Commonsense
Almanac - April, 2010
By Ben Commons - www.Commonsensetools.com
“Everything
has rhythm, everything dances.”
-Maya Angelou
Tips
for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance
of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as
due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s
context. Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance,
so it's wise to read ahead and ritual up.When we proactively manifest
these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.
So April won’t
be pushing us around too hard until the month is almost over.
The theme seems to be holding a steady and healthy rhythm. We
have to move with it but we shouldn’t be trying to move
beyond the natural unfolding: Don’t walk through the door
before it opens. This will also enhance our awareness of the opportunities
coming to us.
Mercury moves
into Taurus on the 2nd, slowing the pace down
a bit. The focus is on preservation of progress and keeping the
mind steady and practical. It’s very supportive of taking
time in nature to enjoy the natural wonders of our world.
Venus squares
Mars on the 3rd. This could be extremely productive
physically and energetically. However, temptations to squander
this energy with frustration and obstinacy may arise. Make sure
to do something active to channel this; hiking would be perfect.
Venus trines
Pluto on the 4th, giving us space to lighten
our load and find more depth of appreciation in the day to day
glory. If things still need clearing, then don’t neglect
this opportunity.
Mercury squares
Mars on the 4th, enticing us towards creative
action or threatening restlessness. The crux is to avoid wielding
our blades unproductively.
Mercury trines
Pluto on the 6th. This would be a good time to
keep slogging through the backlogs of our worlds. But don’t
push yourself too hard, there’s always time for taking care.
Pluto stations
retrograde on the 6th, starting us down another
dredge and purge program. This round seems to be focusing on us
focusing purely on what we can work with and more deeply releasing
the rest. This especially refers to regret fantasies, self-doubt
issues and the wussy way of projecting our ‘why nots’
onto others.
Saturn retrogrades
back into Virgo on the 7th, for its final passage
in Virgo for a while to come. In other words, it’s time
to relax our perfection standards, give ourselves some more credit,
and cut a little more slack. This also supports solidifying our
tendencies towards being of service to those working through their
stuff; as well as pulling our own metaphoric weeds up by the roots.
The New Moon
is in late Aries on the 14th. This is ideal for
planting new seeds, both literally and intentionally. Embrace
patience and trust in the natural timing of the world; this is
the key to seeing our intentions through. We also can’t
really know what’s to come, so free your mind of unanswerable
inquiries.
Venus sextiles
Jupiter on the 17th, stimulating the need to
get out there and join the party. Do something entertaining by
connecting with friends, or maybe seeing an interesting film.
Relax.
Mercury stations
retrograde, also on the 17th. This will be a
rather intense retrograde for Mercury as things will tend to go
either too slow or too fast and leave us rather exhausted and
slightly bewildered. We don’t have to be frantic, but keep
in mind that the energy around us is likely to be frenetic.
The Sun sextiles
Neptune on the 18th, calling us to be more centered
through lessening our attachments to outcomes, especially those
involving ourselves. We must follow the currents if we are to
go anywhere significant with any fuel left in us.
The Sun moves
into Taurus on the 19th, bringing things down
to Earth another notch. Tend to the gardens of your life; don’t
rest on your laurels. Just remember that some fruits take quite
some time to fully develop and then ripen.
Venus squares
Neptune and sextiles Uranus on the 23rd, allowing
us to reassess our values and reaffirm our appreciations. This
configuration could have us wanting guarantees where they don’t
exist. Proceed with appreciation for the birds already in the
hand; the rest will come in their own due time.
Venus trines
Saturn on the 24th, again bringing up the issue
of progress and how much our growth is being see externally. However,
the world often makes us wait in tantalizing agony for the full
embodiments of our efforts.
Venus moves
into Gemini, also on the 24th, bringing some
shifts in mind and course. The idea of this passage is to love
and embrace the middle ground while appreciating the surrounding
polarities.
Mercury squares
Mars on the 25th, bringing recent issues to a
head, hopefully for resolution and undoing of less-than-optimal
momentum. As almost always, it is better to selfadjust and work
through our own energetic/mental hang-ups without dragging others
into the fray, even if they’re already involved.
The Sun trines
Pluto on the 25th, asking us to release our fears
and externalizations and enthrone ourselves as the centers of
our worlds. Just don’t expect that others to view it the
same way from their perspective.
Saturn opposes
Uranus on the 26th, pushing us forcefully to
break out of our oldest and most entrenched ruts. If we don’t
make the commitment ourselves, the world will surely create some
way of blasting through our resistance. If we’ve had our
noses to the personal-maturation grindstone then this could starkly
contrast the relative mobility and freedom of our current situation
compared to just a year ago. While it’s true that the work
is never done, it’s encouraging to move into freshness and
feel the accomplishment within.
The Full Moon
falls in early Scorpio on the 28th. This could
be quite an emotionally intense lunation. As per usual, avoid
unnecessary drama and stay focused on learning from the past so
that the lessons can evolve into far worthier vistas.
Mercury conjoins
the Sun on the 28th. Resolve to undo unhealthy
mental programming.
Stop the hamster
on the wheel. Get yourself out of the way and smell the flowers.
What choice do we have but to follow the rhythm and see what we
can make of it.
Well, April
is about as mild as things are getting this season so hopefully
we are all using it to fortify our positions and strengthen our
resolves. It is about rhythm, or maybe we should be calling it
cadence: Maybe like biking up a mountain when the muscles should
seek to align with the willingness/rhythm of the heart. The smoothness
of the transitions is crucial to long-term energy responsibility.
More simply, keep on, keeping on.
Ben is available Thursdays, April 1, 8, 22 & 29, 1-5pm,
for your personal astro-strategy session at:
Paradise
Found, 17 East Anapamu Street • Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805 564 3573 • www.paradise-found.net
