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TAURUS NEW MOON / PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - 30 April 2022

4/27/2022

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Picture
Exact at 9.28pm UK time (BST)
 
We are now heading into Eclipse season, a time of shifts, endings and new beginnings. It is a powerful time energetically, with considerable potential for consciousness shifts and profound soul growth. A Solar Eclipse is more far reaching than your average New Moon, as it tends to set the tone for the next 6 months, until the next set of eclipses in November. The Nodes of the Moon are very much brought into focus during Eclipses, which is why there is so much potential for fateful events and soul growth. Eclipse season can signify the beginning of a new chapter. There will be some energetic resonance between this Moon and the Taurus New Moon of 1 May 2003, so it can be useful to look back to what was going on in our lives then, as this Moon may bring a continuation of whatever was going on at that time.
 
The Nodes entered Scorpio and Taurus in January this year and will remain there until July 2023. The South Node, which signifies tendencies to leave behind, is in Scorpio, while the North Node, which signifies tendencies to cultivate, is in Taurus. This is the financial axis, which brings the financial system and economy into focus for the 18 months that the Nodes are in Scorpio and Taurus. Scorpio rules power and powerlessness, and can show how we give our power away to institutions such as banks, money lenders and such like. It represents resources we share with others whom we have put our trust in, such as business and marriage partners.
 
Our collective trust in the financial system has certainly been waning in recent times, not to mention a general feeling of powerlessness and a sense of already having had the rug pulled out from underneath us a few times over the past couple of years! Scorpio has a tendency to bring a considerable amount of drama and intensity, which has been fairly relentless on a collective level in recent times. The Taurus North Node calls us forward to a greater sense of peace, simplicity and serenity, although we will probably have to find this ourselves, as it won’t be handed to us in a silver plate!  
 
Taurus is a very earthy, abundant, fertile sign that helps us to ground and connect to Mother Nature. With the North Node currently in Taurus, we are being encouraged, both personally and collectively, to develop the Taurean traits of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, self-confidence along with the capacity to sustain ourselves and take care of our own needs. We are invited to connect to the earth, developing our green thumb and getting back to where we have come from. Modern society has become so far removed from nature, buying packaged and processed foods from supermarkets with little or no sense of what happens to create the food we eat. We flush our waste down the drain with little understanding of where it goes or what happens to it. We take it for granted that water comes out of the taps and electricity brings light and makes our gadgets work. We have come a long way from our true nature.
 
The Taurus North Node is prompting us to get back to basics and to remember our roots, connecting to the land and delighting in the abundance that is available to us with some hard work, tender loving care and patience. To watch a seed grow into a seedling, then into a plant and then a vegetable is what Taurus is all about. You can’t rush nature and any of us who have a Taurean in our lives know that you can’t rush them either! This is a very patient, grounded, loyal, pragmatic sign that might need to chew the cud for a while before making a big change. There is a stability, practicality and simplicity to this self-sufficient sign that we are being asked to emulate and develop in the next year or so, slowing down and developing a true appreciation for this beautiful, abundant earth that continues to sustain and nourish us. How can we become more self-reliant? Do we have a green space we can cultivate? How can we get more in touch with the earth?
 
Uranus is sitting right next to the Sun and Moon in Taurus, bringing a slightly unpredictable, revolutionary and exciting element to this Eclipse. Change is afoot whenever we see Uranus! While Taurus is that part of us that can tend to cling to the status quo and resist change and progression, Uranus can bring some surprises and unexpected curve-balls that shock us onto an alternate route and force us to see things from a different perspective. It does feel somewhat inevitable, with the planet of innovation, technology and progression travelling through the sign of finance and survival, that some big changes are coming our way in terms of our financial system, bringing up issues around basic survival. While it seems as if the increased use of technology within the financial system is where we are headed, as things stand right now, it is also possible that some of us will come up with some ingenious and alternative solutions that help us to become more self-sufficient and less reliant on the system to sustain us. Back to basics. Back to who we really are.  
 
Uranus is 4 degrees away from the Sun and Moon during this Eclipse, but the Sun will catch up with Uranus on May 5, so we may feel the shocking, liberating, awakening, releasing and revolutionary energy of this erratic planet most strongly in the days between the New Moon and 5 May. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 14° of a sign, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, will be feeling the freeing and unsettling power of Uranus most acutely.
 
Venus, the ruler of Taurus, is currently in spiritual Pisces, reminding us that Taurean activities such as gardening, building, and cooking can nourish us spiritually as much as they sustain us physically and practically. They are essential to our survival and very “ordinary” activities, yet they also involve magic, helping us to connect to something far bigger than ourselves. As the book “The Secret Garden” that many of us read in our childhoods so beautifully depicts, time spent in the garden connecting to nature can be amazingly therapeutic and tremendously healing. When we connect to the earth we connect to spirit, as the two are not separate. In the garden or the forest or by the sea we slow down and attune ourselves to the natural rhythm of the universe. Here we find space, tranquility, connection, peace and grounding.
 
