Where Are the Planets Now?

Here's a quickie breakdown of which planets are in which signs.

The sun is in Earth sign Taurus.
Mercury will leave Aries and head for Earth sign Taurus at 5:13am Eastern Time on Thursday the 12th
Venus will move from Earth sign Taurus to Air sign Gemini 12:14am Eastern Time Tuesday the 10th
Mars is in Water sign Pisces.
Jupiter is retrograde in Air sign Libra.
Saturn is in Water sign Cancer.
Uranus is in Water sign Pisces.
Neptune is in Air sign Aquarius.
Pluto is still retrograde in Fire sign Sagittarius.

Overview for the Week of Monday, May 9th - Sunday, May 15th

That practical new moon in the sign of Taurus which happened last Sunday - coupled with the sun and Venus still in Taurus - will give everyone a practical focus as the week starts. We'll feel an increased urge to roll up our sleeves and get down to business. Use Monday and Tuesday to balance your checkbook, pay bills, and investigate money matters. You'll feel good as you put everything in its place. Even if your cash situation could stand improvement, the methodical and organized influence of the planets will encourage you to take charge and assume responsibility for shifting your abundance around. You CAN create a more abundant reality for yourself. So get going!

Two main things are happening with the planets this week. Otherwise, it's relatively quiet. There won't be quite so much drama and excitement as we've had in past weeks.

On Tuesday the 10th at 12:14 am Eastern Daylight Time Venus moves into the Air sign of Gemini. Whenever Lady Venus brings her devoted attention to a particular sign, she generates a lot of passion, creativity, and healing energy. Venus will remain in Gemini until June 3rd. If you were born under the Air signs of Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius (or if your rising sign or moon are in these signs,) you'll feel more relaxed than you have in months. Romantic matters will start to flow in a smoother way. No longer will you be glumly anticipating your future as a crazy old woman who lives alone with cats. (That may be in MY future some day! I've already got the "crazy" and the "cat" part covered.) Instead, you'll be investigating intimate companionship of a dynamic, transformative nature. If you're a single Gemini, this Venus transit may well put an end to that state. If you're involved with someone, all of the Air signs will find romance taking on a softer, sweeter tone. Indulge in acts of generosity and whimsy. Buy your honey roses or compose a love song in his or her honor. All of the signs could have fun playing the romantic bard now.

Sagittarius is the sign opposite Gemini, so as Venus moves into Gemini, you Sagittarians could find yourselves in an odd place as you contemplate romantic companionship. "Maybe I should go online and find a mail order bride (or groom) from a third world country. I could find my special soulmate that way." "Perhaps I should look up my ex-husband/ex-stalker/ex-roommate and see if we still share some chemistry." You'll be full of half-baked ideas, so beware the "instant solution" that seems to present itself out of the blue. It could be "instant" all right, but it isn't likely to be much of a solution! You'll do better if you put the brakes on and avoid any bizarre or extreme moves when it comes to romance. Focus on healing past romantic patterns that have set you back and work toward breaking through outdated programs that no longer suit you. These themes of romantic healing will remain strong until early June when Venus moves into Cancer. By then, you'll have experienced some significant insights. Good for you!

The other major planetary movement this week is when Mercury heads for Taurus. The communicator planet intersects with the Bull on Thursday the 12th at 5:13 am Eastern Daylight Time. Mercury is the planet that rules words, and with the practical influence of Earth sign Taurus, everyone may start to measure their words more carefully. You'll want to indulge in productive dialogue with others instead of wasting energy. If you're talking with someone, sharing email, or discussing ideas and this isn't providing concrete results, you'll lose interest. Under this Mercury in Taurus influence, we'll all be prompted to "put our money where our mouth is" and to support people, projects, and situations which have real value to us. During this transit (which lasts until May 28th when Mercury heads for Gemini) we may be a bit impatient or brusque with people. "What have you done for me lately?" may be our approach. We won't suffer fools gladly. The Taurus influence can make us blunt, so we need to remember to temper our words with compassion. If you have to break off a friendship, pull back from a relationship, or make a major shift in a business alliance, don't be afraid to do so. Just remember to keep your heart open and remain empathic to other people's views. A little kindness can go a long way.

