Guest article By Dorene Carrel
May contains significant planetary transitions and patterns that will help us gain greater momentum as the month progresses. As in late April, we begin the month on a more introspective note with five retrograde planets, which include Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto. On May 9 a rare Mercury transit over the Sun helps us tap into our connection with higher mind. In mid-month Mercury and Jupiter turn direct, which enhances our perspective, learning, communication, and ideals/visions. We can begin moving forward with more energy and clarity. Also featured is an ongoing t-square pattern between Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn, which helps us to examine and rebalance our needs for expansion and consolidation.
On May 3 the Sun in Taurus forms a harmonious trine to Jupiter in Virgo, which allows us to ground our vision in practical ways. This trend is followed by a Sun/Pluto trine on May 7 that adds more depth and focus, as well as possible helpful collaboration with others.
The New Moon occurs on May 6 at 17 Taurus. This lunation aligns with Mercury, Venus and the asteroid Vesta, and forms a grand earth trine with Pluto and Jupiter. This month we can gain a truer perspective on what is of real value to us, especially in terms of how we spend our time and resources. Grand trines can provide progress, as well as tangible opportunities and rewards to those who have worked towards certain goals.
Pluto, Jupiter and Vesta help us to hold our vision, and be discerning and practical about what will bring long-term benefits. The Sabian keynote for this degree, “A symbolical battle between ‘swords’ and ‘torches’; refusing to depend upon the past, the seeker turns warrior, fighting anew the eternal ‘Great War’,” suggests a polarization of values between the soul and the ego.
Jupiter, the planet of expansion, turns direct on May 9. The past four-month retrograde phase has helped us to gain more perspective on our beliefs, visions and what we need to grow and evolve. Now we can begin making choices on how to move forward with our new awareness. The rare Mercury/Sun transit today at 19 Taurus provides us with a closer connection to a higher intelligence that may bring important insights. On May 10, the Venus/Jupiter trine can bring optimism, renewal, and prosperity. This would be a good time to plan an enjoyable social event or buy a lottery ticket.
On May 12-13, Mercury aligns with Venus in Taurus and both trine Pluto in Capricorn. This period enhances the new moon theme of practical focus on values and how we can best use our resources. Does our daily schedule reflect these values and how can we bring it into a better alignment with our true goals? The Pluto trine can bring opportunities to take a deeper approach, after Mercury turns direct.
The Full Moon occurs on May 21 at 1 Sagittarius. It aligns with Mars, Vesta and Venus. This combination encourages us to evaluate new information with a broad and nonjudgmental perspective. The focus will be on balancing our needs for both freedom and security. Mars is closest to the Earth this year on May 22, when it opposes the Sun, giving us an extra boost of energy. There may also be more protests in the news at this time. The Sabian symbol keynotes for these degree areas, “A rewarded faith in spiritual blessings,” and “The mobilization of unconscious energies under the pressure of superpersonal motives,” suggests the personal growth that comes from persevering with our spiritual practices.
Mercury turns direct on May 22 at 14 Taurus. It is in a close quincunx aspect to Saturn, which suggests that any ideas that are too fixed may require an adjustment to be workable. Mercury is still in a grand earth trine with Jupiter and Pluto, which will help us to expand our thinking and attract opportunities to enhance our progress.
On May 26, the third and last square occurs between Jupiter in Virgo and Saturn in Sagittarius. The other square aspects occurred last August and this past March 23.
During April and May there has been an ongoing t-square pattern between Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune that has its closest aspects this month. Our urges for expansion can best be met with cautious discernment and a goal-oriented approach. We can now achieve new clarity about a situation that was begun last August. New insights could lead to a restructuring or reorganization, which in turn can draw in new people and resources.
On May 27 Mars returns to Scorpio until August 3, providing more time for us to clear out old emotional patterns holding us back from our greater growth. New momentum and energy is released when Mars begins moving forward again on June 30.
On May 30 Mercury forms another trine with Pluto, which allows us to make progress with a situation/project that may have begun around May 12. Our thinking goes deeper now and we may be able to attract more resources.
In June Mars turns direct. Blessings for a peaceful Spring.
* * * * * * * * *
Dorene Carrel is a professional astrologer with over thirty years of experience. Donations towards this column are appreciated. Paypal accepted. Please use my email, dorenea5@yahoo.com as reference.
All references to Sabian symbols are from An Astrological Mandala: The Cycle of Transformation and Its 360 Symbolic Phases, by Dane Rudhyar.
Check out my astrology blog at www.astroconnections.blogspot.com for ongoing astrological observations on current events.
Wonderful reading Im going to buy that lottery ticket as Jupiter is conjunct my Sun and Mercury so you never know!!