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MONDAY MAY 1. May is a continuation of current events. Its base was set with the March Eclipses, and each New Moon has amplified it. Our last major April aspect occurred yesterday, as Venus in Pisces squared (challenged) powerful Pluto in Sagittarius. Overall, Pluto really has charge of this year of 2006, so that was a brave act. But fate is challenging Pluto’s ruthlessness, and this may be the opening salvo. People were surely preparing for planned pro-worker and pro-immigrant demonstrations, and the plan is to spread to a boycott of U.S. goods in Mexico.

This morning opens early, with Moon in Gemini transiting Pluto and Venus, setting off their action. Squares tend to express in crisis situations. Moon represents the people, and folks will be eager to get into their Mayday. Moon goes VOC at 7:13 a.m. EDT, and enters Cancer at 11:17 a.m.

Cancer is sensitive and emotional. It is the moon’s sign, and thus the sign of the people. We continue our focus on regular people, but the movement now is primarily emotional. Enhancing the general emotional appeal we have Mars, energy, in Cancer, along with Vesta, who represents family security, and Juno, the voice of the disenfranchised. Opposing them is Pallas Athena in Capricorn, the sign of authority.

Cancer is an active cardinal sign. Its action is aimed towards enhancing security. We begin now a 3-day period of working on that project, during which time action will pick up. These are excellent days for mass mobilizations, both in the streets, and in our own emotional landscapes.

TUESDAY MAY 2. Moon continues in emotional Cancer. This is a dynamic and action-packed day, particularly in the morning. Feelings lead the way. Thoughts are serious.

WEDNESDAY MAY 3. Venus enters Aries early this morning, to make a rousing call to action. Emotional, but cautious, Cancer is becoming infused with Aries’ courage. Full speed ahead! Moon goes VOC at 2:35 p.m., and enters commanding fire sign Leo at 8:18 p.m.

THURSDAY MAY 4. This is a day of both crisis and productive action. Moon in dramatic Leo wants to be in charge, and wants an audience. Moon picks up authoritarian energy this morning, and begins its trip around the zodiac to challenge planets in the other three fixed signs, also stubborn. There is a recklessness in the sky today, an over-reaching, an overdoing. But reality-testing is not far behind.

FRIDAY MAY 5. First Quarter Moon at 15 Leo occurs at 1:13 a.m. The month’s grand cross is at maximum now, at this same moment that we set into motion our Taurean projects. First Quarter is always a crisis time of month. The seeds planted at New Moon now push through obstacles, like the time when the plant pushes through dirt to emerge in the world and complete its growth in the sun.

Well, with each of the four fixed, stubborn signs at odds with each other, we have a grand cross and a grand crisis. It is Taurean, which refers to money and resources. Climate and financial crises are both a-building. Pay close attention to events now. This expression is strongest in Washington and on the east coast.

At the same time, the grand water trine is in full force, also centered in Washington. With Jupiter in Scorpio at the top, there may be a great demonstration of propaganda emanating from there. Mars in Cancer conjoins the Bush and U.S. Suns, showing security and defensiveness to have top priority for the government.

The Aquarian planets are in the first house, showing that idealism is strongly projected. Ceres in Aquarius quincunxes Vesta in Cancer, perhaps saying that she is withdrawing her nurturing from homes, families, the table, the people—due to lack of respect for her beloved earth.

The planets now are moving close to the degrees of the Great Eclipse of Aug. 11, 1999, which was also a fixed grand cross. That Eclipse will be revived in other ways as the year moves on.

These are momentous times, and this First Quarter Moon is one of the markers.

In Leo the mandate is to take charge of ourselves.

The Sabian Symbol for 15 Leo is

“A PAGEANT WITH ITS SPECTACULAR FLOATS, MOVES ALONG A STREET CROWDED WITH CHEERING PEOPLE. The more or less sensational release of energies in a form dramatizing the unconscious aspirations of man’s primitive and instinctual nature. The mind of the individual is able to give a public DEMONSTRATION of his ability to sway the multitudes by a dramatic presentation of popularized ideals.”

