Dark Moon Influences: Runes and Thoth Tarot

 

Ehwaz, Dagaz, and Uruz align with three cards from the Thoth tarot, the Prince of Disks, the 7 of Wands, and Adjustment. Apologies for not posting this yesterday to honor the Dark Moon. My husband was having some dental surgery and I had just learned that my constitutional rights are in the crapper because I’m a medical cannabis patient. So I ranted a bit while waiting for him with yesterday’s post.

But I’m back on track now, and after drawing the three cards from my Thoth deck, it felt like I should cast some runes as well to see if they resonated with the tarot cards or if they had something additional to add. The tarot cards reflect all elements as Disks (pentacles or coins in other decks) corresponds with Earth with a little Air thrown in as Crowley suggests that astrologically it blends Air with Earth. Wands corresponds with Fire, and Adjustment, a card from the Major Arcana, corresponds with both Air and Water.

The runes cast reflect Earth, Water, and although some rune masters call Dagaz a Water rune, to me it has a Fire feel to it and perhaps Air as well, so again, all elemental influences are present. I placed the runes on each of the cards as they were cast to see how they aligned with the tarot cards. Turns out, they aligned well.

Beginning with the tarot cards, the Prince of Disks is a Court card which can represent an individual, in this case, a young and vibrant Prince, or it can represent the qualities associated with that person. For this card, the qualities are integrity, responsibility, trustworthiness, and because it’s a card from the suit of Disks it may also indicate money or wealth. The Prince gives the impression that he controls and has mastered the world around him. He holds what appears to be the world in one hand, a staff in the other, controlling a bull with his arm. He sits patiently atop a black chariot impressing us with his strength, his quiet countenance on full display. The colors used are earthy and grounding.

Mannaz, an Earth element rune, represents humankind. It brings influences of social interaction and wealth potential into play. Mannaz represents our rational mind, and synthesizes our rational with our intuitive aspects of Self. It teaches us to live life to its fullest and reflects our place in society. In the case of the Prince, it reflects a higher station, perhaps one with responsibility over others.

Mars in Leo influences the 7 of Wands, and the card reflects the power of the Fire Element. Various options on the table with one less ornate wand standing in front of the others suggesting that we bring many influences into our creation. The wand in front expresses power drawn from the six standing in support. Crowley, on the other hand, views this card as more negative, as if chaos abounds and it will be through the actions of one that any victory will be had, understandable given the astrological influences, but I just don’t see it that way. Nor do I view odd numbered cards as so tragic, although it’s hard to put a positive spin on the 3 of Swords. It still looks like heartbreak no matter how you interpret it.

Dagaz, the rune enlightenment, sits on top of the 7 of Wands. The end of one phase and the beginning of a new one is the typical interpretation of Dagaz. The individual stands in the middle as energy completes and begins anew. Consciousness of Self is achieved. And in a sense, looking again at the 7 of Wands, the center wand appears as the individual in balance in the same manner as Dagaz, the left leaning wands depicting past endeavors, the right indicating the future. What stands out for both is the catalytic energy it takes to create.

In the last position of the tarot spread, Adjustment, a card from the Major Arcana, reflects the balance of Libra, a sign of Elemental Air. However, the blue shades used by Lady Frieda Harris when she drew and painted the Thoth tarot suggest a Water influence. Although the goddess stands in perfect balance, she presents a grounded strength depicted by her sword directed downward. Formerly titled Justice, Adjustment is a card that Crowley renamed and moved to become the 8th card of the Major Arcana. Her sublime countenance, which Crowley says is the “woman satisfied” also suggests nonresistance and a focus that is not derailed by any chaos around her, accounting for the Water influence.

Uruz continues that depiction of strength as the aurochs horns point downward, suggesting a force of will is in play. A Water element rune, Uruz is the rune of changes and shapes our focus into form. It governs our vitality and physical health. Placed on Adjustment, it follows the downward energy flow of the Magician’s sword, held by the goddess, the balance between Source and physical presence complete.

The goddess of Adjustment shows us our way forward in life, living as focused, creative Source beings, in equilibrium and balance. The only true duality that exists is the duality between physical and nonphysical presence. Any other expression is created while in physical form.

I’ve always viewed Goddess energy as that expanded energy of Source which creates the universe around us. And it’s also the impetus we use when focusing into bodies, so we are truly Goddess Presence incarnated. We utilize the creation energy of Uruz when we create anything, even ourselves. Like the Prince, we hold our world in our hands, managing its view and the meaning we give it. We utilize the catalytic energy of the 7 of Wands as well as Dagaz to both begin and complete our creative efforts, moving easily from one to the other. We are not deterred or derailed by anything going on around us as we stand in full focus and balance.

From the numerology of both the cards and the runes we have 7 and 8 (the Court Cards are not numbered) from the tarot and 20, 24, and 2 from the runes. 15 reduces to 6, and 46 to 10 to 1. Together they result in 7, the number of magick and spirituality, suggesting that we’re more than we think we are.

Each moment we begin anew. We can choose Source Vision as our lens through which we see the world around us. We can choose equilibrium and balance and extend that energy to all. Dark Moon energies assist us in this task as we reflect on what’s been and what’s to come.

We really do create the world we see and experience. It’s up to each one of us what that looks like.

Blessed Be