Where Are the Planets Now?

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

The sun will move from Earth sign Taurus to Air sign Gemini on Friday, May 20th at 6:47 pm Eastern Time.
Mercury is in Earth sign Taurus
Venus is in Air sign Gemini
Mars is in Water sign Pisces.
Jupiter is retrograde in Air sign Libra (it will go direct on Sunday June 5th.)
Saturn is in Water sign Cancer.
Uranus is in Water sign Pisces.
Neptune is in Air sign Aquarius and will go retrograde on Thursday, May 19th at 7:36 pm Eastern Time.
Pluto is still retrograde in Fire sign Sagittarius.
2nd quarter moon in Fire sign Leo at 4:57 am Monday, the 16th

Overview for the Week of Monday, May 16th - Sunday, May 22nd

Creative Lady Venus moved into Air sign Gemini last week, and the sun joins her in Gemini this Friday the 20th. Those of you born under the lively sign of the twins will be experiencing your solar return from now until June 20th. When the sun returns to the sign it was in at your birth, this period marks your personal New Year. You receive a megadose of positive energy courtesy of the sun's position. The next four weeks could mark a time of worldly success and personal expansion for Geminis, and your sister Air signs Libra and Aquarius will be humming along nicely, too. All of the Air signs (as well as people with their moon or rising sign in Air signs) should be feeling pretty groovy. Expect some significant financial progress and exciting business developments if your chart has significant Air sign placements.

Gemini's influence is breezy and social, so all of the signs may be responding to a sudden urge for more networking and partygoing throughout this cycle. Call up twenty people in your Rolodex and sell them on how fabulous and talented you are. Host a spring cocktail party and impress guests with your ability to mix up Flirtinis and Alabama Slammers. As the Gemini twins work their magic over the next four weeks, all of the signs will find it easier to make friends and influence people.

Sagittarians may be the exception to these trends since Gemini is your opposite sign. For you, it's best to pull back, take it easy, and avoid forcing things. Consider the next four weeks to be a time of reflection. It's the ideal time to meditate, consult your guru, or access the wisdom of your spiritual guides and angels. Welcome information from a higher, more enlightened level of consciousness and find out how you can work through personal blocks and spiritual barriers. You could stumble upon some amazing solutions to problems that have been perplexing you. So what are you waiting for? Get started on your personal homework!

The other major thing occurring with the planets this week is the planet Neptune going retrograde in the sign of Aquarius on Thursday, May 19th at 7:36 pm Eastern Time. Neptune is one of the outer planets, and the outer planets are rather like elephants. They move slowly and ponderously. Neptune will be retrograde from the 19th through October 26th. Neptune is a very spiritual and mystical planet who is intimately connected with the subconscious realms. She represents the world of dreams, the dimension of non-verbal communication, and the psychic side of life. She's been buzzing along in Aquarius for months now, kicking up a lot of exciting realizations about the meaning of life, the universe, and everything (which may well be "42" as presented in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.)

As Neptune pulls back and goes retrograde, she'll retreat into her lair, curl up in the fetal position, and suck her thumb for a bit. The energy she puts out will be more reflective and dreamy, potentially disconnected from reality. The world of daydreams and fantasy may move a little closer, and although many beautiful things can be glimpsed in these realms, self-delusion and paranoia can be the shadow side of this influence. Before you tell yourself you've got it all figured out, the reptilian Illuminati rule the world and we are merely their psychic slaves, Planet X is due to arrive and destroy us tomorrow, and the liberals/the conservatives/the Republicans/the Democrats/whoever are responsible for all of society's failings, open up to the possibility that maybe - just maybe - you're not accessing an accurate map of reality at the moment. Avoid making snap judgments and try not to slip into negative or self-destructive trains of thought. While Neptune is in retrograde, our shadow side needs to be acknowledged. But it's up to us to keep it on a tight leash and teach it some good manners.

Now let's explore what energies are being stirred up for each of the signs this week.

Aries the Ram

This week you could be feeling pulled in two directions at once. The second quarter moon in friendly Fire sign Leo on Monday will put you in a pretty good mood, but you could feel edgy on Wednesday as the moon goes void and then heads for Libra, your opposite sign. The moon will be in Libra from Thursday 12:30 am Eastern Time until Saturday 7:49 am Eastern Time. So you could experience a bit of a "hump" late in the week. If you feel that your life is suddenly out of control, you will never receive a decent haircut again, and/or that your significant other is completely insane, take a chill pill. News bulletin: It might be YOU who is out of sorts, not the world. Be kind to yourself and others, and you'll sail into the weekend relatively unscathed.

Taurus the Bull

Monday and Tuesday should be clear days for you as the moon hangs out in friendly workhorse Virgo. You'll cross things off of your "To Do" list and find that you are making excellent use of your time. Wednesday may feel a little emotionally wobbly, so you should soak up some good vibes from friends. Schedule lunch with a supportive pal who always boosts your spirits. Chill out with your significant other and share your secret dreams and plans, knowing that your honey is the one person who always believes in you. Neptune's retrograde motion Thursday and Friday could send you on a trip down memory lane. Expect powerful flashbacks about significant events from your past. Yes, This Is Your Life.

Gemini the Twins

As the sun gives a high five to Venus in your sign, you'll be breathing a sigh of relief. Your emotions will feel more balanced than they have in months, and that deep-seated self-doubt that's been plaguing you will fade into the background. Since the next four weeks are your personal New Year, this is the perfect time to do some power prayer, grand rituals, or a happy dance. Set powerful goals in motion and invoke all of the magical energies of creation to give extra energy to these intentions. Summon up your spiritual helpers, usher in your angelic guides, and open up your energy field to the frequency of the Divine. Stir things up and start making those cherished dreams come true. With the planets giving you extra rocket fuel, you can do it!

