Destruction doesn’t usually summon up a good news scenario when you hear the word, right? It mostly depends on the particular destruction that happens. Honestly, who hasn’t had a momentary flash of wishing an opponent be reduced to rubble? But what about when it is applied to you? Well, we are about to enter the Aries eclipse cycle. The eclipse cycle of the next 18 months falls on the Aries/Libra axis.. Aries is the sign of youthful exuberance and innocent self expression. Yes it’s egoic. Because most babies don’t have a concept of a world. They don’t change their own diapers, they can’t. Yet Chiron and Eris, both in Aries, insist we face feelings about needs that weren’t met. The destruction lands squarely in the region of our limits – how they serve and where they don’t.
It isn’t a general blanket of destruction. Although we are in a time of endings, thanks to Saturn in the last sign of Pisces. The world today reflects both too few healthy boundaries and too many unhealthy boundaries. When we can put people in space there is no reason we can’t create packaging that won’t accumulate at a toxic rate. When the benefits of capitalism are taken too far without healthy limits, making a buck at any cost winds up being a staggeringly high price over time. Personally, Mars in Libra can get shocking insights into where the ‘me first’ attitude impacts those around them. Which brings us back to the Full Moon, self doubt when we dare to do things differently in a way that ends the cocoon so the butterfly in you can take wing.
With Mercury and Uranus in cozy conversation this Full Moon, lots of startling insights are possible. They help consciously dismantle where neglect built up scar tissue around unmet needs or boundaries. It’s both liberating and a bit unnerving to know you have the power to demolish old habits and institute new ones. Because then the responsibility to do better than you were done by is on you. Really, it’s so much more comfortable to observe and report (also known as complaining) where you have been failed in the past. Now, when you have the option to do better for yourself, those doubts can creep up on you.
It begins when you entertain there is a world beyond the one you live in now. In some ways, it’s not much different than watching science fiction movies and imagining yourself in the movie. After all, Jules Verne imagined and wrote about wild inventions that existed within as little as 30 years after his death. Who knows what your imagination is meant to help bring into the world. But first you have to locate and integrate the ways you shut down things that will ultimately demolish your functional normal existence as it is now. Self doubt is a misguided attempt to keep you in familiar space rather than dare to lead a bigger life. A moderate amount helps you construct rather than destruct. The goal is to find your sweet spot.
Remember Mars is invisible until next May. Which also helps us slow down. All you need to do is think of colliding with something you can’t see. That is likely to give you a pause before you rush ahead. Besides, those complaints, or reports have information to offer. Don’t rush past them. Locate what wants to come through you out into the world. Those disappointments are a great starting point to add something that benefits you and others like you. Create from there. An idea that improves your life may well uplift more than a few others. It’s the ultimate win/win. This Aries Full Moon brings a dash of audacity to help you find your particular brave.
Hint, there is no perfect choice. There are options that suit you perfectly for where you are. But even they are a mixed bag. This actually gives us a chance to sort out where we want to dig in and tailor it, or where we want to walk away. Ah, and here’s the kicker. What makes you leave and what helps you stay just as you are? Sometimes even when you want to take the next step those pesky thoughts kick in and freeze you. Like what happened to me on this Full Moon Tarot spread. There’s more on that below.
Do you know what the difference between a deliberate pause to process what’s unfolding and a more debilitating self doubt look like for you? Guess what? Now is a great time to learn. Because the better you understand yourself, the more power you bring to the table. The more power you have, the more healthy risks you can take. And life requires some risk. There are universes waiting for you to help bring them to life. The Cards and Stars will help.
Thank you,
Lisa Greenfield
TruthinHand.com
9/29 Aries full moon Mother Star
I goofed and grabbed a Tarot Deck I rarely use for this reading because it has two extra cards that aren’t familiar to most people. I was going to switch to the old deck and do a second reading, when I had my aha moment. It wasn’t an accident I got this card reading. To pull both the extra and unfamiliar cards on either side of the self doubt card was no coincidence. Neither was getting another card combination that echoed the same message. It would have made writing this easier to choose the predictable and familiar. Our brains know how to operate ‘successfully’ there. But what does it take to go beyond that?
