Monthly Astrology Forecast

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This Month's Forecast

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May 2012 Forecast

(For the June 2012 forecast, click here.)

By Benjamin Bernstein

Whatever your Sun Sign, this forecast will help you make the best use of each month’s astrological energies. Events are most powerful on the dates listed. However, their influence will be active for at least several days before and after. All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone.

Everyone is affected by these global transits. However, you will be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate natal planets and other sensitive points in your personal horoscope. To learn more about having your chart interpreted, click here!

HEADLINES

5/5. Full Moon in Scorpio
5/10-17. Grand Trine: Mercury-Mars-Pluto
5/12-14. Kite: Mercury-Mars-Pluto-Chiron
5/12. Pluto sextile Chiron
5/15. Venus turns retrograde
5/16. Jupiter quincunx Saturn
5/20. Sun enters Gemini
5/20. Solar Eclipse (New Moon) in Gemini
5/24-6/5. T-Square: Sun-Chiron-Mars
5/26-31. T-Square: (Mercury-Chiron-Mars)

THE STORY SO FAR

As May opens, Saturn remains retrograde thru 6/25, and Pluto remains retrograde thru 9/17. And the pervasive energies of revolutionary transformation (a Uranus-Pluto square), as well as universal love, compassion and spiritual awakening (Neptune in Pisces), will be active for years to come!

VOID-OF-COURSE MOONS

It's best to avoid starting important new projects or making major purchases during these times. "Business as usual" is the best strategy for these periods, which occur when the Moon has made its last major Ptolemaic aspect but has not yet moved into the next sign. Learn more about working with void-of-course Moons here.

5/2, 6:58 am - 10:05 pm (Libra)
5/4, 2:02 pm - 10:21 pm (Scorpio)
5/6, 8:15 am - 9:41 pm (Sagittarius)
5/8, 9:34 pm - 10:02 pm (Capricorn)
5/10, 3:12 pm – 5/11, 1:04 am (Aquarius)
5/12, 8:53 pm – 5/13, 7:43 am (Pisces)
5/15, 8:00 am - 5:47 pm (Aries)
5/17, 5:45 pm – 5/18, 6:05 am (Taurus)
5/20, 11:16 am - 7:07 pm (Gemini)
5/22, 6:51 pm – 5/23, 7:33 am (Cancer)
5/25, 10:34 am - 6:13 pm (Leo)
5/27, 7:55 pm – 5/28, 2:08 am (Virgo)
5/30, 1:51 am - 6:47 am (Libra)
5/31, 9:31 pm – 6/1, 8:32 am (Scorpio)

5/3 (Thu). What a great day for communication: Mercury, fired up in Aries, is sextile sociable Venus in chatty Gemini. Just be sure you keep Mercury's Aries energy enthusiastic, but not too aggressive!

5/4 (Fri). A pair of quintiles – one lasting considerably longer than the other – add some fairy dust to the day as they both come exact.
        The Jupiter-Chiron quintile started on 4/25 and will continue thru 5/14. It can give steady expansion to healing and mentoring, especially if it involves subtle energy. This aspect also supports giving or seeking sage advice on philosophical and religious matters.
        The Sun-Neptune quintile only has a five-day lifespan – 5/2 thru 5/7 – but is a great energy for connecting to spiritual consciousness and divinely inspired creativity. It also supports Law of Attraction manifestation practices.

5/5 (Sat). Challenges to your natural impulses in thought and communication are possible with Arean Mercury opposing Saturn. Consider the consequences of your words before sharing them, especially if you're angry. Take this aspect to the upside by bringing discipline, concentration and maturity to what you think and say.

The May Full Moon shines forth at 11:35 PM (16°01' Scorpio). Take stock of how you're doing with your psychological explorations, shared resources, occult practices, personal transformation and committed romantic partnership, and make appropriate adjustments.
        While unusually intense, this Full Moon's strongest aspect – an opposition to Jupiter – offers the possibility of new opportunities and a splash of luck! Healing and mentoring are also supported, with a trine from Chiron.
        The Sabian Symbol for this lunation is, “A woman, filled with her own spirit, is the father of her own child.” This immaculate conception refers not to a physical birth, but to the awakening of expanded divine consciousness within you. Any woman can be a father in this sense (and any man can be a mother), since we all embody both masculine and feminine energies. I invite you to try these invocations to help bring about this metaphysical birth within yourself!

5/7 (Mon). It's a great time to take a fresh look at your usual approaches to religion and philosophy. With paradigm-shifting Uranus semi-square Taurean Jupiter thru 5/18, be sure to take any intuitive flashes in these areas seriously. Or how about a small revolution in how you approach sensuality – everything from food and massage to music and sex?

5/8 (Tue). The energy can get intense, jangly and even dangerous with Mars quincunx Uranus. Take a hint from Mars' placement in Virgo and balance impulsiveness with appropriate planning. This potentially accident-prone energy lasts for about a week, so please avoid unnecessary risks. At the same time, be sure to make adjustments in your actions when your intuitive flashes so guide you!

