 The Lion's Gate, a celestial stargate, is when the 2nd brightest star in the heavens, fixed star Sirius (aka our "Spiritual Sun"), aligns with Earth; and it is “activated” with the New Moon this weekend. As I continue to read and travel through 36 Secrets, A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot by T. Susan Chang, I keep finding fascinating connections between the cards and the stars. For example: The Lion’s Gate happens during this Leo II time, the decan of the 6 of Wands “Lord of Victory” card (Jupiter in Leo). (Also, Sirius rises in the sky on August 11th, within the Leo II decan, which is 8/3 - 8/12.) The Lion’s Gate is an abundant & creative time to tap into the opportunities that abound. This New Moon opens the Lion's Gate portal and gives our magical work and intentions an extra zap of mystical potential. As Leo is about shining one’s light and Jupiter is about expansion and optimism, we can see how a positive attitude and confidence can lead to opportunities! Because if you believe you will succeed and trust in the abundance of the Universe, manifestation is within reach. So, the Lion's Gate energies are ripe for the success we see in the 6 of Wands card!  Wheel of Fortune (Jupiter), Six of Wands (Jupiter in Leo), Strength (Leo). The Antiquarian Tarot. One of the influencers of the "Lord of Victory" is the Wheel of Fortune card, which is ruled by Jupiter. It is all about opportunity, luck, and the cycles of change and getting into the universal flow of life.
This really feels like the energy of this Leonine New Moon coupled with this most potent portal. The energies of which are most powerful on August 8th, but can also be harnessed up to the Full Moon and through the rest of the month! This convergence on August 8th is fortuitous! 8 is a blessed number. In China, the number 8 is a most lucky number of success and wealth. 8 also reflects the Strength/Leo card, which is the number VIII Major Arcana (in the RWS Tarot). In the card, there's a sideways 8, a lemniscate, that hovers over the lion tamer’s head, a symbol of infinity linking her to Universal Wisdom. So, this New Moon is potent! Whatever intention setting you do today, whatever work you harness, or endeavor you set yourself upon, will have extra cosmic fuel! May you have a blessed New Moon through this most auspicious Lion’s Gate portal!
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Full Moon is exact tonight at 8:31pm PT (11:31pm ET). This Moon’s influence is under Scorpio, which is associated with the Tarot’s Death card—the Child of the Great Transformers, and the Lord of the Gate of Death. Scorpio’s ruling planet is Pluto and Pluto stations Retrograde tomorrow (1:03pm PDT) for 6 months. ALSO: The USA has been in the thick of its first Pluto Return, currently 26° Capricorn (within 1° orb of US’s natal Pluto). Pluto Return is a rare transit, it happens ONCE every 247 years. When astrologers talk about it, it’s often in reference to an event, or in this case, the USA’s founding (July 4, 1776). Its Pluto Return will be exact on Feb 20, 2022. If you’re interested in reading more what Pluto Return means for the USA, I wrote more in depth about it in this post. I’ll just say quickly here that Pluto transits are powerful times, which are evolutionary, intense, transformative, and healing. It has not been easy, but Pluto transits rarely are. Pluto offers evolutionary shifts. It can be emotional and intense times, and even destructive, but his archetype is Death AND Rebirth. It’s Transformational AND Cyclical. Pluto is known as the Great Redeemer, but as god of the underworld, he forces the death of old paradigms. Teaching us the lessons of Death: to let die what must die, so something new in its place can seed, grow, and live fully.  The Death card in the photo is from the Lua Tarot; the Moon and Snake cards are from the Lua Lenormand. There are still a few Lua Tarot decks left in stock. The Lua Lenormand is coming back to the shop soon!
