20 April – 21 May
Taurus always reminds me of my first glimpses of the English countryside; those verdant green meadows with gently rolling hills, edged with thick forests of oak and beech trees. Even the sunshine felt softer and the rain more gentle than what I was used to in the stark landscapes and big weather of Australia.
It’s time again for the simple pleasures of Taurus season; to meander through her green hills and rest in dappled shade after the bold adventures in the drier lands of Aries season. Its cooling breath is on our cheeks as Autumn moves into its fullness here in the South, while Northerners enjoy its beauty in spring flowers and gentle showers. Here in Queensland, it’s a welcome break from the humidity and a time to really enjoy the great outdoors.
I wish I could say it will all be ease, especially with ruler Venus exalted in enchanted Pisces, but she’s ponderously moving her way forwards again and still in harsh company with Saturn and the North Node, yet to shake their heavy hands off her shoulders. The image I have is a Queen recovering in her sick bed, she’s still the leader but her power is limited while still weakened from illness and trying to discern between fever dreams and reality.
While throwing off the battle armour of Aries season is tempting, you may wish to stay prepared as the early part of Taurus season requires a steady hand and calm mind. On 21 April, as the Moon moves into its last quarter phase in Aquarius, there will be an irritable square between the Sun in Taurus and Mars newly returned to Leo, causing us to relive tensions last felt in mid-October and mid-January and also highlight challenges felt into next week as Mars approaches Pluto. That same day there is a significant meeting as Saturn conjuncts the North Node. Your confidence or urge to shine meets backlash or antagonism from others, but the suggestion is to keep the long game in mind and turn to elders who hold more wisdom than the trolls under the bridge. If criticism is valid, you’d do well to take it on board, but only from people who are respected and trusted, mostly by you.
The weekend from 24 to 27 April is another time to stay calm and carry on. Mars in Leo opposes Pluto in Aquarius with both luminaries adding their spotlights to this tense meeting. Hidden agendas surface and power dynamics heat up, as serious groupthink faces off against individual urges. While the impulse is to act from your heart’s desires, you’ll achieve better results when you think things through and then choose the adjustment bringing fair and far-reaching change.
The Moon in Pisces (23-25 April) lights Venus’s way as she moves past the harsh restrictions of Saturn and the hungers of the North Node for the final time. Tightly held grips of authoritarian structures may feature largely on the world landscape, while on a personal level you’ll need to balance urges for pleasure with mental discipline and temper escape with responsibilities. Done well, you’ll get the best of both worlds.
Then on Sunday 27 April, against the backdrop of a tired-but-wired Aries Balsamic Moon, the screws will be tightest on the Mars-Pluto opposition. Tension that’s been simmering under the surface may burst forth and small arguments blown out of proportion. Lance the boil or purge the unwanted while also controlling the removal to minimise the damage. With Pluto about to retrograde (4 May – 13 Oct), those with planets in the early degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will feel the pressure most.
After all that heat and drama, the Taurus New Moon on Monday 28th feels a calming reset. Ruled by Venus in Pisces as she drifts towards the border of Aries and Neptune’s new home, this New Moon carries an energy to manifest imaginative yet tangible beauty, boundless love and the magic of what’s possible when you stand still.
Venus’s crossing back into Aries feels potent as it happens on the fire festival of Beltane (1 May). This time she enters Aries as Lucifer (morning star) and she’s more confident in her ability to fight for what she values. For those familiar with The Handmaid’s Tale, Mayday is the name of the resistance group the imprisoned women form to fight back against the cruel theocracy. It makes me wonder how women worldwide may rise in resistance under this feisty version of Venus.
From here, the rest of the month stabilises into Taurus serenity. Celebrate your body, revel in the natural world and indulge your senses in your favourite treats. Mercury joins the Sun in Taurus (10 May) anchoring our minds towards the practical yet beautiful. An initial square to Pluto on 13 May may unearth some final messages from late April or simply unearth fears that need facing. A final meeting between the Sun and Uranus in Taurus on 18 May is our last chance to scoop up insights or nudges towards freedom and authenticity in this area of our lives. The Sun and Uranus won’t meet in Taurus again for another 78 years, so listen to its call to make adjustments or soothe any friction that shows you where you’re not living aligned with your values.