May begins with exalted Sun and Mercury in Aries, Venus in own sign of Taurus, Jupiter in Gemini, Ketu in Leo, Moon in Libra, Rahu in own sign of Aquarius, Saturn and Mars in Pisces.
May Transits:
Buddha Purnima on the 1st
Mars in own sign of Aries on the 11th
Venus in Gemini on the 13th
Mercury in Taurus on the 14th
Sun in Taurus on the 14th
Shani Jayanti on the 16th
Saturn in Revati Nakshatra on the 17th
Adik Mas begins on the 17th
Jupiter sandhi in Gemini starting on the 22nd
Mercury in own sign of Gemini on the 29th
Jupiter exalted in Cancer on June 1st
Full Moon in Libra and Swati Nakshatra on May 1st at 11:22 AM Mountain Time + Buddha Purnima
May begins with a potent full Moon that honors Lord Buddha. Exalted Sun brings a lift to body and soul, while Mercury out of debilitation supports mind and nervous system. Venus in its own sign offer balance and harmony within relationships, and finances. The planetary war between Saturn and Mars is starting to ease, reducing tension, fear, and aggression. A moment of support and hope emerges with this full Moon.
This is a powerful moment to reflect on what you want for your life, what you are creating, and what you are moving towards. Pause, reflect, acknowledge the gifts and blessings. The past six months have been deeply painful and challenging for so many, causing incredible darkness to come to the light. You’ve been transforming, changing, healing and growing. It’s time to honor your steps.
The challenges soften in May and thankfully more support is coming. Jupiter goes exalted once again in June, offering a new sense of strength for teachers, healers, and mystics. This transit is bright spot for the year.
Mars crosses the difficult gandanta between Pisces and Aries on May 11th, although the impact of this transit will be felt days in advance. Any planet that crosses this threshold goes through a death portal. The planet feels like it’s dying. Losses, endings, and closure are inevitable. A two year Mars cycle is ending. What are you closing after two years of effort? Watch your health, avoid surgery, take extra care of your animals, do not get involved with anger or violence. Mars will strengthen in Aries after the 14th.
The current transits are supporting your ancestral work. This planetary activation won’t come again. Over the next nine to twelve months, your ancestors will be getting louder and louder, asking you to step up in new ways, transform grief into guidance, and firm up your ancestral contract. Pay attention to the ways in which they are asking you to show up and be sure to take necessary action steps.
These three transits are especially potent right now for your ancestral work:
– Ketu in Magha Nakshatra
– Saturn in Pisces
– Pisces gandanta alive and awake
As I’ve shared extensively over the last six months, this year is an important junction point for the planet. What you do now impacts the coming seven to ten years of your life. Exalted Jupiter will give many a false sense of hope, thinking it’s business as usual. The transit of Jupiter in Cancer from June to October 2026 is an important time to be proactive, create momentum, and strengthen your long term plan for success. The mistake most people will make is getting lazy, complacent or overly-optimistic in this cycle. Do not use this year to coast or you will be missing a very important opportunity for safety.
2027 and beyond will bring global challenges, economic collapse, and scarcity that you need to prepare for now. This year is a very important preparation cycle that needs your attention. Use the exalted Jupiter cycle to strengthen your gifts, offerings, and dharmic momentum. Make necessary changes in your lifestyle and business that will support lasting, sustainable results so you can ride the waves coming. Think strategically right now about what changes you need to make for stability. Clarify what structures need to be implemented into your life so you and your business will be supported in the years ahead.
If you missed my economic podcast, you can listen here.
There is one year left of Saturn in Pisces. A 30 year cycle of behaviors, patterns, and karmas is ending right now. Notice the doors that need to close and let them. It’s very important you honor these closures properly and do not try to bring these old patterns into this new 30 year Saturn cycle. Cut, clear, delete.
That said, Saturn goes into a debilitation for 2.5 years June of 2027 which is a cycle we all need to prepare for. Now is the time to be proactive. Again, the structures you implement now, impact you for years to come. Get sustainable now. Deepen your roots now. Build connections now. Implement more body-centered resources now. This is what Saturn demands for his lasting support.
If you want to prepare and be proactive- so you can strengthen your dharmic path and get clarity for the coming years, join the Dharma Village for monthly guidance, dharmic resources, and Jyotish support. In the Dharma Village you will clarify your soul gifts and strengthen your dharmic offering so you can create lasting success.
