Week 21: May 2022 Week 4, The Week Ahead Horoscope

Mars enters Aries, Venus enters Taurus, and Mercury spends its first full week back in Taurus.

Introduction

Happy Monday Everyone! Welcome to the 34th issue of the Astro Weather Forecast, showcasing the upcoming astrological alignments for the week ahead. This is Week 20 of 2022.

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Monday, May 23rd

[7:04 AM ET] The Sun in Gemini sextiles Jupiter at 02º18’ Aries

[11:26 PM ET] Mercury Retrograde in Taurus sextiles Mars at 29º23’ Pisces

Monday is a really nice day since the Sun and Jupiter make a sextile to each other. This moment represents the opening of the plot of Jupiter transiting through Aries, but overall, the story and narrative Jupiter is painting for you this year. The Sextile represents the opening aspecting of any configuration, and also the closure. The Sun and Jupiter’s last aspect together was on March 5th, when they conjoined at 14º Pisces. The conjunction of any planet with the Sun represents the beginning of their Synodic Cycle, and the next aspect that happens after the conjunction is the sextile, which occurs today. This moment represents that the seed that was planted on March 5th will start to germinate and sprout. Sextiles carry the quality of Venus, since Venus is sextile both the Sun and Moon in the Thema Mundi, as a result sextile harmonizes and brings things together cohesively and cooperatively. But when Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn sextile the Sun, after their conjunction, they are the strongest they can be since they are

1) Fast in Motion

2) in a supportive aspect to the Sun

3) a Morning Star

Jupiter has gifts to deliver in the house Aries rules in your chart, and the Sun in Gemini shines a light as to what that is. After this sextile, Jupiter will only start to get slower and slower and eventually square the Sun (on June 28th). However, most of Gemini season will involve Jupiter and the Sun in a whole sign sextile to each other, where Jupiter is in the superior position, it represents an ally, friend, or group of people/individual who wants to support you and help you out with something. Based on what houses Gemini and Aries fall in your chart, this sextile brings questions with the Sun in Gemini, and the flames are fanned by our desire to do things now! Curiosity, trying new things, starting new projects, even if you feel unsure are all supported and encouraged.

Mercury will now be spending the next few weeks in Taurus, moving to station around the 26º degree mark. Mercury will be moving back to solve 12th house issues around fear, powerlessness, feeling trapped, and this time Mercury has some support from Mars. Mercury is actually going back into Taurus to pass notes from Jupiter over to Mars before their conjunction on Sunday. Mars and Jupiter are currently in a Contra-Antiscia which can be conceptualized as a shadowy aspect, something happening in secret but it has the nature of the opposition. Mars and Jupiter are also in a mutual reception, which can talk about mutual dependency on each other. If one falls, so does the other. If one chooses peace, so can the other. Im going to talk more about Mars and Jupiter as the week goes on, but today, Mercury passes off some information Mars might need before their ingress into Aries tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 24th

[7:05 AM ET] Venus in Aries sextiles Saturn at 25º08’ Aquarius

[8:41 AM ET] The Moon conjoins Neptune at 25º07’ Pisces

[3:49 PM ET] The Moon in Pisces sextiles Mercury Retrograde at 29º00’ Taurus

[5:33 PM ET] The Moon in Pisces conjoins Mars at 29º56’

{5:39 PM ET} INGRESS: The Moon enters Aries

{7:17 PM ET} INGRESS: Mars enters Aries

[10:27 PM ET] The Moon conjoins Jupiter at 02º35’ Aries

Tuesday is QUITE a busy day as one of our first aspects is Venus who sextiles Saturn. After Venus conjoined Saturn on March 28th (the Moon was also involved in a triple conjunction) and was besieged during her transit through Aquarius, finally gets an opportunity to interact with Saturn, and the clear difference in dignity is astounding. Saturn is dignified in Aquarius, but receiving this aspect (and coming with it frustration, anger, and resentment for Saturn) from an Exiled Venus. I expect this to look like Venus getting an opportunity to share her discontent and dissatisfaction with Saturn. Venus feels exiled (quite literally) and Saturn is the one outcasting. Venus is in their own decan in Aries though (20-30º) and here, Venus knows how to get people’s attention and draw people in through self assertion. Using art as a form of protest is one way.

The Moon will be doing something quite important today. She sextiles Mercury showcasing a multitude of discourse and information being passed around. She also conjoins Mars later in the evening at 29º Pisces, and then they both simultaneously enter Aries, only a few hours apart. It’s almost as if the Moon is ushering Mars into Aries and speeding up the indecision and wavering waters of the Mutable Water sign of Pisces, needing to change to pace to take initiative, establishing a sense of urgency, and to focus on the present. The Moon will conjoin Jupiter for the first time in Aries, which sparks up our spirits and makes us want to yell and scream. By the end of the day, we will have 4 planets in the sign of Aries.

