The month starts out with an important full moon in Scorpio, May 3, bringing something of major personal importance to you to culmination or closure. This full moon, the only one in Scorpio this year, is friendly, for it will receive a beautiful vibration from Neptune. Neptune rules your true love sector, so developments may relate to a sweetheart you are dating, or if attached, to a lovely episode with your one-and-only over that weekend May 2-3 that will take your breath away.

There are alternate possibilities. You may find you are hearing news that thrills you about a pregnancy or one of your children, or you may be proud to wrap up a creative project. The fifth house, so brilliantly lit now, is the same house that rules love, conception, pregnancy, and birth.

If your birthday falls on November 5 plus or minus four days, you will feel the full moon in Scorpio the most. If you have Scorpio rising or a planet at 13 degrees Scorpio, Cancer, or Pisces, plus or minus five degrees, you, too, will benefit from the energy of the full moon.

The new moon on May 18 will be in your partnership sector, as it falls in the sign opposite yours on the wheel, Taurus, at 27 degrees. If you hoped to commit your heart in love by getting engaged, that could happen now, or in business by signing papers for a partnership to make things official. Talk over plans, but do not finalize your plans just yet, for the timing seems to be off. Saturn will be directly opposed to that new moon and will make negotiations difficult and drawn out. In fact, at some point, you may just want to give up. In love, Saturn opposite the moon, a feminine influence, means the woman in the relationship will likely suffer in some way. Saturn conjunct the Sun is a masculine influence, means the man in the relationship will be burdened in some way too for the life of the relationship.

Financial matters may be the stickler point, as Saturn has recently moved into a money area of your chart. The hardest day to find accord regarding any financial issue will be May 22, when Saturn will oppose the transiting Sun. Your career may bring a problem too, so keep to routine matters on this day, and don't shake any trees to see if any coconuts fall out. If any do, they will fall on your head.

Additionally Mercury will go retrograde from May 18 to June 11 in Gemini in your financial house. This suggests that funds that you expect to receive will be late, or not come at all, or, alternatively, that monetary arrangements that you had already put in place will be changed, by you or another party. If you are not familiar with Mercury retrograde, it is not a time to make new initiations, but an excellent time to go back to past actions that were not finished, or that were indeed finished, but that you feel could still be improved now. Do not buy any electronics or appliances this month, as Mercury rules the moving parts in machines - you will not enjoy your purchase if you buy it now. Although Mercury does not go retrograde until May 18, you will feel the characteristic slowdowns that Mercury in this phase can create as early as May 4.

Mercury retrograde is not a time to accept a new job or launch important new ventures, so wait until mid-to-late June to do so. The exception to that rule is if your offer comes from someone you used to work for and would like to work for again. In that case, you would simply be continuing the relationship you started a long ago - it's not new and therefore fine to accept. If you desperately need a job and don't have a history with the person or company that offered it to you, take it. You can always change jobs again later. Chances are, the job description will change, and not in a way that pleases you. Your outlook for career will be very special in August, so you may be jumping the gun by taking a new job before those sweet aspects kick in.

Going back to this month, Mars will continue to tour your seventh house of commitment while in Taurus until May 10, along with the Sun in Taurus until May 21, so you will be centered on your partner. If your partner has been unhappy about something that happened that he blames you - unbeknownst to you - you will likely know about it in the first ten weeks of May. You would have the choice whether to fix things, or if you become horrified about what you learn, leave, but either way, you would be on firmer footing. It is always better to know the truth than not know it. One day not to bring up any controversial or touchy subjects with your partner would be May 15, when Mars will receive an opposition from Saturn.

Once Mars goes into Gemini, May 10 to June 24, you will focus on money you share with your partner, receive from your partner (say, in child support), or pay to an entity, such as for a bank loan, credit card statement, in taxes, or for a student loan. Any financial court settlement is an eighth house activity, so that is included here too. These are just a few examples, but you get the idea. Next month you will have a new moon in Gemini in this house on June 16, so the emphasis on money will continue in June and the environment will improve for you - talks will go easier. If you need venture capital, expect a royalty or an advance on a book, or are having a hard time with an insurance company, next month your financial outlook will brighten, so don't give up.

