Petroglyphs at Parowan Gap, Utah, August 2017; photo by Chad Woodward.
Full Moon @ 11 Taurus 59'
November 3, 2017
10:23 PM Los Angeles
November 4, 2017
1:23 AM New York
7:23 AM London
10:23 AM Dubai
12:23 PM Beijing
3:23 PM Sydney
6:23 PM Auckland
This Full Moon in tropical Taurus is a solid grounding point in the collective psyche. It brings stability and closure to several processes we’ve been dealing with over the last month, but it isn’t devoid of tension. The Full Moon ruler, Venus, opposes Uranus, the changemaker, liberator, and revolutionary. That throws some relationship tensity into the current drama, but Venus’ superior position makes for constructive, positive changes and creative/artistic breakthroughs.
The last two lunations occurred in cardinal signs, each emphasizing dynamic, catalyzing events and actions. If you’re a bit exhausted from the changes, adjustments, and turbulence of the past two lunations, this Full Moon can feel like a welcome relief for many of us. That’s because Taurus is a fixed, earth sign. Its energy is sustaining, underscoring consistency, peace, and repose. A Full Moon by its very nature is inherently tense. The opposition of Sun and Moon represents the reconciliation of opposites and the death/decay of the past.
The dichotomy of Moon in Taurus and Sun in Scorpio highlights the tension between simplicity and complexity. One good example of this is the human body which reflects all natural products of evolution. At first glance, the needs of the human body are rather simple: eat good, whole food, get some exercise and sunlight, sleep, and engage intimately with others. Simple enough.
Looking deeper at the biological complexity when all of these things are broken down or put through a microscope astounds the mind. The complexity of the nutrients, minerals, proteins, and amino acids required for our food; the neurotransmitters released during positive/negative social interactions and their impact on our nervous system; the need for acute stressors that challenge our vital organs and nervous system to keep our body fit, etc. Taurus isn’t concerned with what goes on behind the scenes. What you see is what you get.
There is profound wisdom in that Taurean attitude. When we’re overwhelmed with life as it is, we don’t need to analyze the biological constituents of our dinner salad meticulously. Taurus says: “Eat the salad and go to sleep.” The body takes care of the rest. There are autonomic processes that just do what they do without us thinking about it. Scorpio is aware that sometimes that isn’t true. Sometimes when we just take life at face value, we’re oblivious to unknown factors that could lead to unneeded harm or stress.
Scorpio wants to know what’s under the hood, what makes things work, and what dangers might lie in the darkness. With this Full Moon, there’s a need to balance both of these desires in our personal lives. Where do we just need to shut up and eat the salad, and where do we need to probe deeper to unveil the blind spots. There can be a healthy balance between the two. Jupiter's Scorpio transit over the next year will help us see under the hood with a lot more clarity. Consider what you’ve been trying to “get to the bottom of” in your own life, and notice how you might be getting closer to the truth.
Jupiter’s opposition from Scorpio and the Full Moon’s applying trine to Pluto suggests taking it easy, and you’ll be led to the answers and the deeper awareness you seek. Don’t feel the need to plunge in and make anything happen with this Full Moon. Take some time to rest, find your still point, and let nature take care of the rest. The New Moon in Scorpio (Nov. 18) is a natural starting point for beginning to heal, recover, and uncover. Take a more significant risk in just two weeks, but for now, trust the flow and see what happens.
Life feels overwhelming when faced with things outside of your control. Understanding yourself is key to finding your power and place in the world. While you can't control fate or the chaos of life, your destiny belongs to you, something you can always strive for to gain command of your life path. Evolutionary Astrology can help.