New Moon in Taurus
Taurus is an earth sign, known for its deep connection to beauty, stability, and the creation of both inner and outer sanctuaries. Earth signs are typically grounded, practical, and patient—rooted in the tangible aspects of life. As a fixed sign, Taurus brings an energy that is steady, enduring, and focused.
In the biblical tradition, Ruth—whose story is told in the Book of Ruth—is a fitting archetype for Taurus season. She is known for her loyalty, persistence, and strength. Her story is both deeply rooted in place and marked by care for others, embodying the earthy, grounded qualities of this sign.
Like all women in scripture, Ruth’s story comes filtered through a patriarchal lens. And yet, feminist, womanist, and queer theologians have found layers of meaning beneath the surface. In the Wisdom Commentary volume on Ruth, the authors write:
“While the book of Ruth can be read as reinforcing the stereotype of a woman’s happiness resting in marriage and motherhood, it doesn’t have to be. Rather, it can also be read as revealing a strong and independent woman who is clearly responsible for her own decisions, who practices loving kindness, and who is an agent of her own history and of the history of Israel.”
The narrative begins with a family from Bethlehem who flee to Moab during a famine. There, Naomi’s husband dies, and her two sons—who marry Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth—also pass away. Naomi, now a bereaved widow, urges her daughters-in-law to return to their families. Orpah leaves. Ruth stays.
Her words to Naomi are some of the most enduring in all of Scripture:
“Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people.” (Ruth 1:16)
Verse 1:14 says that Ruth “clung” to Naomi—the same Hebrew word translated as “cleave” in Genesis to describe the union between Adam and Eve. This has led some scholars to view Ruth and Naomi as a same-sex couple. Others interpret their bond as a deep and covenantal friendship or kinship—one that stands out as the only time in the Bible where a woman declares a vow to another woman.
Either way, theirs is a sacred relationship marked by mutual care and survival on the margins of society.
Together, the women return to Bethlehem, destitute. Ruth gleans leftover barley in the fields—an earthy act of provision and persistence—and later approaches Boaz, a landowner and relative of Naomi’s late husband, for security and protection. They marry, Boaz redeems Naomi’s family land, and Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David.
The Book of Ruth is one of only three books in the Bible named after a woman (the others being Esther and Judith). Unfortunately, the lectionary—used by many Christian churches—only includes small passages of her story twice every other year. Ruth is also the only book in the Bible that passes the Bechdel test, a measure of the representation of women in works of art that asks whether a work features scenes where two named women have a conversation about something other than a man.
In Taurus fashion, Ruth is loyal, steady, and practical. Her motivations are grounded in deep love and survival. Even her marriage to Boaz is a strategy for security and protection within a patriarchal world. Her story invites us to consider the sacredness of loyalty, the holiness of care work, and the power of women choosing one another, especially in a world that often overlooks them.
In terms of personality traits, each sign exhibits positives and negatives. It’s important to be aware of both, and to notice what you want to emphasize and what energy you can focus on in this season.
High Side of Taurus: Grounded, loyal, dependable, patient, nurturing, sensual, practical, steady, committed, appreciative
Low Side of Taurus: Stubborn, possessive, resistant to change, materialistic, lazy, indulgent, overly cautious, jealous, rigid, stuck in routine