MONTH OF May
May is a transitional month—and an important one for you, Aries. The first two weeks mark the grand finale of expansive Jupiter’s once-every-12-years visit to your sign, a cycle that began back in May 2022. Since then, your hosting duties have attracted everything from astounding luck to fresh starts that took your life in an accelerated new direction. We know Aries who’ve moved internationally, published books and stepped into completely new jobs in the past year. This phase is also punctuated by an intense Scorpio lunar eclipse on May 5, which will sweep through your eighth house of intimacy and investments. Whew!
On May 16, Jupiter will depart from Aries, but its next phase could be even better. The red-spotted planet transitions into Taurus and your money zone until May 25, 2024. For the next 12 months, you could discover exciting ways to monetize some of the brilliant ideas you developed while Jupiter was in your sign. A new job offer could materialize, perhaps one that involves travel or a long-distance client, especially near the activation point of the May 19 Taurus new moon.
Take your time to consider any changes before you leap in, Aries. For starters, it’s Taurus season—a thoughtful and measured time—until May 21. On top of that, Mercury, the planet of travel, technology and communication, is retrograde in Taurus until May 14. It’s a tricky time for making decisions, especially since key details can get overlooked. And on May 1, intense Pluto joins the retrograde brigade, which could stir up some power struggles or prompt a bout of soul-searching around your career until October 10.
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Home and family matters may demand your attention this month. With your ruling planet, Mars, in energizing Cancer and your domestic sector until May 20, channel any pent-up energy into refreshing your nest. When Mars shifts into Leo and your passionate, playful fifth house from May 20 to July 10, spring fever could heat up into some sultry early summer nights. And when the Sun moves into Gemini for a month on May 21, you’ll be in the mood to socialize, share ideas and get back out there with your people.
It’s Taurus season until May 21
Keep on pushing, Aries! You’ve got the wind at your back while Jupiter’s in Aries until May 16, but that doesn’t prevent you from doing a bit of heavy lifting. With the Sun marching through Taurus and your second house of money and security until May 21, productivity pays off.
Turn your attention to the essentials: how you spend and save, your basic work obligations and key co-worker relationships. For the first three weeks of May, skip the time-sucking extracurricular activities (like right-swiping out of boredom and getting roped into chauffeuring a relative to the airport). Streamlining your schedule helps you feel grounded. Your self-esteem will spike when you handle your business like a #boss.
Be cautious the first two weeks of the month, though, as chatty Mercury will be retrograde (backward) in Taurus until May 14. This could prompt some off-the- cuff remarks you may spend weeks making amends for. The communication planet has been doing backstrokes since April 21, causing all sorts of misunderstandings, especially at work.
Luckily, when Mercury moves forward midmonth, you’ll hit a string of green lights, indicating it’s safe to blast full steam ahead with your projects and plans. Money that was tied up could finally come in. Since retrogrades rule the past, the front half of May is a favorable time to pay off and collect any outstanding debts.
Pluto turns retrograde in Aquarius on May 1
Friends or foes? You could question the intentions of your crew after May 1, when calculating Pluto begins its annual five-month retrograde backspin until October 10. Until June 11, Pluto will reverse through Aquarius and your eleventh house of groups and teams. For the next seven weeks, you may have to contend with a secretive snake or an underminer in the ranks. This development might be something you don’t want to face, yet also can’t deny—for example, you always feel uneasy in a person’s presence or wonder if they’re being truthful. While Pluto’s retrograde in Aquarius, you may opt to address that hesitation instead of sweeping your suspicions aside.
Pluto rules the unconscious and shows where we may project our own insecurities and “shadow” selves onto other people. Have you become too dependent on feedback instead of making up your own mind? Use this reflective Pluto period to dive deeper into your own desires. Find the ways you may be leaning on your friends too heavily for validation. As the saying goes, Other people’s opinions of you are none of your business!
The May 5 Scorpio full moon and total lunar eclipse is intense and intimate
What lies beneath? An intense moment arrives on May 5, when the Scorpio lunar eclipse beams into your eighth house of intimacy, merging and secrets. This could cast a light on something hidden, whether buried feelings or something even more surprising. You might get a revealing glimpse of your own “shadow” today (we all have one!). Don’t run away. This is a powerful moment to transform any unaddressed emotions and overcome fears you’ve brushed aside.
