Embracing Presence, Discernment, and Inner Feminine Wisdom

The New Moon on Saturday, May 16th, at 4:01 PM EST, invites us to slow down, come into the present moment, and discern how we use our energy. With the intense amount of Aries energy we’ve been in and the previous Scorpio Full Moon highlighting our shadows, it’s been a lot to process. And now, it’s time to ground it in, take a breather, and find peace in the present moment.

This New Moon invites us to lean into the simple pleasures of life and soak in the beauty of the here and now. Of course, there’s still some powerful energy to be aware of, but most of all, this is a time to honor our bodies and take things slow.

I’ll dive into why the astrological weather is pointing to this theme, as well as the other major themes to be aware of. Each section comes with reflective questions to meditate or journal on. Trust that whatever stands out to you is the wisdom you are meant to receive on this Taurus New Moon.

New Moon in Taurus Overview

New Moons symbolize the start of a new beginning, as they mark the beginning of a new lunation cycle. They are a time for setting intentions, looking ahead, and feeling into what you want to focus on over the next month. The sign of the New Moon and how it is interacting with other planets can help us align our intentions with the overall energy of this lunar phase.

This New Moon is occurring at 25 degrees of Taurus, the sign of fixed earth. Taurus invites us to ground, to stabilize, and to come into the present moment. This sign represents physical reality, including our body and physical senses. As a Venus-ruled sign, it is about sensual pleasure, the beauty of nature, inner values, and anything that brings a sense of safety and comfort.

Taurus represents seeking safety and security in our physical reality. Aries is the sign of I AM and represents the first spark of consciousness. Taurus is the sign of I SENSE and consciousness firmly rooting itself into physical form.

Once consciousness is aware of its physical reality and the world around it, basic survival needs become the next importance. The most basic survival needs are food, water, and shelter; sustenance for the body and a physical structure around us for protection, safety, and comfort. This is the main underlying motivation for Taurus — seeking safety, pleasure, and comfort through the senses and material reality.

With the New Moon happening in Taurus, becoming grounded in the physical reality around us becomes the primary focus. One of the keywords for this New Moon is presence. I think this is an incredibly important reminder for us now as we’ve been submerged in fiery, movement-forward Aries energy for some time. With the last Scorpio Full Moon, emotions were loud, and we may have been plunged into the depths of our shadows.

This New Moon is calling for us to settle our energies, come back into our bodies, ground ourselves, calm our nervous system, and pay attention to what’s right in front of us. It’s inviting us to relax by tuning into our senses and becoming aware of all that we can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. And in doing so, we can find a sense of peace as our thoughts calm and our breathing slows.

This is a time for soaking in the sun, basking in the sounds of nature, immersing yourself in music, dancing, cooking, eating delicious food, watching the sunset, and listening to your body’s wisdom. It is a time for enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Conjunct the New Moon is the planet of communication and the mind, Mercury (28 degrees Taurus). With our consciousness grounded in the body, Mercury helps us understand what our bodies are telling us. We may have greater clarity around what our physical needs are at this time.

This is also an opportunity to deepen our mind-body connection, so that our thoughts and words are rooted in our body’s wisdom centers. Mercury in Taurus invites us to reflect on what our values are, what brings us comfort and a sense of safety, and what helps us feel grounded and present.

In addition to Mercury, this New Moon is in an out-of-sign conjunction with Uranus and Sedna (both at 1 degree of Gemini). This emphasises the theme of communication and exchange of information that Mercury represents, as Mercury rules the sign of Gemini.

With Uranus now in Gemini, the exchange of information, especially through technology and social media, is entering a quicker and more disruptive phase. While this transit will help our consciousness to evolve to communicate in new ways, it also makes communication that much more chaotic, dispersed, restless, stimulating, and overwhelming.

With the swirling energy of information hitting us from every direction, this New Moon is a signal that, to better shift through all this information, we need to ground, center ourselves, and come into the present moment. The second keyword I would give this New Moon is discernment. By being present and centered, we can be more discerning about what information we’re receiving, what is true, and what aligns with our inner values.

In its higher expression, Uranus in Gemini, conjunct Mercury and the New Moon, is about receiving Divine insight and expansion of consciousness. Mercury helps us to understand and have clarity around the insights we’re receiving, and with it in Taurus, along with the Sun and Moon, we can ground and embody these insights. That way, these insights become a lived experience, rather than only a mental experience.

To experience this, we have to give ourselves the space to enter a deeply meditative state in our spiritual practices. Also, pay attention to any insights or sudden flashes of clarity as you go about your day.

Reflective Questions:

• Where in my life am I being called to slow down and become more present?

• What helps me feel most grounded, centered, and at ease in my body?

• What is my body communicating to me at this time? 

• In what ways can I deepen trust in my body’s wisdom?

• What brings me a sense of comfort, peace, or fulfillment?

• What information, voices, or inputs feel overwhelming or misaligned right now?

• Where do I need stronger boundaries with media, technology, or external noise? 

