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The Sun enters Taurus I The Plough on 19 April 2026 at 9:39 pm EDT, and remains there for ten days, eighteen hours and 25 minutes. Austin Coppock named this decan The Plough, noting its associations with the slow effort of planting and monitoring your crop until the harvest. T. Susan Chang called it Sacred Doubt in her book 36 Secrets about the pips cards of the Tarot; Taurus I is associated with the 5 of pentacles — a card known for its snow, its destitute beggars, and its glorious stained glass windows. We see in this season the possibilities and enrichment that come from delayed gratification, but also the challenges and hardships which accompany the failure to deal with immediate needs.

The waxing Moon at 5° Gemini in the 8th house is in the Sixth Mansion, Little Star of Great Light — a position associated with drawing members of romantic couples closer together in affection, but promising the vengeance of the people upon unjust rulers; and the shattering of the walls of great cities. Be responsible and responsive to the needs of those who are in your care and keep your commitments to them in the next ten days, in both letter and spirit.

The recent pile-up of planets in Aries is smearing itself out a little more widely now, with the Moon entering Gemini and creating a “choo-choo train” from Neptune at 2° Aries up through Jupiter at 17° Cancer: one decan in Aries, two in Taurus, and one each in Gemini and Cancer have active planets in them. All of these planets are in the western/occidentall or reactive half of the chart, too, suggesting that we all are more likely to react to events rather than create or initiate them ourselves.

This arrangement can be thought of as rather like a layout of tarot cards, consisting of the 2 of wands, the 4 and 6 of pentacles, the 7 of swords, and the 3 of cups. It suggests we’re moving from a place of relative safety to a position where we must simultaneously manage risks, fund mutual aid, act in more strategic and tactical relationships, and assemble and learn from our close allies. THe involved planets — Neptune, Mercury, Saturn, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Uranus, the Moon, and Jupiter — suggest that you may be making inter-generational and trans-political connections here; it’s not just about your taking care of your friends, but also about adding in the right mix of skills and abilities to take care of the right now and the long term.

The Greeks looked to the goddesses called the Gratiae or the Charistes at this time of year, the divine trio sisters responsible for bringing joy and delight to mortals: Aglaea, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, whose names mean splendor, mirth and cheerfulness. Which is to say that the news of the next ten days may be somewhat grim, but your reaction to it shouldn’t be.

I’ve written about this decan before in 2020 – 2021 – 2022 – 2023 – 2024 – 2025

Dodekatemoria

In time, once the full series of poems is published, these will be more integrated into the column, but for now, the planets are in the following dodeks.

• Ascendant: Leo of Scorpio
  • Be like water in the next ten days: accept that you have to move fluidly through the world.
• Sun: Taurus of Taurus
  • Home and family are going to be places and communities of more delight and ease than usual. Find comfort in the company of those you love.
• Moon: Leo of Gemini
  • People are going to demand speaking time to act out their emotional concerns rather than help you solve problems that have underlying factors. Sympathize, but also ask for concrete help and then move on.
• Saturn: Cancer of Aries <– Mars has just conjuncted here…
  • Expect restrictions and delays from your intended plans every day. Don’t get upset when things don’t follow the schedule; try to remain upbeat and do something else while waiting.
• Jupiter: Aquarius of Cancer
  • Plan for some journeys that take you into nature, maybe even overnight. Bring a guidebook and learn the names, purposes and meanings of the plants you encounter on your outdoor walks.
• Mars: Cancer of Aries <– and is still very close at hand.
  • If you have to go away for any length of time, have a house-checker do more than just drive by the place. Frequent check-ins by a neighbor are good.
• Venus: Pisces of Taurus
  • A fair number of debates with spouse, significant other, or peers at work will often involve misunderstandings of principle vs. process. Summarize your counterpart’s position before you explain your own.
• Mercury: Gemini of Aries
  • Requisition resources early, but keep and double-check your paper trail against received items.
• Pluto: Aries of Aquarius
  • Household projects require expensive professional consultations. Bite the bullet and pay.
• Neptune: Taurus of Aries
  • Daily daydreams of better futures may never be far from the surface layer, but take note of what resources, material and personnel need to be assembled to achieve that.
• Uranus: Aries of Taurus (note the sympathies with Neptune)
  • Numerous changes in scheduled events with spouse or significant other may result in missed deadlines or challenges to planned events.
• North Node (Gemini of Pisces) and South Node (Sagittarius of Virgo):
  • trouble comes from seeking entertaining occasions with friends; consult with professionals to build your amateur skills at household management and maintenance.

