Strength comes through integrity. Sustainability comes through integrity. Freedom comes through integrity.

During these years of the Uranus/Pluto square we are seeing just how important integrity is and if it doesn’t exist, structures–even those that are seemingly established–may crumble, sometimes over time and sometimes in what seems like a flash.

As Monday we have the third of seven Uranus/Pluto squares, we may very well be strongly reminded of the importance of integrity, of alignment, of sustainability of holistic coherence once again. And given that the Libra Moon ties into these energetics on Tuesday, some of these themes may show themselves in the realm of our relationships.

Consider what in your life just keeps on keepin’ on. Which area of life seems like it takes more energy to scaffold and keep up its appearances compared to the energy that it provides you? Where, as you muster even more courage, can pull down shaky facades so that you can rebuild these arenas upon incorruptible principles that truly reflect coherence? With the Sun moving into thought-inspiring Gemini and Mercury tying into the Uranus/Pluto square on Monday, looking at this question, even from a different vantage point than usual, may really yield insights.

Being in Gemini season, it’s a time for opening up to the allure of variety, options, and choices. If you find yourself more indecisive, play in those realms instead of moving immediately to frustration. See if there’s a way to weave variables together rather than just having to 100% align with one. Graze, having a little bit of this and that, and see how their patchwork informs and inspires.

While the Art/Temperance card in the Thoth tarot deck (see above) contains the glyph for Sagittarius, it seems to me to also speak to an important facet of Sagittarius’ opposite sign, Gemini. In the card we see the appearance and urged union of opposites and polarities. This feels very Gemini, the Twins who reflect the different sides but who teach us to go the way of synthesis and resolution of duality, rather than division. We’re reminded that there are two sides of every coin and without each there is no manifestation, no artistry, no creation. As such, this iconic card feels like a lovely talisman for Gemini season.

It’s not only the Uranus/Pluto square that’s coloring the powerful tempo of the week but also that we have the third of this season’s three Eclipses appearing on Friday. This Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse brings us connected to themes of information and understanding, publishing messages, and the importance of evolving education. Yet, given Neptune’s relationship to the Eclipse, we may need to work extra hard to discern between fact and fiction. {For more extensive reflections on the Eclipse, including wellness suggestions, please see this article I wrote here.}

Neptune’s influence is palpable (an oxymoron, perhaps, but yet still true) for days following the Eclipse given its exact square with the Sun on Sunday. It’s a gorgeous time for artistry and immersing oneself in spiritual life. During this time, it’s also important to watch one’s boundaries as there’s less separating distinctions. Compassion is on the uprise, which is a beautiful thing. We just need to be mindful…and be mindful that compassion doesn’t overstep its bounds and lead to martyrdom.

With Mercury uniting with Venus on Friday, during the end of the week we may further find ourselves drawn to pursuits of the mind. Communication could take on an erotic feel, as we may find ourselves pulsing with pleasure as we learn new things or exchange viewpoints with others.

Astro-Atlas*
20 May: 9:48 am: Moon (Virgo) trine Sun (Taurus)
20 May: 9:48 am: Moon void-of-course
20 May, 10:07 am: Moon enters Libra
20 May, 2:10 pm: Sun enters Gemini
20 May, 3:21 pm: Uranus (Aries) square Pluto (Capricorn)
20 May, 8:46 pm: Mercury (Gemini) sextile Uranus (Aries)

21 May, 5:55 am: Moon (Libra) square Pluto (Capricorn)
21 May, 5:59 am: Moon (Libra) opposite Uranus (Aries)
21 May, 7:33 am: Moon (Libra) trine Mercury (Gemini)
21 May, 12:24 pm: Moon (Libra) trine Venus (Gemini)

22 May, 12:35 am: Moon (Libra) trine Jupiter (Gemini)
22 May, 12:35 am: Moon void-of-course
22 May, 1:55 pm: Moon enters Scorpio
22 May, 10:45 pm: Moon (Scorpio) trine Neptune (Pisces)

23 May, 12:34 am: Moon (Scorpio) conjunct Saturn (Scorpio)
23 May, 8:25 am: Moon (Scorpio) sextile Pluto (Capricorn)

24 May, 6:55 am: Moon (Scorpio) opposite Mars (Taurus)
24 May, 6:55 am: Moon void-of-course
24 May, 2:49 pm: Moon enters Sagittarius
24 May, 4:54 pm: Mercury (Gemini) conjunct Venus (Gemini)
24 May, 9:25 pm: Lunar Eclipse [Sun (Gemini) opposite Moon (Sagittarius)]
24 May, 11:19 pm: Moon (Sagittarius) square Neptune (Pisces)

