Last week Venus stationed retrograde. Saturn stationed retrograde. Jupiter stationed retrograde. The asteroid Pallas also stationed retrograde. Mars moved into Pisces. Mercury is in Gemini. In other words: a lot of noteworthy transits last week! I wrote about them in the last ‘Moon article and forecast’ (read here). The most noticeable thing about these transits is that with Mars and Mercury moving from fixed signs into mutable signs, we find there is movement now where certain things were stuck. Communication has gotten a boost. There is also more space for actions being driven by instinct and passion. On the other hand: the areas in life that Saturn, Jupiter and Venus rule are slowed down now and ask for introspection. Reflection on relationships, love and connections (Venus), life philosophy and healing practices (Jupiter) and duties, responsibilities and karma (Saturn).
These are interesting contradictory energies. My advice: Make use of Mercury being strong in his home sign and pick up on those emails that you haven’t replied to yet and other communication stuff. Now is the perfect time for reaching out to others, if you want it. Mars in Pisces brings motivation and passion in ebbs and flows. Go with the waves. When you have a burst of energy and motivation, make use of it. When you feel lacking in energy, try to take rest and good chance you will be back at it tomorrow. And yes, overall, schedule in time for rest and introspection. Because that is how you can make the best use of retrograde periods. There are a lot of major life topics that ask for introspection with all these planets being retrograde. When you do the work now, you will get the fruits when the planets start moving direct.
The New Moon is on May 22nd 07.38 pm CEST in Gemini at 2 degrees. Venus retrograde is then at 20 degrees Gemini and Mercury at 21 degrees Gemini. The North Node is also in Gemini. The Moon is witnessed by trine by Saturn and Pallas (who are at 2 and 1 degrees Aquarius). Mars, Ceres and Neptune (all in Pisces) are squaring the Moon and everything else in Gemini by sign. Neptune at 21 degrees Pisces makes a very close / exact square to Venus and Mercury in Pisces. Let’s put the pieces of the puzzle together and determine what this New Moon is about, in general.
The primary theme of this New Moon is relationships. Gemini is the mutable air sign that wants to connect. The social butterfly of the zodiac. Venus in Gemini is the flirty social butterfly. Venus is retrograde now, making her less focused on going out into the world and more focused on working on relationships internally. New Moons are about initiation, about starting something new. However, with this New Moon some things are better left to wait. With this New Moon it all has to do with relationships; which can be romantic, platonic, related to work or in family. Mercury is direct and wants to reach out. Venus much more asks us to do the opposite; to turn inside and reflect on the topic of relationships and especially love. Neptune’s influence makes us not see things clearly. The North Node in Gemini feeds our hunger for connection; more than is actually good for us. I feel like the North Node in Gemini isn’t necessarily supportive of What Venus her journey into the darkness wants to brings us: which is introspection. My advice: use the present strong energy of Mercury for communication for work related stuff and in those relationships where you are clear on where you stand and what you want. This is a good New Moon to write a newsletter, reach out to old friends, send a postcard to your grandma, clean out your inbox, set up a new excel sheet for whatever. When it comes to messy or unclear love topics: wait! Give yourself a bit of time. The square by Mars might make you feel that you can’t wait. But again, listen to me: you want to wait and you can wait. Saturn and Pallas support you in holding back too; patience will be rewarded. Even though New Moons are often good times for initiation, this New Moon is more about starting to gain clarity and insights on Venusian topics. Note that I wrote ‘starting’. Because gaining insight and getting clear is a process. And this New Moon is strongly connected to Venus retrograde. So this process will take a few weeks. And with Neptune his influence you can be sure you will not be seeing things clearly for a while (even if you think you do). Use this New Moon to initiate the process of gaining insight on relationship, love and connection topics; and for the topics that fall under the house that Gemini is on in your personal chart. Set the intention to turn within and initiate that process of reflection. Give yourself weeks and not days to figure things out. You are allowed to take time. Some things need time! That is totally okay.
Scroll down for your horoscope affirmations. First I will list the major transits between the New Moon and Full Moon below. This will give you a forecast of the time to come.
