Taurus season is truly the sweetest of them all, in my earthy opinion, and this new moon should prove to be as sweet as the sign she is in. With no planets aspecting the sacred dark moon, she is free to root into the incredible comfort, security, and pleasure of the bull. What a gift to us all!
If I could recommend only one thing for you to do during this sacred moon, it would be to simply make some time to seriously ground and stabilize yourself. It’s been a challenging year for us all: tumultuous and scarring, shocking and jarring, fucked up and terrifying... But this is a moment to catch our breath and sink into what grants us comfort, what makes us feel secure, the simple and small pleasures that remind us how great it is to be alive. This is a moment to connect to our spirituality, to really feel into the blessing that is being supported by a truly magical planet and universe.
I cannot stress enough how important being connected to our spirituality is for our mental health. Even those who accumulate material wealth and/or public recognition will experience lack if they do not fulfill their spiritual needs. Isn’t it incredible too, that if we reversed the situation, one would still hold fulfillment. That is the power of the spirit. Often, rhetoric and spiritual teachings seem to disconnect the spirit from the earth, as if it is above and beyond, but it is a part of this planet as much as it is a part of anything in this universe. I think one of the challenges we must meet in this physical life is the grounding of our spirits into this earth and our bodies.
During this earthy season, and especially during this new and dark moon, we are asked to pay attention to and seek what makes us feel stable, secure, and comforted on this planet and in our bodies. There are many material answers to this question, all of which absolutely have the possibility of granting you some fulfillment and comfort - as long as the spirit comes with it. Taurus is of the earth element, of the material and physical, but this does not mean detached from the spirit. I think it is quite the opposite.
It doesn't require much to prove that there is a deep relationship between the spiritual and the physical. For one, our spirit is within our physical bodies and we connect to the spirit through our natural and physical world. Taurus takes us deeper, wanting us to experience the spirit in everything, to delight in the simplest of pleasures, to take comfort in the bloom of a flower, the rising of bread, the dawn of another day, the brewing of tea, a sweet caress from a loved one... There is powerful magic even in the most mundane aspects of our lives if we simply take them in and hold them for the wonders that they are.
We are sold a lot of lies that tend to distort our relationship to the material world. In our capitalistic culture, material wealth consists of shallow, detached relationships to arbitrary numbers that don’t really support us - they support consumerism. I think a lot of us are waking up to the dynamic and complex ways we can truly find wealth for ourselves. It is within our healing, within kindred connections, within holding gratitude for our earth, and within our relationship to the divine (just a few examples). And instead of manifesting into dollars, we manifest this rapture into activism, art, poetry, wisdom, kindness, generosity, organic and sustainable food, a love of nature, philosophy, prophecy, etc. This is why there has been such a spiritual uprising. This is the return of the divine feminine, of deep and meaningful relationships to our planet, one another, ourselves, our bodies, our emotions, and the spiritual.
Let us take a moment on this glorious new moon to reconnect with this reality. Let us use this energy for creating and establishing a lasting connection to a foundation within ourselves that supports our vision for a fulfilling, just, and grounded future.
Below is the tarot spread I designed to add to your new moon ritual and personalize the interpretation above. I highly recommend grounding and greeting all four elements before you begin to shuffle. This new moon is dripping with sweetness and so should you as you shuffle your cards. This is a very special and important moment for you to return to a place within that is secure, comfortable, and safe. This is a time to pause and to build or tend to our most imperative foundations: those of our mind, heart, spirit, and body. Be sweet and kind to yourself as you ask for guidance and interpret your cards.
I wish you a sweet, safe, and divine new moon.
Laying Sweet Foundations: New Moon in Taurus Spread
April 26, 2017
Foundational and Grounded Mental Strength: What truth can I return to to keep me grounded mentally? What does my mind need to feel stable and secure?
Foundational and Grounded Heart Strength: What keeps me emotionally fulfilled? How can I consistently connect to my emotions and intuition?
Foundational and Grounded Spiritual Strength: What keeps me inspired? What creative foundation can I always return to when I get stuck or off track? How do I refuel my connection to myself and the divine?
Foundational and Grounded Body Strength: What is necessary for my body to feel strong, connected, grounded, and at home? What practice can I always return to to find comfort and security?
Nurture: What do I need to nurture within so that I can keep in strong connection with my foundation?
Comfort: An action I can take to feel nurtured, loved, and supported. A point of peace of mind, body, and soul. Sink into it. Let it nourish and revive you.
Gratitude: How can I practice gratitude daily to keep connected and aligned with my foundations?
Connection: How can I reach out to the divine and others when I am struggling and when I am triumphant?
The Direction Of My Highest Good/A Message From My Higher Self: How can I keep reaching towards my highest good? In which direction should I point my efforts?
