Venus in Aires February 20, 2015 – "Come Feel the Warrior in Love"

The sign of Aires carries the energy of firsts – first in line, first to discover, first to start again.  It is the first sign of the Zodiac and from its position in our birth charts we derive our concept of self, as well as our personality.  Aires' symbol is a ram and there's no question as to why that is.  Powerhouse Aires likes to lead the way and has no room for half measures.  Aires embraces its character traits and blazes a trail by effectively using whatever planetary energy comes to hand.  On February 20th fair Venus entered dominant, male Aires and the wild rumpus began.

Venus in Aires does not tolerate half-hearted efforts.  She falls and falls 

The Emperor - Aires power as depicted in
"The Wizard's Tarot"© by
Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen

hard when her romantic interest is sparked. Sparked?  More like spontaneously combusts.  When Venus transits Aires there's much more leaping than looking and in the cold light of reason the results of that high dive can leave a lot to be desired.  A sleek body, a winning smile and a great wardrobe cover a multitude of sins as far as Venus in Aires in concerned, so if you have this transit prominently in your birth chart, or were born under the Sign of the Ram ( a particularly tawdry, late 40's black and white, B movie, by the way) you can find yourself transfixed by passion and romance with very little substance.  Venus in Aires does not always love wisely, but certainly loves well.

One note of caution:  Since Aires likes to be first place in virtually everything it touches there can be some egocentric behaviors attached to this transit.  Remember that healthy love doesn't impose or dominate.  It supports, joins, emboldens and enhances.

Sexy and savvy, Aly Fell and Barbara
Moore's depiction of The Empress fills
the bill for Venus. From "Steampunk Tarot"©
An astounding deck!

The tarot cards to watch in your readings during the Venus in Aires transit are the suit of Cups (naturally), in particular, the Queen as she is intensely focused in her passions, as well as the 2 of Cups (relationships).  Also watch the Major Arcana cards, #6, The Lovers, #3, The Empress (Venus' card), #4, The Emperor (Aires' card), #16, The Tower (tarot association for Mars, the ruler of Aires) and last but still important, #18, The Moon (for those romantic illusions). Happy shuffling!


LADY ORACLE

All featured decks available for purchase through Lady Oracle Tarot

September 8, 2014, Full Harvest Moon in Pisces – “A Moon of the Imagination”

September’s Full Moon is called the Full Corn Moon, but this

The Moon, tarot's card for Pisces
by "Shadowscapes"© by Stephanie
Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore

year it has the designation of being our Harvest Moon as well. The title of “Harvest Moon” is given to the full moon closest to the Fall Equinox, which occurs on September 22nd.  This year September’s full moon occurs fourteen days before equinox while October’s full moon occurs sixteen days afterward. Good to know, huh?

This year’s  Harvest Moon occurs on September 8th at 6:38 p.m. PDT, in sixteen degrees and nineteen minutes of Pisces.  It is a moon of compassion, spirituality, great intuition and above all, imagination.  Full moon in Pisces enflames of our creativity. It is idealism coupled with romance – a moon that asks us to view the world and its occupants with unvarnished optimism.  That may not always be the wisest view, but it is one that consistently entertains positive potential.

The High Priestess as depicted in
MMark Ryan, John Matthews and
Will Worthington's fabulous deck,
"The Wild Wood Tarot"©

Pisces is a mutable water sign meaning that people born under its influence (either as a birth sign or one featured prominently in their chart) can change their nature to match their environment, or to match the people around them.  Fish folk are highly intuitive and empathetic. This full moon, coupled with Mercury in Libra’s (See blog: Astrology for September 2014 Part 1) penchant for balance and diplomacy, allows us bridge gaps between ourselves and others.  If your job requires the use of diplomatic skills and empathy, Monday should be a particularly productive day for you.  

Venus in Virgo also gives a power boost to our creative side during this full moon.  Pisces’ idealism helps us move past our self-limiting behaviors to listen to our intuition and let our creativity flow. Venus, strongly positioned right now in Virgo, is the essence of creative energy.  In tarot she’s represented by The Empress, who is the very embodiment of abundance and creation.

