Home is where the heart is this month! With the Sun now in TAURUS, it’s the time to slow down, mellow out and smell the flowers! Have you been feeling fried & frazzled over this past month? Ease off the accelerator pedal and retreat from the intensity & turbulence of the past ARIES month. Reconnect with nature – take a drive into the country, a walk in the woods or a picnic in the park. Hug a tree, roll around in the grass and feel the earth beneath your bare feet!
Snuggle in with family & friends, and create more comfort and stability in your personal universe. Since TAURUS is a fixed earth sign, you’ll want to dig your roots a little deeper, put your base of operations in secure & safe condition, lay solid foundations and reinforce your support systems. Domestic affairs, property matters, community involvement and environmental concerns are major priorities these days; it’s appropriate that we celebrate both Earth Day (April 22) and Mother’s Day (May 9) during this solar cycle.
Mercury enters TAURUS along with the Sun on April 19, encouraging a more calm, grounded perspective for the next two weeks. With Venus (ruling planet of TAURUS) and Uranus also in TAURUS as this solar month begins, the nesting instinct will be stronger than usual! It’s the ideal time to build, remodel, decorate, landscape, plant a garden, lay carpet or tile, buy real estate or make a major move. Building contractors, interior designers, realtors, landscapers, furniture outlets and home improvement stores will be doing a booming business.
The throat, vocal chords, neck, cervical vertebrae, lower jaw & ears are associated with TAURUS; anxiety & stress in home, family and property matters can manifest as dis-comfort in these parts of the body. So be good to yourself, strengthen your support systems, take security measures and tend to your creature comforts!
A primal urge to experience the natural world may well up within you; make a deeper connection with the earth, put your hands in the soil and grow some vegetables, herbs, flowers or trees. TAURUS symbolizes the “freshly plowed earth of springtime, ready for the seed.” The best planting days for above-ground crops are: May 11, 15 & 16; the best days for root crops and perennials are: April 18 & 24-26.
You will be inspired to change things up in your domestic scene during the last week of April. The sparkling Venus-Uranus conjunction (on April 22/Earth Day) and the electrical Mercury-Uranus conjunction (April 23) will disrupt the status quo — expect the unexpected! A spontaneous family gathering, surprise guests or a magical social connection could arise out of the blue; romance is in the air, too. It could also be a good time to install a security system, clear out any stagnant energy or put up some solar lights. There may be some significant “ah-hah” moments! 
And last but not least, the unpredictable Sun-Uranus conjunction on April 30 may upset the apple cart in some way; be prepared for some possible interruptions, such as power outages, lightning storms or computer glitches. Explore alternatives approaches, free yourself up from any ruts and express your individuality & uniqueness. Do things differently!
Mars enters nurturing CANCER on April 23, following its transit of restless GEMINI. You’ll be ready to rein in your scattered energies and devote yourself to some cohesive actions. For the next 6 weeks, the focus will be on personal finances, feelings, food & fuel. You may want to stock up on necessities, pull out your cookbooks, try out new recipes and fire up the grill. Barbecues, picnics, potlucks and fine dining experiences are on the menu (CANCER is associated with the stomach)! It’s time for self-care, taking care of basic needs and cherishing those you love. Since CANCER is a water sign, you may want to hop in the pool, head to the river or go crabbing. The heat is coming on, so be sure to stay hydrated!
Both Venus & Mercury will square Saturn on April 24-25. This signals an end to old limitations, outgrown relationships or isolation from loved ones. Keep your heart open, as there can be disappointments with friends, social frustrations or the loss of a loved one at this time. The Mercury-Venus conjunction, on the 25th, will ease things up and bring much sweetness to social interactions, as well as with relatives, siblings and neighbors. A short trip might be in order!
The FULL MOON in TAURUS & SCORPIO (also called the Pink Moon) will reach a full boil on April 26 at 8:32 pm PDT; deep emotions, power struggles, domestic and territorial issues can arise with this particular Full Moon. The challenge is to channel these potent energies constructively and defuse any potential conflicts or jealousies before they get out of control. Make sure things are buttoned up on the home front.
Pluto begins its 5½-month retrograde in CAPRICORN on April 27, symbolizing a time for transforming and restructuring those aspects of your life in need of rejuvenation and reorganization. Pay special attention to business, financial, governmental or legal matters. The sensitive Mercury-Neptune sextile on April 29 helps close out the month with a spirit of healing & compassion; make some time for meditation & contemplation, and lend a helping hand to someone in need.
