APRIL 2011 ASTROLOGICAL UPDATE:
The New Moon occurs at 13 degrees Aries on April 3rd at 10:33 am ET
On April 3rd, six planets are in the sign of Aries: the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus. When the fiery red-hot energy of the Sun and Mars combine with the largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, and the erratic high voltage electrical current of Uranus, anything is possible. Each cycle of the moon is special in its own way as we revolve around the Wheel of the Year. A New Moon means that both luminaries (the sun and moon) fall close together in the same sign of the zodiac making it a particularly potent time for beginning new things. This New Moon falls in the primal fire sign, Aries, and it is the first New Moon of the planting and seeding season of the spring equinox. The last Full Moon on March 19th occurred in the critical last degree of Virgo and fell just a few days before spring equinox. In fact, the first three Full Moons of 2011 on Jan 19th, Feb 18th, and March 19th ALL fell in the 29th degree (critical degree) of the final signs of the zodiac, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, respectively. These Full Moons DEFINITELY signal that we have completed a cycle and are transitioning towards a new level of consciousness. This New Moon in Aries heralds the birthing phase of the next cycle, but birth is not experienced without pain; and Aries, ruler of the planet Mars, the god of war, is bound to serve up challenges and confrontations to be overcome before the new seed can grow to its fruition.
On a personal level, whatever planets you have in your natal chart in the sign of Aries will be affected by this New Moon. For the next two weeks (until the Full Moon on April 17th), you can expect to see situations, relationships, and events touched by those planets “spark”, and in some cases, even “combust”. Aries encourages honesty, courage and passionate action. It pushes us to act on impulse, rather than rationalize. Idealistically, fighting for the truth of our convictions is a good thing, as we are witnessing in the spontaneous uprisings occurring in the Middle East; however, when mob violence takes over, chaos ensues. It is imperative that we keep impatience and anger in check when there is an overabundance of Mars energy around. Aries can either be a knight in shining armor, or a gun-toting vigilante. Aries also rules the head and jaw. Words have power. Think before you speak. This may be a good time for doing cranial sacral work, especially if you experience migraines or TMJ. Try to schedule regular “time outs” for yourself over the next two weeks where you can just relax…enjoy a massage…see a movie or concert…listen to a motivational tape…avoid argumentative people and confrontational situations. On the global scene, we may see a sudden rise in military aggression, as well as malfunctioning technology problems, while Uranus makes its exact conjunction to Mars. Pioneering new and radical ideas may become a necessity rather than a luxury. Saturn in Libra will attempt a reality check as it opposes the Aries planetary configuration. New laws, new governments and new codes for social and ethical behavior will be formulated under Saturn’s rule. The planet, Pluto, (plutonium) is also making a very challenging aspect to these Aries planets. It is nuclear fission taking place in the cosmos itself. As if there were not already enough elements thrown into the alchemical furnace, the personal planets, Moon and Mercury, are also partners in the mix. Emotions and intellect can be overwhelmed by the sheer onslaught of Aries passion and force. We can see this all too clearly as the 3D world erupts around us. Technology is rendered helpless as the forces of Mother Nature rage on. Outer events are volatile and unpredictable: earth changes, wars, the collapse of governments, nuclear fall-out…it has all been written before. This is the time of prophecy as foretold by Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, the seers and shamans of all indigenous cultures. One is reminded of the ancient Egyptian myth in which Ra, the Sun god, sends his daughter Sekmet, an enraged lioness, to punish mankind for its transgressions. I have been in Egypt during its time of Revolution and transition, and I have seen miracles and chaos co-existing in the same instant. Egypt is in the hands of Sekmet right now, as is all humanity. Where do we go from here? In the myth, Sekmet was deterred from ultimately destroying humanity by drinking a brew made from barley, whereupon she fell into an “altered” or drunken state, totally forgetting her rage and “morphing” into her sister aspect, the Goddess Hathor. The astrological symbolism here is profound. Hathor is the Goddess of Love, and the positive shadow side of Sekmet’s fury and rage. On April 4th the planet Neptune moves into its own sign of Pisces, signaling the return to compassion, “Christed” consciousness, and Oneness with nature. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, the Love Principle. It represents the Grail, the waters of life, the Sacred Feminine. Synchronistically, the planet Venus is also in the sign of Pisces during this New Moon. Are we being given a cosmic code to crack here via ancient mythology and astrology? If these archetypes are speaking to us now, there is a reason. We all have a choice in how we handle our emotions through this time of extreme collective stress. The good people of Japan have given us extreme lessons in gentility and humanity in the face of horrendous disaster. As we offer global prayers for peace and the safety of the oceans, we are dissolving the old barriers of race, culture and religion and joining together in Oneness. That is the influence of Neptune that will collectively “lift” us out of the quagmire of doom, gloom and destruction and into the New Earth. Prayer, positive action and a new enlightened vision for the future are the tools that will work miracles right now. The shadow side of Neptune is martyrdom, slavery, illusion and addiction. On a personal AND collective level it is time for each one of us to open our hearts, claim our vision for the future working together for the safety and harmony of the planet. There is NO going backwards now. Aries is the true Knight of the Grail, the Hero, who transforms society by inciting spiritual passion and courage in whomever he contacts. I am reminded of the beautifully poignant movie “Avatar. The New Earth awaits Humanity’s awakened and enlightened actions.
SABIAN SYMBOLS: The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon at 14 Degrees Aries is “ A Serpent coiling near a man and woman”, representing the development of transpersonal consciousness via the marriage of masculine and feminine and of all dualities, a new kind of human is birthed.
Mercury Retrograde in Aries:
Mercury is retrograde in Aries from March 30 to April 23rd. With all of the fire, the Mercury retrograde will allow us to pause and integrate all the changes made since January 2011, and allows us time to reevaluate how we are expressing ourselves (or not), and if we are living true to our ideals. On a mundane note, transportation issues, in general, will be in the news. Check and double check travel arrangements. Don’t put off car repairs or maintenance. If you have to make any major purchases, especially computers, cell phones or automobiles, it would be better to wait until after April 23.
Historically Speaking:
In ancient Egypt, April 3rd was celebrated as the Festival of Isis finding Osiris, the beginning of the spring agricultural season and the renewal of life. Each spring Osiris was mourned, and each spring he was reborn. The renewal of the God/King and the fertility of the land were the basis of the Eleusinian Mysteries in Greece and the legends of the Grail King in Britain. In turn, the early Christian Church adopted this theme of renewal to commemorate the feast day of the risen Christ and called it “Easter”.
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