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The Story of Aries, Fiery Sky Ram 2024

Aries, the Decans and general Astrology 2024

Salutations Aries! Spring is here, announced by the vernal equinox which occurred about 3 this morning UK time. But what’s the story behind the zodiac sun sign?

Symbolic Associations

Symbol:

Dates: 20 March – 19 April

Ruling planet: Mars

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Energy: Yang (Masculine/Extrovert. Not gender specific)

Element: Fire

Quality: Cardinal (Initiation- the start of a new season)

Key phrase: I am

Body: Aries rules the Head Constitutional Cell Salt: Potassium Phosphate, “brain food” -helpful for nerve and brain health. Foods containing this salt include but are not limited to: beans, beets, carrots, peanuts, milk, cheese and avocados

Birth Stone: Topaz, Aquamarine, Diamond

Colour: Red

Herbs/Flowers: Honeysuckle, tulip, thistle, bryony, peppermint, tiger lily, geranium, hops, impatiens, onions, hollyhock, thorn-bearing trees/shrubs/firs

Tarot Cards: The Emperor, Queen of Wands, and 2, 3 and 4 Wands (Rods, Batons).

The Spring/Vernal Equinox

Aries is the first sun sign in the year of the Tropical Western Zodiac. The word ‘zodiac’ comes from the ancient Greek word meaning ‘circle of animals.’ The only zodiac sign non-representative of a living creature is Aries’ opposite number Libra, the sign of the Scales of Justice, but even the Scales are borrowed from the claws of the giant Scorpion and the stars of Scorpio in the heavens next door.

We enter the zodiac sun sign territory of Aries on the day that once upon a time used to mark the spring/vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere, and the day of the autumn/fall equinox in the southern hemisphere.

The vernal equinox happens when the Sun is exactly above the equator, and day and night are equal length as the Sun crosses the celestial equator going north.

2,500 years ago, the annual conjunction of the sun and the star Hamal happened at the invisible point of the vernal/spring equinox, and this was the data used in the astronomer, mathematician and astrologer Ptolemy’s modelling of Western Tropical astrology in the 2^nd Century AD.

But now, astronomically speaking, the position of the Sun on the day of the vernal equinox is in the constellation of Pisces near the border of Aquarius. Modern star maps project that the vernal equinox will be entering Aquarius in about 600 years. The spring equinox technically happens in Pisces owing to the effect over time of the wobble of the earth and the precession of the equinoxes.

In the system of Western Tropical astrology however, and for profound historical and symbolic reasons, the spring/vernal equinox is still referred as the First Point of Aries, marking a great energetic re-set.

Astronomy

We can picture the star-ram lying or sitting head downwards, perhaps looking over his shoulder as if to admire his own fleece, or perhaps he’s just chilling, and chewing the cud.

New life is ignited. The planetary ruler of Aries is Mars, the red planet of action, energy, enthusiasm, courage, passion, initiative- and war. The real life ram is strong, brave, and at certain times of year, downright aggressive, charging headlong into the field, king of all he surveys. Ewes can be aggressive too, if disturbed by strangers when they have lambs to protect.

The constellation of Aries is located between the stars of Pisces to its west and Taurus to its east. It contains a galaxy about 100 million light-years from our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and it also contains a planetary system called 30 Ari, consisting of a gas giant and four stars. A supernova in Aries was recorded in May, in the year 1012 AD.

The brightest star in Aries is Hamal, from the Arabic Al Ras al Hamal, meaning “the Head of the Sheep.” Hamal is twice the size of our own sun, an orange giant star, the 49^th brightest in the night sky-as bright as Mars when the planet is at its farthest point from Earth.

The two lowest stars at the bottom are Sheratan, a blue-white star, and Mesarthim, a whitish binary star, and these mark the horns of the Ram.

The very best time to see Aries is in December. Spring in the Northern Hemisphere spring or autumn/fall in the Southern Hemisphere is the worst time for viewing the stars of Aries, lost in the glare of the sun this time of year.

History

The Sumerians called the sun ‘Subat,’ meaning ‘Ancient Sheep’ or Ram and the planets were known as the ‘Celestial Herd’. The Sumerians were one of the oldest known urban civilizations in what is now Southern Iraq, during the Neolithic-Bronze Age, 4500 BC/BCE to 1500 years BC/BCE.

The sheep was among the first animals domesticated by humans around 11000 – 9000 BC (BCE) and the spring equinox which at that time happened in Aries marked the end of the main lambing season of wild sheep in Europe.

a baby lamb is jumping in the air — Photo by Jonathan Mabey on Unsplash

In ancient Egyptian astronomy, Aries was called ‘Lord of the Head’ – a reference to its symbolic significance, and it was associated with the god Amon-Ra, who was depicted as a man with a ram’s head and represented fertility and creativity. Because it was at the invisible point identified as the location of the spring (vernal) equinox, it was called the “Indicator of the Reborn Sun.”

Historically, the stars of Aries have also been envisioned in human form, as an agricultural worker. But the Ram has triumphed supreme.

The position of Aries at the zenith at that time coincided with the rising of Sirius in the east and the flooding of the Nile and the Temple of Amon-Ra at Karnak bore the likeness of the supreme sun-god with the horns of a ram.

Though long ago recognized as a constellation, and though the ancient Greeks oriented the construction of many of their sacred temples in relationship to the brightest star in Aries, Hamal, Aries was not listed as a constellation until the second century, by Ptolemy.

The Zodiac Archetype

All the zodiac signs represent archetypes, meaning something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing. Aries is a cardinal sign, marking the start of a new season. The other cardinal signs are Libra, marking the start of autumn in the northern hemisphere, and Capricorn, marking the onset of winter. The cardinal signs are traditionally considered the most innovative and proactive, the signs most at ease with driving change.

Aries is frisky, young at heart, the metaphysical ‘baby’ of the zodiac; adventurous, optimistic, generous, curious, brave, passionate, direct, self-willed and inclined to lose its temper if denied or crossed. Aries represents the concept of The Self. It seeks to express itself through exploration and pushing at boundaries, and it wants its own way.

But of course there is no such thing in reality as THE Aries personality. You are a unique individual. Your zodiac sign (sun sign) is a major keynote, but it is nothing like the full picture in real life – or in astrology either. There are many other factors in play; your ascendant or rising sign, your Moon sign; the planets in your houses and their aspects, and the decan and degree of the actual day and moment you were born.

Aries in the Tarot

The Tarot cards associated with Aries are The Emperor, the Queen of Wands and the 2, 3 and 4 of Wands.

The major arcana card associated with Aries is The Emperor, setting the overall tone for this zodiac sun sign. The Emperor of the Ram seeks to claim territory and to create and impose order in that territory. At his best, he rules wisely and with care and justice. He is the best of fathers. Or he is an able administrator. At his worst, he is a bully; an overbearing or inefficient bureaucrat, or a tyrant and a warmonger.

