Archetypes to Embody this Libra Season
Bring the balance this season and embrace the winter to come...
Hello All,
I hope you had a wonderful Equinox (or Mabon), for myself, I still have smoke fresh in my lungs and the sounds of fireside chats keeping me warm in other ways. This morning my beloved and I cleaned our room, not only because my family is soon descending to visit, but also because the equinox is a prescient time for clearing out. Decluttering. Shedding the summer heat and taking on the many layers needed for winter. Now is the time of seed collecting, mushroom foraging, the last of the blackberries and hopefully more rest.
General Tarot Reading for the week starting16th September 2022- The High Preistess Reversed
When talking about what archetypes mean, I feel like there is no better card than this. Infacte I even mentioned the High Priestess in my previous post on archetypes. Archetypes are stories held in our collective consciousness, they are ideas or motifs recreated time and time again. And though we may not think they apply to us, they show up in our lives whether we like them or not. So why not tap into them? Why not find an archetype that suits us for the present moment and take it into our body, try it on for size; embody it.
So what does this have to do with the High Priestess? When we hear her description, just two short words, we each get a sense of what it means to be in her role. To be devout, to straddle this realm and others, to combine intuition and the tangible practically of life here on earth. We might feel awe, wonder, fear, respect, reverence or deference toward the role. But with each feeling, the picture of her solidifies brought forth from the unconscious to the conscious.
What needs to be paid attention to this week is the reversed aspect of this card. The High Priestess sits between the know and unknown. She brings light to the darkness just like the reflective moon. But not all we feel and think is true, and not all the thoughts that stir us should be said out loud. Brought to the surface. Wisdom will be found in trusting ourselves, not the power of others or their translations. And in knowing ourselves better we can distinguish lies we tell ourselves from truths.
Ask yourself: what lies have I brought into me? Where have I burried them? How can I unearth them but also send them on their way? How can I sit with truths and sort them into those I want to keep?
Where am I seeking balance in my life? How can I tap back into what matters most to me? Where will this help me restore order and reverance?
This card is such a brilliant one for equinox too. The balancing of day and night. Summer and winter. The seen and unseen. Let yourself be of both worlds, don't get lost in either. Work with the current of time, and the flow of the seasons and you'll find yourself abundant and renewed.
I also thought I would do a breakdown of the archetypes that can be explored by each of the elemental signs during this Libra season. Once again the idea of balance is ringing true here, with Libra being the scale. This season is about joy, celebration of the harvest and preparation for the cold ahead. Carry this with you as you read about different archetypes to try on over the coming month.
Fire Signs: ♈ Aries ♌ Leo ♐ Sagittarius
Eight of Swords
Ah, the infamous swords. And the eight no less, the time when all your lessons become actions and you’re on the home stretch. This card shows what I see as an irradiated wasteland, a large town in the background and in the foreground figure, tied up and surrounded by swords. What’s so interesting with this card is that around the figure, is their salvation, if they could only see past their blindfold they would see the swords waiting to cut them loose. If they could only see how strong and capable they are the path would become so much clearer.
Embody this archetype by taking a moment to pause your thoughts. If you can, take a step back and try to see your situation from a birdseye view. What do you have at your disposal that will be helpful for you? I also see this card as the character of Joan of Arc, stepping into her power but also being brought down by it. To embody this, try to take off the blindfold you have on the injustice around you. You never have to solve it all but finding your small part in it is both vital and brilliant. Where can you bring balance, harmony and a depth of thinking that can only spring out of a place where hope was kept alive?