25 May, 9:01 am: Moon (Sagittarius) trine Uranus (Aries)
25 May, 11:16 pm: Moon (Sagittarius) opposite Venus (Gemini)

26 May, 12:46 am: Moon (Sagittarius) opposite Mercury (Gemini)
26 May, 3:22 am: Moon (Sagittarius) opposite Jupiter (Gemini)
26 May, 3:22 am: Moon void-of-course
26 May, 3:27 am: Sun (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)
26 May, 2:28 pm: Moon enters Capricorn
26 May, 10:59 pm: Moon (Capricorn) sextile Neptune (Pisces)

* all time are Pacific Daylight Time (GMT – 7:00)

May 24: Sagittarius Full Moon Lunar Eclipse (exact at 9:25 pm PDT)

Today is the third of this season’s Eclipses. It follows the Scorpio Lunar Eclipse on April 25 and the Taurus Solar Eclipse on May 9. Remember that even if we can’t see an Eclipse in the sky where we live, these celestial events are renowned for being very powerful in the way in which they can impact our lives.

A Lunar Eclipse signifies a time when things come to fruition. We can see clear glimpses of the outcome of the path that we have pursued. We may find ourselves delighted in the manifestation or may see that it’s not necessarily the results for which we may have been striving. If the latter, the Eclipse can then serve as a beacon of insight to see whether—and how—we need to shift our direction.

It portends an auspicious time to let go of something that is outworn, whether it be a possession, a habit, a limiting belief, or a relationship that doesn’t serve our highest good. Additionally, Eclipses provide a great opportunity for outward manifestation with life-changing events—sometimes expected, sometimes not—often happening around this time.

As a Lunar Eclipse is a Full Moon–which features an opposition of the Sun and the Moon–it is often focused on finding the commonality between seeming opposites. There is heightened emphasis on synthesis and deconstructing duality for a more unified and cohesive understanding. As such it is often thought to be relationship-oriented, as each pole of the opposition tries to better understand itself through its association with the other. This is not always easy, mind you, and can bring conflict. But it is within that where insights into resolution of long-standing discordance may lay.

As such, this celestial event may inspire critical examination associated with your relationships with other people or your relationship with various arenas of your life. For example, the focus may be on your relationship with your education path, your goals, your spiritual life, and your ethical values.

When the Full Moon features the Sun in Gemini and the Moon in Sagittarius, we are often compelled with a need to know. We strive to collect facts and figures not only because of intellectual curiosity but also because they are the vital ingredients that provide us with the deeper sense of the understanding that we seek. Maintaining a balanced appreciation for the pieces and the whole is emphasized. Remember not to lose the forest for the trees, yet don’t forsake the trees for the forest either; both are equally important.

With Mercury, the planet of communications, uniting with Venus today, our love of learning may be even more pronounced. Our value for information and understanding may be heightened.

Yet, the day may seem a bit slippery given that the Sun and Moon both interact with Neptune with the planet of ideals and idealization squaring both luminaries. Be open to what’s possible, and the magic of life, while also trying to keep a handle on what’s realistic. It would seem that channeling our quest for communicating in a way that allows us to serve those in need, in a manner that allows us to step outside of our ego bounds and open to our hearts, may be a fluid way to greet the day.

The experience of travel—whether it be a weeks-long journey to a foreign land or a weekend road trip out of town—often coincides with this Eclipse. (Yet, if you are embarking on a journey make the effort to have your travel plans well laid out since the Neptune tie-in there’s the potential for a greater chance of “getting lost.”). Even if exploration via a plane, train, or automobile isn’t in your plans, use this time for surveying new ideas or cultures; for example, read a book set in another country, flip through National Geographic magazine, or see a foreign-language film. All can magnetize to you enhanced understanding and a broader perspective on life.

The Lunar Eclipse falls at 5 degrees of Gemini (Sun) and Sagittarius (Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a Full Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Gemini, Sagittarius, or the other mutable signs—Virgo and Pisces—it may impact you more intensely. Additionally, like with other planetary alignments, the house(s) of your natal chart that this Eclipse falls in sheds light on how it may be influencing your unfolding.

Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse Apothecary Suggestions

Gemini is associated with the shoulders, arms, hands, lungs, and nervous system while Sagittarius governs the liver, hips, thighs, and buttocks. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this Full Moon.

Collage project: Even for those who consider themselves not artistically inclined, a collage project can be a wonderfully therapeutic and relaxing activity to partake in on this Eclipse. Not only is making a collage a creative expression, but it can be a great vehicle for inventive problem solving. For this aim, just focus on a situation in your life that you are being challenged by and for which you seek a solution. Holding it in your mind’s eye, cut out words and images from old magazines and newspapers that reflect aspects of the situation as well as its potential resolution. Glue these to poster board adding fabric, shells, rocks, or other small bric-a-brac in an arrangement that makes sense to you. Remember that there is no right or wrong here; just use your imagination and allow for your creativity to flow in your quest for discovery. Given that Neptune is prominent, we have enhanced access to our inspired artistry, the ability to tap into our unconscious to extract images, feelings, and symbols that we can express in this creative activity.

