Greetings!
Welcome to the May It's All Good Astrology News. As always, thanks so much for allowing us the privilege of sending it to you!
The featured attraction, of course, is the May forecast (written, along with everything else in this issue, by Benjamin). But there's lots more! In this issue, for example, you can read about how the life-changing Uranus Opposition (a/k/a midlife crisis) affects everyone in their late 30's and early 40's, and learn how it totally transformed Benjamin's life.
Benjamin is in the spotlight a lot this month, in addition to his usual weekly hosting of This Week in Astrology (still going strong as the #1 astrology podcast on iTunes!). He's speaking at the world's largest astrology conference in Denver on May 17, and also lecturing for the Asheville Friends of Astrology on May 27. He's also doing a call-in show on relationship astrology on May 6. All the details are in this issue.
Finally, you can learn how you can now see live video of Benjamin and your chart during long-distance consultations, and join his online mentoring class (which now has a couple of openings).
Thanks again for choosing to receive the It's All Good Astrology News, . Enjoy the issue! |
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"Astrology of Relationships' Benjamin's Call-in Topic
 Benjamin will once again be the featured guest on Scott Andrew's AspireNow internet radio call-in show Tuesday, May 6, 8-9 p.m. US Eastern time. We'll be discussing astrology and taking live callers. If there's an astrological question on your mind -- general or personal -- please give us a ring!
The show is an interesting hybrid -- the live portion is a telephone conference call, after which the recording becomes available on the internet. You can listen in, call in with a question, or send a text message. (You can hear MP3s of Benjamin's earlier appearances on the show by clicking here.)
Here's how to call in:
1. Dial (724) 444-7444
2. Enter 37792 # (Talkcast Show ID)
3. Enter: 1 # or your Talkshoe PIN http://www.talkshoe.com/
Click here for more information about the show!
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Benjamin to Lecture for Asheville Friends of Astrology Tue., May 27
 Benjamin will speak on "Light Speed Astrology: Diving into the Heart of the Chart" for the Asheville Friends of Astrology on Tue., May 27 at 7 pm at Earth Fare Westgate (Community Room), 66 Westgate Parkway, Asheville NC. Love offering requested. Everyone is welcome!
After doing hundreds of walk-up consultations, Benjamin has learned how to zoom right in on the chart's most important information. He'll demonstrate several zero prep techniques, including how to scope out a natal chart's "hot spots," identify the most significant transits, progressions and solar arcs to personal planets and angles, and dialogue with the client to make sure that their concerns are being addressed. He will use the charts of audience volunteers to demonstrate his methods. |
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Celestial Forecast for May 2008
by Benjamin Bernstein
Whatever your sun sign, this forecast will help you choose how to best use each month's astrological energies! Events are most powerful on the dates listed. However, their influence will be active for at least several days before and after. All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone.
While everyone is affected by these global transits, you will be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate natal planets and other sensitive points in your birth chart.
VOID-OF-COURSE MOONS. It's best to avoid starting important new projects or making major purchases during these times. "Business as usual" is the best strategy for these periods, which occur when the Moon has made its last major Ptolemaic aspect but has not yet moved into the next sign.
5/2, 5:35 am - 6:52 am (Aries)
5/4, 3:16 am - 7:59 am (Taurus)
5/6, 4:22 am - 7:18 am (Gemini)
5/7, 9:37 pm - 5/8, 7:02 am (Cancer)
5/9, 8:07 pm - 5/10, 9:11 am (Leo)
5/12, 4:09 am - 2:49 pm (Virgo)
5/14, 12:39 pm - 11:47 (Libra)
5/16, 11:29 pm - 5/17, 11:00 am (Scorpio)
5/19, 10:12 pm - 11:19 pm (Sagittarius)
5/22, 12:20 am - 11:56 am (Capricorn)
5/24, 6:53 pm - 11:52 pm (Aquarius)
5/26, 10:50 pm - 5/27, 9:39 am (Pisces)
5/29, 2:23 am - 3:53 pm (Aries)
5/31, 8:54 am - 6:19 pm (Taurus)
5/1 (Thu). Today is when the third and final incarnation (active 4/27-5/6) of the GRAND TRINE that dominated April peaks. This time Venus is in the musical chair recently vacated by Mercury and the Sun. Please read the 4/18 entry for the Grand Trine's basic meaning, but what's different now is that - since Venus rules Taurus, and Taurus is a money sign - the business and financial possibilities are especially strong. You can also use this energy to empower and stabilize relationships and creative expression.
