May dawns with the Moon in its own sign of Cancer. While we may feel like we are heading for calmer waters because the Moon moving away from the nodal axis, mid-May promises some major shifts, with three planets – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – beginning retrograde phases within days of each other.
Mars Transits Aquarius from May 4 till June 18
Mars will be shifting out of his sign of exaltation, Capricorn, and into neighbouring Aquarius on May 4 for a six week transit. Mars out of balance can cause anger, aggression and destruction. A healthy, happy Mars guides us toward practical use of resources, logical thinking, problem solving, strategy, and protection. Mars in Aquarius can go either way, and each individual can choose kindness/patience over meanness/irritability to push the Mars energy in the right direction.
Aquarius is the sign of the masses, the collective mass of humanity. Mars in Aquarius could be an amazing opportunity to march forth with the intention of protecting and serving others. From Aquarius, Mars will also aspect the signs of Taurus (where this is a lot of action going on this month), Leo and Virgo. People with prominent placements in these signs may feel the power of Mars propelling them toward service or aggression.
The nature of Aquarius, Taurus and Leo is “fixed.” Those with strong fixed signs in the natal birth-chart can tend to be strongly rooted and stubborn, which makes initiative, change and adjustment painful. Mars, with his problem-solving prowess, may be insisting on changes that can keep us safely housed, fed, and healthy. We may see these “insisted upon” changes being met with great resistance; after all, deeply rooted things are the bastion of stability and safety. This is a time to explore our courage to change. Sharpen your risk assessment tools and get ready to face the music.
Full Moon in Libra in the nakshatra of Vishaka on May 7
When assessing individual charts, analysing the condition of the Moon tells us a story about how the person thinks, feels, and responds. So, as such, it is essential to study how other planets are affecting the Moon by conjunction, aspects, etc. When the Moon is isolated in a chart, it may reflect that a person tends to feel isolated, whether by choice or circumstance. This may show a need for “alone time” to recharge, while at the same time tending to fall prey to loneliness.
During this first ten days of May, the Moon is waxing, gaining strength and enjoying alone time. This is an opportunity to shift some of that weight to the other side of the boat, giving us perspective and a bit more balance so that we can make choices that aren’t motivated by panic.
At around noon, on May 7, the Moon reaches fullness at 23 degrees of Libra, within the nakshatra of Vishaka. While the Moon is sitting alone at this moment of fullness, Saturn and Rahu, lords of Aquarius, representing masses, are aspecting the Moon. The full Moon in Libra, ruled by Venus, and Aries, ruled by Mars, brings the masculine and feminine energy into balance. Both of these signs fall into the “movable” category, so we have the ability to initiate change and plot our course toward the future.
Pay attention to the turbulence by the aspects of Saturn and Rahu to the Moon at this time. Extreme energy must be put forth to stay grounded in both thoughts and emotions. Rahu thoughts can come in the form of paranoia and misinformation. Saturn thoughts can come in the form of fear and anxiety.
As with all planets, the evolved forms of Rahu is genius, an innovator that helps us to leap quickly for opportunities. Saturn is practical, experienced and patient. Decide ahead of time to reach for the higher fruits. Resolve to keep the mind steady and strong, perceiving these influences like the wind which will come and go but seem overwhelming during the moment that we feel it.
Vishaka’s controlling planet is Jupiter and Libra itself is lorded by Venus. These two planets represent the teachers, and the positive energies directed toward a balanced, healthy, and evolutionary life. Jupiter represents the divine order, which we can try to manipulate but ultimately must obey. These natural laws branch into most aspects of our life and are refined in the realms of education, science, medicine and philosophy. Venus represents our human challenge to live in a community with others. Here, Venus leads us through the exploration of social laws. How we interact on every level with one another and the planet is reflected in Venus’ domain of relationships, connection, and creation.
Vishaka reminds us that we must pay attention to both forks of this tree of life. While we may tend to polarise toward one or the other depending on our nature, ultimately, we have to straddle that divide and listen to both of these great teachers.
Mercury will transit Taurus from May 8 till May 24
On May 8, Mercury bounds out of Aries ahead of the Sun and makes his way quickly past Venus’ current position in her own sign of Taurus. Not only are Mercury and Venus friendly with one another, they also share the quality of rajasic energy (active energy). Mercury and Venus are enthusiastic and energetic.
Coming back to the idea of making changes in a fixed environment, Mars from Aquarius is pushing hard on Taurus and the planets transiting therein. When we are thinking global, we can think in terms of armies and health care providers, law enforcement and food production being forced to make changes to deeply established systems and procedures. When we are thinking personal, we can think of courage to initiate changes as we confront deeply rooted habits and beliefs.