SATURDAY MAY 6. Moon goes VOC at 1:00 a.m. EDT, and enters Virgo at 8:20 a.m. I think of Virgo as the cleanup crew who comes in after the fixed sign messes, and cleans things up. Virgo is expert at problem-solving. She is analytical, and at the same time she has an abundance of common sense. She knows how to use that analysis. Mercury has entered earth sign Taurus, and is also primed for some common sense approaches. Take care of all your odd jobs, and loose ends, today. Tomorrow we can really dig into a project.

SUNDAY MAY 7. If there was anything you couldn’t solve yesterday, you’ll be able to resolve it today. This day starts early, and ends late, and is incredibly rich in constructive aspects. We still have the grand water trine (for the entire month), but today we also have a grand earth trine. That means we can build the dams and channels which we need to contain the water—and the emotions. This is a wonderful day to work in the garden—or to work on growing anything. It’s also good for building and remodeling. Aspects say to finish the day’s work before 11:00 p.m. EDT, for just afterwards there is a blockage. Communication and thinking may be slowed down in the evening. Focus then on practical problem-solving.

MONDAY MAY 8. This is one of those days when unharnessed power is vaguely in the air, and we may be irritable, or carry a chip on our shoulder. Beware of useless power struggles. Lie low. Moon goes VOC at 1:48 p.m., and the rest of the day may feel a bit aimless, especially compared to yesterday. Well, you did enough yesterday for two days. With Virgo moon, cleaning up, organizing, cooking, or reading may center us. Or our gardens may still need attention. At 9:10 p.m. Moon enters peace-making Libra, and we shift gears.

TUESDAY MAY 9. Taurus Sun has making the rounds of completing the fixed square. Last week it opposed Jupiter in Scorpio, the week before Sun squared Saturn in Leo, and tomorrow it squares Neptune in Aquarius. Mercury is also traveling through Taurus, close behind Sun. It started this same journey with a square to Saturn last Sunday, and will finish with a square to Neptune on May 15. These weeks of May are pressure-cooker time.

Today Moon is in Libra, and the call is for justice. Libra can help us see other viewpoints, and find the middle ground, the point of balance. We are social during Libra moon, usually from the standpoint of real interest in others’ stories. However, with Venus now in Aries, our need to project our own side of the story is strengthened.

WEDNESDAY MAY 10. Moon continues in Libra, and so does our need to tell our own stories. Actually, this is a great day for writing. Imagination and creativity are both high. So is idealism. Our need to communicate is strong, but there may be some confusion in the lines of communication. Computer glitches may be common today. Consciousness of the disempowered is keen, and also of the forces arrayed against them.

THURSDAY MAY 11. Moon enters Scorpio at 8:25 a.m. EDT. This will be an intense journey, as Moon is approaching Full Moon. In addition, Scorpio is the major sign of most of 2006. Scorpio is a super-creative sign. It always transforms whatever it touches. Since it touches all of the fixed signs through November, we know that seats of power will be—and are being—transformed.

This is a hard-working and serious day. We may face obstacles and delays. Tonight, however, may feel wild and free. Be careful of over-indulging.

FRIDAY MAY 12. Full Moon at 23 Scorpio occurs May 12 at 11:51 p.m. PDT, and May 13 at 2:51 a.m. EDT. In other words, around midnight, when the moon is shining right down on us, it is full. This is the Wesak Moon, the Buddhist moon of bounty. It ushers in Mother's Day weekend.

There are many aspects on Friday, and it can be a very busy and very pleasant day. Friday night we are open to music, prayers, and angelic vibrations. Buddhist or not, it would be a powerful time to celebrate our blessings, and to thank our bounteous earth for her support.

