Month: May 2015

Tarot – An Archetypal Journey

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment

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“There seem to be only two kinds of people: Those who think that metaphors are facts, and those who know that they are not facts. …Which group really gets the message?”

~Joseph Campbell~

I started working with tarot in late 2013, I have no idea why it finally jumped out at me after years of having no real interest in it. Astrology I had studied for years and loved, there seemed to at least be a physical base to Astrology, which I felt at the time tarot lacked. With Astrology at least it provided you with mythology around the planets while you were stargazing. Tarot, something about it never clicked, it was almost not physical enough for me.

But I’ll never forget the day, whilst on the tram, a thought popped into my head telling me to go buy a tarot deck. The impulse was too strong to ignore. Leaving the store the shop owner told me, “Its like Music, Astrology is the Major Key and Tarot is the Minor Key, they work together” It was then that I began to realised, this was the next phase of the journey and I, for some reason was ready to explore it.

Many people look to Tarot as fortune-telling device with “Will I get a boyfriend” or “Should I quit my Job”  being top of the fortune list. Tarot instead is a mirror to yourself and a tool to allow YOU to evolve, to help gain what you seek.

As an evolutionary tool  it allows you to look at the energies that are around you to help guide you to a better or more beneficial outcome. Tarot is more of a look in the mirror at how the metaphors of life and how the heroes quest or archetypal journey we are all on is working for you. Tarot allows us to pin point what we should consider to progress, whether you like it or not. It works by looking at how we can make better decisions or addressing things to help us progress. Tarot helps by looking at the differing options or things that will help you move forward in a more empowered fashion.

When it comes to the use of Tarot and other forms of divination freewill is always the key factor, as we have control over what actions we choose to or not take. We ARE in control of how we move forward in our lives. The outcomes may not always be what we choose but we certainly have power over how we react and move forward with things. Tarot  is a wonderful sign post, offering ideas, metaphors to consider as we go about our way, allowing us to reflect on what we are doing and to take a moment to consider the root causes and influences around us.

If we choose not to listen or look at these messages you will find that the same messages will come up over and over again. It’s quite remarkable how the same cards will come up over and over again, when we don’t take action. It was noted by many tarot readers at the time of pre September 11 how often the Tower came up. The Tower meaning sudden and life changing events which happens generally as a surprise and shock. The Tower marks to a life changing events in our lives on a fundamental and universal level.

In Europe the earliest recorded deck is the Visconti-Sforza tarot deck that dates back to 1451. Cards had been used for hundreds of years in Europe as entertainment and as an educational tool. Tarot cards, in line with this describe a spiritual and psychological journey that has spanned numerous years and cultures. This Journey is just as relevant today as it has been in the past.

Tarot has many cousins with Italian tarocchini and French Tarot (popular card games), being directly related. As for the rumour you can only do Tarot if you are given a deck, this comes from a time when having a deck saw your persecution hence people saying they were given a pack.

Tarot is a handy tool that allows you to look at what part of the journey your on and helps you assess where you’re at and what energies are currently around you and you are working with.  Tarot rather than a fortune-telling device is more of a philosophical and spiritual tool and one that is very much mis-understood. The more you explore it, the more you discover about yourself and that really is what the magic of life is all about and why the Tarot deck starts with the Fool. A person about to start a magnificent adventure with only themselves to rely on and life’s lessons as a guide.

xx

Mercury Retrograde in Gemini – Duelling with the Magician

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment

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I’m a Gemini, so I change my mind every day.      Natalie Portman

Mercury Retrograde, everyone’s favourite little Astrology number is coming back around again … time to get prepped for Mercury’s retrograde of is ruling sign Gemini. Outside knowing the Moon Phase, Mercury Retrograde is perhaps the next most known or spoken about Astrological phenomenon, closely followed by the Saturn Return.  So what exactly is a Mercury Retrograde ?

