In April, you will have the time and inclination to center your thoughts on your desires and needs, and also to think about what you hope to see develop for your closest, most important romantic or business relationship. You will need to be patient if the pace of life is slower than you had hoped it to be.

Venus, your ruler, has been retrograde since March 4 and will finally go direct April 15. Venus takes a little time to fully wake up and be functional, because, like people, she needs a little startup time – her coffee, her bubble bath, and time to check to see if the universe has sent her any emails to explain what her next assignment will be. She won’t be ready to race out the door – that will take a while. She will technically turn direct on April 15 but will work up to normal strength by May 18.

When your ruler is lethargic and weak, it is difficult to see progress, but that’s not the reason for the retrograde – stopping to think about your life is, and making any course corrections you’d like to make to benefit from any retrograde, including this one. We are all being given time, when our schedules slow down to think deeply about the direction we are heading, so we can decide if that direction makes us happy.

Although Venus will fully awaken on May 18, by month’s end you will already see a quickening to the pace. If you have something vital you need to do, wait until May to do it. Venus is the planet in charge of love, relationships, fun and luxury, beauty, and art, and also holds some sway over profits, doubly so if the product or service is marketed toward women.

This month is not the month for plastic surgery, for a radical change in your appearance, say, changing the way you wear your hair or trying a new hair color, for chances are, you won’t like the results. Put off buying expensive jewelry like a diamond ring, or your beautiful birthstone gem, a sparkling blue sapphire. This is also not a favorable time to give a lavish party or charity benefit (in the latter case, profits from the charity benefit are likely to be low.) With Venus ruling art, don’t hire an artist or illustrator for your new project yet, and if you want to buy a piece of art, hold off on that purchase for now. Are you the artist? Present your work to the client in May. If you are single, you might want to put off dating anyone new in April, for as the relationship unfolds, you are likely to find the relationship lacking in warmth and affection.

Mercury will also be retrograde from April 9 to May 3, and once he awakens, will reach full power very close to the date Venus will normalize fully – for Mercury that’s May 20, and for Venus, May 18. Mercury is the planet of communication, speech, writing, research, translation, negotiation, contracts, transportation, shipping, and travel. You will need to delay signing a contract now, for if you do, you will later wonder what you were thinking when you agreed to the terms. Everything is shifting, including your priorities, but you won’t see the truth of this for a while. It is not the time to buy anything electronic or a machine with moving parts, like a car, which has both.

If you would like to know more about Mercury retrograde, I wrote a detailed article called “All You Need to Know about Mercury Retrograde,” found on my homepage of AstrologyZone.com, on the lower left side, near the bottom of the page. If you have my premium app, you can find it on the menu under Life + Love, and then once inside that section, go to Susan’s Essays. I think it is one of my best essays, because I worked on it for months, going back to it time after time, to add more details as they came to me.

Now let’s look at the new and full moons. For sure, April won’t be like any month you’ve experienced lately. It is a month of high contrast and fast moving events, so you’ll need to stay on your toes. You will be protected by Jupiter in Libra, but you will still need to keep your wits about you.

A new moon in this sign, Aries, is considered adventuresome, active, and confident – all qualities you admire in a partner, for you have Aries on the cusp of your marriage and commitment house. You may be putting the pieces together for a pioneering launch into new territory, and it seems that it could be quite exciting, possibly involving new technology.

No matter what you are thinking about, you seem very focused on your partner, and that started late last month, on the new moon on March 27, and is ongoing in early April. That new moon coaxed you to think about what you hoped for in a marriage partner or a business collaborator. You were thinking about not only what you hoped to gain from your partnership, but also what you were willing to give to your partner in return. If you are already coupled up, you may be thinking of how you can make more of your close relationship, so that it grows and flourishes even more. If you want to get engaged, it would be best to wait until May, after Venus is done being retrograde and in stronger shape than she is in April.

    You might be heading to the airport very soon on an exciting, exotic trip, for Mars will tour Gemini, a beautifully compatible sign to yours, and light your distant travel house from April 21 to June 4.

If you have a matter that you’ve kept hidden that you had hoped to talk about eventually, but had hesitated to do so until now, your time has come to bring it up. That new moon highlighted your birthday if it happens to fall on September 27, plus or minus four days. Uranus opposed Jupiter, but that’s simply a sign you will likely have a strong need for breathing room – you will react against being overly pinned down by circumstances. If your partner makes demands on you in April, you might push back more assertively than usual. This sounds adversarial, but it most certainly is not (or at least, need not be).

With planetary aspects at play, and in hard angle to Saturn, your partner may bring up an old wound, and with two main planets in retrograde, you may need to revisit that old hurt to see if you can find closure and peace. This touchy subject may involve your partner, or a family member, most likely a parent. The best thing you have going for you at this new moon will be a lovely interplay between Saturn and Uranus, giving stability to innovative ideas and changes you may want to make regarding your physical home or regarding this close relationship.