This will be the first time Mars has visited this sign since the Mars Retorgrade in Aries from Sept 9 - Nov 13th, 2020. The last time Mars was in Aries was from June 28th, 2020 to Jan 6th, 2021 (that date is not a coincidence) and Mars went Retrograde in this sign, bringing an extended review of your actions, choices, and decisions, especially pressing challenges because of the square to Saturn, at the time. Mars as a planet is very “get to the point”. Let’s cut the bullshit, and get to the honest truth of what things are. This is one thing I admire about Mars is the willingness to be honest and the courage that comes with honesty, especially in Aries. Mars gives us opportunities to be decisive, make choices, and take agency into our own hands. Mars gives us tools to work with that make doing difficult tasks easier, like a knife is dangerous, but can be a great asset to cut vegetables than just ripping open with your hands. Mars understand urgency and the importance of NOW. Not later, not tomorrow, not yesterday, NOW. Mars requires you to take more decisive action and put things into motion. This is why Mars is challenged in Taurus/Libra because Venus requires balance, which is the lack of motion. Mars understand urgency and the importance of NOW. Not later, not tomorrow, not yesterday, NOW. Mars requires you to take more decisive action and put things into motion with urgency and swiftness.

Mars is not alone in Aries though, Mars has found Jupiter, and their conjunction is the defining aspect of this transit. Jupiter heightens the stakes of the battles Mars needs to face. I’ve seen Mars/Jupiter conjunctions be representative of high stakes, needing to make big choices, big decisions— Jupiter amplifies all of the things that Mars does. And Mars is the leader here. There is an element of leadership coming to the house that Aries rules in your chart for the next month.

Mars enters Aries on May 24th and leaves July 5th.

Their conjunction is on Sunday.

Mars entering Aries is much more important than Mars returning home. The Almuten (al-mateen, المتين) refers to the planet that is the strongest or one most firm in their power. This word in Arabic refers to something that is durable, strong, & done with vigor. But Astrologically, this represents the planet with the most essential dignity. Because Mars is the planet in domicile and is the one most strong in power in the sky currently, we’re about to start playing by Mars’ rules. Mars conjoining Jupiter feels like an opportunity for something big to kind of erupt, like a volcano but it can be a huge burst of energy. Mars is with Jupiter which brings courage to our optimism. If you’ve been on the fence about exercising your courage, making important decisions, and taking the leap of faith: this conjunction is your sign to do it. Pushing through fear is one of the things Mars represents too. The ability to triumph over obstacles is what Jupiter represents, and Jupiter is able to do that through bold action, but one of the things I will warn is be careful of topics and experiences in the house Aries rules over heating and becoming more inflamed than they need to be.

From a very technical standpoint, this is a malefic planet applying to a benefic planet, which can look like bringing challenging experiences to beneficial experiences. This is a consideration of maltreatment, and it can look an attack on justice, peace, temperance, and the moderation that Jupiter likes to bring is squandered by Mars’ desire for division, separation, and fighting. Jupiter is affirming Mars by being in their sign of whatever fight or courageousness comes through, however, one thing I’ve notice about Mars is even though there is an eagerness to be independent, assert one’s self, and take action, Mars respects and has reverence for the malevolence it brings about. Mars isn’t always inherently aggressive, but shows warning signs against things being pushed to extreme of division, friction, and discord, like a fire alarm. Think about the consequences of engaging in conflict during this time, because Jupiter is not in the position where it has strength in this situation meaning— it’s easier to slap someone across the face than it is to not.

Mars and Jupiter together are in a fire sign, which brings an abundance of heat, we can see this symbolic in an abundance of wildfires and an especially dry year. There is a certain level of coarseness and friction coming to the house Aries rules. It’s very gritty. Mars represents strength, power, courageousness, bold, audacity, fighting, protesting, resisting power, separation & independence, immediacy, urgency, swiftness in action, coarseness, hostility, hastiness, and as the Almuten of the sky, we are tapping into this energy more. Mars in Aries will also see Saturn in Aquarius by a sextile on June 27th at 24º

Mars witnessing Saturn for the first time since their conjunction on April 4th represents the opening of events that began during that time. Mars acknowledge structure problems in the Aquarius house. This may feel reminiscent of June 28th, 2020 when Mars sextile Saturn from Aries to Aquarius. This was the last opening sextile of Mars, and it’s the same themes. Mars is acknowledging the urgency of having to take action because of structural issue, but Mars has more support this time around.

