Taurus Lunar Eclipse Newsletter🌕💜
Happy Taurus Lunar Eclipse!
How are you navigating Eclipse Season (which, ever so conveniently, is paired with Daylight Savings and the election here in the U.S.?) If you’re feeling a really strange combination of restless and sleepy, agitated and energized, then you’re pretty much right on cue — this is wonky astro and even though the Eclipse is exact today, the revelations and weirdness it brings are likely to continue as the week unfolds. So grab your coffee or warm beverage of choice, anticipate a useful epiphany about what you most value in life (yes, this Eclipse is that big), and align to the vibe of whatever house is occupied by Uranus in your birth chart (or, if you have any planets in Aquarius, tap into that aspect of your nature — it’ll help you navigate with more grace and objectivity!)
Two-Week Astrology Report:
Tuesday, November 8th: Today is the Full Moon Eclipse in Taurus, super-charging emotions around our finances, our resources, and anything which we believe to be under our ownership or within the parameters of our emotional or physical territory. Anytime the Taurus-Scorpio polarity is activated, it’s big emotional energy and compels us to authentically self-express, and if worked with intentionally, it’s also a useful prosperity vibe. Full Moons in astrology represent abundance and fullness, and Eclipses are stagnancy-averse, facilitating the movement and flow of energy by illuminating new possibilities or insight. In the earthy and practical sign of Taurus, we’re invited to cultivate a deeper sense of security whether emotionally, financially, or in the form of new or enrichened resources. It’s an awesome day to begin a new budgeting plan, to initiate a wealth regeneration venture or open an investment account, and we can also more easily spot value in a purchase or opportunity (whether a dusty gem buried in a clearance bin or a ticket to an experience that is well worth it’s weight in currency.) Of course, what constitutes a “good” deal or worthwhile investment is subjective — it will require us to honestly assess our values and organize our priorities — but if we’re aligned to what these are, today’s Full Moon in quality-seeking Taurus will accentuate those opportunities so we can intuitively notice and acquire them. We don’t need to “do” anything to access today’s inherent building/acquisition potential, but tucking an abundance charm or a charged-up Green Aventurine into your left pocket certainly won’t delay the process (and neither would a simple abundance ritual or the below journal prompt!) But interpersonally, today’s Eclipse does feature some tense astrology configurations: Mercury conjuncts the Sun which is not a rare phenomenon, as the Messenger God is never that far from the big bright star but when they’re this close in proximity, it’s notably good for creative breakthroughs and innovative solutions but it also makes us feel very identified with our ideas and opinions and with the Moon and Uranus aligned in Taurus Opposing the Mercury/Sun configuration in Scorpio, there’s a lot of tense fixed energy in the cosmos at the moment (which certainly isn’t a bad thing but it makes us more collectively set in our ways and, frankly, a little stubborn.) It’s not a good time to entertain a generally difficult or deliberately contrary individual by presenting them with an opposing perspective — it certainly won’t change their mind or end in all parties singing Kum Ba Yah and joining hands — but the clarity this Eclipse may bring around our values, opinions and identity is one of it’s most important offerings (as is the quirky Uranian ingenuity factor.) But still, it’s best to temper our suddenly amped self-assuredness with a hint of openness so we can process the moment’s realizations fully — Uranus aspects can be a bit destabilizing if we’re too attached to old paradigms or outdated ideas about who we are (and they’re outright agitating if we’ve been at all self-suppressing.) This Lunar Eclipse invites us to re-meet ourselves as our 2.0 version; to make the most of it, step fully into this energy and infuse your relationship to yourself with a new sense of curiosity (and for Pete’s sake, don’t touch other people’s stuff or tread on their personal territory: we all have a firmer grasp on that which we believe to be ours this week whether it’s a physical item, money, a title, or even a relationship. I promise that whatever your reaching for — even if it’s a shriveled-up French fry — is not worth the strife that will ensue!)
