Important astrological energies for the month of May 2023:

• Penumbra (Appulse) Lunar Eclipse with Sun in Taurus and Moon in Scorpio occurs on May 5, 2023.
• Mercury in Taurus turns direct on May 14, 2023. It went retrograde on April 21, 2023.
• Jupiter enters Taurus on May 16, 2023. It will remain in the sign of Taurus until May 25, 2024.
• New Moon with Sun and Moon in Taurus occurs on May 19, 2023.

Considering Your Ethics

By Misty Kuceris ©2023

The month of May begins with Pluto in Aquarius turning retrograde and Venus forming a square to Ceres retrograde on May 1^st. Normally you don’t pay very much attention to Pluto turning retrograde. This is because when a planet turns retrograde, you start internalizing the energy of that planet. You bring things into your subconscious mind. You find yourself mulling over situations before taking action. While with some planets you act out the energy and think about the consequence later, Pluto is different. Pluto represents how you internalize energy. That’s why you normally don’t pay any attention to Pluto turning retrograde.

But, while you may not totally realize it, Pluto turning retrograde represents something more this time than energy turning inward. Rather, Pluto represents the need to reach back and review what has occurred over the last several years in order to understand a major paradigm shift that will occur in January 2024. Why? This is because on March 22, 2023, Pluto entered the sign of Aquarius. At that time it appeared that Pluto would be leaving the sign of Capricorn and beginning a new paradigm shift for the next 248 years. But, not quite. With Pluto turning retrograde today at only 0° of Aquarius, it is beginning it’s trek back into the sign of Capricorn. This return to Capricorn will occur on June 11, 2023 and last until January 20, 2024. Whatever you experienced between March 23, 2023 when Pluto initially entered the sign of Aquarius and today is only a preview for what’s to come next year.

In honesty, it’s not uncommon for an outer planet to enter a new sign for a brief time period and retrograde back into the previous sign. On a spiritual level, this is when you get a preview of what it means to have Pluto in the new sign. And, as it retrogrades back into the old sign and remains there for a while, it means there are situations which you need to review, perhaps correct, before you move on with your life. On a mundane level, it means that changes which are occurring in the world may need some major adjustments before they can be implemented safely.

While there are several shifts of Pluto entering a new sign that are unique to that sign, there are some other shifts which seem to occur whenever Pluto enters a new sign: Upheavals occur within governments and ruling bodies; conflicts between different power factions; changes with financial systems; and struggles between different socio and economic classes. Currently you’re getting some hints of what to expect: Problems with cryptocurrency; less transparency with technology, especially AI (Artificial Intelligence) and algorithms, more individuals in the United States considering moving to foreign countries (becoming ex-Pats). At the same time you’re also seeing people re-evaluate their relationships both on a personal and professional level. Some people are willing to explore new realities while others are trying to reconnect with their spiritual nature. During the time period that Pluto is retrograde in the sign of Aquarius you’ll try to make sense of all these situations. More importantly, you’ll try to understand how to incorporate these changes in your life. It’s possible that you may feel overwhelmed by your observations and experiences. In other cases, you may be excited with anticipation as you wait for more changes to occur.

When Venus forms the square to Ceres retrograde a few hours later, you try to find balance in your life. Venus represents the passionate side of your nature where you embrace what you believe in and try to implement it in your life. Ceres, especially in retrograde motion, represents how you observe the world so you can create strategies for implementing these new circumstances in your life. With Venus in Gemini, you want to talk about these situations with people you love. You’re trying to understand these situations better. Meanwhile, with Ceres retrograde in Virgo you find that it’s important to pay attention to details and take care of even what appears to be those “little things” in life. Where you may find it a bit difficult is that both Venus and Ceres also represent understanding the importance of loyalty. And, you may find being loyal to either people or circumstances is actually interfering with your ability to move on with your life. For this reason, it’s important to realize that loyalty is good when it’s not misplaced with the wrong people or circumstances.

It’s difficult to believe what others are saying on May 4^th when Venus forms a square to Neptune, especially since Venus is in Gemini. You want to discuss matters to resolve problems. You even believe that if you talk things through you may be able to find solutions and improve your relationships. But something isn’t quite right. Either you’re not getting the information you need or people are dismissing your concerns. As much as you want to discuss matters to resolve problems, this is not a day where that’s going to happen.