From the Smith Waite Tarot

Card Meanings: a man of authority, virility, parent, employer, a military man, maturity, order, experience, hard won leadership, discipline, authority, government, organizations, rules, bureaucracy, doing things by the book, ego, I am in charge, what I say goes, Drawn reversed: bully, tyrant, warmonger. Note the ram skulls decorating his throne.

Every suit in the Tarot has its own court with a king and queen, a knight and a page. The Court card associated with Aries is the Queen of Wands though this card may equally represent a man born under Aries. Aries is ruled by the element of fire in the Tarot, Wands is the suit of fire. Aries is ruled by the Sun, the Ruler of the Day, and this Queen holds a sunflower in token of her royal sceptre.

From the Smith Waite Tarot

Card Meanings: A helpful woman, a mother figure, a lucky person (signified by the black cat, also notice the royal lions) She is proud, with good instincts and may possess occult abilities. Warmth, directness, spontaneity and independence, nurturing, generosity, enthusiasm, impatience, ambition and competitiveness are her archetypal qualities. Queen of Clubs. Be there or be square. She may be either male or female in a real life reading. A man born under Aries may appear in a reading as the Emperor, a King of Wands or the Queen of Wands.

Lastly, the minor arcana cards associated with Aries are Two, Three and Four of Wands. These are the cards that talk about the decans (or decanates) of Aries. If you don’t feel like you are a ‘typical’ Aries, well, we are all unique, but perhaps you are also a second or third decan Aries sun sign native, rather than a ‘most typical’ first decan Aries.

The decans

The Zodiac is the belt of sky we can see from earth, tracking the path of the sun across the sky over the course of the year. We call this annual pathway of the sun ‘the ecliptic,’ as mentioned previously when we were talking about the spring/vernal equinox.

In the second century, Ptolemy, the Greek mathematician, astronomer and astrologer, chose twelve of the constellations straddling the ecliptic, and named the sun signs after these chosen twelve constellations: Aries, Taurus, Gemini Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and lastly, Pisces. Ptolemy chose only twelve for reasons of elegance of arithmetic in dividing the 360 degrees of the wheel of the zodiac.

Each of these zodiac signs therefore represents a 30 degree section of the zodiac belt. Each sign is then further sub-divided into three blocks of ten degrees, each about ten days in length though with slight variations. This gives us the ‘decans,’ from the Latin meaning ‘ten,’ (also called decanates.)

Nicknamed the ‘thirty-six faces of astrology’ the decans bring added depth and nuance to the story of the zodiac sun signs.

First Decan Aries (0-10 degrees)

21 March-30 March

Two of Wands

From the Smith Waite Tarot

Card Meanings: vision, ambition, trade, exports, entrepreneurship, agreements, partnerships, government, meetings, the world is my oyster. Reversed: fear of the unknown, overweening ambition, lack of planning, delays and disappointments

The ruling planet is Mars and the co-ruler is also Mars, giving this first Aries decan a forceful double dose of fiery, headlong Mars, bringing out the positive and dominant side of this Aries subject. They are up for new challenges. This is after all, the first decan of a whole new zodiac year.

Aries seeks power and often has great charisma too. But one of the nicknames of this card is ‘The Melancholy of Alexander,’ referring to the restlessness of the conqueror Alexander the Great, who won great lands but was never satisfied.

The personality is independent, forceful, temperamental, often generous, while potentially domineering, dictatorial or even aggressive. This super active first decan- not coincidentally- tends to be athletic and sporty. They are also known for a gift with words and public speaking abilities.

These natives of Aries think fast and act fast-sometimes too fast. They can be hasty and irritable with others who act more slowly. This person learns quickly and seemingly effortlessly, and will often perform well in a leadership role, but they need to learn to moderate their impatience and practice patience and understanding to have the best experience with other people and get the best from them in return. Respect, it must be remembered, is a two-way street.

Famous first decan Aries natives: Harry Houdini, Robert Frost, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga

Second Decan Aries (10-20 degrees)

1 April-10 April

Three of Wands

From the Smith Waite Tarot

Card Meanings: progress, expansion, overseas opportunities, new horizons, a launch, your ship comes in, planning, critical timing, preparation, teamwork: Reversed: lack of foresight, timidity, thinking too small, unexpected delays

The co-rulers of this decan are Mars and the Sun, the ‘Ruler of the Day.’ The sun is the centre of the solar system, the bringer of life itself, and here it stands for dignity, honour and ambition. This Aries personality not only welcomes change but actively seeks it out, relishing a challenge. This gifted Aries native desires a creative challenge and maybe a global challenge too, why not, while they are at it.

They are generally known for their directness and honesty, but they can be rather stern in outlook. They will tell you something to your face, but though they really do not like to be told what to do, they won’t hold back from telling others.

This Mars-Sun combination is considered a particularly lucky planetary combination. Everyone gets their own mix of luck, good and bad. That’s just life. But still, The Sun governs pride and personal ambition, and this lucky influence can offset the more challenging aspects of the Mars effect. These Aries natives have a knack of landing on their feet.

Famous second decan Aries natives: Otto von Bismarck, Hans Christian Anderson, Bette Davis, Al Gore, Russell Crowe, Jackie Chan, Celine Dion, Quentin Tarantino

Third Aries Decan (20-30 degrees)

10 April-20 April

Four of Wands

From the Smith Waite Tarot

Card meanings: celebration, achievement, professional qualification, property improvements, building, setting up home, homecoming, publishing, creating an artwork. Reversed: bad luck, frustrations, roadblocks

This Aries native is generally more peaceable and easy-going than the other two decans; co-ruled by Mars and Jupiter, the God of Fortune. Jupiter brings good fortune and opportunity in alliance with the energy, drive and ambition of Mars.

There is sincerity, honesty and a gracious, warm-hearted nobility in this last Aries placement. Like the second decan Aries, these Aries natives often have some particular and well-developed creative or artistic talent. They are witty, personable, and with a sense of humour, and gracious to others, although they have a short fuse. These are passionately devoted family people with a keen sense of justice, much concerned with right and wrong. They can become a tad righteous, some might say self- righteous on occasion, and others may find them arrogant, as with other decanates of Aries. They are proud, and they may well have every good reason. They just need to remember that others have their own dignity too.

