Scorpio Rising at the Remouchamps Cave

On Monday July 15, while on a family trip to the Ardennes in Belgium, we decided to stop by the Remouchamps cave. This large formation is like an underground maze consisting of chambers placed on different levels/ floors, and human presence in that location dates to the Paleolithic period, about 8000 years ago. ​

Some of the majestic, melting-like rock formations reminded me of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia:

Looking at the date’s astrological configuration, I chuckled when I saw that the Moon was in Scorpio - the sign of deep mysteries, which also happens to be the sign of my Ascendant, Moon and Saturn. In other words, I was having a Moon return, and Moon over my Saturn and Ascendant, in Scorpio.

​Scorpio is a feminine Water sign, ruled traditionally by a Masculine Fire planet, Mars - this is where its intense, sensitive, occult, investigative nature originates. The Moon being connected to our subjective consciousness and daily moods can be highly sensitive and with extreme highs and lows, when in this sign. The Moon also rules the past and memories, and in Scorpio it focuses very much inwardly, investigating those aspects of our psyche.

It is hard to put into words the exact sensation you have when you descend into the entrails of giant, otherworldly-looking rocks and touch the history of millions of years in forming. I can try to describe it by saying: exciting, intimidating, introspective… all attributes that can be related to Scorpio!

The cave was traversed by water which amazingly you could cross by boat. I found out afterwards that it is the longest navigable underground waterway in the world! The experience of waiting for the guide to pick us up by boat reminded me of Greek mythology and how souls were being crossed over to the Underworld via the river Styx. Again, the God of the Underworld in Greek mythology is Hades, which corresponds to the Roman Pluto, ruler of Scorpio in modern Western Astrology. The boat guide was embodying his role perfectly, as he was very quiet and respectful of the embedded silence of the cave.

If I were to choose a playing card to illustrate this visit, it would be the 8 of Hearts, delving into deep stillness, deep water, taking time to sort through deep emotions and memories.

This visit inspired me to create a card workshop exploring very old memories that randomly pop up and evoke a negative feeling. When we are reminded of those particular events and feel guilt, shame, betrayal, etc, our brain and body reacts as though we are in present physical danger. With the help of cards, we can identify the pattern, bring it to light and regulate our emotional response and move on with our lives.

You can find out more details about this workshop on my Courses page, it will take place for the first time ever on August 24 and very possibly it will be repeated in a few months.

And even if you can’t make it to the workshop, feel free to grab your playing card deck, think of an old memory that popped up recently, pull a card out of the deck and contemplate on what that could mean for you.

Here is a video about this topic:​