Recently I was having a celebration dinner with Michelle Roque, my talented creative director who had done such brilliant art direction work on my calendars and planners, handling Parisian artist Izak’s work with such grace. Michelle was telling me that some of her friends love Astrology Zone – they only read my summaries to my monthly column. I put down my fork. Hearing this news made me sad. I asked, are you sure, Michelle? She nodded. I strive so to give my readers complete information, and this month, May, I look ahead to the rest of the year to show what is due for you, for planning purposes. Almost none of that vital information will be in my summaries – there was too much to explain.

As you get to May, you seem to be consumed with finding ways to make money or to increase your net worth. The full moon of late last month, April 29, that appeared just days before the dawning of May, was in Scorpio 10 degrees and it was a peach. In early May if you have had financial talks, the deal will conclude, and it looks like that agreement could help increase your cash flow.

Saturn was in perfect angle to the Sun on this full moon April 29, and because Saturn is currently transiting your home sector until 2020, you may be investigating the idea of buying or selling property. Some people love to fix up houses and resell them, and if that describes you, arrange a meeting with your banker with great haste, for that full moon of April 29 will only be influential in those first few days.

You have had an enormous amount of emphasis on home and family, for you have hosted Mars there since March 17, and Mars will remain until May 15. Saturn will remain in the same home sector until 2020, and Pluto will not exit your home sector until 2026. With three powerful planets in the same area of your life – home, family, and lifestyle – something seems to be bubbling up. Pluto rules the basement and foundation of a house, so you may be creating a sleek basement living area for guests or a family room. Saturn rules your home’s structure, so you may be doing a major fixer-upper on a house you bought, or you may be working with an architect by taking down or putting up walls to redo the layout of the house. You might alternatively be interested in renting a vacation home for a few weeks so your family can enjoy a change of scene. Your timing is right to think about these subjects now.

Bigger news about your holdings will come up at the new moon May 15 in your eighth house of other people’s money. This is the same house I mentioned earlier that rules such things as mortgage, bank loans, inheritance, prize winnings, taxes, retirement accounts, insurance and similar type funds – one of these areas will consume your thinking. From now on, and continuing ten years, you will need to take a conservative course when it comes to handling money. I will explain why.

Uranus, the planet of unexpected developments, is about to make a monumental move into Taurus and your solar eighth house of money for the first time in your life. Uranus takes 84 years to circle the Sun, so Uranus spends seven years in each house it visits. This is the first time since 1934 to 1942 that Uranus has been in Taurus, so this influence will be new to you. (If you are older than 84, you probably were very young when you last had this influence of experiencing Uranus in Taurus, and being little, you didn’t have to be concerned about such things as venture capital and mortgages!)

Uranus rules all things that are innovative, futuristic and that happen in a sudden, even chaotic way out of the blue. This planet is a pathfinder to the future – it is known as the Great Awakener, for it strikes like lightning, sweeping away anything of no further value to your future, and then will help you rebuild something newer and more relevant to the life you are moving into.

Uranus has many adjectives – it works in an impulsive, spontaneous, and unexpected way. Uranus is also rebellious of outworn tradition, loves freedom and independence, and is futuristic and innovative. Uranus will also teach you to be sensitive to the needs of those overlooked by society and you might, if you work for a charity that can make a difference to that group.

As you enter the coming years, you will need to learn to manage the ups and downs that this planet will bring to your finances. Uranus is known to bring all kinds of new things into your life, so, for example, you might investigate the pros and cons of using a digital wallet, Bitcoin, and encrypted currencies, or join in on the public discussions on these burgeoning methods of payment. Will society have problems with these new ways of payment? Oh sure, all new technology brings problems, but they get solved as they come up.

You are lucky in that the big outer planets like Pluto, Saturn, Neptune, and Jupiter are all touring signs friendly to Uranus. That kind of support did not happen to the Virgos and Pisces when they had this planet touring their financial houses over 2010-2018, until now – instead they were hit by difficult eclipses, angry new and full moons, and a host of challenges they never saw coming. You will have a very different experience.

    Watch what happens on May 16. That first aspect of Mars square Uranus will the canary in the coal mine and tell you what type of news is likely to come along the same theme on August 1 and September 18.

Here is why you should be optimistic. Uranus will be in Taurus, an earth sign. Pluto and Saturn will be in Capricorn, respectively until 2023 and 2020, and Capricorn is another earth sign. Perfect! Jupiter is currently in Scorpio, a water sign that blends beautifully with earth – it is a fruitful blend that will last until November 2018. Come December 2019 Jupiter will enter Capricorn, another perfect place for Jupiter to help you with Uranus. (In the intervening 13 months, Jupiter will be in Sagittarius, making no strong aspect.) I cannot see your unique pattern of natal planets, so until you get used to this innovative planet, I suggest that you work to bring Uranus’ extremes inward toward the middle by taking a thoughtful, conservative approach to your financial decisions.

