New Moon Tarot Reading (a new spread)

(Warning:  long post ahead)

Last weekend while I was working on the Guardian of Air, I listened to some back episodes of the Tarot Connection podcast.   My favorites were the interviews with my friend James Wells (who recently visited my little island). He spoke on The Art of the Powerful Question and Energizing the Tarot Session.  I was also thinking about the upcoming New Moon and found myself jotting down notes as I worked on the art and listened to the podcasts.

One of the things I do at the beginning of each year is to take my astrological birth chart and map out the New Moons for the year on it. That way I know which area of my life, as symbolized by the house, will be "lit up" or charged by that lunation.  It gives me an idea of what intentions to set  for the lunation to come.  Besides the house, I also look to see if the New Moon is conjunct any planets or asteroids in my chart.  Interesting stuff.  Then I mark these notations down in my We'Moon datebook to consider when the time comes.  (I learned this process so long ago I can't remember who I learned it from.  But I think it might have been Dana Gerhardt.)   

So, listening to James talk about open-ended questions, I decided it might be a good idea to add a Tarot reading to the mix.  I came up with the following New Moon spread. I did the reading on Monday night looking towards the New Moon in Virgo (at 19 degrees) on Tuesday Sept 11th. The directions for the spread are in BLACK.  My personal reading is in PLUM.

Today is the 3rd day past the New Moon but I think you might still be able to try this for yourself.   If not, the next New Moon is at 18 degrees of Libra on October 10th.  That's the nice thing about New Moons;  there's a new one every moonth!  ;-)  I've posted some astrological resources at the end of this post.

1.  What are some keywords for this New Moon?
Keywords for Virgo: Service, health, attention to detail, discrimination, priestess-self.

My astrologer, Sheila Belanger, says the Gifts and Challenges of Virgo are:  "Be self-contained; Create congruent forms; Serve in a sacred way."   

The We'Moon 2007 calendar (pg 16) says this about Moon in Virgo:  ". . . shows us what needs work;  we can call it a problem, or let it inspire understanding, fixing, building and healing.   Our minds sharpen to digest new infomration, though our intestines need care.  Nourish health, edit, weed, sort and care for medicinal herbs."   I found this bit about intestines needing care to be verrrry interesting since I've recently been diagnosed as gluten-intolerant.

2.  Where does this New Moon fall in my chart, and what are some keywords for that house?
Keywords for the 5th House: Self-expression, creativity, fun, children, romance, games.

3.  What issue do I need to focus on during the coming lunation to bring growth and wisdom into my life?   (Use a combination of the sign of the new moon and house it falls in to answer this question.)
I need to focus on the way I deal with my health, my service and/or my work (Virgo) in the field of creative self-expression and having fun (5th house).

4.  What issue do I need to focus on during the coming lunation to bring growth and wisdom into my life?   (Pull a card to answer this question.)
The Magician. Bring it into manifestation, baby!  You can do it!  Bring the unseen from the realm of vision into the physical realm.  A strong sense of personal power; the ability to align with the heartbeat of the earth in bringing healing to self, community and planet. 

Based on the sign, house and card you pulled, generate a few questions and answer them.

- How can I have fun (5th house) with my health issues (Virgo) while manifesting (Magician) good health? 
    Walk and do yoga and physical therapy with an attitude of having fun, not as a chore. 
    Try out new gluten-free recipes!  Experiment some more with green smoothies!  Have fun in the kitchen!
- How can I express my creativity (5th house) through serving (Virgo)?
    By doing more Tarot readings / consultations for clients. 
- How can I manifest (Magician) my creative (5th house) work (Virgo)? 
    Keep on task with finishing up the Guardians this month!  Also, the presentation I'll be giving at BATS.

5.  What positive energy (or helping energy) might flow my way?  (Pull a card to answer this question.)
The Gardener/Empress.    A lot of abundance, yay!! (food, energy, creative inspiration, money)  Being pregnant with new possibilities . . .  A strategy to bring more abundance into my life could be to literally work in the garden, which I have sadly neglected this past summer.  Gotta weed out the old, to make room for the new . . .

6.  How might I be challenged?   (Pull a card to answer this question.)
Ace of Water.    (I always read cards in "Challenge" positions as if it were reversed; the shadow side of the card.)  I might feel an emotional pull to start a new project instead of staying on task with the ones I already have.  I might feel empty, drained, exhausted, depressed.  I might find that my intuition is blocked.

