The nine of wands & the four of wands from the Rider Waite Smith tarot deck
Chiron retrograde in Aries from July 26-December 29, 2024, is a powerful time for healing and self-discovery. This period encourages the collective to reflect on old wounds and unresolved issues, particularly those related to our sense of self-identity, our voice and personal power. This is a highly charged time as the astrological dark feminine archetype, Black Moon Lilith accompanies the South node, in the opposite sign of Libra – which represents justice, laws, contracts, marriage and partnerships.
How interesting as during this transit, we appear to be witnessing key core unresolved societal attitudes and power dynamics from the past, currently being brought back up front and center for reevaluation and reassessment.
Chiron “the wounded healer” retrograde in powerful Aries can be a bit triggering as it is a “in your face” type energy. The motto for Aries is “I am” after all. So do your best to be patient with yourself and others as we are all feeling a bit on edge. But on the positive side, the collective is being strongly invited, to witness the events transpiring, that before were hidden behind closed doors and smiling faces, and carefully observe, reflect, and assess your own feelings and thoughts about what you are being shown.
On an individual level, look up your personal natal chart online and find the house where 23 degrees Aries is located. This is the area of your life that will be most personally impacted by Chiron’s retrograde, highlighting where you may need to confront and heal past wounds or challenges to foster your own empowerment, personal growth, and your soul’s evolution. Black Moon Lilith is currently at 3 degrees Libra, so you may find it helpful to include this aspect as well, for additional insights.
If you all would like me to do a post in the future on the astrological aspects of Black Moon Lilith, and how she impacts our natal chart, let me know in the comments! If you would like to schedule a private reading to delve into these energies further, please contact me through my website: www.firemoonalchemy.com
Four of Pentacles & Four of Cups from the Rider Waite Smith tarot deck
This is a special full moon, as it is the second consecutive full moon in the sign of Capricorn in the last 30 days! The previous one was on June 21st. Having two full moons back to back occur in the same sign is quite rare. Consider this a second chance for us to address the Capricorn themed areas of our life. As this moon occurs on the 29th degree of this sign, this is your message to make those final revisions and/or get moving to implement plans or goals that were put into place last month. For some of you, this full moon may coincide with, or urge you to, make an important decision or have the final word, such as in a conversation or this could be your signature on a document or contract.
Let’s discuss the tarot cards associated with this transit to see what insights they have for us!
First, we have the Four of Pentacles which represents the Moon in Capricorn. There’s a strong focus on your responsibilities and ambitions with this card. Often it comes up in my readings when the message is to be frugal with your finances and to be mindful of where your resources are going.
Fours in the tarot represent stability, and the element of earth speaks of physical, tangible things that are pertinent to our survival, such as our health, money, career, home, etc. More than ever nowadays, it is important for everyone to review their goals and spending to be sure you are building a solid foundation for the future. But be careful of becoming overly rigid with your finances (i.e., pennywise and dollar foolish). The energy of Capricorn encourages us to be disciplined and responsible, but to also maintain a healthy balance between frugal and “cheap”.
The Four of Cups corresponds to the Sun in Cancer. This card has a cynical vibe to it. You could be feeling a bit stuck or dissatisfied, even though most likely, you have good things around you. With the Sun in the sign of Cancer opposite this full moon, collectively, we might be feeling more sensitive than usual. If you have been feeling bored or unfulfilled lately, this is a reminder to look within and see why you are feeling that way. Your intuition may be nudging you to make some changes.
So, how you balance these energies to make the most of this Capricorn full moon? It’s a great time for reflection and planning. Take a moment to appreciate what you have now and what you’ve achieved in the last 30 days (it’s probably more than you realize), and to think about what your next steps should be on a goal, plan or project. Budget funds to take care of routine maintenance and small repairs to cross them off your “to do” list and to prevent larger problems in the future.
The Four of Cups can indicate burnout. Remember to balance your hard work with self-care. Try to break up your routine once a while to freshen up your mental outlook. Be on the lookout for opportunities and blessings that appear in unexpected ways, and try to practice an “attitude of gratitude” whenever possible.
As full moons can signifiy a time of completion, it may be time to let go of things that no longer serve you or that have become an energy or financial drain. This will give you some peace of mind and make space for the aforementioned opportunities and blessings to come in!
For my crystal loving friends, below are some excellent crystals that resonate with the Capricorn energy:
1. Garnet: Known for both its grounding and energizing properties, garnet helps us to stay focused on our goals and enhances our vitality.
2. Black Onyx: This stone protects us from negative energy and fosters emotional stability.
3. Smoky Quartz: A grounding stone, smoky quartz helps us connect to the earth, and helps us stay focused on our ambitions. It also is effective at dispelling negative energy and promotes a practical, yet positive mental outlook.
4. Fluorite: Known for its ability to enhance mental clarity and focus, fluorite can help us stay organized and efficient. It also supports decision-making and problem-solving.
5. Black Tourmaline: This protective stone can help shield us from negative energy, helping us stay grounded. Wearing or holding black tourmaline promotes a feeling of security and security. This stone can be too “heavy” for very sensitive people, so you may need to experiment with this stone.
6. Hematite: A grounding and balancing stone, hematite is very effective at keeping us focused on the task at hand. It also enhances strength and endurance. This is another “heavy” stone, so if you are sensitive, just like with black tourmaline above, pay attention to how you feel when working with it.
7. Tiger’s Eye: Known for its ability to enhance willpower and courage, tiger’s eye can help us stay determined and confident when pursuing our goals.
8. Malachite: This stone of transformation can help us release negative patterns and encourages us to flow with positive change. It is also an effective stone for protection, it’s green color corresponds with money and abundance, and it fosters emotional balance and personal growth. Malachite is one of my favorites!
