The Seven of Swords and Aquarius III

Futility to Clarity

On February 8, 2025, at 7:36 AM ET, the Sun enters the final decan of Aquarius, a ten-degree space ruled by the ever-changing Moon and embodied in tarot by the Seven of Swords. The Golden Dawn named this card Lord of Unstable Effort, and Crowley calls it the Lord of Futility.

Futility is a feeling of ineffectiveness, a sense that no matter how much effort is put in, the desired outcome remains out of reach. Frustration may arise out of self-hesitation, deception, or secrecy. Perhaps we are trying to solve the wrong problem, pushing when we should be shifting, resisting what is already in motion. But the opposite of futility is not force; it’s clarity.

The Seven of Swords signals that something must change. More than anguish, it’s about strategy. It asks whether a new approach is needed, whether the path forward requires something unconventional and whether escape is an act of cowardice or cunning wisdom.

The Decan Ingress Chart

The figure in the Seven of Swords glances over his shoulder, a movement that echoes the ingress chart itself (cast from my geocentric location). He appears to be looking right back at her! The Moon sits in her domicile of Cancer but tucked away in the 6th house—a house of labor, obligation, and care. There is something hesitant about this position, a pull between the past and the future. A nurturing start, perhaps, but one tinged with possible misfortune and stolen swords.

The Full Moon in Leo occurs on February 12—the heart of this decan. If the Seven of Swords carries the weight of secrecy, hesitation, and hidden truths, this Full Moon floods the stage with an intense and unrelenting light. The tension between the Moon in Leo and Pluto in Aquarius surfaces issues of power, authenticity, and visibility.

Burning with the heat of exposure, look to this lunation to power the needed break from old constraints, perhaps a moment of recognition—even a dramatic confrontation. Uranus's T-square to the Sun and Moon shakes up the status quo. Fitting in is never worth sacrificing our hearts, passions, or happiness—even if it means standing alone. Staying true to our purpose will lead us to the right people and circumstances.

The North Node’s conjunction with Neptune in Pisces can foster secrecy and illusion but also urges us to follow our dreams. With Mars trine Saturn, perseverance and discipline will be rewarded. Seeking guidance from a trusted mentor may serve as a lighthouse in these seas of deception.

The Moon’s Path Through Aquarius III

The Moon, the decan ruler, sets the tone during these next ten days. Moving through a third of the zodiac, her journey is swift, but her influence lingers. Luna will shape the emotional undercurrent of this time with either a deceptive or courageous heart.

• February 8 - Moon in Cancer, her domicile reaches waxing gibbous phase and squares Venus in Aries.

• February 9 - Moon in Cancer conjuncts Mars Rx in Cancer, trines Saturn in Pisces, and sextiles Uranus in Taurus.

• February 10 - Moon in Cancer trines Neptune in Pisces, ingresses Leo, opposes Pluto in Aquarius, and trines Venus in Aries.

• February 11 - Moon in Leo sextile Jupiter in Gemini.

• February 12 - Moon in Leo opposes Sun in Aquarius (Full Moon at 24°06’).

The Full Moon Phase – Integration and Action

The Full Moon is a time for receiving feedback, celebrating progress, and refining our vision. This is not the final stage but a moment of culmination—a time to acknowledge what is illuminated while preparing for the next step. This phase is about movement, momentum, and responsibility. What has been hidden must now be integrated.

Check back to July 16, 2023 - New Moon in Leo; May 15, 2024 - First Quarter Moon in Leo 25°08’; February 12, 2025 - Full Moon in Leo 24°06’ (full illumination); and releasing any drama by November 12, 2025, with the Last Quarter Moon in Leo 20°04’.

The Waning Moon

After the Full Moon, our decan ruler’s light begins to fade. She starts this journey from the safety of her domicile in Cancer, only to meet the South Node in Virgo before concluding in her detriment in Scorpio.

Do the thieves slip away unnoticed? Are they pardoned or set free? The Moon, ruler of the inner world, does not allow self-deception to go unchecked. What was hidden is now exposed—not as an external trick but as the mind’s battle with cognitive dissonance.

• February 12 - Moon in Leo opposes Mercury in Aquarius and enters Virgo.

• February 13 - Moon in Virgo squares Jupiter in Gemini.

• February 14 - Moon in Virgo sextiles Mars rx in Cancer, opposes Saturn in Pisces, and trines Uranus in Taurus.

• February 15 - Moon in Virgo conjuncts South Node in Virgo and opposes North Node and Neptune Pisces. Moon enters Libra, trines Pluto in Aquarius, and opposes Venus in Aries.

• February 16 - Moon in Libra trines Jupiter in Gemini, enters her waning gibbous (disseminating) phase, and squares Mars Rx in Leo.

• February 17 - Moon enters Scorpio and squares Pluto in Aquarius.

• February 18 - Sun enters Pisces I.

Closing the Decan – A Transition of Power

The Moon continues, shifting into refinement, discernment, and deeper emotional processing. On February 18, the Sun enters Pisces I.

By the final day of this decan, do we leave futility behind? If futility marked the start, does an honest purpose emerge on the other side? The Seven of Swords asks us to examine what we have been avoiding. Are we slipping away from responsibility, or are we carving a new path in defiance of imposed rules, like the tricksters and contrarians of our time through Aquarius I, II, and III? Are we clinging to false narratives, or are we finally ready to see things as they truly are?

At the end of this decan, the Moon is in Scorpio, and the Sun is washing into Pisces. The transition from cold analysis to deep feeling, from detached observation to complete immersion, is complete. What was once an intellectual problem becomes an emotional reality. There is no more looking over the shoulder. The only way forward is through.

Tarot Activity: Reflect and Draw

Take out your Seven of Swords card and use it as the focal point for a reflective reading. Spend time observing its imagery, colors, and symbols in your specific deck—what stands out to you? What emotions or memories does it evoke?

Shuffle your deck as you prefer and draw cards to explore these three questions:

Let these cards guide you toward clarity. Journal your insights, noticing whether they affirm what you already know, deep down, or reveal something unexpected. This is a moment to move past uncertainty and into a place of conscious choice.

Lessons of the Seven of Swords

Not everything is as it seems. Hidden motives and unspoken truths may be influencing the situation. Sometimes, a clever strategy is necessary to level the playing field, especially when direct action isn’t an option. Deception is often painted as betrayal, but it can also stem from fear, protection, or survival.

Rather than rushing to judgment, consider what lies beneath the surface. Why is something being concealed? What purpose does hiding serve?

Understanding intent can offer more profound clarity about the choices being made—both by yourself and others. When faced with uncertainty, take the high road. Even when strategy is required, let integrity lead. Shortcuts and secrecy may offer temporary gains, but they often come with unseen costs.

The Seven of Swords is not just about uncovering deception—it is about choosing your orbit. Will you continue avoiding the truth, or will you meet it head-on? The Full Moon in Leo will not allow you to hide. It is time to decide.

---

Heather Marie Morse is an esoteric writer and yoga teacher who blends the wisdom of lunar astrology with the practice of yoga through her Substack newsletter, The Light Today. Her work mainly focuses on the subtle influences of light and the moon's phases on our daily lives, aiming to harmonize our inner rhythms with the universe's natural cycles.