Astro-Archetype of the Week (May 19 - 25): The Reliable Narrator
"It builds character."
The image pictured is of Christine de Pizan who was the first female writer to make a living from her writing. She wrote “The Book of the City of Ladies” which is a proto-Feminist text, wherein she made a solid case for all the virtues of remarkable women in a counterargument to the paradigm of the times: women were the cause of all misfortune and disease, especially for men.
Informed by the planetary energy, we focus our care through one archetype in order to see all of the parts of us more clearly.
Key Astrological Transits:
May 19 | Moon in Libra opposite Mars in Aries
May 20 | Moon in Libra opposite Chiron in Aries
May 22 | Sun in Gemini trine Pluto in Aquarius
May 23 | Full Moon in Sagittarius
May 23 | Venus and Jupiter conjunct in Taurus
Venus enters Gemini
May 25 | Jupiter enters Gemini
Venus trine Pluto
Fellow people, this is a 🧃✨ week. [Juicy. Magical.] We’re clear from Mercury’s retrograde shadow period and we have a Full Moon in daring Sagittarius on Thursday (which is Jupiter’s day too!). Venus and Jupiter hold hands in Taurus as they jump into Gemini together. To me, this is clearly Flirty energy. A lil tingle, a lil sparkle energy 💋 But add in that piercing gaze from Pluto — the ability to see to the core of our desires and selfhoods.
The sky is full of that cute cow-eyed Taurean sensuality as well as the forward Aries verve, and we’re swinging into the Geminian fluid tongue with our Big Booty Blessing planet Jupiter and more personally blessing planet Venus.
It’s time. To believe we’re remarkable. To know that the character we’ve built up is capable of living an interesting and exciting story. We’re being called to set ourselves up for a Very Good Story.
And so this week’s Astro-Archetype is the Reliable Narrator. The antithesis to the Unreliable Narrator. Your task this week is to identify your reliable character traits and use them to your advantage. To go after what you want most, to defeat those mini bosses, to climb that frozen tundra mountain, and return home forever changed and triumphant. And to know you can because You’ve Got It In You.
The saying “it builds character” comes to mind. I was raised by an “it builds character” dad. When I cleaned up my sibling’s puke from a too-long car ride, he’d say, “it builds character.” When he’d shovel another couple feet of snow, many days in a row? As he’s walking out the door with the Big Shovel, he’d say, “it builds character.” Sitting through church sermons that lacked clarity and resonance? Character. I think about where my virtue of patience was cultivated and I see it clearly where my dad modeled building up character for me.
And I think of my dear-heart friend Bethany who has built up so much character in her lifetime that it wouldn’t surprise me if she cashed all of her character in for the most unbelievable, incredible story. Author, mother, soldier, linguist, leader, deep listener, sound advice giver, runner, surfer, model, stylist, yogi. She’s built up so many skills and virtues – of course she’d be able to do anything. She’s got it in her to ruck for days in tundra. She’s got it in her to create a whole new life. She’s slain me with at least 100 of her poems.
What’ll happen in her next season?
I’m living to know.
What character have you built up?
With all this character accumulated, you get to live A Very Good Story – you get to be the main character in a delightful, interesting, enchanting story.
Homework for the Reliable Narrator:
Make a Dungeons and Dragons character sheet for yourself. Literally, do this. Find an empty version of a character sheet online and identify what is in your metaphorical spellbook.
What languages do you speak? Do you speak *toddler*? Do you know how to code?
What armors you?
What is your strength, dexterity, wisdom, and charm?
What are you proficient in?
What is your background?
What is your alignment? Lawful neutral? Chaotic good? True neutral?
What traits do you carry with you from your kin?
Now, aim at what you desire most. Make a list of your non-negotiables. The only way to get what you want is to verbalize it.
Take action. What is the first action your character would take on the journey toward Your Desire?
Build your team. Every great campaign has a team of similarly compelled characters. Oftentimes, this team looks like they were put together in the dark by an unconscious person. And this is the magic. Gather your team of mis-fitted but perfectly aligned people. Who do you need on your team to achieve what you want?
Have fun with the unfoldments. Brace yourself for surprise attacks. Be sure to pack with you as many potions as your pack can carry. Always kiss the frog when you are asked to.
Moodboard for the Reliable Narrator
a Tarot Spread for the Reliable Narrator
1 - Every interesting character holds a contradiction. What is your contradiction?
2 - In every story, there is someone or something to help the protagonist on their journey. Who is your helper?
3 - The protagonist and the antagonist want the same thing. But we’re rooting for the protagonist to win over the antagonist. What is this “same thing” that you and your antagonist want?
4 - How will you become triumphant over your obstacles in your story?
5 - What will be your prize or boon once you destroy the final obstacle?
6 - When you return home, how will you be forever changed?
I am obsessed with the D&D metaphors and completely agree about the magic of the unknown and all the surprises that each reliable character can contribute to the collective mystery just by being them. This did something to me! Ah your weekly astro-archetype shares are going to become my Sunday morning coffee rituals 😍 eee!!!