PS: I’d be delighted if you shared your interpretation either publically (tag me of course) or privately to continue this discussion. Sending you love and light.
Love,
Cascadian Witch ☾
Here is how my own reading went:
Foundational Grounded Mental Strength: 5 of Wands
It may have been the absolute worst thing for my mental health a few years ago, but today a good challenge does wonders for my mind. It reminds me that I am able to hold my own in the face of a challenge, it teaches me where I can improve, and shows me how far I’ve come. I should be seeking challenges to keep myself in good practice.
Foundational Grounded Heart Strength: The High Priestess
Of course. It is no secret that I keep in best connection with myself and my emotions through my spiritual practice, through diving into the depths of the unconscious and shadows. The more that I am able to honor and listen to the divine within, the stronger my heart will be, the healthier my emotions, and the closer I will remain to my intuition. By nurturing my own desires for the mysterious, I am able to nurture others and encourage their own.
Foundational Grounded Spiritual Strength: The Crone (Hermit)
Along with the High Priestess, I think the divine is trying to tell me that my solo, quiet time is imperative to my centering and grounding. I must regularly come back to myself, dive deep into my own personal study, and learn in my solitude. Self-reflection and deep contemplation are the pillars of my spiritual development and mental health. The wisdom of the Crone is key for the re-charging of my energy and spirit: to return to the dark, return to my cave, find my center and heal. This is something I will try and remember to do when I am with people for more than a day. I must make the time to retreat back into myself, into my internal haven. Though it may not always feel safe, it is always home.
Foundational Grounded Physical Strength: 9 of Swords
As far as this card may seem from the subject of physical strength, it’s message came to me as clear as day. By facing my fears through my physical being on the trail, I am able to practice healing my mind, heart, soul, and body all at the same time. Fear has had a lot to do with my recent absence from the harder, quieter, wilder trails. I get in the habit of getting way too stuck in my head that I seem to leave my body behind and fear takes over. The simultaneous practice of mental and physical strength that happens for me while hiking makes me feel embodied while also strengthening my mental game. It is absolutely necessary to my physical being and grounding. It is also the anxiety, worry, and mental strife that takes its greatest toll on my body. Being mentally healthy and physically healthy requires both working together for me.
Nurture: 7 of Swords
Through nurturing the part of myself that sabotages my attempts and plans to do what I want and be who I wish to become in this life, I am able to heal and reintegrate this part of myself as an ally. I am particularly good at second-guessing myself into stagnancy. This is a habit I probably picked up as a child for protection. If I’m never able to decide on the idea or words I wish to put forth, no one can persecute me for them. By giving this part of myself extra love, I can start to change the mental patterns that allow it to govern my mind into a pattern that trusts my own voice. I must remind this part of myself that I am not afraid to be different or misunderstood. I am much more afraid to continue hiding from who I truly am.
Comfort: 7 of Cups
I have this habit of telling myself that I am not sure what I want. Or I'll want to do too many things at once and then end up doing nothing. I can learn to work with this part of myself instead of fighting it. I think it is an incredible skill to be interested and focused on many things, especially when you can synthesize them together. And this is something I am particularly good at. I should take comfort in this skill of mine instead of seeing it as a detriment.
Gratitude: 3 of Wands
It is important to be grateful for the opportunities I have been given in this life and I'm grateful to be taking necessary steps toward my long-term goals. By reminding myself to be grateful for each step closer, I am able to find greater joy in my work. And what a blessing it is that my long term goals line up with the foundational advice for my mind, heart, soul, and body.
Connection: 8 of Disks
Through developing and sharing my skills as I continue to practice writing, tarot reading, and other mystic skills, I'm forging a connection with others and the divine. My work IS the connection! Which brings me right back to the card before, being grateful that this is the line of work I have chosen. Now, I simply must keep making connections, reaching out to the divine, and keep honing and developing my skills.
Direction: Son (Knight) of Cups
I am meant to keep following my creative ideas. I meant to explore my inner depths to find wisdom, to heal wounds, to create art, to share what I discover with others. I have the ability to blend my intellect and my emotions and this allows me to express myself in a way that others can use, relate to, and learn from. Paraphrasing the description from Motherpeace, I am meant to bring visions to the world as a gift from the deepest part of myself.
This reading has left me with renewed clarity and concrete ideas of how to practice self-care. I realize that if I do not nurture my foundations, I am not able to build a strong and sound structure. Through making sure that I tend to my alone time and spirituality, I am able to keep grounded enough for the practice of challenging myself. I realize that my ‘problems’ need to be nurtured, not fought with. I connect to others and the divine through the very work that I do and I am meant to share my journey. Woah. I feel centered, nurtured, AND grounded. I’m grateful for the soft, determined, and earthy vibes of this new moon and the Taurus season in general.
Blessed be.
