Astrology for April by Matilda Mercury

To get daily astrology updates, you can go to Tibetan Buddhist Altar Blog where Matilda's sister (Ani Wangmo) writes a daily column with her friend Jampal─just click on “Astrology.” If you'd like a more extended astrology reading from Matilda, check out her Bio on this site.

April Theme: Being a compassionate warrior in difficult times. This is a good time to draw deeply on your inner resources to deal with challenges that are sometimes bigger than you. It’s helpful to not take things personally and think through how you can achieve beneficial change in the world. Power struggles are only useful if your motivation is selfless.

Aries With the planetoid Chiron moving into Aries the theme of healing your inner wounds begins, lasting a number of years. It may be a subtle recognition of the impact of past events, including early life events, and how suffering as shaped some of your responses to life. It is an opportunity to let go the past and open your heart to the present. Another theme is environmental awareness and health modalities. This month in particular there is a focus on healing patterns concerning communications and close relationships.

Taurus Happy Birthday Taureans! You are in good company with Jet Li, Ella Fitzgerald and Queen Elizabeth II, to name a few. After a quieter month you are able to step into your power zone. Your energy will be brighter and sparkier. With Jupiter, the planet of expansion and good fortune, opposite the sign of Taurus there will be continuing opportunities for expansion and sharing resources. It’s just a case of not overdoing it. Be mindful of your limits.

Gemini It’s a good time to write your prose, lyrics, poetry or journaling words. Linking words to spiritual reflection is also helpful. The second half of the month provides opportunities for connecting with friends, acquaintances and all manner of relationships. It’s also a time of short trips and connecting with siblings in new ways. You may find ways to express wisdom that may be helpful to others.

Cancer Your life may not be your own this month as you feel the impact of others wishes and designs impacting upon you. It may be difficult to see what others agendas. This includes communication challenges. It may be helpful to wait sometime before acting, or alternatively letting situations go. In these cases patience and forbearance is the better part of valor. too shall pass and time will reveal all. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you."

Leo Past connections, and new connections, with individuals prove beneficial at this time in helping you navigate. It’s also a time to focus on giving back and being generous. Generosity comes in many forms so find the expression that is right for you. Creative expression and providing confidence boosts for yourself and others bring good returns.

Virgo This month there are challenges in communications, self-expression and achieving your goals out-right. However, progress is being made even though it’s kind of like two steps forward and one step backward. Sometimes it is the points of difference that make you work harder to ensure you’re communicating and expressing yourself in the best way you can. You also have helping hands when you need it.

Libra There is a lot going on in your wheel-house that’s not so much about what you’re doing so as much as how you’re responding to what other people are doing! This includes the areas of communications, close relationships, and l dealing with past hurts. You may not feel you have much agency right now so the best medicine is to keep your own counsel and wait until the right time to address any difficult situations.

Scorpio Strokes of good fortune are possible in the third week of April especially concerning shared resources. Emotional expression is highlighted in the last week of April. You may feel overwhelmed, or you could feel emotionally expansive and willing to communicate your feelings more than you usually do. Others shine a helpful light for you on areas of your life that could be more illuminated.

Sagittarius Relationships and communications, especially written communications, are highlighted this month. You may get a lot of benefit from reading the right book or blog for insights about how the world works and your place in it. This is a potentially exciting time of change and movement forward after a long period of inertia.

Capricorn This is a time of drawing on your deep inner resources. You may experience deep anger in the face of difficulty in the world that you may not have control over. One way is to commit to becoming a compassionate warrior for beneficial change in the world. Putting others first and inner discipline can help with this task. Working on creating a sense of sacred place wherever you live can be very anchoring at this time.

Aquarius Chance encounters from the past can assist you at this time. New people in your life may express their generosity towards you in a variety of ways. The themes of environmental awareness and nurturing yourself and others are highlighted this month. Towards the end of the month there is a lot of dynamic energy that brings all these themes together in both a productive and challenging way.

Pisces Neptune is mid-way through the sign of Pisces highlighting the continuing theme of spiritual deepening, other realities and navigating the things that feed our escapism, including addictions. Dreams are potentially more vivid at this time and draw you in to the dream world, highlighting the challenges of distinguishing between different worlds. Physical activity and good friendships can be very grounding at this time.