Jupiter Rising Beyond Alien Throne Rock, New Mexico, USA. Image Credit & Copyright: Marcin Zając
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Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans
Current and previous weeks astrological overviews
Astrological Overview: May 20 - 26, 2024
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Standard Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; Add 7 hours for Universal Time (UT), but add 8 hours for BST.
Monday: Sun enters Gemini 5:59 a.m. PDT
Tuesday: Sun semisquare Mars
Wednesday: Sun trine Pluto
Thursday: Venus conjunct Jupiter, Venus sextile Neptune, Full Moon 6:52 a.m. PDT (02 Sagittarius 55), Venus enters Gemini
Friday: No major aspects are exact today
Saturday: Venus trine Pluto, Mercury semisquare Neptune, Jupiter enters Gemini
Sunday: No major aspects are exact today
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JUPITER RULES: The planet Jupiter plays a major role in our experience of the energies this coming week. The Full Moon on Thursday is in Sagittarius, the sign that Jupiter "rules" (is strongly affiliated with), and the giant planet changes signs on Saturday when it departs Taurus and enters Gemini.
Jupiter is the largest known planet of our local solar system, and thus has the effect of emphasizing, magnifying, or exaggerating whatever it touches. Keywords for Jupiter include idealism, faith and belief, optimism, confidence, expansion, and generosity. The planet is the ruler of adventurous Sagittarius and co-ruler (with Neptune) of compassionate Pisces.
In our human experience, Jupiter rules over religions, rituals and ceremonies, legal issues and courts of law, cultural exchanges and foreign affairs, philosophy and higher education, our search for the meaning of life, and more.
So, let's see how some of these keywords and Jupiter's influence might fit into the landscape we'll be traversing this week ...
FULL MOON: The current lunar cycle reaches its climax this Thursday, May 23, at 6:53 a.m. PDT. At that time, the Moon will be at 02°55´ Sagittarius, exactly opposite the Sun at the same degree of Gemini.
A Full Moon always asks us to find a balance between the qualities of the two signs involved. In this instance, we are called to access the best traits of both mental, airy Gemini and intuitive, fiery Sagittarius — to be both logical and wise and to rely equally on reason and on faith. We are directed to seek meaningful experiences through intellectual learning and the exchange of information, but also to explore the world beyond our local environs, both physically and philosophically.
Although Venus and Jupiter are still in Taurus at the time of the Full Moon, they are separated from the Sun by less than four degrees, so their energies are strongly woven into the fabric of the lunation. With the Moon opposing Venus/Jupiter, the qualities of optimism, inspiration, and creativity are enhanced, but we must also be wary of over-indulging, or of needing the immediate gratification of whatever our current desires might be.
Taking those cautions into account, the potential benefits of this week's Full Moon are many. The Moon is trine Neptune, providing opportunities for significant spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of our life's meaning. Luna is also sextile Pluto, helping us feel empowered and passionate about whatever adventure or cause we choose to engage.
JUPITER'S INGRESS INTO GEMINI: As it travels through the zodiac, Jupiter spends about 12 months in each of the signs. This Saturday, May 25, the giant planet completes its year-long transit of Taurus and enters Gemini.
Jupiter expands, magnifies, and increases our awareness of the areas of life related to the sign it is moving through. Over the past year, while the planet has been in earthy Taurus, we’ve felt a strong emphasis on values, on financial concerns, and on the physical and material aspects of our shared life experience. While Jupiter travels through Gemini, until June 9, 2025, we can expect the collective focus to shift to communications and the dissemination of information — as if the news cycle isn't already active enough!
Among the strongest issues of this next year, I foresee a growing discussion about what is fact and what is fiction. This may be due to the increased use of artificial intelligence to create both words and images. But this theme will also be magnified because we will be deluged with very loud — and quite disparate — opinions about what we should think and believe. In other words, the volume will be turned up, which can make it hard for us to quiet our minds enough to think clearly.
As a result, this Jupiter-in-Gemini year will teach us to use our higher wisdom and intuitive knowing to discern what is true and what is real, to know “what is live and what is Memorex." We will find that it is no longer adequate to rely only on our minds or on logic and reason to discern truth and to explain our world.
