On Sunday, May 7, a major shift takes place when your ruling planet, Venus, enters Cancer until June 5, opening the door for smoother and more pleasurable travel experiences. Cancer is your third house of neighborhood, local area, transportation, and language skills. This could be an awesome time for a roadtrip, or you could find yourself traveling for work or for skills training. Travel by land, rail, and water are favored during this time, so a train trip with a close friend or sibling could be a great way to get out of town. On Tuesday, May 9, the sun forms an exact alignment with Uranus in Taurus, a planet that has been slowly but surely been changing your life since it entered in 2018, inviting you into becoming your most authentic self. Don’t be afraid of change: you’re more ready than ever to receive and implement these shifts.
On Sunday, May 14, Mercury ends its retrograde in Taurus, seemingly stopping in the sky and pivoting to move forward once again, ushering in a big week for you. Mercury governs your finances and spending, so in about five to seven days you should feel comfortable making creative or financial decisions. On Tuesday, May 16, Jupiter enters Taurus for the first time since 2011, marking a major shift in your life over the next year. This is huge, literally, as the largest planet in our solar system often corresponds to abundance, gaining knowledge, and positive shifts in perspectives. From this point forward, you can expect to feel a bit more relaxed, comfortable, and confident in your body, and you may find it easier to connect with and find time with your biggest supporters. Notice how much more present you feel in your everyday experience. A Taurus new moon on Friday, May 19, brings both luminaries, the sun and moon, into your first house of self, creating a beautiful opportunity for renewal and self-investment—spend the weekend splurging for your next trip, or getting a haircut or facial, as you're eager to see yourself in your best light.
Gemini Rising
The first week of the month starts off busy as your ruling planet, Mercury, forms an exact alignment with the Sun while retrograde in Taurus on Monday, May 1. This alignment is referred to as a cazimi and often coincides with moments of insight or clarity, especially for someone ruled by Mercury like yourself. Because this takes place in your twelfth house of solitude and escape, quiet moments in contemplation are likely to better facilitate these insights. This moment is also special because it symbolizes a moment of rebirth for Mercury, allowing you to shed what hasn’t been serving you and move forward with more confidence, especially if you need to make decisions around your home or life direction. This represents a turning point to come back to the self after a period of potentially self-destructive behaviors or thought patterns. It’s an excellent time to be traveling solo, especially in nature, as you’ll need solitude to gather your thoughts and process your feelings. On the same day, Pluto stations retrograde in Aquarius, your ninth house of international and long-distance travel, marking a potentially impactful day. Give yourself more time and space than you think you need to digest and process, mentally and physically. On Friday, May 5, a lunar eclipse in Scorpio supercharges your sixth house of work, finally bringing a cycle that began in November 2021 to a close. You could be saying goodbye to a job, starting a new one, or finally facing revelations on what decisions you need to make moving forward to have a more creative and fulfilling work life.
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Take your time integrating these changes throughout the remainder of the Mercury retrograde for new shifts emerge when it stations direct on Sunday, May 14. Prepare to slow down as your ruling planet stops to pivot and move forward. There’s no rushing this process so have patience with yourself and the flow of time here—and take notice of how you feel moving into the latter half of the month. Now, you can proceed with confidence and a clearer sense of decisions you have to make, especially regarding your mental health and work-life balance. On Tuesday, May 16, Jupiter joins Mercury in Taurus, entering the sign for the first time since 2011, where it will remain for a year. This marks a major shift in your life as Jupiter governs both your career and your relationships. If you are partnered, this might look like changes in your partner's work keeping them busier than usual, as well as putting other relationship dynamics on pause because of distance. Additionally, changes in career could look like doing more humanitarian or charity work, work that takes you out of the country or removes you from your day-to-day life—maybe you take a break from working altogether. Either way, you’re looking at a time where you become more focused on healing your inner world. This is supported by a Taurus new moon on Friday, May 19, which offers renewal and a fresh start to work on these themes. Gemini season kicks off on Sunday, May 21, when the Sun enters your first house and begins to light you up from the inside out. Expect to feel more confidence, radiance, and less untethered. The spotlight is on you for the next four weeks so bask in it.
Cancer Rising
May kicks off with a busy first week punctuated by a lunar eclipse in Scorpio on Friday, May 5. As a Cancer rising, you’re ruled by the moon so lunar eclipses are intense, often coinciding with big revelations—this one falls in your fifth house of sexuality, play, and creativity. Eclipses have been activating this part of your life for the past 1.5 years and this closes out that cycle, allowing you to implement lasting change. Maybe you'll find out about a new creative project, or have a realization about your sexuality—embrace the change, and release what is no longer working for you. If you find yourself traveling at this time, follow your heart's desires with some caution, as you could feel especially exhausted, vulnerable, and drained this weekend. On Sunday, May 7, Venus, the planet of pleasure, art, and beauty enters Cancer, your first house of identity and appearance, where it will remain until June 5. Venus brings ease, grace, and aesthetics directly to you during this period, giving you a particular allure. Spend time on your appearance with activities like shopping, beauty treatments, or a new haircut—you want to feel pretty and be seen, so let yourself indulge. If you’re single and traveling, this could be a fun time for dating and meeting new people, as you’ll be sure to stand out while Venus is here in Cancer. This is also a great time for connecting with friends as Venus governs your friendships and community connections.
On Sunday, May 14, Mercury finally ends its retrograde and stations direct in Taurus, your eleventh house of friends and community. If you were thinking about taking a trip with friends this summer or fall, move forward with planning. Don’t rush though: Mercury is still moving very slowly for about a week after its forward station, so take your time booking travel. More activity takes place in your eleventh house of friends, groups, and network this week as Jupiter makes its way into Taurus for the first time since 2011, remaining here for a year-long stay, and offering you new opportunities to be seen and recognized for your work, and possibly meet new people through work. This could also look like new connections with people from foreign countries and different cultures. All of this is underscored by a refreshing Taurus new moon on Friday, May 19, inviting you to set intentions around the type of community you’d like to grow and foster over the next year. Gemini season kicks off on Sunday, May 21, bringing the Sun into your twelfth house of solitude and contemplation. If you’re craving a moment to get out of dodge, the next four weeks present a good opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself.