Moon 2° Taurus - 5 of Pentacles / Taurus I / Mercury in Taurus
Sun 2° Scorpio - 5 of Cups / Scorpio I / Mars in Scorpio
The Full Moon in Taurus arrives on October 25th at 9:12 p.m., illuminating the first decans of Taurus and Scorpio. In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, these decans correspond to two of the more challenging cards in tarot: the Five of Pentacles, Mercury in Taurus, and the Five of Cups, Mars in Scorpio.
Both cards depict experiences of loss, disappointment, and hardship. Yet when we look more closely at their symbolism, we discover something they share: the possibility of moving forward exists, but the figures in both cards cannot see it.
In the Five of Cups, a cloaked figure stands mourning three spilled cups, unaware of the two that remain upright behind him. In the Five of Pentacles, two figures struggle through the cold, passing beneath the illuminated stained-glass window of a church, a symbol of spiritual refuge and the possibility of support.
Both cards ask us to consider how our experiences shape our perception of what is available to us.
The Five of Cups is associated with Mars in Scorpio, where Mars is traditionally in its domicile. Scorpio understands that transformation often requires us to confront uncomfortable emotions, acknowledge our losses, and allow ourselves to feel what we might otherwise avoid. Grief is part of the human experience, and sometimes it is through our most painful experiences that we discover our greatest capacity for growth.
The Five of Pentacles, associated with Mercury in Taurus, brings our attention to the relationship between our thoughts, our voice, and our material circumstances. Taurus seeks stability, security, and the resources necessary to sustain life, while Mercury represents the way we think, communicate, and interpret our experiences.
I often see this card in readings when someone feels unsupported, overlooked, or as though they must carry everything alone. But it also raises an important question: Are we allowing ourselves to ask for what we need, or have we become so accustomed to struggling that we no longer recognize support when it's available?
With the Moon exalted in Taurus, this Full Moon brings our emotional and physical needs into focus. What genuinely nourishes us? What provides stability? And where have we confused familiarity with security?
The Sun in Scorpio forms a square to Pluto in Aquarius, creating a powerful invitation to examine the patterns, beliefs, and identities that influence how we participate in the world.
Sometimes we remain in situations long after they've stopped supporting our growth because they provide a sense of belonging, recognition, or security. We may convince ourselves that we're gaining something valuable by staying, even when the reality of the experience tells us otherwise.
And sometimes the most significant transformation begins when we question the story we've been telling ourselves about why we need to remain.
With Venus retrograde in Libra and Mercury retrograde in Scorpio, we're being invited to reconsider our relationships, agreements, and the beliefs we've developed through past experiences. Venus brings our attention to what we value, while Mercury asks us to examine the thoughts and narratives that continue to influence our decisions.
Chiron near the Taurus Moon adds another dimension, bringing awareness to old emotional wounds and the ways our experiences may have shaped our sense of worth, safety, and belonging.
Meanwhile, Jupiter and the South Node in Leo highlight the identities and belief systems we may have outgrown. We can become so attached to who we've been, or how we believe others perceive us, that we struggle to recognize who we're becoming.
Yet the harmonious connections from Venus and Chiron to the lunar nodes suggest that growth doesn't always require a dramatic ending. Sometimes a realization is enough. A conversation, a decision, or the willingness to release an outdated commitment can create space for something new.
Mars in Leo sextile Uranus in Gemini reinforces this possibility, encouraging us to approach our circumstances differently and remain open to change.
This brings us back to the two fives.
In numerology, five represents change, disruption, and the challenges that move us beyond familiar structures. These experiences can be uncomfortable, but they also invite us to develop greater awareness and maturity.
The Five of Cups reminds us that while we cannot change what has been lost, we can eventually turn toward what remains.
The Five of Pentacles reminds us that experiencing hardship does not mean we are undeserving of support, connection, or abundance.
Neither card asks us to deny our pain or pretend that difficult circumstances don't exist. Instead, they invite us to recognize when our past experiences have begun to define what we believe is possible for our future.
This Full Moon asks us to examine what we're holding onto, what we're ready to outgrow, and whether the lives we're sustaining are the lives we truly want to live.
Sometimes moving forward isn't about finding something new. It's about recognizing what has been available to us all along.
What we've lost is part of our story, but it doesn't have to determine what becomes possible next.