5/2, 4:08 am - 6:01 am (Capricorn)
5/4, 3:08 pm - 4:53 pm (Aquarius)
5/7, 2:37 am - 5:35 am (Pisces)
5/9, 4:13 pm - 5:31 pm (Aries)
5/12, 12:12 am - 2:50 am (Taurus)
5/14, 8:29 am - 9:19 am (Gemini)
5/16, 1:07 pm - 1:47 pm (Cancer)
5/18, 4:36 pm - 5:08 pm (Leo)
5/20, 7:43 pm – 8:00 pm (Virgo)
5/22, 10:34 pm - 10:51 pm (Libra)
5/25, 12:01 am - 2:18 am (Scorpio)
5/27, 7:14 am - 7:17 am (Sagittarius)
5/29, 12:40 pm - 2:46 pm (Capricorn)
5/31, 11:42 pm – 6/1, 1:09 am (Pisces)

THE STORY SO FAR: Three planets are retrograde as May opens: Mercury (thru 5/11), Saturn (thru 5/30) and Pluto (thru 9/14).

5/2 (Sun). The Saturn-Neptune quincunx which peaks today has already been in effect for a month, and will last through early August. Be sure to release old structures which have outlived their usefulness during this time, lest they be dissolved away against your will! Work with the law of attraction can be empowered during this time, and discipline applied to your spiritual and creative pursuits will be rewarded.

5/3 (Mon). Your mind has an enhanced ability to probe into the depths, alone or in conversation with others, with Mercury trine Pluto. Mercury's Taurean placement also makes this a good time for financial opportunities.

5/4 (Tue). With Venus quintile Uranus, let your creativity respond uninhibitedly to your intuitive flashes. Also stay open to Spirit's guidance in bringing about paradigm shifts in important relationships. Physical energy is abundant with the Sun square Mars – expend it in exercise and productive activity rather than picking fights! Communication and writing receive a lovely combination of inspiration and productivity with Mercury biquintile Saturn. 

5/7 (Fri). There's plenty of positive energy for relationships with Geminian Venus sextile Leonine Mars – with these planets in air and fire signs, affairs could even turn passionate! Creativity and harmonious initiation are also supported.

5/11 (Tue). Mercury retrograde ends on the 11th at 6:27 PM. Difficulties you may have been experiencing around travel, communications or technology should start easing up. However, wait until the New Moon on the 13th to start major new projects: they tend to to fare better when launched under a waxing Moon.

5/13 (Thu). May's New Moon occurs on the 13th at 9:04 PM (23°09' Taurus). New beginnings in finance, sensuality and relating with nature as a sentient intelligence (think Avatar) are supported. The aspects to this New Moon – a trine from Saturn, a square from Neptune and a sextile from Jupiter -- suggest that your new ventures will enjoy solid support and good fortune if you make Spirit an active partner!

This New Moon's Sabian Symbol is, “An Indian warrior riding fiercely, human scalps hanging from his belt.” Think of the warrior as yourself racing toward your divinely guided destiny, and the scalps as the aspects of yourself which, Kali-like, had to be slain for you to grow into the full magnificence of your evolved self!

5/17 (Mon). The most important things about your key relationships – be they flowing or challenging – may be spotlighted with Venus square Jupiter. This aspect could also make it easy to overdo things – especially with Venus in variety-loving Gemini! – so keep moderation in mind. Physical energy, vitality and general exuberance will also be amplified with the Sun sextile Jupiter.

Now that Mercury has turned direct, it will be repeating many of its recent aspects. The first example is its biquintile to Saturn, and the interpretation is the same as it was on 5/4: communication and writing receive a lovely combination of inspiration and productivity! 

5/18 (Tue). Venus is part of two challenging aspect patterns from the 13th through the 23rd: a T-square peaking today and a Grand Cross peaking on the 21st. (The T-square includes Saturn opposing Jupiter and Uranus, with everybody squaring Venus!) If there's a weak point in any of your key relationships, it may will show itself during this time. Let your intuitive flashes tell you whether a given relationship needs to be released, transformed, or just taken to the next level of wonderfulness! Creativity will also be both energized and challenged.

