September 22: 0 degrees Libra. Feast Day: Autumnal Equinox also called Mabon, Alban Elved or Haligmonad.

Cards in play for the today are Judgment, trump number twenty and the Ace of Cups, elemental opposites.  Water puts out fire and is thus it’s opposite. Fire turns water from a liquid into a gas, steam. Their power supersedes the power of the Queen of Swords, assigned the month of September. All fall under the protection of the Page of Cups, associated with autumn. The Judgement trump rules 0 degrees Libra, and is associated with elemental fire.  The Golden Dawn title for this trump is the Spirit of Primal Fire.

The Ace of Cups rules 0 degrees Libra and is associated with elemental water, with the Golden Dawn title for the Ace of Cups is the Root of the Powers of Water.  Today, at the Equinox, the watery moon leads the night as the seeds of elemental water, while the Sun sets it’s equal day, as Judgment, the elemental fire.

All the queens are associated with the equinoxes and solstices. Called Cardinal cusps the queens impel the change of season but as relative to the season just passed. Therefore the Fall Equinox is symbolized by the Queen of Swords who wields the Ace of Cups as elemental water, as the power that manifests autumn.

The Queen of Swords is assigned the calendar month of September. The Ace of Cups and the Queen of Swords are balanced together in the last decan of Virgo, between the Hermit and Justice, the symbol of Libra. Additionally, Trumps not associated with a zodiac sign have specific sabbats.  The Sun trump is linked to all the sabbats, as they are solar holidays but specific  trumps rule specific sabbats.   The Magician rules the Winter Solstice while the Empress is associated with the Spring Equinox.  The Summer Solstice is associated with the Hanged Man.

Ten of Discs

20 to 30 degrees Virgo; Ruled by Pluto, Venus & Mercury, Lord of Wealth, “Ultimate Security and Exchange.”

Pentacles, Discs, Coins, Stars,

Stones, Circles, Shields, Orb all.

Spheres for fear.

Diamonds, rust, all the balls fall.

Juggling for balance, or alliance.

Winding the way through the path, cutting a swath

The labyrinth twists and turns in upon itself, then out again

A woven circle journey outlined in stones.

A toss of the coin, reach for the stars, pull out the shields.

Mountains in the distance,

pocket change jingling

dwindling,

just give it all away.

Queen of Swords

The butterflies are but daydreams.

I carry on the oracle tradition,

I do as my mother did.

Grim and sad little girls grow

And become grim and sad women.

Every day brings clouds and crows.

I can discriminate, foretell.

I merely glance at the sword.

It reflects, it shines, it blinds.

I find my distractions in the high wheeling birds.

There is no escape.

I number my days with crows, clouds, and the sword.

Nine of Discs:

10 to 20 degrees Virgo; Ruled by Neptune, Saturn and Venus; Lord of Material Gain; “Direction of Security and Exchange.”

The tattooed night sky

energized by swirling illuminates

burst, beg and beckon

beacons of light,

LUX

swooping like meteors,

like shooting stars, fireflies

fireworks and sparklers

reaching to just touch,

just to brush my fingertips

a butterfly kiss, a caress

a whisper, that’s all,

a tiny thought released to the wind and the stars

floating in a Starry Starry Night,

now inked upon my arms.