On Friday 17 April 2026, the Sun and Moon (the luminaries) come together to form a conjunction at 27°28′ minutes of the first sign of the zodiac, Aries (the Ram), which is exact at 09:51PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Please see attached chart.
You may need to convert the date and time details into your time zone, which can be done here.
Six planets in Aries (plus a planetoid)
A new moon is a beginning, an initiation, a planting of seeds, and in Aries, it’s about taking bold action, or as the Nike slogan goes, ‘Just Do It.’ The luminaries also join a host of other planets in Aries at this lunation; including Mercury, Mars – who in one of his home signs (in Domicile), Neptune, Saturn in his Fallen sign where he is debilitated, and Chiron, the Centaur, or Wounded Healer planetoid. Phew, that is a lot of Aries energy, and I’ve never seen that many planets in Aries in all the years I have been studying Astrology.
At a collective and social level, Mars in Aries at the time of the new moon signifies war, battles, competition and fighting to win, which we have been seeing a lot of in the news, and it seems there will be more to come.
Mercury in Malefic enclosure
Communication planet, Mercury, will be sandwiched between Mars and Saturn on 20 April 2026, in what is known as a ‘malefic enclosure,’ or ‘besiegement’. The planets Mars and Saturn are known as the ‘Lesser’ and ‘Greater’ malefics respectively. This time can bring difficult news or information, the admission of hard truths or a hard realisation. Thought patterns may need to be altered as well, and this can be a time of worry, particularly around making major decisions and choices, though it will need to be within limits (Saturn).
Saturn entering his Retrograde shadow period degree
Saturn will also be entering his Retrograde shadow at 7 degrees of Aries as the time of the Mars / Mercury / Saturn conjunction. Saturn will retrograde at 14 degrees of Aries at the end of July, and will return to 7 degrees of Aries later in the year, in December 2026.
Mars in Aries, Mars conjunct Saturn
Mars, as ruler of the sign of Aries, is strongly placed at the time of this lunation. He is in Aries from 9 April until 18 May. Mars signifies action, severing and separation, and in the context of Aries, it is the desire to differentiate yourself from the herd and find your own identity. Aries is the sign of ‘self’ after all.
When Mars meets Saturn on the 19th April, it’s time to commit and make things real. Even though we may want our goals to materialise quickly, possibly by acting with drive and impulse (Mars), we however need to show some restraint, slow down, follow the rules, and be patient in building and solidifying the new, real structures (Saturn) in our lives. This is a push (Mars)-pull (Saturn) energy.
Take one step at a time, we don’t have to have it all figured out at once, although it IS time to act, to have the courage to make choices around ending what isn’t working in your life and to take practical steps towards what is. Whatever it is, move in that direction, including moving your body.
Uranus in Taurus
Change planet Uranus is also winding up his time in Taurus at the time of the new moon, being at 29 degrees of the sign, having been in Taurus since 2018. It moves into Gemini on 25/26 April 2026 depending on where you are, for his next 7-year sojourn. This signifies an ending, and to go with the changes; be flexible and experiment with a variety of things.
What house does Aries fall in in your chart:
1st house: Self, physical body, character and the beginning of life.
2nd house: Managing physical resources and money. Our innate skills and talents, and what is of value to us.
3rd house: Siblings, learning, expressing ideas, learning, local neighbourhood and short trips.
4th house: Home and living conditions, parents, family, roots, ancestry.
5th house: Hobbies, creativity, sex, romance, children and leisure.
6th house: Day-to-day work and routines, subordinates, small pets, health – diet and exercise and illness (physical).
7th house: One-to-one relationships, marriage, partnerships; either personal or business. Other people.
8th house: Death, inheritances, other people’s money, taxes, insurance and shared resources.
9th house: Overseas travel, foreign places, foreigners and higher learning (university, religion, law, philosophies).
10th house: Career and public standing, reputation, superiors, vocation, a parent.
11th house: Networks and connections, groups, community, and friendships and alliances.
12th house: Loss, sickness (mental), places of confinement or seclusion, and enemies.
