Phytonutrients For Taurus Season
Merging Scientific Literature of Red-Orange Phytonutrients with The Root and Sacral Chakras, The Hierophant, Creativity, and Therapeutic Uses of the Colors Red and Orange
Preface
Welcome to Taurus Season! We’re working our way around the zodiacal wheel, and using modern scientific literature on phytonutrients and whole foods paired with esoteric healing modalities and medical astrology to create a new approach to holistic healing! To catch up, read the Phytonutrients Per Zodiacal Series for: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries. I have touched on Taurus in the Libra Season post since it was more focused on Venus in general. Check it out here.
If you have not read the Introductory to the Holographic Herbal post, I recommend doing so! If you are new to astrology and chakras, you may become lost. The Introductory Post walks you through how I use color, intuition, astrology and anatomy, and phytonutrients in one healing practice for Body Literacy and Intuitive Eating.
Remember that the information found on this blog post, across this blog website, and any associated social media profiles is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not meant to replace advice provided by licensed professionals, and astrology is not intended to diagnose illnesses or prescribe treatments. Do not self-diagnose. You can cause serious harm to yourself. Please work with a licensed professional. For more information, please see my Terms & Conditions Page.
Hi Friends!
We’ve come around to my rising sign of Taurus! I am so excited for this one. I have recently taken up Color Therapy courses alongside my Natural Medicine courses. This way, I will be able to speak to the healing benefits of the colors of phytonutrients with confidence. In addition to Color Therapy coursework, prolific Medical Astrologer and Sports Nutritionist Kira Sutherland messaged me one day to talk about A.T. Mann’s books. Alden Taylor Mann is an American writer, designer, artist, and astrologer who uses color and astrology together. Sutherland mentioned that color and astrology have been used together for hundreds of years- I had no idea! I have purchased two of A.T. Mann’s books, and I am sure by next month when I write Gemini’s post, I will have lots to share!
When I first laid the Artist’s Color Wheel on top of the Zodiacal Wheel to highlight the benefits of phytonutrients, I thought that this work would be laughed at. I shoved my notebook with my colorful drawing back into my shelf in shame. However, one day while learning about phytonutrients, I took up one of Writer and Medical Astrologer Judith Hill’s classes where she mentions laying the Artist’s Color Wheel on top of the Zodiacal Wheel where red aligns with Aries, red-orange is Taurus, orange is Gemini, and so on and so forth. When I saw this, I pulled my notebook back out, and compared notes. Then, I started my Holographic Phytonutrient Database for a school assignment, and expanded on Hill’s knowledge, drawing from different wisdoms and teachings like Medical Astrology, Color Therapy, the health benefits of phytonutrients, the frequency of each color, etc. In addition, Sutherland does a great deal of work with Bach Flower Essences and tissue salts, which lit me up since flower essences and tissue salts are a part of my coursework in Natural Medicine, and my mentor, Bonny Casel, was the president chair holder of the British Flower Essence Society. Everytime I return to my work with phytonutrients, more knowledge gets added to it. Truly, once you start a relationship with botanical allies (herbs and whole foods), they really do guide you on your path.
About the Signs
We all express characteristics of each zodiacal sign, as all twelve signs fall in the twelve houses in our natal chart. Find out where Taurus falls in your natal chart, and apply this knowledge to the themes of that house! Some important placements of Taurus would be: Taurus Sun, Taurus Moon, and Taurus Rising. In addition, the location of Venus in the chart is also important for the Taurus Sun, Moon, or Rising since Venus rules Taurus. On the other hand, The Moon exalts in Taurus, so locating The Moon could be equally as important.
What is the difference between a planet ruling a sign, versus a planet exalting in a sign? Let’s take for instance Venus who rules Taurus and Libra. Venus’ characteristics align with Taurus and Libra’s characteristics: emphasis on beauty, peace, serenity, marketplace, core values, relationship with food and food production, gardens, nature, and safety. However, The Moon’s exaltation in Taurus heightens those themes but in the language of The Moon. In essence, Lunar people already prioritize safety, security, and serenity. Moreover, herbalists and many indigenous cultures utilize moon phases to grow and harvest herbs for herbal medicine, which highlights this connection of The Moon to gardens and nature.
