Cancer, May 2016

May opens with five retrograde planets: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto (it's nuts! You can read more about it here)! During a retrograde, the energy of the planet intensifies (which can be rough), but we're also given an opportunity to dive deeper into the stories that the planets are weaving for us.

Pluto, which is retrograde in Capricorn, is highlighting power dynamics in your relationships, and retrograde Saturn in Sagittarius is pushing you to reconsider your schedule: Is it allowing you to work, take care of your health, and have fun? Or is your schedule a total mess? Jupiter in Virgo, which will soon end its retrograde, is teaching you lessons around communication (not everyone is as intuitive as you, Cancer).

Mercury retrograde in Taurus and Mars retrograde in Sagittarius (and then, later this month, Scorpio) will be the two retrogrades you notice most this month.

Mercury is the planet of the mind, and it has a mutable energy. Taurus is fixed—cows aren't super flexible! Mercury retrograde in Taurus will find you examining where you feel stuck in your life. You have big dreams, Cancer! But how will you achieve them? If things haven't been moving, this Mercury retrograde could shake up the energy in your life. If you keep running into the same problem over and over again, don't ignore it or refuse to find a new way to work with it. Instead, try something new!

This Mercury retrograde (which will last until May 22) will be highlighting the sector of your chart that rules friendships, so expect things to get funky in your social life. Old friends and acquaintances could reenter the scene. Mercury retrograde will be speaking through them, so if you're open to it, Cancer, hear out what these ghosts from the past have to say.

Mars is the planet of war; when retrograde, it's extra hasty and irritable. It kicks off the month in Sagittarius, where it will be activating the sector of your chart that rules your daily routine, so expect to face bitchy vibes around work and your chores. You could also feel some wellness issues kick up at this time. If you haven't been to a doctor in a while, this could be a great time to go. Later this month, Mars will leave Sagittarius for Scorpio—but we'll get to that later!

May 6 brings the new moon in sensual, fertile Earth sign Taurus. While your social life will feel upside-down and strained thanks to Mercury retrograde, this new moon will help you create a fresh start around your friendships. Watch out for new connections that could help you achieve success in your professional or public life. If you feel like you're looking for your crew—a group or community that you feel you belong to and that shares you ideals—this new moon is in an excellent time to visualize or work magick around that goal.

May 9 is one of the busier days of the month: Jupiter in Virgo turns direct, the Sun meets a retrograde Mercury in Taurus, and sweet, lovely Venus sextiles (one of the more helpful astrological aspects) dreamy Neptune in psychic Pisces.

Lucky planet Jupiter moving forward in analytical, smarty-pants Virgo will push you forward in your intellectual efforts. You'll also be feeling clearer about how you want to communicate with others, and you'll feel an invigorated desire to connect with the people in your neighborhood or your siblings!

But your friends may be a little stubborn and confused today, being that the planet of the mind, Mercury, will be meeting with the Sun in fixed, unmovable Taurus. Don't waste energy trying to change someone's mind—instead, let them be who they are, and don't despair: Today does bring good vibes in the form of a Venus/Neptune sextile, which will create a dreamy sense of harmony and boost everyone's empathetic abilities.

The Sun enters curious, chatty Gemini on May 20, but you will not be in the mood for any Air sign shenanigans. The Sun's entrance into Gemini will illuminate the sector of your chart that rules rest and solitude. You need to make the most of the very last days of spring and get as much hibernation in as humanly possible before the Sun enters your sign next month, kicking off your birthday season!

The full moon in Sagittarius arrives on May 21, which will push you to find a better work/life balance. It will also help you address some of your least healthy habits. You're one of the most nurturing signs in the zodiac, but somehow, taking care of yourself isn't ever as easy as taking care of other people. Full moons are about illumination and culmination, so expect to get clear on how you can become healthier and commit to overcoming your obstacles. On the work front, if you're overdoing it and have too many chores on your plate, this full moon has your back on making your schedule work better for you.

May 22 and 24 will bring some stress when the Sun and Venus both oppose a cranky, retrograde Mars. You're not a fan of confrontation, so hide away during these few days. You won't feel like you're able to do anything right, people will snap at you, and you'll feel at a loss about what you did to trigger their frustration.

On May 26, Jupiter in Virgo squares Saturn in Sagittarius, which will bring up themes relating to hard work and accountability. This not the time to slack off. Think back to August 3, 2015 and March 23 of this year—those are the last times Jupiter and Saturn squared (which is one of the most tense aspects in astrology); reflecting on what you learned from the events which took place at that time will teach you a lot with how to handle your life now.

Mars re-enters fellow Water sign Scorpio on its retrograde journey on May 27, which will highlight the sector of your chart that rules creativity, romance, and having a good time. An irritable Mars in mysterious Scorpio, spending time in one of the loveliest parts of your chart? This should be interesting! Expect things to get very heated and passionate—or not. It could go either way, Cancer!

Mars is symbolized by the phallus; when Mars is retrograde, expect some flaccid phalluses in your life. Mars is limp and angry right now, and only you can tell how this will affect your love life. Think back to what was going on for you romantically and creatively two months ago—you'll be working with those themes, people, and situations again now.

May has a lot of retrogrades. As such, you may spend a lot of time this month in your shell. But soon the energy will shift! By June, things will have already opened up, especially in your social life and around your career goals. See you next month!