Cancer, April 2018

You’re also tenacious and hardworking, when you have a goal, you go for it. You’re a cardinal sign, which means you’re the first sign of your season (summer); it’s just natural for you to take initiative. You might have a shell you like to hide in, but that’s only sometimes. Other times, you’re eager to stand in the spotlight. But the big question early this month is: What do you want to stand in the spotlight for?

There’s a lot of short-term astrology stuff that’s happening for you this month around your career, goal planning, and growing your success, but there’s also some long-term astrology stuff we need to talk about. Let’s start with the short-term: Mercury, the planet of communication and commerce, is currently retrograde in Aries, moving backward through the sector of your chart that rules worldly success and your reputation. This means that you’re rethinking many of the conversations, agreements, and ideas you’ve had about your career.

This is an inopportune time to start new projects, but it’s a great time to pick up something old that you previously had to put to the side. It’s not an ideal time to travel, make big purchases, or sign agreements, since delays, miscommunications and technical difficulties will abound; however, if you make time for yourself to slow down and rest, you’ll be able to rediscover parts of yourself and rethink how you want to move forward.

Tense but important shifts will occur on April 4, when Mercury squares off with Mars—watch out for aggressive energy and arguments, since Mars loves to fight—and on April 5, when Mercury clashes with Saturn, which will find everyone confronting blocks around communication and being in a grumpy but highly focused mood. The energy will likely be irritating, especially as you try to work out responsibilities with your partners, but important changes will be made. (Mercury will square off with Saturn again later in the month, but at that point, Mercury will be moving direct; as exhausting as communication may be again that day, at least you’ll be moving toward new territory!)

There’s a new moon in Aries on April 15, bringing you a fresh start around all the career and reputation stuff you’ve been working on throughout Aries season. That’s not all: Mercury goes direct on this day, too! Spend this weekend asking yourself where you want to go with all the hard work you’re doing, what kind of rewards you want to gain, and what kind of legacy you want to leave. Conversations around your career and public life are going to start moving forward, so get excited! If you’re in a witchy mood, this Is a great time to cast a spell for success—perhaps honor Aries’s fiery vibe by trying some candle magick.

While April will bring sexy moments and opportunities to socialize, too, I do want to talk a little bit more about the long-term view for your career from an astrological standpoint. Uranus, the planet of innovation, has been in Aries since 2011, stirring things up in the fame and reward sector of your chart. While it’s been here, it’s been pushing you to stand in the spotlight and do your own weird, unique thing—even if it might have made you feel uncomfortable, nervous, or even embarrassed at first. Uranus is going to wrap up its eight-year journey in Aries next month, and it’ll meet with the Sun on April 18. This is the last time these two planetary bodies will meet in Aries for about 80 years, so take advantage of this energy while you can—it’ll find you getting very clear on your unique talents that only you can bring to the world.

April 17 is a day to circle in your calendar, dear crab: Expect some over-the-top indulgence. Luxurious Venus opposes the planet of abundance, Jupiter, making for an absolutely gluttonous atmosphere, and connects with Pluto, finding you attracted to mysteries people, and upping the intensity and passion in your life. On top of that, taskmaster Saturn (who isn’t here for any of this “gluttony” nonsense) goes retrograde.

Taurus season begins on April 19, putting you in the mood to socialize, and lovely Venus enters Gemini on April 24, putting you in a very thoughtful, reflective mood about things like love, money, and what’s valuable to you. You might find that Venus in Gemini inspires you to develop a secret crush on someone—a hidden affair is possible, or if you’re not in the mood for being sneaky, some juicy secret sharing could take place between you and your partners.

A volatile day for your relationships is April 26, when Mars meets Pluto. Your partners will be in a fiery mood, eager to cut ties and move the fuck on with life. You’re not a fan of confrontation, sweet crab, so stay away from anyone you know to be a loose cannon. In relationships with healthy boundaries, this could be a phenomenal time to make important changes in your dynamic with each other. Plus, hot sex is totally possible, too.

Speaking of hot sex, a full moon arrives in fellow water sign Scorpio on April 28. This will be a wildly creative time for you; inspiration will be gushing from within you. Tears, too—expect to be emotional! This is an exciting time for your love life, as emotions that have been building up will now come to a climax. The Sun also makes a harmonious connection with Saturn on this day, helping to create a stable energy during what would otherwise be a completely exhausting, tumultuous time.

Good luck this month, Cancer, and see you in May!