Full Moon in Taurus - Lightening Strikes ⚡️

"I'm gonna make a change, for once in my life... it's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right." - "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson

As a musician, I - like many others - am guided significantly by songs that pop into my consciousness at precisely the right moment, with the sole goal of making an impact on my awareness. It took me a while to begin to listen to these promptings and put greater meaning into the messages that were coming in, yet now it's so ingrained that I find humor in its accuracy. This particular MJ tune has been haunting me for a few years now, always coming in at the right time to remind me that it's time to make a change, and I'm the only one who will be able to do that for me.

The Full Moon at 1°13' Taurus - exact on Wednesday, October 24th 2018 at 9:45am PDT - is an electrifying lunation in many ways, awakening within us the desire to liberate ourselves from conditions that may be very fixed within our psyches. As the Sun ingresses into the transformative territory of Scorpio, we receive a wake-up call of epic proportions, with this full moon giving us much to work with while our solar light travels through this regenerative realm.

Chances are the moments of enlightenment that are raining down are not entirely new, as lunar story after lunar story has carried out much of this year's shifting dynamic. Now we apex to highlight the Taurus / Scorpio axis - where this full moon is asking us to find calm and stillness within the more turbulent and emotional areas of our lives while also requesting that we trust the metamorphosis that is taking place. We can now find forgiveness for the past and bring much of the darkness that lies beneath to the light, knowing that the inner and outer drama is no longer worth it, and what we truly desire is peace. Staying patient and determined will be the key to making use of the energy taking place... so be sure to listen intently and remain loyal to the heart's directives.

The Aspects: Make A Change 🙀

Below is a chart of the moment for the Full Moon in Taurus at my location here in sunny San Diego, CA. There are no shortage of aspects taking place in this chart! The first thing that pops out like a sore thumb is the moon conjunct Uranus and the sun in opposition to that conjunction. We also have our full moon ruler, Venus RX, approaching her own inferior conjunction with the sun and making an opportunistic sextile to Saturn in Capricorn. Our lunar nodes are also forming a grand cross with this lunation and Mercury is on his way to meet Jupiter. So let's waste no time and dive right in...

Our Uranian journey of 2018 continues, with this full moon bringing into completion much of the energy that was beginning to gestate at the New Moon in Taurus back in mid-May of this year. That lunation - which I titled "New Normal" - had Mars square Uranus at the final cardinal degrees of Capricorn and Aries, setting us up for the retrograde Summer that was about to ensue. Yet the New Moon in Aries - titled "Fresh Beginnings" - really kicked the whole Uranian theme of this year into motion with "the great awakener" in a conjunction with that lunation.

For a planet that is known for its lightening like quickness, I think much of what we have been encountering this year lies in the unfolding of the story, and it only seems right that Scorpio season would bring about the need for decisive conclusions, in order to raise our vibration to write the next chapter in our personal tale. Bits and pieces of intuition with synchronistic nudges have been leading us energetically to a particular path and now that we are faced with that awareness, there is nowhere to hide. For once we "know" it's much harder to go back to what has been prior. So honor the shifts - and potential storms - that are taking place, as like the Tower card in the tarot, the infrastructure must crumble in order to build and manifest from a more solid, and sustainable foundation.

Our full moon ruler, Venus RX in Scorpio, is in a rather unique position as she is the ruler of both this lunation and the New Moon in Libra that took place to kick off the lunar cycle. Not only is she taking importance over the cycle, she is in a significant position in her own planetary rhythm, with both of these moons taking place in her retrograde period. So what is happening now is very much an internal process, for if we are tested by scenarios involving our relationships, our worth, our values, and what is needed in order to open up to greater harmony in our lives, then we are right on schedule. Venus will be RX until Nov 16th with more of the story to unfold as she makes her underworld journey. So once again, patience is encouraged and potentially tested.

So what is she potentially being tested on? Well, Scorpio is the land of boundaries, and Taurus - in the bull's fixed pace - is very good at maintaining the status quo. Yet that may no longer do, and it is now our responsibility to make practical changes in the areas of what we do and do not open up to. For those very rules, which many of us may not consider all too often, are now up for examination. Ask yourself where a line may need to be drawn - or removed - in order to honor the liberation process that is gestating inside. Luckily, Venus is making a sweet sextile to Saturn, allowing an opportunity to create boundaries and focus on our longterm goals. This aspect is also showing that it is beneficial to take our time and remain patient, even though we may feel rather restless in the moment. Saturn is the ultimate dispositor of this chart, so once again endurance, restraint, and self-control may be just what is needed at this time.

