For the week of May 20th thru the 27th, be sure to read your Rising Sign as well: 

Aries

As your ruling planet Mars works its way through the last degrees of Pisces, allow yourself to slough off the debris and worn out skins of the past few years. This can be a painful process, but one well worth experiencing and enduring: this sloughing off. With a hot shower and a pumice stone, you are getting down beneath the surface, past the old dead skin to the vibrant new layers beneath. It is what must be done. So it could feel a bit like an endurance contest until you are through. And then it is over. Thoroughly cleansed, renewed and reinvigorated, Mars then enters your sign on Tuesday the 24th. And like a phoenix emerging from out of the flames, you are ready for your next best vision for the future. Jupiter entered your sign on May 10th, but Mars will act like a catalyst as it joins forces with Jupiter on the 29th. Filled with the excited fury of an Aries unleashed, it will be all we can do to keep the fiery hordes from igniting everything in their path. Channel all that energy and inspiration into something thoroughly engaging and new, and there will be no stopping you. Strap on your seat belts Aries. You are just about ready to take off.  

Taurus

There are junctures in our lives when it becomes that much more apparent what our true priorities are. What are those things that are most important and valuable to you in the end? What are those things that you want to fully invest your valuable time, money and resources on? What must you have when all is said and done? And as Mercury retrogrades back into your sign on Sunday it could help to bring a lot of things back into perspective. Memories resurface. The past revisits. There is both an emotional context to these yearnings, as well as a grave and objective perspective that separates the wheat from the chaff. Be clear about what you really want, and what is really important to you, as well as what you really need. And know that what may seem like a really good idea while Mercury is still retrograde could have its faults revealed later on when Mercury is direct again in June. Therefore take these yearnings for the past with a grain of salt. And take your priorities seriously. When Venus enters your sign on the 28th, and Mercury stations direct June 3rd, you could find yourself with a whole other perspective. 

Gemini

Just before Mercury retrogrades back into Taurus on Sunday, it will make its inferior conjunction with the Sun. This is the beginning of the next New Mercury cycle, taking Gemini along for the ride. Is there a new vision arising? Something new that you would like to learn more about? This new cycle is filled with the promise of something bigger. A new dream, a new hope, a new adventure on the horizon. There are still some pieces that are needing to come together before all is said and done, but in the mean time the seeds are being planted. And then Mercury goes back to Taurus to tie up all the loose ends, and get all those ducks in a row before you can then proceed with the next leg of your journey. In order to make a new beginning, you will have to complete the ending. And in the process, take a long breath. Pause. And then set your priorities, and get your bearings. Make sure the bills are paid, and that you have a plan in place. Know that you will want to pay attention to the practical matters first, because once the Kraken is released, things are going to be moving really quickly. 

Cancer

With Mercury at its inferior conjunction, and Mars in the last degrees of Pisces, it could feel like we are needing to tie up a lot of loose ends before we can take off. Mars will enter Aries on the 24th, and as soon as that happens you will feel the impending feeling of something about to begin. Jupiter recently entered Aries, which can inspire us to new and adventurous new beginnings filled with promise. Mars entering Aries as well, can serve as a catalyst for new and exciting beginnings to emerge. But Mercury, even as it is planting new seeds of its own, is still retrograde until June 3rd, and as such is still reviewing, planning, and reprioritizing. Even the New Moon in Gemini at the end of the month is about new endings, clearing out the past and preparing the way. But even as you are packing things away, tying up the old boxes, and clearing out the cupboards, there will still be an element of excitement, and lots of activity already beginning. And as Mercury returns to Taurus this weekend, it does so to remind you of the original vision, so that you can keep that foremost in your mind. We all need a lodestar to guide us through the distractions. 

Leo

On Friday the Sun enters the sign of Gemini, a notoriously social and busy sign. You can almost feel the energy rising, the restlessness, the busyness afoot. Suddenly your social calendar is getting filled up, and the phone is buzzing away with activity. Conversations abound, as plans are beginning to take form. Things could speed up quite quickly once Mars enters Aries on the 24th, so you may want to pace yourself. A new vision is trying to take hold. But you will still want to make sure that you have dotted all your i’s and crossed all your t’s. There is still some planning to be tended to in order to make sure that it will all be sustainable and affordable and worth your while. Often what seems like a really good idea when Mercury is still retrograde will have all its bugs revealed later on when Mercury is direct again. Nonetheless, strap on those seat belts, for once this train is out of the station, there will be no holding it back. A new adventure is about to unfold. And you are getting ready to climb aboard. 

Virgo

Just before Mercury retrogrades back into Taurus, it makes its inferior conjunction with the Sun on Saturday. This is the beginning of the New Mercury Cycle, and it is taking Virgo along for the ride. There is a bit of excitement with this new cycle which lasts about 4 months. It even holds the promise of some new initiative about to unfold. But not without having to take care of some critical details before it begins. This may involve a bit of red tape, some financial wrangling, and putting things in perspective. But when all is said and done, this could prove to be something of an exciting new venture that could bring you into the limelight in some way. Know that there is also something of a learning curve here. But one filled with a bit of fascination and perhaps even a bit of intrigue. There’s no telling what can be revealed over the next week once Mercury returns to Taurus turning over some old rocks, and unearthing all these hidden mysteries and dramas. Ask lots of questions and do your own research. There’s no telling what could be unearthed as Mercury digs ever deeper furrows into the firmament of our lives. 

