Two transits happening this week! Venus moves to Aries and Mercury shifts to Taurus.

Venus moves from its extended stay in Pisces, its exaltation sign, on Wednesday, May 30th, at 21:02 Mountain time and will be in Aries until June 29th. The past few months have brought waves of expansion, contraction and release through life force energy, Shakti, love, relationships, finances and creativity. Endings have been palpable and loose ends have been found and identified. What are you ready to finally release?

As Venus leaves its most powerful sign, renewal takes place, a fresh start, a new beginning. Venus in Aries also creates a powerful rejuvenation process that will jump start this new, year long cycle of creative life force energy.

Once Venus lands in Aries, she will enter Ashwini nakshatra, one of three gandantas. This will once again open up all three gandantas for the next two weeks (until May 13th). Retrograde Saturn continues through Mula and Rahu is still transiting Magha- both powerful portals of deep change. Gandantas are junction points between fire and water signs that provoke deep psycho and emotional uprooting.
In this cycle to come, prepare to release and purge parts of yourself that are no longer serving you and your relationships. Expect finances to go through a massive transformation and release. Allow your creativity to be renewed and use rejuvenation practices to support health, longevity and inner vitality. Your life force energy is getting a powerful restructuring right now.

Go slowly and listen carefully to your inner waters. Use self care diligently this month and don't burn yourself out or push for outcomes. It's easy to force and try to intensify agendas, but instead surrender, release and soften.
What edges can be buffed and polished right now? How can your self care practice support more gentleness and kindness? Where can you find more compassion for yourself and others?

On June 3rd at 08:10 am Mountain time, Mercury shifts into Taurus and the mental body finds a new sense of grounding and stability until June 18th. Mercury joins Sun in this earth sign, which brings clarity and focus to the mind and Jupiter's gaze softens, expands and grounds the understanding. This is a release and transformational cycle. One that can help you touch the untouchable and face the uncertain with more strength and awareness. Use this time to stabilize and increase nourishment, support and rest. The pauses and silence will increase your ability to trust, know and hear your inner wisdom.

Gains come from touching in with your inner wisdom and releasing the mental blockages that have been holding you in stories of struggle and pain. Are you ready to find a new sense of inner support? Find ease, simplicity and gentleness. Soften and release the harsh and aggressive ways that hurt yourself and others. Find a new path, the middle path- beyond extremes and polarities.

Mars moves to sidereal Gemini Friday, May 26th at 13:28 Mountain Time. Ruling planet of Gemini, Mercury, is representative of the mental body, the mind. Fiery Mars is action-oriented and highly motivated. Here in Gemini, mind and action clash, causing confusion, uncertainty, hesitation and overwhelm. This is an important cycle of finding clarity, purpose and aligning with your inner wisdom- that which is beyond mind.
Mars shifts to Gemini on Friday the 26th until July 11th when it will move into its sign of debilitation. This new transit increasing the need to clarify and refine your actions, steps and decisions. Gains from your creativity are available in the coming six weeks during this transit, but require that you stay true to your needs and inner vision.
Don't get lost, sidetracked or stuck in the uncertainty or imperfections. Take consistent action steps regardless. As long as you are aligned with dharma and purpose, there will be support, resources and gains. Misalignment will create challenges and a waste of energy. Stay true to course.


Read more about the coming waxing Moon cycle and the intention for the weeks ahead.

The May new Moon arrives on Thursday the 25th at 13:45 Mountain Time. Both Sun and Moon are in sidereal Taurus and Rohini nakshatra, Earthy Taurus likes the tangible, and helps the Moon feel rooted- which is why this is the Moon's exaltation sign. Rohini nakshatra is ruled by the Moon and is lord Brahma's domain. In the cycle to come, expect growth, expansion and immense creativity. How will you use and channel this creative life force energy?

Lord Brahma is the ruling deity of this notoriously creative constellation. Much manifestation and the ability to bring ideas into form is strengthened and supported within this nakshatra. Brahma's wife is goddess Saraswati. Here feminine life force power is rooted in art, music and wisdom- all resources for creating, manifesting and increasing growth. Both masculine and feminine energies are necessary for the creative process. Though it's easy to get lost in the physical realms and what is tangible, it is also vital to resource from your depths, your creative intelligence. It is your inner wisdom that supports your creation process.

