The next two months offer unique opportunities for earth magick, so get your sandbox ready. Blessing and good fortune energies are available with Jupiter in Pisces, but choose your days with care as some of the other planets are picking fights. Venus and Mercury square Mars on the 3^rd and 4^th, aggravating tendencies for jealousy, possessiveness, and swollen egos. Release the control impulses, seek freedom from excessive neediness, and beat down procrastination with a big stick.

Planets in Earth signs on the 5^th through 6^th offer an excellent window for earth magick. Arrange charged crystals and rocks in a bowl of sand and place in a good feng-shui location to attract practical aid and to stay focused on what’s important, or place a mother goddess statue in your home or yard. Saturn backs into Virgo on the 7^th, adding to the build-up of earthy energies.

The waning Pisces Moon hooks up with Jupiter on the 11^th. Do cleansing spells and ritual baths to prepare for the New Moon in Aries on the 14^th. As the Moon moves into Taurus on the 15^th and 16^th, plant seeds or start money “seed” boxes. Venus sextiles Jupiter on the 17^th, and this is the juiciest day for love spells in April. Both planets are in their own signs, giving them seductive super-powers.

Mercury retrogrades in Taurus on the 18^th, the Sun enters Taurus on the 19^th and Chiron enters Pisces on the 20^th. The abundant earth and water energy facilitates efforts to improve troubled areas. Mercury’s retrograde forms multiple contacts with outer planets, emphasizing the connection between the collective with the individual – as above, so below. The waxing Moon in Cancer trines Jupiter on the 20^th, the best day in April to do abundance spells. Combine this spell with Earth Day on the 22^nd; plant a tree with a piece of malachite or green aventurine for lasting financial stability. The Moon in Virgo on the 24^th makes another set of excellent earth-sign aspects. For highest potency, start a five-day spell on the 20^th to harness the power of these growth/abundance alignments.

Venus enters Gemini on the 25^th, where she is adept at flirtation, art and music, while Saturn and Uranus make their fourth opposition on the 26^th. This series of oppositions, which started in November 2008, have been associated with the financial and political upheaval that still bubbles throughout the world. (The final contact of this set is on July 26, 2010; I, for one, will be happy to see the back of this series.) The month ends with a Full Moon in Scorpio; Mercury and Mars intertwine their unruly energies with this moon, which makes it trickier than usual. Do protection magick to foil attacks, or reversal spells to mitigate anger or bad behaviors directed at you and your loved ones.

Spell-Casting Almanac

↓ Danger/conflict lurks; watch out today!

♥ Great day for ritual and/or spellwork.

♥ April 1: April Fool’s Day. Moon trine Jupiter. Charge medicines for extra healing power.

♥ April 5-6: Capricorn Moon, Ceres and Pluto trine Mercury/Venus in Taurus. Earth magick spells – work with crystals, rocks, sand, and salt.

♥ April 11: Waning 4th quarter Moon conjunct Jupiter in Pisces. Washing and cleansing rituals.

♥ April 15-16th: Moon in Taurus conjunct Mercury and Venus. Earth magick and seeding spells.

♥ April 17: Venus sextile Jupiter. Love and sex magic.

↓ April 18: Mercury retrogrades in Taurus (through May 11).

♥ April 20: Chiron enters Pisces. Waxing Moon in Cancer trine Jupiter. Start five-day prosperity spells.

♥ April 24: Virgo Moon trine Mercury, Venus trine Saturn, Sun trine Ceres. Exceptional for earth magic, abundance/prosperity spells, bread-baking, and planting or seed sowing.

↓ April 26: Saturn opposition Uranus (4th of 5 in a series.)

↓ April 28: Full Moon in Scorpio opposite Mercury retrograde and square Mars. Cast pre-emptive protective circles around home, car and critical equipment. Do turn-around spells: rotate a charged symbolic item widdershins to reduce negative emotions or to reverse attacks or hexes.

April 30: Walpurgis. A fiery Moon-Mars trine is perfect for pre-sabbat fires, dances and parties.

Elizabeth Hazel is an astrologer, tarotist, and mystic scholar. She is the creator of the Whispering Tarot, and the author of Tarot Decoded. Liz edits and writes for the American Tarot Association’s Quarterly Journal and is currently giving a series of astrology lectures in the Ann Arbor area. Her articles, artwork, original tarot cards and contact information can be found at www.kozmic-kitchen.com