Embodying Presence: Tarot and Tea for Taurus Season

Welcome to Taurus Season!

Join me as I explore tarot practices and herbal allies for the twelve seasons of the zodiac (you can learn more about the series over here). In this post we’re meeting with the Bull and learning about tarot for Taurus season and Taurus herbs to help us connect with the energy of the season (i.e. the middle of Spring in the northern hemisphere or the middle of Autumn in the southern hemisphere).

We've moved through the intensity of Aries Season, which can sometimes feel like everything needs to be done right now, into the slower pace of Taurus the Bull. In astrology, Taurus is referred to as a "fixed" sign which means that it's really good at creating roots and grounding energy. If the signs were writing books about the seasons they inhabit, Aries would give you a few quick bullet points on a post-it note (that may or may not have a corner torn off) while Taurus would present you a whole book on the subject (and the book may or may not be handmade).

With Taurus there is no big rush to get somewhere as the energy of the Bull helps us to feel what it is to arrive and be present to a place and space (including our internal environment as well as our external one) for a greater length of time than we might be used to. Taurus season can be a helpful time to explore concepts of embodiment, to seek out experience first instead of jumping into analysis mode, and to imagine ourselves as moving gardens. 

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Taurus is a sign of slowness and embodiment, of being of the Land. As an earth sign, Taurus helps us to connect with seasonal changes as a source of wisdom, including the seasonal and tidal changes of our bodies. Taurus season encourages honesty born of observation (i.e. knowing what sort of conditions are needed to grow a particular plant and not pretending or teaching otherwise).

Taurus asks us, "How would you grow if you didn't feel rushed?"

An important aspect of Taurus season (and where Taurus lives in your birth chart) is recognizing that everything takes time and nothing is grown in a vacuum. In other words, we can make choices of how we embody time (whether or not we're experiencing it at any given moment as too fast or too slow) but it takes a lot of soil and bugs and sun and water and hope to grow a thing, much of which we have no control over. The following Taurus Season tarot spread encourages us to pause and observe so that we can tap into the wisdom of what we need, the resources we have, and how we can better support our slowness.

Embodying Presence
Taurus Season Tarot Spread

Card 1 & 2. That Which Centers & Nourishes You

These cards help you connect to the steadiness that Taurus Season can bring, highlighting the practices, people, places, and experiences which center and nourish you. These are things which you might seek to bring more into your life during Taurus season so that you are better able to connect with the energetic flow of the next month.

Card 3. That Which Needs Slowing Down

The gift of Taurus is learning how to slow down and take account. This card highlights what area of your life would benefit best from taking a moment to pause, rest, and consider what it is you really need. It's an invitation to switch from autopilot mode to intentional presence.

Card 4. That Which Helps You Grow

This card helps you to connect with the question posed earlier - "How would you grow if you didn't feel rushed?" In other words, this card helps to highlight allies in helping you grow in ways that support your becoming, that help you flourish in the garden of our interconnectedness.

Card 5. A Message for Taurus Season

A general message, signs to pay attention to, and perhaps next steps to take as we move into Taurus season.

Bonus Card: That Which Guards the Neck

If you feel connected with the philosophy of astroherbology you can pull an additional card to help you understand the current energies of your neck, throat, and voice, including physical experiences and energetic ones, and what tension or wisdom you might be keeping there. I encourage you to take a somatic approach with this card - when you pull the card, first observe before rushing to analysis, following the feelings and sensations that it evokes from your body to understand its meaning. 

Salvia mellifera - photo by author

A Tea for Taurus Season

How do we nourish the sign of Taurus? As one of the slowest-moving signs of the zodiac, Taurus asks us to slow down and take account of what we need. Taurus also traditionally guards the neck, throat, and vocal cords (click here for a full list of traditional correspondences for Taurus), so our tea blend combines herbs that help us feel grounded, expressive, and deeply nourished. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a classic Taurus herb - earthy and associated with longevity, Sage helps to support throat health, enhance cognition, and connect with the wisdom of the world around and within us. Rose (Rosa spp.) is an herb of Venus, Taurus' guardian planet, and an important plant ally for finding wisdom distilled through experience. Finally, Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) adds just enough warmth and energy to help us still feel momentum to show up in our life in the ways that we are called to.

Sidenote: You'll find that there is overlap between the herbs used for the Taurus Tea and the herbs used for the Aries Tea. This is for a few reasons, first of which is that Aries and Taurus (and Gemini) all share the same season so it makes sense that there would be similar herbs associated with each sign. Second, I'm trying to keep the variety of herbs I recommend throughout this series to a minimum so folks don't feel overwhelmed with the need to go out and get fifty different herbs. I hope it brings a feeling of calm to your practices and encourages a depth of relationship with our plant allies.

To make your tea, combine the following herbs:

• 4 parts Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

• 1 part Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• ½ part Rose (Rosa spp.)

