May 8th – 14th

by Sonja Francis | May 7, 2023 | Astrological Forecasts

Our Creative Core Awakened 

This week’s headline items: Pluto is still exalted (stationing) all week; Mercury starts to slow down (station) again on Tuesday and comes to a halt on Sunday late evening — to end its three-week Retrograde phase, going direct and beginning its post-Shadow phase.

There will be four Moon Void of Course (VoC) phases this week: Monday late afternoon (for 3 hours), Wednesday evening (a little over 2 hours), Friday late evening (a little over 1 hour), and Sunday late evening (5 hours).

Before we get to this week’s Forecast, please know that…

If you missed our Forecasting Forum last week, and would still like to watch the recording of our live webinar about “Jupiter in Taurus until May 2024″, you have the option to either become a Star Member by the end of this week (monthly Forums are included in the Membership), or you can purchase this webinar by itself on my webinar-page

Here is some feedback I received after our Forum on Friday:

“Thanks Sonja, the eclipse knocked me out but the Forum woke me up and kept my attention ❤️” — Meredith D.

 

“Deep gratitude for your insights” — Cathy E.

 

“Thank you 🥰🙏” — Lea C.

Now, this week’s Forecast…

Monday, May 8th:

Monday, the Moon remains in optimistic, adventurous, truth-seeking Sagittarius until 7:33pm EDT. We’re strongly motivated to explore and learn. We’re not likely to be big fans of routine — diversity and new adventures work best at this time — we’re also physically restless and need to burn that off with activity and physical exercise.

We tend to feel more open, optimistic, and inspired — but we also have a high degree of independence — and taking these two influences together, we’d rather inspire others to do things our way, as opposed to issuing or obeying orders. Inspiring others could come easier than normal, as we can see the bigger picture, leaving us confident that others will agree with us once they see what we see.

As best as you can, speak your truth without assuming that everyone is on the same page as you. Improvisation works well for us at this time, as we are spontaneous and love living on the edge — just watch out you aren’t overdoing or overstating things.

Monday late afternoon, at 4:28pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for 3 hours until 7:33pm EDT. Use this intuitive time to explore something you feel passionate or enthusiastic about — what projects come to mind? What would be a fantastic use for all the physical energy that you currently have access to?

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Monday late afternoon until the evening ahead of time.

Monday at 7:33pm EDT, the Moon moves into ambitious, goal-oriented Capricorn, where it will journey until Wednesday late evening. We tend to be more realistic, serious, and cautious; this can support practical endeavors and financial matters.

Our ambition surges and brings a need for structure and planning; when you add in the pragmatism this aspect supports, you can see how this could be a very productive time for business and long-term goals. Our reputation becomes very important to us.

As best as you can during this aspect, avoid “should-ing” on yourself. Take the pressure off, perhaps by saying, “I am doing the best I can, and that’s all I can ever do”.

Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn — and it is currently transiting through Pisces. This is a great time to look for practical applications of our dreams, ideologies, connection to Source, or one-consciousness.

It’s also a great time to take a more serious look at our spiritual or creative aspirations; as best as you can, be authentic about your intuitive connection to life. What works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to your idealism, addictions, avoidance of life, and dreams?

What about life truly resonates with you — as it stands now, rather than what it was 5 or 10 years ago? Where in your life is it time to let go of naiveté or an idealistic approach that no longer serves you?

What tools or structures support you with being in the flow, being present, and feeling connected to the Universe in this now-moment? What needs your time and attention? What could you practice every day? What do you genuinely want to commit yourself to?

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Tuesday, May 9th:

Tuesday, the Moon remains in ambitious, goal-oriented Capricorn all day (see Monday evening for details).

Tuesday late afternoon, a Sun/Uranus alignment in almost 19º of Taurus, becomes exact at 3:56pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from last week, Saturday morning (May 6th) on, and it will remain strong until this Saturday (May 13th). This alignment brings confidence and a desire to connect with others through a common cause or similar values.

We may have sudden insights into the value of our friendships and how they connect us to a bigger vision. We seek to move to the next level on the physical plane — whether that’s related to our finances, talents, resources, our body, or the planet — we need to strategize and collaborate with others.

We are also asked to connect to the unusual. Our creative core is awakened: We feel compelled to express ourselves in unique (or at least unconventional) ways. Our consciousness expands, and we are receptive to new ways of thinking, doing, and living — this increased openness to all that is enjoyable and different, may bring unexpected opportunities.

Uranus symbolizes the desire for freedom, equality, and progress. Uranus in Taurus aligned with the Sun asks us to break away from whatever keeps us from honoring ourselves. It’s time to develop some awareness: What’s mine? What isn’t? What if it were ok to have a different outlook from others? What about different values?

One thing to remember: Keeping the heart and mind open could make a big difference to the experience of this alignment.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 16-22 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, or Aquarius? If so, you will be more affected by this alignment. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Aquarius (the Sun rules Leo; Uranus is the ruler of Aquarius)

Also on Tuesday evening, Mercury starts to slow down again (“stationing”) in 6-7º of Taurus. It’s getting ready to come to a halt, ending its 3-week Retrograde phase, on Sunday late evening (more on that later this week…). This station will last until May 20th, and we will feel Mercury’s energies more strongly during this time.

For the next 11 days (until May 20th), we need to be patient with ourselves and others — especially if there is a connection with luxury items, communication, or transportation and their associated technologies — this is not the best time to start anything brand-new, particularly if it contains new information connected to financial undertakings.

As best as you can, give yourself and others a lot of space!

We might experience delays or misunderstandings, and things tend to feel “off” or stagnant. It might be a good idea to give yourself some extra time to get ready for travel somewhere — especially if you intend to use public transportation or drive (for more details on Mercury Shadow Phases and Retrogrades, click here)

Some of us will feel the effects of the Mercury station more than others: those of us who have Gemini or Virgo as our Sun- or Rising-Sign (Ascendant); and those of us with personal planets in 4-9 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, or Aquarius.

Wednesday, May 10th:

Wednesday, the Moon remains in ambitious, goal-oriented Capricorn until 10:05pm EDT (see Monday evening for details).

Wednesday evening, at 7:52pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for a little over 2 hours, until 10:05pm EDT. Use this intuitive time to make adjustments and find creative solutions to seemingly insoluble situations.

As best as you can, make space for exploring your personal goals or projects from a new perspective, and for staying in alignment with your current long-term commitments — flexibility is key!  

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Wednesday evening ahead of time.

Wednesday late evening, at 10:05pm EDT, the Moon moves into freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius, where it will journey until Saturday very early morning. The energy of the Aquarian Moon relates to our instinct for improvement. Reactions are more intellectual than emotional, and interactions are more impersonal than personal. We are likely to have an increased fascination with the new and unusual.

Social gatherings, anything connected with group ideals and goals for the future, brainstorming, new ideas, and methods, and progress are promoted while the Moon moves through Aquarius. Again: we have our eyes on the future — or outer space… Personal freedom becomes paramount.

Uranus is the ruler of Aquarius — and this planet is currently moving through Taurus, making these next two days a great time to look at our physical connection to our own body, finances, and whatever is most important to us on this planet.

It’s also a great time to innovate and make changes in our lives around any physical matters that no longer serve us or keep us stuck in the past; we need to elevate our thinking if we want our bodies and the planet to vibrate at a higher frequency.

Ask yourself: Do I need to give my body something different to raise it to a higher vibration? When I tune in to myself, what insights does my body provide?

Where have I become too rigid in connection with my body, my physical resources, or my talents? Where have I become too comfortable with those things? What is my connection to the Earth? To Nature? Do I need more physical space? More physical movement?

This Moon placement also starts the build-up towards the last Quarter Moon, exact on Friday late morning (more on that later this week…)

Thursday, May 11th:

Thursday, the Moon remains in freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius all day (see Wednesday late evening for details).

Thursday early morning requires some inner adjustments. We feel uneasy or awkward and need to make a choice, one that demands we develop inner awareness around two very different urges: on the one hand, the desire to have physical and emotional safety and connect with what feels familiar — and on the other hand, the need to make progress and connect to like-minded people about our collective future visions.

This could also extend to personal, practical things vs. social, idealistic visions, and discerning what works now vs. “progress”. Awareness is critical with this aspect: What is needed? And when? How can we take the higher path? (Moon in Aquarius quincunxes Venus in Cancer, exact at 5:01am EDT) 

Thursday late morning, we are invited to make some adjustments in our lives. As best as you can, find creative solutions to seemingly unsolvable situations.

Make space either for connections with like-minded people, and involvement in a cause or for sharing your own values and learning about financial benefits or physical enjoyment. (Moon in Aquarius squares Mercury in Taurus, exact at 8:45am EDT) 

Since not much else is going on today, let me share about an aspect that will be exact next Monday: a harmonious Mars/Neptune aspect. We started to feel this aspect build from Tuesday morning (May 9th) on; it will remain strong until next week, Sunday (May 21st). This aspect brings the ability to endow what we feel passionate about with our creativity — and connect it to a higher love.

Our masculine energies are able to connect to compassion and understanding. We can now release past issues; through loving ourselves, we can release emotional blockages and the lower vibrations of the masculine: aggression, domineering, destructiveness, and me-first attitudes.

As this aspect is taking place in Cancer and Pisces, we are connecting to our goals and dreams from an emotional place that is deeply spiritual. We are able to let go of our fears and attachments and are able to have faith that everything will turn out just as it needs to.

Those of us who have their Ascendent (or personal planets) in the following: 24-29 degrees of Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, or 0 degrees of Leo, Aries, or Sagittarius will be touched in a particularly beautiful way by this aspect. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Aries or Pisces (Mars is the ruler of Aries; Neptune rules Pisces).

Friday, May 12th:

Friday is a big day (astrologically speaking); the Moon remains in freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius all day (see Wednesday late evening for details).

Friday early morning, an opportune Mercury/Saturn aspect becomes exact at 4:42am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from last Sunday morning (May 7th) on; it will remain strong until May 23rd — an unusually long time, due to Mercury’s Station/ Retrograde phase.

Due to the current Retrograde phase, this is the second time within the last 5 weeks that this aspect has become exact; the first time was on April 5th. Think back to that week: What came up around honoring yourself, being honest about your thought processes, and having a more mature understanding of what’s important to you?

This could also be another opportunity to take responsibility for our thinking structures and be honest with ourselves. How can we get the most from this opportunity? Through honest communication, we have a chance to clear up any misunderstandings.

As best as you can, allow yourself to tune in and transcend your conditioned, automatic responses. A good place to start is with a commitment to better understand your conditioning and thought processes.

If we take this chance to see things more clearly and connect to ourselves more lovingly, we could get a good dose of reality and an ability to focus on long-term issues.

