Tarot ArkLetter - http://www.tarotarkletters.com
By Christine Payne-Towler
ArkLetter 109, March 30, 2014
NewMoon Notes, March 30, 2014
The context for this month's NewMoon remarks is the Grand Cross in the Cardinal signs that is still opening and closing in the skies above us. This action has been going on for months already, and has a year left to run, so this is just one snapshot in the larger sequence of events. This month's NewMoon stands with Uranus at the edge of the second decanate of the cardinal sign of Aries. Astrologers visualize this version of the Grand Cross as a drawn bow, which stretches from Pluto in Capricorn to Jupiter in Cancer. The NewMoon/Uranus conjunction represents the hand pulling back the bow.
The arc of the bow takes in the entire Wet Way of the Zodiac, using the ancient manner of thinking, and holds 8 out of the 10 moving bodies in the Zodiac. It clearly deserves the lion's share of attention in this chart. In terms of the Tarot Trumps, we would characterize the drawn bow this way:
- Jupiter in Cancer equates to The Emperor (#4) in the realm of Justice (#8)
- Pluto in Capricorn equates to The World (#21) in the realm of The Tower (#16)
- Uranus and Sun/Moon in Aries equates to the Magus (#1) and Priestess/Fool (#2 and #22) in the realm of the Hierophant (#5)
Even without a 4th planet in the early double digits of Libra in this chart, it is clear that those degrees will be accumulating a considerable quantity of energy, which will have to express itself one way or another as April unfolds. That point opposite Uranus between 10º - 13º Libra, will be "hot" and sensitive to anything moving through there, even though in this chart these degrees stand empty. Directly beyond that spot stand an increasingly-close Mars and North Node in the final decanate of Libra. There will be a Full Moon Eclipse at 25+º Libra on April 15th that will fall right between Mars (Strength) and the Node (no card for this). So we are being put on notice now -- watch this space!
The fact that Uranus is with NewMoon at the peak of the T-square, drawing the bow so to speak, adds an electrical charge to these times we are living out. It's a global hot-foot designed to excite and arouse us, to wake us and shake us. This configuration guarantees that our spring will begin with a bang, or "come in like a Lion" as the old nursery rhyme teaches for the month of April.
We know that Uranus is seen as the modern symbol of individuality, genius, and visionary awakening. Uranus has been analogized to a bolt of lightning, ripping in from out of the blue, lighting up the landscape and conducting huge amounts of energy to and through the Earth. Such events are terrifying and dangerous for individual humans, though they can signify amazing changes in the collective consciousness that happen literally overnight. Furthermore, scientists have realized that there is order in this chaos; such phenomena are germane to our electric universe. Just so, Uranus does not create truly random effects. His vortex of transformation cuts a near-surgical line through the landscape, following the field-lines that link earth and sky. Uranus is the proverbial "Fickle Finger of Fate", testing our strength and integrity through the creation of unforeseen developments which can either destroy us or exalt us, depending on our readiness and flexibility.
As is recited in the 12-step program, eventually each of us "comes to believe in a Power greater than myself", and from this we learn to surrender to our own understanding of a larger order. This NewMoon/Uranus conjunction makes an excellent proxy for the Higher Power, especially once we realize that the Uranus is our own better, wiser, more compassionate and insightful self, striving to be liberated from our unconscious limitations and pre-programmed dysfunction. Once this insight is stabilized, nothing sounds better than to be touched by the lightning and vaulted into hyper-sentience, having every hair of our past selves fried off of us in a glory of transformation.
I'm not featuring this T-square just because of our NewMoon chart. Two weeks from now, the transit of the Moon through Libra will begin with an activation of the 4th point of the Grand Square, at 10 - 13º of Libra. This will re-activate all of the potential that was qualified at the NewMoon, which will have been building up over the subsequent two week interval. Once the Moon leaves those "hot" degrees, it will be bearing down on a Lunar or FullMoon Eclipse at 25+º Libra, smack dab between Mars and the North Node. It is this chain of events that will ensure that the arrow released today hits its target!
In terms of magical thinking, this is a great set-up for an alchemical process that commences with the
NewMoon and completes at FullMoon. Simply set an intention that you want to see completed in two weeks, and then map out the steps that you will need to take with each new stage of the Moon, especially with each major conjunction or opposition to the planets and points in your birth cart, from now until FullMoon. Use your own chart as the baseline, over which the current transits can be superimposed. This helps you to understand the psychological and personal territory you have to cross to meet that Moon at the culmination point of this NewMoon's T-square, which will happen just about half a day before the Eclipse. This will make it clear where the cosmic lines of force (from Aries to Libra) are passing through your own life, therefore which areas of your reality you can expect to be impacted.
