The next two weeks will have no shortage of astrological activity, and Mars-ruled Aries wouldn’t have it any other way. A Sun Jupiter conjunction, solar eclipse, the Sun’s ingress into Taurus and the start of Mercury’s next retrograde are all on their way. Adding to the collective buzz, Venus will kick off this cycle when she moves into busy Gemini late on the 10th. Her stay in the curious, inquisitive and sociable sign will last until May 7th. From talkative Gemini, Venus will be doing some socializing of her own, with newly placed Saturn and Pluto. Because Pluto is at 0° of Aquarius, Venus will immediately form a collaborative air trine to it on the 11th. If great minds think alike, then blockbusting strategies are not only possible, but provable under this combination. On the other hand, Venus will form a mutable square to Saturn in Pisces on the 14th. With everyone trying to get a feel for how structured Saturn in fluid Pisces operates, this square may provide some insights and reveal new ways of resolving old conflicts. Furthermore, when frictions arise, the flexible nature of this square suggests that a little cooperation can go a long way towards finding mutually beneficial solutions. In the meantime, optimism will be on overdrive due to the week’s Sun Jupiter conjunction in irrepressible Aries.
When the Sun and Jupiter join forces through a favorable aspect, it is generally viewed as a highly positive alignment. Put them in effervescent, fiery Aries, as they will be on the 11th, and the enthusiasm that they generate is only matched by the atmospheric moxie they incite. Turbocharging all of this excitement, a solar eclipse and new Aries Moon are set for the 20th, at an unstoppable 29° Aries 50′. Being astrology’s first sign, Aries is always associated with new starts. Yet the 29th degree of any sign represents the zenith of its power. Translation, this one is coming in hot, red hot in fact. Robust and rearing to go, this new Moon will present the ultimate launchpad for new intentions and endeavors. Aries instigates, leaving the followthrough in far more capable hands.
For the persistence and patience to see those fresh starts through to their next phase, the Sun will head into Taurus right after the new Aries Moon on the 20th and Mercury will begin its retrograde in the resourceful earth sign on the 21st. This retrograde will run through May 14th and is the second in a year that will see all four retrogrades taking place in earth signs, with the final one spending a little of its time in Sagittarius. It’s as if when forced to move through laborious earthbound plains, Mercury will have the time to ground the motivation ignited during the preceding fire sign stays and mold it into tangible form. This retrograde for instance, is set to the backdrop of the speedy planet plodding through languid, dependable Taurus, for an exceptionally long two months. The April 3rd to June 11th transit can be either a time of enormous frustration or the period when the inspiration Aries is about to bestow is turned into sound results. Lastly, avid astrology watchers will note that June 11th is also the day when Pluto retrogrades back into Capricorn. Perhaps what is being learned between now and then will be applied to Pluto’s return to the sign of enterprise and earned rewards.