Monday 11th May 2026
Sun sextile Jupiter
01.10 Venus at 20 Gemini waning semi-sextile Jupiter at 20 Cancer
02.14 The Sun at 20 Taurus waning sextile Jupiter at 20 Cancer
02.27 Mercury at 16 Taurus waxing decile Saturn at 10 Aries
03.01 Venus at 21 Gemini waxing sesuiquadrate Pluto at 6 Aquarius
03.33 The Moon conjunction her ascending node at 5 Pisces
The day has no further planetary and lunar aspects.
STATE OF THE SKY. (ALL TIMES ON THIS SITE ARE GMT.)
We are now in the period between eclipse seasons approaching the midway point.
More importantly we are now just 7 weeks away from one of the most powerful astrological events of the 21st century. Discovered last century by French astrologer Andre Barbault the period centring around July 20th 2026 bears witness to a dynamic astrological configuration called a 'basket' or a 'cradle'. Barbault's basket involves Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto forming 4 points of a hexagon in the sky at 4 degrees of Leo, Gemini, Aries and Aquarius. Andre Barbault suggested that this coming period will mark the end (or the beginning of the end) of a long chaotic cycle, leading into a more constructive era. He expected severe political challenges, major shifts in leadership, and a reality check. My take on this is that the basket starts on June 30th the day that Jupiter enters Leo and a Full Moon climaxes. It intensifies in significance with the New Moon on July 14th. It peaks on July 20th as Jupiter opposes Pluto and makes tight favourable aspects to Uranus and Neptune. On 29th July the Sun is conjunct jupiter and then the basket starts to dissolve.
There is however a sequel. Another basket is manifest in 2027 with asteroid Ceres taking the place of Jupiter and forming 4 points of a hexagon again with Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. This peaks on June 8th 2027.
Astrologer Louise Edington notes that dwarf trans Pluto planets Haumea and Hekate are involved in the 2026 basket and Haumea is also involved in the 2027 basket.
The conclusion is that what is ahead of us is the start of a very positive event and experience.
The Sun today is at 21 degrees Taurus. Mercury is also in Taurus. Mars, Saturn and Neptune are in Aries. Venus and Uranus are in Gemini.
There are 40 days to the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice. All the planets except Pluto are currently direct in motion.
MERCURY
Mercury entered Taurus on May 3rd as a morning star joining the Sun in this sign. He resides in this sign for a fleeting 14 days. Mercury sextiles Jupiter on May 13th. Mercury is at Superior Conjunction with the Sun at 24 degrees Taurus on May 14th. Then as an evening star Mercury leaves Taurus for Gemini on May 17th and on the next day he is conjunct Uranus. This one really is a short residence. Plain speaking. Mercury is next in his shadow from June 13th to August 7th. Mercury turns retrograde on June 29th.
Mercury retrograde periods ahead.
Jun 29 to Jul 23, 2026
Oct 24 to Nov 13 2026
Feb 9 to Mar 3, 2027
June 10 to July 4
Oct 7 to Oct 28, 2027
Jan 24 to Feb 14, 2028
May 21 to Jun 14, 2028
VENUS
Venus entered Gemini as an evening star on April 24th. She breezes through this sign in a fleeting 25 days. Venus leaves Gemini for Cancer on May 19th.
Venus in Gemini in this earthy 'astro month' of Taurus injects an intellectual and communicative approach to relationships and aesthetics. Enter witty romance. Love becomes a lighthearted and intellectual stimulation. Engaging conversations are often attractive. There is a heightened desire to connect and share ideas. This is a 'soft residence'.
Venus' next retrograde phase is the 41 day period from Oct 3rd to Nov 14th 2026 in Scorpio and Libra.
MARS Mars entered Aries on April 9th. He resides here for an impetuous and potent 39 days.. Mars enters Taurus on May 18th. We are in the midst of a 'martian' blast of drive, assertion, blaze, ignition, initiation and eruption. Hold tight.
Mars is next retrograde from Jan 10th 2027 to April 1st 2027 in Leo/Virgo.
JUPITER
Jupiter is in Cancer from June 9th 2025 to June 30th 2026. He is now direct. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer. His energy is focused on 'the home' and the people, places, and memories that make us feel safe and secure. This one is 'the family way'. Jupiter in Cancer cares. Jupiter in Cancer 'expands home', it centres us on 'selfhood', our place, our world domain. It 'holds together' after the energetic flurry of Jupiter in Gemini. Jupiter in Cancer spreads peace. Not a bad thought in such a chaotic world right now.
SATURN
Saturn is direct in Aries. Saturn's first foray into Aries lasted from 25/5/25 to 1/9/25. After returning to Pisces for 5 months he finally settled in Aries on February 14, 2026. During the 2025 Saturn in Aries period Ukraine launched 'Operation s, a large drone attack on Russian military bases. More than 40 aircraft of the Russian Air Force were attacked. Iran and Israel were at war. Iran attacked US bases in Qatar. Israel was at war with Syria.
