APRIL THEME: PLAY TO WIN!
by Simone Butler

I'm usually not a competitive person. Unless it's a game of Scrabble, which I know I'm apt to win, I'm unlikely to meet a challenge with gusto. Maybe it's all those Cancer planets that would rather stay home in my cozy nest, but you'll rarely see me out promoting myself or otherwise conquering the world. This has its drawbacks--especially when it comes to growing my business.

So, when I was asked to facilitate a trip to Egypt this September, I felt both thrilled and a little apprehensive. Me, charging through the desert on a camel, conducting rituals at the Great Pyramid and the Collossi of Memnon? Then I thought of the other Egyptian power places I've longed to visit--the mystical Isis Temple on the island of Philae, the Temple of Hathor at Dendera with its circular zodiac on the ceiling--and knew I had to go for it.

Three years ago, I'd paid homage to the Oracle of Delphi and the Cave of Zeus on my trip to Greece. Tapping into these ancient mysteries was truly life-changing. I imagined how rewarding it would be to help fellow travelers experience the mysteries of Egypt via their natal charts at the super power-period when Mars and Venus join in Libra, sign of sacred union, and the Full Moon conjuncts Uranus the Awakener.

But this would mean I'd have to actively promote the trip. For that, I need Aries planets to light a fire underneath me, but the powers that be didn't provide them in this lifetime.

Enter the April 5 Aries New Moon, with its strong dose of courage. This turbo-charged event ignites the fiery energy of the Ram, which thrives on challenges and plays to win. Impulsive and headstrong, Aries doesn't take "No" for an answer. And, this New Moon creates a blockbuster T-square with determined Mars and expansive Jupiter. It's a perfect time to promote a trip or pursue an exciting new venture.

Adding to the sense of forward momentum, communicator Mercury and creative Venus also enter Aries on the 2nd and 5th, respectively. And to top it off, Mars (the Aries ruler) will have just returned to the "shadow" point at which it went retrograde November 15--bringing us back to whatever began around that time, for completion or a fresh start. Because Mars is in Cancer, this especially relates to home, family, and nurturing activities. During the Mars retrograde and its "shadow" phase, many of us were mulling over old wounds and attachments, as our inner warriors prepared to take action. Now it's time to let go of the old and take a leap of faith into something new.

Have you been waiting for the "right moment" to take a daring step? Do you need a dose of courage to jumpstart something you've been putting off? Look to the area of your chart that's activated by 16 degrees of Aries, and take a leap at this New Moon. Think of it as a game (a favorite Aries pastime) and have some fun with it. If you're enthusiastic about playing and focused on the goal, your chances of winning are greater than average.

With the New Moon in my 11th house of hopes, dreams and community activities, it's time for me to step out and make my dream of experiencing Egypt come true. Maybe it's in your 9th house of travel, and you're ready to commit to the trip of a lifetime! Go with the energies that are percolating for you, and you can expect some dynamic results by the Full Moon on April 20.

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