Famous Third Decan Aries natives: Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, Charlie Chaplin, Tom Clancy, Francis Ford Coppola, Victoria Beckham, Gary Kasparov

The Cusps of Aries

Pisces-Aries

If your birthday is March 21 through to and including March 21, you are an Aries sun sign with Pisces tendencies and your ruling planets are Mars and Neptune. These natives are known for combining unusual intelligence, understanding and originality with a studious and cautious approach, and though they are amiable they deeply resent being forced or interfered with in the way they do things. These natives may well have a special talent for mechanical or electrical sciences and they like to lead and direct others. These natives tend to be independent critical thinkers, happiest outside the mainstream. They have an adventurous streak, are loyal to their small circle of friends and often end up with a career very different to where they started out. They can do very well indeed if they can learn to curb a certain tendency to impatience and irritability

Aries-Taurus

If your birthday is April 17 through to and including April 20, you are an Aries sun sign native with Taurean tendencies and your ruling planets are Mars and Venus. This sun sign cusp native is fiery, romantic, ambitious and determined, hardworking and talented but with an impatient or nervous streak. They dislike disorder and can get rattled when things can’t be done properly, one thing at a time. The Aries-Taurus native is competitive, wants to succeed and most likely will, but not at any cost, not if it means trampling roughshod over the rights of others. These natives are exacting and demanding in their own standards, and in their expectations of others. They may come across as arrogant to some, but are well-respected by family, friends and business associates for their honesty, integrity, their sense of honour and fair play.

Aries Season 2024 – Astrology

moon and clouds — Photo by Jack Taylor on Unsplash

March 25 -Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Libra

This penumbral lunar eclipse begins at 4:53 UTC on March 25, 2024. This will be 12:53 a.m. EDT in North America. Greatest eclipse is at 7:12 UTC on March 25 (3:12 a.m. EDT.) Its total duration will be 4 hours and 36 minutes.

The spring awakening of the spring equinox 19 March is reinforced a week later by the March 25 Libra full moon, the first eclipse of 2024. This lunar eclipse is at 5 degrees of Libra. The corresponding Tarot card is the Two of Swords, signifying a pause, indecision, a truce, a standoff, or a stalemate.

From the Smith Waite Tarot

This lunar Libra eclipse links back to the new Moon and solar eclipse in Libra which happened October 14, 2023. The Two of Swords suggests we will now see, if not a ceasefire, then a stalemate or a standoff to do with the shocking events in Israel and Gaza, international efforts of diplomacy, and the threat of an impending humanitarian disaster in Rafah.

On a personal level, this first lunar eclipse to aspect Pluto in Aquarius may cast an eerie or melancholy light on troubled relationships or partnerships, and some may now have run their course. It is time to let something go. We may well have no choice in the matter. But how we handle loss is up to us, and only we can decide to let bygones be bygones.

April 1-April 25: Mercury retrograde in Aries

The two week period between the lunar eclipse 25 March and the approaching solar eclipse 8 April is likely to bring significant developments in global events, national events and also possibly, closer to home. More haste, less speed, as the old saying goes, and this is not a time to act in haste. We are liable to have an accident. We can’t go wrong the last week of the month, backing up data and devices, reading the small print or making calls, double checking documentation, plans and arrangements.

April 8 New Moon/Total Solar Eclipse in Aries

This total Solar Eclipse on April 8th, 2024 will be happening at 19 degrees and 24 minutes of Aries, most directly affecting those born with personal planets and points at approximately 14 to 24 degrees of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.)

The first New Moon and eclipse of the Astrological year is a powerful launching pad for new beginnings. However, it is also occurring during a Mercury retrograde in Aries. This may be the time to try again with something that failed to take off before, or to finish something that we started before but never completed. Meanwhile we can expect all manner of revelations and surprises. It could get pretty intense. With the North Node in Aries and the South Node in Libra all year, there is a powerful push and pull between the First and Seventh Houses in our natal charts.This is “me” versus “we” energy, navigating heightened conflicting needs and obligations of sovereignty/alliances, independence/co-dependence/partnerships, autonomy/exchange.

The degree of this eclipse corresponds with the cusp between the second and third decans of Aries, and the corresponding Tarot cards are the Three and Four of Wands. This may be anticipating imminent fresh challenges to do with trade, shipping, and naval power in the Red Sea, the Black Sea or the South China Sea.

white and black wind chime on brown wooden table near sea during sunset — Photo by Rafik Wahba on Unsplash

A solar eclipse is classically associated with the advent of a departure of a highly significant man. This can mean a head of state. Astrologers are particularly fascinated by this eclipse, not only because Aries represents the idea of The Emperor or Head of State, or potentially war, thereby doubling up on that reading of the omen, but this one this will be the only total solar eclipse in the 21st century that will be visible throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada occurring at the time of the first Pluto return of the United States. The Roman Empire endured two Pluto returns. A metamorphosis is taking shape in the United States but it may take until at least 2028 to see what it will look like

Where else will it be visible? See here: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/

March 11- April 4 Venus in Pisces

For all the heat and action, there is also an undertow of nostalgia in the air, tender and affectionate. A sense of longing for something difficult to define and hard to satisfy. Borders and boundaries blur under Venus in Pisces. The shadow side of this position is illusion and delusion, falling prey to wishful thinking, or we may find we are only getting part of the story, dealing with poor information or evasive or dishonest behaviour. We might overspend. We might overlook practicalities. We need to pay attention, and listen out for what is not being said.

But Venus is exalted in Pisces. It’s deep, beautiful, compassionate, generous and capable of sacrifice. Here is Art and Heart. Here is Grace. Venus in Pisces somewhat soothes, slows and offsets the heat and energy of Aries 2024.

a statue sitting on top of a rock next to a body of water — Photo by Matteo Panara on Unsplash

Thank you for reading.

Back soon with a general Tarot spread for the coming season….

The Lupercalia, Venus, Valentines and Vampires

Painting Andrea Camassei 1635, Museo del Prado

Once upon a time there was a fertility festival called The Lupercalia. Men in wolf masks ran about the streets of Rome, and, in honour of the fertility god Lupercus, and in memory of the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus, would symbolically thrash (lightly touching) any women they met of child-bearing age. Any woman not wanting to be fertile had better stay indoors. But some would deliberately loiter in the streets, hoping to encounter the wolf men.

Later, Christianity claimed the festival originally held on February 15th, renaming it in memory of Valentine, a Christian physician who was beheaded in Rome after doing many a good turn to other people, including the daughter of his jailer, whom he apparently cured of blindness. The violent death of a well-disposed person on religious grounds. What could be more romantic? Another account tells us he was a priest who was conducting illegal marriages, at a time when Claudius 11 did not want military men to marry, because it deterred them from seeking active service overseas. This story makes more sense.

Valentine’s Day is nowadays an uber commercial-fest, but, still, it serves to remind us, if we ever needed a reminder, of the eternal power of that magical experience of the human condition – ‘that ol’ Devil called Love’.

The Devil card however, more truly speaks of infatuation than love. The Devil card in the Tarot speaks of passions and powerlessness. It betokens entrapment, frustration, and the urgent need to break free, even if the wish to escape is not there.

Scorpio gets the rap -or the credit-for all things sexy. But The Devil card of Capricorn also represents the nature god Pan, and the imperatives of our most earthy animal nature. And it is mighty powerful. In terms of human body chemistry, sexual passion might as well be regarded as an addiction.