Venus and Mercury indicate things like communication, education, creativity, gardens, art, writing, social connection, foods, medicines, plant realm, ideals, earth, air and water elements. Putting our energy and enthusiasm in this direction could be a strong remedy for adjusting to changes that are uncomfortable, unstable and unknown.
Saturn Retrograde in Capricorn from May 11 till September 29
We are heading into a retrograde-heavy phase. Jupiter and Saturn give us a retrograde phase every year; Mercury does three retrogrades per year; and Venus and Mars go retrograde occasionally. During this particular week in mid-May, Saturn, Venus and Jupiter will all go into a retrograde phase within days of each other, signalling big shifts. In June, Mercury joins them.
When we are trying to analyse what a retrograde planet signifies, at time it behaves like the Nodes, unpredictable, chaotic, unexpected, crooked, desirous, and reverse of what you would expect. Here we have Saturn going retrograde. Normally Saturn’s movement and results are: slow, heavy, cold, cautious, detached, deliberate, limiting, sorrowful, and punishing.
We could expect Saturn in Capricorn to lighten the load and take the easy way out. A cautious course of limitation could reverse and open the way toward liberal expansion. Saturn retrograde may see us taking risks where it doesn’t seem prudent. We may have to move swiftly at the cost of security. We may have to make liaisons where we are accustomed to going it alone. We may reverse course on what seemed prudent three months ago.
Addressing this underlying anxiety and fear could be the most powerful way to handle the unexpected that arises over the coming months. Question everything, retain Saturn’s qualities of practicality and deliberation and discern when to move, where to move, and how quickly to move.
Venus Retrograde in Taurus from May 13 till June 25
Venus is well situated in Taurus, her own earth sign. Venus will also go retrograde from May 13 till June 25. Venus is the indicator for relationships, luxury, beauty, food, creative productions, and contracts overall. Each time Venus has a retrograde period, we are experiencing the transformation of Venus’ appearance in the sky, which implies shifts, edits, and at times reversals, when it comes to these subjects.
This five-week period may see us recreating our social structures and relationships, as well as the many facets of life that support those things: sharing meals, entertaining, and gatherings. Just as Saturn retrograde may tend to reach out in a cautious way, which is opposite of his tendency to detach, we may see the connective Venus step back during this re-invention phase, giving new meaning to the now ubiquitous term, social distance.
While this may be a time where we reconsider our relationships, our food, and our creative flow with Venus retreating, the comforting part is that Venus will be transiting in the fertile field of her own sign of Taurus. This is a signal to connect with nature and find ways to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit through this transformational time that is requiring deep work and courage for implementing change.
Sun Transits Taurus from May 14 till June 14
As the planet that rules our individual self-expression, the magnificent Sun enjoys a comfortable, supportive environment in his exaltation sign of Aries, but will have to move into Taurus on May 14 for his annual month-long transit.
Sun joins Mercury and retrograde Venus in Taurus and should know what to do with the aspect coming from Mars in Aquarius. The Sun represents fathers, governments, leaders and executives. When the Sun goes to Taurus, the Venusian environment forces him to take others into account. Taurus is also receiving an aspect from Jupiter who currently occupies the early degrees of Capricorn. This adds some wisdom, positivity and growth potential to all of the exploration and transformation that retrograde Venus is indicating.
In the context of the Sun passing through the retrograde Venus rebirth experience, this is also a call to deeply examine how our individual needs, quirks and differences need to be factored into the project. Now is the time to dig deep and identify how to care for ourselves and make ourselves whole so that we are our best selves when we move toward relationship and connection with others.
Jupiter goes retrograde in Capricorn from May 14 till September 12
Planet number three in the retrograde train joins on May 14 as Jupiter begins a four-month retrograde cycle. For six weeks, from mid-May until end of June, we see a debilitated and retrograde Jupiter in Capricorn. Jupiter is the champion of growth, prosperity and positivity; the cold, earthy Capricorn environment tends to challenge the buoyancy of Jupiter.
This retrograde status could help Jupiter help us, but Jupiter is still in the state of debility. We think of the medical staff on the front lines of this pandemic battle, struggling up an endless mountain (Jupiter in Capricorn) in a state of exhaustion. The retrograde status may reverse this energy, allowing a flow of hope, faith and spiritual power to bring some solace and healing. This may also show that collectively, we are in a non-growth state, a recession of positive growth, sent to ground zero to re-build from the foundations.