These proportions are only suggested guidelines, so feel free to play around with them to your liking. As you make your tea, slow down, breathe deep, and infuse the blend with your intentions for the season (or whenever you’re drinking this tea to connect with the energy of Taurus). If you’re looking for more breathwork practices to help you connect with the energy of the season, come this way.

image via @danielabeleva

Seasonal Reflections

What does the land feel like, look like, smell like this season?

What is coming to the surface from within me?

What is receding within me?

What am I feeling grateful for?

What am I grieving for or feeling challenged by?

What am I feeling inspired and where is it calling me to this season?

What am I calling to me?

What am I called to give?

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May Taurus season be steady and full of blessings for you and your community. If you’re looking for more spring inspired healing ways and magickal practices, come this way.

Beltane is part of the season of Taurus and here is where you can find an in-depth tarot spread for the sabbat (for my southern hemisphere friends, you can find a tarot spread for Samhain over here). Enjoy!

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

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Notes

*Sometimes I think that Taurus is in fact a very fast moving sign but appears slow to us in the same way that light traveling from a dying star may appear to be relatively static to us but is, in fact, traveling at nearly the speed of light.

Grounded Strength : The New Moon in Taurus

Within and around the earth,
within and around the hills,
within and around the mountains,
your authority returns to you.

- Alfonso Ortiz -

The youthful energy of the Aries New Moon has matured into the grounded sturdiness of Taurus. The New Moon in Taurus is a good time to get your dream garden growing - both of a physical and esoteric variety. All Moons during Taurus are an excellent time to ground energy to be eventually use for healings, life projects, and magickal goals.

Since Taurus is a fixed earth sign it is one of the most body-centered (and centering) signs of the zodiac. When the New Moon is in the sign of Taurus we are reminded of the sacredness of our physical form. In fact, we are encouraged to revel in our physicalness and the pleasure of what we can experience with our sense of touch. If the sign of Aries can be described as headstrong, Taurus can be described as bodystrong. 

Astrologer Judith Hill describes the energy of Taurus as that of a greenhouse - the sign is excellent at absorbing and storing energy for a slow and steady release. With that in mind, consider what energy you want to fill yourself with at the Taurus in New Moon. Maybe you’re studying a new healing modality or trying a new self-care practice and are seeking to infuse these new endeavors with the energy you need to see them through. At the Taurus New Moon you have an opportunity to draw in energy for whatever project you have ahead of you. More importantly, it’s an auspicious time to identify the source of where you are drawing your energy from. Are you drawing energy from a place of authenticity and self-worth or are you driven by FOMO and a bad case of comparing yourself to others? The New Moon in Taurus is about getting back to your garden of magickal pleasures and stop peeking over the fence at everyone else's. However you choose to ground in the energy of the New Moon, remember to care for and celebrate the physical vessel (aka your body) that you’re storing it in. If that feels hard and challenging - that’s alright -  remember that magick is transformative and powerful because it requires us to expand beyond what we have previously thought possible. Work your body-positive, I'm-a-sacred-space-in-movement magick under the Taurus New Moon - it’ll be well worth the effort.

Rose (Rosa spp.)
New Moon in Taurus Plant Ally

As an herb of Venus, Rose harmonizes wherever it is given. The flower asks us the very grounding and Taurean question, “What are you experiencing?”

Rose is an ancient plant - fossils of the flower have been found across Europe, North America, and Asia dating back from as early as the Miocene period (7 - 26 million years ago). There are a vast variety of Roses in the world, but the three traditional medicinal varieties Rosa gallica (also known as as Provins or Apothecaries rose), Rosa damascena (or Rosa x damascena to denote its hybridity, also known as damask rose), and Rosa centifolia (also known as Provence Rose). Two other varieties, Rosa canina and Rosa rugosa, are also commonly used in western herbalism. The flower has been used medicinally for thousand of years, with Dioscorides recording Rose as a cooling and contracting medicine. Herbalist, mystic, composer, and badass Hildegard von Bingen recommends in her Physica placing Rose petals on the eyes in the morning to refresh them and draw out any imbalance in the bodily humors. Additionally, she recommends that someone who is “inclined to wrath” should use a snuff of powdered rose and sage. The sage “eases the wrath and the rose cheers.”

18th century herbalist, J. Quincy, (as quoted in The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 Years of Medicinal Plant Knowledge) wrote that Rose “raises the spirits and gives sudden strength and cheerfulness” and categorized Rose as primarily a herb of the heart and the head. The herb assists with memory and promotes clarity of mind, heart, and spirit by connecting all three. Rose nourishes the body and is sweet medicine which calms the nervous system. Within Ayurveda, Rose is considered a rasayana (rejuvenative tonic) and medhya (brain tonic and nervine) for all of the doshas or constitutions. 

The benefits of Rose for the skin are manifold as anti-inflammatory, astringent, vitamin and mineral rich herb and can be used in oils, scrubs, and baths for skin health and beauty. As a humectant, Rose water adds and maintains water to the skin. You can also keep Rose water in a spray bottle to use as a mild antiseptic for first aid needs. 

Flower + Gem Essences for the New Moon in Taurus: Aspen (Populus tremula), Gentian (Gentiana amarella), Willow (Salix vitellina), Wild Rose (Rosa canina), Hazel (Corylus avellana), Peacock Ore, Lapis Lazuli.

Essential Oils for Taurus: Rose (Rosa spp.), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata), Sandalwood (Santalum album), Violet (Viola tricolor).

image source

Inner Sacred Space Grounding

Begin in a sacred way (read the New Moon in Aquarius post for further inspiration). The following technique is slightly more advanced than a typical grounding and centering meditation but it is a rewarding challenge. It's partially adapted from a meditative technique by Starhawk. The best thing about the Inner Sacred Space Grounding is that it continues to do the work of keeping you grounded and energized even when you’re not actively practicing it.

Find a comfortable position to be in - I prefer to sit cross-legged on a cushion with my hands gently holding my belly. Begin by taking four centering breaths in the following fashion:

• Breathe in to the count of four (I measure my count with my heartbeat). 
• Hold your breath for four counts.
• Breathe out for four counts.
• Pause for four counts before taking another breath.
• Repeat.

This breathing technique helps to quiet the mind and center your focus. I find it immeasurably valuable to quickly ground in my body whether beginning a meditation or for when I'm feeling a spike of stress and anxiety. 

Continuing to breathe gently into the softness of your belly, you are going to begin to visualize yourself within yourself. Visualize yourself pulling back from the edges of your body. Draw your consciousness inwards so that you feel yourself inside of your body as if it were a sacred space that you can draw back into. Feel yourself growing smaller in the powerful space of your body, drifting down into the sacred cavern of your belly. From here, the place where you can store energy for healing and magick, it’s time to perform a tree of life grounding and centering.

Remaining within yourself, visualize a root extending from inner-you down deep into the earth. Breath into this root as it extends downwards to the crystalline center of the earth. With every out-breath your root extends and with every in-breath you pull up green energy through your roots back into inner-you. The green energy stretches up into all parts of inner-you until you are completely filled with it from your toes to fingertips to the very top of your head. The energy extends out of the crown of your head skywards in the form of branches. With every out-breath your branches extend upwards and with every in-breath your branches pull celestial, lunar, and solar energy into inner-you. Let the currents of green and celestial energy mingle throughout your body.

When you feel sufficiently charged-up, begin to pull back your roots and branches until they have formed a small but powerful sphere of centered energy in the belly of inner-you. This is a continuous conductor of energy that you can connect to and direct towards healing and magickal projects. You can go within yourself, the sacred space of your body, to access it at any time, including repeating this simple ritual to continue to revitalize your inner energy. Inner Grounding is also excellent to do when you're caught up in a cycle of FOMO and the comparison game as it will help to draw you back to what you really want and need.

When you’re ready, expand your consciousness to fill up the entirety of your physical form. Come fully back to your body by giving yourself a self-massage or squeezing your feet, head, and belly. Blessed be! 

Oracle

With a divinatory tool of your choosing ask the following question. You can also ponder it during meditation or through journalling.

What am I currently experiencing in my body as a healer?

Additional queries to consider:

• What am I not saying?
• Where am I least grounded as a healer?

Tarot Cards of Taurus

Every card within the tarot deck has an astrological association. The following correspondences follow the system laid out by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. You can add these cards to your altar as part of your New Moon in Taurus magick or use them in readings to help with determining celestial influence or timing (i.e. this will come to pass at when the Moon is in Pisces).

• The Sign of Taurus: The Hierophant
• Mercury in Taurus: Five of Pentacles
• Moon in Taurus: Six of Pentacles
• Saturn in Taurus: Seven of Pentacles
• The Earth Signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn: Ace of Pentacles

Find all of the New Moon Healers Project posts right over here. Be sure to share your insights and experiences in the comments below or via instagram with the tag #NewMoonHealersProject.

Need more astroherbology in your life? You can learn more about the astroherbology of Taurus by reading my in-depth profile on the sign. For those of you ready to learn how to work your magick and create your herbal remedies by the cycle of Moon and star, you're invited to join the The Lunar Apothecary.

Blessed New Moon, wise healers.
May your healing be healing to us all.
May our healing be healing to you.
Blessed be! Blessed be! Blessed be!

Big Strength : The Super Moon in Taurus

The following is an excerpt from my exclusive bi-monthly newsletter for the Lunar Apothecary. Each month I explore moon signs, mansions, and phases, herbal remedies, and magickal practices. And because Worts + Cunning Apothecary is grounded in the work of social justice, we talk about healing with a wide-hearted view of healing the personal, the cultural, and our planet as a whole. Enjoy!

2016. Damn.

The world is rumbling. Unions between nations are coming undone. Hatefulness no longer attempts to hide itself behind the falseness of civility in the politics of my home country (and, let's be real, the politicians in the USA haven't even been doing that good of a job at holding on to what scrap civility was left in politics for a long while). 

And yet, are we surprised?

Let's get Taurean about this for a moment. Taurus is the sign of the long haul, not the short cut. It's guardian is Venus - a planet invested in harmonious relationships between all beings gained through fairness and justice. For Taurus Moonfolk, their energy in times of crisis can be about waiting it out, storing up for a long winter, and making sure that the greenhouse is in good shape. You see, archetypal Taurean energy has already been prepared for the possibility of an unapologetic bigot in one of the most powerful political positions in the world. Because they have watched the way that the garden has struggled to grow in the soil of poisoned policies and rhetoric. How the water is drying up as politicians and people around the world deny the urgency of climate change. How the continued disenfranchisement of the poor has led to the easy path of hatred of the "other."

Taurus embodies the phrase I've seen over and over again to describe feelings about the results of the USA election: disappointed but not surprised.

image by chelsea bock

Taurus promises strength through getting grounded and preparing for the long journey ahead. Typically, when the Moon is in Taurus it is an ideal time to practice grounding and centering magick and planting seeds into the earth. But the upcoming Full Moon in Taurus has a number of interesting aspects that change-up the grounded certainty of the Bull.

First, the Full Moon is the second-to-last Super Moon of 2016. But, what is a Super Moon? It signifies when the Moon's position is closer to the earth than is typical, which means that our beloved Luna appears bigger and brighter in the sky. The Taurus Super Moon will be the biggest and brightest since 1948 and it won't be this size again until 2034 (check out NASA for further details). So already there is an expansion of energy with this Moon. Second, the Full Moon will be in the Fifth Mansion. The Fifth Mansion straddles the last part of Taurus into the next sign, Gemini. While Taurus likes long stubborn silences, Gemini is interested in talking it out. The Fifth Mansion pulls the energy of Taurus up from the its comfortable seat of garden-groundedness into big celestial vision. 

In fact, the Fifth Mansion embodies the energy of grieve and then organize. Shed your tears and then rise up. For it is our tears water the soil of our resistance and run like blood through the heart of our fight. And that is what it looks like when Taurus and Gemini get together to make change happen. That is your invitation, Luna, for this most wondrous of Super Moons in a time of upheaval - cast the net of your vision wider than the familiar scope of your garden without forgetting your love of your feet upon the earth. This Taurus Super Moon teaches us that the bigness our strength emerges not from hunkering down and turning the curve of our back into a shield, but in throwing wide our arms and embracing our vision of ourselves as whole and seen and heard.

Ask yourself this Super Moon: 

What vision gives you strength?

image by gor davtyan

So, let's talk about remedies for folks who are feeling traumatized and re-traumatized by world events. 

Bach Rescue Remedy is amazing. I keep multiple bottles on hand to give to folks. (If you don't know already, the Rescue Remedy essence that you by in shops is a stock bottle meaning that you can use it to create dosage bottles.) Milky Oat (Avena sativa) is my go-to nervine. Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is another good one, especially when someone is running through the same thoughts over and over again. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has become my favorite adaptogenic herb. It is especially wonderful in the evenings mixed with some milk of choice and sweetened with honey (or vegan alternative). Use it to help mellow out the overactive adrenaline responses so many are having as minds and bodies go into flight-or-fight survival mode. Rose (Rosa spp.) always for times of heartbreak. The Rose is a Venusian herb and therefore, a Taurus one, too. The Full Moon in Taurus is a good time to create your emotional first-aid kit, so consider doing so under the rapture of the Moon's glow.

If you're looking for inspiration for an emotional first-aid kit why not start with the Plant Ally Project: Indispensable Herb List? You can also learn more about the astroherbology of Taurus, including the parts of the body that Taurus guards and recommended herbs. And if you're looking for a healing space to call home while learning herbal medicine and magick, you should check this out.

Wishing you big strength on this most bright of super moons.

Libra: The Astroherbology Profile

It's time to explore the sign of Libra! You're getting a snapshot into the ever expanding astroherbology magick of the Lunar Apothecary - amazing! 

I will be exploring all twelve signs from a medical astrology perspective with an emphasis on herbal healing. Learn more about the series and what all the correspondences mean check out the introduction to The Introduction to Astroherbology Zodiac Series. Missed the other signs of the Zodiac? Find out about the astroherbology wisdom of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo!

Element: Air
Mode: Cardinal
Guardian Planet: Venus
Direction: West
Season: Autumn (NH), Spring (SH)
House: 7th House / Angular
Lunar Mansions: 15th Mansion, 16th Mansion, + 17th Mansion
Solar Gemstone: Blue Aventurine

Tarot: Justice, The Empress, 2 of Swords (9/23 - 10/2), 3 of Swords (10/3 - 10/12), 4 (10/13 - 10/22) of Swords, the Queen of Swords

Tissue State: Dry Tissue State, Damp/Relaxation Tissue State (learn more about the energetic system of traditional western herbalism)

Body Systems: Kidneys and urinary system. Anus. Hormones in general. Endocrine system. Estrogen. Ovaries. Veins. Acid-alkaline balance. Lumber region of the back. Distillation and filtration systems of the body. Posture. 

Imbalances + Diseases: Kidney disease and imbalancesincluding kidney stones, renal colic, and the need for dialysis. Diabetes and sugar addiction. Urinary tract infections and urinary system imbalances including anuria, abscesses, and ulcers. Inflammation of the ureters. Bright’s disease. Skin complaints that cause disfiguration. Eczema. Lower back pain. Varicosities and hemorrhoids. Hormonal imbalance including lack or excess of estrogen. Sexually transmitted infections, especially topical ones. Wasting diseases and general weakness. Struggling to attain equilibrium. Indecisiveness from trying to be too diplomatic. Passive-aggressiveness. Confusion and gullibility. Co-dependent and afraid of conflict.

Disease Degrees: 1 degree: renal pelvis; 2 degrees: renal cortex; 3 degrees: adrenals, abscesses; 4 degrees: kidney surface, abscesses, goiter; 5 degrees: renal pyramids, goiter; 6 degrees: pubis, goiter; 7 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, goiter, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 8 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 9 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 10 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 11 degrees: nerve supply to kidney and renal pelvis, jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis; 12 degrees: left renal system: 13 degrees: right renal system 14 degrees: left inguinal lymph nodes; 15 degrees: right inguinal lymph nodes, suicide, eczema, stroke; 16 degrees: renal arteries, eczema, abscesses, stroke; 17 degrees: suprarenal arteries, abscesses; 18 degrees: fatty capsule of kidney’s, chronic glomerulonephritis, Bright’s disease; 19 degrees: calyx major, Bright’s disease; 20 degrees: calyx minor; 21 degrees: renal hilum; 22 degrees: renal veins; 23 degrees: suprarenal veins; 24 degrees: blood vessels of renal cortex;  25 degrees: blood vessels of renal cortex; 26 degrees: vascular system of skin; 27 degrees: vascular system of skin, tuberculosis; 28 degrees: bladder, hair, tuberculosis; 29 degrees: right ureter bladder, bronchitis; 30 degrees: left ureter, bronchitis.

Remedies for Imbalanced and/or Weakened Libra: Astringent herbs that are also tonifying when there is too much laxity and indecision. Stimulating herbs as needed to counteract sluggishness. For those Librans needing more Venusian energies in their life (remember, they can swing out of their inherent need for beauty and Venusian healing), anything that is pleasurable and soothing, such as relaxing massages, aromatherapy, and gentle remedies such as flower and gem essences. Making firm choices. Goal-setting. Agreements of accountability around conflict. Establishing balanced relationships with others.

Gifts of Libra: Beauty, diplomacy, sensuality, adventure, a gift of mediation, gracefulness.

Rituals of Libra: Invoking beauty, justice and fairness, teamwork, cooperation, art-based magickal workings, romance, and self-awareness.

Libra Guardian Herbs: Damiana (Turnera diffusa), Violet (Viola tricolor), Rose (Rosa spp.), Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Jasmine (Jasminum spp.), Angelica (Angelica archangelica), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis).

Libra Remedy Herbs: Nettles (Urtica dioica), Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), Burdock (Arctium lappa), Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis).

Flower + Gem Essences: Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Vervain (Verbena officinalis), Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium), Rose (Rosa damascena), and Rose Quartz.

The Sun in Libra

Lovely Libras! They are the keepers of beauty and the cultivators of pleasure in the zodiac, guarded by the sensuous planet of Venus. Libra folk generally place great emphasis on the interpersonal - whether romantic, familial, or in friendships. Libra folk can often be the most graceful of the zodiac if not physically, than socially and intellectually. The scale is the symbol of this sign and Libra folk place great emphasis on fairness, diplomacy, and that everyone getting their equal share.

The great strengths of Libra can also be their great downfalls. The impossible mission of complete impartiality and the belief in objectivity can keep them from recognizing that the path of wise relationships is built on empathy and effective boundaries. They can easily get caught up in bending over backwards in attempts to be fair, forgetting or not developing their own sense of what they want and who they are in the world. Such dissipation of energy and focus on others can lead to an ungrounded airiness that leads to indecision, lack of focus, and a muddled heart. Attempts to please others can be taken advantage of and their autonomy lost if a Libra folk’s sense of love is compromised. It is all too easy for Libra folk to doubt that they deserve to be loved as much as they love others. It is key for Libra folk to realize what healthy relationships look like, detox from codependent tendencies, and develop a fierceness of judgement. Their desire for fairness and diplomacy can then transform into something more powerful: harmony.

Since they are guarded by such a beneficial planet, Libra folks can be a bit lucky and a lot blessed. Sickness is rare for many Libra folks. They do tend towards the sweeter things in life and can be more prone to sugar addiction and complications including diabetes, unwanted weight gain, and compromised immunity. As they are pleasure-seekers who tend to get away with a lot of poor eating and health habits early in life, it is very important to know that later in life is when their bad habits will often catch up them. They can get caught up in cycles of addiction, especially in regards to sex and alcohol, in an attempt to find an outlet for their energy. Since they are a sign that can tend towards lack of self-interest, they can disregard the need for personal health practices, such as exercise, which is such an important activity for Libra folk to do in order to express their physical energy (even though they can sometimes come off as a low-energy sign). Find pleasurable movement to keep you healthy and well, Libra folks, and indulge! The gifts of Libra folk is that they are creatures of beauty, teaching us how to find and experience beauty in all parts of our lives. 

Libra Guardian Herbs

Passionflower by Oliver P. Quillia

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Passionflower is a lovely herb that has both Venusian energies (the Guardian planet of Libra) and energies of the Moon. The herb is primarily used as a relaxing sedative, calming the mind and soothing the nervous system. It cools the hot-blooded, including gently lowering blood pressure, and relieves migraines, tension, and asthma brought on by heat. Spasms, tremors, hiccups, and convulsions caused by tension and over-excitation are all remedied by Passionflower. Passionflower is a great remedy for overworkers and those who have difficultly taking a genuine break or rest - the herb helps them connect to the Libran desire for beautiful rest in their lives. Speaking of beautiful rest, Passionflower is excellent for those who struggle with insomnia, restoring us to restful sleep pattens and helping us to wake up refreshed. Similar to Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Passionflower helps relieve the constant chatter of a busy brain and at the same time can increase focused calm. Upset and teething children can be soothed by Passionflower’s anodyne qualities (consider using with Chamomile Matricaria recutita if upset tummies are also a problem) and it’s antispasmodic qualities relieve hacking coughs or asthma attacks in both adults and children.

Since it is cooling and dissipating, Passionflower can be used in cases of fever and inflammation of all sorts, including earache, eye inflammation, and toothache. The herb is useful for heavy menstruation and cramping, as well as easing difficult labor pains and contractions. Emotionally, Passionflower is a great ally to have around during nervous breakdowns and healing crisis where emotions are raw and anxiety is high. It helps to calm and re-balance through alleviating emotional confusion.

Enjoy a full profile on Passionflower and more Libran herbs in the Lunar Apothecary!

Libra Remedy Herbs

Ashwagandha by Wowbobwow12

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Ashwagandha is an herb that has been used for thousand of years within Ayurvedic medicine and is an excellent adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens in general, could fall under the umbrella of “Libran Remedy Herbs” because Libra guards homeostasis which adaptogens are so effective at bringing us back to. Since Libra has dissipating energies because of its planet Venus, the sign can tend towards general weakness and slow recovery time after illness. Ashwagandha is a supreme restorative, rebuilding strength and stamina in the body. Libra is also an air sign and when air is askew it can lead to muddled thoughts, poor memory, and difficultly learning. Ashwagandha restores mental clarity and prepares the mind for learning. It is useful in the treatment of learning disorders and conditions such as ADHD.

Additionally, Ashwagandha is a immunostimulant and is especially effective at increasing the effectiveness of a chronically underperforming immune system including conditions such as HIV, MS, lupus, and fibromyalgia. The herb can also be taken alongside antibiotics to protect the immune system and promote a healthy recovery from illness. Like other Libran herbs, Ashwagandha promotes fertility, balances menstruation, and has an affinity for the urinary system.

Want to learn more? Find more Libran herbs and herbs for the entire zodiac as well as tutorials, rituals, charms, and more in the Lunar Apothecary!

Sun in Libra Flower Essence

Chicory by Alvesgaspar 

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

While Libra is a sign that can be the most magnanimous and desirous of love and a multitude of loving relationships, they are a sign that come become uncertain if they are loved when they fall out of balance. Balance is so important to our Libran folk, but sometimes the idea of maintaining balance is confused with always being fair or never experiencing conflict. Patterns can appear in their lives which have them questioning those they are in relationship with (wether a romantic, parental, or friend relationship), if they are really loved. Their need of reassurance becomes burdensome and problematic, which is when the flower essence of Chicory becomes indispensable. Chicory is the “unconditional love” essence. It is good not only for out-of-balance Librans but for folks who have truly experienced a lack of love and care in their life, which leads to being able to love oneself. Chicory helps us to connect to our self-love and to accept the love of others without the constant fear of love being lost. Chicory teaches us that, yes, love does transform and is transforming, but it can never be lost.

Ready to learn more?

• Check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted: An Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional study resources and the other posts in my Astroherbology series.

• Need a visual guide? Starmaps: The Astrological Body is for you!

• The Lunar Apothecary is a full length course using the tools of moon-centered herbalism and ritual to help you discover who you are as a healer.

Taurus: The Astroherbology Profile

It's time to explore the sign of Taurus! I will be exploring all twelve signs from a medical astrology perspective with an emphasis on herbal healing. Learn more about the series and what all the correspondences mean check out the introduction to The Introduction to Astroherbology Zodiac Series. Missed the first sign of the Zodiac? Find out about the astroherbology wisdom of Aries!

Looking for inspiration and plant allies for the season of Taurus? Come this way!

Element: Earth
Mode: Fixed
Guardian Planet: Venus
Direction: East (traditional)
Season: Spring (NH), Autumn (SH)
House: 2nd House / Succedent
Lunar Mansions: 3rd Mansion, 4th Mansion, + 5th Mansion (Learn more about the Lunar Mansions)
Solar Gemstone: Amber
Tarot: The Hierophant, the Empress, 5 of Pentacles (4/12 - 4/30), 6 of Pentacles (5/1 - 5/10), 7 of Pentacles (5/11 - 5/20), Knight of Pentacles
Tissue State: Cold/Depression (learn more about the energetic system of traditional western herbalism)

Body Systems: Throat, neck, vocal cords, thyroid, voice, and middle ear. Metabolic system, medulla oblongata, and hearing. Salivary glands, taste buds, and teeth of the lower jaw. Jugular veins, cervical nerves of the blood vessels, and bladder. Procreative desire. Base of the skull. Find out more about the astrological correspondences to our bodies.

Imbalances + Diseases: Including sore throats, tonsillitis, thyroid conditions (especially hypothyroid), and overindulgence. The formation of tumors. Slow digestion, excess weight, and weak metabolism. Hearing loss and ear infections. Excess mucus in the upper respiratory system. Apoplexy, loss of coordination between organ systems, erratic movements, and paralysis. Glandular swelling, goiter, gout, bad blood. Loss of voice and vocal cord conditions. Sore throat, bronchial complaints, dry cough, tonsillitis, ulcerated throat, and diseases or injuries to the larynx and vocal cords. Accumulation of toxins especially in the intestinal tract and congested colon. Overly cold and dried out. Tend towards more persistent and chronic conditions - through their stubbornness they can tend to hold onto disease. Resisting change, ungrounded stubbornness, avoiding conflict, hurtful, brutish, brooding, lack of reflection on their emotions, and melancholic. 

Disease Degrees: 1 degree: palate; 2 degrees: pharynx - oral part; 3 degrees: uvula; 4 degrees: Pharyngeal cavity; 5 degrees: larynx; 0 - 6 degrees: drowning; 6 degrees: vocal cords; 7 degrees: cervical nerves; 8 degrees: alcoholism, jugular veins; 9 degrees: cervical veins, neurasthenia; 10 - 13 degrees: cervical and bravial plexi, neurasthenia; 14 degrees: true vocal cords; 15 degrees: epiglottis; 16 degrees: carotid arteries, abscess; 17 degrees: thyroid glands and tonsils; 18 degrees: lymph vessels, hair; 19 degrees: maxillary artery, alcoholism, goiter; 20 degrees: occiput, goiter, alcoholism; 21 degrees: arteries of the nasal cavity, alcoholism; 22 degrees: tongue muscles, rheumatism, alcoholism; 23 degrees: teeth, rheumatism, alcoholism; 24 degrees: upper jaw, fractures, broken bones, alcoholism; 25 degrees: lower jaw, fractures, broken bones, alcoholism, adenoids, suicide; 26 degrees: nasal bone; 27 degrees: atlas, alcoholism; 28 degrees: alcoholism, deltoid muscle and main neck muscles; 29 degrees: deltoid muscle and main neck muscles, eyesight; 30 degrees: Trapezius muscle. 

Remedies for Imbalanced and/or Weakened Taurus: Warming and stimulating activities, with emphasis on detoxifying activities. Eating a whole foods diet is important to all signs, but Taurus folk need to be especially mindful of the quality of their food and eating mindfully. 

Gifts of Taurus: Resourcefulness, grounding and centering, body knowledge, long-term planning, and consistent energy.

Rituals of Taurus: Expressing body-positive sensuality, fertility and abundance, successful long-term plans, such as business endeavors or big material investments, stability, and invoking or supporting long-term romantic partnerships. Artistic and musical rituals in which the pleasure of the senses are indulged.

Taurus Guardian Herbs: Sage (Salvia officinalis), Rose (Rosa spp.), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Plantain (Plantago major), Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Taurus Remedy Herbs: Gingko (Gingko biloba), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Ashwaghanda (Withania somnifera), Burdock (Arctium lappa)

Flower + Gem Essences: Aspen (Populus tremula), Gentian (Gentiana amarella), Peacock Ore, Willow (Salix vitellina)

The Sun in Taurus

Taurus is the first earth sign and fixed sign of the zodiac and they embody these energies well. Where Aries is quick-moving, Taurus is slow and steady. The bulls are typically the longest lived of all the signs of the zodiac even with their tendency that when they do get sick for it to be a permanent or chronic condition. Earthly, sensual, and indulgent pleasure (as opposed to the more artistic and balanced pleasure of Libra) can be a focus of Taurus folks. Overindulgence is something to be wary of if you your Sun or Ascendent is in Taurus or if many of your other planets are in the sign of the Bull. Typically, Taurus folks tends towards the materialistic such as the garden growing in their backyard versus a mystical garden of new age enlightenment located halfway between paradise and nirvana. 

If you have known someone with a strong Sun in Taurus, you have probably met the legendary stubbornness of the sign. Think about the idea of being “bull-headed” and you’ll begin to understand the Taurean temperament. They very much need to believe that something is their idea before they commit and if they aren’t interested or perceive something to be not useful, they can be hurtful in how they express their opinions. Learning to connect with their emotional world and not just the physical world is a challenge for most Taurus folks but well worth the effort if they want as enduring and fruitful a relationship with others as they have with their garden. All that said, Taurus folks are very loyal in relationships, their endurance for seeing a project through is matched only by their stubbornness, and they can be profoundly inspiring when it comes to helping folks re-member and re-connect to the sacredness of physical embodiment. 

As mentioned earlier, Taurus folks are typically the longest lived of all of the signs (again, it could be said that they stubbornly refuse to depart their physical form until they damn well want to). They can tend towards diseases and imbalances of congestion, cold, and impurity - they need to be very aware of what they eat and being sure to engage in regular energizing activities. The gift of Taurus Sun folks is that they are so blessedly grounded. They remind us to take pleasure in the physicality of life and not get so lost in our heads and the abstraction of pleasure or whether we should be desiring it. Be your pleasure, is what Sun in Taurus folks teach us.

Taurus Guardian Herbs

Rose by Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Rose (Rosa spp.)

18th century herbalist, J. Quincy, wrote that Rose “raises the spirits and gives sudden strength and cheerfulness” and categorized Rose as primarily a Cardiac and Cephalic or relating to the head. (1) In addition to strengthening the heart, Roses assist with memory and promotes clarity of mind, heart, and spirit by connecting all three. Rose nourishes the body and is sweet medicine which calms the nervous system. Within Ayurveda, Rose is considered a rasayana (rejuvenative tonic) and medhya (brain tonic + nervine) for all of the doshas. A very Taurean herb, indeed!

As an aphrodisiac, Rose is an opener - it opens the heart and body to sensual experience. Like many aphrodisiacs, Rose has nervine and nourishing qualities which help to relax and soothe the body so that it may become ready and desirous of intimacy. Additionally, Rose has also been shown to increase sperm count if fertility has been compromised because of lackluster sperm.

The benefits of Rose for the skin are manifold (anti-inflammatory, astringent, vitamin and mineral rich) and can be used in oils, scrubs, and baths for skin health and beauty. As a humectant, Rose Water adds and maintains water to the skin. Keep Rose Water in a spray bottle to use as a mild antiseptic for first aid needs.

As an herb of Venus, which is Taurus’ Guardian Planet, Rose and other Venusian herbs typically balance and cool the fiery energies of Mars in a chart. 

The latter was a sample from the much longer Rose Plant Profile available to my Lunar Apothecary students. Learn about the Rose Plant Personality, Rose Remedies, and a more in-depth exploration of Rose’s healing qualities as a member of the Lunar Apothecary!

Taurus Remedy Herb

image via wikimedia.org

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

While warming herbs might be needed for Taurus folks who have fallen out of balance (such as Rosemary or Ginger), I generally reach for a tonic herb such as Ginkgo which connects with the underlying of wisdom of Taurus. Ginkgo is the oldest living plant species on earth and has more or less stayed the same for 200 million years. I mean, come on, how much more Taurus can you get? A longevity herb for a sign known for its longevity helps Taurus folks relax into and connect with the healing qualities of Ginkgo.

Ginkgo is an antioxidant-rich, blood-clearing, memory sharpening teacher. Taurus folk can have difficulty connecting the physical reality with their emotional experiences, so Ginkgo can help them learn to interact with their emotional and spiritual landscape. I have also found the plant to help open up pathways to useful communication which Taurus folk can struggle to find when they feel apathetic, depressed, or ignoring and/or confused by their emotions. Ginkgo is clearing, moving out stagnation that may have settled in the body as pain, whether the slow healing of wounds or painful pre-menstrual tension. 

As a longevity herb, Ginkgo not only helps us live longer but live longer with vitality. My experiences with the herb is that because it connects the brain and heart (via the blood) so well it helps us to make better choices that will support vitality into our elder years.

Sun in Taurus Flower Essence

Peacock Ore supports the foundational gifts of Taurusfolk – making spirit into matter – and helps keep them from feeling that they are stuck in the mud when life feels burdensome and challenging. The stone itself looks like a healing Taurean aura - dark and rich with rainbow gleams of fertile promise. The stone aligns the energy centers of the body and creates energetic motion which can be very useful for Taurus folks who feel stuck or bogged down. Peacock Ore helps connects us back to hope in times of hopelessness and joy when it is needed most.

Ready to learn more?

• Check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted: An Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional study resources.

• Need a visual guide? Starmaps: The Astrological Body is for you!

• Looking for inspiration for Taurus season? Come this way!

• The Lunar Apothecary is a full length course using the tools of moon-centered herbalism and ritual to help you discover who you are as a healer.

• Want to create a healing Taurus recipe? Check out my Beautiful Sustenance Chaga Chai!

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Footnotes

(1) Tobyn, Graeme, Alison Denham, and Margaret Whitelegg. The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 Years of Medicinal Plant Knowledge. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2011.