HOROSCOPES: astrology with Lilith Rocha

Aries MAR 21-APR 21

The Aries new moon on April 5 lights up your personal power portal – it’s time to plan what you want between now and the October Aries full moon – but does some conscious closure and completion need to happen first? Aries’ natural drive and foresight make you influencers, so when pitching pioneer ideas this month, let others know what’s in it for them. As outer planets slow life’s tempo from sprint to marathon, practise the mantra: “All the way to heaven is heaven…” Avoid showdowns with bureaucracy during mid-month’s firestorms, but when audacious, bodacious Venus in Aries hooks up with Mercury on the 21st, watch out world!

Taurus APR 22-MAY 21

As Uranus, the planet of reinvention, meets the zodiac’s month of starting over, expect a multi-layered declutter of physical stuff, mental attitudes and emotional baggage. While letting go isn’t the easiest ask for Taurans, why resist this wonderful chance to move on from a stale situation or mindset to a new chapter in your life story? Taurans are used to providing for others, but if mid-month Mars has you blowing off steam and processing fiery emotions as several planets begin their periodic backspin, then slow down, unplug, chill out and replenish your own energy with people and activities that nurture your earthy spirit.

Gemini MAY 22-JUN 22

Mars in Gemini sees you twins at your most original and inventive, and while mid-April enthusiasm is highly contagious, it can also activate your personal kryptonite of falling for promise and potential. When something sounds too good to be true, it often is, so be quick to question, slow to commit and cautious about pooling resources. If the late month triple retrogrades of Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn bring on what Gemini Bobby Dylan called a restless hungry feeling, take it as your cue to compose a list of things that make you happy and another of what you do every day. Compare lists, adjust accordingly.

Cancer JUN 23-JUL 23

Be alert for opportunities around the April 5 new moon to update your professional GPS. On the private side, for the first fortnight Venus and Mercury synchronised swimming with Neptune in fellow water-sign Pisces promises melting romantic moments, though moods may fluctuate more than usual. If midmonth interactions get power trippy there’s no need to suppress strong emotions, just try not to act on them till temperatures cool. Late month’s planetary patterns make emotional resets easier and launch a productive period for taking an objective, eyes-wide-open look at partnerships, making relationship repairs and having a career rethink.

Leo JUL 24-AUG 23

April’s astral alignments are so incendiary you could set off smoke alarms – or leave scorch marks if disagreements escalate into blazing conflagrations. In which case, while Mercury’s sparking wild and wonderfully innovative ideas, channel that passion into a worthwhile project. Ensure a secure support team by fact checking and number crunching: not everyone’s cup of fun, but your majesties know how to delegate. By full moon on the 19th plans come together and take off, or else reach critical mass and evaporate. Either way, sizzle or fizzle, late month retrogrades caution all savvy leaders to pause and review.

Virgo AUG 24-SEP 23

Yes, it’s frustrating when you know what needs to be done but everyone’s too busy talking to listen and it feels like herding cats. Besides which Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto the shadow planet all heading into winter hibernation can activate your own special brand of sabotaging inner dialogue. Neutralise these undermining voices with your healing Virgo superpowers: personal reflection, streamlining and refining, making time to enjoy life’s natural pleasures. Fortunately April’s upside has zero tolerance for no-fun negativity; not with mischief-making Mercury and sassy glamazon Venus in Aries lifting the limbo bar to give frisky frolics a leg-up.

Libra SEP 24-OCT 23

Welcome to makeover month Venusians, as the April new moon in your partnership house urges a relationship reboot, attracts the other half of a dynamic duo, or returns interest on a favour you did for someone on their way up the career ladder. As Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn set up resilience-building roadblocks, look at developing different ways to get your message across, revamp your brand and address those issues swept under the carpet. This year’s rare second Libra full moon on the 19th is your personal power point, when diplomacy and elegant restraint win the day in tricky interplays.

Scorpio OCT 24-NOV 22

The robust new moon on April 5 fizzes with organised efficiency, health initiatives and downsizing – all excellent prep for when late month planetary retrogrades expect your personal universe to be in order with extra clear instructions, agreements and communications on every level from face time to social media. Others will be talking off the Richter, but that’s when Scorpios know it pays to listen. And to ditch sarcastic remarks, along with the words should/shouldn’t from your personal vocabulary, if you want to limit the mid-month frustration and aggravation. The full moon of

April 19 shines on a final decision to go all the way or call it a day.

Sagittarius NOV 23–DEC 21

Use the first week of April to clarify what you want – and definitely don’t – in relationships, friendships and business connections. When Jupiter retreats in your sign during week two for a four-month rethink till August, you won’t feel like shifting into low gear just as you’re hitting your stride – but for successful long-term planning, time aside is required to integrate certain inconvenient truths. Late month Mercury and Venus in fellow fire-sign Aries have you chatty and charming, though others will lose interest if they feel they’re being lectured to. April’s best takeaway? Reframing obstacles as opportunities.

Capricorn DEC 22-JAN 20

Ah April, month of heart-melting moments, generous camaraderie, exuberant enthusiasms and creative inspiration. That’s until the midmonth unleashes who’s-boss-of-what power plays, and late in the month heavyweights Pluto and Saturn retrograde in your sign with a clear call for introspection and some serious pondering in the cave of self-reflection. While making friends with your shadow self mightn’t be anyone’s idea of a good time, think of it as a necessary renovation: a reshaping and updating to the latest version of Capricorn 2019 that hones your skills, refines personal mastery and attracts valuable connections.

Let the journey begin…

Aquarius JAN 21-FEB 19

You’re busy thinking outside the box (what box?), keen to get the party started on a really doozy idea, but moving too fast could mean missing some essential details. Proceed with measured steps, because an all-out approach could crash and burn later in the month when Saturn and Pluto, settling for a long stay in the transformational area of your chart, pose unexpected questions. The answers to which come either in silence or focused work on something you love: so take as much time as you can manage this month to let your wildly creative nature have its way, and your inventive muse her say.

Pisces FEB 20-MAR 20

Ask for peoples’ opinions this month and you’ll get them – even when you don’t ask – though assertive April’s upside will certainly strengthen your ability to say no. The cosmic coalition of alchemical Neptune, dreamy Venus and poetic Mercury in Pisces are ingredients for an early month love fest, but when the planets of charm and commerce hit combustible, impatient Aries later in April and a trio of outer planets lock into a holding pattern, that’s your cue to pull back, downshift, sit tight, stay calm and go with the flow as the next few months perform their existential surgery.