Episode 286 | Taurus Season: Thunderstorms in the Pasture!
This week, Mercury enters Aries and aspects imaginative Neptune and laser-focused Pluto. Mars enters Leeeeeeooooo, then trines Neptune just before a very intense Aquarius Last Quarter Moon. The Sun enters the lush and tranquil pastures of Taurus, but the peace is interrupted when Mars charges into the field and Venus aspects Uranus. Since it’s such a busy week, April will forego answering a listener question, but she will get back to that segment next week, so if you have any questions you would like her to answer, please send an email and be sure to put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.
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Timestamps
[1:45] Mercury enters Aries (April 15, 11:25 pm PDT) and will be in this sign until May 10. Mercury in Aries is excellent for dealing with situations that require quick decisions, decisiveness, and the courage to speak your mind.
[4:17] Mercury conjoins Neptune (April 16, 9:11 pm PDT) at 00º38’ Aries. Mercury-Neptune aspects are good for translating a vision into a form that others can understand and appreciate. Neptune is also associated with escapism, and lends sensitivity to other people and to content that you consume.
[6:48] Mars moves into glamorous Leo on April 17 (9:21 pm PDT). Mars previously went into Leo on Nov. 3, 2024, went retrograde, and entered Cancer on Jan. 6, where it’s been ever since. It will be in Leo until June 17, 2025, when it enters Virgo. Promote yourself and your ideas, and revisit any projects that you started back in November or December. It is a pretty good time for setting up and managing projects, because Leo is a very managerial sign. The Sabian symbol for 1 Leo is, A case of apoplexy.
[9:06] The Sun enters Taurus (April 19, 12:56 pm PDT, through May 20). Count your blessings and contemplate what is needed for stability, pleasure, and abundance.
[11:30] Mars trines Neptune (April 19, 3:53 pm PDT) at 00°44’ Leo-Aries. A strong time for using energy and talents, helping those who are disadvantaged or despondent, and incorporating spiritual or artistic influences into your work. Contributing in some way to the improvement of your community, your society, the planet, not just on yourself.
[13:25] Venus, the planetary ruler of Taurus, sextiles Uranus (April 20, 11:20 am PDT) at 25º45’ Pisces-Taurus. This is the last of three sextile aspects between Venus-Uranus (the others were Jan. 26, April 7). In any kind of relationship, it’s important to have freedom, our own friends, our own interests.
[15:36] Mercury sextiles Pluto on April 20 (2:39 pm PDT) at 3º46’ Aries-Aquarius. Channel the intense mental energy of this combination into constructive, healing, and empowering activities.
[17:30] The Sun squares Mars (April 20, 6:34 pm PDT) at 1º12’ Taurus-Leo. This can be motivating, but tempers might be flaring. Try not to take things personally and hold grudges. The Sun’s Sabian symbol at this square is 2 Taurus, An electrical storm, Mars is on 2 Leo, An epidemic of mumps. In a positive sense, the individual (the Sun) can have an impact and can motivate others (Mars).
[20:11] Moon Report! The Aquarius Last Quarter Moon (April 20, 6:36 pm PDT) is at 1º12’ Aquarius-Taurus, on Sabian symbols 2 Aquarius, An unexpected thunderstorm, and 2 Taurus, An electrical storm. This is a highly charged and energetic Last Quarter Moon, marked by this T-square between the Moon and Pluto in Aquarius, Mars in Leo, and the Sun in Taurus. T-squares are motivating, but they can also be quite frustrating. Last Quarter Moons push us to complete the goals of the previous New Moon, in this case the Aries Solar Eclipse on March 29.
[24:09] This is the Last Quarter (final action point) in a lunar phase family cycle (LPFC) that began with a New Moon on Jan. 21, 2023, at 1º32’ Aquarius. The First Quarter (first action point) in this LPFC was on Oct. 21, 2023, and the Full Moon (awareness point) was on July 21, 2024.
[26:08] Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon Periods. On April 15 (7:24 pm PDT), the Moon in Scorpio trines Mercury in Pisces. It’s VOC for just 13 minutes, and then enters Sagittarius (7:37 pm PDT). Take this very short VOC Moon period to initiate a habit of saying good things to yourself and to others.
[27:34] On April 18 (4:38 am PDT), the Moon in Sagittarius trines the Sun in Aries. It’s VOC for 2 hours, 34 minutes, then enters Capricorn (7:12 am PDT). Use this VOC Moon period to get in the habit of letting yourself have fun and laugh, even in trying times.
[28:34] On the oh, so busy April 20 (10:21 am PDT), the Moon in Capricorn sextiles Saturn. It’s VOC for 6 hours, 0 minutes, and then enters Aquarius (4:21 pm PDT). Use this VOC Moon to get in the habit of getting done what needs to get done before allowing yourself some time to play.
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Writing and images © 2017-25 by April Elliott Kent
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