Astrology Stress Zones for May-June 2005 - Squares and Oppositions, platforms and thresholds of integrative change

by Robert Wilkinson

Through the end of May we confront several challenging configurations, including a focused Yod, or "Finger of God," on May 23-26, with Mercury sextile Saturn both quincunx Pluto. This makes Pluto the nozzle, and echoes the Venus Yod in early May and Solar Yod in mid-May. It's the last of the sequence that began at the related Aquarius Yods in February, and marks a point of relative completion of this "squeeze-play." Much has been squeezed out of all our lives since February, and now we face a time of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all retrograde with the inner planets all direct. Uranus and Neptune both going stationary retrograde in the next few weeks indicate spiritual thresholds, whereas Jupiter going stationary direct on June 5 shows a platform from which a new Jupiterian adventure will be launched. I'll discuss more about these larger influences in the near future.

As for the stress points during the next few weeks, besides the Yod, there is a Venus square Mars on May 22-23 and Venus opposed Pluto May 29. There is a Sun square Uranus May 31-June 1, Mars square Pluto June 2-3, Mercury opposition Pluto June 7-8, Venus square Jupiter and Mercury square Mars both on June 10-11, culminating in Sun opposition Pluto, Uranus stationary retrograde, and Mercury square Jupiter in succession June 13-16. And yes, there are some harmonious aspects to provide positive outlets for the volatile energies unleashed during the next four weeks.

For the last 10 days of May and the first 2 weeks of June, Mars is trine Saturn, helping build the energies that will release through the Venus mutable T-square into Virgo. Mars' stability in trine to Saturn should help to steady the Venus square and opposition. This will help us understand our emotional intelligence, and assist in concentrating on how we can best purify our lives. This set of configurations will help us integrate and achieve movement in the Earth and Water areas in our charts. So flow, don't worry or nitpick, and stick to a practical routine.

Jupiter's quintile to Pluto will last through late July, assisting the unique specialization of the Pluto forces of transformation at work, and of course turning every Pluto opposition into a corresponding tredecile (108 degrees) with Jupiter. This will create unique interactive opportunities, or situations where our gifts correspond exactly with the collective need, or the collective situation provides us some form of a perfect and unique opportunity. And, before the Pluto oppositions, the Gemini transits will trine Jupiter, offering a platform from which to launch a vision glimpsed and brought into a concrete thought-form up to now. They will also immediately trine Neptune after trining Jupiter, creating a Grand Air Trine, always good for interactions, communications, ideas, and intellectual progress in general.

It's technically an offset opposition-sextile-trine configuration that throws positive energy into Leo, with a rectangle created by the Moon in Leo June 10-11. This in turn anticipates the Grand Fire Trine Of July, which will no doubt be an inspiration for everyone not six feet under (and maybe them too!)

Back to the immediate future. Venus will provide assistance and adaptability to the Sun square Uranus need to get things in gear and release your genius in ways society can recognize and value. The changes should be very good then for quick rewards when Venus trines Uranus on its retrograde station in the second week of June. This trine mitigates the Venus square Jupiter, and turns it to positive effect. Hang in there, keep your eyes on the long range prize, and put your best self forward. Uniqueness is favored. More harmonious gifts and developments comes at Mercury's square to Mars at the same time it is tredecile Uranus. The changes are favorable, even though hectic at times. Practical analysis is refined; just decrease sharpness. I'll discuss that in more depth next week.

© Copyright 2006 Robert Wilkinson. Last update: 8/27/2006; 10:53:14 AM.