May 28th 8.09 pm CEST Mercury enters Cancer
End of May Mercury moves from Gemini into Cancer. Mercury will stay in Cancer for a while, because he will have his second retrograde period of this year in this sign. The pre-shadow period starts in the beginning of June and he stations retrograde mid June, but I’ll get back on that next month. After having been in Gemini, Mercury feels a bit more constricted in the cardinal sign Cancer. However, Mercury in Cancer is about initiating the creation of emotional bonds through communication. Mercury in Gemini was all about the mind; sharing ideas, knowledge and facts. Mercury in Cancer is ‘let’s talk about our feelings, and let’s do that in a safe environment’.
June 3rd 3.04 AM Pallas retrograde enters Capricorn
and 8.52 PM Vesta enters Cancer
Pallas stationed retrograde mid May in Aquarius. Now she enters the sign Capricorn again and joins her father Jupiter who is also retrograde in Capricorn. I think of these two being together as helpful. Especially while Saturn is still in Aquarius and Mars not yet in Aries (which will happen in a few of weeks). Pallas and Jupiter both retrograde in Capricorn want us to go back and review where we have forgotten to bring support and healing to those in need. Which in our societies could be groups of people who didn’t receive proper healthcare and or support in their work against covid-19, for example. It is a time for governments to correct their mistakes, or at least make excuses. If they actually will, that’s up to them of course. But Jupiter and Pallas are asking them to. In our individual lives it could mean you realize that you had forgotten about that friend. Or maybe about yourself. Where did you stop caring for yourself, this year? What responsibilities relating to health and self-care did you forget about? What self-care routines have you lost? When did you push yourself too hard earlier in 2020? Jupiter and Pallas are like ‘hop back onto that yogamat and make yourself some proper food’.
The asteroid Vesta enters the sign Cancer. Vesta is the asteroid Goddess of the sacred fire. The sacred fires in temples but also, maybe even more so, in ourselves. There is more to say about Vesta in Cancer later in June, when the New Moon in Cancer (Solar Eclipse!) takes place quite close to Vesta.
June 5th 9.12 PM Full Moon penumbral Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius at 15 degrees
On June 5th there is a Full Moon penumbral Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius.
As usual, you can expect another article a few days ahead…
Horoscope affirmations for the New Moon in Gemini
Please note, these horoscopes are written for your rising sign. (You can also read the horoscope for your Sun sign and it might give some extra information, but the horoscope for your rising sign will be more accurate.) If you don’t yet know your rising sign. You need to know your place, date and exact(!) time of birth. If you don’t know your time of birth, unfortunately you can’t know your rising sign.
To get your rising sign you go to astro.com. Then go to free horoscopes and to extended chart selection or natal chart / ascendant. Fill in your data. Under extended chart selection: go to options for zodiac houses and under house system choose ‘whole signs’. Then click on ‘show the chart’. Your rising sign (also called ascendant) is the sign that is on the first house. It is denoted as AC. You also see it written in the red lettering under your Sun sign under your personal info.
The horoscope affirmations are listed from Aries – Pisces
These affirmations are for the days surrounding the New Moon and especially the day of the New Moon itself. These horoscope affirmations are meant to be read for inspiration and support. Take what resonates and leave behind what doesn’t.
Aries Rising (& Aries Sun)
“With this New Moon I honor the daily practices that support me in expressing love to myself and therefore indirectly others. What again are those rituals that make me feel loved, that help me to feel nourished and that give me pleasure? I now remind myself that it is important to carve out time for these things.
I also remind myself that I am allowed to have a say in what place/role I take upon me in my close relationships with siblings and friends and in my communities. I am allowed to decide whom receives my care and energy. My love doesn’t need to be given away freely and everywhere. I can restructure relationships; that is okay. I can take a step back. I may also take a step forward if I feel like that is what I want to do and if I feel like that is what is needed. I am allowed to review the way I relate to others. I am allowed to set boundaries. And also, on the contrary, when I realize that I miss certain people: let’s make a note to self that reaching out and strengthening bonds is a beautiful thing to do.
Now, let’s get back to the first lines of these affirmations. Though this New Moon is all about my close relationships with others. The most important relationship, in the end, is the one with myself. Caring for myself happens through carving out time for attending to my daily needs. Let’s set the intention to do that.”
Taurus Rising (& Taurus Sun)
“With this New Moon I take a close look at all in life that sustains me. My income, the work that provides that income, my material possessions, savings and maybe even the food that I eat. I remind myself, though, that first and foremost I sustain myself. No matter if I have savings or not or if I’m dependent on others (every human being is always in some way); I sustain myself every day. Even by doing the simplest and at the same time most vital and sometimes most difficult thing: breathing. Every breath I take sustains me.