7.  What or who will help me?   (Pull a card to answer this question.)
Guardian of Fire.    This is the next card I'll be working on.  My Guardian is a fire tender;  he's the guy that keeps an eye on the bonfire at festivals, making sure it neither gets too high nor gets so low that it goes out.  He's often in the background but the drumming and dancing can't happen without him.  As a Guardian, he is connected to community and involved in it.  He "guards" the qualities of inspiration, creativity and passion! 

Who is this person?  Is it someone else or is it an aspect of myself?   Who will help me tend my creative fire?  Who will help me stay energetic and excited about my health issues? 

Well, my mermaid-sistser coach Elaine, for one.  She will help me.  And I just realized I can ask my other sisters for help too.  Woo hoo!  (Asking for help and support, such a concept.)

8.  What can I do to ensure a healthy, successful, empowered month?   (Pull a card to answer this question.)
The Wheel.   I can recognize that the seasons are changing, that summer is giving way to fall whether I like it or not.  I need to stop stressing about the coming cold and dark, and to savor the soul of autumn instead.  I can take this opportunity to be mindful of the change of seasons — to take notice of what's going on in the natural world — and to focus on the still point at the center of the turning wheel. 

9.  What wisdom can emerge for me during this lunation?   (Pull a card to answer this question.)
Elder of Air.    Hmmmm.  Is this who I am becoming?   Elders are leaders, authority figures. They set examples for others and are respected by the community. They've experienced all the other life phases or roles.  They are concerned with both ancestors and the descendants, generations to come. They see the long view.  They pass on their wisdom and give counsel. 

OK.   And Air is about communication, talking, teaching, counseling, writing,  . . . communicating through this blog and the other writing I do;  presentations like the one at BATS;  and doing readings for people.   So perhaps this means I will step into my Elderhood and begin to own it.  At least for the coming month.  ;-)

10.  Now set your intention for the month (affirmations and actions based on the cards, house and sign).

Affirmations:
I have fun exploring new ways to be healthy — through walking, yoga, and trying out new gluten-free recipes.
I take joy in serving others through doing readings. 
I stay on task with creating new art for the Gaian Tarot, and don't get distracted by starting a new project of some kind.
I keep a positive outlook and don't give in to stress or depression.

Actions:
I will ask my coach and/or sisters for help in staying on task for the month with health issues and creative work.
I will change the way I think about the turning of the seasons to the dark side of the year.
I will meditate on the qualities of the Elder of Air, and imagine myself becoming him/her . . .

11. Leave these cards up on your altar for the duration of the lunation (maybe from another deck, or photocopy your actual cards.)  Check!

12..  Write in your journal at least once a week — at the first quarter moon, full moon, last quarter moon, dark moon.   How did these energies manifest in your life?  What wisdom emerged for you?   Will do!

A few Astrology Resources
Free Natal Chart:  http://www.astro.com/horoscopes/ahor.asp
(You need to know your birth data, especially the time you were born, to have accurate houses".)
Keywords for signs, planets and houses:
http://www.sheilabelanger.net/astrology/zodiac.html
http://www.sheilabelanger.net/astrology/planets.html
http://www.futureinsight.net/keywords.html

Comments

[Lunaea]

Very cool, Joanna! So, for #11, you have a little typo -- it says "this cards" -- do you mean these cards, or draw another card for step #11, and leave that one up? If the latter, maybe it could even be from another deck, different than the reading deck. For example, I often draw just one or two cards from the Celtic Book of the Dead or other non-tarot decks, and that might work here. Great spread -- I look forward to trying it!

[joanna]

Oh thank you for catching the typo . . . I shoulda checked with one of my two wonderful Virgo-editor friends before posting! I just corrected it; I meant "these." Although your idea of choosing yet another card is a good one too! Let creative inspiration reign supreme!

[Julie in Virginia]

What a wonderful spread and the questions are so in tune with my current process. Thank you for taking the time to be of service by sharing this.

I see you as an emerging elder - a wise one - a crone - a leader - the guardian of the old stories of your people and capturing them for the next generation.

[joanna]

Thanks Julie. I'm glad the spread is helpful to you. I appreciate hearing your view of me as an "emerging elder" or crone. Sometimes I don't think of myself that way. Sometimes I don't feel wise at all. It's good to think about the ways that others perceive us, to see if it "fits." I think I'll try on your view of me like I'm trying on a new coat. Thank you. Blessings to you.