Mercury Retrograde is when the planet of communication, thoughts, processes, learning, travel and ideas goes backwards in the sky traveling backwards for a small amount of time before moving forwards again. In doing so it retrogrades over elements of your birth chart. This is a time for reflection, delays and potentially opposition.This generally manifests in chaos in everyday life (for those who are at a loss as to what the hell is going on ! ). However  Mercury’s Retrograde is becoming so well accepted in mainstream society once a friend came into work all excited after seeing it mentioned on CSI: New York as a reason by one of the scientist as to why their investigation had so awry.

There is ALWAYS a list of things NOT to do in times of Mercury Retrograde which I think is good to be conscious of but to be honest I’m not really one to stop life because of Astrology and you know what sometimes you have no choice in the matter so you just need to move forward and TRIPLE check the finer details that’s all ! Be the Virgo (Mercury’s other ruling sign). So traditionally things not to do during a Mercury Retrograde are the following .. Don’t buy electronic equipment as it will crap out, Sign major contracts ie: work or buy a house because there will be information that hasn’t been brought to light yet. Don’t travel, if you do it will be plagued with delays, be prepared for everyone to mis-communicate, forget the key information, phones going down, mail not arriving and so on and so forworth.

But see what I mean, we can’t actually live under a rock for 6 weeks 3 times a year, this is where the old school idea of Astrology being a condemnation and a list of do’s and don’t is becoming outdated and the idea of doing things at your peril is just lame !

Instead we need to go ok this is going on, I’m going to have to be more vigilant, be more focused on the details, I’m going to go with my intuition, I’m going to do ALL my homework as the potential for something to go wrong has just increased. If I can push things out thats great, if not lets not get all dooms day on it.

There are times when the Mercury Retrograde is good ! it’s a wonderful time to review ideas and themes that are pertinent to the house of the retrograde. ie: Mercury Retrograde is a great time to review your daily routines and work habits, good for reviewing your career, or maybe you get the opportunity to work with a company or in a job that you haven’t done for a few years, which has just happened to me which is awesome ! Reviewing money how you spend it or earn it, your relationships how you engage in them, these are very valuable things that the Mercury Retrograde offers rather than shreeking in horror and starting dooms day predictions for your 2 week holiday in Fiji. People are paranoid enough without having to add to it right !

There is a really high proportion of  great writers being born with Mercury retrograde in their chart. Madonna has Mercury retrograde conjunct Pluto (the underworld /transformation stuff) in her birthchart … Hello in your face everything I’m going to say is going to challenge your beliefs so I can transform your ideas on Sex, Money, Class and Taste …  Like A Virgin, and her Sex Book weren’t exactly subtle and were tres controversial.  For a dancer whose vocal talent was always questionable it was WHAT she had to say and HOW she did it which made her a revolutionary. Without Mercury Retrograde conjunct Pluto, I don’t think she would have had such punch. It made her think outside the square and made her a very famous and rich woman along the way.

So Mercury Retrograde in Gemini what does this MEAN !  Mercury retrogrades are a 3 week period. However Mercury has to slow down, stop, be still before moving backwards so there is thing called a Mercury shadow period which actually extends it to be 6 weeks. Just be cautious earlier that’s all.

Mercury Shadow (4-18 May) Mercury Retrograde (18th May 11 June) Mercury shadow (June 11 – 27th). Mercury is the RULER of Gemini so this retrograde will be quite powerful but I think in a good way ! what you’re reviewing will be clearer ! The messages will be strong and clear. Gemini energy is a tricky little energy with a shortish attention span ie: reading 5 books on the go rather than just 1, and being a mutable sign it is both dualist in nature and manifestation. However mercury is happy in Gemini and its strong in Gemini which makes it a rather healthy retrograde. Mars will also be conjuncting for a time so it will be super strong, as the god of war and masculine intent – Mars power! adds a bit more oomph to these reviews/delays/confusion, just check your mouth before you mouth off as Mars might be putting more into it than you originally intended. Knowing which house (area of your life) that this retrograde effects is the key to knowing where this will be more pronounced in your life. For me, its in my 10 house of career and accomplishment. Interestingly enough I’ve just got work with the first company that hired me when I first moved to Melbourne and its in a very similar project to then. Very Mercury Retrograde.

