May 2015 Newsletter
Dear Friends
Kindly note that the days and times given below are in PDT (Pacific Daylight Saving Time). For Rocky Mountain Time (except AZ which is on PDT time) add 1 hour. For Central Time, add 2 hours. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours. For Alaskan Time, subtract 1 hour. For Hawaii-Aleutian Time, subtract 2 hours. For Greenwich, add 8 hours. For Central European time (CET) add 9 hours. For Eastern European time (EET), add 10 hours.
MAY 2015
RUNE OF THE MONTH: Dagaz “A new dawn. Change”. This rune is symbolized by the lemniscate, the sign of infinity, the integration of the masculine and the feminine within, and the process of illumination. Truth is found in peace and silence and the deep understanding that there are no opposites, just infinite aspects of oneness.
* * * *
Mercury turns retrograde on Monday May 18 at 2:27 AM until June 11. It travels this month from 13º08’ to 8º48’ Gemini. These degrees are represented in the Sabian Symbols by: “Two people living far apart in telepathic communication”, “a world famous pianist giving a concert performance”, “a black slave-girl demands her rights to her mistress”, “newly opened lands offer the pioneer new opportunities for experience”, “an aeroplane performing a nose-dive”, and “a quiver filled with arrows”. Mercury retrograde periods are never good for electronics, communication or anything of a mechanical nature. Especially in its own sign, Gemini, we could be particularly forgetful, loose keys, erase messages without having heard them, miss planes or overlook the small print in legal documents. People from the past will re-emerge. Travel to places we hadn’t been to in a long time are particularly enriching. Written projects that were collecting dust will be remembered. A month when our forgotten past is actively brought into the future, where we daringly and creatively stand for our truth, and develop skills we were only dimly aware of possessing.
Saturn remains retrograde this whole month between 3º12’ and 1º02’ Sagittarius, until August 1. Its shadow period will remain until November 8th. These degrees are symbolized by “a little child learning to walk”, “two men playing chess”, and “the ocean covered with whitecaps”. Honesty with ourselves, expanding our horizons, using what we have learned in strategic ways and continuing to add unto what we already know while remembering what we were born with, helps us stand even more grounded in our personal authority.
Pluto remains retrograde this whole month between 15º28’ and 15º05’ Capricorn until October 24. Its shadow period continues until November 17, 2016. This degree (the same as last month’s) is symbolized by “School grounds filled with boys and girls in gymnasium suits”. Efforts are being required of us to achieve excellence. Self-mastery comes with discipline, hard work and focus. Our uniqueness emerges as we stand in our power, with integrity and a vision of what we wish to achieve. A month to know our power and express it skillfully.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Moon will be Void of Course (V/O –forming no major aspect with any planet before entering the following sign-):
- On Saturday 5/2 between 7:03 AM and 6:47 PM: when the Moon enters Scorpio.
- From Monday 5/4 at 6:49 PM till Tuesday 5/5 at 4:13 AM: when the Moon enters Sagittarius.
- On Thursday 5/7 between 10:51 AM and 11:16 AM: when the Moon enters Capricorn.
- On Saturday 5/9 between 1:35 PM and 4:22 PM: when the Moon enters Aquarius.
- On Monday 5/11 between 3:36 AM and 7:53 PM: when the Moon enters Pisces.
- On Wednesday 5/13 between 9:55 AM and 10:13 PM: when the Moon enters Aries.
- From Friday 5/15 at 5:03 AM till Saturday 5/16 at 0:02 AM: when the Moon enters Taurus.
- From Sunday 5/17 at 9:13 PM till Monday 5/18 at 2:27 AM: when the Moon enters Gemini.
- From Tuesday 5/19 at 10:57 AM till Wednesday 5/20 at 6:56 AM: when the Moon enters Cancer.
- From Thursday 5/21 at 5:36 PM till Friday 5/22 at 2:42 PM: when the Moon enters Leo.
- From Sunday 5/24 at 3:49 AM till Monday 5/25 at 1:52 AM: when the Moon enters Virgo.
- From Tuesday 5/26 at 7:21 PM till Wednesday 5/27 at 2:42 PM: when the Moon enters Libra.
- From Friday 5/29 at 1:20 PM till Saturday 5/30 at 2:34 AM: when the Moon enters Scorpio.
Mark these periods in red in your calendar and avoid scheduling anything of importance during these times as they would amount to… NO thing!
* * * * * * * * * *
Scheduling our activities using the zodiacal position of the Moon:
Moon in Libra until Saturday 5/2 at 6:46 PM + between Wednesday 5/27 at 2:42 PM and Saturday 5/30 at 2:33 AM: Great for relationships, associations, diplomatic exchanges with others, anything related to beauty (a haircut, buying new clothes, a make-over…), art (especially painting and decorating…), a pleasant social event (concert, art exhibition…).
