Almanac – May '10

“The best way to navigate through life is to give up all of our controls.”

-Gerald Jampolsky

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence.  It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context.  Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up.

When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.

May starts off rather placid; kind of continuing with April’s mulling.  But then the big stuff starts hitting–the things we’ve been feeling brewing throughout April.  It may be akin to white-water rafting; where at certain points, all you can really do is to keep your oar in the water and try to stay facing forward.  Actually, it’s apt advice for the months to come, because currently the stage is only being set.  The point being that there’s already so much momentum that navigation kind of goes out the door and it’s more about bracing for the ride.

Mercury trines Pluto on the 3^rd, prompting us to venture deeper into the intricacies of our intra-connectedness.  Many connections often remain unacknowledged because they occur below the surface, but they tie everything together in rich exchange networks.  In other words, pay attention to how our choices/paths interconnect and influence seemingly unrelated parts of our beings and worlds.

The Sun squares Mars on the 4^th, pushing us to get out of our own way or have our resistance ground down in some less-pleasant manner.   It’s clearly not a good time to externalize our angst and impatience; instead, channel this energy towards the fields that have lain fallow.

Venus sextiles mars on the 7^th, lightening things up temporarily and leaving us room for some enjoyment and fun.  Be sure to plan something to capture this opportunity: hiking, game night, a show, etc.

Mercury stations direct on the 11^th, bringing this tense retrograde period into its resolution phase.  Hopefully, the changes and delays have set us off on a more appropriate path.  Now it’s time to make sure that nothing unfinished or needed is being left behind.

The New Moon falls in Taurus on the 13^th.  This is another challenging lunation, asking us to further internalize the tension and struggle so that it can be released from within.  This can be manifested pro-actively by doing something challenging and productive, especially if it’s something we’ve been avoiding.

Venus squares Jupiter on the 17^th, wanting us to open to more grace and flow while appreciating everything on the path as integral to the precision of the grand unfolding.  More simply; love the beauty and good, but work on appreciating every facet of growth in this existence.

The Sun sextiles Jupiter on the 17^th, bringing our long-term expectations up for review.  We want to be aspiring to great heights while somehow keeping our expectations more practical.

Venus squares Saturn on the 18^th, stimulating commitment issues and testing our resolve in general.  Measuring progress is a tricky business and one that could be suspended for the time being, for it only distracts.

Venus trines Neptune, also on the 18^th, lending some high-minded dreaminess to the mix.  This could easily turn into disillusionment with certain growth processes because the pay-offs are not up to our expectations.  We can now forget those carrots we held out for ourselves and just let things develop.

The Sun trines Saturn on the 18^th, bringing more discouragement-versus-resolve energies up for processing.  Patience with ourselves is crucial at this time, for dealing with human frailties and the inequities of consciousness is no easy feat.

The Sun squares Neptune on the 19^th, asking us to surrender some visions of self and open ourselves to others.  The fantasy of doneness (while still living) is particularly in need of revision at this point.

Mercury trines Pluto on the 19^th, frothing up some issues that may tempt us to plug-in to drama structures.  Focus on shifting your own perspective instead of trying to change others’, or even giving full explanations to others.

Venus squares Uranus on the 19^th, stirring up some rebellion and irreverence.  We can value and create our own unique concoctions or we can waste our energy by looking down on the ventures of others.

Venus moves into Cancer, also on the 19^th, bringing more emotional sensitivity and, hopefully, calmness.  Find peace and comfort in the little things and close ties to loved ones.  Take time for recuperation and nurturing.

The Sun sextiles Uranus on the 20^th, fostering some jumpy and restless energy.  Breakthroughs can be big at this time, as long as they are contained.  But pushing things beyond their capacity could lead to breakdown.  Steady does it.

The Sun moves into Gemini on the 20^th.  Paying close attention to what comes to us is usually key to life’s lessons.  This time the focus is more on the past; extracting information from old struggles to help smooth out the present machinations.

Jupiter opposes Saturn on the 22^nd, swirling all sorts of issues into a very dynamic mix.  This is the first of 3 exact crossings: the following are on 8-16-2010 and then 3-28-2011.  This one sets the tone by focusing more on undoing mal-functional belief systems and the expectations that are wrapped up with them.  This is especially true of beliefs about lessons having to be learned the hard way; necessitating pain and struggle as proof of the work being done.  As they say, ‘pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.’  Release any old and unproductive baggage and bolster the positive momentum, for it is much easier to make it up those hills when we have some speed going into them.

Venus opposes Pluto on the 23^rd, asking us to do something with rampant passion and deep enthusiasm:  Whether it’s love, creativity, or simply bonding with the natural order of life.  But don’t project, even if it’s beauty and wonder that is being projected.  Acknowledge.

The Full Moon is in Sagittarius on the 27^th.  This is about as relaxed a lunation as we’re having this season.  The central idea is scoping out new territory, or long-contemplated ventures made manifest.  This is also a great window of opportunity to jettison more non-essentials and lighten our load.

Uranus moves into Aries on the 27^th.  This is a very big shift meant to blast us all with newness and inspire us to action.  For quite some time, Uranus has been delving into ancient conundrums and stirring up the sub-surface layers.  Now it’s all about to break free into the light of day, so hopefully we have been busy distilling things down and purifying ourselves in the waters of the subconscious.  Buckle your safety belts.

Saturn stations direct on the 30^th, setting in motion a list of Earth shaking astrological aspects.  It’s not functional to wait for some supposed perfection, or full preparedness, before getting to work on things.  Now is the time to ditch those parts that are waiting for super-humanity before getting to work through their humanity.  Chop that wood and carry that water.

Neptune stations retrograde on the 31^st.  This ties in well with other goings-on:  Revising our most ideal visions into more practical and time-respecting versions can facilitate real action; whereas pies in the sky tend to stay there.  We are most productive when we bring inspiration in through the constraints of reality.

By the end of May, things should be feeling rather frenetic.  We are bouncing down some path at a speedy clip and we really can’t say where it will end up.  At least the metaphoric adrenaline has probably kicked in, but hopefully we’re using it as fuel, not as a fight or flight stimulator.  Anyway, fighting it was never really an option, just a costly pause button.  So yeah, all bets are off because the summer is bringing a new game to town.  Make yourself as fluid and flexible as possible and avoid those pitfalls.