Astral Weather for the Week of April 17 to 24, 2023

Once-in-a-decade solar eclipse, powerful five-planet Aries stellium, Mercury retrograde, and more exciting cosmic events promise an intense week ahead

Please note that this and all my other forecasts are based on the sidereal zodiac used in both Vedic and Western sidereal astrology, not the tropical system used by most Western and some Vedic astrologers. All the astrological charts below are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.

Balsamic Moon from April 16 until April 20: A Time to Tune In, Rest, Let Go, Dream, and Heal

We will start the week in the Moon’s Balsamic phase, which began on Saturday, April 16. This phase will extend until the New Moon early on April 20. During the Balsamic lunar phase, the Moon is deeply waning within 45 zodiacal degrees behind the Sun. During this time, you should tune in, rest, let go, dream, and heal.

Our energy systems may be feeling lower than usual now as the Moon wanes, which is even truer as the upcoming New Moon will also be a solar eclipse. Those whose natal charts are being activated by the eclipse may be feeling especially exhausted or vulnerable now.

The New Moon Solar Eclipse Will Occur on April 19-20: A Very Intense Cosmic Event Portending Important Transformative Events

As discussed in detail in a recent article, the solar hybrid eclipse will occur in Aries on April 19-20. This strange and rare type of eclipse occurs only once every decade. Combining a partial, annular, and total solar eclipse into one event, a hybrid eclipse changes its appearance as the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth's surface. The last time we had a hybrid eclipse was November 3, 2013.

Eclipses affect the whole world and indicate tremendous changes ahead in the coming weeks and through the next six months. This month’s eclipse will begin at 9:36 PM Eastern Time on April 19 (01:36 AM UTC on April 20). The eclipse will end at 2:59 AM Eastern Time on April 20 (6:59 AM UTC on April 20).

The exact soli-lunar phase of this month’s solar eclipse (the time of the New Moon) will occur at 00:12:30 AM Eastern Time on April 20 (4:12:30 AM UTC on April 20). The maximum eclipse will occur slightly later, at 00:17 AM Eastern Time on April 20 (4:17 AM UTC on April 20). Use the World Time Buddy to convert these times to your own time zone if it is different.

What we are mentally focused on at the time of the eclipse may be significantly magnified for good or bad. The time period close to either side of the maximum eclipse is best used for meditation, affirmations, prayer, and other forms of spiritual practice. We should avoid directly viewing an eclipse as this can disturb the mind.

Image Above: Zen Chakras “Meditation” by PinkPaisleyGraphics

Aries Stellium Now Until June 7: A Karmic Knot of Great Intensity in the Weeks Ahead

We have an Aries stellium in place now until June 7. A stellium is a supercharged, cohesive conjunction involving four or more planets joining forces and working as a single entity. This configuration often make it difficult for the individual planets that are involved to reflect their higher expressions.

A stellium has been described as a self-contained mega-planet that takes over the whole horoscope. It represents an intense karmic knot that may point to confusion, obsession, tension, excessive subjectivity (a cognitive blind spot), and impulsiveness.

In a natal horoscope, a stellium requires mindful awareness and a great deal of inner work in order to understand and disentangle the muddled energies that are involved. In mundane affairs, a stellium (especially in Aries) can represent challenging karmic events involving large groups of people, such as in natural or human-made disasters.

The Aries stellium includes Uranus, Rahu, Mercury, and the Sun. Jupiter will enter Aries and join the fray on April 21. The Moon will also join in from April 19 through much of April 21, and again comes into Aries from May 16 to 19. The Sun will leave the stellium on May 14, and the stellium will finally break when Mercury leaves Aries on June 7.

The Aries stellium will manifest individually according to the house it occupies in a natal or mundane horoscope, and according to the aspects it makes therein. In general, the Aries stellium may have an aggressive, explosive, forceful, agitated, and passionate quality that may be prone to upheaval, accidents, and violence.

This is even truer now as Mars is Out of Bounds until May 5, and also as Mars and Mercury are exchanging signs (Parivartana Yoga) until May 10. Adding fuel to the fire, Pluto is squaring the Aries stellium from Capricorn, Saturn is aspecting Aries by its third aspect (sextile), the Rahu solar eclipse is occurring in Aries on April 20, and Mercury is stationing retrograde in Aries on April 21. All of this complex entanglement in Aries suggests even more of an impact in terms of karmic events that may unfold over the coming weeks and even months to come.

On a personal level, the Aries stellium can point to arguments and other problems in relationships, as well as stress, physical pain, or injuries. If one is in a state of inner balance, and again depending on where Aries falls in the natal horoscope, this stellium can be super-focused and highly motivated, and can offer lessons in patience and self-control.

Mercury Will Be Retrograde from April 21 to May 14: Prepare to Minimize Potential Difficulties

Mercury will station retrograde on the day after the eclipse, on Friday, April 21, at 4:35 AM Eastern Time (8:35 AM UTC). It will remain retrograde until May 14 at 11:17 PM Eastern Time (May 15 at 3:17 AM UTC). Mercury will station retrograde at 21+ degrees of Aries, and will station direct at 11+ degrees of Aries. Synchronistically, this is the same zodiacal area that Jupiter will retrograde through from September 4 to December 30, 2023.

