As we continue through Aries season, there is a chance for all the signs to focus on their sense of self and assertiveness
Grace McGrade is an intuitive astrologer and priestess based in Los Angeles. She is the co-founder of ASTRAL ORACLES and author of Palpable Magic; a website exploring prose about sex, love, Los Angeles and the occult. Her sessions include natal chart readings, energetic clearing and activations, and tarot readings.
April begins midway through Aries season, making all signs eager to brazenly redefine their sense of identity and practice self-assertion. Communication planet enters the sign of the Ram on April 3, and we are eager to speak our minds, sometimes despite the consequences. There is a quickening our exchange of information, inspired ideas and perhaps even occasional tempered flare up. We’re given the opportunity to ground these inspired ideas with lucrative intention setting on the New Moon in Aries on April 11.
As the month progresses, we thankfully begin to seek comfort and stability over heated rebuttals. Pleasure planet Venus enters sensual Taurus on April 14, meaning we are looking to cosy up and tune into our bodies. When Venus is in her home turf of Taurus, we are imbued with a slower and more romantic energy. On April 19, Taurus season is in full swing, encouraging us to connect with our senses and seek to make our personal worlds more beautiful. The laidback sign of the Bull gives us the time to examine our personal definitions of beauty, comfort and refinement, so find little ways to ritualise your daily routines and embrace the planet of love.
The month ends on a more intense note, culminating with a Full Moon in Scorpio on April 26. Here, we are encouraged to dig deep, and inspect our relationship to intimacy and secrecy. Full Moons make the subconscious conscious, and in Scorpio we can expect nothing less than big revelations of truth and vulnerability. The following day, Pluto stations retrograde, pulling us towards a cycle of inner transformation and making us more perceptive.

ARIES
Happy Birthday season, late Aries! With the Sun still sparkling in your sign, you are bestowed the gift of self innovation and inspiration. On April 3, Mercury joins the sun, enhancing your mobility and giving you a clear head. Watch out for the impulse to fling you too fast into action, and try and utilise this period to set goals rather than compete with others. The New Moon on April 11 in your sign is a big day to plant seeds of intention and replenish your energy system. The second half of the month gives you the chance to slow down the pace, and focus more on your finances and security. It’s time to prioritise stability, in relationships and money matters. Try and find the sweet spot between following those god-given gut impulses and pausing to rest and reflect.

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TAURUS
Your birthday season is right around the corner, but you may find the first two weeks of the month wanting to retreat into your cave, rest and replenish. Give yourself allowances for sleeping that extra hour, as the planets take a tour through the sector or your dreamspace. This is an excellent time to get a dream journal, meditate, or do some inner listening. By April 14, Venus has entered your sign, giving you a boost of popularity and sensuality. Get yourself in line for miracles and gifts, by treating yourself like the resident beauty queen of the zodiac that you are. The more you give to yourself, the more the universe seems to dish out. By the end of the month you are feeling in high spirits, happy to get out and celebrate your season.

GEMINI
April starts off foggy and dreamlike, as Mercury, your quick-moving ruler, conjoins Neptune-planet of fantasy and the imagination. This gives you a boon of creative inspiration, and you can use the imagination as a vehicle to meet your goals, by day-dreaming with intention. On April 3, Mercury enters Aries, making you action-oriented and assertive. Remember, not all signs share the same appetite for information as you, so remember to be mindful when in the company of those who are not ready to receive your ideas with love. With the North Node in your sign, your homework this year is to practice tending to yourself before helping others, and making sure your own opinion is the one that is put first. Try and use the second two weeks of April to get hands on at home, by curating a sensual, cosy environment that tunes out excess mental chatter and gives you space to just breathe.

CANCER
Career and business goals are accentuated for you in April, dear Cancer, and you are being nudged to step out of your comfort zone. You are leaving stale attachments and ways of being behind, and lucky for you, doors ahead are opening. You will most likely be working more than usual this month, and Mercury in Aries means running around a lot. The New Moon on April 11 promises long term success, so set your pen to paper and write about where you see yourself going in the next six months. Visualise your highest version of self and show up as them. You are starting to come out of your shell in surprising ways, so embrace the idea that the future is conspiring with you – not against you. On April 26, the Full Moon in Scorpio may have you reconnecting with buried emotions, so carve out some time to tend to your heart and release old attachments.