Full Moon in Libra and Swati Nakshatra on May 1st at 11:22 AM Mountain Time + Buddha Purnima.
Swati nakshatra brings powerful changes to feelings and emotions. Ruling Deity of Swati nakshatra is Vayu, the wind god, who invites in swift movement and change. Whether it’s a gentle breeze or huge gusts, winds of change are ushering in transformation. Moon in Swati nakshatra brings a cycle of movement ahead. Change, travel, and wind come with this constellation. Vayu, the wind god, rules this portion of the sky and brings all kinds of movement with him. Subtle and small breezes, as well as powerful gusts, are all within his domain. Vayu instigates a variety of weather- internally and externally.
As a Rudra, strength and power come with Vayu as well. He brings storms, upheaval and force with him. He likes to move, travel and change location. Emotional intelligence will be required as Swati nakshatra can cause detachment from feelings and the body. Breath supports deeper connection with the body and mind. Use it as a resource in this cycle to help you ground, land and root.
Notice where you are disconnecting and detaching. Why are you afraid of going deeper? How is your fear keeping you from creating deeper connections? Use the body as the primary resource for embodiment, connection and integration.
In the waning cycle ahead, make Vayu and prana a priority. What is your relationship with the wind right now? How are you honoring your breath? Vata may be particularly imbalanced in the coming weeks so be mindful of your prana. Avoid excess movement, travel and pushing to accomplish. Right now, less is more. Spend time with pranayama practices, tend to your breath and move stagnant energy. Use a balancing pranayama practice like nadi shodhana to support integration. When vayu is imbalanced, Vata is imbalanced as well. Grounding practices like gentle movement, abhyanga, Vata pacifying diet, staying warm, and slowing down are essential right now.
This full Moon also marks Buddha Purnima, the celebrated birthday of Lord Buddha, also called Buddha Jayanti. This day marks the 2588th birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha. Buddha Purnima is honored as the day Lord Buddha reached his enlightenment and Nirvana. It is recognized as a significant, auspicious day for spiritual reflection, devotional practices, and celebration.
New Moon in Taurus and Krittika Nakshatra on May 16th at 14:55 MT + Shani Jayanti
Mars has finally completed the war with Saturn and entered his own sign of Aries. This is a much stronger placement for action, goals, and clarity. Aries, Scorpio and those in Mars dasha cycles will benefit the most from this transit. Mercury is combust the Sun in Taurus through the end of the month. Mind, nervous system, money and communication are hot, overwhelmed and feeling challenged. Keep the mind cool, eat green foods, and spend extra time in nature.
Venus and Jupiter conjunct in Gemini. An exchange of energies is created with Venus in Gemini (Mercury’s sign) and Mercury in Taurus (Venus’s sign). This strengthens the qualities of both planets and can uplift these transits. Expect gains, growth, and expansion. Relationships, finances, and creativity might get a lift.
The Kali Sarpa yoga continues. All planets are now hemmed in by Rahu and Ketu. Big highs and lows can be expected through end of July. This quality creates overwhelm, challenges, and extreme losses and gains. Ride the waves. Stay balanced and close to your body.
Saturn in Pisces moves to the final nakshatra of the zodiac, triggering losses, endings, death, and closure. Over the coming year expect this theme to intensify- especially as he moves into the final pada of Revati in 2027. This is a very important time for your grief work, ancestral work, and closing contracts. A 30 year karmic cycle is ending. You are being asked to let go, release, and close any malnourishement in your life. Grief work is nonnegotiable. The ancestral realms are wide awake. It’s time to listen.
Jupiter moves to the edge of Gemini and goes sandhi at 28 degrees on the 22nd. Planets strengthen and intensify their results as they leave a sign. The guru is going exalted in Cancer next, but the end of May brings clean up, clarity, and refinement to this unusual transit. What needs your attention before this door closes? There is a closure and ending taking place. Be vigilant and let the door close.
New Moon in Taurus and Krittika Nakshatra on May 16th at 14:55 MT + Shani Jayanti.
The new Moon occurs with Sun, Moon and Mercury in Taurus and all three planets transiting Krittika Nakshatra. Three planets are asking you to cut, clear, and delete- on the physical, soul, mind and emotional body levels. There is a very strong theme of closure, loss, death and endings occurring right now with the transits. Now is the time to be intentional with loss and letting go. Anything that is no longer nourishing you must go.