The things to watch out for during this full moon period is the

The Empress is tarot's association for
the planet Venus - the essence of
creative abundance From "Steampunk Tarot"©
by Barbara Moore and Aly Fell

‘thin skinned’ effect from Pisces  emotional makeup rising to the surface, and our heightened empathy and intuition with those around us.  Keep your boundaries with others firmly in place. When you feel overwhelmed take a moment to determine whose emotions you're actually feeling – your own, or someone else's.

Full Moon in Pisces is a gift to our spirit.  It is dreamy and mystical just like Pisces ruling planet, Neptune.  September's full moon is a time for fresh awareness and for tapping into our own creative process.  Enjoy this lunar period and make something magical happen.

LADY ORACLE

LUNAR VOID OF COURSE INFO FOR THE FULL MOON

Void begins: Sept. 7th @ 10:20 a.m. PDT

Void ends:    Sept. 7th @ 4:48 p.m.   PDT

Void begins: Sept. 9th @ 12:11p.m.  PDT

Void ends:    Sept. 9th @  4:34 p.m.  PDT

For more information on what the term 'void of course' means, see blog "A Void is a Void, of Course, of Course"

May 28, 2014 New Moon in Gemini, Squares Neptune in Pisces While Venus Takes No Bull

Tarot's card for Lady Moon from
"Wizard's Tarot"© by Corrine Kenner
and John J. Blumen

May’s New Moon takes place in quick-witted Gemini this month.  A Gemini Moon is typically a party goer’s moon, however there are other factors this month that have astrologers predicting some twists and turns.  The New Moon of May 28th squares Neptune in Pisces.  As you may recall, a square is an aspect, or angle of ninety degrees between planets.  Squares are challenging aspects that combine the strongest, and in some cases trickiest influences of the celestial bodies involved.

Neptune, the ruling planet for Pisces, is exalted (particularly high-functioning and powerful) in this sign. Neptune is the planet dreamers and its stock in trade is illusion and intuition; two things it has in common with the Moon. Many astrologers state that the squaring of the New Moon and Neptune will make it difficult for us to see past our own dreams and that we’ll be prone to self-delusion when it comes to making informed decisions – more so if we have Neptune, Gemini or Pisces prominently in our birth charts.  

Gemini, on the other hand, is ruled by Mercury and deals in mental acuity and communication.  People born under this sign love to collect knowledge and to be well informed.  However, under the Moon’s influence Gemini’s behavior becomes erratic, making us flipflop our thoughts and emotions with lightening speed. We strive to be agreeable to others – so much so that we surrender our self-expression, or in the worse case, our self-respect in order to belong.  

Tarot’s card association for Pisces is #18, The Moon.  One

Pisces' tarot card, #18, The Moon
from "Wizard's Tarot"© by John J. Blumen
and Corrine Kenner

meaning for this card is to be lost in illusion or in one’s own fear.  The Moon’s tarot card, #2, The High Priestess, represents the subconscious and intuition. It’s easy to understand why astrologers would make the leap that we should guard against self-delusion and pipe-dreaming during this New Moon.  Still, there is more to consider than simply the illusions that surround both Neptune and the Moon.  Neptune in Pisces also brings us great spirituality and creativity.  Use these gifts. Spend time in contemplation during the next few days.  Write down the ideas that occur to you.  All of them. They will give you something to consider more deeply and revise during June’s Mercury Retrograde.

Venus takes up residence in Taurus on the 28th as well.  The goddess of love is both practical and secure when she is bull riding.  Although well-grounded by Taurus’ earth energy, Venus still operates on instinct to create a loving, passion-filled environment during this transit.  Remember too that her practicality also extends into creative endeavors.  Draw on her stability if you find yourself uncertain of your direction or mired in illusions caused by your own anxiety during this New Moon phase.  Work with written communications and keep your expectations of yourself reasonable.  Doing so will ensure you a positive start to the upcoming lunar cycle.

