Hunter's Moon--A Time for Transformation

Picture credit: Hunter's Moon Studio.

On Monday, 29 October 2012, at 12:50 p.m. Pacific time, the moon will become full.  Did you know that in the old days, each full moon of the year had its own name?  October's full moon is called Hunter's Moon, Blood Moon, Dying Grass Moon, or Travel Moon (see a list of full moon names here).  The Farmer's Almanac says:

"Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons.  The leaves are falling from trees, the deer are fattened, and it's time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead.  Because the fields were traditionally reaped in late September or early October, hunters could easily see fox and other animals that come out to glean from the fallen grains.  Probably because of the threat of winter looming close, the Hunter's Moon is generally accorded with special honor, historically serving as an important feast day in both Western Europe and among many Native American tribes."

The Hunter's Moon gave bright nocturnal light for the hunters to stalk their prey.  At the same time, the fields and trees were bare and the grass dying, so there were few places for animals to hide.  Fall was, and still is, prime hunting season since during the winter, the land will not support large numbers of animals, while people will have fewer plants to gather and must depend on meat to nourish them until spring.  It is a time for a last big feast before we must carefully husband our resources through the winter.  In this way, humans, animals, and plants are intertwined as we move deeper into the autumn season.

So Hunter's Moon is a time for us to reflect on what we need as our most fundamental nourishment to support to through the dark, quiet months.  If we pay attention, our senses will be super-acute, and we will not fail to spot what we seek.

Now, this year's Hunter's Moon happens to fall in the sign of Taurus in the 2nd House, trine Pluto in Capricorn, while Chiron trines the Sun in Scorpio (read more about it here).  A full moon in Taurus (the sign of security) in the 2nd House (the house ruling issues of security and values) means that we will be offered the opportunity to powerfully manifest transformation in this area.  Scorpio is a sign of deep transformation, and Chiron (actually a comet) is believed astrologically to point to our deepest wounds, as well as where we can find--and offer--healing.

What all that boils down to is that this full moon is a tremendous opportunity for healing, especially in the area of our values and what gives us security.  Our sense of security is often tied to early childhood experiences, and consequently we don't usually approach it rationally, but in instinctive, even knee-jerk, ways.  These are things we take for granted, accept as natural, even though they may be entirely arbitrary or due to historical accident.  Therefore we have to put real conscious intent into uncovering and healing our instinctive fears and wounds--just as the hunter keeps her eyes open for her quarry on a moonlit night.  Tarot can be a wonderful tool to help you, because the cards never lie and are never afraid to tell us what we need to hear.

My grandmother grew up during the Great Depression, and then struggled to raise three daughters as a single mother.  A deep sense of material insecurity goes back generations in my family.  So this Hunter's Moon I am going to work on manifesting greater prosperity consciousness.

What will you manifest?

Receiving "bad" cards as advice

So Lisa didn't technically receive The Happy Squirrel as advice.
But hasn't Tarot put that look on all our faces at some point?
Image from Touchstone Tarot.

Sometimes in a reading, we will find one of the "bad" cards turn up in a position of advice.  First let me say I don't actually think any of the cards are really bad; but there are some that incorporate unpleasant experiences and feelings among their meanings.  Often, these experiences, while negative in the short run, turn out to be for our own good.  (Not that we get much comfort from that in the moment!)

Actually, every card has its shadow aspect, and hopefully it's clear from context whether that is the appropriate interpretation  in a given reading.  However, here are some of the cards that can be most unwelcome:

• Death
• The Devil
• The Tower
• 3 of Swords
• 9 of Swords
• 10 of Swords
• The Happy Squirrel (kidding!)

Less potentially nasty, but still not fun, are:

• 5 of Swords
• 4 of Pentacles
• 5 of Wands

How do we interpret these cards when they turn up in a position to advise us?  Is Death telling us to die?  Is the 4 of Pentacles telling us to be jealous and clingy?  Is the Tower telling us to collapse?

I believe the key is to ask ourselves (1) what positive aspects can be found even in these seemingly "negative" situations, and (2) how can we turn situations like these to our advantage?

Death

You've probably heard before that Death doesn't really mean death, but a major transformation, even a rebirth.   So when you receive this as advice, consider the possibility that you should open yourself up to transformation.  Can you embrace it willingly, even though there may be the pain of separation?  Can you let something die?

The Devil

Here we need to look at to whom or what we have given our power.  The Devil makes us feel like trapped, like there's no way out and our situation is hopeless--all the while we have the keys to our own liberation.  We let ourselves become enslaved by any number of deceptions; so when the Devil comes up as advice, it's time to take the key, unlock the door, and walk out into the light.

The Tower

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen."  If you put yourself on a pedestal, you too are destined to take a tumble.  How might we build a more stable, lasting tower?  We first need a sturdy foundation--and this means one that is not based on complacency, deception, or arrogance.  Be the lightning bolt, destroy any deceit that you see, including any lies you've been telling yourself.  Then rebuild from a place of truth and humility.

3 of Swords

I believe the 3 of Swords as advice asks us to open up to vulnerability.  Yes, this usually means feeling pain and sorrow.  But pain can be handled in a healthy or unhealthy way:  repressing it, denying it, trying to "suck it up" without acknowledging it--these are unhealthy because we don't learn anything from the experience.  I'm not arguing that we should wallow in suffering.  Rather, I'm suggesting that we face up to it honestly, accept that it is present in our lives--and then let it go.

