The Moon relaxes into Venus’ center

Taurus II: 30 April - May 10 10°00’ - 19°59’ Taurus

The middle way of the fixed signs is about the most centered that the Sun can feel during its year. The quality of light at the beginning of the fixed signs does not change dramatically compared to the end of the sign. Fixed signs are also called “stable bodied” signs as it is their responsibility to sustain the Sun’s light. They have have stabilizing quality to their nature and are less dramatic than their predecessors, the Cardinal signs. This is the time of steadiness, of centering, of finding harmony & the level and the quality of light reflects this stasis.

art by Zane Prater

Taurus II is the middle decan of this Venusian sign. The Moon exalts in the sign of Taurus and the Moon rules this middle Taurus decan, so there is a doubling up of lunar rulership for this time. The Moon doesn’t scream “STABILITY” as described above, but I believe that the secure container of Taurus gives the Moon soft padding, to wander in her rhythm. The Moon is safe here, and so are we.

The High Priestess card in tarot corresponds to The Moon in Astrology. Both the Moon and this High Priestess card show the fluctuations in revealing & concealing ☯︎ The card shown above depicts a sacred person symbolically cloaked in undulating folds of soft blue fabric. On her head is a three phased lunar crown, a crescent moon turned upright at her feet and a scroll in her lap titled “TORA” (meaning “law”) the words within the scroll are only visible if unfurled. She keeps the secrets. She sits in between two pillars, one black & one white, initialed for “Boaz” and “Jachin” , sourced from the Biblical text but representing the extremes that the Moon travels: dark-light-dark-light.The Moon fluctuates the most out of all of the celestial bodies and the changes signs the most frequently. Their realm is called “Fortune”, and if we consider fortune as in luck or circumstance, then it is not always “lucky” in the positive sense. The realm of the Moon changes, is never permanent, the location of the sky is always in flux, the fortune in our charts is always unfolding, unfurling. The pillars show the extreme ends that the moon travels between. And in this middle decan of Venus’ earth temple, Taurus, the moon is held here in a stable, sustainable place.

Vettius Valens calls Taurus the “acquisitive zodiac sign of the cosmos” and the treasure hoarded in this sign can be shared in this decan.

The Heirophant, as the correspondent Major Arcana card for Taurus, is often described as a figure that instructs, reveals secrets, provides keys for knowledge. The Heirophant shares the abundance of wisdom with those who seek.

The Six of Coins & The Heirophant each have two supplicants at their feet as they both offer a share of their riches: coins & keys. The Heirophant, holds one hand up, two fingers raised, two fingers down. In the other hand is holding a triple scepter (religious symbol of the trinity) and both of these gestures represent him to be the connector between the heavens and the earth. The role that the Heirophant plays is a bridge, providing the keys of knowledge to those who seek. Each of the persons depicted at the Heirophant’s feet are at an equal level and show the equanimity of access to knowledge. It is available to all who seek and for those who are respectful (they are positioned below the Heirophant, possibly kneeling)

The Six of Coins character also has one hand with two fingers pointing up and two fingers pointing down, while their other hand is showing a scale. The scale shows the fluctuations of fortune and speaks more to the earthly realm of coins, material wealth. The six coins on the card are not perfectly balanced: three coins are lined on the left, one coin at the top and two coins on the right. The person with three coins above them on the left is the one who is receiving the coins falling out of the main character’s hands. This lucky person, wearing a yellow cloak is the recipient of fortune…this time. The scales, the imbalance of the coins and the fluctuations show the changeability in the lunar realm, the realm of fortune.

“But by the grace of the gods, go I.”

Finally, when we look at the symbol of Taurus, there is the circle of Spirit, with an upturned crescent moon. The “horns” as the lunar crescent, are ready to receive any and all fortune that is cast down upon it.

The fortune of Taurus is the knowing that lunar cycles shift while the Sun remains steady.

It’s right there in the glyph.

Taurus II:

Tarot card: Six of Coins

Taurus II

Planetary Ruler: Venus

Decan Ruler: The Moon

Remember: Decans are a 10 day “week” and at some point during that decan/week if you take the time to honor the things you’re noticing, that is all that is asked of you. Stay calm and keep walking.

