Astrology Highlights for May 11-17, 2026: Joys of the Physical World

Opportunities

Even when the schedule is already packed, we’re out of groceries, and we’ve been wearing the same clothes for days because there’s no time to do laundry, it can be surprisingly hard to turn down tempting opportunities to do even more. But Mercury’s sextile to Jupiter (May 12, 2026, 9:44 pm PDT, 20º45’ Taurus-Cancer) is a reminder that we needn’t take every opportunity that comes our way.

Jupiter continually reminds us that if we don’t take chances, we’re unlikely to grow. But in this relatively quiet astrological week, the emphasis is more on repairing damage from recent planetary activity, not making more waves. It can be difficult to grow, to expand horizons, when we’re regaining strength and repairing infrastructure.

Mercury in Hiding

At Mercury’s superior conjunction with the Sun (May 14, 2026, 7:24 am PDT, 23º48’ Taurus), it begins its transition from a morning star to an evening star, disappearing until it reappears at twilight a couple of weeks later. Its exact conjunction with the Sun is at 7:24 am PDT, but Mercury is within 17’ of orb of the Sun – a powerful condition called cazimi – from 1:48 am to 1:00 pm, Pacific Time, when thinking and communicating are especially clear and strong.

Take that cazimi period when you can, because the combination of the Sun and Mercury is generally an opinionated and subjective one. On the plus side, we’re more confident in our decisions; but on the down side, we might let our confidence get in the way of adapting to changing times.

If you’ve spent years becoming, say, a computer programmer, a copywriter, a travel agent, or a journalist, the age of AI will require adaptation. You can be the very best at something, but if it’s losing popularity, you’re not going to get many opportunities to do it. And if you’re too attached to a particular vision of who you are and who you’re allowed to be, your potential just might pass you by.

The Joys of the Physical World

This New Moon is strong in Taurus (May 16, 2026, 1:00 pm, at 25º57 Taurus), the sign of its exaltation. And the Moon in Taurus tells us, above all, to be in our bodies and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. If you take nothing else away from what I say about this New Moon, it’s that – embrace being in the world, in a body. I’ve always imagined that we incarnated to learn things we couldn’t learn any other way, the things of the physical world.

Taurus is ruled by Venus, the planet of pleasure and love. Even the Sabian symbol for this New Moon, 26 Taurus, A Spaniard serenading his senorita, paints a picture of love, romance, and music – what could be more appropriate for a Taurus New Moon?

It’s not a very dramatic placement for the New Moon itself – the Sun and Moon are in a lovely sextile with Jupiter in Cancer, promising familial affection and coziness at home. Venus in Gemini is approaching a sextile with Mars in Aries, bringing the element of romance that we see with the Spaniard serenading his sweetie.

There is tension in the background in the next couple of weeks, though, especially after Mars enters Taurus on May 18, then approaches a square to Pluto on May 25. So take advantage of this New Moon; celebrate enjoyment, with good food and drink, loved ones, music and dance, and all the delights of the physical world.

Confetti

A parent, noticing their child’s love of the written word, presents her with a fancy pencil set and a thick pad of paper. They’re dismayed when she picks up the paper and tears it into tiny pieces, then gleefully tosses it in the air.

As Mercury journeyed through Taurus, it gathered tools and supplies; as Mercury enters Gemini (May 17, 2026, 3:26 am PDT, until June 1), it enjoys writing things down, documenting thoughts and ideas – but it’s not all that attached to any of them. It’s enough for Gemini to record them and then send them as a fluttering of confetti onto a fine spring breeze, reflecting the sunshine and reaching the obliging ear of the universe.

Jumping the Track

One day in 1941, while on a hike in the Alps, Swiss engineer George de Mestral found himself curious about at the burdock seeds that stuck to his woolen socks and to his dog’s fur. After observing the tenacious burrs under a microscope and uncovering their mysteries, he was inspired to develop a clothing fastener that worked on the same principle. In 1955, he filed a patent for a “hook and loop” fastener – which he called Velcro.

Our brains tend to run along predictable tracks, based on existing knowledge and past experience, until one day we run across a new concept that makes our brain jump to a new track. It might come from another person, a book, a tv program; it might even come from taking a closer, curious look at something we encounter in nature. When Mercury, planet of perception and ideas, comes together in a conjunction with innovative Uranus (May 17, 2026, 5:10 pm PDT), take a closer look at anything that piques your interest. It could lead to your mind jumping the track toward genius.