Illustration by @kyinskies

By Mystic Sandwich aka Andrea Javor
@mystic_sandwich

May is relatively quiet astrologically speaking until the New Moon in Taurus mid-month. Unlike your typical mellow Taurus Moon, this one coincides with Uranus shifting out of Aries and into Taurus for the bulk of the next 8 years. Uranus represents revolution, innovation, instability, and nonlinear change. Its shift into Taurus brings these themes to bear collectively in the realms of finances, housing, sustenance, nature–and on a personal level, in whatever house of your natal chart Uranus is moving into. At the same time, Mars shifts into Aquarius and squares Uranus. Oh my! Mars is the warrior god, so when these two get together, we are bound to notice. Mars and Uranus will square each other twice more over the course of the year, so this month we are likely to see the first act of a story that plays out over the course of the next year, and the next 8 years. We are likely to experience a destabilization, possible sudden endings or beginnings, and a push toward individuality and freedom in some area of our lives.

Aries

Uranus shifts from your first house of identity and into your second house of possessions, income, material stability, and at heart, self-worth. This is also where this month’s New Moon occurs, so set your intentions in this area. Uranus wants us to break free from what binds us, urging us toward freedom. How can you be more free when it comes to your material security? Is it time to work toward self-employment or increased income? Is it time to simplify?  What you experience mid-May will foreshadow stories that will continue to play out over the course of this year, and the next eight years. Mars, your ruling planet, moves into your eleventh house of community and networks, offering you drive to take action in this area. Beware of feeling a little aggressive, or acting out of anger though. If someone in your wider circle seeks to antagonize, consider it an opportunity to master Mars’ fiery impulse. Sometimes anger is valid, but since your temper is liable to be inflamed this month, take a step back before acting, and act out of awareness rather than what the warrior god would have you do on instinct.

Taurus

Uranus shifts out of your twelfth house of the unconscious mind and into your first house of identity, personality, the body, your way of showing up in the world. This is also where the May New Moon occurs, so make your wishes. Uranus in the first house makes its influence much more personally relevant to you. Are you ready for a revolution in who you are? Are you ready to become more of you? How have you been holding back? How have you been playing it safe? How have you conformed to what is expected, or hidden your uniqueness?  Whatever instabilities and changes you experience his month will pave the way for a massive renovation in your identity and life over the next eight years. The hardest part may be letting go of comfort for the sake of evolution, but it will be well worth it. Mars in your tenth house brings extra fire and drive to your house of career. Use the energy for hard work and avoid letting it spill over into aggression.

Gemini

This month, Uranus shifts from your eleventh house of community, networks, and friendships, and into your twelfth house of the unconscious. Because Uranus is moving from a prominent house into a less active one, you are actually likely to feel Uranus less now. Its effects may be subtle, operating in the depths of your mind, perhaps at times piercing the boundary between the conscious and unconscious mind, to reveal hidden motives and fantasies, or symbolic messages from your soul. Pay attention to dreams and synchronicities. Tap into your “higher mind”–that part of yourself that is connected to the cosmos, from where insight and genius spring. Mars in your ninth house may auger travel or higher education, but on a deeper level is helping you to break free of beliefs that keep you bound.

Cancer

Uranus shifts into your eleventh house of community, networks, and friendships this month, bringing instabilities and changes to this area of your life. This is also the area of the Taurus New Moon, so set your sights on what you wish for in this area. Instability is not always a bad thing. Are there aspects of your wider circle of friends or perhaps the organizations you belong to that you’ve outgrown? How can you experience more freedom in this are of your life? How would it feel to be a part of a community that supports you for being who you are, that appreciates your unique gifts, that doesn’t hold you to some stale version of yourself? This is what Uranus wants to help you achieve. With Mars in the eighth house, you may experience some form of loss, which is rarely easy, but offers you an opportunity for inner transformation.

Leo

Uranus shifts into your tenth house of career/calling and public reputation, beginning an eight year journey toward greater freedom in this area of your life. This is also the area of this month’s Taurus New Moon, so plant your seeds of intention. Envision your ideal career, and what it might look like in eight years, and what you can accomplish toward that end in the next two weeks over the course of the current lunar cycle. Whatever happens this month, keep in mind that it’s only the first chapter. Something will be destabilized. So what has hardened that is no longer effective? With Mars in your seventh house of relationship, your partnerships are part of the story. Whether you begin or end a creative collaboration, or a close friend or partner is involved in your work life somehow, aim to use Mars’ fire to fuel passion and drive rather than aggression or anger.  

Virgo

This month, Uranus moves into your ninth house of beliefs, travel, and education. This is also where the Taurus New Moon occurs. This is a wonderful time to plan or undertake a trip or a class, or perhaps a long-term course of education. Uranus offers you greater freedom in this area and over the course of the next eight years is likely to instigate a radical shift in your worldview and belief system. The more we hold onto how things were and how we were, the more difficult Uranus’ influence is. Allow Uranus to blow your mind open and you will experience true freedom. With Mars in your sixth house, you are offered extra drive at work, and Uranus’ genius can be brought to bear in your daily life.

