Important energies for the month of April 2014:

• Mercury in Aries forms a square to Jupiter in Cancer and a conjunction to Uranus in Aries on April 14, 2014. Mercury in Aries forms a square to Pluto retrograde in Capricorn on April 15, 2014. This creates the energy of a cardinal grand cross just before the total lunar eclipse that occurs on April 15, 2014.
• Pluto in Capricorn turns stationary retrograde on April 14, 2014.
• Total lunar eclipse with Sun in Aries and Moon in Libra occurs on April 15, 2014.
• Jupiter in Cancer forms a square to Uranus and an opposition to Pluto retrograde in Capricorn on April 20, 2014.
• Uranus in Aries square Pluto retrograde in Capricorn on April 21, 2014.
• Mars retrograde forms a square to Jupiter on April 22, 2014 and an opposition to Uranus and a square to Pluto retrograde on April 23, 2014. This creates the energy of a cardinal grand cross.
• Solar annular eclipse with Sun and Moon in Taurus occurs on April 29, 2014.

Taking Two Steps Forward and One Step Back

By Misty Kuceris ©2014

April 2014 is a month of action and inaction. It’s a month of rushing into situations too quickly without understanding the consequences. It’s a month of going back to the past because the future is either coming too quickly or is proving too frightening to some. It’s as if the world is taking two steps forward while falling one step back.

The month of April starts with Mercury forming a trine to Saturn retrograde on April 2^nd. This could be important in a month that promises a lot of upheaval and tension. When Mercury forms a trine to Saturn, you have the ability to focus on what’s important in your life. You are able to create a structure to follow. You can understand what’s important and what’s not important. This may help you prepare for the upcoming energies. It’s a good day to get your life in order so that you’re not thrown off balance when the world starts getting crazy later on.

The same can be said for April 3^rd when Venus forms a trine to Ceres retrograde. This is a day to look at your environment and appreciate the love and beauty that surrounds you. You may decide that the weather is good enough to plant wonderful flowers outside. Or, you may decide that it’s a great time for a walk. On the other hand, you may choose to stay at home and spend more time with family and friends. As you experience the love that surrounds you, you’ll find it easy to share this love with others in your life. It’s a great day for solitude and a wonderful day for relationships. When you think about it, life really is about relationships: the one you have with yourself and the one you have with others.

Venus enters the sign of Pisces on April 5^th. Venus enjoys being in the sign of Pisces even if it will be forming a conjunction to Neptune several days later. There’s a romantic quality to Venus when it’s in Pisces. You feel as if you want to understand the philosophical aspects of nature. You just want to love everyone and everything just so you can feel that emotion. But this could make you very gullible. You may believe what other people say even if they don’t mean it. You tend to take things at face value and forget to question the logic of what some people may say. If you know the person, you won’t have any problems. But be very cautious with individuals you don’t know very well. They may not care about your needs at all.

A few hours after Venus enters the sign of Pisces on April 5^th, Mercury forms a quincunx to Ceres retrograde. Take this time to re-evaluate your environment and relationships with other people. Any doubts that you may feel could be a warning that others were trying to take advantage of you earlier in the day. So, pay attention to your feelings.

Mercury forming a quincunx to Ceres retrograde is also a “fix-it” aspect. It means that fixtures or other items in your home need to be cared for. If they aren’t they’ll fall apart now. It’s actually better if you can take care of any potential or needed repairs before this aspect goes exact, otherwise an accident could happen.

As Mercury enters Aries on April 7^th, be very cautious when you communicate with others. You may say things without thinking. Or, you may barge into a situation when you really need to stay out of it. You’ll have a tendency to be impatient, especially with people who just don’t seem to “get it” very quickly. You want them to get to the point and answer quickly. This could get you into disagreements and make it more difficult to negotiate solutions.

