Celestial Notebook Overview April 2009

‘Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside, awakes.’ C. G. Jung

Life and nature are cyclic: at the end of one phase of experience there is always a new beginning. Each turn of the wheel builds upon the foundation laid during the previous one. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, symbolises this eternal cycle.

Until 20 April the sun, representing both our ego and our divine essence, is in the sign of Aries (), the Ram. This is the archetypal time for fresh starts: Aries is the first fire sign, the sign of boldness and ingenuousness. Aries sparks through adventure and enthusiasm. Whilst the sun is in Aries we need to have the courage to step into the unknown, to have an adventure and to discover parts of our self we never knew we had!

At an exoteric level Aries is ruled by Mars () and it is the motivating, directing force of Mars which buoys us toward the physical plane – Mars represents the energy that makes physical manifestation possible. For most of April (till the 22nd) Mars will be in Pisces, a particularly subdued Mars! The emphasis until then is on finding ways to develop a healthier body so that you may express your spirituality on the physical level. I would suggest researching an eating plan that makes you feel good (a low glycaemic index plan also helps to keep you emotionally at an even keel) and an exercise regime that gives you joy (NIA is a dance form that anyone can do – even if you have two left feet!)

Mercury () symbolises the conscious, intelligent mind and rules Aries at an esoteric level. Until 9 April Mercury is in Aries supporting your ability to recognise and understand the body-soul connection on an intellectual level. Any conflicts between your spiritual and material natures can be resolved through the mediation of Mercury: your conscious mind becomes the link between your spiritual nature and its physical expression.

Be aware that as Mercury enters Taurus () your intuition may be stifled by your emphasis on logic and on the physical side of existence!

Until 17 April Venus (), Goddess of Love and Harmony is retrograde – first in Aries and from 11 April in Pisces (). On 31 March she reappears as Phosphorus or Lucifer, the Light Bearer or Morning Star and we will feel revived as she shines her light on all....but that’s not all.........

Venus represents the illumined mind working from intuitive insights. In Aries, Venus is in her detriment (not happy!) and that illumination is dimmed and at times non-existent. Our struggle this month involves the use and direction of our will and our process centres around to what extent are we responsible for the credit crunch, global warming and an escalation of revolutionary energies? Where have each of us, probably as a result of our conditioning, overused our will for personal, selfish and separative ends and succumbed overmuch to the desires of physical life?

(See the Daily Guide for more information about the Venus cycle.)

As Venus once again enters the last degrees of Pisces (where she was on the first three days of February) she heralds the end of a cycle and we will be setting new intentions; for Pisces these come from the heart not the head – from the soul not the ego. This month we need to focus on having the faith to revalue our life’s experiences, to create the space for a fresh vision – to see the bigger picture more openly.

In fact, no planet is able to move backwards in its orbital path: the reality that retrogradation is an astronomical illusion, does not invalidate the psychological influence retrograde planets have on the human personality. Retrograde planets revisit the same degrees they have already transited, stimulating an awareness of unfinished business originating in the hidden depths of the personal unconscious.

While planets are retrograde, we become more reflective and contemplative as we become conscious of how we are adjusting our inner processes to create a more fulfilling life. This condition can result in inner illumination when well-managed or lead to much self-undoing if we try to skip issues that need to be re-studied or patiently reconsidered.

Pluto (), The Merciless Transformer, stations to turn retrograde on the 4th at 3° 18’ Capricorn (). Capricorn is presided over by Saturn (), Master of Reality. Saturn has been reversing against the background of the stars since 31 December and only turns to go direct on 17 May (covering 21°-14° Virgo).

Pluto’s about turn coincides with Mars in Pisces opposing Saturn in Virgo, an aspect that is often extremely challenging as it combines the assertion (or aggression) and courage (or belligerence) of Mars with the self-control (or cruel streak) of Saturn. This combination invariably leads to the over- or underuse of force and as a result violence. Extreme weather patterns and volcanic activity are often part of the stand-off between the Grim Reaper and the Warrior.

With Saturn and Pluto both in earth signs, Virgo () and Capricorn (), we will attempt to blend body, mind and soul to go beyond our conditioning and to make conscious choices that allow us to discover how living our philosophy benefits all. Aware Capricorn (and we all have all twelve archetypes somewhere in our chart) recognises that some limitations and constraints are ultimately liberating: what appears to be a restriction to the personality can be an important opportunity for the soul.

With economies faltering and meteorological wipe-outs accompanying global warming, the message is that there are limits to the security that worldly achievements and resources can bring. Our desire for success, once based on fear (Saturn), can now be transformed (Pluto) into an urge of the soul to use our wealth and our authority to initiate (Aries) lasting structures that benefit all. Our entire belief system seems to be changing so that we may be released from our bondage to matter.

The Wounded Healer, Chiron (), his teacher and adoptive father, Jupiter () and Neptune (), the planet of infinite spiritual potential, are in close relationship in the humanistic, equalising sign of Aquarius during the next few months. This Aquarian consortium supports us to find the solutions to our own and global suffering by applying consciousness to every waking moment (more about this in the Daily Guide).

This month our inner evolutionary tension will involve the pull between the sacred and the mundane, between the divine and the earthy – what we plant and what we harvest come from the authenticity of our choices. We are being asked to stay focused and meet with integrity our duties and responsibilities as we climb: consumerism is passé, we are returning from fantasy into actuality and the present.

Know your heart’s oneness with all.