Note that transits affect us all differently, depending on how they interact with our birth charts and the timing of our lives. Take the advice that resonates with you, and don’t worry about the rest!
May begins with a strong energetic burst that might reveal something previously obscured—such as the uncovering of new information, a hidden power dynamic, or an unrealized insight. On Monday, May 1st, Mercury will hit the midpoint of its retrograde journey, passing in front of the face of the Sun. When a planet occupies the same degree in our Solar system as the Sun, it is called cazimi. Cazimi is a Latin transliteration of an Arabic designation — kaṣmīmī — which means “as if in the heart of.” When planets are cazimi, they are empowered, as if granted a special audience with the generative, life-giving, and central authority of the Sun. Since April 21st, Mercury has been traveling backwards through the earth sign of Taurus, perhaps compelling us to reconsider matters of material security, familiar comforts, and everyday routines—through obstacles, delays, and diversions. When Mercury is moving retrograde, the planet becomes invisible to us in the night sky; it is as if Mercury is on a long detour, in hidden dimensions we can’t make sense of until it reappears. The cazimi moment on May 1st could illuminate some of the challenges we’ve encountered thus far, even if it doesn’t outright fix them. Mercury won’t station direct until the 14th, but post-cazimi we might be more likely to understand where, when, and how to apply our ~re~trograde lessons until then: by reviewing, rethinking, revising, and redoing. For a Mercury retrograde deep dive, check out this episode of The Astrology Podcast with Jessica Lanyadoo and Chris Brennan.
Meanwhile, on the same day, May 1st, Pluto will station retrograde for the first time in Aquarius. This station will likely confirm and consolidate any big changes that may have been initiated since late March, especially in regards to topics of power, control, and authenticity. This station will be most impactful for those with rising signs in Aquarius, Taurus, Leo, or Scorpio, and/or with placements between 0° - 3° of these four fixed signs.
On Thursday, May 4th, playful and flirtatious Venus in Gemini will form a square to mysterious Neptune in Pisces. Venusian topics (love, friendship, social harmony, appearance, aesthetics, and to some extent, money) might feel more confusing, vulnerable, psychedelic, or illusory. Square aspects with Neptune can generate an unfocused, dreamlike effect that can make it more difficult to see clearly, set boundaries, use discernment, or process events rationally. This can be a mixed bag transit for relationships (which require boundaries, but also openness), but it is certainly good for art (which often thrives on boundary-blur). It’s hard for me to describe Neptunian transits outside of images and the imagination (fun fact: the discovery of Neptune coincided with the proliferation of the daguerrotype). Picture a beautiful bouquet (Venus) of balloons (Gemini), slipping loose from its tether, flying high and away into a cloudy sky (Neptune). Sitting out on dinner date with a friend or lover (Venus) in a whimsical arcade bar (Gemini), unable to concentrate, thoughts wandering off into daydreams or nothingness (Neptune). Feeling restless (Gemini) and unmoored (Neptune), and spontaneously writing a song, creating a painting, or rearranging a room (Venus). Partners (Venus) talking for hours (Gemini) about their dreams, fantasies, and strangest imaginings (Neptune). Buying (Venus) a surrealist film (Neptune) at a thrift store to watch with your friends (Gemini). You get the idea!
The following day, on Friday, May 5th, a powerful Lunar Eclipse will take place in Scorpio, conjunct the South Node. This eclipse is likely to open up a portal to strong emotions, especially in regard to lunar topics (comfort, security, the physical body, nourishment, nurturing, family, and the matrilineal line). Since this eclipse is taking place both in the Moon’s sign of fall, a precarious place for these topics, and on the purgative South Node, we can expect that the days surrounding this eclipse might be highly sensitive and vulnerable, leading to a necessary catharsis of old, deep, dark, and heavy feelings. Scorpio is the only fixed water sign—a bit of a paradox—and in this sign tightly-guarded emotions can be both a source of power and of pain. The trick is always in how they are channeled. Ultimately, emotions are meant to move through us, and can become toxic when they are stuck and unreleased—like pools of stagnant water, collecting algal blooms and detritus. In the short-term, Mars, the ruler of this eclipse, has already been stirring up some of these ancient emotional reservoirs in the Moon’s sign of Cancer since its ingress in late March. The lunar eclipse could act as a culmination point for much of this discomfort. The eclipse also ties in to a longer storyline that has been occurring in the sign of Scorpio since late spring of 2022.
Yet, even after entering such tumultuous psychic waters, there is hope and potential repair to follow. On May 7th, Venus will enter Cancer to balance and assuage some of what Mars has disturbed over the past six weeks. Venus in Cancer can help us to deepen our close relationships (including our relationship with ourselves) through attentive care, acts of service, and healthy loyalty. Soon after, the Sun in Taurus will conjoin Uranus, an aspect that began to form around the time of the eclipse, but which doesn’t perfect until May 9th. Sun-Uranus contacts can provide us with mental breakthroughs, boosts of creativity and drive, and aspirations towards freedom, individuality, and self-expression.
Later that week, a stabilizing sequence follows, as Mercury in Taurus sextiles Saturn in Pisces on May 12th, Venus in Cancer trines Saturn on the 13th, and Mercury stations direct on the 14th. These favorable connections in and between water and earth signs (Pisces, Cancer, and Taurus) might offer us some cooling, restorative energies. Venus and Mercury’s aspects with Saturn will be constructive for building a more secure emotional foundation on which to move both personal and practical matters forward. As Mercury turns towards direct motion in the earthy pastures of Taurus, we’ll be better equipped to walk familiar, reliable paths and even to forge new, trustworthy ones that can lead us to sustenance, ease, and pleasure. Look at the whole sign house of Taurus in your birth chart to understand where you might have an opportunity to re-envision consistency and prosperity (I love Chani Nicholas’ whole sign chart calculator, if you’re unsure how to find this information). This house will be re-emphasized later in the month when Jupiter enters Taurus for the first time since 2011-2012.
Until next time, take good care!
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