This week is a doozy, with a whole bunch of planetary movement across the heavens. Thankfully, Mercury ends his tumultuous journey through Aries and enters Taurus for 16 days, starting on 13th May. While in the sign of the Bull, Mercury will slow down his thinking and speaking long enough to figure out the true value of the information he’s hearing, which should give us a moment to catch up on all that we learned since his retrograde back in March. Take your time processing things — you’ll be patient yet decisive in the days to follow.
We'll break new ground with a fresh and fertile new moon in Taurus on 15th May, which asks us to plant new seeds around what we value in our lives. Then, a few hours later, Uranus leaves Aries behind after seven years of fast (and often fiery) upheaval and enters stable Taurus. This combination is a bit of a head-scratcher, change-seeking Uranus in the sign of the immovable Bull, and no doubt this transition will bring with it earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in both nature and our personal lives. This doesn’t have to be a negative. These dramatic shifts tend to lay new ground for fresh innovation, which is all that Uranus really wants. Somewhere in your life you may have fallen into a rut, even if it means putting up with dissatisfying circumstances for the sake of ease. That comes to an end this week as we all start the six-month test run of Uranus in Taurus. We get a bigger push for change when Mars ends his embattled run through Capricorn and enters freedom-loving Aquarius on 16th May. He’ll nudge you to speak up and act on your sudden impulses as he grinds up against Uranus and Mercury. Trust that you know what you’re doing. This is your chance to build a new foundation from which your life will grow.
Taurus
April 20 to May 20
It’s not that you dislike change, Taurus, but you tend to take the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to life. You accept that there’s a natural progression to things: If you follow the necessary steps and execute the required tasks, you’ll ultimately get the result you’re after.
That’s still technically true, but you may find that the real change is coming from deep within you — and there’s not much that you can do to stop it. I would advise you to embrace it as opposed to fight against it. Follow through on all the urges to dye your hair or donate your former favourite clothes to charity. Let go of the set image that you have of yourself so that a new one can emerge. This week is powerful for you, Taurus. All the shifting planets are aligning to assist you, not only in deciding what needs to change, but in acting on those decisions, too. Mercury in your sign will lend a hand by giving you enough time to think things through, while Mars in Aquarius will nudge you to make serious moves when you feel ready. You’re crafting a new story about who you are and how you show up in the world — choose something you can feel proud of.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Gemini
May 21 to June 20
It’s time to retreat, Gemini. The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind, in which your deeply held passions have brushed up uncomfortably with your underlying hopes for the future (and with a few of your friends, too). I wouldn’t worry too much, as we all tend to have our Kanye West moments (hopefully to a slightly less damaging degree). Instead of struggling to make sense of the truth in the outside world, try going inward to get the answers. Find peace and quiet so that you can actually hear what your intuition wants to tell you. It just may have some clarifying insights about the information you're trying to gather from your environment.
Think of spending time in solitude as fine-tuning your imaginary antenna: It'll help you see the difference between truly radical philosophies and controversial clickbait. Set an intention to silence your mind more often so that you can arrange all the pieces of information you perceive into a bigger, interconnected picture. Imagine the kind of free thinking you can achieve when intuition, rather than dramatic misinformation, is your guide. When you’re ready, you can try acting on what you discover. That’s when the real fun begins. Happy meditating, Twins.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Cancer
June 21 to July 22
If your friendships aren’t giving you what you need, Cancer, maybe it’s time to get new friends, ones who share your enthusiasm and hopes for the future. Hell, at least find some friends who want to listen to you rant and rave about how hot Chris Hemsworth is in Infinity War. You’re not weird if you want to hang out with people who are as nerdy and quirky as you are, Cancer. On this Tuesday's new moon, set an intention to be around people who share your passion, whatever that may be, so that you have a crew that wants to see you succeed in going after your wishes.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself suddenly knocked out of old friendships as new ones start to make themselves known to you. It’s okay to let go, Crab. You’ll still have all the memories. For now, focus on being with like-minded people who are equally excited by your energy. See what you can create when you’re unafraid to stand up for your crazy visions.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Leo
July 23 to August 22
Think of yourself as a royal sitting on your throne, assessing your leadership to date and the impact it's had on your kingdom. How do your people see you? Are you inspired to elevate your nation’s standards of living? And even more importantly, are you enjoying your time as ruler or do you feel like you need to make a change in order to feel deeply satisfied? These are the questions to keep in mind this week as you assess your reputation and how it's affecting your life.
