Astrology is an art, science, and most of all, a practice. It reflects the old adage, “As above, so below.” Astrology does not predict the future. Nor does it determine our lives’ circumstances. Rather, astrology gives us a way of reflecting upon and more deeply understanding our personal and collective experiences.

Astrology is svadhyaya, self-study. It empowers us to make more informed choices. As we do, we no longer see ourselves as victims of circumstances. Rather, we step into our role as co-creators with the Universe.

The New Moon in Aries.

The new moon is traditionally a time for planting seeds. When we plant seeds, we do not necessarily know that those seeds will sprout. Planting seeds is an act of faith.

Likewise, we plant seeds of intention or set goals at the new moon. We won’t know which seeds the soil of our life is ready to receive until they begin to grow. However, the sign that the moon is in gives us a clue.

Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. Therefore, the Aries new moon is the first new moon of the astrological new year. Aries is a cardinal fire sign. Cardinal signs are signs that initiate movement. Fire is an element with a lot of energy. The new moon in Aries is a particularly powerful time for setting goals and new intentions.

Aries is like the prow of a ship. It is the part of us that gets things moving and leads the way! Being the first zodiac sign, Aries also represents our body, which is our entry point into the physical world. Intentions related to athleticism, leadership, facing fears, or initiating something new are all appropriate at the Aries’ new moon.

The Sun in Taurus.

Astronomically, the sun is the center of our solar system. It is what all of the other planets orbit around! Likewise, the sun in astrology is the center of our inner solar system. It gives us a point of reference that all of the other planets revolve around.

When the Sun is in Taurus, our concerns shift from setting goals and getting things moving to how we will sustain those goals in the long term. Ruled by the planet Venus, Taurus is primarily concerned with our values, resources, and intimate relationships. Aries asks us what exactly it is we want to achieve. Taurus wants to know what we need to achieve it.

It isn’t enough to simply set a goal or create an intention. We also need to know why that goal is important to us. Knowing the potential impact of achieving our goals and intentions give us the sustained energy to continue to work towards them even when the going gets tough!

The Full Moon in Scorpio.

The full moon is traditionally a time of releasing. At the new moon we imagined what we would like to bring into our lives. At this point in the lunar cycle, we’ve gained clarity, perspective, and more-than-likely come up against a few obstacles. What are the things that we cling to that do not help us get from where we are to where we would like to be? Are these things we are able and willing to let go?

Scorpio is the sign most associated with shadow-work, which couldn’t be more appropriate than at the full moon! Consider the intentions set at the new moon. How is our vigorous pursuit of our goal impacting our relationships and the people around us? Is the energetic ego-identity focus of the Aries new moon indicating a tendency toward aggression and recklessness? Doing shadow-work during the Scorpio full moon helps us get very honest with ourselves and take a more mindful approach to our intentions if we find ourselves burning ourselves- and others- out with all of that fiery Aries energy!

Astrologically-informed yoga practices for April.

• Aries is the sign most associated with our physical body. The Aries new moon is a wonderful time for asana (yoga posture) practice. It need not be an intense practice, although if that is appropriate for you, go for it! The most important thing is to really tune into your body as you practice. Feel what it is like to be an embodied being.
• The Sun in Taurus invites us to get grounded. Enjoy time outdoors, walk barefoot in the grass, tend to a garden or a potted plant… Spend time in nature reflecting on how you are a part of nature!
• Try shadow-work practices! Shadow-work practices help us get to know the parts of ourselves that we normally avoid. We uncover these disowned, fragmented pieces of us through practices such as astrology, psychotherapy, and reflective journaling, just to name a few. What shadow-work practices will you incorporate this month?