5/9 (Wed). Mercury transits Taurus today through 5/24. This is not the fastest mental energy on the block, but is an excellent time to focus your thoughts on what you value (including yourself). A steady, deliberate approach to learning and communicating should serve you well.

5/10 (Thu). A Mercury-Neptune sextile can promote daydreaming and meandering thoughts, but is also just the ticket for joining human mind and divine mind!
        Mercury is also part of a Grand Trine kicking off today, peaking on 5/14, and ending on 5/17. The other two corners of this equilateral triangle are held down by Mars and Pluto, and all three planets are in earth signs. During this period, learning, communication and action toward practical outcomes is harmoniously supported.

5/11 (Fri). It may not be up in your face, but a Saturn-Chiron sesquisquare, exact today, is testing all of our core structures for the next four months. (This aspect kicked in on 4/23, and persists through 8/16.) If you already know how to bring healing to a situation, by all means do so. If not, then you might be wise to seek some sage advice – from a savvy human or your own divine wisdom -- to guide you. With Saturn in Libra, watch for healing opportunities in relationships and creative expression.

5/12 (Sat). The empowerment of healing, mentoring and personal transformation crescendos today, but remains powerful all the way through April 2014! This two-year aspect comes to you courtesy of a long-running sextile between Pluto and Chiron.
        This Pluto-Chiron sextile is also featured in a Kite aspect pattern, which starts today, peaks on 5/14 and ends on 5/15. This Kite simply adds the focal point of Chiron to the Mercury-Mars-Pluto Grand Trine that started on 5/10. During this period, consider seeking or providing mentorship to support the learning, communication and action previously mentioned. Physical ailments may also respond more readily to healing methods that employ subtle energy, such as acupuncture, Reiki and shamanism.

5/13 (Sun). A Sun-Jupiter conjunction is always good for pumping up some enthusiasm or throwing a celebration! Occurring in Taurus, it can amplify your appreciation of sensuality, enjoyment of the natural world, or just being.
        Today's trine between Taurean Mercury and Virgoan Mars is part of the Grand Trine and Kite aspect patterns already discussed this week. Unto itself, this aspect supports an easy flow of communication and action to help achieve practical results.

5/14 (Mon). Mercury makes soft aspects to two slow planets today: a trine to Pluto and a sextile to Chiron. Both these aspects are part of the Grand Trine and Kite aspect patterns that kicked off last week. Taken separately, the Pluto trine supports an easy flow of honest, deep discussion, even of topics that are normally uncomfortable or taboo. The Chiron sextile supports a strong, flowing connection for healing or mentoring.
        Be prepared to alter your plans if necessary, rather than stubbornly sticking to your current trajectory, in order to overcome any obstacles that arise. Or so I interpret the Taurean Sun quincunx Saturn!
        The two aspect patterns that started last week – a Grand Trine and a Kite – peak today. Use their goodness for all it's worth!

5/15 (Tue). With Venus starting her six-week retrograde at 10:32 am, and turning direct again on 6/27 at 11:06 am, reflection may trump action in relationships, creativity and finance. At the very least, give any matters in these areas sufficient thought if action is required!
        With her retrograde entirely in Gemini, you might specifically ponder the following: is there sufficient variety in my partnerships and friendships, both in terms of the number of people in my life and the diversity of activities I'm enjoying with each person? Is my creative expression finding enough different outlets, and am I allowing myself to approach them in an experimental and playful way? And on the financial front, is my portfolio sufficiently diversified, and am I spending and investing in a variety of ways that supports my growth and happiness? (Most people find that money invested in memorable experiences tends to be better investments than nonessential material purchases.)

5/16 (Wed). A trine between Virgoan Mars and Capricornian Pluto, part of the current Grand Trine and Kite configurations, comes exact today. Unto itself, this aspect can boost libido, support worldly ventures, energize service to others, and empower organizational tasks.
        There can be an awkward sense of stasis, especially regarding material pursuits and relationships, with Taurean Jupiter quincunx Libran Saturn. Should you be expanding (Jupiter) or contracting (Saturn)? For the next week, look for a key adjustment that will allow a harmonius balance between these conflicting urges.

5/17 (Thu). The opposition of Virgoan Mars and Piscean Chiron activates several possibilities. It increases the likelihood that old wounds might be stimulated – in which case they're newly activated and ripe for healing! (You may find this invocation helpful.) The urge to act as a mentor and/or healer for others can be strong. And your ability to carry out precise action, based on intuitive wisdom, is also energized.
        Open your mind to inspiration and intuitive guidance – doing so is easier than usual with a Mercury-Neptune quintile!
        You may be able to access greater wealth and power by levering yourself out of that rut you're in – at least that's one way to use a sesquisquare (a 135° aspect) between Taurean Jupiter and Pluto! This opportunity remains thru 5/27.

