Retrogrades, Nodal Axis Shift, and More... May's Astrology Overview

We’ve reached Beltane in the Northern Hemisphere, the time of year signifying summer’s arrival and providing an opportunity to declare our gratitude. Taurus season is already an invitation to honor and celebrate the sensual, pleasurable, earthy, embodied, and enjoyable in life, and Beltane epitomizes conscious enjoyment. This is also a favorable time for divination and communing with the spirit realm if that’s a practice you have. May will continue to bring interesting astrological events to experience while we’re still sheltered in place and coping with various scenarios in our personal lives, watching the many scenarios unfold in the broader sphere of our communities and countries.

This month brings a wave of retrogrades that will extend through the fall, with Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter all turning retrograde this month, joining Pluto which turned retrograde on April 25. Remember that a retrograde planet typically functions or expresses itself differently during a retrograde cycle, and we are able to deconstruct or review a particular situation or area of life potentially. But these next months will be exceptionally retrograde-heavy, with many planets retrograde all at the same time. This could have the effect of things feeling slow… stalled… or maybe felt deeply internally. It will be something to be aware of.

Venus and Neptune form a square on Sunday, May 3. This aspect could reflect a wide array of potential circumstances; there may be over-idealizations, or overindulgence in fantasy over the reality of a situation, or dreaminess, delusions, or disappointments. Venus is currently in Gemini and Neptune is in Pisces. It could be a good day for imagination, art, the mystical, high romance, or going with whatever flow feels good.

On May 5, the nodal axis shifts: the lunar nodes will exit Cancer and Capricorn and enter Gemini and Sagittarius (until January 2022). The nodes of the Moon are not planets but points - these are places where the orbit of the moon intersects with the ecliptic, and in the natal chart they represent what we bring with us into this lifetime from prior lives and our potential evolutionary trajectory. This shift will bring new themes and lessons for us to understand and work with. With the North Node in Gemini, Mercury will figure prominently into our lives at this time, urging us toward an endless curiosity and openness to new information, conversing and debating with different kinds of people. We will learn and grow through these new experiences and interactions. Mercury is one of the many planets turning retrograde between now and September and there will be much to reflect on during that cycle. Venus also turns retrograde soon, and in the sign of Gemini. Themes of communication and relationships will be reexamined and worked through for a while. The South Node moving into fire sign Sagittarius means that the planet Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, can provide assistance for working with our past karma and baggage. Sagittarius South Node indicates needing to release patterns and come to terms with issues around faith and belief systems among other things. A big lesson will involve surrendering into uncertainty.

Embracing uncertainty, quelling the need to be in control constantly, will be a major thematic element this year.

Affirmations for May: I embrace my whole self as I am now. I am worthy even when things are hard and I feel unsteady. I am alive and well today.

If you’d like to explore your nodes, or receive an interpretation of your your birthchart from an evolutionary humanistic perspective, sign up on the website or email wildmoonwisdom@gmail.com.

Overview of the Astrology of May: (all times are CA time)
5/3 Venus square Neptune (8:52pm)

5/5 Lunar Nodes change (from Cancer/Cap to Gemini/Sag)

5/7 Full Moon in Scorpio (3:45am)

5/10 Saturn retrograde (9:09pm) until Sept. 28

5/11 Mercury into Gemini (2:58pm)

5/12 Mars into Pisces (9:17pm) + Venus retrograde (11:45pm) until June 24

5/14 Jupiter retrograde (7:32am) until Sept 12

5/20 Sun into Gemini (6:49am) + Venus square Neptune (4:03pm)

5/22 New Moon in Gemini (10:39am)

5/28 Mercury into Cancer (11:09am)

xo

♈︎ V e r n a l E q u i n o x ❀ O s t a r a ☀︎

◆ 3/19/20 ◆

The current Capricorn stellium (so many planetary bodies crowded together in Capricorn): Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, South Node, also Pallas and Chariklo. Saturn is at a critical point (29º) of Capricorn, preparing to enter Aquarius on Saturday night. That move will initiate a major collective shift in consciousness, focus, and work, and we are already seeing aspects of Saturn in Aquarius... (systems collapsing, social distancing, quarantines, and shut downs, humanitarian help on both small and large scales, education via technology, etc). The Disciplinarian planet will be in the sign of the Genius/Outcast for three months to start, then will retrograde back into Capricorn until December, and then will settle in to Aquarius until March 2023. December is also when we have Jupiter conjoining Saturn at 0º Aquarius (on the 21st).

For now we have Mars and Jupiter conjunct in Capricorn (exact on Friday early morning hours), and Mars conjunct Pluto on Sunday night. Jupiter/Pluto conjunction at 24º Capricorn coming soon, exact on April 4. Generally speaking, the energy of Mars is active, assertive, passionate, and ferocious. Jupiter's vibe brings more of everything, and on a grand scale- it is excessive and optimistic. Saturn restricts and limits, maintains boundaries, requires discipline. With Pluto we see elimination, transformative reformation, and the underbelly/underworld of everything; it works on us in deep and somewhat disturbing ways. The lunar South Node represents well worn habitual patterns that are hard to break, a comfort level in our habits that resists change. Altogether, this can create somewhat uncomfortable to deeply disturbed experience.

Many are more worried than usual about how to pay rent and bills and have food under these current circumstances, along with a multitude of other concerns. For some, survival and trauma are trials frequently and familiarly traversed and this is an occasion to call on inner resources, and for others this is an entirely new and different challenge to face. We may feel pushed to the limits or forced to surrender, or we may be reinspired to help actively, or to keep looking for and reasserting hope in our own meaningful ways.

All the action in Capricorn holds gravitas right now, where we will be forced to face severity of some sort. But today is a day to acknowledge a new astrological year beginning. Today in the Northern Hemisphere it is Spring Equinox, with the Sun leaving Pisces and entering Aries, the beginning of the zodiac tonight. We have Chiron in early Aries, but no more fire energy in the skies until the Sun arrives. This lack of fire for several months has been obvious in our (lack of) expressions of motivation, passion, inspiration, and confidence. If you can find it, be in the sunshine today. Let the Aries Sun inspire or encourage you in some small way, in whatever feels appropriate to your inner state.

We are under a mandatory shelter in place order for the next few weeks here in the Bay Area. My personal daily routine doesn't change, as an introverted work from home person, so I am available for astrology consultations, tarot readings, Kosmic Koaching, etc if you need these services. If you're out of work because of the current situation, please write to me about receiving a discount on one of my offerings. wildmoonwisdom@gmail.com.

xo,
KK
Wild Moon Wisdom Astrology