THIS WEEK'S ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects:
Monday
Sun enters Gemini: The Sun enters the sign of The Twins at 5:59 a.m. PDT today. For the next month, while our Central Star transits Gemini, collectively we are more sociable, adaptable, and communicative. In general, the need for variety, for information, and for intellectual stimulation is increased. But, we must also be aware of expressing the shadow qualities of Gemini, which include excessive nervous energy, worry and indecisiveness, impatience, and a tendency to gossip.
Tuesday
No major aspects are exact today.
Wednesday
Sun trine Pluto: We are not shy about engaging in deeper conversations today, and may be especially impatient with superficial chatter. There is a strong urge to get to the truth, to find out what lies beneath the surface, to understand motivations. We may also be more forthright and decisive than usual.
Thursday
Venus conjunct Jupiter: The annual alignment between Venus and Jupiter is often a good time for a new beginning in the areas of romance, the creative arts, and financial matters. We are hopeful and excited about the possibilities, and feel able to trust our hearts. With the two planets in the very last "anaretic" degree of Taurus, developments in these areas may feel especially fated now.
Venus sextile Neptune, Jupiter sextile Neptune: With the two benefics also in harmonious aspect to Neptune when they align, we feel very much "in the flow" today, and are able to handle relationship matters with compassion and understanding. The longer-term Jupiter-Neptune aspect also encourages us to explore new creative or spiritual avenues, to imagine a better world, and to take an intuitive leap of faith in some area of our lives.
Full Moon: The Full Moon peaks at 6:52 a.m. PDT, when the Moon is at 02°55´ Sagittarius. This lunation brings to light new insights about our hopes and dreams, beliefs, and values.
Venus enters Gemini: While Venus is in Gemini, from May 23 to June 17, we strongly value communication in our relationships. We may also wish to experience more variety in this area of life and be more restless with routines. In general, people can be more lighthearted and eager to socialize.
Friday
No major aspects are exact today.
Saturday
Venus trine Pluto: This may be a good day for an honest conversation. Most truths told under this influence will deepen intimacy, but as always, discernment in our choice of words is advised.
Mercury semisquare Neptune: Our logical minds may not fully comprehend the information we receive, and we may find it hard to put our own thoughts into words.
Jupiter enters Gemini: Jupiter's 12-month transit of Gemini increases our enthusiasm for learning and for social interactions. We might also experience information overload at times.
Sunday
No major aspects are exact today.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK (May 20 - 26):
Relationships and creative pursuits are in the spotlight for you this year, and you may be willing to take new risks in these areas. At times, old behavior patterns and routines could get in your way, bringing up impatience and irritations. Reactions such as these may arise when you grasp too tightly to the past or are unwilling to break an old habit. As you get more into the flow of the year and engage in the new experiences that open up for you, your sense of personal empowerment increases. You have strong support from the cosmos this year as you pursue your life's higher purposes or dedicate yourself to a cause you feel passionate about. (Solar Return Sun conjunct conjunct Venus, semisquare Mars, conjunct Jupiter, trine Pluto)
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TRANSLATION and AUDIO/VIDEO VERSION: This weekly Journal is recorded (in English) AND the text is transcribed into 30 languages! You'll see a row of flags under "Available Languages" in the upper right. And, there are options to listen to the audio (in English) or watch a video directly beneath the photo (see top of page).
The Journal entry is usually updated by Sunday evening, with the recordings appearing late Sunday or by Monday depending on your time zone. Please share this information with those who might benefit.
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CLASSES AND WEBINARS by Pam Younghans:
TAKING A BREAK: I've loved seeing so many of you at my Solar Month classes over the past 10 months! As I look at my calendar for the next few months, my sense is that this is a good time to take a break — especially since people are often on vacations and taking trips at this time of year. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Enjoy the break!
WEBINAR REPLAY: If you missed my recent "Dances with Fireflies" webinar, covering May through August 2024, it's not too late! The replay and materials are available for purchase. Just send an email to
INSTAGRAM POSTS: Please check out my daily astrological updates on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamyounghans/
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
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About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit NorthPointAstrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
