Author: Amelia Shea

“Though the spring is late and cold,
though the uproar of greed
and malice shudders in the sky,
Pond, stream and hilltop raise
their ancient song.

The robin molds her mud nest
With her breast, the air is bright with breath
of bloom, wise loveliness that asks
Nothing of the season but to be.” Wendell Berry

“We have this way of talking, and we have another.
Apart from what we wish and we fear may happen,
We are alive with other life, as clear stones
take form in the mountain,” Rumi

Recently we have had a lot of rain here in New England. One early  morning this week when I went out on my porch,  the scent of the purple and white lilacs and the apple blossoms in the yard drifted through the moist morning air. It  reminded me of the phrase in Wendell Berry’s poem, “the air is bright with breath of bloom.” In these rapidly changing times, our interconnection with the natural world can be so restorative.

The Full Moon this month is Monday May 12th at 22 degrees of Taurus.

Full Moons are a good time for release. In Peruvian shamanism they refer to this process as “shedding an old skin,”as a snake does.  If there is an old identity or belief system you’ve outgrown, this Full Moon at 22 degrees of Scorpio would be a powerful time to set an intention to let it go – and to move forward in a new direction.

Uranus is conjunct the Sun and opposite the Moon at this time. The wind is at our back in terms of moving in a direction of freedom and personal evolution.

Mercury just entered Taurus and will be in a square configuration with Pluto at 3 degrees of Aquarius. This aspect bodes well for work that requires concentration, but watch for overthinking.

There are a number of interpretations of the tightening Saturn/Neptune conjunction in Aries. One of them is that it can be a time on the earth of a growth in spiritual awareness. It bodes well to bring the spiritual / inspired energy down to the earth plane (Saturn.)

It’s a good time  to envision a healthy, sustainable future for our small planet.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is. “A rabbit metamorphosed into a nature spirit.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

The Moon waxes Full on Monday May 12 at 12:56 PM EDT.

“Neptune connects us to the invisible realities, to the ineffable, to the image behind the form.” Lynn Bell

“There are some people who live in a dream world, and some people who face reality; then there are others who turn one into another.” Erasmus

At the beginning of the week – on Monday, (and in effect for several days)  Juno, the asteroid of commitment and partnership,  formed a harmonious alliance with Saturn.  This can bring an opportunity to see more clearly the qualities that help fortify and sustain healthy relationships.

Venus leaves the watery sign of Pisces on Wednesday and enters the fiery sign of Aries. Venus in Aries knows what she she wants and knows how to go and get it. This is an action – oriented sign which can display great courage and initiative. It’s great at  getting things started. There can be impulsiveness and sometimes, aggressiveness. This can bring fiery energy to relationships of all kinds.

On Friday Venus aligns harmoniously with Neptune, newly in Aries at 1 degree. The first degree of Aries is often referred to as the “Aries Point” – the point of significant beginnings. Significant world events can occur with transits  to this point.

One of the symbols of this Neptune in Aries  is “the spiritual warrior”, making it a good time to advocate for justice and for  those less fortunate.

It can be a time when there can be increased faith in the ability to be innovative and start anew. There is an openness and innocence with this  placement which can create a sense of wonder.

Once of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The king of the fairies approaching his domain.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” Lao Tzu

“you have to
find forgiveness
in everything
even ink stains
and broken
cups.” Mary Mackey

The New Moon this month is at 7 degrees of Taurus. At this time the Sun and the Moon will be forming a challenging alignment to the current Mars/Pluto oppostion in Leo and Aquarius.

The Mars Pluto opposition can be associated with power/over dynamics and power struggles, but it also provides a good time to look at the way we use power – how that may have changed over time, and how we would like to deal with it in the future.

It is wise under this influence to take care with speech as words spoken now may be harder to take back in the future.

The New Moon aspects Jupiter and the North Node in a semisqare alignment. This speaks of an opening or a turning point into the future. Pluto’s influence speaks of an opportunity for rebirth.

The Taurus New Moon opens a monthly cycle when it bodes well to consider issues related to security, finance, abundance, self care and self love.

“One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A bridge being built across a high narrow gorge.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve the world’problems at once. But don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope take on a life of its own.” Michelle Obama

Mercury enters fiery Aries today April 16th, leaving the last sign of the zodiac, Pisces,  and entering the first. Mercury in this sign can bring boldness , directness and courage to speech and thought. It is action oriented as opposed to the intuitive, sensitive sign of Pisces.

Mercury will partner up with Neptune, the planet of imagination and dreams. Do pay attention to intuitions, visions and dreams that surface now as they may come in the form of guidance.

Mars will leave the watery sign of Cancer this week –  on the 18th- after his long retrograde journey, and enter the fiery sign of Leo.  Mars will then make a favorable alignment with Neptune. The  next few weeks bode well for cultivating imagination,  vision and courage for  your journey forward.

The Sun moves out of Aries into Taurus on Saturday. This sign -ruled by the Bull- bodes well for planning, pragmatics and moving forward in a moderate, persevering way. It’s a good time to slow down and appreciate the good things in life.

One of the Chandra symbols for this time is, ” A man repairing and extending a stone wall in the spring.”

“Spring is like a perhaps hand
(which comes carefully
out of Nowhere) arranging
a window, into which people look  (while
people stare
arranging and changing and placing
carefully there a strange
thing and a known thing here) and
changing everything carefully.” E.E. Cummings

“Love is something else|
or so I thought
a garden which expands….” William Carlos Williams

Venus. the goddess of love and beauty, comes to a standstill on April 19 – the day of the Full Moon this month. Venus is a lover of harmony and some of the aspects at this time are feisty – with Mars – the god of action and desire forming a challenging square aspect to the Sun in Aries and the Moon in Libra.