Why do Astrologers and Astro-Enthusiasts say “Happy (Insert Zodiac Sign) Season” ?
When The Sun transits through a sign, it denotes a new zodiacal season. Between about April 20th until May 20th, The Sun transits through the sign of Taurus.
Why is it Important?
As mentioned before, we all express characteristics of all twelve signs. The difference between my natal chart and yours is the location of the signs in their respective houses in your personal natal chart versus mine. The Sun illuminates or brings awareness to themes, situations, and events, and each house represents a core theme in our lives.
Find out where Taurus falls in your natal chart, and use the infographic below to see what themes are illuminated for you this month.
What is Holographic Phytomancy?
If you’re new here, Hi! I’m Samantha (Phyto Holographic Sam), and I am currently in school for Herbal Medicine, Healing Diets, and Quantum Botanicals and Quantum Healing. Last year, when Venus went retrograde into Leo, my friend Mandy Wilde (Wild Medium) and I did a Venus Rx Instagram collaboration for the entire duration of Venus’ Rx journey. At some point, we decided to incorporate my knowledge of phytonutrients and astrology when the Sun went into Libra. I wrote a blog post about Phytonutrients for Venus (Libra and Taurus), and I have been continuing the Phytonutrients Per Zodiacal Season Series since.
In the beginning of this year, I started to take on case study clients for an assignment for school. These case studies participated in Herbal Medicine/Herbal Ally programs and a Healing Diets/Phytonutrient program that I have created on my own, but inspired by my mentor’s teaching. Through this experience, I am truly understanding the biological activities and esoteric healing properties of all of our botanical allies (herbs and whole foods).
How Do I Do It?
I use Astro-Herbalism, Astro-Anatomy, Astro-Colors, the color of phytonutrients, the colors associated with the Seven Chakras, modern Scientific Literature, esoteric wisdom, and Vibrational Medicine to guide my case study clients through a bespoke healing program that focuses on their goals. Through this experience, we work through the 12 Zodiacal Signs, Seven Chakras, and there is some overlap with Traditional Chinese Medicine meridians and Ayurveda doshas.
Of course there is so much information and nuance to talk about, and I will save most of that for the books that I am writing. However, if you’re interested, you can check out my Workbooks and Guidebooks if you’re excited to dive deeper into my work with herbs and phytonutrients. Alternatively, you can wait for when I open up my 1:1 Client Work soon, and a bespoke healing program can be developed for you personally!
Holographic Phytonutrients Guidebook
The Lost Language Between Plant and Human
Learn how the colors that our whole foods express can offer specific benefits for our body. Colors that are mentioned in this PDF: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Teal, Purple, and Black.
Includes:
A guidebook that walks you through the following colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black
The phytonutrients and their benefits, and which whole foods contain these benefits
For those interested in my work with phytonutrients and their associations to Astrological energies and the Seven Chakra System, this particular PDF does not contain this information, but a small e-book that walks you through this is on the way!
WHAT IS A PHYTONUTRIENT?
Phytonutrients are chemical compounds that are found in plants, veggies, & fruits. They are what give our food their color, and are divided into categories depending on the color they express in different fruits and vegetables. Phytonutrients offer certain health benefits through their biological activity.
WHAT ARE CHAKRAS?
Chakras are a part of an ancient system that originated in India, and they were mentioned in the Vedas, which was a large text of esoteric wisdom written from 1500 - 1000 BC. In Sanskrit, chakra means “spinning wheel”, and this refers to certain points in the body that are thought to give off specific energies, and they correspond to organs and systems within the body. It is said that there are chakras within the body, as well as outside the body, totalling in 117 different chakras. The traditional practice only focus on the Seven Chakra System being: The Root, The Sacral, The Solar Plexus, The Heart, The Throat, The Third Eye, and The Crown.
Taurus Rulership in Astrology and Medical Astrology/Astro-Anatomy:
In traditional Astrology, Taurus rules themes such as: core values, income, material wealth/possessions, self-worth, pleasure, aesthetics, and pleasures in life. In Medical Astrology, Taurus rules the throat, larynx, nose, ears, lower jaw, shoulders, and mouth. It has association with the Second House of Income, Possessions, and Core Values.
