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5/2 Venus square Pluto
5/5 Sun trine Saturn
5/7 Mercury retrograde in Gemini
5/9 Full Moon 18 Scorpio, 12:01 am EDT
5/13 Mercury retrogrades back into Taurus
5/16 Sun square Jupiter
Sun sextile Uranus
Sun square Chiron
Saturn turns direct in Virgo
5/17 Sun square Neptune
5/18 Sun conjunct Mercury
5/20 Mercury square Neptune
Mercury square Chiron
Sun enters Gemini
Mercury square Jupiter
5/21 Mercury sextile Uranus
5/23 Jupiter conjunct Chiron
5/24 New Moon 3 Gemini, 8:11 am EDT
5/27 Mars sextile Chiron, Jupiter and Neptune
5/29 Neptune turns retrograde
5/30 Chiron turns retrograde
Mercury turns direct in Taurus
5/31 Mars enters Taurus

All dates and times Eastern Daylight Time; please adjust for your time zone.

The big news in May is the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune which culminates on the 26th and 27th of May. We have been building up to this for quite some time - this is a tremendous force for healing and for realigning our inner sense of purpose to fit with our outer dharma and destiny. You can read more about this major cycle here, but essentially what we have with this combination is the longing of the soul to experience a life that has a deeper meaning (Neptune) combining with the necessity to work through any blocks and painful experiences that are standing in our way of that goal (Chiron). The expansion of this process in a way that can be beneficial or simply more painful is facilitated by Jupiter. Jupiter is usually considered a positive influence, and because it provides an expansive force when combined with Chiron it can be a wonderful aide to the healing process. But that healing process when Chiron is involved requires that we revisit our wounds, and this can be extremely difficult too, depending upon the experiences that are involved here.

As the month of May begins, we find only one planet representing the water element: Uranus which is in Pisces. Water is the element of the emotional realm, and when water is underrepresented it becomes more difficult to manage our emotions. Uranus is a dry planet, and in a water sign it does not provide the watery flow that assists in the processing of emotions. Other than the Moon (especially the Scorpio Full Moon on May 9th), we will not have any planets other than Uranus in water signs until the Sun enters Cancer in June. Until then we are living in a realm of ideas and action, with a predominance of air and fire.

Mercury will turn retrograde on May 7th, and as it begins to slow down in preparation for its change of direction during this first week of May we may find that communication becomes more difficult and it is harder to generate the energy for new projects. Planets do not really change direction, but because we observe the movement of the planets from our perspective on Earth, at times it appears that they do and we call this "retrograde motion."

On May 2 relationships will intensify with a square from Venus to Pluto. While this can be a difficult combination, it also can deepen our connections and transform our consciousness as a result of our interactions for a day or two.

The Sun in Taurus forms a beautiful trine to Saturn on May 5, making this a day of grounded earth energy - perfect for working in the garden or creating a business plan. Taurus attracts money and Saturn lends its work ethic, so we are practical now and able to apply ourselves to any venture.

Mercury has been in Gemini, its own sign, and turns retrograde on May 7. When planets retrograde, their external influence is inhibited. Mercury rules communication, the transmission of information, and the operation of machinery and during Mercury Rx periods all of these things can be more difficult. These are not good times to buy a new cellphone, to begin a new project, or to sign a contract. This does not mean that if you have to sign a contract during Mercury retrograde that it will necessarily fall apart. However, it will probably take more work and more renegotiation than during other times. Mercury retrograde is a wonderful time for resting the mind, for re-doing your website, for re-novating your house and for completing old projects that have been neglected.

The Full Moon in Scorpio occurs on May 9th at 12:01 am EDT. During the Full Moon, the lunar influence is at its most powerful. In Scorpio, the sign of intense emotions, the unconscious instincts are powerful and passion reigns. This lunar event includes the nearly exact triple conjunction of Chiron, Neptune and Jupiter, and because Scorpio demands that we dive into the underworld of our unconscious we can use this as an exhilarating time of healing and transformation. If we resist this process, though, we may find we are overwhelmed by our emotions in a way that can be quite challenging. This is an excellent time for psychotherapy and other healing modalities that help us to integrate experiences from the underworld of the psyche.

On May 13 Mercury retrogrades back into Taurus, where it is more comfortable with the constraint of the retrograde cycle. In Taurus, Mercury has the patience to wait until the time is right to begin a new project, whereas in Gemini there is an eagerness to do as many different things as possible, now.

Saturn, the planet of discipline and structure, has been traveling retrograde since December and turns direct on May 16. When a planet changes direction, particularly a slower-moving planet such as Saturn and the outer planets, it has a more powerful effect on the human consciousness. Therefore, during the week or so leading up to Saturn's retrograde turn as it slows down we are likely to find ourselves needing to be more serious about our lives and to pay attention in a different way. After Saturn turns direct on May 16 we will probably feel as though a weight has lifted, and it will become easier to create new structures in our lives.

This process will be accelerated by the translation of the Chiron/ Neptune/ Jupiter conjunction by a square from the Sun. The Sun provides illumination, and when it interacts with a powerful aspect such as this it brings it to our attention in a way that we cannot ignore. Because the square is a challenging aspect it may be more difficult to assimilate the energy for a day or two and we could experience feelings that are confusing. This is not a bad thing - we are simply being prepared for the changes that are to come.

When the Sun conjuncts Mercury (the mind and mental function) on the 18th it will become easier to understand the changes that are taking place. However, on the 20th Mercury will begin its own translation of the triple conjunction by forming a square to Chiron, Neptune and Jupiter which will require another readjustment as hidden pieces from the emotional realm arise to be dealt with.

This period between the 16th and the 23rd will not be a good time to schedule anything that requires a lot of brain power because the brain instead will be engaged in this shamanic process of transformation within. As with any other process, the more we work WITH the energy instead of resist it, the greater our benefit will be. When Mercury forms a harmonious sextile to Uranus on May 21, the innovation and new ideas of Uranus will help to inspire new ways of thinking and provide excitement about the future. The conjunction of Jupiter to Chiron on May 23rd completes the peak of the cycle by offering a window of optimism through which we can see a beautiful and transformed future.

This whole shamanic process of the triple conjunction will be particularly powerful for those of us with planets between 22 and 30 degrees of the fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus), and will continue into August as Chiron, Jupiter and Neptune all retrograde and continue their dance together.

The Gemini New Moon takes place on May 24th at 8:11 am EDT. Because Gemini rules communication and the processing of information, this is a perfect time to assimilate the powerful experiences from the previous week or two and communicate them both internally and externally, through writing, journaling, or gathering with friends to share our experiences.

New Moons are times of new beginnings, and this is an opportunity to make a fresh start. We have walked through the fire of the shamanic process of healing, and have emerged refreshed and empowered and with a new and fresh perspective.

This fresh new start is energized by a pleasant sextile from Mars to Chiron, Jupiter and Neptune on the 27th. This actually marks the tightest conjunction of the three, but the sextile from Mars helps to facilitate the movement of the energy and aid us to continue in the alchemical process of healing and transformation.

Neptune turns retrograde on May 29 and Chiron on May 30, and the two will remain closely aligned and at a virtual standstill well into August. This combination of spiritual yearning (Neptune) with the healing of old wounds (Chiron) will be highlighted throughout the summer, but the major part of the work will now be complete.

When Mercury turns direct on May 30 we can breathe a sigh of relief as we turn our attention outward once again and the wheels of progress move a little more easily.

Mars enters Taurus on May 31 and this will offer a period of peace and serenity which will have a strong healing effect. This is a good time to take a bit of a break and enjoy the pleasures that life has to offer!