If you've had emotional difficulties or frustrations recently, you're not alone.  From a planetary perspective, tensions and frustration lately may be due to the then-approaching and now arrived Solar Eclipse in Aries, along with Mercury's still-retrograde status, and the slowing down of Jupiter in preparation for its direct station, which coincides with a Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio May 4.  This all adds up to lunar conditions likely to induce feelings similar to "that time of the month" women know so well. Any men out there who've wondered what pre-menstrual syndrome is all about may get to experience something like it (both genders might) during or after these April 19 and May 4 eclipses.   Some of the potential symptoms: Heightened frustration.  Decisions harder to make.  Polarized thinking. Swinging between feelings of expansion and compression.  Greater extremes in repression or venting of feelings, especially anger, assertion and passion.  Crying.  The substantially greater exposure to cosmic forces near eclipses, especially those in Aries and Scorpio, can be a lot to bear.  

Some recommended antidotes: No major decisions for three days before or after an eclipse if possible (though on the Aries eclipse April 19 one might be forced to make decisions quickly).  Deep breathing. Inward focus.  Practice of meditation and prayer.  Any tried-and-true methods of stress reduction and relaxation that work based on experience.  Visualization of desired outcomes.  Aries, Libra, Taurus or Scorpio people might find these eclipses especially potent. Once emotions clear, the stage is set for a new opportunity or awakening of dormant conditions in one or more areas of life within the next 5-6 months (see sign forecasts).

Mercury is still retrograde until April 30, so continue to wait to act on major forward movements and instead clean out old clutter, contact past clients, revisit past issues, or rethink your next move.  Finish up old projects, aim to be clear in communications and double check appointments.

The other big news is that Venus, planet of love, affection, values, money, beauty and luxury goods assumes retrograde motion May 17 through June 29.  As with Mercury retrograde, the theme of past review is significant here, though more particularly in Venus related areas such as romance, values and money.  Some possibilities for action during this period:  review insurance coverage, itemize reasons you deserve a raise (but wait until Venus is direct to ask for it), collect money owed to you or pay money you owe, reconnect with love relationships from the past (usually not for the long term but to reassess the relationship and what was learned), reconsider priorities and values in any current involvement.  Avoid putting substantial new effort into Venus-ruled activities during this time, including weddings or marriage proposals (not a good year for June weddings), the arts, fashion, stock trading, joining a dating service, investments, or purchase of high-ticket retail items.  Such actions initiated at this time will tend to get off on the wrong foot and reveal their basic lack of integrity or alignment with your values at some future point.  It’s not a good time to buy new clothing or get a new beauty treatment, though you might consider clearing closets of items no longer needed, repairing clothing and jewelry, or having some type of beauty or health treatment done that was done before.  Doing any of these Venus-related activities if you've done them before in some way may be acceptable, as that fits the symbolism of the retrograde.  

This year, Venus retrogrades in Gemini, which could involve making a choice between two alternatives, or making decisions based on a coherent sense of meaning and what matters most rather than on cleverness or expediency.  It's a good time to make sure commitments really mean something, and are not mere playing with wind.  Paradoxically, it's a good time to apply the light touch of Gemini, not take things too seriously, and play with possibilities, where appropriate. This period might also reveal where flexibility, variety of experience and conversation are useful in relationships and where these may be overdone.  Useful questions to ask oneself during Venus retrograde in Gemini might include:  How can I see the dualities in my life as two sides of the same coin?  How might they come together as one?  What are the different strands of thought from which my beliefs are woven? Do I want to change any of these strands?  On the Sagittarius-Gemini continuum of one-pointed focus versus duality, that unity is strongest which encompasses all opposites. 

DATES TO NOTE:

NEW MOON FORECAST FOR SUN AND RISING SIGNS

 ARIES (Mar 20-Apr 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your First House of action, identity and personal presence.  The spotlight shines on you this month, so use it to your advantage.  Mercury is still retrograde, however, so continue to visualize and strategize your next moves, gathering information and tools for use after April 30.  Over the next six months, your health improves, your sense of personal effectiveness, confidence and initiative is renewed and you feel increasingly empowered to use these to great advantage.
Best days for Aries:  Apr 19, May 14-15

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Twelfth House of spirituality, retreat and behind-the-scenes activities.  You may want to keep a low profile this month and see what your nighttime dreams have to tell you.  Changes are brewing behind life's stage curtain so be patient and adaptable.  You rethink your money and values based on something that may occur in the realm of your personal income or earning power.  In the next six months, you become more spiritually oriented and interested in what makes partnerships effective.
Best days for Taurus:  Apr 19-20, May 16-18

GEMINI (May 20-Jun 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Eleventh House of friends, groups, business income, humanitarian causes, and long-range hopes and wishes.  Beginnings or changes in these areas may occur for you this month.  You need new friends or a networking group to help you leverage your career.  Over the next six months, you can focus on developing this kind of social support with greater ease.  The way you present yourself to others, both physically and in attitude, may need a little revamping.  Others may not hesitate to let you know this.  Try to use what's valuable about their comments and let the rest slide.
Best days for Gemini:  Apr 22-23

