Heaven is a Place on Earth

Pagan Easter, Spring Fever & Taurus Season Astrology

A week after the Venus-ruled Libra Pink Moon, Taurus Season celebrates its 1st full day ON Easter Sunday which happens to be on 4/20 this year.

As a big cannabis-advocate who considers the plant harm-reduction away from alcoholism AND in cahoots with my inner child who weirdly loves the aesthetics of Easter, I am VERY PLEASED with this year’s little holiday link-up. My parents are not Christian but living in the Southeast with a Baptist Grandmother who took us to egg hunts as kids, always with a big meal afterwards, I must admit to having an affinity for the commercialism of the “holiday”. Perhaps it’s the pastels or just a love for fluffy bunnies but to this day I decorate with the colorful eggs, rabbits and flora. Of course all of these symbols have a different meaning especially in relation to nature, Paganism and old world mythology.

As noted for Libra’s Lunar Full, the date of Easter is decided by the Paschal Moon; Easter is a lunar-led observance. There’s some irony to Christianity relying on the Moon Phases in this way, especially when Easter decor in essence is totally pagan. Rabbits are 10000% fertility creatures and the Easter Bunny was a European folklore similar to Santa with gifts of candy in baskets (Australia honors a bilby instead of a bunny). But the most universal symbol is that of the Cosmic Egg which holds a long-standing mythological meaning, rooting back to multiple early civilizations. One main example is the Iranian New Year Nowruz’s elaborate decorated eggs, deeply rooted in ancient Zoroastrian traditions, cosmology and Spring rites.

To rehash the tale of Inanna and her immaculate conception that occurred in outer space, the Babylonian Goddess was encapsulated in a giant egg and arriving with a big splash into the Euphrates River around the Equinox. A gift from the Moon Mother, bright and full in the sky, her divine delivery is one of many ancient, enchanted tales exhibiting parallels between menstrual cycles and the moon. But there is more than fertility to this time… the sensual growth and reawakening of the body that is the scientific phenom of Spring fever affects the Earthlings of the Northern Hemisphere who are suddenly "energized, upbeat and sexually active, if somewhat distracted."

Megan Thee Stallion

Relating to the estrous cycle, the word “estrous” itself in Greece became synonymous with women’s “sexual insanity” where cis men noted the fem population seemed “frenzied, mad and unstable with their sexual desires.” The irony as modern media depicts men as being uncontrollable sex maniacs ruled by their hormones (though there’s some truth to this, ask any trans man who has begun testosterone injections about how insatiably horny the adjustment to HRT is). Estrogen itself is its own reach into Magick, igniting an internal Spring. As expressed in the words of the lovely Symposium poet Farrah Iirises, estrogen is a spiritual experience in itself:

“There is this wild sensation I feel every time I press an Estrogen pill beneath my tongue and feel the little orphic moon dissolve in my saliva. It is as if my veins are filled with pale pink fyres and the crashing whispers of coursing Goddesses. They sing their furious femme sounds from the backs of swan-pulled chariots: Hush, little unrequited body, they sing: *your swelling chest, your hips, your lips. Let softness take it all*. I have never been so alive in all my life.”

Taurus Season Spring indeed has an alliance to the Body and Sensuality.

The “Whole Being” aspect of the Fixed Venusian Sign embodies a divine depth that the cishet Patriarchy finds to be cumbersome, viewing the cohesion of the entire self that many femmes gravitate towards as not serving masculine whims of external sexual objectification and easy companionship. The double-edged sword of expectations around femmes’ sexual willingness (or lack thereof) is as frustrating to un-evolved men as the entire idea of the Body-Mind connection is itself. The irony is that EVERYONE can benefit and ENRICH their life through the interconnection of our many realms and the denial of this is fear-based due to the immense work it takes to maintain simply awareness not to mention practice, communication, boundaries, exploration and other worthy terrains that grow lush with time but take an attentiveness and devotion that capitalistic-cruxed shells of people can not be bothered with.

Whether a femme is reduced to being perceived as shrewd for being non-receptive to bare minimum advances or moody when coo-ing crave of physical intimacy, she is just TOO COMPLICATED for having needs. And there is an entire growth of great subject matter that COULD be nurtured into a blossoming rewarding extensively erotic state of Living which is unfortunately viewed as a gate-kept garden of non-compliance. Estrogen-influenced people are socially degraded by those who see the link between emotional states and sexual desire as not worthy of respecting and I can not believe in this time there is such a large population that is terrified of the nobility it is honor the body and magnify the mind.

