Astrology Forecast for May 2023
The first 3 weeks of May take us through one tense astrological event after another. But, the month ends up on a high note, with two extended Opportunity Periods, which is rare!
And, Jupiter moves into peace-loving Taurus this month. Halleluiah!
Let's start with May's big themes.
Eclipse Season Continues:
We're still in the eclipse season until May 11. A Lunar Eclipse will be visiting us on May 5, happening at 14° Scorpio.
If you feel edgier than usual, practice grounding. Work with red tiger eye, tourmaline, or smoky quartz. Or simply do some gardening or take a walk in nature.
Eclipse energy is powerful but destabilizing. Traditionally, astrologers don't recommend making major decisions within 3 days of an eclipse. New information might come to light that will change your course anyway. Plus, your decision-making might not be as sound as usual.
But, if something truly unexpected comes into your life under the eclipse energy, it's meant to be - it's the Universe redirecting you onto the path that's for your greatest good.
Mercury is Still Retrograde
Mercury stays retrograde until May 14. But, a lot of Mercury-retrograde related mishaps happen right before or after Mercury changes direction, so to be on the safe side, practice caution until May 18.
Pluto Turns Retrograde
Pluto turns retrograde at 0° Aquarius, on May 1. On June 11, it will retrograde back into Capricorn, to finish its transformational work there.
Read more about Pluto in Aquarius and Capricorn here, but I'm just going to say - the explosion of AI!! It feels like it's everywhere. So very Pluto in Aquarius!
Pluto will revisit 27-30° of Capricorn twice between June 11 2023 - January 21 2024, through its retrograde and then direct motion.
Pluto deals with big issues, such as power and sweeping, transformational change. When it visits your natal chart, it can cause turmoil, but it nearly always leaves a gift. Greater resilience. Greater compassion. Greater understanding of such big issues as life, death and rebirth.
If you see your birthday mentioned below, and you've experienced some turmoil or big developments in your life over the past 12 months, the theme(s) you're experiencing will fully play out for you by February 2024:
- Capricorn born Jan. 18-20
- Aries born April 17-19
- Cancer b. July 20-22
- Libra b. Oct. 21-23
If you have personal planets between 27-30° of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, Libra, Taurus or Virgo, pay attention to Pluto this year as well.
I've had a great many clients booking a meeting in a grip of a powerful love affair when transiting Pluto connected with their natal Venus!
Jupiter, Pluto and Mars Butt Heads
(Or, in astro-technical terms, they form a T-Square that will be felt May 15-25.)
Just as soon as the eclipse energy starts dissipating, Jupiter moves into Taurus and clashes with Pluto in Aquarius. This is a financial energy that can bring reversals on a global scale (for good OR bad). The trouble here is, Mars moves into Leo almost at the same time, and butts heads with both Pluto and Jupiter.
Hopefully we won't have a further turmoil in the banking sector. But, the Jupiter-Pluto square was already active at the time of the Solar Eclipse in April, and Aries eclipses can also set off events early. So hopefully the financially unstable energies brewing in the skies from late April to mid-May have already played out in March - that's when we had all the instability in the banking sector in the US.
Financial happenings aside, Mars will oppose Pluto, and it's a volatile combination. It can bring violence and conflict. We will feel it between May 19-21 (Pacific to Eastern time). If you have personal planets at 0-2° Taurus, Aquarius, Leo or Scorpio, avoid dark places and volatile people.
And hopefully there isn't going to be any increased military tension around the world.
Jupiter Moves into Taurus
Ahhh....this is a huge highlight, and not just of this month - of the entire 2023! Taurus is a peace-loving sign, and Jupiter's presence there is generally helpful for the economy.
What’s more, when Jupiter is in Taurus, it’s good news for agriculture. Hopefully we will have a good growing season in 2023, helping to bring down food costs. I don't know about you, but reviewing my grocery bill still leaves me speechless these days!
When Jupiter is in Taurus, some or all of the following sectors tend to prosper:
- Agriculture
- Banks and banking
- Cash and precious metals
- Women's rights
- Music and musicians
- Actors and actresses
- Jewelry and jewelers
Jupiter in Taurus is great news for Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn or Scorpio – or anyone with the Ascendant in these signs.
Jupiter will be in Taurus from May 16 2023 to May 25 2024.
Check out the House (area of life) that is in Taurus in your natal chart. You may have increased opportunities or experience expansion in that area.
Now let's look at each week in detail.
Note that all the dates I mention are for Pacific to Eastern time. The energies I mention peak on those dates, but we’ll feel them for 24-72 hours in advance.
May 1 - 7:
This week brings a tense and powerful Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio, and Pluto turns retrograde. It's a prime week to ponder what makes you feel powerful or disempowered, and if there are some deep-seated emotions that you need to process. We all accumulate them over time...Check the House (=area of life) that is in Cancer in your natal chart. Things might flow with greater ease there until June 5, when Venus moves into Leo.
For my Cancer readers, watch for the dates transiting Venus is approaching your natal Sun. Note the dates when Venus is within 5 degrees and is approaching your natal Sun and until she is about 2 degrees past. That week is a fantastic time for you personally for cosmetic procedures, new haircuts, and other beauty procedures.
May 8-14:
The electrifying eclipse energy is starting to fade as the week goes on. Phew! If the past two weeks felt haywire for you, things should start simmering down this week. But, this is also the week when Mercury-retrograde related mishaps are likely.
Mercury is slowly repositioning in the skies again, turning direct on May 14 and then slowly gaining speed. If you're thinking of signing a major contract, buying a vehicle or an expensive electronic device, wait until May 18, just to be on the safe side.
