May 1-10 Jupiter opposes Pluto Jupiter in Gemini is in challenging relationship to Pluto in Sagittarius from May 1-10. Jupiter/Pluto transits are the fuel for changes in mass consciousness. With the opposition between Jupiter and Pluto, we are becoming aware of the need to balance knowledge (Gemini) with wisdom (Sagittarius). Use this transit to reexamine and reevaluate your fundamental beliefs. Jupiter/Pluto asks us to transform our beliefs by stepping back to gain a larger perspective. May 5 Mercury enters Gemini Mercury will travel through the sign of Gemini from May 5 through July 12. With Mercury in Gemini, the focus is on communication and the dissemination of information. What is it that you've wanted to communicate or share with your friends that you haven't had time to? How are you growing on an intellectual or mind level? Mercury in Gemini is a time when our minds want to be active, studying, reading, researching, and certainly chatting with others. This is a great month to write letters, make short trips, take a course that enlivens your mind, or just get together with friends for some lively and far-ranging conversations about what's going on in the world. May 7 Full moon in Scorpio The moon is full in Scorpio on May 7 at 6:53 a.m. For this month, the emphasis is on experiencing a deep and primary bond with loved ones. The moon in Scorpio calls us to move deeply into our desire for intimate merging with the beloved. The challenge this month is to acknowledge this need to others even though you might feel extremely vulnerable and fear that your beloved might reject or abandon you if you look too needy. The full moon in Scorpio is asking us to communicate to others the depth of who we are and what we need to feel bonded emotionally and physically. May 8 Neptune retrograde Neptune in Aquarius goes retrograde for the next five months starting on May 10 until October 17, when it goes direct again at 5 degrees Aquarius. With Neptune retrograde, we have an opportunity to see how deeply connected we are to being guided by Spirit. With Neptune in Aquarius, we have an incredible opportunity to integrate higher consciousness energies into our being, but only if we are able to open up, surrender, and ground these new energies. Use this retrograde period and the time before October 17 to really ground your spiritual practice, whether that is through meditation, concentration and visualization, breathing practices, internal martial arts, yoga, tantric sexuality, earth-based ritual, or movement. We are moving into a new era where the focus is on embodied spirituality. In order to fully embody these higher energies, we must create a strong, grounded vehicle that is capable of running increased energy, light, and consciousness. May 11 Mars retrograde Mars goes retrograde on May 11 and won't go direct again until July 19. Mars retrogrades are times when we get to look at how consciously we use our energy and personal will. While Mars is retrograde in Sagittarius, the focus is on dedicating our energy and passion to our spiritual quest or "crusade." Mars in Sagittarius represents the spiritual warrior who combines the valor and courage of the warrior with the wisdom, inspiration, and dedication to a cause of the sage. This is a time to rediscover what cause, ideal, or "crusade" you want to put your Mars energy behind. It's also a time of renewed interest in your own spiritual quest. If you have been feeling stagnant, resigned, or apathetic, retrograde Mars in Sagittarius can help you get inspired and can help you rekindle the fire of idealism in your life. Going on a pilgrimage to exotic, sacred, or foreign locations is also a way of expressing this inspiring transit. May 17 Venus trines Pluto Venus in Aries trines Pluto in Sagittarius May 17-20, sextiles Jupiter in Gemini May 22-26, and sextiles Uranus in Aquarius May 30-June 1. What does all this mean, you might ask? What it means to me is that in this period of time there are several opportunities that we all face in the area of relationship. Venus/Pluto asks us to go deeper than our normal pattern of superficial day-to-day communication. In other words, if someone asks you how you are, you have the opportunity to really tell the truth. Venus/Jupiter aspects put the focus on getting in touch with your desires and needs for physical and sexual interaction in your relationships. If you are not really expressing and getting your needs met in these areas, including just getting out and being active together, then these powerful energies can turn inward and manifest as competitive and argumentative energies within the relationship. It's a good time to be active and physical, whether you are in an intimate relationship or