Bye-Bye, Retrogrades — The April 23 T-Square and Taurus New Moon Help Manifest Your Heart’s Desire
Before diving into the dynamic T-Square on April 23 and the grounded magic of the Taurus New Moon, let’s take a moment to revisit something I’ve touched on in previous posts — a powerful planetary configuration on the horizon that astrologers are calling the “Great Reset,” the “Magical Triangle,” or even “The Birth of a New Zeitgeist.”
This rare and potent formation emerges as Neptune enters Aries, aligning as the midpoint between Pluto in Aquarius and Uranus in Gemini. Together, these outer planets form a transiting mini-triangle — a cosmic pulse point that signals a collective shift in consciousness and the stirrings of a new era.
Jessica Davidson, a UK astrologer, describes it as “ the end of the age of ‘Western’ hegemonic conquest, colonisation and the materialist reductionist worldview of scientism. The entire system will be overturned and transformed in the next decade and beyond.”
Why is this so rare…
This configuration happens maybe 2 or 3 times a century.
Usually Pluto or Uranus is the midpoint.
The last time Neptune was a midpoint was in 1504.
The dates of the mini triangle configuration by exact degree are:
August 20th to September 14th 2025 - the first triangle at 1 degree
including Saturn conjunct Neptune
July 7th to 31st 2026 - the second triangle at 4 degrees
June 5th to 17th 2027 - the third triangle at 6 degrees
Over the past two years — marked by the North Node’s ingress into Aries, the 2024 Scorpio New Moon, and the 2024 Taurus Full Moon — the cosmos has been nudging us toward cultivating soul-aligned relationships. We've been invited to go deeper, to become more emotionally intelligent, and to build connections that truly nourish and support us. This inner grounding isn’t just about personal growth; it’s about preparing ourselves to move with grace and resilience through the transformational winds that continue to gather.
We’re still in this sacred space of preparation — strengthening our emotional core so we can meet the coming flux with clarity and courage.
In light of all this, I thought it might be helpful to shift gears slightly. Instead of my usual evolutionary astrology lens — which focuses on our individual and collective growth — I’ll ground this offering in more concrete terms, using mundane astrology and the U.S. birth chart to explore how these cosmic movements are playing out on the world stage.
So, here goes...
On April 23 — just four days before the Taurus New Moon — we experience the final Pluto-Mars opposition within the current Mars retrograde cycle. This time, it forms a potent T-square with the Sun in Taurus. While this tension-filled alignment will begin to separate as we move into the New Moon, its energetic imprint will still linger within orb, carrying through to the New Moon.
As always, New Moons are dark skies — a time when something is hidden, unclear, or just beneath the surface. The illumination, the insight, the full picture? That tends to arrive with the Full Moon’s light.
The April 23rd T-square - Pluto - in Aquarius Opposite Mars in Leo- both square the Sun in Taurus
Pluto hasn’t been in Aquarius since the late 1700s — right around the time of the French and American Revolutions. Just a little cosmic foreshadowing, no big deal, right?!
Pluto rules the underworld — and not just metaphorically. It governs power struggles, corruption, violence, and exploitation. Think spies, investigative journalists, whistleblowers, and even gangsters. Anyone who operates in, exposes, or is impacted by hidden systems of control falls under Pluto’s domain. It’s the energy behind the scenes of crime dramas, political intrigue, and wealth games. Pluto reveals what’s rotten... but also what’s ripe for transformation.
At its highest octave, Pluto doesn’t just destroy — it clears space for rebirth. It strips things down to the bone so they can be rebuilt, stronger and more aligned with truth.
In Aquarius, Pluto’s power takes a collective shape. This is the sign of revolution, rebellion, and systems — especially those related to technology, social structures, and the future. When Pluto moves through Aquarius, civil unrest, social awakening, and radical reform are never far behind.
Now, in the U.S. natal chart, Pluto is transiting the 9th house — a domain connected to international shipping and trade (by sea and air), religion, courts, judges, and the law in general. It also oversees higher education, scientific research, and global communication. In short: this Pluto placement puts pressure on the nation’s beliefs, global reach, legal systems, and moral compass.
Mars in Leo Opposing Pluto in the 9th
As Pluto activates the 9th house of the U.S. chart, Mars in Leo sits in direct opposition, firing up the nation's 3rd house. This is a bold and volatile configuration, crackling with tension.
