The Taurus Full Moon, November 12 invites us to nourish our sensual nature, to feel ourself part of the earth.
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles
through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft
animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours,
and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
Mary Oliver
Taurus is the earth itself, its soil, flower, root and fruit. It is the care of the earth and the enjoyment and nourishment that the earth provides.
The deep thinking and contemplation of a changing world that is happening as multiple planets move through Scorpio this month - including Mercury in Retrograde - we are encouraged at the Full Moon to keep it real: be present with what is right in front of us, the smell of soup on the stove, the flavors of a meal, the beauty of nature, the sensations of cold or warmth, noticing the patterns of birds in flight, the feel of a comforter against our skin…
There is simplicity and a pragmatism to Taurus. Perhaps there are leaves to still be raked or some task to winterize. Perhaps a closet or a budget needs attention. Taurus is grounding and to reap the benefits of this Full Moon, we give ourselves to activities that ground us.
Earthy Taurus is also about sensuality, fertility and abundance. In paying attention to our physical needs and cares, we become grounded and the soil of the garden of our lives is prepared to grow the next crop of dreams. It is an opportune time to nourish our bodies, to take baths, apply lotion, tinctures or other methods that either pamper or are restorative. Our sexual vitality may surge and we are given to romance, to coupling or our creativity.
Nature itself is the best physician – Hippocrates
The intensity brought on by the Scorpio influences this month has led to serious thought and rising passions. Passion and feeling are born of the water element. Water needs to be held. The earth element of Taurus does this well, just as the earth holds a lake or provides the banks to channel the flow of a river. This is the time strengthen our capacity to hold more of the passion and intensity that comes with dynamic change.
The Full Moon, occurring within a larger movement of intensity and transformation, offers us a time to come home to ourselves. We can put our feet on the earth. We can recognize the abundance of life, color and miracles that greet us each day. We are invited to come in tune with the rhythm of the natural world, feeling ourselves part of the living dance of creation. In human culture, we can readily identify what is lacking or is missing, and take for granted what has been gifted. Rather than wishing life were different, we have an opportunity to embrace the magic of what is readily offered and available.
Planetary aspects to the Full Moon enhance harmony, productivity, and well-being.
Nature is a lot better at creating wonders than we are – Carl Sagan
There is a deep spiritual and creative energy adjoining the Full Moon that gives access to heightened connection, compassion, romance The mundane becomes magical and we can see what was always in front of us, but was somehow hidden from our awareness. (Neptune trine Taurus Moon).
We feel added strength to take action in a pragmatic, assured way (Moon trine Pluto/Saturn). The approaching Saturn/Pluto conjunction promises a breakdown and reformation of rules and structures that define society. We can feel the momentum of these two planetary giants as they occupy the same part of the sky and come closer and closer to conjoining. With the Moon in harmonious aspect to them, emotions are deep but focused. We can feel the powerful shifts of what is happening within and around us, but feel grounded in how we meet and respond to the ups and downs of life.
Mercury’s Influence
Mercury is in the middle of its retrograde cycle. It forms an exact conjunction with the Sun November 11, the day before the Full Moon. This is the Epiphany moment within the retrograde cycle. As our thoughts are turned inward, as we review and gather a better understanding of all we are contemplating, the middle of the cycle is when there can be insight or breakthrough in our understanding. As this coincides with the Full Moon, we may find that solutions or alternate ideas dawn on us as we rake leaves, put on a pot of chili or take a long walk by a stream.
November 11 is also when we can see Mercury crossing over the face of the sun – especially in North America. We will need to fish out our eclipse glasses to look at it. It is a somewhat rare viewing phenomenon. As the Sun is much larger than Mercury, Mercury far from eclipses the sun and will more or less appear like a small black dot over the face of the fiery orb.
As with any Mercury Retrograde, if we can put off making important decisions until it goes direct November 20, we may avoid some of the mischief Mercury can impose. The retrograde is for reflection, review, renewal. If decisions need to be made, let us not make them from a feeling of urgency, but in response to having thought out all the variables. In this way, Mercury can support the decision. Impulse purchases are what is most suspect and chances are that a decision may not be as urgent as we are currently feeling.
So, the Full Moon carries a potential for deep insight while we give ourselves to grounding and care of the earth of our bodies, our homes, our land. As Mercury goes direct on November 20 and we ready for the Sagittarian new Moon on November 26, we will be ready for a fresh start, infused with enhanced connection to our bodies and nature coupled with a deeper insight and perspective that we gained while Mercury was Retrograde.
Coming in January
Experiential Astrology 101 - An in depth workshop
The language of Astrology offers a rich and profound way to understand ourselves, others and our connection to the life around us.
Details are still being worked up for a multi-week, experiential exploration of the basic components of Astrology. If you live in or around the Asheville area, and are interested in participating, please email Liv at livwoodford@livbydesignastrology.com and your schedule preferences will be included in the planning.