Leo, April 2017
Illustration by Nicole Ginelli

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horoscopes

Leo, April 2017

You're ready for new experiences; April finds you reflecting on what moves you want to make next.

April opens with your ruling planet, the Sun, in fellow Fire sign Aries, inspiring you to break out of your everyday routine. You're aching to go somewhere new, learn something new, and meet new people. But where do you want to go? And with whom? What really matters to you anyway? April opens with so many questions, and it's going to be moody. You're in an adventurous mood (thanks to the Sun in Aries), but you're also reconsidering everything, and you aren't exactly feeling like everything is great. This is thanks to Venus—the planet of love, money, and beauty—being retrograde.

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You want to hit the road, but nothing is inspiring you. That sucks, Leo! By the end of April, you will have a better idea of where you want to head next, so don't get bummed out thinking that life is just going to be boring. It won't—and April has plenty of drama to keep you occupied!

Venus retrograde enters Water sign Pisces on April 2, which will definitely be the most emotional, exhilarating, frustrating part of the whole Venus retrograde (which began last month on March 5 and will end on April 15). This is a massively important time for letting go of the past. Find a banishing ritual that feels right to you and perform it, Leo. Get all of "it" out of your system, whatever or whomever "it" might be.

Venus is all about value—this mean money, but also your sense of self-worth and you feeling like your time and energy is being respected. Venus retrograde in Pisces will be major for sorting out issues concerning intimacy and figuring out how reciprocal your relationships are. Do you always pick up the tab? Are you always there to answer the phone when others are crying? Can they do the same for you? Intuitive, sensitive Water sign Pisces can be bad with boundaries. Check in with yourself: Are you doing too much emotional labor?

Venus retrograde in Pisces is a powerful time for debts, both emotional and financial, to be paid off. Expect to run into people from your past, too. Think back to spring 2009, which is the last time Venus was retrograde in Aries and Pisces. The lessons you learned then will come in handy now!

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Check in with yourself: Are you doing too much emotional labor?

Venus isn't the only planet that will be retrograde this month. Mercury begins its retrograde in Taurus on April 9; during this transit, it will stir up issues around your career and reputation. It's time to rethink some of your goals and reflect on what you want to be known for. Mercury retrogrades are poor times for communication, so don't have any conversations that you're hoping will bring you riches—this is also a bad time to sign contracts.

Mercury retrograde also sucks for travel and commuting, and this will be especially true when Mercury reenters Aries on April 29. Issues around school or publishing could come up—ask for an extension, and definitely double-check any work you're handing in. Mercury retrograde is also a bad time to spend money or buy electronics; things will break or be misplaced. Is Mercury retrograde good for anything? Yes, it is: for revisiting old projects, and, best of all, for winding down. Take it slow, Leo. You are royalty after all, so why should you work so hard?

The full moon in Libra arrives on April 11, illuminating the communication sector of your chart. Full moons bring culmination, so a conversation that's been growing around you will reach an exciting climax today! Do your best to stay open-minded mid-month, Leo. Your ruling planet, the Sun, makes some stressful connections in the days before this full moon: one to Jupiter on April 7, and one to Pluto on April 8. These planetary clashes will test your ability to be generous, to check your ego, and to keep up with your responsibilities. You're going to really want answers, and it's going to stress you out. Stay chill and focus on the full moon in communicative Air sign Libra, which is when you receive clarity and perspective.

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Take it slow, Leo. You are royalty after all, so why should you work so hard?

Unexpected surprises come when the Sun meets wild, brilliant Uranus, the rebel of the zodiac, on April 14. Achieving freedom—whatever that means to you—will be super important at this time, and you're going to be in an impulsive mood. Combined with the fact that Venus will be just about to turn direct in emotional Pisces, you can bet that, mid-month, you're going to feel tempestuous as hell.

Supportive energy flows your way when the Sun in Aries trines (an easy, harmonious astrological aspect) Saturn in Sagittarius on April 17. This will be a solid day for connecting with others, having fun, making art, and even feeling grounded and stable in your love life. Saturn is a total pain in the ass usually, but sometimes it can bring us much needed structure and stability!

The Sun enters Taurus and meets Mercury (which is retrograde!) on April 19. What does this mean for you, Leo? Taurus season is all about your career goals and popularity, but, again, because of the retrogrades, you're rethinking what your goals are and what direction you want to go in.

Taurus is famous for being stubborn, but the truth is you're probably even more stubborn than Taurus is! When the Sun and Mercury meet on April 19, own your own bullheadedness and realize that you'll probably change your mind about a few things down the line because of the retrograde. It's pretty embarrassing to say, "I would never do that," and then do whatever it is, like, three weeks later—and you hate being embarrassed, Leo!

You can bet that, mid-month, you're going to feel tempestuous as hell.

A boost to your social life comes when Mars enters Gemini on April 21, igniting the sector of your chart that rules your friendships and the groups and communities you belong to. Expect your calendar to get packed. If you have a lot on your plate, enlist some friends to help you out—this is a great time for teamwork!

A new moon in Taurus arrives on April 26, bringing a fresh start to your career and reputation! Mercury retrograde in Taurus has encouraged you to put new projects on the back burner. If things have felt stagnant, this new moon will break up the energy and bring in some fresh ideas. This is a wonderful time to do a ritual around fame and fortune. The spotlight is where you feel most comfortable anyway, dear Leo.

Venus enters Aries on April 28—and this time, it's not retrograde! Blessings from faraway places are on the way. You're going to be able to look at the issues that stressed you out in the beginning of the month with fresher, wiser eyes. Problems with traveling, school, or publishing are now much easier to tackle. And, of course, Venus is the planet of love and beauty, so you'll feel lighter around those things, too! See you in May, Leo!