LADY ORACLE

Mercury In Pisces, March 17th, 2014 – “Going With Your Gut While Knowing Your Own Mind”

The Magician, tarot's card for
Mercury, RWCS US Games®
"As it is above, so it is below"

While many are working on their St. Patrick’s Day hangover, Mercury, that fastball planet of communication, will stealthily slip into the sign of Pisces at 3:24 p.m., PDST.  It will remain there until April 6th.  Mercury rules both the third (communication) and sixth houses (work and service to others). It influences not only our communications, but our intellect, nervous system and decision making as well.

Mercury in Pisces is an intuitive state of mind – more so if you have Mercury in Pisces in your birth chart. When faced with logical progression, or intuition, gut instinct feels like the natural choice.  Pisces is a psychic sign, a sign of empathy, imagination and creativity.  If you work in the area of creative communications; advertising, writing, graphic design and sales, you’ll feel a kicker in your artistic juices – a muse whispering delights in your ear.  Don’t block it and don’t repress it in favor of someone else’s beliefs.  The tricky thing about Mercury in Pisces (MiP) is making sure we keep our empathy for people and situations in its proper place.  We are easily swayed during MiP.    While we have great ideas, sometimes our insecurities prevent us from acting on them. We also allow other people’s input to over-ride our own.  Work to build up your confidence during MiP.

Tarot readers, pay particular attention to cards in positions,

The Moon is Pisces tarot card
"Wizards Tarot"© by Corrine Kenner and
John J. Blumen – Illusion, imagination, fear

seven and nine in the outcome row of  Celtic Cross tarot spreads ( See Blog: “The Bridge To Somewhere” if not a reader ) during MiP.  Placement seven shows the querent’s (your view) view of the question asked. Placement nine concerns things that you must consider about yourself and the situation. These placements always give great internal dialogue about justification, point of view, fallacies and strengths, but right now they are particularly useful.   

MiP is a great opportunity to continue working with Jupiter in Cancer’s supportive and expansive energy.  Open the heart lines with friends and family.  Follow your instincts about budgeting and earning opportunities. Jupiter in Cancer is good with money.  Should you tighten your belt for the rest of this month?  Will a judicious purchase now save you money in the long-run?  You know the correct answer when you listen to your higher self.

Mercury in Pisces offers us a burst of mental fertility just as we head into spring.  Use it imaginatively and with the wisdom of your inner guides, not your ego.  Enjoy!

LADY ORACLE

New Moon In Pisces, March 1, 2014 – “Hopeful Romantic”

#2 The High Priestess rule the Moon
From Rome Choi's delectable
"Dreamingway Tarot"©

Our first New Moon for March occurs in ten degrees, thirty-nine minutes of the sign, Pisces the Fish.  Pisces is a compassionate and romantic sign.  It is the sign of artists and dreamers. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, John Steinbeck and Kurt Cobain were all Pisces.  Fish folk are a sensitive breed and as all water signs, they are emotionally complex. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusion and one of the reasons this New Moon is particularly strong is because Neptune resides in its home sign now.

New Moons represent the beginning of a fresh emotional

#12, The Hanged Man, Neptune's card.
This depiction from the stunning
"Shadowscapes"© Tarot by
Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

cycle. They enhance our vision of goals and dreams. When it comes to envisioning those dreams, there’s no New Moon stronger for that than a New Moon in Pisces.  The bond between water, lunar light and emotions is intense under Pisces, yet very romantic.  On the plus side, your sympathies are easily engaged.  You want to help. You forgive quickly, but the downside is that you are highly sensitive. People and situations you would normally find taxing are capable of delivering serious emotional blows now.  Try to ignore the emotions you experience in this type of situation and consider their source. Who really owns the problem?  Still, on March 1st love is in the air and it’s a good time for a little apres Valentine’s romance.

