The Aquarium Age: April 4-10

The next several weeks are a confluence of powerful astral interactions, so don’t be surprised if you feel pulled in several directions simultaneously and confused about what should be a priority. There’s a whole lotta sky-shakin’ goin’ on, and trying to stay on task, steady and stable, is going to require great effort. It can be done, but it will require moderation and a refusal to go to extremes, coupled with discipline and a determination not to be distracted. Here’s the big picture:

We’re six weeks away from Uranus’ entry into Taurus on May 15—this is a big transition, so big that even the ethers are shivering in anticipation of what the next seven years of Uranus, in Taurus, will be. Taurus is the Sign of m-o-n-e-y and just how much financial upheaval we will have to cope with is part of the nervous anticipation. But another current within the week, and perhaps a more potent one, relates to the last seven years of the transit of Uranus through Aries. We’re in the last six weeks of that journey, which translates into a tightly condensed tableau of the important moments of the last seven years. Yes…Uranus retrogrades back into Aries in the fall and doesn’t fully enter Taurus until March 2019, but right now it’s winding up a powerful dynamic journey as it simultaneously prepares for the next.

Transitions are seldom easy, and Uranus always, always, always demonstrates its potency with surprising events. And that is a conundrum for astrologers because trying to predict what the Planet of unpredictability is going to do, is well…. That being acknowledged, we know that Taurus is an Earth Sign and that the Earth is in dire need of assistance from as many helpers as she can get, so we can be sure that the next seven years will be about Uranian intervention, invention and innovation regarding what can be done to preserve the health, beauty and voice of the planet herself.

Back here in the rapidly ending days of Uranus, in Aries, the power of the individual or individuals to assert their will is dominating the news. Aries represents self-assertion, from the lowest forms of global rage to the highest forms of self-actualization. Uranus represents the rebel, with or without a cause, fighting for individual and collective freedom from whatever enslaves. And over the course of the last seven years, we’ve witnessed the power of an individual to transform her life—Malala comes to mind first—as well as the power of individuals to unite for the greater good—the recent March for Our Lives demonstrations to end gun violence that took place all around the world.

I’ve written about Mr. Trump as a kind of cultural homeopathic remedy, and the chaos he continues to generate as a healing crisis for the planet. But he is also a dense example of Uranus, in Aries, given that he and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts not only strive to put their individual needs above the needs of the collective, but also because they consciously manipulate the desire of certain individuals to feel superior to their fellow travelers by appealing to their worst fears. He and his cohort exemplify the negative attributes of Aries combined with the stubborn quality of Uranus to rebel simply for rebellion’s sake—to know oneself through stubborn individualism rather than through cooperation with others.

As these next six weeks unfold, it might be a useful endeavor to explore how that selfishness has presented itself in your life during the last seven years, and what, if anything, you’ve done to transform it.

Another potent interaction this week is the ongoing Mars/Saturn conjunction, in Capricorn, which was exact on April 2 and is now separating. As we know, this is a pernicious combination that can resort to cruelty, whether inflicted on oneself or others. It’s interesting to note that this conjunction was opposite Mr. Trump’s Mercury as he made his decision to take DACA off the table and simultaneously threatened NAFTA. Even though these decisions seem to stem from the madness of a despot drunk on power, do not be fooled. The chaos he is attempting to create is purposeful—the greater disruption you can create in society, the easier it is to solidify your political agenda, if only because fear is a great disrupter of progress. The good news is that fear can also give birth to unflinching courage. Again, Malala is a great example of that courage, as are the Parkland students, and all the participants, female and male, in the #metoo movement.

But that’s not all. This week, we are also in the grip of an ongoing Mercury Retrograde phase that began on March 23 and is in effect until April 15, which means we are still subject to delays, detours, snags, and snafus related to communication and travel.

This week and the next several weeks are rare example of planetary influences in motion. Earthly life always reflects heavenly motion because we are inextricably bound to a greater unity than mere mortal minds can perceive—and yet our imaginations know this unity to be true as do our hearts.

Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.

