LIBRA LUNAR ECLIPSE FULL MOON (blood Moon) (15 degrees) Saturday, April 4th, at 5:05 am PDT and 8:05 am EDT.

Lunar eclipses are extra potent Full Moons, signaling big forks in the road. As the Moon moves through the shadow of the Earth, gravitational and electromagnetic fields shift, altering the fabric of time and space. Eclipses occur every six months as the Sun, Moon, and Earth align closely, focalizing and transmitting downloads of encoded evolutionary instruction. All eclipses affect our pineal gland, DNA, and cellular structure, catalyzing potentially life-changing insights and events. The impact of an eclipse depends on its proximity to our natal planets and angles; for everyone, the natal houses involved indicate the issues and areas of life up for development at this time and for the next six months, until another set of eclipses takes precedence.

This is the third of four total lunar eclipses in a row, a lunar tetrad. Although there will be eight tetrads in the 21st century, there were none at all from 1582 to 1908. The last lunar tetrad was in 2003–04; the next will be in 2032–33. This lunar eclipse begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. GMT, with the Moon passing through the umbra (the Earth’s shadow) between 10:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. GMT. The eclipse will be visible across Asia, western Australia, North and South America, and the Pacific Ocean. The Moon moves through the Earth’s shadow at 2,300 mph (1 km/sec); the dustier the atmosphere, the redder the color, as shorter wavelengths of light are filtered out. Eclipses run in 19-year cycles; on April 3, 1996, there was a total lunar eclipse at 14°32' Libra–Aries, very close to the degree of this eclipse (14°24' Libra–Aries). What was important in your life that year? Where are you being called to make major changes now?

Aries is the first sign in the zodiac, representing the impulse for new experiences and the development of a healthy sense of identity, independence, and courage. Libra is the sign of objectivity and consideration; its spiritual task is mastering the art of negotiation and equal partnership. Mercury, the Sun, and Uranus all conjoin the South Node in Aries and square Pluto, stressing the imperative to transmute the shadow side of Aries: self-absorption, imprudence, and aggression. Uranus and Pluto recently completed their seventh square on March 16 at 15° Aries–Capricorn. The mythic God of Chaos and the Lord of Death and Rebirth remain within 10° of squaring each other until 2019, as they continue to galvanize big personal and global shifts in consciousness, especially whenever they are conjoined, squared, or opposed by other planets. You can read my Blog article about these energies here. Watch for critical insights and changes as the Sun squares Pluto exactly on April 5 and conjoins Uranus on April 6, and when Mercury squares Pluto on April 7 and conjoins Uranus on April 8.

On April 8, Jupiter turns direct at 13° Leo, ending its four-month retrograde phase that began on December 8, 2014 at 23° Leo. For the past four months, we have been releasing limited beliefs and ways of thinking about our-selves, in order to fully embody our truth. In Leo, Jupiter inspires us to be more creative and emboldens us to share our unique gifts; those with Pluto in Leo (1937–58) and/or Uranus in Leo (1955–62) and/or other planets in Leo are especially primed to take a leap of faith and manifest one's soul intentions now.

This lunar eclipse underscores the call for creativity and collaboration. Use the light of this potent Full Moon/lunar eclipse to take the next big step on your path, and remember: “Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.” (Julia Cameron)

 Some segments of this Celestial Update are from Stephanie Austin and the Mountain Astrologer.

A Full Moon symbolizes the fulfillment of the seeds planted at a previous New Moon or some earlier cycle. Each Full Moon reminds us of the seeds that may be coming to maturity, to their fullness, to fruition, to the place where the fruits or gifts are received. It may seem that fulfillment of our goals takes a long time. Some intentions may manifest within the two week phase prior to the next New or Full Moon. Some however, depending on their complexity, may take a much longer time. Just remember that our thoughts and emotions set Universal Action in motion and much work takes place behind the scenes as everything is orchestrated for fulfillment. Keep visualizing your goals as though you have already attained them and they will eventually manifest. Do not concern yourself with current conditions or worry about controlling it. The universe takes care of those details. Just keep seeing what you want, and move in that direction with your actions, and give no energy to what you don't want. Patience is required.