Plant those feet on some terra firm. The full moon in earthy Taurus brings us back to a grounded place this Monday. Peace, love and harmony are the order of the day… or at least half of it. The comfort-loving Bull can also be a spitfire too, so expect some dynamism to go along with the calm.

Full moons are harvesting times, where we reap the benefits of the corresponding new moon that occurred six months earlier. Check your calendar: the seeds you planted near April 21, 2012 may be ripe and ready to bear their fruit this week. The two weeks following a full moon are a bonus harvest period, so work with Taurus until mid-November to see what arises.

Here are a few ways to maximize the practical magic of this full moon:

Lift Your Spirits With Luxury

Sensual Taurus knows the power of subtle cues, like the texture of luxury fabrics, the richness of gourmet food, and the olfactory power of a fine parfum. Indulging yourself is a must under this lunar spell. “Where is the joy in life without a taste of the finer things?” asks this new moon. Treating yourself like royalty sends a powerful message of “I’m worthy” to the psyche. Since Taurus governs our self-esteem, this luxe boost will be well timed. But nothing flashy or over-the-top please. Taurus is about timeless elegance and tasteful choices.

Taurus energy is particularly cued in to the sense of smell. You might head to a perfumerie with a blending bar and develop your own signature scent. If you’re more into the natural, play with essential oils until you find the right combination. Your skin’s PH also makes a difference. Get samples of scents you like and let them sit on your wrist for a few hours to see how they change. A spray from the bottle alone will not be enough to determine if a scent is right for you. Set up a diffuser in your house so you’re bathed in the glorious aromas the moment you walk through the door.

Speak Up!

Taurus rules the throat (and the throat chakra) and this expressive full moon wants us to use our voices. Whether you’re campaigning for the upcoming election, singing karaoke, or finally letting someone know how you REALLY feel, verbal expression is the name of the game.

One caveat: full moons are highly emotional times so if an unfiltered rush of feelings could cause a meltdown, vent to a neutral third party before storming the Bastille. Remember that Taurus the bull, can do damage upon seeing red. A little anger management goes a long way. How can you get your point across in a way that is proactive rather than destructive? Think on that, then, speak your peace.

If your words haven’t been getting the impact you desire, use this full moon to bring your throat chakra back into balance. Chanting and singing can help with this, as can drinking lots of water to bring more flow through your throat. This chakra is associated with the color blue. Wear a choker with blue stones or slip on an azure turtleneck. Make more of a point to listen this week too, as gathering information can help you better shape your words.

Hug A Tree

That’s right, we said it: hug a tree.  You don’t have to be a patchouli-wearing hippie to get down with Mother Nature this Monday (although it’s fine if you’re one of those too). Earthy Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac, and rules our rootedness, helping us develop the ability to build and manifest from a solid foundation.

Nothing represents that kind of stability better than a hundred-year old tree towering over our heads. If you can’t bring yourself to wrap your arms around that trunk, sit underneath it or lean on it for a few. Visualize yourself absorbing its strength, security, ability to grow and regenerate. Thank the tree for its lessons, take a picture of it to remind you that nature is resilient and abundant - and so are you. And hey, if you want to meet a friend for a cup of chai and vegan tapas afterwards, we wouldn’t blame you a bit. Birkenstocks optional.