Astrolore’s Weekly Astrology Weather: April 18, 2016 through April 24, 2016

This will be the first week with Mars retrograde.  If you have planets or significant points in your chart within a few degrees of 8° Sagittarius (or Pisces, Gemini, or Virgo), this week will have some significant messages for you.  Pay careful attention to how you utilize the energy represented by the planets that are being impacted and the house that contains 8° Sagittarius.

If you are uncertain as to where and how this is impacting you and yet you feel the impact strongly, please consider getting a consultation with either Jenny or myself.
This is a powerful transit and one that is very important to pay attention to.  Mars represents direct action, assertive energy, self-determination, and strength.  He also represents initiative, impulsive action, sexual energy, survival instinct, courage, anger, and war.
Look within to examine how you use the energy of Mars.  Consider how direct you are and how you use your sexual energy.  It is not uncommon for a lover from the past to resurface during Mars retrograde.  If this happens, think about how the energy within that relationship was used, are there amends that can be made now?  Was there a lack of integrity between you regarding sexual expression or anger?
Are you willing to face wounds to your sexuality or wounds you have visited on others due to your lack of integrity with your own sexuality or issues of anger?
It is also important to get clear on whether your actions are in true alignment with your beliefs and your deepest values.  Reflect on your motivations and your pursuit of your desires.
Working with your deepest personal values is going to be a significant focus this week as Venus (the planet of personal values, relationships, and money) forms difficult aspects to both Pluto and Uranus.
You can expect a powerful week as we adjust to the backward motion of Mars, encounter powerful transformative energy regarding our values, and come to the Scorpio Full Moon while we sleep on Friday morning.
 
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DISORIENTATION AND ADJUSTMENT
Monday, April 18, 2016:
The day begins with Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn all retrograde; then at 3:26 AM EDT Pluto joins the fun!  On April 28^th, Mercury will also jump on the retrograde wagon.
When the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) are retrograde, they stay retrograde for an extended period of time.  Pluto will be retrograde for approximately 5 months passing through the middle degrees of Capricorn.  While Pluto is retrograde, I think we have the opportunity to work deeply on our hidden psychological issues. During this time, you may be able and willing to see and overcome deeply ingrained patterns of powerlessness and damaged self-esteem.
The Moon is in Virgo throughout the day, she is highly inactive after 8:30 AM EDT. As much as possible, take time to rest on Monday.  You may feel disoriented as you adjust to the retrograde pattern of both Mars and Pluto.
At 10:37 AM EDT, Venus and Saturn (in Aries and Sagittarius, respectively) form a trine aspect (120°) between them.  While there is disorientation in certain areas, you are likely to feel some stability and inspiration in the area of your love relationship(s), your creative efforts, or your financial situation.  In these areas, go ahead and push forward with gentle steady pressure.  Please keep your level of integrity high and your level of expectation low.
Remember, on Monday that the people you love and all the people you encounter are adjusting to these shifting cycles.  Yes, the stories we live are different but many of the struggles reside in the same places in our hearts.
Offer respect, assistance, and love.  You can do that silently from your heart to theirs.
 
SUN ENTERS TAURUS – DEEP CHALLENGE
Tuesday, April 19, 2016:
Prepare for a significant day on Tuesday.  At 7:24 AM EDT, the Moon enters Libra, the sign of grace and diplomacy.  Then at 11:29 AM EDT, the Sun enters Taurus, the sign of steadfast predictability.  Now, doesn’t that sound like a lovely combination?
Both Libra and Taurus are ruled by Venus, the planet of beauty, love, and your personal values.  However, this day Venus squares Pluto at 4:51 PM EDT, throwing a monkey wrench into the system.  We must consider not only what this aspect means on its own, but also the entire cycle between Venus and Pluto.
The cycle between Venus and Pluto is a cycle of empowering our values, in order to do so; we often have to face our demons.  This can bring up issues regarding relationship, finances, resources, or beauty.  This cycle began on February 5, 2016. Consider what began in your life at that time.  Now, you will want to take an action to push this that situation forward.  The cycle will come to full expression on June 30^th, just as Mars turns direct once again.
You will likely encounter a struggle regarding love or finances, it is important that you take the action most appropriate to bring you where you want to go with this issue.  There may be a powerful struggle involved.
Think about who you want to be rather than how you feel.  Take action to move forward.  You really do have a choice how you engage in the power struggles that you encounter.
Be willing to explore what is difficult; do not turn your back on it.  With Venus in Aries, find the courage to look clearly at your own motivations and control issues.  This is not the time to play the blame game.  Take responsibility for yourself and your ability to become the person you know you can be.
 
