The Taurus New Moon of May 2008 - Seeding the Wesak Festival

by Robert Wilkinson

Today's New Moon in Taurus occurred at 5:18 am PDT at 16 degrees of Taurus. This New Moon is the promise that will be revealed beginning at the next Full Moon in Taurus, traditionally known as "The Wesak Festival," celebrating the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha. This New Moon shows the seed of some very important developments to come over the next 4 weeks.

For those readers in other time zones, a brief note about the rising sign of various global areas. Los Angeles has 30 Aries rising, SW New Mexico has 15 Taurus rising, and Washington DC has 23 Gemini rising. London (1:18 pm) has 1 Virgo rising, Amsterdam has 5 Virgo, and both Istanbul and Tallinn (3:18 pm) have 20 Virgo rising. New Delhi has 2 Scorpio on the Ascendant, Perth has 30 Sagittarius, Melbourne has 29 Capricorn, and Honolulu has 5 Pisces on the Eastern horizon at their respective times today.

This New Moon falls within a Locomotive pattern, showing imbalance that is power. A compensating energy will be needed to keep the sideways movements to a minimum so as not to waste momentum. The Locomotive is said to show a sense of some lack or need, or a task or problem to be solved wherever the empty span falls.

It is a dynamic and practical pattern, moved by externals to act. The occupied span opens with Pluto and closes with Saturn. This Earth trine bracketing all the other planets shows a very solid stabilization happening that will liberate us all from obsolete systems and limitations through purifications and regenerations.

Wherever Pluto falls in the chart where you live shows the circumstances that will activate the pattern that will ultimately yield the "liberating ordeals" promised by Saturn's degree position. These will be fulfilled as Mars crosses this point in early July, understood and revalued when Mercury and Venus cross the degree in early August, and integrated in our lives by the time the Sun crosses 2 Virgo in late August.

The planets show Mercury and Venus in their home signs, the Moon "exalted," and the separating Mars opposition Jupiter in Mutual Reception in the signs of their "fall." For good or ill, the planets are lined up in some very powerful positions. There is also a complete lack of planets in Fire signs, so this Lunation is really about practicalities, feelings, and ideas, though there may also be a need to compensate for a lack of Spirit in certain circumstances.

Venus is particularly powerful in this Lunation, as it rules Taurus and is in its home sign. It forms a Grand Earth trine with the bracketing planets leading and closing the pattern, and is on a degree indicating a new quality of being will be revealed to us all. Look to areas ruled by Venus in our charts, as well as the house in which it falls, to see where and how this new quality will come forth.

Venus also biseptiles Jupiter, quiintiles Neptune, semisquares Uranus, and binoviles Mars. Relationship futures hit a fork in the road, there are unique intuitions to capture, abrupt turns in power struggles and/or closures, and some things will finally finish gestating concerning our allegiances.

Of particular note is that the Lunation falls exactly quintile Mars, and with the exalted Moon ruling Mars, this should assist our Mars in Cancer function for the next few weeks. Practically speaking, we should be able to figure out some core needs, or perhaps some ways to fulfill things around our home and family in unique ways helping us move beyond old thinking and old modes of reacting. And of course, remember that Mars is the nozzle for The Grand Irrationality at this time (including Mercury) discussed in Astrology in Early May 2008 - The Grand Irrationality Intensifies With Mars in Cancer, Moon in Aries and Gemini, and Mercury in Gemini.

The Lunation trine Jupiter and sextile Uranus will further express in concrete ways the overall productivity of that aspect, discussed in the article Astrology in April-May-June 2008 - Jupiter Sextile Uranus Creating Yods, or Fingers of God, Across Generations. Mercury quintile Uranus should show as revolutionary ideas helping organize or reorganize some sorts of needed reforms through communications.

Mercury's square to Saturn is either a release or a putting on the brakes or both. Overall this aspect will intensify some things, and bring wisdom in areas not normally glimpsed. Protection against aggressive people may be required, but also the willingness to be rewarded for purity of heart by gifts from an "unseen" source. Open your imagination, don't think too narrowly or rigidly, and you should be able to master some old form of discouragement through cultivating community values or Spirit.

The Sabian Symbol for the Lunation is 16 Taurus, the mid-point of the two Full Moons in Taurus this year. Dr. Jones, the originator of the symbols, says it is "An old man attempting vainly to reveal the Mysteries." The first thing that comes to mind is don't waste your breath trying to communicate things beyond another's ability to comprehend. We are told by Rudhyar that it is a degree of "the inadequacy of past knowledge in a time of crisis," and a type of creative frustration.

