How do you feel about love? Or think about it? How does it move you? Do you ever ask: What is love? The planets that represent the archetypal lovers are relating this week in an alignment that, with some effort on our part, could stimulate new ways of perceiving what it means to be in love with another, or simply to be in a state of love. A little contemplation on these questions over the next couple of weeks may open us to some surprising insights. Venus and Mars form a coaxing sextile on May 14 at 28∞59’ of Aries/Gemini. The planets that represent our manner of relating and seeking that which we desire in the last degrees of fire and air signs indicate an adventurous approach to love motivated by the need to connect with others in loving ways. The emphasis is on Mars as the ruler of Aries, which suggests we may naturally express in our own unique way to attract those with whom we have affinity.
On May 15, both Venus and Mars, still in close sextile formation shift into another archetypal vibration. Venus moves from fiery Aries into its grounded, peace loving home sign of Taurus where it focuses on developing the values that lead to a harmonious life through artistic expression and learning ease in relating. Mars segues from the kinetic intellectualness of Gemini to the intuitive, deeply emotional nature of Cancer. Mars in Cancer often expresses a need to keep loved ones safe and feeling at home in any environment. As the Venus/Mars alignment changes signs, we may feel a palpable shift to a relaxed manner of relating where we enjoy lingering on the simplicity of special moments. The experience of being in a state of love with those around us, and all that is, does not require anything more than an open heart. Yet surprises may be in store when Venus conjuncts Uranus in Taurus on May 18 and Mars sextiles Uranus on May 22. On a personal level, the Venus/Mars/Uranus alignment could spark a desire to have a radical shift in how we relate to our significant others by breaking out of automatic routines or having unusual artistic experiences.
This focus on love and values is heightened with four planets in Taurus including the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Uranus. This bundle of love is supported by an alignment between the Sun in Taurus and the Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Capricorn. As discussed in the last AstroCast, the Sun formed a trine to Saturn on May 11, which is still active as it trines Pluto on May 13. Furthermore, Mercury in Taurus, which has been closing in on a conjunction with the Sun, joins the trine to Saturn/Pluto with exact alignments on May 16 – 17. Sun/Mercury trine Saturn/Pluto in earth signs suggests our will and our mind will be united in making focused effort on what we need to do. Love is often expressed in practical ways. Being reliable may not seem romantic but it can be very sexy. Saturn represents the archetype of structure, responsibility and discipline. Pluto correlates to a deeper process of death and rebirth and teaches us how to transition through the myriad cycles we’re in, long and short, so we learn how to let go and move on to the next level. The more we grow and mature into a state of love, the more magical this process becomes.
The Full Moon unfolds on May 18, with the Sun in Taurus opposing the Moon at 27∞28’ Scorpio. Passions will likely run high as will the need for intense experiences and this is further amplified with Scorpio’s ruler Pluto still in trine to the Sun. We may feel strong emotions yet may not express them outwardly. Scorpio has an occulting quality that reveals little on the surface of things. If love of a physical nature doesn’t manifest under these conditions, our attention may be drawn to the magical underpinnings of life. The hidden mechanisms of all existence are where true power can be found. This begins with reaching deep into our own psyche in search of the origins of being.
Another palpable shift occurs on May 21 when the Sun and Mercury leave the earth sign of Taurus and enter the air sign of Gemini. Less than a few hours later they then form the Superior Conjunction at 0∞12’ Gemini. This is the ‘Full Moon’ phase of the Mercury cycle representing a culminating moment where we see the manifestation of seed ideas planted at the Inferior Conjunction (when Mercury was retrograde), which occurred on March 14 at 24∞11’ Pisces. The Superior Conjunction represents a time of hyper-clarity and decisiveness. However, this peak moment will bear its greatest gift if we sit in stillness with it, in the eye of the brainstorm. The Gemini glyph represents the gate of the temple of wisdom, the doorway of knowledge at which we must be still and receive rather than actively seize. The challenge for Gemini is to learn “the art of letting things happen.” When we get in this receptive state we have a qualitatively different experience that takes us out of our mind-based data collection mode. Our whole being takes in the meaning of what we receive as a holistic download directly into the heart.
Thank you. This was wonderful food for thought.