Friday, July 29, 2011

The High Priestess/Knight of Cups. The High Priestess, my significator, is the source of the power of The Magician, the feminine version of The Hierophant, and the Keeper of the Mysteries. It is also the card that corresponds with the 13th Path, which I have just started working with. See below for more information on this card. The Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) tells of a person who focuses intensely on feelings and emotions and the Inner Voice. This Knight is good at using charm or flattery, or even seduction, to get what he wants, but he is also real good at sweeping unwanted things under the rug. Out of sight is out of mind to the Knight of Cups. He is a lover and a helper, but because he is not well grounded, he can be a bit impractical. Being paired with The High Priestess reminds me to ground today, but not to the point that I miss any symbolism or synchronicity presented.

My Thoth card is the Four of Cups. “Luxury,” but that is not necessarily worry-free. The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) on the surface is a card of pleasure and fulfillment. But here’s the thing about the Luxury of this card: it is mixed with just a bit of anxiety. We end up sensing that the pleasures associated with this card can end up being addictive, and thus end up distracting us from what we are supposed to be doing. If things seem too good to be true, they probably are.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Swords reversed, flavored by The Magician reversed. The Ten of Swords (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, talkative) often describes the effects of karma, so I need to look to the past in order to dissipate the energies of this card. The good thing is that this is a Swords card, so with a bit of realistic analysis, I might find that things aren’t quite as bad as they appear. The bad thing is that it is reversed, so I may assume that things are really not pleasant when that is actually not true. Worse case scenario is that I learn a painful lesson, and learning is always good. The Magician corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick and animated energy which usually presents problems or challenges), Mercury (reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication), Beth (house; builder) and the Path between Binah (female, receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Kether (the source, limitless possibility), and he has the power to transform his world through the use of his Will and his connection to the Divine. Because this card is reversed, I need to remember that I don’t always have control (even if I think I deserve it), and I need to remember that the source of my amazing abilities (*wink*) is not within me, but rather is a gift of the Divine. Being reversed, this card supports the meanings and effects of The High Priestess, above.

My 6-digit date number is 2, the number of balance and polarity.

My horoscopes: “Your brain may buzz like a beehive today, Sagittarius. That's good. There is a great deal of information to process now. Have you been thinking about buying some new electronic equipment or small appliances for your home? Now is a great time to do some research on this project before you hand over your credit card. Use today to gather facts.”

And: “You have been enjoying an increasing sense of awareness about your new environment and you're really starting to get a handle on things. This confident energy is filling you with a positive enthusiasm that will hit you as soon as you get up in the morning -- and it'll carry you through the day. The only sticking point for the entire day will be the fact that your intellectual curiosity isn't going to be satisfied to the level that you are hoping. It seems that not everyone is on your wavelength just yet.”

Technology: “If someone needs to speak out, let 'em. The spirit of free speech should prevail in even the smallest group setting. The idea may seem onerous at first, but once all the details start falling into place, you'll see wisdom where you once noticed stupidity.”

The Tarot Major Arcana card associated with the 13th Path is The High Priestess. The HP corresponds with the element of Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and emotional, sensitive, imaginative energy that contracts and stays the same); the Moon (feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination); and the Hebrew letter Gimel (the camel who safely crosses Da’ath, the Abyss, and thus, has the secret of life). Because this card speaks directly to the subconscious and the Inner Voice, it tends to be interpreted differently by everyone. The HP represents the workings of Mystery in everyday life; often those mysteries are hidden, and thus we don’t know they are affecting us and don’t understand how and why they are affecting us.

The HP is about balance, but her balance is different from the concepts of balance presented in some of the other Tarot cards. The HP keeps the conscious and the subconscious separated, and yet she can balance them both because she is the scale, so she controls the balance. The HP is also the Gatekeeper to the Mysteries; we need to remember that we will never completely understand those Mysteries, but through the HP we just might be able to occasionally direct or control them. This card is not about an outer focus that changes the world; it is about self-transformation, and that always begins within.

The HP communicates through symbols rather than words, and the presence of this card in a reading is usually an alert to us that we need to look for those symbols, or we will miss the message. We are being told that sometimes action is not the correct catalyst for us; inaction has its own powers, especially when we consciously choose to make use of it. I am reminded here of the body shields worn by the elite in the book (and movies) Dune; those shields repelled the sudden move towards the person being protected, but allowed in the slower, gentler gestures.