The Energy of The Devil card

I have more than once encountered the experience of what we might term a psychic vampire, in my professional reading work. One such reading left me so physically drained I had to go straight to bed afterwards, where I slept like a stone all night, but not in a good way, feeling slightly unwell.

It stands to reason. The Devil is fear, and people can be very upset and worried when they come for reading. Sometimes this fear or worry is palpable. And so is obsession.

The client was a very pleasant person to read for, but she was struggling with ‘the ol’ Devil’ all right. She wanted another man but he was married. So was the lady. Her husband brought her to the reading to make sure she would be safe, and that I was who I said I was. Then he left and later returned to take her home.

This was an agreeable, congenial, good looking and glamorous lady, and I could tell from the cards that the other man in question had powerful charisma. Then I had a bolt from the blue, an outright ‘psychic’ moment, and I saw a picture of the man in my mind’s eye. I told the lady who I was ‘seeing’, and asked if this was the person we were discussing. This man was a well known circus and stage performer.

The lady was extremely shocked that I correctly guessed his identity. And so was I, actually. But so it goes sometimes. She said to me, rather sharply, “you know him!”

I did not. I had never met him. and I knew nobody else who knew him. But he had a public profile, and all at once, looking down at my cards, I seemed to ‘see’ him standing behind her, looking out over her shoulder. These things happen every now and then, though I know readers far more clairvoyant than I am.

Would she get to be with this man for keeps? This was what the lady wanted to know. I felt she might get a taste of what she was hoping for. She might get a little more time with this man. But if she did, I had to tell her I could see no ‘happy ending.’ Sometimes, rightly or wrongly, we can only say what we do not see.

I hope she got free of this unhappy situation one way or another and was happy. But I doubt it. That man moved away to the U.S, to Las Vegas. I found that out because she must have given him my number. One day I got a call from the States from this man, using a different name, saying he “had heard about me, and he wanted to know his future.”

I didn’t let on that I knew who he really was, although his accent was an immediate alert. But I declined to do a reading then and there, just like that over the telephone, and recommended he find a local reader. It’s funny sometimes, how some people will deliberately mislead or misdirect a reader, but still expect to receive accurate feedback. If we can deliver that, then we can also see they are not playing straight with us, and no-one likes to feel they are being made a monkey of.

It is another curious thing, that often there will be a succession of readings all dealing with the same card as their main focus. It is almost as if The Everything is setting homework for the reader. The Devil turned up in the following three readings, and in each one we also drew the Moon card, signifying hunting, fantasy, dreams, emotional extremes. Obsession. Illusion.

Image from the Smith-Waite deck, U.S Systems

In each case, some poor soul was having a desperately unhappy time, struggling to let go of a romantic relationship, though they had decided that they must. They no longer felt wanted or respected, or welcome.

One such client was now in danger of starting to behave like a stalker, and I had to warn them against certain behaviours, although on none of these subsequent three occasions did I feel quite the same physical impact of the ‘show biz’ client.

Perhaps this was physical impact was only to be expected. A showbiz sized energy field is likely to carry a highly charged aura, to be anticipated in such readings, and when we talk about a vampire in real life, this is what we’re talking about. A habit, an encounter or a situation that can physically utterly drain your batteries on contact.

Blake 5 Whirlwind Of Lovers 5 Illustration To Dante S Inferno A4 Print - Picture 1 of 1 — William Blake’s illustration, ‘A Whirlwind of Lovers’…from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Obsession Has Consigned the Lovers To A ‘Circle Of Hell’…in Tarot…captivity, servitude, an dependent, obsessional and un-free state of mind.

The Devil card drawn upside down or Ill-Dignified, is usually better for being drawn upside-down, as this tends to say the worst is over, denoting clarity and self control, which is to say, liberation and the recovery of our equilibrium and the reclaiming of our personal sovereignty.

If you need to move on from a damaging personal relationship or a habit that’s proving harmful, this card is an encouraging sign when drawn reversed.

The Devil card is known, with justice, for its powerful negative aspects. It speaks of fear, frustration, anger, unhealthy habits, obsession and addiction, and the evil that can ensue from these things. Usually, the situation that it’s referring to could do with overturning.

The tough news is that it’s going to have to be us that overturns it. No-one else can do it. It is simply not in their power. Possibly too, there is no real solution as yet, and the situation meantime can only be managed or endured. Now it is a case of damage limitation.

But The Devil isn’t all bad.

As an image of Pan, god of all wild creatures, rather than in its guise as Christianity’s Devil, this beastly card is still strong stuff, requiring careful handling.

But this is the power and the glory of Cardinal Earth. And the animals, however “red in tooth and claw”, are ultimately innocent.

The Devil can be one heck of a sexy beast. It is charisma. It is the drive and passion to create. It is our connection to our roots in earth and our general animal vitality – (steady tiger!) – a strong glue for keeping relationships together over the long haul. And as they say, a little of what you fancy does you good.

The anger of The Devil comes in handy, is downright necessary, when you find yourself dealing with disrespect or downright nastiness. Let that Devil look out of your eyes, as you politely say ‘Excuse me?’

Subtext. ‘You better back off.’

If your inner Devil can clear some cr*p out of your space, there’s nothing the matter with that. Let him off the leash.

No. The Devil is not all bad. The challenge is to keep him in his place and not feed him too often. Just watch for the signs and make sure it’s your devil, or your cheeky imp, that’s under control, locked up inside that cage.

And not you.

gray concrete lion statue on gray concrete floor — Photo by Anna on Unsplash

Meantime, Venus, the planet of love, beauty, luxury, fashion and finance leaves behind our friend Pan, The Devil of Capricorn, and meet up with Pluto in Aquarius today or tomorrow depending where you are in the world. The dates for this transit are February 16 to March 11.

Venus needs a bit of fresh air. She loves you. She loves everyone, but at a bit of a distance. Lucky colours for a bit of added Venus power during this transit: white and soft silver, hot cobalt blues, soft shades of lavender and aqua.

a bust of a woman with a group of lamps above her — Photo by Yura Timoshenko on Unsplash

Thank you for reading.

Back soon.

The Water Carrier, The Full Wolf Moon and The Lion

Tonight, 25 January in Aquarius season, is the first Full Moon of 2024 and this Full Moon is nicknamed the Wolf Moon. At this time of year in northern America and Northern Europe, wolves used to come down to human settlements in late winter in desperate search of food- and with resulting conflict.

The dog in this picture is looking a tad nonchalant, just lounging about next to the man, as he does all the hard work, struggling with the wolf who is clearly about to get the worst of the encounter. Folk stories suggest the last wolf in England was killed in 1390 by John, son of Sir Edgar Harrington of Wraysholme, after he chased it all the way from the Coniston Fells to Humphrey Head in Cumbria (coastal North West England).

