MONTHLY OVERVIEW:
Enter the Ram! The Sun is in Aries until April 20th, your annual high season when the astrological calendar resets. Yes, Aries, you’re the zodiac’s first sign, ushering in springtime with all its renewal, buoyant hope and life force energy. You should be feeling plenty of that vitality yourself these days, especially near the April 14th Aries new moon. This day marks your personal new year, the start of a fresh six-month life cycle. Spend some time mapping out a few goals that you’ll work on between now and October.

On the 20th, the Sun moves into Taurus, flipping you into productive mode. If you’ve followed your curiosities down a rabbit hole or two, you might just channel those discoveries into a satisfying new work path or lifestyle. What gives you freedom and turns you on? Write it down and visualize, especially while Mercury goes retrograde (backward) in Taurus from April 18-May 11. Even if you don’t quit your day job, infuse some of this magic into your habits or hobbies. For Aries, a life driven by passion is the only kind worth living.

LOVE & ROMANCE:
Consistency is king when it comes to your love life. Romantic Venus is in stabilizing, sensual Taurus for most of April. Find pleasure and meaning in the little things—an affectionate touch, a phone call, a considerately opened door. Over time, we tend to forget how much these small acts of kindness create a foundation of trust and connection. Increase your gratitude and your heart will expand.

Taurus is also the bearer of luxury and material pleasures. If thoughtful gestures come sheathed in a La Perla box or a Vosges wrapper, who are you to complain? Aries, don’t feel like a soulless consumer for reveling in the finer things. We were given five senses to enjoy the beauty of our earthly existence. A couples’ massage class, sampling the chef’s tasting menu at a five-star restaurant, even clothes shopping with your sweetie can all be decadent bonding experiences. With your ruler Mars in Leo until June, your passion and sex drive are on the rise, too. Physical exertion (in and out of the bedroom) keeps you feeling hot. The Scorpio full moon on April 28th promises a steamy, if not dramatic, night.

In other good news, tough Saturn takes a seven-week sabbatical from your relationship sector, backing out of Libra and back into Virgo on April 7th. Since October 2009, many Rams have been in romantic boot camp, forced to grow up or get serious about commitment. While this has helped you better define what you want in a partner (and what kind of partner you want to be), it hasn’t been easy for every Aries. Enjoy this breather and pause from “working” on your relationships. If Saturn’s presence has kept you from enjoying together time, book a few extra date nights and reconnect.

MONEY & CAREER:
What do you want to do with your life? Clear out the echoes of your parents’ expectations, social pressures and any ideas that come with a “should” attached. On April 6th, transformational Pluto goes retrograde in your career house, forcing you to take a deeper cut at your goals and life mission. Pluto will be retrograde until September 13th, a period of real soul-searching. When Jupiter moves into Aries this June, answers will come faster. Until then, you may spend more time discovering what you DON’T want from a career—which is all a valuable part of the process. Be open to intuitive messages and divine guidance.

Since Pluto stirs up subtle power dynamics, a co-worker or boss could really irk you during this cycle. You may feek dominated or even bullied—but take a reality check before you storm out or stage a coup. This person is shining light on a part of yourself that needs to heal and evolve. Don’t shoot the messenger. Check out the book Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping for an empowering perspective.

Meanwhile, structured Saturn (also retrograde), backs into Virgo until May 30th, flooding you with detail-oriented projects that test your patience. Saturn was in Virgo from late 2007 until October 2009, and this will be its final visit for 30 years. Saturn delivers one final lesson about living an organized life, and reminds you that you can’t do it alone. Learn how to ask for help and treat those “below” you with true appreciation, especially if you’ve taken them for granted.

On April 18th, Mercury goes retrograde in your money and daily work sector, an especially important time for self-reflection and revamping your budget. The month ends with a dramatic Scorpio full moon in your wealth sector on April 28th. This moon squares off with Mercury and Mars (your ruler), challenging you to balance your spending between practicalities and pleasure. While it may sound tough to save, invest and indulge all at once, with a little creativity, you can multitask your funds.

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL:
Easy does it, Aries. On April 7th, Saturn takes a backward spin into your health and fitness sector, forcing you to slow down and follow a structure. If, like the typical Aries, you’ve been playing Superwoman, Saturn reminds you that you’re a mere mortal living in a body. Don’t let the lesson come as an injury or illness. Between now and May 30th, honor your limits and ask for help. Since neither is in your nature, working with a trainer, life coach or another expert can teach you valuable techniques.

With Mercury retrograde in your habit-driven second house April 18-May 11, it’s a good time to streamline your schedule, change your diet and make exercise a non-negotiable commitment at least three times a week. Think of it as an adventure in discovering delicious new ingredients or fun new workouts.