Aries March 21-April 19
In some ways, the transit of Uranus through Aries has made you the leader of the pack. But even as it thrust you into the limelight, it also asked you to pay close attention to your ego—something very few of us like to do. Nevertheless, you’ve been in a constant identity crisis for the last seven years and it’s time to take stock of what you’ve learned and who you’ve become. Embrace this process and make good use of its potential for self-reflection.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Uranus, in Aries, was all about making you more familiar with your unconscious, internal terrain—you know, that place most of us try to avoid—yet the last seven years have facilitated an internal revolution. The best way to tie up the loose ends of this phase, as well as prepare for the identity crisis that’s sure to ensue when Uranus enters Taurus, is to make moderation your mantra—there’s no need to binge on information and every reason to take your time.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Uranus, in Aries, reinvented your relationship to community—for some, that was a loss of contact, but for others that meant increased contact. Either way, this phase has shifted how you share your gifts with the world. Uranus asked you to open your heart to yourself as well as to others so that you would be able to find a more authentic expression of what it means to participate in communities that need and would welcome the information you have to share.

Cancer June 22-July 22
For the last seven years, Uranus provoked a revolution in recognition. As part of that process, you may have switched professions, retired and devoted yourself to what you love most, or embarked on a journey that would culminate in an academic degree or similar type of achievement. As this journey comes to a close take the time to reflect on your accomplishments—the end of a phase often provides the clarity we’re craving.

Leo July 23-August 22
These last seven years have not been an easy or smooth Uranian expedition—there’s been a huge amount of upheaval, internal and external. And while some of the tumult has been painful, some of it has also been spiritually gratifying, particularly if you used this phase to come to terms with your personal beliefs. Take note: The strife you’ve been through has only increased your capacity for inner peace.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Uranus took you on an incredible ride of personal transformation for the last seven years, shifting your attitudes toward almost everything, but especially about how you view the shared values of partnership. It doesn’t matter whether that process has meant taking a stand for yourself and exhibiting your power or learning how to generously share the spotlight with others. What matters is your awareness of just how much you’ve changed–make a list and be surprised by what’s shifted.

Libra September 23-October 22
I feel as if I don’t have to say much to convey the gist of these last seven years of Uranian exploration in the arena of relationships—you’ve certainly lived through several lifetimes of shift. Not only has your awareness of the value of significant others, personal and professional, changed, but so has your understanding of your role in all your relationships, including your relationship to yourself. Use these last few weeks to search for and mine any gold that’s left.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
The last seven years of Uranus, in Aries, has taken a physical and emotional, toll, and while it’s been a difficult journey, especially in the areas of health and wealth, you did learn a lot about yourself. So rather than despair about squandered currency—bad choices with continuing consequences—try to reset your attitude with a review of how these encounters expanded your awareness. Yes… that’s a Pollyanna reframe, but you might be surprised by its power.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
My hunch is that you will miss Uranus, if only because its transit through Aries inspired a wide range of creative projects, and through all the intensity insisted that you stay present for everything that transpired. It might have been exhausting, but it was also exciting and pushed you to the edges of your comfort zones. Use these next couple of weeks to deepen your appreciation for how Uranus, in Aries, has expanded your known universe.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
It’s been seven years of Uranus stirring the waters of your deepest psychic pond, bringing into consciousness old imprints from childhood and encouraging you to go deeply into those feelings. It’s been hard enough having Pluto in your Sign, plumbing the depths of your personality, and the two processes together have been almost impossible. But to your credit, you’ve manage to grow and that’s worth more than a moment of recognition.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
For seven years Uranus has focused on communication—words, words and more words, spoken deliberately as well as spontaneously—and those dialogues have been diatribes, debates and discussions about things that matter to you, both spiritual and material. As you reflect on all that’s been said, consider what a potent phase this has been, not just because you’ve been learning to speak from the heart but also because you’ve learned to listen that way, too.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Uranus’ transit through Aries, put you through your paces regarding money, and finding your balance in the midst of surprising plot twists has challenged your ability to stay cool and be cool. But the same lesson underscored all these experiences: Ultimate value cannot be measured in dollars and cents; it can only be evaluated by a higher power, unattached to the outcomes of the material world. Put simply: You’ve been learning that you are your greatest resource.