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April Astrology Report 2004by Roxana MuiseDon't see what you're looking for? Click here for archive. April hosts one conjunction, one opposition, three squares, two stations, one beginning shadow point, two ingresses, one regression, a full Moon, and a Solar eclipse.
It is recommended that readers plug these aspects into their natal charts to see which aspects are relevant to their unique situations. 4/3 Venus enters Gemini 6:57 AM. Venus went out of bounds (N) yesterday, and will return to its declinational parameters on June 6, so we can explore values that may be outside of our normal comfort zone. If you can put self-interest aside and consider others' viewpoints, you can become surprisingly comfortable in normally disquieting situations. Communications about important issues may bring a smooth resolution. This is a good week to define your wishes and needs. 4/5 Full Moon west coast 4:03 AM, east coast 7:03 AM, 16:00 Aries/Libra. Fulfillment depends on spiritual and emotional harmony. The ability to discern between truth and illusion can bring rewards especially in relationships. Reliance on companionship and teamwork can bring success where isolation and separation causes delays. West coast issues are best resolved by sharing resources and values. On the east coast, it's best to avoid secrets and omissions especially in issues of health or personal problems. 4/5 Mars squares Jupiter Rx 10:15 PM, 10:10 Virgo/Gemini. You can handle crisis situations best by being consciously aware of new ways to approach developing projects. Cut expenses or loses by replacing quantity with quality. 4/6 Mercury turns retrograde 1:28 PM, 1:56 Taurus. An alliance of convenience may pave the way for a more permanent union in the future. Be careful what you say, as your words are a valuable resource for you, and also for others. Emotional tensions may become very strong, creating the need to bring conscious awareness of contradictions between opinion and beliefs. Invest energy in supporting strong principles, which outlast emotion, and nourish good health. 4/9 Venus squares Uranus 2:51 AM, 5:18 Gemini/Pisces. Crisis may need to be addressed to define the difference between personal love and altruistic love, although the underlying motivations may not be apparent. Deceptions may be present, yet not yet understood. Challenges may come that provoke you to act before you are really ready to commit your energies to a course of action. Calmly question your challenger instead of blindly reacting. Test your resolve and your knowledge of what you really want and where you want to give your loyalty. 4/12 Mercury regresses into Aries 6:23 PM. A whole new view of life is available for you to see and to use in organizing plans for the future. Emotional turmoil may result if you attempt to finalize decisions now. This is still information-gathering time. There is much more to be learned and integrated before action is taken. 4/14 Venus squares Jupiter Rx 1:57 AM, 9:34 Gemini/Virgo. Desires are paralleling action, and both are in the midst of change. If you know what it is that you want or require, that is where you will be tested. The desire to attain more knowledge conflicts with the need for freedom. Stay rooted in the present and your answers will come. 4/14 Venus BSP (beginning shadow point) 3:50 AM, 9:38 Gemini. Beginning a sub cycle that extends to August 3, embracing the need to show our appreciation/disapproval for those issues asking for our loyalty. A good period to scrutinize programs which ask for your support. 4/16 Sun conjoins Mercury Rx 6:05 PM, 27:22 Aries. Open mindedness to root causes of illness, or quick and courageous responses to disagreements between divergent beliefs can lead to solutions normally many years in the process. 4/19 Solar Eclipse west coast 6:21 AM, east coast 9:21 AM, 29:49 Aries. Being the second new Moon in Aries this year, there is much to be associated between the two. There is a possibility of greater development with projects started now, if they have greater backing. Enthusiasm can be held high if your project has been thoroughly prepared with alternative options available. Be prepared for perhaps ill thought out or emotionally based challenges. West coast issues include unstable or indecisive supporters, and the ability to contain details of your plans until time to implement them. East coast themes include aligning your projects with groups or organizations of like values. Support may come from unexpected but plausible sources, but may not live up to your expectations. 4/19 Sun enters Taurus 10:50 AM. Support is now available for those in need of building self-worth. Added endurance, perseverance, and activities of a practical nature. Keep in touch with others with compatible values, and assist them in their healing processes. 4/24 Mars opposes Pluto Rx 11:10 AM, 22:00 Gemini/Sagittarius. Mental clarity regarding our goals is essential before we commit to engaging our energies into new directions, or in joining projects already in process. In March 2001, transformational projects were begun with little or no fanfare, assistance or support. Those who stuck with their dreams now can see the possibility of success. However, there is still a lot of work to be done, mostly within ones heart. 