Taurus, April 2016

Your season has finally arrived, Taurus! In just a few short weeks it will be your solar return (a.k.a your birthday), but before then, you have some loose ends that need to be tied up. The Sun is currently in Fire sign Aries, the sign behind you on the zodiac wheel, where it's activating the sector of your chart that rules rest, solitude, and the unconscious. It's funny that a sign like Aries, a fiery warrior, would rule the part of your chart that rules "down time"; however, if you're a warrior of anything, Taurus, it's definitely of naps.

Your ruling planet, sexy and seductive Venus, enters Aries on April 5, inspiring you to be a little more private and quiet about all the awesome things Venus rules: love and relationships, beauty and money. Also on April 5, chatty Mercury enters your sign, which should be very interesting— on one hand, you'll feel a little secretive about all that Venusian good-stuff, but, with talkative Mercury in your sign, you'll be super inspired to express yourself!

You'll be showing off what you think, not what you have. Thoughts you weren't able to verbalize over the last few weeks will be way easier to discuss when logical Mercury enters your sign. Any conversations you may have felt that you need to have will be blessed by this transit.

Going back to those "loose ends" that you need to tie up: The new moon on April 7, which takes place in Fire sign Aries, will trigger a very private, hidden sector of your chart. It's the part of your chart into which you stuff things you don't want to deal with. If you're ready to process some of this psychic debris and let it go (or to find a way to productively use it in your life), this new moon is a fab time to do so. New moons bring new beginnings, and revitalizing this very psychic, sensitive, and private part of your chart is a great thing to take care of before your birthday.

On April 12, your ruling planet Venus trines (a super easy, supportive astrological aspect) Mars, currently in Fire sign Sagittarius. This will be super illuminating around some private, intimate issues you've got going on in your life. Whether you're working through a tricky financial situation (perhaps taxes or an inheritance) or a sticky relationships issues (concerning sex or another deeply intimate matter), this trine will help bring some ease to any private situation by boosting your intuitive and empathetic abilities.

Not to sound rude, Taurus, but damn, to the outside world you'll seem shady AF early this April. What secrets are you hiding? they'll wonder. The world may never know… you're amazing at keeping private matters private. If people seem awkward around you, it might be because you've been thinking about so much personal stuff that outsiders may be confused. We live in a world where people make everything available for public consumption, but you just have things that don't belong on Snapchat early this month.

That'll change on April 19 when the Sun enters your sign and shines some light down on you— suddenly you won't seem so sneaky! You'll feel revitalized and reenergized, ready to celebrate your birthday season!

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's talk about the Mars retrograde that begins on April 17, which starts in Sagittarius and dips back into Scorpio in May. You know that tricky, private, intense stuff you were working on earlier this month? Mars, the planet of action and war, will find you rethinking your strategy. Next month, Mars will move back into Scorpio, activating the relationship sector of your chart— this will bring some changes to your partnerships, but we'll cross this bridge in next month's horoscope!

On April 18, Pluto goes retrograde in fellow Earth sign Capricorn. Pluto is the planet of power— not something you're particularly hungry for, sweet Taurus, but certainly something driven and sometimes-materialistic Capricorn easily gets seduced by. This transit is triggering the sector of your chart that rules expansion and knowledge— if you're traveling, in school, or even involved in publishing, you'll definitely feel some intensity around these things during the retrograde.

Also on April 18, sweet Venus trines (again, an easy aspect) serious Saturn, which will bring you a solid, comforting sense of security, especially around all that private stuff you were dealing with in the beginning of the month. Saturn is the taskmaster of the zodiac, ruling fears and restrictions; while Venus can't always sweeten up grumpy Saturn's mood, today the two planets will be working together just fine! Expect good vibes around sex, cash, and whatever other topics can be scary to ask for or talk about.

The next day, April 19, the Sun enters Taurus, which we've previously discussed. However, there's one more thing going on this day that you should be aware of: Venus will square (a challenging astrological aspect) the lord of the underworld, Pluto. Your dreams will clash with reality today, but, hey, while this could be uncomfortable at first (you may get called out for something you didn't realize you were doing wrong), this is certainly going to be a chance to grow and mature.

Your ruling planet Venus continues making connections on April 22 when it meets wild, genius Uranus—this will certainly be an exciting, electric time, but again: You'll likely want to keep whatever adventures you have under wraps. If you're in a partnership with anyone who demands to know whom you're with or where you are at all times, this will certainly be a day that you emancipate yourself from any controlling behavior. Uranus is all about freedom, and Venus is all about harmony when it comes down to it. When these two planets unite, balance and autonomy are huge themes, and no one will be down to be tied up by any one else's standards under this transit.

April 22 will also be a big day for your relationships. The full moon in Scorpio falls on that date, and it will be illuminating the sector of your chart that rules partnerships. Finding balance and truth between yourself and your partners (both romantic and nonromantic) is major today.

The energy shifts on April 29 when your ruling planet, Venus, enters your sign! Expect a boost in your self-esteem— Venus, the planet of beauty and affection, in your sign should surely make you feel like yourself. Again, Venus rules all the best stuff: love, money, and beauty, so while it's in your sign, take time to spoil yourself after a long month of working with some private issues.

Lovely cow, hopefully you'll have resolved many of the classified circumstances you were dealing with at the beginning of the month by the end of it. Soon you'll be entering a new year of your life— let go of all the unnecessary crap that's holding you down. See you next month, Taurus!