UPDATE: In a more recent essay I explored the idea that a mathematically-derived monthly “New Moon” card (similar to a “birth card” or a “year card”) might be a useful addition to this spread. This is calculated by summing the “day-month-year” digits for the date of the New Moon, reducing as necessary to a number below 22, and identifying the associated trump card as a “big-picture” summary statement for the month. Additionally, I’ve begun doing a “quintessence” calculation for the eight cards in the “lunar phase” positions as a further refinement. Note that a better way than “theosophical reduction” for determining these trump cards would be “casting out nines” (subtracting increments of “9”) since it can arrive at zero (the Fool), something that adding up the digits can’t achieve.

The metaphysical exploration of the lunar cycle is fascinating stuff. I created a monthly forecast spread based on psychological astrologer Dane Rudhyar’s 8-phase Lunation Cycle, with a nod to Marc Robertson’s Cosmopsychology: Engine of Destiny.

Lunar Look-ahead Spread