The degree falls in the Span of Enjoyment, and is the first degree of the actional level of Confirmation. The knowledge we possess may have to be put in a new form, or it may be that our ideas and metaphors cannot "confirm" the new conditions of existence. There will be a sense of being in possession of greater knowledge than can be put to use or that there is more potential than we can fulfill at the present time. We are also told it is a degree of "spiritual loneliness."

Going back to the original elaboration on this symbol, we find it symbolizes a need to share the "substance of selfhood" in some intellectual way. It is an awakening to a "transient inadequacy" and a stirring of effort that will fulfill itself after the right conditions have been established.

Dr. Jones writes "There is revolt against an inertia which threatens the very core of selfhood. The keyword is PERTINACITY. When positive, the degree is the uncompromising integrity of higher vision and an unshakable determination to dramatize it... The formula is Sustaining, Ideal, Efficient, Generalizing, Physical, and Experimental.

So overall this time is about education, efficiency, and the presence of visible and invisible helpers that can lead us into a whole new quality of being now that the old order has become dis-structured. And of course, the lessons of this New Moon will show dramatically after the coming Wesak Festival Full Moon at 30 degrees of Taurus/Scorpio coming on May 19 at 7:11 pm PDT (3:11 am May 20 Greenwich Summer Time).

To learn more about the Wesak Festival, as well as May celebrations, please go to Global Spiritual Astrology in April-May 2008 - It's the Full Moon of Taurus-Scorpio, also known as The Wesak Festival! We're definitely blessed to have two of them this year, making this a very special time on Earth. Aum Mani Padme Hum.

Copyright © 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Nadine]

surely the full moon on the 19th will be in scorpio not taurus

[WINDSOR]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[Micheline]

HI, this should be interesting, I did a new moon intention ritual last nigth, looking at things that need to be healed and things I need to get done. I am looking forward to the full moon in taurus at the end of the month. What degrees will that full moon be in I wonder. This new moon, is conjuncting my jupiter in taurus in the tenth house and my mc. The sun was also there too yesterday. Venus was right behind it in my ninth house. I definetely feel something was happening, i met with some old friend in the park and he was impressed with my singing said i was the old style, the world music style, since i was singing and playing a song that is world music that made people happy, i feel i am finally getting somewhere with the new direction i have decided to take musically....i am very happyyyyy

[cathy cataldo]

Aum Mani Padme Hum.

[Micheline]

the next full moon is supposed to be in scorpio at 29 degrees
is that not right everywhere i researched says the same thing

[Robert]

Hi Micheline - What you're reading is a popular misconception around degrees by those who either don't know number/time theory or have never studied the philosophy of the Sabian Symbols as offered by Jones, Rudhyar, and many others. In the coming Full Moon, the Sun will be at 29+ Taurus, the Moon at 29+ Scorpio. These translate as 30 degrees of their respective signs.

There is no "zero degree." Zero does not exist except as a place holder in mathematics relative to a decimal point. That's why 0 degrees 1 minute is read as 1 degree, in that the process of becoming a whole degree is fulfilled at the point of its "oneness." Like we are not 1 year old until we have fulfilled the first year. We are not 2 years old until we have fulfilled our second year of life, and so forth. Zero degrees plus any fraction translates as "the first degree." 29 plus any fraction reads as "the thirtieth degree." This is as clear as I can express it.

[Robert]

To my friends and readers at Democratic Underground - You have a great site. To answer one question, what I mean when I speak of Pluto is that the Full Moon where you live falls in a certain house, as do all the planets. For example, in Los Angeles Pluto will fall in the 9th house, whereas in Washington DC, having 22 Gemini rising, it will fall in the 7th house. In London, with 1 Virgo rising, Saturn is on the Ascendant while leading Pluto is on the 5th house cusp. That's what I mean when I speak of where the planets fall. Also, where does Pluto fall in your natal chart? That's the front edge of your own larger transformational process, and wherever Saturn is in your chart is where you will experience your "liberating ordeal." Glad to be able to contribute to your discussion over there.

[Svetlana]

Robert, being smb like Wizard of Ozz (in the right meaning of this title for the APs' readership:), you touched a word/term/notion "zero/naught" which is of KEY importance nowadays for the world,getting ready for smth brand new...
Though no one knows for sure what, where,why,when and how, yet it is understandable,that real novelity/beginning comes after some kind of the end, or from zero point,so to say.
What are your thoughts about it in the context of TRANS-concept , if I managed to express my hazy thought in an adequate way and you grasped the idea:)

[Robert]

HI Svetlana - When things are "zero'd out" then we have space that can be filled with the potential of the moment, conditioned by 10,000 obvious and subtle things within the maxlimit of the field. Of course, there are always mutation moments when we go down the looking glass and find things entirely upside down.