Thursday, November 10th: Venus trines Neptune today — a twice-yearly event — and because both planets are in water signs, the vibe is extra dreamy and ethereal. Trust instincts today around style, scent and art; Venus trine Neptune can also attract or activate dormant crush scenarios but we can quickly end up confused about whether the feelings are actually reciprocal or if we’re just chasing a phantom (are they possibly this nice to everyone? Under the guise of a Neptune/Venus entanglement, who knows!? But more importantly, who cares — even if it’s a faux-romance, it’s a fabulous creativity Muse and lovely inspiration for your art.) Ideally, we ride the high of this intoxicating yet nebulous astro without overthinking it’s every nuance — it’s a magick moment where music and poetry soothe the soul, our crushes flirt back (even if we only imagined it) and even the most pragmatically-minded people feel spontaneously touched by something larger. Also in play today and through the weekend is the Mercury/Sun alignment in Scorpio Square Saturn, so limiting or oppressive thoughts could lead to sudden insecurity. It’s easy to descend into an immersive gloom spiral today but the more effective antidote to this weighty astro is getting analytical and facing problems directly as they arise. Immediate solutions may seem elusive or fruitless, so forego any slight-of-hand trickery or quick-thinking escape hacks in favor of a more calculated, methodical, prevention-focused approach complete with a carefully-outlined plan and an awareness of the long-term trajectory. We’re more pressingly aware of any limitations imposed upon us today — whether external metrics, like an actual deadline or time itself, or the shackles and limitations we willingly subject ourselves to (i.e., where we think we “should” be at this point in our lives) but despite any inevitable sense of harshness in play, extract the lesson (which sounds infuriating but there’s always practical wisdom to be garnered from a Saturn transit — they’re not fun but they’re constructive, schooling us on something important and highly specific to our needs.) We’ll depart feeling better about ourselves and in the meantime, if a looming sense of melancholy threatens to become oppressive, lean into the aforementioned Venusian vibe — fashion, a fulfilling romance, a spiritual experience or an act of artistic expression could be just the balm to combat a Saturnine funk.
Saturday, November 12th: Mercury and the Sun Trine Neptune (Mercury today, while the Sun forms an exact Trine on Monday) which offers some much needed reprieve following the Saturnine heaviness of the weekend. It won’t overshadow the aforementioned, but once we’ve completed our mini-Saturn schooling, we’re ushered into the new week by the lush benefits of this alignment including insanely vivid and insightful dreams (put a little dried mugwort under the pillow to optimize), accentuated intimacy and the conception of creative, visionary ideas. Ideally, carve out some deliberate time for introspection and creative self-expressive today and unrelatedly, anticipate useful revelations in the shower or bathtub.
Sunday, November 13th: Venus, Mercury, and the Sun in Scorpio sextile Pluto in Capricorn over the course of the week — Venus today, Mercury tomorrow and the Sun on Friday (the exact time depending on your zone.) It’s subtle but good for more nuanced and meaningful intimacy, minor but impactful style/cosmetic morphs, or an empowering mini-mental recalibration or identity transformation. Another possibility? Meaningful dialogue shifts a power dynamic in your favor or facilitates deeper intimacy between yourself and someone you’d deemed an authority figure.
Tuesday, November 15th: Venus, Mercury and the Sun trine Jupiter (Venus today, Mercury tomorrow and the Sun on the 20th) and because Jupiter amps the vibe of any planet he engages with, we can expect this week to present almost hyperbolically large romantic, communication or creativity scenarios. A heart-opening prompts a romantic realization or call to action, breakthrough dialogue or expansive new ideas change the game, and peak vitality and energy levels lend a strengthened sense of personal identity and empowerment. Following the intensity of last week’s Lunar Eclipse, it’s essentially lucky and favors bold moves that hinge on faith, hope or optimism; if you’ve been contemplating a risky transition but didn’t want to succumb to Eclipse angst or impulsivity, now is a much better time to act.
Wednesday, November 16th: Venus enters Sagittarius until early December and anytime The Goddess of Love glides through this fiery mutable sign, connections can heat up quite rapidly, new prospects present themselves as options, and any stale or stagnating relationships organically fizzle or find their way to the door. Because Sag energy likes heat and momentum, the Archer breathes new life into the Venusian realms of romance, style and beauty over the next few weeks, blowing in new possibilities and rapidly evolving anything stuck or fixed. This light-hearted sign also chills us out with regard to any Venusian neuroses we may carry, allowing us to take rejection less personally as we navigate the sometimes-disappointing dating scene or alleviating any physical insecurities as we laugh at our (very human) quirks, belly rolls and nose bumps. If currently partnered, this transit is a good time to infuse the relationship with some novelty and spontaneity: book a surprise vacation, propose a spur-of-the-moment date night or take your lover somewhere new and exciting for both of you (or treat yourself to an adventurous solo date!) Opening oneself to new and unfamiliar places, prospects, and perspectives can be massively rewarding during this transit, and as a powerful mini-spell, organize and de-clutter your closet and/or beauty or skincare cupboards, discarding or donating anything you’ve outgrown or no longer wear or use. Under a Sag Venus, doing this aligns us to our optimal aesthetic vibe and invites in a powerful Venusian recalibration.