Exercise: Schedule in some time to exercise. It need not be vigorous—in fact, gentle may be the name of the game today with a leisurely walk, restorative yoga class, gardening session, or tai chi practice some possibilities. The reason: the day may be rife with bursts of energy and push/pull dynamics that if left to settle in our bodies may cause tension and stress. Doing gentle exercise can help us to circulate the energies and impart relaxation. If exercise doesn’t seem to be “what the doctor ordered” then schedule in some time to meditate, do creative visualization, read, or write in a journal: whatever it is that helps you to feel centered and release excess tension.

The Moon’s in Cancer for the first two-plus days this week, and we’re inclined towards wanting to nest and protect. It does its monthly tie-in from this sensitive sign with the Uranus/Pluto square (the exact alignment of these transcendent planets occurring next week, on the 20th), which may have us feeling a bit turbulent.

On Wednesday not only does the Moon shift into upbeat, express-your-unique-self Leo, but Mercury moves into Gemini, where it resides through the last day of the month. Given Gemini is one of its home-base signs, the collective mind may feel really turned on for the next few weeks. Expect news of the news as well as our thoughts to be a preferred go-to tool for navigating life.

That said, the messages could seem a bit foggy at times towards the end of the week, given Mercury’s square with break-the-boundaries Neptune (exact on Saturday). It could seem that thoughts seep in out of nowhere, including those of the more anxiety-producing, paranoid variety. Focusing on not running away with fearful thoughts is a great strategy.

Yet, Mercury/Neptune can also make available the infusion of artistic inspiration and poetic expressions, which is another opportunity afforded on the weekend. Given that Venus also sextiles Uranus on Saturday, it seems like a key to channelling compassion-driven inspired dialogues and creations is to be open to expressing the true and individual values that set us apart from the pack. With the Moon in Virgo on the weekend it’s important to focus on the pieces of the puzzle without falling victim to an overly critical mind.

Astro-Atlas*
13 May, 2:57 am: Moon enters Cancer
13 May, 1:32 pm: Moon (Cancer) trine Neptune (Pisces)
13 May, 1:48 pm: Venus (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)
13 May, 5:15 pm: Moon (Cancer) trine Saturn (Scorpio)

14 May, 1:10 am: Moon (Cancer) square Uranus (Aries)
14 May 1:58 am: Moon (Cancer) opposite Pluto (Capricorn)
14 May, 3:38 pm: Moon (Cancer) sextile Mars (Taurus)

15 May, 5:14 am: Moon (Cancer) sextile Sun (Taurus)
15 May, 5:14 am: Moon void-of-course
15 May, 1:41 pm: Mercury enters Gemini
15 May, 3:38 pm: Moon enters Leo
15 May, 4:03 pm: Moon (Leo) sextile Mercury (Gemini)

16 May, 5:21 am: Moon (Leo) square Saturn (Scorpio)
16 May, 8:52 am: Moon (Leo) sextile Venus (Gemini)
16 May, 1:39 pm: Moon (Leo) trine Uranus (Aries)

17 May, 7:15 am: Moon (Leo) square Mars (Taurus)
17 May, 9:17 am: Moon (Leo) sextile Jupiter (Gemini)
17 May, 9:34 pm: Moon (Leo) square Sun (Taurus)
17 May, 9:34 pm: Moon void-of-course

18 May, 12:20 am: Mercury (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)
18 May, 2:33 am: Moon enters Virgo
18 May, 9:40 am: Venus (Gemini) sextile Uranus (Aries)
18 May, 12:35 pm: Moon (Virgo) opposite Neptune (Pisces)
18 May, 3:02 pm: Moon (Virgo) square Mercury (Gemini)
18 May, 3:18 pm: Moon (Virgo) sextile Saturn (Scorpio)
18 May, 11:51 pm: Moon (Virgo) trine Pluto (Capricorn)

19 May, 1:06 am: Moon (Virgo) square Venus (Gemini)
19 May, 6:55 pm: Moon (Virgo) square Jupiter (Gemini)
19 May, 7:23 pm: Moon (Virgo) trine Mars (Taurus)

* all time are Pacific Daylight Time (GMT – 7:00)

I’ve been feeling an urge recently to creatively shift things up, including my writing focus.

While my daily Astrological Insights writing has become somewhat of a morning meditation for me, I’ve been recently wondering what it would be like to change up my schedule, to not write in this prescribed daily fashion. I’ve thought about this both from my perspective (how would this change my creativity and self expression?) as well as from yours (what benefits may there be for you, dear Reader, if I communicated in a different form?).

