Astrological Forecast for March & April 2022

While things have not necessarily been moving slowly, 2022 got off to a somewhat reserved start, with Mercury and Venus both retrograde in January and few charged aspects in February (the Pluto return of the United States on February 22nd being a major exception).

As we head towards springtime, the planets speed up and pull us (or is it push?) forward. In fact, until Pluto stations to retrograde at the end of April, all of the planets will be moving direct.

That’s not to say that there aren’t going to be some slow patches and hesitations, and of course we have to deal with the residuals of the pandemic, but March and April represent an opportunity - or maybe it’s a compulsion - to get moving on projects and plans.

March

The first week of March is full of charged energy, like a spring coil ready to release at the first quarter moon on the 10th. Right after the Pisces New Moon on the 2nd, Venus and March meet up with Pluto on the 3rd, then walk arm-in-arm out of Capricorn and into Aquarius on the 6th. In between, the Sun meets with Jupiter on the 5th.

Relationship matters, business deals, and artistic projects that have been on hold since mid-to-late December may finally be resolved now, although the emphasis may well be on bringing existing issues to a conclusion so that you can finally move forward onto something new. Venus and Mars will be asking about your plans to contribute to a wider social circle, perhaps suggesting that you join a social or political organization.

One hiccup in the forward-moving energy happens on the 12/13th, as the Sun meets Neptune. While a few of us may feel enthusiasm fizzle, many will experience the opposite, and find themselves fighting for a cause or ready to start a crusade. Be aware that this aspect can make heroes and demons out of ordinary folks, so watch your projections.

As we build towards the Virgo Full Moon in the earliest hours of the 18th, Mercury makes an easy sextile to revolutionary Uranus. This is a time to consider your priorities for the year and make plans for putting them into action - or better yet, actually put them into action. Don’t feel constrained by your own sense of limitation, and try new ways to do things.

Relationships might come into focus in the latter part of the month, as Venus squares Uranus on the 19th and meets Saturn on the 28th. The goddess of love and Uranus are in each others’ home signs, so that this otherwise tense square can be resolved with relative ease. This is another cosmic prod to move out of routines and try something new. While the meeting with Saturn may be a little more serious, it’s not the usual confinement that Saturn brings, but more a check to see if you’re on the right path.

The Sun enters Aries on March 20th at 10:33a Eastern time, marking the Spring Equinox, when day and night are evenly balanced. From here, the days rapidly increase in duration, as Sol spends more and more time above the horizon.

On the 22nd, Mars squares Uranus, an aspect notable for impulsive action. While great for getting moving when you’re sure what you want or need to do, keep in mind that patience is likely to be at a premium around this time. Be careful driving, and watch out for anyone spoiling for a fight. On the collective level, we’re likely to see a major push in areas around social justice and equality.

One last foggy Neptunian aspect deserves notice as March comes to a close, with Mercury meeting with Neptune on the 23rd. In the surrounding days, it’s a good idea to indulge in a little escapism, in meditation or fantasy, but avoid major decisions and be very careful with communication.

You might think of the period from the 22nd to the 24th as Mercury retrograde raised to a power. While intentional deception is probably rare, finding the facts and interpreting them correctly could be a real challenge. A good story that’s believed by its teller isn’t quite a lie, but it isn’t the truth, either. Another possibility is that information could ‘leak out’, so be careful when dealing with sensitive data.

April

This year, April comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion. Or maybe it’s a lion all the way through. The Aries New Moon on the 1st marks a real beginning for the year, as the solar and lunar cycles are both waxing after this point. As with any new moon, it’s best to let things take care of themselves for a day or two, then set intentions and get moving.

Motion might be stopped for a bit, as Mars meets with Saturn on the 4th. This aspect can feel like you’re jamming on the accelerator with the parking brake on - a recipe for frustration. Take one job at a time and devote yourself to it - the beginning of April is no time for multitasking. You can accomplish quite a bit in the first week of the month, but despite an inclination to race ahead, slow and steady wins this race.

Mercury is the starring planet in April (“starring planet”?!). In Aries, he aspects Ceres, Pallas Athene, Saturn, Mars, and Pluto in the first ten days of the month, ensuring that communication will be direct and possibly a little uncompromising. In the fiery sign of the ram, Mercury is no fact-checker, so you might want to delve into the truth behind any surprising messages.

The Cosmic Messenger then moves into Taurus, where he favors more concrete information. This is a ‘show me the facts’ kind of placement, and aspects to Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, and Pluto will encourage more realistic - if less inspired - communication than in the early part of April.

Watch for tangible evidence of innovative thinking as Mercury meets Uranus around the 17th. As the month ends, Mercury moves into his home sign of Gemini, where a sociable and easygoing approach to communication prevails.

Mercury may have the lead role in April, but Pluto has a significant part to play, too. The Sun squares Pluto on the 18th, leading us to question who really has the power. The Aries Sun is strong as it seeks to set the agenda for the coming year, but Pluto holds the purse strings. While this will play out in politics and business, each of us may feel a strain between following our hearts and listening to our wallets.

Pluto’s then stations to retrograde on the 29th, just a day before a powerful solar eclipse/new moon. This is likely to be a time when we feel pressure building in both our personal lives and within society (the two aren’t really separate). There’s an uncompromising feel to this time that may make many of us uneasy.

The eclipse on April 30th is at 10 degrees of Taurus, in the same neighborhood where Uranus squared off with Saturn in 2021, so we may find that issues that were prominent last year are once again in the forefront. While action is not necessarily characteristic of either stations or solar eclipses, it will likely not be a long time before we see the tensions releasing.

Challenging times typically call for action, and March and April of 2022 hold many opportunities for moving forward. Timing is important, so try to avoid the few sand traps that could drain energy during these months. In general, a good strategy is to tackle one task at a time, concentrating on a tangible goal.

Armand M. Diaz, PhD is Wisdom Magazine's Astrology columnist. For more info on Armand visit his website www.integralastrology.net