A “Black Moon” Solar Eclipse in Aries and Mercury turning retrograde highlight the second half of April. We also have the Sun entering Taurus, three potent T-Squares, and more!
This forecast covers this half-month’s most important astrological events. Also check out my award-winning This Week in Astrology audio podcast and YouTube video forecasts!
Click astrology graphics to see larger images. Some resource links may occur more than once. This is because many people link to a specific day’s forecast from social media, and might not see an important resource link elsewhere on this page.
As of April 16 …
- The Moon is waning (there was a Libra Full Moon on 4/6).
- There are no retrograde planets.
- A Mars-Saturn-South Node Grand Trine continues through 4/21.
- A Vesta-Pluto-Lunar Nodes T-Square peaks on 4/20 and continues through 5/8.
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4/18 (Tue)
Venus Quintile Neptune
Today’s Venus-Neptune quintile is an artist’s dream transit! Venus represents human creativity, while Neptune transmits divine inspiration. And the quintile is a genuinely magical aspect of otherworldly guidance! (With Venus in Gemini, creativity involving words gets special support.)
This aspect can also help you perceive luminous divine energy in everyone and everything around you, and connect more consciously with your higher self. (For 12+ years, my free Embodied Awakening Invocation has helped people do this quickly and easily.)
4/20 (Thu)
“Black Moon” Solar Eclipse in Aries
2023’s first eclipse (12:13 am, 29°50′ Aries) is extra powerful for many reasons!
I’ll tell you why in a moment, but let’s start by interpreting it as a New Moon. Any Aries New Moon is great for any new beginning.
You get special support to re-energize or start something Aries-related. This includes the warrior, pioneer, entrepreneur, and sexual being.
One reason this eclipse is especially powerful is because it’s a “Black Moon.” I’m subscribing to the idea that a Black Moon is a New Moon in the same sign as the previous New Moon. (That was on 3/21, and just eked into Aries at 0°49′.)
Others might assert that this isn’t a Black Moon, if they believe that both New Moons must occur in the same month. And some might use a third definition, holding that a Black Moon has to be the third New Moon in a season that has four New Moons. As with most astrological matters, there’s no end of controversy!
A Black Moon is a powerful time for setting intentions and kicking off new starts. The energy of the involved sign is intensified and concentrated during a Black Moon.
A second reason this Solar Eclipse is particularly potent is that it occurs in the 29th degree of Aries. (29°50′ to be exact, just four hours before the Taurus New Moon.) The 29th degree of a sign is known as the “Anaretic Degree” or “Degree of Fate.”
Planets in this degree carry a sense of urgency and a need for completion or resolution. A New Moon here creates an especially potent opportunity for setting intentions, making changes, and manifesting transformation!
The 29th degree can also connect to the next sign, which in this case is Taurus. This can add its energies – including financial abundance, material resources, and relentless accomplishment – into the mix.
A third power-giving reason is that this is a Total Solar Eclipse – albeit the rare “hybrid” variety. According to Wikipedia, “A hybrid eclipse (also called annular/total eclipse) shifts between a total and annular eclipse. At certain points on the surface of Earth it appears as a total eclipse, whereas at other points it appears as annular. Hybrid eclipses are comparatively rare.”
This “Ningaloo Eclipse,” named after an Aboriginal word, can be seen as a total eclipse in the North West Cape, a remote peninsula of Western Australia. It’s also visible from parts of East Timor and the Indonesian province of West Papua. For more on the astronomy of this eclipse, click here.
Additionally, this solar eclipse is powerful … just because it’s an eclipse! An eclipse is like a lunation on steroids. The energy of a New or Full Moon only lasts for two weeks, but the energy of an eclipse will endure for at least six months.
This Solar Eclipse interpretation continues after this message …
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Aspects
Finally, this solar eclipse is strong because of its aspects.
First off, the luminaries are only about four degrees from the Lunar Nodes. An eclipse can occur when the Sun and Moon are within about eighteen degrees of the nodes. All things being equal, the closer the luminaries are to the Lunar Nodes, the more powerful the eclipse. And four degrees is pretty close!
Grand Cross
The Sun and Moon form a Grand Cross with Pallas Athena, Vesta, Jupiter, Pluto, and the Lunar Nodes. (As noted above, click on chart graphics to enlarge them.)
Pluto
Pluto is by far the most powerful player in this Grand Cross. It squares the luminaries with an orb (exactness) of less than half a degree!
For starters, Pluto adds tons of raw power to whatever actions you take.
Want to increase your wealth or power? Pluto has you covered. Remember that wealth can be anything you value, tangible or intangible, and not just money. And you can use “service-to-other” personal power to uplift others, rather than “service-to-self” power that ruthlessly dominates and controls.
