May opens with the Moon “out of bounds”, at extreme declination, in Cancer, May 1st and 2nd. International Workers’ Day coincides with the ancient Celtic holiday of Beltane, celebrating the height of spring. We begin with a drive for unconventional and alternative ways of healing division, in tune with a love of family and homeland. The Moon squares Venus and Neptune on May 1st, while the two planets (Venus the planet of love and connection, Neptune a higher octave of spiritual love) conjunct on May 2nd at 1°08’ Aries. Why not support taking action to defend the rights of the common citizen, of our community, of our planet? “Who can stop what must arrive now? Something new is waiting to be born!”
On May 4th, Pluto stops in the sky and stations retrograde at 3°49’ Aquarius. Pluto is a very slow-moving planet. When Pluto touches our natal chart by transit (its location in the current sky), it has time to marinate, creating depth of meaning over roughly a three-year period of time. Look to see where early degrees of Aquarius fall in your own natal chart. Here Pluto wants to bring to the surface any wounding or psychological “shadows” in your subconscious for you to heal and release. When the planet slows down, it can be particularly eventful as we face Pluto wounds. This is to help us clear the slate and rise from the ashes like a Phoenix. You are ready to work on this part of yourself!
The Full Moon occurs May 12th, 9:55 am Pacific time at 22°12’ Scorpio. The same day, Mercury in Taurus squares Pluto retrograde in Aquarius. The Moon conjuncts the asteroid, Juno, also in Scorpio. representing our partner, our ideal “consort.” What is it we value in intimacy (or in partnerships with others one-on-one), who or what supports our passions and lets us wrestle with healing our “stuff”? How do we create deep honest bonds with others? A Scorpio Moon brings intense feelings to the surface. Watch out for power plays in another. Consider how to balance the beauty of intense connection with what calms you and helps you feel at ease. “Hang your heart on laughing willow, stray down to the water, deep sea of love, beneath the sweet calm face of the sea swift undertow.”
The Moon goes out of bounds again the days following the Full Moon, May 13 through 17th, in Sagittarius and Capricorn. Be bold and adventurous! Time to feel free and open your mind to new paradigms of how we view the world. Jupiter in Gemini squares the nodes of the Moon mid-May asking us to think outside the box and look for diverse solutions to visualizing our path as compassionate people in loving service. How might we imagine sharing our ideas and making a difference for others and our world?
Sun enters Gemini, May 20th, 11:54 am. Late spring sets a mood for feeding our curiosities, investigating new avenues of knowledge, and exchanging ideas with others. A great time for stepping out and joining a collective conversation! Fun gatherings include playful banter, just for the joy of word play and language. “So swift and bright strange figures of light float in air.”
May 24th, Saturn enters Aries, 8:35 pm, coming within a range of a conjunction with Neptune. Time to make real our commitments to being spiritual warriors. Saturn will be in Aries until September 1st when the ringed planet will return to Pisces for the rest of the year. Check where early degrees of Aries falls in your natal chart. Here you must face challenges as you push ahead with Aries initiative and dreams. “Never could reach it, just slips away but I try.”
The New Moon happens on May 26th, 8:02 pm, at 6°05’ Gemini. Once again, the Moon is out of bounds. Sun and Moon make a supportive trine to Pluto in Aquarius, another air sign. What a great moment to create intentions: how might we expand our “voice”, our writing projects or teaching, or consider new classes to take? How might we utilize any inner work we have been doing under Pluto in Aquarius to liberate our minds and speak our truth?