May is the month to remind yourself that life is about recognizing and appreciating the beauty inside you and around you as the Sun cycles in grounded, lush, abundant, earthy Taurus until the 20th of the month. Sun in Taurus is the time to take time out, to relax and smell the roses. You'll have plenty of time for multi-tasking when it shifts into airy, adaptable, versatile Gemini, the sign of communication. Mercury, the planet of communication and information, covers a lot of ground this month as the messenger of the Gods travels in 3 different signs. In bold, daring and courageous Aries until the 12th, Mercury encourages you to speak your truth. Then speak your words with determination and focus with Mercury in practical Taurus until the 28th, when the messenger enters one of its home signs of Gemini. Venus, the planet of love, relationships, value, appreciation and pleasure leaves one of its home signs of Taurus, where she is real comfortable and cycles into Gemini. This spices up your relationships by adding versatility, variety and adaptability. On the 19th, Neptune the planet of dreams, inspiration, idealism and spirituality, begins its 5 month retrograde cycle. Neptune in retrograde can be somewhat subtle (except for you Pisces Suns with Neptune as your guardian angel planet). This is a time to reflect and contemplate how inspired you are in your life and if you are living on purpose, by recognizing emotionally deprived parts of you that now need your nurturing, compassionate concern, so that you can feel more unified and whole from within. Introspection is emphasized as well as increased receptivity to the stirring of your inner nature and your soul. Explore the fertile world of your untapped imagination, as this is an excellent time to strengthen your powers of visualization.

Aries (March 20 - Apr. 19)
While you usually know exactly in which direction you're headed, dear Ram, and which challenge is next for you to meet or which obstacle is next to overcome, you could feel a bit uncertain, unfocused and confused because the object of your passion and desire is more about how you can use all your fire energy to benefit more than just you. This is due to the passage of Mars, your guardian angel planet, in gentle, compassionate Pisces, the most idealistic, inspired sign in the zodiac. Don't expect clarity for a few weeks because you are birthing a new vision of yourself and of your life. It's important this month to take time to meditate, do yoga and spend as much sanctuary time as you can to reflect and contemplate, even though that doesn't come naturally to you because initiating and taking action is usually your strongest suit.

Taurus (Apr. 19 - May 20)
This is your month to shine, oh lover of peace, tranquility and beauty, as the Sun moves through your sign, along with Venus until the 9th, and you reground yourself for your New Year. With Neptune, the planet of idealism, cycling in the career area of your chart, you are revisioning your future and what inspires you professionally. You feel a greater need to contribute your talents to the world in an expanded way. While change is not your strong suit, you have been feeling the ground shifting ever so slightly beneath your feet. For you, sometimes, the pain of not making a change has to become greater than the fear of making a change in order for you to get off the dime. You love your creature comforts and change is usually not one of them.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Venus, the planet of love and relationships, cycles in your sign on May 10, joined by the Sun on May 20. It's been an intense time for you and your relationships, dear Gemini, as Pluto dances in Sagittarius, your opposite sign and in your 7th house, the house of all your relationships. While you usually prefer keeping it light and airy, things have been more intense for quite a while, as your relationships continue to present you with opportunities to deepen your connection with yourself. What you see in others is always in you and what you may be seeing now is the darker, more shadowy side of yourself. And while power struggles and control issues may have come up recently in many of your encounters, there has also been more honesty than ever before. You may be surprised at how much you truly love this increased intimacy with others that results from these interactions.

Cancer (June 21 - Jul. 22)
You take you spiritual journey to a whole new level this month, dear Crab, as you focus on what you really believe, with Mars, the planet of action, passion and desire in Pisces, traveling through your 9th house. Whether your spiritual travels are to other lands, other churches, or just in your mind, your horizons will expand for certain. And you'll meet what holds you back, and what you may not be aware of, as the Sun and Mercury travel in your 12th house, the other most spiritual house in the horoscope, as well as the house of your unconscious. This would be a great month to travel to parts unknown, to go on a meditation retreat by the ocean, where you'll encounter parts of you you haven't met yet. As a water sign you are already so intuitive by nature, but this month you take it to a brand new level.

Leo (Jul.22 - Aug. 22)
There’s a lot of activity going on in your career this month, dear Lion. With the Sun and Mercury cycling there and the New Moon in Taurus on the 8th, it's time to ask your heart if you love what you do. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you must express your heart in your work or you'll be one unhappy child. Whatever you're doing in the world, ask yourself 2 simple questions: Is this fun? Can I express more of me? And if your answer is 'no' to either question, you'll know it's time to move on. If you plant seeds at this New Moon on the 8th around loving your work, then by the Full Moon on the 23rd falling in your 5th house, the Leo house of creative self-expression, you'll have greater awareness and clarity about which path to take. The point is if you don't bound out of bed every day because you love what you do, then do something else.