Moon in Scorpio between Saturday 5/2 at 6:47 PM and Tuesday 5/5 at 4:12 AM + between Saturday 5/30 at 2:34 AM and Monday 6/1 at 11:38 AM: Perfect for scientific research, esoteric studies, self-transformation, shamanism, dealing with the mysteries of life, death, and sexuality, as well as insurances and issues involving personal power.
Moon in Sagittarius between Tuesday 5/5 at 4:13 AM and Thursday 5/7 at 11:15 AM: Perfect for traveling, religious and/or philosophical activities or matters related to higher education and the law. Excellent for lecturing, learning, perfecting a foreign language, exploring other cultures… Perfect also for athletic training and tending to large animals (horses….)
Moon in Capricorn between Thursday 5/7 at 11:16 AM and Saturday 5/9 at 4:21 PM: Good for furthering our ambitions, asking for a promotion, enlisting the support of people in positions of authority, making a good impression, re-structuring our business and redefining our long-term goals…
Moon in Aquarius between Saturday 5/9 at 4:22 PM and Monday 5/11 at 7:52 PM: Perfect for philanthropic activities, charitable organizations, meeting with friends, making new acquaintances. Good also for inventions, far out, progressive ideas, inter-dimensional and time travel, anything related to UFOs, computers and technology in general….
Moon in Pisces between Monday 5/11 at 7:53 PM and Wednesday 5/13 at 10:12 PM: Great for meditating, sitting by the ocean, anything related to the sacred, dancing, painting, swimming, dreaming, music, photography, film, sleeping, channeling, connecting with the mystical, the magic and the oneness of all that is…
Moon in Aries between Wednesday 5/13 at 10:13 PM and Saturday 5/16 at 0:01 AM: Perfect for intense physical activities, anything requiring forceful, direct action and self-assertion. Good also for leadership, spontaneity, good will, being a way shower, initiating new projects or bringing our car to the mechanic….
Moon in Taurus between Saturday 5/16 at 0:02 AM and Monday 5/18 at 2:26 AM: Perfect for any financial matter: paying our bills/debts, asking for the money that is owed to us, investing in real estate, buying and selling. Perfect also for a stroll in the park, going to the countryside, connecting with our Mother the Earth… Good also for gardening, pottery, sculpting, as well as bodywork…
Moon in Gemini between Monday 5/18 at 2:27 AM and Wednesday 5/20 at 6:55 AM: Excellent for multi-tasking, curiosity, any form of communication, exchanging information, sending e-mails, calling friends and acquaintances. Great also for social activities, attending conferences, reading a book, watching a documentary, gathering data on various topics, connecting with new people….
Moon in Cancer between Wednesday 5/20 at 6:56 AM and Friday 5/22 at 2:41 PM: Perfect for family activities, especially those involving children. Good for spending more time at home, cooking, nurturing ourselves and those we love, inviting the people we cherish over for dinner. Excellent also for drawing, creative writing, humor and anything requiring imagination and a touch of craziness….
Moon in Leo between Friday 5/22 at 2:42 PM and Monday 5/25 at 1:51 AM: Excellent for anything glamorous, dramatic performances, being in the public’s eye, throwing or attending an elegant party, playing with children, romance and creativity in general…
Moon in Virgo between Monday 5/25 at 1:52 AM and Wednesday 5/27 at 2:41 PM: Excellent for starting a new fitness program, learning, healthy nutrition, fasting, clearing our closets, cleaning our home, reorganizing our drawers…. Perfect also for detailed work, the focused use of our intelligence, and taking care of small pets….
* * * * * * * * * * *
This month’s intentional meditation begins on Sunday 5/3. Take out as many blank sheets as you will have intentions, and place them out (on a balcony, near a window or in a garden) to be charged by Full Moon in Scorpio at exactly 8:42 PM. Once that moment has passed, gather your sheets and place them in a folder until the next New Moon in Taurus on Sunday 5/17. Same procedure as above, take out your blank full moon charged papers and write on each a concise, positive intention. Place them on a balcony, in a garden or near a window at exactly 9:13 PM. Once that moment has passed, staple them together and put them away in a folder expecting the manifestation of all your dreams…
* * * * * *
Sunday 5/3: Mercury opposition Saturn (1:35 AM)
Seriousness and a sense of loneliness mark this day. A good day to complete backlogged work, keep ourselves to ourselves, focus on tasks we have been putting off and expect nothing from others.
Monday 5/4: Sun Square Jupiter (2:02 AM)
Exuberance may be appealing, but is not encouraged. An item may be more expensive than expected. Excesses of all sorts can have devastating effects today. Let us be aware not to promise more than we can deliver nor bite more than we can chew.
