moon appeared one day before this event at the last degree of a sign, Pisces, we need to be aware that there are some affairs left over from the past we must attend to. We will be very tempted to move ahead without looking back, however, since this week both Mercury and Mars enter Aries to join the Sun. We will think and communicate rapidly (Mercury) as well as act in the same manner (Mars). Both these planets aligning in Pisces before the move to Aries connotes heavy metal energy. Resolving to use the alignment to take care of previous initiatives may help us from moving ahead too quickly.
Mars also conjuncts Saturn this week, meaning that devoting ourselves to structured action is our best strategy. If progress seems blocked, a common occurrence under this configuration, we may have not been paying close enough attention to present reality. In short, this week feels mixed, as there are many reasons to feel renewed with three planets in Aries, but we may have a nagging feeling that some affairs have been left undone.
March 28 through April 3
Mars starts the week to trine Pluto and sextile Uranus. We should be able to apply considerable energy to any projects we undertake. Since Uranus and Pluto are essentially sextile, Mars works here as a trigger, giving us the ability to enlist flexibility in whatever we do. The trine also points to improved muscularity; physical projects consummate with your overall health are favored, especially with Pluto in the athletic sign of Sagittarius.
Venus is trine Neptune, but Mercury is square the same. Artistic and charitable projects should prevail over ones requiring clear communication. Venus also moves from Taurus to Gemini so our desire to feel valued should move from the comfortable to the more varied. Intellectual liaisons will be featured with goddess of love in this sign. It will be there for a while, as Venus goes retrograde in this sign in May and stays in Gemini through August.
This is also a Full Moon week, as the Libra Moon opposes our Aries Sun on April 3. We likely be reminded that our individual efforts must be measured in some degree by their acceptance by others. Diplomacy is as important as aggression now.
April 4 through April 10
Mercury moves to Taurus this week, and people's thinking may be turn conservative as we try to find value in the initiatives laid out by Aries. It will square Uranus, challenging us to more flexible in our thinking. Structured thought will help us from overtaxing our nerves, a common occurrence under this influence.
Venus trines Pluto and sextiles Uranus now. In relationships of all kinds, we should be able to bend enough to improve them without letting anyone overstep preset boundaries. We have the choice to begin new dealings with others we may not have previously considered or been able to get along with. With new forms of communication becoming common every day, the chances for long-distance liaisons increases. The e-mail wires may be burning.
Most importantly, Saturn enters Aries on April 7, where it will remain, mostly, until 1999. Beyond moving into Aries, Saturn shifting to any sign portends a change in the general atmosphere. It is the planet of reality, and whatever it touches becomes more "real." Saturn has been in Pisces since January 1994, and in my opinion, we have been living in a sort of virtual reality since then. We have been feeling monumental changes coming down the proverbial pike but have not been able to act on them. See for yourself this week if life seems more immediate than it has for some time. We will be able to act out things that we have been dreaming about for some time.
April 11 through April 17
This week, we move from a last-quarter Moon (on the 10th) to the New Moon in Taurus on the 17th. During this phase of the Moon, we should wrap up affairs and bring them to completion. We should also relinquish anything that may hold us back in the future.
A New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are conjunct. Conjunctions possess the full potential of what lies ahead, but also the burdens of the past. The more free we are of that which we do not need, the more freely we can act as we move forward. Deciding what we need and do not, though, takes deep searching of the soul. This lunar cycle, which this Moon phase brings to an end began with the new solar year, when we are ready to shuck off the old and embrace the new. Thus, we have been involved with fresh undertakings that require new strategies. Now is the time to assess to how we are doing with them. Definitely, this is a lie low type of week.
April 18 through April 24
The Sun enters Taurus this week, and we start to cement what we began under Aries. Where the Ram postures, the Bull acts, quietly but assuredly. We may not be as loud in our actions this week, and through the Sun's residence here, but we may accomplish more.
Mercury is stationary retrograde on May 3, meaning that it begins to slow down this week. We need to prepare for missed communication, delays and evidence of poor thinking. Often, under these periods, past mistakes and secrets are revealed. Retrograde in astronomical terms means that a planet is apparently moving backwards. But as we know, appearance is often everything. Now we should delay efforts to move forward and review, redo and revise. If we look around, we can see many projects left in midgestation. It is better to work on them than to the clutter ourselves with new projects when we are ripe for confusion.
April 25 through May 1
As we move toward Beltaine, Mercury going retrograde will become more evident in our lives as it moves closer to being actually retrograde on May 3. With the Sun in Taurus, we should have little problem acting conservatively. Taking out time now will probably pay much greater dividends in the future.
Saturn is trine Pluto this week, so we can easily alter circumstances in very real ways. Our desire to apply new thinking and structure goes well with the need to update our philosophies to current reality. Though we may not be advised to move forward in regard to Mercury's position, we can apply new ways to deal with old problems. The problem Saturn in Aries often needs to address is proper application of considerable energy. Initiative applied in the wrong time or at the wrong place is a potential waste and possibly dangerous. Use this period to readjust plans and to learn how to wait until the proper moment arrives. We will have another opportunity to work with this planetary set-up when Saturn again trines Pluto on October 26, when Mercury will not be or about to be retrograde. Planning that far ahead will give us more time to plan our actions properly.
In short, from Oestara through Beltaine we will have to temper enthusiasm. It is not that we should not take action, but we need to choose when to act very carefully. Since Aries is an impulsive sign and planetary activity here is high, the impetus to do anything is strong. Nor would I like to discourage the need for discovery and play, but in an increasingly complex world, we do need to know that acting without prior reasoning could lead us down roads we wish we had never traveled. If, however, we channel pent-up feelings in positive directions, the trip down our roads may be both quick and pleasant.
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