The New Moon arrives on May 11th 2.59 pm ET / 8.59 pm CET at 21 degrees Taurus. The Full Moon in Scorpio from two weeks ago was an intense one. We’re approaching eclipse season with the first eclipse of this Summer arriving at the end of May. This New Moon in Taurus is the calm between two storms.
The New Moon will be in the last decan (the last 10 degrees) of Taurus. Taurus is a sign of stability. The New Moon is separating from a conjunction with Uranus; a planet of change. With the New Moon being pretty far away from Uranus, in the last decan, she’s able to make use of the stability that Taurus has to offer. This New Moon is actually how we want a New Moon in Taurus to be. This New Moon has a calm, enjoyable and relaxing vibe to it. This New Moon offers a well deserved break. I advice you to make use of it, because some intense astrology is coming up. Eclipse season is about to start. Saturn will station retrograde just before the Lunar eclipse arrives, in two weeks time. As Saturn will move backwards into Aquarius, the square between him and Uranus will intensify. At the end of this month, Mercury will station retrograde too. In June, Mars will enter Leo. In other words; the end of May gives the introduction to some intense astrology that will start to unfold in June. We’re in the calm before the storm. Enjoy the calmness.
The ruler of this New Moon is Venus. Venus at the moment is in Gemini. Gemini is the mutable air sign and ruled by Mercury. Mercury at the moment is at home in Gemini and conjunct the North Node. Gemini is a sign of communication. Thus, although this New Moon finds herself in a rather stable and calm environment (and isn’t in aspect in challenging or negative ways); the ruler of this New Moon finds herself in a sign that isn’t known for stability at all and under the ruling of a rather busy landlord (Mercury conjunct North Node). There’s a lot of activity in Gemini and this activity will increase when the Sun enters Gemini too, later this month. Given that the ruler of this New Moon is in Gemini; I would say this New Moon offers a perfect moment to combine the best of Taurus with the best of Gemini. Experiencing pleasure (Taurus) with another person (Gemini). Relaxing (Taurus) with friends (Gemini). Enjoy in the pleasures of life, with others. (Of course, still keep your distance. The pandemic is still going strong. This virus isn’t a joke!)
The New Moon in Taurus is connected by sextile with Neptune and is applying to a square with Jupiter. This supports us in using this break from intense astrology, not just for relaxation, but also for reflection. The parts of our charts that contain Taurus are undergoing change. Where in your life do you experience a desire for freedom or revolution? Where is change going on? Taurus is a sign that isn’t known for sudden change. Taurus prefers to do things slow and steady. If change needs to happen, it prefers to change or make change in a slow and steady way. The aspects of this New Moon, with Neptune and Jupiter, provide support for visualizing the way forward. ‘How do I do that change?’
Ok, change is happening, we’re heading into a new direction… what now? Where do we go now? New futures aren’t built in one day. A revolution doesn’t take place in one day. What revolution do you want in your life? And how to go about it? This New Moon is supportive of making sense of it. How do you do this change? Slow and steady wins the race. Whatever your situation is. Whatever part of your chart contains Taurus and whatever change, freedom-seeking-adventure, turbulence or revolution is going on there: this New Moon offers a moment to visualize how you want this revolution to turn out and what you can do to make that happen.
Sometimes you may think that revolution isn’t possible, because the structures that are in place are too fixed. You may think the established hierarchy can’t be demolished and reshaped. Sometimes you may think that the life that you have is too fixed and that things can’t be changed. You may think a revolution is impossible because you are looking at a desired end result that is way too different from your current situation.
What things were too big to visualize two years ago? Are you able to visualize them now? What steps have you taken. In between then and now? Bulls (Taurus) move forceful and deliberate; slow and steady. Uranus stays in Taurus till 2026, thus there’s plenty of time (if you haven’t been able to visualize it so far). How are you going to do change / revolution / freedom like a bull?
The current astrology provides a certain kind of stability. A moment to pause. A moment to enjoy. A moment to relax. A moment to reflect. The astrology that is ahead is much more unstable. Eclipse season is at our doorstep. Saturn and Mercury will both turn retrograde later this month. Mars will enter Leo in June. So much fun stuff is coming up (ahum)…
Astrology Forecast
May 12th Mercury trine Saturn
Just after the New Moon, the trine between Mercury and Saturn goes exact. Both planets are in their domicile (own home). Mercury is in Gemini and Saturn is in Aquarius. Both these signs are air signs. Mercury relates to the intellect, to communication and thinking. Saturn relates to structure, responsibility and authority. This transit is very supportive of practical decision making, clear thinking, signing important contracts, writing down your business plan, and other stuff like that.
May 13th (US) / 14th (EU/Asia) Jupiter enters Pisces
Yay! We have been waiting for this! Jupiter enters Pisces on May 14th. Jupiter is the ruler of Pisces, which means he strong in Pisces. Jupiter is the greater benefic. Jupiter is the planet that brings us wisdom, positivity and growth. Throughout 2020 Jupiter was in Capricorn, the sign of his fall (meaning Jupiter is not particularly strong in Capricorn) and co present with malefic planets working against him. The past year wasn’t a lucky year for most of us… In December Jupiter entered Aquarius. Not being in the sign of his fall anymore, Jupiter is in a better position to bring some hope and healing into the world. In Aquarius, he’s still co present and under the ruling of Saturn though. Jupiter in Pisces is free and not under the control of Saturn anymore. Jupiter in Pisces is also in his own sign, making him extra equipped at bringing healing and hope in the world.
