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Your Monthly Horoscopes: May 2023

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Happy Taurus season! We’re in for yet another dynamic month. As May begins, we’re in the midst of Mercury retrograde and still reeling from the sudden changes that transpired after the solar eclipse in Aries on April 20th. Mercury meets the sun as Pluto stations retrograde on the 1st which might come as an “a-ha!” moment or bring even more secrets to the surface. Then, the lunar eclipse in Scorpio on the 5th inspires us to walk away from something emotionally taxing, making things both simpler and even more complicated during this already intense time.

Things finally take a turn toward the nourishing and grounded when Venus leaves flighty Gemini for committed Cancer on the 7th. Though this is a time to show love through elaborate dinner parties and thoughtful gifts, nostalgia is Venus in Cancer’s drug of choice. So be careful of getting stuck in the past! This is especially challenging until Mercury stations direct on the 14th.

The most exciting shift of the month comes on the 16th when Jupiter enters Taurus where the expansion planet will remain until May 2024. Since 2019 (and particularly since 2021), there’s been so much tumult in the Taurus part of our lives—including on a collective level with changes to our currency, food systems and the earth itself happening at a rapid pace. Jupiter in Taurus’ arrival is like a clean-up crew, bringing the relief and stability that we’ve been craving. The auspicious new moon in Taurus on the 19th allows us to set even more grounding intentions.

On the 20th, action planet Mars leaves “Summertime Sadness” Cancer for “I Don’t Care (I Love It)” Leo, bringing on a period of synergy after over six months of confusion and delays. Then on the 21st, the sun enters Gemini and we sail into the season of the twins. Happy Birthday to our mutable air queens like Heidi Klum, Laverne Cox and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Overall, May is a month of beginnings, endings and rapid changes. Enjoy the ride!

(Horoscopes follow for each sign. If you know your rising sign, reading for that sign may provide further insight.)

5 Signs That Wake Up and Choose Chaos


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Aries

(March 21 - April 19)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): A blowout fight or breakthrough therapy session that gets everything out on the table
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): Shop some sales and upgrade your wardrobe
  • Other Key Dates: 5/15, 5/20, 5/23

It’s not that nothing good has been happening in your life for the past nine months or so (remember the simple days of July 2022?), it’s that nothing has been easy. As much as you want to get ahead right now, you can’t bring yourself to do much more than cozy up with your Snuggie and binge Friends. You planned your whole garden plot, but you haven’t actually planted anything. On the 20th, Mars enters Leo and you finally get back into your creative groove. Use this energy to plan a party and bring your community together!

Love Horoscope

You thought you’d never get to this point in a relationship, but conversations about moving in with your partner get serious when Venus enters Cancer on the 7th. If you’re single, you might meet someone exciting through your sister, or on a trip to your hometown.

Money Horoscope

Both the lunar eclipse on the 5th and the new moon in Taurus on the 19th bring up money issues for you. The debts revealed earlier in the month feel scary but can be paid off easily if you’re willing to set a budget and make a plan.


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Taurus

(April 20 - May 20)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): Relationship turmoil reaches a conclusion
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): New moon, new you!
  • Other Key Dates: 5/4, 5/12, 5/13, 5/26

As Kelly Clarkson once sang, May is “out of the darkness and into the sun!” for you, Taurus. You’ve gone through so many changes and shifts in identity over the past couple years and now you finally get a chance to relax into this new version of you. But while your image and identity get more stable, you might also find that the pressure is rising. Everyone is looking to you for guidance and advice! Remember that it’s not your responsibility to create anyone’s life but your own. Keep exploring your own passions.

Love Horoscope

Last year around this time, you had a painful breakup or a situationship gone awry. Now you’re so much clearer about what you want. The lunar eclipse on the 5th brings a past lover back into your DMs, but you don’t need to reply. You know your value and you’re on your own journey.

Money Horoscope

May begins with Mercury retrograde—a time for revision and review. For you, this moment is all about taking your cash flow and security back into your own hands. This gets even easier when Jupiter moves into your sign on the 16th for the next year. Let the abundance flow!


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Gemini

(May 21 - June 20)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): Time to refine the to-do list and take some responsibilities off your plate
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): Setting intentions in the peace of a silent meditation retreat
  • Other Key Dates: 5/1, 5/12

If you’re not physically away at the beginning of this month, Gemini, then you certainly are mentally. Your ruling planet Mercury is retrograde in your unconscious sector for the entire month, and you’re grappling with what you need to let go. Release comes early and often if you’re willing to take the space away to dream, meditate and dig through the archives for clarity. With Jupiter moving into Taurus on the 16th for the next year, taking time away (alone or with your partner) will be an ongoing theme. Time to get good at keeping secrets.

Love Horoscope

The last year has brought many exciting developments to your relationships like going official, getting married or deciding to build a family. This month you finally take a step back to appreciate all you’ve built. Being celebrated is wonderful, but take a beat to appreciate how grateful you are for the simplicity of love.

