The New Moon in Aries on April 20, 2023, is a rare hybrid solar eclipse. With a challenging square aspect to Pluto, the spiritual meaning of the Solar Eclipse of April 2023 astrology is sacrificing your need to be in control.

The New Moon April 2023 Solar Eclipse brings the risk of power struggles and crises. But a positive inspirational and spiritual influence from a fixed star helps you let go of your need to be in control and instead focus on achieving your goals.

Solar Eclipse April 2023 Astrology

The New Moon Solar Eclipse on April 20, 2023, at 29°50′ Aries is widely conjunct with Jupiter. But as shown in the horoscope below, the most significant aspect is the square to Pluto.

Solar Eclipse Meaning

A solar eclipse is like a regular new moon where the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. However, a solar eclipse is more powerful because the Moon darkens the Sun. Astrology’s most influential and important aspect is the Sun conjunct Moon, which represents cyclic renewal and gives a refreshing burst of energy and initiative.

But it also brings emotional balance, not irrationally emotional, and not too cold and calculating. It means all possibilities are on the table, and you can rightly put yourself at the forefront of new plans for the future.

While a New Moon lasts for four weeks, the effects of a Solar Eclipse last nearly six months. So Solar Eclipse April 2023 is excellent for making a fresh start, turning over a new leaf, or starting a new project. You can also question old habits, behaviors, and beliefs while searching for new and inventive ways to progress.

There are three main types of solar eclipses; partial, annular and total solar eclipse. However, the April 2023 solar eclipse is a fascinating fourth type of solar eclipse that occurs only a few times per century. It is called a hybrid solar eclipse, “the rarest, most intriguing, and arguably the most globally spectacular and interesting type of solar eclipse there is.” ^[1] It is seen as a partial, annular total solar eclipse at different times and places.

Power Struggles and Crises

Solar Eclipse square Pluto gives you more energy, strength and motivation. But a need for more power and influence, with a tendency to be more assertive and controlling, can lead to stress, ego conflicts, power struggles or crises with your self-confidence, esteem or identity.

You may be forced into a corner where you must defend your position or change significantly. But by channeling your intensity into hard work, you can struggle through difficulties and achieve your goals.

In relationships, you may be the subject of, or the perpetrator of, manipulation, jealousy, domination or spying. Intense, ruthless or compulsive behavior can become destructive and dangerous if you don’t know when to stop. In extreme cases, psychological, physical or sexual abuse is possible.

This is a good eclipse to eliminate bad habits and destructive relationships. Increased conscious awareness will help deal with fears, obsessions, addiction, bigotry or racism. By sacrificing your need to be in control, you can evolve to a higher level and let things go, relax, and feel less threatened. A significant transformation is possible, a rebirth that frees you from the depths of pain and suffering.

The Constellations

In the horoscope above, the April 2023 Solar Eclipse is in the Sign of Aries, but as the image below shows, in the sky, it is in the Constellations of Pisces. The Signs and the Constellations do not match up. Over the last 2000 years, the Constellations have moved nearly 30° out of alignment with the Signs because of the precession of the equinoxes.

The Zodiac was invented only as a measuring device. The ecliptic line in the image below matches the degrees in the horoscope above. Like the original astrologers, I use the Constellations and fixed stars for interpretation, not the Signs.

• 29♈41 – Alpha Piscium, Alrisha
• 29♈50 – Solar Eclipse April 2023
• 00♉43 – Beta Andromedae, Mirach

The Knot

Fixed star Alrisha in the cord knot that binds the two Pisces fishes together has a unifying influence. ^[1] It gives a better-than-average capacity for knowing where you are, where you are going and helping others forward. ^[2]

The Princess

Fixed star Mirach brings difficulties ^[1] but also gives personal beauty, a brilliant mind, a love of home, great devotion, beneficence, forgiveness, love, overcoming by kindness, renown, and good fortune in marriage. ^[3]

