Full Moon Astro-Tarot; Regeneration and Structure

 The full moon on 18 May falls in watery Scorpio, the sign of fixed water opposite the fixed earth of the Sun in Taurus. This dynamic speaks of emotional security and material resources, of embodiment and emotion, of depth of experience and the structures which sustain us, on the inside as well as on the outside. Taurus builds, but Scorpio breaks down or destroys to make way for regeneration. Both are loyal, committed and like to hold on to what is theirs. both may have trouble letting go - of people, of possessions. There is a strong possessive energy here, a holding on which can bring strength but also stagnation and a denial of the need for change. Given that a full moon often brings something to a head, if we've been holding on too tightly we might find something forced from our grasp in the coming days. On the other hand, if we've been afraid to commit, now is the time. With Venus conjunct Uranus, also in Taurus, we may be gaining an awareness of what we truly value at this full moon, as well as an awareness of what structures need to be broken down. Saturn is conjunct the South Node in Capricorn, tempting us to cling to the past. If the last few months have felt chaotic (is there anyone who thinks they haven't been, and if so, which planet are you on?!), there might be a consolidation of sorts at the full moon, the end of a phase. The dynamic of building and breaking down is impossible to avoid. Scorpio might be a water sign, but water is powerful. A trickle or a flood, a gradual flow or a turbulent storm, the waters of Scorpio have the power to wear away the earth of Taurus. There are lots of solid energies with this full moon, the kind that last and last. Until they don't any more and we risk one of those Tower moments when everything breaks down and we are left wondering what happened to our oh so solid foundations. If there's anything you've been holding on to that's past its time (hello, anyone who still thinks that capitalist patriarchy is a good and fulfilling model for society...) - just let it go. Let it flow away in the waters of Scorpio and sit with the uncertainty of not knowing what comes next.

So what does the tarot have to say about this full moon?

Moon in Scorpio - What needs to be regenerated with this full moon? - Eight of Cups

Everything - put it all into the cauldron of regeneration and let's see what comes out. The very bones which hold us together, the creative force of our sexuality, the abundance of the horn of plenty, the turning wheel, the life force itself. In it all goes. There's a need to surrender to the process of regeneration, to leave behind the material comforts of consumer capitalism and make way for something more authentic.

Sun in Taurus - What are we building? - Five of Wands

Power. We are building the power to break down the old and stagnant and unfulfilling, to burn away those who would deprive us of bodily autonomy, of the beauty and biodiversity of this amazing planet. I'm choosing to see this as a creative, vibrant force, a positive proactive power which has already begun to break down old and outdated structures. There's no need to burn bridges when we can turn them into gardens.

Venus conjunct Uranus - How can we embody our most radical desires?

There's a balance here, and something more than a balance. The two outer Wands and the third Wand which forms part of the body - the inner self combining with the outer self, our external circumstances, to align ourselves which what we most want to create. The Three of Wands is traditionally a card of enterprise and even success, but it needs to go beyond what we want as individuals. Our most radical growth, inner and outer, comes when we align what we want as individuals with what the world needs us to give. Our power to change comes from taking action, acting on our own dreams whilst also creating something tangible to make the world a better place.

Saturn conjunct South Node - What useful resources does the past hold? - Six of Stones

Once upon a time, we knew about give and take. We've been taking far too much for far too long, but if we go back far enough into the past, there's a different way. I love this card for this question, it works on so many levels. The exploitation and imbalances of the past, the lessons the history of colonialism, misogyny, inequality have to teach us. So much to learn so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past. And also the treasures to be found in community, way back when it wasn't every man for himself and women made invisible. The bees work together for a common purpose and we've lost that sense of having a duty to the collective. And then there's the practice of telling the bees and we can learn from this folk-ish habit of including non-human beings and intelligences in our lives. We need to re-balance the human and the non-human worlds, to stop seeing nature as something to exploit or conquer or even as our playground.