Life and Death — The Harsh Lessons of Taurus and Scorpio

The tension between Taurus and Scorpio is being felt intensely right now.

The two signs are in opposite locations on the Great Wheel, and the lessons they have to teach will be learned, whether we welcome it or not.

Uranus has been in Taurus since 2018, and it will remain in this sign until April of 2026. The God Ouranos is primeval and chaotic. He is unbridled energy that has not yet been properly metered out. Its entry into any sign brings great changes and transformation, causing us to look more closely at what is being blindly accepted. And if anyone has been paying attention to the chaos unleashed over the past few years, we can see just how much this transit is affecting life on this planet. The pandemic, shifting economic principles, and a profound sense of feeling uprooted have permeated the collective reality. Every human being has been touched by the great changes taking place.

The North Node of the moon is also moving through Taurus from January 2022 until July 2023. The North Node represents what we desire to accomplish, and the South Node is the influence of the past. Therefore, N. Node in Taurus will bring up how our collective choices affect the Earth and the bountiful resources she provides humanity. Likewise, S. Node in Scorpio will turn our faces toward the unknown. It will pull out the secrets hidden in the shadows, and reveal that we have less control over our own lives than we want to admit.

Most of all, we are all going to be experiencing profound realizations about the relationship between Life and Death.

Taurus and the Hierophant

The Hierophant is the Tarot card associated with Taurus, which is ruled by the planet Venus. At first, this can seem misplaced. However, in the past, the role of the High Priest was in fact the administrator of Life within the kingdom. In fact, in many ancient cultures, the High Priest was the King himself — and he was expected to ensure the survival of those he had sworn to protect. If the crops failed, a new King may be put on the throne, and the previous ruler could easily find himself on a sacrificial pyre as a result of his failure.

It was the Goddess Venus who was seen as the consort of the King, and it was his relationship with her that determined whether or not the plowed fields would yield enough fruit to feed the growing population. Just as the shepherd-king Damuzi relied on the approval of the Queen of Heaven and Earth to maintain his position as Lord over the land.

This energy is all about fertility, abundance, love, growth, and the creation of life. It is self-sufficiency, crops growing in the fields, and the accumulation of wealth after the harvest. The Goddess sits from her throne of gold, watching over the Cornucopia that will feed the world and keep Gaia well nourished for future generations. When out of alignment, this energy can move towards greed and insecurity. When the Queen feels like her needs are not being met, she can slip into the realm of neurosis — and become overwhelmed by the fear of not having enough. In her struggle to survive, she can lay low entire kingdoms and still feel depleted.

Scorpio and Death

The sign of Scorpio is portrayed by the Death card, both of which are empowered by the energy of Mars and Pluto. The grim reaper comes for us all, and though we are each forced to face the ultimate unknown, most of us spend a great deal of energy trying to avoid the inevitable. We know that we can’t take anything with us. All that is born on the earth will be consumed by the earth. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Letting go isn’t easy. Especially when we aren’t sure what comes next. Whether we’re talking about the end of our lives, the end of a marriage, or the end of a career, many of us will fight hard against the forces of entropy. Ironically, the harder we fight to hold onto what must be returned to Source, the more depleted we feel.

Pluto may lust after Persephone and her youthful glow, but when he tries to hold on to her, the Earth itself is destroyed — and nothing can survive.

A great warrior wields his sword in battle. As Mars stands between the realm of the underworld and the fields of paradise, he must maintain balance and order. He defends his abundant lands from thieves who demand grains from the storehouse.

Those who would steal his bounty by force wouldn’t hesitate to spill the blood of his friends and family in order to achieve their aim. So, the man stands between life and death — and it is his strength and honor that will determine whether his children will experience the gifts of the Goddess or the hellish nightmare of violence and enslavement. To do this, he must put his own life on the line. He steps into the unknown, willingly sacrificing himself to keep those he loves safe.

Finding Balance in Our Own Lives — What Will We Nourish and What Will We Release?

Last night, on May 16th, the full-blood moon eclipse in Scorpio unleashed its harsh truths upon us. Over the next six months (until November 8, 2022), we have an opportunity to select the things in our life that need to die. We cannot avoid Pluto’s tax. He demands sacrifice, and we must give it to him. Those who refuse to let go of anything at all will experience pain and suffering — they will fall deeper into the abyss, screaming into the void about the injustice of it all. Those who accept that life demands death — can selectively choose what to let go of. When we shed the things that are preventing us from truly living, we can be liberated. It’s time to grab the scythe, and metaphorically remove that which is no longer serving you.

Utilize these difficult transits to remove the obstacles. Doing so will give you more energy and resources to cultivate your desires and harvest the fruits of your labor.

Do you have a limiting belief that is keeping you from attaining your goals?

Is there an addiction or a perspective that is preventing you from growing and evolving?

Leave a comment and let me know how these energies are being felt in your own life.