If your birthday falls on November 19, plus or minus four days, you will be affected by this new moon of May 18 more than other Scorpios. The same would be true if you have Scorpio rising at 27 degrees, or a natal planet at 27 degrees in Scorpio, Pisces, or Cancer, or Virgo, Taurus, or Capricorn, plus or minus five degrees. In that case, you may benefit too.

In terms of romance, the move of Venus into fellow water-sign Cancer from May 7 to June 5 will be great news. Venus will amp up your charms and make you more magnetic than ever. Your best day will arrive on May 16, a Saturday when Venus will work with glamorous Neptune. You have an ideal day for love and fun, and also to shop for new things to wear. Women Scorpios may want to buy new makeup after having a makeover at a department store. Both sexes might want to book a spa treatment! It is your very happiest day of the month, so treat yourself!

This month could become a vital one, from which you begin to judge the future of your relationship(s). The full moon on May 3 will be in Scorpio and clarify your goals, and what you need to be truly happy in life. It may require deep thinking. When you were younger, you may have unconsciously drawn up an idea of the person you felt would be a perfect mate for you.

That vision may have changed in time, for your priorities may have adjusted. What was so exciting about your initial vision of your future mate may now seem a little juvenile now - a good-looking person with great sense of humor can be understandably high on your list, but a responsible, stable, and loyal partner with a steady job may seem much more attractive to you, considering your evolving lifestyle and goals. This full moon will be a vital one, as it will receive gifts from Venus (to make you happy), Neptune (to bring you inspiration), Mars (courage and energy), and to some degree Pluto, your ruler. (Pluto is a bit far in mathematical degree - 12 degrees - but close enough to add a mild assistance.) You can get to the answers you need, simply by spending quiet time thinking.

The corresponding new moon in your partnering sign of Taurus on May 18 will open wide a new chapter to your closest relationship, assuming you are dating seriously or committed to the one you love. Saturn will be close enough to oppose this moon, but from Sagittarius, not Scorpio, bringing finances into the conversation. Money might become a bone of contention, or you may find you are having a temporary cash crunch. Nevertheless, if you want to grow closer to your partner, think about what you are willing to give the relationship and what you feel will be reasonable to expect in return. Having accurate expectations is always the cornerstone of a solid relationship.

These rules work in business too - partnerships are two-way streets. This month the sharing and appropriation of funds may be up for discussion too. Mars will energize your eighth house of money held by you and your partner and also put a spotlight on lenders, creditors, and investors. The focus will be on money you need for a big goal, such as to purchase real estate, to start a business, or to pay college tuition. Hold off taking immediate financial action on any front while Mercury will be retrograde, May 18 to June 11. If investing, revealing corporate information will be available in the coming weeks, but not quite yet. You will be wise to wait, as the information about to come out may be helpful.

You will need fun, and Venus, planet of happiness, beauty, and love, will enter Cancer, a highly compatible place for Venus to be for you from May 7 to June 5. This makes early May an ideal time for a vacation. Go shopping for new pretty things May 16, when you are likely to find things that look stunning on you and raise your confidence when you step out socially.

This month's full moon will fall in Scorpio on May 3, and it is a far better one than it was last year. This year's only full moon in Scorpio will help you see more money, and may also help you focus on romance over this weekend.

The new moon of May 18 will bring you a new opportunity to set in place a close committed relationship. Mercury will be retrograde, however, so you would be best to reopen a former situation to make a "go" of it now. This would be preferable to starting a new relationship. Saturn will oppose the moon, so the discussion would be serious, and promises binding.

Venus will move into Cancer on May 7 to June 5, and you will have a chance to buy new wardrobe things for the coming season and to improve your looks. Love and travel will go together like cup and saucer.

One of the hardest days of the month will be May 22, when the Sun and Saturn will be at loggerheads. Money will be tight, and finding accord very difficult. Your career may not bring the good results you hoped to see on this day either. Lie low.