May is such a beautiful month here in North Carolina where I make my home. Pollen season has made its last hoorah and we are able to enjoy the lush green foliage and all of the blooming trees and flowers. The weather hasn’t gotten humid and extra hot yet, so spending time outside and enjoying nature is one of my favorite past times.
This is also the month when we are in the middle of a new eclipse season and retrogrades are either ending or starting, depending on the planet. The first eclipse of this year was the Solar Eclipse in Aries on April 20th. This second eclipse will be a dramatic Lunar Eclipse in the sign of Scorpio that will occur on May 5th. This is the sixth in a series of eclipses on the Taurus/Scorpio axis that began back on November 19, 2021, and will come to an end on October 28, 2023. If your Sun or Moon are in any of the fixed signs, or if you have placements in any of the fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, you will feel this May 5th Lunar Eclipse more intensely than others. Lucky me, both my Sun and Moon are in Taurus and Aquarius respectively.
The first week of May starts out with Pluto in Aquarius going retrograde on May 1st. This is followed closely by the Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio on the 5th, and then Venus entering Cancer on May 7th.
When most planets go retrograde, the energy is that of slowing down. The energy of the planet seems to weaken and it gives us time to reflect and to reassess about what is happening in our lives. It gives us a chance to slow down significantly and revisit certain themes or struggles that have been occurring in our lives. However, when Pluto turns retrograde it is almost as if the opposite happens. The energy seems to ramp up and intensify. We are forced to confront some pretty intense challenges at our deepest core. We come face-to-face with our shadow side. Although you most likely will encounter some struggles concerning areas that you don’t want to deal with, you should allow yourself the time to go deep and permit these personal transformations to take place. Remember, with Pluto it is all about the complete breakdown and crumbling of old ways of thinking and old ideas so that we can begin to move forward. This retrograde will be in effect from May 1st until October 11th.
The Lunar in Eclipse in Scorpio also brings the intense energy of Pluto with it since Pluto is the ruling planet of Scorpio. We know that a Lunar Eclipse is always that of a culmination or a completion of whatever has been developing up to this point. It is an opportunity to let go of any emotional experiences that you have outgrown and for releasing the things that no longer serve you. It is important to remember that with every ending, there is an opportunity for a new beginning. No matter what happens, you will see that the universe is intent on moving us forward whether we are ready or not. Eclipses often mark a major turning point and it’s up to us to take that leap or remain in limbo.
Because eclipses involve transformation of some sort and show where in our life that change is necessary and where our attention will be directed, I find it extremely interesting that Pluto turned retrograde at the same time. Pluto being the ruler of Scorpio knows how to transform and shed old worn-out beliefs and habits that are no longer working for us. This is a chance to embrace changes, let go, and develop and improve a greater connection with a higher power and your inner self. The eclipse will help to illuminate our life path.
As always, if you are interested in what area of life this will be occurring for you and you’d like to understand what that means for your growth, please schedule an appointment with me for further insight.
Rounding out the week, on May 7th, Venus enters the sign of Cancer until June 5th. This is a very nice way to end a very intense week. Venus and Cancer are both feminine energies. Venus represents our ability to love and be loved. She gives us our appreciation of art and beauty and our quest for harmony and happiness. This planet helps soften us and deepens our need for affection, peace and harmony. When Venus is in the nurturing sign of Cancer it creates the desire for intimacy, for caring for others, and it heightens our sensitivity and empathy especially toward those we love. You can spend these next few weeks focusing more on your emotional connections and spending time with your family. Make sure to also find time to pamper yourself.
The week of May 9th we start out with the Sun in a conjunction aspect with Uranus. During this time, you may find yourself questioning everything about everything, from your personal life to the state of the world in general. You may feel a bit rebellious and may want to make some serious changes to your life. Or you may feel compelled to help others in some way. This is the type of connection that produces new trends in society or can begin the transformation of old outdated concepts and ideas into new and improved ways of doing things. You may just recognize the need to be more progressive and more open to questioning the old status quo. It can be a really exciting time of breaking free of routines and traditions and embracing a more free-spirted attitude by allowing yourself to do something totally unconventional.
The week ends with Mercury stationing direct on Sunday, May 14th. Hopefully, during the retrograde period you were able to sit back and answer those important questions about what you value, where you find your self-worth, and if you are happy with your financial situation. If you came to understand that you are not satisfied with the way your money is working for you, hopefully you started reviewing and reanalyzing your financial habits and goals. Once Mercury goes direct on Sunday, you can begin the process of sorting through any ideas that came up concerning opportunities and resources regarding your financial stability and start planning and strategizing for the future. You can use the determination and practicality of Taurus to turn your ideas into real form.
As Jupiter enters Taurus on May 16th, the financial stability and security that you’ve been planning for starts to expand. You may experience an increase in job opportunities or promotions, or even perhaps some good returns on investments, which in turn creates more abundance in your money sector. Because Taurus energy loves the finer things in life, it can create a situation where you may be tempted to overindulge in all the things that bring you pleasure, so keep that in mind and try to practice moderation and balance when indulging in any extravagances. Jupiter stays in this sign for one year, so make sure you keep all of this in mind as the year progresses.
On May 17th, Jupiter then makes a square aspect to Pluto. This type of aspect is a bit more challenging and tends to bring some internal tension with it. It forces us to face challenges within ourselves, but also gives us the strength to overcome them. It can spur us into action to resolve outstanding issues or to forge ahead with whatever is going on in our lives in a very determined and obsessive way. It gives a powerful desire to succeed and achieve. This is a time period when you can transform or accomplish great things in your life. It increases your ambition, but it can also lead to conflicts if you aren’t aware of how other people perceive your ideas or actions. Make sure your ideas are valid before you try to convince or serve others. The Jupiter/Pluto square ends on June 8th. You can do well with this transit as long as you don’t go overboard in your zeal to make changes in your life and attain your goals.
The New Moon occurs on May 19th in the sign of Taurus. This New Moon emphasizes our personal goals and the importance of leaning on the practical and realistic energies of this earth sign. Taurus rules our values, money, self-worth, our physical senses including our sensuality, our sense of smell and taste, an enjoyment of nature and life on earth. Taurus is an energy that relishes in building solid foundations and working with patience and determination to achieve goals. This is a wonderful energy for this New Moon.
This is the chance to make important changes in your life. Since New Moons are all about new beginnings, new energy, and a time when things take root, think carefully about your intentions and what you would like to see grow and manifest in your life. It is the time to plant seeds for new ideas, new plans, and new actions that you want to grow over the coming weeks. Take a look at where the moon will be in your chart in order to help you decide where you want to focus your intentions. This New Moon will affect those with personal planets and points at approximately 24 to 30 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) most significantly.
The next day on May 20th, prepare for a more active lifestyle as we welcome the energy of the Sun moving into Gemini. Gemini season is upon us and signals the return of glorious summer days and mild summer nights. It is a time to be out and about, active and social, always in the midst of doing something and going somewhere. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of the mind and ruler of all things related to communication and our intellect, so you may want to take advantage of this by including a variety of experiences into your life. Your mind will be more active and curious and you can use this to your benefit by experiencing and learning new things. Engage in more varied conversations, sign up for a new class or opportunities to learn something new and interesting. Read more, journal and increase your writing skills. Be bright, social, and curious, and don’t be afraid to share and connect with people and have fun.