Libra

This month, Uranus shifts into your eighth house which relates to loss, transformation, shared finances, and at heart, intimacy. With the Taurus New Moon in this area as well, you are beginning a journey of complete transformation. Who will you be eight years from now? Is it possible you could find freedom through intimacy? Sometimes being bound to another is restrictive, and sometimes it’s liberating. When two souls commit to fostering each other’s freedom, happiness, and evolution, then commitment is not bondage. It’s possible Uranus may bring about some endings, some losses, which is rarely easy, but it’s an opportunity to undergo a personal transformation, and become more of who you are. Mars is in your fifth house, upping your libido and activity level. Have fun, just be careful not to overdo it.

Scorpio

Uranus shifts into your seventh house of close personal relationships and partnerships, where it will operate for most of the next eight years, bringing instability for the sake of innovation and freedom. With the New Moon in Taurus in this area as well, consider how you wish to feel in relationship. Is there a more innovative approach to partnerships that may offer you more freedom and individuality, without sacrificing connection or intimacy? What patterns have hardened into habit, what rules do you follow merely out of convention? Mars, your ruling planet, shifts into your fourth house, bringing your drive to home and family. Is it time to renovate, or look at moving, or attend to family matters? By acting in these areas, you can channel Mars toward innovation and hard work rather than anger and aggression.

Sagittarius

Uranus moves into your sixth house of health, work, and daily routine, where it will work for the next eight years to bring you more freedom. This month’s New Moon is in this area as well, which offers an opportunity to envision your ideal health and your ideal daily schedule. For a moment, forget what is required of you, forget your current commitments and responsibilities, and consider, what would your perfect day look like? This sort of visualization is one way to help Uranus in its workings. This a time also to pay extra attention to your health and your habits. If you’ve been putting off getting something checked out, now’s the time. Mars is in your third house, bringing siblings and communication to bear on your work and daily life. Use Mars for communicating clearly and assertively. If you feel anger arise, take a step back, and act out of awareness, rather than according to warrior god’s momentary impulse.

Capricorn

Uranus shifts into your fifth house of recreation, children, and creativity, where it will operate over the next eight years to bring about more freedom. The Taurus New Moon lands in this area of your chart as well, offering a preview of the story that will unfold over the next years. Perhaps your children are growing up and moving out, or perhaps you undertake a new sport, hobby, or creative project. Whatever the precise manifestation, the goal is to allow you to more fully and authentically express yourself. With Mars in your second house of possessions and income, perhaps you are working to turn your hobby into a source of income. Channel Mars’ fire toward getting lots done in this area, and use its connection to Uranus to inspire innovative sources of income.  

Aquarius

This month, Uranus moves into your fourth house of home, family, early childhood, and your relationship with your mother or primary caregiver. Pay attention to events that occur mid-month, as they will foreshadow stories that will play out over the rest of the year and into the next eight years. Keep in mind that Uranus’ goal is to bring freedom. Perhaps you will move, or find a creative living situation, perhaps you will come to a deeper understanding of your early childhood and how it’s shaped you, or maybe you will be able to release and forgive members of your family who wronged you. Mars in your first house offers you a little extra fire and drive, just beware of it spilling into aggression or anger–not that there is anything wrong with anger in the right context, but it may not be wise to let the warrior god determine your actions, especially when it is inflamed and perhaps even antagonized by its connection to Uranus. Channel Mars-Uranus toward innovation, creativity, and spontaneity.

Pisces

Uranus shifts into your third house of siblings, your mind, and communication, where it will be working for most of the next eight years to bring about more freedom and individuality in these areas of your life. The Taurus New Moon lands in this part of your chart as well, so set your monthly intentions in these areas. If you have siblings, it’s possible your relationships with them will undergo some big shifts which allow you to be more yourself in their presence. Consider the way you communicate, how you speak, write, how you engage with social media. How can you you bring more of yourself to bear in your communications? Forget the “rules.” Now is the time to do things differently. The same goes for your mind and thought processes. Notice if you have patterns of thought that keep you bound to some stale version of yourself. Notice if you have thoughts that keep you from being free. Meditation will help you to see your thoughts with detachment and to have space (freedom) in your mind and therefore, your life.

Andrea Javor is an astrologer, writer, and yoga teacher based in Vancouver BC. Her offerings include private readings, event readings, workshops, and yoga classes. She’s passionate about using yoga as a tool to understand astrology in a deeper, more embodied way. Currently she’s studying Evolutionary Astrology in the tradition of Jeffrey Wolf Green. For more information, see her website,www.mysticsandwich.com/.