Money Horoscope

The lunar eclipse on the 5th could bring an unexpected shift in your work responsibilities that comes with a raise or promotion! This is not the time to spread yourself thin and go under-appreciated, but it is time to ask for what you’re worth


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Cancer

(June 21 - July 22)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): A clarifying first date
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): First hang with friends for the summer!
  • Other Key Dates: 5/13, 5/26

Though eclipse season is always an emotional rollercoaster for you, Cancer, there’s also plenty of opportunity to put yourself back together. You might think that you have to find the passion and drive within yourself, but the truth is that your friends are here to help you. Your greatest and most solid asset right now is your community and throughout the month, it only continues to grow and expand. You also get a very nice boost from the 7th onward when Venus makes her annual visit to your sign. Take that glamor and softness and run with it!

Love Horoscope

After many romantic false starts and upsets over the past couple years, the lunar eclipse on the 5th brings some clarity around what it is you really desire. Partnership is about commitment but it’s also about pleasure, and you’re about to have a lot more of that.

Money Horoscope

Mars moves into your money sector on the 20th and though this is a relief for your body and image (you’ve been dealing with a lot of inflammation while Mars has been in your sign since late March), it’s not great news for your wallet. Be careful with your spending as this influence can inspire you to burn through your checking account.


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Leo

(July 23 - Aug 22)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): End to a long struggle at home or with family
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): A hard-earned promotion
  • Other Key Dates: 5/1, 5/9, 5/18, 5/21, 5/22, 5/28

No matter where you are on your professional path, this month is a major sea change when it comes to your public image. After years of shakeups and unexpected power shifts, you’re finally coming into your own sense of leadership. You have people’s attention and respect. At the same time though, you may have home or family issues that are taking up a lot of your mind space when you’re out of the office. Being assertive gets you far across all areas of your life (especially after May 20th), just remember to kill with kindness.

Love Horoscope

There’s so much going on in your work and home life this month that if you’re single, dating becomes your absolute lowest priority. Venus moving into your unconscious sector on the 7th could speak of a secret love affair but it’s more important to take this time to rest and reflect.

Money Horoscope

With Mercury retrograde for the first half of the month, you’re being forced to review your budgets, consolidate debts and consider some extra gigs to pay the bills. Remember though: you don’t have to work yourself into the ground to make things work, look for more resources where you already have an opportunity.


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Virgo

(August 23 - September 23)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): Total chaos in the group chat
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): First-day-of-school energy
  • Other Key Dates: 5/1, 5/12

So many people look up to you and seek out your wisdom, and it’s time to get serious about your role as a teacher or mentor. Whether you’re quite literally finishing grad school or less obviously guiding your in-laws through booking international travel, your expertise is highly sought after throughout the month. Part of this is taking on educational or spiritual projects for your own personal growth. You’ll know which path to take after the new moon on the 19th. Enlightenment is on the way!

Love Horoscope

Your romantic life has felt less sexy and more sensitive for the last several months with all kinds of emotional baggage getting illuminated. Things turn back to basics when Jupiter enters Taurus on the 16th—a transit where growth comes with a return to simplicity. Ask for what you want and see where that leads you.

Money Horoscope

If you’re a freelancer or own your own business, money definitely improves for you when Venus glides into Cancer on the 7th. You’re not just gaining profit but also feeling confident in your community, audience and customer base. This month is a good time to connect with coworkers and colleagues in your industry so you can all work together for better pay.


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Libra

(September 23 - October 21)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): A cathartic cry while purging your closet
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): Approved for a loan!
  • Other Key Dates: 5/4, 5/12, 5/13, 5/26

May is the start of a major come up for you, Libra, especially when it comes to your professional life. After the 7th, you easily get a meeting with your boss, impress VIPs and kill at a job interview. Though your financial situation is in flux, there’s a lot of generosity coming your way. You might be moving in with a partner, paying off your student loans or fundraising for your next creative project. There’s a lot of resources available to you at the moment. All you have to do is ask.

Love Horoscope

The solar eclipse on April 20th shook things up when it comes to your romantic relationships and now you’re considering all kinds of options when it comes to love. You’re realizing that relationships are what you make of them and they can be anything.

Money Horoscope

2022 left you feeling very limited with your personal resources, and the lunar eclipse on the 5th brings one final challenge. This could be a cut to your salary or just purging your closet to get rid of excess stuff. The new moon on the 19th offers a chance to apply for loans or pick up some extra gigs to add a cushion to your income.


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Scorpio

(October 22 - November 21)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): Cathartic moment of self-acceptance
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): Very special first date
  • Other Key Dates: 5/15, 5/20, 5/23

Though nothing has felt quite right in your life for the past several months, you’ve made a lot more progress than you think. There’s a lunar eclipse in your sign on the 5th which heralds the end of a long period of constant change. You’ve realized that things you once loved aren’t the right fit anymore and have shifted your energy elsewhere. It’s bittersweet but for the best! Things really pick up in your personal and professional life after the 20th when your ruling planet Mars moves into showy Leo. Time to accept your power and thrive!

