Bonfire of Vitality

May 2025

May links us to planting season. We till the soil of our lives and focus on what we want to grow, to see blossom and eventually harvest.  May is inevitably entwined with Taurus, the first earth sign of the zodiac.  It rules resources both tangible and intangible, such as our skills and talents harnessed to acquire fuel for our survival as well as our material comfort.

Yet while the Sun moves through Taurus this month, it is the fire signs, especially Aries that prevail. This energy is most helpful to drive us forward to build momentum after the protracted wintertime inner planetary retrogrades of Mars, Venus and Mercury.

Aries doesn’t hesitate, ask around or look for permission.  It leaps into action. And on May 1st, so does Valuable Venus boldly entering Aries straight out of the gate. Though the goddess of love is not particularly comfortable in this fiery sign, Venus does direct our energy to get on with life and quickly. 

She joins Neptune, both aligning to Mars in creative Leo with Venus aligning helpfully to her counterpart Mars the entire month to boot! The glamourous power couple loops Messenger Mercury into the Aries brigade and you can fairly hear the cosmos calling out:  Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. If the second half of April found us waking up like bears emerging from hibernation, the beginning of May finds us on the move and actively in the hunt. Slackers:  stand aside.

Our initiative, spark and spunk is bursting. We’re high on rocket fuel. There’s zero room for hesitation now. Those hesitating aren’t just lost, they’ll fall leagues behind. Feel the power surge, that we can topple skyscrapers in a single bound. There is no one and nothing to stop us. Let them dare even try. Headstrong, bold and brazen, you may not listen to others who try to reason. Think reckless teenager taking his parents car for a spin when they’re away for the weekend…a classic case of a rebel without a cause, on a mission but to where exactly?

All ideas may not be great ideas now. 

So how do we direct this bonfire of raw vitality? Pacing. Pacing is critical now.  Be completely honest with yourself and others.  It is essential not to burn yourself out by taking on more than you can reasonably manage. Be selective. Refuse to bite off more than you can chew.  Only commit to people and projects that you can attend to. Evenly parcel out your tasks.  If you experience a flood of business, ideas, or demands, ask for help, assign tasks to a schedule, and above all delegate. You can say yes and figure it all out later as long as you have a plan to show up, do what you say you were going to do, and honor your commitments.

The last thing you want to do is drop the ball and become known as feckless.

The great news is, what you already have going on in the hopper has more than enough gas to see your efforts through.  Anything waiting in the wings will take off now.  The first week of May is the time to sprint. 

There’s really nothing to slow us down, save for Powerful Pluto turning retrograde on Sunday, May 4th, though we do not feel these outer planetary reverse gear shifts as we might with Mercury, Mars and Venus. There’s not much of a cosmic brake pedal to speak of to hold us back until the second weekend in May when Messenger Mercury enters methodical Taurus and challenges Pluto in Aquarius. 

This aspect is a blessing in disguise as it gives us momentary pause to consider our options amidst our urge to rapidly charge forth.  Especially as it falls under the waxing light of the moon which reaches its apex on Monday, May 12th. In secretive Scorpio, all the dirt and grime comes up and out to be revealed under the spotlight of this Full Moon.

It follows that mid-month holds some very dicey days.

The Scorpio Full Moon aligns to the lunar north node and Saturn in Pisces.  We are in the flow and in the know.  Feel your intuitive spidey senses tingle.  They are indeed accurate. While others may talk and persuasively convince you that your feelings are misguided, do not take the bait. You are being tested now. Trust yourself.  Do not doubt or dismiss what your gut informs you under the spotlight of this powerful Full Moon. 

Hit the pause button before replying or committing to anything or anyone.  This is essential. With three planets in fiery Aries, we want to rush in where angels fear to tread.  Indeed anger and violence are brewing and brimming to overflow. People are easily triggered and trigger happy. To agitate things further, the Sun conjoins Radical Uranus from May 15-19th signaling a sea change in values.

How we assign and prioritize value is shifting monumentally now.  With whom and how we spend our time and energy, how we earn our living, apply our skills and talents is under careful scrutiny.   In the wake of such a revelatory Full Moon, this is peak shake up and shake down energy. Expecting the unexpected is an understatement.   

Take a walk, take a breath, and definitely hold your tongue now.

During this same stretch, Motivating Mars challenges Messenger Mercury, rendering particularly stubborn energy.  Watch for people digging their heels in and refusing to budge an inch, looking for fights, or throwing obstacles and roadblocks in your path.  The best case implies you will not receive any response to your inquiries. Watch for those drawing lines in the sand with real attitudes of this is mine and that is yours.

Fortunately, this impasse abates by May 21st when the Sun enters flexible Gemini aligning to Powerful Pluto. Overnight it seems we can move mountains.  People are receptive to our ideas and want to hear more.

The cosmic gear shifts are just getting warmed up. The planets are ready to roll.

Late on Saturday, May 24th, Taskmaster Saturn enters Aries.  Joining inspirational Neptune at the creator degree 00 Aries, Saturn takes the concept of cosmic power couple to the next level. Where Neptune dreams, Saturn builds.  In trail blazing Aries, this dynamic pair is an unstoppable force.  Together, they refuse to take no for an answer and will climb over, go around or barrel through any impediment to their mission.  They are brazen and see no reason to adhere to traditions or customs just because something “has always been done that way”.

Saturn and Neptune will travel together in Aries until the end of August.  Bold, brash and pioneering, they fearlessly try anything new simply for the experience.  Their motto is leap and the net will appear.  What is the worst that could possibly happen?  You will find yourself forging new paths, engaging with new people, experimenting with fresh ideas and methods, and more.

Just make sure you keep an end goal in sight.  Aries energy is easily distracted. Watch for tempers flaring and surging anger.  Avoid raging just to rage. Use this dynamic influence for good.

Heading into the end of May, we make our way to the New Moon very late on Monday, May 26th.  The Sun and Moon in communicative Gemini tightly conjoin the sign’s ruler Messenger Mercury.  A powerful trio form our very own personal public relations and advertising agency. They will sign, seal and deliver your deepest desires.  So take the cosmic cue to set your intentions.  Carefully hand write three to five goals or wishes you seek to manifest over the coming weeks and months.  Then bury these in the softening earth or set safely alight.

The heavy winter months are behind us; the long slog is over and done.  Point yourself toward the future and watch the road open in front of your eyes.  You can fairly hear the theme song “Ain’t no stoppin’ us now…”playing as we step forward. We are on our way.

Of Special Note:

Are you in search of a healer?  Don’t know where to look to find excellent, vetted alternative and metaphysical practitioners?  Check out The Seekers Field Guide!! I am so thrilled to now be a guide and offer my services with this groundbreaking resource offering a directory of the best healers in the business. Visit:  www.seekersfieldguide.com to learn more!

The 3 Wise Women is off and running!  Our community is about to celebrate its first anniversary. Join us!  We are three veteran metaphysical practitioners offering community, conversation and connection via zoom every first Tuesday of the month @6 pm eastern.  For just $10/session, feel safe among like-minded seekers to ask your wildest woo questions and learn from each other.  To enroll:  www.cathyripleygreene.com

Mystical Messages features my monthly astrology forecasts if you prefer listening via podcast.  Also featured are cutting edge healing arts practitioners.  Tune in and listen through Youtube, Apple or Spotify or hear previous episodes:  www.hilaryharley.com

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