Tarotlogy Icon and NewMoon Notes

 

Tarotlogy Icon for December 2, 2013

The first thing to notice is the position and relations of the NewMoon.  In this case we see a trine between the Sagittarius NewMoon and Uranus retrograde in Aries.  (In Continental Tarot terms, this gives us The Priestess and the Fool in the realm of The Devil, exchanging arousing and exciting energies by trine with The Magus in the realm of the Hierophant.) This relentless pressure of unpredictable individuality will support inspired, visionary and precedent-breaking cultural developments.  Pluto, symbol of the  industrial/military/financial complex looks to be somewhat disadvantaged by this situation. The close square between Uranus and Pluto speaks of direct competition and confrontation because these two heavies are working at cross purposes.   Simultaneously the NewMoon seems to suck energy from Pluto by semi-sextile, an aspect that was thought to be baleful by our astrological ancestors.

 

 It is no coincidence that in the Devil card, we see two figures who could be  easily be envisioned as Sophia and the Fool  (Moon and Sun), or the Emperor and Empress (Jupiter and Venus), the couple on the Lovers card, or any other duality you might wish to project upon them.  Once superficial concepts of "thou shalt" and "thou shalt not" have been stripped from it, the Devil arcanum portrays a coincidentia oppositorum, or a meeting of the opposites at the middle ground of androgyny, otherwise known as mutual inclusion. There is no sin or evil here, only the releasing of energies that have been deliberately kept apart before this moment, in order to strengthen and purify each side in its own unique nature. When the two are finally liberated to become one again (and this has clearly been a long wait, as each is grey-haired), their cleaving together will be unbreakable for eternity.

Another feature of the astrology in the Icon is the very strong harmonious trine between Jupiter retrograde in Cancer (the Emperor in the realm of Justice)  and Saturn in Scorpio (Judgement in the realm of Temperance).  Both of these pairs of Trumps speak very strongly to me of a restoration of the Rule of Law, whether that refers to legal writ, the so-called "law of the jungle", or Karmic law.  With Justice at one end of this trine and Judgement at the other, it looks like conditions are being set up to bring about a Jubilee of sorts on this planet, by which I mean a renouncing of all the manipulated, re-hypothecated, black-budget predatory debt arrangements oppressing the "little people" everywhere,  and a return to a more level playing-field for all.

I have no idea how such a thing might come about, but the presence of Venus in Capricorn (the Empress in the realm of the Tower) standing in opposition to Jupiter just adds drama and pathos to the overall situation. To the extent that Venus represents what each one of us finds good and true and beautiful, being the Planet that shines the Light of Nature into human affairs, I believe we might be getting ready to witness an epic re-arrangement of our priorities, individually and collectively.  With the Emperor currently touring the sign of nuclear family life in the global village, I would think it is his duty (and the duty of the Emperor within all of us) to ensure that we shape our upcoming changes with the ecosystem and future generations in mind. There is no machination of carnivorous capitalism that we should accept and endure if it exists at the detriment of future humanity!  

Additionally, Saturn has Mercury (The Star) in his sidecar. Their conjunction (nearly completed now) motivates Saturn to undergo any amount of Temperance-style rendering if the process will lead to the realization of the Alchemical Work, so often symbolized in the androgynous figure of Mercury.  In his own right, Mercury is sextile to Mars in the sign of Virgo (Strength in the sign of the Wheel of Fortune). This means that we can help move our cause along by applying self-discipline to appropriate healing and cleansing practices, observing the rigorous follow-through and attention to detail that Virgo demands. 

Last but not least,  we see Neptune in Pisces  (Death in the realm of The Sun) throwing a trine to the North Node in Scorpio (Temperance) and a sextile to the South Node in Taurus (The Lovers). There are no cards for the Nodes in the common Continental packs, so we just have to take them at their astrological value.  This set of symbols ponts our imaginations back to the myths about Appollo's Lyre, which had such a beautiful tone that it could open the gates of Hell and allow it's bearer to tour the underworld, charming and warming every denizen of that dark land.  Clearly we are being reminded that  we can turn around in our own aura,  reaching down and back, behind our ego, to find those lost or buried aspect of our Divine Nature that still have the power to reincarnate, to live through us again in this incarnation. We don't have to die to be liberated from the bonds that have held us back before now! Those still-living embers of inspiration continue to long for realization under the light of the Sun, despite whatever setbacks or damage or past injuries one has previously endured. Never give up on your dreams, your hopes. This world is an open field for the fulfillment of our visions. This triangular figure gives Neptune a way to reach out to us through the destiny-indicators we call the Nodes. Stay open to the call of Spirit, which might be trying to find you through completely unexpected channels.

 I am hoping that these little musings on the Astrology of Tarot (hence Tarotlogy) prove to be valuable to my readers. In my own case, I would never have learned astrology had it not been for the idea that I could illustrate the charts with the beautiful symbolism and allusions built into the Tarot. In my experience, Astrology will tell me the astral influences around me, but only converting the chart into Tarot images will give me insight into what to do about it. This is why I always suggest that once the cards are thrown, it is worthwhile to bring out your birthchart and examine the degrees in your own chart that the cards are pointing to. You will be amazed at how often your cards are pointing directly at transits that are putting pressure on important features of your chart!  You can do the same thing with these NewMoon charts in relation to  your natal birthchart. After all, the NewMoon is nothing but a particularly powerful transit. Try laying the Icon with these NewMoon placements over the top of your birthchart, matching the signs up one-to-one. Then see if you can recognize the ways these planetary patterns are creating effects in the houses of your own chart.

Thank you, dear readers, for flowing along with me month to month and year to year. We won't be issuing another ArkLetter until January 2014.  I want to wish you all a convivial and heartfelt holiday season, and may the New Year dawn upon a landscape of fresh opportunity and greater inspiration. With any luck, the best is yet to come.  Blessings to all!

 

CURRENT STAGE OF THE MOON:

• NewMoon at 10+ Sagittarius on Monday December 2nd, at 7:23 PM (EST) / 4:23 PM (PST).  From this moment, the Moon begins to wax, or increase.

FUTURE STAGES:

• 2nd Quarter, Waxing Half Moon at 17+ Pisces on Monday December 9th, at 10:13 AM (EST) / 7:13 AM (PST). 
• Full Moon  at 25+ Gemini on Tuesday, December 17th at 4:29 AM (EST) / 1:29 AM (PST). From this moment, the Moon begins to wane, or decrease.  
• 4th Quarter, Waning Half Moon at 3+ Libra on Wednesday December 25th at 8:49 AM (EST) / 5:49 AM (PST).  
• Next NewMoon at 10+ Capricorn on Wednesday January 1st, at 6:15 AM (EST) /   3:15 AM (PST) From this moment, the Moon begins to wax, or increase.