The Sun enters Taurus I on April 19, 20242 at 10:00 am EDT, and stays until April 29 at 4:29 pm EDT. Austin Coppock called this decan The Plough, which makes a nice contrast with the Greek goddess whom the Alexandrians honored at this time of year, Charis the bathing attendant of Aphrodite and the first of the Three Graces. T. Susan Chang called it Sacred Doubt as she showed its connections to the Five of Pentacles in Tarot, which the Golden Dawn called The Lord of Worry. Associated with planetary Mercury, it's clear that these ten days are a season for the trickster — sometimes it's the weather circling back to a wintery hard freeze, and sometimes turning to the heat and dryness of midsummer; and sometimes it's young people taking control of their elders' dreams and desires, and carrying them forward; or the elders — what's the word? managing expectations?
There's a big 'worry' these ten days... see below under The Main Event where I discuss the Jupiter-Uranus Conjunction on 20 April 2024, and look for more in this blog in the next few days.
Charis is usually described as the first of the three Graces — the minor deities who were the handmaidens of Aphrodite, her dressers and bathing attendants and chaperones. In this role she is the bringer of gracefulness, fertility, charisma, natural beauty (and cosmetic improvement), and creativity. However, she has a different role in Greek myth, too: that of being Hephaestus's second wife. Famously, the smith-god was married to Aphrodite, but it was an ill-fated marriage; Aphrodite was frequently seen in the company of Ares or Mars, and often ran off with him for amorous encounters. Furious, Hephaestus made a magical bed which trapped the two lovers in flagrante delictco, and tried to compel Zeus to punish her infidelity with some sort of magical monogamy decree. Zeus, though, merely laughed along with the other gods — the goddess of love is going to love where and whom she wills, that was his attitude. And so a divorce was arranged, and Hephaestus married Charis — and theirs was a happy and enduring union.
But wait. Gods don't have divorces. And Aphrodite is eternally married to the smith-god, too, not least because admiration of beauty goes hand in hand with imitation of beauty: Hephaestus would not be able to make objects of superlative beauty if he were not married to beauty's one and only goddess.... and neither would we. So Hephaestus only has one wife, obviously, and Charis is a mere mythic figment.
And yet. And yet.
Maybe it's worthwhile to sit with the conundrum a bit, and acknowledge that Hephaestus is twice-married, divorced once... and yet always and forever only has one wife, Aphrodite. There's no possibility of Charis ever cheating on him... and there's no way Venus would ever not cheat on him. The Marriage of Hephaestus and Aphrodite is contentious and filled with infidelities and constant drama; the Marriage of Hephaestus and Charis is smooth and placid, and no two more compatible and mutually devoted partners could ever be imagined than them. Perhaps, in these alternating stories, we can find a path forward for ourselves too — that love is a constant need in life, regardless of who gives and receives it.
The four dodeks of Taurus I are Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, and Leo, modeling (at least in one way) the contented and happy lounger deciding that it's time to give up sitting on the sidelines and instead to put on a show. First comes Taurus, who is content to sit and watch — if you don't make the mess, you're not responsible for cleaning it up. Yet this naturally gives way to Gemini the observer, who regards a given scene or scenario, and decides that they could do it better or more effectively. This attitude then becomes Cancerian, as the person rouses themselves to motion and decides to enter the situation from the sidelines. Finally comes Leo, who steps forward with professionalism (and not a little vanity and ego) to demonstrate how things should really be done.
I've written previously about Taurus I in 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
Planetary Placements
Since the Sun's entry occurs at 10 am EDT, we're looking at a day chart with the Sun in the eleventh house, and all the planets except the Moon above the horizon. This gives considerable extra authority to Jupiter and Saturn as the Sun's wingmen and advisors, and additionally empowers Mercury as the Sun's pre-dawn messenger who gathers up the Sun's friends and allies to make the next ten days as creative and enjoyable as possible: the Sun will be outstanding in his field in the next ten days, as a result. Put your attention on something, and you'll find that it's easy for you and your friends and allies to get 'er done!
However... the planets holding the angle of the Midheaven in Pisces in the ninth house are Saturn, Mars, and Neptune — which is a bit like finding Larry, Mo, and Curly the Three Stooges squatting on the steps of the diploma platform at a college graduation or blocking the boarding ramp at the airport. Saturn adores obstacles, concussions, tripping hazards, and petty cruelties; Mars plays up fevers, harsh cuts and outbreaks of fire; Neptune likes slips and slides, pratfalls and long walks off short piers. In this configuration they promise delays and cancelations at airports and train stations; arguments with registrars and deans before you're allowed to graduate — and let's remember to proofread the manuscript one last time before you send it to the printer. In Pisces in particular, these promise mishaps and difficulties in journeys by water, and I expect to see at least one more blockade at sea or a river on fire before all is said and done. "The situation is fluid" applies both to military situations and oil spills: let's be more careful than usual.
