Vedic Astrological Monthly Newsletter: May 2025

Mercury and Jupiter Change Constellations in May: Improvements to Communications, Business, Trade and Financial Dealings

     On 5/6, Mercury finally leaves its debilitated position of Pisces, moving into the sign of Aries until 5/23, and joining with the exalted Sun for a short period of time. This brief Mercury transit has Mercury expressing itself in the pioneering sign of Aries during most of May, which is a beneficial time to get projects started and to put plans into action. Communications improve, become less confusing or unclear, and gaining access to information improves at a more rapid clip. Then, Mercury enters into the more friendly sign of Taurus on 5/23, where it functions well, again enhancing communications, and it is a good time for commerce, business transactions and financial dealings. Mercury transits through Taurus until 6/6, when it then enters its own strong sign of Gemini and travels with Jupiter there until 6/22. 

     It will be interesting to witness events involving trade relations between the U.S. and the rest of the world just as Jupiter begins its transit into Gemini on 5/14, while Mercury is transiting the sign of Taurus, which involves business, finance, wealth, real estate matters and large purchases. Jupiter moves very rapidly this year through Gemini, in an unusual pattern, starting on 5/14 and quickly enters the next sign of Cancer on 10/18, where Jupiter will be particularly powerful, as it is exalted in Cancer. Then, Jupiter retrogrades back to Gemini on 12/5 where it will then transit until 6-1-2026, when Jupiter then moves ahead to the exalted sign of Cancer. 

     The overlap period when both Mercury and Jupiter transit through Gemini (6/6 - 6/22), is likely to signal improvements in trade matters, business, commerce and negotiations between the U.S. and other countries.  We are more likely to witness more widespread  friendly agreements during those few weeks in June. Both Mercury and Jupiter will be transiting the sign of Gemini, which governs trade, communication, negotiations, travel, and educational endeavors. Mercury is strong in this position and Jupiter confers optimism in this domain. Even though it is said that Mercury and Jupiter don't get along, this particular transit is strong for Mercury and Jupiter won't stand in its way.

     Keep in mind, that the 7th house in the U.S. chart is in the sign of Gemini.  The 7th house of the U.S. chart refers to "other countries" that the U.S. has relationships with.  Also, the U.S. is currently in the Rahu/Mercury planetary cycle, which emphasizes the importance of Mercury's transit, during this bhukti for the U.S. 

 President Trump has strong Mercury in the sign of Gemini in his 11th house. So, this brief Mercury/Jupiter in Gemini transit during June is particularly beneficial for him to negotiate, be well-received and craft different deals with other countries. 

While Jupiter transits the U.S. 7th house, it will conjunct natal  Mars, Venus, Jupiter and the Sun in the U.S. chart which bodes well and gives more opportunity for improvement, especially in the areas of communication, education, technology, computer networking, A.I., and in trade, business, travel and commerce. 

     The only issue is that planets in Gemini are not committed in their expression. These Gemini planets are mutable, change, and are indecisive.    Therefore, some negotiations will not hold, or will be more likely to reverse course for one reason or another.   Combining the U.S. natal Mercury in the 8th house, with Trump's Gemini Mercury, along with transiting Mercury moving through Gemini, we might surmise that whatever negotiations do take place, they will likely have to be revised, will change or go in a different direction during the course of the year. Jupiter will retrograde back into Gemini on 12/5 and retrogrades there until 3-11-2026. This might be the time when negotiations change in a significant manner, or a trade deal reverses, or is revised with various countries, not just one. We can understand astrologically, why Donald Trump changes his viewpoints,  and changes direction or decision-making on many issues. He clearly has a "Gemini" mind with strong Mercury in Gemini. Situations are more likely to go his way while Mercury transits through Taurus (his 10th house) and through Gemini this year, concurrently with beneficial Jupiter. 

     For the month of May, Mercury will transit through Aries until 5/23, which is good for improving communications, and initiating plans and projects. Improved trade and business dealings will be more likely toward the end of the month and into June. 

Saturn's Transit through Pisces (3-29-2025 until 6-3-2027)

     Saturn's transit is one of the longest, as it spends roughly 2 - 2.50 years transiting through a given constellation. Whatever house and sign Saturn transits, that area represented goes under the microscope for evaluation, analysis and judgment. That is the area that requires direct attention, and if there are deficits or problems, errors or omissions, Saturn will point those out in no uncertain terms. We are always under Saturn's influence at every point in time. Saturn is always transiting through a particular house of our individual charts. If planets are posited in that house, then the transit is particularly poignant. Even with no planets in that house, Saturn is still pointing to the areas that require attention. 

     Saturn is the teacher who demands that the student do his or her homework, pay attention in class, turn in all assignments on time and puts the work and effort required to learn the subject at hand, without taking short-cuts. Saturn does not accept excuses.

     While Saturn has recently entered the sign of Pisces, as of 3-29-2025. Saturn's shift is a major transit, not only due to the serious nature of the planet, but also because it is slow-moving relative to the other planets. Saturn offers plenty of time to try to get things in better order and to fix, repair and improve what needs to be done. Saturn won't let up until the task is completed properly. Take a short cut, then you are forced to go to the back of the line and go through it all over again. Partly, for this reason, Saturn suffers from a rough reputation. Saturn is about following through on promises, keeping commitments, being disciplined and putting in the hard work necessary, slowly, but surely to get the job done---whatever "job" that may be in your life.

     No reward is given until you complete the task. Do it half way, then you have to go back and do it all over again. Anyone who has gone through Saturn mahadasha (19 year cycle) knows this intimately. Make friends with Saturn, and your life moves more smoothly. Easier said than done!

     Saturn's current transit through Pisces puts the microscope on several areas, including charitable, non-profit organizations, spirituality, death and the dying process, deciphering fact from fiction,  issues with the sea, water pollution, sea animals, fish, the water supply, and traveling long distances, especially over bodies of water. When Saturn transits toward the end of the sign Pisces, through Revati nakshatra, it is also going through one of the Sarpa drekkanas, which are challenging positions. This is a particularly difficult phase of this Pisces Saturn transit, running from 7-2-2026 until the end of the transit on 6-3-2027. This period covers the last (final third) drekkana of Pisces between 20 - 30 degrees. There is likely to be more death and destruction involving natural resources at a worse level during that time, which of course is very unfortunate. 

     If the human race would get its act together, take responsibility, and take Saturn's prompting to help and respect the animal kingdom, including the environments that sustain all animals, especially fish and mammals that live in the oceans and seas of the world and sustain us, then we would not have to suffer. But, will that happen in this day and age of intense global warming and ignorance? If nothing is done in a serious way to clean up, reduce over-fishing, and improve these watery environments, then over the next two years, this situation will grow more dire at a faster pace than previously.  

     Whereas Saturn is a restrictive planet, its presence transiting through a water sign, such as Pisces, points to potential problems involving the drinking water supply, severe water shortages, water restrictions being enacted, outdated water infrastructure that needs replacement (treatment plants), and possibly terrorist actions aimed at these locations.  Poisoning of fish, other sea creatures, sea birds as well as the tendency for oil spills and natural gas explosions into bodies of water are also connected to this transit. Again, can this be prevented? Yes, but that takes foresight, strategy, motivation to do so, effort, work and diligence. 

     The tendency for both extreme drought and also periods of heavy intense rains that produce severe flooding co-exist with this transit. If you notice a very serious dry period, turning to drought in a particular region or city of the world,  then you can likely expect the opposite to transpire as the transit progresses, consisting of heavy rains and flooding at extreme levels, during summer and winter months. As an example, Florida is currently experiencing such an usual drought as this newsletter is being written. I'd anticipate a very intense, active storm season, with severe flooding just ahead for Florida this summer into early fall. 

     Another area of attention involves the death and dying process. Saturn's transit through the last sign of the zodiac deals with this domain as well. Will euthanasia become a more accepted practice? How are dying individuals treated?  Scandals involving funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematoriums will be revealed. The area of hospice care is likely to become more important and significant during this Saturn transit.

     Pisces is also associated with spiritual advancement, charity, selflessness, helping all forms of life, generosity and empathy. However, some organizations with these platforms use donations for other purposes or to enrich their officers pockets. Some are deceptive and get away with it. During this Saturn transit, we'll hear about scandals involving some non-profit organizations and more scrutiny will be applied. Other organizations may be legitimate, but suffer from a lack of help or donations while Saturn transits through Pisces. Several will go out of business. 

     In the U.S. chart, Saturn is now transiting through its 4th house, which is the main house governing real estate. There is likely to be a downturn or slowing phase in the overall real estate market. There might also be legal challenges within the construction/house building industry due to oversights, shoddy workmanship or other scandals that are uncovered. The real estate sales industry itself will come under greater legal scrutiny. 

     Whereas, Saturn is also transiting in the 2nd house from the U.S. Moon in Aquarius, this puts pressure on income that the U.S. generates. This could be pointing to increased unemployment levels over the next two years, a reduction of income brought into the U.S. government, and possibly a severe economic recession on the horizon?  Transiting Saturn is also 10th from the U.S. Sun in Gemini (7th house). This indicates another signal that unemployment may increase in the U.S. during this long transit.  It puts greater pressure on the government to scrutinize itself and to reduce the departments of government that are not effective or serving any "real" purpose. Saturn is the "lean and mean" planet. Too much waste or fat and it has to go under Saturn's umbrella. 

     On the positive side, Saturn is a planet of great awakening, putting the spot light on where the problems lie and pushing us to repair, resolve and take responsibility in those domains. Rather than curse the teacher, we would be better off listening, stepping up to the plate and taking action where warranted.