What would you do, if you knew you could not fail?
attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt

This week kicks off with the hugely important American Eclipse. So I half expected a fateful Major Arcana to be our way-shower.

But although I was at first surprised, upon reflection, I knew the Tarot was sending us just what we really need (as, in fact, it always does). This is a very specific, helpful message, and more to the point, in some ways, than a Major might be.

Following last week’s sunny Four, we welcome the similarly bright Three of Wands.

The Three of Wands offers a message about the importance of tenacity and patience, if we desire success.

In the story of the fiery, magical Wands suit, the Three naturally follows the Two of Wands, which is the time of deciding. In the Three, the figure has already launched his choice, and his will is now in motion. With a calm confidence, in the golden light, he waits for the arrival of the success he has earned, as the ships sail by below.

The DruidCraft Tarot’s authors Stephanie and Philip Carr-Gomm point out that in the times of the sailing ships, such commercial enterprises were a gigantic risk, incredibly expensive and an investment that could take years to realize – sometimes years without a single word of progress. Yet if their ships returned safely home, the owners stood to gain enormous wealth and power.

In addition, the figure in this card bears a very strong resemblance to The Magician, if his back was turned to us. He is observing the result of successful manifestation. Power fairly throbs within this dazzling card.

Threes and Fire

In the Qabbalah Tree of Life, this card is a component of Binah, the uppermost feminine element, and which is symbolized as the mother of the Shekhinah.

Its meaning is Understanding and it is associated with the Queens of the Tarot. And all of the Tarot threes are always connected to the biggest Three, The Empress.

Threes are about movement and change, synthesis and manifestation, and fertile possibilities coming to fruition.

And, as mentioned, the element associated with the Wands is Fire, which rules the qualities of creativity, action, magic, growth, and passion.

Arthur Waite describes this card saying, “Here we see a calm, stately personage, with his back turned, looking from a cliff’s edge at the ships passing over the sea. Three staves are planted in the ground, and he leans slightly on one of them.”

The Leo New Moon, the Lion’s Heart, and the Sun in Virgo

It’s nearly impossible to overstate the importance of the astrology this week. Not only is it a powerful second New Moon in Leo (and solar eclipses always occur during a New Moon), the Royal Star Regulus, which is at the heart of the constellation of Leo, is conjunct this momentous eclipse.

And the very next day, the Sun slips from Leo to Virgo, Goddess-centered sign of health, being service to others, and impeccable integrity.

During this eclipse window (which began on the Lunar eclipse on Aug. 7), we have been encouraged to reflect and review, and then release what has ended, with the extra help of Mercury retrograde and the waning Moon.

Now, with this New Moon, and the amplified energy of the eclipse, a chapter is closing forever. What is your intention for the new one about to commence?

Darkstar Astrology columnist Marina writes, “This is the big one, the Solar Eclipse on one of the royal stars of Persia, Regulus. The famous fixed star in the heart of Leo the Lion.” She also has written a fascinating article going into more detail about this ominous star of ancient legend.

But in a nutshell, according to Wikipedia (with my own emphasis added):

The Royal Stars were used primarily for navigation. They were also believed to govern events in the world. Major disasters, breakthroughs, and historical phenomenons were seen as caused by the stars and their alignment in the sky during the time in which the event occurred.

When the stars were aligned accordingly, favorable conditions followed, and when they were negatively aligned, disaster was predicted. Because Regulus was the most influential of the Royal Stars, events that took place while Regulus was in dominance were amplified and grave, foreshadowing destruction.

Here we have a beautiful card for shining our heart’s intention into the world. To birth something new, we have hospiced the death of something obsolete. Now, like the figure before us, we can stand tall, contemplating the ships returning, laden with our desires.

With the lion’s heart of courage intertwined with right action, success can be achieved. By the next New Moon, we will be on the cusp of Equinox, and another great turning of the Wheel.

Want even more astro-info? For a  joyful, poignant, decidedly mystical take on this magical moment, you might enjoy my friend Sally’s video. (Thanks, Marsha, for sharing it with me). 

Dreams Launched and Returned

With Wands, we are not really talking about a merchant’s material riches on those ships a-sailing. The focus is not on the goods within, but the successful manifestation of our energy and will.

This week, be looking for results that are the culmination of your prior planning and foresight. And consider how plans made at this time will pay off for you later. Are you willing to wait patiently for your desire? How might your passion and creativity contribute towards a better future?

When success is in sight, instead of prematurely pouncing, or (more commonly) already turning towards the next thing, this is an opportunity to pause.

Take some time to experience this sweet energy of transition and fulfillment, and observe how what you have planned is now coming home to you.

This happy anticipation can be a quiet space in the midst all our doing. Rather like the time out of time of an eclipse. This is the Understanding, where inspiration and spiritual replenishment occur.

Seeing the Big Picture

Take this opportunity to see the larger patterns of your life, and lay the groundwork for a long-term, successful future. Step back for some bigger, celestial perspective. What vision nurtures your better self?

If you knew you had infinite time and resources, what would you set into motion? If success was guaranteed, what magical transformation would you be performing?

As the Sun disappears behind the Moon, release what is no longer in harmony with your most noble nature, or the highest benevolence for our hurting world. As Sol returns and is reborn, use all your wisdom to know and name what you wish to manifest, perhaps in ritual, or other ways of focusing.

If your vision is the call to become something better, you surely have the golden blessings of the Universe.

May your best, brightest desires return to you threefold.

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