Moon Mondays: Drought, dirt and damn good skiing  

Luscious Taurus season slid in yesterday, right as the ski season came to an almost unbelievable close. What a long, strange trip it’s been. We were incredibly fortunate to float merrily down the mountain all the way to April 19. Even in this drought year, we made it to the end. There’s nothing quite like carving spring turns. Taurus revels in what the body can do and in the earth’s abundance — muddy, melting, imperfect and still utterly delicious. 

What an incredible job Aspen Skiing Company pulled off this year. They pivoted, got creative and tirelessly adjusted on the fly to deliver a remarkably solid season in the face of real challenges. You can almost feel the collective exhale at SkiCo today. It’s finally over. They did it. 

I recently rode the gondola with a man who’s been skiing all over the world this year, especially out West. He said he kept coming back to Aspen because we had the best conditions he’d found anywhere. I’ve also heard from people who typically ski Vail, who came here after it closed, say they were blown away by how good the skiing was here — in April. Some even said it was the best skiing they’d had all year. That’s a testament to the groomers, mountain managers and all the employees who showed up again and again for us — visitors and locals alike. 

I keep thinking how lucky we are to have a privately-owned company — and leaders at the top who chose to keep going, like the little engine that could: “I think I can, I think I can.” People who complain that Aspen has no heart or we’re not a ski town anymore clearly didn’t watch skiers and boarders trudging down the bottom of Little Nell, through mud, just to make it back to the gondola for another run. Keeping top-to-bottom skiing open for so long speaks volumes about everyone’s heart. Spar and Copper were far too good to miss for a little sloppy hike. There’s nothing like dirt on your ski boots to make you giggle and feel alive. 

Taurus season is all about doing what feels enjoyable — following whatever brings you sensual pleasure. Skiing slush down Spar and Copper, just me and my husband, not another soul in sight, is a treat I’ll remember for decades. Deep, embodied, Taurus joy. Thank you. 

With the sun newly in Taurus, we enter a month of savoring all that spring offers. It’s warm, then it snows. It’s dry, then it’s muddy. Taurus season brings constantly shifting conditions in the mountains. Time to live day by day. Taurus invites presence. That’s its wheelhouse — being here now and going with the visceral flow, moment by moment.  

I’m in awe of the hearty daffodils and the light green sweeping across the valley. I want to get outside whenever I can, soak up the increasing sun, and welcome any moisture we’re lucky enough to get. I’ve got the gear — a little nasty, windy rain and snow can’t stop me. 

Friday and Saturday bring Venus and Uranus entering Gemini, shifting us from Taurus’ embodied presence into a more mental, curious space. With Uranus soon settled, all five outer planets have completed their moves into new signs — a rare, massive, energetic shift. 

Big planets, big changes. 

With the celestial dust finally settling, a new normal can begin to take shape. It may take years to understand where we’ve landed, but at least the pendulum has stopped swinging. 

Gemini is playful and heady — the trickster that nudges us out of our comfort zones and into greater awareness. Paired with Taurus, we’re reminded to hold two truths at once. Yes, there’s fear, noise and endless complaining in the world, but there is also so much to appreciate. 

Taurus brings us back to the body — the scent of flowers, the soft burst of baby aspen leaves, the feel of dirt beneath our feet. Gemini helps us notice the small, good moments unfolding every day. 

The world may feel unmoored and heartbreaking, but walking down Little Nell to ski corn in Spar once again is something I’m deeply grateful for. The drought is sobering. I don’t wish for it. But I’ll still meet what is here andfind the beauty it offers. 

There’s always something to savor, if we’re willing to look. 

Sheridan Semple is a trauma-informed coach who uses astrology to help women untangle old conditioning, recognize unconscious patterns, and take practical steps to reclaim their lives. Explore her work at sheridansemple.com.