Libra

If there is one word to describe this week, it might be the word ‘fascinating’. There’s no telling what can and will be revealed as the planets play this intriguing game of musical chairs in the celestial realms. As the Sun and Mercury cross paths, they also exchange signs, Mercury retracing its steps into Taurus, even as the Sun enters Gemini, a sign of endless fascination and curiosity. Just to top it all off, Mars enters Aries on the 24th, just raising the activity levels to a dull roar of activity and engagement. The key will be to not get over-engaged. Which will be difficult to avoid. Mercury is still retrograde and you will still want to keep the focus within rather than without. This will also help you to avoid getting entangled in arbitrary scandals, or lured into other people’s dramas. By the time this week is out, you’re going to be looking at quite a few people in a whole new light. Avoid making promises you cannot keep, no matter how persuasive others may try to be. Use the Mercury retrograde this week to ask your own questions, and dig up your own facts. You’ll be glad you did. 

Scorpio

Things are interesting for Scorpio this year. Life changes. Relationship changes. World changes. And now as Mars winds down its sojourn in Pisces this week, it could throw in a few more changes. Your ruling planet Mars is entering Aries on May 24th, and as it does so it is bringing you along for a bit of an adventure. This is fast and furious weather. When Jupiter entered Aries on May 10th, it brought quite a bit of inspiration into a number of people’s lives. But now that Mars is going to be here as well, it can help to launch those inspirations. Could this be a new job offer? Are you being freed up in some wondrous way? Is there something better looming on the horizon of possibility? Although the inclination is to say yes to everything, know that when Mercury is retrograde, as it is until June 3rd, you may not have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Ask questions. Do the research. And though this could indeed be a portent of something interesting yet to come, just make sure you have all the facts first. 

Sagittarius

New beginnings are looming. And the promise contained in the upcoming Mars/Jupiter conjunction at the end of the month, could be something of an encapsulated fireball just waiting to explode in anticipatory zeal. Just know that you will need to take care of business first. Things need to be revised and renewed and repaired as Mercury goes back over old territory in order to take care of some unfinished business. Not doing so will prove to be regrettable. So even as Mars is throwing fodder into the Aries kiln this week, allow yourself to get excited, but with reservation. Allow the ideas to swell, and your heart to be inspired. But also be mindful of all the necessities that are required in order to make any new beginning achievable and sustainable. Pay attention to all those extremely important priorities first, including those things that support your precious health and well-being, and the rest will follow. 

Capricorn

Things always seem to be that much more complicated and involved than at first realized when Venus is square Pluto. This can be a bit frustrating as a result. And no matter how much others may be trying to persuade you otherwise, don’t compromise your values or expectations in the process. There are bound to be some people or circumstances over which you have no control. So rather than focusing on the things that you cannot change, focus on the things that you can. Even if it does mean having to sacrifice something that you had your heart set on. We are all getting a dose of cold hard reality this week. But also know that reality can be your friend. For it allows you to know exactly what you are getting yourself into, how much it is all going to cost, and what you do or do not want to commit to. Know also, that by the time all this is sorted out, Mercury will be direct again, things will be moving pretty quickly all of a sudden, and you will be able to make your move, knowing exactly what you are getting yourself into.

Aquarius

There are all sorts of things looming in the background of our lives these days. And for Aquarius there is this sense of things gradually transforming into a whole new paradigm. But not quite yet. Even so you can just feel the excitement building up. Lots of plans and ideas are weaving about, inspiring you for ever better things to come in the future. But with Saturn in your sign this year you are going to need to pace yourself. Take things one day at a time. And with Mercury still retrograde and returning to Taurus this week, it is reminding you to slow down, even as the world seems to be speeding up. Venus sextile Saturn is reminding you to have a plan. To be aware of what you are or are not ready to commit to first, and what is possible and sustainable for the long haul. And to make sure that you are going in with your eyes wide open. Ask questions. Do the research. And make sure you have all the facts first. The rest will follow later. 

Pisces

A number of planets are changing signs, or about to, all at once, this week and next. The Sun enters Gemini on Friday, Mars enters Aries on Tuesday, Venus enters Taurus next week. And just as the Sun enters Gemini, it crosses paths with retrograde Mercury which is about to retrace its steps into Taurus on Sunday. By the time we reach the New Moon in Gemini at the end of the month it could feel like we are in a whole new place. But with Mercury going back to Taurus for some unfinished business we may need to go back and check ourselves, before we go leaping into the fray. Don’t be frustrated if you have to go back to do some things all over again, before you can proceed. You will want to make sure that everything is done the right way and without any regrets. Nonetheless the promise of the Mars/Jupiter conjunction at the end of the month could fill you with the excitement and anticipation of something new and filled with potential hovering on the horizon. Just watch out, for as soon as the light turns green, things could be moving really quickly. So hold on to your hats everyone! A new adventure is about to begin.