As we roll into May with Covid-19 still creating a cloud over our lives, astrologically, May seems to be a simpler, kinder month. While we have a Venus Retrograde, and a few other events, transiting from Aries into Taurus is just easier on the psyche. Even better once we see the Sun’s transit into Gemini.
It’s been my experience that May is usually full of eventful transits and aspects, but apparently the universe is taking pity on us and keeping it down to a minimum this May. In other words, enjoy the calm before the storm!
Let’s get started…
5/11 Saturn goes Retrograde @ 1 degree Aquarius: I’ve written the piece below and also posted it before, but when it comes to Saturn I don’t think it can be repeated enough. Saturn is both a unique blessing and wildly maligned in Astrology. But, I find more wisdom in Saturn than most Astrologers, and so I’m repeating what’s below.
“I was referencing a book to check on a particular aspect in a chart I was commissioned to do, and I came across a definition of Saturn I didn’t know, or perhaps had just forgotten. Saturn is seen as such a malefic, something to be feared in all its harshness and karmic retribution. This definition seemed to offer some purpose for the Lord of Karma in our lives.
Ref.: Astrology, Karma and Transformation by Stephen Arroyo, pg. 72
“E. According to Dane Rudhyar, Saturn refers to a person’s “Fundamental nature,” the purity of one’s true self. It seems that Saturn has come to have such a negative meaning in the minds of many astrologers and students of astrology because most people do not live in terms of their fundamental nature, but rather in terms of fashions, social patterns and traditions, and ego games. Hence, Saturn is often experiences as a “stern approach” or as a challenging act of “fate” in order that we begin to heed the needs of our fundamental nature within. Saturn is indeed a rough task-master, as many of the old books say, but it is a particularly rough when we have deviated from manifesting our true nature.”
“……but as Rudhyar points out, it also signifies the deep-rooted ambition to actualize the potentialities to achieve something definite according to our inner patterns of potentialities.”
Ref: Astrology, Karma and Transformation by Stephen Arroyo pg. 75
“B. As one spiritual teacher has written, “Duty and responsibility [Saturn] is the dam that holds the mind in check.” Hence that area of the chart wherein we find Saturn is an area where we experience specific karmic duties and responsibilities which serve to help us discipline our minds and desires. This discipline in turn helps us to begin to take responsibility for our own actions, desires, and involvements in this area. The discipline may for a time be experienced as frustration or inhibition, but–as every counselor or psychotherapist should know–frustration may be therapeutic in that it throws the person back on himself, thus giving him the opportunity to develop an inner strength by drawing on this own deeper resources.”
I think these things need to be remembered especially when Saturn goes retrograde. It is retrograde for about 6 months every year, so as an astrological event, it’s pretty common, but as a time to reflect and to discipline our minds, it is priceless in my opinion, especially in the era of Covid-19.
Saturn is at 1 degree Aquarius and will venture back into Capricorn for one more stint in the earth sign. Given the planets Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn and another upcoming conjunction the chaos of the beginning of the year, might not be over.
Here are some dates to know for Saturn’s transit through Aquarius:
Saturn is retrograde from 5/11/20-9/29/20
Saturn re-enters Capricorn on 7/2/20
Saturn transits Capricorn until 12/17/20 when it makes its way back into Aquarius for a run until 3/8/23
5/12 Mercury enters Gemini: And, during this time it offers the mental agility to figure out the answers to all the questions that are plaguing all of us about the future. Also providing ideas regarding what course to take while navigating the time of Covid-19 pandemic and economic chaos.
Mercury rules the mind, thought, and all forms of communication. Short journeys, transport, and transmission. As a small planet that whips around the sun in a tight orbit, Mercury symbolizes the speed of thought and the mind’s gifts of analysis, reason, logic, knowledge, learning, education, and even intelligence itself.
Specifically, Mercury rules the ability of the mind to actually choose what it will think about. This is an important element of Mercury—it can choose what to spend its time thinking about. It’s a choice.
Mercury rules Gemini, and so during this this transit Mercury is in its home. This time marks a beginning of stronger mental focus, and better communication among friends, siblings, and people in relationships in general. Some of the stubbornness that might have been present while Mercury was in Taurus will ease a lot.
The senses are sharper and more alert. The mind is quick and versatile. There’s a potential for lopsidedness with so much energy in the mind and nervous system, so be careful of overwork, or general restless anxiety. Sleep may be a problem, so be sure to take steps to de-stimulate before you retire for the evening. Otherwise you will lay awake ‘thinking’. That’s not good for your health and wellbeing in the time of Covid-19.
