Welcome to your May 2017 forecast!   Click on “read article” and scroll down til you find your sign of the zodiac….

TAURUS (APR 20-MAY 20) You can be happy to be having the first birthday in a few years without the dramatic and stressful Uranus-Pluto square! Woo-hoo! May shapes up rather nicely for you, I am glad to report, that is, if you can stand the end of Mercury retrograde with heavy Uranus action. Mercury turns direct on the 3^rd but it actually hangs out conjunct to Uranus for the entire first two weeks of May, including on the May 10^th full moon. A slow Mercury transit is unusual for that speedy wee planet! This Mercury – Uranus conjunction will have your brain firing on all cylinders, so pay attention to your craziest ideas. At the same time you may be given to sudden outbursts, so try to think a bit before you blurt. This is a very powerful and brainy aspect during which your ability to envision new possibilities will be very enhanced, so use it! The juicy full moon in Scorpio on the 10^th also brings a Mars-Neptune square, so be aware that your force field is bigger than you realize. This is a great combination for creative output, and inspired movement (dancing, anyone?) Then starting around the 17^th and continuing til the 23^rd, Venus in Aries opposes Jupiter in Libra. Both planets line up with the North Lunar Node. Nice going!   This is all about positive connection and intimacy. (In fact, if your birthday falls during this time you have that influence in your chart for the year.) Venus moves pretty quickly from its aspect to Jupiter into a square with Pluto for a few days starting on the 25^th. Dig deeply into your heart’s desires for some transformational emotional exchange. Meanwhile the Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and the Gemini new moon falls on the 25^th, capturing some of the Venus-Pluto intensity. The month ends with a few days of a Mars-Saturn opposition. Hmm. Nose to the grindstone time. If you are burdened by a piece of work you’re having trouble completing, now is the time.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Well, life is not exactly un-complicated for you this month. May begins with the last blast of Mercury retrograde – let me just say that this hasn’t been the easiest stretch of Merc retro for your wee Gemini self. It turns around on the 3^rd but it spends about the first two weeks of May on top of Uranus. Your brain is on fire and that may not feel particularly easy. Brilliant you may be right now – because these two planets together bring tremendous insight and vision—but the inside of your head may feel like a Cuisinart. Be careful of your words during this stretch, since you might say things you regret. There is a big juicy full moon in Scorpio on the 10^th which has this Mercury-Uranus energy as well as a Mars-Neptune square. Both of these combinations are wildly creative so get yourself to a studio or a dance-a-thon or just go make some music. Then starting on the 17^th there a good few days of a pretty Venus-Jupiter opposition, bringing some needed resolution in the relationship department. It is immediately followed on the 25^th by a Venus-Pluto square when you have the opportunity to really dig deeply into yourself and your motivations in relationships. Be careful not to beat yourself up. The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and then there is the Gemini new moon on the 25^th . Mars in Gemini makes an opposition to Saturn on the 26^th for the rest of the month. If your birthday is late late Gemini you will feel this aspect deeply. It is about incredibly hard work, intense focus, unrelenting restraint. Use it in positive way and get some hard stuff done.

CANCER (JUNE 21- JUL 21) Well, May is kinda fun for you. It begins with the last few days of Mercury retrograde, with Mercury turning around on the 3^rd but spending the first full 2 weeks of May sitting on top of Uranus. This fires up your brain cells and you are filled with inspiration. These two planets allow your mind to jump over barriers. Use them! Then there is a juicy full moon in Scorpio on the 10^th with both the influence of Mercury –Uranus and also Mars-Neptune aspects, shaking loose more creative energy. Then starting around the 17^th we have a good few days of a Venus-Jupiter opposition which sparks some satisfying relationship interchange and maybe even some romantic interest. Then Venus moves away from Jupiter and by the 25th, aspects Pluto. That’s is all about intimacy and even feeling a bit out of control in that department. The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th, followed by a new moon on the 25^th. The rest of the month is dominated by a crabbiness-inducing Mars-Saturn opposition. Ouch! This is a great combination for getting a serious piece of work accomplished but steer clear of people lest you get too irritated.

LEO (JUL 22-AUG 21) Well, the good news is that Mercury retrograde ends on the 3^rd but we actually have a full two weeks of Mercury sitting on top of Uranus in Aries. Oy!   This is a completely over-stimulating transit – it’s wonderful for brilliant, incisive, and inspired thinking but you may have trouble getting any sleep! Seriously, it really is powerful for writing and thinking past boundaries and barriers. This influence continues through the Scorpio full moon on the 10^th. That full moon also pulls in an interesting Mars-Neptune square, inspiring more creativity in you. Mars and Neptune are best expressed through movement – go dancing or head for your yoga mat. Then by the 17^th there a good few days of a pretty Venus-Jupiter opposition, facilitating a good time with friends and intimates. Enjoy! But Venus quickly leaves its angle to Jupiter and squares Pluto by the 25th. That is about deep transformation. It’s time to make a commitment! The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and there is a Gemini new moon on the 25^th. The new moon ushers in a week of a Saturn-Mars opposition. Hmm, that’s a bit intense, focused, perhaps a bit grim. But it’s great for getting some nudgy piece of work completed.

