Full Moon Eclipse in Taurus, 19 November 2021
The Taurus Full Moon normally brings a light respite to Scorpio season. In a time when we are diving beneath the surface and doing our shadow work, the Taurus influence pulls us up to the light for a moment, for a breath of air and ease and pleasure.
Yet, this year the Full Moon in Taurus is a partial lunar eclipse, and eclipse energy can be erratic and surprising.
A quick word about eclipses: we normally get two in a row, sometimes three.
Eclipses tend to bring about changes in our lives, and often these things can happen quite swiftly. Basically it’s like a cosmic powerup. It’s almost like the Universe (a benevolent Head Gamemaker) has been listening to our inner being and swoops in to give us a general cleanup and point us in the direction we want to go.
Don’t fear eclipses—they are a good thing! The process and experience of them might feel challenging at the time, but the end result is positive: one job ends to make way for a better job; a relationship ends to make way for a better relationship.
As a general rule of thumb, a Full Moon/Lunar eclipse brings an end to something, and a New Moon/Solar eclipse brings a new beginning. For more on eclipses, read this post.
We have been working with the Gemini-Sagittarius axis since mid-2020, pulling us away from old belief systems and into searching for new information and knowledge. This eclipse in Taurus marks the first of the Taurus-Scorpio eclipses which will continue through 2022 and into 2023.
The eclipses in Taurus will involve the North Node, which pulls us toward our destiny and path of greatest growth. The Scorpio eclipses will involve the South Node, which represents our past and comfort zone. The dance here is between money, resources (both financial and the resources of the planet) and our values alongside power, sexuality, unearthing the shadow, change and transformation.
The other thing I will say is eclipse energy is often so wild and of its own nature that some astrologers advise not to do your usual moon rituals during eclipse season. Instead, you can enjoy a ritual holiday and embrace self-care practises, with the knowledge that the Universe is doing its thing. I am of the belief that you choose what feels right for you. Some people can handle working with the heightened energy, others can’t or don’t feel like it. (I have still created a playlist for this month; even if you don’t use it in ritual you can have it on in the background while you do other things.)
As we are in the changeover period between signs this particular eclipse is going to start our story for the Taurus-Scorpio axis. Taurus is a fixed earth sign which is famous for not liking change, so if there has been something in this area of your chart that has been slow in manifesting, then maybe you’ll suddenly see some movement. Likewise, if you have been holding onto something far past its use-by date, then the eclipses will help you release and move on.
Keep in mind that whatever your eclipse story is is the right story for you—it might feel tricky or uncomfortable at the time, but it’s all how it’s meant to be.
If you have planets or angles at 27 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius) you will feel the effects more strongly than other people. Book in for a birth chart reading to learn what part of your chart the Taurus-Scorpio eclipses will be activating so you can be prepared.
Now, Uranus in Taurus is going to be an interesting planet during this eclipse season. It is a planet that likes change, innovation and freedom—throw in some eclipse energy and it is ready to party! The thing to keep in mind is ‘expect the unexpected’. For this particular eclipse, Mars in Scorpio is opposite Uranus and Venus in Capricorn is trine Uranus. It feels like there will be some changes to power in world leaders, whether that is through our collective values changing and demanding more or through unexpected circumstances such as the digging up of new information.
For yourself, check in with what your values are now. The pandemic has created shifts within us but a lot of people are still working towards their pre-pandemic goals. It’s okay to change if they don’t feel right to you anymore.
Venus has also just entered her pre-retrograde shadow period, so thoughts around who and what you value will start to enter your consciousness. Also a heads-up that during a Venus retrograde you shouldn’t try out a new hairstyle or overhaul anything related to aesthetics (especially avoid permanent things like tattoos). Either do the makeovers and start the renovations before she stations retrograde on December 19, or reschedule them for February. (I once changed my hairstyle during a Venus retrograde and hated it and couldn’t wait for it to grow out. Strangely enough, when I revisited the same hairstyle at a different time I loved it. Go figure.)
Jupiter in Aquarius will be highlighting this eclipse energy. Jupiter loves to super-size events. The good thing about this planet is that it can help us feel optimistic and positive about whatever is thrown our way. The bad thing is that it has a tendency for exaggeration and excess.
There is also a lovely trine between Neptune and Mercury which will help us feel into our dreams. When all feels chaotic around you the one place you can feel at peace is within yourself. If you are unsure of what to do, your dreams will give you the messages you need to help you through the next steps. Set the intention before you go to sleep about what you want to know and then write down the messages in the morning (my friend Bethany has this beautiful dream journal that you can record them in.)
The two-week period between eclipses can often have a dream-like quality to them, akin to the time between Christmas and New Year when you’re not sure what day it is. Keep yourself grounded by spending time in nature, being barefoot on the grass or sand, salt baths, exercising in the way that feels good for you.
I feel like the hardest thing about eclipses is that they are a time when we need to trust and surrender to whatever happens, and we humans love to control. Stay grounded in yourself and if things feel difficult reach out for whatever help you need to help you through.
The exact time of the Partial Lunar Eclipse is:
AEDT: Friday 19 November @ 7.57pm
United Kingdom: Friday 19 November @ 8.57am
US Eastern: Friday 19 November @ 3.57am
US Pacific: Friday 19 November @ 12.57am
