StarWatch by James Jarvis, M.A. By adding the universal year 1999 (1+9+9+9=28) to the 5th month of May, we come up with the vibration of 33/6. The 33/6 month asks us to tune in to how we can be of service to others through expressing the healing power of love. The 33/6 is a master number, and the challenge this month is to learn how to channel unconditional love through our hearts. The double three asks us to tap into our love of beauty and harmony so that we can come into balance. Take some time this month to work on beautifying your environment. By doing so, you will feel more harmonious and balanced, and others will feel healed solely by being in your space. Try to see yourself as a channel for unconditional love flowing through. As you tap into this love yourself, you will be able to give it out to others without feeling burdened or drained. May 5 Mars reenters Libra Mars, which has been moving in retrograde motion since March 18, moves back into the sign of Libra on May 5 and will be there until July 4. With Mars in Libra, our energy and will is focused on creating greater balance in our lives. Although the sign of Libra is often depicted as somewhat wishy-washy, the truth is that Libran energy can be quite strong. Mars in Libra, in particular, is the champion and defender of justice, and can be quite bold and outspoken when things become unjust. While Mars is in Libra, we become the adjudicators or arbitrators of justice in our lives, speaking out against any injustice that is pulling us out of balance. This is particularly relevant to personal relationships. Have you gotten out of balance by being overly centered on someone else’s needs to the extent that you have lost track of what you need for yourself? Do you find that you are giving to others way more than you are receiving? If so, you can use this time while Mars is retrograde in Libra to work on creating more egalitarian and just relationships in your life. May 6 Neptune retrograde Neptune in Aquarius goes retrograde for the next five months, starting on May 6, until October 14, when it goes direct again at 1 degree 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 14 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 in which 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 8 Venus enters Cancer Venus moves into the sign of Cancer on May 8, and will be there until June 5. With Venus in Cancer, the emphasis this month is on finding ways to nurture ourselves and others. Many associate the traditional nurturing quality of Cancer with that of the "smother mother," the overbearing, codependent, and disempowering nurturer. This month we have an opportunity to take a deeper cut at what nurturing can be. Venus in Cancer asks us to open up to become instruments for Divine Mother to flow through us and into the lives of others. When we are in touch with the Divine Mother who is compassionate, all-nurturing, and protective ourselves, then we don’t have to work so hard to nurture others. As we open to the grace of Divine Mother flowing through us, there is no sense of being "sucked dry" by the needs of others, because we have established our connection with divine nurturance. Ask yourself this month: Who nurtures the nurturer? If you find that you are better at receiving than giving, take time this month to find out what really nurtures you. As you establish that nurturing connection, you will find that it will be much easier to unconditionally nurture others. May 8 Mercury enters Taurus With Mercury moving into Taurus on May 8 until May 23, this is an incredible opportunity to put our words into productive action. Use Mercury in Taurus this month to help you formulate what it is that you value, and then construct a plan for implementing these values into your life. For thinking- and sensate-type personalities, this is pretty easy; you can make endless lists of things to do and then prioritize them. For the more intuitive and feeler types, try brainstorming all the things that you are passionate about. Let your intuition and imagination take over so you can gradually build a roadmap on how to get to your destination. Thinking/sensate types might want to try this method, too; it’s fun! May 15 New moon in Taurus The new moon is in Taurus this month beginning at 5:06 a.m. this morning. A new moon occurs when the sun and moon are in the same sign, and signifies the joining of solar and lunar energies. With the new moon in Taurus, what nurtures us this month is getting more grounded and in touch with the natural world. Digging in the garden, or any outdoor activity in which you really experience being in your body, is very healing and nurturing at this time. Attunement to the earth through Native American or indigenous cultures’ rituals is also a way of getting grounded this month. May 21 Sun enters Gemini The sun enters the sign of Gemini on May 21 at 4:52 a.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 21 Uranus retrograde Uranus goes retrograde at 16 degrees Aquarius on May 21, and won’t go direct again until October 23. 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. Breathing and bodywork, in particular, helps open up the body so it can handle increased energy without being over-amped. Any of the energetic approaches to the body, such as Reiki, polarity, SHEN, Barbara Brennan’s "Hands of Light" work, craniosacral, pranayama, kundalini, or kriya yoga would all be appropriate methods of exploration at this time. May 23 Mercury enters Gemini Mercury journeys through the sign of Gemini from May 23 until June 7. 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 29 Full moon in Scorpio The moon is full at 0 degrees Scorpio on May 29 at 11:40 p.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 it is that we need to feel bonded emotionally and physically. James Jarvis, M.A. is a master astrologer, career consultant, and personal and professional coach. He combines an M.A. in transpersonal counseling, 28 years experience with Eastern and metaphysical traditions, and 13 years coaching and empowering clients to actualize their full potential. All of James’ astrological, career, and business consulting and life coaching services are available via phone sessions or by mail. For a brochure of his services, or to schedule phone or mail order consultations, call (831) 688-0574.