Aquarius, April 2018
Illustration by Nicole Ginelli

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Horoscopes

Aquarius, April 2018

What will Mercury retrograde mean for you?

Communication is hugely important to you, which is why Mercury retrogrades bother you so much. You don’t mind the delays, you don’t really care that you might lose your keys or be otherwise forgetful, and it doesn’t even bother you that technical difficulties will trip you up while the planet of information, Mercury, moves backwards through the zodiac. You care about the miscommunications: the misread body language, the texts that mysteriously vanish in the ether, the conversations that start with good intentions and then devolve into confusion.

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All Mercury retrogrades annoy you, Aquarius, but the one at the start of this month is in impulsive fire sign Aries, rolling backward through the sector of your chart that rules your mind and your communication, thus really putting you in a shitty mood. You might find that you’re not as sharp at you usually are. That’s OK: Now you’ll learn what it is like to have the average person’s IQ. Now is the time to slow down, not to speed ahead. The classic image of the Aquarian—a mad scientist inventor in their shop putting together some brilliant, futuristic invention—is not you at this time.

Here’s my advice, dear water bearer: Now isn’t the time to start new conversations, but rather to pick up old ones. Now isn’t the time to tinker with new ideas and projects, but rather to pick up one you previous had to put on the back burner. If you find yourself mentally burned out, rest! Mercury retrograde is the time to slow your ever-moving mind down.

Here are some regular-sounding recommendations, which are actually highly magickal ways to use Mercury retrograde’s energy as it goes through Aries and activates the communication sector of your chart: Visit an old neighborhood you used to live in and swing by your old haunts. Notice who you run into and what you see; you’ll be able to glean some important information. Reach out to your siblings and say hello. Ask them to share some memories of the past with you, and share some of your own. Pick up a book you bought for yourself a while ago but never had time to read. Text or email someone back who you forget to reconnect with. You’ll likely find yourself running into old friends, so make time for them and hear what information they may bring.

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Meditate. You don’t need to make a big deal out of it, just go someplace that relaxes you—perhaps a sauna or a park—and zone out… without the use of a cell phone or tablet screen. Actually let your mind be. If this is too challenging (and it may be, since you might discover during this Mercury retrograde how hooked you are to certain behaviors and distractions), bring a journal with you to doodle in.

Important realizations will arrive when the Sun meets Mercury on April 1. Also watch out for April 3, when Mercury will square off with Mars, creating an argumentative vibe, and for April 4, when Mercury will clash with one of your planetary rulers, Saturn, generating blocks around communication. (Mercury will clash with Saturn again on April 25, another day with obstacles around communication; however, by that point Mercury will at least be moving forward, so it will feel less abjectly frustrating). Don’t worry: The start of the month won’t be all bad! Sweet Venus will connect with Saturn on April 7, creating a grounding and stabilizing atmosphere around emotionally charged issues.

When will things really shift? A big change arrives on April 15, thanks to the new moon in Aries and Mercury ending its retrograde. You’ll begin to feel your mental acuity sharpen; conversations will finally begin moving forward. New moons represent new beginnings, and this one will feel especially refreshing since it’s in the first sign of the zodiac, Aries—wiping the slate clean around any miscommunications you’ve had this month.

Commit to doing something healthy for your mind, like limiting texting with your most annoying friends or reading more books. Cast a spell to open the doors of communication between yourself and the people you enjoy working with. Breakthroughs in communication and understanding will arrive on April 18, when the Sun meets your planetary ruler Uranus, finding you reinvigorated and back to your genius, inventive self. There will be a risk-taking mood in the air, and it’s likely that you’ll receive very surprising information today!

Venus enters fellow air sign Gemini on April 24, putting you in a social and flirtatious mood! You will be creatively inspired, too, as Venus will be bringing blessings to a highly fertile sector of your chart. Charming Venus in chatty Gemini knows where all the good parties are, so I expect you will be going to many during this time. Romance will be in the air, and you’ll be more excited to mingle than you’d been while Venus was in lazy Taurus, which had you in a homebody mood.

Taurus season begins on April 19, illuminating the sector of your chart that rules home and family. However, a full moon in Scorpio arrives soon after—on April 29, to be exact—activating the sector of your chart that rules your career, reputation, and success. You’ll feel pulled in two different directions—your private life versus your public reputation. This full moon is a wonderful occasion to create a better balance between the two; in fact, you may reach a brilliant climax around some hard work you’ve put into something. As tiring and emotional as this full moon may be, it could also be hugely productive! Luckily, the Sun connects with Saturn on this day, too, creating a grounding energy and helping you feel safe and secure as you work out whatever full moon drama may come to the table.

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