When Venus forms a conjunction to Neptune on April 11^th, you may feel as if romance has entered your life and you’ve found your soulmate.  But, all may not be as it seems. You may have found a person who is able to deceive you into believing that he or she is the only one. The best thing to do if you meet someone new is to enjoy the moment but don’t make any formal commitments. Wait and see what happens. You’ll know whether this relationship is real or not when Venus forms a sextile to Pluto retrograde on April 18^th.

This is also a day where you need to be very careful with finances. You may be tempted to purchase something that looks beautiful only to find out later that it was overpriced. You also need to be very careful when it comes to signing contracts since information is being withheld from you.

The days of April 14^th, April 15^th, and April 16^th start a series of astrological events which could cascade into major situations like a set of dominoes falling down. During these three days, Mercury forms a cardinal grand cross that could be a warning for what you can expect between April 20^th and April 23^rd. On April 14^th, Mercury forms a square to Jupiter and a conjunction to Uranus. On April 15^th, Mercury forms a square to Pluto retrograde. And, on April 16^th, Mercury forms an opposition to Mars retrograde. Meanwhile, Pluto turn stationary retrograde on April 14^th and the first eclipse of the year occurs on April 15^th.

World events are at a tension point right now. With Mercury forming a cardinal grand cross, not only is the media actively reporting as much as possible, but you are also experiencing tension from what you hear. You need to be very careful with the information that you hear. Understand what you can control and what you can’t control. If you don’t, you might fall into a spiral of feeling helpless. At the same time, with Pluto turning stationary retrograde, you could use the cardinal grand cross energy as a means of turning inward for greater understanding of your needs and motivations. You could use this as an initiation period that brings you closer to becoming the real you and not the person others want you to be. You could also use this as a time period to discuss concerns you have with people who love so that you can increase your understanding of each other. Try the best you can to let go of past events that are standing in your way of increasing your ability to move forward.

The first eclipse of the year that occurs on April 15^th is a total lunar eclipse with the Sun in Aries and the Moon in Libra. It is one of a series of eclipses that are called a tetrad. A tetrad occurs when there are four consecutive lunar eclipses that are all total lunar eclipses. Of all the eclipses that occur, the total lunar eclipse is considered the strongest. In addition, this eclipse occurs at the time of Passover giving it another name: The Blood Moon. Historically the occurrence of the Blood Moon coincides with critical world events that occur in Israel. Astronomically, this eclipse is part of the Saros 122 cycle and will be seen in Australia, the Pacific, and the Americas. If you do choose to be up for the eclipse, you will see the Moon turn either a deep orange or a deep red color.

Understanding facts and events is very important at this time. Rushing into situations can only make them worse if you don’t have all the facts and if you aren’t willing to consider the consequences of your actions. This eclipse vibrates with the energy of the cardinal grand cross created by Mercury and the cardinal grand cross that will be created by Mars retrograde on April 22^nd and April 23^rd. On top of the cardinal energies that are manifested with this eclipse, the Moon forms a conjunction to Ceres retrograde while the Sun forms an opposition to Ceres retrograde. There are so many ways that this energy could manifest. Weather patterns could be very erratic as storms, both personal and actual, crop up in different parts of the world. Areas of the world where political tensions are unresolved could explode into military actions or civilian disobedience. Financial situations could become unstable as investors react to the emotional upheavals that are being felt. There needs to be a balance between understanding your needs while also respecting the needs of others. While there’s a temptation to rush into situations, you need to be cautious. You might not like the end result. There could also be a temptation to return to past actions because you’re not certain of the end result. What really needs to occur is to look at what’s important from the past and find a way to use that as a foundation to changes that need to be made so you can move into the future.

Perhaps it’s appropriate that Mars retrograde forms a quincunx to Chiron on April 16^th before it forms a cardinal grand cross between April 22 and April 23, 2014. This energy might slow you down enough for you to consider your actions before you take them. This is a good time to consider the risks. It’s also a good time to understand your motivations.

