We've had a lot of big change energy in the astrology at play since mid-April. 

​As we close down May, this is a perfect time to take stock and look ahead into June, because June is another big month astrologically.

***Keep reading for a recap of the last half of May to get you oriented, plus an overview of June's astrology, including a date and transit list at a glance for June!

April 19th to May 5th was our first eclipse portal of 2023 - bringing major "breakaway" energy.  What shifts - like closings of certain chapters and openings of new ones - are unfolding in your life now?

The 4/19 new moon eclipse was the 2nd of two new moons in a row in Aries, the first one at 0°, and the 2nd one being the eclipse at 29°, the karmic degree of the sign.  This was our opener to the north node landing in Aries for eighteen months in July, and what's happening now is moving us into that new chapter of our lives.  

The 5/5 full moon eclipse was a south node eclipse in Scorpio, wrapping up the work we've been doing with north node in Taurus and south node in Scorpio for the past eighteen months.  This was the big release eclipse.  What are you breaking away from?  What chapter are you closing (whether by choice or not)?

Remember that Pluto, bringer of death and rebirth style regeneration, in square to the nodes March into December this year is a driving force of change rumbling beneath the surface, and a major defining energy of 2023.  Pluto's lesson is clear - we have to let go.  Let go or be dragged (under).  

Just two days after the 4/19 new moon eclipse, Mercury stationed retrograde in Taurus on 4/21.  For many of us, this has had everything to do with money and security. 

Things should be getting clearer now, at the end of May, and the grand fixed cross aspect between Jupiter freshly into Taurus, Mars freshly into Leo, and the nodes in T-square to Pluto is applying the pressure to get us through the birth canal and into the next chapter of our lives.  Even if it's unfamiliar and uncomfortable, even if we are scared, we need to go ahead and face things head-on and move forward. It's the only way, and there's good stuff on the other side of this.

So let's recap the last half of May.....

5/14:  Mercury stationed direct in Taurus.
5/15:  Mars in Cancer trine Neptune in Pisces (Venus will do the same 6/1-6/2).
5/16:  Jupiter into Taurus (square Pluto RX 0° Aquarius).
5/19:  New Moon in Taurus + Mercury making 3rd and final sextile to Saturn in Pisces - the first was 4/5, and the 2nd was 5/12 - this is about long-term plans/commitments/deals).
5/20:  Mars into Leo (opposite Pluto RX 0° Aquarius).
5/21:  Sun enters Gemini (trine Pluto RX 0° Aquarius).
5/23:  Mars in Leo square Jupiter in Taurus exact.

And that gets us through the major bumps of this last half of May.  Before the end of the month, we have no planetary sign changes or lunations, and just two aspects, Venus sextile Uranus (exciting change in love & money/self-value), and sun square Saturn (you're likely to feel tested, but this is a quickly passing aspect - just show up and stay responsible).

June gets off to a good start.  We've made it past the bumps of Jupiter and Mars changing signs with Pluto retrograde at 0° Aquarius playing gate-keeper.  

Remember - Pluto is the biggest influence on 2023's astrology as a whole.  It landed in Aquarius in March for the first time in over two centuries, and sitting at 0° Aquarius until June 11th, it's been very influentially positioned to play "bouncer" for Jupiter into Taurus and Mars/Venus into Leo, all the while T-squaring the nodes of destiny and fate, future and past, from early March through early December.  

We need to be our most authentic selves, in our true inherent value, and in our personal power.  Pluto is demanding it.  The controlling, power-play, manipulative or coercive stuff we do, the threats, the ultimatums, when we aren't truly in our power but are desperately grasping at it isn't going to work now with Pluto playing such a big roll and in lesson-bringing mode now.  When we feel that come up, that threat to our being and survival, we need to face the truth within ourselves and look to where we can reclaim our power within from where its being held hostage by fear, wounds, trauma, and limiting beliefs.

By June 1st, you'll want to have the release work done and decks cleared in your life as Jupiter conjuncts the north node of destiny and future in the Venus-ruled earth sign of security and material abundance and resources, Taurus.  The universe cannot help you if you are clinging to the past and there's no space or invitation for the new.

At the same time, over June 1st and 2nd, Venus in Cancer traces Mars' footsteps from May 15th, trining Neptune in Pisces.  Whatever Mars instigated in mid-May, Venus is bringing blessings and harmony to.

On June 3rd, you'll feel tension as we arrive at the Sagittarius full moon climax, under the influence of our 2nd grand cross in the skies in two weeks.  There are 4 keys to focus on during this lunation to unlock the power of this full moon astrology, and I've written on it in detail in the subscribers-only June full moon email.  If you aren't on the list and want to be, just click here.

