Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls.
Maya Angelou

This week of the New Moon in the sign of Aquarius and the start of the Lunar New Year, we are visited by an old friend who, over the years, has frequently appeared on important lunar dates. Welcome this week, to the Seven of Pentacles.

The Pentacles of the Tarot inform us of the physical world and practical matters in our lives: our health, our money and resources, our homes, and our work.

And as most people may be aware, seven is considered a “lucky” number in Western traditions. But why?

Traditionally, it is a number of magic, spirituality, and initiation into a deeper realm of Mystery.

There are seven main chakras, the human body is said to renew itself on a cellular level every seven years, each phase of the Moon is seven days long, there are seven colors in the spectrum, and seven notes in the musical scale.

When working with the Major Arcana of the Tarot, we like to divide the 22 cards into three groups of seven, with The Fool standing alone. Each group represents a different level of understanding and depth.

And for most of its history, astronomy consisted of seven planets, not the nine (if you, like I, still include Pluto in that number) that our more powerful telescopes have revealed in the last century.

Thus, as Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm discuss in their companion guide to the DruidCraft Tarot, “Contemplating the existence of these [Tarot] sevens, we realize we are touching upon an essential structure of both the macrocosm and the microcosm…”

The Fullness of Time

What an interesting time of year for this card to appear, for it depicts the young man pausing and considering his harvest. The vine is laden with fruit, the Pentacles of abundance. He has done everything he can to cultivate this garden.

Now, he gazes with tender appreciation at what he has worked for. He seems to be considering whether or not his results are ready for reaping.

Although for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the growing time of year is still in the distance, we are coming to the threshold of Imbolc — the sabbat often associated with sacred initiation.

It is a time for dedicating ourselves to a new cause, or committing to a program of new spiritual studies and apprenticeship. What results would you like to see in your life, as you consider Who or what to pledge your allegiance to for the next year and a day?

It’s also the time of year when those of us who love to dig in the Earth start receiving tantalizing seed and plant catalogs. Although the soil may still be frozen and Winter has not yet departed, we can sit by the Fire and dream of lush greenery come Spring and Summer.

Of course for our friends below the Equator, you are approaching Lughnassadh — which is the first harvest celebration. What a perfect card for you!

Ripening is a process that happens in the fullness of time. We humans love our illusion that we can control and manage time. But no matter how precisely we may try to schedule and measure it, we are all, in the end, subject to the laws and rhythms of our Mother Earth and Her cosmic neighbors.

There is only so much that we can control with our labor and diligence. And then the rest is up to Nature.

So, too, this young man has done his part, and now he has no choice but to surrender to the Earth’s own wisdom. The pace of Nature is a gift, not an obstacle.

Knowing this, he cooperates with the good fortune of the Sevens.

Planting and Cultivating Good Fortune

In addition, this week’s New Moon signals the start of the Lunar New Year, one of the biggest celebrations on Earth. This year we are welcoming the zodiac year of the Fire Rooster.

In Chinese astrology, each zodiac year is not just associated with an animal sign, but also one of five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. (These are slightly different from the five elements of the Western esoteric traditions: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Mystery/Spirit).

Both the zodiac sign and the element shape the astrology of the year. Element-sign combinations recur every 60 years.

In a Fire Rooster Year, we can expect conflicts, controversy, and plenty of debate. Its cocky influence will bring about change, whether it’s needed or wanted by anyone else. The Rooster is always ready to take on any challenge, practical or not.

According to feng shui expert, Katie Weber,

“The rooster is one of the zodiac’s most proud animals, strutting his stuff all around the barnyard. It’s also a fire year – a year when we have more optimism for growth and opportunity.

“The rooster is bringing wonderful energy in the year ahead — and to all members of the household. The reigning star, the 1 star, heads to the center and that promises to bring more optimism, opportunity, and MONEY in the year ahead.

“The Year of the Monkey [last year] took a toll on everyone with its tiresome annoyances, frustrations, and dragging energy.

“Everything is undergoing a HUGE shift in 2017.

“We have excellent wealth energy moving into the sector where it can bring everyone in the family a double dose of opportunity and growth, income and a chance at the brass ring.”

Although in Chinese Feng Shui principles, the number 7 is not lucky, here in the West, it definitely is. So using this fiery new Rooster energy, what seed of your vision and desire will you plant on this magical New Moon?

The suit of Pentacles resonates beautifully with increased wealth, home comforts and improvements, and physical well-being. This could be an ideal time to improve your own home or office according to the principles of feng shui.

In addition, Cafe Astrology notes that this Aquarius New Moon is a time to “solve problems that require thinking ‘outside of the box;’ look to the future with a brand new, positive, and hopeful vision; brainstorm and socialize.”

As you plan and dream about your goals in the months ahead, Aquarius encourages you to think globally, in a profoundly humanitarian way. What can you begin during this sacred time, that could benefit your tribe, your community, your home on Gaia?

In what ways might you now allow Nature’s timing to support you? How is time your ally, not your enemy?

As you prepare to manifest your desires in the days ahead, are you being invited to pause a moment? Gaze at what you have already created, and take stock. If you need to fine-tune, you can, but it may also be that, as the old Moon cycle ends, some important completion is underway.

Perhaps this is the time for you to consider what you have learned and what you might change in this fresh start.

Before you rush off to your next thing, take this time to linger a moment and reflect. And be sure to give thanks for the abundance already given to you.

What was once only potential is now in the final stages. And at the same time, a powerful new start is at hand.

Plan your new garden with passion and patience. May it become a flourishing temple of blessings.

(With love and blessings to The Church of the Earth and Gaia’s Gardens, Raleigh, NC.)