4/30 Mercury turns direct 6:06 AM, 21:07 Aries. Now may be an appropriate time to make corrections to rash or insensitive actions or statements made in the past. The past month has given us opportunities to review our values, and investigate alternate ways of communicating or behaving. Use all available information to prepare for May 15 when Mercury again moves into Taurus, and into mutual reception with Venus. April's gemstone is the diamond, associated with purity, innocence, healing and promises. The tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring recalls the Catholic custom of reading the „banns‰ each Sunday three times before a marriage. This formal proclamation enabled any objections to the marriage to surface, while the engagement ring promised faithfulness, and identified the bride-to-be as pure and protected. The diamond, also called adamas (indomitable) in biblical days, being the hardest of crystals, symbolized aspiration to the stability and commitment of marriage. April first is dedicated to Venus' half-brother Hermes (Mercury), son of Zeus and Maia, (Greco-Roman fire goddess) in the form of the trickster. All Fools Day originated in ancient days when the king's jester could tell him the truth in humorous form without risk, as the jester was considered a voice from the gods. This also marks the Hindu festival of Huli (the Hindu version of the Trickster), wherein people are sent on fruitless or pointless errands, or given difficult riddles to solve (this may be where the scavenger hunt originated). These ordeals taught individuals about themselves. The Trickster teaches us lessons in the form of tricks and pranks. The antidotes or solutions to his puzzles are hidden within the challenge, and can be discerned by putting yourself in the place of the challenger. All fools day operates only from morning until noon. On April 8 the Hana Matsuri (Kambutsu-e), or Festival of Flowers, is annually observed in Japan&Mac226;s Buddhist temples as a nativity celebration of the Buddha's birth. Buddha was born in the garden of Lumbini in what is now southern Napal, and he immediately took seven steps, and pointed up with one hand and down with the other, and stated: „I am alone in heaven and on Earth‰. Immediately, nine dragons came down from heaven and baptized him with pure water. Part of the annual ritual observance includes decorating a temple garden or hall (hanamido) with flowers, and serving a sweet tea (amacha) from dried and boiled hydrangea leaves. The tea is sprinkled on the head of a statue of the baby Buddha who points heavenward and earthward (also symbolic of the I Ching), symbolizing the legendary birth of the Buddha. After the ceremony, festival visitors take the magical amacha home to share with family members. They also use the tea to create a spell to keep the home safe from snakes, and unwanted insects and animals. The Buddha's birth, illumination, death and transcendence are venerated in a month-long festival culminating at the Wesak full Moon in May. Palm Sunday, April 4, the Sunday before Easter, is also the Buddhist celebration of Quan Yin, goddess of mercy, wisdom, healing and compassion. She was a holy woman who gave up her Buddhic state to help ensure enlightenment to all of humanity. Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Current ceremonies include the blessing of palm leaves, the ashes of which are used on Good Friday to symbolize the passion and sacrifice of the Crucifixion. The full Moon before Easter is called the Paschal Moon (this year on April 5), as it defines dates for Easter in different religious systems. Moveable feasts reflect the effort to coordinate calendar systems, i.e. Lunar-based and Solar-based. Passover (Hebrew: Pesach) is the eight-day celebration of the ancient Jews' liberation from Egyptian bondage (this year on April 6). In the Hebrew religion it commemorates the night the Angel of Death „passed over‰ the houses of the Israelites, protecting their firstborn from massacre by the Pharaoh. This is one of their most important and elaborate religious festivals. It begins on the evening of the 14th of Nisan (first month of the Hebrew Lunar calendar, corresponding to part of the Solar calendar's March&Mac246;April). Special dishes are served, symbolizing the hardships of the Israelites during their bondage in Egypt. At the ceremonial evening meal (called the Seder), the narrative of the Exodus, the Haggadah, is recited; and praise is given for the deliverance. Only unleavened bread (matzoth) may be eaten throughout the festival period, reminiscent of their hasty exodus from Egypt when they had no time to leaven their bread. The Temple at Jerusalem was the goal of an annual pilgrimage of Jews at Passover. Pesach also means „the hobbling," which also refers to the ancient ceremonial spring dance of the partridge, which symbolizes the spiral dance of the Minotar's maze. The inner theme of April is to call upon your inner values and strength to help overcome obstacles and restrictions to your life path. Easter