You have come to birthday month, and lucky you, the planets will be in total agreement that you deserve red carpet treatment in May. Usually the planets act a little like a house of cranky relatives - sometimes arguing with one another, sometimes loving each other, sometimes trying to get their way, and at other times being really altruistic. In short, most months bring us all a mixed bag of a variety of aspects to sort out. This month will be different in that the planets have decided to be on only their most loving, Sunday best behavior - perfect in every way. This is truly miraculous!

Last year when I was starting to write my 2008 calendar, I drew up 300 charts for all 12 full moons and 13 new moons times 12 signs, and my attention was immediately drawn to this month's new moon, May 5. I said to myself, "Yes, May 5 brings one of the very best new moons of the year. I can't wait to see what this lovely month will bring! The planets will be in near ideal divine harmony and sweetness! All the signs will benefit, but for Taurus, this is truly remarkable!"

What makes this new moon even more outstanding is that with many planets in earth signs like yours, they will be in a position to open doors and present you in the very best light. This will occur in your personal and professional life. No matter what you set out to do this month, you will have a strong advantage. Be sure that you act early in the month, on or just after the new moon May 5.

Also lucky for you, Venus, your ruling planet, will be in Taurus from May 1 to 26, a lovely place for Venus to be! It is Venus' job to spark romance and fun, and to make you look dazzlingly hot, too. Venus will work well with Pluto in May, and since Pluto will orbit at the critical one degree of Capricorn, a cardinal sign, you can count on being in a strongly action-oriented mood. This will be no sleepy month!

Saturn will get in the act too, as Saturn will beam very helpful vibes to Pluto, bringing gifts of stability and longevity to all that you put in place in May. You may be working on a professional or personal project or relationship - it doesn't matter - this month you'll have sticking power!

A golden triangle will appear in the sky, linking Venus in Taurus, Saturn in Virgo, and Pluto in Capricorn. Wow! All those planets will be in earth signs, along with the Sun and new moon in Taurus too, making it a sublimely happy time for you. Jupiter, also in an earth sign, will stand by in later degrees to help.

If you have any dearly important actions you want to initiate but have hesitated because you were unsure about when to start, the answer is to do so early this month, near the new moon May 5, or in the days that follow. You will have until May 18 or so to put things in place, but I would prefer you time your actions to be on the early end of this phase.

Travel could well be on the agenda too, and it appears to be taken for personal reasons, whether to find new love or strengthen the bonds of an ongoing romance. You may go to find relaxation or to be stimulated by new surroundings. Consider going to a foreign island or nation. Your trip may be to an overseas city or resort, or it may be to a neighboring country bordering your country. You seem to need a complete change, so consider going somewhere that you'd hear another language, see new sights, taste cuisine new to you, and enjoy cultural activities. Your trip will less likely be for business, but if you do go for that reason, it may be to talk about an important creative project.

If your birthday falls on May 5, not only will May be a key month for you, your whole year will be filled with change. It is rare to have a new moon fall on your birthday. By next year this time, you should find your life very different from the one you have now, and you will have a very large say in the direction your life takes. It's a fantastic time to push through your dearest wishes, for you will have everything working for you!

On May 2, Saturn will move direct, and since Saturn is currently in your house of true love, if single, you should find that this month you will come to a clear idea about what to do about one close romantic relationship. If you are a parent, you will know how to best care for one or all of your children. If you are a creative person, you will find that a creative project will get back on track and proceed more smoothly as you move forward.

Saturn has been retrograde since December 19, 2007, so you should be relieved to see all sorts of plans move forward, particularly involving romance, children, long distance travel, pursuits for high education, and matters that involve the court system. A major creative project may also get the green light.

There are other days I would like you to circle on your calendar. An outstanding set of two days would be May 11 and 12. May 11 is a Sunday, and in America, it's Mother's Day. If you are a mother, this should be a doubly outstanding holiday for you.

The reason I like these two days is that the Sun will be in conversation with both lucky Jupiter and with surprise-a-minute Uranus. You may travel on May 11 or 12, and if so, you'll stay in quite luxurious places and have spontaneous, happy experiences while there. This weekend is pure 18K gold.

There's more! On Wednesday, May 21, the second of three dazzling conversations between Jupiter and Uranus will take place. The first occurred two months ago on March 28, and the final one will arrive near year's end, on November 13. This month's beautiful aspect between Jupiter and Uranus will happen on a Wednesday, May 21, but it will set you aglow all month, as these planets move slowly.

Actually, the happy, expansive, and very benefic conversation of Jupiter and Uranus is considered to be a big feature of 2008. Jupiter rules good fortune and happiness while Uranus rules unexpected events. Together these planets will encourage you to travel and also to make new friends. Groups of all sorts, including clubs, charities, even seminars and trade shows, will benefit you, too. All in all, this day, May 21, should bring you cause for hope and inspiration.

