We begin April with a Full Moon in Libra, the cardinal Air sign of balance, fairness, harmony, and advocacy. The Full Moon itself is lovely, with both benefics (Venus and Jupiter) connected and strong.
Patterns in the rest of the chart, though, point to the dangers and distress of the world. This difficult background for a supportive and caring Full Moon offers two broad-stroke interpretations.
In the first, we may find it difficult this month to be the best caring, inclusive, grounded, creative self we want to be when confronted with a world that seems to be coming apart around us.
In the second, the strong benevolence of the Full Moon brings balm to a troubled world, doing the best she can to help, and helping us find our best ways forward.
Both can be true at the same time.
The beginning of April is an interesting time in literature, the time of the full flowering of spring in the northern hemisphere.
Chaucer sent his varied pilgrims off on their journey to Canterbury as April begins, writing of soft showers relieving winter’s drought, flowers blooming everywhere, their sweet scents perfuming the air. He portrays a time of renewal. Pilgrims are on the road because their hearts are softened and turn once again to spiritual needs–or in some cases, good fellowship and the enjoyment of travel.
T.S. Eliot inverted Chaucer’s theme by opening his poem The Wasteland with, “April is the cruelest month.” In 1922, after the devastations of WWI, Eliot described April as a taunt. As the natural world renewed itself with the glories of spring, people could not. Too much had happened. Too much loss and pain.
George Orwell, writing in 1948, opens his dystopian novel 1984 with, “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” The world and Orwell had been through another world war. The world was broken. Again, spring cannot deliver on her promises of renewal, and all the clocks are wrong.
“Orwellian” has become a popular adjective in the current political climate, especially here in the U.S. where leaders contradict themselves within minutes, and sorting out truth from lies has become nearly impossible.
Yet this Full Moon will not give up on spring, or on hope.
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The Moon moves through the second decan of Libra, a place of alliances, friendship, and commitments of all kinds. While the Moon loves being in relationship, she is not at her best here in the middle of Libra, where she can feel pressured by the demands of relationship even as she longs for the security it can offer. This is a Moon ready to work with others, who also needs to be sure she doesn’t overcommit.
This Moon is ruled by Venus, who just entered her other home, the steady sign of Taurus. This is Venus’ nighttime home, where she grabs a cozy blanket, a good book, her favorite tea, and snuggles in for a relaxed evening. At the beginning of Taurus, Venus is lucky in her capacity to bring good things to her. She is abundant here. She can help the Libra Moon come back to her own needs.
The Sun in mid Aries is strong and powerful. This is the decan the Sun rules, a place of focused individuals ready to move through the world with confidence and big energy.
This Sun is ruled by Mars currently in the third decan of Pisces, a place where everything is dissolving into one vast ocean, letting go of the individuality Mars prizes. And yet, Mars rules this final decan of Pisces. Here, Mars’ determination brings focus to a diffusing energy. Mars has power.
So this strong, individual Sun supported by Mars illuminates a Moon exquisitely focused on the needs of others, supported by Venus.
Each side is squared by Jupiter in the middle of Cancer, the sign of his exaltation, in the decan he rules. Here, Jupiter is powerful and especially nurturing. Austin Coppock’s title for this decan is A Walled Garden, a protected place where life can grow and become strong.
Jupiter’s presence turns this Full Moon into a T-square. The Great Benefic, the Big Good Thing, is here is support each side, making sure Sun and Moon have everything they need to do well. And, squares being what they are, Jupiter can nurture each side by making sure the other one doesn’t overdue it.
The strong Sun might overpower this Moon, but Jupiter won’t let that happen. He’s here to create the best possible outcome for all.
It’s a great place to begin this April, a month that includes some very challenging patterns.
Within the Full Moon phase, Venus will square Pluto. Both in fixed signs, and Venus in one of her home signs, they will confront each other. Pluto, always bringing depth, will ask what our comfortable place in life costs us, and what about the costs to others? Venus will reply that everything is supported by what Taurus does: slow growth, carefully nurtured. By consistent investment in worthy goals. By committing to what is good and staying the course.
Perhaps this Venus–Pluto square will offer us a solid place to stand (Venus in Taurus) as we gaze into the depths Pluto needs us to see.
Between this Full Moon and the next New Moon, in Aries, Mars and Mercury will enter Aries, where each will conjunct Neptune. Confusion in action and thought, with Fire added.
After the Aries New Moon, Mars and Mercury each conjunct Saturn. The Mars-Saturn conjunction will mark an especially difficult time. The two malefics don’t play well together. Then Mercury comes up to conjunct Saturn and Mars on the same day, April 20, a day we should all avoid getting into arguments.
Then as April closes, Venus reaches the end of Taurus to conjunct Uranus on April 23. Venus then enters Gemini April 24. Uranus follows, entering Gemini April 25.
Uranus will enter Gemini this time without looking back. No more retrogrades into Taurus. Everything is about to speed up, and, probably get more unusual at the same time.
So we’re starting this spring month, either wonderful or cruel, depending, with a gorgeous Full Moon that combines individual strength and focus with a commitment to working with and helping others, held together by a very powerful and beneficent Jupiter who only wants the best for all of us.
We will be traveling over some rough territory this month, and in the months to come. It’s time to prepare.
Take the time to dive into this Full Moon. Map out how the Full Moon chart intersects with your birth chart. Where are Aries and Libra for you? Where is Jupiter in mid Cancer sitting in your chart? Where’s Venus in Taurus? Mars in Pisces?
There’s been so much going on in Aries lately, you probably already know exactly where this Fire sign has been lighting things up. With the Sun, Saturn, and Neptune all in early Aries, we can feel empowered, even driven, while not being clear on what we ought to be doing or how to do it. There’s a lot of drive, without good direction. The Libra Moon, and Jupiter in Cancer can focus our attention on where our support, interest, compassion, and caring are needed, giving all that Aries a place to direct the energy.
Wherever Jupiter in Cancer is transiting your chart is a place that has been experiencing the generous, expansive energy of the philosopher king. Look to this area of your chart for good things, expansive and lucky things. Even in times of affliction, Jupiter will do the best he can. If he can’t shower us with wonderful things, he will do his best to protect us from the worst.
Mars helps us get things done. We will, absolutely, feel the shift when he moves from Pisces into bright Aries, his home. Yet it’s good to remember how strong Mars can be at the end of Pisces. He may move more stealthily, but he still gets things done.
Keep an eye on Uranus. This is a good time to review where he’s been transiting your chart as he’s moved through Taurus these last seven years. Uranus in slow, steady Taurus has definitely changed things in the world of banking and money. I think we’ve also seen his influence in climate disruption. In Gemini, we’ll be dealing with a much faster, flashier, less predictable Uranus. Expect more changes and innovations in tech, and weirder ones, as just one example. Where will Uranus in Gemini be transiting your chart?
It’s a complicated time in history, and April is a complicated month. Use this beautiful Full Moon is reorient. Who am I, at my core? What are my goals and desires? How can I bring my capabilities to bear on the many challenges we face right now? Where do my goals align (Aries) with collective needs (Libra)?
This Full Moon is a great time to find balance, within and without, so we can each move forward in the best way possible, bringing the best of what we have to share with the world.
Title image adapted from a photo by azad pirayandeh on Unsplash
