New Moon in Taurus

'We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land

But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand'

On the 14th May at 02:04 Universal Time there is a New Moon in Taurus.  Every lunar cycle is important, reflecting the ebb and flow in collective energy and triggering events.  The cycles now especially so, as the Cardinal Grand Cross takes shape.  There is so much potency in the air.

The Taurus New Moon is a seed point for a new cycle of values, worth, connection to the earth, beauty, art and as mentioned in my Sun in Taurus post - 'the accruement of love and worthwhile sustainable possession'.  The Sabian Symbol for the Sun and Moon reads 'An Indian warrior riding fiercely with human scalps at his belt'.  Staking or claiming our ground, our earth and value system is implied here and its challenging Square to Neptune at 29 Aquarius (which is quincunx Saturn) reads 'A Butterfly emerging from a chrysalis'.  This new moon is very 'New' - in the sense that the picture is one of putting on a new set of clothes and discarding ones that no longer fit.  We feel revitalised, but it'll take some getting used to before we're comfortable in that new skin.

As this is Taurus, we look next to its ruling planet Venus in Gemini which reads 'Three fledglings in a nest high up in a tree'.  This is at the apex of a t-square with Jupiter/Uranus and Saturn opposing.  Their respect symbols read 'A Harvest Moon illuminating the sky' (Jupiter), 'A majestic rock formation, resembling a face is idealized by a boy who takes it as his ideal of greatness; as he grows up, he begins to look at it' (Uranus) and 'A man gaining secret knowledge from an ancient scroll he is reading' (Saturn).  Despite the rather harsh oppositions and squares that these planets are making at this Taurus New Moon, the symbolism is very positive.  At the moment, it seems individually and collectively, we are snakes shedding our skin.

But there is more to this New Moon.  Three days beforehand on 11th May sees Mercury retrograde in Taurus going direct.  As it was at the last Scorpio Full Moon Mercury and Pluto form an easy trine aspect that provides weight, insight and investigation to this time.  The direct station of Mercury is one of communicative power and occurs at 3 degrees Taurus - this is the discovery degree of Chiron in 1977 - a discovery that opened doors (or perhaps bridges) to new levels of awareness - this can be seen in the alternative healing movements that have arisen since then.  The symbol reads 'Natural steps up to a lawn blooming with clover'.

The sky is awash then with emerging symbolism, leadership, bravery, discovery and affirmation.  There is plenty of challenge for sure; the earth beneath our feet may well subside and crack as new paths grow.  The backdrop to this New Moon is the inflection of Chironic healing - as Lynda Hill writes in her book 360 Degrees of Wisdom "Harmony. Seasonal changes. Running around on the grass.  Bare feet.  The beauty of greenery and flowers. Stability on the path'.  It is a dreamcatcher's Moon.

I'll end this post with a poem by Rumi entitled 'Doorsill' taken from the Coleman Barks translation in the book 'Rumi - Bridge to the Soul'.  It so speaks of this moment.

Ordeal.  The time of testing is here.

Words like fortitude and valor

mean something among people again.

Old agreements weaken and break.

When the knife reaches bone,

your life must change.

Be glad the refining fire

is around you.

Laugh as you stand on this doorsill.

Out of your dry thorn opens a rose garden.

I point to you, because you give me

joy that cannot be said.

Heavy blows beat about my head.

I need your compassion.

Muhammad's warriors have come

from the Kaaba to help me in this fight.

My reason says, Be quiet.

What can you know?

I try to be silent,

but my weeping comes anyway.

Muhammad says, You did not throw

when you threw.

This I feel now in my body

is like an arrow suddenly

released to its moment.

Interested in more Astrological Poetry? Then click here.


Picture Copyright Saiuri