The Moon begins a new phase with the Sun at 25° 57′ Taurus on May 16, at 1 p.m. Pacific time.
Taurus is our fixed, or stable, earth sign. Its glyph looks like the head of a bull, a totem animal long revered in ancient cultures. This glyph for Taurus is a circle, symbol of wholeness, with a receptive crescent Moon on top. One might imagine that Taurus is waiting to receive good things from above.
Taurus is the second sign on the wheel of the zodiac, following Aries. Whereas Aries’ style is like a ram busting out of a gate, Taurus is more like relaxing under a tree sipping a cold drink after a day’s work. The signs are like that, one serving as a balance or corrective to the one preceding it.
Taurus, ruled by Venus, lovesbeauty, possessions, and creature comforts. Taurus wants to get stuff, maybe even hoard it, maybe eat too much, or work too hard, but also to not worry about it. What Taurus seeks is security, financial and otherwise.
The Moon in astrology reveals what makes us happy. It’s natural that in Hellenistic astrology’s system of planetary “dignities” and “debilities,” the Moon is said to be “exalted” when it travels through the sign of Taurus a couple of days each month. Taurus is like hard earth soaking up a good rain.
Taurus is a symbol of the fertility of Earth Herself. At the Taurus New Moon, in the Northern Hemisphere, if one hasn’t already planted a spring garden, now’s the time to do so. It’s also an ideal time to set one’s financial affairs in order, including securing emergency supplies and, if possible, a stash of cash.
At the May 16 lunation, the Sun and Moon are moving toward a conjunction with Mercury in Taurus. The Sun, Moon and Mercury are also making an out-of-sign conjunction with Uranus, which recently entered the communicative air sign of Gemini for the next seven years. Mercury (perception, thought, speech) traveling close with the Sun in Taurus suggests thinking and speaking within one’s comfort zone. Uranus in Gemini is a symbol of fresh new ideas, but Uranus is also a force of disruption, potentially unsettling to Taurus’ desire for peace and quiet.
The closest aspect at the May 16 lunation is an exact conjunction between action-oriented Mars and asteroid Chiron in fiery Aries. Chiron symbolizes the sensitive hurts every creature carries. Mars’s brief conjunction with Chiron brings a desire to take action to heal from old and persistent wounds.
The May 16 New Moon will be followed quickly by a flurry of planetary sign changes. Mercury will enter lively air sign Gemini on May 17. Mars will join the Sun in Taurus on May 18. Venus enters the home and family-oriented sign of Cancer on May 18. Then the Sun will change signs and join both Mercury and Uranus in Gemini on May 20.
The May 16 New Moon is wrap-up time for taking care of the business of Taurus season. Once the Sun enters Gemini, summer will be in sight in the Northern Hemisphere. Despite everything going on, Gemini season is a time to pursue one’s most entertaining curiosities, and to have fun doing it.
Blessings for the Taurus New Moon!
~ Sara
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