This waxing cycle demands more self expression and sharing of your gifts, wisdom and creativity. There may be confusion and uncertainty about how to go about this, but take steps regardless. Relationships become both a resource for spiritual resourcing and sudden change and transformation. Stay rooted, grounded and stable within your pelvis and creative energy center. Sensuality and sexuality can be a resource for increasing life force energy, Shakti. Use it intentionally to create, transform, heal and grow. Focus on nourishment, gains and how to increase abundance. Increase life force energy through self expression, sharing your gifts and speaking your truth. Nourishment comes when we align with our highest needs.

What is your heart's longing, your biggest desire? Take powerful action steps in the coming cycle to birth your visions into form. Notice where you let confusion and uncertainty keep you stuck, overwhelmed and uncertain. Clean up and clear away people, situations and stagnant emotions that are robbing you of more space to create what you want and need. Clear away grief from the gut so that you can step into your power and purpose more fully!

Mars shifts to Gemini on Friday the 26th until July 11th when it will move into its sign of debilitation. This new transit increasing the need to clarify and refine your actions, steps and decisions. Gains from your creativity are available in the coming six weeks during this transit, but require that you stay true to your needs and inner vision. Don't get lost, sidetracked or stuck in the uncertainty or imperfections. Take consistent action steps regardless. As long as you are aligned with dharma and purpose, there will be support, resources and gains. Misalignment will create challenges and a waste of energy. Stay true to course.

Cultivate a practice of checking in with your "four bodies" on a daily basis. Mental body, emotional body, physical body and spiritual body.
Get the Details

* Create a list of self care activities that nourish and support your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies.

* Use the four level check in regularly as well as EFT for identifying and moving emotions.


1) Using craypas, paints or pencils, create an image of your nourishment. What does nourishment feel like for you? Create an image that expresses this feeling using colors, textures and shapes. Allow 20 minutes at minimum for this nourishment image. Title your image.


2) Use your image to inspire a movement exploration. Let your body move in response to your nourishment image with an intention of "moving with your feelings of nourishment". What sensations emerge for you during your dance? What awareness? Allow 5 to 10 minutes for this movement exploration. I encourage you to extend this time frame as you recycle this process.


3) Harvesting. In your journal answer these questions:
I am, I want, I need, I sense, I feel, I imagine.

What deeply nourishes me? What no longer nourishes me?
Where do I feel support in my life? Where do I need more support?
What am I opening to? What am I closing to?

Share your images and harvest in the Embodied Dharma FB group!

The May full Moon arrives on the 10th at 15:42 Mountain Time, while Moon transits Libra and the constellation of Vishaka. This portion of the sky is rooted in alliances, partnerships and building connections. The understanding that nothing is accomplished alone, without the help of support, guidance and others who share resources with you. Use this theme in the coming waning cycle to integrate and balance opposing forces.

This full Moon is harmonizing as well as celebratory. It is Buddha Jayanti (also called Buddha Purnima), the celebration of Lord Buddhas birthday. Auspiciously, the celebration falls on a Wednesday this year, day of Mercury, the mind. May Lord Buddha's strength in mind and liberation of being ignite within us! Jai Buddha!

Indragni rules Vishaka nakshatra- which expresses duality and a certain pluralism. Indra is the king, while Agni is the priest. Each entity brings a necessary element to the relationship, offering an inter-reliance or inter-dependence with each other. The king needs the wisdom and spiritual resources of the priest in order to align with deeper truth and power. The priest needs the physical and financial support and resources from the king in order to serve and deepen his wisdom. Thus both rely on each other for growth and dharma.

Notice this dynamic at play within you, your life and relationships. Where are you noticing a duality or polarization? What conflicts are at play between your opposing forces? Where are you needing more integration, balance and harmony?

At the time of the full Moon and moving into the waning Moon cycle, Venus is still exalted in Pisces, while Sun continues to exalt in Aries until the 14th. Jupiter is retrograde in Venus until June 9th, while Saturn will remain retrograde until August 25th- shifting back into Scorpio on June 21st.

Three gandantas remain open until May 22nd when Mercury moves to Bharani nakshatra. Until then, three gaps of deep uprooting are taking place. These junction points between fire and water bring big changes especially on the psycho-emotional body levels. So much is in flux and change right now. It may feel challenging to find grounding, connection and a sense of rooting. The medicine for this time is deep embodiment, very slow gentle steps and extra listening and landing within.

Moon in Libra is uncomfortable- there's too much movement and change, uncertainty and vacillation in this sign. As a result, the Moon feels unstable and ungrounded. Notice in the coming weeks how emotions shift constantly, confusion emerges suddenly and overwhelm sets in all too easily. There will be a strong need to ground, land and integrate opposing forces, polarities and conflicts- inner and outer. Identify these polarities and ask them to give you more information. What do each of these opposing forces need? What are they really asking you for? 