Ceres, the Great Mother, rules over this Moon. She is in the universal sign of Aquarius, conjoined the universal planet, Neptune, and she is telling us loudly and clearly that we are all her children. Ceres wants a peaceful earth and plenty to eat for everyone. In fact, this is not an impossible goal. When Ceres’ daughter, Persephone, was taken underground by Pluto, Ceres made the earth barren. That was the first strike. When we do not respect the earth and her fruits, or the labor which brings us her harvest, Ceres withdraws her support.

Workers are organizing throughout the world. In the U.S., the immigrant demands for treatment as full human beings is very much a Ceres matter. Full moons bring things to light, and we may see even bigger mobilizations. Ceres remains in Aquarius for the remainder of 2006. This problem will not disappear without a fair solution.

In Washington DC, most expressive are Pluto, power, and Uranus, independence. They are in stress relation to one another, a prelude to the long Pluto-Uranus square (rebellion) coming in 2010-2015. The establishment now ups the ante on its resistance to the revolution born in the 60’s.

This moon family began on November 15, 2004. At that time there were many questions about the validity of the 2004 presidential election. Cheney had a heart attack, Yasir Arafat died, and the U.S. sunk very very deep in the sands of Iraq. Tanks rumbled by a demonstration in Los Angeles, but all authorities disclaimed knowledge.

This history indicates that U.S. government response now is not apt to be constructive, nor the type of response which would please the goddess.

The Sabian Symbol for 23 Scorpio is

“A RABBIT METAMORPHOSES INTO A NATURE SPIRIT. The raising of animal drives to a higher level. The transmutation of the generative power into a more ethereal and subtle form of potency. TRANSUBSTANTIATION.”

An example is certainly giving up food on the table to increase the power of personal dignity.

SATURDAY MAY 13. Most of this day is a relatively aimless VOC period. We feel the letdown of this magnetic Full Moon. However, with Moon in Scorpio, we are always ready to look deeply into things. At 4:56 p.m. EDT, Moon enters Sagittarius, and we are ready for an adventure tonight—probably an emotional adventure.

SUNDAY MAY 14. Mother's Day dawns with a “get up and go” Sagittarius moon. We’ll be out and about, on the road, in the woods, at the museums, at the restaurants. This promises to be a fun and loving day.

MONDAY MAY 15. Moon remains in enthusiastic Sagittarius, and goes VOC at 4:15 p.m. Sagittarius is the sign of travel, and Moon today connects with those galactic travelers, Neptune and Pluto, bringing us into brand new spaces. These spaces are very connected to U.S. security and finances. There are likely to be adjustments in the Dow, due to rising oil prices. Both Ceres, labor, and Neptune, oil, are involved, and greed is the problem.

Moon enters serious Capricorn at 10:59 p.m., and work begins to correct the day’s aberrations…at someone’s expense.

TUESDAY MAY 16 and WEDNESDAY MAY 17. We are ambitious and hard-working with Moon in Capricorn. We also want to connect with the establishment, and to be respected. Doing things right is important. Energy flows very well during these days. Corrections can be made in the markets to alleviate fear, and we end up on Wednesday night in a good place.

THURSDAY MAY 18. Moon travels in Aquarius today, and we may want to discuss current affairs. Aquarius tends to be open, friendly, and interested in the politics of the world. However, we may run into opposition—which sharpens our own views. Today we can get clear on combining our beliefs with our program for action. However, it does indeed take adjustments to put the two together. What does security mean to us? Are there other aspects to security besides our material well-being? How do we fit into the bigger picture? By evening we may feel optimistic about the future. This is our last day of focus on the material aspects of life. By Sunday, both Sun and Mercury are in Gemini, the sign of connecting.

FRIDAY MAY 19. Moon continues in Aquarius, with loving vibes. The whole world is our friend, and we want to show it. Tonight especially we will seek out companions with whom to talk about the state of the world.

