Are you feeling a little maddened by information glitches, or technological problems, or maybe even transportation issues?  (Mercury retrograde.) Most matters of this sort will be resolved by May 11^th.  Otherwise, the month starts with a sweet romantic aspect on the 7^th (Venus sextile Mars), followed by a favorable direction regarding land, real estate, and wealth from the 12^th to 14^th.  (Mercury's station direct in Taurus, well aspected to Pluto in Capricorn). Between the 17^th to 18^th, love and idealism enhance an upbeat feeling (Sun sextile Jupiter; Venus trine Neptune).  The focus is on family, tradition and homeland on the 19^th - 20^th (Sun trine Saturn; Venus into Cancer).  By the third week, slowdowns and innovation are the watchwords (Jupiter opposite Saturn; Sun sextile Uranus).  Tension between traditionalists and progressives has been simmering - people's attitudes are marked by either anger at frustrating limitations or an impatient urge for further change (Mars leaves the shadow of its retrograde; Saturn opposite Uranus). This push-pull will last through July, is especially emphasized over Memorial Day weekend, and because of its chronic uncertainty is undermining to the nation's recovery (Saturn station direct opposite Uranus, quincunx Neptune). The holiday weekend is quite dynamic, with plenty of travel, plus plenty of philosophical discussion about everyone's beliefs about our government...an effort to educate ourselves about the Constitution comes to a head (Full Moon in Sagittarius).  False hopes are raised between 5/24^th-29^th (Jupiter quincunx Neptune).  A tremendous crisis begins boiling over (Uranus enters Aries on the world degree, starting to form the cardinal t-square with Pluto and Saturn).

For America, mid-month is a time of diplomacy but the goals of recovery continue to be delayed (Mercury station direct sextile Venus but opposite progressed Saturn).  The focus turns to job creation and real estate (New Moon in Taurus 6^th).  Positive news and stock market gains sparkle from the 3^rd - 18^th (Jupiter trine Mercury/progressed Node/Fortuna).  Memorial Day weekend gives a helpful pattern for the smart use of resources and sensible budgetary planning (Saturn station direct trine Pluto exact in the 2^nd).  However, the feeling of anxiety just can't be shaken (Neptune station retrograde conjunct Moon).  The populace is angry too, and losing patience (progressed Moon square Mars).

Pres. Obama is feisty and active on May 1^st, and needs to watch his health, especially his heart (Mars conjunct his Leo Sun).  He sees the first half of the month as an opportunity to heal his image (Pluto Rx sextile Chiron on his 1^st), but will keep displaying the old weakness and foolish optimism that can blind-side him and place him in a victimizable role vis-à-vis untrustworthy "friends" the whole month long (Neptune Rx opposite his progressed Uranus/progressed Venus, quinqunx his progressed Sun).  On the 13^th he may lash out in a quarrel with a partner, ally, or spouse, or against a challenging foe (Mars conjunct his Descendant).  The second half of May is full of drastic change or erratic behavior regarding financial matters, and little goes as planned (Uranus opposite his progressed Sun from 2^nd to 8^th).  He might be tempted to splurge again on the holiday weekend (Jupiter opposite his progressed Sun).  May 29^th is a dangerous date for his well-being (Mars conjunct his Uranus/progressed Node)!  Will someone take a potshot at him!?  If so, it would be an unmistakable message: STOP SPENDING!  Thankfully, there is a maturing and protective (albeit responsibility-filled) pattern then too (Saturn station direct trine his progressed Jupiter exact, moving onto a conjunction to his progressed Sun again).