The Wheel of Light
Monthly Newsletter - April 2020
Two significant transits occur this month, both with ramifications to our individual as well as collective experience. The first is a conjunction between Jupiter and Pluto. The second is Saturn temporarily leaving Capricorn and moving into Aquarius.
The Jupiter-Pluto conjunction combines the planet of philosophy (Jupiter) with the planet that strives to decipher the mystery of life (Pluto). The higher octave potential of this aspect is to seek spiritual truth, with the possibility of having significant breakthroughs of insight and understanding. The lower octave enhances tendencies toward dogmatic “my way or the highway” thinking and behaving. Conjunctions can be times of new beginnings, and this one could initiate personal quests for deeper understanding of the nature of life and one’s place in the universal scheme of things.
Collectively, this conjunction could have significant economic implications. The last time Jupiter and Pluto were conjunct was December 2007, just before the beginning of the Great Recession. In October 2007 the stock market had achieved a peak. According to financial astrologer Ray Merriman, when Jupiter is transiting from late Sagittarius to early Capricorn there have been market crests followed within two months by a steep decline in the stock market 90% of the time. Similarly affecting the collective is the conjunction between Pluto and Saturn. The last time this occurred was 1980, the beginning of the Aids epidemic. Prior to that was 1940, the beginning of a polio epidemic. So there is a correspondence between Saturn-Pluto, health pandemics, and Jupiter-Pluto, stock market declines. This column has discussed the major alignment of the year, if not the decade, several times already. This is another time and another example of the potential significance of the transit.
The ingress of Saturn into Aquarius is temporary. Saturn entered Aquarius on March 21 and will remain there until July 1. I will address this transit more fully in my July column. The condensed version can address two primary expressions that this transit can activate. Saturn deals with direction, goals, responsibility and productivity. It can also be controlling, restrictive and authoritarian. By nature it is conservative and prefers the traditional approach and perspective. Aquarius is about the intersection between the unique individual integrating and functioning in a collective social context. One potential expression of this combination is the limitation of personal freedom by powerful forces in government and law enforcement. Another possibility, however, is for each of us to take responsibility to get more in touch with our own uniqueness and seek to integrate that part of ourselves into the social collective. These two options are not mutually exclusive. We could be working on personal freedom even as restrictive forces are also in play.
Another potential of this period, especially in an election year, is based on Aquarius tending to be extreme and revolutionary. Thus the extreme or “populist” ends of both political parties could seek to control the narrative around the election. This could leave many citizens out of the conversation, leading to even greater alienation in our country.
On a personal level, this is a good time to note those parts or our life that feel restrictive or that we are afraid to address because they depart from the “norm”. We can either take responsibility to change those parts so that they do conform or we can create a strategy that will enable us to own, explore and express those unique parts of ourselves. We could embrace aspects of ourselves in more complete or interactive ways that can prove to be extremely supportive to our growth in terms of self-awareness, even if they run counter to the standards defined as acceptable by conventional society.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Aries: This is a good time to engage in mentally stimulating activities. By extension, this it would also be beneficial to share your ideas with others. This could stimulate conversation as well as some inspiration for creative writing. Growth can come from being open minded and curious about new ideas.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Taurus: This month is a good time to focus on financial issues. Take stock of your values, assets and resources. Make sure that they are in alignment. If they aren’t, something needs to change so that your desire for long term stability and comfort can be realized.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Gemini: This is a month to focus on esthetics. This could pertain to what you look like (as in taking care of your appearance) to what you do artistically. By extension, you might find that sharing creative activities with others can prove inspiring as well as productive.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
Cancer: The full Moon in Libra on the 7th can inspire you to initiate new projects around the house. You could also get some clarity about relationships to family members. This is a good time to build bridges and find harmonious connections with those to whom you feel close.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
Leo: Early to mid-month could bring challenges with children, students or teachers. Growth can come from using those situations to clarify what your philosophy or perspective is. The important thing is not being right, but being open to sharing what you know and staying open to learning from others.
Virgo (August 24-Sept 22)
Virgo: Early to mid-month could bring a particularly strong desire to be of service. The challenge is to make sure that you are helping others in ways that conform to healthy limits and boundaries. Otherwise your sense of responsibility to help others could prove limiting and ultimately frustrating to you.
Libra (Sept 23-Oct 23)
Libra: The full Moon in Libra on the 7th could bring emotional responses to the surface. Growth can come from feeling comfortable allowing yourself to express them without concern for their affect on others. It’s OK to temporarily disturb social harmony if it allow you to let others know more about your inner self.
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Scorpio: This would be a good time to initiate a research project that will enable you to learn more about yourself in the context of the world around you. This could be the world in a social or metaphysical sense. The energy that can promote this quest will be available most of the year. This month that energy is peaking.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Sagittarius: The challenge for you this month is to look at the dark and unpleasant side of things as well as the joyful and optimistic. Being open with others about your perceptions and realizations could prove difficult, but it will enable you to bring relationships to new levels of openness, honesty and growth.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)
Capricorn: Early month is a good time to enjoy social activities with friends and colleagues. Mid to late month the focus could shift to more practical issues, such as financial security. Be open to shifting financial goals, or ways of achieving them as you become more aware of your needs, abilities and limitations.
Aquarius (Jan 21 to Feb 19)
Aquarius: Impulsive actions could lead to accidents, misunderstanding or ego conflicts. Growth can come from developing patience, both for yourself as well as others. There is a lot of physical energy available to you this month. Manifest it through grounded, practical activity so that tendencies to be abrupt can lessen.
Pisces (Feb 20-March 20)
Pisces: This is a good time to get clear with your associates. They could be personal friends or colleagues. It could be a personal or group situation. Although it may be emotionally unpleasant at times, these conversations can help you clarify your thoughts and feelings to yourself as well as to others.
Rio Olesky has been a professional astrologer since 1976. He is the author of A Manual for the Modern Mystic and Astrology and Consciousness and The Astroreader. He offers both private readings as well as classes for both beginning and intermediate students. Call Rio at 707-887-1820. Check out his website: www.starwatcher.com.