As Mercury gets acclimated to his normal speedy pace after having just gone direct again only a few days before (May 11), we are greeted with the New Moon in Taurus on May 13 at 9:04 p.m. EDT. New Moons signify rebirth, beginnings, a clean slate, the start of a new cycle. This new moon highlights Taurean qualities (determined, practical, devoted, grounded, dependable) and 2nd house themes (material security, values, self-worth). On a spiritual/higher plane, the Moon in Taurus seeks inner peace through stability and contentment. Taurus is natively ruled by Venus.

In Taurus, the Moon is said to be 'exalted' (in its best zodiacal sign placement). In a previous post, I explained why the Moon might find comfort in Taurean energy:
Perhaps the Moon's greatest "weakness" might be that she's too changeable. It isn't that she can't make up her mind or stick to it. Her decisions are based on her feelings/intuition. Her emotions vacillate as often as she moves one degree every few hours within the sign she is transiting and as she changes zodiac signs every few days. She dons the personality and experiences the wealth emotions from twelve different signs in about 30 days.

Taurus is the bull -- steadfast and reliable, with feet firmly on the ground. Taurus is also comfort-seeking which is a huge plus for the Moon. Simply put, Taurus offers the Moon what she needs -- emotional security -- which is probably all she really wants sometimes ... to be able to feel, yet not get lost in them or be driven to action solely by them.
This Taurus-New Moon (heart & soul) forms a very agreeable link to Jupiter (luck, opportunities) and Uranus (surprises, radical change), just as Jupiter and Uranus begin their alliance that culminates before month's end. This New Moon in Taurus is one of two money-related new moons we get this year. The alignment to Jupiter makes this a fortuitous one that should help bring back hope to any difficult situation we might be in, especially those that are financially-related. With Mercury still in Taurus and now direct, our minds can be depended upon for a to-do list of reasonable, doable, practical and manageable action items.

In addition to our financial status, this is new moon phase is an ideal time to re-evaluate our value system -- what do we truly value in life? how much of our energy are we exerting towards what is valuable to us? how about our own worth (material worth or self-worth)? Determine what is worth our precious time and build upon that.

During this new moon, we remain under the longterm influence of the lingering Saturn-Uranus opposition. We are urged to break away from ineffectual old ways, rehabilitate from bad habits, replace unhealthy thought patterns with healthy ones, and/or become free of toxic influential relationships. Basically, replace the old with the new. Also at this time, Saturn makes an irritating alignment with Neptune -- basically, realities vs. dreams. Let this new moon phase be a turning point where, going forward, our heart (Moon) and conscious will (Sun) act upon goals/motivations driven by the things/people/ideas we value.

This New Moon in Taurus occurs at 23 degrees of Taurus. Those born within 3 days of May 12 or have natal planets/house angles around 23 degrees of Taurus may feel the effects of this new moon stronger than most. Those celebrating their birthday on May 13 should have an amazing year.

For me, as a Virgo-rising, this New Moon falls in my natal 8th house (debt/endings), but may also affect my Taurus-ruled 9th house (philosophy/travel), is agreeable with my Pluto (renewal) and frustrates my Neptune (faith); and as a Cancer-rising, falls in my solar 5th house (creativity/love). I may spend this new moon phase looking over my financials and gaining a different perspective on it, while I work on improving them. Last year in preparation for Saturn transiting Libra (ruler of my money house), I stopped using credit cards and began paying down debt. It feels like it's been a slow process but before I wrote this post, I looked at my statements. The year has made a bigger difference than I initially thought. yey! It's still a slow process, but it's a sure one. This new moon phase is an ideal period for me to call creditors and negotiate for lower rates. I did that last year with surprising success, so why not try again, right? As far as my solar 5th house, Mercury being retrograde (April 18-May 11), while Saturn is also retrograde in my Ascendant sign, has really put a damper on my creative juices. Hopefully, this new moon will give my creative projects a swift kick and moves it along, just as I regain some hopefulness with my debt situation.

How might this new moon influence your life? Look to the natal house/s this new moon will occupy in your birth chart. Match the sign and degree to the sign on the house cusp/s. Use the list below to identify the Taurus zodiac sign then click here to read about the New Moon in Houses.



Click image to see larger
For those without a birth chart, you may use your Sun sign or Rising/Ascendant sign, if you know it. Look for your Sun and Rising signs below then click here for an explanation of New Moon illuminating those houses.

• Aries-Sun or Aries Rising ~ 2nd House
• Taurus-Sun or Taurus Rising ~ 1st House
• Gemini-Sun or Gemini-Rising ~ 12th House
• Cancer-Sun or Cancer-Rising ~ 11th House
• Leo-Sun or Leo-Rising ~ 10th House
• Virgo-Sun or Virgo-Rising ~ 9th House
• Libra-Sun or Libra-Rising ~ 8th House
• Scorpio-Sun or Scorpio-Rising ~ 7th House
• Sagittarius-Sun or Sagittarius-Rising ~ 6th House
• Capricorn-Sun or Capricorn-Rising ~ 5th House
• Aquarius-Sun or Aquarius-Rising ~ 4th House
• Pisces-Sun or Pisces-Rising ~ 3rd House

Unsure if you have natal planets or house angles around 23 degrees of Taurus? Cast your own birth chart by clicking here -- birth date, time, and place required.

For those doing the new moon wishes ritual, the moon will be new on May 13 at 9:04 p.m. (EDT) and will be void of course the following day, May 14, at 8:28 a.m. (EDT). Click here for Jan Spiller's DailyOm.com article, briefly explaining new moon wishes. (opens a new window)

I am also available for personal consultations. Are you celebrating a birthday soon? Or know someone who is? Schedule your session for a Solar Return (birthdays) or 3-Chart Reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months) or request a quote for a more customized reading tailored to your needs. You can also give a loved one the gift of insight.

Have a question? Ask me here. Or maybe hop over to the AstroCreeps and TarotFreaks Forum* to join in or start a discussion.

Related articles:

• The New Moon in Natal Houses
• Sun in Taurus ~ April 20 to May 20, 2010
  
• Mercury Direct ~ May 11, 2010
• Mercury in Taurus ~ April 2 to June 10, 2010
• Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces Lend a Helping Hand ~ May 2010
  
• Saturn-rx Oppose Uranus ~ April 26, 2010

*Click here to learn more about the AstroCreeps and TarotFreaks Forum.

"The Plane of the Ecliptic" Image credit and copyright to NASA, the Clementine Project. The Plane of the Ecliptic is illustrated in this Clementine star tracker camera image which reveals (from right to left) the Moon lit by Earthshine, the sun's corona rising over the Moon's dark limb and the planets Saturn, Mars and Mercury.