No surprise, this theme is really up in our faces right now. Smart risk requires confidence. Which is only gained by learning from your mistakes. The Mother Star is a combination of the Empress and Star card. It reflects both the abundant resources we have and the effort to do something with them in a way that is uniquely personal to you. Now add in the Aries/Libra flavor which highlights co creation through individual contribution. Samuel Beckett outlined it when he said, “Try again. Fail Again. Fail Better”. Life is about learning how to fail better. Still, it begins when you imagine that you can create the world. That is how books, movies, videos and memes entered your world.
The Mother Star and this Aries Full Moon ahead of the eclipses in Aries offer another fresh start to try again. There is courage in the mix with Aries Moon. Flashes of insight are there, thanks to Mercury and Uranus. Mars in Libra brings feedback from others. So, who are you beyond your disbelief? Because there are worlds out there waiting for you to discover and interact with as truly as you do your day to day now. It’s your learning curve to understand what is too much or too little disbelief. But take a step towards something you want, something more than what is now. Let your desires slowly start to outweigh the unwillingness to go beyond. Learn how to argue for your possibilities and see what unfolds from there. You are made of Stardust and light. And you are no longer in diapers unless you wish to be.
9/30 five of swords
The Moon is opposite Mars today, activating past emotional patterns. Your self doubts planted seeds along life’s road. You’ll see some of those sprout today amongst all the other things unfolding. Your job is to decide what gets to stay and what gets pulled up by the roots. Five of swords is the card for our mind’s creativity, but in the negative direction. It can predict all the worst case scenarios in record speed. Where does that happen for you? Your body has things to say but it may whisper. Feel into the subtle expansion or contraction cues it offers. Those ‘take the next step’ cues can merely be a relaxed, more present attention. Curiosity is a green light to carefully explore. It helps when you give the mind a job. Tell it to look for the best case as well as any worst case.
The ‘pause’ signal my be much more subtle. But it is a cue definitely worth understanding. Imagine it much like driving a car. Even if you get a green light, it pays to look both ways to make sure someone isn’t blowing their red light, right? Gas and brakes, yes and no, forward or hold, all good places to feel in your body language. This way you learn to differentiate the self doubt that keeps you locked into familiar space from the pauses where you avoid a collision. Anyplace you aren’t sure is an invitation to become more fluent in speaking YOU with your body’s help.
The Moon conjuncts Jupiter, dialing up our acceptance of what is our starting point. Once you acknowledge you begin where you begin, then you can get to the play aspect sooner. Yes, imagine a world where you get to play with doubts instead of being held up by them. They become an indicator on your dashboard of life. Fill your gas tank with memories of where you’ve risked and learned in the past, regardless of the outcome. Right now perfection is not your friend. Quality attention to detail, however, is. Put good energy in and like top grade fuel you can get farther with fewer breakdowns.
10/1 the creator
Here is the second ‘bonus card in this deck. Where the Mother Star represents the abundance that combines a receptive yes with applied effort second, this card is the sculptor’s chisel that when applied reveals more of what’s underneath. Chip away at cruel or shaming thoughts as motivators or guides. Let the ability to hold yourself kindly during failures, disappointments and delays emerge like solid rock that will stand the test of time. To uncover the strength within you, to face life’s contractions without being unkind or shaming to yourself or anyone else, is artistry. When you see the misguided effort to protect that lurk behind most limited beliefs, offer compassion. But stubbornly refuse to give in to the contraction for long.
There’s nothing wrong with a rest to regain strength, optimism and courage. Be sure to fill your pauses with those ingredients. Because this is your New World. Aren’t those qualities worth building into the foundation? Why not ensure that what you add has the very best ingredients for you to engage with all day long. That rich inventory will help you overcome contractions, learn how to fail better and try again. Doubts don’t want us to dare. Because when you do, the unthinkable becomes a daily occurrence in time. Magic happens and it delights you no matter how often it appears.
It can also unnerve you. Because you can’t control Magic. Pick a touchstone. For some people it’s actual stones. It can also be a place you picture that is the best possible memory. When you feel destabilized, you can touch that place or an actual stone to help remind of what is solid. The better you get at comforting yourself, the more you are able to stretch into unfamiliar potential percolating there inside of you. Mercury is in a tense aspect to Eris today. So the ignored or dismissed parts of you may want to create a little chaos in order to make room for them to exist. With Moon and Jupiter conjunct you can take that energy in and nurture it while it heals or you can spread it out into dramatic displays of theater. Perhaps a mixture of both is helpful. You decide.