This New Moon carries powerful intuitive energy that can be used for setting intentions and manifesting work.  We’re closing in on the first quarter of 2014.  What’s working for you?  What do want more of in your life?  These are good questions to contemplate.  Look for particularly powerful meditations on March 1st.   Keep it real as you set intentions under this New Moon, however.  Neptune dwells in illusion as does the shadowy Moon.  Don’t allow yourself to get swept up in daydreams or mental hyperbole.  Remember: Real, measurable, attainable – those are the keys to successful goal setting.

Pisces tarot card, #18, The Moon
Don't be swept away by illusion
RWCS by US Games©

Jupiter squaring Uranus will add an interesting side note to this New Moon.  Jupiter is also considered a ruler of Pisces because that’s what it did before Neptune was discovered.  While Jupiter is expansive, Neptune in Pisces is a little secretive and likes to play things close to the vest.  This can lead to feelings of conflict for people born under Pisces, who have Moon in Pisces, or Neptune prominently in their birth chart. Just breathe and keep moving. The energy patterns for early 2014 don’t support stagnation.

Water represents emotions and spirituality in tarot.  It is also the element connected to the suit of Cups.  Although emotion runs high during a New Moon in Pisces, so do spirituality and intuition.  This is a working Moon, mean that the energy flows like water and is particularly easy to access.  Sure there are going to be whitecaps, but remember your tools. Try not to take thing personally, consider the source of your emotions, meditate frequently and when all else fails, breathe and let go.

LADY ORACLE

See a deck you like?  Email me at ladyoracle56@yahoo.com  to purchase!

Moonlight Becomes You – #18, The Moon

                                                        “If I say I love you I want you to know 

It’s not just because there’s moonlight

Although, moonlight becomes you so”

“Moonlight Becomes You”

by Jimmy Van Heusen 

               and Johnny Burke  

 

#18, The Moon, imagination, illusion, fear
and confusion - RWSC by US Game©

Romance and lunatics – yup, those things pretty much go hand in hand. Tarot’s major arcana card, #18, The Moon is the stuff of dreams. Everything looks better in the moonlight. Unless, of course, you wake up in the middle of the night and the moonlight streaming through your bedroom window turns your pile of discarded clothing into a gargoyle perched at the end of your bed.  Which brings us to one of The Moon’s primary keywords, illusion.  

Moonlight paints our world with a fanciful glow. That can be a good thing as long as living in illusion doesn’t become a way of life.  The Moon also represents our imagination which can work for us as creative muse, or turn against us by summoning up our fears.  In the RWCS depiction of #18, we see a deep pool of water in the foreground.  This pool represents the our subconscious self, or Freud’s id.  The crayfish (or lobster if you prefer) is a creature crawling from the depths of our subconscious – a monster from the id.  (Just like in “Forbidden Planet,” a 1956 science fiction retelling of Shakespeare’s, “The Tempest.” If you haven’t seen it, what’s wrong with you?)  The creature never fully emerges from the shadows just as our fears rarely emerge into the light where we can deal with them by dispelling their illusion. Another lunar keyword revealed – fear.

A path runs from the bank of the pool, dividing the realm of

#2, The High Priestess is tarot's associate card
for Lady Moon. Depiction from Aly Fell and
Barbara Moore's, legendary "Steampunk Tarot"©

shadows in half.  One side, ruled by the domesticated dog, represents our civilized selves. The other side, where the wolves run free shows us our wilder, less tamed natures.  Both animals look to the sullen Moon for answers.  However, The Moon remains silent.  We brought ourselves here and it’s our job to get ourselves out.  The Moon’s job is to simply illuminate the pathway through the shadows with reflected light. Its illusionary light cannot provide us with genuine insights like the direct light of The Sun. (#19, The Sun) We must follow the path towards the horizon and the sunrise.  Here we discover two more keywords of the Moon; confusion and disorientation.  The Moon doesn’t abandon us, though.  We have our guides.  Moonlight enhances intuition and carries a spiritual connection to the Divine.  Note the yods used to illustrate the moonbeams. Yod is the 10th letter of the Hebrew alphabet representing Divine presence and life force.  

