"I see trees of green…Red roses too

I see em bloom….for me and for you
And I think to myself …What a wonderful world."
Louis Armstrong

"You may not have a car at all…
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tallJust be thankful…for what you’ve got."
William DeVaugn, performed by Curtis Mayfield

This month the great green earth brings us back to our senses, as all of nature celebrates the splendor of spring in a riot of color, texture and dizzying aroma. Astrologically the Merry month of May is ruled by the Sun’s passage through Taurus the bull, the first sign of the zodiac ruled by lovely Venus, the planet of beauty love and peace. The second Venusian sign is Libra which presides over the beauty of autumn in October.

Taurus is the most constructive and fertile sign of the zodiac. It is the earthiest of all the earth signs and most adept at physical manifestation. Taurus rules planting, farming, building and money. It is the sign most concerned with the material world of form beginning with, but not confined to the green growing world. Taurus rules ones own possessions, values and self esteem as opposed to shared wealth and resources, governed by Scorpio the opposite sign.

Taurus rules food production and construction and reminds us that all real wealth comes from our abundant and generous earth mother. Currency in whatever form is a symbolic substitute for goods and services. Taurus reminds us that the most primary forms of wealth are food and shelter. Once these needs have been met we can focus on other things: furniture, art, computers, adornment. Taurus the sign of life, as opposed to Scorpio its opposite, the sign of death, reminds us that we need food and shelter to live or we die.

Much of the disastrous mess of our current economy, including the crash of 2008 is due to the fact that money is now exchanged for meaningless and empty transactions. I heard one lecturer on the subject point out that our current system creates wealth simply for moving money around. This he pointed out is a magicians trick which creates worth and wealth out of absolutely nothing that does anything of real value for anyone except those engaged in the tricky transactions. He further proposed that any monetary wealth thus created should be flagged as phantom wealth and should be immediately suspect. This lecturer (who I heard while driving, and therefore can’t identify by name) spoke about moving toward an economy and currency that only backs life enhancing and enriching goods and services. In this new system, currency could only be traded for a good or service including art and performance. This is an intensely Taurus idea.

Taurus rules self esteem and self worth. Sadly in our superficially  materialistic culture, we often base our self worth on what is in our bank account. We can see this idea embedded in our language when we talk about one’s net worth meaning their material holdings without including their kind heart, sense of humor, bravery, patience and the like.

The paradox of our culture is that we are obsessed with materiality while completely ignoring its sacredness. We have become a nation of consumers, who can never seem to get enough. This obsession with the material points to a dreadful spiritual malaise that can only be healed by connecting to the spiritual realm which surrounds and imbues the material world.

Scorpio the opposite and complementary sign of Taurus rules energy, energy fields and magic. Scorpio reminds us that the material world is a spiritual fact. Every physical form is teeming with magic. There is a ghost in every machine. Science and the electron microscope can now prove what tribal people have always known. If we truly believed as the native Americans did that the earth and all its life forms were sacred, it would irrevocably change how we conduct every interaction with the natural world.

There is a native American chant that goes: In a sacred manner I am walking, In a sacred manner I am hunting, In a sacred manner I am eating……. This reminds us all activities can be approached with reverence.

At the core of our unhealthy relationship to the material realm is our devaluing of the Feminine. The root of the word material is matter, which comes from the Latin mater or mother. It is interesting that we celebrate earth day and mothers day during Taurus. This is fitting as the earth is literally our Great Mother who gives her substance to feed and clothe and shelter us. Our physical mothers also provide their substance to give us physical life. Most ancient cultures recognized some aspect of the divine feminine. When we in the West abandoned this practice we made both the earth and women commodities to be exploited and plundered.