Change doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve failed, Leo. It could just be that it’s time for a new direction, one that allows you to be more influential, where your leadership elevates not only you, but positively affects the people you come across. Note that not everyone will be onboard with your change in agenda. Don’t be surprised if your actions lead to a few squabbles with the people closest to you. Instead of being discouraged, listen to their constructive criticism, then use it as fuel to reimagine your relationship to your kingdom.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Virgo
August 23 to September 22
How far do you want to go, Virgo? This week’s changing energy is calling attention to where you’ve grown stagnant in your current thinking and perspective. The world is more than what you can touch and taste, so commit to exploring it in all its facets.
Branch out, open your mind to new beliefs, and think of new projects that you can funnel your energy into. Much of your journey so far has seen you learning to trust your ability to create and express yourself. However, what good is that creativity if it's kept in a box, never to see the light of day? Start thinking bigger and stranger than you have before. Then set an intention to follow through on your big ideas to see what they look like when made a reality. The challenge for you, Virgo, is to avoid limiting your dreams to what has already been discovered. Instead, consider what doesn’t yet exist but should — there's a chance that only your expert hands and diligent hard work can pull it into being.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Libra
September 23 to October 22
You get to decide what it means to be intimate with others, Libra. That should be fun, seeing as how relationships are your thing and all — aren't they? As anti-Libran as it may sound, relationships haven't really been of interest to you lately, but the idea of them absolutely is. No judgment, because we all know that partnering with other people isn't always an idyllic stroll in the park. Ultimately, our relationships give us a clearer picture of who we are as individuals by way of comparing and contrasting.
This Tuesday's new moon will ask you to release all the roadblocks you've put up against being close to and opening up to others. No intellectualising here, Libra. Try not to think through the feelings and feel them instead. Set an intention to get to know how you and your partners really tick. What underlying fears and passions drive you? Cosy up with the skeletons in your closet and dig into those secrets. The point of all of this probing is to free yourself from the fear of experiencing the heavier emotions that emerge in your relationships, because they’re not going anywhere. Your best bet is to make peace with that and learn to have fun while gaining a deeper understanding of how the human heart ticks.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Scorpio
October 23 to November 21
This week kicks off a new and exciting saga for your one-on-one relationships, Scorp. Everyone from your main bar to your business partners to even your arch nemesis will be demanding your attention. Now that you're in the spotlight, it may be time to reconsider how you’ve been relating to others and whether or not the current framework is really serving you.
Are your emotional needs being met? Do you feel secure and supported? Are you able to help others feel the same? Let this week be your reminder that partnerships are about giving and taking, mirroring each other's strengths and weaknesses. What parts of yourself are you giving away to your partners instead of owning those traits as your own?
There may be a changing of the guard in your relationships starting this week, too. Look at who is leaving and who is coming in, as they’re all about to teach you about what it means to be with someone else. Set an intention to be in relationships that give you what you actually desire instead of clinging to the ones that may look good on paper but leave you feeling empty.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Sagittarius
November 22 to December 21
Though they may seem boring and predictable, there is value in sticking to routines, Sag. For you, the thrill may be in discovering that organisation and restraint can do wonders for your productivity and happiness. Eating nourishing foods, getting enough rest, and generally doing what you can to keep your mind, body and spirit healthy is enough to change your life. Rather than seeing routine as a threat to your freedom, look at all the ways it frees up your time so that you can do what you like.