[erol]

i have jupiter 16 degress conjunct my 7th house, and pluto is aspecting my sun, a winter solstice sun, at 0 degrees 22 cap. Jupiter in my natal trines a three planet setllium (uranus, pluto, mars) in my tenth, trine exact to pluto in the tenth, though squares moon in leo in the 9th, and opposes neputun on that conjuncts my ascendant.

any coments on what this exact new moon conjunct to my juptier on the 7th could mean for me ?

[Me]

Howdy Roberto! Are you saying that not only we will be having a Blue Moon, but that we will have a second Wesak Festival too?? That sounds extra ordinary. WOW! Keep on Working On the Work. Love and Blessings to you and all you do so unselfishly for us all.
And speaking of the Grand Irrationality, I did something completely different this year with my students before their standardized test in Math. We recited the Pattern on The Tressle board. What a boost. Every student in class received Academic Recognition. It was the first class I had tried it with, but who knows maybe its part of our New direction. Am I completely off base here? It was definitely experimental.
The students loved doing it together. Love you. Namaskar .Mel

[Kim]

Wow. Now I'm wondering...how can you tell where Pluto falls specifically for where you live (Texas)?
On the night of the last new moon you're talking about, it just happened to be the last night before a group of four teenagers from UK were set to return to their home after spending a whirlwind week with our family in Texas. My daughters had met them only briefly in mid-March at a music festival, had apparently stayed in contact with one of them, and then suddenly they arrived here in the USA driving a rented RV. As it turned out, in the week they were here, they became extremely close to us, and few things, in fact, have ever been so difficult (even for me!) as it was saying good-bye when it came time for them to go back home.
In any case, this same night you wrote about (May 5th) was very emotional for ALL of us ...... there wasn't a dry eye in the house!..... and in the course of saying good-bye that night, everyone vowed to stay in touch and even made plans to find a way for my two daughters to visit them in England sometime this summer (which financially, at this time, is quite a stretch).
My question is........is the fact that their "farewell party" took place during this new moon a good indication for lasting friendships? I would very much like for all the kids to stay in touch and hopefully for them to visit back and forth in the future. I feel like relating (especially in a "teenage" kind of way) to other kids from so far away has already had such a positive effect on my daughters, plus the fact that the four boys that stayed with us were some of the nicest kids I've ever met....even I cried when they left!.....I feel like they've all made lasting friendships with each other and hope this new moon is a good sign towards it, but I'm not sure. At this point, I'm all for letting the girls travel to see them, even though it's so far, because I know and trust these boys (before, I would not even have considered it), but after reading this and checking mine and the girls charts, I don't know.
I have Pluto in the 6th house, one girl has it in 12th, the other has it in 3rd. Venus rules my 8th, one girl's 10th, and the other's (who is a Libra sun sign) 3rd.
I FEEL like this is a good sign ........ but maybe I'm just being sentimental?

[Robert]

Hi Erol - It means this is a new era for your Jupiter, as well as the houses it rules. Transiting Jupiter should be offering you major new vision, understanding, and ways of perceiving and communicating. This whole year is the beginning of a 12 year cycle, and I have no doubt it's fulfilling some dreams and opening others in major ways. Saturn is also assisting in obvious ways. Enjoy it, since opportunity is everywhere, and by September you'll definitely be oriented along natural lines of skill and should have solid productive relationships.

Hi Me - No, no Blue Moon. That's when we have two Full Moons in one month. Yes, we have two Full Moons in Taurus, one last month and one this month. Great that you exposed your students to something higher of eternal value, so I don't see how it could be off base. Everything's experimental, as far as I'm concerned (including life itself!) And I am looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks.

Hi Kim - You calculate the chart for where you live to find out in which houses the planets are falling. Great that you've opened your home to students from distant lands. My parents have done that for years, and made some long lasting solid friendships. While it might seem dicey to some people, it really depends on who, when, and one's ability to handle the ebb and flow. Maybe you didn't say goodbye as much as "until next time," which seems to be the eternal state of our relations with those who really belong to us. A New Moon is great for beginning things, and in Taurus would imply some solid and enjoyable starts.

