for the four weeks beginning APRIL 3, 2024
CAPSOLAR (Jan 15)
Effective Jan 15, 2024 to Jan 14, 2025.
For the full interpretation of the 2024 "year chart," click here.
ARISOLAR (Apr 14)
Effective Apr 14 to Oct 17.
With next July's Cansolar dormant, Sun's Aries ingress becomes a six-month chart, describing (in combination with the Capsolar) the primary circumstances of Washington and the United States overall until mid-October. This, of course, is the season of a potentially explosive U.S. presidential campaign. We do not need astrology to tell us this much; and much of what the Arisolar describes also seems evident without the help of astrology. Nonetheless, interpreting the chart gives us a more exacting window through which to describe the times.
The chart is simple in that it reduces to two factors which, however, are mostly opposite in nature. One is Mars conjunct Saturn on the Arisolar's Zenith. The other is Jupiter conjunct Uranus on its Eastpoint. The Jupiter-Uranus aspect is closer (0°14') than Mars-Saturn (2°02'), but Saturn is the more exactly angular planet. (Saturn and Uranus are both within half a degree of an angle.)
Mars conjunct Saturn is easier to understand: It's bad, meaning harsh, hateful, hurtful, and destructive. The aspect does not specialize in any one type of event but, rather, incites destruction and hardship through any available form, such as (to name a few) declared wars, undeclared warring, murderous shootings, explosions, fiery disasters, and the spewing and spreading of hate and violence.
Jupiter conjunct Uranus is more nuanced. Though fundamentally a positive aspect, that positivity isn't invariable and often comes about through difficult circumstances. For example, it especially means ideological rebellion, which can be either peaceful or violent (and with Mars-Saturn is likely to be more violent). It signifies mass-mind desire to remap the larger social contract, primarily (but not exclusively) through liberal social and political agendas demanding wider horizons, expanded opportunities, civil liberties, and enhanced diversity; yet it also brings the recoil of strong (often violent) push-back against those agendas. At best, it signifies collective optimism and anticipation of good change. However - being consistent with radical nationalism - the aspect also has been active during the rise and growth of fascism.
Therefore, what we must expect from it is heightened activism toward (and mass interest in) ideological rebellion and extreme reframing of the social and governmental contract. Given Mars-Saturn's presence, this will not be just one ideological wave swamping its opposite. Rather, it will be savage conflict between opposing ideologies each correctly sensing that we are at a tipping point when an ideology will emerge that will determine the shape of the near (and perhaps far) future. Both sides will believe that it is "their hour," the time to fight for and secure a permanent new direction.
This will all occur in the larger context of the four outer planets' sign passages. Pluto in Capricorn means now and the next dozen-plus years as a time that people will be deciding anew how they want to be governed. Neptune, newly in Pisces, shows being swamped by waves of powerful emotion centered on people's commitment to form and hold their own reality regardless of anyone else's view. Uranus will remain in Aries nearly all campaign season, marking polarization and a favoring of strong, authoritarian government, a "strong, controlling daddy" in absolute command being favored over collective participation. In partial contrast, Saturn in Aquarius demands democratizing power with rebellion against restrictions and willingness to fight for freedom and overthrow tyranny.
That's the battle. We last saw this combination of Mars-Saturn and Jupiter-Uranus the month of Donald Trump's inauguration as president (January 2017) and in the Capsolar that set the tone of that entire year. It marked hardship and conflict, and yet the strongest, most enduring liberal activism to arise in this country in half a century. Something like that will mark the next six months, from mid-April to mid-October. This chart does not show the outcome: It defines the domestic battlefield.
Along the way, other kinds of futurism will flourish. Inventiveness, new technology and tech vision, as variations of “good science,” will engage the popular imagination. Leaps forward in the technologies of computers, space travel, and medicine are the most likely.
MEDIUM-TERM (The Bridge)
By nearly every astrological measure, April 2024 will be one of the most difficult months we've seen in years, with multiple indications of violence, loss, and hardship. Most of this is the collision of the Mars-Saturn and Jupiter-Uranus conjunctions and, especially, how dominant the Mars-Saturn is in critical charts.
Until mid-July, we are in an ongoing Sun zone (progressed Sun conjunct Cansolar Moon). By itself, this likely means simply that our current and former presidents are at the center of every news cycle. Beginning almost exactly at the mid-April Arisolar, this becomes much more specific and worrisome: Transiting Saturn squares Cansolar Ascendant beginning April 15 and continuing into early May. This shows difficult weeks, especially for anyone who is a solar figure to this country - which, I think, includes both major parties' presidential candidates and the government overall. We've lived through many such periods in the past and, while they are tough for a few weeks, we move on through them.