This brings us to considering of the strength of this wave of retrograde motion, at this time, in the midst of a global pandemic. The high tide has receded, revealing an empty beach, littered with detritus. Even if we aren’t doctors on the front line, each of us has been brought to a point of deciding who and what lives and what dies in our lives. The sad reality of letting go of years of effort has settled upon the shoulders of millions. May we all find the compassion and strength to stand together as we wait for the tide to come back in.
Rahu finally reaches Mrigshira nakshatra on May 20
The Rahu-Ketu axis moves in a wobbly fashion. For this reason, there are two calculations to show the position of this axis: True Node and Mean Node. The true node calculation is exact at any given moment and the mean node is an average position that smooths out the motion of the axis.
If we look at the true node calculation, we will see that sometimes the axis is going in direct motion and sometimes it is retrograde. That is the “wobble.” The mean node calculation eliminates the forward motion into a constant, smooth retrograde motion. Most traditional practitioners use the mean node in chart interpretations.
When looking at transits, as this forecast does, it is interesting to look at the situation with both calculations at times. The COVID-19 pandemic was born during the time that Rahu was in Gemini, but more specifically when Rahu was in the nakshatra of Ardra, which sits in Mercury-ruled Gemini and is lorded by Rahu himself. This is a very strong position for revolutionary Rahu, lord of the masses, unexpected global issues, and chaotic times.
Rahu is on his way out of Ardra, which could signal that we are onto the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the first phase having been the inception and initial spread. The mean node Rahu shifts from Ardra into Mrigshira on May 20, 2020.
Mrigshira is named ‘the searching star,’ and spans between Taurus and Gemini. The Gemini portion will give us the analytical genius of Mercury added to the problem-solving of Mars, Mrigshira’s controlling planet. This next phase of Rahu’s COVID-19 project could be touchy, with both the highs and lows of Mercury and Mars being stirred up. Certainly, it points toward using technology and tactical wisdom to quell the chaotic global disaster in which we are collectively placed at this time.
This ‘repair’ phase will again shift when Rahu moves out of Gemini and into Taurus. The mean node Rahu moves into Taurus on September 23. This will feel like a bigger shift, because both sides of the axis will be shifting whole signs. Rahu to Taurus and Ketu to Scorpio. On the other side of the axis, Ketu, the headless one, has been transiting through the intense nakshatra of Mula, since mid-January 2020. The ruling deity of Mula is Niriti, the goddess of death and destruction. Mula sits within Jupiter’s positive sign of Sagittarius and is controlled by Ketu himself, making both nodes extremely powerful for this period between mid-January and mid-May, 2020.
While Rahu moving to Mrigshira may begin to offer some active solutions and remedies, we are still seeing Ketu dragging through Mula until September. Consequently, this period from mid-May to mid-September could prove to be challenging, especially in the context of retrograde Jupiter and Saturn.
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New Moon in Taurus in the nakshatra of Kritika on May 22
The Moon slides into the arms of the Sun at 8º Taurus on May 22. We may be feeling a sense of hopelessness here, so take a couple of days around this time to pause and refresh. Concentrate on good food, quiet moments, and the spend time with Mother Nature.
Kritika nakshatra spans between Aries and Taurus and has the Sun as its ruling planet. We will be looking to our sense of leadership to assess our position and ideas on how to rejuvenate ourselves. This can be external leadership, certainly, but it is also an opportunity to access our inherent, internal wisdom by unplugging from the barrage of confusing, chaotic, outer messaging. Take a break, stop and assess.
Mercury Transits Gemini from May 24 till August 1
Just after the new Moon, Mercury charges into Gemini, his own sign, which is also the current residence of Rahu. For over two months, we will see Mercury strongly placed here. Mercury’s quick thinking, flexible nature, and analytical qualities, will help us all to rein in the chaos of Rahu. Mercury cannot stop the roller coaster, but he can show us how to ride.
Rahu is impossible to control, but Mercury is the best planet to manage Rahu. It is comforting that for nearly the remainder of Rahu’s time in Gemini, Mercury will be monitoring the situation, creating remedies, upholding supply chains, maintaining lines of communication, and keeping the marketplace active. This is a positive feature to the upcoming landscape of Summer 2020.
Mercury will do a retrograde cycle from June 18 till July 12, which keeps him in his own sign of Gemini for such an extended time. At this time, both Venus and Mercury are well placed and strong; these are our current helpers, especially as Jupiter is bogged down in a tough place with heavy company. Keep your spirits up, connect with friends, educate yourself, connect with nature and use good foods and wholesome choices to keep yourself immune in body, mind and spirit.
