Taurus - April 20 - May 20

Taurus

April 20 - May 20

 

 

 

"I, Isis, am all that hath been,

That is or

Shall be,
I, who made light from my feathers,

The wind from my wings,
No mortal man ever hath me unveiled! –

Until now."
-  Invocation of Isis

May Dates:

May Day, May Pole celebration.

Beltane, in Gaelic folklore, cattle were driven between two fires to purify them and bring luck (Eadar dà theine Bhealltainn in Scottish 'Between two fires of Beltane').

Mother's Day, Began in USA.
Wesak or Visakah Puja ("Buddha Day") Full moon in May, Traditionally, Buddha's Birthday, also called Vesak, a major Buddhist  festival celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the one day, except in a leap year when the festival is held in June. See Wesak chapter.

St. Sarah, gypsy pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer The next day is in honor of the Saints Sarah, Marie Jacobe and Marie Salome.

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a  loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Luke 1:39-56

 

Native American Moon: Flower Moon, Corn Planting Moon or Milk Moon. For obvious reasons in harmony with nature this month radiates beauty.

Wiccan Moon:  Full Flower Moon. Flowers are abundant everywhere. This is a good time to work on magic related to careers and jobs.

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Vedic Astrology:

In the Indian pantheon, Lord Siva, the Great God, has a white bull, Nandi, for his vehicle. Veneration of the bull which began in pre-historic times, in the pre-dynastic Egypt is evident from the colossal bulls painted in the caves of Lascaux. In Egypt, the bull was worshipped for its power of procreation. As we explore the deeper symbolic meanings of Taurus, it represents Divine Energy, which makes the manifestation possible. It is among the four sacred animals who are the Maharajas of the four quarters, and presides over the south, called in Sanskrit Rishabha, dedicated to Yama, the god of the Underworld.

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Character:

Desire is the focus of Taurus. For most people this implies a yearning to enjoy and satisfy the desires of the world of five senses.

However, for the spiritually minded individual it gives instead a wish and strive to liberate herself from desire, to learn to develop an inner peace. The lower aspect of peace is passivity and inertia, and Taurus may have therefore an important choice between action and passivity.

If Taurus is strong in your horoscope it may be a good idea to ask yourself the question if the actions you perform in daily life are motivated and ruled by emotion and desire or if they have their origin in intuition and the inner voice. If you have this in mind you can see with clarity on your situation and your life

Taurus has a strong will and perseverance. For the mature soul, this will manifest as an uncompromising determination to give up everything that keeps her away from the soul. For the young soul it will manifest as stubbornness and conservatism. The goal of Taurus is inner peace, be careful not to become stuck in a search for comfort and not to be possessive in relationships and with material things.

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Zodiac Myths and Legends:

Taurus was represented by both the sun and the moon, its symbol being sometimes a bull, sometimes a cow. Taurus was usually connected with sun gods, such as Osiris, Apis Hathor; and with moon goddesses such as or Isis, Diana, Cybele.

 

Apis, the sacred bull of Egypt was pictured often with the sun-disk between his horns, being one of the few deities associated with this symbol. His conception was by a ray from heaven. When the disk was shown on his head with his horns and the triangle of his forehead, an ankh was suggested. Apis is unique because he is the only Egyptian deity represented solely as an animal, never as a human with an animal's head.
     

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Minotaur

Another ancient myth associated with this sign of the zodiac comes to us from Crete. It is the myth of the Minotaur and the labyrinth from the Minoan civilization. In Greek is Minotavros = the bull of Minos, half man with the head of a bull.

The Minotaur never ventured outside a cave the inhabitants of Crete built for him. A cave or labyrinth so convoluted that no one ever escaped once they entered.

The Cretans fed him prisoners and this is how Theseus encountered him. Theseus killed the monster but only with the help of Ariadne (name meaning “most holy or most pure”) who helped by giving him a sword and a ball of red thread she was spinning to for finding his way out of the labyrinth.

