The Taurus New Moon: Nourishment, Nurturing and Tending to our Wounds
Working with the new moon energies
On Saturday, May 16th, a New Moon occurs at 21:01 BST at 25 degrees in earthy, sensuous fixed Taurus. It is conjunct both dwarf planet Ceres and Mercury, which is at 28 degrees Taurus and still under the Sun's beams after their conjunction on Wednesday.
Taurus is a feminine sign ruled by Venus, Ceres is a feminine planet, and, of course, the Moon is our feminine luminary. This is particularly interesting because we have not only a regenerated Mercury (planet of mental capacity) but also a reset of Ceres, the Great Mother, and the exalted Moon (our emotional needs), all within a feminine sign, surrounded by the receptive, intuitive, and regenerative nature of the divine feminine! The masculine Sun here is shining its spotlight on our physical needs, material comfort, resources, and productivity, but in this feminine sign, the vibe is slow and steady, gets the job done.
Check out my video here on how to download your free birth chart if you don’t know which house Taurus falls in within your natal chart. This will give you some idea of which life area is under the immediate influence of this New Moon and associated astrology.
On the same day as the new moon, an emboldened, very masculine Mars, empowered in his domicle of Aries, conjuncts the wounded healer Chiron at 28 degrees, with Venus in Gemini in close sextile.
Let's try to unpack how this particular planetary mix might unfold and what it means for you.
This new moon period is giving us the opportunity to slow down, and get grounded (Taurus), to think about our values and relationships (Venus) and take action (Mars) to heal any wounds (Chiron) that are preventing us from being fully resourced in terms of our physical wellbeing and nourishment (Ceres). With a regenerated Mercury holding a powerful influence over the mix, perhaps you feel ready to have the conversation you have been putting off? Mars will give you the courage to do so, while a reborn Mercury will give you the practical communication skills.
For many, the themes may centre on parental figures and could present a potent reset for mother-daughter relationships. Be aware that there is a risk with the strong Mars energy here that you might act impulsively, expressing anger or aggression you regret later.
Consider using a punch bag (or other physical outlets) or writing down your feelings before confronting anyone or any situation. While the anger may be justified and needs to be expressed to be released, it's important to distinguish between healthy assertiveness and unhelpful aggression. Let Venus’s grace, along with Chiron’s wisdom, help you cool down, foster right relationship, and facilitate healing. Even if it’s the end of the road for a particular relationship, and that’s very possible under this sky, the severing need not be ugly.
Earth Mother Ceres
Ceres is a fascinating goddess with a rich mythology and astrological associations. She was worshipped by the Greeks as an earth mother and was the goddess of agriculture, bringing nourishment to the people. However, she is probably best known for her relationship with her daughter Persephone, who was abducted by Pluto and taken into the underworld. The myth surrounding her desperate search and grief for her daughter formed part of the Eleusinian Mysteries initiation rites, performed for thousands of years.
Astrologically, she denotes issues of self-worth, child/parent relationships, grief, work and productivity, and how we meet our needs to give and receive nurturance. We can look at her sign placement in our birth chart to understand what we need from both ourselves and others to feel unconditionally loved, while her natal house will show which life area we most easily give and receive nurturing.
With Ceres conjunct the New Moon in Taurus, themes around stability, nurturing, nourishment, and the ability to provide materially for physical needs, including hugs, may arise. What can you put in motion to ensure that you are able to sustain yourself and your loved ones physically in the coming months and years? Mercury, the god of mercantile activity, teaching and communication, is in a good position to help here, moving into his domicile of Gemini the day after the New Moon, where he will conjunct revolutionary Uranus on Monday, 18th. Expect the unexpected! One word of warning, this is also a good time for conception, so if that’s a possibility and not on your to-do list, you might want to take extra precautions around this time!
New Moon Blessings
Linda 💜
If you’d like to deepen your understanding of how to work practically with astrological energies, my remastered Astro Magic workshop guides you through the fundamentals of reading your birth chart and the meaning of your “Big Three” - your Sun, Moon & Rising placements. Perfect for complete beginners seeking a solid foundation in understanding the birth chart - your cosmic blueprint. Find it here
“Linda is an absolute authority in the field of Astrology with a talent for teaching the subject clearly and with passion.” LPS, Warks, UK