MARCIA SACKS

The Full Moon is on Tuesday, April 23, at 6:48 pm CDT in 4° Scorpio, an excellent time for turning within and reflecting on the past two weeks. New moons are new beginnings and full moons often hold the results or culmination of things started at the new moon. In this case, the last new moon was a solar eclipse which is very potent for new beginnings. This past weekend we experienced the Jupiter Uranus conjunction, the urge for expansion combined with the urge for freedom. This Full Moon will re-emphasize that conjunction's new thoughts and ideas, perhaps the lightning strike of genius. Write down your ideas and reflect on the possibilities and potential that fulfilling them will bring.

One symbol for Scorpio is still water, representing the clear pond in which you can see straight through to the bottom. When you can clear your mind, the waves of emotion subside and you can see each situation clearly.

The Full Moon is square to Pluto at 2° Aquarius. Pluto is at a stationary point on May 2 bringing powerful ideas about transformation over the next two weeks. The most harmonious way to use this energy is to work on your own transformation and let go of trying to change the others in your life. I often use Pluto stationary points to clean out closets or old papers. I just have to remember to only work on my items, not those belonging to the other people in my household. 

Mercury goes direct on April 25 at 16° Aries. A few days after that, things that have gone 'backwards' in the past three weeks will begin to move forward. Exactly at the 4/25 stationary point though, there will tend to be both communication and travel delays.

Coming up:

Save the date: I'll be doing a talk on Karmic Astrology for the Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:30 pm CDT via Zoom. I'll have more details in the next Astrology Update.

Online:
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Lots more about the Jupiter Uranus conjunction, especially regarding its historical patterns, in this Astrology Podcast with Chris Brennan and Richard Tarnas.

The New Moon, which is a Total Solar Eclipse, is on Monday, April 8, at 1:20 pm CDT in 19° Aries. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, rushing into the future, moving forward with a burst of  fiery energy. It might sound good until you find yourself (metaphorically) a rider astride a bucking bronco wondering how long you can hold on. If you already have a goal or project plan in place, put your energy there. Don't be surprised if there are some obstacles. Mars (the ruler of Aries) is conjunct Saturn at this eclipse time which can mean authority figures can (temporarily) block your actions. 

Saturn can be very helpful if somebody in your life insists you run your plan in a business-like way. Even if your plan is something simple, like a resolution to meditate daily, businesslike could mean writing down your intention, making a commitment to a certain time and place and establishing your meditation practice as a priority.  

A mantra for overcoming obstacles might be helpful to get Mars and Saturn working together constructively. Try this Ganesha one, "Om Gum Ganepataye Namaha".

The approaching Jupiter-Uranus conjunction is also in the chart of the eclipse. That makes the eclipse a trigger even before the exact conjunction on April 20 at 21° Taurus. Jupiter is the urge to expand or grow and Uranus is the urge to seek freedom or disrupt the old order of things. At its best Jupiter is wisdom and higher learning and Uranus at its best is the lightning strike of genius. Watch for new thoughts and big ideas coming into your mind and write them down before they vanish. 

For astrology students: A conjunction is the most powerful aspect and can be both harmonious and inharmonious depending on the planets involved.  Some of Goswami Kriyananda's words for Jupiter in harmonious aspect to Uranus: "originality and creative genius which often manifest in the realms of religion, law or medicine." And inharmonious: "tendency toward revolutionary attitudes and actions, often in the realm of religion, law, medicine or governments." Watch the news between now and the end of April and see if you can pick out the stories that match the aspect. Watch your own life and see if you can recognize Jupiter and Uranus in the flow of your thoughts and your impulses toward action.

April is National Poetry Month

I was in a poetry salon this morning at The Narrative Method where we write to prompts and share our writing in small breakout groups. The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction was on my mind so this was my haiku-ish poem today:

Thinking a new thought
How does that work in everyday life?
The space between thoughts

Thoughts and memories
Where is the space in between
Things past, things to do

In a quiet room
Sitting, breathing, and doing no thing
Spark! Flash! Radical!

The vastness of space
Planets, galaxies, universe
And beyond the beyond

~~~ Marcia Sacks 4/5/24

Coming Up:

The Babaji Festival from The Temple of Kriya Yoga 
April 21, 2024 starting around noon via Zoom
More information soon at
https://templeofkriyayoga.org/

The Babaji Festival celebrates the gurus of our lineage and will consist of music, meditation, wisdom talks and stories, plus I will be giving a short astrology talk with a meditation for the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction.
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Ray Grasse's latest book "So What Am I Doing Here, Anyway" will be out on April 25th. This collection of astrological and philosophical essays has been reviewed by The Mountain Astrologer magazine.
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​You can find me continuing to teach and mentor at the Temple of Kriya Yoga's Professional Astrology Course: https://templeofkriyayoga.org/professional-astrology/