For me the aces in tarot represent the four cardinal points of the zodiac.
The Ace of Wands is the first point of Aries, the Vernal Equinox around March 20, when the sun strides across the equator into Aries’ cardinal fire and martian power. This is the most important beginning of all, a primal energy, a spiritual energy, a thrusting energy, a positive energy. The sun is exalted in Aries, which is ruled by Mars.
The Ace of Cups represents the northerly solstice around June 21, when the sun reaches its most northern point at the tropic of Cancer and begins to turn south. This is primal care and protection, to hold what you have and to nurture with all your heart. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer which is ruled by the Moon.
The Ace of Swords is the autumnal equinox around September 22, when the sun moves south across the equator into Libra‘s cardinal air and venusian relativity. This is primal rationality, consideration, judgment, an important new thought or idea, or subject of study. Little wonder that the school/university year begins around this time. And Saturn is exalted in Libra which is ruled by Venus.
The Ace of Coins is the southern solstice around December 21, when the sun reaches its most southern point at the tropic of Capricorn and begins to turn north once again. This is primal materiality, a coalescence of all that is practical, manifesting substance, reality. Mars is exalted in Capricorn which is ruled by Saturn.
Today, January 19 2022, the Moon’s nodes change signs.
What are the Moon’s nodes? Well, in fact they are two opposing points, intersections of the apparent path of the Sun and that of the Moon. These points move slowly backwards through the signs of the zodiac and take around 18.6 months to go through a thirty degree sign.
What do the Moon’s nodes mean? Well, you could look at it as a meeting of yin and yang, the masculine and feminine energies. But in traditional astrology, the Moon’s nodes have ancient dragon associations, and are termed Caput Draconis in latin, which means ‘Dragon’s Head’ and Cauda Draconis, ‘Dragon’s Tail’.
Enter the Dragon
The north node was seen as benefic, largely good and often associated with Venus and Jupiter, the benefic planets; and the Dragon’s Tail, the south node was seen as malefic, or evil, and associated with Mars and Saturn.
In more modern psychological astrology, however, such a clear dichotomy has been sanitised somewhat. These days, the south node is said to show where we have come from, our past, what we must leave behind, and the north node points to where we are going, or should be doing.
So let’s look at this. Over the past 18 months or so, the south node has been in Sagittarius and the north node in Gemini. Both of these signs are associated with travel (Sag long distance, Gemini everyday travel), communication, getting about, as well as our minds and mental interests.
Leaving the Past
The south node in Sagittarius shows that in the past, collectively, we have been used to travelling and thinking quite freely, widely. It’s something that comes to us quite easily. Both of these abilities have been severely curtailed for nearly two years now by travel restrictions and the constant fear in the headlines.
The north node in Gemini has forced us to think more locally, to use things which are near at hand, about our neighbourhood, our community, our siblings, our family too. We have reined in our expectations and have found some comfort there, perhaps rather surprisingly.
Do it Yourself
So, with the nodes changing to Taurus and Scorpio today, what should we expect? The south node moving into Scorpio suggests that previously we have gained security through others who have invested for us, perhaps leaving us in the dark in regard to the details. This can be dangerous, naturally, for how do we know these ‘others’ have our best interests at heart? We may have trusted too much, accepted the secrecy surrounding certain people, institutions and situations. We need to move away from allowing others to take responsibility for our lives.
This is where the north node in Taurus comes in. We need to take responsibility for ourselves, assess our own values, look after our own money, property and security and put them on firm, manageable foundations. Over the next 18 months we must therefore emerge as more practical and responsible individuals who can build better lives for ourselves, regardless of what the outside world might expect of us. With determination, we can do it.
Today’s Moon: The Moon is in Aries. There is no void Moon today. The Moon is waxing and in its First Quarter phase. The First Quarter Moon occurred yesterday and the Full Moon will occur on December 29th. Retrogrades: Mars is not retrograde but is in its post-retrograde shadow until January 2, 2021. Current retrogrades: […]
It is He Who maketh the stars (as beacons) for you, that ye may guide yourselves, with their help, through the dark spaces of land and sea: We detail Our signs for people who know. (Surah Al-Anam, 97) The image shows the phases of the moon in a month. This is a page taken form […]
I would like to hold my hands up and confess my undying, unconditional love for the moon, a constant reminder that we too go through phases – they too shall pass. My journey is just beginning, I have so much to learn still, yet I feel this urge to share a small glimpse into my […]
The Elloe Recorder 