Week Ahead Forecast: 5th to 11th of May 2025

If you are new to astrology read this first.

🔍 A Week of Clues, Not Conclusions

We begin this week with a change that’s been a long time coming.

After six intense months of Mars’ backward journey through Cancer, marked by three weighty face-offs with Pluto, the story is finally shifting.

The first opposition came back in November 2024, just before Mars entered Leo. Pluto was still clinging to the final degrees of Capricorn, delivering a last blow from the mountain top. That moment lit the fuse; it set Mars’ journey in motion and turned our attention to the Cancer end of the thread, the emotional debris left behind after Pluto’s long demolition job through Capricorn.

Then, as Mars pushed into early Leo and Pluto stepped into Aquarius, they met again. A second reckoning. Only this time, it was Pluto who held the higher ground; no longer a wrecking ball in the material world, but now an excavator of collective futures. That second conversation seemed to say, You’ve missed a spot. Go back. Clean up the roots.

So Mars turned around. Re-entered Cancer. And over the past few months, we’ve been dragged back through the emotional underworld, grieving what’s gone, tending to what still aches, rebuilding inner foundations that were cracked but never fully broken.

The final opposition - just last week - was at 3° of Leo and Aquarius. A moment of closure. A nod from Pluto. A cosmic well done. You got the job done. You faced it. You didn’t run. And now, we move onwards.

The Cancer–Capricorn axis is the cosmic thread between the inner mother and the inner father. Between the part of us that wants to be wrapped in warmth and fed soup when life hurts, and the part that says, gently but firmly, you can’t stay here forever; you’re stronger than you think.

Mars and Pluto have been locked in this tug-of-war: between vulnerability and power, comfort and control, collapse and responsibility. We’ve been asked to face where we’ve outgrown our coping strategies. Where the mother in us protects too much. Where the father in us withholds softness. These months haven’t just stirred tension; they’ve exposed our survival patterns.

For many, it’s been a season of holding everything together on the outside while falling apart on the inside. If it’s felt like life has been pressing hard on your most tender spots, you’re not imagining it. That pressure has been real. And it’s been meaningful. We’ve been in training for something new.

Pluto’s excavation of Aquarius is now fully underway. The ground has shifted. And we’re stepping into a very different landscape, one that will ask new questions, and require new courage.

I wrote more about this here, if you’d like to revisit the full arc.

And now, on 4 May, Pluto turns retrograde. But this isn’t just another backwards glance. This moment carries weight.

Because for the first time in our lifetimes, Pluto won’t return to Capricorn. He’s staying in Aquarius. That alone is significant.

It means the era of tearing down old systems is behind us. The scaffolding has come down. What’s left is the raw, open space of the future, a space we’re only just beginning to feel our way into.

Pluto retrograde isn’t about charging ahead; it’s about turning inward. It’s a quiet deepening. A slow return to the places within us where power, trust, and truth still live in the shadows. Not to judge or fix, but to understand. To sit with. To listen.

In Aquarius, the focus is collective, but we each hold a piece of the whole. So wherever Aquarius falls in your chart, that’s where this retrograde may stir something. A feeling, a question, a shift in perception. It might not be loud. It might not even be clear at first. But it’s worth paying attention to.

This is the first time Pluto has retraced his steps in this part of the sky alone; no dipping back into the old story. We’re fully in new territory now. And this retrograde gives us time to feel into that. To notice what’s emerging. To work gently with what’s being revealed in the house he’s travelling through.

We’re not being asked to solve anything. We’re being asked to stay with it. To be curious. To trust that this slow, backward movement isn’t a setback, it’s part of the process. Integration. Alignment. Inner reorientation.

There’s wisdom in going back, not to repeat, but to see more clearly. Pluto offers that—not as a punishment, but as a gift. And if we’re willing to walk slowly with him, we may just find that what seemed dark is full of quiet treasure.

