In the Stars April 28-May 5, 2024 . . . Shining Light on the Astrology of the Week
This week’s big planetary news is Pluto turning retrograde on Thursday, May 2, for the next five months until October 12. When planets are stationary turning direction, their energy is amplified. Pluto symbolizes power and wealth, death and destruction, and rebirth and transformation. There could be some significant, powerful events this week due to this Pluto station. Pluto will form a benefic sextile with Mars giving drive for accomplishing goals and projects. Also Pluto will square Venus which will stir passion and strong feelings.
The Sun now shines in the fixed earth sign Taurus, symbolized by the bull. Venus moves into Taurus on Monday, the sign it rules, and where it is strong. Venus resides in Taurus through May 23 (See "10 Things to Do with Venus in Taurus" below). Taurus’ represents growth, beauty, pleasure, security, money, and resources. Make these areas a focus in your life the next three weeks. Tend your garden and your money, and infuse your life with beauty and pleasure.
Mercury is now direct. Yet, Mercury remains in its shadow until May 13 when it gains full strength again. You can now move ahead unencumbered with projects and plans. An extra boost forward is given by Mercury’s conjunction with the North Node.
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Sunday, April 28, holds a practical, industrious Capricorn Moon. We turn toward work on this last day of the weekend. Put your attention on goals you want to accomplish before you head back into the work week. The Sun and Moon trine in earth signs, giving practicality and focus. Mars conjuncts Neptune, guiding us to go with the flow.
The work week starts strong on Monday, April 29, with the Moon still in Capricorn. It is an active day with numerous aspects. Challenging aspects are squares to Mercury, Chiron, and Eris.. There are easy, supporting aspects from the Moon to Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Ceres. These many alignments make for an active day. Venus moves into Taurus, the sign it rules, and where it is strong. Venus resides in Taurus through May 23.
The Aquarius Moon joins Pluto on Tuesday, April 30, packing the day with strong feelings about social justice. Moon and Pluto square Venus, garnering commitment, though edgy and provocative. We will want to connect socially. Mars enters Aries, the sign it rules, fueling fire for getting tasks done.
The first day of May on Wednesday holds a Sun-Moon square, or a third-quarter Moon, reminding us to bring closure to the lunar month’s goals and projects in the next week before the next New Moon May 7-8. The Moon’s flowing sextile to Mercury eases tensions brought on by the morning’s lunar square to the Moon and the evening’s lunar square to Uranus. The evening may be unsettling, and not go as planned.
On Thursday, May 2, Pluto stations at 2:06 degrees of Aquarius, turning retrograde for the next five months. Pluto’s symbolic potential will be amplified: destruction, power, death, and transformation. See if you notice powerful events on this day. The Moon is in Pisces, painting the world with beauty, creativity, compassion, and inspiration, softening Pluto's fury.
Friday’s powerful Mars-Pluto sextile gets an extra boost of energy from stationary Pluto that has just turned retrograde. While this is an industrious aspect, the Pisces Moon and the Sun’s semi-square aspect to Neptune invite us to drift and dream. Thus, the direct, goal-oriented energy of the day may be compromised, or it may be infused with vision and possibility. Saturn is conjunct the Moon, reminding us of our responsibilities and focusing our attention. Friday is a good day to write something inspiring or put a fresh coat of paint on a room in your house to uplift it.
Saturday morning May 4 holds creative, flowing energy (Moon sextile Jupiter and Moon conjunct Neptune). This would be a great morning to exercise through yoga or dance, or paint a plein air picture. In contrast, at 1:41 p.m. PDT the Moon bounces into fiery Aries, conjuncts Mars, and sextiles Pluto. These powerful, industrious aspects urge us to get moving on projects and intentions and make great strides.
Sunday, May 5, calls for adventure in the light of the Aries Moon. There are no major exact planetary aspects to navigate. The Aries Moon loves spontaneity, engaging in vigorous physical exercise, and trying different things. Allow yourself to explore something new.
The Moon is void of course Monday morning and afternoon, May 6 (from 10:56 p.m. last night) until 2:42 p.m. PDT. We will want to go out the door and get some vigorous exercise with the drive of the Aries Moon. The void period is best used for insignificant routine tasks. When the Moon is void meetings and appointments often do not come together; decisions made are often not sound. When the Moon moves into Taurus at 2:42 p.m. PDT, our interests turn toward pleasure. With the Moon’s square to Pluto, and Mercury conjunct Chiron, we will want to engage in deep, honest conversation. A Sun-Saturn sextile keeps the day focused on responsibilities and practical matters.