Venus and Jupiter are forming an exact conjunction in spiritual, compassionate Pisces at the time of this New Moon, which feels incredibly auspicious! The goddess of love and beauty joining forces with the King of the Gods and the planet of growth and expansion has to be a good thing! It is a reminder, in these uncertain times, to keep the faith that we are always held by Mother Earth and will somehow be provided for. It is easy to fall into fear when survival issues come up, but fear constricts and blocks the flow of energy whereas faith in energetic flow, trust in providence and gratitude for what we already have can bring abundance and a healthy flow of energy. We tend to get what we focus on, so it is much better to focus on abundance and beauty than dwell on what we fear! Venus represents the capacity to attract what we need, whether it be love or money, and with magnifying Jupiter by her side during this Eclipse we are invited to open ourselves to receiving all the abundance, love and beauty we deserve!
 
Those of us with personal planets or angles around 27° of a sign, especially the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, will feel the expansive, magical, abundant energy of this conjunction most acutely. It can really help us to open our hearts with faith, love, gratitude and trust and to delight in all that this world has to offer! The Sabian symbol for the conjunction is unbelievably appropriate!: “A fertile garden under the full Moon reveals a variety of full-grown vegetables” which Rudyar describes as “The full satisfaction of the individual’s basic needs. The symbol refers to a typical garden, not to a field. Such a garden contains a variety of plants, herbs and vegetables grown specifically to fill an equal variety of human needs and tastes. It is a symbol of ABUNDANCE, an abundance fitted to individualised requirements and wants”. Amazing!
 
Three days before the New Moon, on Wednesday 27 April, Venus will connect with Neptune, just before moving on to Jupiter. This brings such amazing potential for heart-openings and heart-felt connection with others. Neptune is the higher octave of Venus, the planet of unconditional love, while Venus is the goddess of a more earthly, human kind of love. Put them together and we have the potential for such compassion, sensitivity and spiritual connection within our relationships. Not only that, Neptune helps us to put our faith and trust in a loving, abundant universe. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 24° Pisces will feel the energy of this beautiful pairing most acutely, especially the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.
 
Pluto is also helping out during this Moon, forming supportive aspects to the Venus/Jupiter conjunction and also Mercury, the planet of mind and communication. Pluto and Venus help us to dig a bit deeper in our relationships, revealing more of ourselves and exposing our tender underbellies, which can bring us closer and create more intimacy. It can also help us to empower ourselves financially and instill a greater sense of self-worth. It feels good to have the planet of soul, power and transformation supporting the Venus Jupiter conjunction on an Eclipse, that’s for sure! Pluto and Mercury will exactly trine one another on 28 April, helping us to dig deeper and penetrate to the heart of the matter in our communication and thinking. Pluto and Mercury do not bring superficial conversations, that’s for sure, but rather they bring about some deep thinking and a desire to really get to the bottom of the matter.
 
The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon/Eclipse, at 11° Taurus, is: “ A woman watering flowers in her garden”. The keyword for this symbol is CULTIVATION. This symbol also feels incredibly appropriate, given the overall feeling of this Moon which combines the earthy, nature-oriented Taurus with the magic, sensitivity and spirituality of Pisces. It evokes a lovely image of a woman patiently tending to her garden and responding to its needs, and as she does so she is rewarded with peace, serenity, beauty, tranquility and a sense of spiritual connection. There truly is magic in the garden! This symbol can certainly be taken literally, as we are all currently being encouraged to get into our gardens and connect to nature. Keeping a garden requires some hard graft, patience and the need to make sure the weeds don’t take over! However, we are rewarded in kind. This symbol can also be seen as a metaphor, however, reminding us to take care of our own needs and nourish both our spirit and our physical body. This symbol reminds us of the rewards we may receive when we “tend to our garden” with love and tenderness.     
 
This could be a powerfully potent Moon for setting positive intentions. We are invited to really, truly develop our faith and trust in an abundant, loving universe. We are being called back to ourselves, back to our origins, back to basics. All we actually need, when it really comes down to it, is food, water and shelter. And loving connection with our fellow humans. Everything else is an added bonus or an unnecessary distraction. Life has become much more complicated in recent times, as technology and the “conveniences” of modern culture take their toll on the human psyche. This Moon calls for us to contemplate what truly nourishes us and what we really, truly need for ourselves. We are encouraged to delight in cooking a delicious meal for our loved ones, to bury our bare feet in the grass, to tend to a seedling or plant, to listen to the birds chirping and the wind rustling in the trees and relish feeling the warmth of the sun on our face. This is what Taurus season is all about.
 