On June 4th, Mercury now direct on its way out of Taurus passes by change-bringer Uranus - expect flashes of insight and innovative ideas for moving forward.

Then on June 5th, Venus joins the party in Leo.  This will again be a bumpy entry, as Our Lady of Love and Money lands in Leo and finds herself in a challenging situation with Pluto retrograde.  This is going to check you on any wobbly self-value, and it could come through relationships or finances.  Stay as self-aware as possible, and when the need to prove or defend or react comes up, instead of doing that, pause and look within for the power that you can reclaim from this.  This is going to set you up well for Venus in Leo until early October.  (She will be retrograde July through September, helping us with our "personal Renaissance" this year.)

June 11th is a day to mark on your calendar, as today gives the opportunity for flashes of insight, deep understanding, and reveling in the gifts of Venus.  Pluto retrograde moves back into Capricorn today until mid-January when it returns to Aquarius escorted by sun, light of consciousness.  At the same time, Mercury enters Gemini, its own sign, and trines Pluto, and Venus squares Jupiter.  Just watch overspending, or over-indulging of any sort.

The Gemini new moon is exact late in the day on Saturday 6/17 or 6/18, depending on where you live (21:37 PT, 6/18 00:37 ET).  It occurs with a beautiful aspect between ruler of Gemini and the new moon, Mercury, and Venus, ruler of relationships and resources.  Earlier that same day, Saturn stations retrograde in Pisces until November 4th.

Solstice occurs June 21st as sun enters Cancer at 07:57 PT, 10:57 ET, at an odd angle to Pluto retrograde, the quincunx, or 150° angle.  (I've written more on this in the subscribers-only new moon email for June - just click here to make sure you are on the list.)

Finishing up the month, we have Mercury into Cancer June 26th, and finally, Neptune stations retrograde June 30th (direct 12/6).

By the end of June, we will have marked solstice and the beginning of Cancer season, one of the four major turning points of the year, have both Venus and Mars in Leo with Lilith, with Mercury and sun soon to join in July, have Pluto retrograde officially back in Capricorn for its final clean-up round, and both Saturn and Neptune in Pisces retrograde until November/December, respectively.

This is our entry into summer, and the activity in Leo, with the crown jewel being Venus retrograde in Leo July through September, bringing your "personal Renaissance."  (I've written about this in depth in a recent blog post - just click here to read all about it.)

Come home to yourself and reclaim your throne. 

​It all begins here.  When we do the "Venus Work," as I call it within, everything will, and must, come to match and reflect that in our lives.  The problem is that the subconscious is tricky, and our "default mode" that we've developed is very strong.  So we very well may have tried to shift many times without it really taking hold.  But it doesn't mean that's not the way - it means we didn't 100% lock in the shift.  That takes time, practice, consistency, and a lot of good support, especially when we are still living in the world and environment that aligns with our "default mode."  

If this resonates with you and you are interesting in exploring working together, just click the button above to book a FREE Zoom clarity chat with me, where we will discuss your current challenges and needs and how I can help.

Sun conjunct Taurus means exciting change and liberation.  It's time to embrace the "change vibe" and shake up the routine and status quo in our lives.

It's time to express our uniqueness and the value in that. It's time to shine that light.

Uranus rules the 4th dimension, and the way we access it's insight and gifts is through our hearts - through our okay-ness and appreciation for the present moment.

From that place of satisfaction in the present moment, all things are possible - all opportunities and timelines open up to us.

(But we can't get there if we are stuck in the past or in the limiting beliefs and conditions of the 3D & Saturn.)

Stay open-minded and flexible and be proactive about shaking things up in your life in positive ways to access this energy.

You'll want to, because at the same time, we have a kite formation (see image above) forming in the skies - a grand water trine between Venus in Cancer, Saturn in Pisces, and the south node of past and release in Scorpio, plus the north node of future and growth in Taurus opposing the south node (of course) and making supportive aspects to the Venus-Saturn trine.

Venus-Saturn is exact 5/13 and it speaks of stability and commitment around love and money, relationships and resources. It wants to help us make the ideal real through strong foundation and commitment. It's about stepping onto the thrones of our hearts and committing to our values in full self-worth and taking the real world action steps to create a physical reality that supports, nurtures, and feeds us abundantly.

This is all feeding the north node in Taurus. Our point of growth, increase, desire, and appetite, in Taurus, the sign of Venus-ruled earth - the sign of wealth and resources and the security those bring. Think about the ways you've been wanting to feel more of this, and how you've been working to innovate new ways of achieving this in your life over the past couple of years.

The Taurus north node is our point of focus and realization - the point through which the blessings and gifts of this grand water trine will come through and manifest in our lives if we actively work this energy.

The Scorpio south node is our point of release - where we draw the arrow back to build the energy to shoot forward into the future.