5/13 Venus goes Retrograde @ 21 degrees Gemini, goes Direct 6/25/20, and leaves the post-retrograde shadow 7/29/20
I’ve said it often, in a mantra form, “Venus is what we want, and Mars is how we go about getting it.” The reason I say this is Mars is action, that part is simple. Mars really is simple. He goes after what he wants in some fashion or another. But, how does Mars know what he wants, or desires? Venus! Venus determines what we value and desire. Mars is mistaken often for the planet of desire, and it can be very passionate in his pursuit of what Venus wants. But Venus is the planet that determines what we value and what we desire, and what Mars will exert energy to obtain.
Most astrologers are predicting fickleness, and an upheaval in romantic and intimate relationships, at least at the beginning of the upcoming retrograde in Gemini. That might happen, especially if the relationships are not on good footing to begin with, but, that’s not the main focus of a Venus Retrograde. It is a symptom of a Venus Retro, but questioning the value of a partner, or our value to that partner isn’t the only relationship that might come into focus over the upcoming Retrograde.
It might be a friendship that is questioned, or a job, or a hobby, or the bar we go to after work. It could be anything, not just relationships with intimate partners. It will be what the individual values most at this point in life. How do I know this, because Gemini is as changeable as the wind, and having to re-examine values, can be a fickle undertaking while Venus travels the sign of Gemini. One day wishing to be free of all entanglements, and the next longing for the love and companionship of even ex-partners.
Venus retrograde is a time when what we value, and what we desire will be re-examined—over and over again. Anything we desire is a product of Venus, and therefore Venus represents how we come to place value on people, places, and things. What we desire, we value most, and what we do not value generates little to no desire. Venus represents one’s archetypal form of individuality, in as much as individuality is defined by one’s inner values.
Venus entered its pre-retrograde shadow on 4/9/20
Venus will go retrograde on 5/13/20 in the sign of Gemini.
Venus will remain Retrograde in Gemini until 6/25/20.
Venus will remain in its post-retrograde shadow until 7/29/20
The retrograde cycle is technically from 4/9-7/29, although not everyone is affected for the entire length of a retrograde cycle. Some of you may be able to attest to the fact that you feel retrogrades sooner, while others will attest to feeling it longer. This phenomena is individual chart related, but it’s important to remember that retrogrades are not liked turning a light switch on and off. Like all things Astrological, it is all nuanced, and specific to a natal chart.
5/14 Mars enters Pisces: Mars in Pisces, when negative, just loves to play victim, martyr, and all round masochist, so watch out for those who seem overly depressed. During this transit there is a lot of sadness over goals that have not come to fruition. The tendency is to “give up”.
Pisces is the sign of “self-undoing”, and when Mars transits through this sign, often people look at their failures with an overly despondent eye. “I’ll never get what I want”, is often the cry.
Mars is dynamism and focused desire and when in Pisces the place of ‘Hearing’ and psychic energy, psychological and psychic fields are likely to get stirred up and distorted to an almost ridiculous degree.
5/21 Sun enters Gemini: Gemini is the only sign that can succeed at doing two things at once, and during Gemini season many can take advantage of the energy of the transiting Sun to accomplish many projects. It can take some practice for non-Gemini’s and those with no planets placed in Gemini to learn to utilize this energy, but it can be done.
Gemini is the sign of communications, the ability to learn and retain what it has learned. No other sign can play with words like Gemini. To those with strong emphasis here though, one set of words and ideas is as good as any other. Gemini is fickle and changes its mind often.
Gemini is the only sign of the Zodiac that can actually assume different points of view. A skill many other signs claim to possess, but in reality, don’t. Really assuming a POV other than your own is extremely difficult. To do it you have to abandon your own POV. You have to negate it entirely. Try it. It’s not easy. Oh you can sympathize. You can empathize. But to actually assume a different POV you must lose your own. Only a Gemini can do this and not go crazy, and even then, many people believe that Geminis are indeed a little crazy.
The Gemini energy interacts with the environment. It is investigating, learning, knowing and exchanging ideas. The intellect dominates in Gemini, and all things intellectual are valued greatly.
Being the most versatile and changeable of the signs, Gemini energy is seldom what it seems to be. Chameleon like, Gemini will take a stand, voice an opinion, decide on an option, then completely change their mind tomorrow. Nothing is ever written in stone with a Gemini. They are truly a free soul, driven by curiosity and a desire to know and do. They usually have several things going at once, and within such chaos, they thrive.
The lesson of Gemini is to harness that curiosity and make conscious decisions on what to “think” about and “when”. If this lesson is not learned then the Gemini remains scattered and apparently unfocused because of mind is jumping from one thing to another and those viewing the Gemini cannot follow the thinking or communication.
That’s it for the month of May. Please enjoy the read, and thank you for all your support!! Remember to wash your hands often, and use some common sense when it comes to interacting with others. We’re not out of this yet!!
