How To Harness The Power Of Tonight's Taurus Full Moon

Full moons are harvesting times, where we reap the benefits of the corresponding new moon that occurred six months earlier. Check your calendar: The seeds you planted near May 17 (the Taurus new moon) may be ripe and ready to bear their fruit this week. The two weeks following a full moon are a bonus harvest period, so work with Taurus until mid-November to see what arises.

Here are a few ways to invite Taurus full moon manifestation into your life:

1. Do things by the book.

Taurus is old school, and also a pragmatist at heart. Instead of reinventing the wheel or bucking the system, try a novel approach: do things the way they were designed. Our culture is obsessed with the new; the paparazzi chase the attention whores. As a result, everything’s gotten annoyingly complicated. The Taurus full moon reminds us that sometimes, trying too hard to be special mucks up the whole process. At the Taurus full moon, you’ll succeed with honesty, humility and hard work. Following simple, thoughtful steps is the fast path to results now. Keep it simple.

2. Be radically present.

The idea of “being in the moment” can sound like a platitude, something your yoga teacher says before everyone rushes off post-savasana to check their iPhones. The Buddhists know that Zen-dom is achieved by finding the rhythm, flow and grace in the mundane — the notion of “washing your bowl” or “chop wood, carry water.” Taurus rules the zodiac’s house of daily routines. At the Taurus full moon, find beauty in boredom, wisdom in waiting, and holiness in the humdrum. We always joke that the biggest test of enlightenment isn’t how long we can meditate — it’s withstanding the crazy-crowded grocery line at Trader Joe’s in New York City, or rush-hour traffic in any gridlocked city, without losing our cool. Try to smile through something that normally drives you bats*** crazy and you'll see.

3. Indulge your material guy or girl.

Taurus rules the zodiac’s second house of money, earned income and material prosperity. It may be considered gauche to flaunt wealth, and part of the New Age culture is definitely an unspoken disdain for consumerism — well, outside of approved brands these days (don't get us started). Understandably, capitalist greed is wreaking major havoc on our planet. But we’re still “spiritual beings having a human experience” — and that means we live in a three-dimensional world, reliant on our five senses. At the pleasure-loving Taurus full moon, spending money is a way of affirming the universe’s generosity by enjoying its tangible bounty. It sends a message to the universe: I trust you to take care of me!

If you struggle with fear or scarcity around money (like ninety-nine percent of the world … and the other one percent is probably lying), the Taurus full moon is a reminder that money is energy, and we have to put it back into the universal supply by keeping it in circulation.

Indulging yourself is a must under this lunar spell. “Where is the joy in life without a taste of the finer things?” asks Taurus. Treating yourself like royalty sends a powerful message of “I’m worthy” to the psyche. Since Taurus governs our self-esteem, this luxe boost will be well timed. But nothing flashy or over-the-top please. Taurus is about timeless elegance and tasteful choices.

4. Follow your nose.

Sensual Taurus knows the power of subtle cues, like the texture of luxury fabrics, the richness of gourmet food, and the olfactory power of a fine eau de whatever. Taurus energy is particularly cued in to the sense of smell. You might head to a perfumerie with a blending bar and develop your own signature scent.

If you’re more into the natural, play with essential oils until you find the right combination. Your skin’s pH also makes a difference. Get samples of scents you like and let them sit on your wrist for a few hours to see how they change. A spray from the bottle alone will not be enough to determine if a scent is right for you. Set up a diffuser in your house so you’re bathed in the glorious aromas the moment you walk through the door.

5. Speak up, sing it out.

Taurus rules the throat (and the throat chakra) and this expressive full moon wants us to use our voices. Whether you’re campaigning for a cause, singing karaoke, or finally letting someone know how you REALLY feel, verbal expression is the name of the game.

One caveat: full moons are highly emotional times, so if an unfiltered rush of feelings could cause a meltdown, vent to a neutral third party before storming the Bastille. Remember that Taurus the bull can do damage upon seeing red. A little anger management goes a long way. How can you get your point across in a way that is proactive rather than destructive? Meditate on that, then, speak your peace.

If your words haven’t been getting the impact you desire, use this full moon to bring your throat chakra back into balance. Chanting and singing can help with this, as can drinking lots of water to bring more flow through your throat. This chakra is associated with the color blue. Wear a choker with blue stones or slip on an azure turtleneck. Make more of a point to listen this week too, as gathering information can help you better shape your words.

Toning, or sound therapy, is also gaining popularity as a healing modality. For something really cutting-edge (and oh-so Taurus), check out The Integratron, an amazing structure built on a geomagnetic vortex in the Mojave Desert, where visitors experience an hourlong "sound bath" from quartz crystal singing bowls played at waves to match each chakra.

6. Affirm your values.

What do you believe in, stand for, and get behind? Taurus governs self-esteem and values. No, you don’t have to be bullish about your morals (especially since the Taurus full moon usually falls near U.S. Election Day). But having a guiding principle or two can give your life shape and direction. If you’ve been loosey-goosey, ground yourself in a mantra or a simple set of ideals that lend you some dignity. HOWEVER (see next item) ...

7. Question the sacred cows (but don't lose all critical thinking ability).

Because the Taurus full moon falls during investigative Scorpio season, people can get riled up in an effort to expose what's really going on behind the scenes. Often, the no-bulls*** Bull can take down one of society's "sacred cows." While we love Taurus energy for its sensible, bottom-lining approach, too much of this can veer into bullheadedness or black-and-white thinking.

The Taurus full moon DOES push us into uncomfortable terrain, asking us to look beyond the idealized. But people, please, let's not take down an entire movement that the world benefits from, too. Are the people and organizations behind activist movements perfect? Far from it. So let's use this Taurus full moon to champion integrity without destroying anyone's character along the way.

8. Hug a tree.

You don’t have to be a patchouli-wearing hippie to get down with Mother Nature today (although that's fine ... if you promise to employ a light touch on the body oil). Earthy Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac, and rules our rootedness, helping us develop the ability to build and manifest from a solid foundation.

Nothing represents that kind of stability better than a hundred-year old tree towering over our heads. If you can’t bring yourself to wrap your arms around that trunk, sit underneath it or lean on it for a few. Visualize yourself absorbing its strength, security, ability to grow and regenerate. Thank the tree for its lessons, take a picture of it to remind you that nature is resilient and abundant — and so are you. And hey, if you want to meet a friend for a matcha and vegan tapas afterward, we wouldn’t blame you a bit.