With this lunation also forming a grand cross with the lunar nodes, this is another sign that there is a pivotal process that is underway. The nodes are about to change signs on Nov 6th (coincidentally - or not - our election day) so we are on the final degrees of an 18 month transit that has been lighting up the needs of our own hearts vs. strictly following society's expectations of us. Yet the ultimate goal was to strike a balance between the self and the collective, and I have a feeling that this full moon signature will play a important role in that energy. If you have not honored your heart's promptings up until this point, it is quite possible to feel rather stuck at this time. And even if you have, there still may be fixed situations in place that will need to change in order to physically manifest the conclusions that have arisen.

As the Sun, Venus RX, Mercury and Jupiter are all finding representation within Mars who is currently in Aquarius, our (wo)man in the mirror is speaking rather loudly - it is within our power to change even the most rigid of circumstances, and by working on ourselves to start, those decisions begin to trickle out in little ways around us. In order to lift up our communities and have a positive impact on the world around us, we must first take a look in the mirror. MJ said it best in the catchy chorus of his tune:

I'm starting with the man in the mirror

I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Now take a look at your own reflection, and ask yourself:

"What change would I like to make in my life?" - You

Note: There are some sensitive images of humanity in this video. Filmed in 1987, we find that most of these world issues continue to affect us today.

The story that is developing is very much part of an ongoing process. Even though there will probably be significant events at the full moon, the awakening is likely to move step by step through the upcoming transits that will be happening throughout the remainder of this lunation cycle. Our new moon and full moon ruler, Venus RX, will retrograde back to her clarity inducing conjunction with the Sun on Friday Oct 26th, and then she will go on to make her own opposition to Uranus on Wednesday Oct 31st. She will make one more opposition to the great awakener on Friday Nov 30th after she resumes direct motion, so expect much of what is being highlighted now to show traction then. The opposition will take place at 29° of Libra and Aries, highlighting the same dynamic, cardinal energy that was originally invigorated by Mars back at the New Moon in Taurus I spoke of earlier. Take note: there are a lot of major planetary shifts in November, so expect that next month may bring some turnaround energy our way, with January of 2019 helping to kick things into motion.

The Symbol: Electricity In The Air 🌩

So now let us take a look at the Sabian Symbol as it uncannily supports the theme of this full moon! We are going to take the degree plus the minutes and round up, for which we get the following:

2° Taurus - "An electrical storm."

Keyword: Transformation

Theme: Tension Release

I find this symbol to be insanely appropriate for this lunation! With the dynamic Uranus contacts, I nearly jumped out of my own seat when I found that the sabian symbol was ringing in with synchronistic clarity in regards to the electric energy. Plus with the keyword of transformation, our original new moon signature highlighting the Sun / Moon / Pluto square and the upcoming Scorpio season really helps to play into the story.

With this image there is awe and fear in the potential destruction, as lightening can be rather jarring when it strikes. I remember hearing the crack of lightening and the following thunder when I was a little girl growing up in Florida. It would scare me into movement, knowing that some precautionary measures were in need of taking place. If you were on the phone, you'd be sure to get off right away so that the current wouldn't strike through the landline. If you were in a car, you would have a sense of security knowing that the rubber tires would ground the surge.

Now I don't know if either of those things really worked - insert Myth Busters - yet the scare alone of an electrical storm would get you into motion. So we can expect the drama to arrive with our storm, yet whatever now strikes is doing so to release the tension that this theme is drawing attention to, which highlights so perfectly the freedom inducing energy that Uranus can bring.

Moon Horoscopes on Patreon 🌝

If you want to find out more on how this full moon may interact with you personally, I encourage you to check out my Moon Horoscopes on Patreon! For $3 per month, you not only help support the content that I release daily, you also get bi-monthly moon forecasts that are specific to your Sun and Rising sign, along with an animal ambassador for the lunation. I also have my weekly Tarot Subscription, for those who like to pull the cards, which focuses on the aspects I talk about in my Energetic Principles Podcast and helps relate them more personally to what is going on in your life through purposeful card placements. This upgrade is only $6 per month, and features the weekly custom spreads, Tarot Tips & Tricks, early access to the podcast, AND these Moon Horoscopes I speak of! What is not to like?? Come on down and check it out here!

Wishing Full Moon Blessings To All! 💫

With the signature of this Full Moon in Taurus, we can certainly consider this a time where we are awakening to the next chapter of our lives in many ways... with the outdated parts of ourselves starting to shake and crumble beneath the weight that can no longer be held. The ground may seem to collapse from beneath us at times, yet within that fallout a completely new foundation can be built; a structure that can support and sustain what we are seeking to manifest while also providing peace --- the most valuable commodity in life.

May the stars be with you! ✨✨✨

💜 Mel