Remember: opportunities are openings; they aren’t necessarily handed to us — we have to “take” them and make something of them.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or any personal planets) in 4-8 degrees of Taurus, Pisces, Capricorn, orCancer? If so, you may be more aware of this opportunity. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Gemini, Virgo, or Capricorn (Mercury is the ruler of Gemini, and Virgo, and Saturn rules Capricorn).

Friday late morning, 10:28am EDT, the last Quarter Moon in 21.5 degrees of Aquarius becomes exact. The Moon in forward-thinking, freedom-loving, detached Aquarius makes a challenging aspect to the Sun in sensual, steady, down-to-earth Taurus. We started to feel this aspect build from the moment the Moon entered Aquarius on Wednesday late evening.

This may bring challenges; however, it also energizes us to look at what needs to be completed — and what needs to be changed.

This Moon phase brings us closer to the next New Moon in Taurus (on May 19th). Eclipse season is almost over, so with this last Quarter Moon, rather than starting major new projects, it serves us to take a look at what was started around the time of the last Eclipse cycle — in this case, in early November 2022. We now have about a week to wrap those projects up.

What — if anything — needs last-minute adjustments? What did you discover since Nov. 8th? What did it mean for you? As best as you can, find creative solutions for anything that comes up between yourself and others — and for any internal conflicts.

Friday late evening, an opportune Mercury/Venus aspect becomes exact at 10:44pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Thursday evening on, and it will remain strong until Sunday evening. This aspect gives us the opportunity for more direct and caring connections to others.

Through enhanced communication, we have a chance to clear up any misunderstandings or discomfort from the past. Promises and clarifications may grow from this, particularly in love relationships. It is also an opportune time to make new social contacts.

Remember: this is an “opportunity” — those aren’t necessarily handed to us, we have to actively take advantage of them.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or any personal planets) in 4-8 degrees of Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, or Pisces? If so, you may be more aware of this opportunity. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Virgo, Gemini, Libra, or Taurus (Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo; Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra)

Friday at 11:15pm EDT, we enter a brief Moon VoC that will last for a little over 1 hour, until 12:39am EDT (Saturday very early morning). If you are up and about, use this intuitive time to connect with others and explore, actively, the things that can bring you progress.

Ask yourself: Am I open to exploring something different? Am I open to seeing something that I haven’t looked at before? Am I open to new adventures?

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow.

Saturday, May 13th:

Saturday, the Moon remains in freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius and VoC until 12:39am EDT (see Wednesday late evening and Friday late evening for details).

Saturday very early morning, at 12:39am EDT, the Moon moves into creative, sensitive Pisces, where it will journey until next week, Monday early morning (May 15th). This Moon placement often finds us more sensitive, intuitive, idealistic, and imaginative than usual. We also have a greater capacity for compassion, sympathy, and affection for all, especially those who suffer or can be regarded as the underdog.

But that idealism could also be our downfall at this time: We tend to see the best in everyone and everything, and when reality doesn’t match our idyllic vision, we might feel upset and even victimized by those harsh realities. A way out of this is to channel our idealism into spiritual or creative endeavors.

It’s also an excellent time for releasing fears — especially the ones based on a sense of separation — and experiencing “oneness”. Feelings tend to flow more freely; as best as you can, let them — in fact, “going with the flow” is the best way to go for the next couple of days.

Neptune is the ruler of Pisces — and it is currently in its own sign, making these next two days a great time to take a look at our inner spiritual connection to our “higher Self”, “Source”, or “God/Goddess”.

It’s also a great time to allow all there is as it is, and to go with the flow, following our intuitive voice as much as possible. We are being asked to tap into the “feminine” energies within ourselves, so we can start to vibrate on a universal frequency.

Ask yourself: Is my “Higher Self” asking for more introverted/inner love time? If I tune in with my intuitive voice, what am I receiving? Sensing?

Where in my life have I become too disconnected from life? Love? God/Goddess? What is my connection to the spiritual realm? What about the “heart realm”? How could nature and animals teach me about those realms?

Do I need more downtime? More resting time? More compassion? How might being kind to myself and trusting the process of Life create a more loving connection with the universe?

Saturday very early morning, a harmonious Venus/Saturn aspect becomes exact at 2:57am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Wednesday morning on; it will remain strong until next week, Tuesday morning (May 16th). This signals a time when we don’t take connections with others lightly; we are more attracted to long-term commitment than to “casual”.

Ask yourself: What long-term connections are possible at this time? What feels intuitively “right” to me? Are there any spiritual or creative connections that need strengthening or refreshing? How might mutual respect and loyalty be of support?

We feel a strong sense of responsibility to loved ones and see ourselves generally as responsible and trustworthy. We have increased sensitivity to the needs of others.

We bring more maturity, respect, and integrity to our interactions — and this is a good time to approach spiritually mature or creatively established people for their input. We may also find that looking within and doing our own spiritual work can give us a boost toward spiritual self-mastery.

This doesn’t have to be “solemn”, so ask yourself: Who might welcome a heart-centered dialogue (or a creative collaboration) that is spiritually responsible & nurturing? What would it look like if we also respected the divine in each other?

If my past had a message for me about the process of emotionally and intuitively maturing, what might that message be? What might a spiritual teacher have to say on the subject? (Think of a specific teacher for this question).

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 3-9 degrees of Cancer, Pisces, or Scorpio? If so, you will be blessed by this aspect more than others. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra, or Capricorn (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn)

Sunday, May 14th:

Sunday, the Moon remains in creative, sensitive Pisces all day (see Saturday early morning for details).

Sunday late evening, at 10:56pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for 5 hours, until 3:56am EDT (Monday early morning). If you are awake during this intuitive time, use it to slow down a little. This is a great time for spiritual or creative endeavors. Energy work, or anything that requires our intuitive side, will work best for this time period.

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Sunday late evening until Monday early morning ahead of time.

Sunday at 11:17pm EDT, Mercury comes to a halt again, in almost 6 degrees of Taurus, and slowly starts its direct motion, after its 3-week Retrograde phase. As best as you can, go with the flow, keep an open mind, and pay attention to anything that is in your face right now — you may need to address those issues again when Mercury moves through its post-Shadow phase…more on that in a moment…

We are slowly ready to shift our focus back towards the outer world again, taking in new information and sharing from a new perspective.

Ask yourself: What did I learn about my earning power and my sense of self-worth over the past 3 weeks? How might I share my findings in a healthy way? What needs to be addressed with regard to finances, physical enjoyment of life, or self-honoring?

What have I discovered in regard to this question: If I knew I am worthy simply because I am alive, how would I treat myself and others?

When Mercury gets back to its regular speed (by May 20th), communication and transportation will get back to normal; the same is true of any associated gadgets, vehicles, etc.

Some of us will feel the effects of this station more than others: those of us with Gemini or Virgo as our Sun- or Rising-Sign (Ascendant) — and those of us with personal planets (or angles) in 4-8 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, or Aquarius?  

Also, on Sunday, Mercury’s post-Shadow phase begins — lasting until May 31st…. as you may recall, I mentioned Mercury Shadow phases in this update a few weeks back: If you want to buy, sell or ship big-ticket items, it’s best to avoid the periods shortly before Mercury goes retrograde, and after it goes direct.

This is especially true if the items are connected to luxury items, technology, transportation (cars, plane tickets, etc.) or communication (phone, computer, iPad, etc.) Click here to read my blog on the subject.

And…

A heads up for next Monday (May 15th): the Moon remains in creative, sensitive Pisces and VoC until 3:56am EDT. At that time, the Moon moves into pioneering, fast-paced Aries, where it will journey until next week, Wednesday morning (May 17th). In the late morning, a harmonious Mars/Neptune aspect becomes exact at 9:44am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Tuesday morning (May 9th) on; it will remain strong until next week, Sunday (May 21st). More about all the details in next week’s Forecast…

One More Announcement:

Join me for our next FORECASTING FORUM, live on Friday, June 2nd at 2pm PDT/5pm EDT/10pm BST (London time).

Are you ready for some changes in your Life?

In this Forum, we will talk about: the upcoming Grand Cross in the Fixed signs involving Venus, Jupiter, Pluto & the Moon Nodes: in Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius (at its strongest on June 5th!)

Where does this Grand Cross land in your Birth chart?
What is it trying to teach you?

If you want to align with the upcoming energies, join me live or sign up for the mp4 video presentation.

To be automatically registered every month, become a Star Member on my site.
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Here are two testimonials from our participants after joining one of our recent Forums:

“Thank you for tonight’s counseling! You’re so focused and in tune with my thoughts!” — Francesca V.

 

“Very helpful.” — Karl S.

To register for this month only, click here — Early Bird Special available until May 31st at midnight EDT!

Have a fantastic week! Stay whole-hearted and healthy, and if you need support, feel free to reach out!
Many blessings,
Sonja

PS: To apply my forecasts and videos to your own birth chart, watch my 30-minute class on: “How to Read Your Birth Chart” and head to my Facebook Fan page for my daily forecast snippets.

Blog photo by Kirandeep Singh Walia

May 1st – 7th

by Sonja Francis | Apr 30, 2023 | Astrological Forecasts

Dazed & Confused? Have Faith! 

This week’s headline items: Pluto in Aquarius will be exalted (stationing) all week; Pluto comes to a halt on Monday early afternoon to start its annual Retrograde phase; a powerful Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio becomes exact on Friday early afternoon; and Venus changes signs from Gemini to Cancer on Sunday late morning.

There will be three Moon Void of Course (VoC) phases this week: Monday evening (for 6 hours), Thursday early morning (for a little over 5 hours), and Saturday late morning (for 5.5 hours).

Before we get to this week’s Forecast, a last reminder…

My monthly Forecasting Forum will be live on Friday this week!

Friday, May 5th at 5pm ET/2pm PT is our next Monthly Forecasting Forum about Jupiter’s one-year journey through Taurus (May 16th, 2023 – May 25th, 2024). Get a sense of how this impacts you personally — MP4 recording is available within 24 hours after the live event.

==> Register & get the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL until May 3rd at midnight ET here

Jupiter is about expansion and our mental & spiritual growth. Jupiter in Taurus is earthy and loves material comfort. How will this show up for you? What area of your life will be most affected?

Now, this week’s Forecast…

Monday, May 1st:

Monday, the Moon remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo all day. It will journey there until Tuesday very early morning. We are generous with our time/services, and we love to help others. We also have a fondness for science and anything that makes sense in our world — things and knowledge we can apply and use.

Health might also come into focus at this time. We notice the parts that make up the whole; this is a great time to see if our daily routines (eating, work, self-care, etc.) align with our long-term goals.

Monday afternoon, at 1:09pm EDT, Pluto comes to a halt at 0º21′ of Aquarius, starting its yearly 5-month Retrograde phase (until Oct. 10th). Pluto’s energy will continue to move more slowly, and therefore more exalted, until May 16th.

When an outer planet stops, its energy gets more pronounced; we become more aware of its impact on us — and this can sometimes cause discomfort. We are being asked to hang out with that discomfort until the planet’s energy has picked up speed again (around May 16th).

