Astrology of the Week Ahead with Chani Nicholas - The Week of April 6th, 2026: Action and reaction with Mars in Aries

Episode Date: April 6, 2026

Episode 277In this podcast, New York Times best-selling author and astrologer Chani Nicholas discusses the astrology of the week and what it might mean for us all.The astrology of the week of April 6th, 2026, brings a surge of energy and a call to do something with it. The Sun’s exaltation in Aries gives us the confidence boost we need to be bold and blaze new trails, and Mars’ sextile to Uranus powers us to get our current projects over the finish line. Then Mars moves into Aries, meets up with Neptune, and turns up the urge to act fast on our dreams. Just remember to pace yourself. You can’t help build a better world if you burn out at the very beginning.This episode covers:The Sun’s exaltation degree in Aries on Tuesday, April 7thMars’ sextile to Uranus on Wednesday, April 8thMars’ entrance into Aries on Thursday, April 9thMars’ conjunction with Neptune on Sunday, April 12thThis episode was recorded on 03/23/2026.For more, check out your free daily horoscope on the homepage of the CHANI app — now on iOS and Android.Want to know what Chani’s reading beyond the astro? Join her book club, The Next Chapter, to explore her favorite titles and build community around books that reckon with and reimagine the world we’re living in.The music featured in the podcast was created by Latashá.

The truth is that you and I and everyone we know deserves to live in a system that holds people to account. You and I and everyone we know, this planet, all living things, deserve to live in systems of accountability and boundaries and, again, consequences. But we don't. We actually live in systems that are exactly opposite. We live in systems that praise and allod and give prizes to the most depraved among us. And so we individually, which is not fair and it's not easy, but we individually have to be able to drum up the courage to do something against the systems that. that we live within, to do something so different, so bold, so daring, so dangerous, really,

that we are separating ourselves out from the systems of harm and extraction and humiliation that we live within. I, like you, am gobsmacked. I am floored. I am deeply devastated by the things I read that come out of the Epstein files, that come out of Cuba, that comes out of Iran, that comes out of Palestine, that comes out of the Congo, of Sudan, of name a place where the most destruction is happening at this moment. I'm recording this in March. I don't know what's happening in April, but I can bet it's not a lot different than what's going on right now. We are watching the horrors that happen when nothing gets checked, when unfettered capitalism and patriarchal violence and subtler colonialist, white supremacist

just is able to consume everything it wants. And I don't know about you, but But I know where the story goes and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of it. I don't want it. I don't want to win at this game. Do you? Hello and welcome. This is the Astrology of the Week Ahead podcast.

We're coming to you from the end of the world. It feels like hopefully we're coming to you from the death rattle of all of these systems. I'm your host, your Astro Bestie, Channey Nicholas, in this. episode, we're talking about the week of April 6th. This week, we have a circlet on the calendar and red kind of situation. Not because it's the biggest astrology of the last decade, not because it is a massive generational shift. No, because it's a once in two year collision between Mars and Saturn. Mars and Saturn are meeting up next week. I'm kind of getting ahead of myself, but it's for good reason. Mars is moving into Aries this week, and it's going to come

head to head with Neptune, which is just moved into Aries, and then right after that, it's going to stumble in to Saturn. And anytime that Mars and Saturn come together, it is like a, oh gosh, okay, okay, all right, this is serious. We need serious people on deck to the front of the class. We need you now. The principal is calling. The paper is due. We need to show up here and now. This is big work ahead of us. So when Mars and Saturn come together, we know that there is something that is beginning that is difficult, but that is necessary. That might be a little dangerous, but is worth the risk. And we know that we're being called to a tension. Now, it just so happens that this time around, these two are meeting up in the fire sign of Ares, where Saturn and Neptune just met up. Saturn and Neptune met up at zero degrees of

