This week we get to slow down and smell the roses, and there’s even some levity to compensate for the unrelenting stress we’ve been under.

We’re still in the wake of Saturday’s New Moon when the Sun enters Taurus early Monday morning. Many of us are starting new ventures or entering a new phase in our lives, while still contending with unfinished business from previous cycles. The slower pace this week will help us catch up, and we’ll also have some space to confirm new priorities and formulate a plan for wrapping up old projects. The planning part is important, because it simply isn’t possible to complete the entire “to-do” list, and certainly not in a few days or a few weeks.

Spring cleaning, literal and figurative, can be part of the evaluation. Cleaning out closets and getting rid of unused items can be liberating. If those items are in good condition, donate them to a charity or take them to a thrift store. I take my donations to a local thrift store that uses the proceeds to help with medical costs for those who can’t afford to pay out of pocket.

In a recent issue of The Mountain Astrologer, there was a cartoon with Taurus tearfully putting his tattered, worn-out T-shirt in the Salvation Army box. Taurus has a reputation for being possessive and frugal to a fault. That’s the darker side of the sign of wealth, abundance, luxury, and financial security. But it raises a good point for this week, which is that wealth multiplies when put in circulation and contracts when hoarded.

Being miserly usually is about a fear of lack, and fear closes the heart. A closed heart can’t feel the joy of abundance. Given the state of the economy, many people in the world can’t meet their basic needs, which has resulted in widespread fear and panic that feeds on itself. Somehow, we need to raise the vibration level and refuse to give in to fear. I concede that this is easier said than done. We can start by being aware of our fear. That alone takes away some of its power.

It’s also helpful to stop and fully enjoy the moments when we do feel a sense of abundance. It can be as simple as enjoying a glass of good wine with friends or eating a particularly delicious meal. As the most physical of all the signs, Taurus is sensual. We often use that word as a synonym for “sexual,” but it means simply, “of the senses.” The senses are a function of the physical body. By engaging all of the senses, we open the door to unlimited opportunities for feeling fullness and abundance. Taking in the beauty of the night sky or listening to an inspiring piece of music can make us feel “rich.”

For the next month, we can tap into the energy of Taurus to focus on the moments when we feel full, rich, and blessed with abundance. The more attention you give to these experiences, the less you can focus on fear of lack. It’s said that we attract what we give the most attention to.

Looking at the rest of the week, we see mostly easy aspects. Even the squares are relatively benign, when normally a square indicates conflict or crisis.

In Tuesday, Mercury in Taurus squares Jupiter in Leo. This is a great aspect for visualizing abundance and thinking about ways to make it happen. As you do this exercise, concentrate on what you want to feel, not on what you want to have. Many people doing visualization exercises make the mistake of focusing on money. That’s akin to visualizing gasoline when what you really want is the car. And even then, it’s not really the car you want, but the feel of the leather seats, or the thrill of being on the open road at 120 mph with the wind whipping through your hair. If it’s financial security you want, then you can look at your budget and find ways to save. The only downside to this aspect is that you can overlook details, often due to being overly optimistic.

Also on Tuesday, Mars in Taurus trines Pluto in Capricorn. It’s about damn time we had some positive interaction with Pluto. Mars is the action planet, and while he’s not at his best in Taurus, this is a terrific aspect for thinking about what you want to change in your life and making a list of actions you can take on a sustained basis to reach your goal. You just need to make sure that your desires aren’t purely selfish or will require another person to change so that you can get something from them. Pluto just went retrograde and is at a standstill. Planets are at peak power when stationed. Pluto destroys, but he also transforms. With both planets in earth signs, we’re talking about physical, material transformation – for example, unloading a project that’s costing too much time and energy, thereby freeing up resources for another purpose.

This aspect also should bring some positive developments on the world stage, such as peace agreements and successful financial negotiations. The latter could refer to a deal between the International Monetary Fund and Greece, which have been in a standoff that has far-reaching consequences for the Eurozone and for popular movements challenging a system that enriches the bankers at the expense of ordinary citizens. Finance ministers are scheduled to meet in Latvia on Wednesday. Observers aren’t hopeful that a deal can be reached, and that may indeed be the case on Wednesday, when Mercury in Taurus conjoins Mars. Taurus is known for its obstinacy, and the Mercury-Mars conjunction suggests that egos won’t budge. However, Mars aspects are active for a week before and after, and Mercury also trines Pluto on Wednesday. Under this combination, it’s possible to the cut to the chase and to stay at the table until a deal is reached. As an extra bonus on Wednesday, Venus sextiles Jupiter, which is very fortunate for foreign financial dealings.

The same pattern applies to our personal affairs. Arguments not only are possible but likely. However, if you are aware of the underlying ego battle, you can consciously choose to remove yours from the discussion. With the perceived threat removed, your adversary probably will back off, too, and then you can get down to work to resolve the issue that caused the conflict in the first place. I’ve always said that you can’t solve a problem if you don’t know the source. Very often, arguments aren’t about what’s being said but something different entirely. This happens because we either don’t know why we’re angry or are afraid to talk about it. With Taurus, the “solution” often is to stonewall and refuse to talk at all. This week is the perfect time to break through the barrier. The Venus-Jupiter sextile will be beneficial particularly if money is the underlying problem (financial disagreements are one of the five leading causes of divorce).

Friday’s Mercury-Chiron sextile helps heal hard feelings, especially those related to a longstanding disagreement. Those feelings don’t dissolve into thin air the minute an agreement is reached. We often have to work to let go of built-up anger and resentment. Infidelity is a good example. A couple can talk it through, reach an understanding about how it happened, and commit to moving forward, but it takes time to heal the hurt and sense of betrayal.

On Sunday (April 26), Venus sextiles Uranus. This is the chance encounter, the $20 bill found on the ground in the mall parking lot (it happened to me once!), the unexpected phone call from a good friend, and other pleasant surprises.

Wednesday is Earth Day, first celebrated in 1970 in support of environmental protection. Ironically, Monday is the fifth anniversary of the BP Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP claims it’s all better now, but environmental researchers say it could take decades for nature to heal. Back in April 2010, I wrote about the role of dwarf planet Ceres in environmental issues. We’re still collecting data about how Ceres functions in natal charts, but there’s enough evidence of a correlation between Ceres aspects and the environment. On the day of the BP disaster, she was conjunct Pluto in Capricorn by less than 1 degree. On the first Earth Day, she was opposite Pluto by less than 5 degrees. On Earth Day this week, she is in a square with the Sun in Taurus and a supportive sextile with Saturn in Sagittarius. Environmental issues have taken a backseat to the economy. The Texas legislature is about to pass a bill prohibiting Texas cities from banning fracking within their limits. If passed into law, it most certainly will be challenged, but it’s frightening all the same that lawmakers are so blatantly telling the people who elected them that they have no say whatsoever in whether the oil industry can destroy their environment.

Last week I said I’d write about Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, but I’ve decided to hold off for the time being. Let me just say that the prominent features of the chart for the time of her announcement indicate an effective marketing pitch as the first woman president and the support of powerful corporate allies. The latter could be her undoing.

I leave you with a voice that comes from a human body but isn’t of this earth. I can’t tell you how rich this makes me feel.

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

© Pat Paquette, RealAstrologers.com, 2014.