heavenly bodies // april 29 - may 5
☾ lunar forecast + venus in taurus + mars in aries
This week the Moon is waning in light, softly fading from the waning gibbous phase on Monday all the way down to its last crescent on Saturday. When Luna is on the waning side of her light cycle and darkness is increasing, the energetic signature of events tends to be more yin — it’s a time for turning inward rather than outward, as well as for follow-through, wrap-up, and release. Alongside these themes, Venus and Mars are both entering their springtime home signs of Taurus and Aries, respectively. These ingresses are a welcome and beneficial change of pace; when planets are in their signs of rulership, their topics tend to be easier to work with.
Monday | Planetary Day: Moon ☾
The Moon travels through Capricorn II for most of the day, sending out a sextile to Saturn in Pisces and a square to Mercury in Aries. Capricorn II is a decan that corresponds with the III of Pentacles card, and so we might be well-served today by attending to shared projects or making progress on pre-existing commitments. If miscommunication or conflict arises, avoid doubling down or feeling defeated today, especially if a circumstance isn’t conforming to your ideal vision — Mercury, planet of language and ideas, is still working through its retrograde shadow degrees in Aries, and is currently ruled by Mars, who is conjunct with Neptune in the romantic last degrees of Pisces (X of Cups). Mars-Neptune can be a great influence for acting on inspiration, but it can also just as easily lead to martyrdom and feelings of depletion when things don’t go our way. Early in the morning, Venus will enter Taurus, where she’ll stay until May 23rd. Venus’ auspices include love, sex, beauty, art, aesthetics, pleasure, leisure time, and friendship — and while she’s at home in earthy Taurus, we may feel more inclined to slow down, narrow our focus to what we really want, beautify our surroundings, and to enjoy life’s rich pageant of the senses.
Tuesday | Planetary Day: Mars ♂
Luna will pass through Capricorn III in the morning and then enter Aquarius I, squaring Venus in Taurus and forming a conjunction with Pluto in Aquarius in the afternoon. Mars will enters Aries at 11:32am EST. Luna’s movement through the decans corresponds with the images of IV of Pentacles card (Capricorn III) and the V of Swords (Aquarius I). Today we might need to grapple with the limits of material satisfaction and/or question a zero-sum approach to a problem. In the IV card, the figure grasps coins so tightly that they block off his heart, and in the V, a fierce contest of will leads to a seemingly pyrrhic victory. The gestures depicted in these two cards echo the themes of a square brewing all day between Venus and Pluto, which will perfect overnight. Venus-Pluto contacts can bring up feelings of jealousy, possessiveness, and/or an intense drive to achieve the object(s) of our desire. Happening in stubborn, fixed air and earth signs like Aquarius and Taurus, it could be easy to lock horns over an idea or take a dogmatic stance about what we want. Be careful of polarized thinking, especially around resources or power. At best, though, the impulses we feel strongly about on this day could be clarifying — helping us to feel a sense of renewal around what we’re most passionate about and willing to fight for. Try to go a little deeper underneath the places where you dig your heels in, and see what you can find about their true meaning and value to you.
Wednesday | Planetary Day: Mercury ☿
The Moon, now in her last quarter phase, will move through Aquarius II for most of the day, connecting us to the energy of the VI of Swords card. Like the hooded figures shown crossing a body of water to a distant shore, presumably leaving a chapter behind, we are now entering the last phase of the lunar cycle initiated by the (New Moon) Solar Eclipse in Aries on April 8th. It’s a good day to reflect, accept, and let go.
Thursday | Planetary Day: Jupiter ♃
In the morning, Luna will stroll into Aquarius III (VII of Swords) as Pluto stations retrograde in Aquarius I (V of Swords). We might feel a little frustrated or thwarted today by unexpected curveballs or otherwise notice our energy being pulled in many directions. Avoid engaging in power struggles and try to focus on one thing at a time. As the evening rolls in, the Moon will enter Pisces I (VIII of Cups), and begin applying to a sextile with Venus in Taurus. Allow yourself to relax.
Friday | Planetary Day: Venus ♀
Now drifting through Pisces II (IX of Cups) for most of the day, Luna will be approaching a conjunction with Saturn that perfects in the evening. During the day, Mars in Aries will sextile Pluto in Aquarius — a positive aspect for connecting intellectual depth and innovative thinking with the drive and muscle to put those ideas to work. Mars in fiery, cardinal Aries (from now until June!) is well-resourced to help us accomplish goals, assert ourselves, handle conflict, and build strength. At night, as the Moon grows closer to Saturn, we may experience some emotional heaviness that diffuses into our leisure activities, or we could find ourselves in need of comfort and simple joys because of a heavy situation. Moon-Saturn contacts can highlight small moments of challenge in the month that ask us to tolerate complexity and deepen our maturity.
Saturday | Planetary Day: Saturn ♄
The Moon, traveling in Pisces III (X of Cups) all morning and for most of the afternoon, will form a sextile to Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus and a conjunction with Neptune. This is a good day for non-linearity — letting yourself spiral and loop through activities and emotions with no particular goal in mind. The Moon will move into Aries I (II of Wands) at 4:40pm EST, catching up to Mars by late evening in a fiery conjunction. Moon-Mars aspects can put us in touch with hot emotions like anger, frustration, and impatience, especially around sensitive topics or old trigger points: try to find a healthy outlet if you experience a flare up. On the positive side, since Mars is well-placed in Aries, this visit from Luna could coincide with a burst of energy or passion that helps us tackle something meaningful.
Sunday | Planetary Day: Sun ☉
A quiet day, astrologically, as the Moon with barely a sliver of light left passes through Aries II (III of Wands) and touches the last eclipse degree. This is a good day for attending to your body, mental health, and emotional needs. Look back on the previous four weeks and take stock of your efforts — give yourself some credit.
Everytime I get the post notification for this week’s astrology I do a lil ‘yip!’
Super excited for Venus with Jupiter in Taurus 💚
This new format really serves on so many levels! The added nuance and accuracy that the decans bring along with your interpretation and synthesis of so many layers really makes this so special and helpful.