Welcome to the Stella Starwoman May AstroUpdate! I hope you’ve survived the Grand Cardinal Cross, the Mars
retrograde transit and the April Eclipses – for some it’s been a month of excitement and liberation, whilst others
have been struggling with adversity and seemingly fated events. Remember this a time of reshuffling and re-
identifying priorities, so any ‘unfortunate’ events need to be viewed from that perspective.
Our Practical Spells & Rituals Course started last Tuesday with a great bunch of women – we learned how to cast a
circle, held a ritual for Samhain (Southern Hemisphere Hallowe’en) and finished up with some apple crumble and
mulled wine to stave off the cold weather – I’m really looking forward to the rest of the course. We’ve also begun
term two of Astrology for Beginners and enjoyed discussing our own experiences under the recent eclipses.
There’s still time to sign up for the Tarot Court Card Workshop this Sunday May 4 th in Elwood, Melbourne. For
more info or to book online click HERE (six places still available - cost $125). And there will be another tarot
workshop on Sunday June 1 st – Tarot Spreads for Every Occasion – click HERE for details or to book online.
Finally, if you’d like to book in for astrology or tarot reading (I’m based in St Kilda, Melbourne but offer phone
readings as well as face to face), just give me a call on 03 9534 5021 – I’ve included a price list in this newsletter so
you can see what’s on offer – or visit www.stellastarwoman.com for more info plus testimonials.
Key Astrological Events – May
The energy generated by the partial solar eclipse at the Taurus new moon in late April will bring change and growth
in the first half of May with themes arising during this period resonating for the next
six months. During a solar eclipse, lunar concerns (gut feelings, emotional patterns,
subconscious mind and habits) somehow interfere or block out our outwardly focused
yang energy (the sun) bringing new and often sudden insight. The solar eclipse was
in Taurus, a practical earth sign concerned with sensuality, comfort, money, wellbeing and
security. Ask yourself how you can make your life more secure, comfortable
and pleasurable without compromising your ideals.
Love goddess Venus leaves romantic Pisces and enters fiery Aries on the 3 rd until the 29 th May. Venus in Aries
brings assertiveness in relationship coupled with a degree of selfishness.
The 11 th May is a key date when Venus in Aries opposes the Moon-Mars conjunction in Libra, helping us see others’
point of view. Keep your temper and be prepared to compromise or you might just lose everything! On the same
day, the Sun in Taurus opposes Saturn in Scorpio asking us to focus on steady accomplishment and tough decisions.
Communication planet Mercury enters home sign Gemini on the 8 th where he will stay for most of the month,
leaving Gemini for Cancer on the 29 th May. Mercury in Gemini brings clarity of thought and quick decision making.
Unfortunately, Mercury can also produce cutting remarks and unwanted truths. Watch your tongue and think
carefully before slicing and dicing your opponent or they might do the same to you!
The May full moon falls on the 15 th in water sign Scorpio opposite the sun in fertile earth sign Taurus. The Sabian
symbol for this full moon shows a crowd returning home after listening to an inspirational sermon. The symbol
speaks of the difficulty in assimilating peak spiritual experiences into everyday life and consciousness. The moon is
linked with serious and practical Saturn meaning any decisions made at this time will not be made lightly. The May
full moon is also known as the Wesak moon, marking Buddha’s birth and enlightenment.
Those wanting some excitement and spice in their love life could do worse than arrange a date for the 15 th -16 th May
when Venus meets up with erratic Uranus and powerful Pluto at the Scorpio full moon – seriously anything could
happen!
The Cardinal Cross formed by Jupiter, Mars, Pluto and Uranus slowly lessens its grip towards the middle of the
month. Mars completes his backwards journey on the 20 th May at 9° Libra, offering the chance to get things moving
again after two and a half months of introspection, holdups and rerouting. When Mars is retrograde, we are forced to
re-assess current projects and commitments, acknowledge our true needs and desires and revise our approach to
getting what we want. We can be hesitant about taking action and second-guess our instincts or natural impulses,
rather than acting upon them.
The 25 th May is a favourable day with practical Saturn trining generous Jupiter, allowing us to complete tasks and
projects easily and enjoyably.
Mercury enters Cancer and Venus enters home sign Taurus at the Gemini new moon on the 29 th , bringing peace and
prosperity and a chance to regroup and gather forces after the turbulent events of April and early May.
New moons are all about new beginnings. The Sabian Symbol for the new moon shows a group of people on strike
surrounding a factory, representing industrial unrest, violence and a revolt against privilege. Human beings are
constantly seeking to acquire territory and resources in order to increase their power which inevitably leads to
conflict. The new moon is exactly square Neptune in Pisces suggesting that we need to incorporate a more spiritual
and selfless point of view into decision-making over the next month.
Tony Abbott, Environmental Vandalism & That Grand Cross
It lets down the whole British tradition that a country should have become so selfish about climate change that
it’s prepared to spoil the efforts of others and to foil what very much less rich countries are doing… It’s wholly
contrary to the science, it’s wholly contradictory to the interests of Australia and I hope that many people in
Australia will see when the rest of the world is going in the right direction what nonsense it is for them to be going
backwards.” Lord Deben – Head of British Committee on Climate Change
With Taurus our featured sign this month, the zodiac sign most closely related to Mother Earth and our
environment, I’d like to focus on the activities of our Scorpio Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Scorpio
Environment Minister Greg Hunt, whose program to damage environmental interests since coming to power just
seven months ago has been both brutal and efficient.