10/2 Page of pentacles
There is an interesting ingredient list for today’s aspects. This Page is one that has youthful optimism but it can also be shortsighted. Believing the best about a person, place or thing is never a bad trait as long as you stay open to see what else exists with it. Maturity is all about holding the contradiction of what is best and worst in a situation so you can choose what to do with it. I call it the navigational field. The worst is the boundary on one side and the best is the boundary on the other side. Between the two I map where can I wisely interact to improve my situation and leave it better than I found it.
If I can’t land on what the next step is, then it helps to just keep observing what unfolds. It’s that strategic pause. Mostly I’ve learned to pause because when I rush in it overbalances and sends things spinning. Sigh. History taught me that, and it took a while for that lesson to land. But learn I have. So can you. Too much belief without information is foolish more than noble. Too little belief is a desert landscape. There’s life in a desert but it is fierce and scarce. Where is the best set point for you as you create your New World? Let today help you find a new set point of believing in yourself. Find one that feels and looks good to you and take it out for a test. You can tweak it as you go.
10/3 three of wands
This three brings an inspired understanding of what is about to change for the better. With Mercury trine Pluto you can see how even in the end of what’s familiar, there is excitement of what else is to be discovered. One image for the Three of Wands is a ship in the harbor headed for dock. You know your treasure made it all the way across the ocean voyage, even if it isn’t unpacked at your feet yet.
How excited do you let yourself be ahead of good news? Do you pump yourself up so far that expectations have trouble finding satisfaction when it actually arrives? Or do you starve yourself of joy so as not to be disappointed in what comes? Today is an excellent time with help from a Sun/Moon trine to adjust your excitement quotient to an optimal level for you, deliberately. How much fun can you have anticipating?
10/4 The empress
There are choices to be made today. With Mars, the action planet, opposing Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, it’s a dicey playing field. One colleagues calls one of today’s aspects an alert for co-dependent patterns. Hint, as you move in the direction of your New World where you can create more of what you want, those who liked playing familiar games with you in the past may not be happy about it. Even when you enjoyed the back and forth, as you evolve, the pressure is on the connection. It’s part of what moves society forward. Those bonds help carry along the ones who lightly resist change because they don’t want to be left behind.
Deeply resistant people may add to self doubt as a tactic to keep us engaged in well known patterns. They aren’t malicious, just bent on preserving safe ground. This, too, is a way to dig deeper and find creative ways to work with what is. We are moving out of a top down power structure and into more of a horizontal one for at least the next 20 years. So rather than finding ways to be one up on others, we are invited to learn how to make an equitable power distribution the new normal. Mars is conjunct the South Node, so with a little help from Mercury we can see where our power dynamics operate. From inertia, through passive aggressive all the way over to aggressive we are in search of healthy self assertion.
This is no small quest. Old habits are muscle memory. So it takes daring to be a bit uncomfortable as you edge into unknown ways where the balance of power can find some actual balance. We don’t get clear answers today. But don’t miss an opportunity to congratulate yourself for any progress made. Remember the ingredients for your New World are improved with kindness, acknowledgement and your own support as you grow.
10/5 ten of swords
Part of this Moon Cycle includes destruction, particularly when it follows daring efforts to go beyond self doubt. Today’s aspects and this dark Ten means facing failures. While you may not experience one specifically, it is about engaging the ever present reality that all things end. Some end better than others. And all endings are doorways to another beginning. But how do you handle when things don’t turn out as planned or when something that you enjoyed is finished? What is your process and how conscious of it are you?
We have an interesting way of handling failures and endings here in the West. Blame seems to be woven in more often, which displaces reflection and personal responsibility. There are some things you can change, others you can’t. But the more invested you are in seeing the world and others in terms of threat and danger, the less access you have to improving on whatever you learned in the current situation. Where does your meaning making leave an appropriate amount of responsibility in your hands? Then, how comfortable are you acknowledging others have their share whether they use it wisely or not.
Finally, how do you evolve beyond any sticky co dependence into healthier interdependence. That’s your big construction opportunity. Whether yours is a big build or a little one, this ten says let some things end, so that new things have room to begin. By all means, grieve what is lost if you feel that way. Be sure to include respect for what you put into it. Take stock of how much the Universe did provide, even if it wasn’t all you needed or wished. It also reminds us the mind can imagine the worst while the body is already sensing something on the other side of an ending.
