April 2019 Forecast

New Moon in Pisces April 5

The new Moon in Pisces is used to see themes for the upcoming year, calculated for each country for more specificity.

This year, as the Moon wanes into the last lunar sign of the zodiac, Revati, it is the darkness before the dawn. The dark Moon in Pisces is a re-set point and pause before beginning again in Aries. 

This pause is further emphasized due to Jupiter's station in gandanta (undoing) at 0 degrees of Sagittarius, as the south node joins Pluto by exact degree in the same sign, alongside Saturn. And while all of the planets in Sagittarius are impacted by Mars' 8th sign aspect, requiring patience as circumstances change, Saturn's strong aspect to the planets in Aquarius shows a need for, and dissolution of, borders of all kinds. 
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The border on the island of Ireland is an obvious example, but borders of all kinds are a big theme for 2019/2020. These alignments suggest much uncertainty.

The chart given is for London, but also applies to Dublin, impacting two countries that are changing the way in which they relate, to each other and to other countries. This is due to the conjunctions of Pluto, Ketu and Saturn in the 7th house. Jupiter, as the 7th house ruler, is weak having just entered the sign, but it does offer some hope in the process of deconstructing relationships. 

Other patterns in the chart are that all the planets are either joined or on one side of the nodes. Although this is not technically Kala Sarpa Yoga, you can see that this snapshot would show Rahu subsequently transiting over the planets in this chart, creating ever more uncertainty, divisiveness and intrigue at the changes taking place throughout the year.

The south node is exactly conjunct Pluto; showing a big theme of deconstruction, while Saturn's close conjunction shows a simultaneous reconstruction. Ketu and Pluto are conjunct from April 2 - 10, using the mean node calculation; April 4 - 9 using the true nodes. The first week of April is intense, not just because of these conjunctions, but also because of Jupiter's station at the beginning of the same sign. This shows a big theme of a crisis of meaning throughout the year - a crisis that spills out into 2020, with big shake ups occurring throughout.  

Mercury is particularly impacted by this deconstruction/reconstruction in 2019, being placed in the 3rd from Sagittarius, where Saturn strongly aspects, and Mercury rules the ascendant for the Dublin and London charts.

​Mercury exchanges signs with the north node (Rahu) in Gemini, which is a more positive and innovative exchange of ideas (1st and 9th houses). 
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​Mercury represents travel, business and communications; how our lives work, while these are hampered by a radical ideology and a state of confusion in Sagittarius. 

Jupiter Retrograde April 10 - Aug 11

Jupiter stations retrograde at 0 degrees of Sagittarius on April 10. This places Jupiter in a strong, yet precarious position, throughout April. It is particularly slow in transit for the first half of the month, slowing down to station on April 10.

​It's strong because it is in its own sign, as well as retrograde, but it is at the first degree of the sign which is a weak placement for any planet. But it's not just any sign, the beginning of Sagittarius is precarious as it represents a transition from fighting for one's need to be in control and accomplish something (Scorpio and Jyestha), to that of endings and new beginnings that leave us feeling uprooted and more philosophical  (Sagittarius and Mula). 

If you were to arrive home after a long journey, (Jupiter is at home in Sagittarius) there is a great relief on one hand, but also a need to re-orientate ourselves. When coming home, we may need to reacquaint ourselves with our surroundings and feel a little out of place for a time. This is what April has to offer on our journey forward, which includes moving back. It won't be until November that we return home to the truth, as there are many more untruths to dismantle before then.

Jupiter moves back into Scorpio by April 23, as we get back to the drawing board and begin re-drafting our own lives​. Brexit is just one example of this need to redo policies. There is likely some power struggles during the next few months in this process, as Jupiter retrogrades in Scorpio and Jyestha, the lunar sign that is all about taking control, while resources must be negotiated when drawing lines.

With Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto stationing retrograde in April, there are many lines to redraw.

Mars in Taurus Mar 22- May 7

Mars is in Taurus all of April and until May 7, while Jupiter's return to Scorpio from April 23 brings a more positive interaction between the planet of hope and meaning (Jupiter) and the planet of action (Mars). Until then, Jupiter receives Mars' 8th house aspect which challenges wise actions due to fighting. 

It' hard to make wise moves when someone is attacking you.

When two people fight, they don't face each other straight on, they turn slightly to protect their delicate areas. This is a 6/8 relationship between planets which can be particularly egregious. 

Once Jupiter returns to Scorpio, however, there is a mutual aspect between Mars and Jupiter which lends itself to wiser actions, and a general sense of more positive control and negotiation.

Although Mars is not as happy in Taurus all the while, if we get into some worthwhile activities Mars we're less likely to get tetchy as Jupiter retraces its steps. 

Mercury and Venus in Aquarius and Pisces

Mercury is conjunct Neptune during the beginning of April, while Venus conjuncts Neptune on April 10, just as Mercury re-enters its sign of debilitation, Pisces. This adds further confusion to April - even a sense of bewilderment. Thankfully, Venus enters its sign of exaltation by April 15, making up for Mercury's weakness.

The end of April and beginning of May is one of the best periods of the year - in case you were planning something - as long as you are okay with the need to dismantle certain things while building something new.