Windblown trees of Humphrey Head, Cumbria via Wiki

There were always wolves in Britain, but by the late middle ages, they were rare in England, although they survived in Scotland until the 17th or 18th century. Officially the last Scottish wolf was killed (shot) by Sir Ewen Cameron in 1680 in Killiecrankie (Perthshire) But other reports suggests wolves survived in Scotland till much later, with one possible sighting as late as 1888.

Astronomy

This Full Moon is in Leo astrologically speaking, but from the point of view of science and astronomy, this Wolf Moon is technically situated in the constellation of Cancer, next door to Leo, for reasons to do with the wobble of the earth in the 2000 years since the western zodiac was codified.

EarthSky on X: "Tonight's full moon - the Wolf Moon - is located in the direction of Cancer the Crab. You're not likely to see any of Cancer's stars in the moon's

However, according to the working model of Western/Tropical astrology, for profound arithmetic, historic and symbolic reasons, the full moon is in the celestial territory of proud, passionate, playful Leo, the Lion King of the Zodiac.

Tarot cards of Leo

The major arcana Tarot card associated with Leo is Strength, signifying not only the raw power of physical strength, but fortitude; determination moral courage, although it is also, as one would expect, a physically lucky card, suggesting sporting success, military success or recovery if someone has been ill.

This figure – we may think of her as Una- “The One”-but she is you and me, has not tamed the lion as such. They walk side by side, facing futurity, focused on their purpose, looking inward on their dreams.

The lion walks alongside as an equal, though it could deal with Una any time it likes. One bite, one blow of the giant paw and she is toast. Una is holding the leash only very lightly, while the lion remains entirely by his own choice. No-one may sensibly or safely presume to think to altogether subdue or “tame” another. Likewise there is no true Strength, or right to command, without the power of self-restraint and self-command. Any one who would be a leader must first learn to rule himself, or herself. And to control their temper. More haste, less speed. There is a reason patience is a virtue. Lack of it can cost us everything, our lives included.

Leo says ‘fame’. Leo says shine your light, walk the stage, write your part and play it, but don’t overlook the audience. Not only is there no play without them, but they too, have their part to play. An author writes and publishes a book but it needs a reader for it to come alive. The Lion of the Zodiac is capable of many things, not always good. The Lion may be loud, demanding, careless, arrogant, or even cruel, but he is incapable of pettiness.

The minor arcana cards of Leo are the Five, Six and Seven of Wands, representing stress, conflict, competition, victory, fortitude and strategic advantage respectively. We are likely feeling a need to call on these right now.

The Heart of Leo

The heart of the constellation of Leo is its alpha star, Regulus, meaning Little King or the royal star. And in medical astrology, Leo rules the heart.

I had a strange night last night, not least due to a sensation of heaviness in the chest, though I think I may also have seen a ghost. I don’t often see such things, but I have seen them, and they are not necessarily frightening, though they can be. This one was not frightening, only startling. A figure. A man. No details. Today is the anniversary of the death of my husband’s father, whom I never met. But I could not see the face.

The heaviness in the chest was due to long standing inflammation; a sero-negative form of systemic arthritis, which has damaged the aortic valve.

I happen to have both the Moon and Mars in Leo in my natal chart. The Moon is square the sun, and now that I reflect on that, I won’t be surprised if this heaviness eases off again once the gravitational drag of this Full Moon has passed.

The dandelion –dents-de-lion, “the lions teeth” is traditionally used as a diuretic which by removing fluid that places an extra load on the heart, can also support heart health

The Dandy Lion

Dandy Lion’s

Golden Mane

Prideful, Greying

Casts Away

Alight on chance

To Lionise again

–Katie-Ellen

white dandelion flower — Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Lion and Blue

by Robert Vavra, illustrated by Fleur Cowles

Here’s a book fit to make you roar like a lion, or more likely, howl like a winter wolf any time. It says it’s for 2-6 year-olds but this is a story for anyone.

A lonely old lion loves a beautiful blue butterfly, but the butterfly must leave him to follow its own destiny in search of sunflowers to feast on. The old lion pines for his friend and goes in search…

His devotion will be rewarded, not in the way we were hoping, but in a way far sadder, and more tragic but also immeasurably majestic, when he lies down and dies and decays, and in time a sunflower grows where his body lay. He is reborn as a sunflower. And now the beautiful blue butterfly returns to find him again.

Tarot cards for today 25/01/24 (UTC formerly…Greenwich Mean Time I am writing in the UK. It is 16.20 PM as I write this and the Full Moon is rising here at 17.54 PM)

I am asking the Tarot for its general comments please. Typical! The first three cards out of the deck (The Legacy of the Divine Tarot) are mirroring and almost, though not entirely correlating with real time astrology.

The Star (right now we have the Sun and Pluto Aquarius) The King of Wands reversed (The Full Moon in Leo) and The Seven of Wands (second decan Leo)

This full Moon is actually in the first decan of Leo, 5 degrees and 14 minutes which strictly in terms of date correlations is represented in the Tarot by The Six of Wands. Still, that’s spookily close in respect of real time, and if the Tarot wants to show us the Seven of Wands and not the Six, well, the interconnections and overlap are wondrous, but the Tarot is an oracle unto itself. It contains elements of astrology but it is not astrology. The Tarot is in charge here, and it has its reasons.

General impressions

All three of these cards represent fixed energy. The Star reversed is fixed Air energy, while the King of Wands reversed and the Seven of Wands are fixed fire energy.

This isn’t a bad reading on a general personal level, but it has a certain explosive potential for quarrels or other domestic issues including minor electrical mishaps, water damage, power cuts or trouble with appliances. Chances are we’ve been, not dragging our heels today, but likely feeling as if we’re rolling stones uphill.

Right now we may be embroiled with practical necessities and these take priority. We’re not looking for fights, but no one is going to go stamp-around with us either, whether this is a boss figure, an individual close to home, or issues with some organization not doing what it is supposed to.

All the same, we can see where we want to get to. The fires are lit, the words are on the tip of our tongues. A bright vision beckons. There’s a certain charisma, or an undercurrent of sexual, romantic or creative passion in the air today, and this will last a little while beyond the Full moon.

The Seven of Wands says we are up for defending our turf, standing up for ourselves, and getting ready to roll forward with new projects and ventures…driven the inspiration signified by the number 7, even though we may not have every detail perfectly worked out as yet. Not only do we have the seven of Wands but the Reversed King of Wands, the Leo king, is wearing a 7 on his belt. We may be handling something now, or imminently, that will happen, culminate or conclude in July.

This may also just possibly be picking up events in Ukraine. Why? President Zelenskyy is an Aquarius sun sign native; shown here embattled, weary (King Wands reversed) looking for a new strategy and more air missile support (because The Star is reversed.) The counter offensive has not delivered relief as hoped, but he has not lost the initiative. Look for “fires at sea” -potentially decisive maritime events in the Black Sea between now and Leo season 2024.