Thursday, November 17th: Mercury enters Sagittarius until early December which is fabulous for big-minded thinking and philosophical discussion. This transit is kind of like astrological truth serum: others can’t help but be crushingly honest now — regardless of whether or not doing so favors them — so leave the high-quality detective skills in Scorpio Season and if you’re trying to assess what someone else is thinking, just ask! It’s a really good time to open dialogue with others where the goal is simply to connect and converse, but clear solutions can feel elusive amidst the broad, circular conversation this transit tends to facilitate. If you’ve been too hyper-focused on the details with regard to a particular situation, the next few weeks will unveil the bigger picture, possibly prompting a big reveal or a clear moment of understanding. The other major gift of Mercury in Sagittarius is that it re-introduces us to humor after the broody intensity of Scorpio season — hyper-sensitivity is best tucked away now in favor of coming together with others over a shared belly laugh.
Saturday, November 19th: Mars and Neptune square for the second time in what will be a series of three — until the final stand-off in March of next year, something is likely to remain elusive or ambiguous (even if we think we’ve cracked the code.) The last time this occurred was October 12th before the Warrior God stationed retrograde, so to see how this may influence you personally, think back on what themes were occupying your psyche or unfolding in your life around that time (as they’ll likely re-surface, even if in a different way or a different form.) To put it simply, it’s not the best time to accept an offer or invitation at face value or to place stock in some else’s vision, word or promise. Wait until more information comes to light before locking anything down or initiating a big move (and if you can’t, just lean heavily on your critical thinking skills and currently on-point intuition.) The good news about this transit is that it’s awesome for creative genius but don’t be disappointed if the process feels chaotic. The final vision of any big projects you’re currently working on likely won’t likely come together until March — until then, embrace the messiness and have fun, deadlines be damned!
Monday, November 21st: Mercury and Venus conjunct in Sagittarius and when these two planets align, our Venusian instincts around pleasure and sensuality feel really in sync with the way our psyche intersects with the world around us. Today’s vibe is highly conducive to nuanced intimacy through dialogue, touch or the shared experience of a physical adventure. This astrology is awesome for creative collaborations and generating buzzy synergy within any partnership, but whether in love or business, don’t play coy or try to keep your true feelings or intentions under wraps — honesty and authenticity yield the best results and in all affairs, transparency is magnetic and cultivates a positive rapport. This astrology is also a solo creativity muse — effortless inspiration is likely to flow today so if possible, create space for a moment of play within your artform.
Tuesday, November 22nd: The Sun enters Sagittarius, breaking through barriers and getting stagnant energy moving. It’s a blessing to any area of your life which could benefit from this breezy, dynamic and mutable energy, and this enterprising vibe backs risk-taking and any attempts to explore, expand or adventure. It’s a huge breath of fresh air after the intense fixed energy of the last month, but you can facilitate movement and flow by breaking from a personal pattern or trying something new (whether an unfamiliar cuisine, learning a new skill, taking a different route to work or familiarizing yourself with a foreign culture.) The Sun in Sagittarius brings a vibe of levity and ease so if difficult conversations need to be had, attempt them now while everyone is feeling a little more amicable and honest (and resist any urge to revert to passive-aggression which, with Mars is currently retrograde, is very much a temptation.)
