Charming Dragons
The April 2006 Forecast
by Terry Lamb
The Planetary Events grid now appears at the end
of the forecast.
T
he magazines lay in a pile unread; the room is a
little messier than usual, but it’s because you’ve
been dealing with more important things. Such is
the nature of an eclipse week. Now we know what it
holds for us. Now we know more about the future, to be
specific the next 6 months. April is more about
fulfilling the initiative sparked by the eclipsed area in
our life. The solar eclipse on March 29 was like a storm
rolling through our lives. And like a storm, it leaves us
cleansed of something, feeling lighter because
something hidden was weighing us down. It was a
“double” day, because at the same time Pluto was
beginning its 4 ½ month focus (retrograde) period.
Pluto was also involved in the lunar eclipse on March
14, so events at mid-month tied to those at its end. It
was unusually intense, both in my experience and in the experiences of those I know.
The tone of this month is much lighter — release and renewal. Saturn’s focus (retrograde) period is over as of the
5th; the other retrogrades have yet to start, with the exception of Pluto. That’s a big exception to be sure, and the themes
struck by these two planets are critical to making the most of April’s potential. They are also key to what is happening in
the news right now.
The “Double” Day Will Be Felt for Six Months.
Both eclipses in March were more potent that usual. Let’s look at the solar eclipse at the end of the month, since
we will be dealing with that one most overtly in the weeks to come. Pluto has to do with large issues and events, mass
movements, and major change, so it is often easiest to see on the mass conscious or world-event level. We did just that in
my peer group meeting in mid-March. Looking at the chart for Washington DC (Chart B at left), I noticed that Mars is
at the bottom of the chart while Pluto is at the top. I thought to myself, “Gee, that looks like public protest.” Mars is
located in the place of the people (public), and that could suggest anger. Pluto at the top suggests a heavy-handed or
“plutocratic” approach to something from
leadership. However, I didn’t say anything, because
I thought that people in the US would never get out
and protest — we’re notoriously complacent here.
Was I wrong! (And right at the same time.) The
nationwide protests about the new immigration
legislation brought out the largest number of people
in recent memory (since the 60s?)! Since this energy
peaks on the 8th, there is more to come. The debate
in Congress should be scintillating.
If Pluto is contacting anything in your natal
chart, you will experience events and opportunities
of equal importance in your life. Inner turmoil, while
not inevitable, is a sign that something hidden is
surfacing and ready to be resolved. It can’t stay the
way it was, and you’ll be vastly better off for the change. The period between now and September 4 is the Pluto focus
period, when Pluto appears to move backward through the field of Sagittarius. It’s the time to build something, to work
toward a big goal. It might not be realized entirely in this period — in fact, if it isn’t you know you’re tapping Pluto’s
potential, because it can take many years to bring to perfection what Pluto tasks us with. Remember the theme I expressed
last month for Pluto: Now that you know the whole truth, do you dare slay the dragon and go for what you’re aching to
have?
Archetypally, we have one encounter with the dragon on April 7–10, the time of the Mars-Pluto contact
mentioned above. This is not something to fear but something to rejoice. The dragon exists. Isn’t it better to acknowledge
the dragon and know what’s present than to leave it hidden? Pluto certainly thinks so! However, rather than slaying the
dragon, the key is to charm the dragon. A happy dragon is much more likely to cooperate with you and go on his way
peacefully. This does not mean to compromise your principles, but to come from a place of calm and clarity inside
yourself when dealing with dragons.
It is essential to remember where the rage in the dragon comes from to begin with: It is fear. What else would
make it react so strongly to something? And this goes for ourselves as well. When we have a strong reaction to something
around us, we should ask, “What am I afraid of?” When we are calm and clear inside, we create calmness and clarity
around us.
A Little More About Mercury
Mercury was in its focus period (retrograde) for most of March, and it added to the challenge many were
experiencing. I usually find its retrogrades refreshing, because I can hear its voice in my head more clearly, its messages
more loudly. However, this month, I did not. I realized that this was because it was in Pisces, where its voice is muffled.
It was a time when we were digging up something very deep from within ourselves, and there were so many messages
(including many from the past that we thought we had let go) that it was hard to tune in to the right ones. It was a time
when our resolve to move ahead may have faltered; it may have been a time when we had to rely on faith in what we
knew before our vision clouded over. Truth was the issue: Did I really understand what was going on, or was everyone
else I was dealing with right?
We get the final resolution of issues that came up related to what’s true and what isn’t around the 13th. We may
experience extraordinary clarity coming from within, or a signal from outside ourselves confirming whether our direction
is correct or not. We get further corroborations on the 16th and 30th.
Saturn’s Release
Once Saturn is moving forward once again, we will feel more forward momentum in our lives as well. Think
back to what you’ve been experiencing since last July 16 (when Saturn entered Leo, where it is now). Then think about
what happened around November 22 last year (US Thanksgiving Day was the 24th). Events at the end of January also tie
into this thread in your life. This area of your life is likely to be filled with complexity right now, but the good news is
that some situations will resolve themselves, at least preliminarily. Because Saturn is now moving into contact with the
other fixed-cross planets (Jupiter and Neptune), new situations will arise tied to the old ones.
The overriding theme of these contacts is: now that you know the problem, do you dare move forward anyway?
