Image by Zoltan Matuska
Horoscope: April 27- May 3, 2020
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Highlighted Aspects for This Week
All times listed are Pacific Standard Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.
MON: Mercury square Pallas Athene, Mercury enters Taurus
TUE: Mercury square Saturn
WED: Mercury semisquare Venus, Pallas Athene enters Aquarius
THU: Mercury semisquare Neptune, Mercury conjunct Uranus
FRI: Mars semisquare Chiron
SUN: Venus square Neptune
WE'RE IN the beginning stages of assembling a large jigsaw puzzle. The box has been opened and the pieces are poured out onto the table, but they're all sitting in a jumbled pile in front of us. We're not really sure where to start the process, what the final image will look like, or even if all the pieces are there. And, there are some pieces that are hidden beneath others, that we have yet to uncover.
We feel a certain amount of mental uncertainty and even frustration in the first few days of the coming week. The planet Mercury is the main player on stage — but unfortunately, our hero is also confronted by challenges in nearly every scene.
ON MONDAY, Mercury forms a square aspect with the asteroid Pallas Athene. This aspect represents a conflict between the impulsive urge to express whatever thoughts come to mind (Mercury in Aries) and a more cautious approach that considers when and how to proceed for best results (Athene in Capricorn).
While we might experience this as an inner debate, we will also see it in the world around us. Some will no doubt speak in anger, without considering outcomes, while others try to keep situations from getting out of control, perhaps by imposing more restrictions. This triggers strong reactions from those who feel that their rights of free speech are being violated.
SIMILAR THEMES arise on Tuesday, when Mercury is square Saturn. But, Mercury will be in Taurus at that point, which means that words are more driven by practical concerns than the need to let off steam.
Under stress, Mercury in Taurus can be stubbornly attached to a certain perspective, and unwilling to consider alternatives. Saturn in Aquarius is the teacher and disciplinarian in this scenario, insisting that we realize that society is changing, and that we need to learn to be flexible. Taking its cue from Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Saturn's tagline might well be: "It's time to grow up! We're not in Kansas any more."
STILL claiming center stage, Mercury is at the midpoint between Venus and Neptune on Wednesday and Thursday. These two planets are in square aspect (exact on Sunday), indicating confusing circumstances in the areas of finances and relationships.
As Mercury sits halfway between Venus and Neptune, it is likewise caught in a fog. We may feel disoriented and unsure of how to proceed, or disillusioned with our lack of clear options. This is not the best time to make concrete decisions, as our choices may be based more in wishful thinking than in reality.
THE HIGHLIGHT of the week, when the spotlight on Mercury is especially bright, occurs on Thursday evening, when Uranus joins Mercury on stage. Mercury is the planet of the conscious intellect, while Uranus is the planet of higher consciousness. When they align (exact at 8:40 p.m. PDT), we are given the opportunity to similarly align our minds with the Greater Mind.
This alignment puts a perspective on the rest of the week's events. All of the confusion that we are dealing with earlier in the week actually opens the door for something magical to occur. If all were going "according to plan," we would have our noses to the grindstone, and our focus would most likely be riveted on mundane reality. When the world around us (and within us) seems unfamiliar or even chaotic, we are more open to experiences and insights that are outside of our normal parameters.
KNOWING that this Mercury-Uranus alignment occurs in earthy Taurus gives us some clues as to how to avail ourselves of the potentials. Taurus rules the throat, which means that this is a perfect time to do toning or singing. We can also listen to music that opens our hearts and our minds in new ways.
My current favorite tool in this regard is Tom Kenyon's most recent recording, entitled "Heart Portal Sound Meditation." If you're not familiar with him, Mr. Kenyon is a sound healer who channels high-level frequencies and sound codes through his voice. His website explains that "This sound meditation was given by the Hathors on March 19, 2020, to impart a tool that would be helpful to emotionally and energetically deal with the current Chaotic Node and all its various manifestations —including the COVID-19 world pandemic."
The website also includes simple instructions on how to use the meditation for best results. To access this recording:
- Visit https://tomkenyon.com/
- Click on "Listening." Read the page and then click on "I agree with the terms and conditions of the listening agreement."
- A list of recordings will then open up on the page. The "Heart Portal Sound Meditation" is second on the list. You can choose to listen to and/or download an 11-minute or a 33-minute version.
THERE ARE many areas of life that may be affected by Mercury's strong involvement in events this week. Mercury is the planetary "ruler" of all things related to the functioning of our reasoning minds. This includes written and verbal communications, education given and received, rational thought, and information sharing of all descriptions.
In the mundane world, Mercury is associated with travel, transportation, networks, schools, stores, streets, facts and lies, and news sources. In the physical body, Mercury rules the brain and nervous system, the lungs and respiratory system, shoulders and arms, the thyroid gland, and our five senses as information receptors and interpreters. This week, we may experience challenges and confusion, but also openings and insights in one or more of these areas.
OUR REALITY is changing, and our minds must also evolve. The planets are pressuring us to acknowledge that truth. They are also providing the conditions that can help us take a quantum leap in how we perceive this world and our place in it.
A cautionary note: The alignment of Mercury and Uranus on Thursday is highly electrical. Thinking may be somewhat erratic, computers may go haywire, and our nervous systems will be integrating a higher frequency than normal. Be sure to ground yourself and drink plenty of water, both for your well-being and to take best advantage of these energies.
NEXT SUNDAY, the Venus-Neptune square perfects. By that time, we've already been working with its influence, through Mercury's activation of their midpoint on Wednesday-Thursday. But, the three days around the time of the exact aspect are usually most noteworthy.
Venus is the planetary ruler of values, finances, personal relationships, and alliances of all descriptions. The square with Neptune indicates a fair amount of confusion and disillusionment in these areas. Given how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted and will continue to affect global economies, it makes astrological sense to see this Venus-Neptune square occurring now.
The upcoming Venus retrograde phase (May 12 to June 24) is also very timely, representing a reevaluation on many levels.
Because of Venus going retrograde, this Venus-Neptune square will occur three times this year — on May 3, May 20, and July 27. We can watch these dates for clues as to how this entire time frame will play out in our lives.
With Venus in Gemini, options may seem unclear during this time, and conversations may be unsatisfying. We may not know who to believe. On the one hand, are we being too naive? Or are we buying into conspiracy theories and seeing deception everywhere?
If we seesaw between gullibility and complete distrust, we have the underlying sense that neither of these extreme responses will satisfy. The frustrations of these times require that we open our hearts in new ways, have compassion for self and others, and learn to tell the difference between intuition and wishful thinking.
FOR THOSE who are tracking important lunar aspects, here is this week's watch list:
- Moon in Cancer opposite Pluto: Wed, April 29, 9:01 a.m. PDT
- Moon in Cancer opposite Jupiter: Wed, April 29, 12:29 p.m. PDT
- Moon in Leo opposite Saturn: Wed, April 29, 9:27 p.m. PDT
- Moon in Leo square Uranus: Thu, April 30, 6:21 a.m. PDT
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This is a year of insights and new opportunities, that will encourage you to think in new ways about your life and potential futures. If you are a writer, this may be an especially fruitful year. The gift of this time is the ability to tap into higher-level information, either intuitively or through directly accessing other realms. Be aware that nervous energy is increased, so find tools such as meditation or sound therapy that will calm your mind. Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of water so that you are better able to manage the electromagnetic shift in your body and mind. (Solar Return Sun conjunct Mercury, conjunct Uranus)
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
