Aries New Moon 2026: War in the Middle East. Trump and Pope Leo. New Moon Chart Analysis April 17. Venus in Taurus.
Aries Keynote
“I come forth and from the plane of mind, I rule.”
(New Moon: April 17, 2026. GMT 11.52)
Three Major Festivals: Aries, Taurus and Gemini
Introduction: War in the Middle East
Trump’s April 7 Deadline
Libra No Man’s Land: Mars in Aries
Critical Conjunctions of Mars in Aries (April 9 to May 18)
Esoteric Astrologer: Search by Subject
Leo Versus Leo: Trump and Pope Leo
Aries New Moon Chart Analysis (April 17)
Venus in Taurus: Light and Wisdom (March 30 to April 24)
Three Major Festivals: Aries, Taurus and Gemini
The massive stellium at this Aries new moon promises to deliver frenetic activity, busyness in business, aggressive attitudes, potent sex drives – or car drives – road rage!
That is one level, determined by Aries ruler Mars. During this era of clashing ideologies, it is worth bearing in mind that we are in the midst of the annual three spiritual festivals that set the tone for the new year, spanning Aries to Pisces 2026-7.
“The other full moons in each month constitute lesser festivals in which certain spiritual qualities necessary for the expression of discipleship and initiation are considered and emphasised.”1
The Easter-Aries full moon has passed, yet its themes are re-emphasised at this new moon, with a huge stellium of planets in Aries. (See article below, Aries New Moon Chart Analysis.) This new moon phase will see its culmination at the Taurus full moon period on May 1 – Mayday – the internationally recognised distress signal!
Wesak, regarded as the most important of the three festivals – where the Lord of the World (Sanat Kumara), the Buddha and Christ preside over the assembled Hierarchy and the members of their various ashrams n the subjective realm.
As the old world order crumbles, Aries provides the impetus to initiate a new order, at a personal and planetary level. Aries is usually regarded as a sign of birth, but it is also one of the four main signs of death – that include Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces. New life cannot begin without burning-off some of the dross:
“Aries … at different points along the Path of Life, forces the soul on to the burning ground and subjects it to a purifying process during incarnation.
Through the lesser fire of mind, the “jungles of experience are set on fire and dissolve in flames and then the Path stands clear and unobstructed vision is achieved.” … Through the fiery processes of war and strife, brought to the individual through the influence of the planetary ruler, Mars, the God of War, a needed purification takes place.
The same purification, but this time through vision, comes to the developed man through the activity of the subjective [esoteric] ruler … Mercury, the illuminating principle which releases the mind [activates intuition], directs the way of man through life and enables him to become aware of the divine Plan which underlies all his fiery experience.”2
Introduction: War in the Middle East
In the martial spirit of Aries, this newsletter is mainly about the current global crisis of USA-Israel’s assault on Iran and Lebanon. Given that Russia and China are openly supporting Iran with intelligence and military hardware, the current impasse could turn even more incendiary.
Yet a second round of peace talks is currently in the offing. The articles below are in a chronological sequence from the author’s Facebook and Telegram posts, since the last newsletter for the Aries full moon period – some updated to reflect events that have transpired since then.
Many newsletters over the years are based upon these social media posts between the monthly or (currently) fortnightly newsletters – which follow the full and new moon cycles.
So if the reader wishes to access them, you can friend or follow the author at this link: Facebook – or join Telegram.
If the reader wishes to consult a wider range of perspectives from independent media, then another Telegram channel is here: phillips-alt-media.
These articles often contribute source material for newsletters, many of which are “pre-digested” – rendered “fit for consumption” in terms of factual content, inspiring thinkers and closer to the truth than the “slopaganda” that prevails in the mainstream.
2026 will be a critical year – and particularly the next several weeks, as Mars passes through fiery Aries, activating several planets already tenanting this sign – it could be quite a wild ride!
Trump’s April 7 Deadline (Written April 5)
“The US president posted on his Truth Social website: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Very presidential! The only “crazy bastards” a fuel-starved world can see right now is the aggressor – USrael. Severe economic hardship is impending, if not already realised – in almost every nation on earth. The deadline imposed on Iran is on Tuesday April 7th at 8 pm, hence a horoscope can be erected for that moment.