The deep-diving full moon eclipse in Scorpio 5/5 was our set up for this. We dive into the Scorpio south node energy of the past and what we are moving away from, to build the tension to propel ourselves forward towards the opposite point, the north node in Taurus - the future, our desires, and what we are moving toward.

Can you name the past you are releasing, the future you are embracing, and what you are committing to now to get there?

And, yes, Mars and Venus are about to land in Leo (5/20 and 6/5, respectively), really getting the big Leo "Renaissance" vibes of this summer and fall going.

But not so fast, because there's just one catch, and it's Pluto retrograde sitting at 0° Aquarius until 6/11 when it reenters Capricorn, serving as "gatekeeper" for Jupiter into Taurus, and Mars and Venus into Leo, which all take place before 6/11.

Leo, Taurus, and Aquarius are all fixed signs - all at 180°/90° angles from each other. Scorpio, where the south node and the 5/5 full moon eclipse occurred, is the fourth fixed sign. 

May is a dynamic month astrologically.  We're moving towards good things over summer and fall, but May presents a "bumpy entry."

Venus lands in Cancer on 5/7, right after the first eclipse portal of 2023 closes with the 5/5 south node full moon "release" eclipse in Scorpio.

Mercury retrograde in Taurus stations direct on 5/14, and then just two days later Jupiter lands in Taurus, for an all-around fortunate year-long transit.  Then on 5/20, Mars lands in Leo just two weeks ahead of Venus, activating the Leo energy that will be going strong all summer and into fall as Mars and Venus land there kicking off Leo season early, Venus stations retrograde in July (and will remain there on extended day bringing extra blessings til October) and sun and Mercury pass through end of July through end of August.  

But here's the May catch:  Jupiter into Taurus and Mars into Leo will be in challenging "growth" aspect to each other at 0° of the two fixed signs, and this tangle will only be amplified by Pluto freshly retrograde at 0° Aquarius, in T-square to the north node of future and south node of fate almost all of 2023.  Pluto in lesson and review mode at 0° Aquarius (until 6/11 when it reenters Capricorn for a potent clean up round - it won't be back for over two centuries) is acting as gatekeeper for May's major energy shifts brought by planetary sign changes.  We're moving into a new phase, but it's going to be a bumpy entry.

Venus in Cancer is the healing balm.  While the planetary sign changes in May run into Pluto checking to see if we really learned the lessons and are truly in our power, truth, and above board with our motives, Venus in Cancer is balancing things, bringing the blessings.  (If you want to understand what Pluto lessons are coming up specifically for you, click here to check out my article on Lilith in Leo and your personal summer "Renaissance," where I tell you what dates to look at and why to clue in to the theme that's coming up for you.) 

This Monday brings the "aha moment" of Mercury retrograde in Taurus and the deep jolt of Pluto shifting into reverse as Friday's Scorpio full moon eclipse looms large.  

The time to come to terms with what we really value and desire and what's actually standing in our way that we need to once and for all release has arrived, and it's happening whether we are on board or not.

You read that right.  I wasn't joking when I said it was a hard truth, but it's an important truth, and one that will indeed set you free - if and when you embrace it.  This is the kind of truth that stings a little, but ultimately will unlock so much power for you.

Let me explain.

You are the only one keeping yourself from getting what you want or need.

You have the power. You've always had it. But you continue to hold away from yourself that which you long for, and that's part of the reason it's so frustratingly painful.

Why?

Simple.  There's a very old subconscious program running in you that says "I can't get what I want and need."

When I say subconscious, I mean below the surface of your conscious awareness.  You don't realize that's what is going on - you only keep experiencing the results in your life over and over.  And because you don't realize this is subconscious programming at play, you come to conclusions like "that's just the way the world is," and "that's just the way life is," and "that's just the way it is."

This subconscious programming may be tied to other additional limiting beliefs about yourself, such as "I'm not good enough,"  and/or about the world and life in general, like "life is hard and then you die."

This might even be compounded by a deep (and again subconscious) fear of punishment or retribution if you happen to get caught ever getting and enjoying that which you believe yourself to be so unworthy. Or maybe it's more about being rejected and abandoned.  Maybe the limiting belief says, "no good deed goes unpunished," or "it's lonely at the top."  Maybe there's some resistance because of a deeply held belief of not outshining siblings or being more successful than your parents.  Or maybe it's a belief that ultimately, being successful, happy, supported, and enjoying life will somehow make you a target, or you will lose friends and loved ones.

Yet, consciously, you truly want what you want, and you can't see any logical reason why you shouldn't have it, and so you keep working towards it, and keep find yourself stuck in the same loop of never quite getting there.

Because you're caught in the double bind, under the spell of the subconscious beliefs.

So let's dive into this a little more deeply.