 VIRGO (AUG 22- SEPT 21) Has this Mercury retrograde been a pain in the neck, or what? The good news is that it ends on May 3^rd …but (oh you knew there would be a ‘but’) Mercury spends the first two weeks of the month sitting with Uranus in Aries. You are already feeling the influence of this wild little combination. It ‘s firing up your brain: you’re full of ideas and perhaps kinda edgy. Having your brain on fire is wonderful for inspiration but it makes sleep hard to come by and it also might make you uncharacteristically careless with your speech. Speaking before you think, in other words! Watch out for that – especially in the run-up to the May 10^th Scorpio full moon. That full moon also pulls in some interesting Mars-Neptune influence that definitely increases your capacity for creative expression. Then starting on the 17^th Venus opposes Jupiter for about 5 days. This delightful combo is all about relationships – enjoy. Venus moves from Jupiter to Pluto on the 25^th and the Pluto part of the transit is a bit more intense and transformative. Get ready to dive deeply into intimacy. The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and speaking of intense, there is an intense new moon on the 25^th. It ushers in a Mars-Saturn opposition which takes us through the end of the month. Mars and Saturn are wonderful for getting serious work done but along with a fair amount of brow-furrowing tension.

 LIBRA (SEPT 22-OCT21) Oh baby! Mercury turns direct on the 3^rd but the first two weeks of May have Mercury sitting virtually at a standstill on top of Uranus. Both planets are in Aries, your opposite sign, so you are totally inflamed by this transit….And I mean inflamed: your brain feels like it’s on fire. This is a great transit for ideas and inspiration and for thinking and writing right past any barrier. Just plow on through! (Your brain is like that scene in Twister when Bill Paxton drives his pick -up truck through a house being flung about by a tornado…) Pay attention to even your wackiest ideas. This planetary combination carries us right through the Scorpio full moon on the 10^th, along with a Mars-Neptune square which is also great for inspiration. By the 17^th Venus in Aries opposes Jupiter in your own sign of Libra for about 5 days. Nice! This transit should facilitate satisfying movement in relationships, followed by Venus squaring Pluto on the 25^th which allows you to do a deep dive into intimacy. The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th, and then the Gemini new moon occurs on the 25^th. This new moon ushers in a stretch of Mars in Gemini opposing Saturn. Hmm.   That’s a bit serious, even stressful. It is great for getting work done but you may want to hole up by yourself since everyone will be cranky.

SCORPIO (OCT 22-NOV 21) May is an interesting little month! Mercury is retrograde at the start of the month but the good news is that it turns direct on the 3^rd. Mercury looms large this month – it spends the first two weeks of May conjunct Uranus in Aries. Mercury transits are usually fast since it’s the speediest of planets but this month Mercury is more or less sitting still as it turns from retro to direct. So we get a wild and crazy two-week conjunction of Uranus and Mercury. Weird! You will feel like your brain is on fire, full of creativity and ideas. Pay attention to even your craziest notions and just be careful of your tongue – you may speak without thinking and regret it just a tad….This volatile but interesting transit carries us through the Scorpio full moon on the 10^th – yup, that’s your full moon. There is also a Mars-Neptune square on that full moon, helping you spread the love, spread your creative and inspired energy all around. Then by the 17^th Venus opposes Jupiter for a good few days, brining you some satisfying and happy relationship time. It’s followed by a Venus Pluto square on the 25^th which will bring some intensity and challenge to those relationships. The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and there is an odd new moon in Gemini on the 25^th. It ushers in a Mars-Saturn opposition, which is good for hard work but a bit stressful.   Keep your calming herbal teas handy!

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22- DEC 21) May opens with a just a few more days of Mercury retrograde—thank god, since this has been a difficult run. It turns direct on the 3^rd but more importantly, Mercury sits on top of Uranus for just about the first two weeks of the month. This is an unusually long transit for speedy little Mercury, and you will feel its effect quite intensely.   Get ready to have your brain on fire – with ideas, inspiration, and perhaps a bit of impatience. Sleep may be at a premium since this influence jangles your nerves. But it’s wonderful for creative vision, so use it! In fact, this influence takes us through the Scorpio full moon on the 10^th which also has a strong Mars-Neptune square.   Your force field is much bigger than you realize during this full moon. By the 17^th Venus opposes Jupiter for about 5 days – nice! This is a great transit for relationships, so enjoy. Then Venus moves quickly to square Pluto by t he 25th, bringing your relationships to a much deeper, transformative level. The Sun enters your opposite sign Gemini on the 20^th and then the Gemini new moon falls on the 25^th. This pesky new moon ushers in an opposition of Mars in Gemini and Saturn in Sag. Hmm, this Mars-Saturn thing starts around the 25^th and goes through the end of the month. It’s a big one for you, bringing you a lot of work-related stress. Put your nose to the grindstone and steer clear of people who might bug you. It is a good time for getting things done, for nudgy tasks that you would normally avoid like cleaning out your basement or getting rid of old clothes.

