April 15 brings the first of the month’s two eclipses. Although eclipses occur in pairs twice a year — the next pair is in October — because April’s are taking place during a period of dramatic change and upheaval, they’ll bring dramas to a peak, just like a cliffhanger in your favourite TV series.
If the internet is to be believed, the planets will battle it out in the heavens and we’ll suffer from the fallout here on earth. Some might think the best tactic to adopt for surviving April’s perils is to stock up on groceries, get a stack of videos and ignore the telephone, television and the doorbell.
How it works
Eclipses are turning points and can break a stalemate.
April’s anxieties are roused by an excess of what astrologers refer to as “adverse planetary aspects”. Instead of things going smoothly, these complicate matters, bring challenges and, sometimes, disappointments.
What’s more, these planetary dramas don’t just indicate ups and downs in the lives of individuals, they have an equally disruptive impact on business, especially stocks and shares, politics and even the earth, in the form of bizarre weather and earthquakes.
There’s an art to coping with this planetary onslaught. These powerful shifts influence each sign, and each individual, differently. This depends on which areas of their world and life are accented by heavenly events.
However, there’s also a significant element of free will; those who decide to turn even challenging situations into an opportunity to learn, increase their control as events unfold and benefit later — both from their experiences and increased self-awareness.
Think of April’s planetary activity as if it were a chessboard; each piece moves in its own unique way and has different powers. It’s the same with the planets.
It started in the first week, when the Sun clashed with the main planetary players: Jupiter (expansion), Uranus (innovation and the unexpected) and Pluto (secrets, power struggles and toxins).
This led to unsettling events in the form of sudden changes, disappointments and revelations. Try to rein these in, and you’ll struggle. Be inquisitive, approach events with flexibility and you’ll learn a lot — and might even enjoy it.
During April’s second week the hot-headed but courageous Mars joins the drama, with more clashes. You can either stand your ground firmly and calmly or get wound up. Lose your cool, however, and you’ll lose your power to negotiate.
You need to understand how this complex month works. And so whatever you decide or organise before the solar eclipse on April 29, will be done with yet more potential changes in mind. Then, instead of worrying when those changes arise, you’ll ride them as if you were surfing a world class wave. You’ll enjoy the thrill and exhilaration of the moment — and focus on details later.
What’s next?
By early May, the landscape of your life, that of others, and the world around you will be substantially altered, if not, transformed. Acknowledge there’s no going back and take advantage of May’s far more congenial planetary setup to explore new options, alter your perspective, rethink elements of your life — and befriend the future.
Shelley Von Strunckel is a UK-based astrologer who writes the exclusive Star Gazing column in tabloid!
