Here we are, having made it through an intense New Moon in Scorpio — so intense that I forgot to post about it! Either way, we all came to some valuable realizations about where we can start over and begin again. We’re now in the Waxing Crescent phase in the driven, goal-oriented sign of Capricorn, ready to lay the foundations that will see our new plans through.

As I mentioned in my post about the Waning Crescent in Libra, I’m starting to study the energy surrounding the cycles of the Moon. I found a great set of tarot spreads for nearly every phase (I made up that Waning Crescent one in my previous post) on The Numinous, which I’ve been making use of and finding so, so helpful. This is my spread for the Waxing Crescent, the phase of Setting Foundations.

I laid out a crystal grid of selenite and desert rose for energetic clearing and Higher Self connection, citrines to remind of my personal power, dumortierite to both ground me and also the way I express myself and my needs, snowflake obsidian for understanding of my patterns and protection of the new ones I’m trying to make stick, an amethyst cluster to calm my anxiety and further establish Higher Self connection, yellow calcite to boost self-esteem, two tree/dendritic agates to help my most useful personal structures grow, moss agate to remind me to engage in self-care, and Botswana agate for emotional understanding.

Oracle cards: Venus + Valley | Fertile new role reversed

You’ve found yourself in a really good place, where the need to “start over” has disappeared — you know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be, and now you’re in a much better position to accept the “vulnerability” that comes with pursuing personal passion. Life is quite beautiful, even if your present challenges feel like a rather unforgiving mountain! Keeping things lighthearted and appealing to yourself and what you love will keep things moving in the right direction.

Card 1: Your source of energy and willpower: XIX – The Sun reversed

Yes, we’re in the darkest moment just before things start to get brighter! This is a time to continue reflecting on what is definitely working and what really, really isn’t. Personally, nothing lights a fire under me like a taste of what does not make me happy — I can’t stand the discomfort so it makes me reach for what I really do want. This is a time for observing and making peace with your personal cycles, knowing that doing so will help you easily transcend your remaining “walls” when the time is right.

Card 2: Your talents: 8 of Swords reversed

You’ve been putting some hard work in mentally, in favour of truly being honest with yourself about what holds you back. Quite specifically, this refers to the “traps of our own making” that we set for ourselves in order to stay in pretty uncomfortable “comfort zones” — situations we flip off saying “better the devil you know than the one you don’t” and so on. Well, why does there have to be a devil? Is there a devil? Or are you staying “stuck” because you’re intimidated by how high you could fly if you open the cage?

Card 3: The environment: XVII – The Star + 5 of Swords reversed (jumper)

Above all, this is a time to maintain hope and “let it rest.” Conflict was the name of the game this past Scorpio New Moon, as our new beginnings were coloured by, well — other people’s “true colours,” not to mention our own! The worst of the battle is over, and it’s time to let our minds settle and process so we can keep climbing the mountain. Slow and steady, it’s always darkest before dawn, blah blah blah — but truly, allow yourself to be inspired by your experience, and when you turn around, you may be surprised at the loyalties that remain, ready to help you continue to grow and expand.

Card 4: Your resources: 9 of Swords reversed

If anything, the nail’s been hit on the head concerning the major “source” of anxiety at present, and as such it can begin to be released. Keep thinking in this direction and reflecting on your reasons for coming to this conclusion, and continue to allow yourself to be a little bit vulnerable, admitting both your faults and what you know are your strengths, and allow this to be the foundation on which you build your next steps. None of this is easy, but it’s necessary, and you are finally willing to keep working towards establishing patterns of thought and action that will serve you much better and actually allow you to heal.

We’re getting deeper and deeper into the dark of winter, with the days getting shorter all the time — it’s time to engage in extreme self-care, allowing the opposite to fall away and make space for the leaps and bounds we’ll all be taking when 2018 rolls around. Winter’s darkness is the perfect time to get in touch with our Inner World, to find balance through meditation and withdrawal. While it’s not really possible to close off completely, what we can do is find strength in taking little moments here and there to check out without actually getting away. There are people and situations who need us to be present, and we need to be at our best to make the best of them! But you know this — truly, you’ve reached a very stable place emotionally, finding you standing strong against some intensely challenging energetic currents. Be proud of your efforts and remain committed to working on the mental kinks that can still use some ironing out in favour of maintaining that hopeful perspective that will serve you so well as we wait for warmth and light to return to our lives on a more recognizable, more palpable scale.

There are many steps still to be taken, but as they say, “keep it 100” — even if others seem not to be trying their best, that’s never permission for you to follow suit. Hang in there, persevere, because things are shifting. While the challenges will keep coming at you, it’s up to you to inspire yourself — there’s no doubt you’ll be amazed at the results <3<3

If you’re interested in a 4-card reading like this from me, head over to my Etsy shop! Feel free to use the coupon code THANKS15 for 15% off your reading at checkout.

Decks used:

Astrological Oracle Cards. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Antonella Castelli. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2012. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

The Nature-Speak Oracle. Ted Andrews. Jackson, TN: Dragonhawk Publishing, 2006.

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.