Tarot Cards For the Lunar Eclipse in Taurus: The Four of Cups and the Hanged Man
Our Tarot Cards for the Lunar Eclipse in Taurus (pulled from The Mermaid Tarot by Leeza Robertson, illustrations by Julie Dillon) is the Four of Cups and the Hanged Man, two cards which to me tell a clear story when appearing together in a reading. We just pulled the Four of Cups on the New Moon in Libra and as we discussed then, this card isn’t a warning that we’re cutting ourselves off from emotional pleasure and resisting healthy presence — instead , it’s an invitation to pause and construct a container of emotional safety and wellness for ourselves, which more often than not, involves creating some kind of an emotional boundary whether with a specific individual, in response to a particular invitation or opportunity, or even placing a boundary between ourselves and a piece of our environment by adjusting our level of emotional openness to it or limiting the amount of time we choose to engage with it. Relationship Expert and Psychotherapist Terri Cole often talks about the fact that despite what we tend to assume, enforcing boundaries isn’t a one-and-done process: almost always, we’ll need to repeat a boundary multiple times, sometimes in response to the exact same request or attempt at an infringement. Think back on whatever was in play for you around the New Moon on September 25th — very likely, these themes could return not because we’ve done something wrong or didn’t fully integrate the wisdom, but simply because our emotional boundaries are alive and breathing. This Lunar Eclipse, our emotional boundaries might come back into focus and require nurturance and re-assessment which could be triggered by an outside event, like someone testing an emotional boundary we’ve already set or prompting us to create a new one. If our boundaries haven’t changed, we could simply find ourselves having to re-commit to them with a little more firmness — if they have, we can take the time to adjust accordingly, opening ourselves to whatever extent we’re comfortable. What the Hanged Man and the Four of Cups having in common is the energy of stillness, and also the commitment to honoring one’s personal wisdom. As opportunities and invitations arise this week, don’t succumb to Eclipse-induced restlessness or a bout of impulsivity: Sagittarius season is around the corner and with it, in will blow the winds of change. Until then, don’t initiate a transition simply out of the discomfort which can arise with even a welcomed or necessary moment of stillness or inactivity. These cards also invite us to consider that just because we don’t physically see change doesn’t mean it isn’t happening — often, we undergo the most dramatic transition in our moments of stillness. The Four of Cups asks us to conduct an emotional inventory and get clear with ourselves about what our emotional capacity is at the moment and whether our emotional boundaries are up to date and currently being honored; the Hanged Man, on the other hand, challenges us to actually listen to what our heart reveals as a response. If you’re currently trying to make a decision, The Hanged Man errs on the side of momentary inactivity and together, these cards remind us of the importance of timing. Sometimes, an opportunity could be right for us but the timing isn’t in alignment with our emotional wellness and availability — that’s perfectly okay and when these cards arise, we can trust that the invitation will return if it’s truly ours to accept. Amidst the chaos of Eclipse season, the cards encourage us to do what it takes to cultivate an inner landscape of stillness and peace, and to take extra measures to protect our emotional wellness so we can process and integrate. The gift of this Lunar Eclipse is that it highlights our awareness of where our emotional needs aren’t being met. Welcome in this information, and take this time to make any adjustments!
Journal Prompt:
Our experience of the Taurus Lunar Eclipse will depend on how well we’ve clarified our values. Most people classify our values as anything which we deem more important than (or as important as) money — to put it a different way, our values are those people, things and experiences which make us feel rich, abundant, and wealthy. For example, maybe you feel abundant and wealthy when you open your fridge to see that it’s clean, colorful and well-stocked (which is one of my great pleasures!); maybe you feel abundant when you open your bank account to see impressively large numbers, or when you add another set of vintage playing cards to your ever-expanding collection. For some people, physical things or even having tons of money tucked away couldn’t inspire them any less — they feel rich when they immerse themselves in new experiences, attend live music events, or walk the streets of foreign cities. For others, finding new and exciting ways to commune with nature, living in a simple and solitary way and immersing oneself in the magick of the elements, is the ultimate experience of richness. There might also be particular people or types of experiences or resources which make you feel rich or abundant when you’re engaging with them, and for most of us, time — our most precious nonrenewable resource — is of very high value. For the Taurus Lunar Eclipse, write about what makes you feel abundant. What does money symbolize to you? Options, freedom, power? If your values have changed recently (as they have for many of us amidst the pandemic), write about that as well. To get you started, look to the sign on the cusp of your second house, and observe any planets residing there — the second house in astrology often hints at our values and that which makes us feel truly rich. If you aren’t familiar with astrology, do some research on that sign and use this as a jumping-off point, writing about whether or not what you discover resonates. For example, as someone with Scorpio on the cusp of my second house, I prioritize emotional experiences and feeling intimate with others over physical things or new opportunities; to me, money represents power and autonomy which are absolutely my most pressing values. This Eclipse is also likely to reveal what our values are, which might be surprising. If this resonate, write about what the Taurus Full Moon has shown you about yourself.
Happy Lunar Eclipse!
-Ali
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