This is not a month to expect great forward progress on ongoing projects. It is a month to be extraordinarily cautious about starting new ones.

Jupiter turns retrograde May 9. By mid-month, we’re in the shadow of another Mercury retrograde period. And of another Neptune retrograde. Saturn and Pluto, in a long-lasting cooperative but restraining trine, are both retrograde. So, by the end of the month, we have five planets and two asteroids (Juno and Chiron) exercising aberrational influences, directing our thoughts inward, urging us to seek deeper meaning rather than lusting for change as we had been before Pluto initiated the planetary trend toward reverse motion.

It’s a good time for contemplating our belief systems to look for places where they may need shoring up or revision. We need to be extra careful to be ahead of schedule with important mail, such as bill payments, and critical phone calls—and diligent about precise wording. Try to have necessary repairs completed before mid-month and be especially conscientious about the disposal of waste.

With those caveats, we can look forward to a pretty pleasant month.

THURSDAY MAY 1

A tight grand trine linking Venus with Saturn and Pluto should make this a pleasant and productive day. Moon moves in on Uranus this afternoon, and we’re hot to trot. But moments later she trines Mars, activating his quincunx to Neptune; idealism and assumptions can be frustrating and it’s hard to set realistic parameters. You may be particularly tempted to expect too much from yourself.

FRIDAY MAY 2

We have today pretty much the same dynamic as yesterday’s, but now a Mercury-Pluto quincunx adds its noise to the din. Draw a deep breath, better yet … several, before you voice your displeasure. You do indeed have some good ideas and a valuable perspective on the issues at hand, but you may be a bit “tetchy” and everybody else surely is.

SATURDAY MAY 3

Friday’s reading hold true in spades right through the weekend. But Moon’s conjunction with Eris and then Pallas suggests an interesting insight: Moon in Aries can act on one of the fascinating characteristics of so many Aries natives, those who seem to “do first and learn how later,” especially in regard to creative or artistic endeavors. Maybe you should try getting pragmatic today about one of your bright ideas.

SUNDAY MAY 4

Moon is void from just after midnight Pacific time (12:16 am) until she enters Taurus at 4:58 this morning. The tension is still around, but this is a good day to give yourself a break; take time to do some of the more delightful kinds of body work—a spa, a soaky bath, a walk in the woods, or just a nap—whatever you can manage to work loose a few kinks and make yourself feel good. Meditate a bit on what you’re going to set up for yourself as tomorrow’s New Moon objectives.

MONDAY MAY 5

A New Moon is said to initiate new ways of thinking and feeling and growing. It’s a New Moon in Taurus at 5:16 a.m (PDT) for Cinco de Mayo, which celebrates Mexico's defeat of France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. There were undoubtedly celebrations over the weekend in every major city across both Mexico and the U.S., and they continue today. It’s an appropriate time for all of us to pay attention, in the midst of the hysterical hype about illegal immigration, to how much our Latino neighbors have contributed toward the good of our nation.

It might be more important than we could ever know that the Mexican army in 1862 defeated an invasion by French forces, who were reported to be intent on marching on northward into the United States. It is acknowledged by most that our agricultural industry has been dependent on Latino labor for a long, long time. It is less often recognized that many of our most successful leaders in industry and government, education and philanthropy, medicine and social services … the list goes on, are of Hispanic heritage.

My email is frequented by distasteful, occasionally disgusting, lamentations about the number of Hispanic immigrants in our country, legally and illegally. These naysayers seem to overlook some important facts in our history. Many of their own vaunted ancestors came here as illegal immigrants. At least one source reports that the British government participated in setting up passage by ship into Canadian ports to help its émigrés arrive in Canada and cross the border without having to suffer questioning at seaports or, later, risk the inequities of Ellis Island’s quota system.

In truth, the percentage of immigrants today in terms of current population figures is no larger than it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s—they may simply be more visible. Ellis Island was established in 1892, largely to calm those who thought our country was being overrun by dangerous and costly immigrants. Well over half of those who arrived here before we had an official entry point never bothered to acquire citizenship, leaving that nicety to their offspring who acquired it at birth.

In the 1850s and ‘60s, bilingual education—English and German—was proposed, and occasionally implemented, in school districts across the nation because of the burgeoning German, Irish, French, Italian and other populations that couldn’t read, write or speak English. (A friend who attended public schools in Missouri in the 1940s reports that both English and German were in common usage in those schools.) And, in every instance, the one-time-immigrants already here were protesting then as vehemently as today’s dissidents.

