May 2023 Vedic Astrology Forecast

The Full Flower Moon, Lunar Eclipse, Retrograde Pluto, and Other Powerful Cosmic Shifts

Please note that this and all my other forecasts are based on the sidereal zodiac used in both Vedic and Western sidereal astrology, not the tropical system used by most Western and some Vedic astrologers. All the astrological charts below are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.

May 1: The Ancient Gaelic Festival of Beltane, A Time of Mystery, Magic, and Mischief

The ancient Gaelic festival of Beltane will occur on May 1. The festival will officially begin on April 30 at sundown. This event marks one of the cross-quarter points in the turning of the seasonal wheel. It occurs at the halfway point between spring equinox and summer solstice, in the “beyond time” zone when the veil between worlds is said to melt and magic abounds! Beltane marks the fertile time of rain and abundant crops at the beginning of the warmer season in the northern hemisphere.

Beltane is the time when the Sun is fully released from his bondage of winter and able to rule over summer and life once again…It is the time when the faeries return from their winter respite, carefree and full of faerie mischief and faerie delight…and many otherworldly occurrences transpire during this time of ‘no time’…When the veils are so thin, it is an extremely magical time when the queen of the faeries rides out on her white horse…

It is said that if you bathe in the dew gathered before dawn on Beltane morning, your beauty will flourish throughout the year. Those who are sprinkled with May dew are insured of health and happiness. “Beltane” by Christina Aubin, 2016, on the Witchvox website which is now retired).

May 1: Mercury’s Inferior Conjunction with the Sun, Time to Prepare For New Plans and Decisions

Also on May 1, Mercury will be at its inferior conjunction with the Sun. This means that Mercury will be between the Earth and the Sun and exactly conjoined the Sun. You may recall reading my previous article about Mercury transiting retrograde from April 24 to May 14 (or May 15 in some locales).

At inferior conjunction, Mercury is in process of transitioning from its evening star to its morning star apparition. It will remain invisible, obscured by the rays of the Sun for some time, and will start to reappear in the morning sky after the end of May into mid-June.

At the time of Mercury’s inferior conjunction, we may start to tap into some important information and guidance to help us begin to prepare for something new to develop. Any information that we receive around May 1 is likely to begin to manifest around Mercury’s direct station on May 14.

The next two weeks of the Mercury retrograde period (after the inferior conjunction) are a time for review, research, reconsideration, and redesign, but we are still cautioned to wait until after Mercury goes direct to make any life-altering decisions or to initiate anything that we hope to be of significant long-term value and success.

May 1: Pluto Stations Retrograde, Grappling with Power

Pluto will station retrograde at six degrees of Capricorn in conjunction with the natal Pluto in the United States chart. It will remain retrograde until October 10. This retrograde cycle of Pluto (and especially the stationary periods/five days on either side of its retrograde or direct stations) can trigger some inner or outer pressure to "purge" and reorient ourselves to the shifts that are occurring within us and our lives.

Depending on where Pluto is transiting in its retrograde cycle, and if it is influencing your natal chart points, it can suggest a lengthy period of grappling with issues related to personal power. 

The days around the Pluto station can trigger earthquakes, accidents, or intense conflict or violence. Pluto’s retrograde period can also intensify the current social and economic crisis happening across our planet and especially in the United States.

As Pluto transits retrograde, it becomes stronger and may manifest with some negativity. At its retrograde station, it will also square Jupiter and the lunar nodes (eclipse points), which exaggerates the corruption, political extremism, and pursuit of ruthless and fanatical goals by the Plutocracy, such as we see happening now throughout so many parts of the world, including the United States.

May 2 to May 30: Venus Transits in Gemini, Communication, and Curiosity

Venus will transit out of Taurus and into Gemini on May 2, and will remain in Gemini until May 30. This is generally a sociable, communicative, curious, and lighthearted placement for Venus, but can also indicate a tendency (for some) to be indecisive or fickle when it comes to love matters or making choices based on worth or value.

