The last half of May brings some dynamic planets into play and ushers in a new phase of accelerated growth. Prior to the New Moon, Mercury turned direct on Sunday evening May 14th. Communication and technology should run more smoothly for the next four months. On Tuesday morning May 16th, Jupiter completed its journey through Aries and entered Taurus where it will dwell for a full year, bringing our attention to issues involving security, health, values, our relationship with nature and hopefully our planet’s welfare.
On Wednesday evening, Jupiter made a perfect square to Pluto marking a milestone in their cycle which began in March of 2020, the tumultuous period instigated by Saturn’s conjunction with Pluto in January of that year. The first square in any planetary cycle is a time of reassessment. Just like the lunar cycle, when the Moon makes its first square to the Sun, we may encounter obstacles, have second thoughts, suffer doubts and dissatisfaction with our progress and make necessary adjustments to our original plan. The choices we make at this point will determine the direction of our growth.
In his book The Lunation Cycle, Dane Rudhyar writes: “If a positive attitude of growth and of liberation from the remains of the past has prevailed during most of the waxing period, the full moon brings . . . some sort of fulfillment, illumination or revelation.” He claims that this is true of all planetary relationship cycles. The “Full Moon” in the Jupiter/Pluto cycle happens in 3 years with the opposition from Leo to Aquarius. – three years of waxing illumination.
With Jupiter in Taurus, there will be abundance in all things Taurus, including financial matters. We may see growth in the stock market, an increase in wages, even surprise windfalls that augment our wealth. However, there is tension between Jupiter and Pluto that could bring a proliferation of get-rich-quick scams, revelations about our banking system, perhaps pressure to move toward virtual currency. With Uranus in Taurus, the markets will continue to be volatile. In general, it’s a good time to shore up financial security.
We all know the power of Pluto to clear the path for growth by releasing repressed material from the unconscious, bringing hidden corruption to light and revealing the underlying toxins in our society. And we know that Jupiter inflates everything it touches. More scandals may emerge, but we also know that Jupiter is a benefic, that Pluto paves the way for transformation, and more truth will set us free from our illusions about reality, empowering us to make the necessary changes to secure a brighter future.
New Moon in Taurus
On Friday, May 19th, the Moon joins the Sun at 28:53 Taurus at 8:53 a.m. PDT, in the USA 6th House of health, work, daily life and habits. In a way this house is about our mundane life – how we spend our time, what kind of schedule we follow. In Taurus we are asked, do we feel safe and secure? Are we caring for ourselves properly? Are we taking time to appreciate life’s pleasures? The 6th House is associated with Virgo, so we might take a good look at our lifestyle and see what needs improvement.
Taurus is the domain of Venus, which is currently conjunct our USA Cancer Sun. We move from Mars dominated Aries, which is all about action, goals, achievement and ambition, to the feminine energy of Taurus, from doing to being. The focus is on the quality of life. Taurus tells us to slow down, to connect with the natural world and its rhythms. Venus reminds us of sensual pleasure, everything from the fragrance of flowers, to the taste of gourmet food, to the joy of birdsong and thrill of loving touch. She speaks to us of self-love and deep gratitude for the gift of life.
The New Moon is trine our natal Pluto at 27+ Capricorn in our second house of value. Pluto can represent obsessions and we Americans have an obsession with wealth, power and prestige. But the New Moon is asking us to remember the value of a life well-lived, of loving relationships, peace of mind, an open heart full of gratitude. With our natal Pluto in our second house, our collective path is focused on the evolution of our values. Right now we are caught in the thrall of all that glitters, adolescent values of fame or popularity, stardom, and whatever lends us the aura of personal power. Pluto has been cracking the illusions of this value system while Saturn, now in Pisces, urges us to grow up and shift our material focus to the realm of spiritual wealth.
Grand Fixed Cross
We have had several lunation cycles dominated by fixed cross configurations. This one is undoubtedly the most powerful. A Grand Cross is made up of two oppositions and four squares. Actually we should call this a Grand Mixed Cross, because we have two cardinal signs and two fixed. Mars will enter fixed Leo Saturday morning, making an exact opposition to Pluto. Haumea is retrograde, however, retracing its steps in Libra, focusing on issues of justice, equality, loving relationships and inner peace.
We know that Jupiter is square Pluto. It is also square Mars and opposite Haumea. The squares between all four planets are tight and intensify the themes of endings and beginnings. Mars is at 29 Cancer; Haumea at 29 Libra – both in the powerful closing degree of their signs. Jupiter and Pluto are at 0 degrees of their signs symbolizing a shift toward the future. Our population has been polarized by these themes for most of this century, but it all is coming to a head, and something has to give. The Mars/Pluto opposition may accomplish that. These co-rulers of Scorpio could unleash energies that propel us forward.
Neptune could have a hand in relaxing some of this fixedness. The New Moon is sextile Neptune at 27+ Pisces. Sextiles are activating aspects and Neptune brings in the themes of our spiritual identity, our Oneness with All That Is and compassion for self and others. Neptune and Pisces break down barriers with gentle, but persistent wave action.
2023 is a pivotal year and this particular New Moon is telling us to pay attention. The Nodal Axis is intimately connected to the Grand Cross. Jupiter is conjunct the North Node, adding a booster rocket to our evolutionary thrust. Haumea is conjunct the South Node preparing a rebirth out of the ashes of our past. The coming month leading up to the Summer Solstice is loaded with both peril and promise. The outcome is the product of our collective thoughts, feelings and attitudes.
The North Node is midway between transiting Jupiter and Mercury. We are being called to summon our faith, bring our brightest dreams forth and to both think about, and talk about the future. To help us gain clarity, Saturn is sextile Mercury from Pisces, reminding us of our Oneness, of the value of compassion and our spiritual potential.
The peril lies in fear and despair over the state of our world. Much has been lost over the past several years – loved ones, security, civility, climate stability, trust in our institutions and our future. The majority are horrified at what we have become – gun toting terrorists. And once again the dark shadow of Fascism is swallowing up the light of democracy around the world, threatening to do so here at home.
The peril also lies in the ceaseless flow of bad news, dire warnings, alarming predictions. Best to avoid them. It’s tricky to stay informed but not be brainwashed, and the news is a powerful propaganda machine, especially when it is only telling us what we want to hear.
We have so many potential threats on the horizon, but they will only come to pass if we sink into the low vibration of negative thinking. As I have said so many times before, we have power over our state of consciousness. We can shift our fear by filling our hearts with gratitude, caring, compassion and appreciation. Don’t underestimate the personal power we have to tip collective consciousness toward the light.
Sedna
The New Moon is conjunct Sedna at 29:38 Taurus. The message of this cycle is so strong. With Jupiter entering Taurus and Sedna at the final degree of Taurus, the heavens are pointing to our spiritual path. The entire sign is bracketed by Jupiter, god of the solar system and Sedna, the outer limit of our solar system and destination of our spiritual evolution. And the path through Taurus can be a gentle one if we learn to love ourselves, to love the gift of life and embrace its pleasures with deep gratitude.
Sedna first entered Taurus in August of 1965, an era of enormous social reform, including the civil rights movement, the sexual revolution and women’s liberation. Sedna will move back and forth between Taurus and Gemini for the next 15 months before settling down in her new domain. There is speculation that Artificial Intelligence will come to full bloom during this passage which lasts until 2065. On Tuesday our Senate heard testimony from scientists declaring that we must regulate AI now, before it’s too late. With Pluto entering Aquarius, sign of science and technology these two planets will be in a harmonious trine throughout 2024. What wonders await?
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