Trump’s April 7 Deadline
Libra the Peacemaker is rising for Washington DC – which might sound encouraging, but often the militant Aries polarity is invoked, especially with several placements in this sign at the moment: Sun, Saturn, Neptune, Vulcan and Chiron.
Netanyahu
Netanyahu’s chart has a large stellium in Libra which he has used to charm factions of his political party and foreign leaders for decades. This “charm” factor is actually the “snake charmer”, the one who mesmerises congress with 55 standing ovations (!) – and gives orders to US presidents. But the Libra polarity – Aries, is the most lop-sided part of his make-up.
In the deadline chart, another encouraging peace theme is Aries ruler Mars placed in a watered-down position in Pisces – a place where Mars’ expression is notably Libran and non-confrontational.
Having said that, the Moon in Sagittarius is square to Mars, bringing considerable volatility to the situation – from both sides. Mars is closely sextile Uranus in the last degree of Taurus, lending unpredictability – particularly as transiting Uranus is making its last square to Trump’s Leo ascendant – the snarling lion.
Just eight hours prior to the autocratically declared deadline for Iran, was Trump’s lunar return in Sagittarius. The Sabian symbol for the degree of the moon in the deadline chart is, “A chubby boy on a hobbyhorse”, echoing somewhat the tantrum-driven man-child discussed in the recent Aries newsletter: “Trump and others like Hegseth and Rubio are what Eisenstein calls, “self-evidently immature, a boy archetype not a man archetype”.
This Moon in “exagittarius” – square Mars in Pisces pattern (with Uranus), is the proverbial “loose cannon”. Trump has made many US lawmakers and politicians nervous with his recent rantings, let alone a dictatorial deadline to Iran. (Some wonder who actually wrote the message, given the many influences around Trump.)
But was it all bluster and theatre? On that score, Sagittarius ruler Jupiter is the most elevated planet in the event horoscope, in the ninth house of foreign affairs – exalted in Cancer, a sign of resources – the oil which Trump brazenly said he would take – er, steal!
Jupiter is square to the Sun in Aries, further feeding a national puffed-up sense of self-importance and entitlement, careless over-the-top decisions and global grandstanding. A growing rebellion of top US military advisors has seen them fired and discarded for not conforming to the narrative.
Although USrael has a mighty military bite, so far it is losing badly to Iran, despite what the Gemini liar-in-chief and all his cronies are blatantly and abusively telling the public. The US has not only lost most of its Middle East bases, many aircraft shot down, USS Gerald Ford out of commission – but over 500 Americans dead or wounded.
This latter figure is reported to be much higher, but of course the US admin is also lying about that. Propaganda creates the astral fog of war (Neptune in Aries) and hence difficulty in finding accurate information, but it is seeping out everywhere through independent media.
The other potent factor is that transiting Jupiter is sitting on USA’s 1776 Sun in Cancer (conjunct Sirius), which is connected to Washington’s Cancer soul and also New York. USA as a melting pot of all nations: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Further to the theme of Cancer’s resources, is the position of Libra rising ruler – Venus, placed in Taurus – another sign of resources, having much in common with Cancer via the Moon’s association with both signs.
Venus is the light-bringer, in Taurus – the “mother of illumination”, hence its high potential for illumination. Yet its lowest expression is the Biblical “filthy lucre” – ill-gotten gain, money obtained through dishonest or immoral means:
Like illegal insider stock market manipulation: Statements made the day before markets open on Monday, driving oil prices up or down, betting on either, yields handsome dividends.
In turn, Venus in Taurus squares Pluto in Aquarius, where a desire for comfort, stability in relationships and the cornering of resources – clashes with the need for transformation and transparency. The point of least resistance here is a ruthless riding roughshod over other parties.
As USrael has already demonstrated that it cannot be trusted in peace negotiations with Iran, we can see what outcomes may arise if Trump follows through on his promise. It may well be that Iran that will be the one “bombing back to the stone age”. If the aggressors to Iran choose to send in a ground invasion or even a nuclear strike, they are doomed to further failure.
And there is possible intervention from Russia and China working behind the scenes so far, who form a kind of BRICS triangle with Iran, and are not hiding the fact that they are supporting it with intelligence and military hardware. From this perspective we are already in WWIII – not yet fully precipitated or formally declared. An astrologer friend pointed out some important planetary midpoints in this deadline horoscope:
US bases marked here are now in ruins.
