It is almost May Day! The first of May has always been a joyous time marking the point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Traditionally it was a time when the Celtic people displayed fresh greenery that was coming back to life after a brutal winter. In a symbolic gesture to the new life of spring, fires were snuffed, fireplaces cleaned and new fires lit. The ritual that perhaps brought the most joy and relief to the villagers was returning the cows to the pasture and away from the homes and barns. Spending the winter in close quarters with cattle, while necessary could not have been enjoyable.
Thankfully, most of us do not have to deal with the intimate actions of cattle these days but we can still celebrate Beltane. It is a wonderful way to thank the universe for the seasons and this season of renewal and rebirth. This Beltane, Jupiter will be in Leo. Since Jupiter rules Sagittarius, a fire sign like Leo, we have a lot of fire around our largest planet. The archetypal energy of Jupiter is unbridled growth, optimism and curiosity.
Combined with spring energy this is a perfect recipe for planning, exploring, growing and changing. Don’t waste that energy! What do you want to accomplish this spring. What new avenues do you want to explore? Is there a class you want to take? DO it now – take Jupiter by the wings and fly!
Pluto turned retrograde on April 16 and will continue this shy motion until September 25. If you think Pluto is intense when direct, than double that and perhaps you will get to the power she has to do her work when retrograde. That might seem a bit counterintuitive; how can a planet be more powerful in retrograde? The answer lies in what Pluto does so well, which is turn inward and root out the “muck” of life that we keep hidden mostly from ourselves. A planetary retrograde turns the energy of that body inward, therefore, Pluto is very much at home with a retrograde motion.
How can you use that in your chart? Find your transiting Pluto (you can employ the help of an astrologer that you might happen to know) and examine the lessons of the house it is passing through. For instance, a retrograde Pluto in the first is demanding you to answer questions about your deepest personality issues. If she is in the 10th house, the questions will swirl around how your present yourself for public approval.
Whatever the house, don’t let this time go to waste. Pluto is the planet that makes us “the offer we can’t refuse.” Don’t make her go all medieval on you to open your eyes on areas that require some very deep personal reflection.
I knew it was inevitable. The questions about the Hillary Clinton Presidential announcement would start as soon as they uploaded the video – and they did. Did Hilary pick a good time to announce her 2016 campaign?
Hillary Clinton Presidential Kick off
With Saturn retrograded in her first house, I am very happy that she did not plan a huge rally. Saturn generally puts a blanket on the house in which it transits. Saturn in the first even without the retrograde, the house of personality, is a time when we wish to withdraw, when our words are hesitant and our actions not conducive to backslapping and frivolity. It should be a time of introspection.
Pluto – big time, rules Hillary! Her rising sign or personality is Scorpio, her Sun is in Scorpio and her South Node, her karmic ID is in Scorpio. Does it surprise anyone that she is a bit too secretive? How can she not be? Pluto rules Scorpio and it is now transiting her second house, that of self-value. Pluto is asking, no demanding, that she dig deep into the hidden much of her psyche to address issues of feeling worthlessness. Perhaps she has done this and has concluded that she can take another run at the golden apple. I hope so.
Pluto is not finished with her, however, as it is now making a conjunction with her directed Chiron and progressed Sun. This is not astrological patty cake. Chiron energetically holds deep wound issues. Where Chiron sleeps lay the head of a person deeply concerned with facing an issue that is so painful they wish to run away from its tentacles. Pluto and Chiron team up to challenge us to go deep (Pluto) and face that issue (Chiron). Remember all this demanding duo is doing the tango in her house of self-value and self-worth. The second us asks the question, do you have what it takes to make it in the world – to find your niche of safety.
If she is inclined to dodge the issue, her progressed Sun, the holder of our inner Chi – the energy of life – is sitting atop Pluto and Chiron. I doubt she can escape these questions even if she wanted.
So, was this a “good time” for Hillary to announce? If she does some very deep soul searching the answer is yes. Of course, don’t get me started on whether is making a good move for her North Node – her current souls learning curve. That is for another day.
With Jupiter and Juno (the loyalty goddess) in her ninth house activating her natal Saturn, Pluto, and Mars conjunction there, she felt the call to be on the world stage again. From that aspect, the universe is smiling down with good energy on her to reach the goals of that house – reaching out to the world – searching for the truth of the world. She wants to make that impact on the world stage – and Jupiter is pulling her along with encouragement.
If she answered Pluto’s demands, she picked a good time. If she is ignoring Pluto, she will have a bumpy personal ride.
What are her stars doing on Election Day? Well, Saturn will be leaving her first and out of retrograde but most powerful is a Progressed Mars and Directed Uranus bursting forth on her 10th house, that of career. That is a lot of power, a lot of disruptive power – a power of breaking the rules and doing things your way. It is the power of I am taking over and doing it my way. That is a good placement for the first female president as long as Uranus does not make her make rash and brash statements and frighten people with her energy.
After all of these months of bad astrological signs, we have been on a roll of good news in March and April and that good news continues. This week, on April 8, Jupiter that jumbo planet with expansive and growth energy leaves retrograde and goes direct.
Jupiter is the heart of optimism, growth, generosity and abundance. Speaking of heart, Jupiter is now in the sign of Leo the Lion a fire sign ruling the area of the heart. So jump into life! Feel the abundance offered by the universe.
Leo is a fire sign and Jupiter rules Sagittarius, another fire sign, so there should be no holding you back from making opportunities and making the most of those that come into your path. This is a perfect time to literally burn through negative thoughts and blockages.
It is spring – Jupiter is back in a forward motion in Leo – open the windows, clean out the cobwebs and complete the plans that have been stewing all winter!
One word of caution – all of that energy can go into overdrive. The shadow of Jupiter is overconfidence, gambling – throwing all caution to the wind. If you are someone prone to going overboard, you might want to consult with a down-to-Earth Virgo friend to help keep your feet on the ground.