A simmering sexual attraction could reach full tilt under these explosive moonbeams, and since full moons can mark finality, some relationships will hit the point of no return. You may find yourself on the verge of going all the way in…or all the way out. This full moon could serve up a pregnancy, engagement or plans to join your lives in a more permanent way. Financially, this could bring a prime investment, real estate transaction or joint venture.
This is the final Scorpio eclipse in a series that’s rippled across the Taurus/Scorpio axis since November 2021, revolutionizing your approach to money, power and intimacy. Some of the deep inner work you’ve done in the past couple years could finally start to make sense!
Mercury retrograde is finally over May 14
Finances: back on track! Today, Mercury powers forward after a challenging retrograde that began on April 21, foiling technology, communication and travel for everyone. Now, as Mercury corrects course in Taurus and your second house of income and security, your money will stop being, well, not-so funny. If colleagues and clients have been demanding and disruptive, you’ll be better able to get back in sync with each other. A challenging work project that consumed your attentioclass="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" n could finally wrap. But buyer beware: Mercury’s “retroshade”shadow phase will linger until June 1. Hold off on the big purchases and retail therapy sprees and do some comparison-shopping first.
Big day! Jupiter enters Taurus for a year on May 16
One of your most epic and growth-filled years is coming to a close this month, Aries. Jupiter, the planet of expansion and risk-taking, is wrapping up a 12-month visit to your sign, which lasted from May 10, 2022, to May 16, 2023. For the past year, you’ve been making huge leaps as an individual as Jupiter inspired you to swan-dive into a solo venture and pursue your personal goals. Life circumstances may have propelled you toward greater independence—perhaps you ended a relationship or tried life as a solopreneur. Jupiter rules luck and mass exposure, and the spotlight could have come looking for you. Jupiter only visits your sign every 12 years, and its last appearance in your sign was from June 2010 to June 2011.
Jupiter’s next stop will be Taurus and your second house of income and security, where it will stay from May 16, 2023, until May 25, 2024. After a year of experimenting and exploring, you may be ready to “pick a lane” and start building one of those novel ideas or experiences into something tangible. The last year has been about throwing the metaphorical spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. You should have a much better idea of that now!
Lucky Jupiter in Taurus and your finance sector could bring a boon for your bank account. Just don’t spend it as fast as you make it—a temptation with indulgent Jupiter in this material-minded zone. Business owners could have a record-breaking year of sales or profit. Seeking more inspiring work? Look beyond the familiar for your next gig. Jupiter rules long-distance connections, and you could score an overseas client or travel more frequently for business. You might luck into a new job that comes kitted out with a benefits and salary increase—and possibly a relocation. Adventurous Jupiter rules global travel and higher education. You could widen your geographic job search radius or go back to school to train for a better pay bracket. Intrigued by investing? Research calculated risks that will grow your nest egg.
Your confidence gets an enhancement from Jupiter as the second house rules both your net worth AND your self-worth. Many people we know end up meeting stable romantic partners during this Jupiter cycle. Often, this is a humble and diligent person you may have overlooked in the past. With Jupiter in Taurus, you’ll cultivate an appreciation for someone who shows up when they say they will, has a solid income and respects you. (Say “yes” to secure attachments!) You could meet this person through work or at an industry event. But chances are, you’ll attract someone when you’re at your most grounded and down-to-earth, just going about your day. Cliche as it may sound, self-love IS the essential ingredient to happiness now.
The Taurus new moon is on May 19
On May 19, the year’s only Taurus new moon opens a prosperous six-month window for your financial ventures. It’s a great day to begin prospecting new clients, sending out job queries and getting your budget in check. Starting a new routine or changing a habit? The new moon in your regimented second house gives you an extra shot of willpower. Now that Mercury retrograde is in the rearview, this is the ideal day to start unleashing all that you’ve been holding in reserve.
