by Leslie Hale, keen.com
Venus retrogrades, new moons, and Mercury transits – oh my! The stars have a lot in store for us this month and Leslie Hale, Psychic Astrologer at Keen.com, is sharing all the need-to-know Astro news.
The Goddess of Love Looks Back
Every 18 months the planet ruling love, money, and values retrogrades. During this time issues that concern love and attraction as well as money and personal values can shift. Venus retrogrades May 13, at 21 degrees of Gemini. This will last until June 25 when the planet of love reverses course and turns direct again at 5 degrees of Gemini.
Venus is in Mercury’s sign and this means love energy is more intellectual than physical which seems to fit the times with Covid-19 quite well. The sign Gemini is associated with the intellect, thinking, ideas, and reason much more so than passionate, physical love. It doesn’t mean those things can’t be part of the picture but Gemini likes to intellectualize all things and this includes love and relationships. It is much more likely to see acts of chivalry with Venus in Gemini than any other sign.
It is during Venus’ time in Gemini period our thoughts and communication about love may become more open-minded. Ideas that have outlived their usefulness may be replaced with new ones, and we may all be a little more reasonable in our judgments, ideas, and attitudes that are formed during this time.
Relationships Can Change
Love can slow down, and people often change their minds or change their partners in some cases during a retrograde cycle of Venus.
As Venus retrogrades, we have an opportunity to rethink and re-access our relationships with others and those closest to us. Love energy may be harder to come by during this period, but we may compensate for this by loving ourselves more. Feelings and intellect may become more defined giving clear ideas, originality and intuition, and an appreciation for a more light-hearted approach.
If you begin a new relationship on a retrograde Venus it is said the love energy is never fully expressed. If this is the case, things could also change after Venus turns direct again and energy shifts. Venus retrograde is sometimes associated with those we have known in the past. At times we can reconnect, or take trips down memory lane, for the better or worse.
Venus Retrogrades Repeat by Sign Every 8 Years
Venus retrogrades every 18 months. The last retrograde of Venus in Gemini was May – June 2012, and 8 years earlier May – June 2004. Before this, it was May – June 1996. It can be interesting to look back at these periods and remember what its effect was in your personal life. You could experience something similar to the Venus retrograde in 2012 as Venus turned retrograde at 24 degrees of Gemini, and turned direct at 8 degrees which is very close to its retrograde degree this time.
Venus Retrograde and Its Karmic Effect
Venus retrograde affects not only love but money and our social lives. When it is retrograde all of these things can become more difficult, but at the same time, we can gain more clarity as to where we are going and who we are going there with. Venus retrograde is a karmic period and at times our love lives can take dramatic shifts. The karma of relationships sometimes plays out and relationships can end, or come back together. If a relationship comes back together it was meant to, and if one ends at this time, it is granting you the freedom to find someone more appropriate and more compatible.
Venus Squares Neptune: Illusion
Venus enters a lengthy square to Neptune on May 4 which will continue through May 23. This influence will last for the majority of May, but the dates this powerful square is exact are May 3 and May 20 (retrograde). This will occur one more time on July 27 when Venus is direct. Re-occurring themes can crop up during these times, or it could represent a larger cycle concerning something or someone specific.
Venus square Neptune is a confusing transit especially relating to love and money. Feelings are often confused and at times new information can be revealed that may not be perfectly clear. Venus turns retrograde in a square with Neptune May 14, which represents a shift in energies. For some, this time can manifest as magical and things can seem beyond the ordinary. Creativity, dreams, and visions can be at an all-time high. For others, it is simply a confusing period with a lack of clarity. It is important during these times to remember that Neptune represents illusion, and this can include self-illusion so it is important to keep our feet on the ground no matter how perfect (or imperfect) things may seem. This could at worst represent a transit of theft that could involve money, possessions, or even the heart. If anything seems too good to be true, it probably is. During this time we must use common sense and good judgment.
Venus Turns Direct, Mercury Retrogrades
Venus rules women and Mars rules men and both will retrograde this year. Venus turns direct June 25, but Mercury is retrograde (June 18), and the lack of clarity may continue about certain things. By the time Mercury turns direct July 12, we should be in touch with our feelings and know where we are going emotionally and with who.
Love, Money, and Values
Venus retrograde will affect our personal lives and it will play out in the world as well. Venus’s retrograde will be followed by Jupiter’s retrograde on May 14, and this places both of the financial planets in a retrograde position. This means money may come in more slowly and it could have an overall economic effect. During this time as a collective, we will be forced to re-evaluate what is working, what is not, and what we value as individuals as well as a collective, and make changes toward those ideas that do not serve ourselves and the majority well.
What Does Venus Rule in Your Life?
Venus rules a certain segment or house of everyone’s chart. It is in this house of your personal chart Venus will retrograde and you could see changes in this area. Use your Sun sign to calculate the house in your chart that is affected or if you know your personal ascendant use that.
Aries: third house of neighbors, immediate family members, communication, and short trips.
Taurus: second house of money and income
Gemini: first house of self-personal changes
Cancer: twelfth house of subconscious mind, things that are secret and hidden
Leo: eleventh house of friends, hope, and wishes
Virgo: tenth house of career and reputation
Libra: ninth house of education, travel and higher mind
Scorpio: eighth house of sex, investments, and partners money, mortgages, sex, change, and transformation
Sagittarius: seventh house of partners or courts
Capricorn: sixth house of health and work
Aquarius: fifth house of children, love and friends
Pisces: fourth house of home and family
During May Venus, Jupiter and Saturn will all turn retrograde, the Sun will move from Taurus into Gemini, the mutable sign of spring that turns into summer. Mercury, the planet of communication will move through three signs, and we will have a powerful full moon.