This card also often represents the Shadow Self, and eep! That probably will be the focus of this time I spend working with the 13th Path. Because the energies of The HP are subject to tides and fluctuations, they might be a bit uncomfortable for us, but instability can be a good thing if we are skilled enough to ride the wave. LOL, sorry for that mix of metaphors.

While this card is similar to The Moon, The Moon is about how we perceive our outer world, while The HP is completely about our inner world. The Moon also addresses the illusions that can be created by the suns light being reflected onto the world, whereas The HP is about all the phases of the Moon, and their powers and effects.

The HP represents the white tincture, divination and clairvoyance, and the Uniting Intelligence. Transformation of consciousness is never easy, but The HP is the card that can show us how, if we are willing to do the work. And if we are willing to be tested before we are allowed to proceed.

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Thursday, July 28, 2011

The Hierophant/Ace of Pentacles. The Hierophant corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes), Taurus (“I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn), Vau (the nail which holds tradition in place), and the Path between Chesed (the place where forms and structures are stabilized and nurtured), and Chokmah (dynamic male energy, the origin of vital force and polarity), he is the nail that holds in place tradition and culture, and he reminds us of the importance of both teaching and learning about our culture and traditions and spiritual heritage in order to honor both who we are and where we came from. The Hierophant is about tried and true methods, but he is a bit more flexible than The Emperor about order and flexibility. The Aces present potential only, unmanifested, and the Ace of Pentacles (Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, social) tells of the presence of potential that is connected in some way to the physical world of Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes; stable, material and practical energy that is slow to change). This Ace talks about potential that can be accessed through being practical, through focusing on achieving physically measurable results, and through operating from a known position. These two cards work well together because The Hierophant is also about achieving physically measureable results, even if he may use non-physically focused methods (such as the intellect) to get them.

My Thoth card is the Two of Swords reversed. “Peace” is the keyword associated with the Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) but not necessarily peace without danger. This card in an upright position can represent a time of not looking, which sometimes is necessary but often is counterproductive. Because the Two of Swords is reversed today, there will be an end to the peace. I may be able to impose a bit of motion into that balanced stillness in order to at least be aware of the facts, but I need to be aware that indecision could derail my efforts.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Cups flavored by the Knight of Swords. The Ten of Cups (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, spirituality, suffering and growth) offers happiness and fulfillment. There is an important lesson associated with this Ten (and the Ten of Pentacles): achieving happiness takes a bit of work, but maintaining that happiness takes even more work. The Knight of Swords (the cusp of Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, intelligent) is not afraid of taking action. He can cut through the fog and analyze the situation with cold logic. He desires perfection, and is a good long term planner, however he is not good at feeling compassion at all; he considers compassion a distraction from the truth. Since my Knight of Swords is flavoring my Ten of Cups today (a very emotional card), I just may end up with balance!

My 6-digit date number is 10, the number of completion of a cycle, which reduces further to 1, the number of potential, position, and new beginnings.

My horoscopes: “When faced with ten entrees on a menu, it may be hard for you to choose just one. Order two or more, Sagittarius. Don't let indecisiveness hinder you. At the same time, don't view it as something negative. The key for today is to go with the flow. Expand your dreams as you wish. Have fun and be willing to take full responsibility for your actions.”

And: “You are just about at the halfway point of a major decision-making process -- you are as close to understanding what you really want as you are to being completely clueless. Celebrate this midway point and have faith in the fact that you will eventually come to a solid conclusion. You are in the thick of things socially as well -- if you are single, get ready for a flood of invitations. If you are in a relationship, things will be getting heavy in a good way.”

Technical: “You're usually one of the most flexible folks at the office -- but people aren't doing it your way at the moment, and you're stressed out to the max. Troubles may be afoot if your peers are inflexible -- do what you can to foster cooperation.”

I think the time has come for me to begin thinking about the 13th Path. Before I do so, I will review the concepts of Force and Form.

Chokmah is considered the first conscious power of the intellect within creation and Deity, the Sacred Masculine, and the apex of the Pillar of Force. I needed to think about the connection between Chokmah and Force a bit before moving on. Chokmah is associated with the right brain, with the flash of intuitive insight or Aha! Moment, the “internet connection” which allows the Cosmic Download, and with the ability to extract that insight from the superconscious and direct it into the conscious mind. Chokmah allows us to break down an aspect or effect of reality to its underlying primal truth. The resulting “seed” of truth is then sent to Binah for analysis and development. This is the “catalyst” which activates the fertility and potential of Binah and the Sacred Feminine. “Chokmah” means “the power of selflessness,” and true wisdom can only be obtained by being able to rise above the awareness of just the “self.”