It helps that Venus forms a trine to Jupiter on April 17^th. You may decide that it’s better to take care of yourself rather than get into arguments with others. You may find that people are willing to negotiate and come up with a common solution. You do need to be careful with your finances today. There is a tendency to overspend with this aspect because you feel so good about yourself that you feel nothing can harm you or stand in your way.

With Venus forming a trine to Jupiter, it is moving into the energy of a water grand trine which will be finalized when Venus forms a trine to Saturn retrograde on April 25, 2014. This trine could provide help during the cardinal grand cross that will occur soon. It will also provide you with spiritual protection if you quiet yourself enough to listen to your inner guides and spirit.

Venus forming a sextile to Pluto retrograde on April 18^th also provides you with another form of psychic protection as we move into the cardinal grand cross. You can focus on what’s important to you and implement plans to make certain you are surrounded with love. You can understand how to use your finances in a way that benefits and doesn’t injure you. Relationships might be intense, but they will be filled with love. Just don’t try to manipulate other people into doing things your way because who they are is of more value than who you want them to be. If you met someone when Venus formed the conjunction to Neptune on April 11^th, you’ll know whether that relationship is worth keeping in your life.

Mercury forms a quincunx to Saturn retrograde on April 19^th and the Sun enters the sign of Taurus. This could be a day where you vacillate between feeling the need to tell other people to leave you alone and desiring strong, commitment relationships. On one hand you don’t want to be criticized by others. On the other hand you want other people to tell you how wonderful you are. If possible, use the energy of this day to review the foundations you’ve created. Determine if they really are as valuable as you think. If not, consider where you may need to make changes. If they are valuable, appreciate what you have.

From April 20^th until April 23^rd, you’ll experience another series of astrological events which will test your ability to maintain balance in your life as tension increases in the world. On April 20^th, Jupiter forms a square to Uranus and an opposition to Pluto. Squeezed between those two aspects are Mercury forming an opposition to Ceres retrograde and Venus forming a conjunction to Chiron. On April 21^st, Uranus forms a square to Pluto retrograde. On April 22^nd, Mercury forms a conjunction to the Moon’s South Node. Also on April 22^nd, Mars retrograde forms a square to Jupiter kicking off the energy of a cardinal grand cross which culminates on April 23^rd when Mars forms an opposition to Uranus and a square to Pluto retrograde. On one hand, this is new energy because of the cardinal grand cross created by Mars retrograde. But, a lot of this energy also echoes back to the past when Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto were involved in aspects before.

Jupiter formed a square to Uranus retrograde and Pluto retrograde in August 2013. It also formed an opposition to Pluto at the end of January 2014 and a square to Uranus in February 2014. During those two time periods, August 2013 and January/February 2014, a cardinal T-square was created by Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto.

Uranus and Pluto have been creating squares since the first one occurred on June 24, 2012. The other squares that occurred prior to April 2014 were on September 19, 2012; May 20, 2013 and November 1, 2013. There will be two more squares that occur: on December 5, 2014 and on March 17, 2015.

During this time period, upheavals have occurred throughout the world: People rushing in to make change without considering the consequences of their actions and retreating back to the past; Government leaders falling out of power and being replaced; Financial scandals revealed; New regulations and laws implemented without full acceptance from all individuals and politicians; Economic stress creating new banking regulations; Government secrets and surveillance revealed; Increased polarization of opinions and political views. Erratic weather patterns bringing unusual storms and earth changes. This is just the short list. And, between April 20^th and April 23^rd more strife will continue in these areas.

Understanding this energy is very important even if you realize there are world events which you can’t control. Jupiter represents the need to understand what your long-term goals are so you can find a way to bring spirit into your daily life. In the negative, Jupiter can represent hubris and the belief that you can do anything without any repercussions. It can also represent the concept that any justification for your behavior is acceptable. Uranus represents the desire to break free from past encumbrances which interfere with your personal growth. It can indicate your ability to view things from a different perspective. When Jupiter forms a square to Uranus, as it will on April 20^th, you are presented with the need to make changes in your life so you can move forward. But, you are also presented with challenges to those changes. Do you risk it all and move forward? You want to. But do you know what to do once you get to your goal? If not you’ll only slip back to past behaviors which prevented your success in the first place.