It is rarely mentioned that a Lady or Mistress presided over the Labyrinth. The image of the bull represents our animal ego, the labyrinth our lives, Ariadne our inner voice and the ball of red thread, our tie to humanity. The lesson here is that when our ego is ready to die we can turn around and serve all humanity.

 

Another famous Bull is the guardian Nandi (the white bull), the gentle carrier of the God Shiva the Destroyer. A statue of Nandi can often be seen watching over a main shrine or temple entrance in India.  The bull is said to embody sexual energy, fertility.  Riding on its back, shows Shiva is in control of these impulses.   

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Labyrinth

Ancient labyrinths were believed to have served as traps for malevolent spirits or as walkways for ritual dances. They were a puzzle and like our lives, they only have one entrance and one destination.

A Labyrinth can serve as a walking meditation, a call to mindfulness. The full renaissance of the medieval labyrinth came about during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries when grand  labyrinths were built in gothic cathedrals, notably Chartres, Reims and Amiens in northern France and the Duomo di Siena in Tuscany. 

Many modern labyrinths exist today in churches, hospitals and parks. Walking among the turnings, one loses track of direction and of the outside world, and thus the exercise quiets the mind. Labyrinths bring us unwittingly to the heart of the matter.

Native Americans would make a medicine wheel garden with four spokes and twenty two stones, often near a sweat lodge.

 

Directions to Make a Labyrinth

Few things are more rewarding than creating a labyrinth and walking it afterwards. The love and care that go into the building - and in the walking, are powerful transformers of energy. This spot becomes a sacred space just by this activity.

You begin with a seed pattern, the basic building block. The example here is a Classical Seven Circuit Labyrinth. The Chartres-type is a bit more difficult to construct. Robert Ferrè tells us how to make one of these labyrinths with tape. You can bury bricks in the ground so the mower can pass over them easily.

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May Day

Is a vestige of the ancient tree cult. The May pole is all that is left. Yggdrasil, the Celtic mythical tree of life was once thought to hold up the universe with its branches supporting the Heavens and its roots holding down the earth. 

This again, like the myth of Nut from Egypt, created a space between heaven and earth in which mankind could live. The pole is a phallic symbol and the dance, a celebration of the coming fertility of summer. Only women would dance traditionally. The tree later became a column in many societies and a further look into the symbolism of the column can be found in the chapter on Gemini.

 

How to Dance the Maypole

1. Put the Maypole together. Unless you have access to a Maypole that has already been made for this purpose, you will need to make your own. Find a tall pole and attach ribbons or strong streamers at the top of the pole. These ribbons will need to be an even number, the same number of ribbons as there are dancers.

2. Divide the dancers into two groups. For example, you might have them count off one, two, one, two, one, two around the circle. The One’s can go clockwise and the Two's go counterclockwise. The dancers go alternately right and left of the dancers going in the opposite direction.

3. Develop a pattern. The pattern the dancers should keep in mind is over, under, over, under, over, under etc.

·         On the count of "over", the dancer raises his ribbon slightly so the dancer coming in the opposite direction can duck under his ribbon.

·         On the count of "under" the dancer ducks under the ribbon of the dancer coming in the opposite direction.

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Beltane Fires

The Beltane festival marks the coming of age of the young Sun God into manhood. Nature flourishes and He is stirred by this abundance of energy. The Ancient Nature God desires the Goddess. They fall in love and unite. The Goddess becomes pregnant, which ensures new life for the harvest. Beltane celebrates the first stirrings of vitality, passion, love, and desires consummated. (See appendix on Wiccan year).

Beltane (or Bealtaine) meaning "bright fire", was historically a Gaelic festival celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Bealtaine and Samhain were the important dates of the farming year in medieval Ireland, though the latter festival was the more important

Beltane marks the beginning of the pastoral summer season when the herds of livestock are driven out to the summer pastures and mountain grazing lands. In Gaelic folklore, the village cattle were driven between two fires to purify them and bring luck (Eadar dà theine Bhealltainn in Scottish Gaelic, 'Between two fires of Beltane'). This term is also found in Irish and is used as a turn of phrase to describe a situation which is difficult to escape from. In Scotland, boughs of juniper were sometimes thrown on the fires to add an additional element of purification and blessing to the smoke. People also would pass between the two fires to purify themselves. Native Americans used cedar and sage.