#18, The Moon as depicted in
"Wizard's Tarot"© from the amazing talents
of Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen

Two sentry towers act as a gateway into the deeper shadowland. Notice that as the path runs towards the horizon, it remains clearly visible, as though widening out into an actual roadway.  The symbolism here is clear.  Stay on the path. Stay balanced. Don’t let your imaginary fears bind you into blind obedience making you incapable of using your own reason to guide yourself (the dog side). Likewise, guard against allowing your fears to drive you wildly into the shadows, frantically searching for something real to grab onto (the wolf side).  

The Moon is a tremendous source of Divine energy and creativity.  By pulling its energy we can intuitively avoid pitfalls and make conscious decisions that have a positive impact on our lives.  When you find yourself traveling through the illusionary landscape of #18, The Moon, ask yourself one thing.  With an infinite amount of reactions available to you as the shadows twist and turn around you, why choose fear?

LADY ORACLE   

Here's a link to YouTube and the wonderful trailer for "Forbidden Planet."  Watch this movie! I love Robbie the Robot!

Neptune Direct in Pisces - “The Difference Between Goals and Pipe Dreams”

#12, The Hanged Man is the
Tarot association for Neptune
from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law's
"Shadowscapes Tarot"©

Neptune is the planet of dreams and of dreamers.  It rules the twelfth house of the Zodiac, home of the sign, Pisces.  We store our subconscious and intuition in the twelfth house along with our affinity for self-delusion. (See blog: "The Sign of Pisces" )  That’s because illusion is the hallmark of Neptune’s influence.  If you are a Pisces or have Neptune in your birth chart, this planet can make you turn a blind eye to common sense and follow your pipe dreams right over a cliff.  

Neptune entered retrograde on June 7th and remained there until November 13th. During the past five months we’ve all had an easier time seeing past the veil of illusion and maintaining enough objectivity to keep us from being swept away by the improbable. Oddly enough, Neptune’s retrograde periods provide clearer insights and more pragmatic thinking than when the planet is direct.  As a result, when Neptune resumes its forward momentum, we can all experience feeling a little unsettled and struggle with thoughts of disillusionment and dissatisfaction.  

Still, there are lots of benefits we can glean from Neptune

#18, The Moon is the
Tarot association for Pisces
from "The Wizard's Tarot"© by
Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen

direct – first and foremost, imagination.  ( See blog: "Astrological Trends June, 2013" ) Remember that what we perceive we can achieve.  It just takes planning and follow through.  Neptune direct helps us give voice to our inner-most dreams.  With Neptune’s help, we have a natural buoyancy – an optimism that helps us push past the skeptics in our lives.

How do we tell if we’re pipe dreaming or if we have a legitimate goal?  Simple.  A goal is always attainable.  When I was a child I read the myth of Icarus and wanted to build a pair of bird wings so I could fly.  Not a realistic goal and therefore a pipe dream.  But when you construct a light weight frame and attach aerodynamically feasible wings you get a hang-glider, or an ultra-light aircraft.  To build real wings – a pipe dream. To build simulated wings that are aerodynamically sound – a goal.

Goals must also have real and measurable results.  Orville and Wilbur Wright had many failed attempts before their initial success at flight, but they had one continuous thing that made them carry on in the face of countless setbacks – measurable progress.  Every inventor or innovator started out with a “what if” – Nikola Tesla, Steve Jobs, you name them.  What made them succeed was their commitment to results.  

On November 17th we have a very powerful Full Moon arriving in Taurus.  It will be the perfect opportunity for you to manifest your dreams into reality.  Instead of focusing on the unattainable, like becoming the King or Queen of Ohio, stay reasonable, stay realistic and stay committed.  Once you commit to an attainable goal, the Universe will turn the cosmic tumblers any way it needs to in order to ensure your success.  

