Inspiration During Times of Challenge: New Moon Astrology May 2016
• Article Window: May 6 to June 4
• The New Moon is May 6, 2016 12:29 pm PDT
• Sun is 17° Taurus, Moon is 17° Taurus
• New Moon Theme (May 6 to June 4): Inspiration During Times of Challenge
• Next Full Moon is May 21, 2016
Current Lunar Cycle
The New Moon releases a new wave of available potential that sets the overall theme for the entire month that follows. This month’s Lunar Cycle offers a new tool-set that creates momentum for energizing your life’s purpose. To experience your fullest potential in the coming month allow this energy to guide you, especially while adjusting to changing circumstances.
Astrology Article: Inspiration During Times of Challenge
The New Moon astrology for this month builds on last month’s “Shift in Power” to help keep you inspired with tools for coping with the natural challenges or conflicts that may arise from changes and shifts that occur as life begins to re-balance.
Our New Moon energies will help you gain insight and perspective on just how extensive last month’s energy shifts actually were. In fact, any backlash you experience in your life this month is extremely beneficial in the large scheme of personal growth and development.
The Significance of Retrograde Planets
The dominant theme of the current re-balancing is indicated by the predominance of five planets in retrograde motion at the time of the New Moon.
I’m aware that the concept of “retrograde” has a negative connotation among many modern astrologers, but in my opinion this is only due to a misunderstanding of the positive opportunities that are associated with the retrograde motion of a planet.
In general terms, a retrograding planet allows for a period of introspection, turning inward for the purpose of personal growth. Retrograde planets amplify inner awareness and thus are extremely beneficial for those individuals with a spiritual orientation toward life. The spiritual orientation arises from the fact that, during retrograde periods, it’s more important to pay attention to inner guidance. At these times, problems can be amplified if we respond to circumstances or make decisions in a purely reactionary way.
The innate opportunity of a retrograde planet is to strengthen inner guidance. With this month’s New Moon energies, our five retrograde planets bring a powerful self-reflecting perspective and insight that is beyond what’s normally possible. In fact, the opportunities this month require the extra support of these retrograde influences. When the opportunities are well utilized, and the internal gestation period of retrograde is completed, there will be a resulting burst of growth. This new growth wouldn’t have been possible without these retrograding energies.
It’s precisely this burst of new growth that our New Moon energies of inner awareness are supporting.
Astrology Pattern
It’s significant to have five of our eight planets simultaneously in retrograde at the New Moon. In addition to the strong retrograde influence, the positive opportunities of this month can also be seen in the powerful grand trine, bringing the New Moon into relationship with Mercury, Jupiter, and Pluto.
The particular combination of these planets with the grand trine retrograde influence brings a strong factor of internal stabilization. This stabilizing influence is built on a quality of self-reflection that leads to insight into your own resources of personal power. For those who are able to hold this internal awareness, any experiences of conflict and stress will be operating at a high level of awareness in order to help integrate the major changes that are occurring.
Jupiter is in a significant position to manage the potentially conflicting energies by integrating and amplifying the natural influx of both optimism and inspiration available from Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune. With Jupiter conjunct the North Node of the Moon, last month’s positive shift is reinforced with inner guidance and the proven character developed from past successes. This translates directly into personal confidence with the ability to operate from a new level of personal mastery.
To help put into perspective the powerful opportunities of this particular New Moon, Neptune also completes a “Kite Pattern” that emphasizes the importance of appreciation for the past. There is a need now to approach life, including current changes or challenges, with an appreciation of your past actions.
As you look at the iconic pattern of the Kite, you’ll notice that the kite spine has Neptune at one end and Jupiter at the opposite. The significance of this opposition is an additional focus on Jupiter’s management quality, which is supporting your own development through appreciation of your past.
There are times in our life where we need to depend on the past, and there are times where it is necessary to release the dependence on past perspectives. This is a time when perspective from the past holds value, and appreciation is a natural way to bring this value forward.
While the New Moon energies suggest maintaining an appreciation of the past, at the same time it’s still important to be flexible and open to new perspectives. Rather than allowing yourself to be controlled by the past, I invite you to embrace a new perspective that integrates the ability to work with present opportunities while drawing from past experience. This new understanding and discernment is derived from the expansion and inspiration that’s felt as you turn inward and reflect on your own sense of personal power.
This is a month to integrate some very powerful energies that are available for personal growth. As you move forward this month, keep in mind that there are often naturally occurring backlashes that result from changes and shifts in power. This is a month to focus on the positive through appreciation so that unexpected challenges don’t become discouraging.
I invite you to take some time to reflect on your personal spiritual tools and resources, and hold curiosity for the practical results that can flow from a new and inspired perspective. It’s not often that there is so much potential available for personal growth.
This Lunar month promises to be amazing.
Happy New Moon.
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