You might already know that I love posting on Twitter (@AstrologyZone), and I am also on Facebook (Susan Miller’s Astrology Zone). What is new is that in December, I added Instagram to my regular social media posts (@Astrologyzone). I have been having fun reading your comments and seeing how the planets are influencing your life.  I had joined Instagram in 2012, but in intervening years I had not been posting there, but now I am enjoying going on Instagram almost every day.

You are moving into your birthday time of the year when the little planets gather around you to give you warm hugs. You’ll find this turns out to be a landmark month for you, especially if your birthday falls at the start of Taurus, near April 21-25, for Uranus, the slow-moving planet of change, is traveling over your Sun. I am getting ahead of myself, however, so let’s start at the top of April and see what opportunities are about to come up for you.

The month starts with a new moon in the entrepreneurial sign of Aries on April 5. This new moon will appear in your house of solitude and private concentration—this is your twelfth house, the last house before we spin forward to the first house. The solar first house is the one that rules you, dear Taurus—your personality, and all that is vitally important to you. The first house is your appearance, your vitality, and your personality along with your dearest desires.

Mars is now in Gemini, who is brought into the conversation by the new moon in Aries, for Mars rules Aries. This suggests to me that a project you are working on behind closed doors has something to do with a lucrative job or deal that will pay you well, possibly through commission, royalty, or another performance-based formula. Alternatively, you may win a job or client following an interview or vetting process.

Saturn and Pluto will be in hard angle to the new moon, so if you are involved with the import-export of ideas, goods, or services in foreign countries, you may have to deal with a shipment that is tangled in red tape, possibly held up by customs. Or, you may have a duty or VAT tax imposed on your overseas shipment that you had no idea would show up as a charge. You won’t have much choice but to pay it. Nevertheless, Jupiter, the good fortune planet, will be within range and will work hard to protect you financially. I feel it will be worth going through all the work you are doing, for it looks like, despite the obstacles, you will make money in the end.

I point to a foreign country as being the source of frustration in an international situation, but alternatively, it could stem from a delay or other annoying development in a court case or a project in the media or academia. Your income will be protected, even if you have to pay something out now, so you have good reason to stick to your program. Have faith, dear Taurus.

One of my favorite weekends of April for you—the best days of the month—will be Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14. If you have something important to schedule on a weekday, make it for Friday, April 12, as you lead into that weekend.

Here is why that weekend of April 13-14 is so special. The Sun will be in supreme harmony with Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, so I see you possibly receiving a windfall of cash or a bargain, and whatever you are thinking about seems to be related to your home. You’ll find it’s an ideal weekend to see if you need to buy something to add to the security, beauty, or comfort of your home. On the other hand, you could entertain in your home—throw a soirée or dinner party. A third idea would be to do something special for your mother or father to surprise them. This will be a glorious weekend, filled with happy news. You will be smiling.

    Socially, your best time for fun will be when Venus, your sign’s ruler and the planet of romance, glides through Pisces, from April 1 to April 20. Within that period, I favor Tuesday, April 9, when Venus will be conjunct Neptune, the planet of unconditional love.

April 19 brings a full moon in Libra, 29 degrees, which technically falls in your solar workaday sector. What concerns me is that Uranus, now in Taurus for the first time in your life (as of March 6), is in the very early degrees of Taurus, close enough to make an out-of-sign conjunction (within three degrees) and will directly oppose the moon. That is like an electric shock.

Don’t sign a contract on or near the full moon of April 19, for you will regret doing so. Uranus rules unexpected developments, and for you, the moon in Taurus’ chart is tied to contracts. I also recommend you not travel nor buy a car near this date because the moon rules your third house of short trips and transportation.

Now let’s talk about Mars, the action planet, for he is now in Gemini, so you seem to have a list of purchases you need to make, and spending will mount this month. You may also have an unexpected expense. On April 27, Mars will be at odds with Neptune, so be careful what you buy. You may not understand the features of the product and later regret not doing more homework on your array of choices and which would best fit your needs. Better to shop over the weekend of April 13-14 when you are likely to be thrilled by what you buy.

At the full moon in Libra, 29 degrees, you may be finishing up a work project that you’ll need to have wrapped and out the door quickly. Still, Uranus will directly oppose the moon, so you may have difficulty with a co-worker, team member, or partner (business partner, agent, manager, publicist, or other professional). Uranus strikes from out of the blue, so you never know which way things will go. This planet teaches us to stay on our toes and be flexible and resourceful. I hope you won’t be going on a trip as it might be frustrating on this full moon. Pick another day.

Fortunately, Jupiter will be in close range to the full moon, just as he was close at the new moon, only this time, Jupiter will be much closer and in a far more powerful position to help you. Jupiter will send the full moon and Sun harmonious rays and see to it that you do well financially, despite any difficulty you might encounter initially, say, from someone you work with, or how hard it will be to get the project letter-perfect before you ship.

Socially, your best time for fun will be when Venus, your sign’s ruler and the planet of romance, glides through Pisces, beginning March 26, until April 20. Within that period, I favor Tuesday, April 9, when Venus will be conjunct Neptune, the planet of unconditional love. This stellar day will have a glamorous, shimmering vibration.

