May
Changes—
May 11
Vesta direct
May 15
Neptune retro
May 20
Mercury direct
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M A Y 2 0 0 3 R E T R O G R A D E W A T C H  by Maya del Mar Mercury turns direct on May 20 at 12 Taurus. Read April’s Retrograde column for a description of Mercury’s retrograde. Degrees of stationings, or turnings, are particularly strong, and 12 Taurus, the degree of station direct, will be extra-sensitive for some time. With Mercury retrograde in Taurus, we have been re-evaluating our resources, and re-prioritizing our energy expenditures. We must have come out of that review with optimism, for lucky Jupiter in Leo now challenges Mercury to go for broke. However, don’t rush into anything without having all corners secured. Jupiter can exaggerate, dominate in an arrogant way, and be careless and unreliable. Jupiter characters are highly placed, successful people, so watch out for being glamorized or awed by image. Jupiter’s influence is very strong for the next week, and to a lesser degree for the next three months. Jupiter can be very helpful, but when it’s a potent square, as now, it can be misleading. This is especially so when Neptune, ruler of fog and clouds, is involved, as it is now. (I just noticed that I, with Neptune rising, have chosen a screensaver of beautiful blue sky with white clouds!) Endeavors undertaken with motives of social contributions can be very successful now, whereas endeavors undertaken with motives of self-aggrandizement are apt to run into trouble. The special challenge now is to bring heaven to earth, to engage in spiritually-motivated work and at the same time to make it practical. Mercury now opposes a retrograde Juno in Scorpio. This indicates that issues of abuse and disenfranchisement arising from Mercury’s actions will be put on the back burner, unacknowledged for now. However, at the end of August, when Mercury begins its next retrograde journey, they will become apparent. By then there may be much fallout from this Mercury retrograde period, which will need correction. Dear Vesta turns direct around midnight on May 11, just in time for Mother’s Day. Vesta turns at 29 Virgo, and will be traveling direct for the remainder of the year. Vesta is the goddess of the hearth, the keeper of the eternal flame. In the chart she shows where we can really dedicate ourselves, and often she shows our work. All "vest" words come from her, and she fiercely protects all those things that mean security to us. The U.S. chart has Vesta in Taurus, sign of land and of money. Besides Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are the two other earth signs. Earth signs dominate the skies now, putting a focus on earth and on life’s practical functions. It is the element we most need for security. Vesta turns direct at the end of Virgo. She must finish her Virgoan work now, of security of health care, labor, and the military. All service work can quickly move ahead. Moon now in Virgo aids her sister, Vesta, and together they may focus on women’s conditions, for example, the situation of choice and birth control, women’s particular health problems, the exploitation of millions of women in sweatshops (Disney, Nike, etc.), and the sexual slavery of women. Vesta has already just completed a building task. She is close to the U.S. Neptune, which is associated with oil, and one manifestation of that task is most likely securing Iraq’s oil. Neptune, planet of dreams, turns retrograde during the Lunar Eclipse on May 15. Neptune is our visionary energy. It stimulates the wells of creativity, and allows imagination to flourish. It opens our channels to spirit, to the universe, and to the time stream. (Oil comes out of that time stream.) When Neptune moves direct, masses of people can coalesce around the same images. This is why TV is so powerful. When Neptune turns retrograde, we are partially released from the mass imagining stream, and can allow our imaginations to be more idiosyncratic. Mars is now pushing Neptune hard, and at the same time we are in the process of eclipse change. Between Neptune’s station, the eclipse, and Mars, things may be chaotic. Out of chaos, however, arises creativity. And Neptune is nothing if not creative. On one level, the change revolves around oil. On other levels, it revolves around manifesting our visions, and particularly visions for social change. Whatever is happening now will give our imaginations new pictures to work with during the five months that Neptune is traveling retrograde. |