This new moon (arriving on Tuesday, the 11th, exact at 3pm ET) echoes and concentrates the celestial influences of the spring season and year as a whole: the pathways of and between the Hierophant—the leader of spiritual institutions and initiate of traditions—and Temperance—the transformer that offers healing after the breakdowns of death.

As well as being associated with this new moon, the Tarot’s 5th Major Arcana, the Hierophant, is the undercurrent of the year because of a numerological connection (2+0+2+1=5) while Temperance comes to offer us a full moon revelation on May 26th. This full moon is also a lunar eclipse.

Eclipses interrupt the usual dance of the sun, moon, and earth. During an eclipse, a shadow is created by blocking the usual flow of light. Stepping out of the ordinary into this strange light compels us to look again, to think anew about what we thought we knew. Shadow exposes shadow. And when we recognize that something we see no longer serves, it’s time to break the pattern, heal the damage, set in motion the transformation.

With eclipses come along the Hierophant-Temperance axis profound transformations related to our spiritual life, how it is organized, and who yields power within this sphere are possible.

Deck creators who have reimaged the Hierophant as Teacher, Messenger, or Singer show us how the Hierophant might be transformed.

• The Gaian Tarot Teacher may be the humble human figure offering a healing weed you need to tend your body. Or maybe not. The tree, the coyote, the heron are just as likely to offer the teaching that illuminates.
• In the Next World Tarot, the Messenger questions the status quo and exhorts you to as well. She calls out the policies and practices that seek to control through fear and reminds you already know that this is wrong, that there is a better way. She is the spokesperson not because she alone has the solution, but because she has listened to the many, synthesized their wisdom, and reflected back the truth of the community with eloquence.
• The Minoan Tarot’s Singer has been taught the traditional songs. She knows that the singers of the songs become the voices of the Goddess. She does not sing alone. She teaches the songs to others. Helps each singer to find their own grace and range. Then guides the disparate voices to join together into a beautiful whole.

These versions of the card emphasize humility and collective wisdom as well as highlight the source of this archetype’s wisdom as flowing from the Greater Than the individual.

This year’s Summer Solstice-hinged retreat-in-everyday life, Walking the Ways of the Summer Light, takes inspiration from this re-envisioned Hierophant and offers practices to attune to the healing offered by Temperance.  We begin with a no cost orientation call for the whole season on Sunday May 23rd at 4pm ET. Element themes with prompts offered through daily emails and/or an overview booklet are containers for spiritual exploring and soul tending. Weekly sharing circles allow us to gather and learn from each other. Yes, we join together as Teachers, Messengers, and Singers! Full details are up and registration is open. Only 11 days until we start!

Even though emergence is beginning in some countries, the pandemic is still with us globally and in our memories of what we have lost. With the needs of a grieving planet so great, many spiritual leaders to help us  through and birth the next becoming will be required. The patterns of the year inspire me to believe that is possible if we will answer the call, and this season is particularly potent for doing this work. We all have a part to play. 

To help you explore the part you have to play, you can use these questions for reflection and card play:

CALL: How can I answer the call to a new kind of spiritual leadership this year?

WISDOM: What spiritual wisdom of mine meets the needs of this time?

NEXT STEP: What is the next step to take in sharing my spiritual wisdom this moonth?  

I do offer this as an e-reading in my collaborative initiative format for $23.  Sign up with Pay Pal or email me about sending a check. When I receive notification, I’ll be in touch to let you know about when to expect to receive your reading by email. I generally have openings to do these readings on Mondays and Saturdays.