April 2016 Overview:

• New Moon April 7 super moon
• Mars stationary retrograde April 17
• Pluto stationary retrograde April 18
• Full Moon April 22
• Mercury retrograde 28

Mars turns retrograde this month and will remain in that mode for 3 months.  It will be residing in the same sign as Saturn.  This is basically a very long (double length) conjunction of Mars and Saturn, and which looks extraordinarily intense for this period of time.

Punctuating deeply this planetary station of Mars will be the fact that one day later transiting Pluto will also be turning retrograde.  Two heavy duty malefic planets will be moving extra slowly.  In astrology the slower a planet moves the deeper its effects experienced  by humanity. 

The exact dates of Mars and Pluto stationing will be April 17 and 18.  Mark your calendars. 

Pluto will be retrograde from April 18 to September 26, 2016.  Mars will be retrograde from April 17 to June 29, 2016.  The retrograde effects will extend a week or two before and after those dates because the planets will be moving very slowly. 

The planets don’t actually move slower, but from the vantage point of the Earth which is also revolving around the Sun, they take on the appearance of stopping and reversing direction. 

The American political scene with Trump, Sanders, Clinton and whomever else battling it out may be burning quite strong into the summer of 2016. It may be a long hard road with a significant toll on each player.  

Mars retrograde, moving backwards, is definitely going to be a more subversive Mars: underhanded, sneaky and manipulative.  Retrograding through its own sign of Scorpio, Mars may be delivering its “best” and “worse”. 

Scorpio ascendants, Sun or Moon in Scorpio people are highly indicated for significant life-developments, as well as anyone with a fixed sign ascendants (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius). 

Mercury then turns retrograde on April 28 for about 3 weeks, adding a little more backwardness or potential subversiveness to the whole astrological equation.  Exact dates for Mercury retrograde: April 28 to May 22, 2016.

The new moon of April 7 will technically be a super moon (more intense in effect) since it will be closer to the earth (perigee). 

Friday, April 1
Lots of activity, emotion, and passion can mark this day.  Some shrill moments may punctuate a fruitful day.  (Mercury biquintile Jupiter, Sun quincunx Juno, Venus tridecile Mars, Mercury sesquiquadrate Mars)

Saturday, April 2
No peaking influences

Sunday, April 3
Perceptions, discussions and activity may be hindered by hard to pin down influences; leading one down what may prove to be disappointing paths including relationships.  (Mercury semisquare Neptune, Venus sesquiquadrate Juno)

Monday, April 4
Hyperbole and neglect born of arrogance may be today’s experiences.  What is solemnly promised today may be soon forgotten. (Sun quincunx Jupiter)

Tuesday, April 5
Emotional depth and richness with a long view in mind.  This can be a good day to focus and strive towards practicality and realism, but other points of view may give new directions.  (Venus quintile Pluto, Sun trine Saturn, Mercury sesquiquadrate Jupiter)

Wednesday, April 6
Breakdowns and breakthroughs are indicated.  A predisposition to negativity could hinder progress, strive to see practical solutions.  Frustrations channeled into effective action may take you far.  (Mercury sesquiquadrate Saturn, Sun square Pluto, Mercury biquintile Mars)

Thursday, April 7, Super (New) Moon
The Sun blocks out the Moon today, but they are all in unusually close alignment.  New life developments are possible, unusual situations may arise.  

Friday, April 8
Pathological tendencies are brought out.  Relationships may struggle through difficult situations.  (Mercury tridecile Pluto, Venus tridecile Saturn)

Saturday, April 9
Unusual, but good, turns of fortune are indicated.  Spirits should be upbeat and expectant.  (Sun conjunct Uranus, biquintile Jupiter)

Sunday, April 10
The atmosphere should be positive and excited, new life possibilities abound, activity should be high.  (Jupiter biquintile Uranus, Mercury quincunx Mars)