not. With Venus/Uranus, the emphasis is on questioning the degree of freedom that exists in your relationships. Venus/Uranus asks us to get in touch with how much freedom we really need in relationship vs. how much security we need, which is more Venus/Saturn. Most freedom urges that people experience in relationship are in reaction to the feeling of being trapped or "hemmed in." True freedom can only be created by telling the truth about what you need and by being willing to deal with your own and others' feelings of abandonment, alienation, and fear. May 18-June 3 Mars conjunct Chiron Mars and Chiron will both be near the same degree of Sagittarius from May 18 through June 3. Mars is the planet representing the assertion of personal will, and Chiron is the planet or comet representing healing. In particular, Chiron is the mentor, teacher, and quest guide that taught Jason and the Argonauts all they needed to know to embark on their quest. With Chiron and retrograde Mars together in Sagittarius, we have an opportunity to heal our issues around negative mentoring experiences and to receive guidance and wise counsel from others that can help us on our quest. For many people, the experience of having positive role models and mentors in their lives is sorely lacking. To really take advantage of this transit, seek out mentors in the areas of your life where you would like to move forward. Having a mentor who can show you the ropes or just tell you his or her experience is an invaluable and healing thing to do for yourself at this time. The funny thing is that most people are afraid of asking those who they admire for help, and yet there are so many people who would be honored to help in the mentoring role. All we have to do is ask! May 20 Sun enters Gemini The sun enters the sign of Gemini on May 21 at 4:44 p.m. In nature, the seedling is now secure (Taurus), and it can begin to branch out and interconnect with a complex root system (Gemini). The Gemini principle is driven by the compelling need to connect objects with one another to form ever-greater links. Our job in the sign of Gemini is to experience a diversity of sensations, thoughts, and encounters so that we can create systems or theories of knowledge that we can then disseminate to others. May 22 New moon in Gemini The new moon in Gemini presents the opportunity this month of nurturing ourselves through connecting with others for the purpose of giving and receiving information. It's a great time to take a class, read up about a subject that broadens your knowledge base, or just get together with friends for stimulating conversation. With the new moon in Gemini, the challenge is to expand our personal network of friends and associates so that we can grow intellectually. Oftentimes we forget about our need for intellectual stimulation, so use this new moon to nurture yourself in this area of your life. May 29 Uranus retrograde Uranus goes retrograde at 24 degrees Aquarius on May 29 and won't go direct again until October 30. The Uranus retrograde period is a time to deepen our attunement to the subtle and not-so-subtle energy that is constantly flowing through our bodies. Uranus speaks, in particular, of electromagnetic energy, which in different traditions is described as prana, chi, ki, kundalini, shakti, or life force. As Uranus progresses through its seven-year transit of the sign Aquarius, we are being awakened to the realization that we are truly energetic beings who are constantly enveloped by a universal energy field that is always available to us. Our job during Uranus' retrograde is to see how open we are to receiving this energy. James Jarvis, M.A., is a master astrologer, professional life coach, and transpersonal counselor. He combines an M.A. in transpersonal counseling, thirty years’ experience with Eastern and metaphysical traditions, and 15 years coaching and empowering clients to actualize their full potential. For those who want support in discovering, clarifying, and manifesting their vision, James is available for astrological consultations and life coaching sessions by phone. For a brochure of his services, or to schedule phone or mail order consultations, call (831) 688-0574. E-mail <jjarvis@lifeqwest.com> or visit James' Web site at <http://www.lifeqwest.com/>. |
By adding the universal year 2001 (2+0+0+1=3) to the 5th month of May, we come up with the vibration of 8. The 8 month represents an opportunity to achieve greater mastery in our lives. It's a great month for taking a look at your goals and brainstorming new possibilities for accomplishing them that you might not have thought of before. Try to suspend the critic, the cynic, and the skeptic and move into new, uncharted territory.