So this week I decided to honor the urge and take on shaking things up. The timing feels right both within myself, as well as when I reflect upon the astro-calendar, given that we’re in the midst of Eclipse season and the next Uranus/Pluto square is right around the corner (20 May).

So here’s what I’m going to do. Instead of writing each day, I am going to write a weekly post. This will cover the themes and trends for the week. It also will showcase the Astro-Atlas for the week so that you will have that information on hand. What I like about this approach is that, as you know, the celestial alignments don’t necessarily only influence the day that they occur but days (and sometimes weeks) around their occurrence. By writing for the week you will be able to better capture this nuance and see the energetics not as bounded occurrences but flowing ones.

I will keep attentive to how this works. And may modify it down the road, continuing to refine my writing focus and communication approaches.

Now, knowing my Gemini rising, I may want to share additional thoughts that come up each day related to the energetic flow of the day. I will continue to do so on the Planetary Apothecary Facebook page, which offers a great forum for sharing ideas and having conversation. So, if you don’t already follow that Page, consider doing so. It’s located here.

I hope that this new approach works for you (see the first one here). I also hope that if you’ve been getting the urge to shake things up and try on new approaches that this also gives you further encouragement to do so in your life.

Namaste,

Stephanie

Astro-Atlas*
6:32 am: Moon (Gemini) conjunct Jupiter (Gemini)
6:32 am: Moon void-of-course
10:20 am: Mars (Taurus) conjunct South Node (Taurus)

* all time are Pacific Daylight Time (GMT – 7:00)

Astro-Atlas*
12:44 am: Moon (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)
7:27 am: Mercury (Taurus) conjunct Pallas Athene (Taurus)
12:07 pm: Moon (Gemini) sextile Uranus (Aries)
2:10 pm: Sun (Taurus) conjunct Mercury (Taurus)

* all time are Pacific Daylight Time (GMT – 7:00)

The first part there’s a sense of just slowly rolling along.

And then when the Moon shifts into Gemini, a quicker tenor gets activated.

As it approaches a union with Venus, we may feel inclined to flirt with variety, mix it up with multiples, dialogue about duality, and chat about changing-it-up.

Astro-Atlas*
2:21 pm: Moon enters Gemini
5:49 pm: Moon (Gemini) conjunct Venus (Gemini)

* all time are Pacific Daylight Time (GMT – 7:00)

New Moons are some of my favorite times to do ritual; after all, they signal the moment of a beginning. Solar Eclipses–”uber New Moons”–often seem even more potent.

Today not only do we have a Solar Eclipse but it is in earth-centered, pragmatic, routine-loving Taurus. To me it’s one of the best times to practice an intention-setting ritual.

Craft it however you seemed most called to do. Focus upon what you want to create, what intention you are setting for your life, what cycle you want to invoke. Pay reverence to the Taurean energies by weaving the earth into your ritual. Perhaps you state your declaration as you sow seeds in the ground or pot a new herb plant. Maybe you write down what you are releasing on one piece of paper and what you are declaring to create on another, planting both in the ground. However it is that you choose, see how you can invite the earth into your Taurus Solar Eclipse ritual.

Do the ritual after 5:28 pm (Pacific Daylight Time) – that’s when the Eclipse occurs. Some would say to wait until tomorrow afternoon (after 2:21 pm Pacific Daylight Time) since the Moon goes void after the Eclipse. Personally, I’m OK doing the ritual during the void Moon, since we’re in a liminal space–and invoking intention with ritual seems to me to flow very well with liminality. Yet, if you are otherwise inclined, wait until tomorrow.

For insights into the Eclipse, including the tie-in of other planets, as well as corresponding wellness suggestions, read the article that I wrote on it here.

Happy Eclipse!!!

Astro-Atlas*
1:27 am: Moon (Taurus) trine Pluto (Capricorn)
6:42 am: Moon (Taurus) conjunct Mars (Taurus)
8:03 am: Venus enters Gemini
12:06 pm: Moon (Taurus) conjunct Mercury (Taurus)
5:28 pm: Solar Eclipse [Moon (Taurus) conjunct Sun (Taurus)]
5:28 pm: Moon void-of-course

* all time are Pacific Daylight Time (GMT – 7:00)

Astro-Atlas*
3:09 am: Moon enters Taurus
1:10 pm: Moon (Taurus) sextile Neptune (Pisces)
5:36 pm: Moon (Taurus) opposite Saturn (Scorpio)

* all time are Pacific Daylight Time (GMT – 7:00)

With mental Mercury uniting with active Mars today, it’s a good day to reflect upon these questions, looking into what makes you tick intellectually and what your personal thinking style is.

Astro-Atlas*
5:40 am: Moon (Aries) sextile Jupiter (Gemini)
5:40 am: Moon void-of-course
5:33 pm: Mercury (Taurus) conjunct Mars (Taurus)

* all time are Pacific Daylight Time (GMT – 7:00)