The first of two full moons in May 2026 will happen on May 1. Completely round and full, the full moon will be in the ambitious, mysterious sign of Scorpio. The date alone has a special vibe about it: Beltane, an ancient Celtic fire şenlik, has always fallen on the first of May. It makes a moment of transition, as the festival’s symbolic bonfires usher the year into a new phase.
That’s not all: This full moon is one of two blue moons in May. The month begins and ends with a full moon, which is very rare. To find out what this could mean for you and how to make the most of this moment, keep reading.
Scorpio lifts the veil
The full moon on May 1 occurs in the fixed water sign of Scorpio. With Scorpio, nothing stays on the surface in part because the sign is ruled by two planets (formerly by Mars, now by Pluto, which was only discovered in 1930).
Taken together, Mars and Pluto explain why Scorpio energy can feel so intense. It’s powerful (Mars), but profound and transformative (Pluto). Scorpio wants to go deeper in order to understand, transform, and move on something stronger and new. You might feel Scorpio whispering to you under this full moon: “Change is good. You don’t have to stay the same.”
Every full moon brings hidden things to light as it brings other things to a close. Under a full moon in Scorpio, however, this is intensified. Veils are lifted now in relationships, in power structures, and in ourselves. Intuition is sharper, and perception is more fine. You may already feel this in the days leading up to the full moon—it could come as a heightened sensitivity or the feeling that something is in the air.
The central question of this full moon is, Where have you given up your power? And what should you let go of in order to regain it?
Sun in Taurus: when both depth and grounding are important
While the moon in Scorpio plunges us into the depths, the sun being in earthly Taurus will keep us grounded. This is a classic tension: Taurus with its love for the tangible, the sensual, the safe; Scorpio with its hunger for change and what lies beneath the surface. The tension is between constancy versus transformation.
The sun in Taurus reminds us that change needs solid ground from which to happen. Those who completely dissolve have nothing left from which something new can emerge. This full moon invites us to hold on to both: the depth of Scorpio and the rootedness of Taurus.
Venus and Saturn: Love, but serious
There is also a beautiful transit on May 1, namely Venus sextile Saturn, which gives this full moon a special touch. The need for real, deep connection will feel greater now. In existing relationships, this could come as a desire for more commitment and clarity. It’s a good time for an honest conversation that has perhaps been put off for too long. New relationships that form now will tend to be more serious too—you’ll attract people who really mean it.
One more thing: Mercury in Aries is now in conjunction with Chiron, the wounded healer. This speaks to communication that may hurt but ultimately heals. It’s about telling the truth now, even if it feels uncomfortable.
Financial decisions are also under a good star. The focus now should be on savings plans, well-thought-out investments, and long-term projects. Venus and Saturn in sextile don’t like wild speculation, but they reward everything that is built with perseverance and realism.
Mercury changes pace: The pressure eases
All these revelations, difficult conversations, and the strength it takes to be honest naturally come at a price. A full moon in Scorpio is not cozy; it is demanding and probing. This makes what comes afterward all the more important. Mercury moves from impulsive Aries to more leisurely Taurus on May 3, and you may feel it immediately. The pressure that was in the air will ease. However, this is not a step backwards; it’s the natural movement after the full moon.
What to do during the full moon in May 2026
Let go. Full moons have always been moments of closure. You could try the following: Write down what you want to leave behind (a fear, a habit, a secret, a belief, a relationship dynamic). Light a red, purple, gold, or black candle. Read out loud what you wrote down, then burn it. Mentally, leave it behind. Let it go. The awareness of actively completing something is more powerful than you think.
Tidy up. I don’t mean just a superficial dusting (Scorpio doesn’t like that at all). Open the drawer you haven’t opened in a year. Go through the two boxes in the basement that you wanted to clean out three years ago. Delete contacts from your cell phone that no longer have any business being there. Scorpio loves transformation, and it often starts small and clean. It’s a good time to say goodbye to what we’ve been hoarding, especially if we’ve known for a long time that we should let it go.
Give something back to someone that you’ve kept for far too long. The borrowed book that has been sitting on the shelf for two years. The favor you haven’t returned yet. The energy you’ve taken from someone, perhaps without realizing it. Scorpio rules shared resources and mutual debts—not just financial, but emotional. So now is a good time to settle an old score and get closure on something that’s been subtly pulling at you.
Take an honest look at finances. Venus and Saturn make this full moon the right time to finally take a look at your figures without excuses. What’s coming in, what’s going out, what’s been sitting on the back burner for too long? Draw up a new budget, or hisse off a debt. Or, simply make the one decision you’ve been putting off again and again.
What to avoid around this full moon
Impulsive decisions based on emotion. The Scorpio full moon brings up intense feelings that can tempt you to make decisions you may regret tomorrow. If you’re in the middle of a heated conversation and want to throw everything away, wait a night. Sleep on it. What is real knowledge will still be true tomorrow. What was just an impulse often looks completely different the next day.
Hiding from confrontation. Now is the ülkü phase to have the kind of honest conversations you’ve been putting off for a long time. If you’ve wanted to say something to someone for weeks, whether it’s your partner, a friend, or a colleague, now is the time. Not because it’s easier now, but because that’s what the energy supports—truth and clarity, rather than comfort. Say what you think, and the air around you will lighten.
Initiating major new projects. Full moons are not new moons; they are not a starting signal, but a conclusion. If you launch a huge new project now, this works against the energy of the moment. Better to complete what is still open. The new can come afterward, when the air has cleared and the moon is unfolding again.
A version of this story was previously published in Glamour Germany.