5/2 (Fri). Mercury enters Gemini today through -- July 11? That's right. The messenger's stay in its home sign will be unusually long because its next retrograde, which starts on the 26th, will take place entirely within Gemini. Therefore, opportunities for communication and learning will be amplified during this time.
SATURN DIRECT. Saturn, which has been retrograde since December 19, turns direct today at 2° Virgo. This can help give new forward momentum to business ventures and other accomplishments requiring persistent effort. This is a great time to shift from "planning your work" to "working your plan." Don't expect your efforts to be instantly rewarded -- Saturn always requires hard work before he ponies up -- but at least you're no longer tacking against a headwind!
5/3 (Sat). Mercury is doubly challenged today, with a quincunx to Pluto and a square to Saturn. Watch for challenges to your self-expression and freedom of thought. Or you can proactively harness these energies by diving into psychological or research work or speaking out as an authority.
5/4 (Sun). Mercury's quintile to Uranus makes it much happier today, opening the rational mind to flashes of creative inspiration from Divine Mind.
 5/5 (Mon). May's NEW MOON is at 8:18 a.m. at 15°22' Taurus. Since one of Taurus' mottos is "I have," and since the Sign of the Bull relates to what you value, you can use this New Moon to make new beginnings in the areas of finance and material security. New starts in the areas of sensuality and immersion into nature are also well supported.
The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is, "An old teacher fails to interest his pupils in traditional knowledge." The symbol's keynote is, "the inadequacy of past knowledge in time of crisis," and relates to the principle of "creative frustration."* So even though this New Moon is in Taurus, the sign which most loves to dig itself into a comfortable groove, its Sabian symbol urges us to break out of our comfort zone and try something new. Perhaps this is in response to a new and unprecedented situation -- since Taurus is the sign that most relates to the natural world, the global climate crisis springs inevitably to mind. Following the principle of "Think Globally, Act Locally," identify the biggest sea change in your own life and think outside the box to come up with the best response.
Thinking outside the box -- along with every imaginable flavor of creative expression and divine connection -- is also supported by today's Venus-Neptune quintile.
5/9 (Fri). JUPITER RETROGRADE. Jupiter begins a four-month retrograde today, backpedaling from 22° to 13° Capricorn before turning direct on 9/8. In a way, it hardly seems fair: Saturn, the planet of sweat equity, only went direct a week ago and has just started to build some momentum. Now Jupiter has to go and slow things down by putting its expansive energies into reverse in Capricorn, the sign which represents the same accomplishment-oriented ethos as Saturn. This pulls some energy away from "work your plan" and back into "plan your work."
Saturn still has the upper hand, since slower planets tend to trump faster ones, and overall this is still a good time to get things done. Just be prepared to invest a little bit of extra energy!
Mars also enters Leo today through 7/1, heating up the energy of the entertainer, jester and royal leader in each of us.
5/11 (Sun). Carrying around some buried anger, rage or frustration? Be wary of potential triggers for its eruption, courtesy of today's Mars-Pluto quincunx! To circumvent such unpleasantness, take advantage of Mars' recent entry into Leo by making a dramatic new beginning of some kind instead.
The Sun is also square Chiron today, hinting that an unresolved childhood wound may lie at the core of any dark energies being stirred up within you.
5/12 (Mon). Bright sunlight breaks through yesterday's storm clouds -- and not just metaphorically, since the Sun itself benefits from two favorable aspects today. The sextile from Uranus makes it easier to receive intuitive flashes, while the trine from Jupiter beams in the energy of joy and expansiveness.
5/13 (Tue). The Sun is in the spotlight again today (okay, I guess it is the spotlight, but you get my drift). Its square to Neptune favors more etheric activities such as meditation, creative downloading, dreamwork and fantasizing.