Mars in Leo brings a theatrical flair to the planet of war, action, and aggression. Mars rules over soldiers, first responders, metalworkers, and — let’s be honest — the more combative side of human nature, including criminals. It embodies boldness, impulse, competition, and conflict. This planet doesn’t ask for permission — it charges in, weapons drawn. Mars also correlates with fires, explosions, natural disasters, and the flare-ups that lead to violence, protest, or even war.
In the nation’s 3rd house, Mars directs its fiery energy toward all things communication, commerce, and infrastructure. This house governs trade, transportation (particularly roads and rail), media and news outlets, telecommunications systems (including internet backbones), postal services, and even book publishing. It also includes our literal and figurative neighbors — especially bordering nations.
So when Mars in Leo opposes Pluto in Aquarius — especially through the lens of the U.S. chart — we may see escalating tension in areas like cross-border relations, media wars, infrastructure breakdowns, or explosive revelations through journalism and communications. It's the classic clash of power (Pluto) versus action (Mars), playing out across the nation’s internal and external channels of movement and messaging.
The Apex: Sun in Taurus in the Nation’s 12th House
In this high-stakes T-square, both Pluto and Mars are not only locked in a face-off with each other — they’re also forming a square to the Sun in Taurus, heightening the tension and putting the pressure on the apex of this cosmic t-square.
The Sun, in mundane astrology, represents heads of state and public figures of authority — Presidents, Prime Ministers, monarchs, cabinet members, magistrates, and other high-ranking officials. It also symbolizes national icons, public heroes, and those who stand at the forefront of a country’s identity and pride.
In the nation’s 12th house, however, the Sun shines into the shadows. This is the domain of what’s hidden, repressed, or operating behind closed doors. It governs institutions that isolate — prisons, hospitals, asylums — as well as covert operations like espionage, smuggling, and organized crime. It’s also linked to foreign debt, financial losses, war, and collective suffering on a quiet, often unseen scale.
When the Sun is under pressure here — especially from both Pluto and Mars — we may see revelations around hidden power struggles, leadership under siege, or cracks forming within the nation’s institutions. Secrets may surface. Shadows may be exposed. And those in positions of authority could find themselves navigating turbulent, karmic waters.
And let’s be real — regardless of political perspective, most of us can feel this energy brewing. It’s bigger than one person, party, or event. It’s the pulse of a collective reckoning, asking us to look deeper, think critically, and begin the work of healing from the inside out.
Taurus New Moon: Grounded Dreams & Earthly Magic
The New Moon at 7° Taurus graces the skies on April 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM EDT, offering us a sweet pause and a cosmic sigh of relief. Though it still lingers within the wider influence of the recent T-square, this lunation is less about pressure and more about possibility. After weeks of intensity, we’re gifted a moment to recalibrate — to root down, gather ourselves, and begin again with intention.
Taurus, ruled by a now-direct Venus, is the sign of embodiment, sensuality, and security. It’s the lush garden after the storm — ripe with scent, taste, and texture. This New Moon calls us back to our bodies, our values, and our deep knowing. Taurus asks us to slow down, yes, but not to retreat. It asks us to get clear, get intentional, and begin building a life that actually feels good — not just in our heads, but in our bones.
And here’s the magic: with Venus now direct, she knows what she wants — and she’s ready to go for it. This is dream-manifestation energy, but not the pie-in-the-sky kind. It’s the kind where your hands are in the soil. Where you’re willing to create systems of support, nourish your vision, and tend to your resources so your dreams have a solid place to grow. This is not about chasing fantasy. It’s about aligning with what you truly desire — and building it, brick by brick, bloom by bloom.
That said, Venus also rules money, pleasure, and indulgence — and in the wake of collective stress, some of us may be noticing where we’ve overdone it. Have we been self-soothing with excess — shopping, eating, scrolling, numbing out? If so, this New Moon brings gentle awareness, not judgment. It’s an invitation to recalibrate, to come home to simplicity, and to redirect our energy toward what actually feeds us.
No, these economic, social, and governmental issues won’t vanish overnight — not with the current global climate. But Taurus offers stability, and this New Moon gives us a window to build practical plans. To shift from bleeding resources to planting sustainable seeds. And yes, that lingering T-square might still poke at our comfort zone — but that discomfort? It may be just what we need to finally act on what we’ve known deep down all along.
This is our chance to name our dream and start building it — from the body, from the heart, from the earth up.