You’ll see short-term results over the next two weeks (between now and the June 3 Sagittarius full moon) if you keep the diligent effort up and don’t cut corners. You’ll also want to give any new investments six months to unfold—between now and the Taurus full moon (a lunar eclipse!) on October 28—which is ample time to really get some traction.
The May 20 Mars-Pluto opposition gets fierce
Drama alert! On May 20, your ruler, blazing-hot Mars, enters Leo and your passionate fifth house. That’s actually pretty great news since sexy Mars will heat up the rest of spring into summer, sashaying through Leo until July 10.
But the cycle begins with a plot twist as Mars immediately locks into opposition with controlling Pluto, which is in Aquarius and your eleventh house of groups and acquaintances. This incendiary face-off could find you acting downright uncivilized with a friend or romantic interest. Competitive and even vengeful behavior could flare up.
All it takes is a little spark to set this off. Someone from your social circle or a work team could stir up theatrics that you’ll be easily hooked by. And you’ll be quick to react volcanically thanks to triggering Pluto and short-tempered Mars. If you sense a power struggle brewing, take it as a cue to stop and get yourself centered. You may still need to confront someone about bullying or domineering behavior. Just try not to sink down to a low-vibe level when you do.
Gemini season starts May 21
On May 21, the Sun flits into Gemini for a month-long spin through your third house of communication and mental processes. Activity will heat up on the local scene, and your social life will be abuzz. After an industrious Taurus season, you can now step away from your workspace and pitch your ideas, brainstorm or just enjoy friendly companionship. You never know when one of your conversations could light a spark of inspiration. Since the third house rules neighborhoods, you might get involved in a community project, like a seed and plant exchange, a fundraising drive or a spring cleanup of a public space.
Go ahead and gush, Aries! Your ruler, passionate Mars, is spending the first three weeks of the month in Cancer and your sensitive, sentimental fourth house. Until May 20, you may be more focused on home, family and taking care of long-postponed domestic projects than pursuing an early-summer fling. New couples might be preparing to join families, set up a home together or meet each other’s closest friends and relatives.
Venus will join the party on May 7, gliding through touchy-feely Cancer and your soulful fourth house, increasing your nurturing side and tuning you into your emotions. This can help balance out your intensity when you get a little too fiery for folks to handle. Lean in to the empathy and softness of this transit but be aware that you might also be a bit extra-sensitive now.
On May 15, Mars harmonizes with quixotic Neptune in your fantasy realm, which can help you spin out some beautiful scenarios. How can you blend this passionate and potent energy to infuse dreamy emotionality into a solid partnership?
But don’t get too swept up in that emotional bubble, Aries. On May 20, spicy Mars shifts gears and moves into Leo, firing up your frisky and flirtatious fifth house until July 10. You’ll be less inclined toward domestic bliss and more in the mood to dress up and engage with life, either solo or with a playful plus-one!
Make a list and stick to it, Aries. With the Sun in Taurus and your industrious second house until May 21, practical matters need prime-time attention. Last month served up plenty of big ideas, but how many of them were actionable or sustainable? This month, you can assess—and start to build the best of the bunch into a profitable plan. Mercury is retrograde in Taurus until May 14, so luck may come from a past connection or colleague.
On May 5, a Scorpio lunar eclipse powers up your eighth house of investments and joint ventures. Could a dynamic duo pay dividends? An offer to merge your superpowers or make a savvy long-term money move could arrive.
The May 19 Taurus new moon could bring a job or moneymaking opportunity, as it activates your second house of financial security. But the headline news arrives on May 16, when lucky Jupiter begins a yearlong visit to Taurus. Get ready to field new job opportunities or to expand your professional path between now and May 25, 2024.
Love Days: 25, 30
Money Days: 19, 9
Luck Days: 16, 7
Off Days: 27, 5, 14
Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut (a.k.a. The AstroTwins) are ELLE.com’s resident astrologers. They have written several astrology books, including Momstrology and Supercouple, and star as the astrological matchmakers for Prime Video’s Cosmic Love. The Eduts have read charts for celebrities the likes of Beyoncé, Karlie Kloss, and Emma Roberts. For their spot-on predictions, books, and online courses, check out our horoscopes coverage or visit astrostyle.com.