Wednesday 5/6: Sun Trine Pluto (0:08 AM)
Our charisma and leadership abilities shine, enabling us to create winning situations for all. A wonderful day to start an empowering project which will prove also lucrative. Self-improvement efforts are crowned with success. Our spiritual and emotional values blend with, and support our intellectual goals. We could benefit from grants, an inheritance, joint finances, tax or insurance money.
Thursday 5/7: Venus enters Cancer (3:52 PM till June 5)
During the next 4 weeks we feel more nurturing, tender, and sensitive than usual. Family values become important. Caring for children and mothers comes to the forefront. Food is seen as a way of sharing love. Opening our home to others creates good feelings. We could be drawn to beautifying our abode, thus making it more cozy and welcoming. Art, particularly drawing, is appealing, and humor feels essential.
Saturday 5/9: Mercury Square Neptune (9:09 AM)
We could feel a little foggy today. Not a good day at all for signing any legally binding document. We could miss the fine print or be told something different from the truth. Deception, lies, the concealing of important information could blur issues at hand. We could feel more sleepy than usual. Best to stay quiet and meditative while remaining aware to avoid spiritual imagination.
Monday 5/11: Mars enters Gemini (7:40 PM till June 24)
During the next 6 weeks, Gemini natives are favored. We feel more mobile than usual. Physical activity is motivated by curiosity. In movement, we gather information that expands our knowledge and makes us feel a lot younger than our years.
Thursday 5/14: Mars Opposition Saturn (11:03 PM)
Not a good day to ask for favors or the support of people in positions of authority, nor to make significant changes in our profession. Everything could feel like an upstream struggle today. The slightest task may require a huge amount of effort. We could feel more exhausted than usual. Older people could require care and become a personal responsibility.
Saturday 5/16: Venus Trine Neptune (11:49 AM)
An enchanted day. Beauty and elegance grace this day. A love affair could feel like a match made in heaven, particularly romantic, soulful and magical. Art is inspired. We look at the world with compassionate eyes and a deeper heart understanding that no matter what the appearances say, all is in divine order.
Monday 5/18: Mercury turns retrograde (6:50 PM till June 11)
Kindly refer to the opening paragraph.
Thursday 5/21: Sun enters Gemini (1:45 AM till June 21), Venus Opposition Pluto (6:54 PM)
The next 4 weeks are marked by movement, curiosity, small trips, the sharing of information, an expanded social life as well as extensive learning and communication. Today, more specifically, more than ever should we stay clear of emotionally abusive relationships, control attempts, manipulations and unethical business practices. A day best used examining and removing potential blocks to intimacy.
Friday 5/22: Sun Opposition Saturn (6:35 PM)
Financial speculations are best avoided today. Professional changes are not supported. We could feel particularly alone in the face of heavy responsibilities. A day best used in disciplined hard work. As we focus on structuring our long term goals and ambitions, we develop a better sense of self-sufficiency.
Monday 5/25: Venus Square Uranus (10:09 AM), Mars Square Neptune (4:39 PM)
A love relationship could be elusive at best, or unexpectedly break at worst. Deceit, eccentric, extreme behavior could negatively affect our social contacts. A new encounter could feel exciting but be very short lived. Best to follow our intuition and beware of appearances seeming real.
Wednesday 5/27: Mercury Conjunct Mars (3:37 AM)
A day to speak our mind with directness and enthusiasm. We are more aggressive than usual in defending our ideas and prone to impulsive decisions. Important to exercise caution when operating motor vehicles or sharp objects and avoid heated arguments.
Thursday 5/28: Mercury Square Neptune (11:59 PM)
We feel somewhat woolly-headed today. Facts and figures are blurry. Definitely not a good day for signing any legal document or making decisions. Best to use this transit to sleep, day-dream, watch a positive movie or read an inspiring book. Artistic expression is beneficial, as is anything appealing to the dream side of our personality.
Saturday 5/30: Sun Conjunct Mercury (9:55 AM)
A good day for clear, direct communications. Social contacts are pleasant and to the point. We are efficient and expressive. Work gets done easily and fast. Writers and lecturers are favored. Contacts with children are both positive and interesting. Small trips are protected.
Sunday 5/31: Sun Square Neptune (6:08 AM)
Our sense of reality could be severely tested today. Escapist tendencies are blown out of proportions. The border between dream and facts is likely to be blurry. A day that reveals those areas in ourselves that we may not be too excited about, that yet need attention.
Wishing you all a wonderful month of May!
In Loving Light.
Michelle Karén, M.A., D.F.Astrol.S.
Astrologer, shaman, international conference speaker
Author of Astrology for Enlightenment (Atria Books, Simon & Schuster)
110 S. Fairfax Ave, A11-60
Los Angeles, CA 90036-2178