“Astrological midpoints were developed in order to predict bombardments in WWI. The first is Nep=Mars/Sat — a grievous and grave loss, a mysterious death.
The other that weighs in strongly is Mars=Mer/Sat: “The tendency to treat others badly, separations caused by disputes and arguments, the tendency to bring about a separation by force, a change through force of circumstances.”
The first one points to weakness of the effort and failure as a result. The second one points to what happens within the administration and among erstwhile allies. Trump could still TACO, too. [Trump Always Chickens Out]
The Iranians have said they will respond in double to every American strike. If he [Trump] goes through with it the results would be an absolute disaster for the region, for Israel and the world. For Iran it will mean a huge war crime against Iran and the destruction of copious civilian infrastructure.” (Malvin Artley)
In summary then, a precarious state of affairs exists. The world has been held to ransom by the actions of USrael’s unprovoked aggression upon Iran (let us not forget that), leaving us to “watch and pray” that sanity and clear vision will break through gathering storm clouds.
The Sabian symbol for Trump’s Moon in Sagittarius is, “A Chinese laundry”. Does this mean that China will eventually, “take Trump to the cleaners”?
Libra No Man’s Land. Mars Enters Aries
Reviewing aforementioned “Trump’s April 7 Deadline” – we see that the Libra rising, Mars in Pisces elements of the deadline horoscope prevailed for a short while – violated almost immediately and “dead in the water” by the April 11 Islamabad peace talks. A foregone conclusion perhaps, yet currently warming-up (April 15) for a second round.
Libra the Peacemaker is rising for Washington DC, Mars is placed in non-confrontational Pisces. Trump, stung by the botched special forces raid on enriched uranium near Isfahan on April 2-3 – involving 150 aircraft and many personnel, lashed out in desperation with his now infamous post, “a whole civilisation will die tonight”.
The time of that post was on the morning of deadline day at 8.06 am, just hours before Trump’s lunar return in Sagittarius – when the moon was closely squaring Mercury the (messy) Messenger in Pisces, and applying to its square with Mars in Pisces.
There was the “loose cannon” aspect discussed about Moon in Sagittarius, bringing considerable volatility to the situation, plus the unpredictability of transiting Uranus making its last square to Trump’s Leo ascendant – the “snarling lion”.
In the deadline chart, Uranus is the esoteric ruler of the Libra ascendant -whose Leonine Sabian symbol is, “A peacock parading on an ancient lawn.” Trump was snookered by circumstance, looking for an off-ramp, stung by the failed raid, plus his family’s threatened business interests in the region.
Needless to say, he was under tremendous pressure, entirely of his own making, but compounded by the manipulation of those around him.
Was there a method in Trump’s madness in bringing Iran to a truce or did he just get lucky, bringing a pause to hostilities, with Iran agreeing to keep the Strait of Hormuz open? And will the US just use this opportunity to regroup and resume hostilities, or capitulate to Iran’s demands?
The announcement of the truce came 90 minutes before the 8 pm deadline (at 6.30 pm) when sobering Saturn was opposite an early Libra rising. Trump had no option but to comply,
“Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.” Iran will only accept the war’s conclusion once details are finalised in their 10-point peace plan that includes conditions the US rejected in the past. A few listed below, a full list in the accompanying graphic.
1. The lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran.
2. Continued Iranian control over the strait of Hormuz.
3. US military withdrawal from the Middle East.
4. An end to attacks on Iran and its allies.
5. The release of frozen Iranian assets.
6. A UN security council resolution making any deal binding.
7. Acceptance of enrichment for Iran’s nuclear program.
Libra No-Man’s Land
So now to the theme of Libra no-man’s land, commented upon regularly on EsotericAstrologer.org. Also the importance of zodiac polarities – the interplay between a sign and its polar opposite, is one of the keys to esoteric delineation of any horoscope:
Aries-Libra
“From the angle of the final development of the twelve zodiacal potencies—the twelve opposites must become the blended six, and this is brought about by the fusion in consciousness of the polar opposites.”3
A good example is USA’s Moon in Aquarius opposite Trump’s Leo ascendant:
“The effect of the relation existing between the forces emanating from the sign Aquarius and the sign Leo which is its polar opposite and, therefore, closely related to it.