Binah is considered the second conscious power of the intellect within creation and Deity, the Sacred Feminine, and the apex of the Pillar of Form. I needed to think about the connection between Binah and Form for a bit before moving on. Binah is associated with the left brain, with the power of analysis and reasoning, and the grasping and comprehending of insights, and Binah is also associated with the power to explain these insights to self and to others. in other words, Binah allows me to understand the Aha! Moment and its relationship to me, and Binah “installs” the Cosmic Download received through Chokmah. “Binah” cones from the root “bein,” which means “between”; thus, the power of Binah is distinguishing between things, and in order to distinguish, we need to recognize patterns. This is where the Form comes from, from actually Understanding and comprehending, which happens by matching patterns.

The union of these two spheres unites both sides of the brain, and brings the ability to recreate oneself and the ability to be reborn, again and again, through the union of Force and Form. And Force and Form, Wisdom and Understanding, can be said to be the two horizontal walls that contain Da’at, Knowledge.

The 13th Path connects Kether and Tiphareth, directly across Da’at. Now, in many ways, Kether and Da’at are two sides to the same coin. When Kether, which can be seen as The Source, manifests itself, it does so through Wisdom and Understanding, with the result being Knowledge. The Source can be seen as the “Ultimate Knowledge,” and can only be accessed or perceived when Knowledge is used with both Wisdom and Understanding. Taken with Chokmah and Binah, Kether is part of the “triplet of the mind” of the Tree.

Tiphareth is considered the Holy Child which is created through the top three sephiroth, the triplet of the mind. It represents both vertical and horizontal balance, as it is in the middle of the Tree, and with the two sephiroth on either side (Chesed and Geburah), creates another triplet, the “triplet of the heart.” In many ways, we can say that the 13th Path connects the mind with the heart.

Okay, this makes sense.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Five of Pentacles/Three of Cups. The Five of Pentacles (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) traditional image shows a woman and a child, one of them injured in some way, travelling in the cold wind, with a church window behind them. There is usually snow on the ground and on the trees, or a cold wind blowing, but the window, set in a strongly built wall of stones and mortar, usually appears lit from within. The upright message of this card tells me to expect some challenges in the physical world, maybe connected to finance, health, or family, that might bring a sense of isolation or of lacking approval or support. However, the Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive tenacious, nurturing, moody) tells of the possibility of experiencing emotional abundance, emotional connections to others, and emotional support as a part of the day. Perhaps a time of feeling isolated or alone will encourage me to examine just what I really do have; looks like I will be in for a pleasant surprise.

My Thoth card is the Seven of Cups. Okay, Uncle Al’s keyword for this is “Debauch,” but that might be a bit extreme. Ya think??!! Anyway, the Seven of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, obsessive, mysterious) is letting me know that there are messages out there to pick up, and choices or opportunities to access. The arrangement of the Cups on Crowley’s version of this card suggests the Tree of Life, with the sephiroths ending below Da’at, which means there is no connection to the Sacred Fertility of Binah. Crowley sees the emotions represented by this card as putrefying because they are not expressed or acknowledged.

My Legacy card is Temperance flavored by the King of Swords. Temperance connects with Sagittarius (“I seek,” philosophic, adventurous, blundering) Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change), Samekh (the tent post), and the Path between Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest into the physical world of action and outer reality) and Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify). Besides telling me of the presence of Archangel Uriel, this card reminds me of the value of joining forces, when just the right mix is used. Cooperation brings compromise, and compromise brings balance, and balance is a good thing. The King of Swords (cusp of Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, cunning, authoritative, and Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, aloof) tells me how to respond to challenges presented in the physical world. He may be a bit severe, but he is good at being impartial and he has the ability to control himself and others that grants him quite a bit of authority, enough to be an impressive leader who is not easily fooled. Perhaps that Seven of Cups is reminding this King of Swords that repressing emotions is not good. After all, Temperance and the Three of Cups are telling me that while the Five of Swords tells of a resource issue in the physical world, my spiritual life and my connections to others bring me amazing riches.

My 6-digit date number is 9, the number of completeness of experience and manifestation.

My horoscopes: “Give your loved ones the attention they need today, Sagittarius. Don't let another day go by without saying you love them. Life is short and getting shorter with each passing day. Be confrontational about a serious issue that needs addressing. You're responsible for your feelings. Don't play the victim. You'll only experience more pain and resentment later.”

And: “Someone is going to get what they want by appealing to your analytical side today -- but you may find that your emotional side is convinced, too. Today marks the beginning of a shift in your perceptions. You are much more willing to see both sides of arguments and to let people slide on the silly stuff. You are mellowing out, and the people around you are feeling more comfortable about presenting new ideas and getting you involved in adventures.”

