May is a month of dramatic shifts and reversals, with a major ingress, two retrogrades, and an eclipse. Taurus is in command, but his usual steadiness has been shaken. Mercury, Venus, and the Sun have all recently crossed Uranus in Taurus, triggering shock and electricity, after a deep Scorpio Full Moon opened our underworlds. Now, the planets will continue to stir the pot. But with Jupiter moving into Pisces mid-month, a swell of peace and optimism is beginning to unleash, offering a significant pivot of energies and a glimpse into the future.

With many planets moving into Gemini, we may start to feel more social and gregarious, but slowing down is essential so we don’t speak hurtful or careless words. Emotional triggering is very possible with Mars in Cancer forming a harsh aspect during the Taurus New Moon. From here, the intensity continues. Mercury and Saturn station retrograde, helping us integrate old material and find closure with outstanding issues. On top of this, Eclipse Season starts, stimulating karmic ripening and catharsis.

But as chatty Gemini and Jupiter in Pisces take hold, we may begin to feel optimistic about going out, mingling, and returning to embrace. In some parts of the world, a sense of compassion and elation could swell, filling us with the possibility for reunion and forgiveness as we open up restrictions. However, in other places, the continued spread of Covid may feel boundless and out of control. Even as we face continued struggles, compassion, flow, and harmony are ready to take hold. We are ready to enter a new phase of healing and acceptance, as we remember the truth of our interconnection.

MERCURY + VENUS IN GEMINI

Mercury enters Gemini on May 3, Venus on May 8. The slow-paced earthiness of Taurus is transitioning into lighter, chattier energies. Our minds and conversations are enlivening as we begin to socialize more and engage in fun, humorous dialogue and exchanges. 

TAURUS NEW MOON

The Taurus New Moon arrives on May 11, offering us an anchor as we dip into emotional triggers. Mars is in sensitive Cancer in a perfect square to Chiron, the Wounded Healer, eliciting our insecurities and defensiveness. But this is a good moment to plant seeds and set intentions that could blossom into greater healing, particularly around our anger, passions, and inner masculine. Luckily, Mars will sextile Uranus the next day, offering liberation and relief from any vulnerabilities that have been triggered. With Pluto and Neptune supporting this lunation, our hearts could soften and transform. We will feel less rocked if we can root into our bodies and the natural world and open to greater spirituality and gentleness.

JUPITER ENTERS PISCES

Jupiter enters Pisces on May 13, after a year in Aquarius. This is one of the biggest transits of the year, marking a significant shift in energies. Jupiter will revisit Aquarius on July 28, 2021, because of his retrograde cycle, but will return to Pisces again on December 29. Jupiter and Neptune are the co-rulers of Pisces, and they are now together in their natural domain. The highest potential of this transit is that it will create a crescendo of love, compassion, peace, and harmony across the world. However, there is also potential that pervasive boundlessness could lead to more spreading of Covid in certain parts of the world. But after a year in cold Aquarius, the warmth of Pisces should feel like a relief for many this summer, as the possibility for embrace and healing fill our hearts with warm waves of joy and hopefulness. We only have to be wary of escape and fantasy, finding spiritual disciplines to help us anchor to the Earth. 

MERCURY ENTERS SHADOW ZONE

On May 14, Mercury enters his shadow zone before stationing retrograde. Falling in mentally active Gemini, we could feel our minds beginning to slow down. We might take the time to notice what is arising now in our thoughts, conversations, agreements, and political worlds. We will be returning to these themes twice more with Mercury’s traverse.

SATURN RETROGRADE

Saturn retrogrades on May 23, helping us reflect on our commitments, responsibilities, and the structures of our lives. In our personal lives and the collective, we may slow down and reflect on recent changes, tying up loose ends. Saturn’s retrograde brings us closer to the second square between Saturn and Uranus of 2021, which will be exact mid-June. The old and the new will enter another showdown soon. We may feel uneasiness growing until that release. This is not the year to cling to what was, but to welcome in fresh energies and approaches.

SAGITTARIUS LUNAR ECLIPSE

The Eclipse Vortex opens on May 26, as a Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse occurs—a supercharged Full Moon. Lunar Eclipses often reveal truth and catalyze our emotions, inner lives, and relationships. Sagittarius rules our belief systems and intuition, and we may find that our beliefs have become distorted—that we have fallen into traps of mistruth and self-righteousness. It’s time to humble ourselves and open to not knowing—and to learning new knowledge, insights, and perspectives.

MERCURY STATIONS RETROGRADE

Mercury stations retrograde in Gemini on May 29. This retrograde will most influence us in June, but now we receive clues of what’s to come. Applying intentionality to our minds, thoughts, and words is key this month. We may notice the urge to say too much, especially after a year of isolation. Throughout this month, we can remember to slow down and speak with mindfulness and care, even to ourselves. We can take inventory of exchanges from the past that went awry, and consider returning to old misunderstandings to make amends.

With Jupiter in Pisces and Mars trining Neptune at the end of the month, we might remember that healing and forgiveness are very possible. We only have to lay down our swords, surety, and arrogance so we can open our hearts and see that we are in this together. Not only are we capable of love—we are love.

MAY SUMMARY

The Astrology of May is dramatic, offering a pivot into new energies that are markedly different from the rest of the year. Two retrogrades and an eclipse arrive this month, and Jupiter moves into dreamy Pisces after a year in detached Aquarius. Even as we face emotional triggers and frustrations, warmth is beginning to pervade. Gemini’s influence is becoming stronger, beckoning us out of isolation, and into fun, humor, and contact with friends and loved ones. But with Mercury beginning his retrograde through Gemini, we might slow down our chattiness, carefully considering our words, and even questioning how we speak to ourselves. Later in the month, the Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse beliefs laters our beliefs, as we cut through disinformation, lies, and faulty thinking. Deep down, we are remembering that we love each other and that we long to coexist without strife. Over the past year, Jupiter in Aquarius has highlighted the need for greater equality. Working with Saturn, he’s helped us begin the process of reinventing society and the status quo. Now we can feel a sense of heart, optimism, and togetherness lifting our wings, supporting us in healing our wounded hearts—bringing us together after a difficult year apart.

Surrounded by the colors and scents of spring, may we join hands and remember why we love each other. May we allow peace to fill our hearts, calm our triggers, and support us in recognizing our interconnection.

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