April 2024 will be an interesting month, speaking astrologically. So, get your cosmic umbrellas ready! The month starts with Mercury starting its retrograde on April 1 in the sign of Aries. Mercury usually spends approximately three weeks in retrograde and it will go direct on April 25th. What is retrograde? Many of us dread it, yet it happens a few times a year with different planets. Some astrologers describe retrograde as planet “going backwards”. Not really. Mercury does not actually go backwards; it is the impression it is giving us due to changes in its speed as it circles around the Sun.
When any planet goes retrograde, it takes introspective and reflective quality of the planet. It is like someone was an extrovert all their life and now became an introvert. For some of us, who were born during Mercury retrograde, it is a time for the rest of the world to understand what it really feels like living retrograde day to day. On a different note, people with Mercury retrograde in their charts tend to make good writes. The reason for this is probably because they tend to observe, internalize, and listen more.
So, should one fear Mercury go retrograde? Not at all. During this period, one just needs to be mindful of delays experienced with anything ruled by Mercury (commerce, communication, travel). Projects and travel time may take twice as long to accomplish. They say not to sign contracts during Mercury retrograde. Well, you can. One just needs to be careful reading through what they are signing since errors could occur. We bought our home during Mercury retrograde. This was several years ago, and the seller refused to move the date. Well, knowing that errors are common during this time, I carefully read what we were signing. Yes, there were a few errors within the documents, but patience and awareness made a difference. So, my advice for this time is just to double check what you sign, publish, send in email. You can travel as well, there may be just some delays or flight cancellations. Also, if you are doing any medical tests, be mindful that these may require rework, especially if Aries rules your 6th house of health and daily routines (i.e. Scorpio Ascendant).
This Mercury retrograde will fall within 16 degrees Aries to 27 degrees Aries. Where do you have Aries in your chart? This area of your life would be most impacted. Also, Gemini and Virgo houses may experience some delays as well. Here is a brief reminder of the houses: 1st (Ascendant, self, appearance, vitality), 2nd (earned income), 3rd (siblings, neighbors, short distance travel, communication), 4th (parents and ancestors, real estate), 5th (children, creativity, fun activities, dating, sports), 6th (health, daily chores, pets, work, subordinates), 7th (spouse, committed relationships, contracts), 8th (investments, shared income, taxes), 9th (long distance travel, higher education, law), 10th (career), 11th (organizations and friends), 12th (house of seclusion, hospitals, working behind the closed door).
Another big-ticket item on the April agenda is our 2nd eclipse. We only have 4 eclipses this year. The first eclipse took place on March 25th at 5 degrees Libra. This was a lunar eclipse. Our April 8th eclipse is at 19 degrees Aries, and it is going to be a solar eclipse. Eclipses impact some of us more than others because of the degree on which they fall within a natal chart. These degrees change from year to year. The impact of the eclipses could take up to six months to materialize and they are felt as somewhat disruptive and stressful energy a week or so beforehand.
Solar eclipses, such as April 8th eclipse, bring new beginnings to us. These could manifest as a new direction in life, new job, new relationship, starting a new educational course, moving into a new house, beginning new exercise routine, having a baby, etc. Lunar eclipses, on the other hand, are emotional in nature, such as March 25th eclipse. Lunar eclipses tend to eclipse things, events, and people out of our lives, whether we are ready or not. However, these events are needed to help us grow psychologically and not to be stuck in a situation that does not serve our highest good. So, at the end of the day, it is for the best.
My most recent experience with a lunar eclipse in my life impacted my chart by a degree in the 7th house of contractual relationships (i.e. corporate job). A boss whose leadership I enjoyed was abruptly laid off due to corporate politics. At first, I was rather shocked and disheartened. However, it made me realize that it was for my own good since I was forced to look for another job. My company at that time had a very toxic culture, which did not resonate with me. While that lunar eclipse was my Tarot Tower moment, at my core, I think, I was ready for it a long time ago. It just gave me a push in the right direction that I needed.
Where do you have 5 degrees Libra and 19 degrees Aries fall in your chart? Where do you need to have a fresh start and go on a new adventure?
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April 2024 Transits
April should be an interesting month. In addition to Mercury going retrograde and the solar eclipse of April 8, we also have many new beginnings, planetary speaking. These are marked by conjunction aspects forming through the planetary transits during the month. Transits described below may feel more impactful if you have personal planets at the listed degrees (plus or minus a couple of degrees) in your natal chart. You can obtain a free copy of your natal chart from astro-seek.com.
April 3: Venus conjunct Neptune (27 degrees Pisces)- This day could be marked by romantic and idealistic attitude towards money, values, art, and relationships. You may also feel some increased fondness for animals. So, on this day you may decide to purchase some artwork or adopt a pet. You may also wish to visit an art gallery or a concert. Both planets, Venus and Neptune, rule over creativity and are meeting in an emotional and compassionate sign of Pisces. If anything, simply enjoy a good day with some favorite food and drink. Overindulgence and overspending are possible.
April 6-7: Venus sextile Pluto (1 degree Aries and 1 degree Aquarius)-These two days could indicate the beginning of a very intense and karmic relationship for you. The power of attraction may run high, and friendships may feel more important than usual. You may also experience the need to belong to a group.
April 9-11: Mars conjunct Saturn (14 degrees Pisces)- These three days may prove to be challenging, frustrating and irritating. Do not plan on starting any risky activities and simply focus on established routines. You may feel a need to do something and, yet, drained of energy to accomplish anything. You may also find people more annoying than usual. The best way to deal with this transit is to find some physical repetitive work to do, like gardening.
April 11-12: Sun conjunct Mercury (22 degrees Aries) – This is a good day to have an opportunity to make your point, especially in the areas of life where you have Gemini and Virgo. You may also be inclined to talk more than listen. This could be a good day to take care of routine paperwork, start a new business venture or simply make plans.
April 15-26: Jupiter conjunct Uranus (20-22 degrees Taurus) – This could be a few days of sudden opportunities that allow you to move towards the kind of freedom you have not known before. During this transit you may wish to finally strike a balance between demands/ responsibilities and who you are, honor your own needs. You could also find a way to bring justice to the situations that have been lacking it for some time. For some of you, it could be a few days where you receive a windfall, a sudden promotion, or meet a beneficial person. There are many new possibilities, including an unexpected opportunity to travel to another country. This interesting transit brings some broader perspectives in scope of your life.
April 18-19: Mars sextile Jupiter (20-21 degrees Pisces and Taurus) – This is a positive transit which may open some opportunities for you. Things that you begin around this time are likely to be successful. This could be a great time for business and commercial ventures as well as good days for negotiating financially advantageous deals. You may also feel more optimism on this day. This should also be a great time dealing with authorities or legal issues.
April 19: Mercury conjunct Venus (17 degrees Aries)- This day could manifest as more appreciation of beauty, increased interest in music, art, poetry. This is also a great day to tell a friend or a loved one what they mean to you. During this transit you may feel that your creative thinking is higher than usual. You may also have generally favorable outcomes of your financial matters.
Mars sextile Uranus (20-21 degrees Pisces and 21 degrees Taurus) – This transit makes you feel rather restless. You may have an urge to look for new experiences and make some changes to your daily routines. You may also feel more impulsive; however, this could be exactly what you need to break out of the rut. Fresh viewpoints may come up for you and you may come up with different perspectives on old routines/ thoughts. Try something new under this transit. This transit flows well with Jupiter conjunct Uranus, Mars sextile Jupiter and Mercury conjunct Venus as described above.
April 21-22: Sun square Pluto (1 degree Taurus and 1 degree Aquarius) – These couple of days may feel stressful. You may feel opposition to pressure exerted on you by people in power. You may also feel a -need to start radical changes in the areas of your life that do not work well anymore. This is a good transit to release outmoded patterns of thinking or routines and make some room for positive and creative changes in our life.
April 28-30: Mars conjunct Neptune (27 degrees Pisces) – During these few days you may feel irritable without knowing why. You may also feel discouraged by not doing anything useful. There may also be a feeling of inferiority as Neptune tends to dissolve Mars’ ego. While this is not a good transit to start anything new, you may enjoy helping with a charity, at the hospital or with a spiritual group. This is a good transit for selfless acts.