The festival persisted widely up until the 1950s, and in some places the celebration of Beltane continues today. In medieval Ireland, the main Bealtaine fire was held on the central hill of Uisneach 'the navel of Ireland', one of the ritual centers of the country, which is located in what is now County Westmeath.

Many Wiccans and Neopagans today observe the traditional bonfire rites when this is feasible where they live, including the dousing of the household hearth flame and relighting of it from the community festival fire.

 

Some decorate May Bushes and prepare seasonal foods. Pilgrimages to holy wells are traditional at this time, and offerings and prayers to the spirits or devas of the wells are usually part of this practice. Crafts such as the making of equal-armed rowan crosses (dedicated to St Brigit) are common, and rituals for the blessing and protection of the household and land are performed.

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Mother’s Day (US)

 Mother’s day is now celebrated around the world on the second Sunday in May. This month is dedicated to the feminine, lambs are born and spring has arrived for much of the northern hemisphere. The celebration of Mother’s day is a tradition that Christian churches recognize. It harkens back to the goddess worship of Cybele, Isis and Innana, all fertility goddesses and mothers. 

Anna M. Jarvis campaigned for the creation of an official Mother’s Day in remembrance of her mother and in honor of peace in the US. In 1908, Anna petitioned the superintendent of the church where her Mother had spent over 20 years teaching Sunday School. Her request was honored, and on May 10, 1908, the first official Mother's Day celebration took place at Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia and a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Wesak

During the Full Moon in May, the Buddha Who dwells far beyond our earth’s consciousness, will give, once again, His very special blessing to humankind. A Blessing, which will be received by the assembled members of Hierarchy in which we may share to distribute and shower over the earth, the great Power of Love, Love that conquers all obstacles. Love that is a living balm and which soothes all pains and makes all hearts radiant with the joy of this Blessing. (See chapter on Wesak.)

This is one of the most important full moons of the year for the spiritualist and occultist. We have been taught that a descent of energies, having its source in the Pleiades, is directed to Earth through the Great Being we call Buddha, the Enlightened One, sometimes called the Flower of Humanity.

These forces culminate on the day of the full moon and come to earth in a special Valley in Tibet, physical and super-physical. The Members of the Great Spiritual Hierarchy come together and a great ceremony is performed to receive, transform and re-enforce the energies which then are distributed to the whole planet. 

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St. Sarah

Saint Sarah, also known as Sara-la-Kali ,"Sara the Black", is the patron saint of the Roma (Gypsy) people. She is venerated at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a place of pilgrimage for the Roma in Camargue, southern France. Legend says she was a native of Upper Egypt and the servant of Mary Jacobe,one of the Three Marys, with whom she travelled: (Mary Magdalene, Mary Jacobi and Mary Salomé, the mother of Apostles John and James). They allegedly arrived on these shore in “a boat with no oars” in AD 42,  (according to French legend) bringing with them the Holy Grail and the “good news” of Christianity in their hearts (though it had yet to be written!). They were to voyage to Britain to meet with high Druids, perhaps in the company of Joseph of Aramthea, then Mary the Madonna settled in southern France to live.

The festival of Saint Sarah and “Les Maries” is held in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer beginning on the evening of May 23 with music and street dancing. Gypsies and tourists flock to the town to celebrate the “vigil” of the eve of St Sarah. The 24th is the actual feast of St. Sarah. A local bishop says high Mass in her honor, and the townspeople escort St. Sarah’s statue,  (“Our Lady of the Sea”) dressed in seven layers of beautiful gowns created by tribes of Gypsy women, to the sea. Gypsy men on white horses carry the statue on a platform and stand in the waves while the crowd signs hymns and shouts “Vive Ste. Sarah!”

