(Please note that this and all my other forecasts are based on the sidereal zodiac, not the tropical system used by most western astrologers.)
April 2022 is a uniquely powerful transitional month as so many of the planets are making big moves, including Mars, Mercury, the lunar nodes (Rahu and Ketu), Jupiter, the Sun, Neptune, Venus, Saturn, and Pluto. The Sun is not technically a planet (it's a star), but because it's a luminary body within our solar system, it plays a prominent role similar to that of the planets within the astrological realm.
Astrological transits involve a method of interpreting the constant movement of the planets as they transit through the zodiac. They have an impact generally and more specifically in relation to a natal or mundane horoscope, and indicate how our energies and karma are released. In other words, according to astrologer Stephen Arroyo, the transits “tick off the karmic clock, each one activating a current of energy (or wave of karma) in a certain way.” (p 189, Astrology Karma & Transformation: The Inner Dimensions of the Birth Chart)
The planets represent qualities in us and in our world, and as they are revolving in their orbits and changing positions in relation to each other and the zodiac, and in relation to our own birth horoscopes, they mirror the evolution in our unfolding lives. As Above, So Below: As Within, So Without – and therefore as the planets shift, many of us also feel a tremendous stirring that reflects transformational changes within, and also the consequent outward movement into new areas of action and experience.
Another way to see it is that transits are markers indicating a variety of matters including our inner development (the urge to evolve and grow); the climax of various processes that have been in place for some time; as well as the outer circumstances and events that conspire to arouse change within!
In this article, I discuss the current and upcoming transits of Mars, Mercury, the Sun, and Venus, and in an upcoming subsequent article, I will discuss all the other planetary weather patterns ahead in April. In my discussion, I am speaking more in general terms. In an astrological consultation, I will more thoroughly examine and analyze these transits specifically in regard to a birth chart, as to the house position of a transit, and aspects the planet makes, the transit’s relationship to other concurrent progressed cycles, and so on.
From April 7 to May 17, Mars transits in Aquarius. Mars is the planet of energy, war, conflict, fire, enthusiasm, competition, and will power. It transits through each sign on average for about 1.5 months, but when it retrogrades it stays in a sign for a long time. For instance, it will be in Taurus for an inordinate amount of time starting August 10 until October 15, and again from November 13, 2022, until March 12, 2023 (it will retrograde from October 31, 2022, to January 13, 2023).
For now, Mars is in Aquarius, which is ruled by both Saturn and Rahu in Vedic astrology. The last time that Mars transited in Aquarius was from May 4 to June 18, 2020. Mars in Aquarius brings together the essence of Fire (Mars) and Air (Aquarius), which has a quick acting and volatile quality. It can release tension and heat, and can also be dangerously incendiary, explosive, or scattered, but sometimes is also indifferent in its approach.
According to the late astrologer Isabel Hickey, Mars in a Saturn-ruled sign (Aquarius and Capricorn) attempts to check and restrain our lower “animal nature,” so that a tension exists. However, in Aquarius, Mars is less bound by convention and hard-driving ambition than Mars in Capricorn. Yet, as with Mars in Capricorn, Mars in Aquarius can also be contentious, impatient, and rebellious if afflicted.
Mars in Aquarius is all about independence, freedom, and tolerance. Overall, the airy influence of Aquarius expands the Mars fiery impulse into intellectual, scientific, mental, or spiritual pursuits (Aquarius). It its highest manifestation, the great warrior Mars assumes the position of the Water Bearer who carries the power of healing, knowledge, and wisdom into the world.
At its Aquarius ingress (entrance), Mars at zero degrees of Aquarius forms a tense and stubborn T-square with the lunar nodes which fall at the zero degrees of Scorpio and Taurus. This points to one of multiple significant turning points in April. Fixed signs maintain and defend our positions, obligations, objectives, and desires in everyday situations, but the zero-degree placements reflect the contrasting energy of new beginnings.
In other words, the fixed T-Square means that we may feel stuck and in need of a change, but not sure which direction to go. We may be asking ourselves where we should persist and be patient, and what actions we can adjust and plan ahead for? Another issue is, how can we more deeply access our personal power so that we can know the best new direction and move toward it with more ease.
Mars is at the apex of the T-square (at the “bendings”) and thus becomes the focal point of any impending change or crisis. It can represent relentless tenacity, drive, and focus that can help us create positive change. But the danger is if we are thoughtless impulsive, tense, dictatorial, frustrated, or out of balance in any other way, then we can lose our way and get into conflicts or accidents.
From April 8 to 24, Mercury transits in fiery Aries, and from April 24 to July 2, in the more earthy sign of Taurus. Mercury represents our brain, nervous system, learning, education, logic and reasoning, speech, communication, respiratory and immune systems, trade, and commerce.
As a rapidly moving planet, Mercury stays in one sign for about 27 days on average. But this changes due to its retrograde cycles, so Mercury can transit in one sign for much longer. Mercury takes close to one year to traverse the whole zodiac. Mercury is never more than two signs away from the Sun at any given time (its maximum angular distance is 28 degrees).
