Astro Landscape June 4 - 14

 

We are in the final ten days of the Taurus lunar month as we move through the Disseminating, Last Quarter and Balsamic Moon phases.

Back on the Taurus New Moon I asked people to think about Taurus things: money, work, shelter, resources, values, patience and building something from the ground up. So how is that going?

Has your patience paid off or has it kept you stuck? Has your work been satisfying on a deeper level or does it simply bring in a paycheck? Have you discovered that something practical you have relied upon is no longer practical?

One of the themes of this lunar month has been that information changes things. A conversation, a piece of news, a random encounter or a new idea can alter the landscape. 

As we head into the final phases of this Taurus cycle, take a look at what has shifted since the New Moon on May 16. What have you learned? What are you ready to keep? What needs adjusting before we launch into the Gemini New Moon?

The bull has been carrying the load for a while now. Before we move on, let's see what it taught us.

Disseminating

June 4, 2026

4:30am  PDT – 

   

Disseminating — Sharing Insight

Reflect on what has transpired during the month and even earlier. What have you learned? How can you share some of your knowledge? What past experiences are you drawing upon? Sometimes we feel the need to teach. Other times we recognize that it is time to seek a teacher. A mentor, therapist, rabbi, minister, or guide may offer perspective that helps us understand the experience more fully.

Hero’s Journey: The hero shares the wisdom gained.
Creative/Science Process: Publication, presentation, or exhibition.

 

 

Focus on:   Are you sharing your ability to be practical by tapping your own inner CEO?  How do you use systems to work for you?  How are you sharing your skills in navigating bureaucracy so well you can share your knowledge with others.   Where do your values get enhanced when you receive feedback from experts?    

 

 

 

Planetary Notes:

 No outer planet aspects. 

 

Last Quarter Moon Phase

June 8, 2026

3:00 am (PDT)  

 

Last Quarter — Practical Adjustments

Now we make the final adjustments to the seeds planted at the New Moon. We make the final call, send the final letters, and follow the trails that still make sense. Other paths are allowed to fall away. This phase favors wise action and thoughtful decision-making.

It is a time for living the spirit of the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Hero’s Journey: Rebuilding life after the transformation.
Creative/Science Process: Critique and evaluation.

 

 

Focus on:

What actions are you taking that deepen your values?  How are you using or tapping faith as you make final moves on the seeds you planted back on the new moon?   What happens when you access faith and spirituality and connect to your goals that bring more value into your life?  

 

Planetary Notes: 

 

6/9: Venus conjunction Jupiter (25 CA 46) Wonderful aspect full of joy and optimism.  Love of family. Love of emotions.   Go big or go home or do both for both.  

6/9: Mercury square Saturn (12 AR 58).  Cozy emotions may not be in sync with the cold hard reality.  Yes, you can care about others but what is going on with self-thinking? 

 

 

Balsamic Moon Phase

 

June 11, 2026 

3:25 pm (PDT) 

 

Balsamic — Release

This phase closes the lunar cycle. We release what has run its course so the next cycle can begin. By letting go we clear space for the next New Moon. Reflection, rest, and closure allow the mind and spirit to reset before the next intention emerges.

Hero’s Journey: The return and completion of the journey.
Creative/Science Process: Rest and incubation before the next idea.

 

Focus on:  How are you releasing your rigidity?  How are you releasing your ‘stuckness’?  How are you releasing greed?  How are you releasing holding on too hard?  

 

Planetary Notes:

6/12: North Node square Uranus (2 GE 42) It is difficult when nothing makes sense and all you want is data to prove to you there is something bigger going on.  And you don’t get it.  What to do? 

 6/12: Mercury enters shadow (16 CA 19) (see above) 

6/12: Venus square Chiron (29 AR 44) There is something in all of us that needs space and independence.   How we seek creativity, love and money may be at conflict.  

6/13: Venus enter Leo  

 

New Moon (24 Gemini 03) June 14, 7:54pm PDT 

 

May 31, 2026 - Sagittarius Full Moon - Yep a Blue Moon

 

A candle celebrating the blue moon in Sag next to the toaster. 

