Taurus New Moon: Turbo-Charged

Mrs. T, the Welsh wonder tortoise!

A 90-year-old tortoise named Mrs. T made world headlines in 2015 after her front legs were gnawed off by rats while she was hibernating in a garden shed. Owner Jude Ryder of Pembroke, Wales, rushed her beloved pet to the vet, terrified she might have to be euthanized.  Though Mrs. T recovered (after a very expensive vet bill), the poor old girl still couldn’t move.

So, her owner’s son Dale Sinclair-Jones, an engineer, had the brilliant idea to glue an axis with wheels from a model aircraft onto the tortoise’s shell. This was like fitting her with a turbo charger. It enabled Mrs. T to go twice the speed as before, using her back legs to push herself along. Sinclair-Jones, who’d received the tortoise as a gift when he was eight years old, carefully designed the wheels to work with his old friend’s movements.

“She took to them straight away,” he said, “but she had to learn how to turn and stop. She seems quite happy, but it’s difficult to tell with a tortoise.”

This is what I love about tortoises, and why they’re my favorite totem for steadfast Taurus. They just keep cruising along, accepting life as it comes. No matter the circumstances, good or bad, a tortoise perseveres. Reliable and resilient, she embraces all that comes her way.

The Taurus New Moon (April 27, 12:31 p.m. PDT) brings these potent qualities to the foreground, giving us dynamic access to them.  Although it’s happening in an earthy, practical sign, this is also a fiery, intense New Moon. That’s because the Sun and Moon at 7 Taurus make a fixed T-square with assertive Mars in Leo and now-or-never Pluto in Aquarius. This turbo-charged combo can help us initiate powerful things, though it can also signal massive power struggles and the breakdown of old systems.

As I noted in my last essay, this lunation falls one day after the final Mars-Pluto opposition of April 26. This intense standoff between two potentially warlike planets is the outcome of events that began in early November and returned in January. In the week leading up to the Taurus New Moon, as the final Mars-Pluto aspect gets catalyzed, things set in motion in November will be playing out, for good or ill.

Especially for the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), this week could be a turning point. Whatever is transpiring personally or globally, be sure to keep your feet on the ground, spend time in nature, tune into your body wisdom, and maintain an open mind. The ruler of this New Moon is Venus in Pisces, still traveling with Saturn at late degrees of that spiritual sign and urging us to keep the faith. Commitments, rules and boundaries are up for review and/or calling to be enforced. Venus and Saturn will also sextile Uranus in late Taurus, offering innovative support for relational, financial and technical matters. And, with the inner planets finally out of retrograde and picking up speed, we have renewed momentum now.

Just be like Mrs. T and keep a cool head (I was unable to get an update on her status – sure hope she made it to her hundredth birthday this year!). Her tale reminds us that we can never know what’s coming next, and to maintain hope. What looks like the end could be a new beginning. Even the most grievous circumstance may be just what’s needed to wake people up and turn things around. By having faith that something good is in the offing, even if it takes a while to show up, we cultivate a mindset that can help bring it about. Meanwhile, do your best to stay calm and effective. And remember that you don’t have to do it alone. Pluto in Aquarius empowers the group. Together, we are a force to be reckoned with.

April is Earth Month, and our Mother is facing unprecedented threats. Please join me in supporting one of my favorite organizations, the Natural Resources Defense Council. They’ve been legislating effectively for the natural world for over 50 years. Or make a donation to the organization of your choice to help protect the animals! May the Taurus New Moon bless you…