Wednesday, May 25th

[1:02 AM ET] The Moon in Aries sextile the Sun at 03º59’ Gemini

[5:49 PM ET] Mercury Retrograde in Taurus trine Pluto at 28º26’ Capricorn

After the initial impulse of all the Aries planets yesterday, the Moon sextiles the Sun today, representing matters that are bringing the previous lunation cycle to a close. This also represents the closing of Eclipse Season, and the show ends with a bang. Mercury makes its second trine to Pluto today, the first one took place on April 27th. Mercury is coming back to review topics of obsession, control, and power dynamics in communication, messages, letters, and speech today. The day is still very chatty and there is a need for our words to be acknowledged and understood.

Thursday, May 26th

[5:05 PM ET] The Moon in Aries sextile Saturn at 25º11’ Aquarius

[11:00 PM ET] The Moon conjoins Venus at 28º15’ Aries

[11:20 PM ET] The Moon in Aries squares Pluto at 28º25’ Capricorn

As we move into Thursday, the Moon makes some interesting aspects to both Saturn and Venus, sympathizing with Venus in debility in her own decan. We become aware of major challenges going on with Saturn who will station Retrograde next week, and the Moon helps Venus to be able to deliver a message of flare, passion, anger, excitement, rage.

It’s almost as if the Moon is dragging most of the planets back into their home signs and trying to restore a sense of order, because after the Moon and Venus conjoin at 28º Aries, both of them enter into Taurus over the weekend, and then we have 3 planets in Earth signs. The elemental balance for the week is really all over the place because on Tuesday, we’re starting with

1. 4 Fire: Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Moon in Aries

2. 2 Air: Sun in Gemini, Saturn in Aquarius

3. 1 Earth: Mercury in Taurus

And then by the end of the week, the element layout changes to the majority of the planets in Earth signs.

1. 2 Fire: Mars and Jupiter in Aries

2. 2 Air: Sun in Gemini, Saturn in Aquarius

3. 3 Earth: Venus, Moon, and Mercury in Taurus

Notice how there isn’t any Water in the astrology right now. It represents our lack of fluidity, receptivity, and unwillingness to change and be malleable. The abundance of Earth and Fire planets this week highlight a similar quality: dryness. Fire and Earth are Hot and Dry and Cold and Dry respectively. This share nature of dryness causes rigidity, fixity, unwillingness to change, and abrasiveness in social connections. There is this huge spark of fire that comes in, and then it gets a lot more grounded towards the end of the week.

In a different way, things can get pretty sexy and steamy with the Moon and Venus in Aries, getting swept away by sparks and passion, impulse, lip bitting, lust, & sexiness. It feels sweaty, warm, and orgasmic fireworks are bursting everywhere. Our emotions are set ablaze, but be careful of taking thing to far there can be obsessive tendencies in romances with a square to Pluto.

Friday, May 27th

{2:22 AM ET} INGRESS: The Moon enters Taurus

[2:28 AM ET] Venus in Aries squares Pluto at 28º25’ Capricorn

The Moon enters Taurus today, revisiting the sign where she got Eclipsed in a month ago, while also highlighting the Venus/Pluto square by being in Venus’ sign. What sparks may have started yesterday can bring obsession and challenges surrounding power dynamics in relationships leading to things being unbalanced and inflammed. Obsession in romance and over-fixation are things that can happen today, or trying to get to the root of a matter. Things can feel kind of rough today and the underworld of the power dynamics and strings being pulled become revealed— and challenged.

Saturday, May 28th

[9:50 AM ET] The Moon conjoins Uranus at 16º07’ Taurus

{10:46 AM ET} INGRESS: Venus enters Taurus

On Saturday, things may feel kind of disruptive in the morning when the Moon conjoins Uranus, but then Venus enters Taurus which helps to stabilize things for the Moon, since she is in the sign ruled by the Moon. Venus has been through a really on and off wild ride the past few months. One month she’s Retrograde, the next besieged, the following exalted, exiled, and now she returns back to her Nocturnal home Taurus. Things have changed A LOT since Venus has last been in Taurus (April-May 2021). Uranus is still here (since 2018), but now the North Node has joined the party (Jan 18th, 2022) and the theme is physical security, nourishment, and comfort. We’re in a recession, a housing crisis, a food scarcity (Saturn squaring the North Node in Taurus) and inflation is through the roof. It is expensive to live, and Venus in Taurus shows us that when our natural resources are disrupted, or our sense of security, how can we cultivate self sustainability when it is clear the systems of government and structure in society (Saturn in Aquarius) are shaky and obsolete in their reflection of the current reality? Venus will spend the May 28th to June 22nd in Taurus, and the square between Venus and Saturn happens on June 18th. This conjunction of Venus and the North Node takes place just 2 days before on June 16th. The square between Venus and Saturn is a defining aspect of this transit, and Venus isn’t the only planet to square Saturn while on the North Node this year, so will Mars on Aug 1st (conjunct the North Node) and Aug 7th (square Saturn) while it is in Taurus. Venus is trying to do damage control and stabilize things, Venus seeks to unify in Taurus, and the challenge starts today!

