As you become increasingly astro-sophisticated (and aren’t we all these days?), you’re going to hear a lot about planets, the sun, and the moon being “conjoined” in different combinations. Astrologer Jennifer Racioppi is here to help you understand what that actually describes—because FYI there’s a major conjunction happening right now—and give you the cosmic 411 on the rest of the week. Happy horoscope-ing! 

After last week’s new moon in Aries, the first new moon on the astrological new year, this week offers a critical runway for your dreams to take flight. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, provides a potent activation, and a new moon in Aries (like we had in the early hours of last Friday) opens a vital gateway. In the days after the new moon, when the moon waxes like it is now, it becomes crucial to take actions on behalf of your goals, dreams, and desires, which makes this week a valuable time to rally your life force energy on behalf of what you most desire to create.

To review some basics, at the start of every lunar cycle, the sun and the moon conjoin (meaning they align at the same degree of the same sign), creating a new moon—a temporary moment when we don’t see a moon in the night sky. This alignment between the sun and the moon, known as a conjunction, creates a very fertile moment.

This alignment between the sun and the moon, known as a conjunction, creates a very fertile moment.

Think about it: The sun, which represents our vitality, aligns with the moon, which represents our subconscious and inner needs. When the masculine energy of sun blends with the feminine of the moon and a new lunar cycle begins, we initiate a cycle of potentiality. So, this week tap into the waxing moon energy and take steps on behalf of your goals.

However, the upcoming week doesn’t exactly offer clear skies. Instead, it brings a mixed bag of intensity as the sun continues to move through Aries, making an awkward angle (known as a square) to Pluto, Saturn and south node in Capricorn. This cardinal square means that our desires, as pure as they are, have to answer to an overriding sense of authority, and will require us to stay gritty as we move forward.

I love researcher and teacher Angela Duckworth’s definition of grit—the combination of passion and perseverance on behalf of a singular goal. That’s what the week ahead asks, to stay gritty on behalf of a specific goal. Connect with the passion for what we most want to create (a goal) and to combine that with the ability to persevere.

After all, this is Aries season, and we can use the energy of the newly waxing moon to energize us and keep us committed to our path.

Warning: cosmic curveballs ahead

On Wednesday, April 10, Jupiter (the planet of expansion) stations retrograde at 24 degrees of Sagittarius. This station means that Jupiter will seemingly go backward until August 11. The next four months, while Jupiter travels back to 14 degrees of Sagittarius, we’ll be reviewing how we can better manage our growth cycles and stay optimistic and aligned with our expanding belief system.

On this same day, Wednesday, the sun officially squares Saturn, too. This abrupt angle can feel harsh and asks to see how things can be done better! Meanwhile, Venus and Neptune conjoin in Pisces bringing massively romantic vibes to the day, while Mercury makes a harmonious angle to Pluto in Capricorn too. So, it’s not all bad. It’s a time of change, and thankfully there’s a lot of softness to the day (and week too).

As the week goes on, things do intensify—meaning it’s important to stay faithful to the dream, no matter what. As the sun in Aries moves into a square Pluto—FYI Saturn and Pluto help us to see our shadow (or the places in our life where we can hold ourselves to a higher standard)—the cosmos continues to put pressure on us to follow through with our work, letting go of old behaviors and patterns that no longer serve us.

As the week goes on, things do intensify—meaning it’s important to stay faithful to the dream, no matter what.

The north node of fate in Cancer asks us to own our highest destiny while the south node asks us to release! We’ll especially feel the nodes of fate doing their work when the waxing quarter moon perfects. The waxing quarter moon, which happens Thursday at 3:05 p.m. Eastern, marks the halfway point of the moon’s waxing cycle. This particular waxing quarter moon in Cancer will conjoin the north node of fate while squaring the sun in Aries and opposing Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn.

The nodes of fate and the Saturn-Pluto square create a cardinal T-square with the sun (since it’s all in cardinal signs). This pressure asks us to reconcile our desires against who we have been versus who we are becoming. And, it intensifies as the sun perfects its square to Pluto on Saturday the April 13. Mercury, which soon leaves its retrograde shadow (finally), squares retrograde Jupiter, helping you to understand better how you can incorporate a healthy mindset as you pursue your soul-driven goals.

Thankfully, on this same day, Friday, when we have the waxing quarter moon, we also have Venus and Saturn in a sextile softening the blow.

My advice? Keep doing the deep soul work. Work on cultivating your resilience and grit. Stay faithful to your dream—no matter what! Remember you can still be high-vibe while doing shadow work. You can do complicated things! Be willing to face challenges as they arise. And when you feel like you’re stuck, reconnect to your big-picture vision for your life to pull yourself forward. You’ve got this, so long as you don’t give up!⠀

This week, think TGIS

After all of the challenges this week, come Sunday, April 14, the cosmos serve up a healthy dose of awesome! Jupiter the planet of good luck trines the sun, while Venus makes a beautiful angle of support to Pluto, too. Meaning the weekend brings a luscious positive note, perfect for self-care Sunday.

Jennifer Racioppi is the creator of Lunar Logic—a philosophy that integrates the deep wisdom of both science and spirituality, and blends her expertise in astrology, positive psychology, and women’s health—to coach high-achieving female entrepreneurs to reach their next level of success.