You’d think Mars would instinctively enjoy the month of April. Most of the weeks of the sign of Aries fall within this calendric month, and this year, Mars forges ahead, his furnace fully stoked with fervor, eyes blazing, muscles flexing, and irons red hot, through his own sign. Or at least one of his signs, according to astrological traditions. At least, remember to do you impulse buying in my website’s store and swiftly scheduling a life course aiding consultation (all the links follow and they do work - a promise in defiance of Mercury retrograde).
Okay, so we’ve been contending with a Mars-Pluto square in the past few days. We watched as legislators argued over the budget in the U. S., and after political dancing to avert a shutdown, they now must contend with boosting the debt ceiling. Pluto, who rules other people’s money and indebtedness, must be enjoying the goings on. Even more tragic, the announcement of the elevated and maximum status of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, similarly falls under the auspices of Pluto.
While at a film festival during this pattern, it was curious to note that two of the four winning screenplays honored the “digging deeper into history” mindset of Pluto in Capricorn as one addressed the life of Lenin, and another spun a compelling tale of the life of Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi. In the same vein, the historical anniversaries of people in space and the American Civil war, certainly are getting their time in the press.
Those centered in soulful intention or aspiring to do major good in a big way or to surface potent morsels of consciousness, likely loved the aspect. What a breakthrough time! Of course the other side of the coin consists of colliding egos, agendas, platforms, avarice and things of Earthbound obsession dominating one’s consciousness. With this potent pattern behind us, let’s consider the weeks ahead and examine what a month for Mars it is!
April 18th - Mars opposes Saturn
Traditionally seen as a road block to progress, this aspect unconditionally rewards hard work, efforts extended and intention that takes clear form. It’s actually better to get your best effort’s extended prior to this aspect’s culmination. Often folks wait for aspects to occur before initiating action. Nope, not here. Whatever you’re thinking about doing, get it going. For those concerned about the waning moments of Mercury retrograde and the pesky chaos often on one of his stations (he resumes direct motion on the 23rd), this pattern trumps Mercury retrograde. Check your figures, edit your proposals, take your time while chatting up your best ideas, be thorough and remember to listen to feedback and questions about your efforts sans defensiveness.
Mars and Saturn share sympathies with one another as astrologers have long determined both to be malefic. Bummer. The upside of this notation is that these two planets like each other, respect the agenda of the other and have a “carved in stone” agreement to render support for the others individual causes, typically demonstrating the epitome of cooperation and oddly, harmony. Should a person match their effort and intent with these planets, they likely shine favor upon the actions.
April 19th - Mercury retrograde conjoins Mars
Oh yeah, what I forgot to tell you before... when you turn on the stove, it gets hot. So don’t touch it. Too late!
This aspect is actually a replay of a conjunction that happened way back on February 20 with both the planets direct in Aquarius. Remember? That was the time when you were so busy conjuring up what the world needed, you couldn’t locate your daily planner.
In the present manifestation, Mercury, with the velocity applied one would expect with Aries, works to recapture those details that never took tangible form, fell through the cracks in the past two months, and strives to reset priorities for immediately pressing matters without getting scrambled and while saving face. Can it be done? Yep. But one must recall the axiom applied by the iconic UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, that was recently cited in a GT. It fits better than any other bit of wisdom: Be quick, but don’t hurry. Those who hurry become those fools who rush in. Those who function quickly and clearly receive labels such as “on the spot,” or “always ready,” or “presently attentive and immediately responsive.”
This Mercury-Mars pattern concludes on May 20th with the two quick natured planets aligning in Taurus. Ah, finally the idea as to how to monetize this thing. It could also result in thinking of a more strategic and grounded foundation, or it could offer the support of one’s legs catching up with the body’s forward motion.
April 24th - Mars opposes Haumea
Instead of declaring that one’s season cleaning (spring cleaning or the winterizing efforts of autumn) is well underway almost as proudly as noting your holiday shopping is already complete, why not note the subtle motive shift in what you are doing? Instead of seasonal cleaning, how about seasonal greening? What have you been meaning to do that supports the resources of the planet? Are you recycling that stuff or becoming an avid e-Bay entrepreneur? Do you put all your plastic in the proper bin? Can you realistically compost? Ensuring that the planet’s beautiful resources continue to flourish is one half of the aspect.
The other half requires that a person confirm and recommit to the use of their creative resources regardless of feedback received. Should criticism to one’s best renderings appear, work on something else for a while as you take an attitude adjustment break. When the edge clears, return to honing the best of your offerings, and get it out there again. This is one of those pause for repose moments in which you reset your enthusiasm about what you know in the core of your being you must render to honor all of Creation.
April 30th - Mars aligns with Jupiter and Eris
This troika in the sky, while presumably majorly intense and disruptive to those holding on to those things that can no longer be, offers enormous potential for breakthroughs in consciousness, behaviors and inner motivations. Mars rules Aries (Ares). One of Eris’s favorite traveling buddies and former fishing companions was Ares (Aries). Together they went supposedly slinging mayhem and discord wherever they went. Then there’s the stunning Jupiter-Eris affiliation. Jupiter summoned Eris to get in cahoots with him and reverse the order of the heavens for just one day; a day long enough to shift perspectives and in so doing, correct what appeared to be political injustices in Jupiter’s mind. Could this be a wave of political uprisings in the Middle East reaching some sort of culmination and hopefully resolution? Will the union busting efforts of conservative politicians hit the high water mark? Can the doom consciousness associated with 2012 begin to recede and will sanity return in terms of looking forward for humankind?
For the best to come from this complex matrix, an individual must know what the drive of the soul demands they do. This if the first Mars-Jupiter-Eris pattern since the acknowledgment of Eris, thus making it extra potent. This is the time to reverse the fate of being shunned by life, vetoing one’s talent without trying, and overcoming the frustrations that life places on the road to fate-ville just to make sure seekers are sincere. Ride the ram. This is the time when those committed to the reason for reincarnating in this body at this time, approach the optimal altitude and correct the course for the most energy efficient trajectory to the destination.
Finally, as we move into the merry month of May, Mars, Jupiter, Eris and the Moon all occupy 22 degrees of Aries. If twenty-two is a “master” number, this has to be good, right? Whether you’re considered to be a master of enlightenment, your job cubicle, sphere of influence, your mission in life or whatever, master the plan you’ve concocted.