May 2-8, 2008
May Day can be a play day as flirtatious Venus favors both passionate
Pluto and not-so-sexy Saturn. On Friday Saturn in picky Virgo comes out of the
retrograde session that began at the winter solstice, and Mercury enters Gemini,
the mobile air sign it rules, and where it'll wander until July 10. Early
Monday morning there'll be a pleasure-loving, down-to-earth Taurus new moon
to get us through assorted Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Next Friday, May 9, Jupiter
in Capricorn goes retrograde until Labor Day, and Mars finally leaves Cancer,
where it's been since September 28, for Leo. Lots of changes.

Aries

Money could matter more than it usually does simply because the pragmatic Taurus
sun and appreciative Venus are transiting through your second house of assets
and acquisitions. If you can resist temptation, wait until the Taurus new moon
on the 5th initiates a new lunar cycle before buying or selling stuff. Unfortunately,
this caveat might be difficult to follow. While designer-friendly Venus forms
rewarding trines this weekend with Saturn and Pluto, a much-coveted item of your
dreams will probably be on sale.

Taurus

Like your neighbor the Ram, the Bull may be seduced by the attractions that catch
your eye this weekend. Why not use Monday's Taurus new moon magic to let
your psychic friends know what you really want for your birthday? While your luxury-loving
Venus ruler is in your sign, you shouldn't be reticent about expressing
your desires. Besides, it's Beltane, baby! This is also a good time to solidify
travel plans for the months that free-spending Jupiter in your house of long distance
destinations will be retrograde: May 9 to Sept. 7.

Gemini

One thing leads to another — a maxim that could strike home once your Mercury
ruler enters Gemini on May 2. What you might notice immediately is that restrictive
Saturn in your house of commuting and communicating is beginning to look forward
after nearly five months retrograde. Time for another vehicle? Maybe upgrade your
printer? Because this is the last week in a long while (until July 4) that you
won't be affected by Mercury's impending retrograde, you should consider
dealing with these matters ASAP.

Cancer

Remembering that your ruling orb is exalted in the sign of the Bull can make the
Cinco de Mayo new moon particularly significant to the open-minded, openhearted
Moon Child. This lunar cycle focuses on friends and associates and, because productive
Taurus governs that area, achieving the goals you have in common. If independent
Mars in your sign since October encouraged you to think first of yourself and
act on your own, you should know that its transit ends on the 9th. Another change:
enthusiastic Jupiter turns retrograde in your Capricorn marriage house that day.

Leo

Haven't you noticed that when the sun is passing through your Taurus midheaven,
you tend to be offered one career opportunity after another? Monday's merger
of the exalted Taurus moon and your creative sun ruler could attract a great gig,
one with obvious potential for success. Even if the challenge seems somewhat daunting
at first, you will have help: As of the 9th, energetic and gutsy Mars will be
working its way through Leo until July 1, providing both the daring and endurance
to maintain a competitive edge.

Virgo

Along with a promising new moon in your Taurus house of lifelong aspirations and
long trips, there are quite a few changes this week. Watch what happens when pragmatic
Saturn in early Virgo comes out of a five-month retrogression and points you to
the future. Its provocative square to your Mercury ruler, in mobile Gemini as
of Friday, could help you make a commitment to attaining a purely personal goal.
Jolly Jupiter's back flip in your Capricorn house of risk and recreation
on the 9th shouldn't stop you from having fun, just from spending a fortune
pursuing it.

Libra

It may seem a little premature, but if you think you can lend your support to
an elderly friend or a resourceful neighbor and receive theirs in return, you
probably can. Just give them time to respond to the favorable vibes generated
by your sociable Venus ruler. Also of help, the productive Taurus new moon starting
a lunar cycle based on sharing resources and accessing other people's money.
Is there a community garden in your future? Note that Mercury will be in air-sign
friendly Gemini for the next 10 weeks, retrograde from Memorial Day to the summer
solstice. Writing? Flying?

Scorpio

The sensual Taurus new moon in your house of significant others can make this
Cinco de Mayo a day to remember, particularly since any lunar cycle that begins
with margaritas is bound to be interesting. Saturn turning direct at the top of
your solar chart should be good for your reputation, replenishing the aura of
respectability that may have been tarnished during its retrogression. But the
main change starts on the 9th when your Mars co-ruler ends its seven- month transit
through mood-fluctuating Cancer and enters Leo, the sunny sign governing your
career.

Sagittarius

Whatever unspecified restrictions were keeping you from getting to where you really
want to be might be lifted as soon as Saturn in your house of lifelong ambitions
comes out of retrograde on Friday. That's also the day that mobile Mercury
enters your Gemini complement. However, you should take this timetable into consideration
when making plans: Mercury turns retrograde on Memorial Day, faces forward at
the summer solstice, and doesn't clear the shadow (the degree, 22 Gemini,
at which it flipped into reverse) until July 4.

Capricorn

Serious playtime. Use the no-bullshit power of Monday's new moon, exalted
in earthy Taurus, to pursue a romantic or creative goal you've been yearning
to nail all year long. The annual lunation in your house of pure pleasure is special;
don't waste its potential for success on anything you don't love with
a passion. Perhaps you should start your private celebration on May Day when your
Saturn ruler finds favor with affectionate Venus. Continue through Friday as Saturn
turns direct after almost five months in retrograde. Whoopee!

Aquarius

Home sweet home. The “make it beautiful” Taurus new moon can inspire
all sorts of decorating and gardening projects, some of which you have an excellent
chance of finishing. Like your own fixed sign, what this productive earth sign
initiates it follows through to completion. And because you're likely to
be invigorated by the challenge, you're liable to achieve your aesthetic
best. That is, if you're not distracted by Mercury, the first of the planets
to enter your Gemini house of romance and recreation. How much time can one person
spend on the phone?

Pisces

Friday could be significant, not only because stringent Saturn in your Virgo house
of partners is finally facing forward, but also because Mercury leaves even-keeled,
beauty-loving Taurus for Gemini, the mutable air sign that changes positions as
easily as you do. Maybe you won't react until Saturday, when Saturn and
Mercury square off. Or perhaps only the February Fish will notice that they're
being pressured into making a decision they'd rather not. Relief for all
on Cinco de Mayo as the Taurus new moon inaugurates a new lunar cycle highlighting
what you truly value.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.