Pluto Retrograde in Aquarius (4 May – 11 October 2025)

A quiet descent beneath the noise. This isn’t fast, and it isn’t loud, but it’s working in the background all summer, drawing us inward. Pluto’s first retrograde in Aquarius alone is a moment of deep integration. We’re not going back to Capricorn. We’re moving forward but not before we pause to notice what’s stirring below the surface.

Here’s what this may be asking of you, by rising sign (whole sign houses):

♒ Aquarius Rising – 1st House

This is personal. Pluto is beginning his long excavation of you. Your identity, how you show up, what power means when it’s not about control but presence. You may revisit old stories around self-worth or armour you built long ago. What version of you is quietly waiting to emerge?

♑ Capricorn Rising – 2nd House

What do you truly value? What are you building your life on? Pluto in your 2nd brings gentle, persistent reflection around money, resources, and self-reliance. This retrograde may stir inner questions about security and worth. You’re being invited to align with what’s real and lasting.

♐ Sagittarius Rising – 3rd House

The mind gets a quiet rewire. Thought patterns, communication style, even the way you listen—all under Pluto’s subtle scrutiny. This retrograde may bring old stories to the surface. Notice them. You’re rewriting the narrative you live by, one internal conversation at a time.

♏ Scorpio Rising – 4th House

This is ancestral territory. Pluto is stirring the roots—family stories, emotional inheritance, the inner sense of “home.” You may feel drawn to memory, to the past, to forgotten corners of yourself. Let it come. This is compost. What’s old can nourish what’s new.

♎ Libra Rising – 5th House

Your creative fire is being refined. Pluto here asks: what’s authentic and what’s performative? Joy, romance, creative expression—all might feel deeper, slower, more intense. Use this time to reconnect with what lights you up from within, not just what gets applause.

♍ Virgo Rising – 6th House

Small things hold big power. Your work, your routines, your relationship with service—Pluto is whispering through the daily grind. What’s no longer sustainable? What’s habit, not truth? This retrograde helps you realign your energy with what truly supports your wellbeing.

♌ Leo Rising – 7th House

Relationships shift in tone. Power dynamics in close partnerships—romantic, business, even old rivalries—might resurface for a second look. Are you holding your ground? Are you over-compromising? This is a slow inquiry into what partnership means, and how to make it more real.

♋ Cancer Rising – 8th House

You’re being asked to meet your own depth. This is the house of intimacy, loss, and shared power. Pluto retrograde here may bring up themes of trust, control, or emotional entanglement. You don’t have to fix it all—just stay present to what’s rising. The transformation is in the noticing.

♊ Gemini Rising – 9th House

Your beliefs are evolving. What you once took as truth may now feel shaky—and that’s okay. Pluto wants depth, not certainty. This retrograde may shift your relationship with philosophy, spirituality, or your vision for the future. Let the questions in; they’re shaping your path.

♉ Taurus Rising – 10th House

Your public role is being reshaped. Career, visibility, reputation—Pluto is asking what kind of legacy you’re really building. This retrograde may prompt subtle shifts in your ambitions or bring quiet clarity about what success now means to you.

♈ Aries Rising – 11th House

The future you’ve envisioned is up for refinement. Your friendships, networks, and larger goals may feel more complex. Who’s really in alignment with your vision? What dream still calls to you? Pluto retrograde helps you strip back the noise and get clear on where you’re going—and who’s coming with you.

♓ Pisces Rising – 12th House

The unseen realms are stirring. Dreams may be louder; solitude may feel more nourishing. Pluto here is a deep dive into the subconscious. This retrograde isn’t about answers—it’s about creating space for the mystery. Trust your intuition. It knows the way.

At the same time, Venus is still close to Neptune, and that brings its own atmosphere. Intuitive. Dreamy. Confusing. It’s a beautiful haze, but it’s still a haze. If reality feels like it’s shimmering at the edges, if you can’t quite tell what’s real or what’s wishful thinking, you’re not alone.