5/17 (Sat). Here are three ways to make good use of today's Venus-Chiron square: work through an old childhood wound in the context of a current relationship, refine your latest creative masterpiece, or engage in a breakthrough mentoring session.
5/18 (Sun). If, in reading this month's column, you're occasionally struck with a sense of déjà vu, it's not just your imagination. Venus starts May trailing the Sun by about 10°, then gradually closes most of that distance by month's end. As a result, Venus plays copycat by making most of the same aspects as the light of our lives.
Today is a good case in point, as Venus sextiles Uranus and trines Jupiter (just as the Sun did on the 12th). But Venus' involvement definitely changes the interpretation, bringing the energies of paradigm shift and expansion into the fields of relationship and creativity. So try something new with your sweetheart, and make time for your muse!
5/19 (Mon). The creative juices are strong again today, as Venus and Mars (which can be either creative or procreative!) connect via the angle of creativity itself: the quintile. This is also a lovely energy for relationships.
 Emotions will also be running strong for another reason: May's FULL MOON, which achieves maximum brightness at 10:11 p.m. at 29°26' Scorpio. As always with Full Moons, contemplate how "full-filled" you are -- in this case, with your shared resources. These could be financial (stocks, bonds, loans, etc.), relational (romantic or business partnerships) or occult (astrology, numerology, tarot, and such, in which you blend your personal energy with transpersonal forces).
The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon is, "Children in Halloween costumes indulge in various pranks." Rudhyar further defines this symbol as, "The periodic outlets society furnishes within traditional limits to still-immature energies" and "creative relief from tension."*
5/20 (Tue). Venus squares Neptune today (there's that Venus/Sun déjà vu again), keeping the creative flow going strong. (Be aware, however, that deception and delusion in relationships are possible under this aspect.) Venus' biquintile to Pluto empowers creativity even more.
The Sun enters Gemini (at high noon), bathing Earth with the energy of curiosity, communication and eclecticism through June 20.
Finally, a GOLDEN YOD, active 5/18-22, peaks today. With both members of a Mars-Venus quintile making biquintiles to Pluto, this magical aspect pattern inspires creative expression and helps it well up from a deep and powerful place. It can also do the same for relationships.
5/21 (Wed). May's most powerful astrological event comes exact today as JUPITER SEXTILES URANUS. Aspects between slower planets have longer-term effects: these two really started connecting in mid-February, made another exact sextile on 3/28, and have had their energies powerfully linked ever since. In fact, their connection won't weaken until late June!
During this time, Uranus strives to revolutionize all things Jupiterian: religion, spirituality, philosophy, politics, foreign affairs, long-distance travel and higher education, to name the most obvious suspects. You would do well to act on any intuitive flashes you receive in these areas.
There's also a Sun-Pluto quincunx today, challenging us to experience increased vitality by surrendering to whatever powerful transformation we've been resisting.
5/22 (Thu). Vitality can be hard to come by with aspects like today's Sun-Saturn square. If you're feeling "heavy burdened", there are two strategies you can try. One is to capitalize on Saturn's love of work by overcoming your inertia and forcing yourself to be productive: often, once you get the ball rolling, Saturn will reward you with endurance. If you're just not up for the front-end grunt work, you can retreat from effort entirely and play hermit. (Even workaholic Saturn needs an occasional rest!)
5/23 (Fri). Mercury trine Chiron is great for fine-tuning details or meetings with mentors.
5/24 (Sat). Venus follows the Sun into Gemini today, where she will remain through 6/18. This is a great time to cultivate a variety of your most mentally stimulating relationships.
Venus will pass the Sun and Mercury on her way through the sign of the fleet-footed messenger. This STELLIUM (three or more planets in the same sign) means that Gemini will be the strongest sign in the zodiac through 6/18.
5/25 (Sun). Ready to make the adjustments that will promote transformation in your relationships and your creativity? Then you're all set for today's Venus-Pluto quincunx! (With Venus in Gemini, be prepared to talk things through at the deepest level.)