The opposition that Mercury forms to Ceres retrograde a few hours after Jupiter forms the square to Uranus might not be that important under different circumstances. But, on April 15^th, a total lunar eclipse occurred where the Sun was at 25 degrees of Aries and the Moon at 25 degrees of Libra. Mercury is at 23 degrees of Aries and kicks off the total lunar eclipse which just occurred. There is a tendency for very erratic weather to occur during this aspect. The world is producing storms which aren’t quite normal for this time of year. This storm could also be brewing in your own environment. If you have been withholding information from others, it will surface at this time. People in your life may feel as if you’re trying to keep secrets from them. They may not feel that you’re giving them the support they need. Or, you may be the person who’s feeling that other people aren’t giving you the support you need.

This sense that you’re not receiving support from others continues when Venus forms a conjunction to Chiron on April 20^th. You’re already overly sensitive to situations in your life and you may be more so right now. Do the best you can to listen to other people without jumping to conclusion. If at all possible, withhold any judgments right now. On a mundane level, watch the stock market because it will definitely be erratic.

When Jupiter forms the opposition to Pluto on April 20^th you may feel a power struggle occurring in your life. Jupiter may represent the need to push boundaries and move into the future, but Pluto represents the desire to hold on to the past. In the positive, Pluto represents the need to understand subconscious motivations before taking action. This can be a dangerous aspect in those parts of the world where there is civil unrest or government officials striving to maintain their power bases.

If you want to make changes in your life, it’s very important for you to understand why. If you don’t, fears could surface that interfere with your ability to move forward. At that point you have a choice. You can succumb to the fears and revert back to your past actions. You can ignore the fears and move forward without feeling a measure of success. Or, you can acknowledge that the fears need to be addressed and move forward once you’ve resolved your fears.

That need to address your fears is extremely critical on April 21^st when Uranus forms a square to Pluto retrograde because each time that this square has occurred the same issue keeps resurfacing: How do you embrace change while understanding that the past has important lessons which need to be address? If boundaries are disrupted too quickly without new parameters in place you could find chaos in your life. You need to create a path to follow as you seek your goals. It’s interesting that Pluto is a critical sign when looking at pregnancy aspects. Pluto indicates the importance of an appropriate gestation period before the birth process can occur safely.

Unfortunately a lot of events from the past will resurface at this time. In the United States you’ll hear about more problems with the Affordable Health Care Act (aka Obamacare) and more attempts to dismantle it. In other parts of the world you’ll hear about civil unrest and government leaders trying to control this unrest with various military measures. Economically there will be repercussions from the attempt to implement various banking and financial regulations which affect not only the financial industry but also individuals. Once again, this is just a short list.

With all this tension that surrounds you, it’s actually very important that Mercury forms a conjunction to the Moon’s South Node on April 22^nd. The Moon’s North Node represents where governmental leaders want to take you. The Moon’s South Node represents the fears they may use to move you in their direction. With the Moon’s South Node in Aries, this may represent military action. But, with the Moon’s South Node in Aries, it can also represent the need for you to voice your concerns and also your individuality. Just don’t let events from the past create stumbling blocks. Do the best you can to communicate your needs to other people.

Later that day, April 22^nd, Mars retrograde forms a square to Jupiter and the energy of the cardinal grand cross begins. There are benefits to Mars being retrograde at this time. There are also benefits to Mars being in Libra, its detriment. This means that the power of Mars is muted. It’s possible while there is a feeling of military action in the air, people may actually be willing to pull back and negotiate. If that’s the case, trouble could be averted. So, if you find yourself in a difficult situation, try to communicate with others. Try to negotiate solutions. While it may appear that nothing is coming of the negotiations right now, it will later.