May 5: The Wesak Full Flower Moon, A Time for Meditation and Healing

The very auspicious Full Flower Moon will occur on Friday, May 5 at 1:34 PM Eastern Time (5:34 PM UTC). This is also known as Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti, and Wesak. Gautama Buddha is said to have been born on this day in the Vaishakha month (which extends from April 20 to May 20). His enlightenment is also celebrated at this time, as is his great exit from the body.

According to legend, the Buddha promised to come back on this day every year, to join with many other divine beings to regenerate the Earth. The Theosophists teach that the Christ (Maitreya) gathers the entire spiritual hierarchy together in prayer and meditation at this Full Moon to invoke the forces of a heavenly realm known as Shambhala, which increases the input and output of the divine light within us and on Earth.

Meditation and other contemplative and healing practices will be so very rewarding on the night of May 4 during the Purnima Tithi which begins mid-day May 4 and extends up to the Full Moon on May 5 at 1:34 PM.

May 5: Penumbral or Appulse Lunar Eclipse, Emotional Intensity and Potential Weather or Seismic Issues

The Full Moon will be eclipsed on May 5 in what is known as a penumbral or appulse eclipse. During this eclipse, the Moon will pass deep into the outer part of Earth’s shadow. This area is known as the penumbra. This event can be hard to see as the Moon will only appear a bit fainter than normal. Regions seeing at least some parts of the eclipse include the continents of Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Antarctica, as well as the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.

For more information including the times of the eclipse and some great graphics, please visit the lunar eclipse page at TimeandDate.com. The image below is also from the TimeandDate.com website.

This will be the deepest penumbral eclipse until September 2042, meaning that its astrological effect is strong. The eclipse will act like a super-charged Full Moon. It suggests an intense lunar effect, which can indicate high tides, storms, seismic eruptions, and emotional intensity in the several days leading up to, during, and after the eclipse day.

The Moon will be eclipsed by the South Node (Ketu) in Libra. The vibrations can be perceived as heavy and devitalizing in the weeks before or after a Ketu lunar eclipse. For some, certain relationship dynamics can become extra-stressful. As to its individual effect, this depends on the house where the eclipse occurs in a birth chart, and the aspects it makes.

As always, the positive results of meditation and other spiritual practices or affirmations performed at the time of maximum eclipse will be magnified immensely, so I recommend you tune in at the eclipse time.

In the upcoming lunar eclipse, the Full Moon will occur in the fiery, fixated, and fierce Vishakha nakshatra and in the bellicose Aries navamsa. Ketu will be transiting behind the Moon in Swati nakshatra, which also belongs to the fire element. Therefore, heat, fires, passions, eruptions, and other kinds of ferocious activity are potential themes around this lunar eclipse.

The Sun will also be transiting in its own fiery Krittika nakshatra from May 12-26, which is another indication of a lot of heat coming on strong in May. This also fits with the fired-up Aries stellium that is in place until the second week of June, which I wrote about previously.

We need to remain steady and aware at this time, as so many systems appear on the brink of failure. And I hope that the sweet Wesak Moon will bring some gentle balance to these heated lunar energies around the eclipse.

May 10 to June 30: Mars Transits in Cancer, More Potential to Feel Frustration, Powerlessness, and Guilt

Mars will transit into Cancer from May 10 to June 30. This will break the current agitated planetary exchange (mutual reception) between Mars in Gemini and Mercury in Aries, which has been going on for some time. (Note also that the out of bounds condition of Mars will end on May 5. This has been in place since last October, which I have discussed previously. I hope that it calms down some of the difficult “Mars on steroids intensity” of the past seven months).

So now we will have the transit of Mars in Cancer, which happens every two years. Cancer is considered to be one of the weakest sign placements for Mars, as it is known as the debilitation (neecha) sign of this planet. This can represent some ongoing imbalances in the fire element. For some, this can express itself as a sense of powerlessness, frustration (or even anger), and loss of confidence.