Next this month comes the full moon April 10 in Libra, 22 degrees, certainly the centerpiece of the month. This full moon is quite a study in contrasts. It’s as if the little Smurfs were out and about, leaving hidden booby traps here and there, changing the timing of traffic lights, and playing little tricks on every person of every sign. The little Smurfs might be bored of being in their little village so much, so they are fanning out to have fun – at your expense. They will be behind every tree and every potted plant, and up to a prank or two. You won’t find this amusing – more likely nerve jangling, but we will all feel this, only each sign in different ways. Here is what I see.

On one hand, you have the full moon in Libra 22 degrees, conjunct Jupiter, the finest aspect you could ever wish to see. What a wonderful time this will be for you, for as a result of this full moon, you are likely to see the culmination of an endeavor or relationship you’ve dearly wanted to see realized for a very long time. This is no ordinary aspect – Jupiter is now in Libra for the first time in twelve years, making this your best year ever. You are learning about yourself, and seeing that the talents that are true to you (but that you took for granted because you assumed everyone had the same talents and qualities) are now being revealed to you as special and not at all commonplace. VIPs are responding well to you, and mid-month, you may be dazzled by the fuss.

You are starting a new twelve-year cycle that began last year on September 9, 2016, and you will have Jupiter, the great good fortune planet, all to yourself until October 10, at which time Jupiter will move to Scorpio. While you have Jupiter on your side, you must continue to reach out to anyone who will listen to you, so that you can showcase your proposals and ideas. Never have you had a better chance to see them approved – that will come next month and in the months to come, but only after Mercury is done being retrograde.

Jupiter will warm your heart. If you have been working on a domestic project, or plan to move, Jupiter conjunct the moon will make you so very happy with your new (or coming) home life, as things could not be better. (The new and full moon, as well as your natal moon, always points to the domestic condition, and this full moon, in Libra, will be arm-in-arm with benefic Jupiter.) Emotionally, you should be quite happy – but then, in another part of life, something jarring might come up at the very same time.

Uranus will directly oppose the gentle full moon of April 10 from across the sky at 180 degrees, in your seventh house of partnership and marriage. Something out of the blue is about to come up at that full moon and it might rattle you. News may come from your spouse if you are married, your long-term committed partner, or from a close business associate, such as your agent, business partner, manager, publicity, or other person who works with you in a one-on-one way. You won’t see this news coming. Uranus will be conjunct the Sun, so additionally, with the Sun involved, Uranus may possibly turn a friend into an unstable ally. Friends are important to Libra, so this may not be so easy to see – unexpected news is sometimes hard to hear. Be careful what you say at this full moon, because everyone, of every sign, will be sensitive, so walk carefully, as if on eggs.

Alternatively, at the full moon April 10, it may be that a friend or partner will go through a difficult patch, so you may want to instantly help that person near the full moon April 10. With Uranus, all kinds of news can come up, for this planet strikes without warning, as of by thunderbolt. No matter how hard you try to guess what it might be, you will not be able to know, as Uranus creates out of the blue surprises to keep us sharp and resourceful. Throughout, keep reminding yourself that Uranus sends truth, arriving in the blink of an eye, and that truth will be given to you to protect you. Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck, will stand by you all month, for that full moon, even though under siege from Uranus, will shield you from harm.

If your birthday falls on October 14, plus or minus four days, you will feel this full moon the most of any Libra. You will benefit more due to the presence of Jupiter, but be more jarred due to the presence of Uranus. The same is true if you have the natal moon in Libra, or Libra rising at or within five degrees of 22 degrees. This is a complex new moon, so keep your schedule light so that you can move in any direction that might become necessary.

Meanwhile, it appears you have been going through an expensive period, due to expenses that have come up lately, especially in March, but your frequent check writing will calm down after Mars leaves Taurus on April 21.

Additional help regarding your finances is on the way, dear Libra. The new moon April 26, in Taurus 6 degrees, will give you a solid opportunity to build back your savings or lower debt substantially. If anyone owes you money, such as for services not yet paid, or for child support (as two examples of many types of account receivables), that new moon will help you. You will likely see the payment to you in the days that follow April 26.

This new moon has other benefits. If you are an actor, you may be chosen for a lucrative role, for Neptune, planet of film, will be so prominent at this new moon. It does not matter what area of the arts you might be working in, or if you are part of the support staff to creative people, such as a producer or editor would be – you will still benefit. Saturn will help you too at this sweet new moon, for Saturn makes us think long-term, so you can build financial security. It would be the right time to open a savings or money market account, or one for your retirement that you can use to travel far and wide.

Speaking of travel, you might be heading to the airport very soon on an exciting, exotic trip, for Mars will tour Gemini, a beautifully compatible sign to yours, and light your distant travel house from April 21 to June 4. What a great time to hit the road! You will also see extra oomph for travel at the new moon next month will fall within that period, being so energized by Mars, on May 25, a second signal from a loving universe that you might want to consider taking time off. If you want to go overseas, Mars will help you make that happen too. May will be a superb time to vacation, so start thinking about which country you’d most like to visit. More about this next month!

