Vedic Astrology Forecast for May 21 to 31, 2023

Out-of-Bounds Venus, Rahu-Jupiter Conjunction, and a Cardinal Cross May Indicate Some Disorder, Emotional Struggles, and Other Challenges in the Week Ahead

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.

Waxing Crescent Moon: May 21 to 28 - Time to Put Intentions into Action

This week will start with a waxing crescent Moon that began in the wake of the recent new Moon of May 19. The beautiful crescent will now be visible in the western sky after sunset. During this lunar cycle, our energy will be expanding, and we can begin putting our new Moon inspirations and intentions into action.

Venus Out of Bounds: April 19 to June 1 - Potential for Emotional Challenges and Over-the-Top Behavior

Venus has been transiting out of bounds (OOB) since April 19. Venus will continue to be out of bounds until June 1. This means its declination (position north or south of the celestial equator) is greater than 23˚26.’ Declination measures the angular distance of a point north or south of the celestial equator. An OOB planet has moved beyond the boundary limits of the ecliptic — that is, the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Out-of-Bounds Planets AstroWiki

An OOB planet tends to act in an extreme or exaggerated fashion. Venus is the planet of desire, wealth, value, creativity, love, beauty, harmony, virility, and contentment. When it is OOB and not manifesting through its higher qualities, it may tend to go after what it wants in an unbalanced way in regard to any of its significations. According to Vedic astrology, Venus rules the water element.

The specific effect of Venus will depend on the condition of a natal or mundane horoscope. That said, in its lower expression, an OOB Venus may represent financial crises, heavy and unusual rainfall in some areas, emotional disturbances, disputes, or stomach disorders due to over-indulgence. On the other hand, when acting in its higher expression, an OOB Venus can represent something delightful and over the top in a good way. 

On May 20, Venus will move out of the passionate, intense, and arduous Ardra nakshatra, and into the graceful, creative, and inspired Punarvasu nakshatra. This nakshatra extends from 20 degrees of Gemini to three degrees and 20 minutes of Cancer. My hope is that the OOB energy of Venus will magnify the blessings of Punarvasu, whose name literally translates as the “Return of the Light.”

If you have any planets or chart points in Punarvasu nakshatra, then those planets may be positively accentuated by the transit of Venus now and into early June. However, understanding the nuances of planetary transits like this is a complicated task that requires the expertise of a professional astrologer.

I offer personalized astrology readings, and I often analyze the potential impact of powerful transits with my clients. During a reading, I will discuss your birth chart in detail, and I will explain the potential impact of significant transits on your career, finances, relationships, and other aspects of your life.

I believe in using astrological remedies and other spiritual techniques in a caring and uplifting manner to help you enhance the positive aspects of your birth chart and minimize the potentially negative impact of challenging transits. You can schedule a reading with me here:

May 27: Rahu and Jupiter Conjoin and Activate a Potent Cardinal Cross - Economic Struggles and Disorder

Rahu and Jupiter will form an exact conjunction at 8 degrees of Aries on Saturday, May 27, at 10:30 AM Eastern Time (2:30 PM UTC). According to the Mean Node calculation which I use, they have been within an effective orb of conjunction since April 21 and will continue to be in this situation until July 7. For those who prefer the True Node calculation, their exact conjunction will not occur until June 1.

Jupiter and Rahu coming together in Aries can be quite vital, action-oriented, freedom-loving, charitable, philosophical, and adventurous. Their conjunction also suggests some potential for scientific progress. In its less positive expression, this combination may involve explosions, misinformation, fanaticism, hypocrisy, treachery, violent accidents, inflation, acquisitiveness, materialism, and out-of-control debt. This conjunction may also represent toxic or unhealthy conditions.

The last time that this specific conjunction occurred in a similar part of Aries was in the early spring of 1893. This time period led into the Panic of 1893 (May 9, 1893). This was a major crash on the New York Stock Exchange that started a depression which lasted several years.

Panicked stockbrokers on May 9, 1893

The current economic crisis in the United States and other parts of the world seems to be a reflection of this conjunction. This crisis includes record inflation; ongoing bank failures which threaten to further destabilize international financial markets; a debt catastrophe in the United States government; job layoffs (up nearly five-fold so far this year with tech companies leading the way); growing consumer insolvency; a looming liquidity crisis; an emerging collapse of the commercial real estate market; and the very real possibility of the end of the petrodollar (dedollarization).

The chart for the exact conjunction of Jupiter and Rahu on May 27 also ties in with a Cardinal Cross pattern (or Cardinal Grand Square), which is within an effective orb of influence from May 16 to June 13. It involves Mars in Cancer, Ketu in Libra, Rahu and Jupiter (and Mercury and Uranus) in Aries, and Pluto in Capricorn. This aspect pattern has an impulsive, aggressive, reckless, and confrontational quality, and can represent a sense of disorder and instability.

In the United States chart, the Cardinal Cross triggers the succedent houses two, five, eight, and eleven. These are known as the panaphara bhava in Vedic astrology, and they generally relate to material stability and national security. It further activates the MC-IC axis, the specific points in the chart that symbolize the government and the homeland; the Pluto Return in the second house of national wealth, banks, stocks, and the country’s overall financial well-being; and, debilitated Mars transiting in the eighth house of conflicts, debts, and loans.

At the same time, Saturn in Aquarius will square the Sun in Taurus (this conjunction will “perfect,” meaning that it will be exact, on May 28). All this represents a potentially heavy energy and perhaps an extremely trying period in general. As you can see, the events of this week indicate that the world is moving through a period of potential struggle and disorder. In particular, the economic and political conditions do not look favorable during this time. 

May 29 to June 3/4: Waxing Gibbous Moon - Restless, Aspiring, Driven, and Determined

The brightening Gibbous Moon phase will begin on Monday, May 29, and will extend to the Full Moon which will occur late on June 3 in North and South America, and on June 4 elsewhere in the world.

The essence of a waxing Gibbous Moon is restless, aspiring, driven, and determined. For those who are focused and grounded, this phase can be favorable for self-improvement and personal accomplishment. It can also be a good time to review where we are coming from, to address any areas that need extra attention, and to modify our intentions as needed.

On May 31, the Moon will conjoin Ketu where it will further energize the aforementioned Cardinal Cross. So with all the intensity happening as we move toward the end of the month of May, it will be important to remain alert and mindful. Although this week may have challenges, some astrological conditions should begin to improve in June. Stay tuned for my upcoming astrological forecast and astrology planner for June 2023!

Sarveśām Svastir Bhavatu, Sarveśām Shāntir Bhavatu, Sarveśām Pūrnam Bhavatu, Sarveśām Maṇgalam Bhavatu, Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

May health abound forever, May peace abound forever, May complete abundance abound forever, May auspiciousness abound forever, Om Peace, Peace Peace.