Dates to Watch

• 20 April 2026 — Mercury conjuncts Neptune and Saturn — these conjunctions, and Mercury’s enclosure between them for a substantial part of the day, is likely to require you to express yourself with great subtlety, nuance, and caution… and yet you’re still likely to be misinterpreted. Follow up verbal discussions with written summaries of what you believe was decided, especially if you’re supposed to deliver on certain expectations.
• 21 April 2026 — Mercury conjuncts Mars — during this transit you’ll likely have the mental energy and capacities necessary to do whatever project landed on your to-do list the previous day. Write an outline, make your plan, create a rough draft of the slideshow. Even if you get nothing else done, create some sort of punch list of what needs doing.
• 24 April 2026 — 12:03 am EDT — Venus enters Gemini. Venus is moving from being the ruler of her sign to a mere tourist in an air sign, right after conjuncting Uranus and “bumping” him out of his old habits of austerity one last time.
• 25 April 2026 — 8:51 pm EDT — Uranus enters Gemini. Uranus will be in Gemini for the next several years, until August 2032, seventy-six months in all. In US history, Uranus has been associated with “war”, given that this planet’s previous ingresses into Gemini coincided with World War II, the Civil War, and the Revolutionary War. But, as I heard Alyssa Harris of The Karuna Lab speak recently and eloquently on this, Uranus in Gemini has often involved the harnessing of new communications technologies to get “all Americans on the same page” and working toward the same major goals: radio in World War II, the telegraph in the Civil War, and the printing press in the American Revolution. So it may not be specifically about war — but it may be an indicator that Americans are going to be propagandized/informed more heavily than ever before by the Internet.
• 26 April 2026 — Sun squares Pluto. This is likely to be a day when you can express yourself clearly and use your power to instigate substantial change. Try not to be an authoritarian jerk when you do so. Use your power to advocate for many, rather than just getting a special deal for yourself.

House Delineations

The First House of self and self-presentation is Scorpio, ruled by inconjunct Mars ruling in Aries. The Water triplicity rulers are opposed (Venus) and inconjunct (Mars, Moon). The Lunar Apogee is present. It may be important to imitate the fluidity of water, and not to be fully present, but rather to change who you are moment to moment. It will be valuable to break out of habitual clothing options, but your goal should also be not to stand out or draw too much attention. Don’t let your clothing let people define you by their own rigid categories.

The Second House of money and possessions is Sagittarius, ruled by inconjunct Jupiter exalted in Cancer. The Fire triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Sun, Jupiter) or trine (Saturn). You likely have enough money to get through the next 10 days, and beyond as well, but that doesn’t mean that anxiety about money won’t be a form of personal distress. Try to put it out of your mind as best you can. Divide your concerns into what you can accomplish today, and what will require long-term attention.

The Third House of extended family and intimate friends is Capricorn, ruled by trining Saturn exiled in Aries. The Earth triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Moon), trine (Venus), or square (Mars). For a little while, there won’t be much that you can do for your extended network of family and friends. Again, put your concerns into two piles: what you can do about each cousin or sibling today, and what will require more long-term planning.

The Fourth House of home, household, and parents is Aquarius, ruled by squaring Saturn exiled in Aries. The Air triplicity rulers are square (Saturn, Mercury) or inconjunct (Jupiter). Pluto is present. It will be easy to blow issues out of proportion when it comes to your immediate household, or your parental lineage. Things may spiral beyond your control, and you may experience some justified criticism. Do what you can do for your household, today.

The Fifth House of pleasures and pastimes is Pisces, ruled by trining Jupiter exalted in Cancer. The Water triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Mars), sextile (Venus) or square (Moon). The North Node and the Imum Coeli are present. The long and winding path is likely to bring the greatest level of contentment, but you have to allow your hobbies and pass times and children to lead you on a merry — if leisurely — chase first. Float in the direction of peace of mind, when it comes to seeking delight on a day-to-day basis.

The Sixth House of daily routines, pets, and injuries is Aries, ruled by present Mars. The Fire triplicity rulers are present (Saturn), square (Jupiter) or inconjunct (Sun). Mercury and Neptune are also present. The sparks of a number of different routines and expectations are likely to intrude upon your thoughts this week, and upon your activities. You have to divide your time between what you can accomplish today, and what you will have to schedule over the next few months or years.

The Seventh House of spouse, peer partners, and rivals is Taurus, ruled by present Venus. The Earth triplicity rulers are either present (Venus) or inconjunct (Moon, Mars). The Sun and Uranus are also present. The Lunar Perigee is present. Peaceful and practical relationships between your spouse or significant, other or business partner are likely to be fruitful and positive, if a little bit on the mundane side. You may hit one or two unexpected delights, but be prepared for an unplanned interruption of your normal harmonies.