SATURDAY MAY 20. Last Quarter Moon in 30 degrees of Aquarius occurs at 5:21 a.m. EDT. This is the fifth moon phase in a row in fixed signs, a very unusual situation. Changes in power stances, including in each of our lives, are happening big-time this month. And not easily. There is a big power change in the U.S. now. The U.S. Pluto is heavily involved in a couple of ways, along with the U.S. Aquarius Moon. Moon represents the people, and with Moon in Aquarius, the bottom line need in the U.S., when the chips are down, is a need for freedom. Let’s see how that need gets transformed now by the plutocratic government.

We are in the last degree of the two fixed signs, Taurus and Aquarius. This is the last chance to resolve their differences, which emerged from the closet on April 20. Hu Jin Tao, president of China, arrived then. For the U.S., do our practical financial needs outweigh our hard line against China? It’s interesting that the chart for China has Aquarius Moon and Aquarius rising, the signs on these two bookend last quarter moons. Among other major events, the immigrant mobilizations began then—shades of Aquarius. Last quarter moons are also time to finish up the cycle, and we’ve had two opportunities in a row. If we don’t get it right the first time (week of April 20), we have another opportunity during this coming week

The Sabian Symbol for 30 Aquarius is

“DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE PAST OF A VERY ANCIENT CULTURE, A SPIRITUAL BROTHERHOOD IN WHICH MANY INDIVIDUAL MINDS ARE MERGED INTO THE GLOWING LIGHT OF A UNANIMOUS CONSCIOUSNESS IS REVEALED TO ONE WHO HAS EMERGED SUCCESSFULLY FROM HIS METAMOSPHOSIS. The ability of a person with an open mind and a deep feeling for self-transcendence to come in contact with higher forms of existence. Spiritual group fulfillment—CONSCIOUS TOTALITY OF BEING.”

SUNDAY MAY 21. Moon is in mellow Pisces, while early this morning Sun enters lively Gemini. Sun will bring Moon along into an extraordinarily energetic day, with a strong desire to get a message out. With Pisces moon, we can both communicate with the world, and take the broad view. Moon occults Uranus this morning, emphasizing feelings of independence. When this happened, one month ago, we had our huge National Day of Action for immigrant rights. Energy remains fervent and potent well into the night.

MONDAY MAY 22. Moon enters challenging Aries at 9:24 a.m. What battles do we want to take on? We still have the people vs. the institutions, with an embattled Venus trying to mediate between the two. There are many harmonious aspects, and assertive Aries moon can do what she wants.

This morning, while Moon is still VOC in Pisces, Neptune turns retrograde. The U.S. public’s consciousness about the use of oil is changing. Also, some fights for ideals may be turned back. It’s back to the drawing board for the five months that Neptune travels retrograde. These five months will be unpredictable, and they may be a last chance to bring peace and equity to the oil situation.

Energy tonight is lively and sociable.

TUESDAY MAY 23. We have a new dynamic in ongoing conflicts. For most of the month the ruthless power of Pluto was at the levers of power. Then for a few days Vesta, guardian of security, occupied that position. Now Juno, the disempowered partner, sits in that spot. However, she is accompanied by Mars, who is helping her fight back. And Mars is squared by Venus, adding to his passion. All of these positions, plus Ceres, closely aspect the U.S. Mercury. The people of the U.S. have much on their minds. In fact, their minds have been swirling for the entire month. There may be some kind of crackdown by the U.S. government.

Each of us can use this aggressive energy positively. Aries is visionary, and we can visualize the future of our coming Gemini cycle. Tonight can be passionate, and will likely be wakeful.

WEDNESDAY MAY 24. Moon is VOC in Aries this morning and we may be restless. At 12:00 p.m. EDT, Moon enters Taurus, just in time for a satisfying lunch. We are close to the end of the moon cycle, and the time for striving has passed. Still, we may want to accomplish a practical goal. Don’t push it. Enjoy yourself in the process. I picture taking the time to create a beautiful clay pot.