LEO
April promises a shift in perspective, when your spiritual side is amplified, as is your ability to look at the bigger picture of your life without getting lost in the small details. You are learning that your opinions and beliefs can seriously shape your experience of life, so looking from a more inclusive, fun-loving vantage point will make you the happiest. It’s time for you to consciously create the life you see yourself leading, by sharpening your daily routines and drawing a closer knit bond between mind-body-and spirit. Seems like a tall order, but you are more than up to the task, with an elevated mindset and philosophical outlook. When Taurus season begins on April 19, your focus shifts to the material, and you will no doubt be impressing some important VIP’s when Venus transits your career sector.

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VIRGO
Watch out from self-imposed stressors, as Mercury in Aries may have you running around, blowing off steam, and imagining excess external pressure. It is important for you to remember to slow down the pace, and take time to meet physical needs before work responsibilities. After all, you are the resident healer of the zodiac, and everyone can use your advice, but before you dish out energy to others, try and replenish your well. You're examining how much of other people’s energy melds into your own, and learning how to create better barriers. Mid-April, when the Sun and Venus enter Taurus, you are imbued with a softer, more gentle energy, both emanating from yourself and your peers. Use the slower pace to practice self-care and imbue some beauty into your private world.

LIBRA
Last month, you were reminded of your propensity to compromise at your own expense, and this month you are called to practice even more self-assertion and independence. With the Sun radiating in Aries for the first two weeks of April (your opposite sign) your one-on-one relationships with others are highlighted. Where do you need to stop putting others first? How can you bring more of yourself out, without being too worried about keeping the peace? On April 14, your ruling planet Venus moves into sensual Taurus, giving you an appetite for self nourishment, snacking, cosy blankets, and Netflix binges galore. This is way more your vibe, and you will lovingly welcome the slower pace.

SCORPIO
The first half of April has you inspecting your health and daily routines, as you attempt to find a greater balance between work and home. It is important that you find therapeutic methods to tend to your body, as it is the vehicle that houses all the passion and ambition that takes you where you want to go. As you work steadily at rebuilding a foundation in the wake of great change, you may find you need to be more protective of your outlet of energy and bring things back a little. Whether you are refining your diet, or changing your schedule to accommodate more down time, act in your own self interest. The second half of April, themes of romance and partnership are highlighted, as both the Sun and Venus tour through your opposite sign of Taurus. It’s the perfect time to find someone to cuddle up with, no doubt someone as committed to delving deep as you. The Full Moon in your sign on April 26 has you asking what you need to release from your life, particularly obstacles interfering with your vulnerability.

SAGITTARIUS
Your generous spirit needs room and time to play, and lucky for you, the first half of April facilitates many opportunities for you to let your hair down. It will be a bolstering, fun, and playful time – until April 16, when your focus shifts to work and money matters. It is good to have a dose of both play and pragmatism, and Taurus season encourages you to do the footwork to meet financial goals. You are pondering your values, and what you need to have a rich and fulfilling life long term. On April 26, a full Moon in electric and intense Scorpio has you focused on your subconscious, bringing out old resentments and feelings you thought you had gallivanted away from. Pay attention to what comes up, and sit with the feelings.

CAPRICORN
April means it’s time to channel your domestic god/goddess, by making room for some spring cleaning and redecorating your quarters, to ensure they are suitable for global domination. You are tuning your focus towards matters of the home in April, which means themes of comfort and family are highlighted. What are your needs for nourishment that need attending to? What about your family dynamic needs to be built on or worked through? For the most part, 2021 is about innovation and newness, so taking a moment to revel in your own environment and upbringing will gear you up for the future. Venus enters your fifth house of romance and fun on April 14, imbuing your days with a rose tinted hue. You can expect to be inspired both romantically and creatively, and following sparks can bring rich rewards if you can let your guard down.

AQUARIUS
April has you inspecting the ways you communicate, for both better and worse. On the plus side, you are given a new sense of mental clarity and articulation that has you vocalising ideas and lending important perspectives to those in need. On the flip side, you sometimes avoid intimacy through speaking broadly, rather than personally, and it might be time for some bigger self reveals. The only way to experience intimacy is to risk being truly known and communication is key. The Full Moon in Scorpio on April 26 will help you release roadblocks on the journey towards soul-binding love.

PISCES
Spontaneity and creativity are abundant in April, encouraging you to take more risks and follow what you are drawn to. Your intuitive gifts are enhanced throughout April, but the harder part is connecting to your physical body. When Taurus season begins on April 19, you are called to tune into your senses by lighting the incense, drawing the bath, and doing whatever it takes to care for your vessel. The more you work on grounding your impeccable sense of vision with action, the better. Taurus season will also have you inspecting how you communicate, and managing your pocket book. Look out for creative ways to earn and inspect financial blessings.