Moon Oracle Reading

Today let’s do a reading for our well-being in the world with The Moon Oracle (by Caroline Smith and John Astrop).  The astrology for today, August 1, 2022, is very intense:  Uranus, the planet of revolution and change is conjunct (right next to) assertive, action-oriented Mars at 18º of earthy, comfort-loving Taurus.  We also had a recent New Moon in Leo. 

Astrologers are looking for powerful energy for this conjunction.  At the very least, it will be a call to change, and more likely it will represent a period of what astrologer Kelly Surtees is calling ‘growing pains” in bigger ways.  Because it is in Taurus, those growing pains will center around issues regarding our security in terms of food, housing, and economic stability.  My question for the oracle is: What does humanity need to know at this time?

I’m using a card lay-out from the guidebook that came with the oracle.  Most guidebooks will include a few card spreads and I like to try them out. 

There are three categories of cards in The Moon Oracle.  The first category represents the various Moon Phases in each element.  So, for example the moon is currently in Leo, a fire sign, and it’s just past the New Moon phases so it’s a Crescent, Waxing Fire Moon.  The other two categories are the Moon Mansions - a system based on an older, lunar-based astrological system with 28 phases - and The Goddesses, a category which features 12 goddesses of the moon. 

The cards are sorted into three piles – Phases, Mansions, and Goddesses and the cards are drawn specifically from those categories.

The current moon is what we choose for Card 1 because that is when the question is being asked.  (In that respect the divination resembles horary astrology, where chart is cast for the moment in time when the querent asks the question.)  Card 2, representing the background, will also be drawn from the Moon Phases, but it will be drawn at random.  Card 3 indicates what needs to be done next and will be drawn from the Mansions pile.  Card 4 will also be drawn from the Mansions pile and will show the outcome or advice.  Card 5 will be drawn from the Goddess pile and will represent the way in which the querent must act in order to deal with the situation.

So, on to the actual reading.  Card 1 shows the current moon phase now; the waxing crescent of a Leo Moon which is impulse and drive.  With all of that intense energy in the sky it feels like there’s a need to DO something, anything! 

Card 2 shows that we’re dealing with a background of economic dormancy; a time when of conservative actions and investments.  A glance at today’s headlines along with the fact that experts are conceding that we are in a recession will confirm this.  It also seems to suggest that the security is a big issue and that makes perfect sense with the above-mentioned conjunction in earthy Taurus.

Card 3 from the Mansions of the Moon is “Sleeper”, which heralds a time of quiet and stillness before summoning up new energy.  What is to be done next?  Nothing!  There is nothing to do but just ‘be’.  There are also Persephone vibes in this card; she was snatched by Hades to be his bride in the underworld while her worried mother, Demeter, searched the earth for her. 

Card 4, also from the Mansions pile, is “Sceptre”; the final advice or outcome.  The combined energy of Venus (what we value) and Saturn (how we obtain it) will eventually urge us forward through this time but it will call for good planning and foresight.

Finally, Card 5 from the Goddess pile shows us what kind of energy we need to invoke to carry this energy forth successfully.  We have drawn Demeter, who was the mother of Persephone!  Demeter is the goddess of harvest and abundance, but in mythology she not only represents the loss of something that we value and that we may not be able to get back, at least not in the way it was before, but persistence and faith as well. She never gave up being able to find her daughter.

The message I am getting overall from this reading: I believe that we are in for some more difficult times but eventually those who use the persistent and loving quality that Demeter had when she went to Hell and back searching for her daughter will be rewarded.  Look out for big changes in the world and/or your personal life, but remember to use them as leverage to move toward your own personal dream of tomorrow.