Read more: When Venus Meets Neptune: The Awakening of Sacred Love

I’ve been binge-watching a murder mystery series, and honestly, it feels like the perfect metaphor for the week. This is a time for collecting pieces of a puzzle, not trying to force a conclusion. You might not have the full picture yet. And you might not until the very end of the week, when Mercury shifts signs and things start to settle.

So what's arriving this week?

💘 6 May – Venus sextile Pluto: The final thread

This is the third and final time Venus and Pluto connect in this particular story.

The first conversation was back in February when something was sparked. Maybe a realisation around desire, power, intimacy, or worth. Then came the retrograde phase in March, and with it, a revisiting. A looking back. Now, we’re at the final pass.

Venus is direct. Pluto is retrograde. She’s sure. He’s listening from the shadows.

This might not be loud or dramatic. But something may land. Something that once had power over you might not anymore. Or something you've been circling might finally make quiet sense.

Newbie tip: If anything feels different in your relationships, or in how you relate to money, beauty, or desire just notice it. Don’t rush to act. Just observe the shift. That’s your clue.

🐂 10 May – Mercury enters Taurus: Mind meets ground

By the end of the week, the mental fog may begin to clear.

Mercury moves into Taurus on 10 May, and the energy shifts. Our thoughts slow down. Communication becomes more grounded. Decisions are made from the body, not just the brain. This might feel like a breath of fresh air after the emotional and intuitive soup of recent weeks. Things can start to make sense. Not all at once, but piece by piece.

Newbie tip: Do something practical. Cook a proper meal. Tend to your home. Write down what’s been swirling in your mind. Let your thoughts find a shape.

🌕 Full Moon Incoming: Scorpio whispers beneath the surface

Though it doesn’t peak until next week (12 May), the Scorpio Full Moon is already building behind the scenes.

A little taste of Halloween in the middle of May.

Scorpio Moons always ask us to feel what we’d rather avoid. The truth that’s inconvenient. The emotion we’ve been skimming over. You might sense this rising this week, an edge, a pressure, a pull to go deeper.

This Moon brings intensity, depth, and sometimes obsession. It doesn’t want surface-level peace. It wants what’s real, no matter how uncomfortable.

Newbie tip: Let feelings rise. Let old emotions come to the surface. Full Moons bring things to light. You don’t need to solve anything, just be honest with yourself.

💭 Closing Thoughts

This is not a week for tidy answers. It’s a week for noticing what repeats. For asking better questions. For sitting in the space between knowing and not knowing, and letting that be okay. Trust that things will make sense when the time is right.

You’re not lost. You’re in the middle of the mystery.

Keep collecting the pieces.

Rising Sign Reflection Prompts: 5–11 May 2025

✨ Collect the clues, don’t force the story.

This is a week for observing more than acting. With Mercury entering Taurus, the energy steadies. Thoughts slow down. We’re not here to fix or figure it all out, we’re here to feel into what’s real. Pay attention to what’s arriving quietly. What feels true in your body? What’s shifting in your environment? Mercury in Taurus brings earth to the air; a chance to meet the moment with both feet on the ground.

Below are some gentle prompts to help you explore where Mercury is now moving through your chart. Use your rising sign (whole sign houses) to find yours.

♈ Aries Rising – 2nd House💡 What does security feel like in your body?

Notice how you relate to money, possessions, and what you truly value. Do your thoughts and choices reflect your inner worth?

♉ Taurus Rising – 1st House💡 What’s changing in how you express yourself?

Your words carry weight this week. Slow down and listen to what you’re saying—especially to yourself. How are you showing up in your everyday life?

♊ Gemini Rising – 12th House💡 What’s quietly rising from beneath the surface?

This is an inner week for you. Thoughts may drift to the past or the unconscious. Let your mind wander. What’s trying to come through the silence?

♋ Cancer Rising – 11th House💡 What future vision is calling you?

Notice the ideas and people that light a little spark. Something new might be taking shape in your community, your friendships, or your long-term goals.

♌ Leo Rising – 10th House💡 What’s coming into focus around your role in the world?

This could be a good week to clarify a career question or speak about something important. What’s one practical step toward a goal?