Taurus II is benevolent, harmonious, seductive, covetous, fertile, dedicated, discerning, vaulted

Austin Coppock names it “Linga Yoni”

The Golden Dawn titled it “Material Success”

Teucer of Babylon writes “and those in the 2nd decan, uneducated, laborers, wretched persons, losing their inheritance, and having brothers.”

The High Priestess (The Moon) & The Heirophant (Taurus)

Decan Transit:

The Moon will be travel through five signs during this decan: 24°23’ Libra - Scorpio- Sagittarius- Capricorn- 29°01’ Aquarius. While the Sun transits this lunar decan in Taurus, the Moon will make aspects to nearly everything. The Moon moves so quickly and translates the rest of the sky to us on earth so there is so much information that the Moon can bring in a decan. For this reason, I wanted to suggest looking at just two days to watch the moon for decan magic: The Full Moon in Scorpio on 1 May & the last quarter moon on 9 May. These are the loudest touch points between the Sun & the Moon while the Sun is in the Moon’s decan.

Natal Chart Consideration:

In your own chart, look to see if you have any planets or points in 10°00' - 19°59’ Taurus. The Sun will be traveling through & activating these degrees. Also consider if you have your natal Moon in aspect to 10°00’ - 19°59’ Taurus: Moon in Scorpio will oppose the Sun; Moon in Virgo & Capricorn will trine the Sun; Moon in Leo & Aquarius will square the Sun; Moon in Cancer & Pisces will sextile the Sun.

The Full Moon on 1 May the Sun will be at 11°20’ Taurus with the Moon at 11°20’ Scorpio. Pay close attention to any placements that touch this lunar moment. It could be spelling a story that lingers until November.

The full moon will also happen on a sabbat, a cross quarter day of the Wheel of the Year. The Solstices & Equinoxes are the cardinal moments in a year, showing the change in the light and happen when the Sun moves into a cardinal sign. The moments in between a solstice & an equinox, the “cross quarter” days, happen in the middle of the fixed signs. The Sabbat of May 1 in Ireland & Scotland is called Bealtaine and is a time of gathering, celebrating fertility, worshiping the goddess that blesses the abundance of the earth. Every household fire would be put out and then be re-lit from embers of the community bonfire. This collective sharing of the fire reminds me of cooperative economics seen in the 6 of Coins.

Personal Work:

If you’re writing during this decan, here are some journal prompts for this generous moment in the decan story:

• What does your practice of generosity look like? What is your relationship to sharing when you have more than you need? What about asking for when you, yourself, need help? Have you ever regretted being generous with someone?

• When were your most fortunate times of the past? How would you describe them if you wrote one full page about them? What details do you remember and can you find echoes of those times in your present?

• Being grateful for what you have today is a charm against feeling desperate for what you feel like you’re missing. What 6 things are you glad for, can you write 6 things a day during this decan? A spell to glean abundance is to share with others.

• What locks do you want the Heirophant’s keys to open? What words do you think are written on The High Priestess’ scroll?

For further connection The Moon, as the decan ruler, you can focus your practice on the Moon’s Day (Monday) & The Moon’s Hour. One Monday, May 4th is the only lunar day during this decan but you can work within The Moon’s hours on any day. Find the planetary hours for your location with this link: Planetary Hours Calculator Link

Bonus points for choosing The Moon’s hour ON their day for a special honor. They like honey, milk & chamomile

Resources:

Here is a conversation I had with my dear astrology friend Sonia - Celestia Astrology on the three decans of Taurus:

As a part of this project, I’ve invited new writers to share their voice on a decan. To close out this post, I hope that you will check out Modern Angel’s wisdom on Taurus II

Modern Angel | Taurus II

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Thank you all for constellating with me

End Credits:

Taurus II Natives

30 April William Lilly (Astrologer) 1 May Calamity Jane (frontierswoman) 2 May Novalis (polymath) 3 May Niccolò Machiavelli (statesman) 4 May Umm Kulthum (singer) 5 May Karl Marx (philosopher) 6 May Willie Mays (baseball Hall of Famer) 7 May Rabindranath Tagore (poet) 8 May Phillis Wheatley (poet) 9 May Theodore W. Kheel (labor negotiator) 10 May Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (astronomer)