The Eighth House of obligation, duty and legacy is Gemini, ruled by sextile Mercury in Aries. The Air triplicity rulers are sextile (Mercury, Saturn) or inconjunct (Jupiter). The Moon is present. Thoughtful and intelligent persistence are likely to be required as you overcome some emotionally challenging difficulties. These may manifest in the form of intergenerational squabbles. Be thoughtful and emotionally, intelligent about holding people through these moments of difficulty, but also plan to keep moving ahead.

The Ninth House of higher learning and long-distance travel is Cancer, ruled by the inconjunct Moon. Jupiter is present and exalted. The Water triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Moon), or sextile (Venus) or square (Mars). Travel plans, and higher education should be fluid, rather than fixed. Be prepared to initiate alternate plans in the event of sudden changes. Whatever you plans, you are likely to be successful and make beautiful discoveries in the company of friends.

The Tenth House of career and professional reputation is Leo, ruled by the squaring Sun in Taurus. The Fire triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Jupiter), square (Sun), or trine (Saturn). Keep an eye on your business partner, and be aware that debates and discussions between you and your significant other are likely to affect your performance at work. Be prepared to say no to subordinates in the workplace, even as you set new long-term expectations for them.

The Eleventh House of friends, associates, and allies is  Virgo, ruled by inconjunct Mercury. The Earth triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Mars), trine (Venus) or square (Moon). The South Node is present, as is the Midheaven. Relationships and connections to friends are like next few days, but be aware that some deepening connections may not turn out as beautifully as you would like. At the same time some new acquaintances have an opportunity to develop into something really rich and lovely. Practice discernment.

The Twelfth House of both obstacles and opportunities is Libra, ruled by the trining moon ruling Taurus. The Air triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Mercury, Saturn) or sextile (Jupiter). The Lot of Fortune is present. The connections that you form, as well as the connections that you refuse to form, are the place where you have the greatest control over your long-term path. There are opportunities for good long-term development of your plans, but also daily risks may prevent you from making a good start on these plans. Work on making good connections, peer to peer.

Horoscopes by Rising Sign

Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.

I recommend reading your Sun sign, Moon sign, and Rising sign for best results. I write them with rising sign in mind, but several people have told me they find that they do better with all three.

Scorpio: personal presentation will matter a great deal in the next 10 days, but some of your focus should be on what you want to try to accomplish in the next two years – and how to change your daily routines and habits to achieve those goals. Plant the seeds now of your intended changes; assert your sovereignty about achieving them. Recognize that the universe does not acknowledge the existence of the word “not” and you must identify positive concrete goals like do a yoga routine every day or complete a crossword puzzle, rather than vague negations like don’t eat junk food.

Sagittarius: Financial matters will be much on your mind in the next 10 days, but it will be difficult to make clear decisions or fulfill responsibilities while traveling. Remember to spend time with people that you care about, and not just be dutiful to them. Delays in your passion project may slow down and bring you frustration, but it is a good time for you to communicate certain goals and expectations rather than assume that everything is on hold. Divide the big things into smaller elements, keep working on the vision.

Capricorn: it will be tempting to get very practical about connections to your siblings, your cousins or your closest friends. And it will be very easy to get so busy that you don’t have time to put towards those relationships. However, it is a good idea to reach out to these people with a friendly call when you are working on a project that might be close to their heart; take the time to connect with the people who love the same kinds of things that you do. Keep the focus on practical matters, but recognize the emotional contentment that arises from sharing the emotional weight of the satisfaction that comes when a thing is done.

Aquarius: some household matters may explode beyond your ability to control them. Recognize that it is easy to critique other people’s labor, but not always easy to do what they do. You are going to have to trust some of the professionals. It may be a good time not to hire a really close friend, or a cousin or an uncle, to do a job that would normally be in their wheelhouse. Just because they’re good at their job, doesn’t mean that they’re good at managing their relationship with you, or that they will do their best work. At the same time, be prepared to mend fences if you wind up hiring their chief rival in the business: you need an opinion outside the family, but you also need to stay in your family’s good graces.

