New Moon in Taurus

The second New Moon of May is one of the friendliest of the year  -  with one exception. Although La Luna is at the height of her exaltation in Taurus, where she displays groundedness and sensuality, the degree of this New Moon  -  25°  -  is just one degree away from a conjunction with the “Demon Star,” Algol.

Thus, what seems soft, tender, and embodied has an edge to it, a quiet intensity that cannot be ignored.

In legend, Algol was known as the “Head of Medusa.” The patriarchal version of the story is about a woman whose snake-headed gaze transformed men to stone. She is eventually beheaded by Perseus, who becomes a hero for his supposed bravado.

Yet, there’s more to the story than this -

The deeper fable suggests that Medusa was a sacred priestess  -  one who was violated by the god Poseidon and punished for it. Her story is an ancient one, told many times over, echoing themes of the silencing and misrepresentation of feminine power.

And so, this fixed star represents untamed instinct, raw feminine, primal power. Yes, it can represent the separation of one’s rationality from one’s instinct, which can lead to agitation, reaction, and even chaos.

Yet, when the embodied energy of Taurus is tuned into, we come to realise the wisdom of our physical intelligence. We learn not to silence the sound of our aches, our groans, and our discomfort, but rather to act on it  -  to listen more closely to what the body is saying.

Where in our worlds, right now, is there dis-ease? Where are we reactive, overwhelmed, possibly destructive, or “losing our heads”? What’s the deeper message here?

We have about six months to process whatever is arising at this point  -  that’s how long New Moons take to ripen. Instead of turning against ourselves, how can we reclaim this raw power and use it to  -  gently  -  transform our relationship to our bodies, to our finances, our sense of security, and our relationships? These are the domains of Taurus, the areas of life that are most likely to feel the touch of Algol now.

Fortunately, it’s a Moon that’s beautifully supported by the planets. The sextile to a sensitive, tender Cancerian Jupiter brings abundance, as well as forgiveness, nourishment, and nurturing  on a larger scale. There is softness available here, even within the intensity.

When it comes to love and romance, the sextile between the ruler of Taurus  -  Venus  -  and Mars represents the divine union of masculine and feminine. Forgiveness is entirely possible, as is the ability to work together, whether that’s balancing the polarity within ourselves or within our connections.

Mercury’s proximity in Taurus reminds us that words have weight and power. When we are in right relationship to our bodies, all is in flow. The head and the heart align, restoring what was once lost in the tale of Medusa. Empowerment is ours  -  when we track the body, when we speak our truth, and when we dare to create from that place.