This Months Full Moon & New Moon Eclipses

April will be a key month in 2014, for a great deal of change will head our way. This is due to the arrival of two important eclipses, first an emotional full-moon lunar eclipse in Libra on April 15, and then a new-moon solar eclipse in Taurus on April 29. If your birthday falls on, or close to, these dates, your life will change dramatically.

But first, some background: Eclipses always fall on a new moon or full moon, and they always come in pairs, two weeks apart. In April, these are monster moons — full of difficult aspects. So, while either of these new and full moons would have been important in their own right, the fact that these are eclipses — the nodal points of any year, where all events seem to revolve around the strong messages of the eclipses — means they have the strength of three new moons and full moons rolled into one. The first eclipse, on April 15, will be a full moon, ending or culminating a situation or relationship; and the second eclipse is a new moon, setting up a long-term trend.

The cardinal signs of Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn will feel these eclipses the most, but admittedly, everyone of every sign will notice the effects to varying degrees. We all have the four cardinal signs reflected somewhere in our charts. These eclipses have an unusual nature because each of them has the configuration of a grand cardinal cross. Which means that these are angry eclipses, with four planets at tight 90-degree angles from the other, with four —squares?? and two oppositions, all in one eclipse. This is unusual. The mathematical degrees are tight, not wide, suggesting that a very targeted message will emerge. Plus, Uranus, the planet of sweeping and unexpected change, will be prominent, meaning nothing that occurs will be expected.

Cardinal signs are linked to the north, south, east, and west points on the compass, so they define direction. People who were born under cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn) are the pioneers of the zodiac. They are energetic, adventurous and to some degree, impatient for change. When a grand cardinal cross occurs, planets will move to block one another, and as a result, the planets will not allow energy to flow easily but instead bounce around the chart. The planets involved with this month are the heavy-duty outer planets, unpredictable Uranus, super-power Pluto, giving Jupiter, warrior planet Mars, and in the case of the April 15 eclipse, a full moon with Mars.

When a fly is trapped in a hot pot, it continually searches for an exit, flying frantically from side to side, and bouncing off the walls of the pot, but it can find no escape. Well, these eclipses are similar. I feel that a cardinal cross will create a rapid, often unexpected change to present conditions, requiring a strong adjustment to fast-moving events. The mission of an eclipse will be to uncover truth, and to sweep away unproductive and outworn elements — although at the time, you may feel that what is being taken away or changed is still relevant to you, not outworn at all. But, have faith, as the universe will be working on your behalf, even if you don't yet see this to be true.

If you are curious, there are only three kinds of cross patterns possible in a chart — a grand cardinal cross, a grand fixed cross and a grand mutable cross. A mutable cross will include Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, and Pisces, but mutable signs are highly flexible and adaptable, so a mutable cross allows for negotiation, and is therefore easier to experience and negotiate.

In a grand fixed cross you would have the signs of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio involved. Fixed signs are certain about where they stand and what they want to happen next, and therefore less flexible people — but often are quite stable and able to set up the platform of a new future. Of the three types of grand crosses, the cardinal cross is considered the hardest one to cope with, as cardinal signs are so pioneering and energetic, and these signs are all associated with taking a new, fresh direction, and sweeping away the past.

Most readers — approximately 70% — will feel an eclipse on the day it occurs, with a plus or minus four days of tolerance. About 20% of readers will feel the eclipse one month to a day later, so in case that is you, you should watch May 14 and May 28, plus or minus four days, for news. Being that astrologers deal with bell curves, I can also tell you that approximately 5% of readers will have already heard news of the April eclipses a month earlier, on March 14 and March 28 (and in each case, apply the plus-or-minus-four-days rule).

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
The things going on out of view, just under the surface, may be where you need to focus during the lunar eclipse, on April 15. Falling in your twelfth house, the last house of the horoscope, this eclipse will bring news only if someone has taken pains to keep you in the dark about a certain situation — everything is about to come out.

This same area of the chart also rules healing and rehabilitation of the mind, body, and spirit. If you have had an emotional problem that you feel would require the advice of a therapist or coach, it is likely that you will be more inclined to reach out for help at mid-month. If you have not been feeling well, an eclipse in the sixth house, where you will host your eclipse, indicates it's a good time to have a checkup or a talk with a professional. It is alternatively possible that someone close to you will be hospitalized or move into a nursing home, physical-therapy center and will depend on your cheery presence and assistance now.

The second eclipse, on April 28, will be the more important one of the two for you. Falling in your opposing sign of Taurus, it will shine a light on your close relationship with your steady, exclusive partner in love and/or marriage, or with a business partner or collaborator. You may learn news about your partner that you didn't expect. You may make a sudden decision to part ways, or just the opposite, to marry or make things more official — but, just be prepared, because decisions will be pushed to either end of the spectrum. Big life events tend to happen on eclipses, but I advise you to go slowly to be sure you have all the facts you need to make an informed decision. Eclipses are famous for their power to dramatically accelerate a timeline.

Difficulties with legal matters might come up, too, and at the office, a work project or dealings with coworker or subordinate seems to be problematic, too. You might feel that you are getting no support from those around you, and you might have to fend for yourself. If you conclude that everyone around you has gone a little crazy near the solar eclipse of April 28, you're probably right. Sometimes, it is perfectly normal to feel like the only sane person in the room.

If your birthday falls within four days of October 31, you will feel this eclipse's effects quite strongly. In that case, clear your calendar so that you can deal calmly with all that you need to do.