This week may challenge you to see how practicality, limitations and persistence serve you rather than shackle you. You’re the captain of this ship, Archer. How you maintain your vessel and which currents you follow remain up to you. Instead of overanalysing why life has gone the way that it has, change your approach so that you can enjoy the part of life that's about to unfold. You don’t have to have all the answers or be perfect in this very moment in order to enjoy your journey. Just organise your inner world so that you can forge ahead toward success.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Capricorn
December 22 to January 19
Don’t believe the hype about grinding until the wheels fall off, Cap. Life doesn’t have to be that way. Your commitment to being known as the hardest working sign in the Zodiac is commendable, but perhaps it's time for a new calling card. This new moon is calling you to find ways to shine in all that you do — and to resist the urge to stick to what's safe. Radiate who you really are, Seagoat, including all your quirks and strange interests. Set the intention to wear your individuality like a badge of honour. Throw yourself into your hobbies, take more risks and – here's an idea – have fun.
The point of this isn’t to turn you into someone that you’re not but to get you closer to expressing your whole self. You aren’t just the summation of your accomplishments, Cap. You’re a unique individual. You're choosing this path because it allows you to be true to who you are — right? If this isn’t already the case, you’ll be encouraged to align yourself with your desires. Your passions should be what's leading you up the mountain, not guilt and expectations.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Aquarius
January 20 to February 18
It’s a perfect new moon for some literal spring cleaning, Water Bearer. Toss the clutter, empty out the closets and make space for fresh energy. While you’re at it, you can clean out your psychological closets, too. Pay special attention to what old thought patterns have been getting in the way of your forward motion. Remind yourself that home and family are the literal and figurative expressions of what it means to be nurtured, protected and supported. Is that what you’re experiencing or could your domestic life use some tweaking?
Clean up your home so that it becomes a fortress in which you can recharge and reaffirm yourself (not just the place you run to when you want to hide from the world and all its uncertainties). Go to ground this week and see how your confidence improves when you adjust how you nurture yourself. It’s okay to take care of your needs first, Aquarius. In doing so, you inspire others to do the same.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Pisces
February 19 to March 20
You may come to enjoy this new moon and the energy it brings to your life, Pisces, as long as you learn to balance the frenzy of your life with some restful downtime. You’re being asked to see and understand your world from a different perspective, one that relies on intuition and sudden flashes of insight — not just whatever information is readily available.
You may be one of the few signs that actually likes questioning reality and engaging in mind-bending theories. No matter how complex, your mind manages to find the thread that links all your late-night conversations, endless Google searches and unexplained knowledge together. Set an intention this week to enjoy the process of learning and discovering new things, while learning to trust the intuition you’ve been blessed with. Since this week's energy will be lively and rapid, be careful with all things related to communications and travel. When they get together, Uranus and Mars love to manifest a good ole fashioned argument or accident in your life. Try to balance your intuition with common sense to avoid the worst of this unexpected, ever-changing energy.
Illustrated by Abbie Winters.
Aries
March 21 to April 19
Now that you’ve been radicalised from the inside out, you have the opportunity to test drive your new sense of self. It’s kind of like when Tony Stark takes a new Iron Man suit for a spin just to enjoy the bells and whistles. Your inner being has been upgraded, Ram. Now your focus must shift to your values and your money. What do you want to invest in? What’s the new wealth story you want to tell? This week could have you questioning your relationship with money and whether it has an unhealthy hold on you. Do you own your money and use it to move freely through life, or does your money own you by dictating what you can and cannot do?
The same questions can be asked of your values and principles. Do they support you and your actions, or do they keep you locked in one place for fear of breaking some unspoken rule? This Tuesday's new moon will help you discover new ways to make a living that involve your natural talents and let you collaborate with people who share your vision. Put words to what you want to create, note if it matches up with your expertise, then act on your intuition. You may get some pushback from friends and associates, but you already know that genius is rarely understood at first glance.
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