The Sky Now

April - June

Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of this period is the great shift in emphasis on to the cardinal signs, following the movement of first Jupiter [at the end of January] and then Uranus [in mid-March] into Aries. The only cardinal sign not presently occupied is Cancer; Saturn is in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn, while much else is in Aries. Indeed, in the first few days of April and again at the very end of April and beginning of May, six heavenly bodies are in Aries. Apart from Jupiter and Uranus, the Moon is passing through in those few days, while Mercury and Mars are there all through April and into May. In early April the Sun will be there also, and at the end of the month, Venus. The general ‘cardinality’ of the heavens denotes much and almost incessant activity; many of us will find it necessary deliberately to stop from time to time to take breath and look objectively at what is happening in our lives. The Saturn-Pluto square returns, temporarily, during this period but will not reach exactitude; however, both planets being in cardinal signs further emphasises the general feeling of much activity. Aries is all about new beginnings, but it can also be impetuous, hotheaded and impulsive. We may need to work hard to remain objective and dispassionate, over both personal issues and global ones!

Neptune makes its first excursion into Pisces this year, entering the sign on 4 April. Chiron moved into Pisces in March, but is still in close conjunction with Neptune. These transitions, like those of Jupiter and Uranus into Aries, will also be felt, but more subtly. Pisces is Neptune’s own sign, so the planet is ‘happy’ there and manifests without restriction. This is good for vision and expansion of consciousness, less easy for practical matters and general clear-headedness. Neptune can sometimes denote chaos and muddle! Chiron has been with Neptune for a couple of years now, first in Aquarius and now in Pisces, adding its own maverick influence, but beneath that there is a story about opportunities to heal. Since Pisces is intimately connected with religious matters, it is to be hoped that the passage of Chiron through Pisces will help us to bring resolution and healing to some of the seemingly intractable religious problems facing the world. As usual, the opportunity is there, but it is up to us to grab it and use it. This conjunction in Pisces also tells us something about the power of prayer – let us use that too!

There is a partial solar eclipse on 1 June, visible mainly in arctic regions, in Gemini, but more important this time is a total lunar eclipse on 15 June. Given clear conditions this will be visible over most of Europe except the west, and all of Asia, Africa and Australasia. In the UK it rises eclipsed in the southeast of England, but further north and west it will still be daylight at the time of the eclipse, and the Moon will not have risen. Sun and Moon being in mutable signs (Gemini and Sagittarius respectively), this eclipse will bring restless and unsettled conditions, and much mental activity.

Uranus, now at the beginning of Aries, begins during this period to form a square with Pluto. It will not become exact this year, but will be within orbs for a long time – about three years. The first exact ‘hit’ will be next year and there will be at least two more before the aspect dissolves again. This is going to highlight conflict between the desire to ‘bring in the new’ (Uranus in Aries) and the vested interests and power of the old (Pluto in Capricorn). In the end, Uranus will probably win, as Pluto is undermining and breaking up the old in any case, as we are already seeing in so many ways. We continue to live in ‘interesting times’!