Would it serve highest good for something in your life to be released or transformed? This is one of Pluto’s specialties. In fact, if you don’t take the initiative quickly enough, Pluto might just stir up some challenge in the areas you need to release or transform to get your attention!
Would you benefit from some psychological or shamanic healing? This is right up Pluto’s alley. (My free Healing Invocation has helped thousands heal trauma with surprising ease and speed.)
With Pluto now in Aquarius, all his archetypal effects are supercharged with extra electricity and can manifest more quickly. One motto for Pluto in Aquarius is “Big change fast!”
Jupiter
Jupiter conjoins the Sun and Moon, with an orb of just over six degrees. Being the solar system’s largest gas giant, Jupiter is the strongest “amplifier” planet. Whatever’s happening, Jupiter expands its effect. (Because of this, all those Pluto effects are even stronger!)
Jupiter also has many potentials of its own – more meanings, in fact, than any other planet! You can dive more deeply into higher education, formal or self-guided, as a student. You can also bless others as a professor, philosopher, guru, or other wisdom-giver.
Jupiter rules foreign travel. This could mean a physical excursion. But with today’s technologies, other countries and cultures can easily come to you!
Do you crave a deeper understanding of life? Jupiter rules religion, philosophy and life’s meaning.
Are you living life as a quest or adventure? Jupiter would love it if you did. And are you experiencing enough celebration, euphoria and enthusiasm? These are Jupiter’s most joyful expressions!
Endlessly expansive Jupiter is the planet most likely to overdo things, so be careful not to put too many irons in the fire. Jupiter can also believe it has the One True Way, even when it doesn’t, so don’t succumb to “street corner preacher syndrome.”
The Asteroid Goddesses
You could stop right there and have more than enough to work with. But we can further enrich the meaning of this Solar Eclipse Grand Cross with its two asteroid goddesses.
The warrior goddess Pallas Athena can help you take bold action. She can also support you as you employ her subtler arts. These include diplomacy, mediation, and negotiation.
Vesta rules selfless service, and can help you use some of this eclipse power to serve a higher cause. (Not a problem, since this eclipse has power to spare!)
There are more 4/20 events after this message.
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The Sun enters Taurus
The Sun enters Taurus on 4/20 at 4:14 am EDT, less than 4 hours after the Aries solar eclipse. More power is available for money and material resources for the next month, along with dogged persistence. This is also a great time to enjoy your five senses, spend time in nature, or “just be”.
Selfless Service T-Square Peaks
Do you feel called to support a higher cause? Are you willing to contribute your time or resources to serve the greater good, without concern for personal gain?
That’s the message of a Vesta-Pluto-Lunar Nodes T-Square that started on 4/2, peaks today (4/20), and ends on 5/8.
If you’re already aligned with such a cause, this aspect pattern can help you give it potent support. If your support for a particular cause has fallen out of alignment, this T-Square can help you transform or release your involvement.
4/21 (Fri)
Mercury Retrograde Begins
Mercury turns retrograde at 4:35 am EDT (15°37′ Taurus). The sunmost planet will turn direct again on 5/14 at 11:17 pm EDT (5°50′ Taurus).
This Mercury retrograde takes place entirely within Taurus. So, this is a good time to contemplate your finances and possessions. How are money matters? Are there specific things you need for business or personal use, or are you in more of a downsizing phase?
Taurus excels at stubborn persistence. In which parts of your life does this serve your highest good? Are there areas where old patterns really should be revised or released?
Taurus rules the five senses, nature, and “just being.” Are you relishing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch sensations available to you? Are you spending enough time soaking in the peacefulness and balance the natural world can give you? And are you letting yourself “just be” long enough to fully relax and recharge?
Aspects
Mercury aspects six planets as it turns retrograde, giving you plenty more to reflect on!
Conjunctions
Three of these aspects are conjunctions. Mercury snuggles most tightly with the Moon, only a quarter degree away. How’s your emotional well-being? And how are things at home?
Mercury also tightly conjoins Uranus, which is just over two degrees distant. Are you embracing your uniqueness and giving its fruits to the world as appropriate? Are you following your intuitive hits? And are you serving others using your special gifts and talents you most love to use?
The loosest conjunction is with Juno, eight degrees away. This asteroid goddess rules committed partnerships of all kinds, romantic or platonic. How are yours doing?
Other Aspects
Mercury also aspects three other planets. A tight sextile with Mars in Cancer can energize your contemplations and help you feel their emotional resonance. A magical quintile to Saturn in Pisces can help you use the Law of Attraction to make your visions real.
