It’s that time of the year again. On Monday, messenger Mercury begins its thrice-yearly retrograde cycle. As you may know, I don’t consider Mercury Retrograde to be a particularly bad or inauspicious period.

One of the best ways to open to its offerings (and sidestep stress that may otherwise arise) is to practice an “as above, so below” orientation. During this period, as Mercury appears to be moving backwards, retracing its steps, and relating to landscapes through a different-than-usual perspective, so should we. Instead of pushing forward into new territory, we should take the time to reconsider what we know, the ways in which we access information to know what we know, and the approaches we take to both know those things and share these insights with others.

Now, I’m not saying it’s easy to do this. After all, with Mercury retrograde in Aries, fast and furious may feel more familiar than slow and steadfast. This feels notably strong given that the Sun is also in this fiery sign for most of this time (it shifts into Taurus on April 19 while Mercury goes direct on April 25) and Venus will charge into Aries on Friday.

Do what you can to move at a more leisurely speed. Take a few breathes before you jump into action. See if you can respond rather than react. Make space in your schedule so that it will be easier to go at a more relaxed pace.

Mercury Retrograde in Aries—as well as next week’s Aries Solar Eclipse—offer us an opportunity to further understand what it is that we truly want to fight for. We may discover new sources of information that can help us activate and communicate our strategies. Additionally, we may get insights that clarify the way we respond to frustrations, relate with anger, and express rage.

For more reflections on Mercury Retrograde, see this piece I wrote.

All the while, with Wednesday’s Venus/Neptune Conjunction we may find ourselves drifting into a sea of sensitivity and an ocean of emotion, notably when it comes the realms of our relationships. A desire for feeling enthralled and enrobed by love may subsume us. And while this may be beautiful, it has the possibility of leading to confusion and/or disillusion if we see things as we ideally want them to be rather than as they are.

It’s an opportunity to be transported, whether by the wafts of our dreams, the clarion call of art, or the utter grace of beauty that seems otherworldly. Paying attention to the value of borders and boundaries—when to forge them and when to release them—may feel illuminating.

With Venus then making a sweet sextile to Pluto on Saturday, we can dig more deeply into understanding just what it is that brings us pleasure. Do a survey of what you truly value. Reflect upon what it is in your life that brings you a sense of richness. And see how when something really feels worthwhile, your ability to be in pursuit of it feels so much more natural and full of ease.

Also, remember that next Monday, April 8, is the Aries New Moon Solar Eclipse. While I will write more about that next week, I did want to note a couple of things here/now. The first is that given we’re in the midst of the Eclipses (the other one was on March 25), things may feel a bit fuzzy and hazy (see here for a reminder of the energetics).

Also, during the three-plus days leading up to a New Moon, the Moon is in its balsamic phase; it’s dark and getting darker. During these days, it feels supportive to find the light within ourselves, the wisdom that resides in the deep caverns of our hearts, as this can help us find center and connection, whether to ourselves, to others, or to the space around us.

Have a lovely week!
xxStephanie

Astrological Highlights

April 1: Mercury Retrograde begins
April 3: Venus/Neptune Conjunction
April 4: Sun/North Node Conjunction
April 5: Venus enters Aries
April 6: Venus/Pluto Sextile

All days reflect Eastern Daylight Time (-4 hours GMT)

Astrological Insights: April 1 - 7, 2024