During the Retrograde phase, we will have a chance to connect to anything associated with Pluto from within. Pluto is associated with our soul purpose, as well as the process of empowerment — our ability to feel empowered from within — and with our deepest passions. This forces us to see what really motivates us.

Pluto in Aquarius emphasizes some very powerful issues that we are currently dealing with collectively — a sort of re-birthing of our social connections, social causes, political parties, unions, and collaborations with like-minded people in general – which could, in turn, bring up feelings of being out of control.

Finding our tribe — one that resonates wholeheartedly with our unique flavor — may become an obsession. We may also experience grief, a desire to belong or fit in, a desire to create a future that is worth “living into”, or other intense feelings. The more we obsess, the more out of control we will feel.

The key is to focus on what we have influence over and on transforming denser energy patterns into lighter ones (in other words, becoming more conscious of our denser energy patterns so we can bring awareness and acceptance to them).

Personally and collectively, it will serve us to observe in any given moment what we would like to envision for ourselves and for others, rather than holding on to any obsessive thoughts or traumatized feelings stemming from the past that no longer serve us.

Ask yourself: How might releasing historically-based patterns of self-protection or survival support my having healthy social connections? Once aware of what those patterns are, could I experiment with surrendering all of my fears to a “higher power” (for example, the power of my eternal Soul, my divine Self)?

Until June 11th, we need to tap into our inner free spirit and embrace our future wholeheartedly. Looking back to see what has kept us from doing so in the first place will be very useful. Where have I been trying a little too hard to self-protect? Where have I been trying to control a political or social outcome?

Pluto in Aquarius is in its Retrograde phase. It is asking us to be authentic in our interactions and look at our own motivations for connecting with people, networks, affiliations, causes, etc. Given this, ask yourself: Am I coming from love, inclusion, and an open heart? Or am I coming from fear, separation, and wanting to fight (or protect)?

Until June 11th, ask yourself: What am I painfully aware of? What stems from the past and needs to be transformed? What might open up if I placed 5% more focus on enjoyment, gratitude, and healthy self-expression? How could I connect with others and have fun while giving everyone space to be their unique Selves? Could I release all fears about the future and simply trust life?

This Retrograde phase is also asking us to investigate any focus, fear, or obsession we have around changing social norms or any social/political causes. What might be the deeper value of not losing our individual self-expression? Or our joy in life? How might that serve our various networks or communities? Or the collective?

We also covered Pluto’s new journey through Aquarius, as it relates to our own individual birth charts, in our recent Forecasting Forum “Pluto in Aquarius & Eclipse Season”: click here for more info & to get this powerful 120 min. webinar at a discount

From June 11th – Oct. 10th, when Pluto has moved back into Capricorn, we need to tap into our inner authenticity, embracing the entirety of ourselves — the good, the bad, and the ugly. Paradoxically, this will help us let go of any habits, behaviors, or fears that are holding us back from feeling fully empowered from within.

Pluto in Capricorn in its Retrograde phase is asking us to step into our own authority and asks us not to give our power away to authority figures out there in the world (politicians, doctors, judges, police officers, parents, teachers, etc.). Instead, we need to take responsibility for our own decisions and the choices that we make for ourselves long-term.

The consequences of our choices and motivations also become more obvious during the Retrograde phase. It is therefore more important than ever to ask yourself: Am I choosing from love or fear?

We are invited to tap into our passion, strength, and Soul’s purpose from the inside out. This deeper connection will support us in our journey toward authenticity. We can then build a future (and long-term goals) that aligns with our Soul’s purpose. Ask yourself: What do I “just know”, deep down?

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in the following: 0-2 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, or 27-29 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, or Libra,? If so, you will feel this Retrograde phase more strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Scorpio (Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio).

Monday evening, a Sun/Mercury alignment in 11º of Taurus becomes exact at 7:28pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Saturday evening (April 29th) on, and it will remain strong until Wednesday evening. When the Sun and Mercury come together, we are especially sharp, communicative, and open. This aspect indicates a confident mind and an analytical approach to life.

Intelligence and communication abilities are strong. We can expect a no-nonsense approach to decision-making. Ideas tend to be practical and useful.

That said, we may not listen as well as the other speaks — we might be too busy thinking about what to say next. Words matter now, so choose them wisely: If people hung on your every word, what would you say then? What would you hold back from saying?

Our opinions are usually strong during this time; we like to think independently and are proud of our opinions and our thoughts. For this reason, our egos might get bruised if we are not “heard” — if our opinions are pushed aside, ignored, or criticized. As best as you can, express yourself fully, knowing that others may have different opinions… and that’s ok.

We may dig in our heels, but find it does not serve us, so choose your battles wisely and seek peace wherever possible.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 8-14 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius, or Leo? If so, you will be more affected by this alignment. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo, Gemini, or Virgo (the Sun rules Leo; Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo).

Monday at 7:53pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for a little over 6 hours, until 2:09am EDT (Tuesday very early morning). Use this intuitive time to find a balance between head and heart, facts and faith, reason and intuition.

It’s a great time for connecting with others and being of service. You may also want to talk to your pets or engage in more spiritual conversations that can also support our physical well-being.

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Monday evening until Tuesday very early morning ahead of time.

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Tuesday, May 2nd:

Tuesday, the Moon remains in remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo and VoC until 2:09am EDT (see Monday for details).

Tuesday at 2:09am EDT, the Moon moves into harmony-loving, balance-seeking Libra, where it will journey until Thursday late morning. The energy of the Libra Moon helps us be naturally courteous and diplomatic; we are more polite at this time as we seek the approval of others.

We very much want to maintain equal, fair relationships at this time and are therefore open to making compromises and negotiating. These next two days are a great time for mediation — but our need for peace and accompanying aversion to direct conflict could pull us to “yes” more easily than we might like.

We may also be able to see both sides of the equation so well that we can’t make decisions. As best as you can, find an inner balance with this and communicate what needs to be said with grace and charm — even if it’s “No”   One last quick note: this is also a great time for anything to do with visual arts.

Tuesday early afternoon, we are invited to make some more internal adjustments. We may want to connect with others, but may also need to focus our own energy bodies and take a more serious look at our spiritual or creative goals. What do you recognize works best for you when you get in touch with your intuitive, more creative side? What does spiritual self-mastery mean to you? (Moon in Libra quincunxes Saturn in Pisces, exact at 12:46pm EDT)

Tuesday late evening, we are also invited to make some internal adjustments: on the one hand, we may feel the need to connect with others, and be polite, diplomatic, or agreeable — but on the other hand, we may also want to communicate our preferences and think about how we can honor ourselves — our physical & material needs and wants (Moon in Libra quincunxes Mercury in Taurus, exact at 10:26pm EDT) 

Wednesday, May 3rd:

Wednesday, the Moon remains in harmony-loving, balance-seeking Libra all day (see Tuesday very early morning for details).

Wednesday until midnight EDT is your last chance to take advantage of the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for the upcoming Forecasting Forum, live on Friday, May 5th, at 5pm EDT.

PLEASE NOTE we will investigate Jupiter’s journey through Taurus (May 16th, 2023 – May 25th, 2024). Jupiter is about expansion and our mental & spiritual growth. Jupiter in Taurus is earthy and loves material comfort. How will this show up for you? What area of life will be most affected? Join me live or sign up for the mp4 video presentation.

To ask a question in advance, please email me by May 5th at 3pm EDT,… and if I don’t have it yet, send me a copy of your Birth Chart (If you have done a Reading or Coaching-Healing session with me in the past, or if you have already emailed me a copy of your chart, I will have it. If none of this applies to you, send me a pdf of your birth chart).

==> To register for this month only, click here.
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Wednesday late morning, we become more aware that we need to find a balance between two very different energies — on the one hand, taking a compassionate approach towards our personal goals while being assertive (in a holistic way) out there in the world — and on the other hand, our need to connect and collaborate with others. Ask yourself: what if taking a compassionate approach towards myself made for more fulfilling connections with others? (Moon in Libra opposes Chiron in Aries, exact at 11:20am EDT)

Wednesday early afternoon, calls for some inner adjustments, as we feel uneasy or awkward, and need to make a choice. Making this choice demands we develop inner awareness around two very different urges…

On the one hand, we want to innovate in the area of our values (and maybe also have some financial breakthroughs); on the other hand, we feel the need to attend to our one-on-one relationships, supporting them (and perhaps collaborating). (Moon in Libra quincunxes Uranus in Taurus, exact at 1:25pm EDT) 

Wednesday late afternoon, we feel a need to stay within our safety zone while also connecting and collaborating — stretch a little, and see if you can find creative ways to connect whilst honoring your need for safety and familiarity. As best as you can, listen to your feeling-body, and be kind to yourself and others if your needs do not perfectly align. (Moon in Libra squares Mars in Cancer, exact at 5:10pm EDT)

Thursday, May 4th:

Thursday, the Moon remains in harmony-loving, balance-seeking Libra until 10:32am EDT (see Tuesday very early morning for details).

Thursday early morning, at 5:17am EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last a little over 5 hours, until 10:32am EDT. Use this intuitive time to reexamine your various one-on-one relationships and expand your perspectives regarding your identity or personal passions. Do your best to balance your need for harmony and fairness against exploring yourself and your goals from a higher perspective.

Ask yourself: How can I balance my need for connection and harmony with my desire for greater self-fulfillment and independence?

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Thursday morning ahead of time.

Thursday at 10:32am EDT, the Moon moves into passionate, all-or-nothing Scorpio, where it will journey until Saturday afternoon. Emotional authenticity is extremely important to us at this time; anything less than 100% emotional honesty could be perceived as flat-out dishonest. Once we feel safe trusting someone, we want to merge with them, preferably forever… as long as our trust is never betrayed.

The Moon in Scorpio urges us to uncover our own power. It does so through subtraction — it urges us to let go of whatever disempowers us. This makes it an excellent time to look at “old” fears, limiting habits, or emotional attachments, especially those stemming from past traumas.

The Moon in Scorpio tends to run right over ambiguity — it’s “in or out”, “with us or against us”, “love me or leave me”, etc. It can therefore be stormy — a cold winter storm, or a torrid tropical storm of passion, depending on how we “work” the energies.

Manipulation and paranoia are the lower vibrations of this aspect, so as best you can, be straightforward — act in good faith and assume it in others. Best of all, be truly present to the fluctuations of your feelings — no matter if they’re “polite” or “timely”. Feelings aren’t facts, but they are information — and heeding them will help you embrace all of who you are.

Know thyself — and love thyself — you shall be set free. Remember: Love connects us to the Power within; Fear causes “Force” to show up — and that’s ultimately what disempowers us and others.

Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio — and it is currently transiting through Aquarius, making this a great time to transform our visions for humanity and our future on this planet, in this universe — and to empower ourselves and others within our communities (locally or online).