On April 23, 2014, Mars retrograde forms an opposition to Uranus in the early morning hours (EDT) and a square to Pluto retrograde about six hours later. In between these two aspects, Mercury enters the sign of Taurus. The opposition between Uranus and Mars retrograde may mean that people are retreating because they don’t want to create more conflict. Or, it may mean that the established boundaries are now disappearing and people are ready to take action without considering the consequences. At least with Mercury entering the sign of Taurus there is a desire to slow down and understand the situation before you take any action. But Mars retrograde forming a square to Pluto retrograde may change that. Again it’s the past that will dictate what really happens. If you let your fears surface, this could be an extremely volatile day because you’ll do anything to protect your belief system. However, if you can examine feelings that surface, you might find that this can be an extremely healing day that gives you a foundation for success.

As Mars retrograde continues its motion, the square to Pluto retrograde will evaporate and the cardinal grand cross will no longer exist. With all the tension in the world you may have forgotten that there was another energy in operation between April 17^th and April 26^th. On April 17^th, Venus had formed a trine to Jupiter and started the energy of a grand water trine. Now, on April 26^th, Venus will form a trine to Saturn retrograde emphasizing the energy in the external world. It’s possible that this energy offered you some form of psychic protection from all the tension and events in the world. Or, perhaps this energy is here to offer healing to people who really need it.

Normally Venus forming a trine to Saturn indicates that you can get what you want in life and that relationships form long-term bonds and commitments. You are serious about matters in your life but in a loving way. You see where they can go and how they can be achieved. The important thing is that you need to be gentle with yourself and other people in your life.

This need to be gentle will actually be helped as Mercury forms a sextile to Neptune later in the day. Your ability to feel compassion for others will be enhanced. While you may not understand everything that is happening around you, you may still find a way to help others. True, this is not a day to try and negotiate anything because you won’t have all the facts. Anything what is decided comes from a desire for success. But, the actions will not be long-lasting and will eventually fade. It’s better not to make any long-term commitments at this time.

The first solar eclipse (and the second eclipse) of the year occurs on April 29^th with the Sun and Moon in Taurus. This is an annular solar eclipse which is part of the Saros 148 cycle. An annular solar eclipse is where the Moon blocks out most of the Sun’s light and the Sun looks like a ring (an annulis). But, this is an unusual eclipse (which somehow isn’t surprising for this month) because it is a non-central annular eclipse. According to the NASA eclipse website (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2014.html) out of 3,956 annular eclipses occurring between 2000 BCE and 3000 AD, only 68, or 1.7%, of them are non-central. A non-central eclipse occurs when the Moon’s shadow grazes the earth and the central axis of the Moon’s antumbral shadow misses the earth. Perhaps there is a metaphysical meaning in this unusual eclipse. Perhaps it means that you need to be careful not to miss the mark when you try to understand what’s important in your life. Or, perhaps it means that you need to pay attention to the world around you and not pull into your own shadow. Whatever the true metaphysical meaning may be for you, it’s very important that you don’t get pulled into arguments or dangerous situations right now. There is a danger of countries getting sucked into various military actions that could perhaps be avoided with open dialogue occurring.

It helps that Mercury is in Taurus and forming a trine to Pluto retrograde after the eclipse occurs. You may find it easier to slow down and think before you act. There is a danger of inner anger surfacing and taking control of your emotions. Inner anger is when you let things fester to the point that you can’t control the emotion surrounding the situation or person. But, there is also the opportunity to understand your inner needs and motivations. If that’s the case, you’ll know how to take the right action.

The month of April 2014 ends with Mercury forming a sextile to Jupiter on April 30^th. This could bode well and hopefully open you mind to new concepts and ideas. You may finally feel that you don’t really need to take one step back every time you try to take two steps forward when you bring change into your life.