Peak of Spring | a lesson receiving and in letting go
Like clockwork every spring my calendar seems to be full with opportunities to create with the Earth in parallel with the abundance of nature that is in full bloom. For the past two years this has looked like traveling between countries or states to cook for retreats that focus on how to connect people to the planet, their bodies, nature, and the gift of nourishment. In the zodiacal calendar we shift from the initiating light of spring in the form of Aries to the fixed earth sign of Taurus. The spark of light cannot sustain itself so must find itself a hearth in order to support a smooth and steady burn. So to must the seed fall to the earth and be enveloped in fertile soil for a blossom to come to fruition and roots to stay steady even in storms.
The initial buds and sprouts that began to push through the earth are now in full flowering as you look around. In Colorado walking down any given street feels erotic as the perfume of cherry blossoms, and lilacs circulate the air. Farmers markets begin to pop-up with the early crops of radish, asparagus, and lettuces. As the light of day continues to grow, the song of morning doves washes through the window sill at first signs of the rising sun.
Taurus as a zodiacal sign is ruled by venus, the element of earth and the mode of fixity. Venus is representative of value, sensuality, relationship to thing especially of material value in this earth sign, and creativity. Earth deals with all matters of the material world- our bodies, money, food, resources, physical senses, and nature. As we combine these characteristics- we feel in our body what is true and pleasurable, we realize and love the mundane things that are needed to sustain life as a human in this world, or support the longevity of relationships. We get to choose to slow down, to sink in, to assess what resources are needed to reach and sustain our vision, hopes and dreams.
Like with all things we must be aware of our relationship and narratives that play out in our lives when we think of the topics of physicality, money, resource and the power. Nothing is more precious than our health and that of this planet- it is after all the only home we collectively have. No amount of money can make us slow down and truly experience the simple joys of life, but living life rejecting our need for resources will also be our demise. What is needed is a reframe- redistribution of abundance- empowerment of community and the ecological diversity of this planet. What is truly needed is a shift from ownership of anything in our lives to a practice of stewardship.
The gifts of Taurian energy are: reliability, devotion, sensuality, simplicity, groundedness, tactile wisdom, sense perception, resourcefulness, creativity, earth stewardship, steadfastness
The shadow comes when we over identify or cling to any of these characteristics. This can manifest as overly material, greedy, scarcity/hoarding, holding on to things when they are no longer nourishing, sluggish, uncaring, selfish and bull headed. They greatest lesson to learn from the season of taurus is first to find pleasure in the senses, the magic of being in a human body, the wisdom of slowing down to the speed of nature - and realization that things at their essence are truly simple. The other paradoxical lesson is to know when it is time to release and let go. Flowers are beautiful because they don’t last forever, in fact all of life is precious because of its temporality.
The Buddha was said to be a Taurus- and he experienced both the luxury of royalty and all its material gains, as well as the experience of rejecting all things in the material world. His awakening happened when he experienced non-attachment an engagement with experience with flexibility and without fixation on achieving specified outcomes. This is where we all are learning to sit- to be in awe and appreciation of the gifts of this world, without emotional clinging to such things. To love in stewardship our bodies, this earth, money, and resources- and accept with the same love as things die, decay, compost- in flow with the nature of all things.
As a native Taurus myself- this journey of embodiment has not been an easy one- but one that through perseverance has left me time and time again in awe of life and its perfection. Through gardening, learning to cook, and connecting with nature I reconnected to my sense of belonging in my body. Now I find myself on a similar journey with money through taking responsibility to educate myself on on matters of financial liberation and shifting my internal narrative. I want to spread this message with other too so linked here is a program worth $20K that you can get for $111 that I’m currently enrolled in right now. When we shift our relationship to money- it to becomes a tool for freedom rather then scarcity.
When we hone in on the details things can feel chaotic, and complex, but when we feel the interconnection of all things- the wholeness is what is beautiful. We see instead of a singular fish- the elegance of the entire school that swims together in perfect harmony.
For many of us these struggles with finding balance can manifest in our relationship to our bodies, for others it is our relationship to money, and for others material possessions/ things that we “own”. We are human- we are material- we cannot reject this part of ourselves out of puritanism, epigenetic programming, of fear.
Each of us in this lifetime must learn how to embody in a way that feels aligned for us- something no-one can ever tell you.
To connect with these energies journal these few entries:
What is my relationship to feeling pleasure?
What do I want to experience in my body daily?
What is my relationship to slowing down and creating simplicity?
What feels stagnant- in my relationships, health, money, work?
What stories needs to change so I can shift?
What am I afraid to let go of? and why?
What action steps can i take towards this shift?
What is my connection to the Earth and Nature?
What so many people don’t realize, or at least remember in the day to day- is that everything is before it materializes is energetic. Energy is neutral and it is stories that paint on the experience of good vs bad. It is never too late to shift things in our lives, never too late to come into our gifts. The Earth is here holding you- the greatest teacher as she shift and moves in order to remedy any imbalances. Our bodies too hold this signature- they shift and change, display symptoms that are uncomfortable or pleasurable as a language to communicate with your mind. For the remainder of this season I encourage us all to slow down and smell the roses, to get up and dance when we feel dense or lethargic, to find little appreciations in a cup of tea or bite of fruit. When we focus of the abundance it expands.
If you are curious to know more of how to embody these Taurus gifts, to learn the foods, herbs, and practices of understanding - sign up for Astro-Integration class HERE. You can also revisit the previous month of Aries or watch the intro class for free.
Wishing you all well. J