New Moon in Aquarius January 21, 2023 3:53 pm EST
The Tower Smith Waite Tarot deck
Last weekend I spoke to my brother who lives in San Francisco. He was in the middle of a rare experience: lightning, thunder and a hail storm in an area where this does not happen. His dog was listening and found the whole thing disquieting. Animals often see the whole of a situation which we hide beneath.
So I wasn’t surprised when I read the Sabian Symbol for the degree of Sun and Moon when they conjoin this Saturday to begin a new lunar cycle and a new year for the Chinese. ‘AN UNEXPECTED THUNDERSTORM. KEYNOTE: The need to develop the inner security which will enable us to meet unexpected crises.‘
The unexpected thunderstorm connected me to the Tower Card in Tarot, which has a connection with Mars, who is important player in this chart. Mars is at 8 degrees of Gemini, at this moment the same degree and sign where it was located at the moment when America was founded.
The message of The Tower card is about the end of isolation. We are blown out of a situation which has become constrictive. When I see The Tower card, I think of the story of Merlin, and Vortigern’s Tower.
The British prince Vortigern had been at war with the Picts (pre-Celtic tribes), and had invited Saxons to come into his territory as a way to defend his castle and lands. He decided to build a tower for himself and his family in case either group should take over. This was in violation of his responsibilities to defend all of his people.
The tower would not stand over night, but kept tumbling down after three attempts. He asked his magicians for help. They recommended the sacrifice of a virgin child.
Merlin was fourteen years old. His mother was a noblewoman who had born a mysterious child out of wedlock. Her story was of a demon who had entered her bedroom without permission. The young Merlin had no father to defend him and his mother was disgraced, so he was clearly marked for sacrifice.
He was taken to the site of the tower, and prepared for sacrifice. Instead, he began to ‘see.’ “Because you are ignorant of what it is that hinders the foundation of the tower, you have recommended the shedding of my blood for cement to it, as if that would presently make it stand. But tell me now, what is there under the foundation? For something there is that will not suffer it to stand.” The magicians began to be afraid, and made him no answer.
THEN said Merlin, who was also called Ambrose, command your workmen to dig into the ground, and you will find a pond which causes the foundation to sink.”
This accordingly was done. They found a pond deep under ground, which had made it give way. Merlin after this went again to the magicians, and said, “Tell me, ye false sycophants, what is there under the pond.” But they were silent. Then said he again to the king, “Command the pond to be drained, and at the bottom you will see two hollow stones, and in them two dragons asleep.”
And it was just so. Two dragons burst from the stones, one white and one red. They rose and twisted in the air and became symbols for the struggle between the Celtic and Saxon people. When Merlin saw them, he broke into tears, and at that moment, he became the great magician of the British people forever after. Now the tower could be built to last, but it did not save the coward Vortigern, who was soon overthrown by the Saxons.
photo: Bruce Lhuillier
This moment of the new Moon in Aquarius has a connection to the Merlin-Vortgern story. The destruction of the Vortigern’s tower and Merlin’s projection into his magicianship came in a bolt of energy, so powerful it released two dragons on the land. World wide weather events continue to roll out over the land like booming thunder. These events mark the end of the industrial age. What has been built upon the Earth since Western culture went into a tower of destructive isolation cannot stand. The tower will tumble and a new relationship, which acknowledges the earth as a living entity will form, or, we will cease to exist as a species, just as humans have sent so many other species into ‘the great extinction.’
Once again we see a pattern of constriction in this chart of the new Moon moment. Asmall bowl is formed with Mars and Mercury on the rim. Mars is in the sign of Mercury, Gemini. There is a lot of mental energy released between them, because they are in aspects (angles of relationship), which cannot see each other well. Mercury went direct on Wednesday.
This year, the planet Uranus, a co-ruler of Aquarius goes ‘direct’ the day after the new Moon. Sun and Moon are very close to the planet Pluto, a representation of all that cannot be avoided, hidden or denied. Open to what cannot be postponed or denied and light a candle to represent something which must be seen in a new way, an Aquarian way.
photo: Sarah Fuhro
You might choose to light that candle on February 2nd, Groundhog’s Day…..Imbolc, the celebration of the goddess Brighid. She is goddess of poetry, childbirth and craft, specifically the craft of the blacksmith. Imbolc this year, will be in the sign of Cancer, the sign of the home, the mother, the sea. Find the dark corner, which needs light, attention.
Sabian Symbols are verbal images for each degree of the Zodiac. Channeled by psychic Elsie Wheeler and transcribed by the astrologer Marc Edmund Jones in 1925. They were revised by Dane Rudhyar in his book Astrology of Personality. http://www.mindfire.ca/.
Sarah Fuhro The Wisdom Tradition evolved over the centuries to address our deepest human needs. Sarah Fuhro is a practitioner of its many forms; including Astrology, Tarot, Flower Essences and Druidry. In addition to personal consultations, Sarah teaches workshops and private classes, offering both clients and students knowledge powerfully rooted in the past, presented in the language of the present.
For an appointment or to be notified of classes text 508 740 7039 or email her at sarahfuhro@gmail.com.
Bruce Lhuillier is a French artist and photographer currently living in the Catskill Mountains of New York. His ability to capture spirit in his photos and paintings is both unique and visionary. You can find his work on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/Barknstone
The very beautiful ’23 Lunar Calendar is available now at www.thelunapress.com or call:617-327-8000