Pisces: contentment, peace, and ease, all come from winding up a long running, but perhaps somewhat self-indulgent project that is designed to make you look good. It is going to be tempting to drag this on for a while longer, but see if you can plan to do “good work at speed” and finish it in the next 10 days. Great happiness will prove to you if you can achieve this aim. And of course, there is a delight in being able to show it off to your friends group, and allies at the next big occasion. Financial worries may hinder some of your objectives, and having a reserve fund will help, but financial anxieties will be hard to tap down day-to-day. Allow yourself the chance to worry for a standard amount of time every day: set a countdown timer for 10 minutes or 15 minutes, express your worries, try to do something about it in that 10 minutes, and then move on.

Aries: you are probably going through a long-term rearrangement of your head and mindset —which usually means that something f*¢ks with your daily routines every day in a way you weren’t expecting. Try to divide these concerns into smaller pieces, and plug them into narrower compartments. You’re going to be wrestling with some of these issues for a long time, and chopping each problem into smaller bites is really important. Health issues may crop up, and with them, the specter of illness or injury. Remember Mikhail Gorbachev’s aphorism, trust but verify — all sorts of delusions may be floating around this week, and you should always get second opinions where serious matters are screwing up your peace of mind.

Taurus: relationships, their traditions, their devotions, and their appeals, may be much on your mind in the next 10 days. Allow yourself the luxury of a certain formality, but begin to set some new directions about how you would like things to go for the next six months. At the same time focus on maintaining your immediate peace of mind and allow your partner to help you through the stresses of the unexpected changes of the next 10 days. Daily routines are likely to be thrown off in ways that are upsetting and constraining. Communicate your frustrations, but divide the problem into workable components and work to solve them one at a time. Know that there will be financial stresses, but learn to regulate emotion around them. Call on your inner circle of friends for support, but also be prepared to lead them with kindness toward desired goals.

Gemini: responsibilities and obligations are likely to have an emotional undertow which is difficult to resolve immediately. Your plans to help others with your resources and money are likely to be big-hearted but constrained by two factors — existing financial commitments, which may feel heavier than normal, even if they aren’t; and the sheer number of friends who seem to be in crisis situations that require your assistance. If you have a spouse or a business partner, or a significant other, their usually calm and placid demeanor may be subjected to a few unexpected twists and turns that compromise their usually orderly frame of mind. Try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Home and household may experience some turmoil in the next 10 days, and how you respond to it in a public way will matter.

Cancer: your travel and education goals receive a big and generous push forward —but you also need to be prepared to take the lead on certain ongoing expectations. You may have to tackle a big long-term project all by your lonesome, with an accompanying heartache. Friends who haven’t talked to in a while, may be eager to connect, but there efforts to renew acquaintance, bring both turmoil and love. Professional matters require you to set some boundaries, but also to set some new goals and objectives.

Leo: personal identity and professional identity may be at odds these next 10 days. Faced with a choice to focus on yourself or to point your light at your career goals, it is better to create and energize the project that you do in the workplace, rather than to draw too much attention to yourself. Do your best to make the work reflect who you are, rather than expect all eyes to be on you. Plans to get away on day trips may suffer from delays and technical difficulties with your vehicle; plans to get certified or two acquire new educational credentials may be stymied. You may face monetary difficulties that will require seeking assistance from a friend, or building a better long range plan for yourself.

Virgo: your friends may present you with troubling situations, but it is likely that you can help them sort out these difficulties, and make a name for yourself. At the same time, recognize that both your contentment, and your long-term relationships with peers and a spouse, may depend upon renegotiating certain daily habits and patterns. Similarly, there are new forms of relating to others, that you may have to learn. Certain recent events, may have shown you how you have to diplomatically or tactfully approach other people’s needs, and address them, and professionally you need to do a better job of understanding people’s emotional issue before you can solve the technical question that they are presenting to you. Being able to do this, will mean you can charge people a lot more money, but you may find that expectation carries its own kind of self-criticism.

Libra: your great freedom in the moment is to connect to your long-range plans, and build upon them; or to acknowledge the ways in which you need to disconnect from certain parts of that dream, and do something new. Whatever you choose to construct, remember to remain flexible, but continue forging strong links to what comes next. Arguments with a spouse or significant other, may involve a considerable amount of circling back; you may also have to set and reset boundaries every day for the next 10 days. Don’t expect things to remain settled. At the same time, recognize that love and connection are dependent upon mutual obligations that occasionally have to change shape in significant ways. The time may be approaching for those changes to occur.

Colophon

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I have a Patreon account for those who want to support this column as it starts its sixth year. Those funds support artists, artisans and thinkers that I regard as contributing to the well-being of the world. You can also buy me a Ko-fi in $3 increments; any column I write after receiving a Ko-Fi donation will be open to the public). .

If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.

I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran‘s Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.

I use Christopher Warnock‘s The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock‘s 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.