Are you ready to dial up the drama? The astrology of April 2023 is about to get crazy, especially with the beginning of eclipse season and the upcoming Mercury retrograde. Don’t let the beginning of this month fool you since it might feel like nothing could go wrong. By the end of April, you might just be saying WTF! So, let’s dive into the upcoming transits to see what we can expect.
Major Transits
Beginning on April 3, Mercury enter Taurus. The mental switch will be immediate since Mercury stops reporting to blazing Mars and begins reporting to domesticated Venus. The collective will physically and mentally slow down now that Mercury takes on a plodding, careful tone in Taurus. The mind’s previous lightning-fast reflexes slow down to consider each detail as it comes up. Intuitive yet steady, Mercury in Taurus likes to work through each conversation, idea, opinion, and more with a dutiful responsibility. Simple in nature, Mercury in Taurus prefers to break down the Mercurial components into something more digestible. As conversation flows throughout this transit, the collective may feel more stable in its correspondences. Conversations will take the scenic route as the five senses will become pertinent in each discussion. Topics may revolve around Taurus themes of security, money, value, and personal property. Venus may come through in its ability to accurately describe everything it holds near and dear to its heart. Luckily, this stable, steady-minded transit can cool the jets during Aries season. The collective may not feel as inclined to jump straight in, but rather take its time in assessing the situation. “Seeing is believing” may become more common throughout this transit since the collective may need to have proof of some kind before going forth with an idea or pursuit. Charmingly determined, Mercury in Taurus will stick to its guns during this transit. But feeling certain in one’s contribution to education, conversation, and more is a result of slowly coming to the conclusion throughout Mercury’s time in Taurus. Given that Mercury will immediately square Pluto in Aquarius, there might be some palpable tension as we struggle to find the right tone, turf, and timing. However, the square may also be illuminating since it could reveal something in a unique yet tangible way.
Three days later, there will be a full moon in Libra on April 6. Full moons represent a six-month lunar cycle closing or peaking. It can revolve around the end of a chapter or cycle in your own life. Full moons can even come with an accomplishment or milestone to represent the progress made. The last time the moon was in Libra was back in October 2022. Consider the time between now and then. What commitments have come up? What relationships have you entered? Have things been balanced and reciprocal with others during this time? As you ponder these questions, commitments, contracts, arrangements, relationships (of all kinds), and reciprocity within each come full circle. Perhaps the full moon is marked by a completion, a milestone, or even an ending. As it comes full circle, the full moon in Libra aims to restore peace for both entities involved at either end of the arrangement. It may even be a lawful lunation since Libra can be associated with legal arrangements. Marriages, divorces, and contractual obligations may be another factor to consider during the lunation. As the full moon peaks, the collective needs to prioritize a “me versus we” mentality. Although relationships are pertinent, they only work if both parties involved are willing to make it work.
As the full moon rises, go within yourself and become connected with your breath. The airy full moon invites us to get out of our minds and into our bodies which can be accomplished through breath work. As I wrote in my full moon post for @ascendcrystals, you could try meditation, Yin yoga, or using Hertz frequencies while focusing on your breath work.
The full moon will make one aspect today & oppose Chiron in Aries. Chiron, the asteroid of core wounds, is currently navigating healing our relationship with identity, autonomy, selfishness, aggression, and sex. Given that Aries is about the self while Libra is about the other, the moon-Chiron opposition serves as a reminder to accept and ask for help from others. We can’t always do it on our own! Aside from this, the opposition could bring up some hurt feelings or even represent the end of hurt feelings from this lunar cycle.
The Rising signs can expect a cycle to come to a close in these Houses:
- Aries Rising: 7th House of Contracts, Commitments, & Partners (of all kinds)
- Taurus Rising: 6th House of Work, Daily Grind, Routine, Healthy Habits/Practices, & Small Pets
- Gemini Rising: 5th House of Joy, Fun, Hobbies, Past-Times, Pregnancy/Children, Dating/Romance, & Drama
- Cancer Rising: 4th House of Home, Family, Heritage, & Sacred Spaces
- Leo Rising: 3rd House of Neighborhood, Local Community, Local/Short-Distance Travel, Communication, & Siblings
- Virgo Rising: 2nd House of Personal Finances, Financial Security, Material Items, Personal Property, & Values
- Libra Rising: 1st House of the Self, Physical Body, Appearance & Perception
- Scorpio Rising: 12th House of Self-Undoing, Hidden Enemies, Hidden Weaknesses, Hidden Talents
- Sagittarius Rising: 11th House of Greater Community, Friends, Friend Groups, Social Groups, Technology, Dreams, & Humanity
- Capricorn Rising: 10th House of Career, Legacy, Recognition, & Public Status
- Aquarius Rising: 9th House of Long-Term Travel, Higher Education, Spirituality, Law, Ethics, Morals, & Beliefs
- Pisces Rising: 8th House of Merging, Joint Assets/Finances, Marriages/Divorces (Intimacy), Taboo, Occult, & Psychology
Then Venus will leave its domicile in Taurus and enter flighty Gemini on April 11. Although Venus is now out of its domicile, it does have some fun in the sign of the cosmic messenger. Venus is now reporting to Mercury, implying a sense of quick communication and mental agility infused in the Venusian themes. Mercury acts like a live wire when Venus in Gemini is reporting to it. As a result, Venus is readily alert because of its mercurial sense of energy. But a mercurial Venus can be a little flighty!
The quickness represents an ever-changing style. Each article of clothing, hairstyle, decoration, and more represents a different face of Venus in Gemini. So, this is the season where you may acquire iconic pieces that don’t match one another since Venus in Gemini likes to accessorize each personable aspect! Although this can be an excellent time to experiment by switching it up, Venus in Gemini can have a beauty-oriented identity crisis. Prepare for big chops (especially while the sun and Jupiter are in Aries), funky colors, a different outfit for every occasion, and more. Sacred spaces may take on a more eclectic feel. Venus in Gemini wants to showcase its many faces through its many aesthetics. Since Mercury is a neutral planet, a Mercury-ruled Venus may be partially oriented to looking or exemplifying an androgynous look. Even though this can be a riveting time to embody new aesthetics, Venus in Gemini may struggle to find its true sense of style. We may collectively feel less aligned with a particular aesthetic during this changeable Venusian era. The best way to enjoy Venus in Gemini is by exploring your identity by becoming a dynamic work of art.
Money is influenced by the wavering energy of Venus in Gemini. Finances are flowing to and from with ease, likely matching whatever catches Venus in Gemini’s eye. A money mentality is livelier during this type of transit, oriented to thinking constantly about money. On one hand, Venus in Gemini can encourage new trains of thought when considering opportunities to invest or make money. The communicative aspect of Venus in Gemini can present the opportunity for us to ask for raises, pitch ourselves, nail interviews, and land deals. Since clever Venus can talk money, think of Venus in Gemini as a used car salesman. Ways to make money may derive from the mercurial energy of Venus in Gemini, likely about communication, writing, editing, mentoring, coaching, selling, teaching, and even short-form posts on social media. However, on the other hand, the mental Venus in Gemini is perhaps overthinking money matters. Ruminating on what we have, don’t have, could have, etc. may be on a mental loop. Talking about money could also seem to be a never-ending conversation. Although the opportunity to diversify revenue is possible during Venus in Gemini, so is the potential to talk ourselves out of opportunities or over-analyze our bank account.
Aside from the diversity in cash flow, there might be diversity in romance as well! Singled or coupled, Venus in Gemini will excite the intellectual connection we have to our love interests. Mental stimulation is a significant aspect of this transit, especially if we are trying to attract love or keep it alive! Venus in Gemini needs light-hearted banter to fall and then stay in love. Perplexing questions, topics of discussion, current events, pop culture references, ideas, and jokes are the way to the heart of Venus in Gemini. As long as the conversation is alive, then so is the love. But Venus in Gemini is fickle with a wandering eye and an insatiable need to learn what love is. So, this is a non-committal transit. Dating (or fooling around) around is preferable to monogamy (or monotony). The ability to flit to and from lover to lover is what Venus in Gemini craves as it is true bachelor/bachelorette energy. Couples may even open up to the idea of swinging or entertaining the idea of having an open relationship to spice up their love lives! Since Gemini is the sign of two faces, there is always the opportunity for public versus private romance to come up. Venus in Gemini could refer to having affairs, secret love interests, or keeping a partner hidden from aspects of one’s life. Since Mars will be in Cancer, we may feel more deflective when it comes to matters of the heart or bedroom. It may be best to entertain a level of open-mindedness in love to enjoy the sensual passion coming from every direction possible.