May 5^th is a day for quite a bit of soul searching as the Penumbral (also called Annular) Lunar Eclipse occurs. But before that eclipse occurs, Venus forms a sextile to Jupiter which will be a tremendous help during your time of soul searching. The reason is that when Venus forms a sextile to Jupiter you see the best in things and people. You approach situations optimistically. You find ways to be gentle when you interact with others. There’s a softness about your approach that other people appreciate.

Penumbral eclipses are not as visible from the earth as other eclipses because the Moon falls in the earth’s shadow (the penumbral). This particular eclipse is part of the Saros 141 series and will be seen in Africa, Asia, and Australia.

When this eclipse occurs, the Sun will be in the sign of Taurus and the Moon in the sign of Scorpio. Lunar eclipses occur at the time of a full Moon when the Earth blocks the Moon. For this reason, you sometimes feel as if you are under siege. Other people are questioning you. They may even be disrespecting you. With the Sun in Taurus and the Moon in Scorpio, you feel as if people are questioning or challenging your values. They aren’t providing you with the support you need.

Usually eclipses obscure matters and cause people to operate behind your back. But this time it’s different. With the Sun forming a conjunction to Uranus and the Moon forming an opposition to Uranus you’re getting a lot of push back from others. They are very vocal about their disagreements with you. Also, you may be getting some new and unexpected information which forces you into a confrontation.

The positive aspect of this eclipse is that you will have to deal with situations you’ve been avoiding. That could deal with relationships. Or, a secret you’ve been trying to keep for the last 19 years is revealed and any wounds associated with that secret can start healing. The other positive aspect of this eclipse is that the energy of Venus forming a sextile to Jupiter is still being felt. That means that you may be able to approach your problems in a gentler manner than anticipated so that the solutions can come quickly.

Ceres in Virgo turns direct on May 6^th. It went retrograde on February 3, 2023 when it was in the sign of Libra and re-entered the sign of Virgo on March 22, 2023. During the time period that Ceres was retrograde in the sign of Virgo, you felt it was important to pay attention to details. You also found yourself re-establishing some old rituals or creating new rituals which gave you a feeling of security. These rituals may have focused on meditative or self-care techniques which actually improved your health.

Now that Ceres is direct in Virgo, you realize just how important those rituals are. They did create a sense of safety and security. They also helped you find a way to focus in a world that seemed chaotic.

Venus enters the sign of Cancer on May 7^th and forms a quincunx to Pluto retrograde later in the day. Normally the energy of Venus is very harmonious in the sign of Cancer. You feel a desire to nurture others and care for their needs. You want to express your love. You want to make certain that other people are safe.

Yet, when Venus forms the quincunx to Pluto retrograde later in the day, you feel frustrated. You don’t feel other people are appreciating what you can do for them. You also feel that other people are trying to take advantage of your good nature. But this may also mean something else. While you want to help others you may be overstepping your boundaries. And, that’s what people are reacting to. The reality is that when Venus forms a quincunx to Pluto retrograde you need to let each person in your life feel their own sense of power…just like you need to feel your sense of power. And it’s important to respect others for their abilities to resolve their own problems, just as they respect your ability.

Usually when Mars is in Cancer, you want to sidestep issues. You don’t want to meet any challenges head on. As a matter of fact, you would just love to avoid any negative situations which may surface. Yet when Mars forms the sextile to Ceres on May 9^th you feel differently. You feel as if you are able to come up with strategies that can lead to success. You know how to focus on your goals and achieve them. As a matter of fact, you don’t want to avoid anything. You just want to move forward with your life and take care of whatever is important. Rather than sidestepping situations, you’re ready to start right now.

When Mercury retrograde forms a sextile to Saturn on May 12^th, you start thinking back to the beginning of April when Mercury was direct and this aspect occurred for the first time in this triad sequence. At that time you didn’t want to be misunderstood as you communicated with others. You wanted to have all your facts organized so people understood what you were trying to convey. You also didn’t want to make any decisions or start any projects that involved any level of commitment. You felt there was some missing information. Now that this aspect is occurring a second time with Mercury in retrograde motion you’re back to the same situation where you’re being asked to make a commitment. Still, you need to do more research. As a matter of fact, it’s best not to make a final decision or undertake any commitments until at least May 19^th when Mercury is back in direct motion and this aspect occurs for the final time in this triad sequence.

It’s a good day to go after what you want on May 13^th when Venus forms a trine to Saturn. You realize that you have a firm foundation in your life. You feel secure with your needs. You know what needs to be done in order to achieve your goals. More importantly…you realize you have the support of others in your life: whether those people are professional colleagues or personal friends. This is a good day to go after what you want, whether it’s a relationship or a professional goal.

