Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every great achievement is the victory of a flaming heart.
The next New Moon falls on April 12th falling in the last decan of Aries, beginning the next lunar cycle which will culminate in six months, with the Full Moon in the last decan of Aries on the 20th October 2021. This particular cycle is connected with the tarot card of The Four of Wands, associated with Venus in Aries, and falling under the dominion of The Prince of Disks. Four, in the Tarot has a strong affinity with stability, but in the element of Fire this provides rather a contradiction as there is nothing very stable about fire, particularly in the sign of Aries.
The energy of this particular six month cycle comes from the ability to tap into the passion nd intensity of the present moment, together with the understanding that the relationships and unions that are formed now, rely on the disparity of circumstance to fuel the flames. Associated with the deity Eros, this decan is notorious for the drama’s arising from passions over indulged or those inflamed by forbiddance, lust and the intensity of circumstance.
The key to these situations may be in fact to recognise that such intensity cannot last forever, and that the existance of such passion is often short lived though beutiful, providing the incandescant light required to illuminate the landscape enough to discover the next steps.
RWS- The Four of Wands 
The Oracle of Change-Fire 4 
Thoth- The Four of Wands
In Thoth Journey-The Oracle of Change, I found myself on a wooded hillside, somewhere in Crete, amidst a group of warriors who discussed the moments of glory that they had experienced, seated in the shelter of the tall cypress trees, I listened carefully to the stories of my own life, recognising that the “peak” experiences are defining moments, and that they are not meant to be forever, realising too that it can be difficult to accept this.
The secret of this card, I feel, is the idea of an internal “arrival” which provides us with a foundation on which to build. Remembering a vision of “excitement and brilliance” is often what carries us through to the next stage, a banner to hold aloft in our minds in order to remember what we are trying to achive… our inner inspiration. As this is the suit of Wands, and the element of Fire, we are talking here about the will, the spirit, the desire to create, the yearning to push forward and to express ourselves passionately. The realm of creativity covers many areas of life, but whether it is the act of love which seeks to create a child, the half remembered dream that inspires a story, the scene that captures the imagination to pull out the pencils and brushes, or the seed pod found on a walk that urges you to create a clay pot, they are all united in the fact that the human spirit is yearning to seek expression in the outer world, to communicate its sense of divinity to others.
New Moon Blessing
I am the power of the bursting seed, dancing in the beckoning void, ripe with limitless potentials. A kaleidoscope of outcomes seduces, invites and tempts you, but be still in the darkness of the Moon. Sense the power of her black womb, and wait. Trust that in the stillness that I, the right “seed” for now, will find you, a vision for your soul to nurture…… In Aries-I Am: The fire starter, the energy of spring, the bursting forth of life. Let me rush in, filled with excitement, childlike, exploring a brand new world, eager to conquer, brash and brave. I am the vanquishing soldier, God of War, cloaked in dreams of valorous deeds; but do not for a moment try to tame me, or hold me close, for I would die rather than be suffocated by a placid life. ©JKG.
At this New Moon, take a moment to pause, to reflect, to look within. Aries is a sign associated with new beginnings, the energy of Spring, the excitement of a new start. Self sufficient, headstrong and childlike, this sign is prone rushing in without thinking too much about the consequences, and may have a reputation of being rather self centered. As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries is pre-occupied with beginnings, dreams, visions and ideas, relying on others to do the hard work afterwards that sees the project to completion. They often make strong, charismatic and inspirational leaders, as long as they have back up staff to attend to the details as they get bored very easily when things become routine. The Astrological sign of Aries has long been associated with the tarot card The Emperor, number 4 in the Major Arcana, and this image of The Emperor is from The Oracle of Change, by Aia Leu. You can read the journey of The Emperor, from which this image arises, by clicking on the link below.
Read the story of The Emperor
The Astrologers Diary
The New Moon every month offers an opportunity to sow new seeds, and as an Astrologer, I find it to be a useful exercise for myself and in working with others, to use the energy of each particular New Moon, according to where it falls in the Natal Chart. Such considerations can be invaluable in steering through ups and downs, and in becoming “easy” with the ebb and flow of what life brings.
This New Moon falls in my own 11th House, a fortunate house concerned with friendships, benefactors, hopes and dreams, so I guess I will be expecting some new beginnings there, limited as we are still where I am, with ever tightening social restrictions.
My focus beginning this month will be on personal matters that I have had on hold for some time; the last few years have been pretty intense, so I will be directing my attention more towards my self, which is in tune with Aries energy.
Find out more about my new book- Thoth Journey HERE
My name is Joanna Grant, I am an Astrologer, Tarot Reader and Writer, who lives on the beautiful Beara Peninsula in the South West of Ireland. I can often be found at home, deep in arcane research, or practicing some new form of divination whilst burning the dinner! My children probably wish that I was “normal” but may well remember my eccentricities fondly when they come to face the challenges of their own paths. My long knowledge of Astrology leads and informs my practice, in offering guidance, empowerment and healing, helping others to lead a more authentic and magical life. You can read more about me here.
Joanna-Kate Grant 