CANCER (Jun 20-Jul 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Tenth House of authorities, reputation and career.  You may be more professionally active than usual this month, especially with those in positions of leadership.  You may be more visible in some way this month as well, getting an award or some kind of VIP attention that puts you in the public eye.  New opportunities for job promotions or attention from supervisors or important clients may increase in the next six months.  In general, you'll be more visible, so act accordingly.   Some secret dream you've been nurturing for years may go through a change of direction, or you might find yourself testing it to make sure it's still something you want.
Best days for Cancer:  Apr 24-25

LEO (Jul 20-Aug 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Ninth House of religion, philosophy, higher education, long-range plans and long distance travel.  New doors may open in one or more of these areas.  This may be a good time to travel overseas or take a class, though after April 30 is best.  Friends from the past could emerge to assist you, or you may need to have a long-overdue conversation to straighten out a misunderstanding.  Opportunities to teach what you know, lead adventure tours or travel long distances may increase in the next six months, as will financial gain if you make the most of these opportunities.
Best days for Leo:  Apr 27-28

VIRGO (Aug 20-Sep 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Eighth House of joint finances, sexuality and secrets.  Reviewing investments, evaluating partnerships, and considering counseling or therapy may be on the agenda.  New doors are opening in how you approach the most intimate, private areas of your life, including joint money and property as well as sexuality and you might need guidance in the best way to deal with delicate issues.  With your penchant for order, it can be hard to realize that sometimes things need to fall apart before they can get better.  Yet that's exactly your lesson for the next six months, especially as concerns career matters or the balance of power in relationships.  Not much will adhere to your former agendas, so try to relax and enjoy the ride.
Best days for Virgo:  Apr 29-30

LIBRA (Sep 20-Oct 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Seventh House of partnership and marriage.  New partnerships or phases of an existing partnership may emerge at this time.  Your whole approach to the idea of partnership may go through changes in the next six months, in the sense that you see partners more clearly as either allies or opponents, and you classify opponents more readily as either worthy or not.  The worthy ones you will hang on to and the others you are likely to let go.  Tests to your philosophical or religious beliefs prove edifying in the long run.
Best days for Libra:  May 1-2

SCORPIO (Oct 20-Nov 20):   The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Sixth House of work, health and service.  You may want to review your health and fitness regimes or organize your work environment for greater productivity.  Changes in your work routines or career organization could occur in the next six months.  Financial review on all counts is important to make your best decisions.  Look not only at your income producing activities but your investments, speculations and trust, estates or tax matters as well.  Your tendency is often to keep your plans private, but trusted friends may be of considerable help if you let them know what you have in mind.
Best days for Scorpio:  May 3-4

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 20-Dec 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Fifth House of romance, creativity, children and play.  Breakthroughs, changes or new beginnings may occur for you in these areas.  Launch a new creative venture, or better yet, find one you started in the past and bring it back to life.  A relationship from your past could return, at least long enough for you to rethink what was learned and what was special about the association.  Lest you've forgotten the problem areas of the relationship, this cycle will be sure to remind you.  Things go better in career over the next six months, especially when you apply the ideas of fun and creativity to what you do every day.
Best days for Sagittarius:  May 5-6

CAPRICORN (Dec 20-Jan 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Fourth House of home, family and property.  You may want to move, reorganize or redecorate your living space.  The next six months could bring changes into your home life, including working from home or spending more time integrating home and work life in some way.  You've probably got a pretty good handle on what you want to be doing for a living overall; it's more a matter of figuring out the best way to do it -- the best work environment, routines and logistics.   These may be thought and rethought several times before you get them to your liking.  That's okay, you're learning something that will make your final decision more solid.
Best days for Capricorn:  May 7-8

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Third House of local travel, transportation, communications, neighbors and siblings.  Opportunities for changes or new starts may emerge in these areas.  Your level of mental and verbal activity may be higher than usual this month, and you might find yourself making an increased number of local errands.  Issues from the past surrounding romance or children may emerge, and it's a good time not to jump too quickly into new relationships without reevaluating the past.  The next six months bring opportunities in learning or sharing information, opening your mind, and breathing new life into stale situations.
Best days for Aquarius:  May 9-11

PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20):  The New Moon/Solar Eclipse occurs in your Second House of earned money, possessions and values.  New work or income opportunities may come your way this month.  Employment that no longer fits your values may come to an end during the next six months, or you may divest yourself of possessions you no longer find meaningful.  Matters of home and family may come up for review, and your phone bill might increase trying to resolve them.  Help comes from a mate or partner, who will tend to take your side in any disagreements with relatives.
Best days for Pisces:  May 12-13

For a more in-depth look at your unique horoscope or a compatibility comparison, contact Natori at (760) 753-4319 or by email.  Have a great month!