May starts off with a burst of new energy along with the self-assertive Mercury-Pluto trine on May 2 — set your plans in motion! Let your imagination be your guide with the intoxicating Venus-Neptune sextile on the same day. Lift your spirits by attending a concert, taking a nature walk or joining up with those who share mutual interests & ideals. Gather the strength for handling the frustrating Sun-Saturn square, which peaks early on May 3; any delays or obstacles that recently arose will ease up from here on. Don’t make mountains out of molehills as the excessive Mercury-Jupiter square peaks (at the same time); instead, keep your sense of humor and find the silver lining in the situation.
A breath of fresh air blows in once Mercury leaves TAURUS and moves on to breezy GEMINI on the evening of May 3; Venus also moves on to GEMINI—late on May 8. From this point on, you’ll be eager to get out of the house and back into circulation. 
A restless, inquisitive energy will stimulate the exchange of ideas & information, short trips and increased contact with neighbors, siblings & relatives (and don’t forget to call Mom). GEMINI is associated with communication, local media, networking, distribution and transportation. You may be inclined to purchase a car or fix up your current one, upgrade your phone or monthly plan, and catch up on email, as well as the latest news. Get back in touch with your grapevine!
Meaningful new friendships and social alliances could get off the ground as the dynamic Venus-Pluto trine builds up on May 6; say yes to any opportunity to join forces, collaborate and create with others of like-mind. Avoid taking on too much or setting unrealistic expectations early on, however; the situation may promise more than it can deliver while the over-indulgent Venus-Jupiter square is in effect (until May 8). Be on the alert for some significant information with the Mercury-North Node conjunction in GEMINI on May 10, either through the news, Internet or a personal contact (particularly with a GEMINI or a VIRGO individual).
The New Moon in TAURUS (the Bull) will settles in on Tuesday, May 11 at 12:00 pm PDT; be gentle with yourself, indulge your senses to the max and do whatever it takes to get grounded! You may feel like baking bread, getting a massage or bodywork, studying voice, piano or an acoustic instrument, exploring your genealogy, consulting a feng shui expert or taking a class in ceramics, jewelry making, weaving, woodworking, flower arranging or organic gardening. Native art, earthenware, natural fabrics, rugs, comfortable furniture and houseplants may be especially appealing to you this month.
The high-voltage Mars-Uranus sextile, which accompanies this New Moon on the 11th, could electrify the energy field with progressive concepts, new insights about diet & nutrition and a strong buzz about cryptocurrencies. The challenge here is to develop a sense of comfort & security in the midst of rapid evolutionary change! The stabilizing Mercury-Saturn trine, along with the uplifting Sun-Neptune sextile, both on May 12, will provide a much-needed calming effect with regards to basic survival issues.
On May 13, a new planetary cycle begins as Jupiter takes its initial steps into sensitive PISCES (through July 28). After its 5-month transit of unpredictable AQUARIUS, we’re ready for a healing! Since it is Jupiter‘s role to expand, explore and educate, we will be hearing a lot about health care, exercise, sleep and spirituality. There will be increased interest in yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, meditation & psychic development, along with greater concern and compassion for minorities, immigrants, animals and those with physical disabilities, mental health issues and addictions. There will be a major focus on drugs, pharmaceuticals & vaccinations—globally as well as locally. Music venues will come back to life, along with the desire to sing, dance, write poetry and develop a deeper mystical dimension It’s time for a spiritual uplift!
You will feel highly motivated to initiate new projects, hobbies and business ventures as the enterprising Sun/Pluto trine unfolds on May 17. Take the bull by the horns, assert yourself and take some calculated risks. The Venus-North Node conjunction in GEMINI, on the same day, symbolizes a time for making some meaningful social connections and attracting more beauty & harmony into your life. Old friends could re-enter your life with the Venus-Saturn trine on May 19, and new acquaintances made at this time could feel like you’ve known them forever. Pay your respects to the elders of your tribe, who have much wisdom to impart.
Utilize this solar month to settle more deeply into yourself and tune in to nature’s rhythms. Get comfortable, pamper your senses, relax and chill out!
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY & SOLAR RETURN to my supportive & comforting TAURUS friends!
©2021 Diane Elizabeth Clarke