Faithfully persisting towards goals, learning step-by-step, and overcoming challenges or perceived blockages may yield especially fruitful results today as Venus opposes Saturn (♀☍♄). By consciously honoring Saturn with a realistic, responsible attitude, we lay foundations to support the important relationships or creative projects that are of true value to us, thereby creating opportunities for love & beauty to blossom.

During Mercury Retrograde, Mercury appears to move backwards. It also fades out of visibility in the night sky. As Mercury stations direct, it reappears in the morning sky.

“The Egyptians saw the appearance of a Morning Star as a God rising from the UnderWorld - the realm of the Dead, and thus being re-born... As Mercury Stations direct [in Aries], we are receiving personal messages about how we need to be re-born into the Warrior archetype and how to communicate, move and problem solve like a Warrior... It is not so much about conquering anything or anyone else as much as conquering your own fears or feelings of inadequacy or inability.” ~Gary Caton

Mercury went direct at 6:04a EDT, after 3 weeks of inner reflection, reconnecting with the past, and possibly dealing with mishaps or miscommunications. Mercury retrograde doesn’t cause problems, but rather the problems that were building under the surface are often revealed during the retrograde part of the cycle. Now things can move forward with the bugs worked out, but the transition days can be funky!

As Mercury slows to turn direct tomorrow, we may yet experience a few surprises: Venus, goddess of all things beautiful, artistic, and charming collides with brilliant but rule-breaking Uranus in the impetuous sign of Aries... Not to mention Venus is not so comfortable with fast-acting, trailblazing Aries, as he represents the opposite of her more balanced and receptive nature.

Although Venus (Aphrodite) and Mars (Ares) are opposite, as we know, opposites attract. In mythology they were lovers.

Today the Sun enters Taurus ♉, sign of the bull. Taurus is about savoring the tastes and textures, basking in the the richness and fullness of the moment, and enjoying the pleasures of music, nature, and touch. Tomorrow however, Venus enters Aries ♈, so we will still have 5 planets expressing through the fiery, passionate, and action-oriented archetype of the ram.

A Full Moon tonight at 28º Libra ♎ - the sign of balance, beauty, and empathy. The Sabian symbol for this Moon: “A man stands alone in surrounding gloom. Were his eyes open to spirit things he would see helping angels arriving.” The word, ‘alone’ derives from ‘all’ + ‘one.’ The etymology suggests that the one inside who feels alone is, in fact, all one with the Infinite.

There is a confrontation between Mars, feisty god of war, and Pluto, lord of the underworld. Unconscious factors may be fueling strong emotions and creating tension. Can we face our demons, let go of the compelling drive to control, & express our truths with self-awareness? Action may feel urgent as the process of transformation is sparked, yet with Mercury retrograde, we are still in a period of inward reflection.

Also, tonight Mercury (retrograde) conjoins Jupiter, stimulating a review of internal connections or outer reconnections, and inspiring copious communication. Through it there is an opportunity for optimism and faith - that any friction, which may feel counter to our well-being, is actually serving to expand and lift consciousness.

We are at the mid-point of the Mercury Retrograde (time to go within and review) cycle, as it touches the Sun today (inferior conjunction), representing the seed moment for Mercury - perhaps there is new information, a new understanding, or a new idea that is forming, but it is not yet developed and may not be fully clear until after Mercury goes direct on Apr 23rd.

There is a New Moon in Aries today activating the Sun, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, & Uranus also in Aries(!), the archetype of brave new beginnings. A perfect modus operandi for all this fiery energy: “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it” (Johann Von Goethe). With Mercury retrograde and an opposition to Saturn, however, we may feel some resistance holding us back.

The planets mentioned above are in various degrees of Aries, but also today, Mars meets up with Uranus in the same degree of early Aries. This is a super high octane combination!!

Mercury goes retrograde at 4:48p EDT until Apr 23. This is not a negative time, but rather the perfect time for a mental retreat inward. It may feel annoying to break one’s usual drive forward because of delays or issues in need of review or repair, but the retrograde period is an organic, necessary, and divine part of the eternal cycle. It can be a time of re-discovery & re-visioning, a time that balances us.

Mercury is turning retrograde at 24º Aries ♈ and going back to 13º Aries. Wherever you have these degrees of Aries in your chart is the house of experience where the bulk of your review, repair, or contemplation will take place.