Mercury is transiting in Aries from April 8 to April 24. Aries is ruled by Mars, who sees Mercury as an enemy, so this position in its lower expression can represent an overheated nervous system that results in detrimental risk taking, anxiety, anger, and frustration, poor planning, and communication breakdowns, conflicts, and difficulties with sleep. In its more balanced expression, and depending on where and how this placement aligns with our own astrological chart, Mercury in Aries can represent quick problem-solving ability, creativity, passion, and incisive thinking and action.
After it leaves Aries, Mercury will transit in Taurus from April 24 to July 2, a lengthy transit due to its retrograde period which will occur from May 10 to June 3. When Mercury retrogrades, it is a time to expect the unexpected, which can lead us to rectify, reframe, regroup, reposition, reconsider, and reorganize any of the areas of life that its transiting position signifies.
Mercury will retrograde back through the first ten-degree portion (first drekkana) of Taurus, which classically has a combative, determined, authoritarian, and sometimes degenerate quality, and is also related to high monetary expenditures and debts. The first drekkana of Taurus occupies the fiery and cutting Krittika nakshatra, which lies within late Aries and the first ten degrees of Taurus. The retrograde Mercury transit here can be especially disruptive for mental health matters, all forms of communication, travel, business, food production and distribution, and economic matters (especially related to banking).
Krittika nakshatra also relates to the arts, social justice movements, child welfare, armed forces, war materials, explosives, defense departments, police, political leaders, fires and accidents, industrial manufacturing, building contractors, chemicals and chemical engineering, debts, and debt mitigation, recovery, or forgiveness. Any of these areas may be somehow highlighted or disturbed and can become particularly divisive.
The Sun will transit in Aries from April 13 to May 14. In the Vedic tradition, the Sun’s Aries ingress (entry into Aries) is called Mesha Sankranti, or Sankramana. It is celebrated as the solar new year in Vedic astrology and in many of the rich and varied cultural traditions of India. The astrological horoscope for Mesha Sankranti is read with specific rules by mundane astrologers in forecasting the year ahead.
The horoscope for Mesha Sankranti is a good one to use for matters related to business, commerce, and government. Some areas of India use this for the New Year chart instead of the lunar new year chart which occurred on April 1. Even for those using the latter, the Mantri or Prime Minister of the Year is usually calculated according to the planetary lord of the day on which the Sun enters Aries.
For each of us, regardless of our heritage and background, Mesha Sankranti is an important day as the Sun represents the Self, our soul purpose, path, and life force, and when it rises in the constellation of Aries, where it will transit for a month, it is once again embarking on the beginning of its yearlong journey around the zodiac! The Sun is exalted in Aries, where it gives some of its best results, thus manifesting potentially as new initiatives, and more focus, drive, courage, strength, and clarity of thought. Mesha Sankranti is a wonderful day for prayers, new intentions, and affirmations!
Venus, planet of pleasure, contentment, peace, love, harmony, beauty, and virility, is transiting in Aquarius from March 30 to April 27, and then in Pisces from April 27 to May 23. In freedom-loving Aquarius, Venus can indicate an attraction to futuristic ideas, populism and other kinds of socio-political movements, alternative science (healing) and philosophy, fantasy, and the mysteries of life in general. Venus will transit in conjunction with Mars in Aquarius, suggesting rising passions that can lead to unusual love experiences or even some challenges in relationship matters.
Then in Pisces, Venus will give its best “exalted” expression revealed through gentleness, unconditional love, compassion, intuition, artistic ability, and emotional or spiritual inspiration. Venus will transit with Jupiter in Pisces, which is a beautiful conjunction of love and wisdom, and one that expands the potential for harmony and beauty. They will be within a ten-degree effective orb from April 19 until May 11 (Venus in Aquarius/Jupiter in Pisces until April 27, and then both in Pisces after that).
These are the other April transits I will write about in my next article:
1. Rahu and Ketu will transit into Aries and Libra from April 12, 2022, to October 30, 2023, using the mean node calculation. The Kala Sarpa will finally break on April 24, after having been in place since February 2020.
2. Jupiter will transit into Pisces from April 13, 2022, to April 21, 2023.
3. Neptune will transit into Pisces from April 17 to September 11, 2022, and then again on and off from February 18, 2023, until February 2037.
4. Saturn will transit into Aquarius from April 28 until July 12, and then again from January 17, 2023, until March 29, 2025.
5. Pluto will retrograde at around four degrees of Capricorn on April 29.
6. We will have a partial solar eclipse ending this wild month of change, occurring on April 30 in some parts of the world, and May 1 in others.
As the world turns on the wheel of samsara, we always get the “good with the bad,” which is the nature of the duality in which we exist. I hope it is helpful to read my astrological transit report, to perhaps understand how to make best use of the changing energies upon us. We can remedy the more challenging ones, and work to enhance those that are more positive. Ultimately, we will do best when we are faithfully aligned with the infinite and omnipotent divine power rather than the vicissitudes of the world, or as Swami Sri Yukteswar taught his disciples, The wise person defeats the planets—which is to say, the past—by transferring allegiance from the creation to the Creator. The more one realizes unity with spirit, the less one can be dominated by matter. The soul is ever-free…it can't be regimented by stars.