Ten’s take things to the next level. This one cautions that taking your fear to the next level can shut things down cold. Our mind is the servant, not the master. So give it a job to do. One more proportional to include your heart, intuition and body. Insist that it find a more balanced view of whatever the scene is in front of you. When you have that, then you are armed to do something more constructive with anything that takes place.
10/6 the high priestess
Any time this wise feminine makes her appearance, the invite is there to tune in to our divine guidance. Intuition is the part of us that goes beyond our lived experience and senses what is ahead that may be a match for you. Just like Christopher Columbus, who went right instead of left when he sailed, our intuition is our visionary explorer self. You want to check your heart is with the tug to head off in a new direction and then strategically bring your mind in to figure out how. The mind is NOT meant to decide things. It’s meant to manage the process. Your intuition and heart are the Captain at the wheel.
Whether you had the best team in the past or not, give credit where credit belongs first. Then you can refine how these two sense opportunities and show you how you feel about them. Your mind operates like the brakes. Check on them, because healthy brakes are necessary. You just don’t want to try to drive with the emergency brake on all the time. It can feel like you want one hand on it for security, so notice. How much gas, how much brakes is your current normal?
The Cancer Moon is at odds with the Libra Sun, so it’s often easier to use your intuition on others than for yourself. Have patience. Reading other’s moods probably kept you safe as a child. It takes time to redirect your response. You want to reclaim that energy and effort for yourself now. As you learn to ask for what you want, you improve the chances of getting it. The right use of power lets it flow in from all sides. Then the rising tide lifts all boats.
10/ 7 two of swords
This two is just the right pairing for the seesaw aspects today. We see the best, then we see the worst. Oh, the optimism is at hand. Wait, whoops, here comes pessimism. The Moon square Eris wants to be sure all our needs get quality attention. Not necessarily equal time, but they do require equal attention. Acknowledge what you feel. How can you command the two sides of you? Integrate them. The light cannot incorporate shadow. The smallest candle throws back the deepest gloom. But shadows are at the edge of wherever the light falls.
Let them be contour lines. Shadow adds depth to any picture. So give them space. Just don’t let the dark run your show. Unless of course you came here to be a cautionary tale. Don’t laugh. Some people do choose to play that role. If you are inclined that way, you can still have integrity about it. Again, we need quality attention for all the bits. If you are here to destroy, make it a clean sweep. This means you don’t deliberately add to others self doubt. Deal with your own. Whatever you do, you can start with a clean slate. Doubts make an excellent point to check and even double check the details ahead of action. Acknowledge failure is possible, but then so is success. Good job using the duality of the day to build some mental muscle.
10/8 ace cups
Hmm, Pluto is in action today stirring up compulsive power play. It can make you overestimate the threat and overdo your response. The Dark Lord’s influence is potent as it gets ready to go direct in a couple days. Be mindful of winning at all costs. What you win will not be worth the price. No matter how hard you try to justify it, power plays are exactly that. You win, someone else loses. It’s such a small victory when there is so much more to be had. This Ace invites us to take small loving steps. Not big power grabs. Do a little soul searching. What does domination win in the long run. This one runs deep and you won’t find easy answers or solutions. So takethe search one bite at a time of loving kindness. Chew, swallow, then take another bite.
10/9 four of cups
Ouch, the aspects today can make you want to head for the house and close the door behind you. This Four has two expressions. One wants solid ground and safe space for those tender feelings. The other is prickly and defensive, seeing the worst in whatever pops up. The aspects today echo a message of duality. The goals is to unpack where we defend against threats that aren’t currently in place. More than likely, it is history you react to not the present. Except the story feels as if it happens now. This happens more than we realize. So the real task at hand is to tend to the wound. The old wound, that’s the starting point.
Probably best to withdraw, get on firm foundation where you truly stand. Take stock of both yourself and then the situation. You may find your doubts are layered like a Napoleon pastry. While it may not be as tasty, swallow them. Digest them. Rub your belly if it helps. Those are places where you felt powerless in the past. It isn’t current. Ask your brain to serve up where you’ve gone beyond them. Good. Now you can locate your authentic want and or need. Now determine if you are ready to ask for what you want, even if you don’t know you can get it. Are you able to speak up on your behalf if the time and situation allow for it? Again, good job. Why not just stand on that for today. Small adjustments, not outcomes are what matter most.