And, this is the week my MoonManifest Challenge starts, on May 14!
This annual conjunction is a fantastic day to try something bold and new! It's a great day for brainstorming, looking for creative solutions to stubborn problems, and for breaking bonds that have become chains.
If you need to have a conversation with someone from your past (an ex?), or bring closure to a conversation, this is an excellent date.
It's also a good date to re-evaluate your finances or budget.
Because Mercury is about to turn direct, moving very slowly, it will stay connected with Saturn for an unusually long time. We will feel the energy between May 11 and May 20. This entire time is good for finishing something you've been working on, such as a manuscript, an important presentation, a course - or anything else related to learning and communication.
If you've been negotiating a contract, chances are, you will be able to re-valuate and re-adjust it around May 12, and close it around May 19.
✨ May 13 8:12 a.m. to May 15 12:56 a.m. PDT: An Opportunity Period!
Opportunity periods are when the Moon makes positive alignments only before she leaves the sign she’s in (there is more to calculating them, but unless you want to get rrrreallly technical….)
Opportunity periods are universally beneficial and aid many undertakings. But, because Mercury is repositioning to go direct during this Opportunity Period, this one is better suited to arts and healing, rather then new beginnings.
✨ May 14: MoonManifest Challenge Begins!
This course is for you if you’re working on bringing something into your life, and would like to learn new, powerful tools to help you on your journey. This “something” can be your love life, finances, career, or simply more peace and tranquility. If you feel that your progress has stalled, you'll get "unstuck". Most participants experience results before the course is over.
May 15 - 21:
The energies are very powerful this week. The New Moon in Taurus is eclipse-free! Yay! And it's THE New Moon of the year to set your intentions for financial prosperity. Jupiter moves into Taurus - another yay!
And the best date of this month, astrologically, is also happening this week - May 21.
✨ May 15: Mars trine Neptune
A great energy for artists and healers. A lot of progress can be made today.
✨ May 16: Jupiter enters Taurus
Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn - rejoice! Sometime in the next 12 months, you’ll experience a lucky or at the very least optimistic streak. Book a reading!
✨ May 17: Jupiter square Pluto
Check your natal chart for planets or angles at 0° Taurus, Aquarius, Scorpio or Leo. They are getting very powerfully activated this week. A Jupiter-Pluto square can be boom or bust, especially in financial matters. But, big personal breakthroughs are also possible, especially if you have enough resilience and determination to make them happen.
Just to be on the safe side though, avoid dark places and volatile people, because aggressive Mars joins the party just two days later, challenging both Pluto and Jupiter.
✨ May 18: the Sun sextile Neptune; Mercury sextile Saturn (again!)
Another great day for artists or those working with charity. Imagination and compassion run high. Writers can make a lot of progress today.
✨ May 18: New Moon Workshop!
Get ready for the financially savvy New Moon in Taurus.
New Moon in Taurus: May 19 8:53 a.m. PDT
Astrologically speaking, the New Moon is the time to set intentions for what you want to attract into your life. To plant the seeds of what you want to bring into your life.
As the Sun and the Moon align at the same degree of the Zodiac, the yin and yang become one. Your intentions are planted into a fertile cosmic soil. The Universe is listening.
And this New Moon, in Taurus, is a fantastic time to set intentions for financial prosperity, abundance, contentment, and peace.
✨ May 20: Mars enters Leo and opposes Pluto
When Mars (energy, drive) is in Leo, we want to take the center stage. And so we rebel against controlling people or circumstances (Pluto)! Stay out of power struggles this week - they can turn ugly.
Mars opposite Pluto is a volatile energy overall. Tension seems to erupt somewhere in the world when Mars and Pluto butt heads.
✨ May 21: the Sun enters Gemini, trines Pluto and sextiles Mars.
First of all, Happy Birthday to my Gemini readers!
Today’s energies are very resilient and courageous. If you need to make a stand, today is your day. If you need more confidence, personal power, or vitality, charge a carnelian or red jasper today. Work with the Tarot card Strength.
As of May 21 8:28 p.m. PDT, an unusually long opportunity period starts.
Opportunity periods are universally beneficial and aid most undertakings. And this one is suitable for virtually anything.
It will last until May 24 2:12 a.m. PDT! Such an extended window of opportunity is truly rare.
May 22-31:
The intense energies of early May are now behind us. This week starts with optimistic vibes that can make us over-enthusiastic.
✨ May 22/23: Mars square Jupiter
Mars continues to stimulate the “boom or bust” energy of the Pluto-Jupiter square.
✨ May 26: Venus sextile Uranus
Unexpected surprises in love or money matters are possible today. A good day to break out of routine in relationships and try something new with your partner.
✨ May 28: the Sun square Saturn
NOT the best day for new undertakings: they might be off to a challenging start. Don’t challenge authority figures today, either.
✨ May 29-31: another Opportunity Period!
Another super-long opportunity period lasts from May 29 at 7:51 a.m. PDT to May 31 7:53 a.m. PDT - nearly 48 hours!
The Moon is waxing in Libra: use this opportunity period to make strong connections and build relationships.
The MoonManifest Challenge Starts on May 14!
So yes, another delivery is now scheduled. We start on May 14! Registration is now open.
If you're looking to effect change in your life, this course will provide you with some powerful tools.
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- C. from Berlin, Germany
✨ I wanted to let you know (I'm working on manifesting abundance of money) that I received two unexpected checks in the mail today, and an unexpected deposit into my bank account. Even though they aren't going to sustain my family in the long-term, there were a surprise, much appreciated, and a nice beginning!
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