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TAURUS
NEW MOON
May
18 & 19, 2004
9:52 pm PDT
(5/18)
12:52 am EDT (5/19)
Sun
and Moon joined at
28.33 Taurus
<<
"The Goddess" mandala by Novella Maia -- click on image
for larger view
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| Sabian
Symbol:
"Two garrulous old cobblers work seated on an old bench." |
| What
does listening to the zodiac do for us at each moon cycle?
It attunes us to the yet living quality of this ancient
rhythm. It sharpens our senses to new ways to bring
ourselves forth. It puts us on the alert -- as an
animal living in the wild -- to something new in the air... |
Taurus
New Moon 'Scope
by Dana Gerhardt
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What’s
in the sky this cycle?
No one alive today has seen
this sight, and it happens only twice this century. For
the first time since 1882, Venus will glide across
(transit) the face of the Sun on June 8, 2004,
taking a little more than 6 hours to complete its journey.
The entire transit is visible from Europe, Africa (except
the far west), the Middle East, and Asia (except the far
east). For observers in eastern and central North America,
the Sun rises with the transit in progress. From:
Sky and Telescope (http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/article_1021_1.asp)
Transits of Venus are rare,
occurring only four times every 243 years. During the
last transit of Venus in 1882, astronomer William Harkness
mused on the future one, "when the June flowers are
blooming in 2004. What will be the state of science when
the next transit season arrives, God only knows. Not even
our children’s children will live to take part in the
astronomy of that day." For Harkness, viewing the
Venus transit meant a four-month journey by sea to Tasmania,
then another three months of preparation positioning his
instruments. On the day of the transit, he was helpless
when clouds covered the Sun. What a difference 121.5 years
makes! In the 21st century, things have indeed
changed. Now we all can watch the Venus transit—live online!
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/2004/index_vthome.htm
Astronomers study planetary
positions; astrologers study their resonance on earth.
What does this rare view of Venus mean?
Venus symbolizes beauty and grace; happiness and worldly
pleasures; harmonious relationships and peace. Perhaps
like goddesses who flew down to ancient battlefields,
ministering to their favorite heroes, Venus appears to
us now with a healing intent. Perhaps she knows
how dearly we need all of her gifts. Clear a space for
Venus—literally, as in creating a small altar, or figuratively,
by turning your thoughts in her direction. You will discover
for yourself what this transit means!
|
Eclipses
are often turbulent and productive. They pull the covers
off our bed and wake us up. Sometimes they shake loose dark
truths that can’t hide any longer—as when last month’s eclipses
brought the shocking images at Abu Ghraib. There are collective
awakenings and personal ones—eclipses will bring both. Last
month, what truths were suddenly revealed in your own life?
Perhaps you got a message—whispered or shouted (depending on
how sensitive the gods judged your ears). The question this
New Moon is: What are you going to do with this new information?
The
Taurus New Moon is the time to take these seeds into your
garden and make sure that something good grows from them. Taurus
is the strongest and most fertile sign of the zodiac. It’s the
best month to stabilize your future harvest. Develop what was
initiated during the last two Aries moon cycles. Focus it, give
it form, settle in. The Sun will shortly move into Gemini—which
means for most of this lunar cycle, you will be gathering information
and branching out. But let this process begin with your feet
planted firmly on the ground. Commit to what most needs to grow.
Ruling
Taurus, Venus is particularly powerful this month.
She turns retrograde the day before the New Moon; she
will be opposing Pluto for most of this cycle. When a
planet goes retrograde, it’s time to go inward. Review and reappraise
Venus themes in your life—look at your relationships, creative
projects, or financial success. Old relationships may reappear
to bring something to completion. Creative projects can also
be reworked and finished now. Pluto’s influence suggests it’s
also important to face your shadow. Have you been kidding yourself
about something? Have you been preaching peace but practicing
the opposite? Have you lost touch with the pleasure of living?
Venus rules earthly joys, love, prosperity, and sensuality.
If you’d like to call more of these qualities into your life,
ritual is a delightful way to let Venus know you want more of
her magic.
"The
invisible world wants to help us," declares visionary activist
and astrologer Caroline Casey, "but spiritual etiquette
requires that we ask." One of the best ways I know to ask
for Venus blessings is the Santeria Venus ritual (described
by Casey in her Making the Gods Work for You.) I make
sure I perform this ritual every year during the Taurus cycle.
I encourage you to do the same!
- It’s
best to perform this ritual on a Friday—which is Venus’
day. You’ll need a round piece of bread, like a dinner
roll. Make a hole in it and put a nickel or
five pennies inside (the number five is sacred to Venus).
- On
a small piece of paper, clearly state your desires.
Fold this paper and put it into the bread, on top of your
nickel. Then pour a little honey on top of that (as
Casey always says, "for obvious symbolic reasons!").
- Finally,
place a small candle in the hole (bigger than a birthday
candle, but smaller than a taper). Casey suggests a yellow
candle, though I’ve found different colors fun to play with.
- Light
the candle. As it is burning, honor Venus: take
a luxurious bath, go shopping, make love. Do something that
makes you feel juicy, beautiful, pampered, prosperous, and
happy. Like attracts like—a delightful like-minded mood
attracts Venus like nothing else!
- When
the candle is completely burned down, so that only melted
wax is on the bread, take it to sweet flowing water—a
stream or a river, but nothing salty like the ocean. Toss
this now ritually potent (and fully bio-degradable) roll
into the water, reciting an invocation, poem, or prayer
of your choice.
- The
goddess will respond to your desires in the coming weeks.
She might fulfill your dreams in miraculous ways. Or she
might play the trickster—revealing a blind spot that still
stands in the way of your desires.
©
2004 Dana Gerhardt
All
rights reserved
Drop into our Mooncircle for May/June 2004:
- The
daily moon sign, phase and aspects...
"At
the New Moon refresh your animal nature, senses awake, happily,
simply aware of being alive..." (Today's
Moon)
- New
Moon Meditation, with Jean: The Ethical Gifts of Taurus.
"Astrology
textbooks often try to link knowledge, wisdom and
ethics to particular signs, houses and planets,
but in reality every one of these has its own wisdom
and way of knowing, and each contributes to character,
morality and ethics. Last month I mentioned the
"shepherding instinct" that seems to arise
naturally in Aries. Let’s consider Taurus now. If
Venus, the planet of love, reaches her exaltation
in Pisces, we must remember that she starts from
Taurus, the fixed Earth sign. If she is self-sacrificing
and mystical in Pisces, in Taurus she is grounded
in worldly existence and bodily truth, the truth
mediated by the physical senses and the sense of the
beautiful......"
(New
Moon Meditations)
- Season
Teachings, with Anna: The Venus Kiss and Natural Art.
"Venus
Kisses happen when She retrogrades, every 18 months, and
Her pattern over an 8 year period forms a 5-pointed star
in the zodiac, (infusing, now, through Gemini, Leo, Scorpio,
Capricorn and Aries.) The cazimi conjunction, however,
happens only twice in approximately 110 years (2 in a row;
this June and again in 2012.) So the powers of Venus toward
harmony, peace, healing and understanding are being infused
into our world at this time, especially through Gemini.
On the personal level, the Venus Kiss brings more creative
potential after a time of evaluation and awakening during
the retrograde phase. A deepening of what we love (our values),
and expression through art naturally evolves..."
Season
Teachings
- Join
us for the Full Moon on June 2.
- And
you're always welcome to take up the Talking Chalice!
This
page is yours. We love to hear from you! (Talking
Circle)
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