It’s also a great time to dig deeper into our various networks and connections to like-minded people; so as best as you can, be authentic about your affiliations. Does participation in your current groups or networks feel empowering or disempowering? Do I feel a deep emotional alignment with like-minded people in my life? Am I allowing myself to hear the deepest calling of my Soul?

Ask yourself: Where am I looking to create more empowerment in my life? What about the lives of others? How might a self-expressed and courageously heartfelt approach serve my communities and foster better collaborations?

Use this time to create deeper, more empowering emotional connections with like-minded people, especially if you are feeling a disconnect with other networks or affiliations out there in the world. Remember: Love expands us, others, and life. Fear paralyzes!

This Moon placement also starts the build-up towards the upcoming Full Moon which is also a Lunar Eclipse (exact Friday afternoon). Feel free to watch my video or read the Lunar Eclipse article on the subject.

Thursday afternoon, a challenging Venus/Neptune aspect becomes exact at 1:40pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Monday evening on; it will remain strong until Sunday. We can be confused, unrealistic, or overly idealistic around love and money — so it’s best to wait until the transit is over before making big moves in these areas.

If we make long-term financial investments, buy or sell big-ticket items, or start brand-new relationships, it’s likely we will not see things as they truly are or be too overly optimistic about a situation.

We are being asked to have faith; to let our intuition guide us in money and love — if we are able to do this, we will grow through it.

Ask yourself: Before moving forward with a relationship or financial decision, could I tune in and get clear about my energy body and what is needed now? What if I granted 5% more trust to my inner guidance? What might I hear if I listened 5% more closely to the subtle messages of my divine nature?

As best as you can, be compassionate with yourself and others during these six days — it might also help to know that relationships and endeavors of a spiritual or artistic nature can move forward at this time.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in the following: 24-29 degrees of Gemini, Pisces, Sagittarius, Virgo, or 0 degrees of Cancer, Aries, Capricorn, or Libra? If so, you are more affected by this aspect. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra, or Pisces (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Neptune rules Pisces).

Friday, May 5th:

Friday, the Moon remains in passionate, all-or-nothing Scorpio all day (see Thursday late morning for details).

Thursday night/Friday very early morning, an opportune Venus/Jupiter aspect becomes exact at 12:03am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Monday evening on; it will remain strong until Sunday. We have an opportunity to grow in our social and personal relationships at this time. Humor and caring play a big role in our interactions with others.

We can call upon tolerance, optimism, and cooperation when dealing with siblings, neighbors, or people we encounter daily in our immediate environment.

Ask yourself: What conversations would give me a new perspective about myself and my role in my one-on-one relationships? What self-perspectives might support beneficial outcomes in my day-to-day interactions with others? What attitudes towards life might do the same?

How could I step into a “bigger” version of myself and connect with people who appreciate that version?

Financially speaking, things are “on the up”; we have opportunities now to expand our pocketbooks if we make sound decisions that are connected to something we feel passionate about.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 25-29 degrees of Gemini, Aries, Leo, or Aquarius? If so, you will be more aware of this opportunity. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra, or Sagittarius (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius).

Friday early afternoon, at 1:34pm EDT, the Moon opposes the Sun in 15 degrees of Scorpio/Taurus. The entrance of the Moon into Scorpio on May 4th began the energetic build-up towards this powerful Full Moon.

This powerful Full Moon is a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (the most subtle kind of Lunar Eclipses) that can be viewed in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, the South Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. The duration lasts 258 minutes (= 4hrs 18min.). This means that we will feel the influence of this Lunar Eclipse for four months and nine days.

This particular Lunar Eclipse is the second of two Eclipses within two weeks; it offers an opportunity for a deeper, more authentic connection with ourselves and others. Our physical and emotional bodies strongly feel the intensity of it all, so keep in mind: Eclipses ultimately support a shift in consciousness and thus bring us closer to our Soul’s path.

During a Lunar Eclipse, the Full Moon slowly dims as it passes through the Earth’s shadow, stimulating our emotional body and increasing our awareness of unconscious patterns and fears. This means we may feel more easily triggered as buried emotions, motivations, and fears surface. Beware of projections and jumping to conclusions.

If you are not sure when you are projecting something on someone else, check for these signs: defensiveness, over-reactivity, or difficulty being objective while exhibiting rigid behaviors.

If you’d like to learn more, and as a Member of my online community, click here to watch my Lunar Eclipse video.

As you might know from my last Solar Eclipse video, Eclipses are always powerfully connected to the Moon Nodes and thus to our Soul’s Journey (both collectively and individually). The Moon Nodes remain in a particular polarity for 18 months. They have been in Taurus-Scorpio since Jan. 18th, 2022, highlighting issues around emotional trauma/fears & physical stability, finance, and our relationship with our physical environment and natural resources.

The North Node in Taurus emphasizes the necessity of self-esteem and a healthy relationship with the physical world — with our bodies, resources, and the Earth. The South Node in Scorpio symbolizes our need to face our fears, heal old trauma, be conscious of our motivations, and own our power, so we can step into a more passionate relationship with life and others.

Eclipses reoccur in 19-year cycles. On May 4th, 2004, there was a South Node Lunar Eclipse at 14º42’ Scorpio-Taurus, very close to the degree of this Eclipse. Ask yourself: What areas of my life needed to be addressed back then? Where am I being called to make major changes now?

All Eclipses transmit new energetic codes and transformative downloads, symbolized by the signs involved, in this case: The Moon in passionate, all-or-nothing Scorpio opposes the Sun in steady, peaceful Taurus.

There are several aspects worth mentioning in this Full Moon-Lunar Eclipse chart:

• Pluto (the ruler of Scorpio) is currently in Aquarius — and still exalted, although already in its Retrograde motion — squares Mercury (also in its Retrograde motion) in Taurus, and the Moon Nodes in Taurus-Scorpio
• Mars (the co-ruler of Scorpio), currently in Cancer, still squares Chiron in Aries (as we already saw at the time of the Solar Eclipse)
• Venus (the ruler of Taurus) squares Neptune in Pisces and sextiles Jupiter in Aries
• Saturn in Pisces trines the South Node in Scorpio and sextiles the Mercury-North Node alignment in Taurus
• Last but not least, Uranus plays a significant role in this Eclipse chart — and we will address all of these planetary alignments in a moment…

Since this Lunar Eclipse is almost a continuation of the last Lunar Eclipse in November of 2022, in 16º of Taurus-Scorpio, we can check to see how far we have come since then, when it comes to facing our fears and valuing ourselves and our authentic relationships to others.

Ask yourself: What fears or inauthentic (or even toxic) relationships must I still release or transform if I am to step into greater abundance and happiness in my life? What has changed for me in the last six months? What is calling to me now?

For the next four months, we seek the balance and integration of two polarities and are aware that something needs to be brought into alignment; the balance in question is between our physical attachments, aversions, and connections — symbolized by Taurus— and our emotional attachments, aversions, and connections (Scorpio).

The time of the Lunar Eclipse brings greater awareness to what was unconscious or hidden previously. This particular one invites us to let go of fears or disempowering behaviors and thereby break through to the next level of our evolution, individually and collectively.

So, here’s this Eclipse’s central question: As a society, are we living in alignment with our values, with what makes us happy and satisfied? How about as individuals? Do we feel empowered and emotionally fulfilled? Are there any fears that lie in our way on the path of progress? Or any rigid thought processes?

To take a closer look at the signs involved in this polarity, to read about their Shadow aspects, and all of the planetary connections in this Lunar Eclipse chart, feel free to read the whole Lunar Eclipse article and get all the Coaching questions, here.

Because Eclipses are so powerful, I use a bigger orb than a regular Full or New Moon. I usually use a 5º orb instead of 2º… so since this Lunar Eclipse takes place in 15º of Scorpio…

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 10-20 degrees of Scorpio, Taurus, Leo, orAquarius? If so, you are more affected by this month’s powerful Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Cancer (the Sun rules Leo; the Moon rules Cancer). 

Saturday, May 6th:

Saturday, the Moon remains in passionate, all-or-nothing Scorpio until 4:04pm EDT (see Thursday late morning for details).

Saturday late morning, at 10:38am EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for 5.5 hours until 4:04pm EDT. Use this intuitive time to experience a sense of ease and flow, but you may need to slow down and allow your feelings to come through. A gentle approach is best.

We feel good when coming from the heart and making deeper connections with others. Being open to receiving, trusting the process, and going with the flow is key! 

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Saturday late morning until the late afternoon ahead of time.

Saturday late afternoon, at 4:04pm EDT, the Moon moves into optimistic, adventurous, truth-seeking Sagittarius, where it will journey until next week, Monday evening (May 8th). We’re strongly motivated to explore and learn. We’re not likely to be big fans of routine — diversity and new adventures work best at this time — we’re also physically restless and need to burn that off with activity and physical exercise.

We tend to feel more open, optimistic, and inspired — but we also have a high degree of independence — and taking these two influences together, we’d rather inspire others to do things our way, as opposed to issuing or obeying orders. Inspiring others could come easier than normal, as we can see the bigger picture, leaving us confident that others will agree with us once they see what we see.

As best as you can, speak your truth without assuming that everyone is on the same page as you. Improvisation works well for us at this time, as we are spontaneous and love living on the edge — just watch out you aren’t overdoing or overstating things.

Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius — and it is currently transiting through Aries, making this a great time to explore our individual passions and goals. As best as you can, bring the enthusiastic energies of Jupiter to the fulfillment of your own desires — and get excited about new paths and new projects.

Ask yourself: What might open up if I became more connected to “I am that I am”? What if I took a 5% more positive attitude towards myself and my personal passions and goals?

What might promote my independence and me walking my own path? What might do the same for growth around my sexuality and my human identity? What personal beliefs about my identity am I now ready to explore or go beyond?

Use this time to create more joy and pleasure in the pursuit of your personal goals, especially if you are getting burned out from doing too much for too long.

Sunday, May 7th:

Sunday, the Moon remains in optimistic, adventurous, truth-seeking Sagittarius all day (see Saturday afternoon for details).

Sunday at 10:25am EDT, Venus changes signs from versatile, chatty & curious Gemini to protective, home & family-oriented Cancer. It will journey there until June 5th; for those four weeks, we value family, loved ones, our home, and emotional safety.

We prefer to be around safe, familiar people and places. We’d rather stay home than socialize; if we do go out, we much prefer dinner parties at someone’s home to dining out. When it comes to love, be gentle with each other — and make sure to talk about your feelings.

With regard to our finances, it’s best to stick to what feels safest and most secure. It’s a favorable time for real estate and interior design, or anything that makes the home more comfortable and livable.

Do you have your Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus or Libra? If so, you may feel more shy for the next four weeks. Your heart will want to connect to family and loved ones. If you are a Cancer Sun-sign or Rising-sign, you are going to have more love and beauty in your life, for as long as Venus is in your sign.  