The West is not doing enough, is the picture here, and if it does not do more, faster, the West will feel the weight of an new age of The Star reversed and the Kings of Wands reversed, the rise of a new age of dictators. The Star is a beautiful card of hope and recovery , but when drawn reversed it contains the potential for hopes denied, and for the dawning of a new totalitarianism.

Thank you for reading.

Till next time 🙂

Freya’s Day, The Empress and a Waxing Moon in Taurus

The Queen of Coins, court card of Capricorn from The Touchstone Tarot.

Today is a waxing Taurus Moon, just greater than last night’s waxing half Moon. How apposite for a Friday, ruled in Mythology by the astrological ruler of Taurus; Venus/Freya/Ishtar/Hathor…fruitfulness, fertility, beauty, luxury …and money and finance.

“She’s looking good, for beauty we will pay…”- Kraftwerk

The Tarot card representing Friday is The Empress. When the world is ugly, still, there is always beauty, and where the ugliness is at its most terrible, the enduring beauty is in even the humblest, simplest acts of kindness, without which there is no fuel for the upkeep of courage…en -courage-ment. The Empress is Woman; The Mother, Gaia, Demeter- the earth beneath its crown of stars.

Taurus, the Bull of The Empress Gaia, and the ruler of today’s moon, can represent earth tectonics.

Taurus would much rather not charge, or smash up the china shop. He much prefers to be left to graze in peace. Chew the cud. Guard his cows. But he will do what it takes to guard his meadow, glaring down from the heavens with his giant red eye, the star Aldebaran, the eye of the Bull, at the constellation of Orion the Hunter.

Orion boasted that he could and would kill any creature on Earth. It was a boast that got him killed when Demeter sent a giant scorpion to deal with him for his hubris. And Taurus is having none of it either.

If you’re in the mid-northern latitudes, you’ll locate the mighty Orion in the southeast in the early evening, shining high in the south by mid-to-late evening. South of the equator, you’ll see Orion high in your northern sky around that same hour.

There was an old story in Arabic lore, that should Taurus ever break free of his pen in the skies, he would stampede the Universe to pieces. Taurus was to be feared. Totally. And sometimes gets a bad rap for supposedly being dull or docile or stubborn. But he is the very spirit of springtime in its full flowering, beloved of Venus, The Empress. The flowers in the picture are knit-bone which flowers in April and May where I live.

blue petaled flowers — Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

By Jove, by Jupiter!

Jupiter last night was glorious, stupendous, almost conjoining the moon in optimistic – or aggressive Aries, while today’s Moon in Taurus is trining Mars in Capricorn. AND Mercury in Capricorn is trining Jupiter in Taurus. An auspicious angle.

January Moon-Jupiter close approach views from 3 different cities - New York, Singapore and Sydney.

Source TimeandDate.Com

Today’s astrology is rather upbeat, perhaps surprisingly given the manifest problems in the world right now. But a waxing Moon in Taurus trine Mars in Capricorn. AND Mercury in Capricorn is trine Jupiter in Taurus? This is rather lively, bouncy, and money orientated, conjuring in my mind’s eye, an image of the Bull of Wall Street.

a statue of a bull on a brick street — Photo by fabio Spano on Unsplash

One looks at the card/s. One looks up the astrology and then one checks out the news pertaining to these signals, clues and signs. So now I look up the headlines for what is happening today on Wall Street, and how about this for real time synchronicity:-

“Stock Market Today: Wall Street Drifts Toward the Edge of Its All-Time High Set 2 Years Ago…”

Source: Associated Press

On a personal level, likewise, today’s transits are potentially excellent news for all manner of business and material matters; financial, and practical, but also pertaining to work, business and education. Again, this is a celestial booster for work prospects, projects for home improvements, educational prospects, or domestic matters that span these activities, to do with finding the right locale, school or university for us or for our children. Now in the UK is the time for applying for a place at university.

A note of caution

Venus in Sagittarius is square Neptune in Pisces, while I draw the Ace of Pentacles reversed, and the Knight of Cups. Today is a squirreling kind of a day, or a planning kind of a day. This is pro-active energy, so far, so good. But this is not a day to commit. Now is not the best time to sign a really big money contract. Chances are, because of that reversed Knight of Cups, amplified by today’s foggy Neptune in Pisces- we are not sufficiently fully in the picture. Don’t believe everything you hear, says this Knight of Cups when drawn with the Ace of Pentacles reversed. Don’t lend money to any new or unproven friend or admirer, or spend money on them, or automatically believe everything they tell us. Not until they have proven themselves trustworthy. Reality checks all round, even when it’s a harsh reality. At least that’s workable information.

Knight of Cups: Love Advice, Future Outcomes, Yes or No?

There is a feeling here of issues to do with digestion and hydration or UTI’s. This could be to do with overeating or correcting recent seasonal overeating…(thank you for that, Jupiter.) It could mean that those dealing with IBS or similar issues may need to eat more lightly today, or may require extra peppermint, or whatever is the go-to remedy.

Likewise, this is a day for not losing our cool…not blowing our top. Taurus was called by the ancient Greeks The Bull From the Sea, and they associated him with Poseidon the Earth Shaker, god of the sea…and of earthquakes. A waxing Moon in Taurus can suggest an increase in the next few days of seismic or tectonic activity. This is not to say there is any cause for alarm. The Pacific is merrily bubbling away, but then again, it always is.

a man standing in the water with a pole in his hand — Photo by Lance Reis on Unsplash

Thank you for reading. Farewell for another year to the sun sign of our Earth magic friend, Capricorn the Celestial Sea-goat. Back soon with a spotlight shining on Aquarius, Cosmic Water Carrier- The Cloud-Bearer.

The sure-footed Four of Pentacles, Hecate and the January New Moon in Capricorn

We have now entered the cosmic territory of the third and final decan of the sun sign territory of Capricorn the wise, celestial Mer-Goat.

(We have looked at the origin myth of the Sea-Goat in a previous post: https://katieellenhazeldine.substack.com/p/songs-of-solstice-salutations-capricorn)

The third decan of Capricorn correlates with the dates 11-20 January, and with the tarot card The Four of Pentacles.

Images from The Rider Waite Tarot and The Gilded Tarot

The Four of Pentacles is nicknamed The Miser card, unfairly, really, because he is holding on tight to what he’s got. Unfairly, because you can’t give or share what you haven’t got. We cannot make a place for ourselves without the will and the means to do so. You can’t create a shelter, a warm spot, a safe place, a sanctuary, for yourself or for others without the effort and the discipline it takes to put even just a little by, and not blow it, especially when there is little to spare.

The decans, as mentioned in previous posts, deal in seasonal archetypes. The third decan Capricorn native is clever, shrewd, proud, industrious and conscientious in the workplace. Possibly opinionated. They can be secretive, mistrustful of others, and when under pressure, calculating or possibly deceitful. They may be also constitutionally prone to melancholy, pessimism. But they have a keen, if mordant, wry, dry sense of humour, and they are kindly, indeed passionate in devotion; deeply attuned to the power of landscape, and the wild creatures that make it their own.