Mutable Grand Square: Tension between Breaking Free from the Old and Stepping into the New

A prominent dynamic of this New Moon is a Mutable Grand Square between Uranus and Sedna, the Nodes of Fate, and Black Moon Lilith. The Sun, Moon, and Mercury are also tied into this aspect because of their proximity to Uranus.

This configuration may bring a sense of frustration, conflict, tension, and a feeling of being “stuck.” Specifically around old emotional, mental, and behavioral patterns that no longer serve, but are still showing up, perhaps even louder at this time.

Uranus and Sedna are both pointing to deep, fundamental change and dismantling of old, outdated systems. However, with the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Taurus, there may be a heightened resistance to change and an increased attachment to how things are. Even though the systems we’re living in may not be serving us, there is still a sense of safety and security in them because they are what we know.

But still, we can all sense these systems dismantling, in real time, all around us and within us. Let’s be real, it can be incredibly frightening. Uranus represents this dismantling, and with its conjunction to the New Moon, we are being asked to reorient how we seek safety and security in our lives. We can no longer find it in the systems around us, at least not as we’ve done before.

We are being asked to evolve, to adapt to a changing environment, and this requires us to let go of old security structures that no longer serve. We are being asked to look to a deeper truth within, a fundamental Reality beneath known reality, and this is what we are meant to anchor into.

Sedna is showing that humanity is going through a subtle (and not-so-subtle) and powerful evolution in consciousness, and we are all feeling the painful contractions of this transition. For a new system to emerge, for a new humanity to be born, the old systems have to die, and this is the death/rebirth cycle we’re collectively in.

This can be a lot to handle, and this Taurus New Moon is pointing to the importance of grounding back into the body, into the present moment, over and over, as a way to navigate this time of immense change. Simultaneously, we have to let go of old attachments and false securities we may be holding onto.

With Uranus and Sedna square the Nodes of Fate and Opposing Black Moon Lilith (who is also square the Nodes), there may be a strong desire to break free from the limitations you’re facing. Collectively, this may be a strong push to break free from these old systems that no longer serve, for they do not honor our wild, instinctual, feminine natures (Black Moon Lillith), nor our highest paths forward (North Node).

And yet, we may feel stuck or at a loss for how to change these patterns or break free from old limitations. We may feel tension between wanting to be our honest and authentic selves and the fear of being judged or exiled for it.

The unknown lacks any sense of security or safety. And that is what we are facing. Yes, we want to change, we want better systems that will support humanity, and we want to live authentically. But to do these things, we have to let go of what is keeping us in them, and in this, we face a greater unknown.

The unknown of change can feel more frightening than the known pattern or system we’re in, even if that system or pattern is hurting us. This is where we can get stuck, and this New Moon may be highlighting this struggle. This is a time for noticing this pattern within ourselves and where we may still be attached to old ways that no longer serve.

Another aspect that adds a layer to this dynamic is the New Moon square to the asteroids Hekate and Chariklo in Aquarius. Hekate represents the crossroads and facing a choice point; an initiation in one’s life. We are being asked to choose a new path forward.

Chariklo here is wrapping the whole dynamic in a spiritual embrace, reminding us that underneath fear of the unknown, there is a steady, loving presence guiding us through this evolution. We are always safe – on a fundamental, spiritual level — we are always safe.

To work with these energies, we are being asked to ground into the body and then deepen into our wild, spiritual nature within. When we connect to our Soul points, we recognize that we are all equal. There is no hierarchy. It is time to live authentically from this place, little by little, as much as we’re able, to welcome in the new paradigm of change.

However, it is very hard to do this if we are not resourced; if our bodies are not cared for, and we are not meeting our basic needs. Again, this Taurus New Moon is such a beautiful reminder that to best navigate these waves of change, we have to tend to our bodies and our nervous systems as best we can. We have to have discernment about where we are spending our energy and what information (and how much information) we’re allowing in.

Reflective Questions:

• What patterns, behaviors, or emotional cycles keep repeating in my life right now?

• How does resistance to change show up in my body, thoughts, or daily habits?

• What fears arise when I imagine letting go of old structures, habits, or identities?

• Where am I craving more freedom or authenticity in my life?

• What does my wild, fierce, instinctual nature want me to know right now?

• When I quiet my mind and drop into my body, what guidance arises?

• What does my body, emotions, and nervous system need right now to feel supported and regulated?

Chiron conjunct Mars: Facing our Masculine Wounds

On the Taurus New Moon, the planet Mars and the minor planet Chiron are perfectly conjunct at 28 degrees Aries. Mars represents our inner warrior, the part of ourselves that initiates action. It is a primary symbol in astrology for the masculine. Chiron is known as the wounded healer. He represents how working with and healing our deepest wounds initiates us into the medicine and gifts of those wounds.

Together, these planets point to facing deep wounds associated with the masculine. This includes your own inner masculine and your relationship to the masculine outside of you. On a collective level (but still felt on an individual level as well), this points to patriarchal wounding.

