Astrological Forecast for March & April 2014

This spring we come to the apex of the Uranus-Pluto square, the central astrological configuration of the decade, an ongoing meeting of two planets that began to ripple through our consciousness in 2008 and will continue to be felt through the end of the decade. Readers of this column will know that I have been referring to this aspect for years, and indeed it forms the backdrop for everything else that happens.

A word or two about the process of change may not be out of place at this time. For most of human history, change was a rarity. An incredible inertial sameness characterized everything from the environment to social rules to personal lifestyle, and change stood out against this immense conservatism. Most of the changes that did occur usually did so at a glacial speed. Over the last few centuries, the pace of change has increased, and the rate of increase has accelerated. Today, we see the few islands of stability in our personal and collective lives as the exceptions, a few still points against a swirling background of change. We have grown used to change, although perhaps we are less comfortable with it than we suppose, as our nervous systems strive to keep up with a world that seems to be running (away?) on its own.

Many astrologers have predicted doom and gloom scenarios for the Uranus-Pluto square, and so far things have not gone as badly as the most dire predictions. You still have the luxury of reading Wisdom magazine—I assume by electric light—and you may even have a cup of hot coffee in your hand. Things are not that bad, at least in the Western world. Yet it would be a great mistake to think that momentous change is not underway: it is hard to judge the size of waves when you are in the sea. What we are seeing is the breakdown of many structures, the crumbling of our assumptions about the world and our places in it. Not surprisingly, we are also seeing resistance to this process, as sooner or later it makes each of us uncomfortable when it hits close to home.

In many parts of the world, we have seen great violence and other disasters. That we have thus far avoided the worst of that here in the United States is perhaps due to our bringing greater consciousness to some of our most crucial issues. Health care, education, gay marriage, legalization of cannabis, genetically modified foods, the income and wealth gaps, the power of corporations, government spying, and many other issues call out for our attention, and we have—so far—managed to address these through collective dialogue. It is disheartening and frightening to consider, but the ongoing series of individuals who go off the rails and wreak havoc in shopping malls, movie theaters, and schools may actually be a good sign—relatively few people have embraced violence in this country. We must continue to bring our awareness and compassion to these issues that we share collectively, and also to our private concerns.

At one level or another, events do happen, and as we move through this spring, we can expect that we will see some powerful events that may inspire or shock us. But events are powerful not only because of their initial power, but because they change the way we see things. Consider the way 9/11 changed the country, how protective we became, how we reacted and continue to react to that awful day. Events change our perceptions, and our perceptions affect the way we interact with the world. When we see the world as frightening, it becomes frightening. If we see the world through hopeful eyes, we act with hope and find the world responding in kind. It is up to each of us, yet as a collective we have much greater power to shape our reality. This is the challenge of these times.

Rather than give the usual flow of planetary aspects, I think it would be better if we focus our attention on the epicenter of the action, in the second half of April. The cascade of powerful astrological aspects within that two week period cannot even be listed within the space of this column. The Uranus-Pluto square in Aries-Capricorn has become a grand cross, with Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Libra. Within two days, April 14th and 15th, Mercury aspects the grand cross, Pluto stations to retrograde, and we have a total lunar eclipse on the Aries-Libra axis. From the 20th to the 23rd, the grand cross is in exact aspect—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto all aspect each other. April ends with a solar eclipse in Taurus on the 29th. (The eclipses are not visible from North America).

If all of that were not enough, the Uranus-Pluto-Jupiter-Mars grand cross is exactly on the U.S. sun on April 18th, thus this tidal wave of celestial energy is focused on the United States. We are certain to see important decisions and surprising shifts during this time, although again I have to point out that we are very used to change, and it is not always easy to recognize those events that will shift our perceptions while they are occurring.

Although the end of April is the focal point, we will have some significant astrological events setting the table for the grand cross. Mars, the Cosmic Warrior, stations to retrograde in Libra on March 1st. The rules and mores that guide us are up for revision for the next ten weeks. Just a day later, Saturn stations to begin his retrograde motion in Scorpio, putting power structures and power brokers up for review.

In early April, the sun in Aries acts as the grand marshal for the cardinal cross, making aspects to Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto from the 1st through the 8th. Cosmic Messenger Mercury begins his series of aspects on the 14th. The sun and Mercury often act as triggers for larger aspects, so pay attention to the events in the early part of the month. The tectonic shifts indicated by the larger aspects may be translated to us in more direct form in the first weeks of April.

What can we do? One strategy is to build in some quiet time. Disengage. Take a walk in the woods. Meditate. But we must also engage in the process. I know that we all have our personal concerns—financial, emotional, and so on—but at this time we need to recognize the extent to which participating in the collective consciousness shapes our personal lives. Yes, it is about you, but it is not just about you. Try to maintain compassion and openness. If you are angered at others, try to see where you may cause anger. If others seem cruel, try to be kind. If others are selfish, try to be considerate.

And flexibility. It can be difficult to both remain true to your values and ideals while also being flexible in how you interact with the world, but that is one of the challenges of this time. In times of deep change, the very assumptions on which we base our expectations and actions are in a state of flux. It can be tempting to think all is hopeless and so decide to just go with the flow. It can be equally compelling to become rigid and unyielding, making a brave last stand. In the end, however, both you and your ideals may survive and thrive best if you are like a pine tree, bending in the wind yet standing with firm roots.

Change means that we don’t know, for we can only know what has gone before us. We can’t know in advance what new forms will emerge, and we certainly can’t control the process with our egos. March and April are at the very center of a decade of profound changes, and it is up to each and all of us to approach it with as much hope, enthusiasm, love, and awareness as we can.

Armand M. Diaz, Ph.D. helps clients make decisions that are in harmony with their greatest potential, offering a truly integral approach to astrology. Armand has practiced divination for more than twenty years, working with the I Ching and Tarot in addition to astrology. He has published in various astrological journals, including The Mountain Astrologer. His most recent book, Integral Astrology: Understanding the Ancient Discipline in the Contemporary World, is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com. He can be reached through his website at www.integralastrology.net.