Finally, a tight Chiron semi-sextile can help you develop your gifts as a healer or wisdom giver. Chiron can also help you heal any unresolved traumas within yourself. (For a technique that facilitates psychological healing quickly and easily, check out my free Healing Invocation.)
Can you stand to contemplate just one more thing during Mercury retrograde? Then consider its Sabian Symbol: “An old man is attempting, with a degree of success unsuspected by him, to reveal the mysteries to a motley group.”
The Usual Advice
As always, it’s best to avoid starting significant new ventures or making major purchases while Mercury is retrograde. Major things initiated during Mercury retrograde are more likely to need repair or reconfiguration. Make sure you’re understanding and being understood, and double-check any travel arrangements.
However, Mercury retrograde is a great time to finish what you’ve already started or make repairs. Finally, favor reflection and introspection over new action when possible.
There’s another 4/21 event after this message.
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73-Day T-Square Amplifies Wealth and Power
To amplify wealth and power, nothing beats a Jupiter-Pluto combo!
In fact, some of the world’s wealthiest men have Jupiter-Pluto aspects in their horoscopes. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have Jupiter-Pluto conjunctions. Elon Musk sports a sextile, and Jeff Bezos benefits from a quincunx between these financially potent planets.
A powerful Jupiter-Pluto square is the heart of a new T-Square, which also includes the Lunar Nodes. It starts today (4/21), peaks on 5/24, and ends on 7/2. That gives you lots of time – 73 days – to take advantage of this aspect pattern’s abundant opportunities!
As it turns out, I’ve thoroughly explored the upside potentials of Jupiter and Pluto in my solar eclipse forecast. Click here to read about them.
With the Lunar Nodes also involved, it’s best to focus on Jupiter-Pluto opportunities that align with your life purpose. It’s also notable that the Lunar Nodes are in Scorpio and Taurus, signs which relate to money, possessions, wealth, and power!
4/26 (Wed)
T-Square Offers Abundance in Finance, Creativity, and Relationships
What are your money, relationship, and artistic fantasies?
For two weeks, a new T-Square can help you manifest your inner visions. It includes Venus, Ceres, and Neptune. It starts today (4/26), peaks on 5/3, and ends on 5/10.
Venus, at the T-Square’s focal point, potentiates the themes of finance, creativity, and relationships. Venus is also in Gemini, which represents the mental focus you’ll use to make these visions real.
Ceres, the grain goddess, energizes harvest and abundance. She’s in Virgo, which can help you develop a detailed manifestation strategy and implement it systematically.
The third corner of this T-Square is Neptune in Pisces. The planet and sign both represent visualization and imagination. They also represent the divine inspiration that might have kindled your visions in the first place.
This T-Square also holds a more challenging possibility. A challenging relationship interaction might trigger an old trauma. Neptune’s darker potentials might be involved.
One possibility involves gaslighting or deception. This could involve someone lying to you now, or an older prevarication tied to an unhealed trauma.
If this is happening, Ceres represents the old emotional wound, while Venus represents the interaction that triggers it. As previously mentioned, my free Healing Invocation might help you quickly heal any such challenges that arise.
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4/27 (Thu) & 4/29 (Sat)
Mars Aspects Two Slower Planets
Mars closes April with aspects to two slower planets: a Mars-Chiron square on 4/27 (17°7′ Cancer-Aries) and a Mars-Uranus sextile (18°21′ Cancer-Taurus) on 4/29. The effects of these aspects overlap, so it’s best to consider them in combination.
The Mars-Chiron square can energize trauma healing. Unless you’re doing this proactively, this is usually triggered by some external event that stirs up the old wound.
The pain of old wounds will recycle endlessly until they’re fully and finally healed. So, it’s best to use a truly effective shadow work tool to resolve them once and for all. (Dare I mention my free Healing Invocation yet again?)
This Mars-Chiron square can also energize your abilities as a healer or wisdom giver. With the Mars-Uranus sextile also active, stay open to intuitive hits to guide you as you serve others with these talents. This sextile also supports revolutionary or cutting-edge modalities.
In addition, this sextile is great for helping you take immediate action (Mars) on your intuitive hits (Uranus).
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Whatever your Sun Sign, my forecasts can help you make the best use of the current astrological energies.
All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone. Events are most powerful on the dates listed, but their influence will be active for at least a week before and after.
Everyone is affected by these global transits. However, you’ll be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate sensitive points in your natal chart. Discover how these transits will personally affect you by booking a session with me.
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Recent Forecasts
Check back around the 1st and 16th for updated forecasts.
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