Mercury is debilitated until May 3, while Venus is exalted until May 10. Venus lifts Mercury up, but Mercury drags Venus down. How this may play out is that we may struggle with the details of our lives which can compromise our sense of enjoyment at a time of year we would normally start to bloom.

As long as you are okay with letting things float for a while, there is more possibility of just loving whatever, or whoever, is turning up for you in your life. 
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Sun in Aries April 14 - May 13

​The Sun takes its annual jaunt through its sign of exaltation from April 14. This adds more strength to the latter part of the month, especially when we take Venus’ exaltation into account. 

The Sun is conjunct Uranus while in Aries, exact on April 22, and this excites us with a sense of what’s new; highlighting a sense of individuality and independence.

Sun and Uranus suggest surprises, some of which may come as shocks to the system.

​Full Moon in Libra April 19

There are some strong indications for the full Moon, with the Sun and Venus exalted, although Mercury throws a spanner in the works.

When the Sun is strong, we feel more vibrant and alive, more confident. When Venus is exalted we are happier, in general, and can enjoy things as they are. Mercury is the only kink, but as long as we are okay with being confused for a while, there is much to enjoy for the latter part of April.

The full Moon in Libra is in the bright and brilliant Chitra, a soft lunar sign at the beginning of sidereal Libra, while Venus' exaltation helps out the Moon, as well as Mars in Taurus. This offers a counterbalance to being completely self-absorbed with the Sun exalted in Aries, or getting frustrated when things are not happening as fast as you would like with Mars in Taurus. 
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Saturn and Ketu Conjunction April - Oct

Saturn and Ketu are exactly conjunct by the end of April, and the main indication of the breakdown of systems and order. The mean node is conjunct Saturn from April 20, while the true node conjuncts Saturn from May 2.

This conjunction can bring up a lot of fear, and they remain within one degree from each other, or exactly conjunct, until late October. Saturn roots us in practical life, the things we have to deal with, which can sometimes feel limiting, but at least give us a sense of realism. With Ketu now influencing Saturn for the next 6 months, there is high potential for struggle and a general sense of uneasiness. 

Ketu taps us into something beyond this world, sometimes expressing itself in dramatic fashion. This could be the loss of someone close or an event that grips the world, reminding us of the fragility of our physical existence, in our human bodies and as a species on the planet. It can create a type of existential crisis, as we search for more meaning.

​An example of this was when the mean nodes had just entered Gemini/Sagittarius, as Ketu joined Saturn and Pluto, and the Moon joined Rahu in Gemini. This is when we saw the attacks in New Zealand. Looking at the New Zealand chart (see below) we can see why that country experienced such an event, as Mars is exactly conjunct Ketu in the 8th house, while transiting Ketu triggered the conjunction.

The 8th house is the area of sudden, sometimes, traumatic events. Rahu's influence in Gemini brought with it even more disturbing element in the attacks; the filming of the shooting via social media (Gemini). The country is currently experiencing a Venus/Rahu period. 

​With the nodes now moving through Gemini/Sagittarius until September 2020, I believe we are going to see more of a crisis of meaning from a lack of ethics which brings about important debates about the role of technology and social media.

New Zealand

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​Pluto Retrograde April 24 - Oct 3

Pluto stations retrograde at the very end of sidereal Sagittarius by April 24, hovering at the end of a new world order, bringing us back to the drawing board and the rules of a new game. 

Pluto's backtrack through the late degrees of Sagittarius - stationing at the eclipse degree - means we have more of the old order to break down before we can move forward with the new, as we continue the process of dismantling outworn beliefs that keep order.

The old structures won't begin to break down in earnest until early 2020, as Pluto enters sidereal Capricorn, in exact conjunction with Saturn.     

For now, and since 2005, we are about the business of removing those we no longer trust to build a new world. 
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Saturn Retrograde April 30 - Aug 18

Saturn station retrograde on April 30, which means Pluto and Saturn are both very slow in transit in April and May, putting the pressure on to make some changes. This may come in the form of stating you can no longer commit to something or someone in your life, as you find a way to make it work.

Border issues will be further pressurized throughout the summer because of these retrogrades, but not all boundaries are physical. Some boundaries are ethical. 

Ketu joins Saturn by exact degree, on April 30, using the true node calculation, as they journey backwards together until August 18.
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Saturn represents what we must do, while Ketu shows a certain ambivalence, a need to check out on some level and not deal with what must be done. An example of this are Brexit delays further destabilizing government structures. This is not a time to put something off that you know needs to be addressed.

What are you putting off in your own life?

The struggle we experience between these two impulses creates friction, no doubt, but in the end we find a way to do the right thing - even if it's that we have to wait until we have no choice left. ​​

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​Sidereal Transits
Mercury conjunct Neptune Apr 1 - 3
Ketu conjunct Pluto Apr 2 - 10
New Moon in Pisces Apr 5
Jupiter stations retrograde Apr 10
Venus conjunct Neptune Apr 10
Mercury re-enters Pisces Apr 10
Sun enters Aries Apr 14
Venus enters Pisces Apr 15
Full Moon in Libra Apr 19
Ketu (mean node) conjunct Saturn Apr 20
Sun conjunct Uranus Apr 22
Jupiter re-enters Scorpio Apr 23
Pluto stations retrograde Apr 24
Saturn stations retrograde Apr 30