Taurus and The Hierophant
Taurus’ Spiritual Face
Though Venus’ preferred domain is the earthy Taurus, Venus also rules airy Libra. The way Venus manifests within each sign of its domicile tells us something different about Venus. Taurus teaches the importance of aligning ourselves with our values, taking care of our Earth, learning about Body Literacy, our possessions, our sensuality, putting value in ourselves and our talents, and understanding that we are all deserving of abundance, fertility, and ease. Libra teaches us the importance of aligning ourselves with honesty, grace, and harmony. It teaches us about peace, unity, negotiations, and strategy. It also teaches us about understanding the pure truth in living in balance of all things, setting our ego aside to do so. Both signs teach us about art, beauty, and adornments. These are all mainstream keywords of Taurus, Libra, and Venus. However, there is a lesser known treasure in the lesson of Venus: spirituality.
Venus exalts in the sign of Pisces, which teaches us the necessity of being connected to something, as we all say, “bigger” than ourselves. It teaches us how the dissolution of the physical plane’s boundaries is a magical and spectacular thing. Venus in Pisces teaches us to slow down to observe synchronicity, and allow the fertility of creation to flow through us. It teaches us that the rituals in which we engage with are the most healing and potent practices ever.
“Venus is desire and love. It indicates the mother and nurture. It makes priesthoods, school superintendencies, high offices with the right to wear a gold ring or a crown, cheerfulness, friendship, companionship, the acquisition of property, the purchase of ornaments, agreements on favorable terms, marriages, pure trades, fine voices, a taste for music, sweet singing, beauty, painting, mixing of colors both in embroidery, dyeing, and unguent making. Venus makes the inventors and masters of these crafts, as well as craftsmanship or trade, and work in emeralds, precious stones, and ivory.
Within its terms and degrees in the zodiac, Venus causes men to be gold-spinners, gold workers, barbers, and people fond of cleanliness and toys. It bestows the office of supervisor of weights and measures, the standards of weights and measures, markets, factories, the giving and receiving <of gifts>, laughter, good cheer, ornamentation, and hunting in moist places. Venus gives benefits from royal women or from one’s own, and it brings very high rank when it operates in such affairs.
Of the parts of the body, it rules the neck, the face, the lips, the sense of smell, the front parts from the feet to the head, the parts of intercourse; of the inner parts it rules the lungs. It is a recipient of support from others and of pleasure. Of materials it rules precious stones and fancy jewelry. Of fruits it rules the olive. It is of the night sect, white in color, very greasy in taste.”
-Vettius Valens, Anthologies, Book I
There is so much material here to sink our teeth into, but let’s focus on the keywords “priesthoods”, “sweet singing”, and “ornamentation”.
Of the Major Arcana in the tarot, Taurus is associated with The Hierophant. In the dictionary, the definition of hierophant is: “a person, especially a priest, who interprets sacred mysteries or esoteric principles.”
As a Taurus rising, I’ve come to understand that the very act of cleaning sacred spaces like my office and kitchen, and placing items, candles, and other magical materia in a way that feels geometrically aligned with what was going on internally, has become a ritual in itself. This entire practice bled into every other aspect of my life: cooking, cleaning, waking up in the morning, and even creating a sleep ritual. Every moment of my life is now approached like a sacred practice, and the result is that every part of my home feels like an expression of something inside of me given physical form, reminding me of the importance of my own peace, happiness, and power. I have created a sense of ultimate repose in my home, and the result is a visual aid of the emotional and spiritual workings of the dark temples inside of me.
One of the key principles of the zodiac is a system of rulership called the “decans”. Each zodiac sign is split up into three decans, also known as “faces”. And as there are 30 degrees in each zodiac sign, each decan is made up of 10 degrees each; 0º-9º59, 10º-19º59, and 20º-29º59, respectively. The decan I want to focus on for the purpose of this piece is Decan 1 of Taurus. I was initially led to learn more about this decan because it is where my ascendant degree sits, and I stumbled upon Mo and Pao’s Fixed Astrology Podcast; two experienced and talented Astrologers who go through each decan of each sign per episode. You can hear the entire episode and learn more about the decans of Taurus by clicking here. I highly recommend listening to this series if you want to learn more about decans.
