May and June switch the energetic pattern on us once again. March and April were all about retrogrades, as Venus, Saturn, Mercury, and Pluto all turned to go backwards in the sky. We’ll be seeing much more forward movement for the next two months, as Venus is direct again, and picking up speed, Mercury stations to go direct on May 3rd, and Jupiter ends his retrograde on June 9th. Only Neptune takes a contrary approach, stationing to retrograde on June 16th. 

   In general, in May and June we’ll be dealing with things more directly, with fewer stumbling blocks and hesitations. We can see from a new perspective, and can incorporate changes into our lives with greater ease. That isn’t to say that there won’t be challenges, but we can approach them (and they will approach us) in a head-on fashion – taking our lead from the Taurus Sun!

   Mercury stations to turn direct after three weeks of retrograding on May 3rd. Technical and communication snafus will be less prominent, but allow about a week for Mercury to get up to speed rather than running out right away to buy a computer or order a new series of books.

   An intense, electric energy courses through the collective atmosphere on May 9 – 11, as the Sun trines Pluto, Mercury meets Uranus, and Mars squares Neptune, all at the full moon. Emotional turbulence can feed intuitive brilliance through this period, and we may have insights and ideas that show us new ways of looking at things. The full moon is in Scorpio, where emotional issues can bubble to the surface. There may be some difficult moments during these few days, but there is great potential in them as well. 

   Mercury moves into Taurus on the 15th, helping us to slow down communication and perhaps ground some of the ideas we had a few days earlier. That could take time, but in Taurus Mercury is in no hurry.

   We get an extra energetic boost on the 19th, as Saturn trines Uranus and Venus opposes Jupiter. It’s an exciting, upbeat time, especially good for romance and socializing – the Sun is at the very end of sensual Taurus. 

   The new moon in Gemini on the 25th is accompanied by a tense Venus/Pluto square that could revive relationship issues that were prevalent from February and March. We may be surprised that matters we thought were completed re-emerge, but settlements reached during Venus’ retrograde may need at least some re-working. Financial matters may also be up for reconsideration, particularly those around loans, mortgages, and {gulp} debt.

   The month ends with a different hew of the imaginative tone that’s colored all of May, as Mars opposes Saturn and sextiles Uranus while Mercury trines Pluto. This may be the time when ideas are communicated or we begin to bring them down to earth with practical steps forward. Mars/Saturn can signal a bit of frustration, though, so make sure the parking brake is off before you step on the accelerator.

   June begins with a burst of activity, as the first quarter moon highlights aspects from Venus to both Saturn and Uranus from the 1st through the 3rd. We can come to agreements in relationships of all kinds and in business, while retaining flexibility and a sense of independence. Artistic and creative projects also benefit from this energy. The only caveat is that solar aspects to Jupiter and Neptune may inflate some egos or send some of us of on quixotic crusades. Be creative, but be realistic, too.

   We’re in for another shift in the cosmic weather on June 4th and 6th, as Mars, Venus, and Mercury all change signs within two days of each other. Mars dives into Cancer, where he’s inclined to advocate for the clan more than himself. Venus enters her home sign of Taurus after being delayed on route by her retrograde. In the sign of the bull, the goddess likes to luxuriate and enjoy sensual pleasures. Mercury also returns to his home after a retrograde, slipping into Gemini. Communication is easier and lighter than in recent months, and a good deal faster. 

   The fast pace continues as Jupiter stations to go direct on the 9th. This is also the day of the full moon, and Luna is in Jupiter’s home sign of Sagittarius. An upbeat, optimistic energy should rule the day – take time out to explore and allow serendipity to guide you as Friday turns towards the weekend. Romance can heat up as Venus sextiles Mars. The only thing to watch out for is political, social, or religious extremes, as Sagittarius can be quite polarizing when it thinks it’s found ‘the truth,’ and some folks will certainly think they found it.

   That’s because we’ll be heading towards Neptune’s station on the 16th. The optimistic but flexible energy of the previous weekend is morphed into a dreamy uncertainty as the god of the seas stops the tides for a moment. Mercury squares Neptune on the 13th, an aspect that can lead to almost any fact being creatively interpreted, re-interpreted, or misinterpreted. The Sun opposes Saturn just a day before Neptune stops to retrograde, an aspect that could demand we hew to the party lines. There’s likely to be a lot of confusion and difficulty getting clarity for a few days. While great for meditation, those of us who aren’t on retreat may have some difficulties navigating the practicalities of everyday life. Avoid making important decisions around this time – even as Saturn may demand that you take a stand one way or the other.

   Things ease up a bit over the next few days. Flexibility returns as the Sun aspects Uranus, and Mercury opposing Saturn can hurl facts in the face of even the most entrenched beliefs. Some of us will feel that we’re waking from a weeklong dream, others may feel that nightmare is over. Whatever you experience during the period from the 13th through the 17th, take note. It may not appear real, but there’s something for you to take away from this sojourn into an alternative reality.

   On June 20th at 11:23 p.m. EDT, the Sun enters Cancer – the Summer Solstice for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. The Sun reaches his highest point in the sky, and shines above the horizon for the longest day of the year, having completed his long trek upwards from Capricorn. And it is just at the peak of the light that the days begin to diminish in length. Happily, the days change least close to the solstices (they change most rapidly near the equinoxes), and we have a nice long summer ahead of us.

   Mercury joins Sol in the moon’s sign just a few hours later, and they are greeted by their host two days later, for the new moon in Cancer. As the solar cycle reaches a peak, the lunar cycle is just beginning, a cosmic counterpoint melody that may lead us to muse about the process of creation and manifestation. The crowd of planets in Water signs at this time may make for a more emotional beginning to the season, and could also lead to a more security-oriented attitude towards politics and social matters – Cancer is a rather conservative sign. 

   The last week in June will give us a chance to express our beliefs, conservative, progressive, or otherwise, as Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter make a series of aspects. As Mercury meets Mars and stands opposite Pluto on the 28th and 29th, grassroots movements may stand up to power brokers. On a personal level, this is an excellent time to express ideas and work on creative projects.