THEH HOODWITCH: WITCHTIPS AND HOROSCOPES 4/11-17/2018
Finally, some good news for you: Mercury goes direct on the 15th! Yay! It won’t move properly forward until the 18th though, so expect your tech and communication stuff to stabilize over those couple of days, and then plan on blaming your problems on something else from the 18th onwards.
Times have been tough; there’s no way around it. There’s fear in the air and fear lends itself to defensiveness, anxiety, and selfish behaviors. Luckily, from the 11th through the 15th, we have Venus and Mars both forming sextiles to Neptune. These transits are just what we need; they promote empathy and compassion. This is a great time for connecting with others, getting creative, or diving into your self-care habits, as it will be possible to make connections gracefully. As long as you don’t over-romanticize people or be passive aggressive in uncomfortable dynamics, there’s really no downside to this.
On the 14th the ongoing Jupiter sextile Pluto becomes exact for the first time since January 16th. This marks a time of growth, and the potential for powerful transitions. What you do in this period will come back to reward or haunt you, so this is a really bad time to burn bridges, screw people over, or generally act outside of integrity. You need others, and this is a time when collaboration and generosity are well-starred.
From the 15th through the 17th, Venus in sensual Taurus will be opposite adventurous Jupiter in filthy Scorpio. Yum! This transit is a good one for getting in the fun kind of trouble – sex, love, and other forms of adult entertainment are likely to be extra exciting these days, so get out there and have some fun, but be safe about it. This is a fertile and creative combination of planets, and it can have you distracted by shiny objects, excited by hot messes, or falling in for realsies love. Pace yourself because this (like all transits) will pass, and what’s left is what’s real. This is also an excellent time for creative projects, finding cute clothes, overeating delicious foods, and spending all your money on fun but fleeting things.
This is an especially dynamic time because on the 15th we have a New Moon in fiery Aries. This can be an explosive time when you move through old emotional limitations, but it’s not meant to be easy. Be willing to sit with your fears so that you can make decisions about what to do about them. They may be guiding you away from danger or simply keeping you stuck. This is a chance for you to do meaningful healing, but it’ll require that you manage your reactions. By tolerating your difficult feelings, you can start to be interested in them, and that interest can yield new information that acts as a foundation for new ways of being. It’s time to grow and to let the light of love guide you, especially when fear would tell you that you shouldn’t. Feed what you wish to grow this week.
ARIES
March 21-April 19
Fear has its value. It usually helps you have enough concern for your welfare to not do dangerous things, and it alerts you when something is not right. When fear becomes pervasive is when it’s a problem. This week’s New Moon in your sign is an excellent time to review your relationship to self-care in times of worry. Pay attention to what you do when you’re frightened so that you can change your habits if necessary. Let your anxieties be a source of support instead of the stuff that holds you back, Aries.
TAURUS
April 20-May 20
When you don’t have a clear mind, everything seems suspicious. It’s time for a real break, Taurus. If you’ve taken on too much lately, your system will start screaming at you for attention, and that’s when your moods, actions, and attitudes can be really off. Get grounded, find your center, and clear out the chatter in your head so you can gently tend to your heart. The time for meaningful beginnings is rapidly approaching; get yourself present so you’re ready to let them in.
GEMINI
May 21-June 21
The people around you can’t be changed, I’m afraid. If you want things to be different, you’ve got to start with you. This week your relationships and the people in your environment are likely to kick up some drama that you can’t control. What you can control is how you respond to it, Twin Star. Stay aligned with your raison d'etre because when you lose track of that, the necessary compromises of life feel exhausting. Don’t forget what you came here to do, my love.
CANCER
June 22-July 22
You can’t please everyone, and you shouldn’t try. What you do need to check in with this week is your motives, Moonchild. If you secretly want to stick it to someone as you “innocently” pursue something that you really want, then your actions are not so virtuous, really. It’s OK (not fantastic, but OK) to mix motives, but what isn’t chill is lying about it to yourself or the people you care for. Own your messy parts; don’t let your anger turn vengeful or resentful because those feels hurt more than they help.
LEO
July 23-Aug. 22
This week is an excellent time for you to start a new project, have a first date, or kick off a new self-care regimen. The trick is to only do what you know is right for you. There’s no rule that says you have to do it all at once, Leo. Take your time, and pursue things in stages. If you don’t do what’s authentic to you, it’s likely to bite you in the buns later. Protect what you care about by giving your best to it, not just by doing your most.
VIRGO
Aug. 23-Sept. 22
There’s always a bigger picture to consider, but yours is a sign that gets caught up in the details. This week you won’t get far if you insist on figuring things out or investigating every thought that comes into your mind. You need some peace, and that can only come if you’re willing to let things go a bit, Virgo. This week will kick up some complicated feels that you just can’t do much about. Prioritize developing your emotional maturity over getting things right, and you’ll get farther with fewer headaches, my love.
LIBRA
Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Letting go of your inhibitions is not the same as to letting go of discretion. It’s time to look at how fear is holding you back, my love. The trick is to take the time to sit with your uncomfortable feels long enough to understand what you’re feeling; your intuition is a resource you can only fully access if you're able to tolerate your emotions – even the rough ones – without judgment or dissociation. Feel your feels, and see where they lead you this week.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23-Nov. 21
Sometimes when things don’t go your way, it’s because you were thinking too small or something better was in the wings. The thing that you need more than anything else right now is faith. The wheels are in motion for things to take you exactly where you’re meant to be, but it might not look like it this week. Stay present and do your best within your current situation; don’t impatiently push your will. If you always got what you wanted, you’d be in a load of trouble, Scorpio.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22-Dec. 21
You may have to confront a loss this week, Sagittarius. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, try to look for what you do. You’re likely to jump to conclusions and expect the worst when you don’t get the best, but that’s not wise, sweet one. This week is all about finding the creative potential in your problems rather than crumpling at the feet of them, or worse, overreacting to them. Honor your feels but don’t allow them to replace data.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Your ego can get you into all kinds of trouble if you let it, Cappy. Thinking you’re the worst (just like thinking you’re the best) is thinking of yourself at the center of all things. Moderate your attitudes to be more realistic; you have opportunities to succeed or fail, and neither of them will define you. The person that you are – the content of your character – is what defines you. Make the most of your circumstances, wherever you’re at in the highs and lows of life, my love.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Things are not quite as they seem. Your anxieties may be high right now, but what are you scared of, really? Is it change? Being out of control? Having to cope with unpleasant circumstances? Your strong, Aquarius. Have faith in your ability to cope with it all, and stay with that feeling. You don’t get to know the answers in life, and honestly, they may not help you as much as you think they would if you had them. Do your best moment to moment by committing to the work this week.
PISCES
Feb. 19-March 20
Change is great, but changing your actions, or worse, yourself, to appease others is an act to pursue with great caution. This week you may find yourself struggling to figure out what’s worth fighting for and what’s best let go of, and it’s not an all or nothing answer. It’s time for you to reclaim your time, Pisces. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is walk away, while at other times, it’s to take a stand. No matter what you do, things are meant to change; strive to create improvements this week.