In this episode, Mo explains the definition of the Hierophant:
“(The hierophant) has access to divine wisdom, and encourages people who are following a practice to live their lives in a way where they’re honoring their commitments to whatever they believe in, or whatever they find valuable.”
In this quote, we can find the resonance of the concept of “aligning ourselves with a practice that we find value in.” Pao then brings some additional illumination to this decan by explaining that it is associated with Venus and Mercury, by triplicity and Chaldean order, respectively. “Mercury,” Pao says, “likes tricks and magic.”
Mo then adds,
“Venus rules the aesthetic planning and decorating of religious rituals.”
Think for a moment about sacred rituals, celebrations, holidays, and traditional services. There are usually themes, colors, decorations, symbols, and idolatry figures and archetypes associated with them. Pick almost any sacred celebration from almost any culture, and think upon the spiritual symbolism of it. How does that culture demonstrate its beliefs in the form of adornments and decorations? This is what this decan is describing: “Venus, the Adorner of the Ritual,” as Mo lyrically puts it. Venus is interested in the sacred arrangement and organization of rituals, and it is my belief that we can look to Venus to aid us in living a peaceful and happy life by aligning ourselves inwardly and outwardly with our highest beliefs. We will return to the concept of The Hierophant and its association with ritual keeping later in this post.
Taurus and Terracotta
Color Therapy & Color Psychology of Red-Orange
If we lay the Artist’s Color Wheel on top of the Zodiacal Wheel, Red-Orange aligns with Taurus. I like to call this color Rust or Terracotta, and it is my favorite shade of orange. Terracotta derives from the Italian words “terra”, which means earth, and “cotta” which means cooked.
As a 3rd generation New Jersey born and raised Italian-American, Frank Sinatra was an artist I often listened to growing up. While writing this post, I learned that Sinatra thought that orange was the happiest color, and decorated his Palm Springs home in orange colors. His last wife, Barbara Sinatra, toned down the orange decor by replacing it with terracotta. In the 80s, Sinatra seriously took up abstract painting, and leaned into his favorite color. In The Color Code, the author, Paul Simpson, notes that the Russian painter and theorist Wassily Kandinsky once said the following about orange:
“Orange is like a man convinced of his own powers-
red brought nearer to humanity by yellow.”
Here, Kandinsky is implying that orange (a color made by mixing red and yellow) is a powerful and confident color, but is softened by the yellow aspect, bringing warmth and approachability to it. I can’t think of a better quote for Sinatra.
Sinatra was a Sagittarius Sun, Libra Rising, and Pisces Moon. Taurus ruled his 8th House of Transformation, Collaborations, Taboo, and Mysteries with no planets in this house. However, Venus, who rules Taurus and Libra (his Ascendant/Rising sign), is in Sinatra’s Capricorn 4th House of Private Life, which deals with who we are when no one is watching, what we do when we have nothing to prove to anyone, and where we’ve come from (ancestry, childhood, etc). I love that Sinatra loved orange so much that he decorated his home (4th house) with it, painted with it, and dressed in it. Art and clothing fall under Venus’ domain.
When we think of the color red, we think of passion, ambition, courage, blood, desire, love, and anger. It is also associated with our survival, feelings of safety, and a sense of urgency. In Color Therapy, red is used to enhance vitality, vigor, and digestion. Both Mars and Aries have rulership over blood and circulation of blood, as well as stress. For more information on Phytonutrients for Aries Season, click here.
Orange is the color of reproduction, fertility, innovation, warmth, vibrance, creativity, and comfort. It is also used to convey nutrition and vitality in the food industry. In Color Therapy, orange is used to reduce cramping and stimulate the regrowth of new tissue. Orange is also used to support the lungs, which is ruled by Mercury. Gemini falls on the true orange spectrum of the Zodiacal Color Wheel, so we will talk more about orange next month!