So I guess the purpose for this blog is for you to own it ! Know the dates, know what you have to do, step forward with confidence and knowledge and laugh at the irony when these little hick ups come along. Mercury retrograde can and is a pain in the ass but if we change our thinking slightly it can encompass so much more that the normally thrown around fears traditionally associated with it. Time to turn the trickster energy of Mercury’s retrograde INTO the Magician. Be the Magician !

Full Moon In Scorpio – When the facade begins to crack

~ Sarah Murphy ~ 3 Comments

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“Scorpio is the Perfect Storm”

“There’s something about the darker side of life that fascinates Scorpio. They don’t mind digging into things others might find scary or undesirable”

This upcoming Full Moon is Scorpio (May 3-4) is just one of those things that needs to be flagged … before things go a bit side ways and wild.  I’ve actually reached the stage of when emotions become cutting and transformative out of nowhere, I’ve had to stop and thought I bet it’s a Scorpio Moon and bingo, it is. The Scorpio Full Moon is like the gauge for irrational emotional events… fights with lovers, dark transcendence/transformation, the rain clouds storming on you outta nowhere. If the concept is we operate mainly on an unconscious level 95% of the time, and Full Moons bring light to the dark, illuminating what has been hidden, Fuck me the Scorpio  (rules unconscious) Full Moon is like an unconscious emotional colonic !

This Full Moon is an amazing opportunity to delete some very old unconscious programming, with the moon shining a light on it, to highlight whats been lurking in the darkness, untouched and unrecognized. The Sun in Taurus is asking you to look after yourself physically with simple, comfort and stability physically, self nurture and care on the physical realm, while the Full Moon (in opposition to the Sun) helps to purge your emotional subconscious to its deepest realms, forcing you to creating boundaries, where needed, and blowing up the blockages. So essentially great care is needed this Full Moon.

Scorpio has sting ! its has change, it has transformative transcendence, it IS the Phoenix coming out of the ashes, the snake that is shedding another skin, it is the eagle of prey sawing high above the earth… All amazing things but not so amazing when you’re the last to know why everything suddenly got heavy man, as you were to busy having fun avoiding your shadow. This is a passionate moon that pushes for transformation and letting go, at the very least shining a light on your shit! This Full Moon is a closure to the Scorpio New Moon that was eclipsed October 24th 2014. This Full Moon is the ending to this 6 month cycle, as the New Moon was eclipsed, this adds more weight to this idea of hidden issues or unconscious patterns coming out to be let go of.

Pluto (Hades) – the god of the Underworld is Scorpio’s ruler is in a positive aspect to this Moon doubling the transformational aspect,  while Mars ( God of War, Aggression and a fast paced confrontational energy ) is in opposition to it.  When in opposition energies must be balanced. This Moon is supercharged,  so use this energy wisely, its a great time to be creative, purge, let go ! The aim of this Full Moon is to channel this Scorpionic energy to its highest level ! Haute Scorpio not Low Scorpio as the great Mystic Medusa says.

Haute Scorpio – Positive Psycho-Analysis, Deep conservation sans booze and the dream weed (Lucid Dream aka trippy tea is ok), Feeling deeply without projecting onto others, Intuitive, Discreet, Sexy, Strong, Spooky, Principled, Meditative, In Tune, Transformative, Sex Magick

Low Scorpio – Scrappy, Obsessive, Paranoid, Vindictive, Grudge bearing, Snarky and Snappy, Muck Throwing, Judgemental, Invoking Negative Energy, Wasted on Boozed and Dream Weed, Space Dust or WHATEVER they can get their hands on, Fucked up Sexual Relations and Boundaries

This Moon will aggravate all of the above so keep it clean folks and aim high ! All the power to you and make sure you check your shit before you bring out that repressed Scorpionic tail .