How do I sustain myself? And how do I want to do to sustain myself? What do I want to do in life that provides me that income? And how can I restructure my life in that way, so that I will be able to? These are questions for the long run. But if I don’t start thinking about them now, I might forget about them later and as a result forget about myself.
I dive deep into myself to dig up those gifts that I have to offer to myself and the world. With this New Moon I turn inward and gaze at my loves, desires, passions and capabilities. What gifts have I been hiding from myself and the world? Let’s start thinking about bringing them into the world. I owe it to myself. I owe it to others. I owe it to life. The how to, the plan, the restructuring of life, may take some time. I remind myself that patience and stamina are key.”
Gemini Rising (& Gemini Sun)
“With this New Moon I honor myself and my body. Always stretching outward, connecting with others, spreading ideas, bending my mind around corners; that’s what I’m known for. I’m known to be able to keep many conversations going at once. With this New Moon I converse with myself.
Let’s take some time to review what connections are truly important to me and feed my life force. Who are those people? Those are the keepers. And what corners of the world and what relationships did my attention drift into? Do I really want to be there? It is okay to return the focus to me and the relationships that are of value to me.
Where was I again? So lost in connecting… Oh here I am. This New Moon is a beautiful moment to get grounded again and return in my-self and in my body. I promise myself to carve out some time these days for some bodily selflove; which can be self-massage, a long warm bath, masturbation, a slow yoga session, dancing alone, whatever works for me and enables me to give love to my body. I remind myself that I am my own home.”
Cancer Rising (& Cancer Sun)
“With this New Moon I honor my spiritual journey. Now is the time to consciously and with discipline take a look at my inner realms and the darker parts in life. Whether I feel drawn into the mental and spiritual realms out of desire or curiosity, or whether life circumstances force me to do healing work: it is time to mark space in my calendar for spiritual practices and healing work on my psyche and soul.
In this process I need to review with whom I want to share this pilgrimage. Who do I trust to take with me on that inner journey? Who brings me love, who assists me? Who can help me shine light into the darkness? But also, who isn’t supportive of my spiritual journey or creates more darkness in the dark? I am allowed to let go of certain connections if they are not supportive of my life force.
I have trust that the right collaborations that support me in my path will show up. I honor the collaborations that are already present and supportive. I invest in the relationships in my life that are supportive of sharing; that make each other feel loved and support each other to blossom. I am also allowed to be private and disconnect if I need to, for the sake of my health or selflove. Caring for others, bonding with others, often comes so natural to me. Sometimes I forget to set boundaries in order for self-protection. I am allowed to cocoon, if I want to and even if I don’t necessarily want but need to. Cocooning can be healing.”
Leo Rising (& Leo Sun)
“Part of me wants to connect with all my friends. Part of me wants to party and shine. To not care too much and just network, mingle and connect. We have been locked down long enough… However, another part of me feels the need to review my friendships and committed partnerships. Where do I find the love? Which relationships bring me pleasure and joy? Which relationships help me feel confident? And who are the people in my life that I want to show up for?
With this New Moon I carve out the time to review my relationships; love relationships, friendships and the connections in the communities I’m part of. Certain relationships might not be what they seem or seemed to be. Or certain relationships need some change. I acknowledge to myself: I don’t have to settle. I will not settle.
With this New Moon I acknowledge my needs and desires in my social and romantic life. I can’t force relationship dynamics and I can only do my part. I can get clear on my needs to feel loved and seen. I can also get clear on what I have to offer in my important relationships. I have deep wells of love. Whoever receives my love should feel honored. I crave abundance and joy. I know I’m allowed to feel abundantly loved and desired and I have so much love to pour out of me in return.”
Virgo Rising (& Virgo Sun)
“Life is asking me to reflect on my work/profession/career. Am I able to show up the way I want and love to? How and where do I find pleasure and joy in what I do? I’m pondering on these questions. With this New Moon I remind myself that now is the time to take stock. Things might feel a bit stuck. But change will come soon. Things will start to flow again. If I take a deep breath I can sense it and I will know that new energy is coming in soon.
I allow myself to review where I have love to give and receive in my public and professional life. I honor the love I feel within me and the love that I receive through my work. I honor the service that I offer to the world. I honor myself for what I give and the responsibilities I answer upon.
