Cosmic Calendar

WED MAY 16
There’s no rest for the weary! Ten important celestial seasonings are about to be sprinkled on all of our lives. Here’s the complete list as the Sun forms a contra-parallel with Pluto (1:35AM PDT), the Moon in Aries unites with Uranus (5:12AM PDT), Mars trines Pluto (9:27AM PDT), Venus makes a 30-degree tie to Jupiter (1:42PM PDT), Vesta makes a similar, 30-degree link to Uranus (2:29PM PDT), Jupiter forms an off-kilter, 150-degree connection to Saturn (3:43PM PDT), the Moon parallels Mars (7:39PM PDT), Mercury makes a frictional, 45-degree tie to Pallas (8:28PM PDT), Ceres contacts Neptune via an inspirational, 72-degree link (10:04PM PDT), and Mars opposes Chiron (11:57PM PDT). To some extent, the aspects are almost divided between favorable and challenging. However, Jupiter at loggerheads with Saturn must top the list and this liaison is clearly discordant – particularly on the business and professional fronts. Therefore, attempting to throw your weight around in these areas of life is foolish and illogical. Even though the Moon with Uranus speaks of potential innovation and Ceres in touch with Neptune equates with a possible rising tide of productivity, the two largest planets (Jupiter and Saturn) suggesting the need for a major readjustment is top dog right now. Of course, you can attempt to tweak each difficult alignment – when they occur – and see if you gain some kind of mileage around those time-periods. Nevertheless, the overall mood in the psychic atmosphere is a lot of stress and strain are happening, and if you can play the role of Good Samaritan or cheerleader to shut-ins and the disadvantaged, by all means do so.

THU MAY 17
Earlier this month in the calendar, I reminded you that solar and planetary alignments don’t just disappear in one day. Therefore, several of yesterday’s key aspects are still sending thunderbolts into human territory as well as the kingdoms of nature. For example, Wednesday’s Jupiter-Saturn, Sun-Pluto, Mars-Pluto, Ceres-Neptune, and Mars-Chiron cosmic associations remain white-hot influences in all of our lives, but they are operating more in the background or in the subconscious universe. In the meantime, we now have several other celestial-body interactions – notably Mercury making an inspirational, 72-degree link to Neptune (12:28AM PDT), Mercury uniting with Ceres (1:04AM PDT), Pallas trine to Juno (11:03AM PDT), the Moon beginning a void lunar uncertainty cycle in Aries at 2:45PM PDT that lasts until 3:04AM PDT tomorrow, Jupiter making a caustic, 135-degree tie to underworld-ruling Pluto (4:23PM PDT), and Pallas entering Aries (9:19PM PDT). We have less interplanetary fisticuffs than yesterday, but like Wednesday the King of the Gods – Jupiter – appears to be in another foul mood. First Jupiter was throwing a haymaker at Saturn (yesterday) and now the largest planet in the solar system is casting aspersions in the direction of distant Pluto. Over the next year, Jupiter will wreak some of his playful havoc on earthlings nine more times as he satisfies the urge to reveal his stature as ringleader of the gods and goddesses who used to rule Ancient Roman society. Whether he deserves our prayers, deference, and rituals of incense burning now is a questionable matter. Overall, there is a similar feeling today as it existed yesterday that you are better off being ultra-careful on the investment and career horizons. Playing with cosmic fire can backfire with nasty consequences. The addition of a fairly long void-of-course Moon is the reminder to be seen, but not heard.

FRI MAY 18
Finally, after the Sturm und Drang of the last two days – concerning solar and planetary mischief-making – the cosmos calms down considerably. Stress and strain are almost nowhere to be found – except for the fact that the 15 or so sky patterns that caused the ruckus are still reverberating with echoes of their former selves in the shadow regions of our collective consciousness. In the meantime, the void Aries Moon that began yesterday is eliminated at 3:04AM PDT when the Moon reaches the sign of its exaltation – Taurus. Tend to your garden while also enjoying cooking, baking and other natural hobbies that please the senses. Get back into your exercise routines with a flourish. Your intuition concerning investment planning may be right on the money since the Moon approaches its monthly union with Vesta (forming precisely at 7:51PM PDT). Communication channels appear to be clearer than usual – thanks to the Moon in parallel to Mercury (7:28PM PDT). Mercury is also moving at its top speed – over 2 degrees per day – and this quick movement by the ancient Messenger of the Gods will last until June 7. Mercury with wings equates with a more rapid-thought process and urge to speak your mind with authority. Topping off the day is a vitality-booster (physically and emotionally) as the Moon trines Pluto (9:47PM PDT) and Mars (11:33PM PDT). These two lunar aspects actually create a temporary grand triangle in earth signs involving the Moon, Mars and Pluto. Be prepared for a mega-dose of cosmic energy happening this weekend as the Sun opposes Juno (tomorrow) and an Annular Solar Eclipse occurs on Sunday.

Mark Lerner has been a professional astrologer since 1972.
He publishes Earth Aquarius News, an online astrology journal
with a major focus on Mundane Astrology and has been
writing the Daily Cosmic Calendar since 1981. More about Mark.