Mirach gives cheerfulness, happiness, love of company, friendship, many interests, altruism and the tendency to inspiration and medium-ship as a base for artistic creation. However, if the whole cosmic picture is an unfortunate one, the positive influence of this star is lessened. ^[4]

If harshly aspected, Mirach may give an over-timid attitude and perhaps a markedly effeminate influence on a man. ^[2]

With Moon: Trouble with the opposite sex owing to indiscretions, bad for domestic affairs, honor through martial matters. ^[3] (Joe Biden 1°22′)

With Sun: Trouble through the opposite sex, disappointments in expectations but otherwise favorable. ^[3]

This position touches off the pineal and pituitary glands. These persons are continuously opened to the spiritual realm and would have a difficult time functioning on the earth plane… They are not necessarily evil but are open to any entity. They can be creative and have personal beauty but cannot involve themselves in mundane situations. The individual would function “out of this world,” so to speak. This could be very beneficial if they would consult a spiritual healer so as to close off this energy when necessary to protect themselves… ^[4]

Constellation Andromeda bestows purity of thought, virtue, honor and dignity upon its natives but causes battle with chimerical fears and a tendency to become easily discouraged. ^[3]

Andromeda is a generally favorable constellation denoting that which is honorable and eminent. Poorly placed, however, it can portend earthquakes. ^[1]

Solar Eclipse April 2023 Meaning

The April 20 solar eclipse square Pluto brings the risk of power struggles and crises. The main fixed star influence comes from Mirach, a 2.1 magnitude star, compared to the dimmer 3.8 magnitude Alrisha. Mirach brings love, happiness, kindness and forgiveness, but these positive influences are lessened by the square to Pluto.

Instead, Mirach is more likely to exacerbate the difficulties caused by Pluto, causing relationship tension and disappointed expectations. But the positive inspirational and spiritual influence emanating from Mirach can be harnessed to increase your conscious awareness of fears, compulsion, and your need to be in control and control others. The intensity of Pluto can then be channeled into achievement, overcoming difficulties, and creative and artistic work.

Crisis of Confidence

Solar Eclipse April 2023 square Pluto could trigger crises affecting large portions of the global population. There may be volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, storms and flooding, epidemics, famine, wars, mass killings, genocide and financial or political crises. The risk of major earthquakes is heightened with the solar eclipse in the constellation Andromeda.

So a crisis of confidence is possible because of Pluto’s sinister influence at the personal and global mass-conscious levels. The hope is that this eclipse also triggers a positive transformation so we can adapt and evolve.

The influence of the April 20 Solar Eclipse combines with that of the May 5 Lunar Eclipse. They form an eclipse phase that lasts about six months up to the Solar Eclipse on October 14, 2023. The best time for starting new projects is during the two-week waxing moon phase, from October 25 to November 8.

If the New Moon Solar Eclipse April 2023 astrology directly affects your Sign, you can read about it in your free Monthly Horoscope. Finally, see Sun Transits for more details about how it affects your natal chart.

• Previous Moon Phase: Full Moon April 6, 2022
• Next Moon Phase: Lunar Eclipse May 5, 2023
• 2023 Moon Phases Calendar

New Moon April 2023 Times and Dates

• Los Angeles – April 19, 9:12 pm
• New York – April 20, 0:12 am
• London – April 20, 5:12 am
• Delhi – April 20, 9:42 am
• Sydney – April 20, 2:12 pm

Solar Eclipse April 2023 Path

The hybrid solar eclipse on April 20, 2023, will be seen as a total solar eclipse in “the Exmouth Peninsula in Western Australia, Timor Leste and West Papua.” ^[1]

References

1. Hybrid solar eclipse: What is it and how does it occur, space.com, Jamie Carter, November 20, 2022.
2. Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan,1990. p.30, 55.
3. The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse, 1988, p.118, 129.
4. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.26, 179.
5. Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1971, p.4.
6. The Fixed Star Health and Behavior Imbalance, Ted George and Barbara Parker, 1985, p.15.