Anyone who cares to research the matter can find far, far more fascinating revelations about the polyglot population of our “melting pot.” The enlightened ones among us know that vilifying anyone because their ethnicity differs from your own is a karmic no-no.

Late today, Moon squares the Nodes, those “destiny points” that limn the difference between what we came here with and what we came here to do. When Moon rouses them, twice a month, it’s a signal to again assess whether we’re conscientiously moving toward who and how we are supposed to be or falling back on the easy way out. This time, the Nodes are conjunct Neptune, so our assessment may not be all that reliable. It will be easy to overstate or underestimate our progress, whether as individuals or as a nation.

With the North Node in Aquarius and the South Node in Leo (as they will be all of this year and most of next) we are prone to adding overly dramatic notes to our own interests, when we need to be more willing to see and accept the needs of others. Our to-do list for the coming month should include reassessing the objectivity of our own points of view and unbiased consideration of the opinions of others.

Moon’s t-squares to the Nodes now emphasize our need to recognize, individually and collectively, our dependence on the resources of others and the importance of knowing that we—all of the inhabitants of the universe—are all connected, even when it’s hard to see the bonds. Evolving parity among people of all backgrounds will eventuate in a much better world for all of us, although the “haves” may well think they are suffering (when they’re probably still better off than most) as the “have nots” gain ground. Saddest of all, the haves and have-nots go on squabbling with each other over crumbs when they could more profitably unite to combat the far fewer have-a-lots at the top who have already taken most of the pie.

And, in a continually shrinking world, there is ever more need to look beyond our immediate desires. The UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to Food attributed mass riots in several countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to “revolts of the hungry,” noting that within the past two months prices on rice increased by 52 percent, while grain prices soared by 84 percent. Much of the increase is blamed on the use of grains for producing biofuels.

Moon’s exact conjunction with Sun occurs at 5:18 am PDT, 8:18 in Washington DC. In the nation’s chart, Gemini rises and the New Moon sits just past the 12th house cusp, clouding our view of what’s going on with our country and its people. Other than the ongoing trine between Saturn and Pluto, both retrograde and therefore pulling the punches of their authoritarian clout a little bit, there are few close aspects to define the outlook.

Saturn is emphasized by position, just a degree ahead of the nadir at the base of the chart. The denizens of government are leaning heavily on the importance of homeland security. Don’t be surprised to see the security index escalated now, again, with scant justification. Pluto is flaunting the flags of power in the seventh house of “others” while standing tight, and the beat goes on.

The Moon-activated Nodes and Neptune are situated in the second-eighth axis. In a best case scenario, Neptune brings out Moon’s (the public’s) idealism; the Nodes remind us that the “me-mine” stance expected in two-year-olds is inappropriate to grownups (or a mature nation) and that we can enrich our lives by sharing, in the truest sense of the word. It also tells us that sometimes, often in fact, we have to simply believe in the best of possible outcomes, even when tangible evidence to support the belief is flimsy. 

The Sabian symbol for 16° Taurus: An old teacher fails to interest his pupils in traditional knowledge; the inadequacy of past knowledge in times of crisis. “Wisdom learned from the past remains in the background to be revived later in new forms,” Rudhyar propounds. “What is emphasized is change.” Tellingly he adds, “Traditional concepts are not adequate to confirm new conditions of existence.”

TUESDAY MAY 6

Moon is void again early this morning, from 1:22 am until she moves into Gemini at 4:17 PDT. Her exact sextile to Mars sets off the void period, and pulls the feisty energies of Juno, via a Finger of God yod, across to the cusp of Cancer to make us uncertain about our own comfort level and our ability to care for our own home and family. Moon squares Saturn first thing, so we may start the day a bit grumpy. But the mind starts pumping to ease concerns when she contacts Mercury this afternoon.

WEDNESDAY MAY 7

Moon and Ceres do a lock-step for awhile this morning, so nurturing and caring for ourselves and others is the key assignment today. There may be health issues to look into, but it’s more likely matters of the psyche that need attention. A quincunx of Mars-Pluto suggests that we may be pushing too hard, and need to back off and simply “be there” to listen and succor. Moon squares Uranus to bring a flash of insight mid-afternoon and goes void at 6:37 pm.

THURSDAY MAY 8

Moon slides into Cancer at 4:02 am, initiating a 2-½ day period good for recognizing the importance of our heritage, from our immediate familial ancestors to the mysteries of our most ancient antiquity (To those intrigued by the latter, visit http://mmmgroup.altervista.org/e-gall.html). Take a few minutes today as Moon opposes Pluto to reflect deeply and intensely on your childhood and consider how well you have carried forward what you learned then, and try to determine in which areas of your life that indoctrination is helpful or hurtful to your efforts now. 