Red-orange calls to mind visions of harvest, Halloween, and Autumn. I find this interesting because Taurus is the opposing sign of Scorpio, which is the sign that rules the later half of October where we celebrate Halloween on the 31st. In the spring (Taurus), we plant our seeds for our garden, but by fall, we get to harvest (Scorpio) our crops. One must dedicate time and energy into soil in order to ensure a bountiful harvest.
Another red-orange color is Burnt Sienna, which is a reddish-brown pigment (definitely more on the brown spectrum than orange) used in various cultures throughout history, including ancient Egypt and Rome, where it was called terra rossa (Red Earth). It became associated with the Italian city of Siena during the Renaissance, and evokes feelings of safety, security, and luxury in color psychology- all Taurus words.
If you’re having a hard time getting red and orange whole foods into your diet, try adding orange to your wardrobe, accessories, office space, or dishware. Paint your nails terracotta, or find the perfect shade of red-orange lipstick. Find a pair of eccentric pumpkin-colored shoes or a rust blouse or blazer. Alternatively, “bathing” in red and orange light may encourage healing in the ways stated above.
How I use the Taurus Spectrum in My practice
Case Studies: Medical Astrology, Chakras, Color Therapy, and Phytonutrients
For the Taurus & Red-Orange spectrum, I tend to focus on Root Chakra and Sacral Chakra themes. The Root Chakra, Muladhara, speaks to how we address stress, survival, safety, and challenge. It is the Root Chakra, and therefore represents our foundations. It aligns with our tailbone, and Dr. Deanna Minich gives the adrenals to this area.
The Sacral Chakra, Svadhisthana, on the other hand, represents our creativity and creation, sexuality, and emotions. It aligns with our pelvis and reproductive system. I like to say the “creative portal” sits here, because not everyone is comfortable bringing awareness to their reproductive system/body parts.
When working with case study clients, the Taurus Spectrum brings in both the themes of the Root and Sacral, and themes that come up are in relation to the following:
Repressed early emotional wounds
Feelings about how safe we are to be our creative selves
Beliefs about our generativity
Stories intertwined with how we approach food
Feelings about our material and monetary wealth, and if we trust that we are worthy of attaining them
Feelings about our role and receptivity to our communities
Relationship to our body
Our Inner Hierophant or Decorator of Sacred Rituals (Routines)
My case studies assessed their opinions of their own art, music, creative expression, and role in artistic communities as an artist. A lot of my case studies became hyper aware that they’d get “found out” for “not being a ‘real’ artist” (not true), yet every single case study I’ve worked with has been an extremely talented artist in their own unique ways. I’ve found that “Imposter Syndrome” definitely sits in the red, orange, and yellow spectrum, and sometimes starting with Red-Orange/Taurus or Orange/Gemini is a good place to begin. However, other times it can be too confronting, and it is best to start with Red/Aries to remind ourselves of our inner-power, or to address and understand the fear behind Imposter Syndrome. Alternatively, starting with Yellow/Cancer/Leo and asking the “why” behind the art is more of a gentler approach. We will certainly touch on this in July and August.
One other theme I found in my case study client is that the Red-Orange spectrum encouraged them to build their own daily sacred rituals (routines) without me prompting them. True, I blog a lot about the importance of creating AM & PM routines because of how crucial the circadian rhythm is for so many aspects of our being, and maybe they are tuning into that. However, how effortlessly and creatively they crafted their own routines and rituals filled me with pure joy. One case study client began to greet the sun in the morning, when before they would instead lay in bed while scrolling on their phone. They found this simple change in their morning to benefit their entire day because they were in a better mood, had more energy, and had less brain fog. They also began to become more creative in work meetings, offering their own artistic view when confronted with their company’s urgent matters. Another case study client created their own morning and nighttime tea ritual with the herbal blend I suggested to them, which began to regulate their nervous system and changed the way they approached every day. They even invited their children in on the education of herbs and food as a daily routine.
Phytonutrients For Taurus
So, we’ve learned that red is a powerful and passionate color, and orange is a creative and fertile color. For the Phytonutrients in this spectrum, we will focus on supporting creativity, fertility, generativity, and warmth.
Healthy Fats
Dr. Deanna Minich places healthy fats in the Sacral/Orange Spectrum: cold pressed oils, nuts, fish, and seeds. Because The Moon (which exalts in Taurus) rules fluidity and mucous membranes in Medical Astrology, I too like to place healthy fats in this spectrum. I know this is a touchy subject, but healthy fats aren’t something to be scared of:
“Fat helps give your body energy, protects your organs, supports cell growth, keeps cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and helps your body absorb vital nutrients. When you focus too much on cutting out all fat, you can actually deprive your body of what it needs most."
- Vasanti Malik, Research Scientist, Department of Nutrition at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
In essence, everything from our brains, to our organs, to our cells, to our hormones need healthy, unrefined fats. The cells are the basic foundations of our bodies (alongside bones), and it is imperative to incorporate healthy fats into our dietary routine. In fact, fats are the building blocks of hormones. Research suggests that certain fats, like omega-3 fatty acids, can improve hormone levels and even fertility. However, unhealthy fats, such as trans fats and saturated fats, can lead to problems like insulin resistance. Therefore, prioritizing healthy fats can be beneficial to our hormone health. Recall that Venus rules both Taurus and Libra. Hormones are ruled by Venus, since hormones are regulated and balanced in the body, and Venus does a pretty good job of playing the role of “balancer”, “negotiator” and “regulator”. I consider hormone balancing to fall more under Libra rather than Taurus, but here we find the dependance hormones have with dietary healthy fats for regulation and production, and therefore fertility which is another aspect that Venus rules.
Carotenoids
Carotenoids are found in orange foods like carrots, pumpkins, & papaya. There are higher levels of carotene found in blood of people with less depression symptoms, than of those who had higher [1]. The uterus consists of carotenoids, with the follicular phase showing a significant carotenoid content [9.9 microg/g] [2]. Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS states that foods rich in carotenoids can support the health of the uterus. Carrots also contain fiber which help to bind excess estrogen in the stool, and eliminate it from the body. Excess estrogen develops into estrogen-dependent conditions like adenomyosis, endometriosis, and estrogen-dependent cancers. I make sure to eat carrots almost every single day. With Taurus being ruled by Venus who is associated with the womb and hormonal balance, carotenoids are a perfect Taurus-honoring food.
When my case studies expressed menstrual problems or creativity blockages, I suggested an increase of red-orange foods rich in carotenoids. After two weeks, their menstrual cycle became regular and less painful, and all of them began to tap back into their Inner Artist. I watched all of them start a creative endeavor or project in one way or another. I directly correlate carotenoids with the Creative Portal because of how potent and quick the carotenoid biological activity is on the Root and Sacral Chakras.
Vitamin C
Naturally red-orange foods are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is necessary for the production of stress hormones from the adrenal glands [3]. Stress hormones are needed to regulate our fight-or-flight response as well as our circadian rhythm. We might associate our adrenal glands with Aries, who gives us the energy to fight. On the other hand, Taurus is also concerned with safety, security, and ease of living. Ironically, the adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys, who are ruled by Venus. So, we have some red and orange overlap with the need for safety [Taurus, orange] and the fight-or-flight response as it relates to safety [Aries, red]. Vitamin C is also necessary for the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Both of these hormones regulate the menstrual cycle, with progesterone being its highest in the ovulation phase to prepare the uterus for a fertilized egg. If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone levels drop. If pregnancy does occur, progesterone is needed to maintain the pregnancy. It is a sedative hormone in order to keep the body safe and calm to protect the growing baby [4]. Estrogen levels decrease in perimenopause and menopause, which is the reason behind the menopausal symptoms often felt by those going through this phase. In PCOS, estrogen levels can also be low, creating a cyclical pattern of debilitating and painful issues. If any of this applies to you, grab some red and orange foods for vitamin C!
Of note: One of my favorite Herbalist Podcasters, Organic Olivia, noted that estrogen is not a yin hormone, but a yang hormone. Estrogen is concerned with growth and generativity, which is predominately a yang expression. Olivia goes on to explain that progesterone, an introspective and intuitive hormone, is more of a yin hormone out of the two. Progesterone is responsible for all types of dream states, and you can read more here if you’re interested in Dream Work and Dream Magic.
