Taurus
New Moon/Partial Solar Eclipse: Opening
the Beltane Book of Shadows
Moon
conjunct Sun – 4/30/22 @ 3:28pm CDT
On
Beltane Eve, Moon joins Sun to open the Eclipse Cauldron for this seasonal
Cross-Quarter Holy Week. If your local
weather allows, let your Maypole ribbons…and your bodies…dance. Or dance in the rain, or indoors. I know I’m not the only one with the urge to
dance right now. If you listen closely,
you can hear it in the Music of the Spheres.
 |
| Maypole art installation by Kristi Malakoff |
Toward
the end of this Saros cycle (Saros 119, which first opened in 850 CE), this is
a moderate partial eclipse of the Sun.
Moon will obscure 64% of the Sun for those in the South Pacific and
western South America who will be in the direct path of viewing. But moderate and partial as it is, and unseen
as it is for many of us, this Eclipse holds both subtle and earth-shaking
vibrations to start off Eclipse Season.
Whether
you reside on this eclipse’s path or not, you will feel in your bones the ground-breaking
energy within this Eclipse Cauldron Initiation.
And it will be even more potent if you have planets or angles in aspect
to the 11th degree of Taurus, where our luminaries meet for this
Initiation.
The
Uranian Effect
The
usual Taurus rhythm may feel a little off beat…certainly off the beaten path…as
our luminaries are conjunct Uranus, planet of Innovations and Awakenings. Reliable as the Tao of Taurus often is, the
Uranian vibrations have been keeping us on our toes for sudden changes to our
Earthdance. But our embodied Taurus earth
receives it all, allowing it to unfold.
Still,
this is an eclipse…when change is often accelerated, and multiple timelines
converge to form new pathways. And since
this is a North Lunar Node Eclipse, the whole point is to take in new lessons that
are outside the usual comfort zone. The
energy may be buzzing, and even a bit jarring to some, as the first ingredients
are poured and stirred into this Cauldron. Maintaining a well-grounded conduit
of your physical body will keep the energy moving through you instead of getting
stuck in your head and your nerves.
Guided
by Venus
Even
with the rather quirky vibes of Uranus traveling through this sign, Taurus is always
guided by Venus. In fact, the Venusian
elements of this lunation are very strong.
Venus directs the Taurus Eclipse Initiation from 27 degrees of Pisces,
her exaltation degree, while in partile conjunction (near exact) with Jupiter…who
guides Pisces. Essentially, Venus has an
abundance of support for what she is brewing in this Taurus Eclipse
Cauldron.
Art by Emily Balivet
What
are the aims of an exalted morning star Venus in Pisces conjunct Jupiter and
Neptune, and sextile Capricorn Pluto stationing retrograde? She wants deep dives into the uncharted
realms of intimacy, exploration of our core values, heightened attention to sensory
reception (especially interoception, the inner feelings of the body) as well as
extrasensory perception, and a penetrating look into the many shadow facets of our
desires around beauty, love, and relationships.
Eros
(asteroid 433) is closely conjunct our luminaries at the start of this lunar
cycle, doubling down on the theme of needing to let love into this Eclipse
Cauldron. As we know from their mythic
storyline, Eros (Cupid) is the son of Aphrodite (Venus), and he carries out the
Venusian work of who falls in love with whom by the arrows from his bow. As a more personal inclination to this larger
Eclipse story, many of us may feel a bit more lovestruck than usual. There is certainly a stream of ‘love potion’
swirling in the cauldron for those who are open and, most importantly, aligned
to it. But, with all eclipses, the
shadow elements of what comes through for you will also need to be addressed.
With
such a strong Pisces Stellium working in their mystical magic to this eclipse,
we may be addressing the shadows of our dreams and fantasies surrounding any
number of Venusian themes (including, but not limited to: love, beauty, art, value, worth, and money). If you’ve found yourself getting too carried
away with the ‘sweet escapes’ of this Pisces Stellium, there may be some
reality checks in store for you at this time.
If you’ve found yourself more inclined toward resistance (by your own
volition or not), you may find an opening into the abundant blessings through
addressing what has been holding you back from receiving. Whatever you may experience in this Venusian
opening of Eclipse Season, you’ll likely feel that your values are changing at
an accelerated rate. Uncomfortable as
that can be for some, it is all part of the process as we lead up to the total
lunar eclipse in Scorpio in the middle of May.
The Mars
Opportunity
The
Taurus Stellium of Moon-Sun-Uranus is in a beneficial sextile with Mars in
Pisces, establishing a good rapport with the “Planet of Drive” to take action
on subtle opportunities in our field. And
if we should need to sever some ties to old patterns during this eclipse
season, Mars will provide the courage for that.
Sometimes we just have no room to explore the new experience wanting to
come in if we’re dragging around the past.
And Mars is good at cutting away what holds us back.
The
Mars in Pisces energy of this lunation is generally softer than the usual
sharpness of Mars. This is more ‘Spiritual
Warrior’ energy than the type of warrish conquests our human race has so
venerated for ages. Yet, the energy may
be even more useful for addressing the shadows that arise with this eclipse.
Moon
and Sun in Taurus 11
Sabian
Symbol: ‘a woman watering flowers in her
garden’
art by Vickie Wade
Sometimes
even the simplest, mundane acts…when done with love…contribute to growth. The luminaries highlighting this symbol bring
up the idea of cultivating beauty in our world.
It is a nod to the blessings of reciprocal appreciation between humans
and Mother Earth. Water the seed of this
New Moon with love, and it can grow into something beautiful.
Love
and Gratitude,
Felina
Lune Kavi
