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 Relationships and values are in the spotlight this month with the planet Venus featuring very prominently. Venus retrograde squares Pluto then turns direct and conjuncts Mars. Venus also is the ruler of Libra and Taurus, the signs of the April Full Moon and New Moon.

 Neptune also comes into focus as it returns to the position it was in when it was 'discovered' in September 1846. This Neptune return suggests Neptune has 'come of age' and is ready to move to a new level.

 Term 2 Astrology classes start the week beginning April 20. There is still space if you are interested in beginning or resuming a study of this fascinating subject.

 Blessings

Christine

 Christine Rothwell

' 03 9584 6532

Email: christiner@netspace.net.au

Website: www.christinerothwell.com

 Contents

1. April Overview
2. 2009 Astrology Classes.

·        Beginner's / First Year on Thursday nights

·        Intermediate / Second Year on Monday nights

·        Advanced / Third Year one Saturday afternoon per month

3. Consultations and Gift Certificates

1.    April Overview

 Relationships are highlighted powerfully during the first part of this month with Pluto square Venus, but Venus is active all month, inviting us to become more conscious of our values and our relating patterns. 

• Venus retrograde: March 7 to April 18
• Venus conjunct the Sun: New Cycle: March 28
• Venus invisible from March 21 to April 3-4 after which Venus reappears as the Morning Star

 Whenever a planet goes retrograde it offers us a new perspective, a doorway opens and we have the opportunity to develop a more objective viewpoint. Venus retrograde challenges us to develop more objectivity and consciousness about our personal values, relationships, finances, desires and self worth. This review process may have crystallized around the beginning of the new cycle - March 28.

 Pluto squares Venus for the first week of April, bringing added urgency and intensity to this review process. This aspect invites us all to do some serious soul searching and face deeply buried wounds and fears that may be ready to surface. Pluto invites us to find the courage to enter his Underworld domain of our personal unconscious, face our fears around intimacy and release old wounds that may hinder a deepening of intimacy with others and our self. If we resist this process then we may find ourselves involved in power struggles and the [unconscious] need to control others in order to feel safe. Whatever emerges at this time may return for further assessment in early May when Venus once more squares Pluto.

 On a collective level this suggests possible power struggles around values. There may be a reluctance to let go old ideals even though they have obviously served their purpose. Again, whatever is set in motion now, [or was set in motion around February 6 when the first of these three aspects formed], may not reach resolution until early May when the last of the three squares between Pluto and Venus takes place. The G20 gathering will no doubt have more than its fair share of power games and manipulation.

 April 5 sees Mars oppose Saturn [in effect for a few days either side], challenging us to take responsibility [Saturn] for our actions [Mars].  The potential here is for disciplined action and the setting of healthy boundaries, but the down side is a high sensitivity to criticism and rejection. We may all be feeling a bit more insecure at this time so try be to gentle with yourself and others. If you feel like giving someone you care for some negative feed-back do so from the heart, and if you can't, maybe let it go. If there is a situation where you feel disempowered, take some steps to empower yourself. Remember, there is a big difference between assertion and aggression.

 April 10 is the Full Moon in the sign of Libra. [Easter Full Moon]  The Libra Full Moon continues the relationship theme with the Full Moon taking place in the Venus ruled sign of Libra. The Libra Full Moon always invites us to balance our needs for relationship, fairness, social justice, harmony, co-operation, and compromise [Moon in Libra] with our need for independence, autonomy, adventure and the freedom to do our own thing in our own way [Sun in Aries]. The trine from Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron to the Full Moon may facilitate some breakthroughs and positive shifts in the heavy vibration that has been active around the areas of relationship and values. Venus, ruler of Libra, is conjunct Uranus and Mars, highlighting the potential for sudden breakthroughs but also calling for space to spread our wings. Relationship wounds could heal around now if we can truly come into a new balance and give the other person their freedom and room to breathe. These themes are reinforced around April 22 when Venus and Mars conjunct in Pisces. Venus is the ruler of Libra and Mars is the ruler of Aries and the two come together at the final degree of Pisces, just before the New Moon.

