You are in birthday month, and you recently had your annual new moon in Aries that you could use to your advantage to move closer to grasping a desire that is dear to your heart. New moons are very important in astrology, for they open a portal of energy that is new and often supportive. Aries is the ultimate sign of entrepreneurial enterprise, so as you enter April, you may be working on a new business idea that you are getting ready to show the world, and if so, it’s an ideal time for you to do that. Don’t launch it yet, however, because, as you will see later in your report, Venus and Mercury will both be out of phase this month, and you need these planets’ support to make a success of your venture. Aries never likes to have to wait! You are the action-oriented sign, but this time, rushing forward without having all the details ironed out would be a mistake.

That new moon in Aries, 7 degrees, occurred last month on March 27, so if your birthday falls near March 27, you were to benefit the most from that new moon. If your birthday falls at other times, keep in mind that you may have other planets in your natal chart within five degrees of the 7 degrees of Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius, so that means you would also see news and benefit.

Your ruler is Mars, and as you begin April, Mars will still be moving through practical, reliable Taurus. You are showing your ability to be practical too, for when you have your ruling planet moving through a sign different from yours, you take on some of the fine qualities of that sign. Taurus’ gift (among many) is to be clear-eyed and earthy, realizing that life requires give and take. This truth does not upset Taurus, for Taurus expects a discussion and enjoys the process of negotiation. Taurus knows two heads are better than one, for together you can forge a better end. One of Aries’ strengths is to know how to build a dream team and to enthuse the team as well – you can see how all these qualities, of Taurus and of Aries, will work together now beautifully, but only if you are patient and plan to launch in late May.

You seem to have had high expenses lately, for Mars’ tour of the second house, as you currently have now, often can often have that effect. Still, on the other hand, you may also be thinking about how to increase your income and are reviewing how you earn, spend, save, and invest money. This is a perfect month to look at your credit card bills to see where you can cut back on recurring expenses, and to think about whether you’d like to save for something – a house, an awesome vacation, graduate school – and if so, you can begin to make a plan now. Your expenses will calm down after Mars leaves Taurus on April 21.

On April 5, you are likely to be very effective in finding ways to generate more earned income, very possibly in terms of elevating your salary, for on that day your ruling planet, Mars, will be aligned perfectly with Pluto, a highly financial planet. Pluto is currently traveling through your tenth house of prestigious career success since 2008, and will remain until 2024, and during that time, you will have the ability to make quite a name for yourself in your industry. From time to time another planet will come to speak to Pluto, which is the case in the first week of April. Specifically, on April 5, Pluto will receive a friendly beam from active Mars from your house of earned income, and that conversation of the two planets will help you negotiate a great financial deal, and at the same time, add luster to your professional reputation.

The new moon of April 26 will be even more helpful to you to generating income. It is the most important moment of 2017 for increasing your salary, so in the ten days that follow this new moon, if you are self-employed, be ready to advertise or get publicity, and to gently raise your rates. If you work for others, speak up for a raise within the ten days that follow – this is your chance. It’s also the time to choose a financial advisor, or to open a retirement account or add to it. You can leave the month richer than when you entered it, but you must make a move to make it happen. Perhaps you asked for a raise earlier, and if so, now will be the time you will see the extra money in your paycheck.

Earlier in the month, the full moon in Libra on April 10 at 22 degrees will bring a close relationship to fullness. If you are married, or about to become engaged or married, that person that the new moon is focused on would be your romantic partner. Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck, will conjunct the moon, which is enchanting, and certainly should mark a happy time with your significant other. There is an added bonus – the moon is the natural ruler of your home life, so you may have special luck finding a new place to live or by improving your present digs. You may also get special favor from your mother or another woman (moon is always translated as woman, whereas the Sun is always treated as male).

However, the universe is playing tricks at this full moon. That lovely conjunction of the moon to Jupiter will receive a direct opposition of Uranus, planet of unexpected developments. This means you – and all the rest of the signs – will need to be ready for anything that might come up within four days of this full moon, April 10. This is not the time to rush a business or romantic relationship to finality. Don’t sign papers now – wait. Uranus might bring up something in your relationship that you’d never have imagined or anticipated. If you try to think of what it could be, it will always be something else that you are not looking at. I will admit news could be jarring, but I only tell you that because I don’t want you to be broadsided by any possible event. A female friend may trigger the event. If your birthday falls on April 10, or within four days of this date, you will feel this full moon the most.

Difficult aspects are given to us for several reasons: to examine the strength of any relationship or venture, and, in its testing, if the aspect finds anything noteworthy, to expose the weak link. Once you see what the difficult aspect was trying to show you, you can decide what to do. There is no predestination involved here; you are in control. It’s good that Jupiter is standing close to this full moon – Jupiter is always benefic and kind, asking nothing in return for the goodness he bestows, so if you should get any jarring bit of news, I feel whatever comes up can be fixed.

Now let’s turn to Venus, the planet of love and beauty, and that also has sway over profits (especially in terms of products of interest to women). Venus is currently in retrograde until April 15. Venus has been retrograde since March 5, but it will take time for Venus to shake the grogginess off, to comb her hair and find fresh clothes to wear. You need to give Venus time to come up to former strength.

