Apr 17, 2026
Today’s much discussed ultra fiery first New Moon of the astrological new year
is happening at 27 degrees and 28 minutes of Aries. The corresponding Tarot cards include The Emperor, the Queen of Wands, and most specifically at this degree of third decan Aries, the Four of Wands.
The Four of Wands when read as a standalone is talking about achievement, excellence, professional advancement, houses, hotels, entertainment venues, property improvements, organized events, gatherings, weddings and other celebrations. I have also known it to talk specifically about fitting new kitchens, and installing central heating, and you can see why when you look at the image on the right; the Four of Wands from the Legacy of The Divine Tarot. As I am typing this, two big vans are parked across the courtyard outside a new neighbour’s place. The legend on the vans… “All fired up to fit your boiler.”
This Aries New Moon is firing up to fit boilers, or replace them. Or smash them.
It’s more about a reboot or a rebuild than a fresh start. There is so much more going on of course at every level. This can serve as nothing more than mood music, when being discussed in such general terms.
Mercury is conjunct Neptune today. A real time astrology transit, just as Donald Trump makes an announcement (media: Mercury) that the Strait of Hormuz (sea: Neptune) is open again, at least until the ceasefire ends 26 April, and though the US naval blockade will remain in place.
Generally speaking, a conjunction of Mercury and Neptune denotes news emerging from a mess, muddle, obfuscation, a situation in which we don’t have the necessary facts upon which to act cleanly. Someone either doesn’t know, or isn’t going to cooperate, in which case the obfuscation is potentially wilful.
We are watching manifold instances of this in public life, dominating the news right now, and the stakes could hardly be higher. Such is realpolitik, always plenty of dirty business. Elected governments and the rule of law, we have been shockingly reminded in many forcible ways since 2020, is bread and circuses for the hoi polloi, and the bottom feeders who are actually doing their own thing at the top, with elected politicians and unelected bureaucrats alike seemingly in their pockets will do very well indeed out of the chaos of Neptune, operating in the fog. Another situation this can describe is when someone, possibly a loved one, is dealing with, or rather is unable or refusing to deal with chaotic situations, health issues or substance abuse issues, drink, drugs, out of control behaviours. No-one can do it all alone. But nor can one rescue someone who refuses to help themselves.
Mercury conjunct Neptune may conjure powerfully haunting dreams, may inspire new ideas, may generate new creative projects, visions, poems, songs. Art. All this. We finally find a way to bottle an essence. The Muses are with us.
We may finally find we have the words to nail something down, to clarify something that has been hovering for some time, or to make a logical decision that cuts through uncertainty. We need this mess sorted out. Not sorting it is becoming a chronic drain on our energy. Do it now. A squeaky wheel is demanding ever more loudly to be oiled. We have reached a point of no return.
Mercury conjunct Neptune may equally describe a situation close to home where we are having difficulty getting a grip on the facts of a matter, and messages may go wrong in translation.
Offsetting this pie- in- the- sky tricky fogginess, though not comfortably, Mars is in conjunction with Saturn until the day after tomorrow, Sunday 19 April BST. Mars the Warrior (action) and Saturn The Old Man (control) are both considered malefic, and a conjunction of these two planetary legends suggests that even close to home, we are likely this week to be needing to take a firm line in sorting out that which is overdue for sorting out.
There is always frustration, maybe heartache when we see a problem, we clearly see what needs to be done, but we cannot it sort out. We do not own the problem. We do not have the agency. But, looking at this conjunction sunny side up, Mars conjunct Saturn, depending where they show up in our own natal chart, may drive the impetus this week, drill down hard on a stubborn problem, help get something tidied up.
Thanks for reading.
Till next time.
Previous post:
The Ram and The Emperor
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2 Apr
This season of the Ram, Aries 2026, let’s re-introduce the ultimate Tarot card of the concept, principle and physical reality of Masculinity with a capital ‘M’ as represented in the Tarot by The Emperor, the major arcana card that is most closely associated with the zodiac sign of Aries The Ram.
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