Phases of the Moon, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern hemisphere will see a mirror image of this phase. (Source:Wikipedia)

Phases of the Moon, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern hemisphere will see a mirror image of this phase. (Source:Wikipedia)

Hello, everyone.

This week there is only one major aspect in the skies, an opposition of Mars and Neptune on Friday.  All of the other action is in planets changing direction and changing signs.

Sunday, May 30

Usually I would have included this Sunday in last week’s weekly forecast, but there was so much going on with Uranus’ ingress into Aries I didn’t mention the fact that Saturn resumes direct motion today.

When a planet resumes direct motion it means it has ended its apparent trek backwards and has reached the point where it will begin forward motion again.  Retrograde motion is a time of review and replay, covering ground we have already trekked but from another direction.  It’s an opportunity for a second chance.

Since Saturn rules business matters such as systems, controls, audits, bureaucracy, and outside regulators, hopefully we’ve taken this time to take a second look at how secure our controls are and we are ready for any scrutiny of our business systems.  Saturn has returned to 27 degrees of Virgo, where he was last October.  Virgo likes systems perfectly in order and we’ve all been feeling the pull to make them so.  Whether we’ve acted on that pull is another matter!

But we’ve got one more chance.  Saturn will remain in the last few degrees of Virgo until July 21, again covering the same ground one more time in direct motion.  If there’s anything you’ve needed to take care of, especially having to do with order, controls, or regulatory matters, do it now.  The energy will support you and you’ll be well prepared for Saturn’s reentrance into Libra in July.

Monday

On Monday Neptune turns retrograde until November 7.  The outer planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, are not really personal in nature.  They mark trends and movements in the collective, although they can feel personal if these movements collide with our cherished aims and desires.  But these planets are about moving our sphere of life forward as a whole and they will overcome our resistance eventually.

When such a distant planet as Neptune turns retrograde we are likely to see its effects in our society.  Again, retrograde motion is a time of revisiting what has happened in the past, this time back to February 2010.  Look for reversals or reexaminations of decisions regarding health care, oil drilling (yes, Neptune rules oil and liquids of all kinds), the creative arts, drugs legislation, and shipping, to name a few areas.  If your business is involved in any of these areas, be prepared for confusion and lack of clarity until November.

Friday

On Friday, Mars in Leo forms an opposition to retrograde Neptune.  This could afford you the first opportunity to see how the retrograde Neptune will play out over the next few months.  Mars in Leo wants what it wants and what it wants is personal recognition and an outlet for its creativity.  Today you may have the sense that your efforts have been in vain and your fire (Mars) is doused (Neptune).  Your efforts have not been in vain, and in fact, if you can let some dreamy inspiration come in you will find yourself the most inspired you’ve been in a long time.  You may have to share the limelight or reach for collaboration, but if you do, you win.

Sunday, June 6

On Sunday, the planet Jupiter enters Aries, to join up with Uranus in a couple of days.  Jupiter has been showing his best face while he was in Pisces; he rules that sign and when he is in Pisces he softens and becomes service oriented.  But he changes his tune when he enters Aries.  Like the king of the gods he is, he becomes desirous, bombastic, self-involved, and larger-than-life.

Jupiter represents our judgment and benevolence and optimism.  Jupiter in Aries is optimistic; you may find yourself reaching for goals you could only imagine before.  But I wouldn’t say your judgment will be perfect and I’d watch out for your own and others’ ethics.  You may feel inclined to expediency rather than strict adherence to the law and you may also feel that you are as invulnerable as a god.  Careful, careful with that. 

Risk-taking is fine but balance it with that conservative Saturn in Virgo:  have a plan and check it twice, or better yet, appoint someone to act as chief ethical officer for the next few months and listen to them.  That way you’ll get ahead but stay out of trouble at the same time.

Have a great week!

To explore retrograde motion, see these posts:

Elegant Stillness

Retracing Your Steps – Retrograde Motion

What did you miss?

For more info on the planets influencing the week, see

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Neptune

Don’t forget. If you have an astrology-related business question (or a business-related astrology question) send it to me at ellen@astro4business.com. I’ll answer it in these posts, anonymously of course, and we can all learn from each other’s experiences. I look forward to it! Have a question now? Email it and let’s get started!