In the Stars April 4-11, 2021...shining light on the astrology of the week: New Moon

The Sun shines in the action-oriented fire sign Aries, ruled by Mars. The planet Mars has been conjunct the North Node, a volatile alignment, and also Mars is out of bounds (OOB). From a Western astrological viewpoint, planets are out of bounds if they exceed 23.27 degrees north or south of the equator. Since March 22 Mars has been OOB and will be so until May 24th. Out of bounds planets are more extreme. This may explain why there has been a lot of violence lately, including three mass shootings in the United States in the last two weeks, volcanic eruptions, and a train wreck in Taiwan. On the other hand, Mars OOB may be good for spring athletic events, and for creative thinking, though it also may evoke more extreme events. The last time this happened in the spring of 2019, the stock market kept going up and we may see it reaching new highs during this period.

Neptune squares off with Mars and the Nodes. This alignment may fuel the fires of political fanaticism and polarization. There are seven planetary bodies in Mars-ruled Aries now: Chiron, Mercury, Ceres, Sun, Eris, and Venus. When the Moon arrives in Aries this week, forming a New Moon, it will become the seventh planet in Aries. This is a lot of heat and combustion! The New Moon on April 11th is loaded with volatile energy, including a Venus-Pluto square that connects to the New Moon. Yet, the Venus conjunction to the New Moon may soften the potential energy.

From a Vedic astrological point of view, in the next two weeks three planets move over the gandanta point, a very sensitive, volatile, unsettled point when a planet changes from a water sign to a fire sign sidereally, in this case from Pisces to Aries. Venus, The Sun, and Mercury move over this point from April 8-16 (Venus is gandanta April 8th-9th; Sun April 12th-13th; and Mercury April 15th-16th). On a positive note, Jupiter moves out of debilitation sidereally on April 5th, increasing its good energy.

To subscribe to this blog, click here.

The Last Quarter Moon phase begins on Sunday as the Capricorn Moon squares the Aries Sun, signaling a time to bring closure this next week to the lunar month’s goals and projects. With the thrust of the Capricorn cardinal earth Moon and the Aries Sun, you can move mountains today. Easter Sunday is not a day of rest according to the planetary energy, but one for serious accomplishment, even though many may be engaged in family celebrations. Mercury is now in Aries, giving us confidence about our ideas.

The Aquarius Moon on Monday gives an intellectually stimulating day. The Moon squares Uranus, creating some excitement and generating new possibilities. Connect with a friend.

Tuesday, which is Mars’ day (Martes in Spanish for Tuesday) calls for independence. The Moon is in Aquarius, and hangs between Saturn and Jupiter. Aquarius is the sign that symbolizes freedom—and friendship. There are numerous planets in Aries, which is another sign in the zodiac that symbolizes independence. This is a buoyant day with several benefic aspects. Make time for friendships, and share your good fortune by writing a check to your favorite social cause.

The Moon conjuncts Jupiter in the early morning Wednesday, giving us an exuberant wake-up call. This conjunction ushers in a Moon void of course period from 3:05 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. PDT. During this time stick to routine, insignificant tasks, and don’t waste your time on meetings, connections, and clarifications. At 1:30 p.m. the Moon moves into dreamy, inspired Pisces. This mid-week day should be relatively easy.

Thursday the Pisces Moon makes a benefic sextile with Uranus, so expect something unexpected and inspiring. Mercury makes several minor planetary aspects, sparking good problem solving and generative ideas. Mars trines Neptune for the next few days, and may amplify the political and religious fanaticism that is active in the world now. Settle strong emotions with the boundaries of responsibility.

The Pisces Moon makes challenging aspects to several planets on Friday, resulting in us feeling unclear and foggy. Venus and Eris conjunct, highlighting relationship needs, and Venus is unsettled from a sidereal perspective as it moves from a water sign to a fire sign (called gandanta). Make your day light and inspired, and tune into your intuition.

Saturday’s Aries Moon calls for adventure, except that the Moon is dark before tomorrow’s New Moon, and it is time to wind down the month’s projects and draw inward. You may want to employ the action-oriented fiery energy by handling things at home. As much as Aries loves adventure, it also loves getting things done NOW. The Chiron-Moon conjunction may bring up our insecurities, but two benefic sextiles (Moon-Saturn and Venus-Jupiter) give strength and confidence.