Sunday evening, a somewhat challenging Venus/Pluto aspect becomes exact at 6:10m EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Saturday evening on; it will remain strong until Monday evening (May 8th). We feel uneasy about something, almost awkward — and we need to make a choice. An inner awareness needs to be developed in order to see what needs adjusting.

Fear of disappointment and of others is causing some tension. Our inner need for growth requires us to be honest about what is causing our fears — most likely our lack of good boundaries and self-esteem.

We might easily get pulled into overly burdensome roles in other people’s lives because we feel it is required. Careful examination of our home/family and how we feel about ourselves is necessary if we are to free our ability to love, develop, and grow. This deep examination could potentially lead to deep inner healing.

That said, we need to acknowledge that this aspect has an air of intensity, and we get the sense that something very powerful is taking place in our home, surroundings, family, or familiar relations.

Quincunxes can affect our health or well-being, so take extra care of yourself during those three days.

If you are experiencing a power struggle, feeling out of control, or are simply uncomfortable with the intensity, ask yourself: Could I allow myself to trust that higher power and my ability to take care of myself will see me through this? What if I looked at my future as something calling for inclusivity and diversity rather than safety or familiarity? What might “trusting the path to my future” look like?

As best as you can, evaluate any relationships or financial dealings before getting involved; our intense energy and humanitarian spirit could feed other people’s unrealistic expectations, leaving us feeling drained and unsupported — empower yourself and others by thinking about what’s best for most, rather than wanting what’s familiar.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in the following: 0-1 degrees of Cancer or Aquarius or 29 degrees of Gemini or Capricorn? If so, you will be more affected by this aspect. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra, or Scorpio (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio). 

And…

A heads up for next Monday (May 8th): the Moon remains in optimistic, adventurous, truth-seeking Sagittarius until 7:33pm EDT. In late afternoon, at 4:28pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for 3 hours until 7:33pm EDT. At that time, the Moon moves into ambitious, goal-oriented Capricorn, where it will journey until Wednesday late evening. More about all the details in next week’s Forecast…

One Last Announcement:

Join me for our next FORECASTING FORUM, live on Friday, May 5th at 2pm PDT/5pm EDT/10pm BST (London time).

Where are you ready to expand your physical enjoyment of life?

In this Forum, we will talk about: Jupiter’s Journey through Taurus (May 16th, 2023- May 25th, 2024).

Jupiter is about expansion and our mental & spiritual growth. Jupiter in Taurus is earthy and loves material comfort. How will this show up for you? What area of your life will be most affected?

If you want to align with the upcoming energies, join me live or sign up for the mp4 video presentation.

To be automatically registered every month, become a Star Member on my site.
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Here are two testimonials from our participants after joining one of our recent Forums:

Thank you, Sonja.  This was so helpful as usual.  And, thanks to everyone for listening and witnessing.  Have a great month filled with gratitude!” — Cathy E.

 

“Thank you so much for this Sonja!” — Rita T

To register for this month only, click here.

Have a fantastic week! Stay whole-hearted and healthy, and if you need support, feel free to reach out!
Many blessings,
Sonja

PS: To apply my forecasts and videos to your own birth chart, watch my 30-minute class on: “How to Read Your Birth Chart” and head to my Facebook Fan page for my daily forecast snippets.

Blog photo by Jefferson Palomique

April 24th – 30th

by Sonja Francis | Apr 23, 2023 | Astrological Forecasts

An Opportunity to Grow

This week’s headline items: Pluto remains exalted all week; Mercury, now in its retrograde phase, continues its Station phase until Friday; the first Quarter Moon in Leo becomes exact on Thursday afternoon; Mercury ends its Station phase on Friday (remaining retrograde until May 14th).

There will be three Moon Void of Course (VoC) phases this week: Monday morning (for a little over 6.5 hours), Wednesday evening (for almost 7 hours), and Saturday morning (for a little over 8 hours).

Now, this week’s Forecast…

Monday, April 24th:

Monday, the Moon remains in chatty, versatile Gemini until 2:58pm EDT. Until that time, we like to learn, connect, and interact as much as possible.

“Busy” feels good: connecting online, on the phone, or sharing face-to-face, preferably multi-tasking all the way… The one thing we can do without is boredom: If our mind is not engaged in some way, we might as well curl up and play dead …

Monday morning, around 7am EDT, the Sun aligns with the North Node in 4º of Taurus. We have been feeling this alignment from last week, Friday (April 21st) on, and it will still feel quite strong until this Thursday (April 27th). It calls on us to become more aware of our personal physical reality (i.e. our body and resources) and the connection we have with our planet.

When we learn to have a healthy relationship with our body and this planet, we can experience more abundance and greater trust in our intrinsic value, and thus feel more fulfilled and satisfied with our lives. It will pay to take a practical approach, and allow ourselves to learn about alternative material resources, or gather resources that allow us to better enjoy this physical reality; the same is true of any flexible earning strategies.

Ask yourself: What simple step could I take to be more realistically connected to my body, finances, and talents? Could I allow myself to not get attached to one specific outcome? Where could I learn about “healthy” financial skills? What might be possible if I truly honored myself and my physical experience, allowing myself to see my value, every day, no matter what?

Feel free to read more about the Moon Nodes in Taurus-Scorpio in this article here.

Do you have your Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo? If so, you will feel more influenced by this alignment. If you are a Taurus Sun-sign or Rising-sign, for as long as the Sun and the North Node are in your sign, you may very well feel a strong need to honor & love yourself and connect to your body and the Earth — in fact, this is about setting a healthy example for others.

Monday morning, at 8:15am EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for a little over 6.5 hours, until 2:58pm EDT. Use this intuitive time to make some adjustments — you may also need to do a little stretching and growing when it comes to your inner or emotional experiences. As best as you can, be gentle with yourself and others, and seek to understand before seeking to be understood.

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Monday morning until the afternoon ahead of time.

Monday afternoon, at 2:58pm EDT, the Moon enters protective, nurturing Cancer, where it will journey until Thursday very early morning. With this Moon placement, we are more sensitive to what people say and therefore our feelings are more easily hurt — so be kind to yourself and others. Self-Care is key for the next two days

Emotional safety is important to us as well; we like connecting to the familiar and we enjoy nurturing ourselves and others — home and family call to us, for instance. Make sure though, that your glass is filled before letting others drink from it, otherwise you might start to feel drained and resentful.

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Tuesday, April 25th:

Tuesday, the Moon remains in protective, nurturing Cancer all day (see Monday afternoon for details).

Tuesday morning, an opportune Sun/Saturn aspect becomes exact at 6:48am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from last Sunday early morning (April 23rd), and it will remain strong until this Thursday evening. This aspect provides an opportunity to become aware of what needs to happen if we are to accomplish something concrete.

We have common sense at our disposal and are willing to look reality in the eye and take responsibility for our lives and how we live them.

This is an opportunity to be more aware of our desire for peace and physical comfort while staying present in the here and now and trusting our intuitive knowing — and also to see how a down-to-earth, slower approach could benefit us, both in terms of our spiritual practices and for our own physical well-being and enjoyment of life.

Remember: opportunities are openings, they aren’t necessarily handed to us — we have to “take” them and make something of them.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or any personal planets) in 3-7 degrees of Taurus, Pisces, Capricorn, or Cancer? If so, you may be more aware of this opportunity. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Capricorn (the Sun rules Leo; Saturn rules Capricorn)

Tuesday evening, an opportune Venus/Chiron aspect becomes exact at 7:50pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build last Sunday evening (April 23rd) on; it will remain strong until this Thursday afternoon. It’s an opportunity to bring healing to our wounds around relationships or our sense of self-worth.

We get a chance to love ourselves and heal deep fears of not being “good enough”. Healing happens much faster when we can be open to forgiving ourselves and others. As best as you can, bring compassion and understanding to yourself, to others, and to those past experiences that wounded you.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 15-19 degrees of Gemini, Aries, Leo, or Aquarius? If so, you will be more aware of this opportunity. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus or Libra (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra)

Wednesday, April 26th:

Wednesday, the Moon remains in protective, nurturing Cancer all day (see Monday afternoon for details).

Wednesday early morning, if you are already awake at this time, it brings an opportunity to connect to family (or friends that feel like family) and create breakthroughs around things that we enjoy through our five senses (e.g. food).

This may also be a good time to find a unique or global approach to financial matters that brings us emotional security. (Moon in Cancer sextiles Uranus in Taurus, exact at 2:45am EDT)

Wednesday afternoon, we are invited to make some adjustments in our lives and find creative solutions to seemingly unsolvable situations. As best as you can, look to expand your perspectives around any personal goals you are currently pursuing and find ways to create nurturing connections with biological or “chosen” family members. (Moon in Cancer squares Jupiter in Aries, exact at 5:09pm EDT)  

Wednesday evening, at 7:41pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last almost 7 hours, until 2:30am EDT (Thursday very early morning). Use this intuitive time to be in a state of “flow” and emotional connection to others; spiritual and creative endeavors are favored at this time.

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Wednesday evening until Thursday very early morning ahead of time.

Thursday, April 27th:

Thursday, the Moon remains in protective, nurturing Cancer and VoC until 2:30am EDT (see Monday afternoon for details).

Thursday very early morning, at 2:30am EDT, the Moon enters fun and attention-loving Leo, where it will journey until Saturday afternoon. We may lack objectivity and struggle with backing down or compromising. We all love to be admired — or at the very least acknowledged — for our greatness…

So, hand out some compliments — let people know how proud you are of them, and tell them how much you love them. Come from the heart in this and all other things… be honest and authentic as best you can. Fun, games, and romance are a big part of this energy. You might also enjoy spending time with little ones.

If there are no “outer children” around, how about getting in touch with your “inner child” — it’s easier for the next two-and-a-half days. What are you most grateful for today? What would be heaps and heaps of fun? What would be so much fun that you let out a tiny squeak just thinking of it?

This Moon placement also starts the build-up towards the first Quarter Moon (exact later today).

Thursday late morning, a challenging Mars/Chiron aspect becomes exact at 9:34am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from last week, Thursday late evening (April 20th) on; it will remain strong until next week, Wednesday (May 3rd). This aspect invites us to stretch and grow beyond what we thought was possible in regard to our masculine energies. It requires a creative approach and an ability to see our insecurities around anger or self-assertion as a part of being human.

This aspect also challenges us to see our own attachments and aversions as a normal, perhaps even valid, part of being human. That way, should we choose to express desire or anger (or even contempt or disgust), such expressions will feel natural and organic, rather than something that provokes shame.

We may experience situations that call forth our initiative and independence — but we may not feel confident that we can rise to the challenge, let alone follow through. As best as you can, when the challenge comes, take baby steps to move forward — and feel the excitement that comes with stepping out of the familiar. Ask yourself: What would my hero do?

We may also experience triggers that are connected to past wounds from childhood. Take this as an opportunity to grow and allow yourself to notice (rather than judge) your reactions.