This time, though, things are rougher. Mars also squares Cansolar Ascendant April 11-16. This isn't likely to fully ignite until the Arisolar occurs April 14 and Saturn moves within 2° of Cansolar Nadir April 15. The immediate aftermath is likely to be volatile (as it has been many times in America's past, the third week of April being historically violent).
Mars then makes two other transits that volatilize or inflame the whole world - either igniting a few days that are much deadlier through numerous individual fires, killings, crashes, and explosions worldwide, or perhaps a single event affecting the whole world all at once. These are Mars conjunct Capsolar Moon April 20-23 and Mars conjunct progressed Capsolar Moon April 26-28. These break the month into the following zones:
- START-Apr 10: Sun
- Apr 11-14: Mars Sun
- Apr 15-16: Saturn Mars Sun
- Apr 17-19: Saturn Sun
- Apr 20-23: Saturn Mars Sun
- Apr 24-25: Saturn Sun
- Apr 26-28: Saturn Mars Sun
- Apr 29-END: Saturn Sun
- Apr 10: Mars-Saturn co (19°36' Aquarius)
- Apr 18: Mars co USA p Moon
- Apr 20: Jupiter-Uranus co (26°45' Aries)
- Apr 21: Mars co USA p Sun
- Apr 24: Mars enters PISCES
- Apr 29: Mars-Neptune co (3°48' Pisces)
Lunar ingresses are not part of the Mars-Saturn volatility of the month, though they do not contradict it. They simply provide additional voices, weaving different details.
Three of this month's four weeks are dominated by Mercury square Pluto. In the Caplunar, Mercury is 0°30' from Descendant, Pluto 0°20' from IC, and the two are in 0°10' mundane square. Moon squares Mercury.
Broadly, Mercury-Pluto means collisions, whether of information, communication, or vehicles. (Collisions of ideas are most common.) Transportation-related crises occur. With Mars conjunct Saturn in Aquarius, transportation disruptions (including commercial vehicle interruptions) are likely in narrow channels such as constructed canals and other obvious water channel locations. Consequences of current events impactfully reframe how people think about things, possibly changing minds.
Given recent trends, I expect a renewed round of cyberattacks and network outages. Those who would compromise our communication networks and data integrity will use April to polish their tools and warm-up for November. We'll see network outages, most of which will have perfectly innocent-seeming public explanations, but all of which are likely to result from digital invasion.
ARILUNAR (Apr 8)
The Arilunar is dormant. However, three malefics drape over parts of the eastern U.S. Boston has Neptune angular and may be a specific target of confusion, data disruption, or other swamping conditions. Mars-Saturn are angular due north-south from the Florida panhandle through Georgia and on to western Ohio and eastern Michigan (Mars especially gets Atlanta, while Saturn lands in Detroit).
CANLUNAR (Apr 15) Effective Apr 15-23
Mercury square Pluto repeats as the dominant symbolism of the Canlunar (shown here as a mundoscope). It's much like the Caplunar but with wider orbs. The whole is likely milder not only due to the wider orbs but, also, Moon's squares to Sun (ecliptically) and Venus (mundanely).
Though not directly involved in its symbolism, this ingress (the day after the Arisolar) is exactly at the point the month's volatility starts to come to a boil. In that sense, it likely will mark a bigger week than the Canlunar alone suggests.
LIBLUNAR (Apr 23) Effective Apr 23-May 20
Because the next four lunar ingresses are dormant for Washington, this Liblunar (normally a one-week chart) last for four weeks - until the next Liblunar supplants it May 20. This is gratifying because, breaking from the Mercury-Pluto trend of the month so far, the Liblunar is simple and comforting.
It's still about Mercury, which is 1°14' from Nadir. This neutral Mercury shares honors with a Moon-Venus opposition, with Venus in the exact degree of her exaltation.
To be more optimistic than current conditions support, I note that historically such placements for an angular Venus have signified peace, calming, treaties and other agreements that further communication and cooperation.
Angular Mercury, of course, puts the emphasis for these four weeks on commerce, communication, transportation, and technology. Routinely, Mercury means that the news media mobilizes with special broadcasts, media events, and other incidents that interrupt our lives with news reports they think we can't get through the day without.