Cosmic Sway
Corrine Kenner
Beltane, commonly known as May Day, marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, when the Sun is midway through the sign of earthy Taurus. It also marks the beginning of the planting season.
Farmers want their seed to take root and grow to fruition, so Beltane is a fertility celebration. It’s closely linked to the procreative power of Mars, the ancient god of war, and—surprisingly—agriculture.
Mythic Astrology: Mars
Mars was the god of war—passionate, hot-blooded, and hot-tempered. He was the protector of his people, as well as their leader and guide on the field of battle.
Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno. He had five attendants in his bodyguard: Eris, or Discord; Phobos, Alarm; Metis, Fear; Demios, Dread; and Pallor, Terror.
The early Greeks regarded Mars as the god of spring. He vanquished the brutal cold of winter and nurtured the agricultural arts.
The Romans gradually stripped him of his peaceful nature and established him as the god of war. He marched into battle before them and served as their invisible protector, and his priests danced in full armor.
Mars ruled the weapons of war and conquest, along with any warrior who carried weapons into battle to stem the red tide of death: soldiers, surgeons, and metalsmiths. Mars was the master of tools that can sever and pierce flesh, excise dead and unhealthy tissue, and make necessary sacrifices for the greater good.
Mars was still the god of agriculture, who could turn swords into plowshares. He encouraged farmers to plant and tend their crops, because he knew that an army marches on its stomach.
Mars and Venus—the Empress—had a long and storied romance. Unfortunately, Venus was a married woman, and her husband Vulcan arranged for both of them to be caught in a web of their own deception, and exposed them, naked and in flagrante delicto, to the entire pantheon of gods.
In astrology, Mars is the red planet of blood, sweat, and tears. It symbolizes sexuality, stamina, and strength. It’s the planet of passion and pain. It’s closely linked to confidence, courage, and conflict, as well as action, assertion, and bold aggression.
Mars rules Aries, the first sign of spring. It also rules the first house of the horoscope, where astrologers look for information about physical appearance and first impressions.
Not surprisingly, Mars also represents the machinery of war, sheer physical strength, and brute force. At times, the unrestrained warrior is also responsible for accidents, crashes, and careless cuts.
Mars also rules sports and competitions—war games that take the place of battle during peacetime. It represents athleticism, training, and preparation for combat.
The glyph for Mars looks like a shield and spear: 
Reading the Signs
The Sun moved into earthy Taurus on April 19. It moves into airy Gemini on May 21.
At the moment, the Sun and Saturn are in an easy trine, where the Sun’s radiant energy can supercharge Saturn’s Capricorn dedication.
The Moon has slipped into fiery Sagittarius.
Mercury is in fiery Aries, squaring off against the boundaries and limitations of Saturn. Mercury moves into earthy Taurus on May 13, and Gemini on May 29.
Venus moved into airy Gemini on April 24. It will move into Cancer on May 19.
Mars is in earthy Capricorn, square Uranus and conjunct Pluto. You might feel edgy: use the energy of the moment to make important decisions in business and career. You can focus on friends and social groups when Mars moves into Aquarius on May 16.
Jupiter is in watery Scorpio. It’s moving backward in a dreamy trine with Neptune and a soft sextile with Pluto. Big decisions will seem easy, and they’ll lead to marked improvements in your life.
Uranus is slowly transitioning from Aries to Taurus. As it changes signs, it seems to take two steps forward, then one step back. The outer planet will move into earthy Taurus in mid-May, but then it will backtrack into fiery Aries on November 6, where it will linger until March 2019.
Neptune is in watery Pisces, in a gentle sextile with the Sun.
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Planetary Positions |
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• Sun in Taurus |
• Jupiter |
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• Moon in Sagittarius |
• Saturn |
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• Mercury in Aries |
• Uranus in Aries |
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• Venus in Gemini |
• Neptune in Pisces |
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• Mars in Capricorn |
• Pluto |
Phases of the Moon
On May 15, a New Moon in earthy Taurus signals an ideal start to the growing season. This is a great time to plant seedlings or prepare a garden, either literally or metaphorically.
On May 29, a Full Moon in fiery Sagittarius will be completely illuminated by the Sun, which is on the other side of the zodiac in Gemini. As you gaze upward at the night sky, you’ll feel like sharing your philosophical views—and you’ll talk with anyone, whether you’re spending time with your sister or a stranger from across the world.
On June 13, a New Moon with the Sun and Moon conjunct in Gemini promises closer connections with friends and neighbors. This can be a practical Moon: use Gemini’s energy to run errands, make phone calls, and catch up on family news.
Practical Astrology
As you bask in the beauty of spring, take a look at your own birth chart. Most of us know our own Sun sign, but we don’t usually stop to consider the fact that all of the planets and signs follow suit. Each of us is a living, breathing constellation of signs and symbols.
On major holidays—which are, after all, markers of annual calendar events—it’s fun to compare and contrast the position of key planets in the sky to their placement on your chart. In this case, find Taurus on your chart and look for the 15-degree point. That’s the halfway mark between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, when we celebrate Beltane. Do you have any planets there? If so, that planetary energy will be triggered when the Sun passes over in real life, and you can expect to see changes and developments in that sphere of influence.