Jupiter is a planet of philosophy, wisdom and healing. Jupiter is a planet of growth, hope and optimism. Pisces is the mutable water sign. We see Jupiter’s qualities reflected in this sign in the capability of Pisces to emotionally merge with the Other, with the divine. Pisces is a sign of deep feelings and intuition. It’s a sign of losing oneself into another, and meeting oneself there in the other. It’s a sign of intuitive wisdom on life. Sagittarius is the other sign that’s ruled by the philosopher Jupiter. In Sagittarius we see the wisdom is gathered by exploring the world, traveling and philosophizing. In Pisces the wisdom is gathered through emotional soul searching.
Capricorn and Aquarius are ruled by Saturn. Saturn, and these two signs, bring a focus on boundaries. It’s no wonder that social distancing became a concept when we had Saturn heavy astrology. With Jupiter in Pisces the boundaries may start to dissolve a bit. Though, I have to note, Jupiter will only be in Pisces for a short while this year. And while the Lunar Nodes remain in Gemini and Sagittarius, travels will remain limited. However, this transit of Jupiter in Pisces late Spring / early Summer, gives us an introduction of what Jupiter in Pisces in 2022 may bring. See it as the trailer of a movie. In your personal life Jupiter will bring some fortune in the part of your chart that Pisces is on. Again, consider the upcoming weeks, till the end of July, to be a trailer.
Thus, Jupiter enters Pisces on May 13th (US) / 14th (EU / Asia). Jupiter will station retrograde on June 20th at 2 degrees Pisces. Jupiter retrograde will enter Aquarius again on July 28th, to finish up some work in Aquarius together with Saturn. Jupiter will station direct on October 18th. Jupiter will leave Aquarius and enter Pisces again on December 28th.
May 14th (US) / 15th (EU, Asia) Mercury enters pre-shadow retrograde
The second Mercury retrograde of 2021 begins with the pre-shadow period that starts on May 14th / 15th when Mercury hits 16 degrees Gemini. Mercury will station retrograde on May 29th at 24 degrees Gemini. Mercury will station direct on June 22nd at 16 degrees Gemini. Mercury retrograde keywords are re-doing, re-flecting, re-viewing, re-imagining, re-communicating, etc. Mercury signifies communication, thinking, writing, transporting and traveling. When Mercury is retrograde these things often are a bit more challenging; being confronted with delays, missing messages or packages or the like. Though personally that also depends very much on your chart; on the placement of your natal Mercury and the house that contains the sign where Mercury retrograde is taking place (in this case, Gemini). Mercury retrograde sometimes comes with exes or other people coming back into our lives; or with old projects coming back into our calendar. I’ll write more specifics about Mercury retrograde in Gemini in the article on the next lunation, that will come online in about two weeks.
However, I do want to explain something about the pre-shadow period right now. Mercury now enters the range of degrees in Gemini that he will travel again when he’s retrograde. This is called the pre-shadow period. Stuff that surfaces now, related to Mercury in Gemini, may resurface again during the retrograde period. For example, for me (Taurus rising) Gemini is on the 2nd house in my chart. Mercury in Gemini in the 2nd house may be about organizing finances. Because one of the several 2nd house significations is finances and Mercury helps us to organize stuff and gain insight on stuff. I might decide to make a spreadsheet of my finances somewhere between May 14th and May 29th. Early June, while Mercury is retrograde, I may find out that I made a mistake and that something in my spreadsheet is wrong. Thus, Mercury retrograde reflects the opportunity to correct my spreadsheet. See, Mercury retrogrades are not that bad as they seem. It might not be fun, taking a second look at that spreadsheet. But I rather get a second chance at it, than no chance at all. This is just an example, to show you how you can take note of what Mercury retrograde might be about for you. Take note of the Mercurial things that will happen in the house that contains Gemini in your chart. These things might resurface early June, in one way or another.
May 17th Venus conjunct North Node
When the goddess of love conjuncts the North Node in Gemini, we may feel an increased desire to connect with others. A hunger for communication. Venus wants to relate. This is a good day for hanging out with friends. (But keep distance people.)
May 19th / 20th Venus trine Saturn
This is a supportive transit. When Venus in Gemini trines Saturn in Aquarius, both planets receive some help from each other. Saturn has big goals to achieve and longterm projects to work on in Aquarius. Venus helps him out with a certain task on the endless to do list, sending him a helping hand or bringing a friendly offer. Saturn may support Venus by offering structure and stability in whatever thing she wants to achieve in Gemini. Look at the houses in your chart that contain Gemini and Aquarius. How are the topics, that these houses signify in your chart, related?