Fucking is the most energetic physical ritual that can transcend into the spiritual we as human beings can participate in.

Penny Slinger

At the end of the day, disconnecting the Mind-Body (and furthermore starving the Soul) is merely a means to control ego, sense of security, risk assessment, safety and a whole slew of subjects we should have the decency to note even in casual hook-ups. One can be a Slut and still treat their efforts AND availability to attain desirable situations as Sacred. In the seasonal influence of sexual fervor (and as a “single” high-libido but depraved dame looking for a respectful but kinky perverted partner myself), the lust for Love is elevated as the World warms up. The want to associate our own bodies and love-stories (however this looks to you and YES, there are multitudes of possibilities) with the blossoming of Spring lore is favorable, even when the environment and passion players are problematically stagnated.

Yet I still honor the stories of sexuality that are in worship of Life energy itself which starts in simplicity with the sacred ground that is Earth.

The strong elements of Germanic Spring Goddess Eostre and the neo-pagan observation of Ostara around Spring Equinox is so delightful to me regardless of arguments about their history or etymology. And guess what? It’s possible to shape the lore you want that has meaning to you as men in power have been doing for centuries WHILE straight-up stealing from pagan traditions! This is just ONE example of Easter’s precurors, but it’s at least noted that the nature-based symbolism WAS re-appropriated: Spring’s return was converted into a holy ghost story of Jesus Christ “rising” again. I find it so ironic and yet on point that Jesus was born a Capricorn (beginning of the Winter Solstice) and came back an Aries (beginning of the Spring Equinox)!

Jesus’s un-dead return from the grave after a brutal corporal punishment is, for some, preferred to implications of “fucking like rabbits” and Spring fever. The brutal crucifixion has held some debate within what is appropriate for Christians to notice regarding government travesties, how disgustingly Jesus’s execution was incredibly political and rarely spoken of by the Church. In all objectivity, Jesus was an abolitionist, a socialist, was in friendship with whores and thieves and was above all a Palestinian brown man who was a huge threat to not just the government but to the very structure of social oppression. An admirable prophet (if he actually existed) whose values have been the victim of revisionist opportunism for centuries.

Minako Asakura

Goddess-based observances place immense focus on the Earth, honoring it as humanity’s sacred home, as opposed to the “risen” tale about one man.

As Taurus Season begins on Easter this year, Earth Day appropriately kick-offs soon after on 4/22. Merely a couple steps into the Bull’s block of time, there are hypocrisies in this calendar mark, too. Created by a Senator in 1970 to teach environmental issues in school, Earth Day is now a signal boost for capitalist corporations to pretend they are making efforts towards “clean energy”, recycling and other self-praises that ignore the true harm their production emits into the atmosphere and in their poisoning of soil and water. (The UN honors Earth Day on the Spring Equinox.) And like many of these “special” dates, every day should be Earth Day. We’re living in a world that wants to trample the diversity of living energy across the board. Living in a country that has recently tried to open National Parks for drilling, lumber, real estate development and other atrocities to the land, I’m appalled by the lack of respect this “great” “nation” has for its own home.

Despite the empathetic pangs that weigh heavy when we truly take in the damages oppressive structures have caused, we resist. We resist because we have to. There is no other choice. Mother Earth needs protection if we are to survive. And just like the micro of our Planet in crisis, there is a LOUD micro of a rather large scale where the People are now under attack, too. The hints of how much worse conditions around “freedom” and our “rights” will inevitably become under the rule of men who do not value the sanctity of the Earth in the same manner that they view bodies as disposable pieces of meat to control. Whether these restrictions and violations be related to sexual expression or assault, slave labor, in regards to humans as “illegal”, mass deportations and the freedom of choice around reproductive rights - which includes medical access to abortion care and LGBTQIA+ health - the message is so sickeningly clear by the administration in office:

Bodily autonomy and basic human rights are under direct attack.

Luca Mastroianni

While these subjects are too broad and large to break-down in one post, I want to note how important it is to celebrate ourselves fully, to be kind and gentle and sweet to our differences, the diversity of our identities and expressions of them. That we will never find liberation by not speaking up for ourselves and others, that I do know this is a tricky time to find and use that voice, and both ideologies can exist at once even if they seem pit against each other. There has never been a more clear time to dedicate to values (the foundation of Taurus Season) and to fully show up to loving our Planet, our people and ourselves without apology. We deserve to live life without fear of merely existing. That is basic. And unfortunately our basic rights are under immense threat. Which is why we need to form community more than ever before. And that includes learning how to communicate effectively and to show up for conflict resolution with heart instead of hate.

