May AstroLink

Pluto in Aquarius turns retrograde on May 2; Ceres in Capricorn turns retrograde on May 14:
Pluto, agent of collective and personal evolution, entered Aquarius at the end of January. Pluto’s transit through Aquarius is a bring it to life, awakening and reinvention archetype. On May 2, Pluto begins its annual retrograde cycle (continues to mid October). Pluto’s retrograde cycle is a time to investigate further, to look deeper into the workings of your thought process, your intention, motivation, and circumstance. Pluto’s aim is to confront and to rework where necessary and desirable. As such, the retrograde cycle can assist you to break through the sound barriers that prevent you from a realignment with what your soul deems is in your highest and best interest.

From September 3 to mid November, Pluto will revisit Capricorn for one last time. It is the finalization of the last 16-years of the contemporary transit. It also marks a full circle wrap-up regarding the last 248 years of collective evolution (the beginning of an ending chapter).  Pluto in Capricorn has been working to breakdown the structural foundations of the past, in other words, the criteria by which we evaluate, perceive, judge, and govern reality and all that correlates to control, security, and necessity. Pluto in Capricorn looks to eliminate the old, worn, limiting, and obsolete, to bust up the concrete on that which restricts and impedes new growth. First, Pluto must peel back all the layers that have crystallized and cemented the actualization process. We are confronting this now as a collective. As the breakdown process continues, the scramble to maintain/re-establish control and the past increases exponentially. We see this reflected by the power driven, the self serving, and fear generating, by those driven to dominate, exclude, hoard, abuse, and destroy.

Evolution never stops. While we are breaking new ground in so many ways, the year ahead continues to be one of straddling past and future. Sister to Pluto (and mother to Persephone), asteroid Ceres transits Capricorn for most of 2024 (February to November). Like Pluto, Ceres in action is metamorphic and regenerative. She is goddess of the seasons; her influence is cyclical. After winter, comes spring, after grief and loss comes renewal and a new life force. (Also, after initiation and experience comes knowledge. Capricorn can be an archetype for learning the hard way.) Ceres in Capricorn turns retrograde on May 14. It will continue in retrograde to the end of August. The influence prompts a review of priorities and reassessment of methods. Ceres retrograde is a time to recommit yourself, to refortify from within, to restructure where necessary and expedient, to aim for better organization and control, to get better on track. Both Ceres and Pluto retrograde turn the page on the work that is already in progress.

By mid November, Pluto will end its tour of Capricorn and begin its 20-year trek through Aquarius. This transit will speed up the timelines of the potentials that await our creative input and choices.

New Moon in Taurus, May 7:
The new moon in Taurus on May 7 can trigger a new evaluation or set something actual into action. There can be a sense of “meant to be” connected to the decision-making process, or to how circumstances unfold. You can find yourself questioning your readiness. There may be the need to adjust (or an added price to pay), but don’t let that hold you back. Risk is in the mix but that is always the case when breaking new ground. The only way to know with certainty is to try it. Within the range of potentials for this new moon, the catalyst could be someone you know or someone or an indirect source. A new project or undertaking holds greater than usual potency and life force. It can be accompanied by an upfront challenge, modification, or fast-track, but again, that is often par for the course with new ventures. If it is not meant to be, or it is a wrong turn for you, you will know quickly. May 8,13, 18**, 22, and 23 set a lucrative and opportune backdrop. Watch for something fresh, unexpected, or spontaneous.

May 15 to June 3, Mercury tours Taurus. Despite whatever challenges there may be to navigate, this Mercury transit is useful for the think-through and the follow-through, for feeling your way along to surer footing/more solid ground. Sun and Mercury in Taurus, hold appreciation for quality over quantity, and for what is most practical or simple. May 17 Mercury/Pluto could move you past an inner or outer conflict (personal, financial, relationship, or mental block). You could receive a message, answer, or confirmation.