Lean in and listen. Pause and check. Ask your body wisdom to support and stabilize your inner knowing. Don't rush, push or force outcomes. Right now, it's essential to dance with the opposing forces, the new ground emerging. Find your new inner balance, your new set point for integration and harmony. Don't rush this.

Read more about integrating polarities and finding yoga, union, with opposing forces.

More support for integrating and harmonizing your polarities:


1) Identify the polarities at play within you and your life. Make two distinct lists. What are the challenges? The resources? What is working? Not working? Name each category and identify the themes of each polarity that is arriving.


2) Create two images. One image is your challenge image. The other image is your resource image. Spend 10-20 minutes creating each image. Use craypas, paints, pens, collage or any medium that speaks to you. Title each image separately. Then ask each image to give you their message.

If this image could speak, what would it say to you?


3) Harvest from each image. Answer these questions for each image separately.

I am, I want, I need

What is your learning? What have you harvested from this process? What does each part of you need?


Deepen this process by using my Tapping Meditation for integrating polarities

With all three gandantas open right now and three retrograde planets, it feels like we are traversing the netherworlds!

You may be asking yourself: Has anything really changed since last year? It feels like the same old ground. Lots of foggy uncertainty, not sure what is real, or how to move forward.
You may be questioning since the Aries new Moon: How can I shift and change the challenges that are re-emerging right now?!

What are you noticing?! What is returning?! How does it feel?!

Moon is transiting Gemini until Monday, May 1st. This is Mercury's sign and will invite in more mental body returns. What stories and connections are showing up as reminders?! These are places where you might need to do more mental body clean up.

All three gandantas are open once again- now that Mercury has retrograded back into Ashwini nakshatra. Gandantas are points in the zodiac between water signs and fire signs (Pisces/Aries, Cancer/Leo, Scorpio/Sagittarius). These points are notorious for causing immense upheaval, as deeply rooted knots within your being get released.

Ashwini, Mula and Magha are nakshatras situated in these powerful gaps that trigger immense change processes to take place. These nakshatras are also ruled by Ketu, a non planet notorious for sudden release, forced letting go and remarkable changes. His goal is to support your moksha, liberation, to release you from your attachments.

Mercury is currently retrograde moving through Ashwini. This is impacting the mental body. Clean up the mind, restore and harmonize. Rejuvenate and spend time in nature. Meditation and health resources such as Ayurveda will be especially important for this transit. The mind is getting uprooted, retracing old stories, and overheated as it conjuncts with exalted Sun. Mercury goes direct on May 3rd but will continue to transit Ashwini until May 23rd, which keeps the gandanta propped open most of the month.

Saturn is retrograde in Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra. Mula nakshatra is ruled by the dark goddess, Nirrti, responsible for adharmic activity- that which is against dharma. She is notorious for causing chaos, calamity and misfortune, while also pulling you from your dharmic path. There is a risk in this year of losing your path, getting stuck in the storm of uncertainty, confusion and misalignment.

If you find yourself lacking clarity about your life purpose, or confusion seems to increase, it's time to seek support and guidance. Resources, guidance and support will be even more important at this time because it will be so easy to fall into the chaos and confusion that Nirrti provokes. With great diligence however, this can also be a time of strengthening your determination, focus and alignment with dharma. Do not lose hope. Do not get lost in Nirrti's perfect storm. Stay connected and aligned with your dreams, desires, goals and passions. These are important resources to help you honor your dharmic path.

Rahu is always moving in reverse and is currently in the gandanta situated in Leo and Magha nakshatra. This transit is bringing ancestral karma to the surface, intensifying shadows and woundology that is connected to the masculine and father. Old karmas, lineage karmas, karmas related to the masculine, are asking you to look more closely, clear and release. The spiritual body is impacted by this transit as Magha closely relates to the ancestors.

What challenges are you noticing with these planetary themes?

Gandantas are door openers. They are portals of the in-between. Neither here nor there. Due to their nature of uprooting, they can cause a sense of ungroundedness and sudden, painful loss. You may be noticing a lack of footing, clarity and purpose. Much uncertainty is arriving right now- mentally, spiritually and physically. You may be feeling uncertainty in the spiritual, mental and physical bodies as a result.

Stay as close to your body and its wisdom as you can right now. More inner resourcing is important, and in many ways can be easier to do as a result of the liminality of these gandantas and the current transits moving through them.

What are you noticing- spiritually, mentally and physically?