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The Week in Short:
Sunday: Strong work day. Accomplish weekend goals. Go with the flow.
Monday: Industrious work day is a strong start to the work week, with lots of activity.
Tuesday: Strong feelings arise about social and political causes. Reach out to friends.
Wednesday: Third-quarter Moon reminds us to finish the lunar month’s goals. Midday flows with ease; the evening may be unsettling.
Thursday: Pluto stations. Powerful day colored with creativity and compassion.
Friday: Industrious, yet dreamy day. Do something that inspires you, and take care of your responsibilities.
Saturday: Inspiring morning. Get moving in the afternoon on goals and projects.
Sunday: Get some vigorous exercise and try a new activity or exploration.
Monday: Moon VoC until 2:42 p.m. PDT, during which focus on routine tasks. Take care of practical matters, and engage in meaningful conversations.
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Ten Things to Do with Venus in Taurus (April 29-May 23)
1. Plant spring flowers in your garden.
2. Review and tend to your finances
3. Cook delicious food to delight your taste buds.
4. Schedule a massage.
5. Get a new haircut.
6. Freshen your wardrobe.
7. Spray a delightful fragrance around your face.
8. Listen to love songs
9. Adorn yourself with beautiful clothing and jewelry.
10. Sing!
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To schedule an astrology reading with Cathy, email her at ccoleman829@gmail.com, or visit her website at cathycolemanastrology.com.
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Moon Void of Course:
This is the time when the Moon makes its last major angular aspect with a planet before it moves into the next zodiacal sign tropically. This void time, when the Moon is not aspecting a planet, but rather floating on its own, is a time when things don’t come together and it is difficult to make good decisions. Purchases made during void Moons often turn out to be unsatisfactory and not work out. Appointments often don’t come together, and meetings don’t result in progress or sound, lasting decisions. We more easily get lost or meander in trying to get somewhere. The VoC Moon times for the next month are listed below so that you can plan meetings, decisions, and purchases at times when the Moon is not VoC; and use the void times for gardening, reading, and routine task work.Void-of-Course Moon times for the month ahead (one lunar cycle):Pacific Standard Time:
April 28: 12:30 a.m.- 2:37 a.m. (Moon into Capricorn)April 30: 8:18 a.m.-8:19 a.m. (Moon into Aquarius)
May 2: 2:28 a.m.-11:51 a.m. (Moon into Pisces)
May 4: 12:06 p.m.-1:40 p.m. (Moon into Aries)
May 5 at 10:56 p.m. through May 6 at 2:41 p.m. (Moon into Taurus)
May 8: 2:55 p.m.-4:20 p.m. (Moon into Gemini)
May 10: 6:48 p.m.-8:12 p.m. (Moon into Cancer)
May 13 (2:12 a.m.-3:35 a.m.) Moon into Leo
May 15: 9:40 a.m.-2:32 p.m. (Moon into Virgo)
May 18: 2:08 a.m.-3:22 a.m. (Moon into Libra)
May 19 at 8:48 a.m. through May 20 at 3:33 p.m. (Moon into Scorpio)
May 23: 12:27 a.m.-1:23 a.m. (Moon into Sagittarius)
May 25:7:46 a.m.-8:35 a.m. (Moon into Capricorn)
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time):
April 28: 7:30-9:37 (Moon into Capricorn)April 30: 15:18-15:19 (Moon into Aquarius)
May 2: 9:28-18:51 (Moon into Pisces)
May 4: 19:06-20:40 (Moon into Aries)
May 6 at 5:56-21:41 (Moon into Taurus)
May 8: 21:55-23:20 (Moon into Gemini)
May 11: 1:48-3:12 (Moon into Cancer)
May 13 9:12-10:35 (Moon into Leo)
May 15: 16:40-21:32 (Moon into Virgo)
May 18: 7:08-10:22 (Moon into Libra)
May 19 at 15:48 through May 20 at 22:33 (Moon into Scorpio)
May 23: 7:27-8:23 (Moon into Sagittarius)
May 25: 14:46-15:35 (Moon into Capricorn)
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