The Four of Pentacles represents a guarded, watchful pause, a time of taking stock, before we move forward into the volatility of the fixed Air potency of the Aquarian Five of Swords, commencing 20 January…which this year will be a planetary humdinger, coinciding with the momentous entry of Pluto into Aquarius for the first time this year.

The Five of Swords- conflict- Rider Waite Tarot

–Pluto represents the underworld, all that is underground, mining, power, secrets, deep state, momentous change, death in any sense of the word)

–Aquarius represents the element of Air, clouds, Humanity itself, Cloud Tech, Space Tech, Medical Tech, new ideas OR wholesale imposition of ideology, revolution.

Aquarius, the sign of the Water Bearer is also the Cloud Bearer, known to the Babylonians as Sabatu- The Curse of Rain, because it brought floods in February, and not infrequently these were devastating.

Sadly we are seeing this in action big time in the UK even before we have entered Aquarius in 2024.

Pluto in Aquarius is where the story is heading. The last time we were there, 1778-1798. what sort of things happened?

-The French Revolution

-The American Revolution

-The Haitian Revolution

-The Enlightenment

-The invention of cast iron and the cotton gin, beginning the Industrial Revolution

-Discovery of Uranus

-The Smallpox Vaccine

During the previous Pluto in Aquarius, 1523-1553, Europe underwent the upheaval of The Reformation, when King Henry v111 of England split with the Pope, and his subjects were now Catholic no more, on pain of being liable of being put to death for

a) heresy

b) treason

I live in Lancashire where this history leaves its ghostly marks to this day. Alice Nutter, who was hanged for being one of the Pendle witches, was part of a notable Lancashire Catholic family, and was likely targeted as such. Such is the darker fundamentalist potential of Pluto in Aquarius.

Roughlee, Nelson, Lancashire. Poignant statue in memory of Alice Nutter. Sculptor David Palmer

This will be a fascinating next twenty years in world history. But it’s not as if a new era is entered into overnight or indeed, is not already making itself felt. The Post Office Scandal in the UK, which convicted more than 700 innocent sub postmasters, some of whom actually to prison, including a pregnant lady, on the say-so of a computer glitch which no-one in charge at Fujitsu would admit to, though they knew about it, could hardly be more a dystopian display of the worst potential of Pluto in Aquarius if it tried, but has been going on since 1999. Read about it HERE

The New Super Moon in Capricorn 2024

Pluto in Aquarius is well nigh here, but we are not quite there yet. Meanwhile, today’s New Moon was in Capricorn very early in the morning, around 6:57 AM Eastern time. This New Moon is also a Super Moon. We can’t see it, but the Moon came closer today than in a normal New Moon, and today was only the first of five Super New Moons in 2024, a year of turbo charged lunar energy for digging and planting, instigating change. Typically, there are 3-4 Super moons in a year, and they can make a difference of 2 inches in the height of the world’s tides.

person holding green plant stem — Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

All New Moons are nature’s planning windows. Tonight, tomorrow and over the next few days, fortune works with us when we plant seeds and start to water them. Seeds of ideas for new projects or changes for example in the way we do our finances, or in our work direction or in the way we present ourselves to the wider world. This sturdy, hardworking, grounded yet experimental New Moon at 20 degrees of Capricorn will be trine Uranus, uber planet of change. Astrologically speaking this is a particularly optimistic, energetic, upbeat and potentially ambitious New Moon, not of making do, but of making and doing. Mars is also in Capricorn until 12 February, and this gives us an energy boost in tackling practical- and creative tasks.

There is a world of difference between taking a chance on doing something new or differently, and between being reckless, feckless or downright daft. They do say a change is as good as a rest. Capricorn thinks long term, and when it moves forward, it is not much given to wallowing or looking back.

This is a time for ditching what is long overdue for dumping, while surprises, chance encounters and new work opportunities all go with this territory.

Hecate, goddess of the New Moon

total lunar eclipse — Photo by Mark Tegethoff on Unsplash

All hail to Hecate, the Greeks and Romans would say in honour of the impending New Moon. Hecate was the goddess of the waning moon, where Persephone was the manifestation of the Waxing Moon, and Artemis was the face of the Full Moon.

Hecate, the keeper of the crossroads, is better known today as the goddess of witchcraft, but she was worshipped in Rome as a protecting household deity. None could enter without permission a household that was under the protection of Hecate. More HERE in a previous post:

Image via Pinterest

Tonight in magical practice would be the night to honour or petition Hecate’s help with prayers or gifts of incense, raisins or apparently she is partial to virtual offerings of currant cake.

Eat it on her behalf so Hecate can enjoy it vicariously. Give an ancient goddess a break. It’s tough I know, but think of Hecate. Someone’s got to do it.

Bon courage. Thank you for reading.

You can also find my posts on Substack: https://katieellenhazeldine.substack.com/

The Six of Swords and a maritime mood…

grayscale photo of ships on water — Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Let’s look at today’s general Tarot card, drawn for the collective. Is this just my own stuff? Could be. Context is key for getting at a specific prediction, and that context is driven by a question. But it is frequently the case, that when one is reading for a client, there can be an eerie synchronicity between what is pressing or timely for the client, and what is going on around the reader. Perhaps we are more connected, more like birds or bees than we may care to recognize.

What the reader is trying to do in such a broad reading as this is, simply to hold up a mirror and breathe on it, trying to get a sense of a prevailing wind or “zeitgeist.”

The card for today is the Six of Swords.The wind today could be described as a psychic easterly. Bracing or invigorating, take your pick. This is one of the several cards in the tarot deck that that fits Aquarius timing in a reading where one is trying to guess at when something may happen. (The others are The Star, The King, Queen, Knight or Page of Swords or the Five or Seven of Swords)

Of course we are not in Aquarius territory yet. Soon. Not yet. We are still in the second decan of Capricorn, associated with the industrious, artistic and dedicated Three of Coins, as illustrated here in the Legacy of The Divine Tarot. Mars in Capricorn gives us an energy boost between now and around 13 February. Things get done.

Be that as it may. The Six Swords correlates with the fixed air sign of Aquarius and it denotes a solemn journey. This journey may occur in the aftermath of disaster and bereavement. For instance,it may describe a funeral procession. More generally, we may be decided to turn our back on an unhappy situation, cutting our losses, setting our faces to the future, taking the helm of our own “ship.”

At close personal quarters, this card can also be saying, “tell the truth and shame the devil.” Lies do damage and create waste. They are a waste of precious time and they are disrespectful. The Six Swords seeks to limit past damage, asserting our common drive for dignity, independence and personal sovereignty.

The Six Swords may be perfectly neutral. For instance, it may simply denote long distance/remote study or a cruise or other journey of exploration. Or it can be flagging up issues or activities to do with buying/sorting out/upgrading our I.T.