It's all energy.  Energy is all there is.  

The energy of lack and withholding is the same energy, no matter what we are talking about.

And as I said before, you are the one in charge.  You are the one with the power, and you are the only one keeping yourself from what you want or need.

But here's the deal:  your beliefs, and especially those subconscious ones that live and operate below the surface of your conscious awareness, are what create the energetic prism that you live life through.  As within, so without.  Whatever's going on in your inner realm, whether you are aware of it or not, is what's going to be reflected in your outer experience of life.

So that belief of "I can't get what I want," or "I can't get my needs met," and all of the other ones that are woven in with it is what is creating your thoughts, your emotions, your energetic vibration, and the experience of life you live every single day.

And it will remain that way until you dig in deep and shift those beliefs, thus giving your energetic prism a new vibration.

There's something else that can get us tripped up that I want to mention here too, although I haven't covered all of the multitudes of possibilities that can play out in our lives.

Sometimes it's not just beliefs, but intertwined with them might be unresolved trauma from childhood and/or some sort of decision or vow we made way back then while in great distress.  These are strong and take willingness to really do deep work to heal and neutralize.

When something big happens that we couldn't stop, on top of the trauma, we may have also decided something beyond a limiting belief like "no one loves me," beyond the betrayal trauma or broken trust, that goes something like "this isn't okay, and it's never going to be okay - I'm never going to let this be okay."  

Of course there are many different versions of this, but my point is that it's not really a belief, but it's a vow that went along with the limiting beliefs when they were formed.

And a vow like this can absolutely be working beneath the surface of your consciousness and sabotaging your efforts to experience all the things you want in life.  

Because not letting thing be okay is not letting yourself be okay, and if that isn't neutralized and remains active, you are always going to run up against the internal conflict.

You are going to have to decide to be okay. You're going to have to let it go.  Whatever part of you, deep inside, is still holding out for justice or some sort of reparation, it has to let that go.  It has to let go so you can heal and finally move on.  And that might mean truly grieving what happened, what never was, what was lost - anything and everything that needs to be grieved.

First Mars activates Leo late May, then Venus joins the mix in early June.  But Lilith has been in the sign of audacious sign of creative self-expression since January.

You've probably already heard me talk about Venus in Leo this year from an extended stay including retrograde from early June into October.

But Mars beats her there, landing in Leo May 20th (as the dust settles from the spring eclipse portal and in the wake of Mercury stationing direct and Jupiter, gift-bringer, landing in Taurus for a full year).  

Mars landing in Leo for two months really activates the Leo energy and the area of life ruled by Leo for us, but we've had another key player in the sign heating things up since January - Lilith.  (Note that Sun and Mercury will join the mix for Leo season - late July til late August, and Venus stations retrograde June 22nd.)

Mars activates, Venus brings blessings and healing, and Lilith does what exactly?

Lilith in astrology (and in mythology) can get confusing.  There's Lilith the asteroid, and then there's Black Moon Lilith, the lunar apogee.  This is a calculated point, not an actual object. 

The apogee is the calculated point of the moon's orbit that is farthest from the earth.  It's a "shadow point," much like the north and south nodes that represent appetite, destiny, increase, and the direction of soul growth, and letting go, decrease, karma, and fate, respectively.  

Black Moon Lilith has a 9 year orbit and spends 9 months in each sign.

So what does it mean to you?

Well, just like everything else, there's one in your natal chart that's part of your energetic blueprint, and then there's the current transit. 

Transit Lilith landed in Leo in January and will vacate the sign along with Venus in October.  Given all of the other activity in Leo this year and it's relationship to Uranus/north node in Taurus and south node in Scorpio, and Pluto arriving at zero degrees Aquarius in March, Black Moon Lilith in Leo is worth discussing and understanding.

Most of us know Lilith as a character in the Bible - Adam's first wife that walked out, refusing to submit, to be replaced by Eve.  (Whether she walked out or was kicked out is a detail that is still up for debate.)

No matter.  Our mission is to understand the energy of this archetype so we can understand this energy in our lives, and Lilith goes back way farther than the Bible.  

She shows up in the Sumerian myth of Inanna's Descent - she had nested in the huluppu tree Inanna had planted and tended to with the intention of creating a great throne for herself.  When Inanna could not get Lilith to leave the tree, her future throne, she had her brother help her chase her off so the throne could be cut from the tree's wood.

Inanna's Descent is the myth of Venus' retrograde - the great queen's descent to the underworld to face her shadow and be reborn to new consciousness, ruler of both worlds, of shadow and light, and Lilith is intrinsically woven into this epic tale of human experience as a representative of the shadow, the feminine that goes her own way, the one who was shamed, rejected, and outcast. 