The interplay of the two signs is, at this time, responsible for the appearance of the great and modern human movements, involving vast numbers of men and engineered usually by some dominant personality. It is responsible also for the intense individualism which is manifesting in every department of human life today.”4
PM Shehbaz Sharif.
Critical Conjunctions of Mars in Aries (April 9 to May 18)
With the entry of Mars into its own sign of Aries, while the Sun is also passing through this sign, brings the Aries-Libra war and peace duality into sharp focus. Even as Mars was in the last anaretic degree of Pisces, Israel (typically) unleashed another horrific attack on Beirut, killing 254 people on April 8.
The now-failed but possibly revived Libran peace talks planned in Islamabad, Pakistan (April 11), were courtesy of the herculean efforts of prime minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif has the sun in Virgo on the cusp of Libra, Saturn in Libra and progressed Mars in Libra – “a warrior for peace”:
“I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture. We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks.”
The US delegation to talks however, includes Vance, Witkoff and Kushner – the latter two holding a strong Zio-bias and a record of past ineffectiveness. And so it came to be yet peace talks may be resumed within a week.
Therefore, even though no planets are passing through Libra at the moment, the Libra polarity is considerably activated. A ceasefire, truce or “de-escalation” puts the ball firmly in Libra’s court – where the Libran scales oscillate with uncertainty.
And hence the statement by one of the Masters of Wisdom that Libra is, “the master of no-man’s land” – that neutral zone between warring parties, a place of wretchedness and devastation – graphically portrayed at the Western front in WWI. Therefore, the next several weeks will see the strain of the current world situation considerably amplified, at the Aries new moon on April 17 – by a massive stellium of planets in Aries: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Vulcan and Chiron!
As always, the new moon is preceded by the “dark cycle”- the monthly balsamic/waning crescent phase, April 11-17. This is always characterised by introspection and a letting go of the past, very much the fluid “chrysalis experience”. It also spans the now-defunct two-week truce period April 8-22.
This minor “no-man’s-land” period, is part of a long succession of such intervals within a greater no-man’s-land cycle: The end of last century saw the influence of Libra come into “pronounced control and power in the planetary horoscope” – in its mediating role between the clashing ages of Pisces and Aquarius.
And so we are witnessing the death-knell of religious ideologies and all the other baggage of the past Piscean cycle – as the universal spirituality of Aquarius begins to emerge. Donald Trump said US ships, aircraft and soldiers will remain around Iran and threatened that the US will start “shooting” again unless Tehran fully complies with the deal reached with Washington.
“If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the “Shootin’ Starts,” bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” Trump wrote in a late night Truth Social post. But as of April 15, this has not come to pass, ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz without interference.
US war ships heading for the strait were politely warned by Iran that they would be fired upon if they proceeded any further, hence promptly turning around. For the moment there is a cessation of shelling, but it could change at any moment if the US decides it is simply an opportunity to re-group and re-arm.
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This book is a synthesis of H.P. Blavatsky’s The Secret Doctrine, the first six chapters of Genesis and The Book of Enoch – greatly augmented by the writings of Alice A. Bailey. The following subjects are covered in this new and extensively revised book:
– Explains pre-history and the place of Earth– within and beyond the solar system.
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– Explores human individualisation, gaining “spark of mind”, mysteries of sex and birth.
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Mars in Aries (April 9 to May 18)
“The effect of Mars is largely mass effect and group results, producing great struggles but leading finally to great revelation.”5
Recent bombing of Beirut.
For the first time in two years, Mars entered its own sign on April 9, just one day after Lebanon’s Black Wednesday on April 8. Israel used 50 planes to drop 160 bombs in 100 locations across Lebanon in 10 minutes, many of which were residential areas in Beirut.
308 people were killed and the devastation was massive. Has our outrage been numbed yet again by the attempted normalisation of genocide? There are a few Mars themes in the event chart for 14.00:
1. Lebanon (22-11-1943) is a Mars-ruled Scorpio Sun, in the last degree of that sign and transiting Uranus is currently opposing it, reflecting the chaotic nature of internal dissensions.
2. Mars was heading into the last anaretic degree of Pisces and transiting Moon was squaring it from the last degree of Sagittarius, creating a T-square involving Lebanon’s moon in the last degree of Virgo.
Not only was the Moon square Mars in Pisces – volatile in its own right, but was invoking Mars’ imminent ingress to Aries. On its own, Mars’ aggressive force has the potential for ego-dominated, explosive conflicts between individuals or nations.