Ask yourself: How old am I when I react to my triggers? What if there was no shame in my feeling angry? No matter how strong the feeling? What if I saw the part of me that got triggered as valid and deserving of my love and understanding? How might a compassionate approach support me next time around?

Those of us who have any of our personal planets (or our Ascendant) in 14-21 degrees of Cancer, Aries, Capricorn, or Libra will feel most affected by this aspect. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Aries (Mars rules Aries).

Thursday afternoon, at 5:20pm EDT, the first Quarter Moon in 7º21′ of Leo becomes exact. We started to feel this aspect from the moment the Moon entered Leo very early this morning. The Moon in fun and attention-loving Leo makes a challenging aspect to the Sun in steady, peaceful Taurus.

Last week (April 19/20th) saw a powerful New Moon/Solar Eclipse in Aries. If we set some intentions on April 22nd or 23rd we are now ready to make some adjustments. This is a time to stretch and grow — and create some forward momentum — in fact, we may feel compelled to act, stirring up anxiety or overwhelm, so just go one breath at a time.

Remember, we’re still in Eclipse Season until May 19th and thus don’t have all the information we need to move brand-new projects forward yet, so allow for changes, remain flexible and adaptable, and find creative solutions in day-to-day interactions with others.

Allow also for new downloads and for the release of “old” codes and conditioning. Simply put: an open mind and heart will serve us best (that’s true in general, but especially true until Eclipse season ends).

Another thing to remember: if something is beginning or ending in a way that seems organic… allow it to be. As best as you can, observe your feelings and stay grounded in the “here and now”. Connect to your intuition and inner wisdom; they will help carry you through this period. We are receiving a consciousness upgrade — that’s a good thing!

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 5-9 degrees of Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, or Scorpio? If so, you will feel the effects of this first Quarter Moon more strongly than otherwise. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Cancer (the Sun rules Leo; the Moon rules Cancer).

Friday, April 28th:

Friday, the Moon remains in fun and attention-loving Leo all day (see Thursday very early morning for details).

Friday morning, we are asked to make some adjustments in our lives. As best as you can, find creative solutions to seemingly unsolvable situations. Make space for your inner child, creative self-expression, and fun — and also for down-to-earth conversations & connections, and learning about material or financial matters. Flexibility is key. (Moon in Leo squares Mercury in Taurus, exact at 5:44am EDT)

Friday early afternoon, things flow nicely and we feel excited about new healing modalities. There’s an opportunity here to be compassionate toward ourselves and others and for connecting to our inner child.

As best as you can, have fun when connecting with others, bring a healing quality to the table by tapping into your inner joy, explore things on a holistic level, and take a risk. (Moon in Leo trines Chiron in Aries, exact at 1:11pm EDT)

Friday afternoon, we may feel pulled in two quite different directions: On the one hand, we experience a need for connecting with our inner child energy (creative self-expressions and joy), and on the other hand, we want to make space for pursuing our financial vision — and we also want to break free from outdated value systems.

As such, we may have to address what we value, both in others and in ourselves (which informs our self-worth); as best as you can, make adjustments, and find creative solutions when it comes to these energies. (Moon in Leo squares Uranus in Taurus, exact at 3:26pm EDT)

Friday evening, we are invited to connect with others from the heart. What if you let yourself enjoy others in the mutual sharing of information, and learning something new about each other? (Moon in Leo sextiles Venus in Gemini, exact at 7:42pm EDT)

Also on Friday, Mercury resumes its normal pace through the sky, ending its station — but moving backward through the sky, as seen from Earth (that’s what “retrograde” refers to).

If any thinking and/or communication issues have come up around our financial, or material resources since April 7th (when Mercury entered its pre-Shadow phase), we’ll now have a chance to do some internal work on those issues. We are also invited to look at (and perhaps reorganize) any possessions that we no longer need to hold on to.

Saturday, April 29th:

Saturday, the Moon remains in fun and attention-loving Leo until 2:59pm EDT (see Thursday very early morning for details).

Saturday morning, at 6:53am EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last a little over 8 hours, until 2:59pm EDT. Use this intuitive time to create, explore, and become part of something new and exciting. Things flow nicely — let them! How excited could you get about a new project?

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Saturday morning until the afternoon ahead of time.

Saturday afternoon, at 2:59pm EDT, the Moon enters detail-oriented, practical Virgo, where it will journey until next week, Tuesday very early morning. We are generous with our time/services, and we love to help others. We also have a fondness for science and anything that makes sense in our world — things and knowledge we can apply and use.

Health might also come into focus at this time. We notice the parts that make up the whole; this is a great time to see if our daily routines (eating, work, self-care, etc.) align with our long-term goals.

Saturday late afternoon, an opportune Mars/Uranus aspect becomes exact at 4:05pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Tuesday on, and it will remain strong until next week, Wednesday evening (May 3rd), providing an opportunity to create some forward movement in our lives, especially in connection to our physical reality (finances, our body, our talents, etc).

In the physical realm, we can more easily take actions at home with the support of our family or “chosen family”. That said, it’s wise to pay attention to your feeling-body when starting anything, so as best as you can, listen to the messages you receive from your physical body, and check if your needs are being met.

We may want to work on projects that address a desire for safety, familiarity, and helping others. Flexibility, trusting our connection to a higher calling, and open-heartedness are key to success; pleasant changes may be in store — certainly unexpected ones.

Ask yourself: How might an environment that supports feeling nurtured or being nurturing support my enjoyment of life? How might it support my physical well-being? Might merging my five senses with soothing activities foster a greater appreciation for the physical realm? What small step could I take toward this?

As best as you can, watch out for messages from the Universe! Again, these messages might also be received through the physical body — and remember that an opportunity is not automatically given to us: We have to “realize” it.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 16-21 degrees of Cancer, Taurus, Pisces, or Virgo? If so, you will be more aware of this opportunity. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Aries or Aquarius (Mars is the ruler of Aries; Uranus is the ruler of Aquarius).

Sunday, April 30th:

Sunday, the Moon remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo all day (see Saturday afternoon for details).

Sunday very early morning: if we are awake at this time, we may well find ourselves seeking a balance between head and heart, facts and faith, reason and intuition. We may also need to slow down a little and take our time to find out what helps us strike that balance. (Moon in Virgo opposes Saturn in Pisces, exact at 1:41am EDT) 

Sunday late morning, we are invited to look at the details of our daily routines and simply enjoy “the good things in life” — connect with nature, the earth. This could also be a great time to clarify what’s important to us. Ask yourself: What works for me in my daily routines? What doesn’t? What feels good to my body? What doesn’t? (Moon in Virgo trines the Sun in Taurus, exact at 10:59am EDT)

Sunday afternoon, we are tasked to gain clarity about what’s important to us. Ask yourself: What needs to be communicated, and/or organized differently, so my daily routines support my financial goals? What do I know now, that I can easily implement when it comes to honoring myself, that I didn’t know before? (Moon in Virgo trines Mercury in Taurus, exact at 3:05pm EDT) 

Also, be aware that Pluto comes to a standstill tomorrow (Monday) early afternoon. We will likely be very aware of Pluto’s loud and exalted energy. As best as you can, keep your heart open, and trust life! You may find it helpful to repeat “I’m ok, and I’m going to be ok” to yourself.

I also recommend that you watch my Pluto in Aquarius webinar. It can help you understand your experience with this energy a bit better. Specifically, it can help you see what you need to surrender to, or at least trust, that is part of a much bigger process guided by your higher Self — by your Soul.

==> Star Members received a recording of this webinar on April 8th (it should be in your email Inbox). If you are not yet a Star Member, you can get access to this 2-hour webinar here.

And…

A heads up for next Monday (May 1st): the Moon remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo all day. At 1:09pm EDT, Pluto comes to a halt at 0º21′ of Aquarius, starting its yearly 5-month Retrograde phase. In the evening, a Sun/Mercury alignment in 11º of Taurus becomes exact at 7:28pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Saturday evening on, and it will remain strong until next week, Wednesday evening (May 3rd). At 7:53pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for a little over 6 hours, until 2:09am EDT (Tuesday very early morning). More about all the details in next week’s Forecast…

One More Announcement:

Join me for our next FORECASTING FORUM, live on Friday, May 5th at 2pm PDT/5pm EDT/10pm BST (London time).

Where are you ready to expand your physical enjoyment of life?

In this Forum, we will talk about: Jupiter’s Journey through Taurus (May 16th, 2023- May 25th, 2024).

Jupiter is about expansion and our mental and spiritual growth. Jupiter in Taurus is earthy and loves material comfort. How will this show up for you? What area of life will be most affected?

If you want to align with the upcoming energies, join me live or sign up for the mp4 video presentation.

To be automatically registered every month, become a Star Member on my site.
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Here are two testimonials from our participants after joining one of our recent Forums:

Thank you, Sonja.  This was so helpful as usual.  And, thanks to everyone for listening and witnessing.  Have a great month filled with gratitude!” — Cathy E.

 

“Thank you so much for this Sonja!” — Rita T

To register for this month only, click here.

Have a fantastic week! Stay whole-hearted and healthy, and if you need support, feel free to reach out!
Many blessings,
Sonja

PS: To apply my forecasts and videos to your own birth chart, watch my 30-minute class on: “How to Read Your Birth Chart” and head to my Facebook Fan page for my daily forecast snippets.

Blog photo by Jacub Gomez

April 17th – 23rd

by Sonja Francis | Apr 16, 2023 | Astrological Forecasts

Major Growth Opportunity 

This week’s headline items: Mercury’s Station phase in Taurus intensifies on Monday; Pluto’s Station phase in Aquarius continues all week and intensifies on Sunday; A North Node Solar Eclipse in Aries becomes exact Wednesday night/very early on Thursday; the Sun changes signs from Aries to Taurus early Thursday morning; Mercury comes to a halt to start its 3-week Retrograde phase early Friday morning.

There will be three Moon Void of Course (VoC) phases this week: Monday afternoon (for a little over 6 hours), Wednesday night/Thursday very early morning (17 minutes), and Friday late evening (6.5 hours).

Before we get to this week’s Forecast, please remember that…

A Powerful New Moon and Solar Eclipse becomes exact on Wednesday night. Please wait to set your Solar Eclipse Intentions until 48 hours after the Eclipse becomes exact.

This is because we are downloading new templates at the time of an Eclipse, and the energies are pretty intense, so we want to wait until it all settles down a little before setting our intentions, …so please wait until Saturday morning to set your Intentions.

==> Watch my Solar Eclipse video for more info

Now, this week’s Forecast…

Monday, April 17th:

Monday, the Moon remains in creative, sensitive Pisces until 9:09pm EDT. This Moon placement often finds us more sensitive, intuitive, idealistic, and imaginative than usual. We also have a greater capacity for compassion, sympathy, and affection for all, especially those who suffer or can be regarded as the underdog.

Monday afternoon, at 2:57pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for a little over 6 hours until 9:09pm EDT. Use this intuitive time to slow down a little. This is a great time for spiritual or creative endeavors. Energy work, or anything that requires our intuitive side, will work best for the next several hours.