There is no doubt you are likely to see more money flow to you than you ever dreamed possible. That is an important point that bears repeating – you may see more money than you ever had or ever imagined you would have in your bank account, and when it comes it will land like a meteorite, suddenly, out of the blue. Also, however, at random times you will also see big expenses or high tax bills, so you will need to arm yourself with solid information before you make investments. Finding a wise financial advisor with an excellent track record would be a good first step – ask people you trust for a name.

I would like to make another point. During the past seven years, you hosted Uranus opposition your Libra Sun or, if Libra is your rising sign, in opposition to your ascendant. This is not an easy place to host Uranus. You may have suffered an illness during this time, or you may have had problems with getting along with a partner, who in recent years acted in uncharacteristic ways that surprised or even shocked you.

Still, Uranus can exert a very different vibe. You may have been with a very unusual partner, one highly creative, a person who thinks for him or herself, who won’t be told by society what to do. You may have been with a highly creative partner who bordered on genius. Uranus’ position in a chart will always show you where you are experiencing the surprise and stimulation in your life.

Mars will enter Aquarius on May 16 and remain there until November 7. This is an unusually long tour of Mars in one sign, for the more typical visit of Mars is seven weeks, not six months, as you will have. Aquarius is a sign very friendly to your Libra Sun – Libra is a fellow air sign like yours. Also Aquarius governs your fifth house of love, fun, romance, matters related to children, pregnancy, and creative endeavors – so in addition to money and home / family related matters, this is also the area you will be focused on for months.

There is a little problem, however, in that Mars will slow down to retrograde from June 25 to August 27. This means you may change your mind about a person you are dating or a plan you had with your steady lover or mate about having another child or about starting a pregnancy. If you said, no more children, you may say, yes, let’s have another – things like that happen when Mars retrogrades. If you are having IVF treatments, avoid Mars retrograde – Mars rules the sperm. Either have your procedure now or in the first half of June or wait until September.

Mars is akin to the gasoline in a car – without the gas, the car won’t go. Mars also is the planet that helps you standout and compete so effectively that you easily beat out the competition. For all these reasons you would better off launching your most important ventures when Mars is moving direct, not retrograde – keep your eye on September. As you see, July and August will be a leisurely two months, perfect for a vacation but not for working on key business plans. You are used to having Mars’ support, and if you figure that you can fill in for Mars’ absence, you will find it a Herculean task.

Mars will remain in the very early degrees of Aquarius, but the problem is Uranus will remain in the very early degrees of Taurus too for months, and that produces a square of 90 degrees, considered an aspect of setbacks or obstacles. The dates when this volatile aspect, Mars square Uranus, will be exact is May 16, August 1, and September 18.The problem is, Mars and Uranus don’t have to be exact to bring on unexpected news, but simply be within eight degrees, so you see this aspect will form background music now and then in the coming months.

Watch what happens on May 16. That first aspect of Mars square Uranus will the canary in the coal mine and tell you what type of news is likely to come along with the same theme on August 1 and September 18. While nothing in life repeats exactly, you will be able to get a good idea of the theme that is now emerging. We are all in this together, dear Libra.

How might this affect you? Mars will be in your fifth house of love, children, pregnancy, and creativity, and Uranus will be in your financial house until November. It’s possible that you will, say, need to spend more money on a creative project than estimated because it requires more of a boost. Or, one of your children will require a special tutor that you didn’t anticipate the need to hire. Or, a vacation may wind up costing much more than you assumed – when you get the credit card bill, you might get sticker shock. Uranus is known for his surprises, and I admit sometimes they are not always happy ones.

Don’t give up hope – there is one way things could work out very well – Mars in hard angle to Uranus is often known to produce the perfect environment for great creativity. Mars will be in the most creative house of you horoscope, so you may be ready to think out of the box and create something truly individualistic and innovative.

Speaking of creativity, we have an wildly rare and five-star aspect coming up on May 25, when Jupiter, planet of good fortune, currently in your financial house, will signal Neptune, planet of visions, dreams, and imagination, to create a perfect trine, which means an aspect of great harmony. Neptune is currently in your solar sixth house of work assignments house. ALSO Venus, your ruler, will be sitting at the very pinnacle point of your chart in Cancer, creating a golden triangle. Make a creative presentation on this day, and VIPs will eat up your ideas with a spoon. This day will be as rare as diamonds.

If you are single, you have lots of reason to be optimistic that you might meet someone new. Your best time this month to socialize will be while Venus remains in Gemini, a trend that started April 24 and will go through May 21. Stay home May 15, however – Mars square Uranus isn’t the most conducive aspect for generating love!

