As I mentioned last week, the eclipses are what’s going to rain on our parades more than Mercury Retrograde. That’s especially true if you have a birthday around April 20th, July 20th, October 23rd, or January 19th. If so, the nodes are making a hard aspect to your sun this – and next (for those born up to a few days before those dates) – year. This is a transformative year for you, and the May Lunar Eclipse in 2023 is no exception.
This is going on a tangent, but one that's going to be relevant in the coming weeks, months, and years, so buckle up.
Specifics
The lunar eclipse is a partial eclipse. The sun and moon will be at 14 degrees Tropical Taurus and Scorpio respectively, and the nodes will be at 3 Taurus and Scorpio. They’re eleven degrees apart, so normally, I wouldn’t count it as a conjunction, but since it’s an eclipse, all bets are off.
It’s impacting those born at the start of fixed signs who are getting hammered by eclipse energy this year. Those born around the 5th of May, August, November, and around February 2nd will also be affected at this time*. If you’re one of these birthdays joining the eclipse mix, this will be a time to relax, release, and let go. Endings are possible and with Mercury retrograde, this is an excellent time to release and let go for everyone.
The South Node will be on the fixed star Princeps, so it’s a good time to retrace your steps. If you’re involved in research work, go back to basics, work out some blocks and unanswered questions, or even assess if it’s time to throw it all out and go back to the drawing board.
While this is a general message, there are a few people who will be impacted by the eclipse more than others.
Let’s talk about Millennials
Here’s where the tangent begins. In astrology, generations are based on where Pluto is when said generation is born. Millennials are the generation born between 1983-1984 and 1995, or when Pluto was in Scorpio. Fun fact: if you’re a Xennial born between 1980 and 1983, confused about why you’re called a Millennial, good news! Your Pluto is in Libra; you’re technically Gen X according to astrology.
Back to millennials though. Our identity as a generation will go through some deep reflection for the next two decades, but it will be felt on this eclipse since the moon and South node will be on some millennials’ Pluto placements.
If you’re an older millennial, born around 1984, you’re facing your Pluto square Pluto. It’s a dark night of the soul that for our generation, will happen around what I call the “opposition years”. That’s when you’re about 42, when Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter will oppose your natal Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter in a short amount of time. Typically, this is when you have your mid-life crisis. More on that later. For now, this aspect doesn't mean big catastrophes are going to befall you; at best, you're going to do a lot of brooding and ruminating on your place in the world over the next couple of years.
Also for now, a good chunk of millennials will be impacted by this eclipse thanks to their Pluto placement. I’m looking at those born around 1986 and 1989 specifically. For them, this could be a preview for their Pluto Square Pluto coming up during the next several years.
Every millennial will go through Pluto Square Pluto in their late 30s to late 40s, and we’ll be the last generation that goes through it that young for a while. The nature of Pluto’s egg-shaped orbit means some people will experience theirs earlier, and some later. Elder Gen Z (Pluto in Sagittarius) will experience theirs in their late 40s, and Elder Gen Alpha (Pluto in Capricorn) will experience theirs when they’re 60, fresh off their second Saturn returns.
In generations past, like Pluto in Aries or Taurus, people wouldn’t live long enough to see their Pluto square because it took so long for Pluto to transit through signs. People being born now won’t see theirs until they’re in their 70s or 80s. So, most people alive today are unique in that they're experiencing this major transit early, let alone during their lifetime.
Meaning? (“We Didn’t Start the Fire”)
The Baby Boom generation was the first generation in a while to get their Pluto Square in their early 40s. According to the US Census, the Baby Boom** started in 1946; in astrology, their generation began in 1939 when Pluto entered Leo and World War II started.
Those Boomers born in the late 40s experienced their Pluto square in the late 80s, after a fast and tumultuous period of history, went through a ton of cultural shifts and radical changes like the world had never seen. One of them even wrote a song about it during his Pluto square. The rapid-fire lyrics of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” encompass the ever-changing political and cultural landscape, from squeaky clean actress Doris Day in their infancy to “hypodermics on the shore” as they were beginning their own families.
While Pluto in Leo experienced the cultural shifts, Pluto in Scorpio experienced the technological shifts. A lot of us grew up in an “analogue” childhood and remember when the internet was Netscape Navigator. The first time we heard of Google was in grade school and social media didn’t exist for a lot of us until we were in high school or college.
What’s the eclipse got to do with it?
Pluto in Leo was spoon-fed a curated image of idyllic life at an early age which didn’t necessarily match reality. Apple pie and a white picket fence. When this generation came of age, they challenged the notions that “life had to be like that.” We were spoon-fed vapidness and set up with a lot of misconceptions about success and what to expect from life. The high tide that our parents’ generation may have ridden wasn’t ours by birthright, and we need to redefine success as a collective. This eclipse, we should reflect on what our dreams are and what dreams have been projected on us by older generations.
So ... what about the eclipse? (Get to the point!)
If you were born from 1985-1991, this eclipse will impact your deep subconscious. Pay attention to what you want to restructure in your life. Specifically:
Moon on Pluto – Are you fussing more over your kids, plants, pets, students, patients, etc.? How you approach nurturing and handling anyone under your care can come under scrutiny, by others and yourself. What can you do to restructure any caregiving or mentoring roles you have? How can you lead the people and lives under your care more authentically?
South Node on Pluto – when the south node falls on a planet in your natal chart, expect endings and release. Likely, you’re also dealing with a Saturn square in your chart, which will address any ignored themes from seven years ago in your life. What didn’t you do at 28 or 29 that you wish you had done?
OK, so this isn’t me. Now what?
What house is this full moon going through? Same house as the eclipse? Are you sure? They’re eleven degrees apart. Look at where the moon and the south node are falling in your chart. They’re pointing to things and situations that you need to release. You’ll have an easier time doing this if you have planets in early-mid Virgo and Capricorn. If you have planets in early-mid Cancer, these things and situations may be removed for you. Same thing in early-mid Pisces, but with Saturn there now, it could be a little slower or harsher and more permanent depending on the rest of the chart.
And again, those born in early-mid fixed signs, Godspeed and practice some self-care.
Want a reading? Email me to set something up. I'll be in Swartz Creek on May 13th with insights from the stars and cards, and of course, my witchy wares. You can also catch me at the TinyTree Gallery on May 20th for astrology readings and on May 24th for Astrology 101. Follow me on Facebook too!
*If you’re familiar with Wiccan or Pagan sabbats, you’ll recognize these dates as the astrological cross-quarter holidays: Beltane, Lammas, Samhain, and Imbolc. Usually, these are celebrated May 1, August 1, October 31, and February 2 respectively. Astrologically, you can celebrate them when the sun is at 14 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius. Therefore, this eclipse is happening on cross-quarters Beltane.
**Boomers are 2 generations astrologically. Elder boomers, Pluto in Leo, were born from 1939 through 1956. Younger Boomers, or “The Jones/Me Generation” were born from 1958 – 1969 and have Pluto in Virgo. Joneses reaped the rewards of Pluto in Leo’s trailblazing. Some of the most rewarding charts I’ve read were Pluto in Virgo women who were pioneers in computer engineering. Pluto in Virgo bleeds into Gen X. However, I've noticed that there’s a marked difference between the Virgo Pluto Gen Xers who came of age with Reaganomics and fitness crazes, and the Pluto in Libras whose childhoods were defined by skyrocketing divorce rates and being "latchkey kids", adolescences by grunge and less (then more) corporate pop culture, and came of age as the internet emerged.