In Inanna's myth, we see her showing up as something that stands between Inanna and her throne.  She calls in her brother to rid "the pest" for her and carve her great throne from the tree, but as we all know, other people cannot truly do our shadow work for us.   As the myth unfolds, we find Inanna with all of her high worldly status not truly in our power, and becoming conscious of her sister, Erishkrigal, who rules the Underworld - her shadow self, and going to meet her face to face.  The shadow initially kills her, but the god of wisdom Enki brings her back to life, reborn to new consciousness.  Then and only then, in her true power, can she integrate the shadow and become ruler of both worlds - light and shadow, above and below.

1.  Black Moon Lilith is the lunar apogee - the point of the moon's orbit that is the farthest the moon can get from the earth without breaking free of its orbit and spinning off into space.  With BML in Leo January through October, whatever passes through Leo during that time will also be at this "breaking free" point.  So that means Mars, self-assertion and desire, 5/20 through 7/10, Venus, self-value and attraction, 6/5 through 10/8, sun, source and light of consciousness, 7/23 through 8/22, and Mercury, the mind, thinking, and communication, 7/11 through 7/28.

2.  The moon is giving us monthly updates on this energy every time it transits Leo, and until June, it opposes Pluto at 0° Aquarius every time it enters the sign.  The moon is our daily feels, and the sign is transiting on any given day tells us how we will feel best about ourselves and life.  In Leo, it's about honoring the inner child, following our hearts, and unapologetic creative self-expression.  We want to be seen, heard, and appreciated for who we are.  Pluto wants transformation.  It wants us in right relationship to our personal power.  And it brings this transformation about by stripping exposing deep subconscious truths and forcing us to release the old - to die to the old consciousness to be reborn to the new.  Every time until June the moon lands in Leo, our emotional security may feel "out there," as deep stuff comes up in our lives triggering us, fueling this major process of release and regeneration that is on all year really as Pluto squares the nodes of future and past March through December.  

Here are the dates through September the moon is in Leo: (MDT). (Mark these dates on your calendar and tune into what's coming up to get a sense of the theme you're going to be working on as your "personal renaissance" over this summer!)

• 1/7 20:39 to 1/10 09:15 
• 2/4 02:48 o 2/6 15:14 
• 3/3 09:15 to 3/5 21:38
• ***3/23 Pluto arrives at 0° Aquarius
• 3/30 16:31 to 4/2 04:57 - opp. Pluto at 0° Aquarius
• 4/27 00:29 to 4/29 12:59 - opp. Pluto at 0° Aquarius
• ***5/1 Pluto stations RX (reenters Capricorn 6/11)
• ***5/5 Full Moon Eclipse in Scorpio
• ***5/20 Mars enters Leo until 7/10
• 5/24 08:34 to 5/26 21:04 - opp. Pluto now RX at 0° Aquarius
• ***6/5 Venus enters Leo until 10/8
• ***6/11 Pluto reenters Capricorn until January 21st
• 6/20 16:04 to 6/23 04:34
• ***6/22 Venus stations RX in Leo until 9/3
• 7/17 22:39 to 7/20 11:12
• ***Sun enters Leo 7/22 until 8/23
• 8/14 04:36 to 8/16 17:14
• ***New Moon 23° Leo 03:38 08/16
• 09/10 10:36 til 9/12 23:17

3.  Where, and how, are you unapologetically breaking free, and what from?Black Moon Lilith is the lunar apogee - all about "breaking free."  Uranus in Taurus in square is about breaking free too - innovating a new way to material security, maybe by way of new values and new self-value.  Pluto's helping us dig up the deeply buried stuff in our subconscious that keeps sabotaging us.  The south node in Scorpio is our point of release.  But Leo is where we are really focusing over the summer - where we are taking heart, having courage, and keeping true to ourselves no matter what. 

In "Finding Our Way Through the Dark," Demetra George says, “The Asteroid Lilith describes the first stage in the mythical journey where she is suppressed, humiliated and flees in a fiery rage to the desolate wilderness. The Dark Moon Lilith depicts the pain of her exile where she plots and executes revenge. The Black Moon Lilith shows how she transmutes her distorted image back into its natural healthy expression."  

This is about recovering the part of you, your expression, that was shamed and thus deemed unacceptable and reintegrating it. 

This is about reclaiming your power by bringing back under your wing the parts of you you've disowned and locked deep in that inner dungeon. 

Remember, your body is an entire organism made up of millions of tiny single ones - cells...molecules...energy.  Just like a stand of aspen trees, what harms one harms all, because they are actually all the same organism. 

You cannot disown part of yourself or be ashamed of part of yourself without disowning the entire self.  For you to be okay, and worthy, and valuable, that part of you has to be okay too.  Period. 

