Taurus New Moon Eclipse: Uncommon Beauty

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.” – a favorite saying of Audrey Hepburn’s, by Sam Levenson

Despite being widely admired for her beauty, Audrey Hepburn never considered herself attractive. The Oscar-award-winning actress admitted in an interview that “I hated myself at certain periods. I was too fat, or maybe too tall, or just plain too ugly.”

Hepburn had deep insecurities, which stemmed from being abandoned at age six by her father, then suffering the horrors of World War II. But the style icon, who was a ballet student and cabaret dancer before she rocketed to fame in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, developed a coping strategy. “I couldn’t conquer these feelings by acting indecisive,” she said. “I found the only way to get the better of them was by adopting a forceful, concentrated drive.”

This drive ultimately led Hepburn, in 1988, to assume what she considered her most valuable role – that of special Ambassador to UNICEF, which entailed many grueling trips to underprivileged countries to combat world hunger. By the time she died of cancer in 1992, she had earned the love and respect of those who saw her beauty in a whole new light.

Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929, 3 a.m. Ixelles, Belgium) is our poster girl for the upcoming New Moon/solar eclipse in Taurus. She born with the Sun in earthy, determined Taurus and the Moon in watery, compassionate Pisces. And this New Moon (April 30 at 1:27 a.m., PDT) is ruled by Venus (another feminine planet) in Pisces, which is auspiciously conjunct Jupiter on the same day. There’s a whiff of glamour, beauty and magic about this lunation that evokes the essence of this iconic performer-humanitarian.

In addition to being a partial solar eclipse, giving it added impact, this New Moon at ten degrees Taurus occurs in close proximity to Uranus at 14 Taurus. Uranus always mixes things up, throwing in an unexpected element. This is apt to be true in all Taurean matters, from the physical body to financial affairs to the Earth herself. The ground beneath us could shake – especially if we have wandered off-course or are in need of a breakthrough. But the outcome, thanks to that Venus-Jupiter conjunction less than an hour later, is apt to be quite positive – even otherworldly.

Energetic Mars in Pisces sextiles this New Moon, providing a dash of Hepburn’s “forceful, concentrated drive” to get things done. But eclipses can be unpredictable, and the conjunction to Uranus may also feel a bit unstable. Keep your feet on the ground and welcome any sudden insights or changes that occur. In whichever area of your chart 10-14 degrees Taurus resides, a turning point is at hand. In general, the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are apt to be most affected.

The day after this lunation marks the ancient Wiccan holy day of Beltane, so this weekend is ripe with pleasure and fecundity. Get outside and commune with the nature spirits. And, with Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Neptune all in mystical Pisces, special guidance can be found in your dreams. Before you go to bed, you can decide what you want to dream about (studies have shown that we all dream 3 – 9 times per night; we’re just not in the habit of recalling them). So write your intention down in your journal (i.e. “Please send me a dream about my next financial step.”) Then when you awaken, record whatever you remember, even if you can’t see how it relates. Did you dream of a cracked floor in your house? You may need to repair your financial foundation. If you dream of doing something you wouldn’t ordinarily do, giving it a try in real life could spark a positive shift (as long as you’re not likely to get arrested for it!).

The Taurus New Moon wants you to treat your body well and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Appreciate all the beauty that exists in the world, even in the midst of breakdown and chaos. And follow Audrey Hepburn’s lead by extending your compassion to those who need it most – yourself included!