LADY ORACLE

"The Definition of Insanity "

9 of Swords, guilt anxiety
"the dagger of the mind"
from RWCS by US GAMES

The standard meaning of insanity can be located in any of a dozen dictionaries.  I learned the only significant definition for this word in a sales training class.  The definition of insanity is to keep repeating the same unsuccessful group of actions and to expect a successful outcome each time.  A tarot spread will make you face the inevitability that comes from repeating unsuccessful patterns in your life.  How many times do we ask ourselves, “Why do I always get these cards?” Simple - your life, your choices.  Don’t shoot me, I’m just the tarot reader.  Whether your trials come from the pressure you exert upon yourself (swords), emotional quagmires that you persist in wading into (cups), ill-conceived, irrational moves that take you nowhere (wands), or greed and avarice (pentacles), tarot will show you the patterns of your particular dance.  

The Moon - illusion
the crayfish crawling from the water
represents the subconscious
from RWSC by US Games ©

The founder of analytical psychology, Carl Jung, found this to be true and often recommended tarot journaling for patients.  Where Freud believed the origins of most psychological conditions were sexual in nature, Jung favored the idea that all people held an intrinsic spiritualism and that a healthy psyche had all its parts integrated.  A rather simplistic explanation on my part, I’m afraid.  Jung gave us concepts such as, collective consciousness, synchronicity and my personal favorite, archetypes.  He used dream analysis and believed that symbolism was a huge component of the human mind (true that) and therefore, the key to unlocking the subconscious.

Tarot illuminates your path.  It acts as your guide through

The Hermit, seeker of inner truth
from RWCS by US Games©

your present situation, then takes your actions, if unaltered, to an inescapable conclusion.  If you don’t like the pictures the tarot spread shows you, then make different choices – break your pattern and you change that pesky outcome row.  Tarot’s responsibility is to show you the journey of your soul, yours, particular to you, not the person(s), situation, or event that initially led you to seek answers.  

The next few years promise to be filled with societal and global change.  This is the natural order of things and pretty darned exciting stuff to boot.  Prepare yourself by asserting control over your own actions.  By taking accountability for your life, you free yourself to become who and what you were meant to be. (I know, I know – this is my mantra) Step firmly out into the world and embrace your destiny, but know that it’s you who gives destiny a helping hand.

LADY ORACLE 

Here's a link for further info on Carl Jung

Check out this book on tarot journaling  or, 

this one too.

Take a look at tarot symbolism as well!

Let me know what you think!

www.ladyoracle.net

Full Harvest Moon in Pisces, Sept. 19, 2013 - “The Moon of Dreamer’s”

Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen
give us a beautiful depiction of
#18 The Moon, from "Wizard's Tarot"©

On September 19th at 3:13 a.m., PDT, we welcome our Full Harvest Moon.  The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox is always known as the Harvest Moon, yet the traditional name for September’s Moon is the Full Corn Moon.  By any name, this month’s Full Moon in Pisces is a gift, pure and simple, because it is the moon of mystics and poets alike.

Our Harvest Moon occurs at twenty-six degrees and forty-one minutes of Pisces.  This is a highly intuitive moon. Full Moon in Pisces allows us to tap into our spiritual side.  Its energy gives us the perfect opportunity to journey inward through meditation and to connect with our divine Source.  If you read tarot cards be prepared for your readings to have stronger insights during this Full Moon period.  Don’t be surprised to have more instances than normal of answering your cell phone and saying, “Hey, I was just thinking about you.”  

This Full Moon is in sync with her ruling tarot card, “The High

The Moon's ruling tarot card,
The High Priestess by Corrine Kenner
and John J. Blumen's "Wizard's Tarot"©

Priestess,” both in character and philosophy. You may feel an urge to withdraw from friends and family to spend some time in your own space and reflect on matters.  Conveniently, Pisces’ ruling tarot card is “The Moon.”  Like her card, Pisces’ moods are changeable, her energy dreamy and laced with illusion.   

