flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia – August 2019

by  on  in anthropology of the tarot, flavia, monthly muses, mythology, rider waite, tarot

The aftershocks of July with its retrogrades and eclipses still reverberate as we enter August. We are still feeling the retrogrades creating confusion, and the eclipses sending dramatic messages uprooting us and tearing up old structures. Anything unforeseen is possible. So the month finds us suspended and motionless but in a halo of wisdom, not taking anything for granted, but instead seeing the world from another perspective. We maybe having had to deal with a sudden turn of events, and holding space for us and others. Mercury’s shadow period will last for a couple of weeks into the month and the eclipses could be sending a second wave of messages, urging us to follow new paths and finally conclude with situations that no longer serve us. While this is going on we can only surrender serenely to events using our restrictive circumstances, or necessary pause, to gain a new point of view and drill down to the absolute fundamentals of life. Reflect and meditate on what matters to us. What are the thing we most value? Change is inevitable and this voluntary, or involuntary, suspension will help our decision making when things pick up and energetically start moving again.

But before that happens we are reminded by the Devil that we still have some work to do. And it’s work that goes inside us. It’s personal, it’s about us facing our demons, our self imposed limitations, our fears and nightmares, anything that might be an addiction. An addiction which can be substances, inter-dependency to others, negative self-talk or simply bad habits. Anything and everything poisoning our existence that we fear is larger than us becomes pronounced. This darkness in the background that naggingly won’t allow us to enjoy a fulfilling and joyful life with others and in ourselves has to be dealt with now. The Devil card reminds us that if we want to move on and out we need to face up to it – whatever it might be. We can not hide, and it won’t be to our benefit anyway. Now is the right time to face darkness and resolve personal challenges. We have to go through to go out. So that the month promises to be very active with people and things, and in a way that would benefit us and those around us. There are going to be some tough moments in August only because we absolutely need to finish off projects, personal or professional, and move on. Once this is done, there’s no turning back.

Ultimately, this will give us the World. The World which contains all the elements – fire, earth, air and water as represented by the images depicted in the four corners of a lion, an ox, an eagle and an angel – our own contribution as we create our path in life. We are not passive in the happening of the World rather we rise and participate in creating it. The Universe is with us and Luck is on our side. Work is paying off. The time has come to celebrate our accomplishments. The end of August culminates with another new moon that will find us in a totally different place to that of when we started the month. We are now encircled in garlands of success and flying up in the air with emotion and joy.

All three cards this month are heralding change in its different forms, and demanding that we pay attention in specific areas of life. First, accepting and observing, taking our time and not reacting to events. Subsequently, dealing with honesty and integrity any negative influences or obstacles that bound us to an unhealthy situation. And finally, change is coming by reaching our goal. We have achieved what we set out to do. And quite deservedly we are ecstatic about it.

To sum up: The Hanged Man teaches us about the metamorphosis which is under way and the Devil what we have to do in order to achieve our highest purpose. There is vitality and evolution with great rewards. The recurring theme of August is bondage and liberation. Breaking old patterns too. We are all evolving.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia – July 2019

by  on  in anthropology of the tarot, flavia, monthly muses, mythology, tarot

Much anticipated July is upon us. With fear and some weariness, we are told to expect nothing less than life transformative events. Astrologers, lightworkers, intuitives and everyone striving to uplift life’s frequencies is aware of the two new moons and the two eclipses that fall in July. A full solar eclipse at the new moon on the 2 July, falls in Cancer, and it’s visible mostly in south America, especially Chile. It heralds openings and opportunities. It’s a bringer of news, events, people, situations and opening of newness with enhanced energy. A partial lunar eclipse follows on the 16 July, falls in Capricorn, and it’s visible in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This is when things fall apart, get released, crumble, deteriorate, get expunged, go away for ever. It’s an emotional time for everyone.

But there is more: Pluto, God of power and poison, ruler of Scorpio, is waiting for us in Capricorn where the lunar eclipse action takes place. Expect this eclipse to have very strong Scorpionic vibes of merging and releasing. Pluto is stationed nearby Saturn, God of time and boundaries, and together they bring a very heavy structural energy that is consuming and overpowering. Moreover, they are retrograde. Jupiter in Sagittarius is retrograde. And so is Neptune in Pisces. These are big slow planets. Their impact is inescapable and profound. But fast moving Mercury is retrograde too, meeting Mars back and forth in his travels and taking his message with him, broadcasting it loud and clear. With Venus staying at home in Cancer, the energy feels further reactive.

So what does it all mean? This is the cosmic picture. But I think the cards will bring a bit of clarity in the visual realm: as depicted with the Nine of Wands, we find ourselves at the end of a battle. Indeed we are more than half way through the year. Things have concluded. It’s not all over yet but nearly. We are upright. We haven’t fallen, but the trauma of events, conflicts and challenges we had to overcome is visible. It’s not an open wound. It’s a carefully bundled trauma. We are looking around us, taking stock, and also looking to the past. The deep past and the immediate past is still fresh in our minds. It looms big. The wounds haven’t healed yet. Some are quite sweet, the pain reminding us of achievement in battle. The exhaustion is palpable. We still are not sure, however, what will come after the battle.