FRIDAY MAY 9

Jupiter makes its station to turn retrograde at 5:11 am, and an underlying note of unease becomes more conscious. A retrograde planet is at is furthest distance from Earth, so its influence is modified. Over the coming four months, we can no longer be so sure of things that had seemed certain. An antidote is to recognize that in many ways fear is the negative flip side of awe, and there is strength in the ability to marvel at the wonders about us.

Mars moves into Leo at 1:20 pm, reviving both our energy levels and our can-do ego and competitive spirit. He also perfects his quincunx to Pluto, making us acutely aware of just how much needs to be done. Moon squares Uranus to help each of us capitalize on our own unique individuality.   

Moon goes void at 5:06 pm, opposing Jupiter. Take care that someone doesn’t take undue advantage of your generosity.

SATURDAY MAY 10

Moon goes into Leo at 6:10 am and occults Mars 40 minutes later, shielding us from the red planet’s renewed energy and exuberance. It seems to be a consuming task; that’s the only classic aspect she makes all day. Her quincunx to Pluto, however, can promote emotional intensity.

SUNDAY MAY 11

We can be fairly placid about almost everything today, as Moon makes her way to the First Quarter phase—at 8:47 pm PDT, just before midnight on the east coast. Along the way, she heads up a yod linking Jupiter and Uranus, which outlets exactly on Chiron. An opportunity to choose a healing direction for overcoming counterproductive old habit patterns may rear its head today. Do we, for example, habitually see criticism where none is intended? Disempower our optimism by letting it drift aimlessly here and there, thus failing to focus its beneficence? Exercise our minds with ingenuity yet fail to follow through with action? Continually feel guilt without cause or without reparation? Slide into escapism when we need to be forging ahead? Time to turn those tendencies around.

Capricorn is rising in the national chart, a serious sign that symbolizes staying power. Capricorn is responsible, hard-working, competent, and dependable. Is this a picture of our nation, or merely the self-images being promoted to us in the ongoing spotlights on those who seek to become its leader? Its ruler, Saturn, sits in the eighth house of change, now a big word in all of the current campaigns. The eighth is also the house of other people’s resources, the national debt, loans, credit and return on investment—all of which have been taking some body blows of Saturnian hits and probably can expect more.

Sun in the fourth, the foundations of a society, balances a t-square of Moon opposing Chiron, the North Node and Neptune. There is an impulse here that would support our citizenry as a whole should they insist on deflecting the course we’ve been following and aim for more humanitarian all-inclusive policies.  But, they’ll have to insist, long and loudly.

Mars, the militant one, newly invigorated, is once again in the seventh, the house of enemies and allies—but likewise the house of diplomacy and treaties, pulling away from its irksome tie to Pluto. Pluto is closeted in the twelfth, still retrograde, denying the need for change, posturing its power, masquerading decisiveness.

In some perverse sense, we should all be a bit grateful to the current administration. It has made the inequities and injustices of political manipulation and special interest control so painfully obvious that millions of people who have never before paid attention to politics are now actively involved. The only way to make our nation stronger and better is for the vast majority of us to be involved and committed to the goal.

The Sabian symbol for Moon at 22° Leo: A carrier pigeon fulfilling its mission; spirituality, in terms of training for service to mankind. “Individual realizations acquire their true meaning only as they fulfill a collective function,” writes Rudhyar.

For Sun at 22° Taurus: An Indian warrior riding fiercely, human scalps hanging from his belt; the aggressiveness of human instincts when fighting for their earthly base of operation. Rudhyar’s assessment: “So-called civilized man is capable of far more cruel tortures and extermination,” [than savages led by primordial instinct]. This “seems to imply that violence and aggressiveness are basic components of human nature at the level of the emotions and of a deep-seated identification with a particular culture which insists on regarding men of other cultures as potential enemies.”

Rudhyar was writing in 1973. The burgeoning of global communication and interaction made possible since then has surely created a platform for moderating mindless emotional gut-reactions by using the intelligence and knowledge we have gained.

MONDAY MAY 12

Moon goes Void of Course at 1:09 am, carrying her dreamy glance across at Neptune to her entry into Virgo at 11:49 this morning. Trines to Jupiter and Pluto leave us feeling expansive and capable, and our fine sense of humor today is scarcely ruffled by Moon’s late afternoon meeting with Saturn. Spending the evening with parents or older friends is a good idea.