♍ Virgo Rising – 9th House💡 What belief is ready to take root?

Mercury here wants to ground your big ideas. What have you been learning or exploring lately? How could you apply that insight in real life?

♎ Libra Rising – 8th House💡 What’s shifting around trust or emotional intimacy?

Conversations or thoughts may touch on deeper themes—shared resources, private fears, closeness. Can you sit with what’s rising, without rushing to fix it?

♏ Scorpio Rising – 7th House💡 What truth is emerging in your closest relationships?

This could be a week for calm, grounded conversations with a partner or close friend. Where is clarity needed? Where is tenderness possible?

♐ Sagittarius Rising – 6th House💡 What small change could support your wellbeing?

Pay attention to your routines, your body, your workflow. This is a good week for slow tweaks—not overhauls. One step at a time.

♑ Capricorn Rising – 5th House💡 What wants to be expressed?

Creativity, play, even pleasure may be calling. Where could you give yourself permission to enjoy something simple, just because it feels good?

♒ Aquarius Rising – 4th House💡 What’s shifting at home, or in your sense of home?

This week may bring insights about your living situation or inner foundations. What small thing could you do to feel more grounded?

♓ Pisces Rising – 3rd House💡 What conversations are asking for more presence?

This is a great week for writing, talking, or journaling. Get thoughts out of your head and onto paper. What’s circling that needs to land?

💬 Final note for the week:

Let this be a week of gentle observation. You don’t need to chase clarity, just stay open to what’s slowly blooming. The answers aren’t running away; they’re unfolding.

One Last Thing...

If things have felt unclear this week, you’re not alone. We’re in the thick of a foggy, feeling-filled chapter. But sometimes what we need isn’t more thinking, it’s a different lens.

Try looking at the puzzle of you with another pair of eyes.

If something’s been stirred in you, if a feeling won’t let you go, or a truth has started to surface, I’m here. The chart doesn’t give us all the answers, but it often reflects what your heart already knows. It can offer a map when the road ahead feels hidden.

If you’d like to explore your own chart and work with what’s rising, I offer one-to-one readings where we sit together with your story, your patterns, your questions. We listen for what the Gods might be showing you now.

book a one-to-one reading.

Like something else to read? I wrote an essay this week to remind myself of the magic and consider the balance between doubt and faith. Read it here:

A Sceptic’s Awakening: Learning to Trust the Unseen

For those new to astrology:

This forecast assumes a bit of an understanding of astrology and some practice at feeling into the energy of the moment to see how it's manifesting for you in your experience. If you are a beginner then it may not be easy to discern or feel, especially when everything is so loud.

So, a recommendation: If you are learning, then pick one of the transits - whatever feels most interesting to you - and take note of when it is happening. Then just pay attention to what themes arise - I'll make some suggestions in the newbie note. Notice what’s showing up in your mood, your body, your conversations, or even in the stories you’re drawn to on telly or in the news. It’s not about getting it “right”, it’s about getting curious. That’s where the magic starts.

As you get more practiced with noticing you can expand your awareness to more than one transit in the week and before long you'll be immersed in the astrology and your way of being in, and experiencing the world, will have shifted into something altogether more magical!

For more on all this, read this post.

You may also find the rising sign forecast helpful because this will narrow the range to where you're most likely to feel and notice the transits in your life. If you don't know your rising sign then fill in this contact form and give me your birth date, place and time and I will send you a picture of your birth chart and an overview of your rising sign. If you'd like a comprehensive overview of your chart then book a reading with me and I'll explain it all to you!

A note on AI & my writing:

I use ChatGPT as a writing assistant—not as a writer. These are my thoughts, ideas, and words, shaped by my lived experience and deep love for self-work, self-awareness, the spiritual journey, and astrology. AI helps me refine, structure, and nudge me toward better phrasing, but the voice you’re reading is mine. I use it as a tool to help me put into words everything I believe is valuable in sharing my insights. Honesty matters to me, and this is simply one way I bring my thoughts to life.