A bride married to amazement.

A love letter in celebration of Friday’s full moon in Taurus.

Horses grazing in Big Sur, 2018 – one of my favorite moments ever.

The first months of an infant's life and their bond with a primary caregiver lay the foundation for their sense of safety and attachment. This relationship becomes a blueprint for all future relationships, grounding the child in a secure base that supports their exploration and growth. A stable home with reliable caregivers becomes the stage upon which a child learns to yield to their curiosity, fostering a robust sense of self and a willingness to engage with the world. Emotional regulation is nurtured within this space of trust and constancy, allowing the brain’s neural pathways to strengthen and adapt.

As developmental experts Douglas Davies and Michael F. Troy explain:

“Brain growth, and the particular ways in which brain functions are organized, are subject to the influence of the infant’s environment. Experience influences the pruning process, in which neural pathways are strengthened or will atrophy. Appropriate caregiving and stimulation enhance brain development, whereas understimulation and poor or traumatizing caregiving compromise brain functioning in maladaptive ways.”

When denied these stable foundations, we internalize that relationships can be unpredictable or unsafe, guiding our trajectory toward insecure attachments that affect us well into adulthood. The infant's immediate world—its environment, bonds, and nourishment—becomes the template for the rest of their life.

I’m telling you this because I can’t help but see the throughline between these principles and the upcoming Taurus full moon, which implores us to reconnect with the grounding, sensory pleasures of the earth. Our immediate surroundings become what nourishes us, harkening back to our most simple and primordial needs from early childhood. Taurus represents a sensual, tactile love for the physical world—a reminder to cherish the beauty around us and let that be our foundation for resilience. In the wake of the election, I sought pockets of beauty to anchor myself to the earth and moment. A flower blooming, dusky pink clouds romancing a low-hanging moon, the savory warmth of a homemade risotto—all became reminders that these simple pleasures are untouchable. He can’t take these away, I thought. They stand as symbols of all we still have, everything worth protecting.

Ed and I in Big Sur earlier this year.

This Taurus full moon invites us to begin the process of self-regulation by planting ourselves firmly within our respective environments. The energy of Taurus, like the suit of pentacles, holds everything tangible within it: nature, food, home, and people. Although we’re no longer infants, our brains still have immense capacity for growth and change. By practicing and cultivating a sense of groundedness, our neural pathways adapt and strengthen, allowing us to return to a place of centered calm and carry this feeling with us throughout our days. When we reach this state, the body’s limbic system is regulated, and from here, we can make sound decisions, appreciate beauty, connect with our communities, and surrender to our curiosity and creativity. The child within us—the infant who once needed soothing touch, encouraging words, and love—remains embedded in our psyche, yearning for safety. Our responsibility as adults is to give our inner children that sense of security and stability. From this place, we gather the courage to prepare ourselves for what’s to come in 2025.

This Taurus full moon is a call to surrender to pleasure—not simply in the erotic sense, though that, too, is welcome—but in the romantic sense, as if you are, to quote Mary Oliver for the umpteenth time, a bride married to amazement. Look at everything around you as though you are seeing, smelling, tasting, touching it for the very first time. The infant you once were—who stretched their arms toward the world, grasping with wonder and staring wide-eyed at an unfathomably vast landscape brimming with beauty—still lives within you. That child is ever-present, seeking to find their place within the larger order of things. The earth is still here for you; it will continue to hold and teach you. Your friendships, your love, and the body you inhabit are yours—enduring, sovereign, and unassailable. No one can take that away.