Pluto stations Retrograde (Rx) on Tuesday, April 27th at 1:03pm (PDT). The Pluto energies have been so intense lately. Especially for the USA, as an immense astrology transit has been nudging ever slowly forth for the past year. The USA has been in the thick of its first Pluto Return, currently 26° Capricorn (within 1° orb of USA’s natal Pluto). Many people have heard of their Saturn Return, but what's Pluto Return? Pluto Return is a rare transit, it happens ONCE every 247 years. When astrologers talk about it, it’s often in reference to an event, or in this case, the USA’s founding (July 4, 1776). The USA's Pluto Return will be exact on Feb 20, 2022.  Pluto's Return, USA's transit chart. When the Past Becomes PresentPluto transits tend to reveal and magnify dark unconscious truths that undermine established orders. For a dwarf planet, demoted a few years back, he does not play small, no matter how we want to classify him! His archetype is as powerful a force to be reckoned with as ever. Although his archetype is often considered malefic, the lessons that surface during his transits can be deeply transformational and evolutionary; IF we choose to be open for growth and change. As a nation, the USA has been grappling with some heavy realizations, some too much to bear. Sometimes the pain is so overwhelming, that it’s just easier for people to ignore. But Pluto will not be disregarded! And, he favors those who are willing to work with his energies. The USA is a country trying to come to terms, in so many ways, with its collective shadow. The unconscious shadows being faced to heal the fractures from its dark history. The work that people do individually during this Pluto time will help the collective energies (as within, so without), but the work also has to be collaborative with self-responsibility and self-accountability. People have to come together to have productive conversations, to ask questions, and have social discourse. And, this sometimes feels impossible in these “United” States where every conversation has turned into a divisive political debate. The anger and righteousness is all quite Plutonic actually. Pluto's shadow thrives on power over/power under dynamics. And, ideology cults seem to be springing up, reflecting the Pluto archetype's manipulative side that wants to guilt & shame people. The cultish mentality insists that there is a right and wrong way, which creates "us vs. them" and black & white thinking. There is no room for nuances, or gray area, no in-between or "meeting in the middle path", no questioning or space for open dialogue about the core beliefs of a particular group. If this is the case, we may likely be observing group think, or worse, cultish behavior. Echo chambers condemn any outside questions and seek to vilify those with a different opinion, as questions are threatening to the beliefs of the group. Their true opinion is the correct way of thinking and anything that veers from their ideology is wrong and therefore represents the enemy. Pluto Return & Pluto Retrograde really turns up the knob of moral superiority. I’ve been studying the USA’s chart for the past year with an eye on its Pluto Return. The USA’s Pluto is in the Second House Capricorn, which is really interesting, as this can show up in someone’s chart as being stubborn and power-hungry, and can reflect a desire for possessions and be caught up with financial success. There's a need to control and a fear of letting go of material possessions and relationships. This Second House Pluto can also reflect possible trauma and a painful history. If there is awareness of the pain, and compassion, deep transformation is possible.  The positive side of Pluto reflects power and empowered self-reliance and ambition, but if not balanced can be at the detriment of the whole. Rugged individualism and the “every man for himself” attitude can only get us so far in the US. But, on the opposite end of the spectrum, where progressiveness goes so far that it becomes regressive, isn't balanced or a productive way to move forward either. I don't have the answers, but I believe that there is a lot of pain and anger and shame and guilt that really reflects Pluto. And, Pluto is all about catharsis. His shadow is devouring and his energy is quite dark. Let me paint an image of the way I’m visualizing the Pluto archetype unfolding right now. Pluto is god of the underworld. With the USA’s Pluto Return, Pluto is pushing up all the shadow issues to the surface that have not been dealt with, or reconciled. And, I’m seeing an extensive fog rising from the earth. The ghosts of USA’s past have been resurfacing and we’re all wading through the haze now, trudging through that what has been lodged in the land. Pluto is here to reveal and clear what's been stuck.  It can become more intense if we choose to ignore it as we creep closer to exact Pluto Return on February 20th. And with Pluto Retrograde, we may see the collective regressing during these next six months. Pluto Retrograde lasts until October 6th when it stations Direct. Then hopefully, we'll begin seeing some forward momentum in the collective. As things stand now, it may feel like we are going backwards sometimes, when so many are just ready to move forward already! Hang in there. Pluto Retrograde periods are good times to question the status quo. And they can be transformational, as we peel back the layers to reveal more and more of what’s at the core. Retrograde times, no matter the planet, allow us to reflect more deeply. Pluto Retrograde can offer, and indeed accelerate, evolutionary growth. It can be emotional and intense times. Pluto may be destructive, but his archetype is about Death and Rebirth. Sometimes we have to break things down to break through. That's part of evolution!  Pluto is associated with Tarot's Judgement card. The Evolution card is an alternate Judgement card in the Lua Tarot. I leave both of these cards in the deck when working with the Lua Tarot. Pluto's Return has not been easy, but Pluto transits rarely are. He is known as the Great Redeemer, but as god of the underworld, he helps force the death of outdated paradigms. Teaching us lessons of Death: to let die what must die, so something new in its place can be birthed.
