Daniel Sowelu looks at our stars for April 2008.

The Sun in Aries begins this month with a close conjunction with the asteroid goddess, Pallas Athena, and both are rather pointy in their energy and symbolism. The trademark warrior energy of Aries, impetuous, direct, aggressive and pioneering, is both amplified and moderated by the subtler, multilayered Pallas. As a goddess of battle, she adds more strategic and measured responses than the brash, charging Ram. The same applies to her famous protector roles. Nevertheless, they are a formidable combination and will fight when necessary. But Pallas adds much subtler dimensions to the spear symbolism of the two, as both goddess of culture and of healing. As patron of the arts, she brings creativity and focus to all forms of human cultural expression. On deeper levels, she has the power to direct the creative expression of the ancient feminine through the use of serpent/kundalini energy and all its healing and spiritual mysteries, specialising in using concentrated thought to guide Shakti or spiritual power.

In Aries, then, the creative and assertive energies of this will seek expression - some subtle, some dynamic, in the name of following one's own truth and individuality. But this highly charged combination will meet significant frustration, through squares to Mars and Medusa in Cancer. We can expect some collisions with deeply buried and often irrational levels of anger, opportunities for identifying self sabotage mechanisms stemming from unresolved and deeply emotional experiences from the past. The frustration has the effect of pushing these to the surface, like a boil. While disempowering in its suppressed state, this healing can, paradoxically, add great potency and wisdom to the individual's drive towards creative success.

The streak of individualism in the above and for the month is counterbalanced by a strong focus on relationships. Firstly, Venus is conjunct Mercury in Pisces, emphasising the desire and the need for better communication between loved ones, for the seeking of clarity in the subtler emotional realms of the heart. This is particularly significant as relationships continue to be a focus for great challenges and real growth.

Secondly, Uranus and Vesta are also conjunct Venus. This a contradictory and confusing combination, especially in Pisces, as the former heightens individualism and the need for often radical change in relationships, while the latter is about containment, commitment and focus in whatever she touches. Out of the resulting soup, attempting to combine wizard and priestess, at its best can emerge a commitment to change one's relationships and one's inner relationship dynamics. Ultimately, it's about the freedom that comes from healthy containment. That all four bodies, Mercury included, sextile Jupiter in Capricorn beautifully emphasises the possibility for change that is real and substantial. Yet it also releases tremendous energy and vigour into your current relationship.

The potential for great healing and transformation is further reinforced and deepened by the goddess of marriage, Juno, crossing that dark god of death and rebirth. This also supports the removal of much psychological deadwood from our relationship pasts, whatever their origins and in no uncertain terms. It is a particularly ruthless combination for facing the raw truth of things, so that real change and healing can happen. This is also a powerful combination sexually, having some very tantric intonations with all the lower chakra energies involved. This is mirrored by a conjunction of Hygeia in early Taurus with the Eros asteroid in late Aries, an alignment specifically for sexual healing by linking up our erotic responses with the serpent energies of the deep feminine. In fact, Hygeia is considered to be the healing face of Pallas Athena, bringing our conversation full circle.

For the lovers of Indian cosmology, another very interesting lineup this month is the presence of the Shiva asteroid exactly midway between Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius. Astrologically, Shiva is also reflected in both Neptune and Pluto, a phallic and a moon deity who is both wild man and perfect yogi. Like most of the major asteroids, he is a higher octave of his associated planets. I tend to see him as an expression of the deep, sacred masculine and as consort and equal to the dark goddesses like Lilith, Hecate and Persephone in power and wisdom. His is also an image of the masculine who is at the centre of great cosmic forces and who is perfectly still at that centre despite the dramas. Psychologically, he represents a very still and yet empowered place within, whatever is going on in one's world. That he is at the midpoint of Chiron and Neptune speaks of this part of self undergoing great healing and potential reconnection. This is also a much needed process, particularly for men, to counterbalance the re-emergence of the sacred feminine as it's not for nothing that tantra speaks of the Shiva/Shakti relationship. For a man to be able to truly meet his women as an equal, comfortable with his own potency and with hers, he needs to be able to call on his Shiva energy. Jaya Shiva!

Daniel Sowelu (B.Sc.Dip Ed) is a therapeutic astrologer, primal therapist and groupleader in his 21st year of private practice.