Tarot University ArkLetters: NewMoon Notes, May 28, 2014

Tarot ArkLetter - http://www.tarotarkletters.com
By Christine Payne-Towler
ArkLetter 111, May 28, 2014

NewMoon Notes for May 28, 2014

Here we are in the sign of Hermes, enjoying the dualism of our manifested universe. This time of year has the potential to feel like a mini-paradise in the Northern hemisphere. Spring is warming up and expressing itself in lush growth and baby animals. But even as we revel in the regeneration, the freshness and dewy purity of this month, the season is already verging towards the hot dusty summer that's due in just a few short weeks. After we cross the Summer Solstice, these glorious long evenings will also start shortening, very slowly at first, but then faster as the summer waxes. The feeling of infinite possibility that we feel in spring is going to harden, gel, or set up like pottery into a fixed and final shape as summer takes hold. Right now we glory in the pliability and promise of Gemini, the mutable sign of endless youth under the opening skies of late spring. But inevitably the wheel of time will propel us to complete our tour of the Wet Way of involvement with time and manifestation, after which we start the march along the Dry Way of detachment that stretches across summer and embraces the Fall.

Gemini requires that we think, because it is an Air sign, which means it understands itself through words and concepts, categories and calculations. In Aries we discover our drives and the vitality they grant us, while in Taurus we explore the body and its potentials. This stimulates the Gemini students to pry into the mind with all of its capacities, especially the imagination's power to create and destroy with words and ideas. Geminis want to open all the doors and windows of their minds, so every object of thought can flow through and be experienced in all of its unique glory. This is a perfect time to investigate options, send out feelers towards various probabilities, and define future goals.

The Good News among the transits is:

Mercury (The Star) is with the NewMoon (Fool and Priestess) in Gemini (Chariot). This association changes fast in the sky, but due to it happening at NewMoon, the energy permeates the month. This communion of the Alchemical Principals refreshes each of us with a newborn Ray of Light after the dark of the Moon. Among the ancient Hebrews, it was the women's job to keep watch for the first scrap of light visible from the Moon after NewMoon. She who saw it first would sing out a welcome to the NewMoon, and all the other women would take it up. Consider this Gemini NewMoon conjunction with

Mercury is also direct for another 10 days or so, until the 7th of June -- at which point things will become predictably "complicated" till the last day of the month.

Mars (Strength) is no longer retrograde, neither is Jupiter (Emperor) nor Uranus (Magus). There is plenty of new and forward-moving energy available, more every day.

Both Jupiter and Mars (Emperor and Strength) have broken out of the pattern of the Grand Square we were feeling so acutely last month. This downsizing doesn't fully mitigate the influence of the Uranus/Pluto (Magus/Death) square from Aries to Capricorn (Hierophant - Tower), which is a 15 month event that we are less than halfway through at this point. Nevertheless, with this NewMoon we are experiencing a calming and relaxing of energies, or at least a reduction of stimulation at the opposite points in Cancer and Libra (Justice and Hanged Man), at least temporarily.

Jupiter (Emperor) and Saturn (Judgement) have just passed the point of exactitude marking a very close trine in the water signs. It is interesting to note that the Emperor is in forward motion through Cancer (Justice), while Judgement is still backward-moving through Scorpio (Temperance). Faster-moving Jupiter is pressing retrospective, lingering Saturn to give forth some of his legendary wisdom and sound guidance for challenging times. I'm guessing that the Emperor is getting a signal from the Angel of the Aeon in the Judgement Arcana, to identify with what is perennial in our natures, and leave behind those qualities that are merely short-term inessenstial distractions. It's time to take Saturn seriously and set about banishing the toxins of the past so we can be tuned up for a productive summer to come. One thing I have learned about connections between Jupiter and Saturn is that sometimes the most amazing opportunities appear during times that require the greatest discipline and focus. Therefore do not interpret resistance as a bad thing! Only know that much is asked of those to whom much is given.

Next month: On June 26th and 27th, the Moon (The Priestess) will "carry the light" between Venus (The Empress) and Mercury (The Star) while traveling through the sign of Gemini (The Chariot). This will offer a perfect ritual moment to clarify your expectations and frame up some plans for future fulfillment. Mercury won't feel free yet to enact those plans until after his retrograde is complete. Nevertheless, the fact that the Moon will span the gap between Mercury and Venus during that 24 hour period will be awakening and sensitizing for the oft-superficial and impatient Mercury. These two feminine energies will help refine and polish Mercury's hasty style, as well as help him to find his heart (The Star) among all of his assumptions and untested conclusions.

What are the challenges?

An exact square stands between Neptune (Death) in Pisces (The Sun) and the NewMoon (Fool and Priestess) in Gemini (The Chariot). To me this suggests we are asked to detach from expectations of "getting it all done" in this lifetime. Maybe we will and maybe we won't, but no amount of trying to stall the inevitable or beg Providence for an indulgence will help us take care of business. We have to follow the advice given to Carlos Casteneda and "take Death as our advisor", ruthlessly prioritizing our goals and aspirations so we don't end up frittering away precious time doing less-than-essential things. Another thought that rises to mind with this square in the mutable signs of the Wet Way is that the attraction to fall into distraction, self-medication, fantasy and bodily absorption could be very strong right now. The part of the self that values the bright light of consciousness needs to spur the Chariot of the ego past all seductive detours and race on to the higher goal of the soul.