aries on February 20th, a couple of days before the war in Iran began. Among other things, again, Cuba was happening around then and you name it. There's a lot happening around the world because of imperialist violence from this country and with the help of others. So when I see this country, obviously, I'm in the United States. So we are revisiting that in a way. This is the stumbling block of that. This is the inciting incident of that. This is the reminder of that. This is the reminder of that, but it's a reminder in one of the harshest kind of ways. I'm not saying this to scare us. I'm not saying this to make you fear the week at all. I'm just saying this to warn us that we're in another time pocket. We're in another period of time where we need to be very, very focused

on what the problem actually is. And most likely the problem is the system that we're living. living within. The problem is that the system is doing what the system was designed to do. And while we need a lot of people to have a lot of consequences and face a lot of trials and maybe even a lot of time away from the rest of society, there is also the dire need to reconstruct the systems that allowed these things to happen in the first place. It allowed these people to rise to power, that allowed this depraved action to occur. And all of these depraved habits, conditions, actions,

people to have manifested themselves in the way that they have, to have done as much damage. We know that something like the abstinent, class can't function without a thousand interlocking systems and institutions supporting it. We know that intimate partner violence can't function without people in the community knowing about it and not doing anything about it. We know that financial abuse cannot happen inside of an abusive dynamic in a relationship without the banks probably knowing that something fishy and weird is going on

or someone in their financial life knowing that something is off. Violence is a communal issue. It's not a person-to-person issue or situation. Every single system and institution in our world should be held responsible for any and all violence happening. we're all a part of it. And until we see ourselves as part of the problem and part of the solution and holding a piece of the puzzle, I don't know how far we're going to get in terms of creating something new where all of this harm, all of this violence, all of this war is impeded, interrupted, refused.

Sorry, that doesn't happen here. Absolutely not. Not while I'm here, not on my watch. Not here, not now, not ever. So I'm talking about this because Mars is also the planet of courage. Yes, it's the planet of war. Yes, Ares is the sign of overheating and anger and aggression. And, you know, if we want to take it to the nth degree, it doesn't have to mean this. But of course, you could relate it to toxic masculinity, toxic war behavior. toxic, patriarchy, toxic, whatever you want to call it, violence. Of course, that is a manifestation of it, but that's not how it has to manifest. It can manifest in us saying, no, I don't do that. I don't abide by those rules. I get that this system says that, but not me. I don't. And I think this is our invitation to take on some very serious work like that, not just this week, but next week and the week after. Because we're really in a period of time.

This week, next week, and the week after. It's not very long. You know, it's not going to just be that. But these next three weeks are serious. They are for serious people. They are for serious business. And if I think we're really locked in, we could get some seriously good things going, done.

happening, whatever, but we could really make a mark with this because this is a time frame that is going to make a mark on us. So what is the mark that we are going to make, given whatever it is that's happening now? Again, I'm filming this in the past. I'm not that far behind. I'm in mid-March, but still, every day is like a fucking new circus around here. So you never know it's going to happen between now and then. I never want to sound insensitive. I never want to sound glib in the face of all the horrors. And I want you to know, like, I'm a little behind. And also, I want to comment on what it is I'm living in in this moment. I'm also encouraged by some of you who said that you enjoyed my latest ramblings on the world. So this is maybe partly your fault

as well. Don't encourage me to ramble too much. Okay. This is the astrology of the week. It's not like there's that much happening, but on Tuesday, the sun is an aries. It gets to the exaltation degree. That's like a good moment to make some magic because that's what we look for when we're doing like astromagic is a planet at the sign of its exaltation degree. So Tuesday's a good day, a good time to like have a little extra courage and to lead. Remember, leaders lead from a place of their own integrity. So where are being being called to be a leader?

