The upcoming eclipse on April 8th puts Ohio in the path of totality, representing just one of many opportunities for cosmic connections for cannabis users in our state this month. Our MedicateOH astrologer-in-chief Alex breaks down the month celestially, offering insights into the abounding energies that we’ll take with us into the High Holiday (4/20) and beyond. Here’s the scoop:
Aries Season: Happy New (Celestial) Year
The Gregorian calendar we use today puts us in the fourth month of the year, which marks the Earth’s orbit around the sun. However, the Astrological calendar aligns with the movement of the celestial bodies. The New Year, celestially, started when the Sun transitioned into Aries during the spring equinox, on March 19th. As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries signifies the start of a new cycle, bringing in renewed energy and opportunities. Many astrologers say it’s a great time to reflect on personal goals, set new directions, and work on self-improvement.
The month of April begins auspiciously, with a holiday we call April Fool’s Day. Its true meaning has been lost today. The Fool in tarot (card “0”) represents not a naive person, but someone who has just begun or embarked on a new journey.
Mercury Retrograde April 2024
The month of April is host to multiple epic events, including two long-awaited conjunctions, one of which is an Eclipse. Mercury goes Retrograde on day one, and two planets make their way back “home.”
No April Fools here — Mercury retrograde begins April 1. In the sign of Cardinal Fire, Mercury is forward thinking, making the backwards motion of the Retrograde especially frustrating. The good thing is, Mercury in Aries can help us get “unstuck” which is by and large the goal of the Retrograde.
As always, applying the “Rule of Re’s” will be the best use of your energy. Revisit, recalibrate, reconstruct — add “re” in front of your action or goal and take a second look. Temper your anxiety for productivity with the idea that grandiose actions are no more valid and valuable than small progressive steps. When it comes to your cannabis, this might be a good time for focused, uplifting strains so you don’t miss something important.
During this retrograde, consider: Where are things going in your life right now? How are you getting there? As a Cardinal sign marking the beginning of a season, Aries can get things started well. But in their quick pace, things can sometimes be left unattended. Utilize this retrograde to realign for the follow-through. Unless your goals have changed, in which case it may be time for formulate new plans.
Mercury stations direct just 24 days later on April 25. From this point, launch those projects, sign those contracts, and proceed with passion! Having taken the time for alignment during the Retrograde, things can really start speeding up now. This is a great time for competitions, debates and public speaking.
New Moon, solar eclipse: totality edition
A once-in-a-lifetime event not to repeat for 75 years in Ohio, the Total Solar Eclipse and New Moon occurs April 8. Varying slightly based on where you are located, the event will take place at approximately 3:05 p.m.
Clearly I wish to say: there is no magical work to be done on this Eclipse. The magic of the Eclipse is in and of itself: so sit back and observe (with your safety glasses on & maybe sipping on a canna-beverage.)
Magical moments truly come from the energy we humans put on to it, and this Eclipse is no exception. The celebratory, monumental, awe-inspiring and delighted atmosphere is almost palpable. When another Total Solar Eclipse graces this region in totality in 2099, it will not occur in the sign of Aries as will the one on April 8. This is truly an opportunity of a lifetime!
As with all Eclipses, the generalized energy of this lunation will take us through the next 6 months, leading directly to the next Eclipse season. In the event chart for the Eclipse, nearly all the planets are either in a Conjunction or Sextile to a Conjunction. There’s certainly an initiating energy present as Conjunctions bring forth renewal and Sextiles strengthen momentum.
Jupiter-Uranus Conjunction
Though not as headline-making as the Eclipse, another significant Conjunction occurs this month. On April 20, Jupiter and Uranus align in the sign of Taurus. The last time these two planets connected was in 2011, and the next will be in 2037. Jupiter is a planet we associate with expansion and knowledge; traveling and gaining experience through learning. Uranus has a reckless, punk spirit associated with futurism, development and freedom.
Uranus has been journeying through Taurus since 2018, and we’re now in the final 2 years before it ends the cycle in 2026. The last time Uranus was here, the United States suffered through the Great Depression. While most Americans suffered terrible economic downfall, the ultra-wealthy grew their fortunes. We see the same trend today. Global values change during Uranus’s time in Taurus because this is what it governs astrologically. Other Taurean themes include money, material ownership, security and safety. Uranus’s unpredictable nature brings with it upsets.
Jupiter’s influence in this Conjunction brings real staying power. Since Conjunctions represent new beginnings and a cycle “starting over” this means whatever new that comes your way will have the capacity for longevity. This is a perfect time to start a journey for knowledge: take a class or workshop, research a new topic, look for a new career opportunity, awaken some ancient wisdom. Out of troubling times, new resources and skills can usher us towards the future.
Being an Earth sign, I also find this Conjunction brilliantly aligned with the first recreational 420 celebration. No doubt a monumental moment in the Ohio marijuana zeitgeist. Being on the edge of the industry’s evolution like this means more innovation and invention will find its way onto dispensary shelves soon. Also, many Ohioans are sowing their first cannabis seeds for a future harvest, a radical change from the environment the war on drugs left us in.
Venus and Mars in their rulership
There are two planets making their way home in the zodiacal realm this month: Venus in Taurus and Mars in Aries. The ingressions occur one day apart: Venus moves into Fixed Earth on April 29 and Mars into Cardinal Fire April 30.
Venus has two co-rulers, Taurus and Libra. In the sign of Taurus, Venus is extra-indulgent. This is definitely a time to explore your senses.
Edibles are a great place to start. Those with CBC and CBG have been top of my list lately and I love the sweet and tart crunch on the Aura + Crunch gummies. At probably the best price in most shops, I also suggest exploring options from Eden’s Trees when you get the chance. Their flavorful Platinum Lemon Cherry Gelato flower is a favorite of mine right now. If you’re in the market for a new concentrate, give Klutch’s Ice Cream Cake Live Hash Rosin a go. They say it’s as close to the plant as you can get, and a delicious dose of Limonene terpenes is always welcome in my book.
Venus is a social sign that doesn’t like to kill the mood, so if you need the push to get out of a rut, the timing of Mars in Aries is just right. Mars is the planet of Aries, and in ancient times, also Scorpio (but a modern astrologer I assign Pluto to Scorpio). In Aries, Mars is ignited with power and assertion.
Though this ingression doesn’t happen until the final day of the month, the push is well-timed following the Mercury Retrograde. Mars in Aries seeks independence and operates with a sense of urgency. Put this energy behind those Mercurial plans from earlier in the month.
The energy of Aries is perfect for starting a new job or volunteer gig. Have you considered getting involved with MedicateOH? Email us to join the Ambassador teams in Columbus, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland. (Or reach out if you’d like to start one in your Ohio city!)
Join MedicateOH for the High Holiday!
Join MedicateOH this 4/20 at the Redmoor in Cincinnati as we celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead and their influence on cannabis culture. Doors, kitchen and vendor tables open at 6:00 and the first band starts at 7:00 pm. We’ll be doing a Split the “Pot” raffle to be announced in between the bands’ sets. Want to score a pair of FREE tickets? Follow our Instagram for your next chance to win this week.
Check out our previous Ohio Canna-Scope stories here.
Looking for additional astrological guidance? Book a reading with Alex at https://www.theperryroseacademy.com/
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