the new moon in earthy, sensual and grounded taurus is exact on wednesday april 26th 2017 at 5:16am PDT. this is a great time to set intentions and plant seeds (literal and metaphoric) around what we want to call into our lives in terms of abundance, financial security, embodiment and enjoyment of the material world. taurus is a sign that likes the finer things in life: good food, good wine and high thread count sheets ;) taurus is very sensual and enjoys tastes, smells, sights and sounds that are beautiful and comfortable. this new moon is a time to enjoy life and give thanks for being in a body here on an abundant earth that is full of so much beauty and wonder!
what is fascinating about this new moon is it makes no aspects! there is a wide trine aspect to the north node at 0’07 virgo (the nodes are about to move into new signs 2 days later)- so there is an evolutionary, destined energy tied up in this new moon. with both bodies in earth signs the focus is on the material world and what we are manifesting and bringing into being in our lives. taurus is focused on money, security and physical comfort- while virgo is focused on being of service, health and mind/body balance. we have amazing energy at this new moon to take stock of our physical reality and how we can bring more abundance, health and vitality into our lives!
there is an asteroid aligned with this new moon and that is demeter. demeter is also known as ceres- the grain mother and mother of persephone. she is the Goddess of the food supply, nurturing and nourishment. taurus is a sign focused on security- which is experienced when we have enough to eat, a warm place to sleep and people who love us and care for us. with demeter on this new moon we are supported in getting clear on what we need to feel nurtured and nourished. what foods nourish us? what environments nourish us? how much sleep do we need to feel good? what things/people/situations are good for us and life affirming? this new moon is about getting clear on what we value and Love and bringing more of that into our lives.
the ruler of this new moon is venus who is at the last degree of pisces AND the last degree of the entire zodiac. the 29th degree of pisces is very karmic- it is the omega of the omegas. it is the ending that leads to a new beginning (which is represented by 0 aries). with venus at 29 pisces there’s a completion energy playing out in relationships, finances, our values, self-worth and self-Love.
venus is no longer retrograde but she is still in her back end shadow. she is square saturn and conjunct chiron- past these aspects in terms of being exact but just days after the new moon we have the 2nd of the saturn/chiron squares so the energy of core wounding patterns is still very much up. this is a HUGE transit that calls us all deeper into our inner work. not everyone will use this astrology as such- some will choose to check out, drink more, turn to addictions to numb out. others will use this astrology to go deeper, face the shadow and relate directly to wounded parts of the Self that have been Unconsciously controlling them.
this new moon in taurus is great for somatic bodywork- doing emotional and psychological healing via deep work on the body. the body holds patterns and emotions and they can get stuck there unless/until we do something to access them. this new moon is amazing for accessing the body’s wisdom and doing deep work to heal and move through stuff that has held us back.
because demeter is on the new moon i wanted to look at the position of ceres- the roman name of the same greek goddess. ceres is at 28’43 taurus, the same sign as the new moon. she makes a lot of aspects- sextile to venus and chiron, opposite black moon lilith, quincunx saturn, semisextile retrograde mercury and uranus and square the nodes. with ceres square the nodes there are pivotal points of choice presented to us right now where we can choose old ways of doing and being or we can move into uncharted territory and push past our growth edge. the growth edge is the north node in virgo- being discerning, committed to inner work, making necessary self adjustments to bring more vitality and well being into our lives. the south node in pisces speaks to patterns of denial, illusion, avoidance of reality, spiritual bypassing and escapism. seeing reality is the key that unlocks the north node in virgo. this can play out in home/family situations, in financial or material situations, and also globally in terms of the environment and Mother Earth. we need to see what IS and honestly face the reality of what is before we truly can be empowered to create what is possible!
i leave you with ellias lonsdale’s star sparks meditation for 7 taurus (we always round up when looking at meditations on the degrees). i LOVE this meditation- as it is so on point with the new moon in taurus! he speaks of the polarity of only being sense focused and looking to feel fulfilled and the opposite experience of surrendering the self and it’s needs and just being here to serve. and then he speaks of a 3rd way- where we are not “self-full nor self-empty”, where we have ‘learned the folly of both positions’. to me this is how ascension meets descension in the middle. we are body and we are Spirit. one is not better than the other. we have crown chakras and we have root chakras. you need both to be healthy to live in this world and be connected to Spirit. so this new moon and meditation for this degree speaks to finding that middle path. as sri nisgardatta so eloquently said “wisdom tells me i am nothing, love tells me i am everything. between the two my life flows.” in the ancient egyptian mysteries the physical body or aufu is the most important body as all the others reside IN IT. so it’s very important- this embodied experience. it’s not something to escape or avoid or think is lesser than. the body is the container for Spirit. it needs to be treated as a temple. let this new moon help you do just that.
happy new moon!
~dh
STAR SPARKS
by Ellias Lonsdale
Taurus 7 A large ruby inscribed with a prayer
The personal soul is our own special identity. We absorb ourselves within it’s dramas, it’s subjective experience. We always want more, need even further variations on the theme of fulfilling ourselves, feeling gratified and satiated with everything we have coming to us. Our fantasy is that all of life will come our way and fill us with goodies.
Then we go further than this when we can no longer fool ourselves. We turn the whole self game around. As we realize how empty and meaningless the isolate personal self really is, we go the other way. Our desire then is to serve, to surrender, to give over. We want nothing more than to be played through by spirit, to be at one with Christ.
As we awaken within the spirit side of life, we can even move into a third position. All of that emotional depth of the personal soul plus all of that given-over feeling of the one who goes beyond self can be raw materials for the creations of a whole new self. This one is neither self-full nor self-empty. They have learned the folly of both positions.
At any and every stage of this journey, there is a characteristic flair for just the right touch and journey. Closely tuned in, exceedingly intimate, the soul is on a whole different wavelength then others around her. She gives herself over completely, whether to pleasure, spirit, or a whole way of being that encompasses all polarities.
She has this density of taking all of existence through her. What she delights in is to be able to give life to others, to be empowered to serve a greater will in all things. Her being has to stay with it’s own subtle track, must remain at one with it’s nature resolutely. The only way she can go is through the heart’s dedication to the Earthly Way.