September 2019 Tarot Card Astrology: Two of Swords
Sailing through her monthly rounds, the Moon drifts through the first third of the sign of Libra on Saturday, September 28, 2019, the day of the New Moon. This planetary placement brings to life the tarot’s Two of Swords. The card symbolism suggests interpretations such as indecision, inability to see the facts, and stalemate. The Moon in Libra meanwhile soothes the soul. The Two of Swords: Moon in Libra watches the swinging pendulum slow down and come to a rest, thus achieving the clarity of inner knowing.
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Two of Swords: Moon in Libra
- The Two of Swords is titled “Lord of Peace Restored.” This card indicates stalemate, indecision, and truce. For me, it represents balance, using intuition when logical input is conflicting or unclear, equality in partnership, and regaining a state of equilibrium.
- Symbolically, the Moon represents the yin quality, and governs emotions, intuition, the internal, self-reflection, the unconscious, receptivity, the soul, and the mother. Luna rules Cancer and is exalted in Taurus.
- Libra is a cardinal air sign ruled by Venus. Keywords for this sign include partnership, indecision, negotiation, equality, and careful consideration. Its symbol is the scales. Its glyph looks a pair of scales.
- Two of Swords: Moon ruling the first decan of Libra
- The calendar dates, when the Sun passes through this decan each year, are typically September 23-October 2 .
- The Moon moves through all the signs every month, and this month will pass through the first third of the sign of Libra in less than a day, on September 28, 2019 from 4 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Best Times for Ritual Work
- The New Moon on Saturday, September 28 at 12:30 p.m. Mountain time.
- The planetary hour of the Moon is from 12:46-1:45 p.m. in that time zone, so a nice bonus!
What I’m Listening To
- Debussy’s Clair de Lune (of course).
- Soon the playlist took me to Gymnopedies No. 1-3 by Erik Satie. It has the perfect seesaw of balance, sensitivity, reflection, and wistfulness. A perfect expression of the held breath then sigh of a Libran Luna.
- This evolved into Miroirs by Ravel, particularly the one known as “A Boat on the Ocean.” Its placid reflections, deep churning too gentle to break the surface, lulling repetitions, and fading echoes allow us to glide safely across the surface of deep emotions.
- Chopin Nocturnes. Quietly turbulent music that resolves into graceful stillness.
Moon in Libra
Balanced emotions. An open-minded consideration of things dreamy and intuitive. An appreciation of the fairness of ebb and flow. The equal pans of the scale of Libra help us to keep emotional harmony. Dips and sways are no more than predictable turbulence: we always descend back to equilibrium.
The foggy Moon passing through the intellectualism of an air sign conspires to use veiling vocabulary like the breathy suspiration and susurration. Egalitarian Libra purses her lips and reminds her that “sigh” and “murmur” work equally well. The miffed Moon crosses her arms.
Image of the Two of Swords
Swords represent the element air and therefore thoughts, ideas, and decisions. The two swords are held in symmetrical balance, indicating the crossroads of indecision, a typical Libran signifier. The calm water appears to be pulling back in a receding tide. The rocks are now visible, rather than being recognizable only by their secret code of swirling white water. At least, visible to those who can see. This woman is blindfolded, her back to sea, tidal flow, and threatening rocks. Sight is associated with knowledge and light with information and reason. The woman in this card has access to neither. When you can’t see all the facts, it becomes necessary to rely on the intuition, represented by the water and the crescent moon above.
The moon shown here is interesting. It is tilted as if emptying directly into the woman’s head. It fills her with insight even when logic fails her. In case of point, the moon does not point this direction during the normal course of her cycle. She only empties down as illustrated in this card under the condition of a lunar eclipse. Mythological interpretations of a lunar eclipse sometimes describe the loss of an eye, or the overthrow of the King of Reason by the impetuous rabble. The Moon in Libra eclipses knowledge so that wisdom can float to the surface.
