“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Ancient Stories Resurface from the Collective
Up on the ridge above the canyon, she follows the path to the next gateway and the two guardians who care for it, monitoring the comings and goings of those who travel the way. An impatient and surly-looking centaur stands in the west, a bow slung over his shoulder and a quiver of arrows with it, while his beautiful companion stands in the east. She wears a lavishly decorated purple robe scattered with the finest embroidery; holding a large leather-bound ledger in one hand and a quill in the other, she appears ready to take notes.
Standing before the gatekeepers, the woman quizzes her about where she has come from and where she is heading, whilst the centaur seems to be growing even more impatient and idly fits an arrow into his bow. Appearing tired of the conversation or perhaps just ready to move on to the next topic, he scans the landscape, looking into the distance as if to root out any signs of insurrection. Grunting at the emptiness, he prowls around her in a predatory and threatening manner as if to accuse her of some kind of insubordination, but the woman appears to take little notice of the centaur’s actions as if this is just normal behaviour, and she finds it difficult to say what the relationship is between the two guardians. The woman’s refined clothes and confident manner exude an aura of respectability, whilst the centaur looks rough and ready, primitive even. He gives the impression that his anger is easily roused and that the woman may even be secretly goading him while projecting a picture of innocence and calm; they certainly make an intriguing pair.
She asks their advice, the ritual required to move through the gateway, and they look at her with something bordering on pity, which leaves her feeling rather foolish and, at the same time, slightly worried.
The woman speaks slowly and deliberately, telling her that the souls of humanity are being inspired by ancient ancestral images; bound too long by a sense of inertia, they seek to resurrect that which once had great vitality and power. Nostalgia for more natural and feeling-oriented values will lead a movement of protest, as intense and vibrant images, distilled from generations of childhood memories, are reborn as modern archetypes deeply rooted in collective tradition.
Obsessive or even explosive actions may arise as the people seek to reconnect to what is truly meaningful to them, to regain an authentic and purposeful sense of who they are and what they stand for.
Still looking surly but with a rough softness, the centaur adds that speed is of the essence, that the vision, once it erupts, will spread like a plague, overcoming all who hold no strength of mind. It will infect the empty, the weak and all those who search in vain for meaning and purpose in life. He tells her to keep moving, to keep her sights on her goal, and not to waste time in idle chatter, for not all will be as it seems.
Leaving the two daemons behind her, she passes into the shadows of the setting sun, its fiery remains streaking the sky as the Moon whispers pinkly just below the eastern horizon. Walking quickly into the dusk, the centaur’s words echo in her ears.
At this lunation, our deepest values and aspirations are likely to undergo some kind of resurrection as we see a resurgence of their importance. Long silenced memories may reawaken issues that have lain undisturbed but still dreaming in our souls. We may recognise that practical changes need to occur so that our lives can reflect what is most important to us, and we may find ourselves in the midst of a “spiritual” and “social” spring clean, where contacts and associations which no longer resonate are dropped in favour of a more peaceful and holistic existence.
Changes on a practical level will reflect this inner awakening, and themes of “returning to the source” are likely to be prevalent, suggesting a reconnection to fundamental, traditional values that are important. These actions may lead to tense or even explosive situations with those around you, especially if they are intolerant of this “new you” or disagree with your new direction.
Manilius 1st Century A.D
“By virtue of his tail armed with its powerful sting, wherewith, when conducting the Sun’s chariot through his sign, he cleaves the soil and sows seed in the furrow, the Scorpion creates natures ardent for war and active service, and a spirit which rejoices in plenteous bloodshed and in carnage more than in plunder. Why, these men spend even peace under arms; they fill the glades and scour the woods; they wage fierce warfare now against man, now against beast, and now they sell their persons to provide the spectacle of death and to perish in the arena, when, warfare in abeyance, they each find themselves foes to attack. There are those, too, who enjoy mock-fights and jousts in arms (such is their love of fighting) and devote their leisure to the study of war and every pursuit which arises from the art of war.”
The astrology of this Full Moon is once again full of martial energy; as the lunation perfects, the Moon translates the force of Saturn and Mars to the Sun. Mercury, the ruler of this Full Moon, will be conjoined to the fixed star Aculeus, located in the tail of the Scorpion. A star of the nature of Mars & the Moon, it is connected with defective eyesight, especially in matters of philosophical or religious importance. Mercury under this influence for this lunation, in Sagittarius, its sign of detriment, and also applying to a tight square with Neptune brings an elusive and febrile energy suggesting that meaningful communications are likely to be lost in the noise of the chatter and the desire for retribution and justice. Any opportunities to recover lost ground could fall by the wayside, dragged down by miscommunication and incendiary words. With Venus in Libra very close to the South Node, it seems likely that justice will be sought, but that justice may not prevail, mainly through an inability for both sides to fully understand what justice is. images associated with words falling on deaf ears, and the disenfranchised being ignored are coming to mind here.
The cards associated with the two decans in which this Full Moon falls, are The Eight of Wands associated with Mercury in Sagittarius & The Eight of Swords, governed by Jupiter in Gemini. The image suggests a deluge of information, ideas, or communications as represented in the Eight of Wands… Mercury is currently transiting Gemini, and as well as being scattered and over enthusiastic in assessing what can be sensibly achieved, can also be prone to exaggeration, the incendiary uses of communication and righteous and judgmental statements. The woman shown in the right hand card, suggests an inability to face the truth, and feeling hemmed in or held back by ideas or frames of reference which may have outlived their purpose. I also cannot escape the image that immediately came to mind when looking at these cards side by side, was of people being trapped, powerless to evade fiery missiles raining down from the sky…..
Sources of inspiration for this months piece:
Decan images from The Picatrix
The Sun in the First decan of Sagittarius
The Moon in the First decan of Gemini
Manilius on Scorpio
Mercury, ruler of this lunation, is conjoined to the tail of the Scorpion.
“The Scorpion presides over arms” [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 4, p.253]
If you enjoy tarot and the magical stories they inspire, we still have some copies of the Thoth Journey Tarot available for purchase!
Joanna-Kate Grant 