Sometimes it feels so natural to be of service; I tend to forget about my own needs and desires. With this New Moon I consciously take the time to reflect on the love that I find in and through my work. In case I have lost that love I promise myself to find it again. In case it feels forever lost, I promise myself to find a new love. I am worthy to experience love in my public and professional life. To be of service isn’t everything. If I need to restructure this part of my life to experience joy and love; that is okay. But in that case I will take my time; there is no hurry at all. The waters will start to flow again soon and I will be able to ride on the waves.”
Libra Rising (& Libra Sun)
“With this New Moon I return to the studies and practices that feed my thirst for knowledge on life. Which books, cultures, philosophies, spiritual practices and sciences warm my heart? Which of these make me find meaning in life? I honor these. I return to these. Spending time on whatever that supports me in experiencing meaning in life and understanding the world is important.
I also recognize that meaning in life isn’t just found in books. I experience it in my creative pursuits, in all that I create. In the things I build, the paintings I make, the poems I write. I find it in romantic dinners, in dancing, in sex. Pleasure and beauty are as important as knowledge is. Mind and body. Studies and fun.
Sometimes it is a challenge to carve out time for these things. I love to be in connection with others. I want to do right in this world and honor my responsibilities. When all is taken care of and in balance, only then I attend to myself. With this New Moon I remind myself that I am allowed to restructure my life in order to make place or more space for the things that give me meaning and pleasure. I say to myself that it is vital to attend to these things. If life at the moment doesn’t support me in attending to the things that feed my life force; I promise myself that step by step I will change my life in order to make space for the things that give me meaning. Because: I am worthy, it will foster love in myself, it will foster my pleasure in life and it will make me a even more beautiful human being.”
Scorpio Rising (& Scorpio Sun)
“On what foundations have I build my life? On what foundations do I want to build my life? And with whom do I want to build my life? Who are the people that I want to share my life with? The people I trust, the people I feel safe with, the people I can truly be myself with. With this New Moon I remind myself that there is no point in sacrificing parts of myself in relationship(s). With this New Moon I remind myself that my relationship(s) and collaborations need to strengthen me and empower me (to show the parts of me that I would normally keep hidden and in the dark).
I am reflecting on my roots, history, my homes, the walls that keep me safe and hidden, the building blocks of my life. The building blocks need to lift me up and make me feel supported. My home needs to be my place of empowerment. My roots need to dig deep and feel nourished in fertile soil. If this isn’t the case: let’s reflect where I need to do some reconstructive work. No hurry though. Now with this New Moon it is the time to reflect. Soon life will either enable or force me to start working on building (even) more sustainable foundations in life. Foundations that I want, not that just happen to be there. First I build the blueprint in my mind.
And again, I remind myself that building a life is always done in connection with others. With this New Moon I remind myself that I don’t need to settle. If the right collaboration or relationship hasn’t shown up yet, I will trust that is comes. If I’m not sure about the relationship(s) I’m in, I will carve out time to reflect. It is vital that I realize that I don’t need to settle. If I do settle, I cut myself short and deny myself the possibility for something better. Sometimes we humans settle for the grey; because we don’t dare to go through the dark in order to get to the light. We don’t dare to let go, so we hold on too tight. But something new can only emerge if we first let go. A new house can only be build when the previous one is demolished; you can’t build two houses on top of each other. You can’t find the love or right collaboration if you keep yourself in something that isn’t really it but you just don’t dare to let go of. With this New Moon I remind myself of my inner strength and ability to endure. I remind myself that I am worthy of solid and endlessly deep beautiful love. It will come. I allow it come.”
Sagittarius Rising (& Sagittarius Sun)
“Who are the most important people in my life? Who am I committed to and how? How do they mirror me? Who am I in relationship? I should find love and pleasure in my committed partnerships. I want to share and grow through my partnerships. I want to abundantly give love to the other in support of them. With this New Moon I honor the relationships in my life that offer this. With this New Moon I reflect on my relationships. In case part of me feels unseen, in case there are relationship struggles, in case I lack pleasure and love; I reflect on the why and how.
