NorthPoint Astrology Journal:  Your guide to planetary energies for May 9 to 15, 2016 ~ By Pam Younghans

NorthPoint Astrology Journal 
Your guide to planetary energies for May 9 to 15, 2016
By Pam Younghans

Highlighted Aspects This Week:
MON: Jupiter goes direct 5:14am PDT (12:14pm GMT), Venus sextile Neptune, Sun conjunct Mercury, Sun trine North Node
TUE: Venus trine Jupiter
WED: Venus quincunx Saturn
THU: Mercury trine Pluto
FRI: First Quarter Moon 10:02am PDT (5:02pm GMT), Mercury conjunct Venus, Venus trine Pluto
SAT: Sun sextile Chiron
SUN: Mars square Pallas Athene, Venus trine North Node


BEFORE WE BEGIN with the week's astrological headlines, I want to wish all mothers a blessed and happy Mother's Day. Whether you have human children or care for loved ones of another species, or nurture plants or friendships, or provide caring support to clients or community, you add much-needed love energy not only to the lives of those you directly touch, but also to the universal field of Love.


For that, I am grateful and extend my appreciation to you -- and also to my own Mom, who comforts and supports me from the spirit realms.


JUPITER goes direct on Monday, drawing its four-month retrograde phase to a close. Since January 7, Jupiter has appeared to move backward through our skies, and so has been calling us to go within and gain better understanding of our beliefs and the needs of our spirit.


Now, as Jupiter begins to move forward, we have opportunities to apply what we have learned during this time. With Jupiter in discerning Virgo, we will want especially to use our insights when we choose the responsibilities that we want to take on, and when we consider how we want to further develop our means of offering service to the world.


ALSO ON MONDAY, Mercury crosses directly over the face of the Sun. This event occurs about 13 times during a century, at inconsistent intervals (the last occurrence was in 2006, and the next will be in 2019).


Since Mercury is retrograde in Taurus, a sign known for its strong connection to this physical plane, the manifestations of this transit may involve a reassessment of something that we once considered valuable, or the way in which we support ourselves materially. While we may make decisions at this time, it may take a while for things to stabilize so that we feel more certain about next steps, most likely until Mercury goes direct on May 22.


Mercury will again align with the Sun (although not exactly cross the Sun's disk) on July 6. That may be the time when we gain more clarity or find further resolution concerning events that occur this week.


GENTLE VENUS is very active this week, and mostly in ways that will support our appreciation of life and its gifts. On Monday, a sextile with Neptune softens our hearts and helps us feel compassion for others. Tuesday's Venus-Jupiter trine contributes to a feeling of optimism and a willingness to do the work needed to bring more beauty and ease into our lives.


However, Venus is not as happy on Wednesday due to a discomforting aspect with Saturn. We'll be making adjustments and realizing that in spite of our strong desire for peace and harmony, we are students in Earth School, which involves working with others who do not necessarily believe as we do, nor share our values.


DEEPER INSIGHTS are supported on Thursday, compliments of a Mercury-Pluto trine that can also help us communicate our honest thoughts and feelings, if we choose to share them. This influence continues into Friday, when Mercury and Venus align and Venus also trines Pluto.


It is fortunate to have these planets working well together on Friday, which is the day of the First Quarter Moon, exact at 10:02am PDT (12:14pm GMT). This phase of the Moon is meant to be a time when we make choices or take action on the intentions that we set at last Friday's New Moon. With Mercury and Venus aligned in Taurus and supported by Pluto, we have a good ability to align our plans with our values. We also sense that we can achieve whatever we put our minds to and want deeply enough.


NEXT WEEKEND starts off with tensions in the air as the Virgo Moon and Mars square off early Saturday morning (at 7:29am PDT) -- but a Sun-Chiron sextile should help us find common ground fairly quickly if we can acknowledge and forgive each other's (and our own) humanness.


Still, Mars is in restless Sagittarius right now, so is a bit like a wild horse, and not easy to keep corralled. This causes some uneasiness to linger despite our better intentions.


WHATEVER is causing our frustrations could come forward again on Sunday, when Mars is square the asteroid Pallas Athene. A conflict may arise between our need to take a stand for something we desire and our intention to be "above" personal needs and to be more universal in our perspective. We may also be struggling to find freedom in a setting that feels too limiting -- perhaps an enclosure that has actually been created by our own self-righteousness or need to be right.


We do well to remember that Mars is retrograde, and asking us to reassess what we truly believe in. Once we gain clarity in that area, we can ascertain whether our actions are really in alignment with what we most value and hold as our ideal.


In peace,


Pam

Copyright Pam Younghans 2016. All rights reserved.
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