Today is a day that is perhaps one of the most years most concentrated in terms of planetary activity. In addition we are now only four or five days short of the New Moon at a time of the year that is particularly noted for its heightened moods and emotions.

One of the principal elements of today’s alert is the alignment between the Moon and Neptune. At the same time the pair are in opposition to Saturn. The Moon/Neptune component of this alignment will be influential until around 20:00 GMT (15:00 EDT) and likely mood traits include extreme emotional sensitivity with the possibility of unstable moods and feelings as well as confused or chaotic thoughts.

Under these circumstances escapist tendencies may be well to the fore and this may act as a detriment to the running of a smooth and unhindered routine as there will be many distractions of a more tempting variety. On the more positive side this may lead to refined and imaginative thoughts and feelings with an intuitive or receptive disposition that will border on the psychic. Inevitably these traits will be cross influenced by Saturn bringing more balanced, restricted, and disciplined emotions that may be characterised by an underlying lack of self confidence or sense of personal limitation.

In what is very much a mood of contrasts the influence of the on going opposition between Mars and Jupiter will instil a more forceful and determined mood atmosphere that may however incline towards aggression or extremism, with a superiority complex that may ride roughshod over people’s feelings. In reality the influence of these two separate alignments may tend to cancel each other out, though each may predominate according to personal circumstances.

The alignment between Uranus and Mercury and Venus has now begun to dissipate, though Venus and Mercury still remain very much aligned to one another. This may result in slightly more agreeable feelings with some sense of empathy for others that may just act as a brake against some of the other more turbulent feelings of this present period.

With the New Moon only just a matter of four days away there is bound to be an upsurge in feelings of anxiety and tension. There is also the potential for irritability, anger and resentment, and this risk of conflict or contention will become even more apparent in the days to come. This will be especially likely on the 4th of April when the Moon comes into alignment with Uranus, but more on this in a future alert bulletin.

For the moment this may seem like a frustrating mood atmosphere in which it becomes harder to get things done and distractions will become the thief of time. Inspiration and enthusiasm may be harder to come by but there will still be enough zestful energy for on going schemes and ventures. Under these circumstances concentration may be far from optimal and this mood may suit repetitive tasks rather than those that rely on a high degree of cerebral dexterity.

Alert is 7.5. Moon 17% illuminated.