Image courtesy of Mira Cosic, Astrologer via pixabay.com
New Moon May 7, 2024
May 7, 2024
New Moon in Taurus
Pluto Retrograde
Sunny and warm
Hello, and welcome back.
It’s been a long time since I posted anything to do with the blog, and I decided to post it here, on this site, rather than on a separate blog site. There will not be a regular posting schedule – it will be connected to moon cycles, esbats, sabbats, and special days.
I will be adding material all over the website, and some of the posts will be about the new content and things that are separate from the blog posts.
“Kemmyrk” means “shelter” in Manx, and that’s what I want the blog (and the site) to feel like. A safe, cozy shelter where we can work on ourselves, our dreams, and our paths.
If you have a copy of Llewellyn’s 2024 Witches Companion, I have a very personal article in it on “Untangling Magical Misfires.” I will talk more in detail about that particular article in a different post. This post is about tapping into the magical May energy and using it.
I wanted to do something a little bit different this month, so I did a 3-card tarot spread and then used an Oracle card underneath it. There are hundreds of 3-card spreads out there, and I encourage you to play with your own ideas.
For this one, to work with the unique energies this month, I wanted to find out what I’m planting, what I am integrating, and what I am building on for this lunar cycle.
I decided to do it like this:
Below the spread, I used an oracle card to ask how the Pluto Retrograde influenced the spread.
I could have used more than one card for the oracle question, but I chose not to, in this case. If we had more than one retrograde, I would have used one card for each planet in retrograde.
I used the Midnight City Tarot and the City of Dreams Oracle for this spread. I love both these decks, and I’m a big fan of the artist, Jackie Franco. The decks are inspired by and built around locations in the five boroughs of New York City. Since I spent many years living and working in NYC, these decks speak to me on many levels. I have the mini deck for the tarot, and the full size of the oracle, which is why there’s a size difference in the cards.
Here’s a photo of the spread:
What am I planting?
The Empress. The Empress is a card of fertility, luxury, abundance, and creativity. (This card is set in Park Slope, Brooklyn). It’s about embracing myself in all its facets and using those facets in my creativity. That makes sense, as I am trying to work past some obstacles (both tangible and psychological) that I’ve allowed to hold me back.
What am I integrating?
8 of Coins (pentacles in some decks). Steady work, mastery of craft, keep up the practice in order to get a result. (Location: Your Kitchen). This makes sense, since I am working to integrate different parts of my life and work (among them the various names under which I publish) to make something more holistic.
What am I building on?
Knight of Coins. Slow, steady work brings results. Don’t rush, don’t skip steps, don’t get distracted, manage the time and the project reliably. (Location: 57th St. Subway entrance in Midtown Manhattan). This makes sense; I recently rewrote a full-length play and sent it off into the world. I finished another full-length play in April; it’s sitting for a few weeks before revision. I’m working steadily on a third full-length play that sometimes feels like it’s stalling, but I show up every day and do the work. Of the three serials I have running (under the Devon Ellington name), one will complete its season next week and be ready to binge; the next two will finish their seasons in the upcoming weeks. I’m putting together a new mailing for the business writing aspect of my work, Fearless Ink. I just wrapped several large freelance projects. None of it is happening fast, but it’s all moving steadily.
What are the influences when Pluto is retrograde? Pluto is the planet of death and transformation. A Pluto Retrograde is also when what is hidden is revealed. If you’re hiding something, it may come to light. If someone is hiding something from you, it may come to light. The retrograde began on May 2, and will run through October 11. Depending on where Pluto sits in your birth chart, there will be individual nuances.
The Oracle card I drew to ask about the influences of this Pluto Retrograde is the card stating Anything Is Possible. This can be very possible – it’s time to turn dreams into something tangible, especially with the Coins in the above reading and the Empress. But don’t get too cocky about it, because ANYTHING is possible, and if I’m not paying attention, I could miss something important, and it might not be positive. Or there could be so many opportunities that I get overwhelmed and don’t take action, which can have negative consequences. This card is as much of a warning as a cheerleader.
There’s potential for a lot of positives – but I have to steadily show up and do the work. I can’t blow it off and think it will turn out well. The reason I’ve been able to earn a living in the arts since it was necessary to earn a living is because I show up and do the work, even on days I don’t feel like it. That doesn’t mean I never take time off. But if I only worked “whenever” I would not have a career.
For me, this reading tells me I’m on the right track for the moment, and to keep going, instead of slacking off. Be aware of opportunities and possibilities. Make ACTIVE choices and build from there.
The same cards might say something quite different to you.
Try doing a reading during this new moon time and see what you come up with, and how the cards speak to you. They can be all tarot cards, all oracle cards, 3 tarot and an oracle card, or 3 oracle cards and a tarot card. Play with it.
And leave a comment about your experience!
We’ll check back in at the full moon on May 23rd!