Over in the eighth house of tedious responsibilities, Pluto's 20-year slog through Aquarius is now at 2° — creating tension between how you want to work with friends, and what you must do to earn your quotidian pay. This suggests that if you're in business for yourself, you should be widening your circle of clients beyond just people you know socially.
Earlier in the morning (4:48 am EDT) there was a conjunction of Mercury retrograde and Venus in the second house. This is one of the conjunctions that regularly occurs more than once a year; it will next occur on August 8, 2024 in Virgo. I composed a poem for this conjunction, but if I had to sum up its meaning, it would be to say "give voice to your desires and speak aloud what you want." If you're reading this on the morning of the 19th, the moment may have passed — but I would still recommend speaking about your plans, especially if you have a chance to demand a raise from your boss.
The Moon, blissfully enough, is in Virgo in the Third Mansion The Wings, a placement famously associated with coitus and the powers of sensuality and eroticism. We think of Virgo as being overly intellectual and analytic, but the Moon here is as sultry and sensual as a professional courtesan. It's a powerful, and potentially risky placement for the Main Event, below — but it also promises a hearty good time if you take the chance and dig into the magic and mystery of the Moon's eroticism in the third house.
The Main Event
Sharing the eleventh house with the Sun are Uranus and Jupiter, in the same degree already but perfecting their conjunction on 20 April 2024 at 10:26 pm EDT. Meeting roughly once every fourteen years, they last met on 8 June 2010 in Aries, and won't meet again until March 29-30, 2038 in Cancer (the two previous times were 16 February 1997 in Aquarius, and 20 February 1983 in Sagittarius).
In many ways, this is likely to be one of 2024's most intense transits — and also one of its more subtle ones — as we experience, on a small scale, a kind of immediate liberation from our old identities, and small expansions of our potential new identities. However, on a grander scale, the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction is the symbolic beginning of a new era in our lives — a fourteen-year period in which we shift from one life-stage to the next, and the elements of our old lives pass away.
For those (like me) that are probably somewhere past the mid-point of life, the Jupiter-Uranus transit's immediate results are to recapture a sense of lost youth or to find our way back to a more carefree existence. However, in the long term, it means grappling with advancing age through health challenges, and accepting promotions to areas of greater responsibility and authority as our elders retire from the rat-race and enjoy the fruits of their previous labors. For those younger than mid-life, in the short term you may see reversion to childish behaviors; the more enduring effects will be a sense of inescapable duties and an acceptance of higher purposes.
Some of this could be fun. You may find some joyful experiences clustered around 20 April this year, as you play up various libertine fantasies of your younger self — there's an all-night dance party, or a concert where you rock out and celebrate life. Put on your leather pants, drink more than you ought, close out the night shift at a 24-hour dive bar, dive into the sack with the wildly inappropriate partner
But — at the same time, recognize that you are not coming back down this road again. There's the hangover in the morning, the chafing from those leather pants, the stiffness in the joints and the back, the fact that what-'s-name wasn't even born when your favorite song was recorded and what's this peculiar rash? in intimate places. It's not to say there will be regret for the ya-yas... gods was that fun!... but unfortunately old often comes with a side-helping of less bold.
I'll have more to say about this conjunction in the next couple of days — and there will be a poem — but chances are you'll know how this one is affecting you, and what you have to give up immediately, and what you're taking on for the long-haul.
Horoscopes by Rising Sign
Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.
Cancer: Take care of your body this week — it's the only one you're going to get. However, 'take care of your body' does not mean 'defend it at all costs'. Instead, it means: love it, treat it nicely, work magic for its health and well-being, use it in ways that increase flexibility and enjoyment, and get intimately familiar with how it works. Get sassy with your friends and go dancing if you can; stand up to your boss and tell him what you're really worth; set boundaries on those long-range projects that get too far out of hand. First and foremost, though: love you.
Leo: What you're able to do this week depends on what you have. There's emotional connections to stuff that are almost sensual, and you may have to dig into your desires and get your hands dirty before you grapple with the meat of your current big pop-up problem. Your professional life may take a short-term hit if you abandon current employer(s), but long-term satisfaction probably lies elsewhere ... if you don't move on this very week, start making plans to find new work. In bed, it's time to experiment in earnest and learn new things — but old obligations (and anger about them) may linger unless you address it.
Virgo: Candles all around the bathtub, and an intimate conversation about sex with a spouse or partner, may be better than the sex itself. Allow yourself to get revved up, but don't be in a hurry to shove the clutch in and shift to drive; a long, slow time with the engine idling may be the necessary lubricant to resolve some sticky arguments. In the short-term, it may be time to throw the graduation hat in the air, but in the long view you might be done with school for a while; how can you crown what you currently know and turn it toward creating favorable future earnings?
Libra: It's likely to be an intense few days with your partner, as your obligations toward one another go through a significant sea-change. Any long-neglected health matters are likely to present themselves for your reconsideration, but be more careful in slippery situations like the bathroom or the shower. At the same time, cleanliness may matter a great deal, especially if your partner(s) are roused to new excitement and flirtation. You may find yourself moved to propose a shift in mutual responsibilities, too — it might seem impulsive, but if you've been considering putting a ring on it, the next week or so may offer opportunities... and sometimes, asking for a ring is a way of freshening up what's gotten stale. If not... maybe it's time to get fresh bread.