This month, three outer planets will go retrograde—Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto—but before you say oh no, keep in mind that outer planets don’t affect us as strongly as Mercury, Mars, and Venus. (Mars and Venus are not due to retrograde in 2019, but Mercury, which was retrograde throughout March, will again go out of phase through almost all of July.) Mercury, Venus, and Mars orbit close to earth, so we feel the effects of their retrogrades more than when the outer planets go retrograde.

I will admit that any planet that is retrograde is a weak planet. In the case of Jupiter, it would be best not to start a business when the good fortune planet is retrograde—wait until after Jupiter goes direct on August 11. The same is true if you plan to launch a new project or service—you’ll have more success if you time expansion for when Jupiter (who rules profit and growth) is moving quickly and is strong, not retrograde. Your most successful and lucrative deals will happen after August 11. You’ll find this is typical because the big, outer planets move very slowly.

Saturn and Pluto are heavy-duty planets, so when they are retrograde, you might actually like the fact that they are weak because they will have muted energies. Both planets are in your ninth house ruling foreign travel, import-export, relationships with those abroad, your pursuit for a higher degree, and the fields of medicine and legal matters. I would suggest you keep things as they are right now and not schedule any radical moves. You can travel, of course, but deals with overseas companies may take longer to launch, or the client may take a long time to pay you.

Be practical when choosing a college or university, and don’t stress if you didn’t win an invitation to attend your first-choice college. If they don’t want you, you don’t want them. Let them keep their old school—they don’t know what they are missing, and it’s their loss.

April 22 could be a day of unexpected happenings because Uranus will conjunct the Sun in Taurus. (Is this your birthday? This aspect is speaking directly to you.) I can’t tell you how it will go because with Uranus you never know. This planet always brings up something that you are not looking at as a possibility. The Sun rules your home living situation and your parents, particularly your father. (The Sun is considered masculine.)

This year, early-born Taurus—those born April 21-25—have Uranus moving over their Sun for the first time since 1934, so chances are this is a completely new influence. You seem to be ready to revolt against any situation or person who has hemmed you in too much. Although Taurus likes to keep everything steady, Uranus is asking you to make independent decisions so that you can truly be yourself from now on.

If your birthday falls later in April or in May, you will feel this influence strongly in the coming years, and I will always tell you when your birthday has outstanding aspects. Last month I spoke a lot about Uranus, so click the blue box at the bottom of this forecast for “View Previous Forecast” for more information. Or, go to Amazon.com in your native country and order my book, Astrology Zone Year Ahead 2019, and read the chapter on Taurus to learn more about the future. (I like the paperback better than the digital copy—the illustrations are more beautiful. That’s my taste. If you like digital, go to Amazon for Kindle or Apple for the e-book.)

Looking ahead, May will be one of my favorite months of the year, for it has lots of lovely aspects you will enjoy. Keep your eye on the new moon in Taurus on May 4, since that one will be your cosmic gift certificate for your birthday. You will receive lots of opportunities, so be ready for goodies heading your way. Know what you want in the coming year, dear Taurus, and the universe will help you see results.

The month will begin quietly. You seem to need to mull over your next actions, and the new moon in Aries on April 5 will encourage you to spend quality time alone to reflect on your various options for the next direction you will take your life.

It appears you’ll be spending money at a faster pace than usual this month, for Mars is now in Gemini, moving through your income sector, and bringing up one or more hefty expenses. This drain on your bank account will only last until May 15, so there’s no need to be concerned. You may be experiencing lifestyle changes now that would logically mean you are about to go through an expensive period. If that is not the case, then be conservative about your purchases until you can see the lay of the land. The good news is that you apparently have the money to spend, and over the weekend April 13-14 (plus or minus one day), you will likely receive especially good financial news. You may settle a deal, make a sale, or find a bargain.

The full moon of April 19 may bring a sudden, unnerving event, but it seems to be a temporary jolt. Uranus will oppose the moon in your sixth house of work, so you may see a project start to go off the rails, and you’ll be needed to maneuver things back on track quickly. Or, it may be that someone who reports to you will act out of character or make an announcement that he or she is leaving, and you won’t see this coming. If a trusted helper leaves, you will need to scramble to fill that spot.

If your project or personnel at work is humming along nicely and no one is leaving, then look to events at home or with family, for you may need to direct your attention there. In this scenario, your colleagues will miss your involvement in a pressing assignment, but some things cannot be helped. Full moons like the one April 19 bring events to a swift conclusion, so if you do, indeed, need to draw your attention to a home or family event, you will be back at work within days.

Jupiter will be beautifully oriented toward the April 19 full moon too, suggesting that you stand to gain financially through something that happens at this full moon. The sum appears to be generous. It is not clear if the money you receive is related to other news going on in your life at the full moon or to your current project.

Your social life is likely to become vibrant in April, thanks to a trio of sweet planets in your friendship sector: Venus, Neptune, and Mercury. They will be working on your behalf to stir up magical evenings during April’s first three weeks. All three planets will send shimmering vibrations to Pluto and Saturn, so you may travel a distance to attend a social event, and if you go, you will weave an enchanting, shimmering memory.

Venus, your ruler, will change signs—from Pisces to Aries—on April 20 until May 15, and mark a period when you’ll crave more private time. That’s natural—go with the flow. When Venus enters Taurus, May 15 until June 8, you’ll be back in the swing socially and in hot demand, invited to all the best A-list parties. Rest up!