Astrological Forecast for March & April 2018

It may be that the most prominent astrological event of March and April is the one that doesn’t happen. Uranus will enter Taurus on May 15th, his first time in the sign since his stay from 1934 to early 1941 – and astrologers are excited (and a bit concerned) about how his travels in the sign of the bull will manifest this time around. But that’s for next issue’s column.

In March and April, we’ll be watching what happens as Uranus moves through the final degrees of Aries. It’s at both the beginning and end of a sign that planets tend to express the energy of the time most dramatically, and Uranus in Aries is quite dramatic.

Independent, revolutionary, innovative Uranus is very comfortable in upstart Aries, a sign that shares Uranus’ capacity for going its own way – the ram happily treads into new territory. The time of Uranus in Aries has seen a great deal of innovation and rapid change, some of it welcome, some of it not. When Uranus entered the sign in 2011, I said that ‘going rogue will be in vogue’, a corny little pneumonic that’s worked well for the past seven years.

Indeed, we’ve seen both individuals and groups move towards the outside of the social and political spectrums. From the many ‘leaks’ that have exposed the operations of governments and corporations, to cyber terrorists hacking major systems, to outsider groups like Occupy and the Tea Party, to terrorist organizations like ISIS, to the wave of mass shooting that plague the U.S., and even to the strong outsider energy of the 2016 presidential election (where all the major candidates, Trump, Clinton, and Sanders, were outsiders in some way), we’ve seen that going to extremes has become the norm.

We’re most likely to see the extreme side of Uranus in Aries when he passes the degree of his August 2017 retrograde station – from April 18th onward to May 15th. But we’ll be feeling his presence at the end of Aries from March through May. Everything else that happens in these two months has to be considered with respect to this powerful, disruptive, rebellious, energy. There are great opportunities for its constructive use in all areas of life, but there is also potential for some folks to simply go off the rails. Brilliant insights and mad ideas vie for our personal and collective attention. Keep cool, and remain aware.

March

The month begins with a full moon on the 1st, in the sign of Virgo. As with any full moon, there’s a bit of emotional charge and heightened reactivity, although Virgo will have us trying to make something productive out of the high voltage energy. This full moon is very closely opposite Neptune, so there may be a tendency to make mountains out of molehills or perhaps to miss the forest for the trees. Keep in mind that you may not have a realistic sense of proportions.

Actually, that could be the problem for the next week, as the Sun meets Neptune on the 4th and Jupiter stations to retrograde on the 8th. None of the above suggests an entirely realistic perspective for practical matters, although it could be a great time to gain insights via meditation and alternative realities.

Realism is likely to return at mid-month, as Mercury and Venus take turns squaring Saturn on the 11th and 13th. Serious discussions and serious decisions will be in the mix for some of us. It could be time to assert your independence and state your personal truth (Mercury and Venus are both in Aries), or to hear what others have to say. An easy Sun/Jupiter trine on the 13th will help to keep us optimistic if the going gets too heavy.

The new moon in Pisces on March 17th is closely conjunct Chiron, the wounded healer. Set your intentions around your own need for healing on the emotional and physical levels. Use the time before the new moon to clear out old patterns so that you can start fresh at the Aries ingress in a few days.

The Sun enters Aries for the spring equinox (in the Northern Hemisphere) on March 20th at 11:15a EST. Day and night are evenly balanced now, although with the Sun, Mercury, and Venus joining Uranus in Aries, not much else may feel in balance. Still, it’s the start of the astrological New Year (although we might really feel it after the new moon on April 15th), and generally a time when we feel energy returning.

Mercury stations to retrograde on the 22nd. The usual caveats apply: it’s not a great time to sign contracts, buy electronics, or get a new car. We’ll probably see our fair share of snafus in the worlds of technology and transportation, especially around the stations (March 22nd and April 15th).

On March 23, Venus, planet of love and relationship, squares Pluto. We’re likely to feel the need to assert ourselves, and may not be happy to the extent we feel constrained by (or controlled in) our relationships.

Venus goes on to meet Uranus on March 28th. Aspects between these two planets tend to favor a new approach to relationship, breaking out of old patterns, and trying something (or someone) new. With the Moon waxing and a strong Aries vibe, we might be ready to get moving, especially if we felt the tension when Venus squared Pluto. Expect that this will be a very active time, when we are ready to make decisive moves in relationship – Venus and Uranus will not meet again in Aries for another 77 years, so they will typify the energy of their meeting this time around.

The full moon on March 31st is in the sign of Libra, and we’re quite likely to ‘see’ the result of the past week at this time. Relationship changes are highlighted at the end of March – ending that took place earlier in the month may lead to new beginnings now.

April

Mars meets Saturn on April 2nd, an energy that potentially slows down some of the full moon/Uranus energy we’ve been feeling. However, with Mars and Saturn both in Capricorn (where they get along well), it’s likely that we’ll be inclined to focus that energy towards a goal. For those who are in the midst of significant changes in work, relationship, or any area of life, this aspect can be quite invigorating.

A Sun/Pluto square on the 10th questions, who really has the power? In our personal lives as well as the collective, we may wonder who has the reigns of control. The Sun in Aries is very strong, but Pluto in Capricorn can put up quite a fight. The issue may not be who has the power, so much as how are they using it?

The end of April is so full of charged aspects that it is difficult to separate their overlapping energies in a meaningful way. It’s likely to be a very charged time, as Uranus moves into the later degrees of Aries while the other planets do their dance. Expect the unexpected, and be ready to adapt to changing circumstances.

An energetic Venus/Jupiter opposition on April 17th would usually have us out partying, but coming just two days after the new moon, and with Saturn stationing to retrograde on the same day, we may not be feeling up to the festivities. On the other hand, with the new moon in Aries, we could be ready to get a quick start on the astrological New Year, and this aspect will help kick-start us.

The Sun meets Uranus just a day later, on the 18th, another indication that we may be shaking off the dust of the Saturn station quickly. This is a powerful aspect, all the more so because it is at the end of Uranus’ stay in Aries. If Sun/Pluto and Saturn’s station signified constraint, this aspect is the release from constraints and many people will have a hard time with personal restraint.

With Mars meeting Pluto on the 29th and the full moon in Scorpio on the 29th, we see continue to see alternation between struggle and release as the month ends. It’s going to be challenging to remain mindful and act consciously, as personal and collective tensions that have been building for a long time reach the breaking point. Keep in mind that while this could spell disaster in some quarters, the overall theme of tension and release and breaking free from constraints could be very positive and liberating – it may not be all in your perspective, but your perspective matters.

Armand M. Diaz, Ph.D. uses an intuitive and heart-centered approach to astrology to help his clients. 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, Separating Aspects: The Astrology of Breakups, Divorce, and Other Partings, is available through Amazon and available on Kindle. He can be reached through his website at www.integralastrology.net.