Monday, April 11
A serious sentiment may prevail, possibly focusing on negative situations; but strive to be solution-oriented.  Communication between individual parties is emphasized.  (Mercury biquintile Saturn, Mercury opposition Juno)

Tuesday, April 12
Passion and zest for life rises.  Perceptions are enhanced by hopes and desires.  Seeing is believing, believing is seeing.  (Venus trine Mars, Mercury sextile Neptune)

Wednesday, April 13
Egos may clash, hurts may intensify, if only accentuating the smallness of ourselves.  Be careful of accidents, injuries and the like.  Initiatives may feel thwarted causing compensating aggressiveness. (Sun sesquiquadrate Mars)

Thursday, April 14
Ideas take on infectious enthusiasm, discussions and investigation are favored.  Be careful lending too much credence to fantastic ideas.  (Mercury trine Jupiter)

Friday, April 15
Negative, dysfunctional reactions to situations may be highlighted, which is of course the perfect opportunity to self-observe the roots of these tendencies on your part and pro-actively turn them around.  A little cold analysis could go a long way, and the lines of communications may be blocked or hindered.  (Sun semisquare Neptune, Mercury quincunx Saturn)

Saturday, April 16
Social and cultural values are emphasized in progressive as well as regressive ways.  (Venus quincunx Jupiter)

Sun-Mon, April 17-18, Mars and Pluto Stationary Retrograde
Anger, aggression and corruption come to a boil.  Very interesting developments are indicated, but very severe or harsh for others.  Be wary of the abuses of power because abuse breeds more abuse.  Hyperbole and excess of bluster are indicated, while relationships may find a steady and loving course.  (Mars and Pluto stationary retrograde, Sun sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Venus trine Saturn)

Tuesday, April 19
The delights of life today may be hijacked by less-refined forces or intentions.  Strong stimulation does not necessarily mean it is the right thing, nor is it to be understood as “good.” Love may take deep turns.  (Venus square Pluto)

Wednesday, April 20
Acute reactions to situations and events may help to let you see personal elements that need resolution, correction and resetting.  Obstacles and delays may hinder progress, yet these are the same challenges that successful people in the past conquered.  (Sun sesquiquadrate Saturn)

Thursday, April 21
Fruitful outcomes to social and cultural occasions.  Cordiality and good fortune in relationships. (Venus biquintile Jupiter)

Friday, April 22
Full Moon April 22
A fully illuminated Moon sheds beneficial influences upon an already active and interesting day.  Personal development and relationships are favored. (Sun biquintile Mars, Venus conjunct Uranus)

Saturday, April 23
No peaking influences

Sunday, April 24
Movement in relationships may yield significant developments.  (Venus sesquiquadrate Mars, Sun sesquiquadrate Node)

Monday, April 25
Breakdown may precede new life developments.  Charisma will be strong, be careful to retain conscientiousness.  (Sun tridecile Pluto)

Tuesday, April 26
Relationships may figure prominently in our lives, assuming larger than life dimensions.  However the dreams may be lost in the mist, fog, or murkiness. Behaviors and feelings may be softened by mysterious influences.  (Sun opposite Juno, Mercury quintile Neptune, Venus semisquare Neptune)

Wednesday, April 27
Aggression may be amplified or accentuated in situations and interactions, giving possibly turbulent starts to worthwhile initiatives.  (Sun quincunx Mars)

Thursday, April 28, Mercury Stationary Retrograde
Interactions and daily affairs may be plagued by minor mishaps, messages may get crossed or mis-received.  Traditionally this is the approximate three Mercury retrograde period where commencing new projects is discouraged because of the potential for things to go awry. In other areas the uses and allocations of precious resources could be squandered; i.e. don’t spend, eat or drink too much.  (Venus sesquiquadrate Jupiter)

Friday-Saturday, April 29-30
Attitudes and dispositions may seem soured by conditions or circumstances.  The breakthrough to proactivity from despair will be the challenge of these two days.  (Sun biquintile Saturn, Mercury quintile Neptune, Venus sesquiquadrate Saturn)