Your home may be a big focus this month too, and if so, you will have a lot of help from Mars starting May 9 and continuing until June 30. Mars will give you the energy, drive, and opportunity to make lasting changes and improvements. Looking ahead, there will be a very friendly new moon solar eclipse on August 1 in this same area, your fourth house of home, so it's very likely that you may move into a new space on August 1, or else close on a house or begin a major renovation. You can do other smaller changes instead, of course - the choice is yours. I am just giving you the timetable. Right now, from May 9 to June 30, you can make lots of progress.

Keep in mind, however, that Mercury will retrograde from May 26 to June 19, times when you should not sign papers, make big expenditures, nor announce big decisions. Mercury will be retrograde in your second house of earned income, so this is where annoying delays and mistakes will more likely show up.

If anyone owes you money, send a gentle reminder prior to May 9. If you plan to sell your house or condo, remember to do financial checks on the buyer early on - that person may have problems getting a mortgage and may have to back out.

Keep in mind that although Mercury won't retrograde until May 26, you will start to feel much earlier the slowdown this planet is known to cause in various areas of your life - as soon as May 12. Plan to make your big decisions early in May. You will save yourself possible frustrations later by acting closer to the new moon, May 5. I feel you should stop making important moves after May 12.

A romantic or business partnership may be your focus at the full moon May 19. This may be a very exciting new moon, and doubly so if you were born within five days of this date!

You might get engaged or married for your birthday at this full moon time of the month, or you may seal an important deal with a business partner. Foreign people and places beckon, so there appears to be a long trip in the making. Could it be a honeymoon or romantic trip for two to celebrate an anniversary or your birthday? Very possibly! Travel, dear Taurus!

Venus' tour of Taurus almost all month, from May 1 to 24, will be heaven-sent for you, for it will make you the zodiac's darling. You'll exude charm and good looks - who could resist you? With your powers of attraction at an all-time high, it would be a great time to treat yourself to new clothes. You'll probably get some birthday money or a gift card - so go ahead, treat yourself!

Most romantic evenings: May 5-9, 12-13, 17-18, 21, and 31.

Summary:

You begin May, birthday month, as one of the zodiac's favorite's. The Sun and Venus are in Taurus, making you feel sexy and desired. Book an appointment for grooming or styling, and maybe a massage too, during the week of May 5, the point of the month when eyes will be so strongly on you.

You are entering a whole new phase, one rich with opportunity to maneuver life to precisely as you've wanted it to be. You've had to wait a long time for planets to position themselves "just so," and now that they have, there's no reason to hold back. You will find enormous support for your plans. You are expressing your ideas lucidly and others are becoming interested in helping you further your ideas. Your artistic expressions will have weight and longevity too, so plan to express them at your best time of the month, just after the new moon in Taurus, May 5.

Real estate, family, and home-related plans are likely to become a main focus during the coming two months, beginning May 9. Although you may not be ready to implement your plan until summer, you can get a lot done on your blueprints now. Browse, collect estimates, and early in the month put in orders for furniture or to contractors. If you want to have several rooms and closets painted, book the painters now so that you can reserve them at your ideal time, and when they are at their busiest.

Do you want to buy or sell a house? Put in or collect bids from May 5 to May 12. If selling, you are likely to find that your best bid emanates from someone based in a foreign country or who is a new citizen of your country. Wrap up plans well in advance of May 26 when Mercury will turn retrograde and stay in apparent backward motion until June 19 in a financial part of your chart. Slow-to-arrive checks may prove a problem - call or send reminders to those who owe you. Check bank and credit card statements closely too for errors, and double-check restaurant tabs as well.

Friends will be staunch supporters of all you do all month, but especially so near May 21. You may suddenly get a chance to travel to see a friend, perhaps to attend a wedding or to take an exciting trip. Certainly whatever you do together would be fun. Alternatively, you may be hosting and entertaining many friends this month in your home. A perfect time to socialize with pals would be over the May 17-18 weekend.

A romantic or business relationship could get very serious over the same weekend (continuing into Monday), May 17-19, thanks to the full moon in your opposite sign of Scorpio. If you feel ready to get engaged (and plan to do so for your birthday), or if you want to take on a collaborator or special expert in your business, you would likely do so within four days of these dates.

Does your work involve representing others? A serious new, lucrative client may now also sign on the dotted line, making the alliance with you official.

If you are single, let a friend play cupid and fix you up with a blind date on May 17. As you see, this weekend should be a stunning one for you on many levels.

On May 21, a friend or club that you belong to can help you in a surprising way. If you have a dream, suggest lunch or dinner and describe it in detail to your pal. She or he will know many people, and she could help you materialize that vision.

Single or attached, you'll be radiant during birthday month because Venus will sail through your sign from the very start of May until May 24. If you want to choose new wardrobe items, do so early in the month, prior to May 15 when you will find your widest choice and most flattering selections. Taurus loves pampering, and the first half would be the ideal time to indulge in a spa package. Consult a hair stylist and other experts who can make you look great. You'll feel irresistible, and judging by the high level of popularity you'll enjoy, others will feel that way about you, too.

Don't forget:

Begin an endeavor dearly important to you: May 5-9

A blind date will be a big success: May 17.

Come together in a serious commitment: May 17-21

Friends will be gems: May 21