Lebanon
But in the next six weeks, Mars marches through Aries, coupling with a confluence of planets already passing through this sign:
April 12-13: Neptune. Mars and Neptune the two rulers of the sixth ray – the militant, martyr or devotee. Plenty of those people around in all facets of the conflict.
April 17-19: Saturn. The new moon in the last degree of Aries falls on the 17th. Mars conjunct Saturn promises to be a particularly intense period where disciplined action can be utterly ruthless or frustration inmoving forward due to the restraining influence of Saturn.
“Saturn is one of the most potent of the four Lords of Karma and forces man to face up to the past, and in the present to prepare for the future.”6 “Saturn “falls” in Aries – imposing retribution and demanding full payment of debts, condemning Humanity to the struggle for existence at both the personality and soul level.”7
Iran Solar Return 2026
April 21-24: Iran’s Sun in Aries – the implications are obvious! Iran’s solar return for April 1 also has many planets in Aries.
May 14-16: Mars, Chiron, Moon conjoin one another in the same degree as the April 17 new moon, powerfully activating that pattern – which is incidentally, exactly opposite Netanyahu’s Libra sun.
Given BN’s prominent role in leading the Israel charge, this is highly significant. The passage of Mars previous to this, opposes his other Libra positions: Mercury, Neptune, Moon – the latter on May 4-5.
May 14 is also Israel’s solar return, seeing Mars-Chiron-Moon in a grand trine with SR Sagittarius rising and natal Mars in Leo. Libra the Peacemaker and harmoniser, holder of the balance – none of which qualities are present in BN – focused in his Aries polarity. Let us hope (hopium?) that the international community can invoke Libra’s Scales of Justice.
_______________________________
Mars is the ruler of the sixth ray of Devotion or Idealism, the most common ray for the astral body and also the ray that rules the personality expression of both Russia and USA:
“Mars is the transmitter of sixth ray force and it is this which makes the first house of action in the physical body that of the devotee who fights for that which he desires or for that to which he aspires. The warrior, devoted to a cause, comes into being upon the field of action, the Earth.”8
The impulsiveness of Aries stems from the fact that Mars is the co-ruler of the solar plexus – doorway to the astral body. The solar plexus is also the lair of lower ego, hence the emotional volatility of Mars can activate ego-defence mechanisms and impulsive reactions – without engaging clear thought.
This is ironic, given that Aries rules the head and brain – the “hardware” for the mental body “software”. Yet the “headstrong” nature of Aries is fuelled by emotion and ego – the charging ram, head-butting its adversary. That is one manifestation, another is the drive forward for new projects. Mars creates a forceful focus that sets the ball rolling. And in some contradiction to the aforesaid, Mars “rules science”:
“Mars governs the senses which are five in number. These senses are the basis of all human knowledge where that which is tangible and objective is concerned or inferred. Mars, therefore, rules science and hence the reason in this present era for the fundamental but not permanent materiality of science—a materiality which is rapidly lessening.”9
The Sun rules the heart centre and through the Sun’s exaltation in Aries, courage is invoked – for the warrior on the physical battlefield, or in the more subtle dimensions. The world is currently embroiled in several destructive and agonising wars, driven by corporate interests, peddling one new threat or another. These are testing times and the utmost vigilance is required.
The World Disciple is a spiritual warrior (not a worrier!) and this is Mars’ higher expression, to fight for the right, invoke the Light – stand for principle and hold the line with the burnished blade of freedom.
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Esoteric Astrologer: Search by Subject
The last few weeks has been spent cleaning up Esoteric Astrologer.org – and particularly the Search by Subject section, with easier navigation tools and menu subheadings. From Astrobiographies to Zodiac Signs.
The website contains about 90% of this author’s writings for the past 25 years, which includes every newsletter ever written – all freely available, or found in my books: Soul Cycles of the Seven Rays Vols. I-VI and Destiny of the Races and Nations Vols. I–VI. (Buy from website or Amazon)
So your feedback and suggestions are valuable, please click the link and have a look around in Search by Subject.
Leo Versus Leo: Trump and Pope Leo
“Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself to Truth Social on Sunday depicting him as a Jesus Christ-like figure, with divine light emanating from his hands as he heals a stricken man in a hospital bed with a demon from hell floating in the background.”10
The bizarre post by Trump depicting himself as Jesus – came soon after Pope Leo’s criticism – that a “delusion of omnipotence” was fuelling the US-Israel war on Iran. Pope Leo later said he did not fear the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war. Trump later went into a lengthy tirade against the Pope.
