May Forecast

This month energies tend to bunch together at the end of signs, and though these aspects are powerful, the times when aspects are created very early in a sign are really more compelling. Early meeters include Venus, Saturn, Pluto in Grand Trine April 30th-May 1st (easy, but perhaps cataclysmic, restructuring of values, relationships, and/ or finances), Mercury quincunx Pluto and square Saturn on the 2nd (adjusting the thoughts or the ‘message’ to fit reality and forced change), Mars quincunx Pluto on the 9th (action and ego must adjust to and are buffeted by powerful forces), and later in the month the Sun, and then Venus, quincunx Pluto (our attention goes to handling serious change, and our money follows). These will be a major ‘dark’ thread–whether it’s a prominent factor in the current life tapestry or just a glimmer in the background is largely dependent on the role of Earth signs, and of Air sign Gemini and its ruler Mercury, in your natal chart.

Two big players change direction this month: Saturn goes direct on the 2nd at 7:02 PM PDT at 1 Virgo 40, and Jupiter retrogrades on the 9th at 3:57 AM PDT at 22 Virgo. For some this will be astrological whiplash, accompanied by a sinking feeling that all that seemed freed up on Saturn’s turnaround is snatched away as Jupiter alters direction. For others it will open the way toward constructive effort that’s not hampered or distracted by attempts at over-expansion or grandiose social gestures. If you’re more Jupiter oriented, it’s a bummer, but if you’re down with Saturn’s Self-discipline and work ethic, it could actually be a time of progress. Jupiter, by the by, is sextile Uranus exactly the entire full 3rd week, boosting both the good and bad of its effects. Expect Jupiter re-tracing her steps to bring echoes of the first portion of the year, in new forms. 

Mars finally leaves Cancer, where we’ve suffered ego death, or at least frustration, by a thousand lashes with a wet noodle. Once into Leo, however, we may be sorry Mars is feeling so fiery; it may seem like someone tied firecrackers to the cat’s tail, the cat being all those impulses stifled or misspent during Mars’s sojourn in Cancer. Try to keep a lid on it until your Martian energies find effective and controlled outlets. Venus spends most of the month in Taurus, then finally slips into Gemini just behind the Sun; this may create an odd dissonance between appetites and thoughts–try to stay conscious of what you’re consuming.

Ceres conjuncts Mercury at 19 Gemini on the 18th; with Vesta and Pallas both in Aries, and Mars finally in Leo, Will power may be extra strong. Expect the butting of heads, arguments with authorities, and a general atmosphere where getting one’s way may mean more to some than actually having a reason to do so. Chiron conjuncts the North Node (exact) on the 21st and is also conjunct Neptune, all in Aquarius, and Pallas moves into Taurus, softening the edges, taking ‘it’ down a notch, and giving us all a chance to heal.

Uranus begins to slow for late June retrograde, and Neptune stays at 24 Aquarius all month, then turns about 5 hours before the direction change of Mercury. This activity brings us the winner for May of ‘Most Likely Day to Bring Havoc.’ Look for mixed messages, deceptions, lies, and fantasies come true (or at least, you may find someone who’ll promise they will bring your dreams to life–make sure they’re not talking about your nightmares!)

May takes all the heavy stuff that got stirred up in April and gives it another good shake (just with people I know personally, I’ve counted one case of juvenile diabetes discovered, two major relationship break-ups, one major job loss and one major relocation, and any number of smaller scenes of unpleasantness), and all of it sensed before the fact and yet still earthshaking in effect when it finally broke the surface.

May New Moon on the 5th at 5:19 AM PDT at 15 Taurus 22; May Full Moon the 19th at 7:12 PM PDT at 29 Scorpio 27.