leader. How are we being called to show up as a leader in our own lives? Then on Wednesday, Mars at the very end of Pisces makes a sex style to Uranus. It's a good time. It's a good day to wrap something up. It's a good day to put the finishing touches on a little project, a little situation that we're working on. It's a good day to be like, okay, I think I'm going to do it this way. Bing, bang, boom. Done. And then on Thursday, Mars moves in to Aries. Mars moving into Aries. Mars moving into Aries is go time. Mars moving into Aries is like, okay, this is it. We're in a new time period that says for the next couple of weeks, we're going to do something really difficult. That's just the deal right now. So choose the thing that means the most to you. Because if we're

going to do something difficult, it better be worthwhile. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't want to do something difficult for somebody else, for something. For something. For somebody else's reasons. I have to do something difficult for my own reasons. On Sunday, Mars and Neptune come together, which on one hand is like a good day to stay in bed. You know what I'm saying? Like it's a good day to be like, well, everything went to seed. Good thing I didn't have much on my timetable. Good thing I didn't have much on the agenda. Good thing I didn't have many expectations of the day. This is a good time to not have a tremendous amount of expectations. Now, the thing to remember is that between Sunday the 12th of April and Sunday the 19th of April

and then Monday the 20th of April, we have one of the harder corners of at least this part of the year, if not the entire year. We've got Mars and Saturn coming together on the 19th of April and then Mercury entering the chat, Mercury joining the chat, Mercury joining Saturday. and Mars on the 20th of April. All that to say, we're moving towards a time where we need to be very, very focused on our priority. What is our priority? Why did I come here? What do I need to get done? How can I get it done? What are the obstacles? What are the challenges? This week, the challenge is going to be like, I don't feel like it. This week, the challenge is going to be like, I ran out of gas. This week, the challenge is probably going to be like, I lost.

my concentration, I lost focus, I got lost. That's what a Mars Neptune conjunction feels like. It feels like a momentary loss, an inability to stay focused, and an inability to understand which direction to go in. The point is, again, is that we have to like move through the fog. And there may very well be from the powers that be, the fog of war being thrown around. being put out there a lot. There is a good reason to think because we are again coming back to that place of the Saturn Neptune conjunction, coming back around the things that happened late February that changed everything. And we're revisiting that and being like, why are we doing this? What are we doing? Where is this going? How are we getting there? What is the point of this?

we're touching back down into that pain point. And next week will be even more of that. So we will be staying tuned into that. But all that to say, when we know our priority and we're like, okay, well, I'm here to do this thing just for now. Just like in the next couple weeks, this is the thing that I absolutely need to get done. Or this is how I need to show up. Or this is what I need to prioritize. and we stick to it, this can be an incredibly transforming period of time.

I think that the world is going to be going through a challenging moment. I mean, it feels like a challenging moment all the time. But I think that this is going to be another inflection point. Again, by the time we get through April 20th, I think there's going to be like, oh, that's what that kernel of truth is or that's what that situation that is really difficult is. We've confronted it. We know it now. It's made real. I hope there's consequences for people that have done horrible things like harm children and start wars. That's me dreaming. I know I like to do that here and

everywhere, but, you know, a girl can dream. A girl can hope. A girl can fantasize. A girl can imagine a world beyond gender-based violence, a world beyond all of the extraction, a world beyond harm. And I think that that is one of the key points. Again, because Mars is entering its home sign, we're all being asked to think about, to embody, to enact what courage could look like in this moment. Is it fair that we have to do the work that governments should do? No. Is it fair that people that cause harm get major positions of power and never get held

to account seemingly? No. None of it's fair. But here we are. So how do we find that place where we're like, okay, I can take action here? I can't act on everything. I can't. It's not all mine to act on.

it's ridiculous to think that it is. It's ridiculous to think that all these problems are mine to solve. That's individualism. That's how they get us. But there are places where I can have courage, where I can be bold, where I can buck the system, go my own way, and be like, screw y'all. I'm doing it like this because that is what is important to me. and because that is what needs to be done in order for everyone here to be safe, to be valued, to be given the things that are theirs.

Okay, that's me rambling on quite a bit. Now let's have a question from the audience. Hi, Johnny. I am a big fan and have been listening to your podcast and using your app, I think, for a couple of years now. So thank you for all that you do. And my question is, what does it mean if you happen to have like two kind of personal planets at the exact same degree in your chart? I have my son and my Venus at 27 degrees and Leo and in the 10th house and then have my mid-haven even two degrees away at 25.