Trump claimed the image was meant to depict him as a doctor helping people, not as Jesus, calling the interpretation “fake news” but many critics saw it as a deliberate and blasphemous self-aggrandisement. Trump offended and upset his conservative Christian followers and many saw it as a calculated move to bolster his image.
There are different versions of the picture – the original that shows non-descript characters surrounding Trump, the other one has the USA flag replaced by Israel’s and a coterie of the “usual suspects”.
Either way, this further ingredient in the US Admin schmozzle comes soon after the celebration of the Christ and Easter. Earlier evangelical propaganda around Trump claimed he was personally annointed by Jesus in his “mission” to defend Israel and attack Iran.
The “usual suspects”!
What many would like to see.
Leo Versus Leo
The synastry between Pope Leo and Trump is extraordinary: Trump Leo/Mars rising, Pope Leo – Leo rising, Jupiter, Moon and Pluto in Leo. The bi-wheel below reveals some of the tensions between these leaders of the USA and Catholic Church.
Inner wheel: Trump. Ouoter wheel: Pope Leo.
The table above depicts some of the main synastries. The theme of power is very strong with Leo – the “king of his domain”, a sign which channels the Pluto-ruled first ray of Will or Power:
1. Pope Leo’s Moon-Pluto conjunction in Leo falls exactly on Trump’s irascible Mars in Leo – and close to his Leo ascendant.
2. Trump’s Pluto in Leo falls precisely on Pope Leo’s ascendant in Leo. (One wonders the Pope’s astrological knowledge in choosing his name!) Here too there can be seen the differing Leonine expressions according to the respective souls’ evolutionary status.
3. There is a remarkable mutable grand cross created between Trump and Pope Leo. Trump’s full moon opposition of Gemini-Sagittarius criss-crosses Pope Leo’s Virgo-Pisces axis.
Here is Trump, accused of the grossest improprieties related to sex, money and power – versus Pope Leo’s Virgo sun – “born of a Virgin”, standing for the idealism of Christian values. Anti-Christ and Christ? Some may see these roles reversed. Ironically, Trump was born just a few hours before the exact moment of the Gemini full moon of 1946 – the Festival of Christ. Hence the irony of Trump promoting himself as a Christ-like figure, reminding us of some of the glamours of the first ray of Will-Power:
“The glamours of the Messiah complex in the field of politics, of personal magnetism, of self-centredness and personal potency [“a delusion of omnipotence”], of “the one at the centre, of selfish personal ambition, of rulership, of dictatorship and wide control, of selfish destiny, of the divine right of kings personally exacted, of destruction.”11
It said by some that Pope Leo (the first US Pope) is an opponent of the “deep state” – which Trump promised to eradicate, but in the eyes of many, appears to be their deliberately installed frontman.
Part of Pope Leo’s statement.
There is one excellent aspect between Trump and Pope Leo, worthy of eventual reconciliation: Trump’s Jupiter in Libra conjunct Pope Leo’s Mercury in Libra. Mercury the mediator/messenger in Libra, the sign of mediation and diplomacy.
For now, Pope Leo’s Moon-Pluto in Leo has pricked Trump’s conscience and his volatile Mars in the 12th house. Both parties are in their own way, bringing awareness of Christ’s imminent return.
Aries New Moon Chart Analysis for Washington (April 17)
New Moon April 17, set for Washinghton, DC.
This will be an extraordinary new moon that has eight placements in Aries: Sun, Moon, Chiron, Vulcan, Saturn, Mars, Mercury and Neptune! There are many reasons why this new moon is so important:
1. Amid simmering international tensions, the point of least resistance for Aries- Mars’ lowest common denominator could unleash a furious firestorm – a blazing blitzkrieg. Yet, as earlier stated, the Libra polarity is very strong, with a second round of peace talks coming soon.
2. This April 17 new moon is closely sextile to the Feb.17 solar eclipse – the root pattern behind USrael’s attack on Iran. (Discussed here and here.) The sextile connects the two new moons in an unfolding sequence of events.