Technology: “Having all the answers is one way to look informed at work. Your nimble intellect, however, lends itself more readily to asking all the smartest questions. Prepare your inquiries now and start seeking the answers.”

My Sun reading: “You make good connections and strong attachments when the Sun trines Uranus. Heads up! The latter is also capable of producing a few pleasant surprises. If you're single, anything initiated under this evening's Moon/Neptune trine should progress slowly. Things have a better chance of blossoming successfully at that speed.”

After a little over a week since my last visit to the Ancient Altar, with no further progress in understanding just what was opened within me the last time I was there, I decided that I would go back. I had even made use of the heat during my drive down to Cape May on Friday night (it was well over 100 degrees outside, had been for a few days, and the air conditioner in my car decided it was not going to work), rather than trying to fight it, thanks to instructions from Cernunnos. I treated my drive like a spa trip, and saw myself as sweating out the toxins in my body during the drive, and during the rest of the weekend (which was equally hot and humid). Now that things had cooled off, I decided that I would actually ask for help this time, rather than trying to feel my way to a solution.

I climbed to the Altar as usual, and prepared, cast my circle and called my Guardians and Deity, as usual. Then, I danced around the Altar several times, raising my own energy as I did so. Finally, hot and sweaty, with my muscles singing, I stood before the Altar; I once again offered gratitude for the Gift I was given at my last visit, and I asked for help in understanding and using it. What did I need to do next?

I winced (remembering my last visit), and waited for a response. Nothing. I took several deep, cleansing breaths, and looked around. No change.

And then I looked up.

How do I describe what I saw? It was as if there were highways and roads and paths above me in all directions, and on those highways and roads and paths there were lights, all different colors, travelling at different speeds. Some of the roads were major highways, with multiple lanes in each direction and with lights travelling at high speeds; some of the roads were single lanes or paths that meandered all over the place; the lights travelling on these roads moved at varying speeds, sometimes relatively fast and other times barely moving. Some of the lights were so bright that they hurt my eyes, while others were soft and spread out a bit; a few were so dim that I could hardly see them. I even saw lights that left trails, like the smoke behind a meteorite or the contrail behind a plane. The ones that were moving straight and fast had trails that started tight but that spread out as the light moved further away; the ones that meandered left a glowing trail behind them that seemed to merge into other lights.

I heard words too, again too fast to understand. They seemed to be in many languages and at all different volumes, and in fact, some were not words at all, but rather they were sounds, each with a different tone and vibration, and I am assuming that many were not detectable by my physical ears. Some were so loud that I vibrated from them and some were so soft that they were almost drowned out by the louder sounds. As I watched and listened, fascinated, a series of lights split off from a main road and blazed a new trail into the distance; others followed behind. I could not see where this new road went, as it was soon indistinguishable from the maze of lights that was the other roads.

Suddenly, I wanted to touch those lights and I wanted to get closer so I could hear them better. I jumped upward, and felt my astral self rise closer, but not close enough. I tried again, and got a bit closer, but still not close enough. It was like trying to fly in a dream, lots of effort expended but little results. I tried even harder; again I got higher, but not high enough. But I could see what I needed to focus on and reach for!!

I then heard a Voice say: “That you can see this Information at all is an indication of your progress thus far. Continue your efforts; don’t allow yourself to be distracted from your Task. Free your mind, and you will follow!”

For a while, I stood before the Altar, looking up at the lights in the sky. I realized that the energy around this Library was different from my own energy body; it was thinner and lighter, yet denser as if everything unnecessary had been removed from it. My own energy body is heavier and more syrupy in texture, and in a way this makes sense. After all, my life force needs to be able to connect with the physical world in order to successfully inhabit my physical body, and the energy of the physical world is way heavier than the energy of the astral realms. It vibrates slower, and thus it is colder and heavier and contracts more than it expands. The energies around the Akashic Library (that is what I assume I was seeing, and LOL, now I know it exists) were nowhere near as dense and heavy and did not contract at all, because the Information was from the Higher Realms and was meant to be apart from the physical world. It was not to be accessed by those who were too close to the physical world. This makes sense, too.