No worries. Here comes the Ace of Swords to tell us: go for it. You can do it. Opportunities and options are there for the taking. A noble cause will inspire and fortify your resolve almost immediately. From now on expect the pace to pick up. Once the debris has cleared out and the poisons have left us, there’s no looking back. Things will happen fast and unexpectedly. Anger and action that comes from the heart will dominate. Feelings, our sense of initiative, ideas, thoughts, concepts, our ability to deal with challenges comes to the forefront. Cosmic forces are within and without.

And finally, we are not going to be let down. The King of Swords brings in some objectivity to the whole situation. Not only that, but the card tells us that we have achieved mastery in at least one area of life. Where the battle was, where we fought and gave it all, that’s the area where we became masters. It’s a card denoting an intellectual significance to a situation, justice and knowledge. We are now confident that we have gained those hard fought gifts and our lives are imminently much richer and healthier, away from negativity, poisons and restrictions. Despite those outward heavy structures, ultimately all victory will have to come from us. And not only we will survive, but we will find ourselves in a much better place than we were before. The King of Swords is not just full of confidence and authority but he has mastered decision-making as well. By the end of July we should have taken important decisions to act upon.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia – June 2019

by  on  in anthropology of the tarot, flavia, il mantegna, June 2019, monthly muses, new moon

It is June and summer has officially started. It’s also Gemini season when we naturally become more curious, adventurous and sociable. The new moon in Gemini is a calling to favour a breadth of activities rather than depth in what we do. And it will be busy. Venus enters Gemini on the 8th of June, strengthening the vibe of flirtation, living in the moment and finding beauty in experiences and mental stimulation. All this is taking place right in the middle of the year. It is a time for taking stock and recalibrating our intentions, examining our situation and progress. We look at our achievements in the year so far, what was a triumph, and what has let us down or veered in the wrong direction, now we can set it straight or add to previous glories.

Thinking about it from that perspective, the cards that turned up look rather ominous. Messages of bad news or difficult forebodings, even notions of misfortune. But let’s take them in Gemini style. Not one at a time, but all together simultaneously. Lets try and listen to their meaning as they all talk to us at once. What do they tell us? Perhaps they tell us: we are at the beginning of everything. In some sense or another agency is with us.

We can make a course correction as we assess where we stand in relation to people and circumstances. Even at the lowest point emotionally or physically – the number one – is that we can keep our dignity and self respect, our pride and self acceptance with humility. We might be experiencing a level of anxiety or just exhaustion from a long and demanding winter. We could be feeling a heavy energy not because we are in a bad place – indeed the opposite is just as likely – but because to get where we are, took a lot out of us.

We are still carrying a heavy load we can’t let go of, and we need support. How we feel and see the world is important. The challenges we face tell us there’s a lot that has to be resolved. In order to do this, we are going to be kind to ourselves. If we need help, we should ask for it, and it’s there for us. If others need our help, we should not hesitate. A reminder that helping others is part of our own well-being, strength and dignity. Charity starts at home and it is personal as the Sun moves through the lower part of the chart, regardless where it stands on the individual one. Love, forgiveness, generosity and everything associated with Charity will guide us in moving forward.

The Misero is moving slowly. His message is to take it easy, and keep going, bring determination and acceptance into the forefront. It’s not time yet to materialise the possibilities. But they are ahead of us. What seems rough on the outside is only the beginning, not the end. We are back at the beginning of everything every single day. And there is the other side to get to. We are not there yet. Let’s not rush the journey.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia for May 2019

by  on  in anthropology of the tarot, flavia, il mantegna, monthly muses, mythology, tarot

The year is very reassuringly getting close to the mid point. Soon the sun with be coming over the horizon. In May we are steadily moving ahead with our projects and growing in abundance as things come to fruition. Such growth comes with the thundering power of Jupiter heralding justice
and encouraging us to have faith in ourselves and in the process. It’s a benevolent time, full of expansion. Whenever we see Jupiter presenting himself we feel rather a sense of butterflies in the stomach, because some luck is waiting around the corner. It could be something fortunate
that we might have wished for, or something that never crossed our minds, an explicit situation or thing that we desire will manifest, whether earned or just bestowed, it will be a gift. A generous gift of a positive turn of events that will make us feel hopeful and filled with trust. Health, wealth and prosperity as well as knowledge and learning are all protected domains of Jupiter. So a lot to look forward to.With it we become ourselves worthy and expanded in all things spiritual.

This mental fulfilment will be further enhanced by Philosofia who arrives in time to wrap up the meaning of what has been realised by Jupiter. Our optimism is well deserved but now it gets further qualified. We will be questioning and debating in order to make sense of daily routines and the unexpected. Words and thoughts will be paramount in the course of processing all the months’ occurrences. As things materialise we are called to honour the beauty around us and the earthly pleasures. We are becoming more busy, perhaps occasionally distracted or overly keen, and interested in a variety of things with excitement and curiosity.

