APRIL SKIES This months major signature is the Venus/Mars conjunction all month, running through Aries and

into Taurus, combining most intensely with the Moon on April 10-11, with an equally intense five planets in Aries as Mercury creeps in before Venus exits on April 14-15. As predicted, its the switchover from water to fire, and lots of passion in all things begun this month with that Venus-Mars sparkle underwriting every event. Further, Jupiter is fully underway, moving 5 degrees in a single month, racing through the middle and end of Gemini, which it will exit the week following Midsummers Eve. Add to that the first of a heavy season of three eclipses, starting with the lunar on April 25, and youve got a flashing, high-speed, changeable and expanding volatile month. As we earlier advised, March came in like a lamb and goes out as Aprils lion comes bounding in to replace it. Now, well finally begin getting a taste of Jupiter skies rolling toward rampant. The next couple of months will see major Jupiter conjunctions the news of the day. Time to pony up and place your bets. IMPORTANT MILESTONES 07 APRIL 00:58 AM Its sparkle plenty time, when love and desire are born and animal magnetism is instilled into every step you initiate. It's the perfect time for love, romance, and passion and it's also got star power written all over. If you want to start something with high profile public appeal, now's the time, so shake it, and shake it! 10 APRIL 05:36 AM NEW MOON IN ARIES This first New Moon of the astrological year is all about bounding out from the starting line the instant the signal is given. The early bird definitely gets the worm and the race is to the fleet, especially those exactly and promptly off the mark. Sharing is fine, but its leadership that counts right now, let the others fall in line as the race develops. If sudden acceleration isn't your thing, don't pull a muscle trying to sprint, because those who try too hard will find themselves flagging and out of steam all too soon. Being the leader of the pack in the first furlong often means you won't stay there, but impressive starts can make the rest of the run easy if you've got what it takes. Take the initiative, or at least ride the slipstream of the next ahead of you.

12 APRIL 11:20 AM PLUTO STATIONARY RETROGRADE The drums of destiny back off a bit until fall, grinding down the recently smashed into finer particles while leaving the next to die (positions in 12 Capricorn) either clueless or hopefully making plans to leave town until the coming storm passes. 13 APRIL 10:37 PM MERCURY ENTERS ARIES Everybody's going to be quick-witted for a few weeks, or at least will be giving it a try, which means foot-in-mouth syndrome escalates, as people speak before they think. Nevertheless, there's a sharpening of minds that cuts waste and makes for rapid fire unfoldment of ideas. Follow-through after the onrush will be the challenge. 15 APRIL 03:25 AM VENUS ENTERS TAURUS There's sweetness in simplicity in the air, and the good old pleasures haven't lost their appeal. For the next few weeks, you don't need fancy cuisine to take a nice bite out of life, or so the general opinion seems to run. If that leaves you yawning, just wait it out and live on what's around until things spice up. 17 APRIL 08:20 PM High physical energy is pushed by extra motivation and a lot can be accomplished as long as burnout is avoided. Push it to the edge and then back off before pulling a muscle. Similarly, don't let the person behind you urge you beyond your limits. The power available should be harvested, and then invested. 19 APRIL 06:04 PM SUN ENTERS TAURUS The month ahead is all about pacing, or at least that's the prevailing atmosphere. Making it work and being sure that it's going to deliver, without getting sidetracked or distracted, is the common wisdom. Doing that without getting bored may sometimes be the problem. Common beauty with an uncommon touch is the solution. 20 APRIL 05:21 AM Lightning-flash ideas lead to sudden, keen insights about how to make things work better. Leading-edge inventiveness abounds, so get your patent in while it's hot. In general, it's a good time for that "aha!" light bulb to go off over your head, so keep your mind open and write down what comes to you. 20 APRIL 07:49 AM MARS ENTERS TAURUS The need to get on with things takes a slow turn for some time to come, as actions become of necessity more deliberate, sometimes ponderously so. Although headway may be gradual all around, it's a good time for laying solid foundations and putting the sweat of your brow into investments that will last a long time.

25 APRIL 03:58 PM FULL MOON IN SCORPIO / LUNAR ECLIPSE One of the lessons of the "Flower" full Moon is that the beauty of a flower is in its mystery, and you don't really enjoy it more if you take it apart, petal by petal. Take it slow and allow personal secrets to remain so, all the while admiring the magic of the show you are both participating in and watching at the same time. The urge not only to blossom but cross-pollinate is very much in the air, and so is the pressure to behave accordingly. Choose wisely and discreetly, because indiscretion lasts longer than you may think. What you take from this period may much depend on your loyalty and trustworthiness under pressure.