This is the information that The High Priestess guards; The Hierophant brings us the lessons which teach us to accept on faith alone that this information exists. The Magician is able to access this Information and use it for his own purposes, and The Empress is the conduit that manifests the Information, not in the language of light but in the language of Nature. This “space” or “place” where the Akashic Library is located is the location of the Christian Heaven; it is not “up” in the physical world, but rather it is “higher” in the astral world, and only those who have learned to raise their own energy levels high enough can ever “see” it. Wow, now I know that Heaven exists, too (and Nirvana and the Summerland, and every other “final resting place”), and is available to those who wish to dwell there, because I have seen where it exists.

And I realized that “high” is not solely good, just as “low” is not solely bad. Each level has value and each level needs to exist in our Universe. The lower energies allow me to experience the physical world and its effects, and the higher energies have given me glimpses of the Machinery of the Universe. It’s just that the higher levels are far removed from the physical world (which is mostly all we know, until we consciously reach outward and upward), and thus are more difficult to experience first hand.

Even now, I can sense that information travelling above me. I am no closer to it, but it is there. I know it is there, because I have seen it.

Sorry; I’m a bit “woo-woo” today, but this is incredible! Carolyn has recommended that I revisit The Vision and The Voice (written by my dear old Uncle Al, about the Aethyrs). I found a nice version on the internet [http://hermetic.com/crowley/the-vision-and-the-voice/], and I will see if anything jumps out at me.

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011


Nine of Swords/Queen of Cups reversed. The Nine of Swords (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, social, dual) represents brooding and worrying, the kind that takes place in the wee hours of the morning.  The problem with this kind of worrying is that it is expending energy that does not contribute to correcting the troubling issues; on the contrary, these worries could actually make things worse. The Queen of Cups (cusp of Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, and Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) is Water of Water, and thus in an upright position is quite deeply connected to her feelings and her Inner Voice.  This Queen is Minor Arcana equivalent of The High Priestess can be seen as a mirror that reflects the “secret selves” of others back to them so they can understand themselves.  Because she is reversed, and paired with the Nine of Swords, I need to be very cautious that my emotions don’t end up encouraging the worry of the Nine.  Sometimes being in touch with the emotional undercurrents around me can bring pain, and maybe that pain is not realistic because the situation I am perceiving is not realistic.

My Thoth card is the Prince of Swords reversed.  The Prince (Knight) of Swords (the cusp of Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, intelligent) is not afraid of taking action, not afraid of wading into conflicts, and not afraid to implement new ideas (even if he has trouble settling on just one or two to support).  Because this card is reversed, I am being warned that I could be causing pain without meaning to.  Talking is fine, but listening needs to happen, too.

My Legacy card is The High Priestess, flavored by the Five of Cups. The High Priestess (Water; the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination; Gimel, the camel who safely crosses Da’ath, the Abyss, and thus, has the secret of life; and the Path between Tiphareth, the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify, and Kether, the source, limitless possibility), is the source of the power of The Magician, the feminine version of The Hierophant, and the Keeper of the Mysteries. This card has been my significator for the past two years or so, and is telling me that for today, I need to look within for the answers I seek.  The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) tells of the cloudy sludge that is stirred up when still waters are disturbed.  Because it is flavoring my High Priestess today (and taking into account the other cards I have thrown), I need to be very careful about exactly what feelings I focus on today.  Experiencing the Mysteries can be a painful and chaotic experience, but I am accepting this pain and this chaos willingly; thus, it is not happening because of the actions of others, but because of what I have chosen to open myself to.  No judging, of myself or others.  I must aim towards higher focuses.  I do understand what these cards are telling me.

My 6-digit date number is 8, the number that represents the conscious effort to overcome the degeneration of the number 7 in order to maintain the harmony of the number 6.

My horoscopes: “Today is like playing a game on your home field, Sagittarius. You have fans supporting you and you know the territory. Take advantage of the little things that you have going for you. There is a dramatic force at work that is erratic but extremely powerful as long as you maintain control. Stay focused on your goals. True happiness is only a small step away.”

And: “A big personality who is long on talking and short on doing will frustrate you today. Beware of the people who brag the most, because they usually have the least to brag about. This person is all talk and no action -- and is absolutely no threat to you whatsoever. Your best tactic is to keep your head down, embrace modesty and let your actions speak for you. Making a lot of noise and churning up clouds of hot air have never been your style, so don't start now!”

Technology: “The social part of your personality will come in handy in the world of work. Exercise your ability to make others feel genuinely interesting -- let the conversation be all about them. Ask lots of pointed questions and listen intently.”

My Sun reading: “What you want is as good as secured when a dedicated, communicative, and alert Moon trines ambitious Saturn. Tonight the Sun lightens hearts and the Moon continues to stimulate conversations. The part Uranus plays in the equation is to bring an abundance of acquaintances who could become friends.”