UNCOVER TRUTH – MAINTAIN STABILITY
Wednesday, April 20, 2016:
The challenges of Tuesday remain with us on Wednesday as the Libra Moon forms a square aspect to Pluto.  This simply reinforces our need to continue to pay attention to the level of integrity and kindness with which we live our lives.
Take a friend out to dinner, use kindness toward others as a way to move out of the difficulty in your energy field.
The energy continues to build toward the Scorpio Full Moon, which will be exact Friday at 1:24 AM EDT.  Focus on finding an objective balance between the need to dig into the muck to uncover truth and the desire to maintain the calm stability required to build the structure you need to support your good life.
 
BUILDING RELATIONSHIP
Thursday, April 21, 2016:
The day begins with an opposition between the Libra Moon and Uranus.  For the rest of the day, the Moon is VOC*, suggesting a day useful for focused democracy and relationship building.  Do whatever is in front of you to do today.  Engage where you can make a difference.  Do not expect payback.  Do not hold the outcome in mind.
Allow your kindness to speak for itself and trust that whatever is yours, will come back in its right time.
The Moon enters Scorpio at 8:18 PM EDT, preparing for the Scorpio Full Moon, occurring in the early hours of Friday morning.  Expect your emotions to be in a highly responsive state as we build toward the full illumination of the lunar cycle that began on April 7^th.  You may find that you are easily attuned to the feeling state of others.
Consider objectivity and emotional autonomy.  What would it be like to deeply love without the sticky sense of responsibility, guilt, and loss of self?
 
SCORPIO FULL MOON: SENSITIVITY AND DETACHMENT
Friday, April 22, 2016:
The Scorpio Full Moon is exact at 1:24 AM EDT.  Consider what has grown from the intension that you planted at the Aries New Moon on April 7^th.  Did you take the appropriate action at the First Quarter Moon on the 14^th?  Where do you find yourself now?  Do you need to adjust your expectation or simply enjoy the release of creative energy?
This Full Moon is likely to leave us all feeling highly sensitive with a natural inclination to keep that emotional sensitivity private, almost a secret.
Attempting to remain objective and keep an emotional separation between yourself and this sensitivity may be desirable and possible with Venus conjunct Uranus (4:59 PM EDT).
Keep your eyes open to an unexpected experience, person, or situation coming into your life this week that will bring new perspective, excitement, and possibly a bit of anxiety.  This is the beginning of a cycle of unexpected movement within the arena of relationship, or resources.  Be prepared to open your eyes, heart, and mind in ways that will become more comfortable with time.
With Venus and Uranus connecting in the hot, aggressive sign of Aries it is important to allow yourself and others plenty of space and freedom.  Any attempt to control another person will certainly backfire.  Be open to new experiences.
Yes, you can re-write the rule book on love.  Do so wisely; you can change the rules radically as long as you do so with respect, love, and patience.

BENEATH THE SURFACE
Saturday, April 23, 2016:
The bulk of Saturday’s energies revolve around the Scorpio Moon and the aspects she makes.  When the Moon is in Scorpio, our emotions are deeply intense and private.  We feel more than usual and attach more passion and depth to our experience.
This is not a lighthearted day.  Do not expect connections to be simplistic, fun, or playful.  This is a time you will want to go to the depths of the situations you encounter.  You want what is real.  Superficiality has no place for any of us this weekend.  Spend the day by yourself or with deeply trusted confidants.
Ask: what is at the core of the matter?
Look in the mirror… allow yourself to explore the depths of your own inner heart and mind.  There is nothing to hide from yourself.  Open your mind to what is real and what is beneath the surface of what you show to the world.
 
A PARTY OR A ROAD TRIP IS IN ORDER
Sunday, April 24, 2016:
There is nothing quite like the Sagittarius Moon to bring a more meaningful perspective on where we find ourselves.  The Moon leaves the intensity of Scorpio behind to enter Sagittarius at 8:47 AM EDT.
This would be a great day for a road trip, philosophical conversations with friends, or a loud and lively party!  Allow Monday to take care of itself.
For Sunday, give yourself a little space to just enjoy the simple energy of exploration and fun.
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* In these weekly reports, I am exploring the major aspects formed by transit between the planets.  I do not consider every aspect that the Moon makes each day as they can be numerous and are often fleeting moods.  I will consider the final major aspect formed by the Moon prior to its VOC* time, as that aspect holds its influence throughout the VOC*.
* The aspects under consideration: conjunctions, textiles, squares, trines, and oppositions.
* The planets I work with: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.