This month’s New Moon falls at 24 Taurus 36, conjunct fixed star Capulus; the sword hilt in the constellation Perseus. By Ptolemy’s reckoning, this star is of the nature of Mercury and Mars. It bestows a determined and headstrong nature, not easily swayed from its chosen course; Shakespeare chose Capulet (derived from the same Latin root) as the name of one of the reckless and headstrong lovers in his most famous romantic tragedy
The first aspect the New Moon makes is a trine to Mars, exalted in Capricorn, further underlining the warrior-like energy of this New Moon. The harmonious nature of the aspect encourages us to temper our actions with intellect, much as Minerva’s gift of a shield of wisdom helped Perseus combat the Gorgon Medusa and the sea monster Cetus. There are parallels to be drawn with the Buddhist concept of ‘right action’; the sixth part of the Eightfold Path which counsels us to act honourably and with respect for the lives and will of everything living.
One of the greatest achievements of the magicians of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was to develop a system of correspondences where tarot cards, mythology, astrology and Kabbalah are interlinked. In this system, the myth of Perseus and Andromeda corresponds with the tarot card ‘The Lovers’, Gemini the Twins, the Hebrew letter Zayin (meaning ‘sword’) and the path on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life which links Binah (Saturn, Wisdom, Understanding) with Tiphareth (the Sun, Beauty, Harmony) The essence of this path, and the opportunity of this month’s New Moon, is the alchemy which arises from the fusion of opposites, the balance between the senses and the intellect, and the harmonious unity of the personality with the higher self which leads to knowledge of the true will:
“The boat responded
Gaily, to the hand expert with sail and oar
The sea was calm, your heart would have responded
Gaily, when invited, beating obedient
To controlling hands”
The Wasteland by T.S. Eliot
New Moon chart set for Greenwich, London 11:48 GMT via AstroGold for mobile
Astrology by Louise Of Arabia www.louiseofarabia.com
ASTROLOGY BY LOUISE OF ARABIA 