Love Horoscope

There are many auspicious signs for your love life this month. First, expansion planet Jupiter moves into your partnership sector on the 16th followed by a new moon in Taurus on the 19th. You’ve never experienced love (or dating!) like this before. Enjoy the fresh energy!

Money Horoscope

If you’ve been putting off dealing with loans, taxes or credit card debts, you’ll be able to find more support once Jupiter enters your contracts and agreements sector on the 16th. You don’t need any old accountant or financial planner; you need the right one.


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Sagittarius

(November 22 - December 21)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): Existential crisis!
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): Make a dentist appointment
  • Other Key Dates: 5/5, 5/17, 5/23

Enjoy the fun and sexy time you’re having while it lasts. Once your ruling planet Jupiter moves into your daily grind sector on the 16th, you’re going to be spending a lot more time on your work, health and routine. This is the month to make a plan to get in shape and develop healthier habits. You get plenty of encouragement from both friends and mentors in this endeavor, and it’s also a great time to read up about both physical and mental health. The more you take care of yourself, the less anxious you’ll feel about the things that are simply out of your control.

Love Horoscope

If you’re in a relationship then your partner might be busier than usual this month, spending extra time at the office or dealing with a sick family member. If you’re single, you’re coming to the end of a super turbulent period in your dating life (through the 16th). Take a step back and consider all you’ve learned through meeting so many different kinds of people.

Money Horoscope

Venus moves into Cancer on the 7th bringing good news about your shared resources. This transit makes it easier to consolidate debts, apply for loans and ask for community support especially around the 13th.


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Capricorn

(December 22 - January 19)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): Stepping back from social obligations
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): First seeds of a creative project
  • Other Key Dates: 5/12, 5/13, 5/28

You do so much work to hold your friends, community and coworkers together. But this month you realize that some of those efforts aren’t worth your time. You’ve been slowly refining and sculpting your social circle over the past couple of years and at the lunar eclipse on the 5th, you’re finally ready to walk away from the friends who don’t give anything in return. Despite some hard goodbyes, you’re feeling more creative and flirtatious than you have in years. The new moon on the 19th opens up a new era for your romantic life. It’s time to go after what you want. No apologies.

Love Horoscope

Venus enters your partnership sector on the 7th while Jupiter enters your romance sector on the 16th. Though you may be feeling disconnected from certain friends, you’re going on plenty of dates and having a lot of fun. You might find people in general are sweeter to you under these influences so take advantage of the good vibes.

Money Horoscope

If you’ve been avoiding some debts, you’re probably going to have to face them when inflammatory Mars enters your shared resources sector on the 20th. Don’t look away from the bank statements!


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Aquarius

(January 20 - February 18)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): Unexpected decision about your career
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): Housewarming party!
  • Other Key Dates:5/1, 5/12, 5/13, 5/28

May begins with you making some tough choices in both your personal and professional life. Looking for a new job has been an arduous process. You want to take an offer you get early in the month, but upon further reflection, it just isn’t the right fit. You’re meant to simplify your career and public image right now, not complicate it; Beyond the professional turmoil, you’re also wanting to spend way more time at home and with your family which becomes a trend over the coming year. Finding more comfort in your own space makes it so you don’t have to look for an escape outside of it.

Love Horoscope

Things are quite simple and easy on the romantic front this month until heated Mars enters your relationship sector on the 20th. Though Gemini season is usually your most romantic time of year, this influence finds you arguing more than flirting.

Money Horoscope

Toward the end of this month (especially on the 28th!) you find yourself caught between what you desire and how much it costs to meet that desire. If a big vacation or home renovation is one of your priorities, then it’s time to start saving for it.


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Pisces

(February 19 - March 20)

May 2023 Overview

  • Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio (5/5): Grad school acceptance letter!
  • New Moon in Taurus (5/19): A new coffee shop opens in your neighborhood
  • Other Key Dates: 5/17, 5/23

May is all about feeling comfortable and confident in your immediate environment: getting your schedule on track, meeting deadlines, taking your daily walks in the park. With your ruling planet Jupiter moving into your neighborhood sector on the 16th, it’s time to become the local celebrity you’d like to see in the world. This is also a great month to consider your relationship to technology and reflect on your boundaries around communication. Do you need to be available to friends (or coworkers) 24/7? How can you take more time for yourself with your phone on Do Not Disturb?

Love Horoscope

Love planet Venus moves into your romance sector on the 7th which means it’s time to get back on the apps or rekindle the spark with your long-term lover. Getting more creative with your date ideas is the key to happiness and you may even end up taking a road trip or a quick weekend getaway to shake things up.

Money Horoscope

Jupiter spends its final two weeks in your money sector through the 16th. What have you learned over the past year about the resources you need to feel secure? Once Mars moves into Leo on the 20th, you have a better handle over your finances after several months of ups and downs.

Jaime Wright is an astrologer based in New York. Subscribe to her newsletter for more astrological musings.



jwright

Astrologer

Jaime Wright is an astrologer and writer based in NYC. She has been writing PureWow’s weekly and monthly horoscope columns since 2019, and also authors the cult favorite...