is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the first Sunday after the Paschal full Moon, which follows the spring equinox (this year on April 11). The Resurrection of Christ symbolizes the eternal nature of the soul, and is supported by the renewal and blossoming of nature after the struggle of winter. In ancient times, it was the festival of Eostre, Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and the east. April 15 was the midpoint of CEREA´LIA, an eight-day festival celebrated at Rome in honor of Ceres, whose wanderings in search of her lost daughter Proserpine were represented by women clothed in white, running about with lighted torches. Proserpine was kidnapped while she sat in a field with a lap full of daffodils. Some think that she was immobilized or entranced by the toxic aroma of the daffodils. The festival was completed by entreaties to Ceres, goddess of the Earth and its fruits for successful crops. Easter eggs (aka Pasch eggs) are the springtime symbol of creation. Early Persians, Jews, Egyptians, and Hindus honored the practice of presenting eggs to friends. Early Christians adopted this custom, using it to represent resurrection. They colored eggs in red to symbolize the blood of redemption. As the Sun moves into the earth sign, Taurus (April 19), Loving values may more easily emphasized in our outer activities. Gifts of Light come from the April Lyrids Meteor shower, which lasts from April 16 to the 22, and the maximum is expected on April 21, 2004 / 10:50 PM UT ±12hours. The maximum hourly rate typically reaches 10, except for occasional outbursts that can reach 100. Earth Day, April 22 is a celebration of the home that we all share, and the Earth goddess, Gaia. The first Earth Day was organized in 1970 to support recycling, tree planting, and community commitment to the future. It continues to encourage respect for life on earth, and encourages methods to ensure quality of the soil, air, and water. Earth Day is now observed in 140 nations St. Mark's Day, April 24 coincides with the old Roman festival of the Robigalia. They share the purpose of asking a blessing for the growing of crops. Beltane, the Celtic start of the summer season, begins at sunset on April 30th. The patron of Beltane is Diana, goddess of the hunt, of wealth, wisdom, and tender affection. Beltane means „bright fire," and is the fire festival that begins the yearly spiritual cycle. Nine, the sacred number of endings was the basis of this festival in 19th century Scotland. Nine teams of nine married men gathered logs from the nine sacred trees of the Celts. At sunset all fires were extinguished, and at sunrise a new fire was kindled without the use of metal. All the people danced around the bonfire in a sunwise direction, and jumped over the flames and through the smoke, which purified and transformed their spirits. After the flames had died down, farm animals were driven over a path cleared through the smoking coals, to ensure their fertility. The people then danced around a Maypole that pierced the Earth as a phallic symbol of co-joining and fertilization. Dew was collected, and the people drank of it and washed their faces with it. The people then took coals home to re-kindle their hearth fires. They had all partaken of all four elements, and the alchemical process was complete. The community was again whole and blessed by their divinities. April has a recurring theme that has to do with joining together. It's interesting to note that both the zipper and the safety pin were patented during the month of April. We continue to search for meaning in all parts of our lives. We find significance in the simplest of ideas or concepts. Those ideas have their expression in symbolism and symbols. The same basic symbols pop up in many places and in many different philosophies and religions. If we search with an open mind, we often find places where our meanings agree, often in what was previously perceived as rivalry. Venus and Mercury support each other early this month as they tenant each other&Mac226;s signs. A perfect example of the union of the trickster and lover is seen in the playwright, Sevien de Cyrano de Bergerac, (1619-1655) who was a real historical person, a poet and author, who wrote the earliest science fiction books on record (in the early 1600s), 250 years before Jules Verne. The author who wrote the heroic comedy, loosely based on Cyrano's life was Edmond Rostand (born Apr. 1, 1868, in Marseille, France, died Dec. 2, 1918 of influenza). His own natal Venus was in artistic Taurus, while his Mercury was in poetic Pisces. His "heroic comedy" uses rhymed Alexandrine verse to combine romance, heroic action, and humor to give life to one of the most enduring characters in modern literature: Cyrano de Bergerac, a hero who is not only a charming, valiant, and witty swashbuckler but a poet, using words as effectively as weapons, and a master duelist, soldier, poet, romantic, and philosopher, whose one tragic flaw was an enormous nose and a perfect marriage of Mercury and Venus, the Trickster and the Lover. Roxana Muise, PO Box 3948, Lacey, WA 98509-3948 USA |
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