The planets that have been challenging Pluto over the past week are in the fiery sign Aries which is impulsive and highly energized. Rather than a slow burn, Aries explodes and then the fire fizzles out quickly. Venus, representing relationships and the things we value, has turned retrograde and is passing back through Aries where it is causing us to look back at unfinished business. 

The first square of Venus to Pluto in this waxing cycle occurred in early February and any issues raised at that time will be brought up again by the second square on the 3rd. This is a good time to willingly explore the issues in our relationships that give us problems, as the door to the underworld of hidden meanings and motivations is open now. If we don?t pass through the door willingly, we may be pulled in there anyway by the intensity of this dynamic. The waxing square is an opportunity to learn something new ? to begin a new cycle of evolution.

Pluto will be turning retrograde on April 4, so it is at a stationary point in its cycle where its motion is imperceptible and it appears to be at a standstill. Planets are at their most powerful when at their ?station,? as they gather the strength needed to change direction. If Pluto is prominent in our charts, or if we are going through a Pluto transit to our own birthchart, we are likely to experience life at a more intense level than usual, with more of a sense of urgency. 

On the 4th, as Pluto changes direction to travel retrograde, Mercury will form a sextile to Jupiter, a harmonious aspect that facilitates our mental understanding (Mercury) by providing us with a more expansive viewpoint (Jupiter). This will help to facilitate the Pluto process of getting to the root of the matters in which we are involved.

Also on the 4th, Mars will oppose Saturn in a face off that pits our individual desires (Mars) against our responsibilities and the requirement that we respect authority (Saturn). Mars is in compassionate Pisces now where it does not have the advantage of being able to utilize all of its tools of warfare and when stressed, there may be a temptation to slip into more passive-aggressive behavior rather than confront problems openly. Try not to succumb to this temptation, because Pluto is ruling this time period and demands that we are as honest and true in our actions as we can possibly be. We are likely to feel that our impulse to action (Mars) is slowed for a few days, and that is absolutely normal under the Saturn influence.