2011 has been an eventful year to date; the major newsworthy events being the unrest in Egypt and Libya and the devastating earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. The planetary movement in April suggests that further change can be expected, including that of an unexpected and militant nature; simply put, April could be another month of international chaos. The Grand Cross of matter is shifting this year with the last of the 4 fixed stars, Regulus, moving into Virgo: Regulus watcher of the north, Fomalhaut watcher of the south, Antares watcher of the west and Alderbaran watcher of the east will all be in mutable signs. Life as we know it will slowly (over 200 years) shift gear. Those who are able to think on their feet apply flexibility and plan for the unexpected will be the least sensitive to change.

Mercury

Mercury turns retrograde on 31 March and will remain so until 24 April. The cerebral planet of articulation and communication behaving against his nature calls for caution in his areas of rulership. Mercury’s major signatures are the IT world, communication, currency in general, commerce and merchants, transport and activity linked to commuting; he also rules the ‘small stuff’ and the process of disseminating and of discernment. Regular followers of this column would know by now to back-up all computer data, sign important documents, confirm flights (preferably on the day) and conclude any attention to detail before he turns retrograde. With Mercury going retrograde three times a year it is beneficial to know how influential Mercury is in our own birth charts.

The Moon

New Moon in April is on the 3rd and Full Moon on the 18th. With autumn around the corner it is advisable to implement a stringent lifestyle regime to combat the usual colds and flu which will inevitably abound. The symbolism of the seasons is not often considered: autumn and winter provide the opportunity for things to die, paving the way for new birth in spring. New Moon in April is the opportune time to reflect on which aspects of our life we need to surrender and which seeds we need to plant and allow to germinate.

Rosemary, one of the most important herbs in Mediterranean medicine, is the ideal accompaniment to this process. Rosemary acts on the metabolism, cleaning and oxidising the body and it strengthens all bodily functions and organs, especially the heart and the brain. Used in conjunction with the Purification Gem Stone Water Tincture, the process of change is greatly facilitated. Consider implementing a tailor-made wellness programme based on your unique natal chart.

Saturn

Saturn, still retrograde in April, is conjunct the fixed star Algorab. Algorab is located in the constellation of Corvus the crow. Apollo hosted a feast for Jupiter and sent the crow with a cup to fetch water; the crow happened upon a lush fig tree and forgetting the purpose of his journey, alighted on the branches to gorge on the ripe fruit. The message derived from this myth and the fixed star is not to forget our mission, the purpose of the journey. It can cause its natives to become agitators; it leads to greed, lying and the desire for revenge. Saturn as the traditional ruler of despots and those in power denotes the potential for further change pertaining to leaders of countries in April.

On a personal note it is a reminder not to forget why the need for discipline and structure exists and why we set certain goals; it is a reminder to forego temptation of the desire nature. Saturn, the task-master and law-maker, is still in opposition to Jupiter in April: the effects of the opposition of these two planets has manifested world-wide, and very personally for some, and this planetary connection will still be manifest for some time to come.

Saturn will also oppose Mercury and Mars in April; Mercury is the natural ruler of earthquakes, Saturn is the natural ruler of the earth as a whole: this provides potential for more natural disasters and picking up the Mars energy of confrontation, explosions and chaos, this does not bode well for Saturn matters. Viewed from another angle, Saturn is rulers or those in authority and Mercury is the trickster; Mars is the natural ruler of war and aggression - combine all of this and it alludes to further chaos on the international front pertaining to change. 

Many people have had a torrid time of late - emotionally, financially and spiritually; often the harsh lessons we are subjected to is a way for us to realise that something in our life is rotten or has expired. Use the season of autumn to reflect, applying an introspective attitude to get to the bottom of what it is you are meant to learn. Only when you are able to identify the 'old' will you be able to embrace the 'new'.

Mars

Mars is posited on the fixed star Scheat in early April. Scheat is in the constellation of Pegasus, the flying horse. Horses in mythology are a symbol of the desire nature with a horse depicting a desire nature that can and must be tamed; surrendering to the basal desires does not promote a fulfilled life on a holistic level. Pegasus was ridden by Bollerophon, who attempted to become one of the gods and flew too close to heaven; Bollerophon was the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside of Cadmus and Perseus, before the days of Heracles. A hornet stung Pegasus and Bollerophon fell off (because of his arrogance); he had to live out his life blind and lonely which was a tragic end for him.

Mars as the warrior planet conjunct Scheat denotes misfortune, murder, accidents and sickness. Applying our generic tone, Mars-matters in April, especially relating to war, armies and unrest (as well as thunder, lightning and mist) could be detrimental. After conjuncting Scheat Mars moves out of Pisces into Aries, the cardinal fire sign that he rules; this makes him even more Mars-like. If not harnessed, April could become a month of contention and quarrels.

It is also interesting to note, during this month of Easter, the Passover and other religious festivals that Pelagianism, of which Bollerophon was guilty, is a heresy: that you can do it (life) without the gods (God). The message is to use the horse (the desires) wisely but not to get too arrogant.

Overview

In a nativity the planets have relevance based on both the houses they rule and their natural rulerships; you cannot focus only on one planet and evaluate the person (or country) solely on that. Everything in a chart is layered and inter laced, and all of this is woven through the fabric of the basic temperament of the natal chart. The parts equal the whole, but to assess the individual, the whole must be evaluated. 

Planets have no power over us and they do not beam their energy onto earth to ‘make us do things’. They were placed in the sky as symbols and signs and as we all partake of the same building blocks of hot, cold, moist and dry, when the planets ‘behave’ in a certain way, so does matter on earth which partakes of the planets' essence. It is the equivalent of a mirror image and a reflection: as above, so below.

The fundamental difference pertaining to humans is the God-given gift of free will; how we apply our free will determines the outcome of the potential provided by the symbolism of astrology. Using these symbols and the interpretation thereof, we are able to take a step into the future to assess the potential for events and movement here on earth, provided we keep in mind at all times that for the planetary movement to have direct relevance on our lives, it needs to connect with our natal chart.

I am often asked if I was able to forecast certain events global before they occurred; unless I delineated the birth chart of that specific country, for a specific purpose, the answer is no. However, based on the generic planetary movement for a time period an astrologer is able, with great accuracy, to predict the tone of that time; this can then be applied to countries and individuals. The birth charts of individuals (or country’s) which form a direct aspect with the current planetary movement at the time, applying the many directed chart methodologies, will be the hardest ‘hit’ by the current planetary movement.

Any astrologer with an interest in their own (or another) country should assess the directed charts of that country on a regular basis; I am confident that if this is done religiously, accurately and professionally for a country such as Japan for example, major earthquakes will rear their ugly head astrologically long before they manifest physically. Science failed Japan in March and it is plausible, based on the efficacy of astrology which has been proven over centuries, to assume that the craft would have provided the propensity for this disaster.

In the March article of The Planets and You I forecast earthquakes based on the current planetary movement, but would only have been able to say where had I delineated each country’s birth chart – and that would serve no purpose for me at all. It would be a different matter entirely if these specific astrological services/skills were contracted by the powers-that-be for a specific country; but alas, astrology continues to cry out like a lone voice in the wilderness, only to be heard by the minority.