HOROSCOPES: astrology with Lilith Rocha

Happy birthday, and welcome to the real beginning of your year, pioneering, enterprising Aries. Energetic Sun and quick-change Uranus in your sign are raring to ramp up the action, but for the first half of April Mercury’s spinning its wheels. Arians are advised to plan, strategise and practise the mantra of Mars in Capricorn: give it time. Then, when mid-month Mercury spurts forward in tandem with Aries fresh-start new moon, it’s all mojo motivation and game on. In a nutshell – which is how Arian’s like their information – the first two weeks of April are a time to wait, the last two to accelerate. TAURUS •APR 22- MAY 21 April is pretty much a garden of earthly delights with Venus in one of her favourite playgrounds for sensual pleasures, your sign. Unfortunately, Aries influences are still firing up Taurean appetites, libidos and tempers. Since nobody wants a Bull seeing red, should your temper begin to ignite, close your eyes and breathe in blue, your soul-soothing hue. If the mid-month moon in your house of transitions closes a chapter, remember it is your opportunity for a new beginning. When late-April Venus flits into social Gemini and the Sun in Taurus polishes your personal law of attraction, it’s time to glam up for those significant business meetings and lunches. GEMINI •MAY 22- J UN 22 Your forté is exchanging information and ideas, but with the plant of communications, Mercury, retrograde it definitely pays to be discreet about what you share and not to make assumptions about anything. Now is the time to recheck and confirm arrangements. This game plan changes mid-month when Mercury surges forward alongside a projectile new moon. If you catch yourself launching into speed mode, take a moment to pause before it’s a case of more haste, less speed. There will be nothing casual at all about end of month’s deep and meaningful full moon, which asks for much more than a passing thought on something you need to take seriously. CANCER • JUN 23-JUL 23 The lunar movements of the new and full moon are always pivotal points in any month for the Crab clan, with April’s mid-month new moon fast-forwarding its energetic holding pattern to finally resolve a business matter that has been lagging. Then, in the searchlight of April 30th full moon’s power surge, you will not be able to hide the way that you feel. If this depth bomb provokes an emotional showdown, resist any temptation to go over the top with emotion because what is really needed is your kind, caring, nurturing Cancerian love. What has love got to do with it? As you already know, Cancer, absolutely everything …

LEO •J UL 24- AUG 23

April’s Sun in simmering, shimmering Aries has you alert, alight and shining bright. But be warned: inroads on someone else’s limelight could evoke volcanic reactions in nanoseconds. While this audacious month supports bold requests, it does make discipline difficult. Mid-month new moon and full moon on April’s last day are both possible hot spots for diva dummy spits – in which case stay away from the fray, Majesties, because a trip to drama city could drive you to the verge of burnout. Instead, focus on April’s most rewarding activities: fine-tuning fundamentals and having creative fun doing it.

VIRGO •AUG 24- SE P 23

Many astrologers consider Virgo the zodiac’s healing sign, upholding standards of spiritual generosity and intellectual honesty – well, someone has to do it. The healthy medicine you offer this flagrant, inspirational and often haphazard month is discrimination, critical discernment and attention to detail. If April’s hot and heavy cosmic cocktail triggers emotional tremors in yourself or in others, bring these highly charged feelings down to earth – starting with your own. Pay-offs? Be rewarded when the exuberant mid-month new moon pops the cork on the interesting beginnings of a new Virgo story, and on the 30th when the full moon dials up serious steam, smoke and smoulder for intimate hook-ups.

LIBRA • SEP 24-OCT 23

Full of purpose and push, April comes on strong and can’t seem to find the dimmer switch. As the zodiac’s mediators, you’d best get ready to soothe bruised egos, comfort the confused and pacify the cranky. Retro Mercury’s mixed messages clarify around mid-month when the new moon’s inspirational (and outrageously flirtatious) conversations unlock doors of assistance and open a brand new can of helpful connections. Don’t dismiss the possibility of joining forces with the competition – though of course as a Libran, you wouldn’t.

All up, it’s a perfect month to fulfil your Venusian mission of promoting peace on earth.

SCORPIO •OCT 24- NOV 22

As the winds of change alternate between pleasant zephyr and cyclone, this month’s red-hot energy sizzles. We can all get carried away in the heat of the moment, even Your Coolness, so do take care not to leave scorch marks. The galvanic mid-month new moon finds you either rebooting something full strength or calling it quits. The end of April’s full moon in your deep-water sign is called the Buddha Moon because it’s about detachment, which right now means deciding on core priorities so you don’t waste time getting what you think you want, then realising it wasn’t worth the effort.

SAGITTARIUS • NOV 23-DEC 21

This month’s planetary input from Aries and turbo-charged Mars is balanced against a brace of outer planetary retrogrades. Unless you can get your own internal energies working on friendly terms, this could feel like headbutting a brick wall of restrictions. Ouch. Sagittarians being the zodiac’s ever-curious students of life, you’ll understand the Taoist concept of natural action that doesn’t involve struggle: a philosophy of not rushing to do which quietens and relaxes your mind so that energy can align effortlessly with the greater flow of life. Check out the Chinese concept of Wu Wei, and you’ll be glad you did as the month unfolds.

CAPRICORN • DEC 22-JAN 20

Importantly for Capricorns, Saturn and Pluto, planets of kismet and karma, are heading into retrograde retreat in your sign midway through April – but more about that next month. Meanwhile, Mars is busy designing your future, with April set to test any load-bearing areas in your life that may need strengthening. You’re always prepared to do what it takes, and this month it takes flexibility as in easing up on the determination to make things work your way. Try relaxing and considering; if not this, then what? Possibly a lot more options and way less stress.

AQUARIUS • JAN 21-FEB 19

While your visionary concepts will be welcomed, they probably won’t gain traction during the first half of April, when a synergistic vibe is hard to find and “round tabling” is about as successful as herding cats. While quantum leaps are your preferred style, as a fixed sign you know slow and steady also gets you there, so focus your attention on testing the waters with a few low-risk moves. While Mercury’s mid-month shift in the sign of innovation delights your techy love for the cutting edge, a systematic step-by-step process is still necessary.

PISCES • FEB 20-MAR 20

In astro circles this is considered the best time to be a Pisces, with your planet ruler Neptune in residence.

Add April’s Sun Aries-Mars Capricorn acceleration and things that formerly seemed impossible are suddenly doable, without stress or strain. This is especially true during mid-month’s entrepreneurial rush, when you’ll feel less like dipping a toe, and will be more inclined to the headlong dive. This month is about authentic form; with Neptune as your tour guide, poetry, archetypes and enduring stories all have resonance. As poet Fred LaMotte puts it: Be passionate about your work, even if no one else is. The cosmos is impoverished when you are not You.