Astrological Forecast for May 2007

May continues the pace of recent months by beginning with a full moon, on the 2nd. The May full moon is called the Full Flower Moon, for obvious reasons, and it also marks Wesak, the celebration of the Buddha’s birth. Those hopeful notes contrast with the traditional astrological tone, as the moon is in Scorpio, where she is said to be “fallen.” The self-protective and sensitive moon doesn’t get along too well in the sign of cutting and digging. Scorpio wants to get to the bottom of the matter, to reveal the deep truths, while the moon prefers to keep her ways hidden, behind a soft veil of ... moonlight. Add in that the moon is full, and hence exposed, which she is also not crazy about, and this lunation can be somewhat trying, as emotional secrets are brought to light, often in ways that can seem crude and base. Full moons are always active times when there’s an extra buzz in the air, but try to soften the edges as much as you can.

Mercury, planet of communication and commerce, has a very busy month. On the 5th, he will make two very different aspects, first a creative sextile to Uranus and then a hard square to Saturn. The first can get innovative ideas flowing, but the latter impedes communication, so it’s possible that a brilliant solution to a problem will go unused, perhaps buried under a pile of reasons why the status quo has to be maintained. Mercury continues his busy month on Monday the 7th with a hard aspect to Neptune, a planet with a foggy energy not generally helpful to the cosmic messenger, and communication mix-ups and delays are a real possibility. Think of the day before and after as a kind of one-day Mercury Retrograde. It’s a great time for more artistic and spiritual pursuits, although that might not fit to well with the Monday-morning atmosphere.

Mercury has an opposition to Jupiter and a square to Uranus on the 20th, which will “trigger” the Jupiter-Uranus square, which is exact on the 10th. Jupiter-Uranus is about technological innovation and social justice, and we’re in the last quarter of a fourteen year cycle, a time for assessing our successes and failures. Since 1997, when Jupiter and Uranus were last at the same place in the sky, the internet has become ubiquitous, as have cell phones, iPods, and an array of greater and lesser gadgets. In some ways, life has clearly become easier and more convenient, although we might be spending a little too much time in our Second Life and too little in our first. At any rate, automatic answering systems (“Please wait to respond, because our options have changed”) and telemarketers have spent the last decade showing us the some of the darker sides of technology. Look to the news this month for clues about how the collective consciousness is evaluating technology (they’ll be texting you the story soon).

Venus, planet of love and relationship, begins the month in Gemini, where she’s open to experimentation and new ideas. This is a sociable, flirty energy that generally helps to lighten the mood. Good thing, too, because she opposes dark and deep Pluto on the 6th. This aspect can deepen, or end, a relationship. Pluto in Sagittarius intensifies our beliefs, often to show us where they break down, while Venus in Gemini wants to see for herself. If power struggles are going on beneath the surface of your partnership (love or business), watch out for an eruption of emotions.

Two days later, Venus swims into Cancer, where she presents her more maternal side. This placement of Venus favors “family values,” however you define them. Still, she makes an easy trine to Uranus on the 25th, signifying our collective urge for emotional freedom in contrast to the conservative tone of Cancer.

Mid-month has a tense day or two, as warrior Mars squares off against power broker Pluto on the 13th. These two planets actually get along well with each other, and they share rulership of Scorpio. Neither of them is known for compromise, however, and they are in a very difficult relationship to each other for this aspect. Tempers can flare and simmering anger can boil over. This aspect comes the day after a sun-Neptune square, which can complicate matters by casting a spell of delusion over just about anything, so be sure that you don’t let fantasy or paranoia create conflicts and struggles.

Speaking of Neptune, the great dissolver and deceiver stations (appears to stop in the sky) to retrograde on the 24th. This day gives us all a taste of Neptune’s energy, offering both the heights of spiritual vision and the depths of trickery. Try to avoid making any decisions on the days around the station. It’s a much better time to retreat than to move forward, and plans that are made might need to be revised when you’re thinking with a clearer head. It is a great time for meditation, or you can take advantage of the energy for a romantic evening. At the very least, a Neptune station is always an opportunity to get lost in a good movie.

The May new moon is on the 16th. Wait a day or two after the new moon to begin new projects. With the moon in Taurus, it’s a good time for planting, cooking, and other material pursuits. Things go from the planning stage to action around the first quarter moon on the 23rd. Finally, on the 31st we have a second full moon. Since each month has one named full moon, when a second occurs it’s always given the title of “Blue Moon.” Not really so rare, they occur about every eighteen months, or what we might call “every once in a Blue Moon.”