    You may feel it is the right time to officially start your new venture now, but due to two important planets retrograde, proceed slowly. Ideally, you can wait until next month, after May 20, or better yet, after the strong new moon, May 25.

This full moon says it’s not the ideal time to finalize a relationship (in marriage or to sign papers with a business partner). This is also not the month to begin a new romantic relationship, for if you do, in time you are likely to feel the relationship is lacking in warmth and affection. In terms of business, Venus, along with Jupiter, both rule profits, so you may later find that profits are depressed if you sign papers or hire that partner now. In addition, because Venus rules good looks, but is sleeping, hold off having plastic surgery on your face, and don’t try new expensive skin care treatments yet, whether from your dermatologist or at home, with a new skin care line. If you want to cut your hair or color it differently, or buy new eyeglasses or sunglasses – all of these affect your face – you are best to wait until May. Try to wait until May 18 if possible for any of these actions – that’s when Venus will be fully strong again.

There is another reason to be patient. Mercury, the planet of communication, contracts, negotiation, and commerce, will be retrograde too from April 9 to May 3. Hold off buying electronics, sign no contracts, and don’t make any big announcements. Instead, study situations more closely and test your assumptions, for you are likely to find something that needs to be corrected or more fully explained.

Saturn has been traveling though Sagittarius since December 2014, and is getting close to the end of his tour. At this month, Saturn is at 28 degrees (and the last degree of a planet is 29 degrees 59 minutes.) If your birthday falls at the end of the sign, say, from April 16-19, you will be enjoying the rare and special benefic aspects of Saturn to Uranus. Uranus may be the planet of disruption and chaos, but it’s also the planet of innovation and genius. Saturn will help Aries born at the very end of the sign this month in a very comforting way. Saturn will go retrograde this month on April 5 and move to earlier degrees, up to 21 degrees when it turns direct August 25. (Yes, outer planets take longer when they retrograde, typically, four to five months.) That means Saturn will support a larger group of Aries, born April 10-19. Aries not mentioned here already enjoyed Saturn support last year, or in 2015.

Your mind seems to be racing with brilliant ideas, and if so, write them down, lest you later forget even one tiny detail. This month, your ideas have profit potential. Late last month the new moon (March 27) was in entrepreneurial Aries that infused you with excitement and energy, and that feeling continues now. As the month begins, you may be working on preparations to launch a professional venture involving something new to society, possibly involving cutting-edge technology or medical research. In the process of working on this project, you will learn and grow.

You may feel it is the right time to officially start your venture, but due to two important planets retrograde, proceed slowly. Venus, the planet in charge of your earned income as well as ruler of your committed business and love relationships, will remain retrograde until April 15. Venus started to retrograde last month on March 4, so this month brings a continuation of that trend. In early April, you may see a financial slowdown or setback, or may need to make a concession in a negotiation. Venus retrograde, the ruler of your second house of income, suggests you may need to rethink your plans and question assumptions that you used to build your strategy. Venus, retrograding the entire time in Aries – having a greater effect on you – will not return to full strength until May 18.

In addition, Mercury will also be retrograde, April 9 to May 3. The planets that orbit closest to earth – Venus, Mercury, and Mars – are the ones we feel most when retrograde. (Happily, your ruler, Mars, will be in fine shape.) Mercury will start out retrograding in Taurus, but half way through its retrograde will slip into Aries as it continues to retrograde. Again, you will need to expect delays. As you deal with Venus and Mercury out of phase, you can feel free to meet with others to discuss details, but do not seal everything officially on paper quite yet. Things will continue to shift, for that’s the way things work when Mercury is retrograde. Never sign a contract while Mercury is retrograde. As you see, in every way, the universe is sending the message that you should stop, look, and listen, but not act just yet.

If you want to know more about Mercury retrograde, you can see my comprehensive, detailed essay on the home page of my website, AstrologyZone.com, entitled All You Need to Know about Mercury Retrograde. If you are looking on a computer or tablet, look on the lower left side, near the bottom of the page. In my premium app, go to Life+Love, and look under Susan’s Essays.

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Forces at play near the full moon, April 10, may make you want to rush into a committed relationship at work or in love, but you would be wise to hold back, for at that full moon, Venus will still be out of phase and traveling in your sign, Aries. Overall, early and mid-April will be a complex time for relationships. Uranus will add considerable relationship tension because this planet of chaos and unpredictable events will oppose the moon and conjoin the Sun. Your need for freedom will be strong, and if your sweetheart or spouse puts demands on you, you will likely bolt. The full moon period will be volatile, and the relationship you will be trying to form at the start of April may, by mid-month, seem fraught with difficulties. Stay optimistic – the universe is testing your commitment and determination to forge this agreement – that is all. If your goal of coming together is to ultimately work, you will have to iron out details within four days of the full moon, April 10.

Your career seems to be sparkling brightly and poised to bring you a heap of good news. Near the same time of the full moon of April 10, on April 5, warrior Mars, your ruler, will be in fine angle to powerhouse Pluto, helping you transform your professional life and image in magical ways. As you rise in status this month, you will likely be prosperous, something you will see after the new moon in Taurus of April 26. Your expenses have been unusually high lately, but this new moon should calm you, and bring more money to your bank account. This month will require patience, but with careful finessing, you can turn all the many moving parts of the month to your favor.