Cancer the Crab

The first part of the week could find you feeling restless, like you've got a bee in your bonnet or an itch you can't quite manage to scratch. Powerful, transformative energy is beaming your way, and the next four weeks are a major wind-up to your own personal power period, which will start on June 20th. But before your astrological New Year can strike, you need to take out some trash and release old emotional baggage. Who's life are you living, anyway? Yours, or something that others have prescribed for you? Let go of mind controls and manipulative thoughtforms that others may be influencing you with. Don't let the wishes of your "tribe" (i.e. family members) override your own sense of self. By Saturday when the moon heads for friendly Water sign Scorpio, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

Leo the Lion

As the moon travels through four major phases each month, different energies are kicked up. This Monday the second quarter moon is in your sign, giving you some powerful moments of clarity. Try to capture any insights that come to you. Write them down in a journal, type them up in a Word document, or record them on tape. An important piece of the cosmic puzzle is being revealed to you. You may be given a glimpse of your spiritual purpose in this life. Or you may access wisdom about how to heal a relationship or change a business situation. The rest of the week will challenge you to study, examine, and consider these ideas more in depth. Make like the student of life you have always been and explore what it's all about, what you're doing here, and where you are going.

Virgo the Virgin

If you want to complete a lot of tasks in a brief amount of time, late Monday through late Wednesday will be a clear-headed and energetic period. The moon in your sign will help you to express yourself well and put you in an optimistic mood. Why not manifest perfect health, perfect wealth, and a perfect relationship today? Why wait? You'll suddenly see how many of the things you thought were out of your reach are within your grasp. Innovative solutions along with more Earth-bound "luck" will come into view. Business and financial issues could take on a more flowing and profitable energy this week, so prepare for some welcome expansion. It's just a matter of showing up and being ready to work, a smile on your face and your clipboard in hand.

Libra the Scales

The sun joining Venus in friendly Air sign Gemini will help you to feel like you're at the top of your game. Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy. Your sign is the scales, and you are always measuring things, balancing different points of view, wondering which qualities you would be wisest to adopt in your own life. You see both sides of every argument, which often gives you a headache! This week you'll be more confident as you weigh your options and figure out which path is the best and brightest. Trust your judgment and don't second-guess yourself, okay? Deep in your heart and soul, you know exactly what needs to be done. So do it, already!

Scorpio the Scorpion

As a tremendously psychic sign, you're always plugged in to the world of the subconscious. If you're like most Scorpios, you probably remember a fair amount of your dreams and have had amazing psychic experiences on more than one occasion. As Neptune goes retrograde this week, you could become more aware of the darker side of life. This is partly due to Neptune and partly due to Mercury being opposite your sign in Taurus. While the shadow side may suddenly seem more dominant and you may perceive much that is black in others, this is actually a powerful time to practice your amazing "Jedi" powers. Start blasting others with the divine power of love, that amazing energy you always have in your heart, and watch as those shadows dissipate.

Sagittarius the Archer

The sun is joining Venus opposite your sign, and for the next few weeks, you may not feel terribly comfortable in your own skin. You could be questioning personal relationships, worrying that you're in the wrong career, or wondering if you are living in the right location. Keep in mind that this is due to the magnetic pull of those planets. They are challenging you to get clear about what is truly meaningful and truly healthy in your life. If some element is really bothering you, explore things more deeply. Maybe it's time to rid yourself of a habit, a friendship, or a project that is no longer in alignment with your true self. Change can be good if you're doing it for the right reasons!

Capricorn the Goat

As a grounded Earth sign, Air isn't your favorite element. With the sun and Venus zipping along in Air sign Gemini, you could feel a little fragmented. Time is moving at an annoyingly fast pace, and you can barely keep track of all the projects you need to complete, phone calls you need to make, and emails you need to respond to. You WILL get it all done, I promise! The key is not to waste or dissipate your energy with lots of obsessive thinking or complaining. Roll up your sleeves, focus on what you have to do, and you'll be amazed at how beautifully things flow for you this week. The moon in friendly Virgo from late Monday to late Wednesday will bring you some extra clarity along the way.

Aquarius the Water-Bearer

The sun is joining Venus in kindred spirit Air sign Gemini, which is good for you. You'll feel bouncy and happy overall, just like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. ("Their tops are made out of rubber! Their bottoms are made out of springs!") Although others around you may be the walking wounded right now, you only see the light shining through the clouds. Share that healing touch and loving point of view with friends who need a lift. Guide your best friend through her latest breakup and help her to keep her self-esteem intact. Comfort a parent who is going through a rough time. Give helpful information to a stranger who could use some help from a guardian angel. If the wings fit, wear them!

Pisces the Fish

With powerhouse Mars still dancing through your sign, you're feeling pretty confident about your talents and abilities. You could be a little droopy on Tuesday and Wednesday while the moon hangs out in opposite sign Virgo, but you'll quickly pick yourself up and dust yourself off before the weekend. Although things aren't happening quite as quickly as you might wish, there is a lot of progress in your life right now. Think of this as a marathon that is two-thirds of the way through. Before long, you'll be crossing the finish line and winning the gold medal. Right now, it's just important to put one foot in front of the other, keep yourself hydrated, and keep moving.

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