Sagittarius Full Moon

May 31 1:45am 

09 SAG 55 

 

The full moon in Sagittarius is a tale of two ways to communicate.   Gemini likes to drill down into the facts and the data.   Bit by bit, “What about this?  What about that?  Wait, there is more of this.   And look I found more of that.”    Gemini of course long associated with writers and journalism.    Sagittarius also writes but it pulls wider than all the this-es and thats and gleans a bigger picture.   It will synthesize reason and or even philosophy out of the data.    Where the problem with each sign is Gemini can be overwhelmed into paralysis from over analysis.    Sagittarius can be a zealot and go too far in an opinion that misses nuance because an important data point got skipped.     

 

During the full moon we are challenged to find the place in the middle of Sag and Gemini.    What are the facts on the ground telling us?  Are we missing something that could serve us practically?   Or are we long on an opinion that is just not matching the accuracy of a situation?  

 

In the chart for the Sag full moon the Sun sextile Saturn and the Moon trine Saturn (both applying).   Additionally, the Moon still feeling the trine to Neptune (separating).  The Sun still feeling the trine to Pluto (separating). 

 

 

All these aspects suggest opportunities (trines & sextiles) during this three-day full phase.    What we could be doing is open up to new opinions, philosophies (Sag) and a clear focus (Saturn) around the facts on the ground (Gemini) that bring out new independent (Aries) thinking (Gemini) that resonates in both in our brains and intuition (Neptune).  

What doorways will we enter?   And more to the point, that doorway has above it the sign, “Stay Curious.”   

 

 

As discussed earlier, Uranus fresh in Gemini formed a conjunction with the Sun and is still of an influence at the time of this full moon.   It could be the spine to all that comes up on this phase.  Where can you find newness that freshens up your big ideas about anything?   

 

One note: There is a little fly in the ointment in the full Moon chart.   Mars in Taurus can amplify a disconnect between big ideas and reality.  Actions (Mars) that don’t line up with opinions.  Hypocrites may be in the news.   Nervous energy could reveal itself through irritability.   Take a breather if you are getting a wee bit too snappy.  

As for The Blue Moon.  This is a month that has a full moon at the beginning and at the end.    I did not know the term micromoon but apparently that is also the case with this full moon which means it is farthest away from earth and dimmer than typical full moons.   It is interesting to me that this moon, the last fire sign is not as robust as the other full moons.    Seems counter-intuitive but we will see how it unfolds.  Anyway, you can read more about the blue moon HERE.  Hat Tip to Stephanie Austin for the link.  

 

 

Astrology Landscape May 23 - 31st

 

First Quarter Moon 

May 23, 2026

4:10am  PDT

 

 First Quarter — Taking Action

Now we act on the information we received. We pursue the idea again. What hurdles have appeared involving the seeds you planted at the New Moon? We make another call, reach out to someone, mail something, or stir the pot again. Sometimes this phase reveals that the goals we planted require more effort from us. Independence may need to be asserted. Others may resist our growth, even if they believe they have our best interests at heart.

Hero’s Journey: Crossing the threshold and committing to the journey.
Creative/Science Process: Commitment — the work begins.

 

Focus on:   How are the seeds you planted on the new moon deepening your practical needs and strengthen your values benefiting by detailed actions?   What strategic actions can you take that are super detailed?  What actions can you take that tap your discipline?  What Ts need to be crossed and I’s dotted?   How does all of this make you more practical? 

 

Planetary Notes:

 

5/24: Sun sextile Neptune (3 AR 55). Actions based on faith.  Spirituality is supported and life affirming.

5/24: Mars sextile North Node (4 PI 40) Actions and impulses may connect to a greater force within us and for others.  

5/25: Sun square N. Node (4 PI 39) What happens when facts on the ground don’t match something bigger going on? 

5/25: Mars square Pluto (5 AQ 25) (see above) 

5/26: Sun Trine Pluto (5 GE 25)  Thinking, communication, neighbors and siblings can be impacted by the friends and groups we keep.  