I was leafing through the Weird NJ edition called “Last Exit: Travels With Death In The Garden State,” and what to my wandering eyes should appear, but a familiar name!  I read the first sentence of an article entitled “Aleister’s Ashes,” and actually laughed out loud.  It goes like this: “Most of Aleister Crowley’s life would give you absolutely no hint that the disposal of his remains would have anything to do with New Jersey.”  Now, anyone who knows me at all would also know that sentence would hook me, instantly.  Uncle Al, The Beast, The Wickedest Man On Earth, buried in New Jersey?

Apparently so.  During Crowley’s time with the O.T.O, he became friends with a gentleman named Karl Germer.  It seems that Germer had a bit of money (through his second wife), and he supported Crowley financially, and the O.T.O.  The Germers moved to New York in 1941, and eventually purchased and moved to a farm in Hampton, Hunterdon County.  After Crowley died, the other members of the O.T.O. asked two things of Germer: first, to take over the leadership of the O.T.O., which Germer refused, and second, to dispose of the ashes of one Aleister Crowley, which he did.  On his property in Hunterdon County.  By smashing open the urn containing Crowley’s remains and sprinkling them at the foot of one of the trees on his 8 acre parcel. 

How cool is that??!!

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Sunday, July 24, 2011


Six of Wands/Eight of Cups reversed. The Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test.  This is a very powerful card because it represents balanced Fire, and it tells of feeling pride in accomplishments, or maybe receiving acknowledgement from others regarding a job well done. The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) in an upright position tells of an ending or a change of direction, but since it is reversed, this Eight is supporting the Six of Wands.  There will be plenty of energy to go around today for me, and I will be able to accomplish things with ease, and persevere enough to collect my reward at the end of the day, maybe even before.

My Thoth card is the Seven of Swords reversed.  “Futility” is Crowley’s keyword for the upright Seven of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness); in an upright position this card tells of the effort to maintain things as we want them, usually through the use of deception and usually to the point of using unethical means.  Since my Seven of Swords is reversed, it is telling me that I will be interested in bringing the highest good to the group, rather than focusing only on my own needs, and I will not only willingly accept my responsibilities today, but willingly meet them as well.

My Legacy card is the Four of Wands reversed, flavored by the Two of Wands.  Okay then. The Four of Wands (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, enthusiastic) in an upright position is about building enough to become established, as a beachhead, a pause before continuing, not as a finished product.  Usually the reversed Four of Wands tells of a sense of bondage or of lethargy, but since it is being flavored by the Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic), which tells of the concept of applied power, I just might have the focus needed to turn that Four of Wands around.  Again, my cards seem to be working together to bring me one message.  Love when that happens!

My 6-digit date number is 6, the number of vertical and horizontal balance.  The goal for today?

My horoscopes: “Yesterday's trajectory may run into trouble today, Sagittarius. Your intrinsically dreamy nature is dragging down the action you initiated. This conflict could create tension that will be difficult to resolve. Your emotions may deceive you, so try not to get pulled off course by a passing whim. Try to keep your feelings grounded.”

And: “Today will be full of contrasts -- while you will have a strong urge to get philosophical with your friends, you won't be able to really connect with them for deep conversations. Their minds will be elsewhere for a while, but that's okay. You cannot always be on the exact same page every day. This disconnect doesn't have to be a problem, especially if you choose to not take things too seriously. You all can get deep some other time.”

Technology: “Everything's in flux -- just the way you like it. Bonus: You have amped-up intellectual abilities and extra charm. Take a proactive role in the present and prepare to transform your future. Make sure you include your favorite people in your plans.”

My Sun reading: “The Sun shines on family and home, which becomes your happy center of the universe all day. If you're single or dating someone special, an amorous Taurus Moon accents your romantic encounters. Don't be surprised if you experience a few touches of psychic communication.”

One of the first things I do in the morning when I turn on my computer is check out the blogs of those I love and admire.  And this morning, I found a beautiful gem from my dearest Tara.  Tara and I are on parallel paths, and both of us are at the stage where no matter how many others are working with us and learning alongside us, our paths are solitary.  The experiences just don’t translate themselves to words, so they are hard to share. 

Here is the quote from Tara’s bog: “From the moment we are born, the world tends to have a container already built for us to fit inside: A social security number, a gender, a race, a profession or an I.Q. I ponder if we are more defined by the container we are in, rather than what we are inside. Would we recognize ourselves if we could expand beyond our bodies? Would we still be able to exist if we were authentically ‘un-contained’?

Paige Bradley – Expansion.