THURSDAY MAY 25. A big energy reconfiguration occurs over the next three days, which includes the upcoming New Moon on May 26-27. Moon now at the end of the Taurus Moon cycle steps up the pressure to repair obvious problems in the money and labor sectors. Outer planets are featured today, and our attention is drawn to those wider energy currents which form the contexts for our lives.

Venus now trines Pluto, giving support for fighting for one’s values, and also giving a positive halo to power. This Venus conjoins GW’s Aries midheaven, where he is seen by the public, and his fighting spirit might be appreciated. Connected here is the struggle of the disempowered. Something can be resolved. Ceres, signifying labor and food, is also part of this picture. In individual charts, all planets at 25-27 degrees will be strongly affected by these adjustments.

Imagination will be stimulated tonight, and visions of the future can play through our minds. We may be wakeful.

FRIDAY MAY 26. New Moon at 6 Gemini occurs at 10:26 p.m. PDT, and at 1:26 a.m. EDT tomorrow. Today Moon goes VOC early in the morning, and enters Gemini at 3:19 p.m. EDT. VOC Moon, when there are no more major aspects in the current sign, is an unpredictable period.

There is, however, much going on during this VOC period. For one thing, Moon itself conjoins the New York Stock Exchange Sun, adding an emotional surge to the market. At the same time, Moon becomes part of Finger of God which brings Pluto back into play as a lever of action. At the same time, there is now a double yod, with the fight-back Mars-Juno combination as the other lever of action. Ceres, who cares for the earth and life on it, is also part of this double yod.

Venus in Aries is coming into square with Mars-Juno, supporting them in their fight-back. Sun is moving into a sextile with Saturn, which shows that government can exert authority.

Most noticeably, Mercury and Uranus square one another. This is a rebellious square. We think independence, and we speak independence. People are moved to action.

All of the quincunxes indicate that the earth, as well, may be moved to action. I think of yods like earthquake faults. There is a lot of tension between these two different chunks of earth, and eventually that tension gives and an earthquake occurs. Quincunx aspects are, in fact, common in earthquake charts.

Anyway, tonight we have curious Gemini moon approach its new phase, and we may be wakeful. This, too, is a good time for clairvoyance, for visualizing the future.

SATURDAY MAY 27. New Moon at 6 Gemini occurs at 1:26 a.m. EDT. Most of the aspects of the last couple of days are still in orb. Gemini is about communication, perception, and connection. Thinking, talking, and our nervous impulses are associated with Gemini. Gemini is quick, curious, lively, and expressive. Everything moves during Gemini time, from the weather to our minds. People are itching to travel. We are on the go.

Quicksilver Mercury, the message-carrier, is Gemini’s special planet. Mercury is traveling now in Gemini, where it is quite at home. With this New Moon, Mercury sits on the U.S. Mars-Uranus midpoint, a volatile location. And we have seen that there is a Uranus square to Mercury in the sky. In addition, this New Moon itself, and the nadir of its chart set for Washington, conjoin the U.S. Uranus.

We can see that the push for independence by the U.S. is enormous.

Sun-Moon have a very close sextile to Saturn, who takes charge. It is the U.S. taking charge, for Saturn now sits on the U.S. North Node, its destiny point.

Saturn, at 7 Leo, also sits on GW’s Ascendant. Saturn asks for accountability, here from both those in charge and from Mr. Bush. Gemini is a talker, It does not keep secrets, even less when it is connected with freedom-loving Uranus. It is likely that with this cycle much behind-the scenes information will be spilled.

Gemini loves to spread the news and the gossip. In Washington, this New Moon is in the 3rd house of daily communication, Gemini’s favorite activity.

Mercury and Moon are both out-of-bounds, which means they are not constrained by the usual boundaries. Moon represents the people and their emotions rising. Mercury shows voices rising.