This full moon is particularly interesting because it marks the beginning of a unique lunar cycle. It is the first in a pair of consecutive full moons in the sign of Capricorn, with the second one occurring on July 21st. Another interesting aspect is the precise astrological positioning of these moons. This full moon occurs at 1 degree Capricorn, while the next one will be at 29 degrees.
As Capricorn is a cardinal sign, the first degree signifies new beginnings and fresh initiatives, whereas the 29th degree, also known as the anaretic degree in astrology, signifies completion. It often carries with it a sense of urgency to conclude matters before transitioning into the next phase. Together, these two full moons bookend the entire spectrum of Capricorn’s influence, from initiation to culmination, offering a profound opportunity for reflection, release and growth within a 30 day cycle.
The tarot cards that correspond with this full moon are the Two of Pentacles and the Two of Cups.
The Two of Pentacles is linked to Capricorn and is about balance, adaptability, decisions, and handling multiple tasks or responsibilities at once. I’m sure all of you out there can relate to this card!
The Two of Cups represents the Sun in Cancer and signifies emotional connections, partnerships, and harmony in our relationships. This card encourages us to network with others as well as reminds us to nurture the relationships that foster mutual respect and support our well-being. This can be romantic or otherwise.
This full moon is highlighting the question of what constitutes a healthy work and personal life balance for us. The prevailing theme suggests that there are decisions to be made regarding practical matters, and this may involve a discussion on the home front (depending on your circumstances). Full moons typically symbolize a time of release, and this one aligns closely to the summer solstice, which denotes a change in the season. Have you detected a “change of seasons” in your home or work life that is inspiring you to make a change or to let some things go?
Let’s look at the two of pentacles card. If the two of pentacles image is a temporary situation for you, such as working and going to school, working multiple jobs or overtime for some extra cash, etc., you know that this is temporary and you’ve got it handled.
However, if on the other hand, you feel as if you are treading water just to stay afloat and are not gaining traction despite your efforts, this full moon in Capricorn is asking you to put pencil to paper, and to reflect on how you can implement beneficial changes that support financial sustainability while also taking into account the overall health and well-being of yourself and those you care about.
As Capricorn is a practical energy that likes to have a plan, I thought journaling prompts would be an excellent way to work with this auspicious moon. Here are a few to get you started:
1) What manageable, initial steps can I take in the next 30 days to get the ball rolling on a beneficial change, long-term plan or goal?
2) Where have I made progress (personal or professional) in the last six months? What have I learned from the experience? How can I integrate this wisdom for success in future endeavors?
3) Is my current life pace sustainable? Do I need to set boundaries, say “no” more often, or implement a more structured daily routine that supports my objectives as well as helps me to maintain my focus and productivity?
4) Do I have items that I no longer use that I could sell for extra cash or donate to make space for my current goals?
5) Which personal relationships would benefit from my increased presence and effort? How can I enhance these connections?
6) What steps can I take to improve my financial situation? Is it time to make a change, cancel or renegotiate services, create a budget, or develop an investment strategy for the future? What do I need to do to foster the self-discipline required to stick with the plan?
A few crystals that you can wear or carry with you that may help to ground your energy as you solidify your plans or goals are: smoky quartz, garnet, tigers eye, red jasper, rose quartz, aragonite, black obsidian, black tourmaline, lepidolite, snowflake obsidian, malachite, hematite, sodalite.
Tarot cards representing the Scorpio full moon 4/23/24 (Rider Waite deck)
The upcoming full moon in Scorpio is illuminating unresolved issues that have been lying beneath the surface for some time now. This is not an “easy” transit, as Pluto, Scorpio’s modern ruling planet that represents transformative change, is closely involved with this full moon, squaring both the moon and the sun. This harsh aspect is Pluto inviting us to take part in a difficult conversation. To consider how certain situations, friendships, partnerships, etc. are affecting our current well-being as well as our future potential.
With Mercury retrograde paired closely with the North node in Aries, a conflict could arise if there is a low vibration pattern or circumstance that wants to be resolved. This will most likely be an energetic signature that you have been aware of for a while. As I mentioned, there is some tension with this transit, so tread carefully, as those who are normally quite stubborn and/or self-centered, will be even more so in the days leading up to the full moon. As such, conflicts or small disagreements, could escalate quickly.
My advice is to think twice about who you are dealing with and what influence they have in your life. A small disagreement could turn into a battle of wills with both of you drawing lines in the sand. You may be right, but is there a danger of your winning the battle but losing the war? This could result in sudden changes that you may not have anticipated. Scorpio energy is quite strategic. Play your cards right, and you will soon have the winning hand!
Emotions may bubble up to the surface, so it is important to stay grounded and clear-headed. Be careful of possible overindulgence of food, drink, or other substances that may affect your emotional or mental state. For some of you, this full moon is highlighting challenges regarding your health. This may pertain to you or someone close to you. Helpful insights on the best way to move forward will come to you on or before the end of this month.
Mars and Jupiter are working well together. These two are inviting you to be proactive with your future financial goals and happiness. Where do you see yourself in two, five, or ten years? Does your current situation support this path? There is no need for a big jump now. However, the full moon will reveal where some action is required to get the ball rolling, if you are ready to make a change.
This could involve an initial small investment towards a plan or future goal that grows over time. On the flip side, you may be considering cutting ties and making new plans, if current circumstances are not yielding the results that you have hoped for.
This transit, while intense, is empowering at the same time! Its influence is encouraging us to purge both internally and externally to release what is at the very least unhelpful and at the most, toxic. We are being reminded that when life gets complicated, or when we are ready for something new, the power of transformation first comes from within. This gives us the clarity we need to make changes to our outer world with confidence and grace.