Oh my.  I’ve been asking myself this very question for months now. Not quite the exact words, but the same question.  What am I “becoming”?  Will I eventually raise my own vibrational level to the point that no one can see me, as described in The Celestine Prophecies?  Will I become unable to interact with those around me because they don’t know what the heck I’m talking about?  Will the men in the white coats come for me?  LOL, I know, I am being a bit dramatic, but these days, most humans don’t even acknowledge that they are more than just a physical body, so I sometimes wonder what will happen to those of us who have come to the realization that we have a bigger Task in life than making lots of money and accumulating lots of “stuff.”

In order to move past The Abyss, I need to know what I believe.  At this point, I know without question that I am an energy being that is existing within a physical world vehicle.  As I look back, I can see that my entire time studying my Craft has been actually focused on getting to know this energy being.  I might not have known it at the time, but I have been probing and sensing and experiencing this being, in part through my physical senses because when I first came to Wicca, those were the only senses I was aware of, but more and more, I am experiencing this energy being through my non-physical senses, and those are the experiences that are pretty much impossible to adequately put into words. 

It seems that the more I get to know this energy being, the less important my physical body becomes.  Oh, don’t get me wrong.  I do know how important it is to eat right and to exercise because the energy body cannot exist on the physical planes without its vehicle, and the vehicle needs to be kept in good running order.   And believe me, if I should forget this, Cernunnos smacks me good on the back of my head to remind me to connect to my physical body.

But perhaps a part of the disconnect from the physical world that I have been feeling more and more is connected to the question in the above quote.  Am I learning to recognize my “self” as she/he/it exists without the physical body?  I do know more and more what that energy body feels like.  I don’t know what it looks like or smells like or tastes like, and my physical senses are not able to offer any useful data in that regard to my brain.  I can, however, with increasing ease, connect with that energy being, and I feel that my connection is strong.  Perhaps my brain is on the verge of being able to accept what is being presented to me, and then it will be able to not only “hear” the messages being sent to me, but also “understand” them.

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Saturday, July 23, 2011


Seven of Cups reversed/Eight of Pentacles.  The Seven of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, obsessive, mysterious) is letting me know that there are messages out there to pick up, and choices or opportunities to access.  Each of the seven cups contains what appears to be a gift which corresponds to a planet and a Major Arcana card; the Wreath corresponds with Saturn and The World; the Castle corresponds with Mars and The Tower, the Woman corresponds with Venus and The Empress; the Snake corresponds with Mercury and The Magician; the Veil corresponds with the Moon and The High Priestess, the Jewels correspond with Jupiter and The Wheel of Fortune, and the Dragon corresponds with our Sun and The Sun.  The problem with these choices is that they may not be what they seem, and I may expend a lot of energy just figuring out what each choice really is.  My feelings about the choices are important too, especially because the card is reversed.  Perhaps today is not a good day to ponder about how I feel for very long. The Eight of Pentacles (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, sensible, orderly) kind of validates this, for it is about paying attention to details in the physical world.  This card is literally about being prepared and doing your homework, and it tells me that if I don’t have the information I need right now, I should go on out and learn what I need to know.  No matter what, I need to pay attention!

My Thoth card is the Six of Cups reversed. Another reversed Cups card!  The Six of Cups, “Pleasure” (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, compulsive, deep, obsessive), in an upright position tells of beneficial connections with others and reminds us that happiness comes to us through continuous effort over time.  Because this card is reversed, I may find that I am too impatient to find time to play, and that could cause me to be a bit cranky.  Cynicism does not become me, so I can’t allow it to control my feelings today.

My Legacy card is The Fool, flavored by the Nine of Wands reversed. The Fool; just the ticket to overcome that Six of Cups reversed!!  The Fool is an Air card (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and challenges that tend to require the use of the intellect to solve), and it also corresponds with Uranus (technology, science, radical change), Aleph (the head, youthful learning) and the Path between Chokmah (male in the electric sense, dynamic energy and the origin of vital force and polarity) and Kether (the source; limitless possibility).  I may find that today, I end up needing to choose my attitude; do I want to be the “crankypants” of the Six of Cups reversed?  Or do I want to be the enthusiastic and optimistic and uninhibited catalyst to everyone’s good mood?  Sounds like I will have the opportunity to be one or the other today. The Nine of Wands (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) tells of being pro-active in response to issues, of reaching a point of drawing a line in the sand and saying “no further. Because this card is reversed, it is supporting and validating my interpretation of The Fool and my other cards.  Trust!!  Open yourself!!  The biggest danger for me today is that I will end up allowing negative emotions to color my day, and that is the one bad possibility presented by the reversed Nine of Wands, because reversed, it tells of a lack of fortitude.  But forewarned is forearmed!

