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Review of MARCH 2011
On the 11th of March, a week after the New Moon
in Pisces, a devastating tsunami, induced by a
powerful earthquake off the coast of Sendai,
Honshu led to the destruction of several
coastal cities in north-eastern Japan, as well as
a major meltdown crisis at the Fukushima nuclear
plant. At the time, the waxing Moon was making a
square to Neptune, ruler of the
oceans – a fitting omen. Some astrologers
suggested that the quake may have been stirred up by
the stronger-than-usual gravitational pull of the
Super Moon as it waxed towards Full on the
19th whilst others pinpointed Uranus,
planet of sudden disruption and chaos (and
ruler of Uranium) as the main astrological
significator for this event as, positing that it may
have given off a final burst of energy as it reached
the last degrees of Pisces - a sign associated
with large bodies of water as well as leaks
and floods, given that its ruler, Neptune,
tends to dissolve boundaries.
I don’t think one needs to isolate the
significance of the event down to one particular
astrological phenomenon – this is a hangover
from the scientific paradigm that is so pervasive
in the thinking of Western culture.
However, its ‘cause and effect’ model
definitely has its limitations and only really
seems to apply to the world of physics and
matter (I say ‘seems’, because we are all too
aware of the strange events that take place
within the world of quantum physics…)
It is my opinion that astrology is a
largely symbolic art, rooted in the world of poetry,
consciousness and spirit – the higher
dimension or foundations of matter,
depending on your worldview - which transcends logic,
and that it doesn’t really matter HOW one tunes
into the underlying meaning of an event, so
long as one does manage to find a ‘way in.’ As
the Chinese saying goes: ‘There are many paths to the
top of the mountain.’
However, as people like Jung and Joseph Campbell
noticed, the strange thing is that once you
peel away the individual conceptions and
cultural overlays of many rituals, symbolic
objects or events, the core meaning or
intuitive message situated at the heart of it
tends to quite similar for different people,
possibly because of our shared humanity.
SOLI-LUNAR
PHASES
Over the course of a year, the solstices and
equinoxes of the Sun mark
out the changing seasons, which affect not
only the beginning of different natural cycles, but
our moods and choice of activities; whilst on
a smaller scale, the Moon's phases make up the
time-span of a month. In fact, the etymology
of the word month, comes from the
Indo-European
word,
'me(n)ses',
meaning
"moon." 1
During
this period, the Moon also moves through the
zodiac, with every progressive full or new
moon cycle occurring in the sign more or
less following that of the previous month.
Lunar Phases
3 April 2011
NEW MOON IN ARIES
This month, the New Moon will take place at 13
degrees Aries on the 3rd of April (14h32
GMT). It is a good time for
self-starters to begin working towards becoming
self-employed, or for innovators to initiate
new personal projects or novel ways
of doing things. However, go-getters keen to surge
forward and make things happen should bear in mind
that Mercury will be retrograde from the 30th
of March to the 23rd of April, is likely to
put the brakes on things a little, possibly leading
to delays or slower-than-expected progress.
Instead of getting frustrated, use this time to
fine-tune and check your plans to you
haven’t missed anything and that they will create the
outcome you desire before putting anything into action,
and have a back-up strategy to cope with any
unforeseen setbacks.
18 April
2011
FULL MOON IN LIBRA
On the 18th of April (02h44 GMT), a
Full Moon at 27 degrees of Libra should
provide the perfect conditions to enable key relationship,
legal and diplomatic issues to be revolved
or finalised. Again, here you may want to consider
that Saturn is currently retrograde in
Libra until early June, making it imperative
that you prepare a firm structure or
foundation for your plans or arguments, as
well as be clear about where your personal
boundaries lie. It also highlights the need to take
past precedents, patterns or actions into
consideration since they may have a bearing on the
future outcome of a decision. It may also be wise to
consult with someone older and wiser such as a
father or authority figure for their advice on how
best to proceed before doing anything.
Solar Phases
20 April – 21 May 2011
SUN IN
TAURUS
The Sun ingresses into Taurus at 10h17 GMT
on the 20th of April. The month
that follows is an excellent time to direct your efforts
towards banking, personal finance, or improving
your business skills, as well as activities
related to food, agriculture, gardening, fashion and
bodywork of all kinds. Given all the
difficult planetary configurations we have recently
experienced, it may also be a time where food and
material shortages are highlighted on the
global stage, and we are asked to share our
resources with those less privileged or in
need.
