May 3rd ~ 10th
“Queen Guinevere’s Maying” by John Maler Collier
Saturn/Pluto
You are your own Tree of Life, roots and limbs and trunk. Somewhere within the wholeness of the tree lies the very self, the quick: its own innate Holy ghost. And this Holy Ghost puts forth new buds, and pushes past old limits, and shakes off a whole body of dying leaves. And the old limits hate being empassed, and the old leaves hate to fall. But they must, if the tree-soul says so…” D.H. Lawrence (Aaron’s Rod)
Way back in January 2020, on the eve of a global pandemic, we had a conjunction of Saturn and Pluto which launched a whole new Saturn/Pluto cycle. One of the karmic lessons we learn through this profound relationship in which we are compelled to face the consequences of our choices, is this feeling of the chickens coming home to roost. Our destiny unfolds out of the intentions of the past, and so we come face to face with the results of our own choices and actions. If we are happy with what we see, this would have only deepened our resolve. But often what Saturn/Pluto point to is what needs reforming or rebuilding, often after a period of destruction.
Saturn/Pluto is very much about pushing past old limits and shaking off a whole body of dying leaves. In order to create the space for new buds to grow, we have to go through this gestational period of sloughing off the old patterns, old structures and institutions that are no longer relevant, and may in fact be preventing the new buds from growing.
But old structures do not bow out gracefully, especially if they are accustomed to being in charge. Especially when they feel as if their very survival depends on holding on for dear life. It can be like that with governments, with institutions, with time-worn infrastructures and traditions. It can also be like that with habits. However, there comes a time when we have outgrown these structures, and they no longer serve us well. Or we become limited and confined by our habits and patterns of behavior. Then it comes time to shake off the dying leaves, in order for fresher, more relevant buds to push forth, flourish and grow.
On May 6th Saturn and Pluto will make the first of its semi-squares, the 2nd will be on September 25th when both planets will be retrograde, and the third semi-square will be at the end of January. This first not-so-minor, minor aspect, brings us to the Crescent Moon phase of the 33 year Saturn/Pluto cycle. This is when we are being tested to stay the course and further commit to whatever it was we were needing so desperately to reform.
When Pluto entered Aquarius earlier this year it was ushering us into a whole new era with some very different values from the Pluto in Capricorn era. Whereas Capricorn aims to consolidate all the power at the very top, Aquarius aims to transfer that power to the people. This can have its own travails and issues. But that transfer of power will naturally meet with resistance. And that is perhaps what will be most evident at this critical first juncture of the Saturn/Pluto cycle. Never will this be more evident than with the 2nd semi-square in September when Pluto will have returned to the Saturn sign of Capricorn. But even now we are witnessing the conflict that is often evident at the beginning of a new era.
The New Moon in Taurus
By contrast to the Saturn/Pluto cycle, the recent Jupiter/Uranus conjunction aimed to get us out of our ruts, to upend the status quo, and challenge previously held concepts, beliefs and paradigms. If we learn nothing else from the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction on April 20th it’s that we don’t necessarily have to keep doing things the way we always have in the past. That there are alternatives. And those alternatives might even be better than what we have always done in the past.
On May 7th or 8th (depending on where you are in the world) there is a New Moon at 18º Taurus right on the heels of, and just within a few degrees of the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction at 22º of Taurus. Conjunct Uranus and sextile Saturn, this is the last of a long series of New Moons engaging the planet Uranus that began with last year’s New Moon in Cancer in July 2023.
Positively Uranus sets the stage for progressive and positive growth. And anything that stands in the way of that growth and progress can suddenly and irrevocably be removed. Negatively Uranus can create chaos and mayhem, as it upends the status quo, bucks the system, and even awakens ancient fault lines that had been stagnant for eons. Like an awakening, or even a tornado and a jolt of lightning, ultimately we are being led to rediscover our most honest and authentic selves. Even if it means having to shake up some of those old fault lines. Whatever it takes to get us out of those ruts, shake off those old leaves, and be freed up for ever better things.
New Moons are about new beginnings: which with Uranus can bring new revelations and awakenings. Combined with Jupiter, that can also bring a whole new perspective and way of looking at ourselves and our relationship to the world. The New Moon this week piggybacks on this Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, which had been trying to awaken us to our highest potential.
The New Moon is also closely sextile Saturn, which is a planet of commitment. And so we are also being asked to commit to our big vision for the future, and to fulfill our potential. But in order to fully appreciate what that is, we are first being asked to get back to our own fundamental needs and priorities. These could be about what we have to do, what promises and obligations need to be fulfilled. But there is also something else here that dares us to reach beyond our previous limits, shoulds and expectations.
The New Moon, which indeed is also a Super Moon at 18º Taurus 02’, and occurs on Tuesday, May 7th at 11:22 pm here in the Eastern United states, 8:22 pm Pacific Time, and 4:22 on Wednesday, May 8th in the UK. If you would like to sow intentions with the verdant New Moon in Taurus, do so after the actual New Moon, but before the Crescent Moon on the 11th, in order to take full advantage of the potential contained within the new moon phase. Some possible intentions or affirmations that might be appropriate for this moon might be:
May I find my own sacred space that will bring me that profound feeling of inner peace and serenity.
May I walk with music and beauty in my heart.
May I achieve my potential by allowing the creative spirit to move through me, using my voice, my hands, my skills, to reach beyond my previous limits.
I am worth of the bounty that the natural world has to offer.
I want to see myself spending more time enjoying those things that bring me happiness, joy, and peace.
May I discover the joy of giving and receiving with an open heart.
Beltane, usually celebrated on May 1st, technically falls at one of the fixed cross quarters of the year. Technically that would be when the Sun reaches 15º of Taurus, which falls on or about May 5th or 6th. Beltane is when we celebrate the earth, the greenness of her beauty, and the potential of her fertility. If you decide to sow intentions with the New Moon in Taurus which gracefully celebrates nature in all its grandeur, be sure to sing a song for our mother, the Earth, as well.
Please dear mother Earth, Help me to stand firm on my own two feet, Drawing on the solid earth below me, Help me to know the constancy of your strength, the power that is you, oh dear mother earth, Help me to walk with the blood of rivers in my veins, and the dark crumbling soil of earth in my flesh, Let my muscles be strong as the tree trunks that rise up out of your belly, To dance in the sky and sing praises to the life all around, Beating, pulsing, rich and full, with your sweet sure energy. Oh dear mother earth, Live in this body today. ~ Stephanie Kaza
For the New Moon for your sign (or house if you know it), click below for this week’s horoscopes: