The Money Revolution

‘Skyvibe’ Astrology Forecast for May 2018

May 2018 is all about the sign of Taurus. Of course the Sun is always in Taurus in May, but we may look back on this month as a watershed moment when everything changed, or at least as the beginning of a set of circumstances that led to a change. It all happens around the middle of the month when the planet of freedom and revolution, Uranus, moves from Aries to Taurus.

On 16th May Uranus moves from Aries, where it has been for the last eight years, to Taurus. Whilst transiting Aries Uranus squared off against Pluto seven times, triggering major global events such as the Arab Spring and the rise of freedom-fighters and radical extremists. It was the freedom of the individual squared off against the power of the Establishment. The hot-headed radical against the dominant and conservative order of Government. Now the planet of radical change, unexpected events, personal freedom and the “bolt from the blue” is moving into the sign associated with money and security, where it will remain for the next eight years.

Firstly, let’s consider the sign of Taurus and what it represents. Taurus’ astrological symbol is the Bull. It is the sign associated with material and financial security, money, self-worth, luxury, comfort, wellbeing, sensuality, sanctuary, indulgence, all of the good things in life that money can buy. It is ruled by the planet Venus in her fiscal, not her relational mode. It is Earthy, Fixed, loyal and stubborn. It hates change and just wants to be left in peace. It lends its symbol to the financial sphere, where a Bull Market is that time when stocks and bonds, currencies and commodities are on the rise, brokers are buying and trading is fierce. It is a time of economic optimism. All of these Taurean attributes are about to be shaken up by the arrival of Uranus, the bolt of lightning, the bringer of unexpected change, and money, the economy, the banking sector and all things financial are about to be changed forever.

Whenever the slow moving outer planets change sign, the effect is felt on a global scale, their transit through a sign tends to define a particular period in history. Of course they also affect each and every one of us as they transit and make aspects to the planetary placements in our own charts, but often the effect we feel personally mirrors what is happening on a global scale. Look at your own chart for any planets in Taurus; at some point over the next eight years Uranus will conjunct them. It will oppose any planets you have in Scorpio; sextile any planets in Pisces or Cancer; trine any planets in Virgo or Capricorn; square any planets you have in Leo or Aquarius; quincunx any planets in Sagittarius or Libra. Now have a look at the house in your chart with Taurus on the cusp, as this is the area where you will feel Uranus’ impact.

On a global scale, Uranus’ move to Taurus will bring a revolution to all things fiscal. Being Uranus, the planet of unpredictability, it is very difficult to pinpoint exactly what that revolution will entail. There has long been talk of a coming economic crash, perhaps Uranus will trigger it? Australia is currently riveted by the revelations of mismanagement and downright fraud perpetrated by the Banks and exposed by the Banking Royal Commission; perhaps we will see some radical new constraints put in place to rein in the greedy Banksters? In the UK Brexit and the deal the Government may strike with the EU is dominating the news; in the US the state of their economy and whether or not Trump has lived up to his election promises is front and centre. There is also a lot of chatter about a totally new form of currency being introduced, outmoding Bitcoin. Or perhaps we will lose money as we know it altogether and all operate on digital funds alone? Whatever the revolution, there will be those that welcome it with open arms, eager to embrace the Brave New World, and others who will see it as a threat to their personal security and the End Of Times. That is the impact that Uranus can have.

If we look back in history to the last time Uranus was in Taurus we see a precursor to these scenarios. Uranus was in Taurus from 1934 to 1942. In the 30’s the world was still reeling from the effects of the Great Depression, money was tight and many were out of work. During the War years rationing was introduced, goods could only be purchased in limited amounts and with the right ration card – an alternative currency in effect. As an interesting aside, Jupiter was in Scorpio in 1934 and 1935, just as it is now. At that time Franklin Roosevelt, the president of the US, introduced the Banking Act which concentrated the power of the Federal Reserve in Washington DC and the Social Security Act, both radical changes to the US economy. In 1935 the board game Monopoly was released, a game about property, finance and trading. Recently people were asked to vote on new player tokens to replace outdated ones, so we will be playing the new updated Monopoly under the same astrological influences as those at the time of its inception.

Other planetary happenings in May 2018 are a trine between the Sun in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn on 12th May, and on the same day a square between Mercury in Aries and Mars, also in Capricorn. Perhaps some sort of fiscal favour will be extended to the Financial Establishment that will arouse the ire of the media, provoking a strong response from the money sector. The next day, 13th May, Mercury will conjunct Uranus at the very last degree of Aries at 9.05pm before it moves into Taurus just 96 minutes later at 10.41pm. Whatever happens, with Mercury involved, it will likely play out in the nightly news.

The New Moon occurs at 9.48pm on 15th May at 24° Taurus. The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is A Large well-kept Public Park. A Public Park is a sanctuary we can all use, a place for citizens to enjoy, safeguarded from development, where nature is allowed to just be. The fact that it is well-kept shows that it is valued and loved, as effort has been expended to make it beautiful. The New Moon is a time of renewal, the beginning of a new cycle. What is it that you value, love and like to share? Is it under threat of being taken away, of becoming derelict? Is this something that is occurring in your own life, or is it a public amenity that you care about that this under threat? Whatever it is, be prepared to step up and speak out to protect it for your own and the common good.

There is a lot happening astrologically from mid-May to the end of the month. At 1.17am on 16th May Uranus will move into Taurus, and at 2.55pm Mars enters Aquarius, squaring Uranus. Uranus rules Aquarius, so there is a synergy between these planets, even though they are in a square aspect. On 19th May Mercury in Taurus will trine Saturn in Capricorn, Venus will enter Cancer and sextile Uranus and a day later Chiron will sextile Mars and the day after that, on 21st May, Chiron will square Venus and the Sun will move into Gemini. On 23rd May Mercury will be busy sextiling Neptune in Pisces and also opposing Jupiter in Scorpio and Chiron will sextile the Sun. On 24th May the Sun in Gemini will trine Mars in Aquarius and Jupiter will trine Neptune. On 26th May Venus in Cancer will oppose Saturn in Capricorn. A busy time when the planets are bouncing energy off each other like balls on a billiard table.

Finally, at the end of the month on 30th May we will have a Full Moon at 8° Sagittarius. The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon is A Mother leads her small child step by step up the stairs, a lovely symbol and very encouraging to end a month where so much is happening and much is uncertain. It is asking us to help others less able, to guide them up the stairs during times of confusion and insecurity, but to also accept help when it is offered by those older and wiser than ourselves. If we approach the future in a Taurean manner, one step at a time, then we know that we can reach the top.

Joanne Rixon

Joanne Rixon Astrologer