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Monday afternoon until the late evening ahead of time.

Monday late evening, at 9:09pm EDT, the Moon moves into pioneering, fast-paced Aries, where it will journey until Wednesday night/Thursday very early morning. Life is an adventure; we’re more open to new ideas and have great enthusiasm for new projects. Patience is certainly not our strong suit at this time, but we can decide quickly and act immediately.

Our independence and dynamism are important to us right now, so we may find it hard to be disciplined or accept advice at this time; in general, our responses to others tend to be more assertive or even aggressive. If you find your foot tapping, try hitting the gym or finding other ways to burn off the body’s excess energy.

This Moon placement also starts the build-up to the Solar Eclipse in Aries, which will be exact on Wednesday night/Thursday very early morning —  feel free to watch my video on the subject.

Also, on Monday, Mercury’s Station intensifies, as Mercury is preparing to come to a halt on Friday early morning (beginning its 3-week Retrograde phase). As I mentioned last week Saturday already, during the station phase, we feel Mercury’s energies more strongly. It will remain at its most intensified until April 25th.

Pay attention to anything “in your face” in any of the following areas: communications, finances, short travels, transportation of any kind, and communication devices. You will get a chance to make adjustments once Mercury has ended its Retrograde phase (to be more precise, during the Shadow phase that follows).

Here are some questions you could ask yourself during the Mercury Station phase: Is my mind drawn to physical beauty? Do I want to enjoy my own body and my physical surroundings? Perhaps get out into nature? Do I find myself constantly thinking about how to have a more materially satisfying life?

What would it be like to communicate in a realistic, down-to-earth way with others? What about listening with the intention of honoring myself? What will get me one baby step closer to that, right here, right now?

For the next nine days, we need to be extra patient with ourselves and others — especially if there is a connection with luxury items, communication, or transportation and their associated technologies — this is not the best time to start anything brand-new, particularly if it contains new information connected to financial undertakings.

We might experience delays or misunderstandings; things could feel “off” or stagnant. It might be a good idea to give yourself some extra time when getting ready to go somewhere — and that goes for the journey itself, too — especially if you intend to drive or use public transportation. Going with the flow is definitely recommended at this time.

Be extra patient if you intend to buy, sell or ship big-ticket items, especially if they are transportation or communication devices like anything connected to planes, trains, cars, phones, computers, iPads, etc. Best of all (if possible): wait until after May 31st, when Mercury’s post-Shadow phase is over.

Some of us will feel the effects of the Mercury station more than others: those of us who have Gemini or Virgo as our Sun- or Rising-Sign (Ascendant); and those of us with personal planets in 13-17 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius.

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Tuesday, April 18th:

Tuesday, the Moon remains in pioneering, fast-paced Aries all day (see Monday for details).

Tuesday very early morning at 12:23am EDT, we are entering the most potent time for downloads. 48 hours before and after a Solar Eclipse becomes exact, the energies are quite intense, as we are downloading new templates at the time of an Eclipse — you may also want to watch my Solar Eclipse video for more info.

Also worth mentioning, Pluto started to slow down already on April 9th and will continue to do so all week until it comes to a halt to start its yearly Retrograde phase on May 1st.

Pluto’s energy has been getting “louder” because it is moving slower than normal (aka station). When an outer planet stations, its energy gets more pronounced; we become more aware of its impact on us — and this can sometimes cause discomfort. We are being asked to hang out with that discomfort until the planet’s energy has picked up speed again (around May 16th).

As best as you can, take a closer look at whatever is “in your face” for the next four weeks. Look for what might no longer be in alignment with your soul’s purpose (your deep, authentic, emotional Self).

The Pluto Station in Aquarius amplifies our need for social causes and authentic connections out there in the world — not only for right now but for our future. It also sends a message about empowering ourselves and transforming anything that is no longer congruent within our social networks or affiliations. What needs to die in my life, so my social connections can be transformed and my Soul rejuvenated?

Because we are placing so much focus on changing social norms or having a social cause, we need to be especially aware of not losing our individual self-expression and our joy in life. Given this, do your best to strike a balance between alignment with social issues and joyful self-expression.

Ask yourself: What deep-seated fears are coming to the surface in connection with social norms? Where do I feel “out of control”? Where am I trying a little too hard to self-protect or control a political or social outcome? What if I surrendered all my fears and trusted the divine power that resides within me?

For a more in-depth look at Pluto in Aquarius, please feel free to get/watch my webinar on the subject.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in the following: 0-2 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, or 28-29 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, or Libra? If so, you will feel this station more strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Scorpio (Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio).

Wednesday, April 19th:

Wednesday, the Moon remains in pioneering, fast-paced Aries all day (see Monday for details).

Wednesday night/Thursday very early morning, at 12:13am EDT, a powerful New Moon/Solar Eclipse becomes exact in an exalted degree of Aries — 29 degrees and 50 minutes! That’s only 10 minutes shy of 0 degrees of Taurus. This launches a new Moon and Eclipse cycle.

This Hybrid Solar Eclipse will not be observable in the U.S. but will be in western Australia, East Timor, and Eastern Indonesia. 

Hybrid Solar Eclipses shift from “Total” to “Annular” as the Moon’s shadow races over the Earth. According to Space.com, these Eclipses are quite rare, occurring just a few times every century.

Solar Eclipses are extra-powerful New Moons that occur approximately every six months — this is the first in 2023 and the first Solar Eclipse in Aries (in this particular Eclipse cycle that will be in effect until January 2025). You may also want to watch my Solar Eclipse video.

During a Solar Eclipse, the Moon momentarily interrupts the normal flow of Solar Radiation, destabilizing existing energy configurations and reorganizing consciousness to a higher level. Solar Eclipses indicate the beginning of a new experience, project, or cycle.

This is the first North Node Solar Eclipse in Aries since 2004. The Moon Nodes will move into the Aries-Libra polarity on July 17th, 2023, and land on the Solar Eclipse degree. So it is safe to say that something will happen around July 18th that will resonate back to what began around April 20th.

Here are some things to note in this New Moon/Solar Eclipse chart:

• We have two planets in an exalted state: Mercury in Taurus starts its Retrograde phase the day after the Eclipse becomes exact, and Pluto in Aquarius is also exalted, preparing to come to a halt and going retrograde on May 1st.
• One planet conjuncts the Eclipse (Jupiter in Aries)
• One planet squares the Eclipse (an exalted Pluto) — both of those planets are outer planets (and thus impact the collective as well as the individual)
• Mars, the ruler of Aries, currently in Cancer, squares Chiron in Aries and sextiles Mercury in Taurus

Before we go any further, let’s first talk about the sign of Aries:

This Solar Eclipse in pioneering, fast-paced Aries focuses more on our independence and dynamism  — you could say that we seek a healthier relationship with ourselves, one in which we are neither too caught up in our passions and enthusiasm for life nor too divorced from such feelings and pursuits. A healthy sense of Self and rising to a new level of consciousness around forging our path will also get a lot of focus.

We are powerfully reminded to… to read the whole Solar Eclipse article and get access to all of the Coaching questions, click here.

Because Eclipses are so powerful, they require a bigger orb than a regular Full or New Moon. I usually use a 5º orb instead of 2º… so since this Solar Eclipse takes place in 29º50‘ of Aries:

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in the following: 24-29 degrees of Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn, or 0-5 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, or Aquarius? If so, you may feel the effects of this New Moon more strongly; this is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Cancer (the Sun rules Leo, the Moon rules Cancer)

Setting Intentions for a Solar Eclipse is a little different from the regular monthly New Moon process — after all, we are setting them for the whole 6-month Eclipse cycle rather than just the next 28 days.

Solar Eclipse Intentions are best done 48 hours after the Eclipse becomes exact. This is because we are downloading new templates at the time of an Eclipse, and the energies are pretty intense, so we want to wait until it all settles down a little before setting our intentions — that said, we do not want to set them during a Moon void of course.

Given all this, we will talk about setting Intentions on Saturday, so stay tuned 😉

Also, on Wednesday night/Thursday very early morning, at 12:13am EDT, we enter a very brief Moon VoC that will last only 17 minutes until 12:30am EDT. Use this intuitive time to be still and go within. As best as you can, tune in, focus on yourself, and get in touch with what turns you on about life.

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow.

Thursday, April 20th:

Thursday very early morning at 12:30am EDT, the Moon enters steady, peaceful Taurus. It will journey there until Saturday morning.

We love all physical comforts, prefer consistency, and would rather stick with what we know works well. In other words: change is not our favorite thing, and “rushing things” goes against our grain.

What is our favorite thing for the next two days? It’s probably slowing down and getting in touch with whatever delights our senses.

Thursday early morning, at 4:14am EDT, the Sun changes signs from bold, courageous Aries to steady, peaceful Taurus; it will journey there until May 21st. For the next four weeks, our attention is on physical pleasures and we are more aware of our need for comfort and consistency. The Sun in Taurus reminds us to slow down and smell the roses.

We are able to be very consistent and methodical, which helps us bring groundedness and reality to our new goals. We focus on what is most important to us. What do you value most? How do you feel about yourself and what you bring to the table?

All this is especially true if you are a Leo or Taurus Sun-sign or Rising-sign. As a Taurus, you will feel a good dose of confidence and playfulness in the next four weeks; as a Leo your vitality will most likely slow down and you might indulge in physical or material pleasures.

Thursday early afternoon, a challenging Sun/Pluto aspect becomes exact at 12:27pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from last Sunday (April 16th); it will remain strong until this Sunday morning. What we identify ourselves with could now be challenged. This aspect forces us to confront our will, power, assertion, and authority.

Coming into focus now: the relationship with a father- or other important male figures. We may face the need to be more independent, assertive, and autonomous.

If we resist letting go and surrendering to the idea that some things cannot be directed or controlled, we may become controlling, jealous, or overbearing — and thereby alienate people.

This fear may lead us to compulsive, suspicious, or difficult behavior, costing us the very thing that we hold dear. We are learning to detach from (or let go of) something or someone that no longer serves us — the “something” could include attitudes.

As best as you can, open yourself up to the power of love within. When you do, you will discover your own strength and rework your very identity. Perhaps most importantly, this aspect puts us face to face with exactly what’s been holding us back from leading a fuller, more meaningful life.

We may have to make some changes or adjustments within our social obligations or relationships. As best as you can, be open to receiving feedback from others during this time. Visualize a future that makes the best of everything available to all living beings.

If you feel pressured into doing something or feel a power struggle build, as best as you can, get centered, get grounded, and use your creativity to find win/win situations. This aspect is a major growth opportunity for us: we struggle with buried elements of our personality and ego, learning to face, accept and transform them.

Ask yourself: What stems from the past and needs to be transformed for me to have more enthusiasm — and the courage to go after what I truly feel passionate about? What might transform out there if I focused 5% more on what I have influence over?

