New Moon
The New Moon in Aries occurs on April Fools Day! It is the first lunation of Spring, marking new beginnings and initiations. Set your intentions for the month.
The most interesting thing about this chart for this Astrologer is the tight grouping of all the planets within 4 houses (and all but Pluto, in 3; with all personal planets within 2 houses!). Tight planetary formations indicate concentration, focus, and intensity, but they also can be destablizing, and sometimes even earthquakes occur when the combined planetary gravity pulls on the earth from only one side. It is like putting too many people on one side of a ferryboat, which could then tip over. With most of the zodiac houses empty, be careful as well NOT to overlook some crucial detail or perspective that is NOT being emphasized right now but may still be important to consider.
The Nodes
What’s more, all planets are located between the Nodes. This is called kaal sarpa yoga in Jyotish Astrology of India which means the Serpent of Time. “Kaal Sarpa Yoga is thought to be the primary cause of a person’s fall from a high spot.” (reference from https://www.ganeshaspeaks.com) This sounds again like ‘Mr. Plutin’, and I am hopeful that many other arrogant scoundrels will also find their chutes go downward. The kaal sarpa formation is in the TRANSITS, so it applies to the entire planet! This kaal sarpa situation, in particular with Rahu (North Node) in the 4th house, as it is in THIS New Moon chart, is said to bring financial difficulties, illnesses, and trouble at home. That certainly is the case for many, as severe weather and tornadoes have torn up parts of Texas, Alabama, and the US South while Putin bombs the cities of Ukraine to smitherines! So although this unfamiliar formation may not touch you personally, it could affect alot of people, raising Aquarian humanitarian concerns, Piscean compassion, and Arian desire to DO something about it.
‘PLUTIN”
Putin started warring on Ukraine to restore Mother Russia to her former glory on February 24th. At 70 years old, Vlad has been feeling his inevitable mortality. Lusting after power and fame, envisioning himself as ‘Mr. Catherine the Great’, misreading the US, no longer controlled by his fiendish ally in the White House, and thinking the West was weak and divided, while assuming that Ukraine could easily be won over, he acted, based on a FANTASY (natal Mercury conjunct Neptune). His shield of lies, intimidation, unjustifiable killing of innocents, as well as his perpetual crackdown on his own people, and inhumane annihilation of whole cities (the destructive and revolutionary side of Saturn square Uranus – Putin’s natal signature) has SHOCKED the entire world! Biden is right that he should be removed from power and held accountable! And so should our own political insurrectionists!
Mars and Venus joined Pluto in March as Putin’s WAR erupted. Venus with Pluto means the breaking of a treaty or agreement, and Mars adds compulsively brutal force to Pluto’s vengeful and potentially nuclear annihilation attempts on Ukraine. Venus/Pluto raised guilt among soldiers and citizens alike for the inhumanity of decimating people’s homes, lives and communities without justification. Unfortunately, the Russian People, strangled with sanctions, will likely suffer starvation along with the Ukrainians, if war criminal Putin rages on much longer.
Venus opposing Putin’s Pluto means indiscretions, where relationships suffer and subconscious impulses induce irrational behaviors. Mars opposing Putin’s Pluto encourages ruthless acts and general disregard for others, igniting fierce resistance and power struggles. Mercury opposing his Saturn (his own bad judgment), marks a time of extreme stress that could lead to his failure. Putin’s natal Pluto is at the top of his chart (desire for fame and fortune) conjunct his Leo (ego) South Node, so taking this, his Pluto/SOUTH NODE path, will lead to his undoing rather than his true destiny. By following this path, eventually Putin will fail (and hopefully soon… by June?) The better path would have been to follow his NORTH NODE in Aquarius, which would have meant cooperation with his neighbors and humanitarian compassion – the OPPOSITE PATH from what he has chosen! [His karmic balancing will take many lifetimes to repay!]
The Sabian symbol for Putin’s Pluto at 23 Leo: A bareback (bare-chested?) rider in a circus displays dangerous skills. He has passionate desires to prove himself boldly, but since he is “merely looking for acclaim and recognition from others”… this may prove to be a foolhardy stunt that could fail. (Ref: “The Sabian Oracle” by Lynda Hill)
PROPHESY? [An Arcturian channel named Juliano projects that the war will be over in a few months and Putin will be tried as a war criminal and imprisoned by NATO, but not killed. I hope this is accurate!]
