Scorpio/ Taurus Axis: A Glenda Elphaba Love Story
As we approach a Full Moon in Taurus on Friday, and as we wade through the muck of the most Scorpio of Scorpio seasons, I can think of no better time to explore the themes of our power goddesses that are the axis between Scorpio and Taurus.
Wicked comes out in theaters just as we exit Scorpio season- so this is an ode to all the Glindas and Elphabas out there.
Wicked poster, Universal 2024
Scorpio and the 8th House is ruled traditionally by Mars, but I prefer the planet/notplanet modern ruler Pluto. The vibes are just more accurate. Pluto represents all things underworld and destruction and encapsulates what it is to walk the edge between darkness and divinity. When we think archetypes, so many yummy dark goddesses come to mind; Persephone, Hekate, Inanna, Morrighan, Freye, Hel, or Meng Po. Pick your poison, but this is her realm. She leads us into the shadow, into our collective desire for transformation and rebirth, but it’s usually ugly and it always costs us something.
My favorite modern imagery for this is the book The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine, in which Fatima, who is a mash up character of every underworld journey, travels there and is stripped of everything in order gain what she desires. Scorpio asks us to bare our souls as the price of entry to rebirth.
Across the astrological wheel, sitting cozy in the second house is Taurus, ruled by another goddess with a very different vibe- Venus. Venus speaks to the magical connection to the earth and what we create that is beautiful in our material realms. She can be a bougie bitch, but she is also safety, truth and justice.
The 2nd and 8th houses are opposite one another, which means there is an axis of intertwined opposition. I love the idea of these goddesses facing off- it’s your classic good and evil story where you realize both are needed in order to survive. The 2nd house is money, the 8th other people’s money. The 2nd is what we build, the 8th what we destroy. The 2nd is earthly pleasures, and the 8th is pleasures beyond.
So let’s reimagine this in more modern terms that truly couldn’t be more perfect a symbol for these energies. Glinda is claaaasic Venus energy (a lovely mix of Libra and Taurus). She palatable, pink and perfect- as the kids say- preppy. And beneath the surface, there is goodness and a desire to help others bring her idea of beauty into the world.
Then there’s her polar opposite, Elphaba, so non-normative and taboo that she’s actually green. Despite appearances, she’s actually the nicer of the two because there’s an honesty there, a struggle that gives her power more depth. Elphaba goes on her own Scorpio underworld journey, and I love how this musical embraces darkness not as evil, but as empowerment.
Screenshot, Wicked 2024
Now I’m not saying Venus and Hekate are going to be best friends, but there’s a mutual respect and understanding of the balance they both bring. You can’t willingly go through chaos and destruction without first having the grounding and stability of Taurus- you’ll burn up. And you can’t just live in the stasis of your earthly pleasures- you’ll be stuck. Both forces are needed for each to exist.
So heading into this Taurus Scorpio axis full Moon, we can consider what is keeping us stuck and holding us back from burning it all down. What is lending us some earthly stability that we want to help grow? How can we use both of these forces to destroy those who would hold us down, those who do harm, like a flower in a gun or a tsunami at an AIPAC convention. Your choice- pick your goddess and let’s ride.
