Practicing with the Planets — Unpacking the Poetry of the Pisces New Moon
At the beginning of Pisces season, I wrote a post on Medium titled “On Films, Feelings, and the Focus of Pisces Season.” In that post, I talked about how my body sensed the arrival of Pisces season before I did because I was staying up late watching movies, leading to many strange dreams. Ironically, the Oscars, the most iconic night for film, also falls on the New Moon in Pisces.
Specifically, the New Moon in Pisces will occur on March 10th at 5:00 AM EST. It begins a cycle that heightens our intuition and emotional connection with ourselves and others. Therefore, this Worm Moon urges us to explore our innermost being and reveal our true identity. This moon also means returning to my roots and connecting to the role of imagery, illusion, and identity in working through the change in seasons.
The Wild Unknown: Analyzing Image and Deconstructing Identity
When I discovered the upcoming new moon was a Worm Moon, it reminded me of one of my all-time favorite tarot decks, The Wild Unknown Tarot. Around 2012, Kim Krans created this deck, which utilizes the symbolism of nature and animals to convey the images of a conventional tarot deck. However, unlike the vivid colors and people in a traditional tarot deck, Krans’ deck is stark, with primarily black-and-white hand-drawn images that emphasize the depth and intensity of their meanings.
On the other hand, traditional tarot decks are usually vibrant and colorful, focusing more on human life. For those familiar with tarot, most tarot decks are direct interpretations of the original Rider Waite Smith Tarot, painted by Pamela Colman Smith in the early 20th century. While these cards are excellent, their images reflect their time and creators. Therefore, I enjoy collecting classic and non-traditional decks that provide a more innovative take on the originals.
Therefore, the Worm Moon reminded me of Kim Kran’s artwork and writing because her deck is full of drawings of earthworms and references to the earth and identity. So, to write a message for the Pisces New Moon, I have pulled the cards that reflect the Worm Moon from The Wild Unknown deck, which includes the Nine of Swords and the Five of Swords. I also included the Moon Card in the middle to tie in with the Worm Moon. When reading these cards together, a very Piscean message appears.
The Nine of Swords is known as the “nightmares” card, which in Krans’ deck represents “dark visions and anguish” or the feeling of battling internal demons. The Moon card, another card of darkness, follows this. In The Wild Unknown, Krans describes it as a card of “vivid dreams and fears.”
However, the Moon also represents the ethos of the entire deck, and Krans writes that “in many ways, the Moon card encompasses the idea of The Wild Unknown. The shadow realm is where dreams, fears, and mysteries are born. Much darkness can linger here, and if you aren’t careful, this can lead to a period of anxiety and self-doubt . . . almost as though you’ve lost your way in a house of mirrors. Many great artists have roamed this inner landscape. It’s where imagination and creativity drift freely upon the midnight air.”
For me, the Moon is also a Pisces card, and Kran’s poetic description of the card depicts all of the themes of the Pisces season. All of the water energies come together in the Moon card, and the Worm Moon is also very Scorpionic energy, as it encourages a transformation of the soil or unearthing the depths of one’s true identity. Finally, the Five of Swords card follows the Moon card and represents the final worm card. According to Krans’ deck, this card means “self-destruction” and features an image of a worm being split in half by several swords.
I interpret the term “self-destruction “ in two ways: negatively, when it comes to self-sabotage, and positively, when viewed as a renovation or transformation process. In both cases, you must confront the different versions of yourself to grow and develop. However, that is impossible with an idealized or illusionary understanding of the self. Therefore, this message can be applied to the potential benefits and pitfalls of Piscean Energy, though it may seem like an unfavorable message for the Worm Moon.
The Wild Unknown cards warn us to be mindful of the negative aspects of Piscean Energy, such as overindulgence and delusion during this time of dreaming and mysticism. Sometimes, when we experience difficult times or find ourselves at our lowest point, we might discover something profound about ourselves. The Tarot cards suggest that examining our flaws and limitations can be unsettling, but it’s a necessary step in our personal growth. Therefore, if you’re going through a tough time, the Worm Moon can be an opportunity to confront your fears, acknowledge your struggles, and gain a deeper understanding of your potential.
Poetry and Perseverance: Prefacing the Practice with Pisces Moon
As I analyze the significance of images, identity, and illusions during the Pisces season, I am also reflecting on the meaning of the worm moon. The worm moon represents the beginning of Spring and brings forth the image of an earthworm breaking through the dirt. With the New Moon, the sun and the moon join Neptune and Saturn in Pisces to symbolize a renewal period and what it means to unearth our dreams for the future and till the soil of our greatest hopes.
In this sense, New Moons are an ideal time to set intentions and manifest our desires for the upcoming months. Pisces, in particular, is closely associated with artistic expression and creativity. It’s also worth noting that manifesting is a form of artistry in itself, and even those who don’t consider themselves artists can become one when they display. When manifesting, we co-create with the universe and design our lives just like an artist creates a masterpiece.
Therefore, I have crafted some questions and journal prompts that should help you start thinking about what intentions you want to set at this time. Some are from the previous post about Piscean themes, and some are just for the New Moon:
- What do my dreams (or nightmares) tell me about myself or my environment?
- How can I use my intuition to express myself creatively or tap into my unique gifts and talents?
- Where and how can I establish better emotional and energetic boundaries (either with people, places, things, activities, etc, which drain your energy)?
- What people, places, things, activities, etc, fill my cup or give me more energy (and what can you do to honor the presence of this life-giving energy)?
During this worm moon, the worm cards also suggest examining the factors hindering us from pursuing our creative dreams and goals. With Saturn in Pisces, this is an ideal time to reflect on the significance of self-discipline and self-control in our artistic practice and the need to balance our emotions to achieve our objectives.
In closing, I have written a poem/chant honoring the Pisces Full Moon. I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful for your moon rituals. Remember to charge your crystals and Florida water, and make some moon juice. As always, I wish you all the trippiest Pisces dreams and a Happy New Moon!
On this night of Pisces Moon
I feel the harvest, soon to bloom
Like corn, like flowers, like stalks of sun
I pass the hours, becoming One
From Dusk to Dawn and Night to Day
The fae, the frogs, the fairest pray
For love, For money, For all that is Good
The time is now to ascend from the woods.