10/10 the devil
Hmm, things are not what they may seem today. There are tricks and tricksters that exist. Today’s aspects and the Devil card want to help you prepare to deal with that reality. Pluto is about to go direct, plodding back through the constellation that is undefeated as long as it seeks more than it’s own power/pleasure/reward. Tricksters don’t consider their marks feelings. Rather they exist in a ‘power over’ world. They are less about brute force then they are about stacking the deck unfairly for themselves. It’s one more use, or rather misuse, of agency. In their mind, they see it as evening out an imbalance that is rarely true.
Because when we doubt ourselves, we justify reasons for tipping things in our favor. If we saw the advantages as more equally distributed there would be no need to game the system. The best way to stop both your own unfair tactics and halt another’s is to commit to view things accurately, as they are now. Watch out for the natural defense where we overestimate others and underestimate ourselves. When you see another’s strengths along with your own, you can create much more together than you can carving out a solitary win.
Watch out for justifying bad behavior. That’s a short, steep path that yields more of what you put out there. Instead, work on raising the bar. Dare to do better by someone than they deserve. It may make them pause before they justify more bad behavior. Know when to call a halt, but do it from compassion. You get full marks for raising the bar and knowing when to draw a line. That’s a good start on improving any bad situation. Those are seeds that will sprout more luxuriously next Spring when Mars becomes visible again.
10/11 The chariot
Success is yours, and big success when this card appears. Yet it does come with a warning label. Don’t use your advantage to rush impatiently forward. There are some pesky details from the last couple days that need attending. Mars is about to dive into Scorpio and Venus is still licking a sore spot or two. The Moon meets up with her but first opposes Saturn. This is a hallmark for traits that correspond to early childhood pain. Particularly where we learned to determine what a win is and how to achieve it. Time to get familiar with yours. Or more familiar if you already have a sense of it.
Where did you feel like a loser. Do you avoid that at all costs and do you ever knowingly put other people in that position? There are some places where it can’t be helped that one wins and one loses. But do you have a disproportionate number of those? If not, congratulations. If you do, is that something you really want to carry forward? Remember in that if you continue the pattern, you are likely to experience your share of loser let downs. It is your choice. You will be successful in either direction. So now, you decide what you want more of in your life.
Are you geared towards winning? And can you feel safe without being the best at something? That’s the second piece of this. It’s a real skill to win and include others in the victory. Does that appeal to you? Again, this is a great day to examine underlying stories about what you believe a win means. We all need to feel our agency in the world. Do you have spots where you can do that and how well received is it when you do? These are the details worth your time, so you ensure your life has a conscious place to celebrate victories.
10/12 nine of wands
A little bit of discipline goes a long way today. Mercury and Jupiter have a disjointed dance step going. Which means your mind may be a mile a minute, in a way that does not serve. Rein it in and give it direction. The Moon opposite Neptune contributes to the confusion. Clear boundaries help. That may show up first as judgements. Because these are our inefficient attempts to map the edges of what works for you. Once you land on what you are a yes for and where you aren’t, you can let go of judging. They do their thing, you do yours. It sounds simple and it is in concept. It takes a bit more effort to make it a practice. So go ahead, give it your best effort. We usually have plenty of judgements to work from as we hone this skill.
10/13 queen of pentacles
Hello, Mars trine Saturn puts us back on the good foot today. We get a couple days of ease around self discipline and action. This Queen points to the treasure of selective receiving. In the abundant world, we can’t possibly interact with everything. It would dilute the quality of what we could enjoy. So this is a perfect time to hone how you choose what you love and then act in service of it.
Mercury is in tense dialogue with Saturn, who wants to narrow the field of options. By all means, that is the goal. But how you decide, is the issue at present. So why not make a game of it. Do some muscle testing. What does your body have to say about what you want or don’t want? How well do you listen to the more subtle messages it offers and how can you understand it better. One of the best ways to get around the obstacle of self doubt is to gather enough data to boost your confidence.
You can be sure that you’ve made good effort to minimize risks when you include your senses in the decision. This is your tool kit for learning how to dare to live the life you came here to live. The better you are at filling your toolkit wisely with what suites you best, the more prepared you are for what lies ahead. It also gives you the confidence. to face what is ending without feeling only the loss. Let the world offer you a banquet. Your job is to decide what is on your menu. Then go enjoy.