The astrology of Saturn in Aries has a focus on disciplined action, pioneering leadership, and structural changes. This transit brings karmic lessons regarding individual responsibility, courage, and self-assertion, often manifesting as intense global transformations and a need for new, bold leadership. Wars do manifest.
During this residence Jupiter in Leo 'fire trines' Saturn in Aries 3 times, 31/8/26, 3/4/27, and 11/7/27. This is very courageous. Saturn sextiles Pluto once, March 28th 2026, this signals a transformational tome for global structures, focusing on reforming power dynamics and strengthening foundations. Mars conjuncts Saturn at 8 Aries on 19/4/26, a very forceful time with a planetary stellium in Aries. Saturn leaves Aries for Taurus on April 12th 2028. Saturn in Aries forces us to build personal authority and take responsibility. Aries fire forges steel.
URANUS
Uranus is direct in Gemini. Uranus's initial residence in this sign was from July 7th 2025 to November 8th 2025. Uranus reenters Gemini on April 25th 2026 for a 6.25 year stay, leaving for Cancer on August 3rd 2032. Major tech revolutions ahead.
NEPTUNE
Neptune re-entered Aries on January 26, 2026, where he will remain until March 23, 2039. On January 26 Neptune entered Aries for the first time since 1875-during which there was the American Civil War, the unification of Germany and Italy, and the rise of spiritualism and new religious movements. Essentially, this planetary transit is a time of great shifts in beliefs and opinions, in paradigms and world orders. Aries brings the pursuit of bravery, freedom, and fresh starts. However, Neptune can be tricky, illusionary and hard to pin down, so we may not see ourselves clearly, or we might struggle with clarifying what we're really trying to change, and why.
PLUTO
Pluto re-entered Aquarius on Nov 19th 2024 and will remain there till the year 2043. He is currently retrograde.
Pluto was last in Aquarius from 1777 to 1798. Pluto in Aquarius will revolutionize society, technology, and collective power structures. This era marks a shift from Capricorn's top-down, traditional control toward Aquarian-driven horizontal power, emphasizing AI, digital rights, and, crucially, the 'power of the people'.
UPCOMING ECLIPSES
Aug 12th 2026. A Total Solar Eclipse at 20 Leo visible from Europe(far northwest Spain, low at sunset), quintile Uranus. Electric Avenue.
Aug 28th-29th 2026 A Partial Lunar Eclipse at 5 Pisces visible from Europe, Africa and America, opposite Mercury. Magic mirror on the soul.
Feb 6th 2027 An annular Solar Eclipse at 17 Aquarius.
Feb 21st 2027 A penumbral lunar eclipse at 3 Virgo.
Aug 2nd 2027 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE at 11 Leo. ECLIPSE OF THE CENTURY. ONE YOU MUST NOT MISS.
Aug 17th 2027 A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius.
Jan 12th 2028 A Partial Lunar Eclipse at 22 degrees Cancer.
Jan 26th 2028 An Annular Solar Eclipse 6 degrees Aquarius.
THE LUNAR STANDSTILL.
The Mean Lunar Node is in Pisces. We are (first half of 2026) approaching the end of a Major Lunar Standstill. This is a period lasting for three years within the 18.6 year lunar nodal cycle. The last major lunar standstill centred on June 2006, and this current one was centred on January 2025. During these years we are observing extreme northerly and southerly lunar rising and setting points on the local horizon when the Moon is in tropical Gemini/Cancer or Sagittarius/Capricorn. The next Minor standstill is 2034 and the next Major standstill is in 2043.
Today's Full Moon is the 2nd following the Total Lunar Eclipse at 13 degrees Virgo on March 3rd 2026 and the 4th before the Partial Lunar Eclipse at 5 degrees Pisces on August 28th 2026. This is the 'Sweet Shadows' Full Moon.
At the exact moment of Full Moon it is Sunrise over the Lena Delta. Sunset is at Sofia. Moonrise is at Moscow, Kiev and Bucharest. Moonset is over The N.W.Pacific. High Noon is at Detriot. True midnight is at Rangoon. Pluto rises at Bejing. Mars sets at Cape Wrath Scotland. Neptune hits L.A. Thre Sun and Moon hit Hananna. Mars culminates at Denver.
Today's Full Moon hits Putin's Venus, Keir Starmer's Neptune, J.D. Vance's Saturn, Palestine's Pluto.
Look to Moscow with this Full Moon, look to Putin.
18.46 
. 
Latest:-Wednesday 13th May 2026
02.49 The Moon enters Leo
02.58
The New Moon is quintile Saturn.
08.49
09.04 The Moon at 24 Virgo waxing sextile Mercury at 24 Cancer
11.06 The Moon at 25 Virgo waxing trine Mars at 25 Taurus
17.34 The Moon at 28 Virgo waxing sextile Jupiter at 28 Cancer, moon void
20.57 The Moon enters Libra
21.56
