Happy Spring, everyone. April is almost upon us and I decided to get your monthly horoscopes up a bit early (it’s the Aries in me!). I’ve actually been in vacation mode the past week and indulging my Venus in Pisces (extra sleep, day dreaming, and even a trip to the beach). Restored by spending time next to the great, gorgeous Pacific in the company of the family I love, I’m on the eve of getting back into my regular work routines.

March had a lot going on! We experienced two eclipses and kicked off the Astrological New Year at the Spring Equinox. Just like the new plant growth and flowers many of us are seeing in the Northern Hemisphere, we may have felt new ideas and inspiration sprouting within ourselves. I hope you took advantage of the energizing astrology last month to get started on some of your goals because the astrological “brakes” are going to be on soon.

We’ve got the exciting and powerful Aries New Moon on Thursday, April 7th. This is an ideal New Moon to set goals not just for the next Moon cycle, but for the coming year. However, the Moon will be Void of Course (not a good time to make new commitments) most of the day April 7th. If you’re on the U.S. West Coast, and are awake between 4:32 and 7:56 AM, this will be the most powerful time to write down your goals (if you live in other locations, check what this translates to in your own time zone). If you hit snooze one too many times on the 7th, your next best opportunity will be all day or night on April 8th. Consider what areas of your life could use a fresh start. What have you wanted to do that you’ve been procrastinating out of fear or lack of belief in yourself?

I have a theory that most “laziness” actually stems from a subconscious part of ourselves that is afraid of success and secretly believes we don’t have what it takes to achieve our goals. I know I wrestle this “lazy” part of myself all the time – the me who tries to tempt myself into escapist TV watching to distract me from the activities that could move me closer to my dreams. Let the Aries energy of this New Moon serve as a petite (or grande) kick in the butt to help you believe in yourself enough to try.

Now that I have you all motivated, time to step back and calm down. As excited as we might be to start anew, by the time of the New Moon we’ll already be in the “shadow phase” of Mars Retrograde. Mars goes retro every two years and this year it turns retrograde April 17th and goes direct June 29th. But, we often feel the effects 10 days or so on either side in what’s known as the “shadow phase.” Mars is the planet of action. In retrograde, this means taking action on anything you’ve already started. When direct, Mars serves as an excellent instigator to help us jump start something new. But we will need to work with Mars retrograde energy most of April, May and June to make the most of what we already have.

Mars rules Aries and is the traditional ruler of Scorpio. These Sun Signs may feel more mellow and introspective than usual. The rest of the zodiac could feel unusually “fired up” as they may be exploring their anger (something Aries and Scorpio tend to be more used to). Best to approach others cautiously and do your best to avoid unnecessary confrontation. For the first part of the retrograde cycle Mars will be in Sagittarius, a sign associated with philosophy, higher education, travel and adventure. Think about what you need to re-learn or re-live. Perhaps it’s time to return to a favorite travel destination or re-read a book that changed your way of thinking. At the end of May, Mars retrogrades back into Scorpio. For the remainder of the Mars retrograde cycle we may find ourselves focused on emotional wounds from the past and releasing anger, resentment or grudges.

We also have Mercury retrograde April 28th – May 22nd. This will create additional “drag” and encourage us to resolve the past. Spoiler alert: May will be even more difficult than April to start new endeavors. Never fear. We all have plenty of unfinished projects. There will be more than enough to keep us busy between now and July when the retrograde energy finally clears. If you think you don’t have anything to finish, I’d suggest going back to check your work. Feel free to email me at cardinalfireastrology@gmail.com with any questions, comments or to schedule a personalized astrology reading.