5/20 (Sun). Writing, as well as learning and all forms of communication, can enjoy fresh inspiration with Taurean Mercury quintile Piscean Chiron. Editing and fine-tuning your ideas is also supported.
        The Sun enters Gemini at 11:15 AM, followed by a solar eclipse at 7:47 PM (0°20' Gemini). This “New Moon on steroids” empowers new beginnings in learning, communication and enjoyment of variety. New beginnings of all kinds should enjoy an extra measure of luck (Jupiter conjunction), especially if supported by visualization (Neptune square). The Neptunian influence also makes intuitive input into your decision-making more easily available. And, as an eclipse, this initiation energy stays potent for six months!
        The Sabian Symbol for this eclipse is, “A glass-bottomed boat reveals undersea wonders.” Could this be a metaphor for the new possibilities and perspectives you'll perceive by inviting intuition into your life?

5/21 (Mon). Communication challenges can crop up with Mercury quincunx Saturn. Take a hint from Mercury's current position in Taurus by sharing information systematically and methodically.

5/22 (Tue). If yesterday's communication roadblocks have suddenly transformed to a gushing flow of input and output, you can chalk it up to Mercury's conjunction to Jupiter. Just be careful not to let your enthusiasm for your ideas cause you to talk someone's ear off!

5/23 (Wed). With the Geminian Sun square Neptune, some people tend to experience scattered and fuzzy thinking. This can be remedied by operating more from your intuitive flow. On a more basic level, a Sun-Neptune square can increase the desire for altered states or escapism. If drugs or alcohol are tempting you, consider giving yourself a higher level of ecstasy by connecting with Source instead. (Try the invocation, “Spirit, please saturate me with the maximum amount of bliss that serves the highest good, right now, thank you,” then focus on your breath while the divine does the rest! For the basics on invocation, click here.)

5/24 (Thu). Mercury transits Gemini today thru 6/7. With the messenger planet dignified in a sign that it rules, learning and sharing information gets a special boost!
        A challenging aspect pattern called a T-square comes into effect today. Peaking on 6/3 and ending on 6/5, it's made up of a Mars-Chiron opposition, with both planets squaring the Sun. For variety, Mercury joins the Sun in the middle position; Mercury's briefer T-square runs 5/26 thru 5/31, and peaks on 5/29.
        So what does this all mean? The T-square's core meaning derives from the Mars-Chiron opposition, already interpreted in the 5/17 entry. (In summary, old wounds might be coming up for healing, mentoring and healing urges may be arising, and meticulous, intuitively guided action is supported.) The addition of the Sun and Mercury in Gemini invites us to pay special attention to our thoughts, and how the ideas we focus on powerfully shape our reality! (If you tire of the excessive mentality that this T-square can generate, this invocation may help clear your head.)

5/25 (Fri). A Mercury-Neptune square can generate confusion or foggy thinking – unless you tune in to Neptune's high side. In that case, a magical layer of intuitive wisdom can overlay your regular thought processes!

5/27. The Sun and Mercury come together in Gemini, empowering mental activity and playful jocularity!
        Mercury and its higher-octave planet, Uranus, connect with a strong, flowing sextile today. It's an ideal setup for receiving lots of intuitive flashes!

5/28 (Mon). Be on the lookout for challenging thoughts and wounding words – some of the more challenging possible manifestations of Mercury quincunx Pluto and square Chiron. You can take these aspects to the high side by letting your mind probe deeply into the depths, or consciously engaging in mentoring or healing dialogue.
        A sextile between the Geminian Sun and Uranus continues a theme that keeps repeating lately – connecting the rational human mind with the intuitive flashes of divine wisdom. This invocation may help: “Spirit, please help me to easily receive and act on my intuitive guidance, to the greatest extent that serves the highest good, right now, thank you.”

5/29 (Tue). Ready to release thoughts that don't serve you, as well as egoic qualities that have outlived their usefulness? A quincunx between the Geminian Sun and Pluto should provide fuel for the fire!

5/30 (Wed). Venus always enjoys a variety of human interactions and creative outlets during her annual transit of Gemini. And with today's quintile to Uranus, she should make it especially easy to connect with the divine in others, and enjoy fresh creative inspiration!
        A pair of squares accentuate possibilities – dark and light -- in the realm of communication: the Geminian Sun squares Chiron, and Geminian Mercury squares Mars. Wounding through warlike words is one scenario. But joining this strong urge to communicate with compassion and mindfulness can facilitate healing and mentoring.

QUICK GLOSSARY OF ASTROLOGICAL ASPECTS

Conjunction. Two planets in the same place (0° apart). Union; merging.
Opposition. Two planets opposite each other (180º apart). Opposition; relationship.
Square. 90° angle. Conflict; challenge for growth.
Trine. 120° angle. Easy, flowing connection.
Sextile. 60° angle. Flowing, high-energy connection.
Quincunx. 150° angle. Difficulty making connection; adjustment required.
Quintile. 72° angle. Inspiring, creative connection.
Biquintile. 144° angle. Like a quintile, but more subtle.

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