When Mercury turns direct on May 14, 2023 you’re ready to let go of all those “things” that stand in your way. Mercury in Taurus went retrograde on April 21, 2023. At that time you felt you had to hold on to your belief systems. You needed to understand what things meant to you. You also had difficulty with changes occurring around you.

Now you understand what those changes may mean in your life. You know what you need to do. You know what’s important to you and what’s unnecessary in your life. You’re able to communicate all of this now that Mercury is direct.

You have a desire to connect with spirit when Mars in Cancer forms a trine to Neptune in Pisces on May 15^th. This is especially true with both planets in water signs. You can feel the energy in the world. You sense what other people want. You may not want to engage with too many people today. But, if you need to, you’ll be able to approach any situation in a creative manner.

Another paradigm shift starts occurring on May 16^th when Jupiter enters the sign of Taurus. It will be in the sign of Taurus until May 25, 2024 when it enters the sign of Gemini. Jupiter is a 12-year cycle that lasts approximately 13 months. Jupiter represents the steps you take to fit into society based on your vision and needs. It’s how you examine the boundaries that others created in your life and how you push those boundaries so you can define your own rules.

When Jupiter is in Taurus you start reviewing the values that guide your life. You take time to determine whether you are living by your code of ethics or by a code determined by others. It’s true that authority figures in our lives teach us various values. But, determining whether those values apply in your life any longer is the theme of Jupiter in Taurus. You may decide that it’s time to instill new values. Or, you may find that embracing those values you learned brings a greater sense of spirituality and joy.

Jupiter in Taurus also deals with financial matters in your life. Are you living a life that is financially secure but spiritually void? Or, are you living a life where you place so much importance on your spiritual needs that you actually generate financial difficulty as you try to find your path in life. Or, perhaps you have found, or are ready to find, that balance between creating a secure financial situation while still placing value on the spiritual aspects of your life.

On a mundane level, Jupiter in Taurus represents the type of value that society places on its citizens, especially those individuals that are disenfranchised. In some instances you’ll see more acceptance of different types of lifestyles. In other instances you’ll experience pushback from people who feel you may be too different. Yet, when Jupiter is in Taurus you feel a desire to be honest about who you are. And, you want to be valued for who you are. You want respect.

This need for respect and value will also be seen by various individuals in the workplace. In certain countries you’ll see an increased Union activity among workers. In other countries you’ll see pushback from individuals who feel their rights are not being met in the workplace. And, you’ll see people expecting higher wages and a better lifestyle for work they do.

In addition to representing values, Jupiter in Taurus also indicates changes in the way that financial institutions work. There is less trust with foreign institutions, especially those in the financial realm. While cryptocurrency will not go away, the trust of this financial media (yes, word chosen intentionally) will continue to decline. Those individuals who have a high risk tolerance may continue to invest in that financial arena, but individuals with a lower risk tolerance will start pulling back.

Banks will continue to do everything possible to bring more people into the digital world. For this reason (as well as other reasons), you’ll find that it’s even more important to protect your online presence. Unfortunately, the Jupiter in Taurus cycle can also lead to increased scams and hacking incidents. Technically, paper is the best way to protect yourself against online scams. But, in reality it’s getting more and more difficult to limit the amount of time you spend online.

You’ll hear a lot of conversation using the word “values.” Yet there is also another important word to consider when Jupiter is in Taurus: The word is ethics. During the time period that Jupiter is in Taurus, your ethical boundaries will be challenged. The most obvious realm to host this challenge is the use of AI (artificial intelligence – an oxymoron in my opinion). AI is an illusion which creates its foundation from learning what is already out there. From that information, its sprouts and grows (to me like a fungus or mushroom). Unfortunately, as it learns, it learns from the bias that exists. Also, AI tries to simplify to the point of removing the individual and creating it’s own set of rules (which in a lot of ways also shows the trends created by Saturn now in Pisces) which tries to make everything or everyone the same. With Jupiter in Taurus it’s important to take time in developing AI (since it won’t go away) and make certain that values and ethics aren’t lost.

As Jupiter enters the sign of Taurus on May 16^th, it’s also important to note that there are four other energy points in the sign of Taurus: Moon’s North Node, Mercury, Uranus, and the Sun. As much as you may want to start pushing your boundaries today and over the next year, you still want to live within your value system. And, you still need to live within your financial means. While other people may try to influence you, either through social media or personal interaction, this is a day where you will try to understand what’s important. And, if you have to fight to maintain your place in this world, you will. This is a day where you will demand respect.