Before I go I would like to tell you something I learned lately. According to research statistics my team gave me, we know that many readers are checking their monthly forecasts on the Internet on their smart phone browsers, but there is a better, easier way to view my monthly forecasts. Download my free app called “Susan Miller’s Astrology Zone Daily Horoscope” on Apple App Store or Google Play – find it by simply searching for Susan Miller. You will recognize my app icon by seeing the deep blue square with white letters: AZ. You will get my monthly reports in their entirety for each of the 12 signs, plus a free daily horoscope for each of the 12 signs, too.

If once you are inside my free app, you decide to you buy a subscription to my premium version for $4.99 for one month, you will get all my essays and articles, the monthly horoscope too, and best of all, my long, detailed daily horoscopes for each sign. Each Sunday, in place of just a daily horoscope, I show you a forecast for the week ahead and how to best use the week for maximum productivity and enjoyment.

Whether you opt for my free or premium paid app, you will always get my free monthly forecast for all 12 signs. Check yours, or your partner’s, read your mom’s outlook or the one for a friend. You can also send a friend a link to show them something you read. In January, my app made finalist in the Mobile Excellence Awards in two categories: Best User Experience and Best Content. It was exciting going to the awards ceremony in Los Angeles. Check out my app – your eyes will thank you, for it’s easier to read your horoscope and to access all my reports on my app.

You are the celestial favorite this year, for you have Jupiter in Libra. Under normal circumstances, life should be sunny and bright. Still, the new moon that arrived late last month in your committed partnership sector may have brought up an old wound with your spouse or with a family member. It will take time for you to sort out the details, so take your time.

This month, Pluto may continue to dredge up feelings from the past that have been long forgotten and that perhaps you have been tempted to avoid. Still, by thinking about those long-buried emotions, and gathering more information about the situation, you may come to a new perspective. Planetary aspects are there for a reason, and although confronting an old memory may be painful, in the end you can come to greater peace and satisfaction.

This month is truly about looking back not forward, for Venus, your ruler, is retrograde, a trend that started March 4 and continues until April 15. Until you reach month’s end, you won’t make a lot of progress, but progress isn’t the point – reflection is the more important element here. Among other things, Venus is bound up with your self-image as well as with your feeling in a romantic relationship. You will now decide whether you have had the right perspective and may make adjustments if the answer is no, it was not quite right.

With Venus out of phase, it’s not the time to make a radical change to your appearance – no plastic surgery, no dramatic change of hair color from brunette to blonde, for example – but doing routine grooming is, of course, fine and necessary. Avoid experimenting with new and untested dermatological treatments in favor of sticking to all tried and true beauty procedures and products. Venus also rules your commitments, and with Venus in a weakened state, you won’t have access to her greatest powers. In other words, it’s not the month to become engaged, for example, for the union might eventually frustrate you with its lack of emotional support.

Mercury will also be retrograde this month, from April 9 to May 3. This will affect your view of your partner. As you see, not only is your appreciation of yourself under review, your feelings for the person closest to you may also be subject to change. You need not come to any final decisions, for in the smoke and mirror environment of April, few things will turn out to be exactly as they seem. Sign contracts next month, not in April.

On April 10, the full moon will fall in Libra, so something of enormous importance is about to come to culmination for you, within four days. The emotional atmosphere – so prevalent in the start of April – may bring tensions to a crescendo. Your partner appears to be acting erratically, making you wonder what to think. Allow your partner some slack, and wait to see if a pattern of behavior emerges or if this month is simply an aberration of character. Again, avoid a rush to judgment and be generous.

Your expenses will run high this month, for Mars is coaxing you to increase the balances on credit cards. You may discover you need to pay a sum in taxes, but don’t be blue – many people are in the same boat, and once Venus normalizes its orbit, you will find many new ways to make money. Alternatively, you may want to apply for a mortgage or re-financed mortgage plan, or seek venture capital or sponsorship for a business idea. It is a good time to examine your financial standing in all areas, perhaps by seeking advice from a trusted financial advisor. It’s also the right time to assess your insurance coverage to see if it is adequate to cover your evolving lifestyle.

If you feel short of cash, you may be able to find additional funding at month’s end (or be paid what you are owed by then) because of a friendly new moon in your financial house due April 26. At that time, you can set up a workable plan for your future and gain a feeling of strong financial security, thanks to a helpful beam from Saturn.

After all your calculations, negotiations, discussions, and decisions are done, you will be ready to break free by taking a lighthearted, broadening trip to a place you’ve never been. You will feel greater sense of ease and have an ability to travel to a distant location once Mars enters Gemini on April 21, to stay until June 4. Take this as your signal to go. Later, when Mars enters Cancer in early June through most of July, you won’t be able to go anywhere, as career opportunities will be too delicious to ignore. If you take up one of the offers, you’ll want to be at your desk proving you are the star that your boss or client feels you are meant to be. While you have an ideal time to take an adventurous vacation at April’s end, do so!