“Only after disaster can we be resurrected.”
― Chuck Palahniuk– Fight Club
Approaching the borderlands once more, she sees the guardians for the Full Moon ahead. A gate, set in a high wall and flanked with towers on either side, prevents any sight of the land beyond, and she wonders what lies ahead. The Full Moon in the first decan of Cancer marks a peak in the current cycle, a heightened sense of awareness that brings a flood of feelings—the awareness that nothing will ever be the same again.
Drawing closer, she gets a better view of the gatekeepers. On the left stands a man disfigured by leprosy, his hands crooked and malformed, his face partially covered by a silver mask that hides the places where his beautiful features have been eaten away. He is clothed in a green robe of sewn fig leaves, a magical antidote for the debilitating disease, and he puzzles her approach with a compassion and stillness born from an acceptance of his mortality. The other figure is a young man barely out of adolescence, holding a tall, thin papyrus reed in one hand and a hoopoe bird in the other. The unlikely figures make an interesting pair, the one so young and full of promises, and the other wise to the ways of the world, filled with the knowledge of all that he has seen, ready to dispense his wisdom to his young companion.
Keeping to the ritual, she requests permission to pass and waits for the required advice from the daimons. The leper with the silver mask tells her to remember that the soul’s path will always lead through dark places, that the challenges she meets will force her to use skills she never knew she possessed. He also reminds her of the folly of fighting against the prevailing tides and to learn to swim in rough waters; sometimes you need to go with the flow when it is the only way to survive.
Looking at the boy with the hoopoe in his hand, she waits patiently for his words, but he doesn’t seem to have many; suddenly shy and awkward, his youth becomes evident, and she recognises him as the son of the masked man. The wise words may just as well have been for the boy too, and she sees the adoration and love in the eyes of the grown child and the pain of his father reflected deep within them. She learns from that look, an unspoken teaching about the generational impacts of loss and pain but also of the hope that carries life forward through contraction and expansion, breaking the moulds of the past.
Leaving the father and son behind in the gathering dusk, she steps through the huge gateway and beyond the high stone wall. The land opens its arms in the temperate evening, and the Moon is already rising beyond the low hills. Cicadas sing from the olive trees, and the babble of water trickles into her ears, coming from nearby, perhaps a stream or small river. She turns that way, towards the sound of the water and a soft singing voice that carries on the wandering breeze.
The Full Moon this month falls in the 5th degree of Cancer, illuminating a degree that Dane Rudhyar refers to as “At a railroad crossing, an automobile is wrecked by a train”. He goes on to describe it as “The tragic results which are likely to occur when the individual’s will pits itself carelessly against the power of the collective will of society.”
These are powerful images, telling of the difficulties incurred when we challenge the collective will without due consideration. This can lead to tragic results on both personal and societal levels, and the consequences can be profound. Swimming against the tide of established norms can bring a sense of isolation and alienation; legal consequences may be incurred, and family and friends may distance themselves, causing a breakdown in relationships. The loss of support systems and meaningful connections can have a profound emotional and psychological effect, and the individual may grapple with internal conflict, questioning their choices and beliefs in the face of societal opposition. Individuals or lone organisations that dare to stand against popular narrative may bear the burden of social stigma and discrimination, making it difficult to find acceptance and hindering personal and professional growth; in truth, those who go against the collective belief system can indeed become treated like Lepers.
This lunation contains favourable aspects to Jupiter from the luminaries, so does contain some measure of hope, especially as Jupiter turns direct again on December 31st after a long retrograde spell. However, Mercury’s continuing retrograde, which conjoins Mars following the Full Moon, is likely to be the most noticeable aspect, with themes of collapsing deals or a breakdown of communication likely. Mercury stations direct, close to the degree of the New Moon on December 12th, so a resurgence of themes or stories from around that time is likely. With the emphasis on Cancer Capricorn, we might also expect a spotlight on global shipping themes, as these two signs are associated with the sea, ports, and shipping trade. Already, there are signs of this occurring. As I write this, hundreds of ships are being diverted because of the threat faced by rebels in Yemen, and according to some Israeli sources, no ships have arrived at Red Sea ports for the last two weeks, and they expect the same for the next month at least.
This Full Moon also highlights ruler Venus in the national chart of Israel and Venus in the national chart of the US (Sibly), so we might expect diplomatic efforts to be ramped up to reflect the pressure being applied by other countries in respect of the current situation in Palestine.
On a more personal level, themes of change abound, as is pertinent at this time of year. Take this opportunity to examine the wounds that may not be healed, no matter how much we may desire a cure. Some wounds are so deep that we may never escape them, but in time, we can learn to live with them, finding peace amongst the ruins. In learning to live with our own imperfections and releasing our inherited burdens, we grant freedom to those who come after us, releasing our children from the need to carry useless traditions any further. In this way, our life’s purpose is reborn in those who follow us, inspiring a wiser and more joyful tradition.
This month’s tarot images for this pair of decans are drawn from the Thoth Tarot.
The decans that highlight the solstice points are loaded with energy. Cardinal Earth & Cardinal Water express strong, receptive, feminine energy, fertile and productive. All things are possible here at this turning of the seasons and as the Sun begins his six-month journey back to his supremacy, it is fitting that we release what is no longer required for the year to come. Downsizing, decluttering, reorganising, and clearing makes room for new energy to move in and for new seeds to grow. Quite noticeable developments can occur when we make even simple changes to our lives, and it is often the case that we need to create the space for new events, people and projects, to move in to our orbit.
Both of this cards represent the restoration of balance and harmony, the creative union of two opposites, for out of the two are born a third and a new life begins. In the same way that water, by freezing and melting, has the power to break rock through expansion and contraction, so the energies of this full moon invite us to relax and let go of what is no longer relevant. The memories, attitudes, possessions and even relationships that belong to previous versions of ourselves, keeping us supported and safe, may no longer be relevant to who we have become, representing a prison, rather than a home; a different life awaits us if we can only step outside the door and walk free of the past.
Sources of inspiration for this months piece:
Dane Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbols.
Phase 95 (Cancer 5°): AT A RAILROAD CROSSING, AN AUTOMOBILE IS WRECKED BY A TRAIN-The tragic results that are likely to occur when an individual’s will pits itself carelessly against the power of the collective will of society.
Decan images from The Picatrix
The Sun in the First Face of Capricorn:
A man holding a reed in his right hand and a hoopoe in his left. This is the face of joyfulness, rejoicing and dissolving businesses, as well as laziness, weakness, and poor process.
The Moon in the First Face of Cancer:
A man with crooked hands and a bent-over head. His body is like a horse; he has white feet, and fig leaves cover his body. This is a face of instruction, knowledge, love, subtlety and craft.
If you enjoy tarot and the magical stories they inspire, we still have some copies of the Thoth Journey Tarot available for purchase, click on the link below, and if you are interested in booking a reading, find out more HERE.
Joanna-Kate Grant 