There are several suggestions about why Sarah is black: she is “Egyptian” (i.e. born in Egypt), she is obscure (allegedly the maid-servant of the Maries, “just like Cinderella”) or, she is a “hidden” offspring of the lineage of King David. There was said to be  only one child on the boat in the French legends and her name “Sarah” means “princess” in Hebrew.

May 24-25 is the feast of “Les Maries.” The statue of two women with covered chalices standing in a blue boat is lowered from its position above the altar and is escorted to the sea, similar to the Sarah parade but this ceremony is on the next day.

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Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

During the month of May women rededicate themselves to Mary, the Mother of Christ, and daughter of Ann the High Priestess. They are called to remember their role stewards of our planet, peace makers,  and mothers to spiritual beings. Through Mary, we can trace our lineage back through the entire feminine Hierarchy, of which the Mother of the World is for our consciousness the deepest sacred source and expression of love and mercy that we can comprehend.

On May 31, we celebrate the visitation of the pregnant Mary to Elizabeth soon to be mother of John the Baptist. Even though he was still in his mother's womb, John became aware of the presence of Christ, and leapt for joy as he was filled with divine grace.

Elizabeth responded, and so, recognized the presence of a high spiritual leader. Thus, Mary for the first time became aware of her function as mediatrix between God and man. At this special moment, both women were of made aware of the sacred work that lay ahead of them.

The special power of the Mother energies, which are called Kundalini shatki, are especially active this month and bring up from our deepest being, a driving life force. Our heart controls our psychic energy: it is the receptacle, condenser and transmitter of Pure White Light. This month is in direct opposition to October/November when the veil is thinnest – the veil is now thickest. By opposition, the connection inside us, in our hearts is easiest to connect to; it is time to go inside, while the Kundalini is strongest. We are now able to carry a seed of sacred love to fruition for the service of humanity if we are ready.

 “Kundalini” is a Sanskrit word meaning “coiled.” It is used to modify the noun “Shakti,” which means the spiritual power dwelling within every human being. Kundalini Shakti is the divine omnipotence surrounding the spark of Pure Consciousness at the core of our innermost selves. It is the subtlest manifestation of the One, the Ultimate Source, from which all is inseparable. 

Realization of this inner sacred presence enables us to develop spiritual union, fulfillment, enlightenment, liberation, at-one-ment. This is the purpose of the spiritual endeavor, regardless of the terms used to describe it or the methods used to reach it. Namaste means the spiritual light in me salutes this same light in you.

This inner Divine Guide is the very source of our manifest existence, and its constant striving is to facilitate our union with our true Self, the One.

Many coronations take place in this month of Mary/May. Mary as The Queen of May mirrors her ancient counterpart, Maeve, The May Queen,who was also traditionally crowned in May. Mary is Queen of the Angels, similar to Maeve who was Queen of the Faeries.

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Conclusion

This is a wonderful time to start a spiritual practice, to embrace a religion or to mediate on your connection with your guru.

Taurus is the constellation that contains the Pleiades. The Pleiades star cluster, known as the Seven Sisters is considered the center of our galaxy, it is said our sun circles around this cluster. These are the wives of the Great Richis, the seven brothers of the great bear (big dipper). It is from this center of the Pleiades, that profound spiritual energies come to us here on Terra. There is great wisdom to be found in mediating on this group of stars.

After sunset on April 2, 2012, Venus could be seen close to the Pleiades. This happens only once in every eight years. This event and its influence on our inner psyche is intense. Venus' will again return, even closer to the Pleiades in 2020, it will be nearer to the central star Alcyone and Maia.  (See the Chapter of The Pleiades).

This is a great time to plan and plant a healing garden or a medicine wheel garden. Throughout history, gardens have been used to aid in the healing process - from the Japanese Zen Garden to the Monastic Cloister. Fortunately, with the recent interest in complementary and alternative therapies, which emphasizes healing the whole person -- mind, body, and spirit -- rather than simply alleviating symptoms, the interest in gardens as healers has been revived.

Image: The Nebra sky disk, dated c. 1600 BC. The cluster of dots near the upper right portion of the disk is believed to be the Pleiades.