How can I restructure my daily life, if needed, in order to make more space for love and pleasure in my committed partnership(s)? Maybe I already know. Maybe I have already been restructuring things (due to Covid-19) for better or worse. With this New Moon I remind myself that I am allowed to live out daily life in a way that supports me. If it means changing up my routines; I give myself permission. (I don’t need to go back to how things were, if they are not supportive of my wellbeing.)
How do I relate to the people closest and most important to me? I love to bring joy, wisdom and adventure in the lives of others. Sharing life experiences makes me feel rich. I have a tendency to say yes to things a little too fast. With this New Moon I will focus less on the world out there, but more on what the world reflects back to me. Relationships are mirrors. It’s so easy to get lost in the image in the mirror itself, forgetting that something is reflected back to me. There is true wisdom to be found in the reflection though. Relationships always give back. What do my relationships give back? I honor the reflection, the lessons and the love.”
Capricorn Rising (& Capricorn Sun)
“With this New Moon I reflect on my work and sources of income, resources and my assets. What do or don’t I love about my work? I feel the need to reconnect with the love, pleasure and joy that work may provide me apart from the income it provides me. Work can bring more than just money. If I’m missing the love in work, I pledge myself to find it again. Either in my current job or maybe I will set out on a new adventure. But Capricorn style I know that good things take time. There is no hurry. These times are about turning within and digging up my passions and desires. Clarity, insight and new love will come with time. As far as I am happy with work: I honor the love that I find in my work and the love I spread through my work. I count my blessings and soak up the joy.
What are my assets and resources? Not just financially or materialistically. What knowledge and capabilities do I have? I am figuring that out. And I have time to figure that out. I honor myself and my worth. I honor my passions. I honor my knowledge. There is much that I have to offer. I trust that: when I honor myself and what I have to offer, the channels to do the offerings will open themselves.
Lastly, with this New Moon I take stock of my health. I will give myself some bodily love. A nourishing meal. A massage. A long night of sleep. A yoga class via Zoom. Supplements. Medicine. Whatever my body needs, I will provide it.”
Aquarius Rising (& Aquarius Sun)
“Where does one find love, pleasure, joy and creativity in times like these? I find that I’m relating to these topics in different ways than I used too. Maybe because of Covid-19 and the consequences of the pandemic, maybe also because I find that I’m also reflecting on my sense of self and my identity lately. How do I show up in this world? How do I want to show up in this world? I’m figuring out how.
What do I want to create in this world? To bring forth? Whether it is love, children, art, skills or wisdom. I want it to be in connection with another. I often can feel like I’m on the outside, looking in at other people’s lives. Watching the movie of humanity go by, while not completely being part of it. But I am. And I have my own unique and valuable place. And I have something to add in this world.
With this New Moon I reflect on the topics of love, sex and/or creativity. How do I want these topics to be present in my life? If they are present in my life the way I want them to be: I honor it. If would like to see things differently I will be honest with myself on the changes that need to come or be made. I am allowed to wish for love, sex, romance. I am allowed to crave more of it. Experiencing joy is essential in life. It doesn’t mean that every day needs to be filled with joy. It does mean that I acknowledge that I am allowed to experience joy and that I can ask life for more of it.”
Pisces Rising (& Pisces Sun)
“What are the stories of love in my past? The love connected to my ancestors, my home, the grounds and lands I grew up on? With this New Moon I’m reconnecting with my past. I am reconnecting with the people and/or places and stories that make the foundations of my life. What stories of love make up the first chapters of my book? Are those dramatic stories, tragedies, comedies? Do they make me laugh or cry? Both is okay. Both are true.
What story do I want to write at the moment? The experience of love, pleasure and joy in my home is a topic of reflection. I might experience more solitude than I have asked for. But there is love, pleasure and joy to be found in the four walls that enclose me and the soil I live upon. Or maybe I should turn it around? Maybe love isn’t so much to be found in between brick walls? Home is where the heart is, they say. Maybe this expression is one to be reflected on during this New Moon. Where is my heart? What does that ‘home’ look like? I remind myself that my heart is the most important place on earth.
If I feel the need to connect with my roots, family and home; I will carve out the time to do that. I can write a love letter to the past or actually post one and send it to the person who is like a parent to me; if I want to. I can also write a love letter to my own heart. I may acknowledge to myself what I need to feel safe, what I need to feel joyful, what I need to feel loved and what I need to feel pleasured. When my needs are met I might indulge. When I feel like there is a lack I am allowed to wish for it.”