 

Gibbous Moon

May 27, 2026

12:13 am PDT  

 

 

Gibbous — Refining the Process

We refine our information. We pick and choose, discriminate, and organize. This is the phase where we become a bit “Virgo-like.” We sort through details and ask whether something has been overlooked. Adjustments are made. Plans are refined. The goal is not to abandon the seed but to improve how it is unfolding.

Hero’s Journey: Training and preparation before the major test.
Creative/Science Process: Editing and refinement.

 

Focus on:

On the new moon we got down deep into our practical brain. We assessed our needs, our money, our structures now we consider how does all that impact our partnerships?  How are we refining our goals to connect with relationships?  When we look at our need to dig in on some practical level how is it refining our life? 

 

Planetary Notes:  

 

5/28: Venus square Saturn (11 AR 59) Money and love feels cold.  Values feel squeezed.  Sometimes you get what you need and not what you want.  Says the Rolling Stones and the world at least today. 

 

 

Mars Mars Mars

 

Mars

 

We are almost halfway through the year and now would be a good time to talk about Mars.  Yes, this is a bit of an astro data dump but hang in there.  Mars is moving fast for most of this year but then in the fall it will slow down and in January it will turn retrograde and go back over some of the same territory it crossed in fall.    Here are the Mars aspects going forward. 

 

5/25 Mars square Pluto (5 AQ 25) 

6/27 Mars sextile Jupiter (29 CA 33)

6/29 Mars square N. Node (00 PI 58)

7/03 Mars conjunction Uranus (3 GE 52)

7/04 Mars sextile Neptune (4 AR 24)

7/05 Mars trine Pluto (4 AQ 46)

8/10 Mars trine N. Node (29 AQ 48)

8/17 Mars square Neptune (3 AR 59)

9/01 Mars square Saturn (13 AR 39)

10/2 Mars trine Neptune (2 AR 48)

10/3 Mars oppose Pluto (3 AQ 06)

10/7 Mars sextile Uranus (5 GE 24)

10/10 Mars square Venus retro (7 SC 21)

10/16 Mars trine Saturn (10 AR 22) 

11/05 Mars enters shadow (10 VI 25)

11/09 Mars sextile Venus (23 LI 08)

11/14 Mars oppose n. node (25 AQ 12)

11/15 Mars conjunction Jupiter (25 LE 53) 

12/04 Mars square Uranus (3 GE 18) 

1/10/27 Mars stations retrograde ( 10 VI 25)

4/01/27 Mars stations direct (20 LE 55)

6/10/27 Mars exits shadow (10 VI 25)

 

Note on December 4 Mars in Virgo will square Uranus in Gemini.   It will hit that same square two more times before Mars exits the final shadow point in June of 2027.  

 

So that is a lot of Mars information which will unfold however it wants but in the meantime on May 25 Mars squares Pluto which is very tense and explosive.   The cycle of these two planets goes back to five months ago in January when they had their conjunction.  During that period, we saw domination contests, network influences, fighting over who controls the future, billionaires behaving quasi governmentally and sure, public rage amplified through platforms.  Let’s assume more of that around that May 25^th date.  Blech. 

 

 

Los Angeles Friends -- Are You Signed Up for LA Astro Festival? It's Coming! June 27 & June 28

 

I am double downing in my community uplifting efforts. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with my Venus in Aquarius getting some love from the outer planets.

Even in the hardest political time I can remember, I still live in that brackish world where love and desire for an improved community meets the harsh reality of whether people show up. A lot of folks say things. But do they participate? Do they build? That’s the question.

Anyway, in that landscape, I think it is important to get the word out when good things are happening locally, and such is the case for our astro peeps in Los Angeles.

Between June 27–28 will be the second annual LA Astro Festival. My friend and fellow astrologer Vivi Henriette had the concept, vision and motivation to put together the first festival last year and it was outstanding.

I also want to say I remember when LA astrology outreach and community often felt like standing between stacks of books at the Bodhi Tree. We’ve come a long way since then, thanks in part to Vivi.