Sunday is an extremely potent day. Venus and Pluto square off, bringing relationship and/or money issues to the surface. The Full Moon amplifies this aspect, as Venus conjuncts Eris, Sun, and Moon in Aries. With the Full Moon involved, Sunday may be an emotionally volatile day, though thankfully it is tempered by the soft, nurturing energies of Venus and Ceres. There are seven planetary bodies in Aries. Jupiter and Mars are trine and each of them make close sextiles to the Full Moon. The bundle of planetary alignments on this day are extremely potent. Wherever the New Moon falls in your horoscope (22:25 degrees Aries) you will want to set strong intentions and get going on the manifestation.

Monday’s early morning hours hold the Moon’s exact alignment with the Venus-Pluto square. We may want to take some time and space to process the intensity of what has been churned up with yesterday’s planetary alignments as well as with Monday’s volatile early morning alignments. The Moon is void of course from 5:06 a.m. until 10:43 a.m. PDT, and then the Moon moves into its sign of exaltation, Taurus, which will be a salve to the fiery energy of the past few days. Take the afternoon and evening to pamper yourself. Make yourself comfortable and relax.

The Week in Short:

Sunday: Work hard; set goals and accomplish them.

Monday: Exciting, intellectually stimulating day.

Tuesday: Freedom and independence are themes this buoyant day. Share your good fortune with friends and write a check to your favorite social cause.

Wednesday: Easy day. Moon VoC 3:04 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Focus on routine tasks.

Thursday: Inspiring day with unexpected surprises. Ideas flow and problems can be solved.

Friday: Light and easy, though foggy day.

Saturday: Strong, clear action-oriented day. Much can be accomplished, or a great adventure could be had.

Sunday: Full Moon in Aries. Extremely potent, passionate day. Set intentions and get to work on manifesting them.

Monday: Volatile early morning; Moon is VoC 6:06 a.m. – 10:43 a.m. PDT. Pamper yourself and relax in the afternoon and evening.

Ten Things to Do with Venus in Aries (March 20 – April 13)

1. Hike a new trail.

2. Say “yes” to a spontaneous offer.

3. Wear red.

4. Express appreciation out in the world when people help or serve you.

5. Be a little more assertive, in a kind manner.

6. Plan an adventure.

7. Get moving—toward anything you love.

8. Get started on a creative project.

9. Take a dance class.

10. Tune into your inner inspiration and ignite it.

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 5: 12:05 a.m. – 6:03 a.m. (Moon into Aquarius)

April 7: 3:04 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Moon into Pisces)

April 9: 4:48 p.m. – 11:10 p.m. (Moon into Aries)

April 12: 5:06 a.m. – 10:43 a.m. (Moon into Taurus)

April 14: 4:59 p.m. – 11:34 p.m. (Moon into Gemini)

April 17: 8:02 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. (Moon into Cancer)

April 19: 5:03 p.m. -11:10 p.m. (Moon into Leo)

April 22: 5:04 a.m. – 6:08 a.m. (Moon into Virgo)

April 24: 3:49 a.m. – 9:05 a.m. (Moon into Libra)

April 26: 5:03 p.m. – 11:10 p.m. (Moon into Scorpio)

April 28: 3;31 a.m. – 8:42 a.m. (Moon into Sagittarius)

April 3: 6:26 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. (Moon into Capricorn)

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time):

April 5: 8:05 – 14:03 (Moon into Aquarius)

April 7: 11:04 – 21:30 (Moon into Pisces)

April 10: 0:48 – 7:10 (Moon into Aries)

April 12: 13:06 – 18:43 (Moon into Taurus)

April 15: 0:59 – 7:34 (Moon into Gemini)

April 17: 16:02 – 20:25 (Moon into Cancer)

April 19 at 13:03 through April 20 at 7:10 (Moon into Leo)

April 22: 13:04 – 14:08 (Moon into Virgo)

April 24: 11:49 – 17:05 (Moon into Libra)

April 26 at 13:03 through 7:10 (Moon into Scorpio)

April 28: 11:31 – 16:42 (Moon into Sagittarius)

April 3: 14:26 – 17:15 (Moon into Capricorn)