Finding the balance of toxic and tonic in healthy desires

To help you make the most of this Taurus season and the intoxicating mixture of pleasurable ease and intense desires with Taurus and Scorpio combined, here are two lunar tarot spreads.

If you’ve paid attention to moon transits in astrology or you’ve read my “Working with the Moon” blog post, you know that Taurus season always has a New Moon in Taurus and a Full Moon in Scorpio. (Every few years, there’s a second one of those in the season too because there are 13 lunar cycles in one solar cycle through 12 signs.)

New Moon in Taurus

This year we have the New Moon in Taurus (18º Taurus 02') happening May 7, 2024 (11:22PM US Eastern Time), but you can use this spread for any New Moon in Taurus. The fundamentals are the same.

Clearing: What burning ache is it time to let heal?

Transitional pause: Where do I have momentum to carry me forward with ease?

New seeds: How can I cultivate abundance in my own life and for others?

Light in darkness: What self-indulgence is tonic for my weary soul?

Planetary boon: How can I nurture the beauty in my world?

The New Moon in Taurus is perfect for The Earth Shaker Workbook. It includes 10 exercises for unearthing your values and the rewards that motivate you to stay true to your commitments.

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Full Moon in Scorpio

This year we have the Full Moon in Scorpio (4º Scorpio 18') happening April 23, 2024 (7:49PM US Eastern Time), but you can use this spread for any Full Moon in Scorpio. The fundamentals are the same.

Fuel: How can recent connections help me uncover latent desires?

Magical peak: When I let myself break through my limits, what is made possible?

Purging: What obsessions have proved toxic?

Clear mirror: Where has my enjoyment of intensity numbed me to simple pleasures?

Dancing luminaries: How will consistency help me find the depth of experience that delights me?

The Full Moon in Scorpio is a great time for The Safe Cracker Workbook. It includes 10 exercises for exploring Scorpio and working with the energies at the threshold of our understanding. It’s deep and the Spirit Work exercises are so good.

The Safe Cracker Workbook [PDF]

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Creating the Spreads

(The first and last parts of this are largely the same explanation I provided in the original New Moon in Capricorn / Full Moon in Cancer tarot spreads blog post.)

Each of the spreads is based on five core categories that will be the same each New Moon or Full Moon. There are certain aspects of a New Moon or a Full Moon that are fundamental to that particular lunar phase, regardless of sign. If you’re curious how I created the spreads and want to use some of my techniques and thought processes to create your own spread, go for it! Be sure to share it with me so I can see what you’ve created. Comment below with the questions or share a link to your own blog or Instagram post. Others may want to work with the spread if you’re open to it!

New Moon

Every New Moon is coming from a clearing energy thanks to the waning phase. For this spread situated in a short period of time, that position is informed by the previous astrological sign. (That’s different from working with a full six-month lunar cycle, where the overarching energy is all of that one sign.)

The Dark Moon is then the point of sacred pause where you really need to let the energies of the old sign end and the energies of the new sign form before you act. It’s contemplative and quiet and internal.

And the first sliver of the waxing phase allows you to start planting new seeds in the primary strengths of that sign.

Those three facets of the New Moon make up the first three positions and the central line of the spread. For many folks, that’s all they really need. However, I like to take tarot beyond the basics.

The fourth position, below the main events, is tied to the shadows of that particular sign and offers a way to turn seemingly negative experiences, emotions, or habits into something more useful for the querent.

And the fifth position, above the main events, is something positive based on the planetary ruler of the sign in which all of this is happening. That’s because the Moon and Sun are both in that sign, so they are both influenced by the same planetary ruler. Let’s see what that planet has to offer.

Full Moon

Every Full Moon is at the height of its power in the sign opposite the Sun’s sign. It’s coming from a place of building energy that passes through the previous sign on its way to its brightest point, so it uses that sign’s energy to help it grow and move.

Then at its Full phase, it’s a pure and light expression of the sign. For this short-term tarot spread (rather than a six-month lunar cycle), the card position offers a fleeting magical quality that is a celebration of all that can be achieved through the sign.

After that, it quickly shifts into a waning phase, and you’re able to eliminate negative aspects of your life through the positive characteristics of that sign. This is similar to the New Moon’s Clearing card position, but it’s proactive rather than reactive.

Those three facets of the Full Moon make up the first three positions and the central line of the spread. For many folks, that’s also all they really need. But as you know, I like to take tarot beyond the basics.

The fourth position, below the main events, is tied to the conflict of the Sun and Moon’s signs that is made more obvious thanks to illumination from both sides. It can help you see and eventually address the conflict to help you heal through the light of the Full Moon.

And the fifth position, above the main events, is a positive interaction between the two opposing energies that house the luminaries (Sun and Moon). Oppositions are often seen as challenging, but there’s as much positive potential in them. The same conflict seen in the fourth position is also a combining of complementary energies that can be used for a positive outcome.

Creating Questions for the Signs

What changes in each of those two basic spreads is how the astrological energies affect the question inspired by that core category.

In the New Moon in Taurus spread, I needed to consider Taurus, Aries, and Venus (the ruler of Taurus). Taurus is persistent and consistent, resulting in high inertia and comfort with coasting that allows them to enjoy the things they’ve collected into their world. Aries, which is the sign the Moon has most recently left, is all about doing things with passion and fire, even if it leads to a quick burnout. Venus, the ruling planet of Taurus, is all about beauty, love, and abundance that encourages one to enjoy the pleasures of everything you already have.

In the Full Moon in Scorpio spread, I needed to consider Scorpio, Taurus, and their areas of contrast and complementing. While Taurus knows how to enjoy the comforts of life—sometimes to the point of hedonism or sloth—Scorpio examines the intensity of life and depths of desire. Libra, as the sign preceding Scorpio, also gets a nod in the first question. It is the sign of connection, harmony, and relationships, so that’s how it adds fuel.

Layout

As for the layout, I’ve placed the five cards for each spread in a classic cross position. I like five-card crosses because they offer up multiple points of interaction and symbolic patterning without creating something that’s totally overwhelming for the reader.

You have five one-card readings in response to five specific questions.
You also have two three-card readings, a horizontal spread that is based on a classic three-card trajectory and a vertical spread that helps demonstrate the highs and lows or the above and below aspects of the spread.
And you have one big picture of five cards that will likely reveal interesting underlying patterns when you look at the cards all together.

Want help creating your own layouts?

You’ve got options! Join my upcoming semester of tarot and take advantage of 20+ office hours, where we can talk through your ideas and how best to ask the questions that matter most and create a custom signature layout for you.

Can’t wait? Sign up for my intensive fundamentals course for new and experienced readers, Read Tarot like a Nerd, where we get into the heart of asking questions that matter, along with a dozen or two other valuable topics to take your tarot readings beyond the basics. Or check out my Saturday seminars, including past recordings of Reading the Big Picture and Getting Intentional, which will help you create your own spreads.

And if you’re curious about the astrology of tarot, I’ve got a course for that.

Tarot Spreads: New Moon in Taurus + Full Moon in Scorpio