May- New Moon
New Moon in Taurus
Saturday, at 1 p.m. PDT, we will have a new moon aligned with the constellation of Taurus.
We are truly in a time of transition, as many planets are changing constellations these days: the Sun and Mercury entered Taurus, Venus in Gemini and Saturn enters a new nakshatra tomorrow—the last of the zodiac (Revati)—where it will remain until October. Jupiter is also in transition and will enter its sign of exaltation on June 1 for a year: Cancer!
We are thus moving out of the fiery energy of Aries (sidereal astrology) and into the more grounded and practical sign of Taurus. It’s time to bring our projects into the physical realm, to connect with the Earth through gardening, landscaping, or simply walks in nature.
The Sun and Moon are accompanied by Mercury and Uranus. We may experience some mood swings and feel mentally restless. However, Uranus pulls us out of our comfort zone, brings unexpected events, and invites us to open up to new ideas!
The new moon will align with the Pleiades, known as Krittika in Vedic astrology. This lunar constellation is ruled by Agni, the god of fire, and Kartikeya, Shiva’s warrior son. Krittika means “cutting through negativity to reach the truth.” Its symbol is a knife or razor, signifying a sharp and uncompromising energy. It’s time to speak the truth, but be mindful of how you say it! Agni invites us to purification. It’s time for detoxes, to shed the old layers accumulated over winter, and to build a beautiful campfire to connect with this element. Agni is also linked to cooking, as he is the digestive fire. We might feel like cooking more!
This new moon also marks Shani Jayanti, the birthday of Shanideva (Saturn). Saturn is an unloved planet, as we tend to blame it for all our misfortunes! Isn’t it called “the great malefic” in astrology? Immature souls who seek only ease in life—like children who want to eat nothing but sweets—curse it, whereas the wise know that bitterness is good for the soul, that this planet is necessary to keep karmic accounts, helping us develop resilience, equanimity, and maturity! This day falls on a Saturday, Saturn’s day, which makes it even more significant. Here are some ways to honor Saturn today, or any Saturday: give to the poor, practice humility, care for the elderly, and… feed the crows! Happy New Moon and Shani Jayanti to all!
Author: Marie-Josée Veilleux, Jyotish (Vedic Astrologer)
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