Sunday, May 29th

[3:50 AM ET] The Moon in Taurus squares Saturn at 25º13’ Aquarius

[6:30 AM ET] Mars conjoins Jupiter at 03º19’ Aries

[7:14 AM ET] The Moon conjoins Mercury Retrograde at 26º55’ Taurus

[10:10 AM ET] The Moon in Taurus trines Pluto at 28º23’ Capricorn

{1:22 PM ET} INGRESS: The Moon enters Gemini

[8:12 PM ET] The Moon in Gemini sextile Jupiter at 03º25’ Aries

[8:54 PM ET] The Moon in Gemini sextiles Mars at 03º46’ Aries

Sunday is one of the many climaxes of this week, but the big one is the Mars Jupiter conjunction. We’ve talked about this earlier, and we see that Sunday is definitely a tense day with lots of malefic activity. The Moon overcomes Saturn through a square, highlighting restriction, limits, rejection, boundaries, and responsibilities with pressure and hard labor. The Moon also will conjoin Mercury Retrograde who is getting ready to station direct by next week. It currently is at 26º of Taurus, which was the degree where the Sun was at during the Lunar Eclipse on May 15th. On Sunday, Mercury activates that Eclipse and needs to review whatever information was brought up during that time.

Mercury will also be on the Fixed Star Algol with the Moon, which is the Eye of Medusa.

Algol as a star often talks about intense rage, and specifically the rage that comes from being wronged, injustice, and attack on personal autonomy. The imagery of Algol's head being cut off is something that can be taken literal (in the sense of Mundane Astrology, talking about beheading of people abusing their power) or metaphorically feeling like you have lost your mind. Rage that consumes the individual is something that often gets brought up with this star. The fact that it is an Eclipse star can indicate similar things that Solar and Lunar Eclipses represent, such as blackouts, cutting of electricity, power outages, and electronics breaking. There injustice & experiences of violence that needs to be communicated, because Mercury is here, but with a square to Saturn, it's almost like the government, orthodoxy, and laws are trying to restrict the expression of this rage. It doesn't work out though because the day after Mercury stations Direct (June 3rd), Saturn stations Retrograde (June 4th) which is considered to be a condition of maltreatment, and the aspect between Saturn and Mercury never actually goes exact, but the pressure can still be felt. In the less extreme instances of death and violence, I've seen Algol transits show up as challenges with mental health, especially with Mercury being on here (representing our nervous system). Be careful of inflammation and even blacking out your nervous system with intense anger during this time. However the energy can be used to make bold decisions, push through fear, and overcome obstacles. Keep in mind though, this transit is not concerned with making things pleasant, but breaking out of shackles through pushing the limits and boundaries. The power of the voice and autonomy over your voice is something that becomes really important with Mercury here. Mercury coming back into this sign asks us to explore the sewage of our mind, our fears, our nightmares, and the grotesque memories of pain and trauma, giving power and language to those experiences. 

As the Moon enters Gemini, we’re talking all about the Mars/Jupiter activation going on, and the swiftness of speech becomes the theme yet again. There is lots of enthusiasm, excitement, and courage to argue, debate, and maybe even yell. The Moon is getting ready to purge out fears and thoughts collected from Mercury, while entering into the combustion zone and being burned up by being too close to the rays of the Sun. This is a renewal of thought and ideas. Curiosity comes from within. The New Moon will be next week, but its worth mentioning that the events taking place up until this New Moon will not only close out Eclipse Season, but they start planting seeds for what Mars will eventually need to Retrograde over and review later this year. The Syzygy in Gemini is at 9º03’ Gemini, and Mars stations direct at 8º Gemini on Jan 12th. It’s almost like what was planted next week will have to go through a process of intellectual discernment and scrutiny, which is what Mars is planning to bring here when they enter Gemini on Aug 20th (doesn’t seem far away. It’s around the corner). But this leaves us to wrap up this week with a bang, and the conversation is all the rage.