Before Venus (Empress) can enter her home sign Taurus (Lovers) on May 30th, she has to complete her business with the South Node in late Aries (Hierophant). We can see her bearing down on the exit (the final degree of Aries) while the South Node still claims some of her energy, reluctant to let her go. Nobody wants to hang out with the South Node for long, as it represents "things that we are done with and moving on from". I believe the point of this exercise is to remind Venus that she can't afford to love unconditionally -- there really are behaviors, attitudes, and actions that are too much for her, which she cannot rationalize and won't waste the energy trying to placate . All of this has become crystal-clear for her during her tour of Aries, so now the South Node is helping to certify that she has a strong sense of her boundaries going forward.

Next Month:

When the Moon transits Pluto (The World) in Capricorn (The Tower) over July 11-12th, there will be a mini-recapitulation of the Grand Square, with the Sun in Cancer (Fool driving the Chariot), while Mars remains in LIbra (Strength holding the Balance) and Uranus remains in Aries (The Magus consulting with the Hierophant). The degrees aren't perfect, but the feeling will creep resonate nevertheless, reminding us that we aren't finished making these adjustments to the incoming changes. The force of evolution is relentless, so don't bother trying to fight it. Instead look for ways to "hitch your plow" to the direction events are running, and you'll be amazed at what the synchronicity angels can manifest on your behalf.

Other News of Note

My elves and I have been busy this spring, spinning straw into gold for my dear readers. To reward those who actually read these ArkLetters, here is the link to a YouTube video that has just been completed, the first in a series being created with the help of the Time Monk Radio Network. It is on the subject of the ancient astrology which underpins all of the Western Oracles, the foundation upon which are built Alchemy, Kabbalah, Hermeticism and Tarot, a monument that has lasted through the ages and which continues to guide humanity today.

I'll be teaching from this slide-show (as well as the second half, which should be copleted in the next few weeks), at the workshop in Eugene June 7th and 8th. Participants will learn how to apply the Ladder of Lights and the alchemical Doctrine of Essential Dignities to their charts, their Tarot, and their Anubis Oracle deck. The goal is to supercharge our Oracles with the Wisdom of heaven. There is still room for more participants if anybody wants to join us.

http://youtu.be/mQ9J9JhA0T4

Enjoy the run-up to summer, dear readers, there will be more to share with you soon. My prayer for all of us is that Mercury remains his optimisitc, creative and visionary self despite his upcoming retrograde, and that any challenges he presents will offer us alternatives that serve us even better than our original plans. May we all have a blessed Summer Solstice.

CURRENT STAGE OF THE MOON for the Americas: 

• The Present NewMoon is at 7+ Gemini on Wednesday, May 28th across the Noon hour, at 2: 41 PM (EDT) /11: 41 AM (PDT). From this moment, the Moon begins to wax, or increase.

 FUTURE STAGES: 

• 2nd Quarter, Waxing Half Moon is at 15+ Virgo on Thursday, June 5th, at 4:40 PM (EDT) / 1:40 PM (PDT).  

• Full Moon is at 22+ Sagittarius across the midnight hour of Thursday June 12th, at 9:13 PM (PDT) / Friday June 13th at 12:13 AM (EDT). From this moment, the Moon begins to wane, or decrease.  

• 4th Quarter, Waning Half Moon is at 28+ Pisces on Thursday June 19th at 2:40 PM (EDT) / 11:40 AM (PDT).  

• Next NewMoon at 5+ Cancer on Friday June 27th, at 4:10 AM (EDT) / 1:10 AM (PDT). From this moment, the Moon begins to wax, or increase.

PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE CONVERSATION

If you want to engage in even more conversation about Tarot, I invite online comments to my ArkLetter essays. Just visit the ArkLetter URL of the article you want to discuss and tell me what you think - your comments are published immediately on the site, and may stimulate more dialogue over time.

GET MY ONLINE TAROT READINGS AT TAROT.COM
I wrote the divinatory text used at Tarot.com, an online place for exploring the self-guided initiatory arts. Astrology, Numerology, I-Ching and Tarot readings are all available there, and you might be both surprised and pleased with the services offered to members.

Learn how and why I think Tarot.com's computerized online Tarot readings work: http://noreah.typepad.com/tarot_arkletters/2005/07/tarotcom_readin.html

_______________________________

SUBSCRIBE INFORMATION

You may be receiving this note because you sent an inquiry to Tarot University or Tarot.com. Unsubscribing is easy - just follow the instructions. This list is free, and light - I send out one note a month, like this one, informing you of my new publications and discussions via these New Moon ArkLetters - http://www.tarotarkletters.com.

If you've received this through a friend and want this ArkLetter Announcement each new moon in your in-box, please visit our subscribe link: http://www.tarotarkletters.com/subscribe/index.html. We have an RSS syndication feed, too!!

If you're not sure whether or not you've subscribed, subscribe again and the program will let you know.

blessings,

Christine