As we look at some of the issues that will make mid-April interesting, we have to include such things as:
- With the medical asteroid, Asclepius, in 14 Capricorn conjoining Kassandra in the same degree and leaning hard on Pluto in 15, we expect that some (Asclepius) medical matters can be (Pluto) dramatic or life-changing. When you see a medical asteroid with Pluto, you want to encourage a patient to assume as much control as possible over their medical treatment because Pluto likes to show us things that are beyond our control. With Kassandra in the picture, there can be notes about what is advised (and should that advice be followed) regarding a medical condition.
- Under a Kassandra-Pluto, you also have the concern that "advice" can be colored by another's control needs or their psychological history. It pays if you can use the Kassandra as "ears" to hear "the Pluto" in what others say. In other words, can you tune into their MOTIVES or their reasons for what they have to say? Can you hear their SCARS from the past-- and how that tempers their advice or thoughts? In some cases, you need to be listening for how they are using words to manipulate or "mess with" you or others. Especially if this conjunction is angular on one of your Lunar Returns, try to identify "the Pluto" when others talk.
- To go back to the Asclepius-Pluto for a second: as well as more radical health concerns, that can address medical conditions that deal with metabolism, surgery, the meal schedule or the bowels. It can make you more aware of the psychological component of a medical condition. You can recognize that a health issue will push a person to their "bottom line" and perhaps to a surrender to Higher Will.
- In 12 Cancer (April 18th) is the asteroid, Cupido (listed often as Cupido-A to distinguish it from the transnetptunian, Cupido) and in 14 Cancer is Pythia. Of course, these are forming oppositions to Asclepius, Kassandra and Pluto. If these are important in your chart, you can be aware of how a medical condition affects the skin or appearance (from the Cupido-A.) You may realize that just by looking at a person's (Cupido-A) face, you can kind of get a sense of how they're feeling (health-wise.)
- It's always cool when a Cupido-A\Kassandra shows up. It asks you whether you can look at a person's face and expression and know whether to believe their words. This is especially fascinating now because you have that "canny" Pluto in the mix. Where do you watch a person's face and know that what they're saying is meant to persuade and is somehow too clever psychologically? Who is doing that?
- A Pythia\Asclepius is a reminder that a PROGNOSIS regarding a medical condition or treatment may not be accurate.
- A Pythia\Pluto also introduces the idea that a projection about the future is still subject to Pluto. So someone may misunderstand things or assume things... and part of that comes from the Kassandra-Pluto where people say things IN ORDER TO (Pluto:) dominate or manipulate or capitalize on the weaknesses of others.
- I wanted to call your attention to an odd mixture of energies. In 09-10 Pisces, we have Amor, Neptune and Vesta. The Amor-Neptune is fine; it brings up the idea that a person can be so susceptible or so accepting that they don't have or insist on boundaries with other people. You have examples of: in the face of illness or fragility, there is unconditional love. But then stick the Vesta in there. Whoa! True, a person can use the Vesta for dedication to their work (and then they work out the acceptance and compassion of the Neptune-Amor there.) But think about Vesta-- and the emotional distancing-- in the same person with the Neptune in Pisces! In the best of all possible worlds, they balance one another. In the real world, a person can swing between the two: at one moment, there is that squishy Neptune and at the next, there is that attempt to move several steps away from that Piscean Love-for-All!
- In 17 Aries after mid-month, Uranus is joined by such factors as Proserpina, Phaethon, Psyche and Icarus. So let's take that one at a time:
- Under the Proserpina-Uranus, a person can feel Alone and as though they Don't Belong because they're Different, Misfits, or Delightfully Weird. Someone can also feel isolated and different than their friends-- because of some of the other points in aspect. (And see what radix energies are contributing to this story line. In other words, if a natal medical asteroid is part of the picture, a health problem can cause a person to feel (Proserpina:) "apart" from their (Uranus) friends.
- When Phaethon turns up in the company of Uranus-- and it's featured in your chart, you do want to pay attention that you aren't using Uranus to be "reckless" when you're (Phaethon:) behind the wheel of your car. You want to stay on guard for others who may be going too fast or driving erratically. You want to remember to "expect the unexpected" when you're on the road. Others can be going too fast or not obeying other rules of the road.
- With Psyche in 21 Aries (just after mid-month,) it can turn up in angular pictures with Uranus. When they team up, you can be more aware of emotional issues with friends. You can also hear of things like seizures as the (Psyche) brain is subject to (Uranus) alterations in rhythms and electrical impulses.
- Psyche makes us more aware of "what has hurt us emotionally." Throw Uranus into the mix and a person can have emotional scars about "being different" or due to some form of abuse. Psyche also wants to reflect a mental-emotional state. When you add Uranus, a person can-- due to the pressure of unresolved childhood hurts-- act erratic or behave in unpredictable ways-- even breaking rules or becoming defiant in reaction to the pressure of unresolved hurts. Because Uranus can also serve to cause a detached or unemotional reaction, the conjunction of Psyche can show up as: When I feel fragile or vulnerable, when my "pain" (triggers) from the past are hit, I can "turn cold" or become indifferent. And with the possible parans opposition of the retrograde Kalypso (in 19 Libra,) the fact that one is triggered by memories or events that seem too similar to original sources of psychological damage is all the more likely. You may see others react too strongly-- and they don't realize that they're been set off by something that has strong roots in their past.
- We continue to have the asteroid, Orpheus, traveling in conjunction with Siwa (which, among other things, stands for Asia or The Middle East.) So the reports of killings and deaths in that part of the world will continue. Of course, anytime Orpheus shows up in your return charts, you want to remember that it's also about music and depression. While it's hanging out with Siwa, you can see that a person who's really sad can have outbursts of anger or rage.
- Opposing Hades (03 Cancer nowadays) is the asteroid, Minerva. Aside from politicians, Minerva, like Pallas, is about trying to get approval. So what we have is Minerva seeking the approval of... Hades: bad guys, criminals or people on a lower socioeconomic rung of the ladder. This should no doubt aid gang membership and the ranks of terrorists. For politicians, it's seeking the vote of "the common man" and trying to appeal to those who feel (Hades:) disenfranchised or discarded by society.
- Where we can use the asteroid, Handley, (in 23 Leo as of April 18th) to represent cancer or other "malignancies," because it's with Panacea, 27 Leo, we would expect focus on treatments for cancer.
- Of course we could say more about any of these configurations-- and more still by factoring in the natal points that will be responding to these transits, but hopefully these ideas cause you to pay close attention to the words and actions that surround or come from you. Take it easy out there....