Norah Astrologer

Astrology update for May 18

This weekend’s astrology weather has big news, but let’s briefly look at today and Saturday first. The ongoing trine (favorable relationship) between action-oriented Mars and transformative Pluto continues today, with the Moon joining in to create a Grand Trine in earth signs. Moon in trine to Pluto particularly in earth signs, can be somewhat moody, casting an emotional cloud over the potential of the Mars-Pluto relationship. You may feel as if your wheels are spinning in mud, getting caught up in memories or tripping over your feelings as you try to accomplish practical tasks.

New Moon + Annular Eclipse

The moon moves through Taurus today and Saturday, then meets the Sun in Gemini on Sunday for New Moon. This New Moon will also be an eclipse, visible in the southwestern part of the US. Solar eclipses heighten the inherent power of New Moon periods.

The May 20 eclipse will be a specific type of solar eclipse known as an annular eclipse. With a total solar eclipse the Moon appears to briefly block the Sun entirely so that only its corona or outer rays can be seen from earth. In contrast, the effect of an annular eclipse, which occurs when the Moon is a greater distance from Earth, is of the small black disk of the moon only partially covering the larger fiery orb of the sun. The face of the Sun is covered but its outer ring remains visible, resulting in a ring of fire appearance.

Aspects

The Sun-Moon conjunction of the eclipse will have a square (tense relationship) with Neptune in Pisces, which means that illusions, perhaps even treasured ones, may be shattered by what begins to emerge out of the New Moon beginnings. Also, the Sun and Moon at 0 Gemini will be opposite within a few degrees of asteroid Juno in late degrees of secretive Scorpio.

Gemini’s ruling planet Mercury is now in Taurus conjunct Jupiter and the asteroids Ceres and Sedna (to understand Sedna better, read my article on our sister blog). There is also a Jupiter-Saturn quincunx (awkward relationship) which may leave you teetering back and forth between a Jupiterian optimism and a Saturnine gloom about the future. At the same time, Saturn has a supportive relationship (trine) going on with Venus in Gemini. With a little effort and a pinch of luck, you can draw on this energy to negotiate any changes with wisdom. Both of these planets are currently in retrograde motion, which tends to lend itself to re-thinking, revising and re-structuring. Be prepared to be the more mature one in any discussion, trying to set a higher tone, because for less evolved people, retrograde planets can manifest as crankiness.

How it will affect you

This weekend’s eclipse will take place at 0 degrees of Gemini. Look at your chart to see if you have any natal planets around 25 Taurus through 5 Gemini: if so, you are likely to feel the impact of this eclipse on a very personal level. You will be challenged to change in some way which may feel harsh at first. Try to develop the Gemini gift of adaptability to deal with any shifts creatively. Those with planets in this degree range in other signs will also feel some effects although not quite as strongly. Even if you do not have planets in these degrees, check your chart to see which house the eclipse will fall in—you will likely some ripple effects in that area of your life.

This is a good time to have an astrology reading to find out more specifically what the eclipse will bring you in the coming months. Also, if you want to do a personal ritual to use the energies of this time to increase your psychic abilities, check out this article.