Shortly after, Vesta will enter Taurus on April 15. Vesta rules over a virginal light, a more pure and undiluted form of the flame stoked at the hearth. When we think of this asteroid, we can view Vesta as the point in our chart (natal or transit) that encourages us to find our spark in the hearth and home that allows us to feel devoted to what we feel called to do. As Vesta enters Taurus, we may feel called to pursue whatever makes us feel secure, stable, and safe. Our inner light will feel most content when we have the physical means to feel emotionally and spiritually secure. This isn’t to say that we must become materialistic during this Vesta transit to feel like we are on the right path. If anything, Vesta in Taurus brings a sense of tangibility to spirituality, devotion, and inner light. Items, trinkets, tools, and more attained during this transit will amplify the intention we set with our hearth and home. So, consider your home or whatever sacred space that you may have like an altar during Vesta in Taurus. Adorn this alter with materials that help you feel content. Aside from this, Vesta in Taurus will have to cultivate momentum to move forward with opportunities that we may feel called to pursue. Harness your physical, mental, and emotional energy during this time to rev your inner engine up! Once you get started, there will be no stopping you during Vesta in Taurus.
By April 20, Aries season will come to an end as the sun enters Taurus. Now that Taurus season is in full swing, it is time to stop and smell the roses. Reporting to Venus, the sun is incredibly tasteful and charming. Taurus season is simply beautiful. Springy and fresh, Taurus season is usually a valuable time to enjoy the blossoming of life. The collective usually feel more secure in daily occurrences and with personal items. Usually, it’s a relatively stable season, which is a nice change of pace after rushing through Aries season. But this Taurus will be anything but predictable, since there will be a few fun twists and turns coming up with the eclipse portal and Mercury retrograde. Find your footing!
Also on the same day, there will be a new moon hybrid solar eclipse in Aries. As the new moon unfolds, this will begin a new six-month cycle that will play out until the fall. However, this six-month cycle won’t be ordinary by any means given that this lunation doubles as a hybrid solar eclipse. Hybrid solar eclipses occur once every decade since this eclipse is a combination between an annular solar eclipse and total solar eclipse. Depending on your vantage point on Earth, you will only be able to see this eclipse as either an annular or total solar. So, unfortunately, a hybrid eclipse cannot be seen from both perspectives at the same time. With this in mind, eclipses usually usher in a remarkable yet unpredictable energy that skews the lunation. This new moon hybrid solar eclipse will likely bring in unusual twists and turns throughout the six-month cycle. Although kind of crazy, eclipses usually bring out fated events that need to happen. Since this is occurring in Aries, there might be opportunities that relate to autonomy, identity, the physical self, selfishness, aggression, and assertion that come about in odd yet destined ways.
Given the nature of this lunation, it’s best to avoid holding a ritual since eclipses are unpredictable. The best way to honor an eclipse is through observation and detachment. Try to stand back, appreciate what may come to fruition, and let go of any expectations for what is to come following this new moon
The Rising signs will experience a new fated yet unpredictable cycle unfolding in these Houses:
- Aries Rising: 1st House of the Self & Perception
- Taurus Rising: 12th House of Self-Undoing, Hidden Enemies, Hidden Weaknesses, Hidden Talents
- Gemini Rising: 11th House of Greater Community, Friends, Friend Groups, Social Groups, Technology, Dreams, Humanity
- Cancer Rising: 10th House of Career, Legacy, Recognition, Public Status
- Leo Rising: 9th House of Long-Term Travel, Higher Education, Spirituality, Law, Ethics, Morals, Beliefs
- Virgo Rising: 8th House of Merging, Joint Assets/Finances, Marriages/Divorces, Taboo, Occult, Psychology, Sexual Bonds
- Libra Rising: 7th House of Contracts, Commitments, Partners (of all kinds)
- Scorpio Rising: 6th House of Work, Daily Grind, Routine, Healthy Habits/Practices, Pets
- Sagittarius Rising: 5th House of Joy, Fun, Hobbies, Past-Times, Pregnancy/Children, Dating/Romance, Drama
- Capricorn Rising: 4th House of Home, Family, Heritage, Mother/Mother-Figure
- Aquarius Rising: 3rd House of Neighborhood, Local Community, Local/Short-Distance Travel, Communication, & Siblings
- Pisces Rising: 2nd House of Personal Finances, Financial Security, Material Items, Personal Property, Values
Finally, Mercury will station retrograde in Taurus on April 21. Retrogrades are an excellent time to rethink, review, and then revise. Since the word “retrograde” implies something from this past, this is usually the right time to go over whatever has already happened or whatever could be in place. So, this is why most astrologers caution taking on new opportunities since there might be some old loose ends to tie up first before entertaining new possibilities. With this in mind, if the right opportunity arises during this retrograde, then use your judgment and discernment to navigate your options. Don’t let AstroTok fearmonger you into saying “No” just because a retrograde is going on. However, be extra mindful of reviewing the details of new possibilities to ensure that no stone is left unturned before moving forward with a new commitment or opportunity since retrogrades can skew information.