By the month’s end we find ourselves becoming more refined, with an air of frivolity, more gentle, but also cheerfully more willing to help and take positive action that supports others, and that it is in the service of noble causes.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia for April 2019

by  on  in anthropology of the tarot, april 2019, flavia, il mantegna

April is slow to arrive. Dragging her feet and still pulling a winter veil over us, nothing is exactly clear or defined. Between dream, creativity and self-realisation, we’re unsure how to act. When we act, we change our minds or leave things half done as if moving through a cloud in a dream state. And yet April is here. At first shy and reluctant, but real nonetheless. April and spring are heralded by Euterpe, muse of delight in art and particularly sound. Inhabiting Olympus and closely associated with Apollo, Euterpe brings healing and knowledge by unearthing what is hidden. Through oracles and earthly substances, fantasy will turn to actualisation. Euterpe (and with her, ourselves) will arrive with a sense of completion and of letting go. Releasing what doesn’t serve a higher good, and allowing for the better and learned things. She brings with her the double-flute, the breath of life.

At some point by the middle of the month the energies of the new and vibrant season will be felt quite powerfully while gathering momentum. Projects will come alive. Relationships will develop. Our self-worth will increase. The pace will accelerate. The octaves will go higher. With lyric, poetry and music comes inspiration, and a new beginning full of determination is here. A confident, sure of itself future, and one filled with pleasure, is starting to materialise. The wheel is turning and things begin to take form.

The Cronus no less, right next to Euterpe, confirms it. They work together and it’s all change. But the kind of change that is bigger than us. The kind of change which requires us to surrender on some level. Certainly, on a subconscious level, surrender our fears and traumas and assign them to the past. On a practical level, we can now do things differently, as we let go of our conditioning and tap into a more authentic way of being in the world. Change of movement, change of material structures, change of habits and rituals. Let’s not forget we are talking about Cronus; a Titan who fathered gods and giants with great reach and massive powers. Euterpe was his daughter and of course a Goddess in her own right. We are now going under this influence of delight and shifting energies.

By the end of the month we become the king as we have cleared space for what we really want and what we are about. Perhaps Justice hasn’t arrived yet, neither have any of the higher values been actualised, or become integrated, but we are stepping into our own power with certainty
and purpose. The magic of the breath of the double flute will launch a transformative season into growth and possibility. As things develop we are more in control. Everything around us is gradually, or even at times, suddenly clearer. However it happens it’s inherent in the process and we
are starting to see solid gains. We are starting to make an impact and feel our responsibility in the world. The veil has shifted, so we can move from power to empowerment.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia for March 2019

by  on  in anthropology of the tarot, flavia, il mantegna

Mercurio XXXXII (42)and Rhetorica XXIII (23) jump out of the pack before we even begin our journey into the Mantegna reading. The two Gods appear so as to remind us the domination of words and communication that are the overarching influence under which events, feelings and thinking are taking place right now.  They guide the present. Mercurio in this configuraton is in perpetual movement surrounded by symbols of his power and he is the paramount healer, while Rhetorica holding a sword and looking straight at us is the warrior of truth and authenticity par excel-lance. Do not try to deceive – though we will be confused and muddled by occurrences and feelings. And what we think we want will change. But do not attempt to misguide – it will be to the detriment of those who do.

In March the power is in sacrifice and stability. But faith and desire will play their part too, and, ultimately, being in the presence of others is where our own authenticity and what we truly value will come about. Our dreams and their realization will require us a surrender to the greater forces around us and a belief that things will come through for us. The way to achieve it and how to participate in things working out, is to take practical steps. Being in the moment and being praxis, not in analysis is the advice that comes from Mantegna. And the Imperator is in support with us. The Imperator IX (9) just like Saturn in Capricorn is restrictive. He is also a heavy and serious energy with cosmic spread. As a reward, for our discipline, however, he offers us security and makes things happen. So that ideas become reality, and the ideal becomes physical. Our inspiration and creative expression are transformed into a lived experience.

And here comes Apollo to offer further oracles and truths, and magnificent dreams. Apollo is one of the most complex Gods of the ancient Greco-Roman Pantheon. His healing influence elevates us from our everyday troubles and mundane chores and ordinary existence. He is here to makes us all extraordinary, to show how we have the creative self expression within us and that we are complete. From creative self expression comes beauty as light and as un uplifting experience. So that throughout March we will have the power struggle between the heavy and slow energy of the Iperator transforming the quick, fast moving, creative, dreamy, mystical energy of the beauty of Apollo and giving it form.

The energies come together through Terpsicore, daughter of Mnemosyne. A Muse of chorus and dance she represents delight in togetherness. A reminder of our earthly powers as we find happiness in the company of others and through others. Our higher self and earthly reincarnation merge in art and love, in a collective effort and as part of a greater story. We are here and we are not alone.

Flavia