It's not often that we experience THREE PLANETARY RETROGRADES WITHIN 18 HOURS. But, starting today, that's exactly what's happening! Retrogrades have the effect of encouraging reflection more than action, and can slow down whatever you're doing that relates to the planets involved. Plus, planets are especially powerful when changing directions, which adds special intensity to these next couple of days.
CHIRON RETROGRADE. Chiron is the first of the three, and will stay in reverse for exactly five months -- retrograding at 21°9' Aquarius and going direct at 16°2' Aquarius. You can use its retrograde to reflect on your childhood wounds, consider how you should be giving and/or receiving mentoring, and work on becoming a "rainbow bridge" - an open channel for the transmission of transpersonal forces.
5/26 (Mon). "Retrogrades R Us" kicks into high gear today, with Mercury and Neptune shifting into reverse just 27 minutes apart (Mercury at 11:48 a.m., Neptune at 12:15 p.m.)
MERCURY RETROGRADE is, of course, the badass of the bunch, infamous for throwing a monkey wrench into communications, technology and travel. (It retrogrades at 21°32' Gemini, then goes direct again on June 19, 10:31 a.m. at 13° Gemini.) Since this retrograde is occurring entirely within Gemini, which Mercury rules, it could well be more powerful than usual. So make sure your communications are set up like you want them, back up your data, and triple-check your travel arrangements. (And don't schedule those airline connections too close together!) On the upside, Mercury retrograde is a wonderful time for introspective reflection and finishing up projects that were started prior to the retrograde.
By the way, it's worth noting that people experience Mercury Retrograde more or less powerfully depending on how major a player Mercury is in their natal chart.
NEPTUNE RETROGRADE will last much longer -- it won't go direct until 11/2, over five months from now -- but, for most people, will be much less noticeable. (The rule for retrogrades is that the faster the planet, the more we notice the effects of its retrogrades.) However, if you have a sensitive natal point on, opposing or square to Neptune's retrograde path (it goes retrograde at 24°15' Aquarius, and will go direct at 21°28'), you will definitely feel it doing its dissolving or spiritualizing work!
All three of these newly retrograde planets are in air signs, which relate to the intellect. So weed through your fixed ideas and concepts, and have the courage to revise or discard those which have outlived their usefulness.
As if all these retrogrades weren't enough to deal with, we're also faced with a notoriously challenging relationship transit: Venus square Saturn. Yes, we all need the periodic reality checks that the stern taskmaster provides, but that doesn't make them any easier. Still, it's good to know when a relationship has run its course, and being willing to embark upon a little relationship renovation will make a good partnership stronger.
5/28 (Wed). If yesterday's relationship challenges left you flustered, don't despair: today's Venus-Uranus quintile could provide you with the flash of insight you need to make things better. It can also provide creative types with the "Eureka!" moment they need to inspire their next masterpiece.
5/29 (Thu). With Neptune trining Ceres, call upon Spirit to empower both your self-esteem and material prosperity. and today's Mercury-Chiron trine is just as good for fine-tuning details or meetings with mentors as it was on 5/23!
* Sabian Symbol and interpretation quotes are from An Astrological Mandala by Dane Rudhyar.
QUICK GLOSSARY OF ASTROLOGICAL ASPECTS
Conjunction. Two planets in the same place (0° apart). Union; merging.
Opposition. Two planets opposite each other (180º apart). Opposition; relationship.
Square. 90° angle. Conflict; challenge for growth.
Trine. 120° angle. Easy, flowing connection.
Sextile. 60° angle. Flowing, high-energy connection.
Quincunx. 150° angle. Difficulty making connection; adjustment required.
Quintile. 72° angle. Inspiring, creative connection.
Biquintile. 144° angle. Like a quintile, but more subtle.
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In Closing
Thanks for taking the time to read this, . Your comments are always welcome. May the stars light your way!