But in both metaphysical and in literal physical terms, with the Six of Swords we see a voyage. There is forward movement, where with a card such as the Eight of Swords or the Four of Cups there is no movement.

In current affairs, we need no tarot cards to show us that these are tense times with looming standoffs, confrontations or military conflicts impending in the world’s major shipping lanes, most acutely, between now and mid February. But here, we are using the cards to check out the phenomenon of synchronicity in mirroring what we know to be the case.

Prediction follows on from this initial mirroring.

The Six of Swords can specifically indicate

a) a military threat, health threat or the aftermath of such

and

b) shipping or cruising.

The Red Sea is perhaps foremost in our awareness at this time, but tensions in other maritime zones have not gone away in the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, South China Sea or the Strait of Taiwan.

Likewise, depending on the deck we are using, the Six of Swords shows refugees in search of safety. It shows migration and displacement, and we may see more or particular big news of this kind around the time of Pluto’s first entry into Aquarius this year, 20 January – 1 September 2024.

Economic migration is a political hot potato, only set to grow hotter during this time frame. The suit of Swords deals with legalities and documentation, which suggests the introducing of new processes in the UK and perhaps many other countries this year, affecting travel, outside and beyond the contentious issues of migration and emigration.

This all sounds potentially gloomy if not dire. BUT the Six of Swords is one of the most constructive cards in the challenging suit of Swords. Its keywords include recovery, healing, learning, study, travel, momentum and above all, progress. If you or a loved one have been sick, there can be few better cards indicative of improvements, bar the Ace, Knight, or Page of Cups.

Thank you for reading.

When Mars goes into Capricorn….

What’s the push and pull in the collective energy today? I draw two crux Cards from the Touchstone Tarot deck by Kat Black and I draw Death and the Page of Coins (Pentacles)

Saturday 6 January 2024

It is a waning moon, not a time for sowing and planting. We are haunted, maybe grieving. Dreams are vivid. Today’s waning moon is in the fixed water sign of Scorpio, denoting a strong outgoing tide of deep feeling with a sting of loss attached but we may also experience a sense of irritation, not quite knowing where to put our physical, intellectual and emotional energy.

The Death card, curiously, is the card corresponding with the zodiac sun sign of Scorpio. The appearance of this card signifies endings. Many readers these days will state that the Death card never, but never represents an actual death or bereavement. My twenty odd years of reading for other people tells me that in general, the Death card is talking metaphorically. A job may come to an end, or a relationship for instance. But it can raise the question or the spectre of an actual human death. Oh yes it can, it will and it does. And so it should. Death is part of Life. It colours our experience of Life through the awareness of our own mortality and that of all those we love most. Death – and Birth are THE greatest life events, our own. The Death card needs handling with care. I do not make predictions of Death. I could be wrong. Nor will I avoid the conversation.

The appearance of the Death card reflects the dreadful events we are seeing on the news, if we are not living through them ourselves. And the Death card shows that we are feeling acutely aware of the passage of time, and of our own mortality. Time and tide wait for no man. Oh, do they not? I have known when loved ones were about to go. I do not mean that I was sensing anything imminently. But it was there all the same. Their tide was on the turn for the last time. There was a presentiment. An ebbing tide, pulling at my own inner water.

And yet the appearance of the Page of the element of Earth is timely. Mercury has now gone direct again, while energetic Mars has entered pragmatic Capricorn on 4 January and stays there till 13 February. The echoes of recent troubles may be powerful, yet this new wind may still prove favourable. Hold fast to the greatest tasks in hand…we have been stuck, but now necessary things can and should and will get done.

We are now in the second decan of Capricorn, associated with the creative and productive Three of Coins or Pentacles. This card, again from The Touchstone Tarot shows a master craftsman at work. See the sketch and quill behind him. An eager patron looks on, agog to see what beauty shall be created, proudly sponsored by him. Oh yes, he gets to claim much kudos. This is the card of making a house a home, but above all it is a card of excellence.

This is a good time to surge ahead with creative projects and businesses. A Tamil friend has a silk weaving business for instance, making sarees/saris. The Three of Coins is an apposite card for ant kind of business like this.

A medicine for grief -or anxiety is to do something constructive, creative or useful. Sort your admin (yawn -but it feels so good once you’ve done it.)

Or read and study. Learn something new.

“The best thing for being sad,” said Merlin, “is to learn something. It is the only thing that never fails”

(T.H. White The Once and Future King)

DO something. This is a medicine, a reliable Ju-ju for blasting the cobwebs or soothing sorrow. Action in the material world. Anything really, so long as it ain’t stupid. The young man representing the Page of Coins is a scholar (from an original painting by Hans Holbein. He could equally be a crafts-person or a cook or a pet owner.

When we are treading water, or right up in our heads, we can earth ourselves by going for a walk, feeding the birds, or by giving our mind and our hands something to work on front of house.

This day of a legalistic waning Libra moon we learn that the next UK election will not be in the spring as has been lately rumoured, but will be in the second half of the year.

The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is a Taurus sun sign native, and the leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer is a Virgo sun sign native. Is Rishi waiting until after late May when Jupiter will move into Gemini, or will he wait until the 2 October eclipse in judicial, contractual Libra to call the election?

There is plenty good about Jupiter in Gemini for communications, publishing, teaching, aviation…but Jupiter is in detriment in Gemini, meaning that when it is in Gemini, Jupiter is sitting opposite Sagittarius, the sign it naturally rules. What this can mean is that we have super intelligent decision making during Jupiter in Gemini, or a load of flopping about, quibbling and hot air and nothing of great moment actually gets decided.

Globally, we are witnessing such dreadful devastation. Mars in Capricorn seeks to acquire- territory, resources, status. But it also seeks, like the Page of Coins or Pentacles, to rebuild.

Resolutions and rebuilding in Gaza and Ukraine can’t- and won’t come fast enough to satisfy any ideals of justice, kindness or basic decency. It never does until that last moment has long, long since passed. Those tides have gone right out, and are coming in again as tsunamis- “waves in the harbour”. I write this, realizing that I am speaking metaphorically in the very same week that Japan has experienced earthquakes and tsunamis on the very first day of 2024.

Source: Wikipedia

“As above so below.” The planet Earth, Gaia is unsettled, and so are we. The hive is rattled. The bees swarm, buzzing. We are experiencing Solar Cycle 25 and all that. This was expected to be a weak cycle in terms of solar flare activity. And maybe it will still be weaker than the average solar cycle. But it is early days in this cycle, and it is already proving stronger than was predicted back in 2019, with the next solar maximum expected any time between now and October 2024.

More info HERE

But Gaia will settle again, and so will we.

The stone associated with Capricorn is the garnet, symbolic of loyalty and devotion, The garnet is considered a lucky talisman of protection, and for the health of the heart.