Read on to find out what themes are going to be stirred up for each of the signs this week.

Aries the Ram

This Thursday Mercury completes its recent three and half week journey through your sign. As this "instigator" planet moves into practical Taurus, you'll be inspired to take the ideas and schemes you've been coming up with lately and put them into a more concrete form. If you have devised an insidiously clever plan to take over the world, you'll be ready to write up the schematics, put together an outline, and research the details. If you're investigating a new health regimen, you'll be counting calories, measuring cholesterol levels, and calculating your body fat index. Stay focused on what you want to create in your life, and Mercury's movement into Taurus will give you extra ground beneath your feet.

Taurus the Bull

Although the sun and Venus have been in your sign for a while, prompting a lot of personal growth, you've been lacking a clear definition for the changes that have been happening to you. All you know is that you're looking out at life from both sides now (to steal a Joni Mitchell phrase) and your overall vantage point has been gradually shifting. As intellectual Mercury kicks into gear and heads for your sign on Thursday, these vague impulses may assume a more defined shape. Write your philosophical treatise about the meaning of life in your blog. Craft some witty limericks or inspirational poems and share them with friends. Get verbal, get talking, and get writing.

Gemini the Twins

Viva l'amour! As passionate Venus begins a cycle in your sign, love is on your mind. And I don't just mean the lusty kind, either. Love for humanity, love for the animals and the environment, and love for God/Goddess/The Big Cheese are also on your mind. Venus is the heart lifter, the planet who makes our spirits buoyant and our souls feel lighter. For the next few weeks you'll be feeling a lot more forgiving and less clingy than you have in past months. And you'll find greater beauty in a raindrop, in a flower, and in the smile of a child than you have in quite some time. In short, your heart is healing from a recent tough journey. It's good to be you!

Cancer the Crab

Saturn, the planet in charge of structure, responsibilities, and routine, has been taking a long trip through your sign. This Wednesday the 11th the moon enters your sign at 1:20 pm Eastern Time and stays there until 1:17 am on Saturday the 14th. And this Friday, the sun is sextile Saturn and the moon is conjunct Saturn in your sign of Cancer. So there is a pile up of pro-Cancer things going on. You'll find yourself feeling more in charge of your home life, steering things with family members or roommates in a pleasant way. Consider giving a dinner party this weekend or inviting some pals over for wine and cheese. (That's funny - I just mistyped that phrase as "whine and cheese." Maybe you can combine both. Have friends over for cocktails and do some venting about what's going on in your life. Could be fun!)

Leo the Lion

Fire energies aren't particularly strong this week, so it's good to pace yourself. You may find that while you WANT to get lots of things done, you're heart isn't in it. You know you need to organize those closets/attend to some home renovations/sort through old papers and recycle trash. You're just not in the mood. Stamina should pick up Saturday afternoon when the moon enters Leo. Saturday night could be WAY fun, so do accept those party invitations and social overtures. You'll have plenty of time Sunday to attend to those domestic chores. In short, be gentle on yourself this week and take plenty of mental health breaks. (You know, see a movie, attend a Cancer's "whine and cheese" party -- see Cancer 'scope above -- that sort of thing.)

Virgo the Virgin

Mercury is your planetary ruler (and Gemini's, too.) When this planet heads for a complimentary Earth sign, you receive a nice dose of mental clarity. As Mercury moves into friendly Taurus on Thursday, you'll start to feel the tide of ideas flowing again. If you've been creatively blocked over the past couple of weeks, that should end. Or if you've been wondering how to have that "Big Talk" with someone, you'll finally know how to approach this important conversation. Mercury will bless all of your communications with extra clarity and make it easier for you to remain firm about your convictions as you write, speak, or perform. Some of these communications are likely to involve business and money matters, and dialogue on these subjects could turn in a profitable direction.

