Spring comes every year-starts with the Equinox. Sun moves in Aries and crosses from the Southern declination to the Northern, and begins to gain strength. March 20, the Sun begins to grow stronger and our daylight hours are on the increase. The equinox is the day of balance, and after it the Sun gains ground while the nocturnal Moon looses it. This is our active, yang, half of the year.
Mercury stands still on the 19th and then moves retrograde-at 14°Aries-from our earth-bound perspective for three weeks. All in all Mercury spends over two months in Aries. What are we willing to do and figure out for ourselves with limited counsel from anyone else? I have an article on this matter on this website, so won't belabour this point.
Venus moves into Aries on the 22nd and on the 30th of March has a superior conjunction with the Sun-Full Venus at 11°Aries. The day prior to that Venus meets up with backward moving Mercury at the same spot. On the 8th of April we have an eclipse at 19°.
Mercury is retrograde, that typically is said to mean that we should not sign contracts or instigate new beginnings. There is so much action in an 8-degree stretch of the Zodiac that it will be difficult not to act! What to do or not to do-that is the pressing question. Especially true if you have planets between 7-23°Aries or the other three cardinal signs (Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn). Let's not forget that Jupiter is retrograde at 16°Libra and Saturn just moved direct at 20°Cancer. What a delightful, t-square!
T-squares are about two opposing forces exerting pressure onto a third. Think of a volcano, or a crack in the Earth. The opposition now let's out at the point where we find stern, cautious Saturn. It feels almost palpable. Seems to scream: calculated risk, take a chance on yourself, you are capable-just plan for a few adjustments and revisions on the way. Lest we forget, Mars just spent six weeks travelling through Capricorn, so what were you anxious to get, have, work toward-are you going to give up? In July Saturn moves into Leo and we can reap rewards for our actions and choices made now.
The conservative in me screams: "Well, just avoid signing a contract until mid-April!" and his evil twin keeps whispering-for once take a chance! What did I say about this time period when it wasn't around the corner yet?
Early October 2004 we had an eclipse at the opposite point of Libra (21°). What was the new issue or event in your life back then? How could you be moving toward the future more independently with that foresight? This new Moon is about boldly going where you haven't before. It is about collecting your tools, recognizing your strengths and being innovative and pioneering. Jupiter is in Libra at the South Node this year, and the scales are not balanced. Letting go is not an option, it is more about acknowledging what you have, what you have done and building upon that. If you were born between April 4-12 and October 4-12, you are more likely to feel this one more personally. Luck happens when opportunity meets with preparation.
There is a second eclipse on April 24, 2005 - 4°Scorpio 20' - Full Moon - Moon at South Node. In October we had an eclipse at 5° Scorpio the pair for this one takes place at the end of April, both of these are lunar eclipses. The first one in October was perhaps more potent but as that time frame is fresh in our minds we can look back to see if anything happened back then. If the answer is no, then chances are nothing will take place at the end of April either. If your recollection or view is a little myopic as this event was too close, then think back to the Spring of 1986. If you were born October 26-29 or April 26-29 your Sun is singed by this eclipse. It is a nudge to move on into uncharted territory. If you know the house position in your chart, look to that for clues as to what this might entail. In the 9th for example, this might have you moving to a distance or bring about interesting travels; perhaps just a lot of contact with in-laws who also belong to this part of the chart. Full Moons always represent culmination, and letting go of the past.
"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven." —Karen Sunde
This Venus cycle launched in the Spring of 2001 culminates with this seemingly brief event. In order to think about what this might mean to you, think about what you were focused on all Spring long in 2001. Venus spent four long months in Aries back then, did you start something? If you have worked toward that goal, now is the time to reap those rewards. The time frame in reality is the weeks around the Full Venus. This can be a particularly auspicious time if you have a planet at 7-12° Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. Venus is always a benefic planet - even when she moves retrograde, which takes place later this year at which time her reign as a brilliant Evening Star concludes.
The shorter nine month cycle of Venus as the Morning Star also concludes at this date. Venus becomes the Evening Star on March 30, for nine months, or perhaps we should call her Sophia of Wisdom. Venus represents illumination, and she is at her most brilliant as an Evening Star. The symbol of her cycle is the pentagram, which is spirit over the four elements. The Spirit point is the quintessence, which represents the purest or the most perfect. The Venus cycle is about bringing us ever closer to our own beautiful spirit or essence.
The previous time line for the Full Aries Venus was March of 1997. Venus like the Moon only displays the same side to us here on Earth, the other remains hidden. Our inward journeys are not public, and this evening star phase starts an inner journey, so that we can assess what we desire for ourselves from here on out. Unless, this position of the Zodiac links with your chart, you may not notice much. The New Venus is more action and activity oriented going after what we desire. During the Evening Star phase we are more focused on what is good for us personally, and with whom do we want to relate to from this point onward. I think the biggest difference between a Morning Star and Evening Star is that the Morning one is more materialistic, desiring things and accomplishments and those Taurus related things such as money, possessions and things that satisfy the senses. The Evening Star is more related to our relationships and to what we need in order to feel content, but not in terms of material things rather whom do we wish to spend time.
I have taken a bold step and set up a PayPal account, so now you may charge your personal reading onto your credit card. I have listed the price of consultation right on the front page and put the same information with my bio and onto the services page. It's not a secret this is my lifework!
You may also order astrological reports, charts and astromaps directly from me. Maybe I should have done this sooner, but... I have also decided that I will offer 'answers' to short queries via email for a modest fee. I did not stipulate the fee, just in case someone sent me an inquiry please tell me all the details of my life from birth to grave. But email me your question and I'll email you the cost. To save you a click an hour-long, taped telephone consultation is $116 (the prices are quoted in US dollars, unless you are in Canada, consider it quoted in our Pesos; which incidentally are gaining purchasing power).
I have submitted 30 percent of my Venus book to the publisher; keep your fingers crossed for me. The material is coming together nicely, and I still have lots to write, but wanted to just do a quick cycle notes and news bulletin for you. I am also putting together an Astrology 101 CD, which I hope to have ready mid-year if not sooner.
I will be travelling a bit this year. Edmonton second weekend of June, August the ISAR conference in Chicago and October to Toronto and Saint Catharines. The details are on my events page—will post the details in the next few days.
© Anne Massey 2005