While I was creating a Reels for my Instagram account, The High Priestess card came up to remind us of the Dark Moon energies we are entering.
The Dark Moon is the Moon for priestess magic. The time to tap into your mystical or spiritual discipline, to quiet down and hear / understand the teachings intuitively. Moon entered Pisces early this morning and the New Moon in Pisces is Saturday at 2:21am PST! This is an invitation to recharge your mind and body if you've been feeling emotionally drained. May you be restored during this time. If you have Instagram, I invite you to check out the Reels I made on how to super easily use the Lua Tarot box as a card stand! You can see in the photos above, but the Reels has music & movement! ;)  Jupiter & Saturn come together in a most auspicious way on the 21st of December! This “Great Conjunction” will spark a turning point at 0° Aquarius on the Solar New Year—the Solstice. What an incredible amount of rebirthing energy converging in the astro heavens that practically ushers in a renaissance! One can see why some astrologers are calling this the “official” entrance into the Age of Aquarius. We are shifting into the creativity and idealism of Aquarius from the cynicism of Capricorn who can be critical & get lost in pessimism—where Jupiter has been moving through for the past year, and Saturn for the past 2.5 years. This move into Aquarius reflects the archetypes of the Rebel, Revolutionary, & Visionary; and the Humanitarian, who sees the whole as greater than the sum of its parts. She takes us out of individualism and self-absorption into a world that focuses on the group and the greater good for all. How will you embody this archetypal transition? This is a most potent and hopeful time of evolution and change that we are stepping into when Jupiter & Saturn meet at 0° Aquarius. Though I feel we’ve been at the precipice, this “Great Mutation in Air” will propel us forward. Much like the Renaissance after the Dark Ages, where there was great social change. Think of The Star in the Tarot, which follows The Tower card! Mystics & magicians have had visions of the Age of Aquarius since the ‘70s, but the truth is, it's not going to save us. There is a shadow side to everything and the Age of Aquarius' kind of scares me, especially considering how AI tech could evolve! Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, which governs technology. Today's technology positively offers us a way of connecting communities and giving everyone a platform to share their work & creativity, especially now more than ever. However, Shadow Aquarius can be emotionally detached & cut-off. We know by now that “social” media can fake us out with the illusion of connecting through the screen, when the truth for some can be more isolating screen-side. But, it all really comes down to how we choose to use modern technology. We can use it to lift each other up, or it can be used to our detriment. Jupiter & Saturn rule the economy, politics, and systems of law & order, and we know how dangerous a weapon the Internet can be. The echo chambers and “fake news” are hurting us. We have to be more vigilant about how we share and acquire information. We got here together; we can get ourselves out of it. The solution will be coming together to regulate technologies that polarize and divide. We will need to consider digital minimalism & digital detoxes as part of our self-care routines & healing practices. We can reimagine how we use technology. It will take personal discipline AND the collective Will—the “Essence” of the Age of Aquarius. I look forward to this new era. Where the group is more consequential than the ego of the individual. Where we gather in community & find ways to come together for the greater good. If we choose, our humanity can matter more, and the will of the few for short-term gains & agendas can become outmoded, and ludicrous even. This has been the way for many groups and cultures. Many have already been working for years and progressing towards a long-term vision and reimagining a better future for ALL. And with the wakeup call of the past year a critical mass of supporting and uplifting marginalized communities came to the forefront in the USA, which extended to the world. I know there's still much work to do. And things won't change without personal action. Imagine how the Age of Aquarius will steer us if everyone rose to action to help one another! While 2020 has felt like the biggest setback of our lives, it was a monumental catalyst for our evolution! We have been struggling in a cocoon of transmutation and we’re breaking out of its crushing confines. Here’s to our resurrection! May this Solstice and Great Mutation in Air usher in collective renewal and illuminated Unity.  Lua Tarot's The Tower, The Star, and Evolution cards. |
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