Scorpio is the opposite zodiac sign to Taurus and has a reputation for effective action and efficient removal of old
and outworn structures. The problem of course is deciding exactly what is meant by ‘old and outworn’. As the
Coalition prepared its first legislative bill, to repeal the carbon tax, Abbott (whose birth chart has the Sun and
Mercury in secretive Scorpio square erratic Uranus in Leo and the Moon in impulsive and warlike Aries) began
rolling out his plan to decimate Australia’s environment.
The first surprise was no Science portfolio in the cabinet, yet a new ministry for Border Protection. Then the
Climate Commission were told that Australia no longer required its advice on climate change. Next there were
funding cuts to the Environmental Defenders Offices, the Caring for Our Country, Low Carbon Communities and
Energy Efficiency Opportunities programs. The Environment Ministers’ forum was axed after 41 years and the
Biodiversity Fund and Climate Change Authority found themselves under threat as part of the carbon tax repeal
bill. No Australian government representative attended the UN climate summit in Warsaw.
Next came approval for more coal mining in the Galilee Basin with spoils to be dumped in the Great Barrier Reef;
an attack on marine parks (to protect recreational fishers), a shark cull in Western Australia (to protect tourism
operators), an inquiry into the health impact of wind farms (to protect those living close by) and the winding back
of the World Heritage listing of Tasmania’s forests (to protect the timber industry). Abbott stated: “We have quite
enough national parks. We have quite enough locked-up forests already. In fact, in an important respect, we have
too much locked-up forest …”
Thirty years ago environmentalists were regarded as hippies or fringe dwellers - today this is no longer the case.
With more and more Australians voicing support for climate change science, Abbott could be digging his own
grave. Astrologer Ed Tamplin wrote: “With responsible Saturn conjunct his Sun and an elevating Jupiter trine, he
emerged the easy winner of last September’s Federal Election. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on September
18th at 10.29 am in Canberra. This horoscope, with secretive Neptune opposing the leadership Midheaven, and the
Sun in hard aspect to both Mars and Saturn, suggests a short, or one term, tenure.”
The grand cardinal cross of 2014 (featured in last month’s AstroUpdate) currently sits on the angles of Abbott’s birth
chart making him an agent for change and revolution, but also bringing change and revolution to his own life. The
Mars retrograde transit through Libra stationed direct on his natal Mars in March and will station retrograde in May
on his Ascendant at 9° Libra. Mars is the god of war. March was the month that people all over Australia took to the
streets in a vote of no-confidence against the Federal government at the ‘March in March’. May is budget month
when the full extent of Abbott’s funding cuts will be revealed (see diagram below for Abbott’s chart on the inner
wheel and the chart of the 2014 Budget on the outer wheel). The ‘March in March’ organisers have planned their
next rally for the 31 st August “to protest against the current government’s policy decisions that are against the
common good of our nation… against common principles of humanity, decency, fairness social justice and equity,
democratic governance, responsible global citizenship and conserving our natural heritage.” Abbott will have
transiting Pluto opposite his Midheaven and solar arc Uranus on the Ascendant that week. In layman’s terms this is
make or break. And with Australia hosting the G20 in November, with the eyes of the rest of the world upon us, can
we really afford to still be going backwards?
Featured Sign-Taurus
This year from the 20th April to the 21st May, the Sun travels through fixed earth sign Taurus, Taurus is the second
sign of the zodiac with keywords “I have” and “I hold”. The zodiac symbol for Taurus is the bull who luxuriates in
the lush fields of plenty until aroused! Taureans love sensual and physical pleasure and are caring and affectionate.
They are also patient, steadfast and reliable with excellent taste and enjoy financial security and prosperity. Taureans
can be very stubborn and take things literally, so proceed slowly and steadily when dealing with one of these
individuals. They usually resist change. Their anger can be awesome as it builds up steadily over a long period of
time. When Taureans are out of balance they often suffer from sore throats, voice and thyroid problems or a stiff jaw.
The Taurus colours are pink, light blue, russet and the warm earthy tones. Taurus also has a strong connection with
the arts, particularly music. Many Taureans are excellent singers. With their fine taste and patient hard working
qualities, Taureans produce things of beauty that outlive them. With their innate understanding of the physical body
and material world, many Taureans work in the financial, food, fitness and health industries. Their greatest lesson is
to accept and embrace change and adopt a balanced approach to material life and possessions.
May Moon Calendar
aunch projects at the New Moon, bring them to completion in the period from just before the Full Moon to the
Third Quarter phase and wind them down and reflect on developments in the week before the next New Moon. The
period between the New Moon and the Full Moon is the waxing moon (moon getting bigger and fuller). The period
between the Full Moon and the New Moon is the waning moon (moon getting smaller and thinner).
You can use this moon table to select the most favourable days to slow or increase hair regrowth. Full instructions
can be found in my Lunar Hair Care guidelines at www.stellastarwoman.com/files/LunarHairCare.pdf but to get you
started I’ve marked the best dates for waxing/shaving to slow regrowth in yellow and the best dates to cut hair for
thicker, lusher growth in green. If you’re serious about Lunar Hair Care - order your own Moon Calendar from the
Stella Starwoman Store then you’ll know exactly what time of day the moon changes from one zodiac sign to the
next meaning you can fine-tune your activities with confidence.
Thanks for being part of AstroUpdate. If there’s something you’d like to see featured, or have something you think
would interest others, please contact me at stellaw@ozemail.com.au
PS – Don’t forget to check out your May Monthly Stars at www.stellastarwoman.com
to see what’s coming up for you this month.
Happy Stargazing
Stella Woods