Astrology Transits April 2020 -The Gift and the Shadow

Life has taken a big turn since the last time I touched base with everyone via this newsletter. Someone compared our current situation to “watching a bizarre sci-fi movie,” which it certainly feels like sometimes. Because so much of our collective attention is focused on the COVID-19 crisis and the resultant financial insecurity, I am going to spend part of this newsletter astrologically addressing that phenomena.

First to set the stage: 

• Neptune rules the immune system, influenza, danger through contagious disease and influenza-like illnesses.  In its highest light expression, it expresses as compassion for all. In its shadow expression it rules obstruction of the truth, widespread confusion and delusion.
• Pluto rules viruses, death, the masses and the process of transformation.
• Uranus and Saturn together rule panic and fear.
• Mars rules fevers, anger, aggressive action and accelerates conditions.
• Saturn rules pneumonia, limitation, worry, fear and responsibility.
• Jupiter rules optimism, excess of all kinds and pneumonia.
• Gemini and Mercury rule the lungs, pneumonia and lung troubles.
• Moon rules dropsy, coughs, the masses, change, and fluctuations

It is my belief that the corona virus started on November 28, 2019, when the Moon was opposition Neptune and sextile the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Capricorn.  Saturn and Pluto have been moving together in Capricorn for many months.  Those two heavy planets together rule government, business, education and the health care system. Capricorn rules the patriarchy, the 1%ers, and materiality over caring and humanity.

Saturn and Pluto moving together off and on for many months represent a seismic shift that has been slowly building.  I have been watching them for two years.  I knew something life changing was about to happen, but could not determine what it was.  Now I know.

Pluto, the planet of transformation, never projects his energy in a small way.  His energy is more aligned with annihilation — then a process of rebuilding.  Such rebuilding is always more secure and sustainable than the old, crumbling ideas and structures.  Saturn, the planet of limitation and responsibility, lets us know that austerity and responsibility will be needed to bring about this needed transformation.

The Saturn and Pluto energies came into sharp focus on January 12, 2020, when the South Node, Jupiter, Sun, Pluto, Saturn and Mercury were all in Capricorn.  Such a concentration of planets in Capricorn indicate a change in the structural regime, power plays, and the transformation and limitation of everything.

The last super full Moon in Virgo on March 9 opposite the Sun and Neptune in Pisces accelerated the need for healing and ushered in a health and healing crisis.  Pisces rules the immune system and one’s personal vulnerability.  The Virgo full Moon in opposition to Sun and Neptune illuminated the upcoming health crisis.

Our current situation is scary and promotes fear (Saturn), and we question the motives and knowledge of those in control (Pluto).  However, in so many ways, it has a positive overlay.  Our materialistic, alienated way of life was unsustainable, not only for us, but also for the health of Mother Earth herself.  Saturn, and then Mars, now in the air sign of Aquarius, bring a need for connection to others and to our earth.  We truly are our brother’s keepers.  We now realize that our actions can mean life and death for ourselves, for those around us and even to Mother Earth.

Stay safe and reach out to someone in your life by telephone or online. By doing so, you are letting Saturn express his highest good.  Giving in to fear and lack is letting Saturn express in his negative mode. Remember, that every planet, sign and house in astrology has both a positive and a negative meaning.  Now, more than ever, is the time to focus on expressing the positive and minimizing the negative.  Secondly, always remember that nothing can happen to you that is not shown in your birth chart.  Though untold numbers of people will suffer from the current COVID-19 crisis, many, many others will benefit. Be kind to yourself, take precautions and focus on the higher good for all.  Above all, remember the above Tolstoy quote:  “All the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.”  The shadows of life serve to make the light even more beautiful.

March 30-April 1:  Mars Enters Aquarius; Mars Conjunct Saturn at 0‑to‑1 Degrees Aquarius.  Saturn entered Aquarius on March 21 and is now joined by Mars.  This is a paradigm-shifting movement and conjunction.  Saturn in Capricorn (often conjunct Pluto) was concerned with government, control, limitation, big business, and ego-driven materiality. Capricorn and Pluto in Capricorn were involved with political parties and common beliefs that structured (Saturn) the beliefs of a society.

Mars activates whatever it touches.  When it was in Capricorn, it activated the aforementioned energies. Now, as Mars moves to Aquarius and conjuncts Saturn, we are being forced to pay attention to where we are as a society and where we want to be.  We are learning that what we do on a daily basis affects all homo sapiens and all other earthly beings.

April 3:  Venus Enters Gemini; Mercury Conjunct Neptune at 19 Degrees Pisces.  Venus in Gemini until August 7, bodes well for communication and negotiations required to work out the massive problems associated with the COVID-19 outbreak.  Venus will turn retrograde at 22 degrees Gemini on May 13.  Venus in Gemini and Mercury conjunct Neptune is a loving, communicative, compassionate energy.  Use this energy to reach out to those who you have been out of touch with for some time or to volunteer in some way. 

April 6-8:  Mars Square Uranus at 4-6 Degrees Aquarius/Taurus; Mercury Sextile Jupiter/Pluto at 22-25 Degrees Pisces/Capricorn. Mars square Uranus signals a feisty, argumentative, chaotic time full of social upheavals, impatience and anger (Mars) around an unstable financial outlook  and conflicting values (Uranus in Taurus).

Mercury sextile Jupiter and Mercury sextile Pluto are wonderful for research and deep diving into possible treatments or cures for COVID-19.

April 7:  Full Moon at 18 Degrees Libra/Aries.  This Libra full Moon is a supermoon.  It is closer to the earth than any other full Moon this year.  Hopefully, we will have a clear sky, as it should be spectacular!

Astrologically, at the time of the Full Moon, Mars (action and aggression) is square Uranus (chaos and upheaval). Expect lots of discord between the federal, state and local governments and much disagreement about the best way to proceed.  Uranus, as the planet of breakthroughs, could force new ways of thinking about problems and new, innovative inventions being tested.