Taurus New Moon

New moon tomorrow 5/6 at 3:30EDT. Moon goes void of course at 10:10pm EDT conjunct Mercury rx. If you miss the window for intentions, wait till the moon is in Gemini on Saturday 5/7 at 12:34pm EDT.

It's a great moon cycle for focusing on growth and productivity, and is also the most powerful moon of the year for cultivating one's finances. The Moon's last aspect to Mercury rx says to me that it's a great moon to make improvements -- especially with Virgo rising on the Washington, D.C. Chart. So if there are areas of your physical reality where things have been lacking, you can really start to create some movement in those areas. Health, routine, money -- anything pertaining to the body, pleasure, relaxation, luxury -- are all great areas to focus upon. Live like a Taurus -- you know you can do it!! Ha ha!

This month is a good time for reevaluation with both Mars and Mercury retrograde. With the Taurus moon, I'm feeling it is an especially good time to create space for the "slow down" amidst the chaos, as the Gemini half of this month is going to be significantly more crazy. Taurus is a firm believer in the good life, and so there is a pull right now to access that level of being, and remind ourselves of it very well, so when life starts pushing us around, we can always find our emotional / mental safe space. Taurus is also about the fundamentals of things, and so we can use this period to firm up our life foundations in order to create more stability for ourselves down the road. Mars rx is going back over the path of Saturn the past two years, so we are doing a final sweep of clarity around our vision, and then moving into June, revisiting the psychological processes behind it all. So all around, we're really in a phase of making stable all that has been in development for the past several years.

This Taurus moon is very oriented toward action -- but not in a crazy, running around, mania sort of way... It is very deliberate, thoughtful action that keeps the long range view in mind. What level of comfort and peace would you like to attain? What does it take to get there? How can I start something today that will lead me towards that goal? And remember, Taurus processes are cumulative. It's not about doing it all at once... It's about focused consistency. So be practical about it. Choose pathways that are realistic, something you are ready to commit to, but still stretch and expand you in a healthy way. Since Taurus is also about value -- as in what we value and our own self worth -- it's also a wonderful time to practice treating yourself well by honoring your goals.

All in all, remember that Taurus is a sign that's a big fan of quality over quantity. Whatever you do, whatever your visions are at this time, keep it simple and be abundant.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Here is Astrologer Ellias Lonsdale's write up on the degree of 16 Taurus, where our new moon is this month:

TAURUS 16
A young girl and boy explore a perfume counter. 
Weaving polarities adroitly with alchemical awareness of what can come from the right combinations. You are fascinated and awestruck by all the various combinations, facets, and ways the life-force distributes itself and plays itself out. The rapt admirer of the wisdom and beauty of nature, transfixed by what happens around here. Coming at things always from yet another side, yet never feeling it is enough. There is more to be done, infinitely more to partake in and enhance. The world is an open book. And it magnetically, almost hypnotically draws your attention and interest to what is needed next, to what is emergent and outstanding as life matches dreams and dreams encompass fantastic variety and vivid spectrum to lose yourself in and discover everything through, from one end of the Earth to the other.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Love and peace.

Solar Eclipse: Relationship Tests

We're finally more than halfway through eclipse season with one more eclipse on May 25. The area of our lives where revelations and changes are taking place should be clear to us by now. In general, this can vary from person to person depending on where the eclipse falls in their chart, but one thing I have observed is that these eclipses have really been working people's CLOSE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS (associated with Scorpio). Over and over again people have been coming to me with the same story -- Partners are taking a stand for what they want and deserve in their relationships out of a fundamental desire for a true immersion and union.  Those old habits (Taurus) just aren't cutting it anymore and people are finding that they are more than done with the old way of doing things, and the same mistakes wrought from the inertia and laziness of comfort. The question afoot seems to be: How do we break those old habits which block our ability to merge? Are we willing to do the work necessary to change and grow as one? Or, is it time for us to part ways with certain associations, relationships, etc to find the fulfillment and depth we really desire in our lives?

Keep in mind that this is Scorpio energy at work. Saturn (Lord of Karma) and the North Node of fate are closing in on each other progressively, and we are feeling increasingly pressed to do the right thing. Self control and self responsibility are highlighted by this placement -- as well as the Scorpio theme of complete surrender, rebirth, and transformation. Relationships of all kinds seem to be at a critical tipping point as we look at the person across from us and ask ourselves -- how far can we go?

We're being asked to merge, to expose ourselves completely, and to do what it takes to form permanent, responsible, mature, and lasting bonds. This cannot happen unless BOTH partners go all in, and as a result, some relationships may become stronger and more stable, while others may fall apart. The reasons for this can be: a fear of/unwillingness to change (South Node Taurus), a lack of maturity or self responsibility (Saturn/Mars), or even just a realization that the relationship might not be that "one." (North Node Scorpio)

Whatever the direction your relationships take -- be it with a partner, friend, or other association -- these trials seem to be of the clarifying, revealing, and strengthening variety. We feel we know more what we really want, what calls to our souls, and where we need to go at a deeper level. Allow the changes to take place, whatever they are, and don't force anything -- the ultimate result of this time is part of a long term, evolutionary process for us as individuals, and those who we care about most deeply.

As always -- look towards growth and enjoy the ride!