Traditionally, this was a time associated with
greenery and fertility as the first shoots
of the crops planted in early February and
March began to appear, and animals in the
northern hemisphere paired up to mate. It is therefore
considered to be the first material manifestation of
the actions, influences or efforts (and
warmth) initiated in March by the Sun
in Aries at the Spring Equinox, and is thus a
very sensual and productive time. This is one
of the reasons why the Moon, traditionally
Mistress of nature and the material world is
exalted in Taurus.
Planetary
Events & Energy Shifts throughout April 2011
During April, Mercury will be
retrograde, remaining in reverse motion until the
23rd, so get ready to review,
revisit and revise, especially when it comes
to money transactions, travel arrangements,
business plans and communications! Have a
back-up plan wherever possible and allow extra
time for journeys, which are likely to be
beset with delays and slip-ups. Try to
postpone any important deals, meetings or
major purchases until after this period, as
miscommunications and oversights become
more likely. The only exception is if you are
resuming discussions that were previously
postponed or begun in the past. I often find
that during these brief slow-downs, people you
haven’t heard from in ages tend to get in touch,
so see if this happens to you too. If the pace of
life has been a little hectic recently, or
your schedule been a bit crazy, you can
breathe a sigh of relief as events begin to
slow down a little, allowing you to catch your
breath.
On the 4th,
Neptune enters Pisces - its own sign –
marking the beginning of a brand new 15-year cycle
for the planet – wow! The last time
Neptune was in Pisces was between 1684 and
1698 – a period characterised by the
Protestant Reformation in Europe and civil
war in England, mainly due to religious
differences; a highly inspiring era of
musical and artistic expression known as the
Baroque period, and a time when the Age of
Discovery, which involved major seafaring
expeditions to distant shores, reached
its height. It is my sense that this time
round, one of the major themes is going to be
humanity’s relationship with the oceans.
Given the issue of climate change, it is possible
that this astrological episode could be marked by
sea-level rises and floods, which could
mean the displacement of people who
currently live on the coast. It may also be a
time when we see a shift in mankind’s attitude
towards fishing and sea pollution, as
we become aware of the many cruel fishing practices
that continue to take place around the world,
such as those highlighted in
The Cove, and
wake up to phenomena such as the
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
that is choking wildlife and killing many
sea organisms. On the positive side, it
may also prove to be a time of profound spiritual
awakening for the planet, thanks to Pisces’
association with compassion, kindness and
mystical knowledge and experiences. Those
who think religion is dying may be in for a shock as a
great resurgence of spiritual beliefs and
practices begins to take place, albeit in less
conventional forms. A renaissance in the arts,
particularly in film, photography and
music, is also possible, if the last Neptune
epoch is anything to go by…
On the 21st
of April, Venus glides into passionate
and feisty Aries just as the Sun makes its
exit into Taurus. Venus will join Mercury,
Mars, Jupiter and Neptune in a powerful
stellium in the sign of the Ram - one that
will preside over the Royal Wedding on the
29th. Aries is synonymous
with new beginnings, so perhaps this alignment
signifies the start of a new era in
history, and indeed possibly, a revival of
sorts for the British monarchy. On the 23rd,
Venus will join up with unconventional Uranus
in a quirky conjunction that favours taking
the initiative in love, as well as the
possibility of slightly unusual
attractions or unexpected affairs that
strike like a bolt of lightning, but
may dissipate as quickly
as they arrive.
Looking at chart of the
Big Day itself (29 April at 11am), we have Leo on
the Ascendant (the sign governing royalty) as
well as the Sun and Jupiter in the 10th
house (or noon position for the Sun),
suggesting that the occasion will not disappoint
when it comes to pomp and ceremony – a public
relations triumph for the monarchy is
definitely likely, despite all the murmurings
about public protests. Still, with Venus,
planet of love, in detriment and in
opposition to a retrograde Saturn in Libra,
the sign of relationships, I am sad to say
that astrologically, this may not have
been the most auspicious day to elect
for a wedding…With a predominance of
male energy in the chart, things may pan out well
for the bridegroom perhaps, but the omens
are certainly not great for the bride.