Notice that the 2nd quarter of the Moon commences within 5 degrees of Jupiter's current placement. This should give us all a boost towards our dreams at the halfway point of the Moon's waxing phase. Jupiter multiplies whatever he touches, creating increase but, just as easily, excess. Jupiter has a special presence in this chart because he's engaged in both the T-Square and the Water Trine (see below). Whatever impetus he delivers to your intention has the power both to bind (T-square) and to liberate (Grand Trine). Make sure you look at all sides of this trend before you set your intention.
Remember, it is not necessary to pledge your whole life to a total transformation in the next two weeks! You can start small, remembering that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the single first step. Intend to make that first step, with the proof of your effort becoming visible in two weeks, and you will be carried along quite handily by the trend of events. Try to frame your visualization and emotional expression in ways that are compatible with your own happinessJust don't promise yourself something that you aren't willing to deliver! A goodly portion of success in magic, as in other worthy endeavors, is a proper sense of scale, an understanding of what's possible in the real world under the current circumstances. Better to assign yourself a smaller goal that is reachable than a larger goal that exceeds your grasp.
A New-to-Full Moon ritual is usually about manifestation, whereas the Full-to-New interval is prized for dream and shadow work, incubation and visionary travel out of the body. We are given 13 such cycles a year with which we can assist our causes and organize our efforts. All we have to do is take the time to look beyond the NOW, to study the future just a little ways out. Lunar astrology is the most fundamental layer of the precious inheritance of Astrology.
We still have a functional Water Trine vibrating away in the background of this Cardinal T-Square. This is made up of Saturn in Scorpio, Mercury in Pisces and Jupiter in Cancer. In Tarot terms this is Judgement (#20) in the realm of Temperance (#14), The Star (#17) in the realm of The Sun (# 19), and The Emperor (#4) in the realm of Justice (#8). I am having a very noticeable increase in potent and prescentient dreams, as well as an ongoing stream of musical "commentary" playing in the back of my head. You might also be having stronger intuitions with this Water Trine, if you would just stop to notice. If so, I would advise that you start keeping track of these experiences in your journal. As I learned at the Institute for Mysticism and Parapsychology in 1976, there is nothing so encouraging to the subconscious as keeping track of it. "She" (your personal dreamtime self) loves to look at herself in the mirror of the conscious mind! Give her plenty of opportunities to expose her secrets, and your outer life will be the better for it.
May all beings be happy!
For an introduction to Tarotlogy, see ArkLetter 62. Click the Master Tarotology Icon for a BLANK tarotlogy chart (no dates) to work on for yourself.
In these NewMoon Notes articles, I transfer the astrological information of the NewMoon onto the Tarot of the Holy Light Icon chart, so readers can see the emphasis that falls into your chart and your cards as the Moon makes her cycles. Some have asked me why the Tarot of the Holy Light shows the face of the Moon all through the deck.
These NewMoon charts should help to certify why that would be. The Moon is Earth's guardian and support, curator of our atmosphere. She is said to collect up the influence of the Sun and all the other planets, rendering those different energies into a palatable baby-food for humanity, which is doled out in harmony with the waxing and waning of the lunar cycle. Every month we look in on the process at the moment of renewal, at the point when Sun and Moon co-occupy the same degree and minute. This puts our attention on opportunities for rebirth, renewal, reassertion of our ideals, and reawakening of our dormant qualities.
CURRENT STAGE OF THE MOON for the Americas:
- The Present NewMoon is at 9+ Aries on Sunday, March 30th at 2:46 PM (EDT) / 11:46 AM (PDT). From this moment, the Moon begins to wax, or increase.
FUTURE STAGES:
- 2nd Quarter, Waxing Half Moon is at 17+ Cancer on Monday April 7th, at 4:32 AM (EDT) / 1:32 AM (PDT).
- Full Moon Lunar Eclipse begins at 25+ Libra on Tuesday April 15th at 3:43 AM (EDT) / 12:43 AM (PDT). From this moment, the Moon begins to wane, or decrease.
- 4th Quarter, Waning Half Moon is at 2+ Capricorn on Tuesday April 22nd at 3:53 AM (EDT) / 12:53 AM (PDT).
- Next NewMoon and Eclipse of the Sun at 8+ Taurus across the midnight hour of 11:15 PM (PDT) of Monday, April 28th / Tuesday April 29th at 2:15 AM (EDT). From this moment, the Moon begins to wax, or increase.
ArkLetter 109, March 30, 2014copyright christine payne-towler 2005-2014, all rights reserved
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