Be well,
Benjamin Bernstein & Spiritsong
Holistic Astrologers
It's All Good Astrology
"Take Charge of Your Destiny"
828-658-9073 / 800-461-3569 (Benjamin) or 828-777-6688 (Spiritsong)
www.ItsAllGoodAstrology.com
benjamin@ItsAllGoodAstrology.com; mary@SpiritsongOasis.com
Skype Names: benjamin.bernstein (Benjamin), mary.oshannon (Spiritsong)
Benjamin & Spiritsong host the This Week in Astrology podcast -- the #1 astrology podcast on iTunes! Discover how you can make the best use of the current planetary energies while deepening your knowledge of astrology!
"Insightful and inspiring! The passion you have for astrology, combined with the thoughtful and compassionate way you share the information, is awesome. It's like therapy and career counseling and someone reading a blueprint of your life all at once!" - Anna B, Weaverville, NC |
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"Crazy Time" -- the Uranus Opposition in Your Life and Mine
You could call it "crazy time." Or maybe you prefer "midlife crisis" (or, more optimistically, "midlife shift.") Whatever you call it, everyone in their late 30s and early 40s goes through it.
 It's commonly associated with the stereotype of the middle-aged family man suddenly buying a screaming red Corvette and running off with his sexy young mistress. But it can also be a time of profound and positive change, a quantum leap to the next level of your evolutionary journey.
The Uranus Oppposition
Astrologers call this period of transformation the "Uranus Opposition." This once-in-a-lifetime event occurs when the transiting planet Uranus circles around to a point directly across from its natal position. (The transformative power is further boosted by the fact that both Neptune and Saturn are squaring their natal positions. [A square is a 90° angle.] Neptune squares dissolve that which no longer serves your highest need, while Saturn squares challenge all outmoded structures in your life.)
Uranus embodies the archetypal energies of revolution and paradigm shift. It rules the breakthrough moment, the "Aha!", the "Eureka!" I view it, like all transiting planets, as an angel sent to serve your highest need. If something in your life no longer serves your highest need, it's Uranus' job to get rid of it as quickly as possible!
 While Uranus will use the tactics of shock and surprise when required -- and can even create wholesale chaos if need be -- it usually won't take such extreme measures without firing warning shots across your bow. Like all transiting planets which herald an important life change, it offers you a choice: the easy way or the hard way.
Follow the Flashes!
The easy way is to follow the guidance of your intuitive flashes. (It's intuition when you feel the "ITC" -- the Intuitive Tingle of Certainty.) In my experience, and that of my clients, the more quickly you act on your intuition, the easier the transition will be. The longer you resist, the more you'll experience increasingly stressful and potentially painful situations until you finally embrace the needed change.
(For a simple writing meditation that has helped many of my clients connect more easily with their intuitive guidance, click here. Pairing it with the Divine Saturation Snap Meditation can make it even more effective!)
My "Crazy Time"
I experienced one of the biggest turning points in my life during my own Uranus Opposition. As I approached "The Big Four-Oh", I was living a life that looked great on the surface. I was 15 years into a job as the Oklahoma sales representative for Nabisco Food Service. The money and benefits were great, and my position with the company was secure. My sweetheart and I lived together in a very nice house and had a wonderful relationship -- my best committed romantic relationship ever to that point.
And yet I was experiencing a typical Uranus Opposition symptom -- a gnawing dissatisfaction, a disquieting feeling that something important was being left undone. Though I was still hitting my sales quotas, I had grown bored with my job. I wanted to live someplace more physically beautiful, spiritually progressive and creatively inspiring. There was a deep sense of urgency -- a feeling that if I didn't act soon, a critical "now or never" opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream would pass away forever.
A Dream of Music
The dream in danger of dying was to become a professional singer/songwriter. I had played music most of my life, studying classical piano as a child and immersing myself in 15 years of serious classical guitar study in my teens and 20s. I became fascinated by electronic music in my mid-20s, ultimately releasing the meditative electronic album The Beauty Within at 34.
Not long after that, however, my focus shifted to guitar and vocals -- first as a cathartic expression of the deep psychological purging I was experiencing in my new Buddhist Vipassana practice, and later to write songs that people might actually enjoy! My new identity as a singer-songwriter felt great, and I applied myself to it diligently. I took voice lessons, soaked up everything I could about songwriting and performance craft, and learned the business skills essential for survival as an independent musician.