Mid Month Transits:
The week of May 13 can start and end on a lucrative, flourishing, or exciting note. Make the most out of the May 18 weekend.  Two sets of conjunctions: Sun/Jupiter and Venus/Uranus, all in the sign of Taurus, can “deliver the goods, and then some”.  Have fun, try your luck. Indulge, participate, enjoy, shine, spread the love, spread the joy. This date (and the days nearby) can be opportune, lucrative, gifting, uplifting, and even life-altering. The crowds are out in big numbers. They are excellent for travel, sports or other public events, social gatherings, a workshop, for marking a special occasion or anniversary, for a freedom bid, for the adventurer, inventor, promoter, performer, artist, or creator. Children born on this day can have special talents, an openness to life, with better than average bounce back or luck, or an exceptional life to live. If your birthday falls on May 18, you can find the year ahead to put you on an upswing and to deliver opportunity for personal reinvention. (The year ahead can dish up multiple opportunities, gifts, or avenues.) May 18 could deliver the exceptional; May 22/23 is good for a powerplay, cashing in, or for putting it into full swing; May 25 hold good potential too.

Full Moon in Sagittarius, May 23:
An auspicious full moon in Sagittarius on May 23 is accompanied by a Venus/Jupiter conjunction in Taurus. This conjunction happens just a few hours before Venus enters Gemini, and two days before Jupiter does the same. Venus/Jupiter are in beautiful angle to Neptune. As such, the full moon can be fruitful, romantic, and inspiring. Hope can be replenished. The sun (trine) and Moon (sextile) are in a creative opportunity angle to transiting Pluto. Something fresh could hold a dynamic life force.  A potential could be realized, a dream could become a reality, the book could get published, the case could be won. A concert, sports or outdoor event could be a crowd pleaser. A spark could light unexpectedly. One thing leads to another, (and/or changes everything.) Watch for news, a synchronistic moment, an inspirational flash, or for someone key to be a catalyst. At the very least, the full moon marks the end of school semesters and the start of vacation season for northern hemisphere residents. Of course, plus and/or minus, there are a myriad of ways for the full moon to play out. (The full moon can also spotlight matters to do with foreign countries or people, Indigenous traditions or cultures, refugees, the homeless, immigration, travel, legal cases, overgrowth, overpopulation; also, matters to do with nature, such as infestations).

Jupiter in Gemini, May 25 to June 9, 2025
The sun enters Gemini on May 20. Venus enters Gemini on May 23 (to June 16). Of greater significance, Jupiter enters Gemini on May 25. The sun in Gemini is an annual transit, Venus in Gemini happens once every eighteen months (approx.), but Jupiter in Gemini only comes around once every 12 years. Think back a dozen years or 24 years (June 2012 – June 2013; June 2000 – July 2001). Jupiter will be in transit through the same area of your chart. What blossomed or grew more meaningful? Did you move or take a risk on a lifestyle change? Did you find yourself at the start of next chapter of personal growth, learning, and education? Did you find yourself on the gain with fresh insight and awareness?

Gemini is a mobilizing, diversification, and trend-setting archetype. This archetype sets a backdrop for thinking and doing, coming, and going, being and seeing, for connecting, socializing, and learning (whether you train formally or gain from the school of life). From May 18 forward there’s better traction on all the above. Talks, projects, plans, and negotiations can hit the move-along track. (That better traction could start as early as May 13 forward, or even earlier, from the May 7 new moon.)

Jupiter in Gemini could also see multiplication to the plus or to negative. It could produce more than one viable option or avenue to consider or pursue. (Sometimes it is better to have two part time jobs rather than one full one.) A diversification of skills, product offerings, and such can be of benefit. One thing can dove-tail or domino onto another. To the negative, Jupiter in Gemini can be scattered or get easily overwhelmed by overshooting or over-estimating. Jupiter in Gemini has a propensity to take on too much or assume too much. Too much of a good thing can be just that.

Jupiter in Gemini is also the signature of the super salesperson. Know it is easy to talk yourself into something that may or may not be in your best interest.

Jupiter is in its detriment in Gemini, the sign that is opposite to its rulership. Traditionally, detriment is considered a weak position, as the planet must operate through a sign that is opposite to its natural talent and inclination. Gemini correlates to the intellect, to logic, fact, and rational. Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, correlates to intuition, beliefs, and philosophies. Looking at it from the evolutionary perspective, through sampling the buffet, Jupiter in Gemini has an opportunity (even a talent) to single out the one from the many, the fact or the candidate that can go the distance. It is interesting to note that 2024 hosts major elections all over the world while Jupiter transits Gemini. We are sure to see a multitude of promises. Let us hope voters are wise in their choices (and that committees, especially ones that aim to save the planet and its inhabitants, result in more action than talk.)

Overall, the month ahead is rich with potential ripe for the taking. I hope you make the most of your opportunities, and that all good things come your way.