The Full Moon in Scorpio
May’s full moon falls on May 7 at 17 degrees of Scorpio. Scorpio is the natural ruler of the eighth house of sex, secrets and corporate finances, or other people’s money. Scorpio is a deep and intense sign, and nothing superficial will suffice.
This is a positive and compassionate moon that makes a soft aspect to Neptune, along with Mercury. With this kind of energy, we can experience healing and compassion along with a good dose of creativity and conversation.
May New Moon in Gemini
May’s new moon falls at 2 degrees of Gemini May 22. Gemini is the sign that rules the third house of the mind, neighbors, and immediate family members. Its ruling planet is Mercury the planet of communication. The Sun entered Gemini May 20, and we are now in the Gemini season! Mercury and Venus are conjunct at the time of this Moon which is a good combination for communication, socializing, and love, but both planets square Neptune, the planet of illusion. Situations may seem unclear and confusing. Don’t make any major decisions on this day, but let the energy pass. The New moon wills trine Saturn which means we can get many things accomplished. Happy Birthday to Gemini, use this new moon to set your intentions for the year.
Jupiter and Saturn Turn Retrograde
Jupiter is considered the planet of gain and expansion, as well as the planet that rules finance. Every year Jupiter retrogrades for about 4 months and this year its retrograde will last from May 14 to September 13, when it will turn direct at 17 degrees of Capricorn.
Jupiter is in the sign Capricorn this year which rules the tenth house of business. Its retrograde follows the retrograde of Venus, the other financial planet within 24 hours. As both financial planets retrograde at the same time this year, this could have a negative effect on the economy. We will focus more on internal or spiritual matters, and creativity can be at a high.
Jupiter’s retrograde can create some doubt and disillusionment about our personal and collective potential. This will represent a time where we need to slow down and not overextend finances or projects.
During this retrograde, we will hear more news concerning bailouts and the US government. As Jupiter retrogrades it will approach a conjunction with Pluto as it did the latter part of March into early April. This was a peak of death in the US due to Covid-19, and we may see a similar situation again when these planets meet up again in late June. This could represent another turning point in terms of dealing with the pandemic.
Jupiter retrograde is part of the natural cycle of life. If Jupiter makes a positive aspect in your personal chart during the retrograde its full potential may not play out. If this is the case you will have another opportunity after Jupiter turns direct in September. If Jupiter turns direct on a planet in your chart at 16-18.
Saturn Turns Retrograde
Saturn turns retrograde at 1 degree of Aquarius on May 11. Saturn retrogrades every year for about 5 months. It will turn direct again September 29, at 25 degrees in Capricorn. Saturn entered Aquarius for the first time in 30 years on March 23. It will remain in the sign that rules the collective until July 2 when it will retrograde back into Capricorn where it will remain until December 17, when it re-enters Aquarius again and remain in this sign until March of 2023.
Saturn’s retrograde can be a pivotal time, especially if it aspects something in your personal chart.
When you experience a Saturn transit, you generally experience three passes of it and the retrograde pass is generally the most challenging. Saturn is overall associated with delays, slowdowns, and endings of various types which is why it is referred to as the taskmaster.
As Saturn deals with our structure we may be concerned with basic security issues while Saturn is retrograde both individually and collectively.
While in Aquarius Saturn deals with the collective, and we will learn to find our place in the collective. In Capricorn, Saturn is much more materialistic and restrictive. As Saturn moves from Aquarius back into Capricorn we will notice a substantial shift in energies that will be geared less toward the collective and more toward the material. Saturn in Capricorn can denote great wealth or great privation.
Mercury Transits Three Signs in May
Mercury is the planet that rules communication. As it changes signs our style of communication and expression typically change with it.
We begin the month with Mercury in Taurus. While in Taurus thought and speech is typically well thought out and measured. If a decision is made with Mercury in this sign it may well be permanent. Mercury enters Gemini May 11. At this time speech and communication may shift toward being chattier and more communicative then while in Taurus. Reason and common sense will become a theme now. People may seem indecisive at times because Gemini likes to look at all sides of a question. Mercury in Gemini likes new information, new people, sights, culture, and communication of all types.
Lastly, Mercury enters Cancer on May 28. Cancer is all about emotions and feelings over intellect. People will be more focused on how knowledge connects with them emotionally and rely more on their intuition to make decisions. ‘Gut feelings’ will become more important as will listening skills to feel out certain situations before taking action. There will be a mental focus on home and relatives.
Mars Enters Pisces May 13
Mars is the planet ruling action and ego and it leaves Aquarius for Pisces on May 13, where it will remain until June 29. Mars takes two years to typically move through the entire zodiac and the last time Mars was in Pisces was November 16 – January 1, 2019.
Pisces is ruled by Jupiter and Neptune and is the last sign of the zodiac. As a result, many things will end or culminate between mid-May and June.
Pisces is a sensitive and compassionate sign and as a result of Neptune’s association, can be somewhat confused or a true dreamer. Pisces is the most spiritual and compassionate of signs. With Mars in Pisces, you may not feel as assertive or driven but you can assert yourself in a more caring manner.
Other Transits of Significance During May
May 4, Sun conjuncts Mercury: You may experience a great deal of communication at this time. The energy can be irritating and actions willful if you are not aware.
May 10, Mercury trines Jupiter: This is a positive and upbeat transit indicative of luck in communication, social events, and money.
May 11, Mercury squares Mars: This transit is prone to agitation and arguments. Be careful if you drive as it can be connected to accidents. We could hear news of accidents or violence.
May 22, Mercury conjuncts Venus: This transit is one of the most positive fast moving aspects we can experience. Positive for communication, expressions of feelings, social events, and finances.
