The Moon has spent the last two weeks waning in light, ebbing further and further from her place of maximum illumination as she begins to return to her heavenly consort, the Sun. Along the way, we have been able to rest, reap the rewards of the previous growth during the last new moon cycle, and prepare ourselves for the new lunar cycle which is fast approaching.

Each new moon gives us an opportunity for rebirth and renewal. As the Moon purges and cleanses herself of the energies and tendencies of the previous lunar cycle, we can all be reborn as well.

For this reason, wise people throughout all ages have used new moons as a time for purifying the psyche of unwanted old habits, setting new, uplifting intentions for the next cycle, and reinvigorating ourselves with enthusiasm for life. The optimism and excitement of new beginnings can permeate our entire being so long as we let it.

This new moon occurs on May 19th at 11:52 am eastern time in the sign of Taurus, the nocturnal, fixed earth sign of Venus. When it occurs, we will all have a very special opportunity here to be reborn alongside the Moon. Magically speaking, the freshly regenerated Moon functions as a fallow field – an empty bed rife with possibility and potential. Old patterns and alignments become cleared and new ones are ready to take their place.

Taurus is traditionally associated with fertility, growth, and prosperity. Occupying the center of springtime, Taus carries strong associations with nourishment, the increase of light and warmth, and nurturing life. It is a wholly good, pleasant, abundant sign. Though not indicative of financial abundance per see, it does signify more tangible, physical kinds of abundance - having ample amounts of food and nourishment, surrounded by the resources you need without a hint of scarcity.

Taurus is ruled by Venus, the Goddess of love, beauty, and material good fortune. Within Taurus, we understand Venus’ role as the fertile Earth Goddess, the conferrer of material abundance and bestower of physical fortune. Taurus is Venus’ epicurean garden - a place where we can revel in all the pleasures and delights that the material world has to offer - good food and drink, beautiful artwork, pristine gardens, lovemaking and procreation, and earthy opulence of all kinds.

Being such a benefic sign, it should come as no surprise that the Moon, the queen of the heavens, has her exaltation in Taurus. In astrology, the Moon serves the role of the divine, celestial mother - she is responsible for meeting physical and emotional needs and ensuring that people are situated within contexts and environments that are supportive. In the fertile, materially abundant, luxurious sign of Taurus, the Moon has ample resources and assets with which she can perform her maternal, nurturing duties.

The astrological significations of the Moon in Taurus indicate being physically provided for, finding and maintaining stability in life, and always having what you need. Natally, people with a Taurus Moon often find that they don’t have to travel far to find physical support. They are often born into materially fortunate environments and experience more stability in home life even if financial means are stretched thin.

When the new Moon occurs in the sign of Taurus, we have the opportunity to attract more of the material support and good fortune that we want from life. We can set new intentions that set us up for stable growth and receive more material support in our lives. As a fixed sign, this new Moon is especially good for long-term planning and intentions - you can use this new moon to set yourself up for long-term material, physical success, and growth.

Magically speaking, this new Moon is a good period for setting new intentions for abundance, wealth, and material good fortune. This is a good time for spellwork and spellcasting that creates long-term structures in your life that bring more material stability and beauty into your life. Call on your favorite astral denizens, nature spirits, or other magical allies to help you create a more fecund, fruitful life.

How can you make your life into your own personal epicurean garden through this next year? What grounded intentions can you set, what lifestyle changes can you implement, that ensure you begin turning your life more fully into a grounded personal paradise?

The Moon’s ruler, Venus, is in Cancer forming a sextile to the Moon. This is a positive aspect, as well as a mutual reception. It ensures a lot of long-term success from any intentions or spellwork that we may focus on during this period. Venus’ sextile also indicates that friendship and support from other people and friends will come more easily as you follow through with your intentions.

Besides Venus’ sextile, there is another sextile from Mars which occurs within a degree of the new Moon placement. Soft aspects from malefic like this generally indicate surmountable challenges. Stressors and conflict can arise that obstruct your intentions and agenda. You may find the enactment of your desires to be stressful. However, the fact that Mars is weak in Cancer and ruled by the Moon, as well as the fact that the Moon is in the superior position, guarantees that you will overcome these issues without too much stress.

As always, examine the house in which the Moon conjoins the Sun. If you’re Taurus rising, it will be your 1st house of self. If Aries rising, then is in your 2nd house of resources. This will tell you where to expect the most developments in your life to occur during this upcoming lunar cycle.

-Merlin