Lycopene
Lycopene is also found in red-orange and pink foods like tomatoes, guava, & pink grapefruit, and is an antioxidant and scavenger of free radicals and oxidative stress. Free radicals damage our genes, and antioxidants protect the body from the damage that they may cause. Lycopene has the ability to slow down the process of bone cell death, and therefore strengthens the bone structure, especially in those currently in their postmenopausal phase with osteoporosis [5]. Recall that The Root Chakra rules our bones according to Deanna Minich!
One study [6] set out to understand the role lycopene might play as an antioxidant for beauty, specifically in skin. It found that, even though both young participants had the same levels of lycopene in their skin and skin oil compared to middle-age participants, the younger group had a specific form of lycopene known as All-E lycopene. As I understand this study (I am not a scientist), All-E Lycopene is a biologically active form of lycopene. When the middle aged participant group took a lycopene supplement for a set number of weeks, the research found that lycopene levels increased in their skin and skin oil as well, suggesting that lycopene can help maintain “younger” looking skin by acting as a protectant from the damage skin endures as one ages. Venus and Saturn both rule the skin, but Saturn ‘s rulership is more from a protective perspective, and Venus is more from a beauty perspective. Of course, here we see both being played out in lycopene, but truly all phytonutrients have a protective quality to them. Regardless, Taurus is a sign that prioritizes beauty and safety!
Betalain & Pink Whole Foods
Let us return back to The Hierophant, The Adorner of the Sacred Rituals. One of my case study clients has heavy emphasis on Venus and Mercury in their natal chart. Of course they are very artistic and intuitive, and moving into an Herbal and Phytonutrient program for healing was a creative endeavor for both of us! We started with orange phytonutrients, since orange holds the Taurus and Gemini spectrum (Venus rules Taurus and Mercury rules Gemini), but we found an interesting correlation with their herbal allies and phytonutrient allies.
I suggested an herbal blend that consisted of hormone regulating herbs, as well as some nervous system regulating herbs. However, there were two herbs in this blend that were reddish-pink in color: Hibiscus and Rose hips. I have written about rose hips in another post, and you can read more by clicking here. My case study expressed a real emotional bond with hibiscus and rose hips, and felt that they truly found their Herbal Allies- which is what my program is all about! In addition, my case study client kept gravitating towards tropical pink fruits when reaching for orange whole foods. They definitely ate their oranges, carrots, tangerines, and mangoes, but they also kept finding themselves putting dragonfruit, pink grapefruit, guava, and pomegranates in their shopping cart, too.
One could argue that pink whole foods can be placed under Pisces, and I agree. In Astro Colors, Pisces is associated with magenta and violet, but I reserve Pisces for the white antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal whole foods for the Pisces spectrum in my Holographic Phytonutrient Program (like garlic and onion). However, Venus exalts in Pisces, so it is possible to utilize pink foods for Pisces Spectrum support. For my case study client, there seemed to be crossover with Taurus, Libra, Gemini, and Pisces- which are arguably all signs that place heavy emphasis on art, fertility, and the communication of art such as photography, painting, poetry, etc.
In pink whole foods, like beetroot, red amaranth, prickly pear, and dragonfruit, a phytonutrient called betalain is present. There are two types of betalains: betacyanins and betaxanthins. Betalains that give off a reddish or violet color are classed as betacyanins, and betalains that give off an orange or yellow color are betaxanthins [7]. One study [8] set out to understand the health benefits of betalains found in red beetroot (betacyanins). This study concluded that betacyanins had a number of biological activities including the ability to improve cognition, improve endurance and exercise performance, protect the liver and kidneys, and expressed antitumor and antioxidant activity. Here we see the Red/Aries spectrum being played out in its ability to enhance cognition and exercise performance. In addition, Venus rules the kidneys, and recall that Venus rules Taurus. I have sometimes seen the liver being given to Venus, due to its role in metabolizing and regulating hormones, and its ability to filter blood. However, it is more commonly agreed that Jupiter rules the liver. It also removes excess glucose, a sugar, from the bloodstream, and stores it as glycogen. It can also convert glycogen back into glucose when it is needed. Venus is associated with sugar and all things sweet. However, the kidneys produce hormones (Venus), regulate blood ion, blood pH, and blood volume (Aries/Mars), and also excretes waste and toxins (Scorpio). Aries is the opposing sign of Libra, ruled by Venus. Scorpio is the opposing sign of Taurus, ruled by Venus. Both Aries and Scorpio are ruled by Mars.
