Dear friends,
Astrologers are saying that April was the most difficult astrological month of the year, and I think we can all agree that between the total eclipse and the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus the past month has been pretty intense. Earthquakes (including some in unexpected places like New Jersey), tornadoes, the disappearance of Kate Middleton and the rumored end of the monarchy… it’s been a wild ride the past few weeks.
The combination of Jupiter (expansive) and Uranus (radical, innovative) often brings about scientific discoveries and there has been a plethora of these too: A “new cosmic map” that challenges conventional theories about the nature of the Universe, a new black hole was discovered, and more.
This dramatic period is behind us now, and there are no major planetary aspects in May to generate intense conflict or change. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any, and it won’t end either of the wars, but the astrological news is for a quieter season and the current events should reflect that. (Your own chart may be affected by the current planetary conditions, especially Pluto which is stationary in the sky right now and more intense.)
Before we go on to the May Illuminations, here are a couple of blog articles you may have missed:
I also have an article coming up soon for Jupiter in Gemini so watch for that.
Links to blog articles and other astro tidbits are always posted in the Astro Notes section here.
Read on for the May illuminations, and stay tuned for the weekly forecast every Monday. 💖
DATES AND TIMES ARE FOR EASTERN TIME ZONE, please adjust for your locality. You'll find the full planetary calendar towards the bottom of this post.
Pluto turns retrograde May 2. The outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) are each retrograde for half the year so that in itself is not unusual. But Pluto is now the sole retrograde planet, ruling the sky with its laser beam focus as it goes back into Capricorn one last time to complete old patterns and clear away the leftover detritus. Anything in our lives that has unfinished business will be re-examined during this time and anything that we are carrying around that is no longer needed will be swept away like the pollen after a rain.
Pluto will be stationary for the entire month at about 2 degrees Aquarius before retrograding back into Capricorn in September to complete the Capricorn job of destroying and restoring the structures of society that may be decaying or corrupt. In November Pluto re-enters Aquarius where it will stay until 2043 and the technology takeover will continue to be the dominant news story.
Taurus New Moon May 7. This month’s New Moon brings us down to earth with no less than five planetary bodies in this most earthy of earth signs. Under the influence of Taurus we seek the peace and pleasures of the joys that Earth has to offer; delicious food from the ground and the trees, comfortable clothing of natural fabrics, the security of ample financial assets.
Venus rules Taurus and Venus is IN Taurus right now, so that sense of comfort and pleasure is amplified. However, Jupiter and Uranus are also hosting this party, so don’t expect anything to be boring. New Moons bring something new and original into our lives, and with this planetary combination we may discover something unexpected.
Mercury enters Taurus May 15. Mercury’s entry into the Taurus gang takes us more fully out of fiery Aries season into the more placid season of Taurus. When Mercury is in Taurus it becomes easier to make commitments and to stabilize communication problems. Mercury will challenge Pluto shortly after entering Taurus which could bring about arguments and power struggles for a few days, and with everyone a little more stubborn it could be more difficult to come to any kind of agreement. I expect this will especially be true in the halls of government, where there are many opinions and ideas that need somehow to be corralled into diplomatic understandings.
Sun enters Gemini May 20. The Sun is the first of three planets to enter Gemini this month, bringing the focus into the realm of thoughts, ideas, messages, and experiential learning. Under the influence of Gemini there is a curiosity and an openness to new ideas that we don’t find under any other sign in the zodiac. It can be more difficult to focus under Gemini, but for much of the month there will still be quite a bit of Taurus influence in the skies to help ground us and keep us more settled.
Sagittarius Full Moon May 21. The Full Moon is a culmination of the lunar cycle - the Moon is fully illuminated by the reflection of the opposing Sun and there is potential for the heart to open more fully. With the Sun in Gemini, we seek to balance our tendency to take the superficial road (Gemini) with the urging of the Sagittarius Moon to seek a greater truth. Jupiter, ruler of the Sagittarius Moon, conjoins Venus for a boost of good fortune and positivity. The lunation is further blessed by Pluto’s transformative qualities to deepen and enrich the experience.
It should be noted that Jupiter and Venus are at the 29th degree; a critical degree of importance. This suggests that something significant may occur under this Full Moon and we will want to pay attention to see what might emerge at this time. Perhaps it is a nugget of new wisdom; perhaps an entirely new path opens up for us to take.
Venus enters Gemini May 23. Venus joins the Sun in Gemini on the 23rd, awakening a playfulness in our interactions with others, particularly in our special relationships. We may find ourselves more social, especially in the northern hemisphere where we are in that period between spring and summer and the earth is awakening.
Venus also relates to finances and assets and all of the things that we treasure; with Venus in Gemini these areas can be changeable and subject to the whims of fortune.
Jupiter enters Gemini May 25. Jupiter changes signs about once a year, and Jupiter’s entry into Gemini is likely to have an effect on global events, especially since it will be trined by Pluto which I’m hoping will have a beneficial effect.
Jupiter is said to be in its "detriment" in Gemini but really this doesn't pose that much of a problem. Gemini is opposite one of Jupiter's home signs, Sagittarius, which is on a relentless search for truth as opposed to Gemini which has a hunger to learn and understand without judgment. Jupiter's expansiveness in Gemini can lead to a lack of focus since EVERYTHING is so interesting and must be experienced, but as planetary problems go this is a relatively minor one. I will be publishing my article on Jupiter in Gemini in the next week so watch for that.
And that takes us to the end of the month! I hope it is a good one for you. 💖
Thank you for joining me in this monthly exploration of the planetary cycles! The free weekly forecast is published every Monday morning; the weekly in-depth outlook, including lunar influences, is available to paid subscribers for only $5/month.
If you'd like to know more about how your own personal chart is affected by these planetary events, consider having a personal consultation with me.
Planetary Calendar
(dates and times are for the Eastern time zone, please adjust for your locality)
5/1 Venus square Pluto
5/2 Pluto turns retrograde
5/3 Mars sextile Pluto
5/6 Mercury conjunct Chiron
5/7 Sun sextile Saturn
Mercury square Ceres
New Moon 18 Taurus, 11:21 pm
5/11 Sun trine Ceres
5/13 Sun conjunct Uranus
Venus sextile Saturn
5/15 Mercury enters Taurus
5/16 Chiron square Ceres
Venus trine Ceres
5/17 Mercury square Pluto
5/18 Venus conjunct Uranus
Sun conjunct Jupiter
5/19 Sun sextile Neptune
Mars conjunct North Node
5/20 Sun enters Gemini
5/22 Sun trine Pluto
5/23 Venus conjunct Jupiter
Venus sextile Neptune
Full Moon 2 Sagittarius, 9:52 am
Venus enters Gemini
Jupiter sextile Neptune
5/25 Venus trine Pluto
Jupiter enters Gemini
5/27 Mercury sextile Saturn
5/28 Mars square Ceres
5/29 Mercury trine Ceres
Mars conjunct Chiron
5/31 Mercury conjunct Uranus