Sagittarius, April 2016

Your gallop has been slowing down, Sagittarius, and this month you'll begin looking backward as three planets turn retrograde: Mars (which is in your sign!), Pluto, and Mercury. March brought big changes via the eclipses; while April is way smoother, it's still going to bring a new perspective. Let's see how your month will go:

April 5 is a big day, with two planets changing signs: Venus enters Aries and Mercury enters Taurus. Venus is the planet of all things good: love, beauty, cash, and harmony. The fact that it's entering a fellow Fire sign, Aries, is awesome for you—Venus will be sending you all kinds of good vibes. Expect a huge boost in creative inspiration as well as romance.

Venus in Aries is spontaneous, fierce, and fun, so you'll definitely have a great time—but logical Mercury will be in practical Earth sign Taurus, reminding you to do you chores and take care of your health (this isn't such a bad thing, but, Sag, moderation can be so hard for you)!

Much of the last few weeks have been focused on your home life, your family, and issues around security and support, but things are definitely shifting, and you're feeling a little freer now. The new moon in Aries on April 7 will bring a fresh start to your life, especially around creative and romantic endeavors, as well as having fun, plain and simple. You've spent so much time working on your home base, literally or metaphorically speaking, and now you're ready to invite some people over and enjoy it.

On April 14, Mercury in Taurus trines (one of the easiest astrological aspects) lucky Jupiter, which is currently hanging out in hardworking Virgo: This is going to be fantastic for your career or your public persona! Your efforts are paying off, and talks about how you can be rewarded and recognized will be going down. This is definitely a date to watch out for! People love you for your positive attitude, and today your good vibes are contagious. Make a point to meet with a higher up, mentor, or someone whose work ethic you admire in order to create a strong alliance.

April 17 is definitely one of the highlights of the month because Mars will turn retrograde in your sign! Mars is the planet of war, so a retrograde isn't very comfortable for it—Mars wants to plow forward, not retreat. However, a break from battle brings much needed rest and time to strategize.

Mars is especially powerful in your sign, Sag. I mean, you do have a bow and arrow, perfect tools for battle. But your arms are getting achy, and it's time to put down your bow and reconsider your vision and your dreams for the future. What, exactly, are you aiming for? And, more importantly: Who are you when you're not aiming for something? What are you without your goals? Who are you when you're just present? Deep stuff, Sag, but you're the philosopher of the zodiac, so you'll figure it out.

Naturally, this process will require you to go deep and work though some thoughts or feelings that you may have repressed and stuffed way down in your psyche. Next month, when Mars dips back into Scorpio, the sign of depth and intensity, you'll begin the hard, emotional, and psychological work around getting back in touch with the real you—but we'll wait until May to discuss this piece of the puzzle.

Pluto, the planet of power and transformation as well as manipulation and addiction, turns retrograde on April 18 in driven, materialistic Earth sign Capricorn. This transit will be all about your money, material goods, and also your self-esteem. As Pluto retraces its steps through success-loving Capricorn, reconsider your relationship to cash and reflect on whether or not what you have is affecting your feelings around worth. You're not your belongings.

Also, Sag, you're one of the most generous signs in the zodiac, but sometimes giving too much can be a way of manipulating someone. Check in with yourself and ask if you're really buying your friend another drink because you can afford it and you want to show them your appreciation, or if it's because you want them to hang out with you more. Conversely, if you notice that someone else is acting shady with you about money, do trust your gut.

Also on April 18, sexy Venus trines stable Saturn, which will bring you a sense of strength and security during this shift in Pluto energy. This is a great day for reflecting on commitment in your romantic relationships or for solidifying any creative projects you're working on.

On April 19, the Sun enters sturdy yet sensual Earth sign Taurus, shifting your focus to your health, habits, and daily routine. I know the boring, everyday stuff is frustrating for you, but don't worry—the full moon in sexy Scorpio on April 22 will bring some drama. We're talking late nights, emotional breakthroughs, secrets being exposed, and fantastic, mysterious adventures. The Sun in Taurus is putting you to work, by the Moon in Scorpio demands that you unwind, and unwinding, as a Sagittarius, means doing exciting things in new places with interesting people.

On April 28, Mercury turns retrograde in Taurus, highlighting that same boring, mundane, health-conscious, responsible sector of your chart. But don't be sad, Sag: This is an awesome time to rework your schedule so that you can have a life that actually works for you, instead of just making you work your centaur ass off. If there are some health issues you've been meaning to look into, now's a great time to catch up on that.

Of course, don't forget the usual Mercury retrograde advice: Expect delays, don't buy or rely on electronics, expect to run into people from the past, and don't sign contracts. Mercury retrograde has a horrible reputation, but it's definitely an awesome excuse to be flakey for things, so do take advantage.

On April 29, the planet of love, Venus, enters Taurus. If you've been dating someone, you'll start learning whether or not they're ready for commitment and whether they want to be integrated into your everyday life. You'll also start figuring out whether a hobby or creative interest could lead to a real, financial pay off.

People get freaked out by retrogrades, but, Sag, I know you'll be able to make the best of these astrological transits—it's in your nature to find a way to have fun! See you next month, Sag!