The Stock Exchange continues with heavy involvement. Venus straddles the Exchange’s vulnerable Saturn-Neptune opposition., and Mars-Juno-Vesta all square it. Vesta, in particular, is commonly involved in financial dealings. And Venus is associated with money.

The planets in the Mars-Vesta-Juno gathering are, and have been since May 11, conjoining the U.S. Mercury, so the nation’s consciousness has been increasingly stimulated by current events. Now, with Gemini released from the gate, information will spread widely.

Chiron, the Re-aligner, rises invisibly out of the hidden 12th house to square Jupiter, who is in a money sign and a money house. Chiron brings surprises.

Inexorable Pluto sits above Washington DC at the time of this New Moon, and often shocking Uranus is about to rise on the east coast. Pluto and Uranus have a mundane square, and this is an indication of the revolution to come, when we have a real Pluto-Uranus square in the heavens (2010-2015).

All in all, this is a volatile chart. Just processing information will keep us busy!

The Sabian Symbol for 6 Gemini is fascinating:

“WORKMEN DRILLING FOR OIL. The avidity for that knowledge which ensures wealth and power. This symbol superficially considered can be referred to the insatiable drive of modern man for power and wealth, his readiness to accept his risk of failure. But it has a deeper meaning. Oil is the end result of the decay of living materials. Drilling for oil may represent the attempt to penetrate to the deep layers of the collective Unconscious and to reawaken the powers of the archaic psyche which once flourished—for instance in the true ceremonial magic of the tribal world, perhaps among the adepts of the fabled Atlantis, or even among the shamans and witch doctors of more recent times. The archaic powers may be 'refined' for modern situations, but the almost inevitable result is the release of noxious waste products, 'pollution.' And there is a pollution of consciousness as well as of the atmosphere humans breathe.

"The zodiacal sign Gemini has basically the meaning of insatiable curiosity and avidity for knowledge. It is logically a 'human' sign (the Twins). One of the Twins tends to seek power and knowledge from the ancient past, the other to discover a living source of strength and wisdom which is forever being replenished by the celestial downpour of Spiritual Consciousness and love.

This symbol deals with the emotional and socially prized reaction of most human beings to the attainment of new forms of knowledge, i.e., AMBITION.”

SUNDAY MAY 28. Moon continues in Gemini with very harmonious aspects. Spontaneous exploration is one of Gemini’s favorite activities. Don’t forget a coffee stop along the way, with time for a little chat. The message-spreading is doing just fine, The evening can be poetic and romantic. Moon enters Cancer at 8:33 p.m. EDT, and we may want to cuddle up at home with a video tonight.

MONDAY MAY 29. This is the third day of a 3-day weekend, and we will very likely want to spend it at home, unless we’re on the streets. It is a very pleasant day. Food may be on our agenda, and perhaps gardening as well. However, at the same time the disenfranchised are very high in national consciousness. Juno reaches its exact conjunction with Mars today, at 28 Cancer, and they oppose the U.S. Pluto. Opposing Pluto is difficult, and the U.S. Pluto in Capricorn is strong and tough—should we say ruthless? This is a climax to the domestic action that has been building up for the last few weeks.

TUESDAY MAY 30. Moon continues in sensitive, vulnerable Cancer. We are apt to feel like staying home and nesting in. This is especially so since there are no lunar aspects to guide us during the day. However, tonight Moon conjoins Mars, and this is very emotionally stimulating. It also enhances sensitivity, and readies us for challenges. We may carry a chip on our shoulder. Conflict arises readily because we are each ultra-sensitive, and subjective. These are water signs, and they can also encourage us to indulge in alcohol, which can really promote arguments and fights.

WEDNESDAY MAY 31. Moon is traveling in Leo, and we have a need to dramatize ourselves. Morning will be fun and spontaneous, afternoon serious. Try to take a nap, for the long night is bursting with exuberant aspects. Games look more likely than sleep. Leo energy is great for self-expression in all modes.