the full moon in taurus for writers

illuminating what goes bump in the night

Moon rose
full and without
compromise through the good
garden of leaves,
here and there
stars rode in flickering
slicks of water
and for certain
the burly trees
hunched toward each other,
their dark mantles
like the fur of animals
touching. It was
summer on earth
so the prayer
I whispered was to no god
but another creature like me.

Mary Oliver, “The Gardens”

The Full Moon in Taurus is exact at 10:49am ET. Usually, a Taurus moon is for fucking, eating, and napping. The moon is all about the body and our emotions, and in the sign of Taurus, it enjoys pursuing its creature comforts. The pleasures this moon invites us to indulge in are a welcome respite from the creeping cold of autumn in colder climates.

Today’s full moon? Not so much.

Or perhaps it is more accurate to say: it both is and it isn’t. It is still a Taurus full moon, of course, it is just also sitting literally right next to Uranus, that Promethean planet of change, rebellion, and upheaval. This time, pleasure doesn’t come without a streak of the unexpected.

Collectively, you may be celebrating Samhain, All Hallows Eve, The Day of the Dead, and other cultural traditions which reverently honor those who have passed beyond the veil. Halloween, which offers more mainstream cultural revelry, may hold surprises in your local neighborhood. And then there is the election, occurring only days after the full moon, is sure to bring us sudden upheavals and possible revolution.

Jung was right about synchronicities when it comes to astrology: what is going on up there inevitably reflects what’s happening down here.

Still. For writers, there’s something about a full moon that captures our creative imagination — especially as the seasons turn, as things are dying, as we’re cosplaying the witches we are in real life. Especially during Scorpio season, a time of decay and rot, of composting what needs to be released and let go of. The full moon illuminates what goes bump in the night.

Full moons have a reputation for their spook factor. ERs are known to fill up on a full moon, coincident with old legends associating full moons with violence. The etymology of the word lunatic dates back to the 13th century; while thankfully no longer in use among mental health professionals, the word and its descendants (such as lunacy) implied that a person was “affected with the kind of insanity that was supposed to have recurring periods dependent on the changes of the moon.” Pop culture classics like Hocus Pocus take place on the night of a Samhain full moon. And on it goes.

No matter how you are or are not marking today, this moon — and the events around it, personally or collectively — are going to be worth paying attention to. Creatively, go with what inspires you and take your foot off the gas this weekend. The moon conjunct Uranus is not a time known for its consistent pace, but rather for its sudden spurts, for being all or nothing. Notice, observe, and be gentle with yourself and others as much as is possible.

Writing Prompts for the Full Moon in Taurus

• What areas of your life feel like they are reaching a culmination in a way that feels satisfying or pleasurable? Are you experiencing surprises, sudden insights, or unexpected revelations in regard to this?

• When it comes to writing and your creative process, how is your body feeling these days? How does your writing desk or setup support your physical comfort? How do your own expectations of your “productivity” line up with your mental health? What needs readjusting?

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P.S. Tomorrow, paid subscribers will receive The Writer’s Guide to November’s Astrology, detailing the transits of the month (e.g. Mercury square Saturn on Nov 3, Venus opposite Mars on Nov 9) and the best days to pitch, revise, stay off Twitter, promote yourself on Twitter, and more. Are you subscribed?