At first glance, April of 2012 is long on promise but short on delivery. Big aspect patterns have either already occurred or haven’t arrived yet. However, it is a very important turning point month, and intensely personal. For many months, conscious people have been directing their attention to making deep personal changes. Now is the time to execute these changes. Mercury turns Direct on April 4th encouraging us to move forward in our thinking, but being in Pisces (sign of ideals) we are learning to move beyond just seeing the world through our usual analytic thought process; we are perceiving life through a higher inspiration and paying more attention to our feelings. On April 10th Pluto turns Retrograde in Capricorn (sign of karma) revealing methods for overcoming the limitations of our thinking which have locked us into our current socio/economic pattern. We have the opportunity to make deep changes. We enter the action phase of a long reorientation of our personal health, lifestyle, and attitude as Mars turns Direct on April 13th in Virgo (sign of habits). Mars has been in Virgo since November 11th, 2011 and will remain there until July 3rd, 2012. This long sojourn inscribes a time where we are working hard to overcome the inertia of bad habits.
The Full Moon occurs on April 6th at 3:19 PM EDT. The Moon last passed over a Retrograde Mars and will next past over a Retrograde Saturn showing that we are now able to see clearly how our past actions (stemming from our desires) have created our current situation. Recognizing how we have created our circumstances sounds great but experiencing this phenomenon directly empowers us. This is one of the few moments when we are able to observe our whole process closely enough in order actually see how we create our reality. Real knowledge leads to a deep and immediate change in our behavior.
The New Moon in Taurus is on April 21st at 3:20 AM EDT. Traditionally this is the month for connecting with the earth. This year with Venus (ruler of Taurus) in Gemini (sign of the abstract) and Mars (god of desire) in Virgo (sign of analysis) we find it easier to live in our heads than to connect with nature through our senses. However, with Mercury (messenger of the gods and ruler of both Gemini and Virgo) in Pisces, we have a higher vision of the truth than just living in our mental creation of life. The real goal of the month will be to manifest this vision. With Mars (god of fire) applying to a Trine to Pluto (lord of volcanoes) and the Sun and Moon applying to a Trine to Mars there is tremendous energy in motion. Even though all of these bodies are in earth, symbol of consolidation and manifestation, Taurus is seldom in a hurry so we will see progress on many fronts over the next month, but it will come slowly.
When the Sun enters Taurus on April 19th at 12:12 PM EDT we have an emphasis on the Square between Aries and Capricorn as the Moon, Mercury, and Uranus are in Aries (sign of personal assertion) and Pluto is in Capricorn (sign of responsibility). This whole solar month is a struggle to get our personal energy harnessed to useful projects. We will get much done but there can still be obligations that go unfulfilled. Even though there is so much energy around all month, shown by the Sun Trining Mars, and we have a lofty vision of a better life, shown by Sun Sextile Neptune; we, like the rest of the world, may not really be sure of what we in fact want. This is shown by the Mars Opposite Neptune. This is a month where we must be willing to go the extra mile to encourage the manifestation of our beliefs.
Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material. Call him at 239-261-2840 or by e-mail at bobmulliga@aol.com. His website: www.theastrologycompany.com.
