Leaves From a Financial Astrologer’s Notebook: May 2026

By Christeen Skinner

I have longstanding concerns about food shortages—particularly the potential for a more acute crisis around June 2028. That may feel a long way off, but anything that disrupts planting and/or delivery can have lasting consequences; interruptions to fertilizer supply, such as those occurring in relation to the war with Iran, are just one example.

Climate is a critical part of this picture, and the planetary patterns suggest that both 2026 and 2027 may bring poor harvests. Anyone who bought wheat options back in February should not be disappointed.

Global weather forecasters are also watching a strong El Niño pattern that may build in the second half of 2026. If so, it is expected to bring hotter, drier conditions across much of Asia, while increasing rainfall in parts of North and South America.

In the southern states of the US, precipitation is critically needed to maintain crop potential. The strongest El Niño on record was in 1997–1998, when flooding in the Americas damaged crops. Looking ahead to July 2026, the Jupiter–Uranus formation alongside Neptune suggests an elevated probability of flooding.

The recent Saturn–Neptune alignment on the World Axis (0 Aries) can be linked to today’s turmoil, which has disrupted supply chains and brought turbulence to oil markets (more on this below). Saturn is associated with cold; Neptune, with water. In Canada, wet and cold conditions across the Prairies delayed spring wheat planting. Since Jupiter (in the Water Sign Cancer) turned direct a few weeks ago, excessive moisture in key growing provinces—including Saskatchewan and Alberta—has kept farmers out of fields and shortened the planting window, adding to shortage concerns and the likelihood of higher prices.

OIL & ENERGY

Meanwhile, limits on the number of tankers permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz have pushed oil prices sharply higher—reaching their highest levels since 2022 in late April. I expect further highs around mid‑May. I doubt the price will fall below \$83 this year.

The United Arab Emirates has stated that it is leaving OPEC (the group of oil‑producing countries). OPEC traces its roots to September 1960. For the first time in its history, Neptune opposes the position of Mercury at OPEC’s inception—suggesting the organization may be coming apart at the seams. The charts of the countries involved are each affected by the current Sedna–Uranus–Neptune formation in relationship with Pluto: a triangulation that will remain in place for some years.

This same triangle may also coincide with breakthroughs in other energy sources—although the transition to alternatives is unlikely to be complete for at least another two decades.

EQUITIES

The NASDAQ has surged in recent weeks, as has the S&P, leaving many index‑watchers wondering when we might see a correction—perhaps recalling the old adage, “sell in May and go away.” Two windows look particularly sensitive: mid‑May, and then the days leading up to the summer solstice in June. We could see a correction in mid‑May, followed by an upward surge, and then another more significant correction in the days prior to 21 June as Chiron ingresses into Taurus.

FOOD SHORTAGES

Chiron makes a brief entry into Taurus between the June solstice and the September equinox. It is during this quarter that those of us in the West—who have rarely had to deal with genuine scarcity—may be introduced to rationing of certain products, something we may have to face more fundamentally in 2028.

GOLD AND SILVER

The question I was asked most often during my recent visit to Türkiye was whether gold and silver will return to the levels reached at the end of January. I think that is unlikely. We may see an upward move for gold in December, but I would not expect it to exceed $5k.

Equally important, of course, is how far prices can fall. My view is that $3,688 may be the lowest level reached this year—and even that may be some weeks away. We shall see, but I do expect a modest upward move from 5 May.

You may remember that a cluster of planets in Aries (including Uranus) coincided with an all‑time high in 2011. Last month we saw a similar Aries grouping, but with Saturn in place of Uranus—correlating with a downward trend. That trend should begin to ease now as Mercury moves out of Aries and into Taurus on the 3^rd of May.

WAR

With the exception of the Moon at various points through the month, the planets are currently positioned on one side of the Sun. This lopsidedness is mirrored on Earth, with individuals and nations pulled firmly to one side or another—conciliation is in short supply. We have also experienced strong solar flares (which may, of course, relate to the planetary patterns). Abrupt and erratic behavior has become the norm, and a clear break in these dark clouds does not yet appear on the near horizon.

Title Image Credit:  drawn by Chat GPT