9 of Swords

Worry accomplishes nothing, especially when it's keeping you up at night, since usually there's little or nothing we can do to help ourselves after business hours!  Anxiety keeps us from seeing our situation clearly enough to come up with a real solution.  This doesn't mean that there isn't cause for concern--there may be.  And if you've been trying to put a happy face on things, maybe it's time you got real.  The situation calls for an honest, calm appraisal.  Maybe it's time to make a list of pros and cons.

10 of Swords

When you've hit rock bottom, you have nowhere to go but up.  It's time to dust yourself off and move on.

5 of Swords

Here is the card of conflict.  Sometimes conflict can't be avoided, and in that case we need to consider what kind of warrior we want to be.  Are we going to stand up for ourselves, and then be forgiving once we've won our battle?  Or are we going to loot the village, rape the women, and salt the earth?  You know which you should do, right?

4 of Pentacles

It's a time to be conservative, to look after the things we cherish.  You don't have to be greedy about it, but good husbandry is necessary for growth--whether you're trying to grow a crop, a fortune, or a relationship.  Just remember that your identity and your possessions are--and should remain--two different things.  And beware of letting sober financial management turn into a poverty mindset--because they will have opposite outcomes.

5 of Wands

Everyone wants to have their say, but when they're all talking at once, no one gets heard.  This is just so annoying.  There's only one way out of it, which is to either shout louder than anyone else, or establish some order, so everyone can have a turn.  Sometimes this card indicates one of those days when nothing quite goes right, and with every setback the day seems to get worse and worse.  Take it one task at a time.

The Tarot court quick reference

In this post I'll be discussing the interpretation of the Tarot court as abstract concepts, intangible things, or influences.  I think this may well be the stickiest point when it comes to interpreting these cards.  It's relatively easy to imagine them as individuals, and to associate them with real individuals in your life, and it's even fairly easy to imagine how these individuals would act and turn that into advice about your own actions.

But what about when these cards come up in answer to questions about intangible things?

For example, take the familiar Celtic Cross spread--in a recent reading I gave, the King of Wands came up in Position 2.  Card 2 is usually read as "crossing" Card 1, which represents the subject/querent in the situation.  In my experience, I find that the way in which Card 2 "crosses" the subject isn't always negative per se.  It can be an obstacle, or something weighing upon the subject, but it can also be an element of the situation that is strongly influencing or even constraining the querent's position or actions in the situation.  Of course, this can be a person.  But in my experience, more often than not it's an intangible thing.

So I list here a number of keywords for each of the court cards that may help to show what kinds of things or influences each can represent.  In some cases I have mentioned some people whose public/fictive personae are in close accordance with a particular card.  Bear in mind that there is some overlap among the keywords, but that should help you get a better sense for the relationship of the cards to one another.

Pages

Page of Swords 

inquisitive, studious, analytical, smart, moody, talkative/argumentative, a bit of a tattletale, a dark-haired child or youth

Page of Cups 

heartfelt, open, affectionate, flirtatious, tender, sensitive, dreamy, a bit ditsy, a fair-haired child or youth

Page of Pentacles 

shy, philosophical, down to earth, sensitive, responsible, acquisitive, a bit lazy, a fair-haired child or youth

Page of Wands 

enthusiastic, inspired, artistic, expressive, fun-loving, hyperactive, a bit of a spazz, a dark-haired child or youth

Knights

Knight of Swords

warrior, logic, scientist, measurement, analysis, sarcasm, brusque, intelligent, aggressive, communication, dark, mind over matter, mysterious, Sherlock Holmes-type, a dark-haired man

Knight of Cups

romance, courtship, suitor, Romeo-type, moody, sensitive guy, poet, troubadour, public display of affection (PDA), love letter, Lancelot-type, a fair-haired man

Knight of Pentacles

suit-and-tie, hard work, workaholic, strong silent type, stubborn, proud, good provider, reliable, predictable, man of his word, Horatio Alger-type, down to earth, stingy, a fair-haired man

Knight of Wands

Don Juan or Casanova-type, seducteur, charm, panache, charisma, courage, passion, ambition, male sex appeal, gambler, jock, honesty, a dark-haired man

Queens

Queen of Swords

intelligence, insight, sharp tongue, strict mother, sarcasm, tough love, teacher, tutor, education, wisdom, experience, subtle, science, wit, librarian, a dark-haired woman

Queen of Cups

psychic, fine arts, poetry and song, compassion, care, loving kindness, heart, sensitivity, gentleness, drama queen, creative, deep, beauty, oracle, healing, Guinevere-type, a fair-haired woman

Queen of Pentacles

motherly, domestic goddess, Martha Stewart-type, garden, cooking, childbirth, practicality, frugality, earthy, earth mother, a fair-haired woman

Queen of Wands

belle of the ball, Lady Luck, party girl, female sex appeal, charisma, diva, bold, dramatic, Marilyn Monroe-type, center of attention, a dark-haired woman

Kings

King of Swords

judge, dry sense of humor, wisdom, intelligence, mysterious, alluring, King Arthur-type, a dark-haired man (likely older)

King of Cups

counselor, comforting, gentle, mature love, fatherly affection, healer, supportive, a fair-haired man (likely older)

King of Pentacles

luxury, millionaire, gentleman farmer, businessman, tycoon, black tie affair, dapper, debonair, Cary Grant-type, father figure, the good life, CEO, executive, sugar daddy, swanky, a fair-haired man (likely older)

King of Wands

big spender, high roller, male sex appeal, generosity, charisma, creative, bold, open, dynamic, majestic, young Henry VIII-type, athletic, honesty, nobility, a dark-haired man (likely older)