[Rona]

hi Robert ,

it is always very nice to read yours answers not only to me but also to others , at same time i enjoy your writen reports on astrology. it feels at times like a healing.

wonder how this moons will affect my daughter , as you can see by her charter below , she has many planets in Taurus .. .. few people have told me she is going to be very succesfully in her life and famous. Somehow she has had some set backs lately . she is very warm human being, even at tender age she has /is a sunshine to me.... at times she can be very stubber..

she is aspiring actress, she very good.... need to go after it more .. ..wonder if you, by looking at her charter can tell me if she is in the right proffession ? is she to be succesfully as i was told ?.and issues of ehr healht more important

she is at this monent is in USA last year she did an acting workshop there, now is coming back home by June and she told she is to concentrate in her acting career. Unfortunately at the end of 2007 in emergency she had a defibrillator put on her heart, all due to a syndrome...but she was lucky to find out on time as Drs there told her she was at risk of sudden death, reason she could not return to England when she was due in November ... In April she come home and brought some of her things back, then she was seen by the cardilogist specialist who would be her Dr here in England.. after some tests , he told her, that she ''may need a major operation again as the defibrillator is not working at it should be.'' ... she was distress to think she had to do all over again ...she contact the well know surgeon specialits electrophysiologist who operated her on NYC USA , he wrote to her an email after reading the results of the tests done to her , his respond was '' it is not need for operation, only a reajustment on the defibrillator would do'' ...she is seen him on next few days ... as you could imagine I worry , I love her dearly, it is my only daugther .... i worry for her at times ..

would you kindly please advice on her health and in career as if both works she is happy also is she to have great future as an actress ? or in what sort ??. . i would forward her your respond.

I thank you so much

worry mother

this is the charter of G

Sun Taurus 13°49'33 in house 10 direct
Moon Taurus 16°55'40 in house 10 direct
Mercury Taurus 21°42'42 in house 11 direct
Venus Taurus 20°51'14 in house 11 direct
Mars Taurus 6°47'34 in house 10 direct
Jupiter Libra 1°15'32 in house 3 retrograde
Saturn Libra 3°49'11 in house 3 retrograde
Uranus Scorpio 28°42'46 in house 5 retrograde
Neptune Sagittarius 24°28'50 in house 5 retrograde
Pluto Libra 22°22'47 in house 4 retrograde
True Node Leo 5°24'25 in house 1 retrograde

House positions (Placidus)Ascendant Leo 4°14'35
2nd House Leo 20°35'30
3rd House Virgo 11°34'26
Imum Coeli Libra 10°43'57
5th House Scorpio 20°30'17
6th House Capricorn 2°19'06
Descendant Aquarius 4°14'35
8th House Aquarius 20°35'30
9th House Pisces 11°34'26
Medium Coeli Aries 10°43'57
11th House Taurus 20°30'17
12th House Cancer 2°19'06

[Robert]

Hi rona - I definitely generate source material, and try to help in different ways in the comments, since we're all in this together. Regarding worldly success, we only achieve what we determine we will achieve, and even then sometimes the answer is no. That's so we'll develop a little starch in our spines and not take it for granted that things are "supposed" to be any given way (even if it would be nice if they were, and occasionally ARE due to our thoughtforms.)

Acting is a profession where you must learn that being turned down doesn't constitute failure. That said, Taurus actresses are true beauties, and often succeed through sheer persistence, magnetism, and charm. Also, it's always good to be a calming and stabilizing presence on any movie/tv set, since there's usually a mix of pandemonium, boredom, and massive ego malfunctions. (I was a script consultant for major league movies and also produced and directed television years ago, so take my word on it.)

Leo rising is good for theater and acting in general. Our tribe are unafraid to put ourselves out on stage. Leo rising just need to develop a thicker hide so criticism isn't taken personally. With those planets in the 10th house, she is definitely suited for the public eye, and would be well-esteemed for her solidity, versatility, beauty, charm, and magnetism. There would be something sensitive and noble, strong and vulnerable about how others perceived her. She would be seen as a natural leader.

Unfortunately, I cannot comment on health issues due to legal ramifications. Also, it's not good to discuss or make life altering choices based on a comment stream. For those kinds of things an appointment with a professional Astrologer who knows what's accurate and ethical is preferable. There aren't many of us out there, so don't put your trust in someone unless you know they know what they're talking about. I would say that Jupiter in her 6th trine her Taurus should be good for stabilizing what needs stabilizing, and if she can find the right plan, discipline, and execution she should be able to harmonize her health by this Autumn at latest. What you describe sounds like dueling bull elephant doctors. You probably need a definitive answer from a specialist who knows that is actually going on.