“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” – Gertrude Jekyll
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting: New Life by Fiona Jack

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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LIBRA FULL MOON - 16 April 2022

4/13/2022

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Picture
Exact at 7.55pm UK time (BST)
 
This is a potentially potent Full Moon, as it involves a dynamic square from Pluto, the planet of power and transformation. Full Moons always pack a punch, as they tend to release tension and bring to the surface anything that might have been simmering beneath the surface in the week or so beforehand. This Full Moon highlights our relationships, as the Moon is in Libra, the part of us that seeks peace, harmony and equality in relationship, while the Sun is in Aries, the part of us that knows how to take care of our own needs and stand up for ourselves. The key to the Full Moon is to integrate the energy of both signs rather than veering too far in one direction or the other. Libra is a sign of extremes, represented by the scales which can easily tip too far one way or the other. However, it does ultimately want to find a sense of balance and equanimity!
 
Libra is the peace-maker and diplomat of the zodiac and is the part of us that likes to initiate contact with other people. It is the part of us that seeks advice from others and knows how to compromise, cooperate and blend into the team. Libra is the part of us that shies away from conflict and aggression and strives for peace and harmony, although when it goes too far we can find ourselves acquiescing simply because we don’t want to rock the boat and prefer to avoid confrontation. If we go too far with Libra we can fall into people-pleasing while Aries, on the other hand, can help us to be more direct about what we want and don’t want and to say “No” in a healthy way. Too much Aries, however, can lead to only thinking of ourselves and not taking into account the needs of others. Somewhere in the middle lies the answer!
 
Taking the middle ground is also one of Libra’s superpowers, with the ability to see both sides of an argument. This is a quality that is very valuable, especially in this polarised world that we are currently living in. However, this moderate approach can also go too far and can lead to “sitting on the fence” rather than taking a stand. This is where Aries comes in, the sign of the warrior and the part of us that has the courage to take a stand and argue our corner if need be. However, when we blend the two signs in a healthy way we end up with the capacity to bring out into the open whatever needs confronting in a kind, considerate, loving manner, expressing our needs and views in a mature, honest, direct yet healthy way and truly listening to the needs and views of others. We are able to step back and do our best to understand the other side of the story, while still remaining true to ourselves.
 
Pluto in Capricorn is forming a dynamic, challenging square aspect to the Sun and Moon, which brings the potential for having to confront some rather challenging material and to be really honest with ourselves. Pluto is the planet of power, transformation, soul, death, birth and loss - the god of the underworld that forces us to look under the carpet and take a long hard look at whatever we find there. We could find ourselves having a good look in the ugly mirror during this Moon, confronting our shadow self and recognising any unhelpful subconscious behaviour patterns that stem from our old conditioning. We may literally experience some kind of loss, or we may have to somehow face our mortality. Pluto is the literal or metaphorical death, which brings about some kind of deep transformation.
 
With Pluto squaring the relationship axis from Capricorn there could be a really good opportunity to recognise how our conditioning plays out in our relationships in unhealthy or sabotaging ways. It may not be comfortable to see ourselves mirrored by those closest to us, but it could be very helpful indeed, leading to a greater sense of closeness and intimacy. On another level, Pluto in Capricorn could bring about power struggles, both personally and collectively, which could threaten our inner Libran’s need for peace and bring out our inner Aries’ anger! Some dark material could be brought out into the light, as Pluto exposes the rot within the power structures and forces them to be more transparent. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 28° of a sign, will be feeling the impact of powerful, purging, exposing Pluto most acutely, especially the Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
 
Saturn in Aquarius is also a big part of this Moon, as it is forming a helpful, harmonious aspect to the Sun and Moon and is also squaring the Nodal axis. Saturn in aspect to the Sun and Moon can help us to be sensible, patient and realistic when relating to one another, coming from a place of Aquarian friendly detachment, which could be helpful in the face of all this Plutonian intensity. Saturn helps us to see the long view and lay down some solid foundations, which can greatly help our relationships and could also help us on a collective level as we strive for peace and a sense of stability.  
 
With the the Nodes currently in the financial sector, calling for us to find ways of being self-sufficient and minimise the reliance we have on the power structures, corporations and financial institutions, the Saturn square could be calling for us to be utterly realistic and come up with some kind of long-term solution the issues we are facing. Saturn forces us to see things as they really are, minus the rose-tinted spectacles, calling for us to take responsibility for our part in whatever is occurring. As Saturn is currently in Aquarius, we are being called to take our power back and take responsibility for finding solutions to the current problems so that we can become more self-sufficient and less reliant on those in power. Aquarius encourages us to join together and find a greater sense of community spirit, seeking like-minded people and joining forces to help one another out.  
 
