WHAT?
For the first time in 12 years, Jupiter is in Taurus, and for the first time since 2021, a new moon is occurring in dependable, sensual Taurus without the chaotic tarnish of an eclipse. That, my friends, calls for a nerdy astrologist high five.
Taurus, the sign that inhabits intention and maintains a stubborn connection to earthly pleasure, is both comforting and titillating to the moon as it transits. Without the pall of darkness, a Taurus new moon helps us reclaim all things pleasurable to our human minds and bodies - art, sex, food, partnership, beauty, and love. Under a this moon, our desires pulsate with extra meaning as they pertain to goals and self-worth - who are we if not a collection of unique appetites?
Expect to reckon with these needs, these wantings, as they strong arm their way into focus this weekend. Aries taught us to fight for our identity when Jupiter was in his clutches, but Taurus wants us to fight for our desires and defend them as equally necessary to our existence. This new moon is practically dripping with fortune and manifestation, offering the providence we have been seeking during the last few years on what could politely be described as a chaotic, earthen hellscape. Spend Friday thinking about the real, primitive desire that drives you and make a plan - write it down, chant a thing, burn a thing, engage in some sex magic, run naked in a garden...whatever floats your boat, but do NOT let this powerful moment pass you by.
WHY?
Jupiter/Zeus is the planet of luck and abundance, i.e. the Great Benefic, and he has been in forceful Aries up until this week. This meant that Jupiter's influence was focused on impulses and beginnings, which is why so much new information and opportunity seemed to spring up out of nowhere during his transit. Aries challenges us to know who we are, thus we have been focusing internally on manifesting luck via self-definition and boundaries. Due to this Martian influence on our big, red-eyed luck planet, Jupiter in Aries also brought a ferocity to our interactions as we learned to defend our newly established boundaries and identities.
Taurus, that earthy, stubborn little bull, is ruled by Venus, a planet more concerned with love and desire than war and self-defense. Aphrodite is the Greek personification of Venus, and she is now the ruler guiding bloated Zeus in his influence over our prosperity and quality of life. Mythologically speaking, this clears the way for some fortuitous, benevolent energy and killer luck to rain down on our heads starting with a Taurus new moon. When Venus and Jupiter work together they can achieve anything, no matter how improbable or outlandish. (Consider one of the most memorable myths to portray Zeus and Aphrodite's combined powers of persuasion, Leda and The Swan. Thanks to Aphrodite's seductive thrall, Zeus scored another human conquest in the form of Leda, a happily married woman who he nonetheless desired. She ended up feeling hot and bothered for Zeus in the form of a swan, resulting in a lot of bestial, pornographic oil pantings and yet more children for the bearded, horny god.)
Consider this as the new moon lurks just beyond Thurdays' sunset. We learned the lessons of a new and improved identity as Jupiter transited Aries - one for which we are now willing to fight. As loving, desirous Venus offers us this velvety new moon we may find ourselves pleasantly shocked at our current state of affairs. Dreams and goals, no matter how wacky, are within our grasp as long as we name them. Want to get married? Propose. Need a massive loan? Start the paperwork. Itching to start a social movement? Organize and make the phone calls. Want a new job? Go get one! If Venus can convince a woman to get carnal with water fowl, imagine what she can do for your resume.
WHEN?
Friday, May 19th is the full Black Moon, so utilize any manifestation rituals throughout the day and into the evening. We are slowly pulling away from Mercury's irritating moonwalk, so communication should start seriously improving over the weekend, but beware of Mars opposing Pluto and forming an angry little semi-square with the moon on Saturday. Friction over long term goals could turn combative. By Sunday, however, our sun and moon will have two-stepped into chatty, engaging Gemini, and we can expect to have emotionally fulfilling conversations with like-minded souls, boosting our spirits and sense of community.
TAROT
Wednesday and Thursday find us toiling away at long term projects and trying to keep our eyes on the prize, even if the prize remains stubbornly out of reach for the moment. Friday is a big day for learning to work smarter instead of harder, which probably involves letting go of some old wounds that have been keeping us petty and belligerent. (The moon will definitely help with release.) Saturday is more sticky, and could involve an intellectual conflict or some sort of ending that people are making waaaay more dramatic than it needs to be. On Sunday we will encounter control issues externally and internally, resulting in some blockage regarding a long running intellectual concept...unfortunately, there will be no real movement until someone is willing to compromise.
On Monday, try to further embrace a spirit of compromise and reconciliation - the people closest to us are not the enemy, and we will only hurt ourselves by refusing them grace. Tuesday will see a return of the 7 of Pentacles from Thursday, but this time we are required to whittle down our professional endeavors and come to terms with a few of them being more work than they are worth.
Check out the more detailed results and competing card pulls on our stories at RitualPNW on IG and YouTube. Find the channel at http://youtube.com/@alectochaos. You can also book one on one readings in person at buyritual.com, or walk-in for a reading at our brick and mortar location on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
RITUAL ELEMENTS FOR MANIFESTATION
If there is a perfect moment to let ourselves fall deeply into woo-woo crystal bitch territory, it is now. Other people might cringe at a pocket of rocks with handwritten scraps of intention, but they may recant once they observe your success - attainment of dreams and a big fat wallet never fail to motivate even the most stubborn skeptic.
Aventurine is a favorite Taurus crystal because it covers love, luck, and money in one verdant swoop, rejuvenating our heart chakras and soothing anxieties over resources. (Taurus cannot help but be anxious about their resources, even when they are overflowing with riches. Watch a Taurus stress eat about a ridiculously flush bank account sometime, it's hilarious.)
Green aventurine works well in jewelry thanks to a sturdy 7 on the Mohs scale of toughness, so consider donning a bracelet or pendant over the weekend and wearing your metaphysical heart on your sleeve. If money is what you most need, pair aventurine with a pyrite or cinnamon bracelet to get a cash infusion. If your needs are more romantic, aventurine and rose quartz make a beautiful, wearable combo that opens our hearts to being loved. For physical goals or anything health related, I like aventurine and bloodstone together, since aventurine restores our hope for improvement and bloodstone cleanses our physical bodies and root chakras.
However you want to do it, grab a crystal and get manifesting - this is rare, vibrant, loving astrology, the kind we wish for in dark moments to help lift us up to the level of our most fantastic dreams. Don't let it pass you by.