Okay, this is a really important setup. First of all, your question is, what happens if we have two personal planets at the same degree? It means that there's a conjunction between them and they act together. Their meanings are fused. So the planets involved are really important. If it's Mercury and Mars, say, then you're Mercury. is going to be talking in the style of Mars, no matter what the sign is. Mercury is going to translate whatever planet it's close to.

But any planet, especially a personal planet that is with the sun, especially in the same degree, then that is a special condition because that is called a Kazimi. Different astrologers have different ranges of degrees or minutes that the two can be apart. but if they're in the same degree, I will say that they are in a Kazimi. So Venus in your chart is in a really special condition because in Leo, the sun is Venus's ruler and the sun being in Leo, it's its own ruler. So that's a lot of star power. And because Venus is receiving the heat and the light and the warmth and this like energetic infusion

from such a strong and superpowered sun. And then you're telling me it's in the 10th house and right next to your mid-heaven? Like, please tell me you're an artist. Please tell me you're a performer. Please tell me you're a relationship coach. Please tell me you're doing something that is Venusian in the style of the performer or something that is shiny or something that is gold or something that is Leo-esque out in the world. Because it's the mid-heaven.

And it's the brightest point in the chart. It's the 10th house. It's the place of career or public life. And so you need to show up in the world and shine and make things beautiful and be celebrated, Leo, for your artistic nature or for your way of creating harmony or for the ways in which you serve women or femmes or queer folks or for the ways in which you upholds. justice because it's all Venusian themes. But again, it's in Leo. It's in the style of Leo. The sun is there. The sun is infusing Venus with all of its eminence. And so there's something here that's

saying like, this is golden. This is super powered. And Venus loves to be pleasing. And the sun loves to lead. Those are two kind of different ways of moving in the world. The sun is like, quite bold in and of itself, especially when it's in Leo. It's charming in Leo. It's adorable in Leo. And Venus, again, wants to make sure everybody's being taken care of, wants to make sure everybody's good, everyone's okay, everyone's taken care of, everyone's like, you know, happy. So there's a way in which you might have to combine those needs, but you need to lead and you need to be celebrated for the beauty or the justice or the harmony or the art or the culture that you create. And I think if you don't do that, it won't be very fulfilling for you. I think that those are

main keys and main themes for you to live out. When you have two planets together, they merge in terms of how they do their jobs. You have to look at the significations of the planets. A planet with the sun is a very special condition, especially when it's exact in the same degree, the same exact degree as the sun. That's a really important piece of information. If it's a couple degrees away from the sun, then we could say that it's, you know, having a little harder of a time because it's not visible and it's under the sun's beams or it's kind of being burned in a way. So everything means something slightly different. but the same degree is a special condition. And we have to think anything beside the sun if the sun is traveling with another planet.

And the sun travels with Mercury and Venus quite a lot. Like that's a normal thing to have them together. But again, having them at the same degree is special. And when the sun is in its own sign, it means any other planet that's with it. Any other planet in Leo, if you have the sun in Leo, is being amplified and helped out because the sun is in its own place. So it receives a lot of help because the sun is really resourced. So it depends on how resourced both planets are, but they fuse the meanings together. And so what are their jobs?

Like when you have Saturn and Mars together, that's tough. It means you're made of tough stuff. You have a lot of grit in this area of your chart. But that area of life is also going to be challenging. It's a both-and kind of situation. Okay, thank you so much for that question. Really helpful for me to know what the things are that everyone's kind of like, wait, what about this? What if I have that?

What if I see this in somebody else's chart? Okay, y'all come back next week. We have a new moon in Ares with a Chiron Kazimi, Chiron and the moon in the sun are all together with that new moon. It is articulating something that is about the pain point. that is surfacing now, but also something about the medicine we need to administer to soothe that. And then, of course, a couple of days after that is the Mars-Saturn conjunction. It's a hefty week.

We want to be prepared and we want to be really, really focused as we go into it. Sending you so much love, so many blessings. Thank you for listening and being with me and us on this journey. Bye for now.