This transit can also signify inertia, difficulty concentrating, low energy, obsession, digestive issues, and unresolved shame or guilt. Some will experience these issues more than others during this transit depending on the natal chart, progressed cycles, and where the transit is occurring. 

During this period, some of the debilitation will be mitigated when Mars transits in the navamsa of Leo from May 16 to 21.

May 14: Mercury Stations Direct, Time to Move Forward and Make Plans

On May 14 (in North and South America/at 11:17 PM Eastern Time) and on May 15 in the rest of the world, Mercury will move out of retrograde and station direct at 11 degrees of Aries. This marks a time to move forward and begin creating something new in our lives. When Mercury stations direct, it will be transiting at the midpoint of Saturn and Venus. This can suggest a turning point related to an interpersonal or financial matter, perhaps a reality check or some other kind of reckoning, answering the call of duty, or take up a pressing new responsibility.

May 15 to June 15: The Sun Transits in Taurus, Celebrations and Spiritual Significance

The Sun will transit in Taurus from May 15 to June 15. The day when the Sun enters Taurus on May 15 is known as Vrishabha Sankranti. In many parts of India and in Vedic culture on this date, prayers will be offered for ancestors and family members, and propitiation is made for a prosperous and happy life; pujas are normally performed in temples at certain muhurta times; holy baths are taken; many people observe fasts; and cows are offered for donation. There is deep spiritual significance on this holy day when devotees pray for the eternal Light of God to bring salvation.

May 19: Saturn Jayanti, Vat Savitri Vrat, and the Exalted New Moon, a Time for Spiritual Rituals, Rapid Changes, and New Beginnings

May 19 is Shani Jayanti, the birthday of Shani Dev (Saturn), the lord of truth and karma. Prayers, pujas, and other rituals are traditionally performed in honor of Shani Dev on this special day, according to a variety of Vedic traditions. This date also coincides with Vat Savitri Vrat, when married women perform prayers and rituals on behalf of the well-being and long life of their husbands.

Also on May 19, the New Moon will occur at four degrees of Taurus in Krittika nakshatra, where it is exalted (strong). This is an especially favorable Moon for fire ceremonies, and for making rapid changes, including cutting things out/giving things up, or deciding and beginning a new course of action.

The New Moon in Taurus gives the capacity for great courage, and it supports all kinds of efforts and new beginnings. The Moon will also occur in the Aquarius navamsa which is altruistic, visionary, and futuristic. This adds an extra nice touch to an already lovely New Moon and the occasion of Shani Jayanti.

May 20: Mars in Opposition with Pluto, Potential Upheaval and Revolt

On May 20, Mars in Cancer will oppose Pluto in Capricorn. They aspect in this way every two years but not in the same area of the zodiac. This time may be more significant than usual as Pluto is in conjunction with natal Pluto in the United States birth chart (Pluto Return).

This combination, especially with Mars in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn, can have a violent, warlike, ruthless, or brutal expression, and can represent upheaval and revolt. The last time it occurred in the axis of Cancer and Capricorn was two years ago in June of 2021. Before that, it occurred in the 1700s during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution. Before that, this combination occurred in the 1500s during the Protestant Reformation.

May 30 to July 6: Venus Transits in Cancer, Increased Caring Energy

Starting on May 30, Venus will transit in Cancer, where it comes once a year (about every 10 months or so). It will be there for a long time on and off as it will retrograde in Leo and move back into Cancer in July, August, and September. Venus is the planet of peace, love, money, art, music, comfort, sociability, diplomacy, and physical vitality. Cancer is the sign of emotional security, home, family, and comfort. In Cancer, Venus can be very sensitive and emotionally open and caring.

As you can see, we once again have a busy month that is filled with exciting astrological events. On the positive side, Beltane, the Full Flower Moon, and the Sun's transit in Taurus may bring good energy into the world. However, retrograde Pluto, Mars' transit in Cancer, and the eclipse could represent some challenges in May. 

Are you particularly excited or worried about any of these upcoming events? Let me know in the comments!

Please stay tuned for my Astral Harmony monthly calendar/planner that will be released on Monday, May 1!