One of the most notable alignments is the Sun at 23 degrees of Aries conjunct the Wounded Healer, Chiron. Chiron is an asteroid that governs the healing of fragmentation. In some shamanic traditions the belief is held that when trauma occurs, part of the soul fragments off. They can perform an ancient  ritual which calls back the missing pieces of the soul.

Chiron is associated with the process of healing and growth in evolution over time. With his presence so strong at the time of the Full Moon, this can be a time when old worries or wounds  resurface for another level of healing or the recognition of healing.It is a good time to stay in the present and be cognizant of your own process of evolution in this area.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, ” A third wing on the left side of a butterfly.”

“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” Pablo Neruda

Mercury stationed direct today at 7:07 AM EDT, bringing to an end Mercury’s trek through early Aries  and late Pisces. Mercury stationed direct at 27 degrees of Pisces.

Venus has been retrograde since March 1 and will station direct on April 12. If you have been experiencing delays or snafus with projects, mid- April  after Venus stations – will be a time when things can begin to gain traction.

Saturn is conjunct Venus in the beginning of the week. As Venus slows down to station, this provides a good window of time to review any evolving  perceptions about  values and what you value as well as self esteem, self love and finances.

Taking a good look  at what contributes  to building a strong foundation for new growth is also favored under this influence. Outlived ideas, attitudes and dreams that hinder growth and evolution may be best left behind.

Venus forms a favorable alignment with Uranus  the planet of the future on Tuesday. This can be an energizing influence and can open the door to innovative thinking about relationships aesthetics and love and romance..

Mars, the planet of drive and energy will be making favorable aspects to the Lunar Nodes of destiny and life path. It’s wise to leave some down time this week for guidance that may surface about your path forward.

The Full Moon is Saturday at 23 degrees of Aries.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A fertile garden under the Full Moon.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“What shape waits in the seed of you to grow and spread its branches against a future sky?” David Whyte

Neptune – the planets of dreams, visions and illusions entered the sign of Aries on Sunday. It’s been awhile since Neptune entered this sign- the last time was 1861.

Neptune will transit back and forth into Pisces and will not be in the sign of Aries  consistently  until late January 2026.

Neptune in Aries presents a good time to put your dreams into action. It is the placement of the spiritual warrrior.

The week starts off as Venus in Pisces – considered her exaltation – forms a conjunction with the North Node of life path. It’s wise to provide some down time over the next few days for inspiration and guidance to surface about this area of your life. Pay attention to your dreams – they  may have information about your path forward or what needs to be resolved from the past.

Saturn is sextiling Uranus now. This alignment can bring about new  out-of-the- box ideas and opportunities that can succeed over time with patience and perseverance.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A symbolic battle between the ‘Swords,’ the disciples of might, and the ‘Torches’, the disciples of enlightenment. ”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.” Irish proverb.

The New Moon Solar Eclipse is Saturday 3/29 at  6:57 AM EDT.
This is a powerful time for setting intentions – particularly about actions you would like to take.

It opens up a cycle when it bodes well to be open to new ideas and opportunities and to gather the courage to pursue them.

Just a reminder that both Mercury and Venus are retrograde now – Mercury will station direct April 7 and Venus on the 12th so there is time for  tweaking plans, rethinking and reconsidering.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A teacher gives new symbolic forms to traditional images.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill.

“I like dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” Thomas Jefferson

“I’m going out to clean the pasture spring;
I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I shan’t be gone long.—You come too.

On Monday this week the Sun moves up to a conjunction  with the North Node of destiny and life path. It’s a good time to raise awareness about  guidance on your evolutionary path forward. The conjunction is at 27 degrees of Pisces – a spiritual and creative placement. This aspect will be in effect for a couple of days. Providing some extra quiet time – for inspiration to flow into your life -will be beneficial.

The Sun is moving up to a conjunction with Neptune this week and will be exact on Wednesday. This is a good time for mystical and imaginative journeys that may inform your future. Dream big! Saturn near by is echoing the upcoming Saturn/Neptune ingress  in Aries  This is about taking action on our dreams and aspirations in a concrete way. This week provides a good time to expand the lens on what those initiatives and actions could be.

Thursday marks the time of the Spring Equinox (the Autumn Equinox in the southern hemisphere)  this year at 5:01 AM EDT as the Sun moves into Aries. This is a powerful time for setting new  intentions.

Venus is retrograde now and moving up to a sextile to Pluto. This provides a good time to review relationships and relationship dynamics based on your personal evolutionary path.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A woman has risen out of the ocean, a seal is embracing her.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Wrong was easy, gravity helped it.
Right is difficult and long.
In choosing what is difficult
We are free, the mind too
Making its little flight
Out from the shadow into the clear.
In time between work and sleep.” Wendell Berry

“Life is sending you signals.” Samuels and Carson

Friday’s Lunar Eclipse is at 24 degrees of Virgo at 2:55 AM EDT. Both Saturn – the sign of tradition, boundaries and limits and Uranus, the planet of innovation, surprises and the unexpected are playing significant roles. This can give a sense of a push and pull effect and contribute to indecision.

It’s a good time to reaffirm commitments particularly any having to do with improving health and daily routines. There can be breakthroughs and a strong desire to move away from old habits.

It can be a bit of a nervy time. Best to keep equilibrium in mind.

Mercury is slowing down to station retrograde on the 15th at 9 degrees of Aries.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A teacher gives new symbolic forms to traditional images.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill