MAY'S FIRST THREE Moon phases express fixed energy that we can use to concentrate, stabilize and manifest tangible form for our spring projects. And, for the second consecutive month, Aquarius energy is highlighted at the Third Quarter phase emphasizing the role technology plays in our lives and the toll it exacts on our health - particularly the nervous system. The May lunar cycle concludes with mutable energy, which we can utilize to transform and release spring projects.

FIRST QUARTER MOON
The First Quarter Moon occurs on May 4th at 11:14pm MDT in Leo. It encourages our desires for a spectacular and dramatic show to celebrate our achievements and demonstrate our joy. It reveals how people will support each other and share in festivities when they feel invited and included, and may not be so inclined when the gaiety and spectacle are ostentatious, superficial displays of egocentric achievements. And, we are reminded that when we have authentically done well we deserve the rewards.

Home & Garden – During this waxing phase, we can focus on interior design activities on the 5th and 9th/10th; move house on the 5th and 11th; and lay house foundations on the 5th. The 9th - 12th are the most productive days for gardening this quarter.

Mind, Body & Health – We benefit if we utilize the First Quarter Moon energy to cultivate courage and confidence regarding new directions/decisions.

Business & Finance - This period of building energy is an excellent time to make definite decisions and take forceful, direct actions to build and firmly establish the structure for new goals. It is an opportune time to seek legal or financial advice.

MOON IN LEO
Leo is passion, released into creative self expression and enterprise. Enlightened Leo energy offers to ignite the spark of the marvelous in all of us. The Moon in Leo guides us to reflect on how we nurture ourselves through intimacy with others, and, who we contact when we desire a mirror of our beauty and grace. We can access its glory when we learn not to hide in melodrama, but, rather, to express ourselves directly and honour the creative muse in us all.

Home & Garden – We can purchase a home under the Leo Moon's influence if we desire that it be filled with love and laughter. This Moon is of a dry and barren nature that does not support planting, thus it is best to direct our energy into routine garden chores such as pruning.

Mind, Body & Health – The Leo Moon is a delightful time to recharge our battery and strengthen our sense of adventure, particularly if we have been feeling dull, lethargic or tired. We can utilize Leo Moon energy for play, dancing, yogic sun salutations, and romance. Allowing ourselves to be silly and take risks can really strengthen our self-confidence and charisma. We must strive to avoid imagining that no one appreciates us. As well, our susceptibility to backache, heart, and circulatory problems, is increased under this Moon's influence.

Business & Finance – We can use the Leo Moon to lease or rent property, elicit support, and for money deals or lucky breaks. We are likely to feel quite extravagant if we go shopping under a Leo Moon and be inclined to purchase jewelry, silk lingerie, theatre tickets, anything gold, and presents. Although we are well advised to beware others' indiscretions, we also ought to avoid overspending.

FULL MOON
May's Full Moon occurs on the 12th at 11:52pm MDT in Scorpio. It illuminates satiating aggressive desires. Sometimes this is camouflaged in the myriad forms of exploitation, bullying, terrorism or through the armed forces, thus imbuing the outlet with some sense of acceptability. However, even when our hormones run rampant, we must remember that taking unfair advantage of the innocent or picking on those that are undefended or smaller is never justified regardless of the terms. We might find these issues permeating our life, affording us the opportunity to examine where we engage in or support such behaviors - sometimes through apathy - or what role we play in these dynamics.

Full Moon Focus: A strong time to purify and release old patterns as passionate encounters take a major role. Meditate on how to let go of and transform compulsive behavior.

Home & Garden - It is an excellent time to lay the foundation of a new house. This phase is the optimal time to plant biennials and perennials as it allows them to establish themselves slowly and develop long, strong roots.

Mind, Body & Health – We can work with the Full Moon energy to work on matters requiring insight to get to the bottom of things and analyze what makes them the way they are. However, with our feelings heightened, matters may seem larger than life, making it vital to delay decisions.

Business & Finance – This is the phase in the lunar cycle to research new lines, investigate competitors, and undertake projects of a secret nature. We can plan to eliminate unproductive procedures.

MOON IN SCORPIO
Scorpio deals with the processes of transformation and self-renewal. It reminds us of the promise of redemption and that our journey toward self-development depends upon a generous act of beauty. The Moon in Scorpio compels us to probe how we can trust that we have limited capacity to repress our emotions, and view our emotional life as a rich roller-coaster ride that can help us build powerful emotional bonds.

Home & Garden – We can concentrate Scorpio Moon energy into interior design projects that organize our space and remove clutter. Sewing projects that combine practicality with relaxation are also excellent creative outlets. With its fertile and moist nature, a Scorpio Moon is thought to produce healthy and robust plants. We can plant vines and climbers under its influence.

Mind, Body & Health – The Scorpio Moon lends a deep power to our prayers and intentions. This is an intensely emotional time and we may want to cry, vent and rage to fully express the depth of our feelings. This is a wonderful time to release trauma and pain through painting, writing, acting and dancing. We must avoid indulging our feelings of jealousy, spite or brooding. Our vulnerability to reproductive and sexual organ problems as well as elimination and detoxification malfunctions increases under this Moon's influence.

Business & Finance – A Scorpio Moon is conducive to leasing or renting property, signing documents and solving problems. This is a good time to purchase rich wines, exotic spices, perfume, red roses for our lover, sexy underwear, and/or a last will and testament kit. We are well advised to beware of other people's resentment and remember to avoid operating a secret agenda.

THIRD (LAST) QUARTER MOON
The Third Quarter Moon occurs May 20th at 2:22am MDT in Aquarius. It brings forth issues of building confidence and coming into a fuller participation with the bigger picture where we are able to realize many of our latent potentials. We may awaken to the realization, which has been building for some time, that we have the ability to do something that truly reflects us. It is important to take a moment to adjust to the new developments and release feelings of being confined, unable to move or being tied to the past, before we take flight to this new reality.

Home & Garden – The week following the Third Quarter Moon is an excellent time for thorough clear-outs and painting projects. This is the best time in the lunar cycle for digging or plowing the soil and weeding.

Mind, Body & Health – This period of diminishing energy allows us to assimilate and digest the awareness we have gained throughout the cycle and release obsolete life structures and habits.

Business & Finance – We can turn inward to uncover new ideas that can become the foundation underlying the upcoming cycle. This is the phase of clearing up and supports restructuring, fighting lawsuits, and resigning.

MOON IN AQUARIUS
Aquarius symbolizes universal brotherhood, spiritual nourishment and social justice. It constellates community by broadcasting a vision of an inclusive society, inviting each of us to participate. The Moon in Aquarius offers us the opportunity to establish a healthy, balanced relationship with technology - one where we can utilize it, but it does not dominate our life and put an undue burden on the environment.

Home & Garden – Use music to break up the routine of household chores under this Moon. The Aquarius Moon's semi-barren and dry nature can best be directed toward planning out a new garden or working on hard landscape areas such as rock gardens.

Mind, Body & Health – The Aquarius Moon is an optimal time to develop prayers for integrating with the community and drawing people closer together. It is an effective time to utilize healing energy work such as acupuncture, reiki, and polarity work to help strengthen and rebalance nerve channels. We are best served if we can search for new allies, ponder practical application of the metaphysical, and avoid breaking the rules. In addition, our susceptibility to ankle sprains, overtaxing our nerves, and circulatory disorders increases during an Aquarius Moon.

Business & Finance – The Aquarius Moon is an opportune time to lease or rent property and for money transfers. We can shop in unusual stores as we seek to purchase scientific instruments, kitchen gadgets, aromatherapy oils, and gifts for our friends. And, while we ought not to shop in a rush, we also do well to avoid favouring the group at the expense of the individual.

NEW MOON
The New Moon occurs May 26th at 11:27pm MDT in Gemini. We can attune with its energy of exploration to follow our desire to reach into or understand the depths of an issue. We may be drawn to pursue material or spiritual wealth or to use psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, dream analysis, and/or past life explorations as tools for our ambition and drive to plumb the depths. As we pursue these issues, we must be mindful that we do not neglect our friends and loved ones whilst we are focused on our goals.

New Moon Visualizations:

I want to experience more fun in my life.
I want to expand my network of contacts.
I want to become more thorough in my work
   and follow through my projects to the end.
I want all my communications to be clear and hassle-free.
I want to live in harmony with my neighbours.

Home & Garden – May 27th to June 10th is considered the best time to move house this lunar cycle, with May 31st/June 1st and June 8th & 9th the most favourable days. The New Moon phase is the best to plant annuals as it helps to make short shallow-lying roots and to establish themselves quickly.

Mind, Body & Health – The New Moon is a great time for new plans and practices and supports seeking medical treatment.

Business & Finance – In this dynamic phase, we can tap into the increasing energy to sue for damages; introduce ideas; and, publish favourable performance figures.

MOON IN GEMINI
Gemini reminds us of the sacredness of communication. It bears the task of understanding the magically creative power of words. The Moon in Gemini coaxes us to entertain who nourishes us when we talk to them and who we enjoy nourishing through words or images.

Home & Garden – Tidying the house and home office are excellent channels for Gemini Moon energy. Its barren and dry nature is best directed into soil cultivation.

Mind, Body & Health – A Gemini Moon is a brilliant time to re-centre and be mindful of what we say, particularly if we have been overly critical and negative with our words. Breath work using meditation, tai chi, and yoga are terrific ways to vitalize our entire system and strengthen our nerves. We can also write poetry, chant, or do journaling work to combat stress, nervous tension and exhaustion. Our vulnerability to hand, wrist, arm and shoulder injuries; hay fever; lung and breathing challenges; and nervous system problems increases during a Gemini Moon and thus it is an excellent time for us to focus our attention on the desire to heal or take action to restore health to these areas.

Business & Finance – The Gemini Moon is a good time to reorganize/refurbish, manage crisis, and give presentations. We can purchase communication tools including computers, writing materials, telephones, and books at this time. We must avoid where possible long or far-flung shopping expeditions; distractions from the issue and being underhand.

May is the month of fertility as the earth in the Northern Hemisphere bursts with life and is lush with vegetation. May 1 is the ancient religion's celebration of Beltane and it marks the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. We can use this time to release old, negative, toxic emotions and strengthen our living and working spaces to make them more vital and alive. I invite each of us to participate in the lunar rhythm of the cosmic dance and embrace the Moon's power in our daily lives.

© Yvonne Hanson, 2006

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yvonne Hanson is a freelance writer from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. In creating this column, Yvonne draws on fifteen years of astrological study and a desire to empower people. If you would like to sign up for Yvonne's free newsletter, which details the movement of the moon more closely, please contact her by email at starfire777_7@hotmail.com.