 Easter is always found close to the first full moon after the Autumn Equinox and spiritually it is a potent time. This lunation is a wonderful time to reflect on your life and call on the guidance of your Higher Self and Spirit Guides and Masters. In esoteric law this is a time when Christ Consciousness is powerful and the themes of divine love and resurrection [death, letting go, rebirth] come powerfully into focus. If you have the opportunity to meditate on these themes you may experience some powerful insights. This energy is intensified by April's Neptune return.

 April 11 sees Neptune return to the position it was in when it was discovered in 1846. This is significant on a number of levels - spiritually, politically and socially. Firstly it dramatically highlights the power of the Easter Full Moon. The planet Neptune is the ruler of Pisces, which is the astrological indicator for both the Ascension process and Christ Consciousness. [The Piscean fish is also the symbol for the Christian faith.] Neptune rules spirituality, altered states of consciousness, the collective unconscious, the transcendent realm and the akashic records as well as the creative and imaginal worlds. These realms may be more accessible to those who are already receptive and many others could find their sensitivity heightened. Whenever a planet returns to its natal or original position it intensifies the energy and provides us with the opportunity to shift this archetypal energy to a new level.

 Neptune was first sighted in September 1846 and when it was located at 25 Aquarius 53 retrograde. Neptune takes 164 years to orbit the Sun and therefore the zodiac so it has now completed one full transit of the entire zodiac. Neptune's return to its discovery position will occur three times over the next year: April 11, July 17 and February 8, 2010. The July date could be the most powerful as this is the only time Neptune will be retrograde, the same position it was when it was discovered. Through-out 2009 and 2010 Neptune conjuncts Jupiter and Chiron in Aquarius, providing a very optimistic and hopeful image to counter balance the heaviness of Pluto in Capricorn and Saturn opposite Uranus. This triple conjunction takes place in May so I will devote some time to exploring it in the next newsletter.

  Neptune's discovery in 1846 was synchronous with the rise of the modern spiritualist movement, the discovery of early anaesthetics, the Romantic Movement in art, music and literature, the publication of the Communist Manifesto and the abolition of slavery in the US. [This happened a few years later when Neptune moved into Pisces] All of these events reflect the idealist, spiritual and humanitarian energy of Neptune in Aquarius. In 2009 and 2010 Neptune has comes full circle around the zodiac and returns to the point where it first became visible and conscious for humanity. This suggests a revisiting of these themes and the potential to take them all to a new level. I will write more on this as the process unfolds.

Thanks to Michele Finey, an astrologer friend of mine, for alerting me to this phenomenon. You can read Michele's newsletter [and subscribe and look at her new book on the Zodiac] at www.celestialinsight.com.au

 The New Moon in Taurus on April 25 continues the Venusian theme for April as Taurus [and Libra] is ruled by the planet Venus. This looks a very healing New Moon and is a great time to set new intentions around all things Taurean and Venusian such as the body/ diet, finances, values, relationships, self esteem.  The Full Moon contains a kite configuration with the potent tail of the kite being formed by the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune. The kite formation has Ceres, The Goddess of Fertility at the apex, in supportive aspect to the Sun/Moon and Pluto and the Black Moon. This talks of the possibility to let go and share what is most precious to us, creating space for new creativity and fertility in our lives.

 Ceres, Pluto and the Black Moon all teach us about the power of letting go.   All three have a strong connection with the Dark Moon Mysteries that teach about needing to share our gifts and what is most precious to us as well as letting go and sacrificing whatever holds us back from realizing our potential. Honour this process with a visit to the Dark Moon aspect of your psyche to see what is stirring. Offer up your pain, fear and darkness with the intention to let it go in order to access the healing power of the Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune conjunction.

 New Moons and Full Moons are both powerful times to reflect, meditate and create simple rituals to set new intentions [New Moon] and become more aware Full Moon]. There are some simple rituals for the lunations on my website. Look under Articles and click on Working with The Moon at www.christinerothwell.com

 

 Blessings

Christine Rothwell 

Courses, Workshops and Classes

 Contact Christine on 9584 6532 or christiner@netspace.net.au for a brochure.

 

 

Blessings

Christine Rothwell