While this is not a comfortable or easy aspect, it is through facing the wounds that we reach another level of healing. Pay attention to any triggers that show up around this time, as well as anger, rage, feelings of betrayal, abandonment, and victimhood. Allow yourself to process and release these emotions safely and consciously, such as through movement, dance, breath, and sound.

Venus is sextile to this conjunction, and this shows that it is through honoring our feminine nature that we can help move these emotions. The feminine is the flow of emotions, so we don’t want to suppress, deny, or ignore anything we’re feeling. This is a time for expressing how you feel and having honest, healing conversations with the masculine-oriented people in your life.

Venus here also shows that perhaps the greatest healing our inner masculine needs at this time isn’t “doing more” or pushing harder, but rest and simple beingness. Practicing being present with your emotions, your body, and your surroundings — there isn’t anything to achieve, there isn’t anything to do, just simply to be exactly as you are. As you can see, this points back to the main theme of this New Moon: grounded, intentional presence.

Reflective Questions:

• What is my relationship to my inner masculine? 

• What is my relationship to the masculine in others? 

• Where do I struggle to take action, assert myself, or claim what I want?

• In what areas of my life do I overpush, overperform, or feel the need to prove myself?

• What wounds, if any, have emerged recently that were from the masculine? How can I tend to and process these wounds? 

• Am I allowing myself to fully feel and express my emotions without judgment?

• What practices help me move emotions through my body (movement, breath, sound, creativity)?

Practice Ideas

One of the best ways to honor this New Moon is to spend time in nature, simply enjoying all that your senses can take in. Perhaps you spend time gardening, hiking, kayaking, or sitting on a park bench. The key is to take it slow and to be present in your surroundings. If it feels right, consider doing a technology detox while you’re outside, leaving your phone behind or on silent.

This is also an important time for communication with yourself and others. Journal or have conversations with people close to you about what’s coming up for you. Having honest and vulnerable conversations with those you trust can be incredibly healing at this time.

Along with those ideas, I offer the following meditation to help ground, connect to the earth, and open up to your Soul point. This meditation will help open the space for you to receive the divine insights and awakening that is on offer for this New Moon.

Soul Point Meditation:

Begin by setting up a meditative space where you won’t be disturbed. Once settled into your space, take a few deep, cleansing breaths. Allow each breath to bring you deeper into your body and your focus to the present moment. Along with deep breaths, you can do some energetic hygiene to shake off anything lingering in your mind or body.

Once you feel ready, settle into a posture for your meditation, either sitting, standing, or lying down. Begin by bringing your consciousness to your heart space, breathing there for a few breaths. Feel your heart space expand with each inhale. Allow your heart to soften and open.

Now move deeper into your body, down into your root chakra area. Allow your breath, sound, intention, and movement to awaken this area, feeling it expand with each inhale. Imagine the energy starting to swirl and move.

Once it feels alive and activated, imagine growing roots down, down, down into the earth beneath you. Play with the sensation of your roots growing into the soil. What does it feel like? Allow your roots to grow as deep and as far as they wish. Feel yourself rooted to the ground; you are in the loving, nourishing embrace of the Earth.

Now bring your awareness back to your body and just know that your roots are still in the earth. With intention and focus, allow your awareness to open up to your soul point. Trust wherever it shows up in your body — it might be your heart, your solar plexus, your lower chakra area, or somewhere else. Imagine a small light, like a distant star, glowing here. This is your soul point. With each inhale, allow this light to grow bigger and brighter. Bring your consciousness fully to this point.

Now, imagine this star of light within the center of each of your cells, throughout your whole body. You are still connected to the main point, and now there is a network of Soul points. On each inhale, allow these to grow. Allow them to grow bigger and brighter with every breath.

Notice any sensations or emotions arising. Allow this light to grow until you are fully illuminated with your Soul light — the light in your cells has all merged together. Surrender fully to this Divine light, giving it permission to heal and cleanse you. Bathe in this light. Know that this is your true essence — this eternal, loving, and infinite love light within you.

Be here for as long as you need. When you feel ready, allow this light to naturally fade as you bring your consciousness fully into your body. Notice your roots still in the earth. Before you end your meditation, ask your higher self and the wisdom of the Earth if there is anything they wish to tell or show you. Receive their guidance.

Once complete, imagine your roots slowly coming back into your body. Bring your awareness to your heart, to your root chakra, and fill them with your love and gratitude. Slowly start to open your eyes and become aware of the room around you. Give your consciousness time to adjust back to normal, and journal or reflect on anything that came up for you.

May you surrender to the ease and grace of this Taurus New Moon, soaking in the splendor of your senses; honoring your sacred sensuality. Know that pleasure is sacred; your body – this form – is sacred. You are here to experience life on Earth; soak it in with fresh eyes. Honor your emotions and let them move. You are a river flowing. You are the wind weaving through the trees. You are the song of the bird. You are life itself.

With love,

Rhianna Quanstrom
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