The New Moon in Taurus occurs at 19:29 (UT) on the 6th May 2016 at 16°Ta41′ D
Mercury retrograde gently tickled with me a trick today. He’s such a tease in Taurus. I turned up for my chiropractic appointment only to find the place closed with ‘wet paint’ signs outside. It turned out that I’d been booked in for tomorrow but my appointment card said today – a minor mix up. If I could wait an hour, I could have treatment anyway so I crossed the road and entered the woodland park opposite, breathing in the heady scent of spring blossom and revelling in the sunshine. I kicked off my shoes, leaned back against an old sycamore and waited for my freckles to come out to play.
And this is much like the New Moon in Taurus which is languishing in a sumptuous Grand Earth Trine with Jupiter retrograde in Virgo and Pluto retrograde in Capricorn. The Moon is also conjunct retrograde Mercury, reminding us to go back and touch the earth, get grounded, wait, rest, take your time – just feel the rhythm of Mother Nature beneath your feet. All these retrogrades are drawing you inwards to find your core self. Indulge your senses to re-connect you to your physical body. Taurus is ruled by Venus who is strong now in her own sign and also trine to Jupiter and sextile to Neptune. Physical comfort brings spiritual pleasure with these aspects. Be at ease with the flesh. Run your fingers across your skin. See yourself as a lover would see you. Venus trine Jupiter is heart expanding. Paint yourself nude, cover yourself with petals, eat your favourite food and savour every bite. Remember your body is a miracle of life.
New Moon in Taurus May 2016 – Chart

Just because we have all these retrogrades doesn’t mean you cannot plant seeds of intention during this Moon. What you begin now however may be slow to grow. Patience and a methodical approach are hallmark signs of Taurus. The trick is to be in it for the long run, to understand that if it’s important, it’s worth spending time, effort or money on – and maybe all three. Use all of the resources at your disposal to increase your self worth as well as your bank balance. With Mercury, Jupiter and Pluto all connected, insights you have now have the potential to be life changing in the future. Grow your power.
The shadow side to Taurus is that this sign can get stuck. The fear of being uncomfortable can leave Taurus wallowing in the mud, unwilling to take a risk to get things moving again. Issues with authorities, responsibilities and commitments may be like a thorn in the side for some as the New Moon is quincunx Saturn retrograde in Sagittarius. Being too cautious can bring things to a grinding halt. As grand master of time, Saturn re-iterates that Rome wasn’t built in a day but it’s necessary to put one step in front of the other. Keep moving relentlessly towards your goals but don’t forget time off for good behaviour!
The Sabian symbol for this lunation is :-
A Symbolical Battle Between “Swords” And “Torches”
The sword is a symbol of battle, the torch is a symbol of light. In the tarot, swords (air) relate to the thinking function, wands (fire) to the spiritual and creative functions. The Sabian therefore brings up issues connected to heart versus head. The powerful, raw, earthiness of this Moon suggests that we can deflect these internal arguments by tuning in to the body. In the wider world, the combination of symbol and aspects feels like it’s a giant cry from Mother Earth ‘stop fighting over me!’. We can choose to fight the way ahead or light the way ahead.
Take your cue from this fertile and creative Moon. The Grand Earth trine shows that the world is abundant. The quincunx to Saturn is the sticking point. Change the system and we empower all of Earth’s inhabitants. Choose well where you spend your money, what you invest in and what you believe. You can make a fundamental difference to the world we live in. Lay down your sword and carry the torch.
Your last bit of first paragraph is So sweet! Exactly how we should handle the retrograde experience.
My freckles want to come out to play too! Lol love it!
Thank you Leah for writing ‘words of wisdom’ – always uplifting to read your
columns. You’re right on! I threw ‘tarot’ this morning and came up ‘wands
and swords’ : ‘heart vs. head’. I am torn about where to live; stay put or move
near family. All fits with Taurus ‘New Moon’ on I.C. (natal). The challenge is ‘coins’; guess we could all use a few more of those, to make life easier.
Mercury got me several times already. I thought I had lost my nightguard for my teeth and it was in the case the whole time. haha…….I don’t think most Americans have the ability to focus on anything long term. The media and our lifestyle has conditioned us to seek the quick fix and immediate gratification for almost everything. It’s a shame but we cannot help most of those people. Their behavior has become compulsive which means they love it even though they hate it.
What are the odds!!?? This new moon match perfectly with my solar return chart!