3. This unfolding sequence at the Aries new moon will find its culmination at the Taurus full moon festival – the second of the first three most important spiritual festivals of the year: The Taurus-Scorpio full moon, or Wesak.
4. At the beginning of the American Civil War (April 12, 1861), Neptune entered Aries just a few days after the Aries new moon – with Sun, Moon, Venus and Vulcan in Aries. Hence, the repatriation of USA’s divisions is an urgent priority.5. The new moon planets fall into two stelliums within Aries: In the first Aries decanate – Neptune, Mercury, Mars and Saturn, in a tight conjunction within a few degrees of one another. In the third or Sagittarius decanate – Vulcan, Chiron, Moon-Sun.
5. The Washington, DC new moon horoscope – has Taurus rising, close to the degree of Israel’s Sun in Taurus. Bear in mind, that this entire aggression was mainly driven by Zionist Israel, trapping Trump into one of the most humiliating military predicaments in US history. Venus and Uranus are in Taurus straddling the ascendant. Uranus is rising, still in the last degree of Taurus, squaring Trump’s Leo ascendant, so expect yet more unpredictable behaviour or bizarre social media posts!
Uranus is in the last anaretic (30th) degree of Taurus, whose aforementioned Leonine Sabian symbol is, “A peacock parading on an ancient lawn” (!) – appropriate in terms of the first ray glamours mentioned earlier. After briefly entering Gemini in 2025, Uranus moves back into Gemini on April 26. From an astrological “whole sign” perspective, this may have a strong effect on Trump, even though Uranus will not get to his Gemini Sun-Uranus conjunction for several years. This Sun-Uranus natal position is most certainly the disruptor and the unpredictable.
6. The Aries decanate stellium is a curious one – Neptune, Mercury, Mars and Saturn. With Mercury in Aries wedged between Neptune and Mars, there could be much abusive and deceptive communication, though Saturn’s presence nearby may bring some restraint.
Thought processes and communications could be very rapid, bringing potential nervous system overload. Mercury and Neptune together however, might bring original, intuitive and imaginative solutions. Bear in mind the earlier comment about Mercury, the esoteric ruler of Aries:
“Mercury, the illuminating principle which releases the mind, directs the way of man through life and enables him to become aware of the divine Plan.”
So while there is much potential for conflict and conflagration, Mars conjunct Saturn “bakes-in”, burnishes a new path and blazes a new trail – in terms of global hegemony and new alliances. And of course, this applies to any individual or group.
7. In the Washington, DC new moon chart – power planet Pluto hugs the midheaven, dominating the chart and sextiling all planets in the first decanate of Aries – but most exactly, Mars in Aries.
This is an incredibly dynamic pattern, pointing to the challenge for the USA to resist an overpowering use of force. Temptations of “limited nuclear strikes” may arise, or will peace talks reach an agreement about Iran’s stockpile of enriched Uranium? Pluto’s metal is plutonium, linked to Uranus rising’s metal – uranium.
Venus in Taurus: Light and Wisdom (March 30 to April 24)
Venus entered its own sign of Taurus on March 30, staying there until April 24. Venus is the personality or exoteric ruler of Taurus – depicted as the feminine, the artist, beauty, desire, sensuous, lustful, stubborn and passive. All descriptions are true and apt – if not contradictory, and it depends upon the individual’s stage of soul unfoldment or conditioning rays, as to how this planetary placement manifests. The Venus connection to beauty and sex in Taurus is very powerful in this earthy fecund sign that represents the height of spring in the northern hemisphere. (The “darling buds” of May.)
Venus by Johfra.
The goddess of beauty is alloyed here with the fourth ray of art or beauty (the only ray that passes through Taurus), hence her sensual reputation as ruler of Libra and Taurus – both signs of beauty and artistic expression. As much of humanity still have a strong astral bias, Taurean/Venusian beauty is usually perceived astrally, that which has precipitated from the higher mental plane, the source of Venus’s true beauty – and the home of the human soul.
It is upon the mental plane that Venus reconciles the duelling pairs of opposites, creating harmony and beauty. Venus presides over the beauty of harmonious relationship and the creation of forms – as instruments for the expression of beauty.
How does this occur? Venus is a “sacred planet” which means that it has reached a perfected stage of evolution within the solar system. Hence it is able to impart its harmonious vibrations and bring into wholeness that which is “non-sacred”, in conflict or separation. Venus is to the Earth what the soul is to the personality, hence it plays an extremely important role in human evolution.