 CAPRICORN (Dec 21-Jan19) Oh what a month! Mercury turns direct on May 3^rd but Mercury plays a big role this month. It spends just about the first two weeks of the month sitting on top of Uranus. This weird little transit packs a punch – you feel like your brain is on fire. You’re edgy and filled with ideas. It is a great transit for vision and clarity but watch your tendency to blurt things out without thinking. It carries through the full moon in Scorpio on the 10^th, and a Mars- Neptune square puts the spotlight on creative expression. The best way to express Mars and Neptune is through dance and movement of some sort…Then by the 17^th Venus in Aries opposes Jupiter in Libra for a good few days. This pretty combination is great for connections and relationships, and Venus moves quickly from Jupiter to Pluto by the 25th, allowing you to push a relationship to more depth. The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and there is a Gemini new moon on the 25^th. This new moon kicks off a Mars-Saturn opposition which lasts trough the end of the month. Oy! It’s a stressful combo – good for hard work but tension-producing. Do something that requires a ton of focus, like building a stone wall in your garden…..

AQUARIUS (JAN 20-FEB 19) Well, May is an interesting month! Mercury turns direct on the 3^rd but Mercury plays an odd little role this month even so… It remains at almost a standstill for the first two weeks of May and sits on top of your ruling planet Uranus. This could make your head explode! You’re all stirred up, burning with ideas and new strategies. It’s a great transit for busting through barriers in your own thinking but watch out for a certain self-focus or egotism. It is all kind of exhausting… especially in the run up to the Scorpio full moon on the 10^th. The full moon also pulls in a Mars-Neptune square. The best way to handle all this energy is physical movement – yoga, hiking, swimming, dancing. On the 17^th Venus opposes Jupiter for about 5 days. This is a beautiful combination for relationships and connections, and it’s followed by a Venus Pluto square on the 25^th when you have to push a relationship to new depths. The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and then there is the Gemini new moon on the 25^th. The rest of the month is dominated by a Mars-Saturn opposition. Ouch! You may feel stuck and hemmed in. It’s a good transit for very focused work but steer clear of people since everyone will be stressed….

PISCES (FEB 20-MAR 19) May is downright odd… The first half of the month is dominated by an unusually long Mercury transit. It turns direct on the 3^rd but is kind of parked on top of Uranus for almost two weeks. This is a stirring and provocative little transit, jangling your nerves and giving you lots of great ideas. Pay attention to your craziest notions and realize that the reason you can’t sleep is Mercury and nothing else. Its influence gets very intense in the run up to the Scorpio full moon on the 10^th, which also pulls in a Mars Neptune square for good measure. That’s a lot of weird and wild and creative energy rolling around… Make sure you use it. And get out there in nature and walk or hike or run or dance or something. By the 17^th Venus opposes Jupiter for a good few days of delightful connections and relationship fun. Then Venus squares Pluto by the 25^th and you are compelled to struggle and bring a relationship to a deeper level. Meanwhile the Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and the Gemini new moon falls on the 25^th. Mars in Gemini opposes Saturn for the rest of the month — clean out your basement or something. It’s an intense transit, good for very focused work but it can be a crabby one!

ARIES (MAR 20-APRIL19) Well, well. Thanks to the recent retrogrades, there’s still a lot of interesting Aries action in the sky this month. Mercury goes direct on the 3^rd but it is almost at a standstill and sits on top of Uranus for almost two weeks. Mercury transits are usually very fast, so this is unusual. Oh, and did I mention Mercury and Uranus are in Aries? So your head is exploding, your brain is on fire, you’re burning with inspiration… Let your ideas burst forth and allow yourself to break through whatever mental and conceptual barriers you think are holding you back. This influence is especially intense in the run up to the Scorpio full moon. There is also a Mars-Neptune square on the full moon, which makes your force field extra powerful. These Uranus and Neptune aspects can carry you to the next level. Then by the 17^th Venus in Aries opposes Jupiter for a good few days, which is wonderful for connections and relationships. Venus moves from Jupiter to a square to Pluto by the 25th, allowing you to dive deeply into intimacy and commitment. The Sun enters Gemini on the 20^th and there is a potent new moon in Gemini on the 25^th. Oy! Mars opposes Saturn the rest of the month. That’s all about work stress and some very intensely focused activity.   A good time for building a stone wall or something.