Today marks the New Moon in Taurus, a time when the Sun and Moon align with one another at the exact same degree in the sign of the Bull. For me, Taurus season always opens with my maternal grandmother's birthday, for she was born on the 1st day of this celebrated time. A woman who embodied the calm steadiness of the bull for whom this sign is named, her love for me was as steadfast as one could imagine, and then some. The constancy of her support was so strong that, even years after her passing, I know this feeling in my being clear as day. And so Taurus is -- steady, solid, reliable.

The first of the earth signs and a fixed one, it reminds us that we, too, have the capacity to be as constant as the earth itself, wherever we choose to place this energy. If we place it with awareness and intention over and again, the day-to-day rhythms of making aspirations a reality will guide us where we need to go. The steadfastness will move us seamlessly forward. When we plant seeds, whether they're flowers, food, medicine, or all of the above, we place our intentions into the earth for them to sprout and grow. We get our hands dirty, showing a willingness to be a part of the process and to be nourished by it since the earth is inherently nourishing. We water what we've sown, showing up with constancy in the process of growth and sustenance of life, learning how to do this even when we don't feel up for it. We eventually harvest what we were a part of bringing forth, enjoying the fruits of our labors, and likely more so because we were active participants in the whole cycle. What is left over we compost, allowing the Earth to work its magic again, turning waste into useful material that will help yield more in the years to come. And the cycle begins again!

Taurus seeks and undoubtedly needs what is simple, looking to the little things in life that bring a moment of serenity. Have you ever drunk a cup of tea or coffee that seemed like the best thing you've ever tasted? Or had the best piece of (insert your favorite food) you've ever eaten, it melting in your mouth in a heavenly kind of way, one in which you didn't even need more? Have you ever closed your eyes while listening to the most beautiful song you've ever heard, perhaps a tear rolling down your face? Have you ever stood with your bare feet on the earth, the sun shining on your exposed skin, delighting in the simplicity of this silent reverie? Have you ever smelled the most majestic scent you could imagine, being drawn into the moment with overwhelming feeling and presence? If you know what I'm talking about in any of these examples, hen you know the power of Taurus in your own embodied experience. And that is exactly what this sign wants us to know:: how to turn to our senses, trusting their wisdom, and letting them guide us into a communion with life.

What Evolutionary Astrology teaches us about the Bull is that it is here to learn how to calm down, feel comfortable in one's own skin and thus experience, and to trust the body and one's natural instincts. Doing this brings peace and presence, calm and tranquility. Not doing this disconnects us from the very bodies we're inhabiting, only able to reside in a part of ourselves, but not all of them. For example, I know what it's like to push through hunger. To know my body is in needing of sustenance that comes in the form of healthy food, yet to keep working anyway, simply because I can. But as one of my philosophy teachers Douglas Brooks reminds, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Sound advice in many regards, and certainly for this small but perhaps not-so-small example. For in learning to turn off the body's inherent wisdom, it becomes easier to live from a state of separation, one that our modern world has become quite good at. "Mind over matter" could well be considered the antithesis of Taurean sentiment, for the matter that we're embodying is infused with intelligence that reminds us of how to live well. And by "well," I don't mean having everything we want, but by living in a way that recognizes the importance of caring for the skin we're in, the bodies we're in, the mind's we're in (though hopefully not too much!), and the spirits we're carrying around, or however you'd like to frame that one. And hopefully the connection is clear:: when we care for our own physicality, we understand the importance of caring for all of the physical world, most importantly the Earth that is and has been supporting us for eons.

Because Taurus is ruled by (has an affinity for) Venus, and her yogic counterpart is Lakshmi, I always connect with her energy of abundance, unwavering embrace, and flowering presence at this time of year. She, like the Earth, gives us so much and is always there when we need her support. Lakshmi makes bountiful offerings to those who call upon her, reminding us of just how supported we are when we tap into this remembrance. And yet she also reminds us that hers is a cycle of giving and receiving (she goes with Libra too, and the energy of reciprocity), that giving back and making offerings from our hearts goes further than we think and in more than just material ways. Making an offering to the earth by planting seeds, making decisions that support its regeneration, and actively choosing to give to organizations that promote the well-being of the Earth are just a few ways we can make offerings to the planet whose support is always there. And we're being called to this kind of engagement with life perhaps more than ever before.

The planet Uranus is very close to this New Moon, only 3 degrees away, but I'll take my leave now to go spend some time outside. If you're interested in that discussion, you might consider joining my Cosmically Aligned group! In the meantime, may you return to your senses and natural state of serenity this Taurus Season, sipping on elixirs that light up your being, taking nature walks that remind you of your connection with all of life, gazing into the universes held within a single flower, breathing calmly while seated on your meditation cushion. For you are all of that too. And may you choose to offer back in the ways that feel most authentic and resonant with you, for you are an important part in the web of life, and only you can choose what that means and how to bring a little of the Bull's wisdom to life in your own.