Saturn
In March, Venus and Mars danced with PLUTO, but in early April, Venus and Mars join SATURN while squaring the transiting Nodes. When a planet squares the Nodes, making a T-square to that planet (since the Nodes are always 180 degrees apart), that planet becomes the agent of the struggle for destiny and to seek resolution of the issues at play. Venus with Saturn means “restraint” or a slowdown, which seems to be the case with the Russian land assault. Mars with Saturn causes irritation and friction. Here one may seethe in silence, then react with a will of steel when challenged, so Putin IS very dangerous, given that he has chemical AND nuclear weapons (more Pluto) as well as missles and bombs, tanks and ships. He probably will not use nuclear weapons, although he could cause an accident at a nuclear facility, but he will be careful not to contaminate Mother Russia, The transiting Saturn opposing Pluto in Putin’s natal chart strengthens Ukrainian resistance against him, but bodes ill for Russia, led by this madman.
On April 12th, Saturn squares both Nodes (the rules of engagement have been broken). The global community must find a way to STOP Mr. ‘Plutin’ as he carelessly decimates our planet with war and nuclear radiation! By the end of April into May, Chiron will oppose Putin’s Sun. (Is he sick, did he receive a medical diagnosis that hastened his decision to go to war? Or is he sick at heart about how the war is devolving?)
Jupiter/Neptune
The BEST NEWS of the month is that ALSO on April 12th Jupiter will conjunct Neptune in Pisces, while positively aspecting the Nodes, which means favorable community relations, getting along with others, and compromise. (Can diplomats stop this pointless War?) These 2 powerful planets, expansive Jupiter and dreamy Neptune, strengthen watery Pisces, adding potential for extreme flooding this month. However, our ideals are aroused with Piscean compassion and spirituality! With this rare conjunction in Pisces, the final sign of the Zodiac, karmic completions and significant endings are likely. Pisces is also creative and musical, as well as artistic, forgiving, and trusting. With Neptune and Jupiter being co-rulers of Pisces, intuition and dreams are enhanced, inspiration is received, and spiritual journeys in consciousness are achievable. Unfortunately, psychoses, addictions, misinformation, scams, and conspiracy theories also continue to thrive under Neptune’s shadow, exaggerated by Jupiter. But if you apply yourself, it can be a special time for personal and spiritual growth, especially with many favorable sextiles between the planets all month long!
CHOOSE
The Full Moon and Sun make a dynamic t-square to Pluto and Venus is semi-square the Sun and sesquisquare the Moon while Saturn t-squares the Nodes. Both are uncomfortable as this represents the tug-of-war between good and evil, self and other. We are SPLIT on every issue – war vs peace, Russia vs Ukraine, vaxers vs non-vaxxers, Democrats vs Republicans, etc. In a day on the 17th, Mercury will conjunct Uranus for some outrageous claims and electrical comments to become public.
Did you notice that on April 12th two very different aspects are ocurring? On the one hand, we have Jupiter conjunct Neptune in Pisces, a beautiful and peaceful aspect that last happened 166 years ago! So it’s RARE and WONDERFUL! At the same time, Mars conjunct Saturn is squaring the Nodes and disrupting the peace! These are CONTRADICTORY – a higher frequency and a lower oppression. One is favored by the Nodes of destiny, while the other creates conflict that disrupts world peace. So this conjunction between Jupiter and Neptune is the fulcrum POINT OF CHOICE. Will you look to spirit and raise your frequency of Light and aspire to ‘the good’? Or will you choose conflict, greed, fear and darkness and sink the ship? BOTH are available! So the CHOICE IS YOURS – Light or Dark. The non-committal ‘wait-and-see’ approach is dissolving. It’s time to CHOOSE the direction of your path forward, even if forward movement is halting at best.
Mercury
This month Mercury (mind) is swift, touching 3 signs in one month – Aries, Taurus, and Gemini! On April 8th Mercury sextiles Saturn (the constructive critic or editor), then on the 9th Mercury sextiles Mars and Venus (defend your beliefs in social settings), and on the 18th Mercury conjuncts Uranus (quick intuition and wit, but restless and impulsive). Be careful not to jump to conclusions on scant evidence. By the 25th Mercury sextiles Neptune (imaginative intuition and dreaminess), then trines Pluto (deep, very obsessive thoughts) on the 28th, just as Pluto stations retrograde (the first planet to change direction in 3 months, very strong at its station while standing still), taking us deeper within to analyze and ponder the vicissitudes of life and our place in it.
Solar Eclipse
On April 30th, Mercury enters Gemini, and the next Eclipse Season begins with asecond New Moon this month (a Blue Moon of sorts) at 10 degrees Taurus, forming a partial solar eclipse. This ‘6 North’ eclipse speaks of authority or ‘father figures’ needing to take responsibility and control. We must face our commitments arising from another person’s (mental) illness or unreliability. (ref: Predictive Astrology – The Eagle and the Lark, by Bernadette Brady)
As we observe horrifying Plutonic worldly events, our hearts ache for the suffering of so many innocents. Sympathize with their misery, assist where we can, then appraise your own relative good fortune, and acknowledge gratitude with the expression of a heart-felt APPRECIATION for life! SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