This month celebrate earth day and mother’s day all month. Taurus ruled by Venus reminds us in this gorgeous month, that we are all children of a very beautiful mother. Honor your mother by taking the time to truly notice her beauty. Stop to smell the lilacs. Notice the raindrops on rose petals. Contemplate the power and infinite magic of any tree in your yard or park. Remember that this teeming dense material form sprang from an acorn. Your sacred beautiful body that houses your soul and spirit sprang from a seed infinitesimally smaller than that. Taurus contains this magical potential to seed a myriad of forms. This month see the sacredness in every material form beginning with your own body. Give thanks to your earth mother for your food, your clothing, your shelter, your clean water, the air in your lungs, the beauty of the floral world, the delicious tastes of the natural world, the smell of lilacs, the feel of soft fabrics, the sweetness of honey, the stability of the earth that has supported every step you’ve ever taken.
This month behave as if the God or Goddess in all things mattered. This month build your own wealth and personal reserves. Value yourself independently and regardless from what you own or what is in your bank account. Dare to Truly love and accept yourself right now. Remember to count as wealth your connection to the earth and the many gifts she gives us every day.

Contemplate your true values. If you weren’t keeping up with the Jones’s how would you truly want to live. What would you truly want to buy? Begin to live and shop in alignment with your true values. Plant seeds both actual and metaphoric. Adorn your body and your home. Create beauty. Plant a garden or a tree.  Write a business plan. Plan your long-term financial goals and plant 3 actual seeds to grow them. Give to an environmental cause that protects the earth. Live in your senses. Enjoy simple pleasures. Taste yummy food. Smell lovely things. Get a massage. Touch the world around you. Feast your eyes on beauty including your own. Be at peace. Be stable. Know that you are supported and protected by your mother’s extraordinary bounty. Rest secure in that.

The Sun entered Taurus on April 19th and will remain there till May 21st which is also the New Moon in Gemini. ( more about this next month). The New Moon in Taurus took place on April 21st and contained a Grand trine in the earth signs making this an excellent month for manifesting material desires and plans. This fertile period continues on till the full moon in Scorpio, which occurs on Saturday, May 5th at 11:35 PM. This is an excellent time to work on plans which merge your resources and property with those of others for the mutual benefit of all involved.

The month begins with Mercury, the planet of thought and speech still in aggressive daring Aries helping us to move forward in communication and with our action plans, writing, and any confrontation we need to have. Say what you need to say but say it as kindly as possible. On May 9th Mercury moves into Taurus and plans become more concrete and practical. Our minds turn to planting, building, investing and blueprints are drawn up to get moving in a new direction. While mercury is in Taurus think of your life as a garden. What needs weeding, turning the soil, planting or harvesting. Mercury remains in Taurus till May 24th when it moves into quicksilver Gemini for the rest of the month and beyond.

Venus, the planet of fertile beauty and the planetary ruler of Taurus begins the month in Gemini the sign of speedy communication and love of variety, making May an excellent month for short journeys, classes and moving around to explore the world around you. Venus goes retrograde on May 15th at 24 degrees Gemini and remains retrograde till June 27th. This is an excellent time to contemplate and reflect on any relationships in your life. It is also a time when old relationships may return. Redecorating, regenerating and rewriting are great activities during this time.

Mars the planet of daring action and desire is still in Virgo all month fueling our desire to get healthy and organized. This placement encourages us all to clean up our diet, home and planet. The labor sector becomes very mobilized to both work and activism. We are all encouraged to view work as service, and see the nobility of that.
Jupiter, the planet of expansive opportunity is in Taurus all month presenting the natives of this sign with bigger opportunities than ever. The construction and agriculture sectors should get a big bump of some sort. The markets should also be doing OK, lets hope for fiscally sound reasons.

Saturn, the planet of form, responsibility and karma is moving retrograde through the last degrees of Libra, helping us to reflect and reconsider our partnerships, both business and personal. Uranus in Aries continues to awaken global activism as it squares Pluto in Capricorn all month it continues to brings down regimes, governments and monetary systems that are based on old and decaying non humanitarian ideas.

Neptune in dreamy spiritual Pisces awakens our consciousness, compassion and vision to help us dream up a better world with presence and compassion for all.