With an action-packed month like this, you will need a little time to travel and unwind. The full moon in Sagittarius 10 degrees on May 29will be outstandingly friendly and give you a chance to scoot out of town on a short trip. This full moon will affect you for plus or minus five days, and coincides with the American holiday of Memorial Day, a popular time for people to hop in their cars and go. In America this holiday marks the unofficial start of summer. It looks like you will be hitting the road, for Memorial Day will fall on May 28. Yet only 48 percent of my readers are based the US, so if you are based elsewhere, you too, can travel and have a very happy time. You don’t need a holiday to give you permission to go!

Those matters will almost certainly involve finances or have to do with your residence, other property, or a situation concerning the well-being of a family member, such as a child or parent. Lots of activity will be going on at home base, and it appears you will need to spend some of your financial reserves to create the home improvements or assistance to a close relative. The expense that comes up will likely be sudden and unexpected. Your focus on home and family has been going on since March, but might suspend a little when Mars leaves Capricorn on May 15. Still, you will have Saturn and Pluto there for years, but if you need to move, start looking now.

Lifestyle changes often require a large outlay of cash, and fortunately, money should be flowing in to your bank account at fast clip at some points this month, not only flying out in expenses thankfully, because Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, is now in your earned income sector for the first time in over a decade, to stay until November 7. You may also be busy polishing off bills, but you seem on the cusp of hearing good news about an influx of cash too. If you asked for a raise some time ago, positive news that your raise was approved should have arrived by late April or will in early May.

The big news of the month will be that Uranus will move to Taurus on May 15 for the first time in your life. Uranus will spotlight finances, for this planet will move into your eighth house of other people’s money. Those funds generally are funds you share with another person or company as well as the financial obligations you have to others, such as to pay off a bank loan, student loan, mortgage, credit card, or taxes. It is also money you would receive as an inheritance, commission, royalty, cash advance, sale of property, pension or insurance payout, or court settlement, as some examples. Your spectrum will enlarge now, with huge amounts coming in – more than you ever imagined possible – but also with big unexpected amounts going out for taxes, repairs, and other expenses that life has a way of throwing our way.

Uranus will only stay in Taurus this year only until November, but after retrograding back to Aries, it will return to Taurus on March 6, 2019, and remain there until 2026. Admittedly, finances will likely begin to gyrate a bit at times over the coming years. With the planet of all things unexpected in a financial house, you will need to be conservative when managing money.

If you need a mortgage, to refinance a mortgage you already own, or a bank loan, your stars are twinkling brightly, and again, an approval seems imminent. Send in your application very early in the month.

I didn’t mention this earlier, but I want you know that difficulties might arise, however, with a partner at this time, in love / marriage or in terms of a business partner just after May 15. To keep things calm, spend time convincing your partner well in advance to be on board with an idea you have and are passionate about. It will be important for both of you to be on the same page. Differences are likely to sprout up suddenly, without warning, and center on decisions involving home, property, or the care you want to take on the behalf of family member, such as a parent or child.

The rare move of Mars into perfect-for-Libra sign of Aquarius will happen on May 16, and Mars will fill your house of fun / friends / children / events. Mars will stay six months – not for the usual seven weeks that is more typical of Mars. This trend will go a long way to enliven your social life. If you are single, this is the best news ever.

This is a positive move of Mars, but if you and your partner have not been happy, Mars’ forward and retrograde orbit in coming months will soon ask you to make a decision about the future of your relationship. Here I am directing this only to Libras who are dating and not yet committed. (There are two houses of the horoscope; one is the fifth house of new love, children, and creativity, and the other is the seventh house of marriage and long lasting committed relationship – your fifth house lit up.) If the two of you must part, accept the reality and move on – there are others who can be better for you. If you love each other but need help, go for couples’ therapy, which should be quite helpful.

The full moon May 29 may bring a welcome chance to flee town and enjoy being in nature. The full moon in Sagittarius will make you restless and ready to bolt – go, but have clear driving directions, for with a harsh angle from Neptune, you may lose time backtracking to get on the right road. A close-by, beautiful location might be perfect. If you have a sister, brother, or cousin, there’ll be important news to discover, so give a call or make a visit.

In your career, you have wonderful outlook. Venus will enter your professional reputation sector on May 19 and stay until June 13. VIPs and peers alike will be enthusiastic about your recent victories and new ideas. You have an extraordinary opportunity to make a hefty profit from a business idea you might voice this month when Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck, now in your earned income house, will receive a rare signal from Neptune, planet of great creativity, now moving through your workaday sector, May 25, a red letter day. This gorgeous aspect will be at play at the full moon May 29 too, as these planets move very slowly.

Mars in Aquarius will also bring you innovative, exciting, futuristic ideas to offer others. An assignment that you create, or that is given to you, will deserve your full attention, for it can become a jewel in your crown.