Keep It Simple: Full Moon in Taurus 2019

Grand Tetons National Park; photo by Chad Woodward, July 2019.

Full Moon @ 19 Taurus 52'
November 12, 2019
5:35 AM Los Angeles
8:35 AM New York
1:35 PM London

This month's Full Moon culminates in the tropical sign of Taurus. Most notably, its opposition to Mercury retrograde, suggests we're at the heart of the retrograde storm. And preceding the Full Moon, Mercury's transit across the Sun, brought its conjunction into a more amplified focus. With Mercury playing such a principal role at the moment, it can feel like rapid-fire information is coming from a multitude of directions.

It is more than possible to feel overwhelmed with ideas, options, data, opinions, or activities. Indeed a Full Moon can inherently feel like that, but Mercury retrograde adds something extra. While often frustrating us with detours and breakdowns, Mercury retrograde does offer us valuable reroutes, even if we can't see the benefit initially. Accidents can have a surprising way of enriching our lives.

However, with the hectic stuff in the background, the Full Moon in Taurus directs the whole scene. While it's easy to slide into chaos or get freaked out over complexity, the Taurus Full Moon reminds us that simplicity is not only possible but attainable. Stick to the simple script. Don't push yourself further out, or dig any deeper than you already have.

Despite what you have to do, take a moment with this Full Moon just to breathe things out. Find the simplest way possible to make sense of something massive or complex. Sit in nature, or watch the sky change. Remember the easy stuff, because everything else is already at the forefront. While it might not feel like it, this Full Moon is incredibly grounding, helping us to integrate these changes with ease. Have patience and process one thing at a time.

New Views in the Dark Moon: New Moon in Scorpio 2019

Alias 0591 from the Netherlands [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

New Moon @ 4 degrees Scorpio 25'

October 27, 2019

8:38 PM Los Angeles

11:38 PM New York

October 28, 2019

3:38 AM London

11:38 AM Beijing

2:38 AM Sydney

This month's dark Moon occurs in tropical Scorpio while Mercury stations retrograde. The official start of the retrograde is October 31, while Mercury conjoins Venus. With the New Moon ruler, Mars, in Libra, Mercury, and Venus' approaching conjunction further highlight pivotal relational dialogues. Consider Scorpio the sign of authenticity, and how honesty, vulnerability, and overall realness may be prominent themes of several encounters.

The most striking aspect to this New Moon is Uranus' close opposition. It correlates with a desire to break with convention, usurp the status quo, or the arrival of the unexpected. New Moons, as natural starting points, generate formative momentum. While the collective energy may be lower, new things are starting to take root. With this New Moon, it can be the sudden start of a conversation, dialogue, relationship, or creative project that seeks to change a belief or perception.

While Mercury's retrograde cycles can be points of frustration, correlating with setbacks, delays, or mechanical breakdowns, they also work to break down and restructure our beliefs. Consider the need to keep an open mind, not only under the New Moon itself but especially in the following week. Intense and serendipitous meetups can serve to break down barriers revealing vital insights and information.

Pushing Through Barriers: Full Moon in Libra 2019

Dave Robinson / Sunrise over the fields by Post Office Lane

Full Moon @ 0 Libra 09’

March 20, 2019

6:43 PM Los Angeles

10:43 PM New York

March 21, 2019

1:43 AM London

9:43 AM Beijing

12:43 PM Sydney

This month's Full Moon coincides with the equinox. For northern hemispheric dwellers, spring has begun, while autumn begins in the southern hemisphere. Of course, these transition points are mostly arbitrary. The signs of spring or autumn have already emerged, though equinox points roughly coincide with the phenomena of greater equality between night and day.

In the western astrological tradition, the Sun's ingress into tropical Aries is a symbolic fresh start. Indeed, at least for the northern hemisphere, this feeling is reinforced by the natural world. Around this time, there is often an innate sense of emerging from hibernation. Aries season is a time to take bold, proactive steps, and rush head first into new beginnings. The firey, cardinal archetype of Aries reinforces and sustains existant momentum.

Mercury is retrograde, and a Full Moon is an archetypal culmination, breakthrough, crisis, or resolution. You will feel more empowered to dive deeper into processes that already have some traction. However, critical launches, initiations, or executions may encounter some setbacks or snags, so stay flexible or give yourself more time. Occurring in Libra, this Full Moon can highlight culminations within the context of relational interactions.

While Chiron's opposition to the Full Moon (and conjunction with the Sun) can aggravate, inflame, or magnify sensitive areas within our closest bonds, Chiron can also to transform our perceptions of others. The Full Moon ruler, Venus makes a sextile to Jupiter and square to Mars in Taurus. Mars' square can be a point of conflict or tension, emotionally or sexually, but Jupiter's sextile offers a helpful path for resolution, optimism, and outreach.

Mercury's retrograde conjunction with Neptune, exact on March 24, suggests careful handling of facts, information, or communications the next several days. The risk of obfuscating an understanding or message is particularly substantial. But also, take notice of the synchronistic webs surrounding your interactions and experiences, helping to break down barriers to inspiration, insight, or creativity.