Alignment

There's a cosmic, astrological, and terrestrial event that began August 14th  to follow through the remaining days of August, where Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars are all going to be in alignment. These planets are pertinent to The Mythic Tarot, in that each planet is associated with a Major Arcana card in the deck.

This is a good time to get our lives in alignment, and here is my interpretation. It strengthens my faith giving me a deep sense of affirming clarity. I hope you will find meaning strength in this interpretation. 


Venus rules the Roman goddess of love and is symbolic of The Empress, the Great Mother, who is beautiful and bountiful suggesting luxury and abundance. We are reminded without this Great Mother within us, we can bring nothing to fruition.

Jupiter, the planet of expansion represents the Wheel of Fortune, meaning fortune, power, movement, sudden change and reminding us of the cyclical nature of life. Jupiter also connected with the Hierophant, the Higher mind, philosophy, and the wise teacher, that reflects an individual vision of the spirit.

Saturn the planet of time, age, decay, death, finance and also represents the goddess of fertility, Aphrodite. The Devil is the Major Arcana card associated with Capricorn, the goat, representing emotional, spiritual and physical bondage. Saturn serves as a model of discipline structure and commitment. It reminds us to work hard and reap the rewards, and to know we can be released from bondage and know freedom through love.

Mars the Roman god of war rules the Major Arcana card, The Tower, which signifies radical transformation.


Here's the down low, from the Old Farmer's Almanac about the alignment of the planets, using the moon as your guide, so you can witness this rainbow of of planets and brilliant stars.

• Starting with Venus in the southwestern sky, go left and a bit higher and you’ll see the blue star Spica. 
• Continue left and slightly upward to the brilliant white Jupiter, the highest point of the rainbow. (It’s not quite as bright as Venus.)
• Go farther left and a bit lower from Jupiter to the bright orange Antares. 
• Continue left and the next bright star is the colorless Saturn, which is actually a bit higher than Antares, spoiling the perfect rainbow arc. (Saturn is dimmer than the other three planets. Antares twinkles, while Saturn shines with a steadier golden light.)
• Now continue left and lower from Saturn to finish up with the very brilliant orange Mars, near the horizon in the southeastern sky, shining brighter than Jupiter.

If you counted six “stars,” you’ve succeeded, with four of them being planets, and three (Venus, Jupiter, and Mars) being super-bright. They’re each separated by roughly the same distance from each other. The only challenge is finding a site with an open, unobstructed view halfway around the sky from the southwest through to the southeast.

Follow the Moon as a Guide

From August 14 to August 23, the Moon passes all four planets in the evening sky, one after the other, following the same path!

• From August 14 to 16, the Moon passes Venus and moves toward Jupiter. 
• On August 17, the bright object nearest the Moon is Jupiter.
• The First Quarter Moon falls in the early morning hours of August 18.
• Around August 18/19, the waxing Moon passes red super giant star Antares.
• From August 20 to 22 look for the Moon to come very very close to planet Saturn.
• Finally, on August 23, 2018, the Moon is right next to brilliant red planet Mars. The two pair up all night from dusk to dawn.

The Hierophant - Humility, Humanity, Humour

The images of the Tarot deck often depict figures that are half human, and half creature or have both a earthly and a divine nature. This I think is a good reminder of our human state. We are all deeply connected,  are no less, or no better than any other living beings on earth. We have a delicate relationship with nature and are all part of the animal and natural world.

The Hierophant is kind of a funny looking fellow being half horse and half human. If he actually existed people would either run the other way or there would probably be a lot of laughing going on. This spiritual representation of the Centaur with his beard and long hair, suggests the mature face of a priest and a wise teacher. This is Chiron embodied in this Major Arcana card. He is an inner spiritual teacher, an immortal educated by Apollo the sun-god and Artemis the moon-goddess. Chiron affirms the nature of the laws by which we must live in order to be in the right relationship with the divine.

Reflecting on the Hierophant, I'm reminded to use three important tools in life that help me to accept and understand my imperfection. The first one being humility, second to be mindful and appreciative of being a part of humanity, and lastly to avoid taking myself too seriously by maintaining my sense of humour.

The Hierophant - Come Out of Your Cave

This Major Arcana card, The Hierophant is one that causes me to reflect, which I do a lot of anyway,  however the kind of reflection this card symbolizes, is urging more than the kind of introspection that is your stereotypical navel gazing, or even meditation. It calls for us to examine not only our relationship with our spiritual selves, but also our interconnection and interdependence with others and within the world of  community.

It also calls for us to have a deeper broader vision, both inward and outwardly, so that we figure out a way to reach out to our fellow sisters and brothers, to make the world a better place. Expecting to stay isolated and happy within the safety our cave is unrealistic.

When I first came into recovery 21 years ago, I only felt really happy when I was inside the rooms of recovery. I felt safe and I knew that I belonged. People "got me", and that's why 12 Step programs work, we understand one another.

 Reality and living daily life was and is difficult. I was living and studying on working horse farm everyday, with a small group of people and I had to learn how to cope without running away through the use and abuse of alcohol. I had to find the strength to cope with each person, and whatever was happening around me in an unusual and very challenging environment, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Where my recovery really counted, and if it was going to work I had to learn how to approach living in the world. I couldn't stay inside the safe and rather utopic environment in my imagination.

I learned to forgive and accept, to love, and to be compassionate toward myself, and toward others. I was able to develop my own personal philosophy, an individual vision that guides me like Chiron the centaur, the healer, priest and wise teacher that urges us, and I came out of my cave.

The Hierophant - The Hermit - The Way To Wisdom

In many decks the Hierophant is interpreted as the old order of traditional religious institutions often based on dogma and doctrine. This is not how the Hierophant is seen in the Mythic Tarot.
I relate this mythic figure to ancient wisdom and applying the spiritual teachings of those that can share these teachings with others, who are also searching for guidance.

The Hierophant and The Hermit I see in combination, as they both point the way to wisdom, that of the elder and to the cycle of life, passing on spiritual knowledge and inner wisdom, found through endurance, patience, grace and humility.

Having mentors, both philosophical and spiritual advisors, whether official or not, is so vital to us, especially in our world today where the family unit has been scaled down so much, it is practically non-existent. We have more people single, than married  in addition to an aging population.

Those coupled are having fewer and fewer children, if any at all. Baby Boomers, myself included, are single and childless. They are now endangered of becoming what has been referred to as, "Orphaned Elders" meaning, that, there is no one to advocate or look out for them when they are in need of help or care because they are living longer, without family, and alone. We all need to help one another regardless of our age and need to be prepared for this circumstance and situation.

Our western culture has lost it's sense of continuity, that once was basic to family life, that affirmed values, reflected in the care, concern and respect for our children and for our elders. Many ancient cultures understood this inherently. Unfortunately western society seems to have lost touch with these values. The young, elders and those marginalized, are  to often not regarded as valuable, or seem to be just another part of our  'disposable society.' perception and mentality

 I believe if this situation is not addressed individually or within our society, our culture is in serious jeopardy of losing it's identity, history and even humanity. However all is not hopeless. I believe in the power of the individual to make a difference by reaching out to one another in compassion, if not through immediate family, then through extended family. As human beings we are social creatures and we all have an interdependent relationship with one another and with all living things. We have so much to learn from history, and from those who have gone before, especially from our elders.

Elder - Graphite Pencil - Catherine Meyers