The last of the three mighty Mars/Pluto oppositions.
The triple oppositions of Mars and Pluto began November 3, 2024 with Mars in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn, both in the final degree. The next opposition was January 2, 2025, with Mars Retrograde at 1 degree Leo and Pluto in Aquarius. The final opposition on Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Day One, finds both Mars and Pluto direct in opposition at 3 Leo / 3 Aquarius, respectively.
The New Moon in Taurus squares both Mars and Pluto.
In Jewish Astrology, Mars in Leo is symbolic of Shimon’s vengeful anger. Pluto (which was unknown to the ancients but to us moderns, can be thought of as “the higher octave of Mars”) opposite in Aquarius, speaks of the powerful generosity and wealth/bounty of Asher.
This triple opposition between these two powerhouse planets are reflected in the signs of our times, and can be understood as the last gasp / the last grasp of the gold ring on the carousel ride of the old normal.
These planetary configurations signal a radical transformational restructuring of society for the “greater good” of humanity (Pluto in Aquarius) vs. fighting for the primacy of the individual (Mars in Leo).
Our tradition teaches us that knowledge of the celestial cycles is given to us for wisdom and understanding of the times and the seasons. We know there is a time and a purpose for everything under heaven.
What is the message of this time? Rosh Chodesh Iyar and The Sefirah of Tiferet calls us to the beauty of BALANCE. While the world may struggle to reconcile oppositions, our job is to find the equilibrium, the sweet spot.
The New Moon in Taurus represents the Jewish People in this Fixed T-Square configuration. Renewing ourselves, like the Moon, in the healing energies of Taurus during Iyar gives us the tools we need to engage the full spectrum of cultural conflict within the world.
Iyar's acronym ("I am HaShem Your Healer") is energized by the Sefirah of Tiferet. Bring beauty and balance to your everyday life concerns as well as your engagement with the bigger, outside world. The enemy of balance is extremism; the enemy of beauty is ingratitude. Eschew both and you will do well.
Venus/Noga, which is the planetary ruler of Taurus, enters Mars-ruled Aries April 30. This gives the Venusian energy of Iyar an energetic boost. Picture horns of Aries' ram nudging Taurus' bull from the backside! A sense of urgency is felt, but wisdom tells us not to act on impulse, but to wait for inspiration. That comes on Shabbat Tazria-Metzora, when Venus conjuncts Neptune/Rahav, which recently entered Aries as well. Creative inspiration is the theme!
Pluto in Aquarius stations Retrograde at the First Quarter Moon in Leo May 4, with Moon opposite Pluto. Emotional confrontation and power struggles, especially about/among women, are likely. If your strategy is survival, your best tactic is a concerted effort at peacemaking.
Mercury/Kochav in Aries sextiles Jupiter/Tzedek in Gemini on May 5. This mutually supportive aspect foreshadows the epochal change coming when Uranus enters Gemini in July. As Uranus (abrupt change, disruptions, surprises, shocking occurrences, genius ideas, "chiddushim" etc.) expresses himself via Gemini which rules all forms of communication, in harmony with Pluto (transformational changes on the level of resurrection from the dead) in Aquarius, the sign of technology, it's obvious to even a beginner in astrology, that all forms of communications technology (AI, etc.) will be the driver of social and economic disruption during the coming decade.
Mercury enters Taurus on Shabbat Acheri-Kedoshim, and squares Pluto in Aquarius at the Full Moon in Scorpio, Pesach Sheni. This is another Fixed T-Square, like we had on Rosh Chodesh Iyar, but this time we're on the Taurus/Scorpio axis with Pluto in Aquarius making the square. This is quite literally a second chance, in every possible way. If you've been praying for a re-do, this is it. Don't hesitate.
The Taurus Sun conjuncts Uranus/Oron May 18, with Mercury squaring Mars and Jupiter sextiling Chiron. Uranus has been in Taurus since May of 2018. The radical, revolutionary, disruptive energy of Uranus has been very uncomfortable in solid, stable, status-quo loving Taurus! The result of this long transit has been the development of "radical conservatism" which has disrupted politics as we used to know it "back in the day".
This is the Sun's final kiss goodbye to Uranus in Taurus, as mentioned before, Uranus enters Gemini in July and stays there (because of his erratic orbit) until 2032/33. In your own personal natal chart, whichever House is ruled by Taurus has undergone a radical, even disruptive, and definitively life-altering change. It's time to look at that and acknowledge it, to yourself and others.
The energy of the month changes as we enter the week of Yesod in the Sefirot HaOmer count. The Sun sextiles Saturn/Shabbtai, and enters Gemini May 20 at the Last Quarter Moon in Aquarius. Suddenly there are a million things to discuss, when previously communication may have been stonewalled. Did you think matters were settled? Not at all.
Negotiations continue May 22 with Venus in Aries trine to Mars in Leo, and the Gemini Sun sextiling Neptune in Aries. Nobody is getting away that easy! The passionate Fire Signs of Aries and Leo demand your passion as well; this isn't something that can be faked. Cut and run if your passions don't match or at least harmonize, because you'll never get a moment's peace otherwise.
Bye-bye to power conflicts and hello to cooperation when the Gemini Sun trines Pluto in Aquarius on Shabbat Behar-Bechukotai. The problem with power is that most people don't really know what it's like to have any, or to have power on their side. When your selfless motives are aligned with the best intentions, power can be a helpful friend instead of a feared enemy.
The week of Malchut begins with Saturn's entrance into Aries, where he'll be for the next 2 1/2 years. Mercury conjuncts Uranus at the very end of Taurus before entering Gemini, sextiling both Saturn and Neptune in Aries. If you're open to courage and willing to trust G*d for your security, it could be that what you've been trying to say for years will finally come out in just the right way.
Once you've told the truth to yourself and to others, there's no stopping. The power of an honest voice can shake the world - at the very least, it can shake YOUR world when Mercury trines Pluto May 27, Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
Prepare to gather at Mt. Sinai on Shavuot like you've never done before. Are you ready to hear G*d's voice? Is G*d ready to hear YOUR voice?
May we each be granted boldness in our prayers and may the cosmic configurations of Chodesh Iyar bring the Ziv, the lustrous brightness of healing truth!