Pisces carries a highly creative and romantic energy.  However, Pisces can also be a little too idealistic, seeing only the best outcome in both people and situations.  The Fish’s ruling planets are dreamy Neptune and expansive Jupiter. While we will experience a significant uptick in our artistic flow – whatever our medium (not just in the traditional sense of arts), a Full Moon in Pisces can also cause us to confuse our dreams with reality.  Pisces rules the twelfth house of the Zodiac where our subconscious lives.  We keep our memories and our dreams in the twelfth house.  We also keep our secrets there as well.  With Mercury in Libra until September 29th, you may find yourself willing to reveal some of your lesser mysteries, though not many of these during this Full Moon cycle.  Pisces loves her secrets.  

Neptune's rulingcard card from
Stephanie Pui-Mun Law's "Shadowscapes Tarot"©
The Hanged-Man

Full Moon in Pisces presents us with the time and space needed to pause and reflect on life and the spirit, both personally and in the larger sense.  She emboldens us to dream and create.  Take the gift of this Full Moon in Pisces to honor your intuition, your connection to Source and use its energy to help you create the person you were meant to be.

LADY ORACLE

Astrological Trends, July, 2013 - “Trine Time”

Saturn's ruling tarot card
#21, The World
Shadowscapes Tarot©

July started the month off with incendiaries – some of which had faulty guidance systems, but all in all, July’s roller coster arrival (Super Moon after shocks and Mercury Retrograde) was nothing we couldn’t handle with meditation, creative visualization and maybe a couple of glasses of wine if things felt too crazy.  Now we’re humming as the Grand Trine between Jupiter in Cancer, Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Scorpio takes the center stage and becomes the major player for July’s astrological forecast.  

A trine is the most favorable aspect, or angle (120 degrees), between planets and certain other celestial bodies. A Grand Trine is a harmonious and continuous flow of energy between 3 planets.  Our natural inclination during a trine is to bask in the pleasant out-pouring of magnificent energy, however, astrologers warn that too many trines at once may be too much of a good thing, causing a somewhat sluggish mindset, or even outright laziness.  Go with the flow this month, particularly during Mercury Retrograde, but remember that there is fabulous energy from the Grand Trine that you can use to shift your life in the desired direction. 

All the signs in July’s Grand Trine are water signs.  All water signs are spiritual, intuitive and creative.  Water folk tend to view life from an emotional viewpoint rather than from facts and figures.  They are often romantic souls. The analogy used to compare them states that if Cancer is a lake, Scorpio is a river and Pisces is an ocean. Each of these signs has a direct affect on the planet within its house and what we’’ll all be feeling this month is the water signs’ influence.  

Jupiter (tarot’s #10, The Wheel of Fortune) in Cancer (tarot’s

Jupiter's ruling tarot card
#10, The Wheel of Fortune
Shadowscapes Tarot©

#7, The Chariot) is humorous, good-natured and good with money. Design a budget and stick to it.  The end of summer will find your cash crunch eased and who knows, you could solve a tricky money flow issue with the help of Jupiter, the Santa Claus planet.  The combination of Jupiter in Cancer also promotes emotional growth and healing which makes July the perfect month to let go of romantic fantasies and emotional attitudes we should have left behind long ago.  

Neptune (tarot’s #10, The Hanged Man) is the ruling planet for Pisces (tarot’s #18, The Moon) and is the “beautiful dreamer” of the Grand Trine.  Neptune is also in Retrograde which means that we are more likely to contemplate our

Neptune's tarot card
#12, The Hanged Man
Shadowscapes Tarot©

connection to one another and question our intention towards our fellow creatures. Who do we serve, ourselves or the whole?  You may recall that Pisces easily becomes lost in day dreams and illusion.  In July we’ll all battle this tendency trying hard to remain focused on the here and now instead of the seductive allure of ‘someday.’  The lesson here; change your focus, stay in the now and change your life.   