On another level, Saturn in Aquarius represents the use of control through technology by those in authority, which could have an impact on the financial system. We are about to head into Eclipse season, which will also bring the financial sector into focus. Anyone with personal planets or angles around 23° will be feeling the heavy, realistic, potentially restrictive energy of Saturn most acutely, especially the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
 
Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is sitting right next to Mercury, the planet of mind and communication, during this Moon, which could certainly help us to come up with some bright ideas and ingenious solutions! However, it could also bring about some kind of curve ball or surprising realisation, or even some shocking news or message. Uranus and Mercury can certainly help us to see things more objectively, from another perspective. Uranus is also in Taurus, the sign that represents money and survival issues, so we could be called to think outside the box in that area of our lives and find ways to feel more financially free. There is the potential for epiphanies and revelations, or shocking news, both personally and collectively, especially for those of us with personal planets and angles around 13° of a sign. The Fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will be feeling the liberating, unsettling, revolutionary and progressive energy of Uranus most acutely. The conjunction will be exact on 17 April, the day after the Full Moon.
 
There is also a lot of Pisces energy around at the moment, with Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all travelling through this sensitive, compassionate and impressionable sign. This certainly provides a welcome antidote to all of the Pluto and Saturn energy! Aries season is somewhat softened by the influence of the Pisces planets; on the one hand helping us to flow with the tide, to truly connect and find compassion in our hearts, while on the other hand bringing a need to “escape” reality somehow, numbing ourselves through drugs, alcohol, novels, television, movies and sleep. Obviously some means of escape are more benign than others! Venus in Pisces can help us to relate to one another in the spirit of unconditional love, compassion, understanding and empathy, truly putting ourselves in the other person’s shoes, which could be very helpful for our relationships. The planet of love is in the sign that helps us to dissolve ego and find heartfelt connection.
 
The Jupiter Neptune conjunction is still going strong during this Moon, having reached its peak on 12 April. While this expansive combination brings open-hearted connection, increased sensitivity and compassion along with the capacity to swim along with the flow of the river, it can also bring a sense of overwhelm, fogginess, the urge to numb or escape, feeling very “open” and vulnerable, victim mentality and a lack of clarity. It also brings the potential for a “fog” to descend in the form of spells, hypnotism, propaganda and smoke and mirrors, whereby nothing is quite as it seems. Neptune brings illusion, delusion and confusion! It can also bring disillusionment and the urge to bury our heads in the sand.
 
Neptune and Pisces also call for us to sacrifice something important for something bigger than ourselves and help us to find faith, hope and trust in these uncertain times. Perhaps we are simply being asked to surrender to what is; to fully let go of control and allow the river to guide us in the right direction. Faith and trust! Easier said than done, as fear can contract us and prevent the flow, while opening our hearts in faith and trust keeps everything open and expansive and allows the flow to happen. When reality becomes hard to bear it is important to make sure we connect to the divine in whatever way is easiest and most natural for us, whether it be through nature, dance, yoga, meditation, art or music. Anything that helps us to find our centre, our bliss and connect to all that is.
 
The Sabian symbol for this Full Moon, at 27° Libra, makes perfect sense in the context of both the Jupiter Neptune conjunction and the Uranus Mercury conjunction: “An airplane sails, high in the clear sky”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “A consciousness able to transcend the conflicts and pressures of the personal life. This picture symbolises the capacity, latent in every individual, to contemplate the stress of existence in our world of duality from a higher level. Through the use of his mind, backed by the efforts and struggles of past generations and the cooperation of other men, the individual can gain a new perspective on human problems and reach freedom and peace in a supernal realm of being. This symbol introduces us to the realm of unity beyond polarity. It is a stage of TRANSCENDENT REALISATION”. All I can say is that I hope so much that we can find unity beyond polarity! We are living in such a polarised world right now, which is both sad and unnecessary.
 
This symbol seems to represent what this Libran Moon is striving for - a sense of peace and equilibrium and the end of duality and polarisation. Libra seeks to find balance between opposing forces, restoring harmony and bringing peace. There is some powerful and heavy energy around during this Moon with Saturn and Pluto being so prominent, not to mention that we are currently in Aries season, which can be quite energetic and enlivening! However, Venus, the ruler of Libra and Mars, the ruler of Aries are both in gentle, spiritual, sensitive Pisces. May peace and love prevail, or may we at least discover a way to find peace in our hearts.
 
“Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away” John Lennon (Libran)
 
Much Love
 
Amy
xoxo
 
Painting - Unknown
 

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    Amy Bird

    I love writing about the Moon and the effect it has on us all, both collectively and personally. We all look at the same Moon and feel her energy, albeit in different ways. It reminds us that we are not alone and there is something very comforting about that!

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