On May 17^th, the day after Jupiter enters the sign of Taurus, it forms a square to Pluto retrograde. While you seek ways to understand your values, you also want to understand the motivations behind your choices in life.

Pluto retrograde, especially in Aquarius, is an interesting placement. You want to take time to understand the motivation behind your actions. You also want to understand the motivations of others. Yet with Jupiter in Taurus you feel impatient. You want to move forward with achieving your goals. You feel this tension between wanting to understand your motivations and wanting just to move forward without understanding why. Still if you move too quicky you may make some mistakes that you regret later. For that reason, it’s important to move slowly and understand every step you plan to take.

Understanding your plans becomes easier on May 19^th as Mercury forms a sextile to Saturn. This is not the first time this aspect occurred in this triad sequence. As a matter of fact, you’ve been thinking about your plans since the beginning of April when this aspect first occurred on April 5^th. At that time you wanted to move forward, but you weren’t sure you wanted to make any commitments. You felt as if you didn’t have all the facts. As you continued to research information you were approached again around the 12^th of May to make the same decision. But once again you hesitated. With Mercury retrograde at that time you still felt you weren’t ready. Today, with Mercury direct you realize why you weren’t ready. You were seeking a way to balance the financial reality of your decision with the spiritual desire of your goals. Today you’ve found that balance. Today you’re ready.

It’s so appropriate that the new Moon follows Mercury forming a sextile to Saturn. New Moon time periods are a great time to start projects. And knowing all the facts, plus being willing to make commitments helps those projects succeed. As a matter of fact, there are six energy points in the sign of Taurus. In addition to the Sun and Moon being positioned in Taurus, you’ll also find Jupiter, the Moon’s North Node, Mercury, and Uranus all in Taurus. What this means is several things. With Jupiter in Taurus you want to make certain that any project you start is ethical and well-conceived. With the Moon’s North Node and Mercury in Taurus, this is a project you’ve been thinking about for a while. And, with Uranus in Taurus there will be some unexpected situations which arise but they will come in the form of friends or professional colleagues lending you some form of support.

On the following day, May 20^th, Mars enters the sign of Leo and finds itself forming a square to Pluto. Part of you would like to go out and play. You’re tired of working so hard. But, there’s another part of you that understands the importance of persistence. When Mars forms the square to Pluto you are willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve your goals. You won’t let anyone stand in your way. And, you won’t let any obstacle create barriers that prevent you from succeeding.

You feel a sense of excitement when the Sun moves into the sign of Gemini on May 21^st and forms a trine to Pluto. It will also form a sextile to Mars in the early morning hours (EDT) of May 22^nd. You may just need to curb your excitement a little bit.

What this means is that you may feel a bit too optimistic. You may believe you can do more than you actually can do. Or, you may make too many commitments because you feel so generous. What you want to do is take this enthusiasm and use it as a motivating tool. This can give you a good jump start. Just don’t make any promises which involve commitments at this time.

There’s a danger that you may feel the same way on May 23^rd as Mars forms a square to Jupiter. It’s true that you have a lot of energy today. But…you may feel too much energy and get carried away. Once again, you may believe you can do anything and you make too many commitments. Or, you may start rushing into situations and not pay enough attention to your environment.

Don’t let anyone bully you on May 24^th as Venus in Cancer forms a square to Chiron in Aries. When Venus is in Cancer you tend to feel what other people are experiencing. You level of empathy is extremely high. This means that you may let other people influence your actions at a time when you need to take care of your own needs. While you may want to be kind to others, this actually is a good day to understand the power of the word “no.” The reality is that you don’t need to take care of others if that means you aren’t taking care of yourself.

You may need to deal with people from your past on May 26^th as Venus forms a sextile to Uranus and Mars forms a square to the Moon’s Nodal Axis later in the day. When Venus forms the sextile to Uranus, you encounter people you haven’t seen for a while. Some of these individuals may be people you’re happy to see; others may be people you’d rather avoid.

As Mars forms the square to the Moon’s Nodal Axis, you realize that many of these people, even those you’re happy to see again, aren’t people you want in your life. You’ve changed. They’ve changed. It’s almost as if they’ve come back into your life for this brief time period so that you can see how much your life has taken a different direction from the one you had years ago. With the Moon’s North Node in the sign of Taurus and the Moon’s South Node in the sign of Scorpio these changes in your life center around the values you want to live by and the ethical considerations you want as a foundation for your values.

For more information on Misty Kuceris, her classes and seminars, as well as other articles, just go to https://mistykuceris.com/

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