May

Mars, Venus, and Mercury are now past their recent retrograde tours. While all three move through fire signs, energy, passion, incentive, and drive are reignited. Additionally, the sun in Taurus (until May 20) and Mercury in Taurus (May 10 to May 25) highlight what is most worthwhile. As of May 21, the sun’s shift into Gemini sets a mobilizing backdrop for trade and negotiations, communication tracks, and market trends. (Mars travels through Leo until June 17; Venus through Aries until June 5; Mercury through Aries until May 10.)

Venus in Aries:

As May opens, Venus begins a six-week transit through Aries, (to June 6). By May 16, Venus will move beyond her retrograde shadow, and in so doing, taps from fresh incentive. Along with Mercury in Aries (to May 10) fresh instincts speak with greater clarity and now urge a bolder step forward, especially when it comes to standing present for yourself. A fresh start is well timed. Looking for a new income stream? This transit can also spark fresh financial prospects. Venus forms a creative sextile to Pluto early in the month. The process moves along a continuously evolving track. Trust instincts and stay open to spontaneous opportunities. Approach each day like a canvas.

Mercury:

Mercury transits Aries until May 10. This is a quick thinking, cut to the chase, and “strike while the iron is hot” influence. Aim for the shortest route to the goal. Keep interactions concise and honest. Ideas and conversations can catch fire or quickly burn out.

From May 10 to 25, Mercury moves into Taurus, putting added focus on value, resources, and tangible results. To optimize on this transit, stay focused on what is most realistic, practical, and doable for you. Simple, straightforward, and readily available is your best bet.

Of note, Mercury cleared its post retrograde shadow threshold on April 26, the same day Mars and Pluto completed their long standoff. The navigation through tricky waters has not been easy sailing over the recent months, that’s for sure. Mars clears its post retrograde post shadow on May 1. In combination, these transits mark the official start of a next momentum phase that will carry us through summer.

Watch these key dates for destiny in motion in some notable, evolving, and defining way:

• May 4: A karmic activation or checkpoint, Pluto begins retrograde on the first quarter moon.
• May 5-6: Mercury/Jupiter sextile; Venus/Pluto sextile; Mercury/Chiron conjunction. These are good mobilizing dates, well used for exploring, research, talks, instigating or implementing plans. If it has not started yet, these dates could mark the start of the Catholic conclave.
• May 12: Full Moon in Scorpio with Mercury squaring Pluto. Potential for the announcement of a new Pope. This unleashing full moon sets a backdrop for a major power play, a secret uncovered or dramatic expose, reversals of fortune (financial, relationship, karmic destiny at play), a powerful turnaround or revamp regarding strategies, investments, etc. This full moon could also be one of stealth, of a crime spree of some such. (We could hear reports a significant theft or a sudden death).
• May 17: Mercury squares Mars. Sun conjuncts Uranus. There is a heightened potential for impatience, tension, arguments, swift action, the sudden and unexpected. Keep tabs on anger and impulsive triggers. Watch your driving speed. Play it safe with sharp instruments. Words spoken in anger can have quite a bite. To the plus, this is a good transit for decisive or cut to the chase action.

Mars in Leo:

Boosting confidence, creativity and potential success ratios, Mars in Leo continues to mid-June. As of May 1, Mars surpasses its post shadow retrograde mark. Working in harmony, Venus in Aries and Mars in Leo, the relationship duo, build to an optimum angle (trine) by May 22. Use this planetary backdrop to set courage and heart set into action. Aim to shine a brighter light wherever you go, to make it good for yourself and to genuinely enjoy the time you spend.

Full Moon in Scorpio:

May 12 delivers a pivotal full moon in Scorpio. Intense emotional undercurrents (that which has already been on brew) can reach a breaking point. Watch for Mercury/Pluto (square) to inform and propel in a dynamic or sudden thrust way. News, an announcement, a sudden realization, a decisive or confronting moment can be the trigger for what is set into play. May 13, Saturn/Ceres (conjunction), can dissolve a barrier or block. The backdrop is set to release, relinquish, renew, revive, or rebirth. A chapter ends, a chapter begins.

Ceres in Aries:

Asteroid Ceres advances into Aries on May 16. Typically, the transit of Ceres through a sign is approximately 3 months, but when incorporating a retrograde cycle, Ceres can tenant a sign for 11 months on average. Ceres keeps fighting the Aries battle from May 16 to March 14, 2025. Like Pluto (her brother), Ceres is a transformative influence. Under this transit, we can expect the action to stay fired up and to run along a brisk and continuously evolving track. Ceres is a signature for grief and loss, but also for resurrection and revitalization. As the goddess of the seasons, Ceres in Aries sets a backdrop for a dynamic new life force to overtake our creative process. Neptune, the planet of attunement (collective and personal) is freshly into its 14-year tour of Aries. Neptune’s transit through Aries acts like a clarion call to the spiritual warrior in each soul, to stand present for self, to fight for our collective ideals and our collective birthright. Along with the rest of the outer planet sign changes, Neptune’s influence is a major contributor to new stewardship for the collective. It is also indicative of new spiritual leadership for the Catholic Church.

Saturn in Aries

Saturn enters Aries on May 24, marking the start of a significant new cycle. Saturn revisits the same area of your natal chart every 29 years (the Saturn return). Think back to 1996–1999. What challenges, significant career change, or life chapter ending or beginning did you experience then? Similar themes may resurface now.

Saturn’s influence demands focus, discipline, and precision. There’s little margin for error—time and resources are too valuable to waste. A Saturn transit can be restrictive, unyielding, and sobering, but it is also one that rewards well directed effort and ambition.

Saturn in Aries, a sharpshooter influence, takes direct aim on a specific target. Saturn in Aries will ask you for undivided attention and maximum effort. Do not expect to have much option or leeway. Under a Saturn transit, time and resources are precious. There is little to spare or to waste.

Saturn and Neptune will travel closely together through 2025 and 2026. Both will retrograde back into Pisces in the fall. Saturn revisits Pisces from September 1 to February 13. Neptune revisits Pisces from October 22 to January 26. This planetary pair will form a conjunction on February 20, 2026, in the sign of Aries. This date completes the cycle began in 1989 and starts the next 36-year cycle.

Saturn/Neptune Grand Conjunctions mark important turning points of history. The Grand Conjunction of 1989 punctuated a momentous year that launched long-shaping world events. To mention just a few: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the beginning of the end of Soviet Union, the Exxon/Valdez spill, the student uprising in Tienanmen Square, the writing of HTTP and the start of greater commercial viability for the internet.

End of May:

• May 24: Saturn enters Aries. This ingress is accompanied by a sun/Pluto trine (creative power surge) and Mercury/Uranus conjunction (sudden, energizing, informing). Expect what comes to life to hold a dynamic life force right out the starting gate.
• May 25: Mercury treks into mobilizing and trend-setting Gemini. This transit can move the conversation, the negotiation, plan, or activity along. Stay flexible.
• May 26: New Moon in Gemini. Supported by a gentle, yet animating Mercury/Neptune influence, this new moon stirs inspiration, compassion, and creative flow. Mercury/Neptune is best used to ease up, go with the flow, allow, adapt to the moment, and to immerse yourself right where you are.
• May 29: Sun and Mercury (superior conjunction) advance onto a fresh creative track.

To wrap up, every moment is precious. Step forward with courage, stay centered in heart, and use each moment of every day to the fullest.