This is likely to be an interesting month but as a Fixed Sign along with Taurus, Scorpio and Aquarius you are better positioned than your Cardinal Sign friends including those born under Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn because of that looming Cardinal Grand Cross that will culminate this month.  The intensity picks up on April 14 when Pluto stations retrograde, something that happens every year, but with Pluto tied into this somewhat ominous aspect pattern that energy will be dumped into the mix and intensify its effects.  When a planet stations retrograde it remains in the same zodiacal degree for an extended period of time and in this case we're talking about being at 13 degrees Capricorn since February 26 and not leaving it until June 4.  If your birthday is right around August 6 this station quincunxes your Natal Sun from your 8th house of transformations so you are likely to be feeling this effect.  It's possible that it's not particularly pleasant so you wonder what I mean by being "better positioned" but trust me, you are. 

This energy is focused in your 6th house of work, health, daily activities, service and pets.  Pluto is all about power, control, elimination, corruption and secrets of all varieties and this includes both ends of the spectrum.  In other words, he also rules exposure of such things so they can be cleaned up and healed.  For example, removal of an abscessed tooth is in this category though of course it also applies to government and corporation.  Clearly there have been a multitude of power grabs and exposure of corruption all around and that is the mundane side of Pluto in Capricorn.  As far as your experience is concerned, you may feel compelled to take control in this part of your life or be on some sort of cleaning frenzy that could pertain to your desk or even going on a cleansing diet.  You may also be the target of someone on a power trip at work which you need to examine for the possibility of it being reflected energy from yourself.  At any rate, this is what Pluto is up to and he's only one corner of the upcoming Grand Cross. 

Less than eight hours after the station there's a Lunar Eclipse on April 15. Eclipses have a lot more staying power than the usual lunation meaning they can actually manifest BEFORE the eclipse occurs and can also last for months, long after you've forgotten about it and then wonder where something came from.  The eclipse occurs in Libra, your 3rd house of thoughts, ideas, siblings, neighbors and local travel.  If your birthday is right around August 19 your Natal Sun forms a Triangle of Potential with the Sun and Moon which puts you in a position to leverage it to your advantage.  The Sun is in your 9th house of beliefs, expectations, higher learning, legal matters, politics, religion, long-distance travel, other cultures and relocation.  you can see of this relates to its polar house, i.e. the 3rd, where your thoughts and ideas are what ultimate congeal into your belief system.  Your 9th house is Aries where Uranus, another member of the Grand Cross is currently residing, and for this eclipse Mercury is conjunct Uranus providing the potential for some surprising or unexpected thoughts or information coming into this part of your life.  The long term effects of Uranus in the 9th can mean that you abandon previous beliefs or perhaps break away from some other elements in that venue like a change of religion, political affiliation or something similar.  As a fellow Fire Sign, planets in Aries trine Leo so if you have your Sun or some other planet at 13 degrees you will get an even larger jolt from this and that includes you folks born right around August 6.  Since so much astrological action is occurring at that degree if that's you then you will probably see some interesting events going on around you which you can probably exploit to your advantage.

So far I've covered Mars, Pluto and Uranus, three members of the Grand Cross, with Jupiter the final one.  That big boy is in Cancer, sign of his exaltation, which means he is comfortable and uninhibited in that sign.  While Jupiter is usually considered a benefic planet in my experience I have found that he is more neutral like Mercury and simply expands upon what he touches.  If it's a trine from Venus, then it's already good and Jupiter will pump it up a bit so it's even better but if it's a square from a malefic like Mars or Pluto then it will also be increased.  For example, Jupiter is usually involved in highly destructive weather events.  So the fact that exalted Jupiter is tied into this configuration isn't exactly good news.  He's in your 12th house which includes spirituality, enlightenment, dreams, visions, inspiration, seclusion, confinement, your subconscious mind, other dimensions, institutions, hidden enemies and self-undoing or what I typically dub the house of "angels and demons."  Basically, one way to look at this is that your subconscious mind is likely to exaggerate what is coming in through your thoughts and being processed into your beliefs.  With Neptune in your 8th house of transformations, delusions are possible as well as blowing things out of proportion.  However, generally speaking, these effects have potential for good.  You just need to scrutinize them and be able to dispose of anything that isn't real.

The Grand Cross is at its peak on April 22 when all four planets are in 13 degrees of their respective signs.  Of course the Pluto station and eclipse have already given it a substantial boost.  However, it should be interesting to see if anything of note occurs on this particular day.  Grand Crosses between outer planets don't occur very often so astrologers are watching it very carefully.  On the mundane side it gets even more interesting because it hits the U.S. Sibly Chart and Vladimir Putin's chart like a train with the U.S. Sun conjunct Jupiter and Putin's conjunct Mars retrograde.  Mars RX is often passive aggressive and you can see that in the various sanctions placed against Russia.  So it looks likely that something interesting is going to happen.  If your birthday is right around July 26 be aware that the Sun squares your natal Sun that day so you may want to be a bit cautious yourself, especially if you have other planets at 13 degrees.  Just sayin'.

Those of you born around August 14 have Saturn squaring your Sun which could be causing a few challenges at home or with something else that resides in the 4th house including memories, cultural roots, endings and new beginnings.  If you're trying to kick-start a new endeavor you and everyone else, for that matter, has a few things against them right now between Mars as well as Saturn retrograde.  Mars RX is like sitting at a red light waiting for it to change and Saturn RX is like taking a much needed rest while climbing a mountain.  Saturn RX usually relates to restructuring or rebuilding something.  This could be literal, like remodeling your house, or more on the emotional level.  The trine from Venus exalted in Pisces, your 8th house of transformations, is a helpful aspect for thinking it through.

The Solar Eclipse on April 29 is in Taurus, your 10th house of career, reputation, public image and status and squares your natal Sun if your birthday is right around August 1.  This could bring you something rather interesting at work and bring about a complete change-over of some description.  It may not look favorable initially but is highly likely to be to your benefit eventually.  You're going to have to roll with the punches and play your cards right, but there is cosmic help out there to help you do just that.  As a Fixed Sign you probably don't care much for sudden change yet if you're not entirely satisfied with the status quo that may be the break you've been waiting for.  The eclipse is visible in parts of central Australia down through Melbourne, out into the ocean across the tip of Antarctica and then back into the ocean.

As always, if you encounter any interesting experiences with these transits that you'd like to share, feel free to post them to our Facebook page.  "Likes" are always appreciated and if you "follow" us you'll be among the first to know when these monthly horos are posted as well as my latest blog or when my various books are on sale in the Kindle Store.  Reviews are also greatly appreciated if you already own any of my books.  Have a great month and remember if you don't use the energy of these transits consciously then it's likely to use you and you may not like the result.

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