08 May In An Interstellar Burst ~ May 9th – 15th, 2016

You should feel a distinct change in the atmosphere this week, one that offers a cathartic liberation from feeling doldrum and melancholy. For all the ups and downs, these past few months have been very wisening which has greatly expanded your capacity to handle contradiction and paradox.

The feeling of emerging into a new paradigm, much less naive, is beautifully expressed by the opening track on Radiohead’s 1997 album, OK Computer. Through a surreal cinematic soundscape, the opening song Airbag tells the story of surviving a car crash. This near-death experience forces a confrontation with the fact that “safety” is an illusion at best. These potent feelings of helplessness push so hard against the human psyche that fear eventually dissolves into revelation.

Airbag is a song about how the journey of life is an illusory vehicle that lies between death and rebirth.

Since January 7th, Jupiter has been in retrograde and has intermittently been squaring Saturn in Sagittarius. This Jupiter retrograde period has offered a magnifying glass with which to study the contents of your character. Agonizing though it may have been, in order to taste the fruits of wisdom, you must acknowledge your most petty flaws and transmute them into strengths of character. Because these planetary motions have anchored much of your energy into this intense self-analysis, your sense of good luck and optimism in the external world may have felt hindered.

But this week will bring a great resuscitation of your spirits! The Moon will be waxing, which naturally builds up the momentum needed to realize more of your ambitions and attract more support for your work. But the Moon’s energy is only a small part of the benevolence afforded to you this week.

The Youth Of Bacchus by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

On Monday, after a four month retrograde, Jupiter will station direct at 13° Virgo. The universe may feel especially intelligent, as though it is listening intently to your thoughts. With an air of divine purpose, you may feel uplifted by the knowing that all the disasters and near-death experiences you have endured are  what lead you towards gnosis.

And in an interstellar burst, you are born again!

Though there are still four planets in retrograde (Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Pluto), the planetary aspects this week emphasize supportive Earth trines which are highly favorable to enjoy the incremental, but inexorable growth of the things in your life which truly inspire.

To find out more about what areas of your life will burst into full bloom over the coming months, find out what houses the Earth signs occupy in your natal chart. (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)

Monday/Tuesday: I Am Back to Save the Universe!

On Monday, Jupiter goes direct at the same time that Mercury retrograde conjuncts the Sun in Taurus, which also forms an exact trine with the North Node in Virgo. This should be a day full of vision and a sense of destiny!

I’m on a roll this time

I feel my luck could change

The Triumph of Venus

Also, Venus in Taurus will be sextiling Neptune in Pisces, an aspect that makes a musical harmony between sensual love and philanthropy, between sexuality and spirituality.

In a deep deep sleep of the innocent

I am born again

On Tuesday, Venus trines the newly direct Jupiter bringing even more expansion and buoyancy an already stellar week! Venus/Jupiter aspects are as wonderful as it gets, since they offer the blessings of love, abundance, friendship, luxury, and wisdom. In an Earth trine, these two planets will provide you with much easier routes to finding the money and social connections to breathe life into your dreams and bring them into reality.

The Birth of Venus (1879) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Wednesday/Thursday:  I am Born Again!

On Thursday, Mercury retrograde in Taurus will trine Pluto in Capricorn, offering an opportunity to think more deeply or study something more closely. Pluto’s influence will take the patient mental processes of Mercury in Taurus into more mystical territories of the psyche, exploring many catacombs of consciousness within.

Evening Mood (1882) by William Adolphe Bouguereau

This trine will occur a total of three times this season, the first one was on April 17th and the next one is occurring on May 30th. At the end of this month, you may reflect upon this sequence of Mercury/Pluto trines to discover their deeper purpose in aiding you to uncover mysterious knowledge.

Since this week has so many overtones of good fortune and enjoyment, this trine should feel like a very safe time to study and interpret your dreams, to remember something long forgotten from childhood, or to have intimate and penetrating conversations with close friends or relatives.

Friday/ Saturday/Sunday: I’m Amazed that I Survived!

Cupid and Psyche Drawing by William Adolphe Bouguereau

On Friday, there will be a conjunction between Venus and Mercury retrograde in Taurus, which creates a glistening sense of gratitude for the simple pleasures of life. This should create a rosy mood that is yielding and receptive to other people’s needs.

This aspect typically makes for much easier communication of feelings, so expect relationships that need healing to improve under this influence. Because Mercury is in retrograde, this may be a perfect moment to forgive and forget some grievances which have been holding you back from progressing in life. Forgiveness always frees up a great deal of energy that you can use to give and receive more love.

Also, opportunities to find more more gainful employment, establish stable love relationships, cultivate wonderful friendships, make beautiful art, etc…will abound! The Earth trine between Mercury/Venus, Jupiter and Pluto, will enable you to develop whatever you’re working on with such focus that you will feel destined for success.

On Sunday, Venus will be trined the North Node in Virgo, creating a supportive aspect between all things lovely and sensual with a magnetic point of destiny! Examine your relationship with all that Venus embodies (love, sensuality, luxury) and imagine this as a moment to embrace the Venusian gifts that are most needed in your life.

What is most challenging about this aspect is that it asks that you have faith, meaning that rather than taking action or meeting your challenges with force, Venus asks that you learn to yield to the slowness and heaviness of time. Envision your wishes coming true even when there is no empirical evidence to support that vision. Venus trined the North Node will allow your desires to be born from your open heart, rather than your frenzied mind.

Relax into this feeling and become born again.