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in the following: 0-3 degrees of Taurus, Aquarius, Scorpio, Leo, or 27-29 degrees of Aries, Capricorn, Libra, or Cancer? If so, you will be more affected by this aspect. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Scorpio (the Sun is the ruler of Leo; Pluto rules Scorpio).

Friday, April 21st:

Friday, the Moon remains in steady, peaceful Taurus all day (see Thursday very early morning for details).

Friday at 4:35am EDT, Mercury comes to a standstill at 15.5 degrees of Taurus (starting its 3-week Retrograde phase), slowing things down tremendously until Saturday evening. Give yourself extra time to go to work (during that time) or to get things done. If you are traveling, just simply go with the flow… you’ll get there… eventually. The same is true when it comes to all our technological communication devices…

With Mercury being Retrograde, its energy feels stronger inside of us, helping us recognize what is out of alignment and pointing to how we can begin realigning ourselves with the outside world, starting from within. We can ask ourselves: Where do I feel too attached to the physical realm? Where have I become disconnected or alienated from it? How does this attachment or aversion relate to my finances? What needs to be reorganized? Reconsidered?

Mercury will spend the whole 3-week Retrograde phase in Taurus, the sign most concerned with self-worth, material possessions, finances, physical comfort, and beauty. This provides extra opportunities to re-evaluate our relationship to the physical world and connect from within to a place of self-honoring, beauty, and comfort.

We can adopt a more down-to-earth approach to life, so this is also a chance to readdress anything from the past that felt dishonoring or unrealistic and is now ready to be cleared. This process begins internally and works its way out, offering a chance to honor ourselves and communicate our preferences.

Ask yourself: Where could I now honor myself that previously did not seem possible? What if I practiced saying “No” to the people, places, and things that do not align with my personal preferences?

Where do I find a disconnect with the physical realm in my life? (This could include the physical body, the planet, nature, physical objects, money, etc.) What is playing a role in creating that?

What am I learning about my inner dialog? What needs to be readdressed concerning my finances? My material possessions? My ability to honor my talents? My beauty?

If any thinking or communication issues have come up around any self-worth issues or financial issues from April 7th – 21st, we’ll have a chance to do some internal work on those issues from April 21st – May 14th.

This Retrograde phase will last until May 14th. People worry about Mercury Retrogrades, but it’s important not to stop one’s life during these times. As mentioned above, certain things may take longer — but a retrograde gives us a chance to resolve things that have been keeping us from living our lives in a more wholesome way — especially things that came up within the past three weeks.

It’s time to rethink, retool, and release what has come to feel unjust or has become misaligned with our thinking.

This is also an optimal time for catching up on unfinished business, repairing what’s not working, and reconnecting with those people, places, or things that bring us closer to feeling whole. Also favored: reconnecting with old friends, clients, siblings, and past relationships in general.

As always: with a Mercury Retrograde phase, always read the small print — and re-read a contract before signing (if you have to sign something) — or ask another person for a second opinion… Basically, during these periods, it’s best to be aware of any details that we might have overlooked… and check in with our intuition… and stay open to the possibility of renegotiation or adjustments down the line!

A Mercury Retrograde is an excellent time for re-evaluating and re-organizing. This is especially true for our thought patterns and decisions (particularly those made in the three weeks before the start of the Retrograde) — but it’s true of our lives in general: we can reach a more precise understanding as to what works and what doesn’t, and what needs to change.

Mercury also represents our day-to-day mind; this is also experienced internally. When it comes to communication, make sure that what you say, write, and hear is the same as the intended meaning — and use the spell-checker  

Another thing to consider is how each Mercury Retrograde phase affects your personal birth chart. Do you have any personal planets that Mercury will align with during its retrograde journey? The houses of your chart each represent different areas of your life — which of the houses in your chart is affected by this retrograde?

As with any retrograde, some of us will be more affected than others, depending on how it interacts with our personal chart. If you have your Ascendant, Career Point, or any personal planets in 4-17 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, or Aquarius, you will be more affected by this particular retrograde. This is also the case for those of us who have a Gemini or Virgo Sun- or Rising-sign (Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo).

Friday late evening, at 11:41pm EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last exactly 6.5 hours until 6:11am EDT (Saturday morning). Use this intuitive time as an opportunity to meet your need for material comfort with a gentler, more intuitive approach. Inner and outer beauty is key! 

As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Friday late ending until Saturday morning ahead of time.

Saturday, April 22nd:

Saturday, the Moon remains in steady, peaceful Taurus and VoC until 6:11am EDT (see Thursday very early morning and Friday late evening for details).

Saturday morning, at 6:11am EDT, the Moon enters chatty, versatile Gemini, where it will journey until next week, Monday afternoon (April 24th). For the next 2.5 days, we like to learn, connect, and interact as much as possible.

“Busy” feels good: connecting online, on the phone, or sharing face-to-face, preferably multi-tasking all the way… The one thing we can do without is boredom: If our mind is not engaged in some way, we might as well curl up and play dead …

Saturday after 6:11am EDT is the best time to start setting our New Moon/Solar Eclipse Intentions. As mentioned on Wednesday night, with a Solar Eclipse it is best to wait until 48 hours after the Eclipse was exact before setting any intentions, as the energy of an Eclipse is quite intense, and it’s therefore wise to wait until the energy settles before setting our intentions.

As always, we also want to avoid any Moon void of course (VoC) phases; this time around that makes the best and most potent time for setting our intentions: today (Saturday) after 6:11am EDT and tomorrow (Sunday) all day — all the way through Sunday night/Monday very early morning at 12:13am EDT.

Make your Intentions powerful — after all, they cover the next six months — and if possible, align them with the Solar Eclipse energies that I spoke about in my last video — you might want to watch it again if you are not sure anymore what they are — click here to watch my video on the Solar Eclipse  

If you live in a timezone other than EDT (US East Coast time), feel free to join my Facebook Fanpage or follow me on Twitter ==> I will be posting reminders today and tomorrow throughout the day to let you know that it is time to set your Solar Eclipse intentions  

For more details on how to set New Moon Intentions, click here  or  for my article on Solar Eclipse Intentions, click here

Sunday, April 23rd:

Sunday, the Moon remains in chatty, versatile Gemini all day (see Saturday morning for details).

Sunday late evening, an opportune Mercury/Mars aspect becomes exact at 11:19pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect from Wednesday on; it will be strong until next week, Tuesday evening (April 25th). This is the second time within the last two weeks that this aspect has become exact (due to Mercury’s Station & Retrograde phase). The first time we felt this aspect was from April 5th – 10th.

Think back to that time: what conversation(s) most helped you honor yourself and got you inspired to move some home or family issues in the right direction?

This aspect provides an opportunity to connect thought to action. Body and mind can align; words and deeds connect with ease. As with any opportunity, we have to “take” this one: it will not happen by itself.

What actions are calling to you today? How might those actions be connected to creating more physical comfort in your life? How might they be connected to your personal talents, financial resources, or material possessions? Or to a family issue that calls for a down-to-earth approach? How might a simple, truthful approach support my career goals and personal projects at this time? 

As best as you can, stay connected to nature, focus on things that support your physical and emotional well-being, and ask yourself: what might I discover about myself and my desires if I truly listened to my physical body and emotional needs?

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or any personal planets) in 13-18 degrees of Taurus, Cancer, Pisces, or Virgo? If so, you may be more aware of this opportunity. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Gemini, Virgo, or Aries  (Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo; Mars rules Aries).

Also, on Sunday, Pluto’s Station intensifies at 0°21′ of Aquarius until May 9th. It will come to a halt on May 1st (more on that soon…). When an outer planet stations, its energy gets more pronounced; we become more aware of its impact on us — and this can sometimes cause discomfort. We are being asked to hang out with that discomfort until the planet’s energy has picked up speed again (around May 16th). ==> Feel free to also read Tuesday’s entry on the subject.

As best as you can, take a closer look at whatever is “in your face” for the next three weeks. Look for what might no longer be in alignment with your Soul’s purpose (your deep, authentic, emotional Self).

Ask yourself: Where am I holding on out of fear? What habits, behaviors, or fears are holding me back from feeling fully empowered from within?

How might a healthy sense of self-expression contribute to an authentic emotional connection to my social networks and social collaborations?

What would it look like if I was fully aligned with my Soul-purpose? How would it feel? Remember: When we confront our fears, we very often discover hidden gifts and strengths.

For a more in-depth look at Pluto in Aquarius, please feel free to get/watch my webinar on the subject.

Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in the following: 0-2 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, or 28-29 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, or Libra? If so, you will feel this station more strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Scorpio (Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio).

Also, today (Sunday) all day (and until 12:13am tonight), is the best time to start setting our New Moon/Solar Eclipse Intentions. As mentioned on Wednesday night, with a Solar Eclipse it is best to wait until 48 hours after the Eclipse was exact before setting any intentions, as the energy of an Eclipse is quite intense, and it’s therefore wise to wait until the energy settles before setting our intentions.

Make your Intentions powerful — after all, they cover the next six months — and if possible, align them with the Solar Eclipse energies that I spoke about in my last video — you might want to watch it again if you are not sure anymore what they are — click here to watch my video on the Solar Eclipse

For more details on how to set New Moon Intentions, click here  or  for my article on Solar Eclipse Intentions, click here

And…

A heads up for next Monday (April 24th): the Moon remains in chatty, versatile Gemini until 2:58p. At 8:15am EDT, we enter a Moon VoC that will last for a little over 6.5 hours until 2:58pm EDT. At that time, the Moon enters protective, nurturing Cancer, where it will journey until next week, Thursday very early morning (April 27th). More about all the details in next week’s Forecast…

One More Announcement:

Join me for our next FORECASTING FORUM, live on Friday, May 5th at 2pm PDT/5pm EDT/10pm BST (London time).

Where are you ready to expand your physical enjoyment of life?

In this Forum, we will talk about: Jupiter’s Journey through Taurus (May 16th, 2023- May 25th, 2024).

Jupiter is about expansion and our mental & spiritual growth. Jupiter in Taurus is earthy and loves material comfort. How will this show up for you? What area of life will be most affected?

If you want to align with the upcoming energies, join me live or sign up for the mp4 video presentation.

To be automatically registered every month, become a Star Member on my site.
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Here are two testimonials from our participants after joining one of our recent Forums:

Thank you, Sonja.  This was so helpful as usual.  And, thanks to everyone for listening and witnessing.  Have a great month filled with gratitude!” — Cathy E.

 

“Thank you so much for this Sonja!” — Rita T

To register for this month only, click here.

Have a fantastic week! Stay whole-hearted and healthy, and if you need support, feel free to reach out!
Many blessings,
Sonja

PS: To apply my forecasts and videos to your own birth chart, watch my 30-minute class on: “How to Read Your Birth Chart” and head to my Facebook Fan page for my daily forecast snippets.

Blog photo by Elizabeth Olson