With this in mind, Mercury retrograde usually takes a hit on communication, mental agility, learning local or immediate connections, and travel. Mercury retrograde is infamous for causing communicative hiccups, like Freudian slips or missing the mark with tone, turf, and timing. This might be due to feeling mentally discombobulated, so our thoughts and words might not work together as fluidly as we may hope. Since Mercury retrograde can cause communicative disruptions, it might have a roundabout way of bringing information to light that we can use to challenge our previous outlooks, opinions, or perspectives. However, this doesn’t make the mishaps any less awkward or stressful! Aside from miscommunication, Mercury retrograde may take a hit on your bonds and groups. The old saying, “Mercury Rx brings back the ex”, is prevalent since this might be the time where ex family members, friends, flings, partners, and more may come back around. Part of this might be due to closure or romanticizing the past. How each individual comes back might be different since it could be physical, like reaching out via text, or emotional, like dreaming of someone more often than usual. Regardless of how someone comes back, it might be best to use Mercury retrograde to lay the past to rest with that person in one way or another. For some, this could even be like a second chance to rekindle a friendship or relationship. But for most, this is likely a chance to find the closure within yourself to move forward. Finally, travel issues may occur since Mercury retrograde will cause chaos in local and long-distance travel. Your usual commute to work could be stalled in hour-long traffic or you might miss your flight due to not keeping up with changing terminals. No matter what, your best bet is to take each travel issue in stride as you pivot to find a new course, direction, or solution to move forward.
With this in mind, Mercury retrograde usually takes a hit on communication, mental agility, learning local or immediate connections, and travel. Mercury retrograde is infamous for causing communicative hiccups, like Freudian slips or missing the mark with tone, turf, and timing. This might be due to feeling mentally discombobulated, so our thoughts and words might not work together as fluidly as we may hope. Since Mercury retrograde can cause communicative disruptions, it might have a roundabout way of bringing information to light that we can use to challenge our previous outlooks, opinions, or perspectives. However, this doesn’t make the mishaps any less awkward or stressful! Aside from miscommunication, Mercury retrograde may take a hit on your bonds and groups. The old saying, “Mercury Rx brings back the ex”, is prevalent since this might be the time when ex-family members, friends, flings, partners, and more may come back around. Part of this might be due to closure or romanticizing the past. How each individual comes back might be different since it could be physical, like reaching out via text, or emotional, like dreaming of someone more often than usual. Regardless of how someone comes back, it might be best to use Mercury retrograde to lay the past to rest with that person in one way or another. For some, this could even be like a second chance to rekindle a friendship or relationship. But for most, this is likely a chance to find the closure within yourself to move forward. Finally, travel issues may occur since Mercury retrograde will cause chaos in local and long-distance travel. Your usual commute to work could be stalled in hour-long traffic or you might miss your flight due to not keeping up with changing terminals. No matter what, your best bet is to take each travel issue in stride as you pivot to find a new course, direction, or solution to move forward.
Since this Mercury retrograde will occur in Taurus, we may see additional themes of stability, security, concrete wealth, material items, loyalty, and commitment. The usual groundedness of this transit will be shaken up during Mercury retrograde, so expect to feel like there is an ever-shifting earthquake erupting. Since there will be a lack of stability or security, it might be best to practice detachment during this time to avoid feeling incredibly upset if something changes during Mercury retrograde. However, this might be challenging since Mercury retrograde will challenge how practical something may or may not be. Part of this might correlate with our money matters and physical items. Mercury retrograde might infer a loss of financial security, stability, or even losing something of value to you. A physical item may also lose its appropriated value during this time. However, the flip side of this is coming back into money or possessions that were previously lost since Mercury retrograde could bring back old items. Again, practicing detachment will be key to navigating the “lost and found” bin that will be in our lives. Aside from this, Mercury retrograde may encourage us to think twice about who and what we’re loyal to since true ties will be shown for what they are.
The Dates
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- Apr. 3 – Mercury enters Taurus
- Apr. 6 – Full Moon in Libra
- Apr. 11 – Venus enters Gemini
- Apr. 15 – Vesta enters Taurus
- Apr. 20 – Sun enters Taurus, New Moon Hybrid Solar Eclipse in Aries
- Apr. 21 – Mercury stations retrograde in Taurus
The Crone 