The polar opposite of Taurus is Scorpio, over which the non-sacred planet Mars rules – as lord of conflict and war. In the esotericism encoded within mythology, Mars and Venus are lovers, hinting at their relationship as planets – but also the sex gender forces which Humanity attempts to balance and use rightly.
The reader will note in the Johfra painting for Taurus that Mars is looking somewhat despondent and downtrodden, lying on his sword and shield, robbed of his power in the presence of Venus who rides the bull, demonstrating control over the “animal nature”. Mars is in “detriment” in Taurus and,
“Its activity adds constantly to the naturally warlike nature of Taurus but the potency of the Taurian struggle is so great, esoterically speaking, that the effect of Mars is lost in the larger whole. It “adds to the glamour and confusion and yet holds within itself hope for the struggling man.””12
This is an interesting statement because of the seeming contradiction between Venus’s pacifying powers, versus the “potency of the Taurian struggle”. This struggle is connected closely to the fourth ray of Harmony through Conflict, the ray of art and beauty which passes through Taurus.
Hence the harmonising force of Venus is connected to its power upon the mental plane. Venus brings into harmony the conflict inherent in fourth ray Taurus. Venus is also ruler of the fifth ray of science, a somewhat incongruous meaning for students of exoteric astrology, better understood in light of the explanation above.
Students must bear in mind the connection of the fifth ray and Venus to the fifth mental plane where resides the causal body of the soul. This is why Humanity is referred to as “man” generically, because male (man) and female (wo-man) alike, their souls reside upon the manasic or mental plane (Sanskrit: manas=mind.)
Venus is the light of knowledge and Taurus is the Mother of Illumination, a potent combination. When the light of knowledge eventually becomes transformed into the light of illumination and wisdom – Venus becomes Sophia. In the not too distant future, it is said,
“… the outstanding characteristic of the intelligent principle in humanity, will have been to a large extent transmuted into wisdom by the world intelligentsia, but not by the masses.13
This transmutation however, will represent a critical mass that will have a very powerful influence over the entire planet, being a lower correspondence to smaller groups of souls who will take the third initiation upon the mental plane.
Mind and love are two inextricably entwined factors in human evolution – one cannot do without the other. Hence Venus’s role as the mind or soul to planet Earth – as well as the Goddess of Love. A hint about this fact lies in the seven rays colour spectrum where orange (5th ray science/knowledge) can be seen opposite indigo blue (2nd ray love-wisdom). The soul is upon the fifth mental plane but gravitates eventually from the third subplane (intelligence) to the second subplane (love-wisdom) – hence the marriage of love and mind.
Phillip Lindsay © 2026.
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“Humans are divided into different clans and tribes, and belong to countries and towns.
But I find myself a stranger to all communities and belong to no settlement.
The universe is my country and the human family is my tribe.” (Khalil Gibran)
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- The Unfinished Autobiography, Alice A. Bailey. p.239. [↩]
- Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.95. [↩]
- Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.347. [↩]
- Esoteric Psychology II, Alice A. Bailey. p.518. [↩]
- Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.210. [↩]
- Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.164. [↩]
- Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.105. [↩]
- Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.508. [↩]
- Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.215. [↩]
- The Guardian [↩]
- Glamour: A World Problem, Alice A. Bailey. p.120. [↩]
- Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.401. [↩]
- The Reappearance of the Christ, Alice A. Bailey. p.97. [↩]
The world is experiencing a destruction of the ‘old system’ while a ‘new system’ is being built by competing factions. The current analysis of what is going on in Ukraine, Israel/Gaza and Iran is mostly (not just here) within an old framework. Old memories, old patterns, etc. This is incorrect. The old is being destroyed – right now. Here – to me – is the best and most cogent analysis that should frame one’s perspective “Saturn is one of the most potent of the four Lords of Karma and forces man to face up to the past, and in the present to prepare for the future.”6 “Saturn “falls” in Aries – imposing retribution and demanding full payment of debts, condemning Humanity to the struggle for existence at both the personality and soul level.” I challenge everyone to ‘forget’ what you think you know and strive to evaluate what is going on from and within the context of Saturn above. Old habits and prejudices are hard to break. We are rapidly careening down the road towards the 6th Root Race and the on-going evolution of the Human species. Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. Buckle up.