It’s a good time to return, return to ones we have loved before, return to a place that holds our heart, or return to a project we once put on hold as Mercury retrogrades for the next three weeks.
The past whispers to us and it’s time to take a break. Whatever we’re in the midst of doing may either be put on hold while we deal with a sidebar, another agenda other than our usual, this week while Mercury retrogrades, Venus opposes Pluto, and Mars opposes Saturn.
Mercury retrogrades (May 18-June 11) in its own nervy sign of Gemini, which both makes this Mercury retrograde cycle easier, because we can stay more articulate and verbal, and more difficult because all things mercurial may be unusually challenging. Mercury is further energized and scrambled by a square with confusing if inspired Neptune- which perfected last week, retrogrades back to perfect again May 29th, and hits again going forward on June 23. Our memory, practical logistics, understanding what another person really meant underneath the words, planning, methods of communication and transportation, all may take extra ingenuity and attention for the next three weeks.
But at least will be able to talk about it. We can get lost in our imaginary world, though our spiritual life and creative process can blossom as long as we take care of our practicalities safely. Conversation can be light and easy, though our thoughts may be troubled with memories and we may have trouble speaking in order and can forget the punchline of our jokes. Transportation could get confusing but can be an interesting adventure.
Mercury retrograde is most difficult at the turning points because Mercury is the planet of movement, and seems to resist even appearing to hold still. So really watch your p’s and q’s, your emails and your keys right around May 18 and June 11 and a few days on either side. After Mercury turns direct we begin to untangle our problems and beaten build momentum for the future, but we won’t be up to full speed and tell June 27, when we leave the shadow on the others. (See starcodes.wordpress.com/mercury-retrograde for more info)
As the weekend begins, handle life one minute at a time. Mars opposes serious Saturn, so this won’t be a frivolous time; we’ve got serious concerns or memories that need work, from our own recent past or from the depths of history.
The weekend centers around an earthy, warm, steady, if territorial Taurus new Moon. Things start to get screwy on Monday as Mercury retrogrades in Gemini under a Gemini Moon and energy begins to swirl in place. It is helpful to go back and finish unfinished conversations or pursue lines of inquiry we started earlier throughout the rest of the week. Venus, now in introspective and sensitive Cancer, can leave us more self- protective and introverted than usual, even on a bright Sunny spring day.
The mood grows bittersweet as creative Venus approaches an opposition to Pluto at the end of the week. We may be tempted to wallow with our ghosts; we’re reminded that to love risks losing, we may remember a disaster or note a concern for the future. This aspect reminds us to treasure what we do have, who we do love. Much that was lost can be found, but let’s not obsess about the past; instead, honestly process, compost, and prepare to rebuild.
Friday, May 15: Just a touch of attitude; Independence, bravery, enthusiasm, rebellion, and pugnaciousness are instigated by the Aries Moon as it trines Jupiter and conjuncts Uranus, just as Mars opposes Saturn and makes us even more resistant to systems. But our willful nature may be curtailed by our responsibilities, well-earned discipline, or a need to develop relationships with people whose authority we respect. So find a balance between independence and mutual responsibility. Don’t feel like it’s such an either- or opportunity. Give an earthy wildness some room to roam tonight, magic is afoot.
Mars opposed Saturn at 12:02 AM, Moon square Pluto at 12:43 AM, and Moon conjunct Uranus at 6:03 AM, then VOC
Saturday, May 16: The waning Taurus Moon and Venus trine Neptune pluck our heartstrings and encourage us to appreciate our surroundings and take gentle pragmatic action towards making our world feel more beautiful and peaceful. Whether we are gardening, creating, tiptoeing through the tulips or working in compassionate action, it is time to carry through an idea and gentle our world. Evening is cuddly and sensual, though we may be feeling a little bit more emotionally vulnerable than we admit.
Moon enters Taurus at 1:02 AM, Venus trine Neptune 12:48 PM,
Sunday, May 17: What appears lazy may instead be slow and steady in the body, and nervously quick in the mind. A day to either lazily putter in the garden or in other ways connect with the earth. Memories of old incidents which brought out our Taurus– our fondness, our possessiveness, territoriality, our acquisitiveness, our ability to nurture– may come up for review; are these seeds we want to nurture or experiences from the past we need to plow under an release. History sits close with us before the Taurus new Moon at tonight. So do our hungry senses.
Moon square Jupiter at 1:44 AM, Moon trine Pluto at 2:37 AM, Moon conjunct Sun at 11:13 PM, then VOC
Monday, May 18: It’s a day of paradoxes; the new Moon begins new cycles but Mercury stationary in Gemini asks us to pause, hold still, think again and look for what we are missing. We’ll need some structure to our day, but frustrations pile up if we stick to a tight schedule. So co-create the day with fate. If communication gets really haywire, plans misdirect, or we feel like we’re running around in circles, let’s hold still a minute, and move out of frantic Gemini mind to center down in the heart to proceed. Odd wisdom is found underneath.
Moon enters Gemini at 3:27 AM, Moon opposed Saturn at 6:49 AM, Moon conjunct Mars at 11:25 AM, Mercury retrograde 7:49 PM, Moon square Neptune 8:02 PM
Tuesday, May 19: The slower we go, the more likely we are to succeed. Watch a tendency to rev up and then end up running late from missed signals and other snafus. Stay closely in touch with one another and if unexpected delays occur, look around for the silver lining; talk to strangers and look for a surprise opportunity. Return to the scene if in mind only) of early joy, and reconnect with what worked. Catch up with one another in ourselves, and engage the unexpected twists of fortune.
Moon conjunct Mars at 2:06 AM Moon square Chiron 3:52 PM, then VOC
Wednesday, May 20: We may be a little self-protective shy or risk-averse, though that may come off as prickly or diffident as the Moon enters more tenderhearted Cancer. It would feel good to be home and safe and out of the fray. For those of us that need to engage the world, let’s stay centered and keep our heart open but not lean into or invade other people’s space. Invite them to connection, but hold our own heart. Where we connect, we can find unusual imagination tenderness as the Moon approaches are trying to Neptune. The artistic muse can speak clearly if we give her time and supplies; help other people see the vision. Tonight we may need to mull over questions of purpose and relevance.
Moon enters Cancer 7:55 AM, Moon square the nodes at 9:33 PM
Thursday, May 21: Our feelings could be all over the place. So may be the flotsam of our life; it’s so easy to drop stuff and scatter all over the floor. The mood is funny (in the morning) jumpy, disconnected, retrospective and anxious, and a bit of an emotional puddle as the Sun enters restless Gemini and the Moon conjunct Venus in emotional Cancer as both opposed Pluto. We may feel like were standing at a crossroads and need to let go of a layer of the past in order to embrace future possibilities. After deep moods midday as the Moon opposes Pluto we could feel at loose ends and be tempted to change things too fast to be productive as the Moon squares Uranus. Stay connected to the heart to make evening a healing time as the Moon trines Chiron.
Moon trine Neptune at 1:32 AM, Sun enters Gemini 2:44 AM, Moon conjunct Venus at 11:06 AM, Moon opposes Pluto at 11:50 AM, Moon square Uranus 6:36 PM, Venus opposes Pluto at 7:56 PM, Moon trine Chiron 10:42 PM
Starcodes 