Adik Mas begins on the 17th and lasts until June 15th. This sacred “bonus” Vedic month lasts roughly 30 days to align the Hindu lunar and solar calendars. In the Vedic calendar, the Moon-based year is shorter than the Sun-based year, so over time a gap forms. To fix this, an extra month is added, called Adhik Maas. A lunar year is about 354 days, while the solar year is around 365 days. That 10–11 day difference adds up. After roughly 2.5 to 3 years, it becomes large enough to add one full month. This keeps the calendar in sync so that festivals don’t drift across seasons. This sacred gap in the Vedic calendar is for spiritual purposes. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, dharmic activities, and is considered a sacred pause. This is not a time for material world progress or making major decisions. As a result of Adik Mas, the 2026 year will have 13 months, causing major festivals like Diwali to shift by about 20 days.
Krittika nakshatra is ruled by the fire god Agni. This constellation supports purification through fire. It has a razor sharp exactness that allows for precision, clarity and focus. Fire is one of the most powerful resources available to humans. From a healing perspective, fire supports the transformation process, allowing new form, shape and possibilities to arrive. Instrumental in the alchemy of change and awakening, Agni is the spark that lights the fire. He lives in your body and supports the digestion process- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Without Agni there is no life possible. Agni is a potent reminder of the importance of fire for all parts of life and vitality. Agni does not allow excess. Anything in excess will be burned away.
Use the coming cycle to clear away excess and get focused on the essentials for your life path and purpose. What needs to be trimmed, cut away and released?
Move towards the nourishment and that which sustains you. Get rid of anything that doesn’t support your nourishment. Find the Middle Way. Agni will help you clarify what you need. Be willing to release and let go of what doesn’t nourish or serve you. Face your needs with clarity and get honest about your next steps.
What moves you towards more nourishment? What moves you further away from more nourishment? What changes do you need to make right now?
Receive gains in the cycle ahead by making space for them. Your willingness to purge and release will create the space for the new, more nourishing resources to arrive. A big clearing process is taking place. Let go, simplify, and honor the clarity arriving.
Shani Jayanti is the celebrated birth date of Lord Shani. Saturn always gives you what you deserve. Understand how Saturn impacts your body and life through your natal chart. Deepen your understanding of your ancestral karma, grief work, and physical body through the wisdom of Saturn. His delays are protection. What is he telling you?
Shani Dev Mantra:
|| नीलांजनसमाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम्।
छायामार्तण्डसम्भूतं तं नमामि शनैश्चरम् ||
Nilanjana samabhasam raviputram yamagrajam
Chaya martanda sambhutam tam namami shanaishcharam
Full Moon in Scorpio and Anuradha Nakshatra on May 31st at 02:00 AM MT
The month of may has a bonus full Moon on the very last day. May closes with Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter in Gemini, just before Jupiter leaps to exaltation in Cancer.
Anuradha nakshatra is ruled by Mitra, who supports alliances, friendships and connecting. He is detail oriented, wants you to succeed, and encourages friendship and supportive relationships that will help you grow. This constellation is also ruled by Saturn, indicating that struggles and challenges must be overcome in order to gain success and achievement. Often Anuradha indicates grief, suffering and hardship that must be transformed. A willingness to change challenge into resource, difficulties into triumphs, insures the success and strength of this constellation.
This portion of the sky demands emotional body attention and intention. Whether you want to or not, your emotional body will request focus. Undigested grief needs to be cleared in order to make space for more of what you do want and need. Where are you resisting your emotional body wisdom? Your capacity to acknowledge and honor your grief, determines your capacity to hold the joy and nourishment of this life as well. Balance shadow and light. Harmonize opposing forces. Heal duality and conflict within. Mitra will support a friendly alliance with your whole body, but first you must be willing to wade in the mud and acknowledge the depths of your suffering. No mud, no lotus.
In the coming waning cycle, find a new balance point. Redefine what depth means for you. Use the storms to clear and purge. Plant your seeds and find your ground. Unify and strengthen your inner stability. Let Spirit be a guiding force for your higher purpose. Clear away the rubble and clarify your path and purpose.
Practice Embodied Vedic Astrology inside the Dharma Village.
- Develop your skills as a Jyotishi
- Deepen your embodiment practice
- Awaken creativity and self expression
- Clarify your dharmic gifts and wisdom
- Strengthen the light of your soul and your offering
- Activate your ancestral contract