Scorpio: You're likely to get lucky even if you strike out in the next few days — your partnership(s) may have a tumultuous week ahead, but the upheaval is likely to make the way ahead much clearer and more obvious to all involved. There's a difficult conversation about both relationships and health with a co-worker or employee that you will have to navigate carefully (especially if you have a legal duty to ensure a harassment-free workplace) — and if you screw this up, you may find yourself in constrained circumstances and about to get the short end of the stick. But, if you play your cards right, you might find yourself in a similarly restricted state, as it were — but with more enjoyable results! An ethical and nuanced agreement about intimate desires needs to be hammered out here.
Sagittarius: Oh, it's going to be so very easy to say, "I'm old, this isn't for me!" but I suggest you get out there and enjoy yourself. Go to the ball, abandon your glass slipper, and have some fun. Dive deep into the sexy talk with your friends, ask the snarky questions, dare them to tell the truth about what yanks their chain, and stir the pot. But — remember the bonds and boundaries of your familial life, and be careful not to slip up on your existing agreements and aspirations. There's unforgettable living yet to do, but it's not a great week to pretend the rules don't apply to you.
Capricorn: There's some garden-tending that needs doing over the next few days: some of it is about applying some new-found financial knowledge to your possessions and wealth-accumulation processes, and some of it is about setting boundaries on intimacy with people who are accustomed to getting more. Are you avoiding having "the talk" about sex and pleasure and making babies with your kids? Even if you haven't, it might be time to re-visit earlier conversations with new material and age-appropriate conversation. For that matter, are you avoiding similar subjects with your spouse or partner(s)? Revisiting rites and rituals is good for everyone here — an adventurous experience with old friends, may open long-term new possibility.
Aquarius: You may feel weighted down by tedious obligations in the coming week — and this may occur in part because a large bill for education or travel is giving you sticker-shock. It doesn't mean that the cost isn't worth it, but second thoughts and worries aren't always easily swayed. A private conversation with a co-worker or ally has the potential to bring you what you really desire, professionally — but a marked shift in your attitudes toward pleasure is about to occur, and if you have kids they may be ready for a significant shift in their long-term direction: advise accordingly. Scheduled playtime may feel tedious, or lack spontaneity — but in some ways it creates a steadiness that can bring relief; put it on your calendar.
Pisces: Has a recent injury limited your mobility? Is the stiffness of age starting to catch up to you? No matter how skilled you are at dressing wounds or treating injury, or certified as a healer of some kind... there are some things that you should present yourself to a professional for consideration. If there's something you're concerned about, it's time to seek advice. This also goes for financial matters, although that conversation will go more easily if you have that dialogue soon. This isn't just about you, either, but it's about demonstrating leadership and modeling right relationship with problems for your siblings and extended family — you didn't learn to "gut it out" or "heal thyself" alone, and there are a lot of people in your orbit who could also learn to ask for help. Independence is a virtue -- but so is mutual support. Whether partnered romantically or alone — book some extended sensual playtime immediately.
Aries: Sometimes a little conversation about sex or horniness in the workplace can be fine... and sometimes it's crossing lines that should not be crossed. There will be strong temptation this week to see a co-worker as a potential partner in sexy talk, or even just in expressing desires or talking about recent dates. And in some instances, the darkness and privacy of the supply room or a shuttered workshop in your workplace might seem awfully, awfully tempting. But before you open that particular door, it's worth asking if there's an inappropriate power-balance between you two, or if the networked dynamics of the office will change if you allow this conversation to take place.
Taurus: A significant shift is underway in your relationship to friends and allies. In the short term you're reaching into your past joys and celebrations, and carving new milestones on the various journeys you've taken with this network of acquaintances. However, a new journey may be calling you, one which is going to reshape your life over the next fourteen years — and it will change your habits about where and with whom you spend your time. Over the last fourteen years you've been masking yourself as professional even among your social circle. If you were around for 14 years before that, you may have even been a salaried expert; and the previous fourteen years involved being something of a drudge. But now you get to be yourself — who is that?
Gemini: On a grand scale, you may be feeling called to retreat from the world, to engage in prayer and contemplation, and the protection of spiritual matters from earthly corruption. At the heart of this desire is a burning coal of love that you've swallowed like a chunk of Eve's apple — a deep, unprovable awareness that love is at the root of all things. Yet there's also a longing for intimacy and connection and an assertion of desire which is equally sovereign — even if you lose your professional roles or feel trapped in a career that you believe no longer fits your desired reality, you will still need friends and acquaintances, a professional network, new learning opportunities, and a home and family life that delights the senses and rouses your sense of purpose. You can retreat for a time, in your own way, this week. But remember that you have to come back.
Colophon
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If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.
I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran's Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.
I use Christopher Warnock's The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock's 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.
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