If you have any important planets or chart points in the area from 11 to 21 degrees of sidereal Aries, Libra, Cancer, or Capricorn, Mercury’s retrograde transit will activate those areas by its conjunction, opposition, or square aspect. This could point to some problems that need to be addressed, along with opportunities to help you begin to acknowledge and address unfinished business and make necessary adjustments. Any such problems and concerns may be revisited again later on at a deeper level during the above-mentioned retrograde cycle of Jupiter.

Mercury retrograde can be a time when we experience maddening events like miscommunications, travel and transportation difficulties, and the breakdown of equipment. This is even more possible during this particular transit due to Mercury retrograde occurring in the eclipse axis and in the heated Aries stellium, and because Saturn aspects Mercury, and Mars is exchanging signs with Mercury.

Retrograde Mercury periods are well-suited for reflection and retreat. As Mercury makes his journey in the Underworld, we should also take time out to regroup; and also to reassess and reconsider anything unresolved from the past. We should also think about our plans and dreams for the future.

Keep in mind that we might be prone to changing our minds several times during this intense retrograde cycle, so all important decision making should be postponed until after the retrograde cycle ends (and after the eclipse season ends) in mid-May.

Mercury, which rules the mind, communication, travel, and business matters, will retrograde in the potentially restless, violent, impatient, and aggressive sign of Aries. Aries is the sign of Mercury’s enemy Mars.

When it stations retrograde, Mercury will be transiting in Bharani nakshatra, whose nature can be overwhelmingly “extreme” in every sense of the word. Imbalances will come to light within us and within the world in these coming weeks, even more so than usual!

At the time of the retrograde station, Mercury will also exactly conjoin the transiting Moon, and will also conjoin Uranus, both of which can be a trigger for extreme, sudden, or shocking cultural, economic, political, geopolitical, seismic, or meteorological events.

So yes, the world may look crazier than usual as the Pancha Mahabhuta (five elements) go a bit out of whack while we have so much Mars-ruled energy descending through the Aries stellium.

Our mental faculties will generally have a tendency to be overheated and agitated now, so more than ever we must mind the mind. It can be helpful to take cooling herbs and foods, to meditate and stay physically fit, spend time in nature, and also to rub pure sandalwood or jatamansi essential oil on the brow a few times a day to help calm and cool the mind.

Jupiter Will Transit in Aries From April 21, 2023 to May 1, 2024: A Time of Economic Challenges, Technological Developments, and Radical Transformation

Just a brief reminder that Jupiter will transit into Aries the day after the eclipse, on Friday, April 21 at 7:42 PM Eastern Time (April 22 at 00:42 UTC). Check out my previous article about this important transit ahead. For some, depending on what Jupiter influences in their natal horoscopes, this will start to bring some improvement. For the world at large, it suggests economic challenges and warfare, but also important technological developments and radical transformation in many areas of life.

Akshaya Tritiya Will Occur on Saturday, April 22: The Golden Day of Eternal Success

If you have anything important that you want to initiate this month, we have an abhuj muhurta (muhurat) on Saturday, April 22 in North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India. For points further east, it will occur on Sunday, April 23. You can check the online panchanga for your particular area to be sure.

Abhuj muhurtas fall on just a few of the holiest days of the Vedic calendar, and because of deep energy movements that occur on these days, which are associated with ancient legends and astrological lore, they are considered to be fully auspicious days for beginning any new important venture.

“Abhuj” refers to something eternal, so the abhuj muhurtas focus on the stability and durability of anything begun on this day. It’s important to know that Abhuj muhurtas override difficult astrological aspects that are also happening simultaneously, so they are truly a Godsend.

The abhuj muhurta on April 22 (or 23) is called Akshay(a) Tritiya, when it is said that anything established will “turn to gold.” “Kshaya” means destruction and the “A” in front of it means “not." Together, this word means “not destructible.”

So anything we initiate on Akshaya Tritiya promises gains and development over time. Thus, in Vedic electional astrology (known as muhurta), this day is a great time for performing important deeds, beginning new projects, making important sales or purchases, establishing significant business or personal relationships, and basically, setting something significant in motion (like good intentions).

Akshaya Tritiya is also known as Akha Teej, the “Golden Day of Eternal Success.” It is a rare and special Vedic holy day that celebrates when Veda Vyas and Lord Ganesha began to write the Mahabharata, a famous historical epic. The Lights of our solar system, the Sun and Moon, also known as the King and Queen of the Planetary Kingdom, are both especially "bright" (exalted or uccha) on this day. 

At the same time, the waxing Moon transits in its prosperous third day (tritiya tithi). This event always occurs during the beneficent month of Vaisakha (April 20 to May 20), but the exact date changes every year.

As you can see, we have a very intense week ahead. The solar eclipse and stellium in Aries point to some challenging energy that could lead to conflict and arguments in the world and in our personal lives. Mercury going retrograde may intensify this demanding energy and lead to confusion, miscommunication, and technological challenges.

On the other hand, the transit of Jupiter into Aries on April 21, followed by the Golden Day of Eternal Success on April 22, may override some of this difficult energy and provide us with a wonderful opportunity to begin a new project or set new intentions. 

How do you feel about the week ahead? Do you have any questions about these events? Let me know and I'll do my best to answer your questions in the comments!

If you surround yourself with flowers of love, peace, and kindness, you will always find yourself in a garden of joy and happiness. (Debasish Mridha)