May 20th Sun enters Gemini
Gemini season starts on May 20th, when the Sun enters Gemini. Mercury and Venus are already in Gemini. The North Node is in Gemini too; which means that eclipse season is here. When a New Moon or Full Moon occurs in close proximity to one of the Nodes, an eclipse takes place. A New Moon happens when the Sun and the Moon align in the same sign. A Full Moon happens when the Sun and the Moon are in opposition (thus in opposite signs). The Full Moon in Sagittarius (the sign opposite of Gemini) arrives on May 26th. Now that the Sun has entered Gemini, and with the Full Moon (Lunar eclipse) approaching, we will begin to feel the turbulence of eclipse season. Eclipses come with great beginnings and great endings. Eclipses often take something away in order to push us forward into growth. More on that in the next article, that will come online a couple of days before the Full Moon in Sagittarius arrives.
Gemini is the mutable air sign. Gemini is ruled by Mercury. Mercury is currently in Gemini, in his own sign, and will station retrograde soon. As written, Venus and the North Node are in Gemini too. Now the Sun has joined the party. There’s a big emphasis on the parts of our charts that contain Gemini! Mercury rules it all. Mercury is strong in his own sign. Mercury is about to station retrograde. The fact that Mercury rules Gemini, doesn’t make this retrograde necessarily easier. It does make it stronger. In June we’ll have a Solar Eclipse in Gemini. Some change is coming up in the part of your chart that contains Gemini. I can promise you that. I can’t say it will be easy or difficult. I can’t say if it comes with blessings or challenges. But you’ll definitely know what Gemini is about for you, in these upcoming weeks.
As I mentioned. Gemini is the mutable air sign ruled by Mercury. Gemini is the sign of the twins. Sometimes called two faced, but I would rather say socially flexible or adaptable. The air signs are social signs, focused on the other and communication. Gemini is highly skilled at switching social roles; adapting to the environment. Gemini is highly skilled at networking. Which is probably why Gemini is sometimes called two faced, as in having multiple identities in different circumstances and as in not being authentic (not being authentic is something that Libra is accused of often too). As with every sign and as with every quality, strengths can becomes weaknesses. For Gemini the challenge may be to focus on the self and to honestly face onseself; as it’s so easy for this sign to be focused on the other. Gemini is quick and multifaceted. Gemini loves facts and data exchange. People born with the Sun in Gemini (and also those with the ascendant or Moon in Gemini) shine when they explore different perspectives, when they adopt different perspectives and try to put themselves in other people’s shoes (and to come back to their own shoes afterwards), when they move around and about with social flexibility, when they gather knowledge and disperse knowledge by chatting, writing, teaching, coaching, or the like and when they engage in their networks.
May 21st Sun square Jupiter
The Sun in Gemini squares Jupiter in Pisces. This transit gives a boost to Jupiter’s undertakings in Pisces. As mentioned before (see May 14th), Jupiter is in Pisces for just a short while. This transit may illuminate what Jupiter in Pisces has to offer you. Jupiter, on his turn, may have a positive influence on the happenings in the Gemini part of your chart (or may offer intuitive wisdom in dealing with these happenings). As mentioned, a lot is going on in Gemini at the moment (Mercury, Venus, the Sun and the North Node are there).
May 22nd / 23rd Mercury square Neptune
Mercury square Neptune may bring some mental soup. Mercury in Gemini usually is skilled in fast thinking and fact checking. Neptune is anything but skilled with spreadsheets, facts and linear thinking. Neptune rules de dreamlands. The Mercury Neptune square will occur twice more (due to the Mercury retrograde period that’s coming up). If fogginess, illusions, delusions, dreams, absent mindedness or other soupy Mercurial things occur (don’t drop your phone in your pan with boiling soup), take note; these things may reoccur when the squares reoccur.
May 23rd Saturn stations retrograde
Saturn stations retrograde at 13 degrees Aquarius (take note if you have personal planets or points in between 12-14 degrees of any of the fixed signs (Aquarius, Taurus, Leo and Scorpio)). Saturn will station direct again on October 11th at 6 degrees Aquarius (take note, when October comes, if you have personal planets or points in between 5-7 degrees of any of the fixed signs (Aquarius, Taurus, Leo and Scorpio)). During this retrograde period, Saturn will have to re-evaluate the work he has done so far in Aquarius (since entering this sign in December 2020). What house is Aquarius on in your chart? Look at the house significations. What topics in your life have been undergoing reconstruction? Or what topics have been asking for your attention / responsibility / accountability? Saturn retrograde will help in reviewing the work that’s done and making necessary adjustments. If you have personal planets / points in between 12-14 degrees of any of the fixed signs, you’re probably feeling the weight of Saturn. A pressure to show up, to do hard work, to take ownership. Or maybe the weight presents itself as emotional heaviness or darkness; in which case I would like to say to you to go easy on yourself and to try to be kind for yourself. Give yourself compassion, Saturn transits are often not easy.
The Full Moon at 5 degrees Sagittarius arrives on May 26th 7.13 am ET / 1.13 pm CET
I’ll be back with you soon with my insights on the Full Moon (Lunar eclipse) in Sagittarius.
Love, Maud