When you focus on Red/Orange (and maybe even pink-ish) whole foods, you can expect to see yourself motivated to return to your artistic endeavors, assessing your relationship to your own generativity, intimacy, and warmth, analyzing and revising your beliefs of fertility and creation, and culling old narratives about your safety, survival, and old habits that you may have picked up along the way to keep yourself safe that might no longer serve you anymore. You may also find inspiration to create routines in ways that feel sacred and unique to you- as if you are your own Hierophant and Adorner of A Sacred Ritual by actively implementing creativity, art, and pleasure in your daily rituals. Lastly, you may revisit your feelings about your relationship to your body and/or food, and you may want to re-create a new narrative or story about how you approach food, or how your body speaks to you in its own language.
For your convenience, I have added a list of red, orange, and pink-ish whole foods below so that you can add these foods into your diet this month for Taurus season! I want to note something really important here, though: never underestimate the healing properties and biological benefits that the whole foods that are currently in season can offer you. Many people prefer to “eat seasonally”, and focus on whole foods that are available in grocery stores each season. This, in itself, is a ritual! Because Taurus represents our relationship to food and the production of our food, gardens, and agriculture, I thought it was important to remind everyone of this important fact, but this goes for any season!
What red-orange foods will you incorporate this season?
Pink Whole Foods:
Pink Lady Apples
Cranberry
Guava
Dragonfruit (Pitaya)
Lychees
Pink Grapefruit
Pomegranate
Watermelon
Rhubarb
Prickly pear
Beetroot
Red Amaranth
Red Whole Foods:
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Cherries
Raspberries
Red grapes
Watermelon
Cranberries
Apples
Beets
Red peppers
Red onions
Orange Whole Foods:
Orange peppers
Carrots
Squash
Sweet Potatoes
Yams
Pumpkins
Papaya
Apricots
Cantaloupe
Mangoes
Tangerine
Orange
Peaches
Tomatoes
Watermelon
Resources:
Bonny Casel, ND
Dr. Deanna Minich, Ph.D., CNS
Kira Sutherland, Sports Nutritionist and Medical Astrologer
The Color Code, by Paul Simpson
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/know-the-facts-about-fats
https://www.allarahealth.com/blog/fats-and-hormones
[1] - The Food Medicine Bible, by Earl Mindell
[2] - DOI:10.2478/v10042-008-0040-5
[3 ] - Whole Detox, by Deanna Minich, PhD CNS
[4] - Period Powder, by Maisie Hill
[5] - Walallawita, Umani S et al. “Potential Role of Lycopene in the Prevention of Postmenopausal Bone Loss: Evidence from Molecular to Clinical Studies.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 21,19 7119. 27 Sep. 2020, doi:10.3390/ijms21197119
[6] - Petyaev, Ivan M et al. “Lycopene presence in facial skin corneocytes and sebum and its association with circulating lycopene isomer profile: Effects of age and dietary supplementation.” Food science & nutrition vol. 7,4 1157-1165. 13 Mar. 2019, doi:10.1002/fsn3.799
[7] - Sadowska-Bartosz, Izabela, and Grzegorz Bartosz. “Biological Properties and Applications of Betalains.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 26,9 2520. 26 Apr. 2021, doi:10.3390/molecules26092520
[8] - Chen, Liping et al. “Beetroot as a functional food with huge health benefits: Antioxidant, antitumor, physical function, and chronic metabolomics activity.” Food science & nutrition vol. 9,11 6406-6420. 9 Sep. 2021, doi:10.1002/fsn3.2577