The one saving grace is that Venus and
the Sun, ruler of the chart, will
be in mutual reception (i.e. in the sign of the
other’s dignity), resulting in a type of exchange
or blending of energies – in this case,
love and social prestige. This could signify
that, within this marriage, the two qualities are not
mutually exclusive, making the royal couple a
good and more equal match than it might
appear at first glance– certainly one that Jane
Austen would have approved of!
Other
astrological red letter days to look out for are:
2 April – Venus sextile Pluto.
A dynamic blend of love and strength, making it great
for creating pieces of artwork that make powerful
statements or provoke emotional or psychological
transformation. This is an excellent day to make changes
in relationships, especially if the power balance has
been off, or indeed, to seduce the boss!
Mars enters Aries
– its own sign today too, which could strengthen
military campaigns or boost sporting performance. It is
also possible that those who have been feeling ill or
tired should notice an increase in physical vitality
now. A Martian boost of confidence could also be just
the ticket for anyone needing to muster up a ‘go out and
get it’ attitude at work now.
3 April – Mars conjunct Uranus in
Aries. The time for direct, possibly rebellious
action is now! Do something unexpected today and you may
be surprised by the results. Combining physical energy
or efforts with technology could also prove to be a
winner.
However, the
Sun will also oppose Saturn today, signifying
clashes with authority or the establishment, as well as
possible blows to one’s pride care of a superior or
parental figure. Not the day to try and show up the boss
or strike against your employer…
6 April – Sun conjunct Jupiter
– a good day for making progress in achieving personal
goals, as well as getting praise or rewards for a job
well done, especially in the fields of sports and
military affairs. New projects and ventures could also
get a boost now, thanks to support or favour from
important benefactors.
9 April – Sun conjunct Mercury.
Career success is possible now especially if you make
the effort to promote yourself or make contact with
those in a position to make things happen for you. A
good day to get that updated CV uploaded on a job
website; make some strategic calls to decision-makers or
to do some networking. Also good for job interviews.
Pluto stationary – as Pluto begins a significant period of retrograde motion, it is
possible that reforms to public institutions and
political organisations may grind to a temporary halt as
much-needed adjustments are made.
11 April – Mars square Pluto –
A day to keep your anger in check and avoid impulsive or
aggressive action as you could get more than you
bargained for. Accidents and physical violence are
possible now, so try and keep your head when driving.
12 April – Mercury conjunct
Jupiter – ‘Think Big’ is the slogan for today. This is
an excellent day for discussions about new projects,
ambitious plans or new ventures, as well as approaching
influential people for help or financial backing. Power
Meetings and phone calls are favoured now.
18 April
– Mars opposition Saturn – A day to try and find
the balance between taking the initiative on one hand,
and playing by the rules or seeking approval from those
in charge, on the other. Try not to tangle with the law
now or get involved in dodgy schemes now – you may come
off second best or get yourself caught.
19 April
– Mercury conjunct Mars – Given that Mars is
still within orb of an opposition with Saturn, today is
not the day for clever talk, risk-taking or dubious
actions. If you think you can outsmart those in charge,
you will probably find that you are sadly mistaken.
Don’t moan about the boss behind his or her back either
because you will probably be overheard…
20 April
– Sun sextile Neptune. Creative ways of getting
ahead or of leading others are likely to win the day
today, so get into right-brain mode and think laterally
when it comes to finding solutions to problems.
23 April – Mercury stations –
Today the planet of communication, travel and commerce
resumes forward motion, bringing an end to delays,
misunderstandings and postponements. If you are in
sales, good news: The phone should start ringing again.
If you have been feeling like ‘Norman No Mates,’ fear
not – your social calendar should once more start to
fill up.
27 April – Venus square Pluto.
Power struggles and differences of opinion within
relationships and amongst colleagues are possible now.
If you are a man, avoid the femme fatale – she may bring
about your downfall. If you are a woman, avoid getting
involved romantically with powerful men – your heart
could get broken.
28 April – Sun trine Pluto. An
auspicious day for those in power or positions of
leadership. If you are looking for a way to push through
internal or organisational reform, this is a good time
to do so. Positive personal or leadership changes, as
well as a successful handover of power are also possible
now.
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