Saturn (tarot’s #21, World) is the most practical of the three planets.  Saturn likes analyzing people’s motivations and assigning them either asset or liability status – not in a cold-blooded way, but as a matter of practicality.  Do the people in your life help you be a better person, or do they hinder the process? While Saturn in Scorpio (tarot’s #13, Death) normally uses challenges to help us transform our world, here we see Saturn stabilizing the trine and helping us use its energy in our daily lives.

Factoids for the month: Our New Moon in Cancer in on July 8th.  The Grand Trine becomes exact of July 17th, so expect a little more magic that day.  Hum a lot.  Mercury goes direct on July 20th and is an exact square with Uranus.  Look for some breakthrough energy there. The full Moon in Aquarius is on July 22nd and we also have a meteor shower, the Delta Aquarids, later this month.  More on these later.  Enjoy!

LADY ORACLE

The mystical and magical Shadowscapes Tarot© by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore are available for sale through      Lady Oracle's Mercantile!  Click Here!

The Sign of Pisces - February 19th Through March 21st

On February 19th, the Sun enters the sign of Pisces and will

remain there until March 21st.  People born under the sign of Pisces are water babies and filter much of their life experience and intuition through their emotions.  The sign of Pisces is symbolized by two fish.  There’s a reason for using two fish when one would do.  Cancer has one crab and Scorpio, one scorpion.  The sign of Pisces exists has a natural duality.  It is ruled by two planets, Jupiter and Neptune and people born under this sign exist in two worlds - the world of their reality and the world of their illusions.  Often, they get lost between the two worlds.  Some astrologers theorize that Pisces, being the last sign of the zodiac year, borrows traits from all the other signs.  Note that it is in the twelfth house of the zodiac that astrologers look for secrets and secrets are intricate to the make up of a Pisces.

  

#18, The Moon is the tarot association
for the sign of Pisces. From
Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen's
"Wizard's Tarot"©

Fish folk are the most mystically charged members of the zodiac.  They are both highly empathic and deeply spiritual.  On one hand, Piscesans give selflessly to friends and family - often too much and to your own detriment.  On the other hand, they guard their secrets within their emotional depths, sometimes making it difficult for non-fish people to understand their reasoning and motivations. When life become too difficult for them, Pisces retreats into silence - shutting down and shutting out the world.  They believe it’s easier that way.  Unfortunately, for these empathetic souls, their inward turns can too easily lead to depression, self-pity and lethargy. 

Pisces draw their impressive creative power from Neptune, the planet of dreamers.  They do very well in both visual and performance arts.  In tarot, the sign Pisces is ruled by the Major Arcana card, # 18, The Moon.  This card serves to remind them that while it is easy for them to get lost in the world of illusion, they can use their inner guides and intuition to return to them to their life path and get moving again.  Their tendency towards self-sacrifice and being easily stagnated also comes from Neptune whose tarot card is #12, The Hanged Man.  

#10, The Wheel of Fortune is
Jupiter's ruling card.  From US Games©

Jupiter, whose tarot card is #10, The Wheel of Fortune, offers Pisces the chance for growth and expansion of their real world.   Pisces, being highly intuitive, has the capacity to make their own luck.  It is when they are ungrounded (out of their tank?) that the Wheel takes a downward turn. If they follow tarot’s advise, stay on their path, don’t be distracted by the illusion and follow their intuition, they will be highly successful.

Neptune's tarot card, #12, The Hanged Man
from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Barbara
Moore's "Shadowscapes" ©

In relationships, fish folk do well with high-energy signs.  Fire signs are their opposite, but opposites attract. ( Aires, Leo, Sagittarius) Air signs also work. ( Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) Earth is not the natural state for Pisces.  These signs make it easy for them to surrender too much of themselves and their dreams. (Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus) Pisces must remember that they do not need to take second place to anyone.  As with everything in life, it is a matter of balance.  If you are fortunate enough to be in a relationship with highly imaginative, creative and compassionate Pisces, love them, care for them, but don’t drain their tank.  

LADY ORACLE