ARIES: This month begins with mercury and Uranus in your sign fueling maverick plans to move your goals forward. You are a lightening rod for intuitive leaps and hunches at the moment. Pay attention to your intuition. Keep a pad nearby and jot down brilliant and fleeting notions. The Sun and Jupiter in your house of money and values, make this a time when you can really create prosperity for yourself. Write up an income plan. Pitch any great ideas Say yes to any wonderful opportunities. There is a wonderful harmony between your income, career and daily work sectors that make this an unusually auspicious time to manifest career and moula desires. Keep setting boundaries in all partnerships. Venus in your communication sector makes you a channel for love this month. After the 15th when Venus goes retrograde is a good time for rewrites and reflection. PS your spiritual connection is what is supporting all of this from behind the scenes. Make connecting to it consciously, your top priority.

TAURUS: Happy Birthday Taurus! With Jupiter conjunct the sun in your sign, this is a year of expansion beyond your wildest dreams. Now is the time to build a foundation under your most cherished plans. Now is the time to say yes to opportunity and be willing to live a truly abundant life on all levels. Your wealth depends to some degree on communication and your many contacts. On May 15th Venus goes retrograde in Gemini the sign of communication. This can be a bit like a mercury retrograde with old beloved’s and friends resurfacing. Be loving and circumspect in all communication and wonderful new enterprises will follow. Mars in your house of leisure and recreation asks you to take some healthy time outs in order to regenerate. It also gives you creative fuel for artistic projects. Pluto in your house of higher learning is transforming your philosophy. Work and health require your disciplined and measured attention. Be very diplomatic on all fronts.

GEMINI: The month begins with lovely Venus, the planet of beauty and relationship in your sign, so love is in the air. On May 15th she goes retrograde and you enter a period of reflection regarding your relationships and yourself. During this time it is best to be quiet and meditative. The Sun and Jupiter are shining in your spiritual sector giving you a whole new sense of spiritual support. Never have you felt the support of the divine so tangibly. Your faith that you are truly supported is growing by leaps and bounds. Mars in your home sector in pristine Virgo requires your minute attention in areas of home and ancestry. Changes are afoot in your social network. Romance is serious and requires both commitment and boundaries. It’s time to dream up a new career.

CANCER: The Sun is shining in your friendship network this moth along with mighty Jupiter, the planet of luck, expansion and opportunity sending you support, protection and opportunity through your dear friends and your social network. Mercury and Uranus begin the month in your career sector making this a month when you can take action and later in the month get tangible Taurus results. Venus is in your spiritual sector sending you love and support from spiritual sources. Mars in your communication sector in Virgo encourages you to be direct and clear in your communication. Guard against aggressive speech. Take any communication action you need to regarding work. Fill out paper work, apply for grants, write up proposals. Neptune in your house of philosophy continues your spiritual awakening. Pluto in your partnership sector is readying you for a transformational relationship.

LEO: The Sun and Jupiter are shining in your career sector this month. Say yes to any wonderful new career opportunities and build whatever foundation you need to in order to expand your professional life. What are you trying to build? Where in the process are you? Make a blueprint that will help you to step by step methodically progress. This month writing and all forms of communication and networking can further your cause. After May 15th when Venus goes retrograde, old friends may resurface in your life and you may find yourself contemplating old relationships. Saturn in your communication sector moving retrograde makes diplomatic and disciplined communication of the utmost importance. Your career depends on it. With Pluto in your house of work and health your relationship to both is transforming. Make health, organization and work viewed as service your holy work. Neptune in your 8th house helps you dissolve any old resentments or complexes with a new level of compassion.

VIRGO: Mars is still in your sign helping to fuel your most cherished desires and actions. You can move forward with plans that can be very successful as there is a wonderful aspect between Mars in your sign, the Sun and Jupiter in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn. What this means is that this month there is a wonderful opportunity to manifest your creative projects involving communication publishing and higher learning. Venus is in your career sector bringing you wonderful new contacts who you connect harmoniously and gracefully with. After the fifteenth when Venus goes retrograde you may revise career plans. Also old contacts may resurface. Neptune in your partnership sector sends you wonderful visionary partners. Make sure partners are spiritually awake rather than addicted to substances or fantasy.