Earth Signs: ♉ Taurus ♍ Virgo ♑ Capricorn
Queen of Cups Reversed
Doubling down on the Reversed cards today Earth signs, how very overachieving of you… But for real, this is a beautiful card for this coming libra season. For us earthly ones, there can be such difficulty accessing emotions in a way that we feel is “correct”. But what this card reminds us is that there are no grades for feelings. You can’t pass or fail. You can keep them all bottled up or you can let them all roll out. Neither of these is the best, but somewhere between them sits the Queen of Cups. Within the water but a part of the land, feeling her emotions but not lost in them. Oh balance, there you are again. In the reversed position this card is more of self-care, of taking time to sit with your innermost feelings and acknowledge them for what they are. Admire them even. Just to note, the Earth Signs got a water-heavy card and Water Signs got an earth-heavy one. Maybe you each have something to learn from the other?
Embody this archetype by taking some time alone. Preferably near a body of water. Dip your toes in, feel the pull and its steady softness. Let yourself be with your emotions as opposed to fully in them. This card makes me think of the gentle love and compassion that a mother brings. Give that gift to yourself this Libra season. Treat yourself with the kindness that you should show to a small child, even when it’s shouting and sad and sleepy. Patience with yourself will go a long way.
Air Signs: ♊ Gemini ♎ Libra ♒ Aquarius
Justice Reversed
Just like the card of the High Priestess the Justice card has two pillars framing the central figure. But while the High Priestess columns represent the duality of existence, with and black, night and day, the grey columns of Justice serve as a reminder of the grey areas of life. The twilights, the sunrises, the whole damn season of autumn. Within the hand of the justice figure scales are being held, but so is the sword. Balance is essential but so is a strong arm necessary when that balance is lost. Not in a carceral state kind of way, more in an eat the rich abolisht the police kind of way. In the reverse position, this card indicated injustice, that the scales have been tipped out of balance, which is so discordant with the feel of this astrological season.
Embody this archetype this Libra Season by finding where you feel you have acted unfairly recently. Right those wrongs, especially if they were committed against yourself (Justice Reversed reeks of the inner critic). Knowing the moral way to do things is aloos lost without the action and bravery to do what is known to be good. Justice Reversed asks us to seek out where we are not living in alignment with our values and to rebalance that aspect of our lives. In doing so we will bring harmony not only to ourselves but to others.
Water Signs: ♋ Cancer♏ Scorpio♓ Pisces
Knight of Pentacles Reversed
Interesting things going on here, Water Signs. The Earth Signs got a water-heavy card and you got an earth-heavy one. Maybe you each have something to learn from the other. This card is not one you like the feeling of, the flow of water signs and their vibrant bubbles within the confines of a pentacle can make you feel a little stagnant. Kind of like water that has pooled and has nowhere to grow, it could make its own ecosystem, or it could stink. The knights often represent the stirrings of responsibility which combined with the practical earth vibes could make you a little off balance. But in this stillness, we can find self-discipline that will only inspire you but others.
Embody this archetype this Libra Season by letting yourself sit in stillness. Don’t give in to perfectionism or to procrastination. Instead, when you find boredom creeping in, embrace it. Find the joy and the play, in a way that only water signs can. Adorn yourself with seasonal attire, and lean into celebrating the autumn and the earthly changes we all must encounter. Remind yourself that while you may not see movement right now, still waters run deep. Let yourself ease into it like a hot bath.
If you want a more personalised breakdown of how to incorporate archetypes into this upcoming astrological season, I would suggest booking a written reading. These readings are sliding scale, so no-one has to do without guidance just because we exist within capitalism. Other options for written readings are upcoming lessons for this season, full-year readings (perfect for birthdays or fresh starts) or just a quick check-up reading to assess your current situation (financially, emotionally, romantically, career-ly). If any of this sparks an interest in you Book a Reading today…
Catch you in the ether,
M
Xandua Tarot is supported by readers. If you haven’t already signed up for weekly updates (and a Free Tarot Basics Workbook), consider subscribing.
Want a written reading, or a zoom session to answer a burning question or two?
If you like my offerings or want to dive in on the archetypal discourse…
Logo: Valentine Design Co
Photos: Harrison Haines, Kasuma Pille Kirsi
Connect: xanduatarot.carrd.co