Virgo (Aug. 22 - Sept. 22)
It may feel that your relationships are turning you every which way but loose these days, as Mars, the action planet of passion and desire, cycles through your 7th house, the relationship arena. When Mars cycles there every two years, you may find yourself feeling impatient and perhaps a bit angry with those close to you because you become aware of how easy it is for you to sacrifice what you want in order to be of service to others. Sometimes, this can even border on being a martyr/victim and you just don't want to take it anymore. And what makes this attitude of yours even more rebellious which may surprise those close to you, is that Uranus, the planet of upset, change, breakthrough and rebellion dances cheek to cheek with Mars now. It's time for a new order!

Libra (Sept. 22 - Oct. 23)
With the New Moon in Taurus on the 8th and the Sun and Mercury all cycling through your 8th house this month, it's time to resolve those old financial obligations. When you do, a new sense of power expresses in every area of your life. Deeper, more profound connections with others are possible on every level now i.e. emotionally, psychologically, financially, sexually, intellectually. Therefore, your relationships become more satisfying and rewarding, which is what every Libra craves above all else. With Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion in your sign until October, you are expanding beyond your existing definition of yourself. And it's your turn to cash in because you deserve it. It's time for you to reap whatever you've sown over the last 12 years. Whatever dreams you've dared to dream for your relationships can now come true.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 22)
Relationships are always the focus for you in May, dear Scorpio, as the Sun, Mercury and the New Moon in Taurus on the 8th all travel in your 7th house, the relationship arena, of your chart. You love it when things heat up, while Taurus likes to calm things down. Know now that you can experience more peace and serenity with others, however, uncharacteristic that may be since you crave intensity and often respond better to emergencies. And with Pluto, your guardian angel planet, now in retrograde until August, you can see more clearly where you need healing of old psychological wounds so that you can truly experience the depth, magic and profound transformation that you so desire in your relationships. All those planets in Taurus now, urge you to relax and smell the roses.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)
There is much restlessness on the homefront now, dear Sag, as Mars and Uranus travel in your 4th house, the emotional foundation of your chart. It would be wise to have some project in your home to channel your physical energy into, so that you don't take any unresolved anger out on those who share your space. And with Venus after the 10th and the Sun after the 20th in Gemini cycling through your house of relationships, you'll be able to more clearly understand how your family of origin issues impact your current relationships. And since you, more than any other sign in the zodiac, understand that everything has meaning and happens for a reason, you can bless all opportunities that present themselves in your interactions with others.

Capricorn (Dec. 21 - Jan. 19)
You are very comfortable with the Sun, Mercury and the New Moon all in the earth sign of Taurus this month. Life feels more grounded to you and as the mountain goat it's important to feel the sure footing as you take each step up the mountain of your dreams. Accomplishment and manifestation come easier to you with the planets in Taurus. And since all these Taurus planets cycle in your house of creative self-expression, you are reminded that life is about having fun and recapturing the childlike qualities of your youth. Of course, you, more than any other sign in the zodiac, grew up early and were a mature little adult early on. And the good news around that is that the older you become chronologically, the younger you actually feel.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 19)
You may find yourself wanting to pull back from the world and spend more time at home with the Sun, Mercury and Venus all cycling through your 4th house of emotional foundation. While you are usually very comfortable in social situations, particularly in groups of like-minded people, you may find that the desire to interact with others is less important than the need to be alone with yourself. When planets cycle through the 4th house, there's a need for more privacy and an honoring of inner needs. After the 10th when Venus cycles into the 5th house, you will feel more social and will probably be invited to parties, movies, theatre, concerts, etc. And if you've honored the need to be with you, then those social opportunities will be fun and very rewarding.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)
You are very courageous, bold, daring and energized this month, dear Pisces, as Mars, the planet of action, passion and desire, makes its once every two year journey in your sign this month. You may be wondering where all this energy is coming from and yet grateful that you are inspired to act on your own behalf. And don't for one minute think you are being selfish. This is the time to be 'centered in yourself' so that you can serve the world from a more authentic place, because you're honoring the needs of your heart and your soul. And with Uranus, the planet of individuality and uniqueness in your sign, which only occurs every 84 years, you are reinventing yourself by expressing parts of you that you didn't even know existed.

Lorelei Robbins is an astrological consultant in the Atlanta, GA, USA area. She may be contacted at LoreleiYes@aol.com or at 770-992-6112.