Last year I thought the material and speakers were inspired, intriguing and fresh and that is saying something since I’ve been doing this astro thing for 50 years.

So, there is that.

If you want to sign up for the event, feel free to use and share my code for 10% off all tickets:
TRACYLAAF

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-la-astro-fest-tickets-1988582037405?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

May 16: Taurus New Moon

 

May 16, 2026

1:00pm (PDT) 

25 Taurus 57

 

 

I don’t know about you, but I am glad to say good bye to the Aries lunar month.   After all that fire I am ready for the grounding that comes with the first earth sign, Taurus.   

 

This 29-day lunar cycle is not as dramatic as the last couple of new moons.   It is not without some thrills and spills, but I think it will be a bit more manageable.   Yay.  

 

You can find my whole Taurus Lunar Report HERE.

May 5 - 16 Astrology Landscape

 

Disseminating

May 5, 2026

12:44 pm PDT – 

   

Disseminating — Sharing Insight

Reflect on what has transpired during the month and even earlier. What have you learned? How can you share some of your knowledge? What past experiences are you drawing upon? Sometimes we feel the need to teach. Other times we recognize that it is time to seek a teacher. A mentor, therapist, rabbi, minister, or guide may offer perspective that helps us understand the experience more fully.

Hero’s Journey: The hero shares the wisdom gained.
Creative/Science Process: Publication, presentation, or exhibition.

 

 

Focus on:   Are we all breathing now that the waxing and the full moon have completed?   How can we tap our inner CEO?  What does our inner boss, the real person we listen to say about our place in the world?  Can we share our knowledge with others?  Can we seek others advice?   What systems may be helpful if we talk to those in authority?   

 

 

 

Planetary Notes:

 

5/5: Mercury square Pluto (5 AQ) Great big airy fairy ideas that are not practical are put through the squeeze.  Cranky conversations with groups. 

5/5: Mercury sextile North Node (6 PI) Phew, the brain is soothed by remembering faith and spirit and the possibility that there is something bigger out there in charge.  

5/6: Pluto stations retrograde (5 AQ 30) (see above) 

 

 

 

 

Last Quarter Moon Phase

May 9, 2026

2:10 pm (PDT)  

 

Last Quarter — Practical Adjustments

Now we make the final adjustments to the seeds planted at the New Moon. We make the final call, send the final letters, and follow the trails that still make sense. Other paths are allowed to fall away. This phase favors wise action and thoughtful decision-making.

It is a time for living the spirit of the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Hero’s Journey: Rebuilding life after the transformation.
Creative/Science Process: Critique and evaluation.

 

 

Focus on:

What actions are you taking that connect to friends and groups?   For the last twenty days we have been focused on our needs, wants and desires.   Now is the time to turn to our groups and ask for support.  It is also time to go to our groups and friends and offer our own support for their self-agency.  

 

Planetary Notes: 

 

5/10: Sun sextile Jupiter (20 CA) Joy comes from practical support that lines up with our emotions and our philosophies.   Going outside our circles we may find practical alliances.  

5/12: Mercury sextile Jupiter (20 CA) Great day to find new knowledge, learn from others something important that will have practical applications in your own self agency.  

 

Balsamic Moon Phase

 

May13, 2026 

6:32 am  

 

Balsamic — Release

This phase closes the lunar cycle. We release what has run its course so the next cycle can begin. By letting go we clear space for the next New Moon. Reflection, rest, and closure allow the mind and spirit to reset before the next intention emerges.

Hero’s Journey: The return and completion of the journey.
Creative/Science Process: Rest and incubation before the next idea.

 

Focus on:  How are you releasing your warrior.   How are you releasing the battles?   How are you releasing your anger?  

 

 

Planetary Notes:

 

5/14: Mercury conjunction Sun (23 TA) Mercury cazimi in Taurus, and after all the Aries activity, something finally makes sense. A thought lands, and it holds.

5/16: Mars conjunction Chiron (28 AR) (see above) 

 

Taurus New Moon May 16, 1pm PDT