NorthPoint Astrology Journal:  Your guide to planetary energies for May 2 to 8, 2016 By Pam Younghans

NorthPoint Astrology Journal : Your guide to planetary energies
for May 2 to 8, 2016 By Pam Younghans


Highlighted Aspects This Week
TUE: Sun trine Jupiter, Mars trine Ceres, Mercury semisquare Ceres
WED: Sun quincunx Saturn
THU: Mars sesquiquadrate Uranus, Venus quincunx Mars
FRI: New Moon 12:29pm PDT (7:29pm GMT)
SAT: Venus semisquare Chiron, Sun trine Pluto
SUN: Mercury trine North Node

AS THE WEEK BEGINS, we sit with the subdued energies of the waning Moon in Pisces and five planets in retrograde (appearing to be moving backward). Monday morning, at least, will be more suited for pondering and ruminating than for making practical decisions or putting a lot of effort into accomplishing external goals. There are times in life when we are meant to be more inwardly focused, and for at least the first day of the week, the planets are encouraging us to do just that.

There are more enlivening influences on Tuesday that may stir us into motion -- the Moon moves into pioneering Aries, inspiring us to consider what actions might be next on our agenda. And two harmonious planetary aspects support activity as well: a Sun-Jupiter trine helps us bring optimism and hope to our daily tasks, while a Mars-Ceres trine helps us channel our energies into the projects that we find most satisfying and productive.

Still, with Mercury and Mars both retrograde now, we'll want to use most of our energy to focus on inner growth, allowing new awareness to blossom. We can use these insights to guide our plans and actions more successfully once these two planets are again moving forward (Mercury goes direct May 22; Mars goes direct June 29).

THE DAYS leading up to Friday's New Moon seem to advise us to continue to reassess and adjust our trajectory, even if we feel the urge to take action. The biggest challenge will likely be on Thursday, when our reactivity is heightened (Mars-Uranus) but the outcomes of any actions we take are not likely to be satisfying, especially if we've done so impulsively or in anger.

The new lunar cycle, thankfully, appears to be more stable than the one we are just completing. The Sun and the Moon align for the New Moon in dependable Taurus on Friday at 12:29pm PDT (7:29pm GMT), supporting us in becoming more grounded and in touch with what we most value. 

MOST HELPFUL is the earth grand trine formed at the time of the New Moon, involving the Sun/Moon in Taurus, Jupiter in Virgo, and Pluto in Capricorn. A grand trine provides support for our endeavors, but does not compel us to take action -- so we must be internally motivated to take advantage of this influence.

Astrologer Bil Tierney writes that an earth grand trine provides:

"... remarkable endurance and persistence, allowing us to steadily concentrate our attention upon concrete objectives without being distracted or thrown off course. The grand trine suggests an extra measure of inspiration, insight, and vision. Creative resourcefulness is one of an earth grand trine's special assets."

THE SABIAN SYMBOL for the lunation is intriguing, in that it seems to call attention to both this desire to make steady outward progress, as represented by the New Moon, and the need to engage our inner processes, as advised by the plethora of retrograde planets:

"A symbolic battle between 'swords' and 'torches': Refusing to depend upon the past, the seeker turns warrior, fighting anew the eternal 'Great War.'"

Astrologer Dane Rudhyar's interpretation of this symbol reads in part:

"When Gautama, having sought in vain for the answers to his questions among the teachers of tradition, sat under the Bodhi Tree, he had to fight his own battle in his own way. The spiritual light within the greater Soul must struggle against the ego-will that only knows how to use the powers of this material and intellectual worlds."

The influence of this lunar cycle will peak at the Sagittarius Full Moon on May 21 and then complete at the next New Moon on June 5.

WE WRAP UP the first week of May with a Mercury trine to the North Node next Sunday. While this is not a major aspect, it does support our getting in touch with our higher ideals and understanding how they need to be woven into our plans going forward.

And, with the Moon in Gemini next weekend, we'll no doubt have plenty of options to consider as we think through where we want to go next. With Mercury retrograde, however, it's best to write down all of our ideas for later review and consolidation. We can then bring them into form more successfully after Mercury goes direct on May 22.

In peace,

Pam


Copyright Pam Younghans 2016. All rights reserved.

SOURCE:
http://www.northpointastrology.com/northpoint-journal.html