Dark of the Moon,
New Beginnings,
Dark of the Moon,
Plant a seed tonight,
Dark of the Moon,
What we envision
Will come to be
By the Full Moon’s light.

Back again after his last visit at Beltane, this powerful New Moon and Solar eclipse to start our week brings with it a visit from none other than the Page of Pentacles.

The Pages in the Tarot, sometimes depicted as Princesses or even Daughters, are often messengers, or catalysts for change. They may indicate an actual child (male or female), or our own “inner child.” But they are open to possibilities and taking risks.

Of course, the Pentacles suit, ruled by the element of Earth and the direction of North, is very steady and grounded, so risk-taking in the Pentacles is more like a new beginning than impulsiveness. This Page is all about work, practical matters, health, money, knowledge, and real-world skills.

Behind him is a grove of trees, ahead is a newly plowed field, and he is surrounded by flowers: it would seem that he is in transition, in a period of possibilities, with deep roots that support him.

But no fruit has yet been brought to bear. In the distance the lofty peaks beckon, yet for now, he is focused only on his Pentacle Coin which is almost floating in his hands. Is it yellow? Or is it transparent?

Counting Down to the Solstice Conjunction in Aquarius

With this New Moon, accompanied by a total Solar Eclipse (sorry, only viewable in parts of South America and southern Africa), we are on our way to change as profound as moving inexorably towards the light at the end of a birth canal.

For years, but especially in recent weeks, every astrology adept I know of has been heralding the big shift ahead as the two giant planets Jupiter and Saturn change signs, both moving into Aquarius this week. Then, on Winter Solstice next week, they will arrange themselves in a perfect conjunction something that only happens every 20 years or so. And a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in Aquarius has not occurred since the beginning of the Renaissance.

But first, there is Monday’s New Moon/Solar eclipse. (And if you are reading this after the actual eclipse, don’t forget that eclipses continue to impact us for weeks and even months).

Astrologer Simone Butler at Mooncircles.com urges:

Hold fast to your inner light as you release the old, and light a candle to affirm a new dawn on the 14th. And, remember that we have to experience an accelerated collapse of the old paradigm to make way for the new one.

On Dec. 21st at 10:21 a.m. PST, Jupiter (our highest vision) joins Saturn (the patience and wisdom to build anew) in forward-thinking Aquarius. Call on all that’s sacred to bless and heal our world.

Thus, as the paradigm continues to crumble at an ever-increasing pace, this week we are given an opportunity to review what we have and how we prioritize the matters related to the material world. Something the Page of Pentacles is studiously engaged with.

Our faithful weekly interpreter, Annie Heese notes:

Eclipses have the power to set up themes for the coming six months. In the Jupiter-ruled sign of Sagittarius, matters related to faith, optimism, belief systems, philosophy, sharing ideas, and our sense of adventure become a strong focus on a personal level.

This eclipse is about new beginnings regarding all of these matters.

Occurring in Sagittarius, we are called upon to:

• increase our understanding and awareness of the world around us;
• muster up the courage to expand our horizons and branch out into new ways of thinking
• gain more confidence and optimism by focusing on the “big picture”
• transcend the details of mundane existence
• work on positive thinking as a way of life
• take an exam, apply for or begin a new higher learning course, or travel
• nurture faith, hope, and vision being careful to moderate our expectations.
  …

An eclipse occurs close to the nodal axis, and this eclipse is closer to the South Node of the Moon. Eclipses close to the South Node tend to “feel” a little more challenging than those conjunct or closer to the North Node, as we can concentrate too much on the idea that we might have to let something go.

Good thing we have this Page to keep us calm, steady, and focused. Clearly, he treads lightly on the Earth.

In addition, Robert Wilkinson, in yet another of his thought-provoking articles, notes:

[This] last decan of Sagittarius is the most stable of the three, and “steadies the adventure” while showing us the way to spread the word, or hear the word that’s being spread. We are at the end of the harvest time, “gathering our medicine” we begin to celebrate the impending “return of the Light” after the Solstice.

This continues to be an intensely transformational period, and this time offers us a chance to enjoy life, see the potential, let go of obsolete rules, structures, and assumptions, making time our ally as we approach the threshold of a new 20 year and 200 year era.

Hearing the word, or spreading the word, of course, is precisely what pages do.

And remember that the Pentacles do not only represent money. They stand for all the resources that support our physical well-being, including health, home, work, and even the most valuable, nonrenewable treasure: time.

How perfect, then, for this steadfast, thoughtful Page to be the messenger that guides us to make time our ally.

But then, as mentioned, Jupiter is moving into the sign of Aquarius on Saturday, after Saturn does so on Thursday the 17th. With the giant planets changing signs and coming into a rare alliance with one another, this is definitely a week to pay attention and stay grounded.

Just like the Page of Pentacles indicates. He (or she) is both the fresh, youthful idealist, but also the instinctively rooted herald.

My beloved friend, sidereal astrologer Sally Nurney, sums all this up perfectly in her very powerful Lunar Lowdown video this week:

When I seek our Star Wisdom for this Moon meditatively, the sky is dark and Saturn and Jupiter shine in front of me. I am buoyant and I can fly up into the air easily like a leaf blown by the Stellar winds and so I ground immediately, tethering myself deep into the earth to counter this “fly-away” – for I know that without a deep root, any wisdom gathered here is meaningless.

This is a metaphor for us all. In these heady times, it’s all about being rooted….

In these times when we may feel that there’s nothing we can trust in the world around us…well, this is our clue : it is time to go beyond the “world around us” as we know it – beyond the seen world… and ever so more into our sacro-magical training.

Deep… deep into the earth, root your self… and be still.

Like the Page holding his disk in his fingertips, staying light and flexible is useful, but being a representative of the Element of North and Earth is how we navigate the cosmic winds of epochal change now sending us into this time of new birth.

What seeds will you plant on this New Moon like no other in our lifetimes?

Rooted in Future Possibilities

This year, our lives have been turned upside down, and you and I are well aware that “normal” as we have taken it for granted is probably gone forever.

So now is our opportunity to reflect and choose what matters most, then prepare to work to bring about the results we want.

To what (or whom) do we give the highest value? How do we prioritize the importance of our jobs? Our health? Home? Family? Friendships? How do we find our way to create a new, more sustainable future?

How careful and deliberate, like the Page, are you when it comes to protecting and cultivating those things of the most consequence to you?

How do you define success? What would it take for you to feel more expansive, abundant and still be on solid footing? What is your ultimate dream in practical terms, and what are you doing to make it come true?

Especially in this turning of the age, when the old is not quite gone, but the new is not yet firmly underway?

The Page offers us the opportunity to make positive changes, to solve problems and bring into the real world what we envision.  Consider carefully what is already given to you, and use the Pentacles’ steadfastness and stamina to help you be a wise steward of the goodness that is at your fingertips.

Gales of change are shaking our civilization to its foundation. We have no choice but to consider new, fresh approaches.

With the Page’s blessing, the Earth awaits the New Moon seeds of your vision.