The Title of the Two of Swords: Peace Restored
The Golden Dawn title of the Two of Swords: Peace Restored suggests a return to equilibrium. The chaos of emotions settles into quietude as we fold our arms into ourselves. That which weighs heavily on us finds its counterbalance. We reconcile. Forgive. Compromise. The urge to fight seeps out of us as we realize the opponent has a valid point. We cross the boundary from self-protection and validation into the realm of teamwork. The cross purpose of self against other resolves into the unified vision of cooperative partners.
The Astrology of the Two of Swords: Moon in Libra
All is balance. The waxing and waning of the moon. The flow and ebb of the tide. The inspiration and expiration of breath. Choices and decisions relate not only to the number two, but to the mental realm of the Suit of Swords. Our judgment is off unless we consider both sides. But after hearing the contrary testimonies, we reach our determination in a moment of silent stillness. Libra, the scales of justice, promotes fairness and careful consideration. Luna, the undercurrent of emotion and subconscious desire, stirs our turmoil and doubt. In fact, the Moon is known for her fickleness. But changeability by definition includes transition. The cusp of change is the point of stillness. Here, slowing to a standstill, the previously inconstant light of night achieves perfect poise. No longer swaying or swayed, she sinks into the static center. The ripples cease. Placidity reflects perfectly. All is clear.
Mythology of the Two of Swords
Often when I’m working with clients, the following story comes to mind. Although I’ve heard various versions, the one that came up on a Google search is a Taoist story called “Maybe.” A variation of the “fortunately, unfortunately” story, first a bad thing happens, then a good thing. But to each occasion the old man replies, maybe, wait and see.
An old farmer’s horse runs away. The neighbors each visit and tell him what bad luck it is. “Maybe. Wait and see,” says the farmer. The next day the horse comes back with three other horses. The neighbors all jump in with congratulations on the good news. “Maybe. Wait and see,” says the farmer. The farmer’s son tries to ride one of the new horses, but breaks his leg. The neighbors all shake their heads at such a sad turn of events. “Maybe. Wait and see,” says the farmer. The next day the government sends out officials to draft young men into the army. The son avoids the draft due to his injury. The neighbors all remark at the farmer’s extraordinary good luck. “Maybe. Wait and see,” says the farmer.
So often in our lives we feel the upset of things not going as expected. But it’s hardly the end of the story. Clients who are tossed by every new development don’t need a tarot reading so much as they would benefit from learning to meditate. The more we can find our peace in any situation, the more we can breathe stillness into our daily tempests, the less we turn to the cards and the more we can live our lives simply. The Two of Swords reminds us to find our peace.
Ritual for Two of Swords: Moon in the First Decan of Libra
If you would like to work with the new Moon in Libra, I’ve outlined a general ritual and a candle magic ritual, the latter utilizing a color breathing meditation. I’ll provide the correspondences for you and let you develop your own ritual based on our previous examples.
Statement of Intention for Two of Swords: Moon in Libra
Use the following suggested magical petitions and intentions in your planetary workings for the Two of Swords and Moon in Libra or let these inspire your own unique affirmations.
- Help me observe the ebb and flow of my emotions.
- Let me find the balance of stillness where I can hear my intuition.
- May I use my inner knowing to make decisions when I don’t have all the facts.
- My relationships demonstrate equality in partnership.
- Help me regain a peaceful life.
- Forgive. Compromise. Cooperate.
- May my turbulent emotions resolve into the stillness of clarity.
- Maybe. Wait and see.
Moon Correspondences
- Orphic Hymn to Selene, or any of the Homeric Hymns to Selene.
- Color: white, silver, or violet
- Number: 9
- Incense: jasmine, mugwort, or sandalwood
- Stones and Metals: quartz point, selenite, pearl, moonstone, silver
- Symbols: Perfumes, sandals, crescent shapes
- Beverage: jasmine green tea, milk, spring water
- Food and Flavors: Anything spiced or flavored with moon-ruled plants, herbs, or spices, or having a lunar shape or color. Consider crescent rolls, a banana, or a lemon poppyseed muffin.
- Clothing and accessories: wear something white and/or wear lunar jewelry such as crescent moons, anything made of silver, pearls, moonstones, quartz crystals, particularly a silver ring and a silver incense burner, dress as a child
