Through the Fire

We're in for quite the interesting April, astrologically speaking. Mercury is now retrograde, in which state it will remain for another three weeks from today. On Monday, we get the total solar edition of the latest eclipse cycle; while the early morning of 21st April (UT) will see the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus.

There's a lot to unpack in all of this, and a variety of angles from which one might examine the meaning. Monday's New Moon, to take one example, will be precisely (as in, to the arc minute) conjunct Chiron. This is unusual enough in itself to be worthy of extensive comment.*

Chiron is a relatively new discovery, spotted in 1977. Its approximately 50-year orbit is highly eccentric, unlike those of the major planets. It spends several years travelling through some signs, and zips through others within months. As an astrological phenomenon, it adds a whole layer of complexity to signification of human growth, representing a deeply psychological and emotional element of reaction to hurt, healing and transcendence.

Comfort Zone Ejector Seat

It's almost time for that impressive astronomical light show otherwise known as eclipse season. First is a hybrid solar eclipse, taking place on 20th April at 04:12 UT; this is followed up by a penumbral lunar eclipse on 5th May at 17:33 UT*.

Astrologically, these phases can be pretty intense, as if time were compressed and everything happening at once; the decisions made during them can be far-reaching and potent. In order to harness the power of an eclipse window, it is useful to understand where we are in our present life, where we seem to be headed, and where we would like to be - in every sense. As possessors of free will, we are capable of turning certain circumstances to a variety of possible accounts. For the two weeks in question, that ability may get an extra boost.

Vernal Verification

We're about to encounter a busy week in sky lore. The equinox* (spring in the north, autumn in the south) arrives on Monday, with the Aries New Moon right on its heels. Then on 23rd March, Pluto ingresses Aquarius for its first visit since 1798. Meanwhile, as I'm writing this, Mars is a gnat's tarsus away from leaving shadow phase**, and will enter Cancer on 25th March.

All this may feel rather like a runaway chain reaction, psychologically speaking, involving an urge to brush off the dust and get right to action. New astrological year; new moon; new everything, it would seem; what is to hold one back? The equinox chart suggests, however, that it's probably worth taking a moment to size up the situation. Perhaps not everyone needs an especially long moment, but some form of analysis, pre-planning and/or discernment is apparently being called for here.