LIBRA: There is a wonderful opportunity in your house of joint finance, shared wealth and inheritance this month. There is also the possibility to move beyond some old outworn subconscious beliefs about your self worth. A good mantra for you this month would be: I am abundantly supported by everyone and everything. Try it out for a week and see how you feel. Then notice how it is in fact true. This will have the wonderful effect of countering the apparent contraction caused by the Saturn transit you are going through which is putting pressure on you in order to make you a more effective player at the game of life. This is also a great time to look for backers, pitch your project and find people and companies that want to support you. Your home world  continues to transform.

SCORPIO: The Sun is shining in your house of partnerships and this month you find wonderful new partners who are expansive, worldly and adventurous. Your work and health life require your attention. Begin the month with your nose to the grindstone especially regarding matters of communication and writing. Venus in your house of intimacy and shared resources makes this a great time to deeply connect with your loved ones and to seek funding for communication projects. Friends may be helpful in making this happen. Neptune in your creative sector makes this a time when you are a creative visionary. Your communication and sibling sector is where the big transformation is this month. Be aware of the power of the word.

 

SAGITTARIUS: Venus is in your house of partnership this month making this a time when loving communication abounds in your relationships. After the 15th when Venus goes retrograde be careful of your speech. With Venus in Gemini this retrograde functions much like a mercury retrograde. Enter a period of quiet and reflection. The Sun and Jupiter are shining in your house of health and work. Use this aspect to say yes to wonderful new expansive work offers and take excellent care of your health. Mars is in your career sector, giving you energy to hit the ground running in that area. Get clean clear and organized about your career trajectory. Romance is alive these days and networking demands some serious attention.

CAPRICORN: This month the Sun and Jupiter are shining in your house of children and self expression giving you a burst of youthful creative energy. You may be able to really capitalize on what you create. Have fun, take time out for hobbies and things that gave you joy when you were young. There has been a serious focus on work and personal transformation which is ongoing, but this month take a break from severity and make time for fun and romance. If there is no romance currently in your life, fall in love with yourself. Mars in your writing sector makes this a great time to express yourself by writing and speaking. Venus in Gemini in the work sector echoes the theme of productive and artful communication. On the 15th when Venus goes retrograde, old work opportunities make return.

AQUARIUS: There is a wonderful expansive opportunity this month that comes to your family and through your family. Make changes within your home that reflect the new expansive optimistic way you are feeling. It’s a good time for you to build,  expand or renovate your home. Your family may be growing or you may be traveling or investing with family members. Jupiter brings luck, opportunity and protection to whatever sector it transits and for you right now that is home family and ancestry..Venus, the planet of love and beauty is in Gemini, the sign of communication in your house of children and recreation, making this a great time to take a class, enjoy literature or simply have fun with your children, through learning and exchanging ideas. With Mars in your house of inheritance and shared wealth it may be a good time to invest in a project that could be mutually beneficial with a family member. Higher learning continues to be a big responsibility.

PISCES: This month Jupiter and the Sun are shining in your house of communication making this the sector that holds the key to your good fortune. Being able to communicate or get the word out about your constructive ability to successfully manifest wealth and success is the key. Friends and partners will also be instrumental in helping you build your dream. With Neptune in your sign for the foreseeable future, you have never been more sensitive and visionary. Venus is in Gemini the sign of communication, making this a month when your home becomes a center of gracious communication and when love and romance are happily nestled therein. On May 15 when Venus goes retrograde a contact or family member may return or reconsider an issue involving your home. Mercury and Uranus in Aries in your money and building sector give you the moxie to take a daring new approach to manifesting your desires.

Namaste,
Demitra