A SAVE THE DATE! On 5/29, we will be hosting a benefit for Mainline at Argosy in the Brigantine (more info soon). This integral independent news source in Atlanta is purely grassroots and stays afloat from media and event efforts; it’s extremely important they can continue to report on important topics in an honest unfiltered manner Atlanta needs being in a city highly controlled by the corporations and corrupt Democrats. Mainline was one of the first sources to break and continues reporting on the STOP COP CITY story including the tragic murder by Atlanta police of the queer eco-activist Tortuguita (who was a Taurus and who would have had a birthday on 4/23).

RAFFLE FOR MAINLINE (one winner called the Full Flower Moon 5/12):

• Bikini Kill - The Singles LP and Revolution GIrl Style Now LP, both records signed by Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox and Tobi Vail, and BK tote in trans flag colors, currently sold out ($76 value)

• Capricorn Killjoy - “SLUT” mirror earrings in red and light pink ($20 value)

• Cicatrixia - Hesperides Love Spell Kit including anointing oil, Sensual World zine by The Femme Moon ($30 value)

• The Femme Moon - Symposium poetry group zine bundle ($30 value)

• Hot Dang Press - super cute tattoos for your clothes! First Rodeo and Occult Classics iron-on sheet sets ($44 value)

• Salted Butter Society - cookie box, your choice of flavor ($25)

• Wimsikal Press - Get Down, Ladies zines & sticker bundle ($30)

• Void Reality - 1 hour tarot reading via Zoom or in-person at Liminal Space ($88 value)

To enter, send $10 to Mainline via Venmo @mainlinezine or CashApp $mainlinezine - INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN NOTES. Entry is available to anyone in the U.S. with a mailing address.

Please follow Mainline’s Substack and be on the lookout for a special astrology article from their founder upcoming in May.

Taurus Season Astrology

• Aries Season may be over this weekend but on 4/17 Mercury moves back into the Ram and then conjuncts the new Neptune in Aries. This week hosts lively but potentially combustive convo at the communal kitchen table. Ideas are wildly magical but miscommunication’s possible! With Mercury just recently direct, the momentum has picked up; we’re likely hashing out unsaid shocks to clear the blocks. Not the most peaceful prequel to the Bull’s banquet ball but confrontation can be necessary. If we can make space for respectful exchanges, assumptions around Rx-related arguments will be clarified for the better.

• With Mars entering Leo on 4/17, we’re finally free of the ill-matched War Planet in Cancer. I’ve seen my Cancer Sun friends really struggle with this rare Mars Rx particular; absolutely sending y’all all the sympathy, empathy and re-calibration for the rest of Spring and Summer ahead. (I’m also looking forward to Jupiter in Cancer starting during Cancer Season which aligns with many of the topics in this post). Back to the Lion, we’ve a sparky energy boost with this Inner Planet moving into a fierce leadership oriented Fire Sign. Mars will be in Leo until 6/17, consorting us with confidence in our game plans over the next 2 months.

• 4/19 Taurus Season begins late in the day! Hurray! Time for a change of pace: slower, steady and sensual! It is smart to be aware of the many challenges around our personal currency with time and intimacy; holding tight to our values is imperative in the tug-of-war between all the Planetary positions and placements of the weekend, but there is an abundance of pluses to the next 4 weeks with this Earthy Goddess.

• 4/20 is the 1st full day of Taurus Season and extremely active astrologically! Lust for life is in the stars with Venus Pisces sextiling Uranus Taurus, pushing us towards desire though hopefully bolstered with crystalline clarity and not foolish frolic. An absolutely positive cosmic kiss for 1 of 3 major aspects this sensational “Easter” Sunday. As Taurus is Venus-ruled and we’re about a week into practicing what we’ve preached to ourselves during the Libra Pink Moon (hopefully), there is an air of ideas guiding us on how to actualize the romantic life and lifestyle we want. Further knowing our “fuck yes”es, maybes and hard no’s when it comes to partnerships will light the way towards the darkness that will be the lush New Moon in Taurus a week later.

  

• Additionally Mercury in Aries sextiles Pluto in Aquarius, with charming banter on all topics, none taboo, for lively conversation and perhaps even some spicy connections. This is potentially a portal for experimentation but best not to lead anyone on in an irresponsible way.