Relationships may be particularly challenged right about now, with the T-square's Venus-Saturn square exact today and its Venus-Uranus square exact tomorrow. Let whatever's coming up show you where a more solid foundation is needed in your partnerships. At the same time, with Venus trine Neptune, your ability to achieve profound soul-blending with those you're close to is easier than usual. The energy of steady productivity is also available, thanks to a Sun-Saturn trine.

5/19 (Wed). Does today's Sun-Neptune square have you craving altered states? Union with spirit and manifesting your divinely inspired creativity are two great ways to achieve them.

Mercury trines Pluto again today. As I said on 5/3, your mind has an enhanced ability to probe into the depths, either alone or in conversation with others. Mercury's Taurean placement also makes this a good time for financial opportunities.

Today's Venus-Uranus square is part of the T-square described on 5/18, and often has the specific effect of creating challenge wherever paradigm shift is needed in relationships. Trust your flashes of insight, but beware of impulsive financial decisions!

Venus also enters Cancer today, or she will stay through 6/13. Her placement here can help bring a soothing, nurturing quality to relationships and creativity. 

5/20 (Thu). With all the challenge to relationships in the air, it's nice that they can also benefit from the healing and mentoring energy provided by a Venus-Chiron trine!

The Sun enters Gemini late on the 20th, radiating the energy of learning, sharing information, love of variety, eternal youth and tricksterism.

Intuitive flashes may be especially strong with the Sun sextile Uranus; I've yet to meet a client who told me that they ultimately regretted following one! 

5/21 (Fri). The Grand Cross mentioned on 5/18 peaks today; please refer back to that entry for its basic interpretation. With Venus now in Cancer, relationships with family and those with whom you live may be particularly affected.

Moving counterclockwise, the Grand Cross includes four squares: Venus-Saturn, Saturn-Pluto, Pluto-Uranus/Jupiter, and Uranus/Jupiter-Venus. Since a Grand Cross consists of four squares and two oppositions, it also includes a Venus-Pluto opposition and the opposition of Saturn to Jupiter and Uranus. The Grand Cross is considered the most powerful and challenging aspect pattern in astrology, so take it seriously. But also remember that the greatest challenges, when courageously faced, also provide the greatest opportunities for growth and empowerment!

As if a Grand Cross wasn't enough, there's also a Sun-Chiron square today. It may help you see what most needs healing within yourself, and help provide energy for its return to wholeness.

5/23 (Sun). With Jupiter opposing Saturn (part of the Grand Cross) exactly today, you may feel torn between old established habits and the new directions your intuition is leading you. All of my experience suggests that the intuitive path will serve you better.

Another element of the Grand Cross, the Venus-Pluto opposition, is also exact today. Its meaning has already been covered in the Grand Cross interpretation. 

5/26 (Wed). While being open to self-transformational adjustment is one of today's themes (Sun quincunx Pluto), creative inspiration and divine connection is doubly emphasized (Mars biquintile Uranus and Mercury quintile Neptune).

5/27 (Thu). May's Full Moon shines forth on the 27th at 7:07 PM (7° Sagittarius). How satisfied are you with your activities in the realms of higher learning, foreign travel, philosophy and religion? This is the time to evaluate and adjust.

This Full Moon's Sabian Symbol is, “Cupid knocks at the door of a human heart.” At this extraordinary time in history, however, Cupid is offering not just human romantic love, but the indescribable bliss only available from the unconditional love of the divine. Can you open to it?

A major astrological event occurs today as Uranus enters Aries. He remains thru 8/13 before retrograding back into Pisces, then re-enters Aries on 3/11/11 for a stay of about seven years.

The movement from Pisces to Aries is the transition from dreaming to doing. Thus, we are now entering the time when paradigm shifts, revolutions and breakthroughs on all levels will play out not just in our imaginations, but in the physical world. Another excellent way to use this energy is to take immediate action on your intuitive flashes!

5/28 (Fri). A Jupiter-Neptune semi-sextile may create some irritation if your religious path doesn't support a divine connection you can feel for yourself. Excessive idealization and deceptive illusions are also possible, so be sure to reality check anything that seems too good to be true.

It's a good day to refine your writing and your critical thinking with Mercury quintile Chiron.

5/30 (Sun). Saturn turns direct today at 2:09 PM, making it easier to begin new business-related projects. Those with Saturn strong in their natal charts will breathe a special sigh of relief.