Full Moon in Taurus
WELCOME & ORIENTATION
Hello everyone, and happy new moon!
Welcome to Moon Moments, and thank you for being here. This is a program where we gather every two weeks, on the new and full moons. Each new moon is a time for invitation, longing, intention-setting, and introspection; and full moons are times for gratitude, celebration, connection, and reflection. In the dark of a new moon, we plant seeds that grow for six months and culminate with a bright full moon in the same astrological sign, which then wanes for six months until it empties and returns to a new moon in that sign, and the cycle begins again.
Today’s full moon is in the astrological sign of Taurus.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are on the unceded traditional lands of the Duwamish Tribe, ‘the people of the inside’. As we take this time to connect with the earth, let us honor with gratitude the past, present, and future Duwamish people, who are the family of this land. This land offers us so much; may we offer back to the land and their Duwamish kin through this time together, through what we nurture in and between us, and through what we do with what we receive from this time. We hold deep thanks and deep intention for justice for the Duwamish people in this space.
MOMENT OF ARRIVAL
We will start our time together with some soft, full breaths and swaying. Find a pace that feels nice to you; we’ll sway to one side on the inhale and to the other on the exhale. With both breath and movement, try pausing for a moment at the top of the inhale and bottom of the exhale. Let it be kind of flowy and playful. We’ll do this for a minute or two just to ease into a restful, playful energy.
SETTLE INTO SWEETNESS
Let’s create sweetness in our space! For the next ten to fifteen minutes, wander and explore as you want to and find leaves, rocks, sticks, etc. to bring back to our site. We will use these to surround our area decoratively and make it feel special.
This is also a time for us to orient to our earthly community. As you walk and look around, I encourage you to say hello to trees and water and such. I find it nice to touch things as I say hi.
When you get back, you can place your items around our perimeter in a way that looks lovely or feels happy to you. Then we'll get cozy and top off tea for whoever needs it.
JOURNALING
Please pull out whatever you brought for writing, whether that’s a journal and pen or your phone notes app. We’re going to do three rounds of prompts and reflection. I think reflection always flows best when we do it in our own way, so let yourself lean into whatever that is for you. You could use words or drawings, write long form, jot down bullet points, or just ponder in your mind if that feels right for you. You’ll have five minutes for each question.
Write / draw / bring to mind as many loves and gratitudes as you can.
What lessons have you learned in this season?
How can you share from these gifts and lessons?
Does anyone want to share something that stuck out to you during your reflection time?
ACTIVITY
I’d love to take some time to get playful with this.
My prompt for you is to create a wonderful world in the sand. Do with that what you will. Use whatever fallen materials you want to. You can work together or alone, you can make a neighborhood or landscape or one home, or whatever else you want to dream up.
If you really don’t want to put your hands in the sand, you can write, draw, or lay down and dream. It’s up to you. Just let it be lighthearted. I’ll give us about fifteen to twenty minutes for this and call us back afterward.
LOVING KINDNESS MEDITATION
Whether we are working toward something or resting, I hope that we do it all in compassion. As a way of sharing this restful time we’ve had and guiding whatever effort we will take as a result of this time, our last activity will be a loving-kindness meditation. I invite you to join me in this, starting by finding a comfortable seat and settling in in whatever way feels soft to you.
Begin close in, repeating these words to yourself:
May you be safe
May you be healthy
May you be happy
May you be at peace
Next, bring to mind the people, animals, or places in nature that you hold most dear. Extend this prayer to them:
May you be safe
May you be healthy
May you be happy
May you be at peace
Move your prayer outward to someone in your life or community who is in need. Offer this prayer for them:
May you be safe
May you be healthy
May you be happy
May you be at peace
Now, focus your mind on a place in the world, either local or global, that is in conflict or where people are in danger; and pray:
May you be safe
May you be healthy
May you be happy
May you be at peace
Gather up all the compassion You have cultivated and bring your loving awareness to anyone who you find hard to love. If you can, pray for healing and wholeness for this person or group.
May you be safe
May you be healthy
May you be happy
May you be at peace
Finally, extend your awareness to the whole community of creation — to all people and beings who live together with us on this earth, our common home. And pray:
May you be safe
May you be healthy
May you be happy
May you be at peace
REFLECTION
Taurus — the earth sign that today’s full moon is in — is fixed, unmoving. It is the unstoppable force and immovable object of the zodiac. But Taurus doesn’t muster this willpower for no reason; Taurus loves hard. Taurus is driven by love for others and by delight in the sweetness of life’s pleasures. Taurus rests and enjoys deeply; it loves to be alive and for that reason is unwilling to budge from the path of life — not only the path of survival but also the path of JOY, vitality, flourishing. Taurus isn’t motivated by fear, despair, anger, or shame; these emotions matter, but they aren’t stable foundations. Taurus knows that love of others, love of life, love of self — these are sturdy foundations for us to build upon. How will we embody and learn from Taurus energy?
Things are changing. How will we ground? How will we continue to move toward our values and commitments when we’re rattled? Taurus hates change because it has a lot of inertia and it is comforted by consistency. Even if it is hard, can we let this be a moment for learning and deepening rather than an obstacle derailing us?
This election is making clear to me how very important and essential it is to celebrate, to root into community, to be in our bodies and our small lives. How are we to survive if we cannot enjoy? We need to know our strength, to commit to the long haul, to let the journey be sweet because we will not make it if the road holds only pain.
What foundation will sustain us not only with basic needs but also with joy? What stones will we lay down in mighty layers? What practices, habits, people, pleasures keep you going? What keeps us going? How do you rest? What efforts are you determined to continue, and why? What is it that you want to be rooted in?
May these questions sink in and slowly take root for us as we rest, enjoy, and then get back to it.
SEND-OFF
Thank you so very much for being here tonight. It really does make a difference being in community; you have offered a real gift to each other and to me with your presence.
Our next gathering will be on Sunday, December 1st for the new moon in Sagittarius. I’d love to see you there if you can make it!
I want to let y’all know about an offering called Cultivate. This is a six-month package of monthly private sessions with me, starting around the new moon and continuing until the corresponding full moon. If anything is brewing for you that you want to attend to more deeply, let me know! Or maybe our new moon in Sagittarius gathering will hold something potent for you. If you’re interested, you can chat with me after we end or send me an email – I’m happy to answer any questions you might have. As with all of my offerings, a sliding scale is available for payment to make this more accessible.
Again, thank you for being here and engaging these practices. Your presence supports every other person here and your practice of centering makes a difference for everyone your life touches. May this time of rest, play, and grounding serve you as you go from this place. Have a lovely evening — I’ll see you on the new moon!