Up until this point, I had been mostly living the "safe" part of my chart (cautious, detail-obsessed Virgo Moon in the security-craving second house; four planets in the conservative, don't-rock-the-boat sign of Capricorn). But now, with transiting Uranus opposing its natal position, I finally had the planetary support to do something totally crazy: move halfway across the country to Asheville, North Carolina to become a full-time singer-songwriter!
My sweetheart, with both her boys now out of the house and also ready for greener pastures, was happy to move with me. (Although an astrological "perfect storm" -- all five transiting planets from Jupiter out simultaneously hitting sensitive relationship points in my chart! -- signaled the end of that relationship two years later. However, this allowed the relationship that has eclipsed all the ones that went before - my marriage to my beloved Spiritsong - to start blossoming just a few months later.)
From Musician to Astrologer
As it turned out, my new career did not go as planned. Despite establishing something of a reputation around Asheville under the stage name Benjammin, and releasing the CD Shining From Inside to strong reviews, my musical income never even came close to meeting my expenses. However, moving to Asheville in pursuit of my crazy dream set up another life-changing event: meeting my astrological mentor Kelly Lee Phipps at an open mic, where he was reciting his cosmic poetry. Thanks to his inspiring teaching and expert guidance, I soon learned enough to hang out my shingle as a professional astrologer.
The contrast between the two career arcs was remarkable. As a musician, doors opened for me grudgingly or not at all. As an astrologer, they seemed to fly open everywhere I turned. There was no question where Spirit was throwing its support!
Better Than I Could Have Imagined
I've shared this little bit of my life story with you here to illustrate an important astrological principle. Because I followed the intuitive guidance I received during my Uranus Opposition and dared to make a radical change in my life - although, at that time, I didn't even know what a Uranus Opposition was! - my existence was utterly transformed. Even though things didn't go as expected - and with Uranus, surprises are the norm - the outcome was far better than anything I could have imagined.
I don't even want to contemplate what a dull gray man I would have become if I had stayed in a place that no longer suited me, working at a job that had grown stagnant and unrewarding. I might never have started practicing astrology, which fills me with joy every time I have the privilege of sharing its life-affirming guidance with another client. I might never have met Spiritsong, the extraordinary human angel whom I am blessed to call my wife. And I might not be able to say that every year since I mustered up the courage to follow my dream in 2001 has been the best year of my life.
So far!
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Benjamin to Lecture at World's Biggest Astrology Conference!
 Benjamin is honored to have been selected as a "Free Speech" lecturer at UAC, the United Astrology Conference. Held in Denver May 15-20, UAC is co-sponsored by five major astrology organizations (AFAN, ACVA, CVA, ISAR & NCGR), and is expected to be the largest astrology conference ever held! Benjamin will lecture on "Light Speed Astrology: Diving into the Heart of the Chart" Sat., May 17 at 1 pm in Plaza Court Room 1.
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Long Distance Consultations with In-Person Features!
 Until recently, as one of Benjamin's long-distance clients, you had to settle for a voice-only phone call. But now you can have "virtually" the same experience as an in-office client! You can see Benjamin's live video image as you work with him, and also watch him point out specific things in your astrological charts, tables and graphs as he talks about them. And there's no extra charge for this significantly enhanced level of service!
You don't need any special software. As long as you have a high-speed internet connection and an open browser window, you're set! Be sure to ask about live video and real-time chart display when you contact Benjamin for your appointment! (828-658-9073, 800-461-3569, or info@ItsAllGoodAstrology.com.)
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Limited Openings in Online Mentoring Class!
My online astrology mentoring class has had some seats open up, but they're already starting to be filled by new students. Act quickly if you'd like to join!
This class gives participants an opportunity to significantly deepen their understanding of astrology in an intimate small-group setting. The investment for tuition is much less than the cost of my individual mentoring sessions, and participants don't even have to leave home!
The class meets weekly on Thursday nights from 8-10 p.m. US Eastern time. For more information, please visit the Classes Page, call 828-658-9073 or 800-461-3569, or e-mail info@ItsAllGoodAstrology.com.
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