Libra the Scales

You could be a bit schizophrenic this week as the planets zap you in different directions. On the one hand, Venus moving into friendly Gemini will bring you extra good cheer and stir up your creative energy. On the other hand, Thursday's moon square to Jupiter could temporarily bum you out. You could be disappointed about choices that a loved one is making or find yourself peeved about changes your boss is putting into place. Give yourself time to adjust, and you'll soon see that these shifts are going to work out just fine. Try not to hold on too tightly to the way things are now because certain routines and habits are undergoing a transition. By next week, you'll start to see how all of this is working together for good.

Scorpio the Scorpion

The good news is that the new moon opposite your sign is over. The bad news is that Mercury is now entering Taurus, your opposite sign, where it will stay for three and a half weeks. Whenever Mercury makes a transit opposite your sign, it can test your ability to communicate in loving and productive ways. You'll feel major temptations to criticize or destroy someone with your words. Scorpios are tremendously sensitive, and sometimes this thin-skinned nature makes it hard to handle negative emotions. Try not to communicate from "the wound." Yes, over the next three weeks, people may annoy you more than usual. But this means you should slow down, nurture yourself, and make sure that you're not feeling depleted. If you're not "running on empty," and you're eating right, sleeping right, and spending time with supportive people, you'll handle these challenges just fine.

Sagittarius the Archer

Venus is the planet which rules partnerships, and as it moves opposite your sign on Tuesday, you could feel at odds with a significant other. Venus will remain in Gemini for several weeks, so try to examine romantic challenges in an analytical way. Don't just give in to a grumpy mood and kick your honey out of the house. Instead, realize that Venus is prompting you to examine all of your relationships and to make changes that will set you on a more harmonious path. Maybe you and your partner need to have some intimate chats. Perhaps you and your kids should have a heart-to-heart. Remember, your loved ones aren't "out to get you." Any temporary friction that is heating up is merely prompting you to grow.

Capricorn the Goat

As Mercury moves into friendly Earth sign Taurus, some of what is going on with Taurus and Virgo will also apply to you. You'll be starting a three week period of grounded, accurate, and sharp communications. You should find it easy to write proposals, draft letters, and put together complex documents. Anything involving words will be easier for you now. If you have the opportunity to make a presentation, you'll be the star of the show under this transit. Goats can be a little shy when it comes to social events, but electric Mercury will encourage you to express your opinions and your understated sense of humor to a bigger, broader audience.

Aquarius the Water-Bearer

Yours is the sign with the most liberal and least traditional approach to relationships. The archetype of the "flower child" fits you to a T. No matter how much you are devoted to a romantic partner, you'll be unhappy if you can't express your free spirit in your relationship. This doesn't necessarily mean that you must have multiple partners (although that works quite well for some Aquarians!) But it does mean that your creative and expansive approach to humanity demands full expression. You need to be able to make friends and encounter kindred soulmates wherever you go and not have your social nature be misinterpreted by a jealous partner. As Venus moves into friendly Gemini, you'll start to find better balance and greater mutual understanding with your dates, partner(s,) and or spouse.

Pisces the Fish

A lot of creative energy is brewing for you right now. This week, focus on the tasks you need to get done, but try to find time to meditate or pray, too. You'll want to connect with your Higher Self, your Higher Power, or your guardian angels. The need to access spiritual inspiration could peak on Sunday when Mars and innovative Uranus are conjunct. Sunday is a great day for jotting down some notes in a journal or making a list of your dreams and aspirations. What do you really want to be when you grow up? For that matter, who says you have to grow up at all? Perhaps you should ask yourself this question instead: What aspects of your core self turn you on the most and are dying to be more fully expressed, ASAP?

See you back here next Monday for more astro-updates!