The Sun is the Invincible Spirit. So great is this universal wonder that it must come in small doses, distributed as it travels around the Zodiac over the course of a year.  The Sun's position symbolizes the active presence of the Divine.  The Sun entered the sign of Gemini on Sunday May 20, 2018 at 10:15 PM EDT.  This placement enhances communication, community, and the sense of curiosity.  

The Moon is the Receiver.  As the Sun energizes her, she receives and moves through her angular relationship with him over the course of the month.  She delights in shape-shifting.  She delights in the repetitive ebb and flow from night to day,  from New to Full in predictable sequence.  She delights in being able to portray the Sun's invincible spirit through her silver light.  We see this dance every month, beginning at the New Moon, timed for the Moon's alignment with the Sun. This month's New Moon occurred on Tuesday May 15, 2018 at 7:48 AM  EDT.   This Taurus New Moon occurred just prior to Uranus shifting into Taurus just a few hours later. Values are front and center.  What do you value, who do you value, why do you value that?  These are the questions that will be driving the train.

 Mercury has 3-4 Retrograde (Rx) cycles every year, each lasting approximately 3 weeks, and each offering a period of reflection, recalibration, revision, and resolution, as Mercury and the Sun exchange the message of a particular degree of the Zodiac.   Mercury, the trickster, is Direct and moving through quickly through the sign of Taurus, supporting the question of values. 

The Venus cycle is complex and mysterious, beginning while Retrograde as an Evening Star, moving through conjunctions with the Sun, and shifting from Evening Star to Morning Star, and back.  When a brilliant Evening Star--calm, mature, settled, and knowing her brilliance is best seen outside the clutch of the Sun--she begins her new cycle. The current Venus cycle began  on March 5, 2017 at 13+ Aries, and runs through October 5, 2018.  This start degree is one to watch for the entire cycle, when contacted by other planets.  Transiting Venus is currently a Direct Morning Star, and has passed this sensitive degree.   On January 9, 2018, she made  the Superior Conjunction with the Sun at 18 + Capricorn (and joined with Pluto),   and has now disappeared for 2 months. On March 1, she reemerged as an Evening Star to shine brilliantly for 7 months, before turning Rx again in October.  She has just moved into the sign of Cancer.  Her efforts here will beautify the home. 

Mars  has moved into the sign of Aquarius, looking for ways to fight for the everyman/woman.  Perigrine here, Mars will look to Saturn and the structures defined to determine the focus for his effort.  

Jupiter is still  Retrograde at 16 Scorpio.  Still deeply inward,   through July 11, Jupiter will move back to 13 degrees.  Do the inner work;  do the exploring, but make it fun--  Jupiter wants nothing less than an adventure!

Saturn is at home now, in the earthy, grounded  sign of Capricorn.   Having just turned Retrograde at 9 +,  Saturn reveals that  practicalities are necessary,  and structures must  be built.  It is slow and steady.  Saturn, working with methods of time and karma,  takes all prisoners if need be, and rewards authentic effort.   Look to the house he is traveling through for insight into where the structures will be needed.