This summer is your chance to transmute this distorted image of yourself, to break free of the limiting beliefs, judgments, and conditional thinking that have kept you imprisoned from your heart's desires and full self expression.  

Here's an example of how Black Moon Lilith in the natal chart works.  If you have Lilith natally in the 8th or Scorpio, you may feel extremely uncomfortable or judgmental when you are around people expressing attachment issues, possessiveness, or jealousy.  You feel shame just being in proximity of it, and maybe even like they need to be "punished" for their behavior - because at some point in your life, whether you remember it or not, you were, and now you've buried the root need to be included, wanted, and deeply connected in yourself.  It's not allowed, even though it's a primal human need. Your experience didn't separate the core need from the immature or unconscious behavior that was only trying to get that need met. 

Lilith in Leo wants attention, and again, attention and appreciation are intrinsic human needs.  But how many times have we been shamed for our attempts to get this need met?  How many of us were told "children were meant to be seen and not heard?"  How many attempts from our caregivers and authority figures to teach us appropriate social behavior over the course of growing up ended up with us carrying this shame and feelings of not valuable and not important into our adulthood?  And because we've disowned this need and deemed this part of ourselves unacceptable and locked it away in the shadow dungeon, it has no choice but to express unconsciously, distorted, and sideways, sending us into more self-loathing and shame.  

This summer is your opportunity to find that part of yourself and bring it out of the dungeon.  Love it up, bring it back into the fold, into your loving and compassionate gaze.  It was never wrong or bad.  It just needs your full acceptance, and then loving guidance.  

Venus will be swooping in to Leo June through October and retrograde 6/22 to 9/3 supporting us in making that same journey to our own shadowlands as the great Sumerian queen Inanna to face our shadow and be reborn to new consciousness, whole unto ourselves, ruler of both shadow and light - helping us access a new level of self-value.  

Until then, we are doing the prep work for the "personal renaissance" coming this summer.  If you want to dive deeper, start with finding the area of life that Leo rules in your chart, because that's where all the action will be.  For deeper understanding, then check what areas of life Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius rule for you as these are all playing in, with Pluto moving into Aquarius squaring the nodes, the north node of future along with Uranus bringing innovation to values/material security in Taurus, and the south node of karma and past signaling where we need to release in Scorpio.

If you're interested in a personal astrology reading, just click here to book.

Mark May 1st on your calendar - it's likely to be an insightful day.

Why?  Because by evening (Mountain Time), we have Mercury retrograde in Taurus cazimi, or making an inferior conjunction to the sun, marking the heart of its retrograde review and bringing the big "aha" moment, and then just two hours later, Pluto officially stationing retrograde until October 10th.

To make things even more intense, this all occurs just days before the 5/5 Scorpio full moon eclipse - an energetic climax that closes the eclipse portal that opened 4/19.  Eclipses always bring lasting change to our lives, and this one especially signifies closing chapters of our lives and letting go.  Pluto being the modern ruler of Scorpio only adds more gravity to the situation at hand.

I've referred to the theme of Mercury retrograde in Taurus as "innovating the good life."  Here's why.  (Read more about Mercury retrograde in Taurus 4/21 to 5/14 here.)

Mercury retrograde is always a review of thinking and communication.  Taurus is the Venus-ruled earth sign of how we feel secure and enjoy life through material resources and possessions.  Mercury doesn't just rule the mind, it rules every day errands, connections, and transactions - money.  ​

Looking at the bigger picture, Uranus moved into Taurus in 2018 and will finish that transit in 2025.  Uranus brings change through sudden upheaval, and wants us to innovate and break free from the status quo.  The climax of Uranus in Taurus was brought about with the pandemic over the past few years - an event that forced large scale changes, and created the need to innovate our relationship with resources of all kinds, how we enjoy life's creature comforts, and how we feel materially secure in our lives.  

The north node of increase, appetite, future, and destiny moved into Taurus mid-January 2022, bringing a collective desire to move past the restrictions of the pandemic and find new ways to enjoy the abundance of life again.  However, Saturn in Aquarius (Saturn entering Aquarius in March 2020 was the beginning of the pandemic for most of us), was still finishing up its series of squares (an energetic impasse that restricts and forces growth) to Uranus in Taurus, on February 2021 til October 2022, so although we felt the desire to break through and break free and align with the call of the north node and Uranus in Taurus, we were frustratingly held back.

But now it's a completely different ball game.  

Saturn's now moved into Pisces - this puts it in a supportive position to Uranus in Taurus rather than a challenging one.  By July, the north node will leave Taurus and move on into Aries, starting a new 18 month cycle, which means it is wrapping up it's time in Taurus, bringing this transit that began in January of 2022 to culmination.

Mercury retrograde in Taurus now just before Jupiter lands there to bring gifts for an entire year starting May 16th, is here to help us mentally review in the Taurean realms before we move forward.

