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April 1, 2020
Spring 2020 will be remembered as the time when the world stood still. The coronavirus pandemic has affected every one of us in some way. In last month’s column I referenced how imbalanced the world has become with a reliance on technology and other appliances to make us feel fulfilled instead of spending more face time with people. I suggested the lack of personal intimacy amid daily saturation of manipulative marketing and “internet reality” had created wrongful attachments and less happiness for some. Never could I have predicted the sad, almost comical rush to hoard toilet paper et al by those fearful of running out of must-have items.
April begins during a crisis that has caused the entire world to become quarantined, isolated or restricted greatly in activities. Staying home binge-watching TV and ordering take-out are now the new responsibilities of a good citizen.
I heard a news commentator suggest we’ve been given a gift of time with the imposition of the coronavirus quarantine. This gift of time could give many people a pause to think about their lives in general. The snack cupboard and TV may eventually become a bore too, forcing us into our own inner thoughts to fill the time. I suggest that this time could be well used to take an inventory of your life with a goal to filling in any gaps to make you feel more safe, secure and fulfilled. When we can all get out and mingle in person again we can also hope that we are filled with a positive personal and collective purpose of rebuilding community.
Last month, I did a bit of research to learn if there were similar planetary indicators in the past of a pandemic such as we have now. I was surprised to find something intriguing. In this article from 2013 the author notes that the astrologers of 1345 AD (in this era most professions of authority required an education in astrology too) stated a conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius indicated the bubonic plague. COVID-19 is a pneumonic plague (pandemic) caused by a coronavirus and it is characterized by pneumonia symptoms and killing many of its victims worldwide.
At our vernal equinox this year we had Mars conjunct Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto (the planet of the masses) in Capricorn. That is quite a coincidence, and for the record Pluto was not discovered until 1930 so was not included in the 1345 horoscope. The difference today is that we have evolved enough technologically and in medical health that a much larger percentage of the world’s population should survive than 700+ years ago but we are not out of the woods yet.
Jupiter and Saturn conjunct in any sign is big news as it only happens about every twenty years. This year the conjunction nearly occurred in March but it will most definitely happen around the December 2020 winter solstice in the sign of Aquarius. Until then, most of us will be involved with keeping our ships afloat and finding new ways of living; quarantining may continue for a couple months in many areas. Going back to “normal” will be difficult as this world event has likely changed us forever; changed us in how we relate to one another as well as how we are educated, make a living, shop and much more.
There is a push-pull effect with this planetary conjunction and both may occur at once for a time. Oddly, although this is a bit chaotic the aftereffect is generally that things are or will be much better. Sometimes changes are made for us we have no control over but end up being positive somehow. Or we set off on some positive new path, only to find we must withdraw and wait for another time. Although losses are associated with Saturn, the opposite is true for Jupiter when we experience gains. Generally, we’ll suffer through both during the cycle in one way or another. The next several months would be well-spent preparing for more lasting positive changes to occur in 2021.
April begins its first week with Mars and Saturn forcing us to roll up our sleeves and get to work. This is joined by Venus in trine with Saturn which will then have most of us juggling work and family responsibilities, but with a bit more fun. For most, work and home are all pretty jumbled up lately so by the second week of the month things should look brighter.
Mars and Saturn will square Uranus early on too so the internet or some other electronics or energy utility may become very challenging in the first two weeks. (Attention space agencies; this is not a great time to send up any new satellites!) Health and social care will certainly be strained to their limits and we are already required to withdraw and quarantine for a while longer. Much care must still be taken in social distancing. With Venus and Mars holding hands pretty much the whole month if you make it your goal to have fun at home while cleaning up from this global mess it won’t seem like such a chore. Most of us will welcome the increased activities this aspect denotes to break up the boredom. Increased travel and getting outdoors at the end of the month will have everyone feeling joyful liberty once again.
Most people should notice that as April rolls on things should improve as we work toward getting back to a new normal. The new normal may have you embracing new routines, activities, responsibilities and practices that may prove to be very good for you over the long term. For now, go with the flow and pick back up where you can when you can. Avoid greater danger by not rushing things.
Click on your zodiac sign below to see what is new for April 2020.
Aries the Ram – March 21 to April 20
Taurus the Bull – April 21 to May 21
Gemini the Twins – May 22 to June 21
Cancer the Crab – June 22 to July 22
Leo the Lion – July 23 to August 22
Virgo the Virgin – August 23 to September 23
Libra the Scales – September 24 to October 23
Scorpio the Scorpion – October 24 to November 22
Sagittarius the Archer – November 23 to December 21
Capricorn the Goat-Fish – December 22 to January 20
Aquarius the Water-Bearer – January 21 to February 19
Pisces the Fishes – February 20 to March 20
Astrology has been popular off and on for over 5000 years and has evolved over 5 millennia to become 3 separate primary branches. Ayurvedic (or Vedic) astrology, perhaps the progenitor of all modern astrological systems, is one of the oldest forms and is generally practiced and followed in India and Hindu cultures around the world. Chinese astrology is derived from Ayurvedic astrology and is widely followed in countries with large Asian populations, originating in China. Western astrology was developed through Persian and Greco-Roman influences over the last 2500 years, with these ancient cultures applying their own names and interpretations of the signs and planets now so familiar.
Historically, most every indigenous culture worldwide developed their own unique form of astrology, often independently from other cultures, such as Celtic astrology, North American First Nations animal medicine astrology, Egyptian, Mayan and Aztec astrology.
Although all 3 primary systems of astrology are quite different from one another, it’s interesting to note that they correspond with the 3 primary branches of medicine; Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and modern allopathic (Western) medicine. In the Americas, Europe and parts of Oceania, Western astrology is most widely followed.