Granted this week’s eclipse at 00° Gemini brings some edgy energy into play. The intellect is in conflict with the emotions as both sides of Gemini vie for position. Along with that any time there is an eclipse, things appear or feel dark and unclear. With the Sun in the beginning of Gemini, it feels anxious and requires some sort of outlet like walking, running, working out, or, something that gets you breathing because breath is consciousness. If you find yourself sighing a lot, then you aren’t breathing very deeply! Get some fresh air.

Venus begins what will be a 6-week period of retrograde in Gemini, meaning this is not a good time to make any important relationship decisions. Reviewing your relationship history, both positive and those not so positive occurrence, may give you a fresh perspective and new insight. Caution is suggested as you decide upon certain purchases and the desires behind those purchases. The value may not really be worth the price!

Mercury entering Taurus tends to stifle communications. Thinking becomes more of a visceral experience. In other words, you know that a certain color or shape will work in your garden, but expressing it in succinct words is not that easy. This suggests the need to really ask the other person what they think, what they feel, and, more importantly, what they want. You can this week come to some sort of agreement that is not only positive, but encourages a joyful opportunity closer to week’s end. The discussions beginning this week are discussions that may take several weeks to complete as Venus begins her retrograde position next week.

The Sun conjuncts Jupiter once a year making the coming together of these two beneficent planets one of the best times to begin a new project. All heartfelt endeavors have the best chance of success in the coming year.

Though we have a pretty intense Full Moon this week, it is a week for taking lots of calculated risks and really expressing emotions. Being vulnerable is never easy, but is sometimes the only way to go to a more intimate level with those you love. The positive aspect between Mercury and Venus warrants trust between people this week. The Mercury opposition to Saturn is good for study, for doing homework, or deciding to start some sort of training or licensing program. It can stifle communications, so be aware of this as your inside wants to come out and speak its truth.

As for the Full Moon in Scorpio, be aware of heightened desire and/or a need to have control of a person or situation. A deep breath and a little self-reflection may help clarify your drives.

If there is any research you need to do, or, anything that you need to find out, this is the right week in which to do that. With Mercury, the planet of thinking and writing, back on track while aspecting Pluto — it is research and writing time. If you thought of getting another opinion either with a work project or working with a therapist or body worker to improve conditions in your life — either your physical or your psyche, this is a good week to find the right person. There could be something going on with your children that prompt a visit to a therapist or psychologist. This is always good for families whose roles are in transition.

Add to this the Sun, in Taurus, activating a Grand Trine in the element of Earth by sending a healthy beam of energy to Mars, in Virgo, and Pluto, in Capricorn. Grand Trines in earth encourage stability and security and sometimes, even cash! Take advantage of this rare blessing and place your intentions toward earthly matters of this nature.

A nice week, indeed, as Venus enters flashy Aries and Sun enters grounded Taurus. The New Moon in Taurus suggests that the next four weeks are about beautifying yourself, your home, your garden. If the weather is good, this is even a great time to do a little planting around that New Moon. Root crops, particularly carrots, turnips, etc., love the New Moon. Also, Mercury is aligned with Uranus, again, as it was last week. It could be that those new friends or acquaintances you met come back for a second visit. Enjoy. Keep your mind and heart open.

Think back to early March, have there been cancelled lunches or missed appointments since then? Now is the time to get back on track by picking up the dropped threads of communication and rescheduling those meetings. With Mercury moving full speed ahead in Aries and now reaching its shadow point, expect a lot of to-dos to be crossed off your list.

Everyone has been looking forward to the large ‘exhale’ that Mars brings when it goes direct. And this is the week in which that happens. Starting construction or starting that project that has had you befuddled begins to move in a more positive direction as the direction of Mars shifts. Putting the hard work effort into whatever needs to be done and even losing a little sleep isn’t so bad this week. Judge and mark your time and lay out a time chart for what needs to be done. Daily lists are a great start. And it can’t be all done at one time!

This week’s last quarter Moon may bring a crisis in consciousness as Pluto also retrogrades on April 10 at 9 degrees of Capricorn. Old systems, methods, equipment and values seem old and outworn. If you’ve been doing anything at all this past winter — like sorting out your life — this could be the start of something very new and fresh in your work and professional life. The here and now gives way to an internal process of reorientation. Take some time for necessary reflection before plowing ahead, and, above all, be patient with those who cannot keep up.

Mercury is direct and we have a Full Moon! It doesn’t get better than that. With energetic Venus entering Gemini, the sign of problem solving, and knowing who to talk to about whatever ails you, this week offers many opportunities to socialize and within those camps you find the people who are the perfect contacts to support you in the planning of the last few weeks. Even though Pluto is stationing next week, look forward to movement forward as Mars also heads in the right direction starting this week.

There may be moments when it feels like the bloom is off the relationship rose, with Mars and Neptune sending stressful lines to the relationship goddess Venus. The Full Moon in the relationship sign of Libra shines a light on an issue that had been building and has to be released. With Mercury direct this week, now is the time to clear the air.

Last week you got the inspiration and the ideas. This week you do the research and ask the questions that you must ask, even though it isn’t that comfortable to do that. How much, how far, how often and when. If you want the best, then you have to be willing to take the psychological and the courageous risk and do the research. The First Quarter Moon helps you plan out what you are proposing. Offer your target the opportunity to think about your proposal. Don’t expect an answer now, leaving the door open for extended conversations.

Don’t hit send just yet! Reread, edit, take another good look at those contracts and communications you have been itching to send and then wait, if possible, a little longer. Mercury will be direct before too long.

Every year when the Sun enters Aries, the Spring Equinox, there is rebirth. The New Moon and the Sun’s alignment with Uranus, offer sudden creative inspiration. Optimistic feelings abound as you gain insight regarding what is really important to you and what you need to shed that you’ve been resisting. The Uranus shadow point brings back into the picture some of the ideas that began back in July, 2011! Moving, remodeling, changing it up are all highlighted.

Was there an issue or an opportunity that presented itself in mid-February? This is a good time to revisit, review, and reevaluate the potential it may have. Wait until Mercury goes direct to make any decisions or commitments.

Mercury is retrograde this week until early April. This is a perfect time to clear out your office, your closets, get your taxes in order, dump all those periodicals you aren’t reading and donate those items to Shelters or Goodwill. This is what we do when Mercury is retrograde. If you’ve been working on writing projects or papers, this is the perfect time to go through it and edit it and streamline your ideas. Doing that clears up your emotional space and that helps because this is also a great socializing week. You are more relaxed when your calendar is clear.

Jupiter and Venus come together in Taurus, which could mean a day when your main ambition is to indulge in pleasure, share good feelings, and beautify your surroundings. This combo in trine to Pluto could also offer an opportunity to smooth over relationship issues with ease.

Just a reminder — Mars, the planet of motivation, is still retrograde. Exercising caution in planning is paramount. However, with Mars in fabulous aspect to Jupiter (good luck and vision) and then Pluto (the transformer), the week brings some options never seen before. Check them out. Jupiter reaches its lucky shadow point, too. Mercury aligned with Uranus on the 18^th brings sudden insight, someone’s name, or puts you in the right place at the right time and begging further exploration.

Mars retrograde in Virgo can frustrate ones need for self-satisfaction and personal achievement. Mars is physical, instinctual, and needs to move. Retrograde in Virgo, Mars is forced to slow down and pay attention instead of rushing. Virgo is the sign of health, so take a break and allow this time to revitalize through a systematic health plan.