If you've had budget or financial issues up for review, then perfect.  Now's the time to get that sorted, and Mercury retrograde is pointing you in the right direction.

On a deeper level, consider this:  the total solar eclipse was 4/19 (or 4/20 depending on what part of the world you live in), and it featured the new moon eclipse in square to Pluto - more specifically, sun square Pluto.  Then, Mercury stationed retrograde on 4/21.  

This Pluto retrograde is more potent, as Pluto is in the midst of a major transition - from Capricorn where its been since 2008, to Aquarius where it will be until 2044, after January when it returns.

Pluto begins this retrograde on 5/1 at 0° Aquarius, and will station direct 10/10 at 27° Capricorn.  Collectively we may very well see recession, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and in general the results of any greed and power plays by the "powers that be" since 2008.  Pluto in transit always strips and exposes what's rotten so it can be destroyed and something new may be created, and Pluto in Capricorn kicked off with the Global Financial Crisis.

On a more personal note, Pluto retrograde will have to do for you with whatever house (area of life) Capricorn rules in your life, and your relationship to power in that area of life.  Think of it as a "clean-up round," wrapping up the major themes and lessons since 2008 and how that has transformed you, before moving on to what's next.

Don't ignore whatever is coming up for you now.

The theme of our relationship to personal power and LETTING GO is the major underlying theme of the astrology of 2023, with Pluto being in square to the nodes of future and past, destiny and karma, from early March til early December.

2023 is what I'm referring to as a "transition year" for all of us, and it largely has to do with this particular energetic dynamic, coinciding with Pluto's shift into Aquarius, which kicks off a series of outer planet sign changes that will have us in a totally new place by 2025/early 2026. 

If you're facing down power dynamics, realize that you are being guided to fully release any attachments or limiting beliefs that no longer serve you, specifically by coming into right relationship with power and especially your personal power.

If it feels like your security has been wobbled, or you are feeling disempowered or not of value, be willing to take a closer look at what has been triggered deep within your subconscious and psyche and be honest about your true motives for any action you feel driven to take.

This isn't the time for relying on power dynamics or false sense of control to try and find your sense of security.  It's time to disengage and release those "lose-lose" situations, while maintaining the highest ethics, morals, and respect for both yourself and others.  Take the high road and focus on not needing to control or get a specific outcome to be okay.  

On the heels of the Aries new moon eclipse, Mercury stations retrograde 4/21, turning direct May 14th.  The pre-shadow began 4/7 with the ruler of the mind in supportive alignment with Saturn.  There will be two more of these alignments, with the 2nd 5/10-13 being a time of review of whatever landed around 4/7, and resolution coming just after Mercury stations direct on the 14th, May 18th-20th, featuring Jupiter freshly into Taurus for a 12th month gift-bringing transit.

Good things are coming - be patient as we move through the 5/5 Scorpio full moon eclipse and allow Mercury retrograde to guide you in doing any necessary review, rework, and edits.​

Eclipses typically occur in pairs of two - a new moon eclipse or solar eclipse, and a full moon eclipse, or lunar eclipse, not necessarily in that order - two weeks apart, in spring and fall, forming "portals" of change (the two weeks in between the eclipses).  

Eclipses are based on the lunar nodes - these are calculated points and "shadows" of the moon, with the north node representing soul growth, increase, appetite, future, and destiny (what's pulling us forward), and the south node representing karma, decrease, release, past, and fate (what is completed/what we are moving away from - or what's holding us back).

1.  Believe.  This is a Mars-ruled new moon eclipse bringing powerful change having to do with self-assertion, with Mars transiting Cancer, sign of the tenacious crab.  The ascendant for this new moon eclipse falls in Sagittarius - sign of faith, belief, and optimism.  You've got this.  Forget about surviving - set your dial to THRIVE.

2.  Do the dark moon release work.  We've got ruler Mars in sign of emotions and past, Cancer, in square to wounded healer Chiron in Aries AND in supportive aspect to Mercury about to go retrograde in Taurus on 4/21 (a review of thinking and communications especially around security, resources, pleasure, and material possessions), and the new moon eclipse will be in applying conjunction to the north node in the beginning degrees of Taurus all in square to Pluto at 0° Aquarius.  Pluto is in square to the nodes of future and past from early March all the way til early December this year and the overarching theme is letting go of the past so you can rebirth into the future and your destiny.  Cancer can be overly attached and sentimental, so now is the time to dive deep into your subconscious, heal any unresolved bits from the past, and identify any unconscious tendencies to self-sabotage.  Wrap it up, close it out, and leave that stuff in the past where it belongs.  It's done.  Make peace with it.  Drop it, leave it.  
​
3.  Take heart, have courage, turn and face your fears.  This is a major new beginning in Aries, sign of self, the warrior, courage, and passion.  Summon your courage and face your fears.  This time, you're not shrinking, you're confronting.  Everything you desire is on the other side of this, and you will win.  There's no other option.  You know all of the old scars and wounds, you know the patterns, and now you also are quite aware that staying stuck and giving your power away to the past is much worse than just turning to face it and saying, "not this time."  Whatever you experienced in the past, you've already lived it - the memory of it only has power over you if you allow it to.  And you're done with that.  This is a new chapter, and that old story isn't going to be a part of it.

