As above, so below. That’s the major idea behind astrological forecasting. The solar system is a macrocosm that reflects our world back to us. Astrologers read the signs and signals in the heavens to get an idea of what’s coming. We can relate these cosmic guideposts to an individual’s birth chart, gleaning insight and guidance. Astrologers also read the sky itself, for an idea of the energies that affect us all, which are sometimes easygoing, and other times are very tense. It’s something like a weather forecast of times to come.

Solar Eclipse April 8, Lunar Eclipse April 24

It’s Eclipse time! Every six months, there is a series of two (and sometimes three) eclipses, including a Lunar and a Solar Eclipse. These are not always visible to us, but the energy is still potent. During eclipse times (which come every six months), there’s a feeling of heightened awareness and clarity in the air even if there is chaos all around us. The trick is to stay with that sense of clarity, because it is also a time of high emotion (especially the Lunar eclipse). Make decisions with great care and mindfulness, because your actions have greater than usual significance during this time.

Eclipses come in series, or families. This month’s eclipses belong to “a very sensual family of eclipses, ranging from sudden sexual passions and lust to birth and procreative drives. This series is not subtle, and can catch people off guard and confront them with their own very deep passion which may have been hidden for many years.” (Bernadette Brady, Predictive Astrology)

April 1-7

April opens with the Sun and sensual Venus connected with excessive Jupiter. Oh baby. This energy is enjoyable and passionate. Sparks fly on April Fool’s Day (and April 2 too). But don’t spend too much money on first dates or elaborate pranks. The first week of April is still a little upside-down, indicated by Mercury still being in retrograde, yet you can still find agreement and benefit during this time.

March 19-April 12

What is Mercury retrograde anyway? Some people shout, “doom, gloom, and disaster! Run and hide! Don’t do anything during Mercury retrograde!” That may not be the best approach though. What it boils down to is this: the planet of communications, travel, schedules and details, Mercury, appears to be moving backwards. This happens every 4 months and lasts for 3 weeks. Communications, then, are backwards or scrambled. What you say is not what they understand. Delays, mix-ups, and scheduling mishaps are common. Machines act funny or poop out. It’s not the end of the world, but you do need to be a little more flexible and careful during this time. Back up your computer. Double check your facts and figures. Proofread your work a second time before you send it out.

There is an upside to all this. With the planet of information and communications moving backwards, it is a great time to go with the flow, and look backwards—go through old files, review and revise work you started in the past, contact an old friend or colleague, or resume work on an old project.

April 8-15: The Spacey Week

Every Mercury retrograde period is a little different. Some are easy; others are very challenging. Mercury’s position relative to other planets lets us know what to expect. As Mercury slows down and gets ready to start moving forward again, he is lined up in a tense angle with spacey Neptune. This combination signals strange thoughts, crossed wires, confusion, and missing or wrong information. People are not thinking clearly. This would not be the time to sign a contract or make a major deal. This week is much better suited for spiritual and philosophical pursuits.

April 16-23

Things are looking much clearer this week—it’s a much better time to finish up old business and resolve the glitches that vexed you during the “spacey week.”

April 24-30

As we approach the end of the month, tension is mounting in the skies. There are good ideas around, as well as opportunities to do things in a new and surprising way. Stay in communication with others—assumptions and expectations tend to stray off the mark this week. Confusion with finances also shows up.

April 29

Friday evening is dreamy. It’s a great night for indulging in flights of fancy and enjoying wonderful illusions, such as art, theater, or music. Beware of illusions in your real life, though. No amount of hoping (or drinking) is going to turn Mr. Wrong into Mr. Right. And beware of a tendency for money to fly out of your wallet. If you tend to have champagne taste and a beer budget, leave the credit cards at home.

Looking ahead

Be ready for surprises and/or unexpected events that may throw off your plans the first week of May. Details in next month’s article.

Mark your Calendar!

The best days in April for your top priority plans are April 4-7, 21-23.

Slow down and simplify on April 8-15, 18.