We are being challenged to go to the very edge of what we used to consider possible and then take two steps more. The
short story is that you will start to see the results of your hard work since late last November.
For example, one person I know had an unresolved issue lurking in the back of his mind. It didn’t emerge into the
foreground until the holiday dust settled, but in January, he realized he needed to do something very different. At the end
of January, an opportunity arose to move in a radically new direction. Although it took incredible courage for him to
think of himself in this new way, he took the plunge. As Saturn returns to forward motion, he can expect this new persona
to take form (Saturn rules form) and have substance to others. He is ready to launch his new initiatives on this new level
of awareness, making it available to others. Because the new persona is ripened by Saturn, his confidence in himself will
be reflected in response he gets from others.
Between the 23rd and 29th, we get to try our new Saturn wings as the Sun moves between Saturn and Chiron. I
have had much to say about Saturn and Chiron in the past; suffice it to say for now that we get to see how well we are
healing what needs to be restored within us.
Saturn is also moving toward a harmonious contact with Pluto, so on the other side of all the challenge in the
short run is a powerful positive outcome, both in our personal lives and in the world around us.
It Isn’t Over Till It’s Over.
One set of signs has been notably lacking in contact over the past few months, the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer,
Libra, Capricorn). If you all have been feeling left out, fear not! There are plenty of cardinal events to go around in April.
The March 29 eclipse contacts all these signs, setting up a situation which must be resolved in the coming six months. On
April 13–20, we can take the next step on this path. There is likely to be a flurry of activity, then a period of dormancy
during which you can prepare for the next bout of action, which comes in early May, and then in late July. This was the
last eclipse in cardinal signs for five years. We’re just completing a two-year period when the eclipses fell in Aries-Libra,
teaching us about the balance between self and other, or “how do you know when you’ve given enough?”
Waves to Ride
There are plenty of harmonies adrift amongst the planets, but we have to snag them and bring them into our
awareness if we want to use them. You can see them in the interconnected blue lines of the chart at the top of the
forecast. Most of these are opportunity contacts — you have to look for the opportunity rather than it presenting itself on
a silver platter. It requires maintaining a “blank mental screen”, which consists of a mind open to the possibility of an
unexpected positive event at any turn. You could meet the director of your next movie in line at the grocery store, but if
you’re buried deeply in your own thoughts, you won’t even notice the person there to strike up a conversation with.
Uranus and Jupiter are creating the big, long-term harmony of the year, so whenever any planet is in a water sign
(Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) it triggers this powerful force of innovation and enterprise. This is the silver lining in the events
of March: A great deal of good will come of the challenges we faced then, perhaps beyond our wildest dreams.
To tap these energies, we MUST look for the good in all experiences and all people. What lesson is being
learned? Where is this person really coming from? If a negative emotion is being expressed, where is the fear? Seeing
into and through the surface of a situation is where the reward lies, not only with our own success, but with our
satisfaction with life as well.
Planetary Events
Sun is exalted. Mercury is in detriment and fall. Saturn is retrograde and in detriment. Pluto is retrograde.
Venus sextiles Pluto
|
26°45' Aquarius/Sagittarius
|
April 2
|
Mercury trines Jupiter ℞ (3rd of 3)
|
17°26' Pisces/Scorpio
|
April 4
|
Saturn returns to direct (forward)
motion (SD – stationary direct)
|
4°23' Leo
|
April 5
|
Venus enters Pisces (exaltation)
|
0°00' Pisces
|
April 5
|
Mars opposes Pluto
|
26°44' Gemini/Sagittarius
|
April 8
|
Sun sextiles Neptune
|
19°19' Aries/Aquarius
|
April 9
|
Aries Full Moon
|
23°37' Aries/Libra
|
April 13
|
Mercury squares Pluto ℞ (3rd of 3)
|
26°42' Pisces/Sagittarius
|
April 13
|
Mars enters Cancer (fall)
|
0°00' Cancer
|
April 13
|
Mercury enters Aries
|
0°00' Aries
|
April 16
|
Sun trines Pluto
|
26°40' Aries/Sagittarius
|
April 16
|
Mercury squares Mars
|
2°26' Aries/Cancer
|
April 18
|
Venus conjoins Uranus
|
13°15' Pisces
|
April 18
|
Mercury conjoins North Node (eclipse
point)
|
3°17' Aries
|
April 18
|
Mars squares the Nodes (eclipse
points)
|
3°15' Cancer/Aries
|
April 19
|
Mercury trines Saturn
|
4°34' Aries/Leo
|
April 19
|
Sun enters Taurus
|
0°00' Taurus
|
April 19
|
Venus trines Jupiter
|
15°44' Pisces/Scorpio
|
April 20
|
Mercury sextiles Chiron
|
9°28' Aries/Aquarius
|
April 20
|
Sun squares Saturn
|
4°44' Taurus/Leo
|
April 24
|
Taurus New Moon
|
7°24' Taurus
|
April 27
|
Sun squares Chiron
|
9°38' Taurus/Aquarius
|
April 29
|
Venus squares Pluto
|
26°30' Pisces/Sagittarius
|
April 30
|
All dates are based on Pacific Time.
Blue = harmonious/Red or orange = challenging
Events in bold are more significant.