Pluto is death and rebirth transformation and power, the moon is our intuition, emotions, and in transit, a broadcaster of messages. Leo is the sign of creative self-expression and the heart, and Aquarius is the sign of innovation and the collective.  

There are two more dates of this before Pluto retrogrades back into Capricorn as we move towards the yearly climax of summer solstice:

• April 26th,  23:29 MDT to about 4 or 5 am MDT on the 27th, and
• The morning of 5/24 MDT (07:34 MDT to noonish).

Whatever you were grappling with yesterday evening, you'll be working on over April and May too - consider this your Moon-Pluto mentorship.  

(As a moon-Pluto native, I understand all too well the intense emotions and angst this can bring up. Don't let it goad you into reacting from triggers and insecurities - know it's this aspect that's passing, and hold space for it and your feelings - do some tapping, move your body, get outside - note any blocks coming up around what you're trying to create and get curious. Stay away from engaging, projecting, and blame. Find someone to talk to you just to air it out if you need to.)  

On 3/23 Pluto arrived at 0° Aquarius, Leo's opposite sign - the first time it's changed signs since 2008 and the first time it's been in Aquarius in over two centuries.

When Pluto transits a sign, it first strips and exposes. It won't tolerate anything less than the truth, and it's going to pull up that wall to wall carpeting and let us see the gross stuff that's been living right in our homes so to speak.

As Pluto transited Capricorn, the big "entry event" that happened was the Global Financial Crisis in January 2008 - because Capricorn rules big patriarchal systems like finance and government, even infrastructure - and Pluto rules the underworld, shadows, and power. It helps to understand that Pluto actually rules regeneration - the transfer of energy from one form into another.  It was discovered in 1930, along with the atomic bomb and the rise of depth psychology - we're talking about THAT kind of energetic transfer.

You can also think of it as the cycle of destruction and creation - like how a forest fire can bring healthy regeneration to a forest, or how we compost biological matter to support and nourish the growth of the new.  

The letting go has to be done FIRST.

Pluto is going to remain at 0° Aquarius and station retrograde there May 1st - it's already slowing down to station.  By June 11th, it will be back in Capricorn for a final "clean up round" before officially moving back into Aquarius in January until 2044 (note - it does so in conjunction with the sun).

While Pluto at 0° Aquarius is already bringing us a lot of tech/AI "underbelly," - I've seen a lot of mainstream news stories coming out just in the past few weeks about debates on pros and cons of AI, scams using artificially copying of voices, and concern about robotics taking over factory workers jobs and even the trucking industry - with Pluto back in Capricorn June - January we are likely to see the climax of anything false or unsustainable or lacking true power in banking, finance, government, and politics. The U.S. party conflicts & Trump stuff, the Ukraine war, the banks falling/in crisis, banking/political finger pointing and desperate *ss-covering measures are all issues up for review/possibilities.  Remember that there's no getting away from the Lord of the Underworld. It's like a lava flow - it may move excrutiatingly slowly but if you're in its path, there's no getting away.

Working with this in your personal life:

1.  Remember that this is happening for everyone collectively on these three dates (3/30, 4/26-27, and 5/24), but the way it is landing in your chart is personal.  What houses are 0° Leo and Aquarius for you?  Does it make any important aspects in your chart?  

2.  Use whatever was up for you yesterday evening Thursday 3/30 and whatever you were specifically grappling with or feeling insecure or fearful or obsessive around as your guide to the overall theme, since this will happen in April and May at exactly the same degree.

3.  Dig deep into your inner securities and fears being brought up and think carefully about/contemplate what you truly desire (from a place of unshakable self-value and inner security) and what you need to fully and completely release and allow to die (especially from the subconscious in the realm of fears and insecurities) to get it, create it. 

4.  By June, Pluto will be retrograding back into Capricorn, not to return to 0° Aquarius til January, and that time it will be traveling with sun, light of consciousness, and in the meantime, we'll have Venus in Leo and retrograde there June - October, making for an especially important Leo season this year late July to late August.  This is helping us do the preliminary inner work if we tend to it with conscious awareness prepping us for a big Venus-in-Leo renaissance come summer.