ONE of our spiritual tasks this week – and throughout these uncertain times – is
to find beauty and peace amidst otherwise stressful conditions. While
we may not always be as successful at this as we would like to be, with
time, we can train ourselves with new habits
of thought and practice.
We are tested in these new skills on Monday, when the Taurus Sun is square Saturn. Hard aspects involving Saturn usually provide a reality check on
some level. They can feel heavy or even evoke some fear, requiring us to develop greater maturity, patience, and inner strength.
IN THE OUTER WORLD,
this square represents the need to take stock of how we've been
managing the resources that we rely on to support ourselves physically.
These resources include the environment, food supply, finances, and
material goods. Under
this influence, we may be especially aware of lack or insecurity in one
or more of these areas. But, this awareness is ultimately helpful, for
it allows us to make necessary course corrections.
On
a personal growth level, our challenge is to strengthen our sense of
inner security, rather than relying on outer circumstances to reassure
us. If we require outer forms to stabilize before we become peaceful
within, we will be always checking conditions to make sure we're still
safe. Once we find an inner serenity, our sense of well being is no
longer controlled by the latest news
release.
A NEW LUNAR CYCLE begins at 7:25 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, when the Sun and Moon align at 3°24′ Taurus.
With the New Moon in close proximity to unpredictable Uranus, we can
anticipate some surprises this week, and over the next four weeks as the
Moon waxes and then
wanes. And yet, the New Moon is also in square aspect to Saturn,
reminding us of that need to focus on inner stability as the waves of
change continue to roll through our experience.
The
New Moon is also in harmonious aspect with the nodal axis, those points
in space that reveal our karmic past and evolutionary future. This
means that our new lunar cycle can potentially play an important role in
moving us toward a higher destiny, one that is guided more by personal
connections and caring (North Node in Cancer) than by the controls
wielded by authority (South Node in
Capricorn).
This
lunation provides an opportunity for us to integrate the qualities of
the Divine Feminine even more fully into our beings. With the nodes
scheduled to change signs on May 4, we are nearing a completion point of
these lessons – so it's time to show the universe what we've learned.
CONDITIONS
are quite variable in the last half of the week. Protests have already
been on the rise since April 10, when Mercury, the planet of
Communication, entered assertive Aries. This week, Mercury aligns with
the dwarf planet Eris (Friday), and then squares Pluto and Jupiter
(Saturday).
These aspects indicate an intensification of clashes between individual rights and the power of government. Orators
may feel especially impassioned under this influence, but the wiser of
them will understand their responsibility for what actions their words
could
incite.
On
an individual level, tempers are likely to be short, and words can be
laser-like in their ability to cut through to the heart of a matter.
Although we may feel driven to speak a truth, we must also be aware of
the power of words to hurt or heal.
THE POTENCY
of the square between Mercury/Eris and Jupiter/Pluto is even greater
than it might be at other times, because Pluto stations retrograde on
Saturday. Whenever a planet changes direction – from direct to retrograde (backward) or vice versa – it
must slow to a standstill before it reverses course. As it reaches its
"station," we feel its effects even more strongly than at other times.
Because
this weekend's influences are so far-reaching, we must consider other
manifestations that go even deeper than an angry exchange or two. Pluto
reveals what has been hidden, Mercury conveys information, Eris demands
to be heard, and Jupiter magnifies the situation. As such, suspicions
are more easily aroused, and resentments that have been building reach
the surface. Everything
seems exaggerated, as if we were looking into a distorting mirror at the
carnival. Conspiracy theories abound, and there is an obsession with
getting to the truth of the matter.
Since these
themes "christen" Pluto's retrograde phase, they will continue to play
out over the next five months. It is interesting to note that when Pluto
finally stations direct on October 4, it will be exactly square
retrograde Mars. That is when we are likely to see additional fall-out
from whatever issues arise this week, and perhaps an even more proactive
response.
NEXT SUNDAY
is the exact alignment between the Sun and Uranus. This influence,
which is contained in the New Moon chart, gains full expression over the
weekend. This marks only the second time that the two
planets have aligned since Uranus entered Taurus in 2018.
We
usually expect dramatic events when the Sun and Uranus align, and their
first alignment in Taurus on April 22, 2019, lived up to its
reputation. That week, pertinent news headlines included the fire at
Notre Dame cathedral, a speech by Greta Thunberg at the Extinction
Rebellion protest in London, a mudslide in Myanmar that buried more than
50 jade miners, and two large earthquakes in the
Philippines.
Uranian
events often shake our foundations, either literally or
figuratively. Earthquakes, volcanoes, mudslides, and other acts of
nature are common when Uranus is strong, especially with the planet now
in earthy Taurus.
MANIFESTATIONS of
Uranus can be disruptive, since they usually involve sudden changes
that throw us off balance at first. But, there's a much more palatable
expression of Uranus that we can take advantage of this week.
At
its highest expression, Uranus is associated with higher consciousness.
It is called the "higher octave" of Mercury, with Mercury representing
the logical mind, and Uranus symbolizing the Greater Mind.
If
you are doing any work in retraining your brain, this is a powerful
week to see advancements. Meditations that open us up to insights from a
higher form of intelligence are not only supported but enhanced. If
you've been blessed with heightened intuitive or extrasensory
experiences lately, you are likely to see even more developments over
the coming days.
We
may experience a form of "lift off" this week, especially around the
time that the Moon exactly aligns with Uranus (Thursday, April 23, at
1:29 a.m. PDT) and the Sun-Uranus conjunction (Sunday, April 26, at 2:00
a.m. PDT). Be sure to ground yourself several times a day, and call in
Divine Light to make sure your experiences are of the highest frequency.
FOR THOSE who are tracking lunar aspects, here is this week's watch list: