Ready to relax, mellow out and smell the flowers? Now that the Sun is in TAURUS, it’s the time of the season to ease off the accelerator pedal and regroup from the intensity & turbulence of the previous ARIES month. Make it a point to reconnect with nature — take a drive in the country, stroll through the woods or enjoy a picnic in the park. Hug a tree, roll around in the grass and feel the earth beneath your bare feet — get grounded and in tune with nature’s rhythms! 
Snuggle in with family & friends, and create more comfort and stability in your personal universe. Since TAURUS is a fixed earth sign, you’ll want to dig your roots a little deeper, put your base of operations in secure & safe condition, lay solid foundations and reinforce your support systems. Domestic affairs, property matters, community involvement, environmental concerns and agricultural products are major priorities these days; it’s appropriate that we celebrate 4/20, Earth Day (April 22) and Mother’s Day (May 14) during this solar cycle!
With Sun, Mercury and Uranus all in TAURUS as this solar month begins, the nesting instinct will be stronger than usual (especially once Jupiter joins them on May 16)! It’s the ideal time to build, remodel, decorate, landscape, plant a garden, lay carpet or tile, buy real estate or make a major move. Building contractors, interior designers, realtors, landscapers, furniture outlets and home improvement stores will be doing a booming business. Venus, the ruling planet of TAURUS, has been in restless GEMINI since April 11. This mutable air sign tends to balance out the heavy earth emphasis, stimulating ideas, interesting conversations and short trips to the hardware store!
While the Sun’s entrance into TAURUS on April 20 brought forth a calmer, more grounded energy, it first had to deal with the stress brought about by the turbulent Sun-Pluto square at the same time. It is no surprise that SpaceX’s Starship exploded moments after lift-off with that harsh aspect (Elon Musk would be wise to pay some attention to astrology next time)!
Adding to the stress, Mercury began its 3-week retrograde on April 21 (through May 14). It seems that we’ll be going back over lots of stuff for the major portion of this solar month. That seems to be par 
for the course when it comes to organizing & building on the home front, so keep your receipts handy. Utilize this retrograde period to review, repair, put your domestic scene in order and catch up with family members. Avoid glitches and hold off on any start-ups or purchases of cars, computers or electronics until it turns direct from May 15 onward!
Sunday, April 23 could be a very productive day for getting things done with the strong-willed Mercury-Mars sextile. Keep in mind, however, that we’re in the midst of a highly unstable cycle with the Sun-Lunar Node square (aka Moon Wobble), which peaks on April 24. It’s advisable to take some deep breaths and avoid impulsive or
risky actions for the rest of April. Nonetheless, you could make some solid progress on April 25 with the practical Sun-Saturn sextile, and the inventive Mars-Uranus sextile, on the 29th, could inspire innovative solutions and unusual opportunities (the perfect day to deal with any electrical issues, replace light bulbs or simply unplug).
Pluto begins its 5½-month retrograde on May 1, possibly bringing some upheaval or stress along with it for a few days. This symbolizes a time for transforming and restructuring those aspects of your life in need of rejuvenation and reorganization. Hopefully, the clarifying Sun-Mercury conjunction, on the same day, will help you make sense of it all. Misunderstanding or chaotic situations might arise with friends or loved ones on May 4, due the confusing Venus-Neptune square. However, by that evening, the uplifting Venus-Jupiter sextile could inspire positive & honest communications and clear things up.
The Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse in TAURUS & SCORPIO (also known as the Flower Moon) will reach a full boil on Friday, May 5 at 10:34 am PDT. Deep emotions, power struggles, domestic and territorial issues can arise with this particular Full Moon. The challenge is to channel these potent energies constructively and defuse any potential conflicts or jealousies before they get out of control. Make sure things are buttoned up on the home front.
Venus leaves GEMINI and joins Mars in CANCER on May 7. Considering that the Venus-Pluto inconjunct, on the same day, suggests a time for clearing the decks, this would be a good time to clean out the frig, throw out expired food items and restock your cupboards. Over the upcoming month, you may want to pull out your cookbooks, try out new recipes and fire up the grill. Barbecues, picnics, potlucks and fine dining experiences are on the menu (CANCER is associated with the stomach)! It’s time for self-care, taking care of basic needs and cherishing those you love. Since CANCER is a water sign, you may want to hop in the pool, head to the river or go crabbing. The heat is coming on, so be sure to stay hydrated!
The unpredictable Sun-Uranus conjunction in TAURUS on May 9 will disrupt the status quo — expect the unexpected! It could be a good time to install a security system, clear out any stagnant energy or put up some solar lights. Be prepared for some possible interruptions, surprise visits or brilliant ideas, along with possible power outages, lightning storms or computer glitches. You may even consider changing residences! Explore alternatives approaches, free yourself up from any ruts and express your individuality & uniqueness. Do things differently!
Friday, May 12 will be an exceptionally fine day, with the grounded Mercury-Saturn sextile and the harmonious Mercury-Venus sextile, followed by the emotionally-satisfying Venus-Saturn trine. This could be ideal for social activity at home, as well as for catching up with old friends and family. The Moon will be in PISCES for the next two days, suggesting a weekend for relaxing, healing and puttering around outside…as well as a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY for all the moms!
A primal urge to experience the natural world may well up within you; make a deeper connection with the earth, put your hands in the soil and grow some vegetables, herbs, flowers or trees. TAURUS symbolizes the “freshly plowed earth of springtime, ready for the seed.” The best planting days for above-ground crops are: April 20-21, 24-26, 29-30 & May 1; the best days for root crops and perennials are: May 5-6, 13-14 & 17-18.
The week of May 15 starts off with Mercury now direct (yay!) and the uplifting Mars-Neptune trine. The 15th could be a good day to take in some live music, attend a meditation class or easily get your work done. And it also happens to be the final day of Jupiter‘s transit of fiery ARIES. Do something impulsive and fun!
On May 16, Jupiter joins Uranus in earthy TAURUS for a year-long stay. This will totally amplify all the homebody/family energy that we’ve been experiencing for the past month — and provide a hint of what’s 
ahead in the upcoming year. This transit bodes well for your domestic scene, family, property and community matters, symbolizing a time to expand your base of operations in some way. Perhaps you may add a member to the household, make changes & improvements to your property, buy or sell real estate — or even move to a foreign country. The main priorities will be comfort, safety and security!
The high-pressure Jupiter-Pluto square, on May 17, followed by the tumultuous Mars-Pluto opposition on May 20, will intensely bring you face to face with what needs to be transformed & renewed in your life. It’s not a good time to force things, push your beliefs on others or allow others to push you around. Instead, take it easy and explore new ways to create more peace, harmony & comfort in your personal space. It’s time to change things up!
The throat, vocal chords, neck, cervical vertebrae, lower jaw & ears are associated with TAURUS; anxiety & stress in home, family and property matters can manifest as dis-comfort in these parts of the body. So be good to yourself, strengthen your support systems, take security measures and tend to your creature comforts. The healing Sun-Neptune sextile, along with the grounding Mercury-Saturn sextile, both on May 18, will certainly bring some calm, compassion and realism if any upheavals or challenging situations are occurring.
The New Moon in TAURUS falls on May 19 at 8:53 am PDT—at the end of this solar month. By now, you will have more clarity as to what you need to do to solidify your foundations and stabilize your life. Be gentle with yourself, indulge your senses to the max and do what you can to get grounded. Home is where the heart is!!
Indigenous art, pottery, earthy materials and natural fibers could be particularly appealing to you now. You may be inspired to bake bread, give/receive a massage, sing, play the piano or an acoustic instrument, investigate your genealogy or study feng shui. Flower-arranging, ceramics, jewelry making, weaving, beekeeping or woodworking may especially appeal to you now. And there’s nothing like a a good camping trip to heal your soul!
Fortunately, this solar month closes off with a major energetic boost as Mars begins its new 2-month cycle in cheerful LEO on May 20. Express yourself, tune in to your inner joy and let your light shine! Focus on all the good in your life, cultivate a sustainable lifestyle, get as comfortable as you can — and spend this TAURUS month enjoying & appreciating your home, family and community. Be safe and well!!!
PS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY& SOLAR RETURN to my comforting TAURUS friends!
©2023 Diane Elizabeth Clarke