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number of motion that ends stagnation.

My horoscopes: “Issues may get a little heavier than you'd like today, Sagittarius. Your job is to infuse some levity and humor into the situation. Your adaptability will be put to the test as other people remain steadfast in their opinions. Be conscious of how you use your words. Other people, especially superiors or elders, may be offended by careless, offhand remarks.

And: “You may think that there is a little too much on your plate right now, but the universe is confident that you can handle it all without any problem. Some recent events have dented your self-esteem a little bit, but today offers you a wonderful opportunity to smooth out those dents and get yourself feeling shiny and new again. All you have to do is take any opportunity you're given, and you'll plow through everything on your to-do list, one item at a time.

Technology: “Bills and budgets are likely to demand serious concentration at some point this weekend. Block out time and give those personal finances your undivided attention -- meanwhile, know your limitations. If it gets too complex, ask for assistance.

My Sun reading: “When the Moon aspects Jupiter, you're in for a real treat. The Sun/Neptune aspect soothes nerves and eases your spirit. You feel at peace throughout the day. Tonight listen to the Moon/Saturn aspect message that says, "We can work this out. Let's get together and discuss it."

I have already noticed something, after only a few Tratak meditations.  Perhaps the combination of the Pathworking I am doing and these meditations are making a connection in my brain, for I am remembering dreams!  Granted, if I don’t think about them as soon as I am awake, and run through the plot in my mind or out loud, they fade away, but at least I am remembering the general theme of the dream! 

I learned quite a bit about Tratak from my Vedic Thai Bodywork teacher, “Mukti” Michael Buck of the Vedic Conservatory [www.vedicconservatory.com].  In his pamphlet, “Tratak: Meditation on Light,” Mukti provides descriptions of the cultural roots and purposes of Tratak. 

As humans, we experience our lives and explore our individual Purpose through three “portals”: our knowledge, our actions and our emotions.  The ultimate goal of obtaining knowledge is to learn Truth.  Once we know Truth, we refine our actions to conform to Goodness.  Actions springing from Goodness through Truth grant us the experience of harmonious Joy.  The cool thing about this process is that we can attain Joy ourselves, through “self-evolution,” and Tratak is one method.  Through Tratak, we create within us an inner sanctuary or center, from which we can evolve and grow and to which we can return when we are faced with crisis or upheaval in the outside world.  Through Tratak, we create an optimal condition within the physical body that encourages purification, and once the body is clear, we attune ourselves with the natural rhythms of our physical body and our environment.  

The word “Tratak” comes from the Sanskrit “trut,” which is defined as the act of releasing tears.  Tears are directly related to our emotions; strong emotions create tears, and consciously creating tears reveals new emotions.  It is said that tearing clears the frontal lobe of the brain of negative emotions, washes them away, and allows us to then feel light and renewed, and released from our burdens.  There is even a folk saying in India that one teardrop is more precious than 100 drops of blood and more priceless than a pearl. 

Tears also clean and refresh the eye itself and excite the optic nerve.  Those who regularly practice Tratak feel that intentional tearing increases the eye’s ability to transmit and receive energy, and to manifest physically the emotional state.  Our emotional state can affect the frequency of blinking, and since serenity and stability cause us to blink less, by striving to not blink for a short period of time we are making use of sympathetic magick. 

Tratak meditation provides the opportunity to increase our ability to focus on one thing and thus, shut out for a time the constant and jolting vibrations of our modern world.  Performing Tratak regularly brings us periods of relief or rest or vacation during which we can forget about everything, even ourselves; after these rests we become more ready to reintegrate with the outside world.  Being balanced and in touch with that safe and quiet and renewing center also offers us glimpses of our own Higher Self (whose presence is usually lost in the cacophony of living), and of Deity.

How is that for a carrot on the end of a stick?

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Friday, July 22, 2011

Four of Wands/Eight of Cups reversed. The Four of Wands (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, enthusiastic) is an exciting Wands card. This card tells of building enough to become established, as a beachhead, or about a pause before continuing, not as a finished product. It tells of opening to new possibilities that just might be positive, and it tells of a sense of surprise or celebration. This is the perfect “TGIF” card!! The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) in an upright position tells of an ending or a change of direction, or of moving on or walking away. Because it is reversed, it is validating the Four of Wands, for a reversed Eight of Cups tells me that any weariness or hopelessness I may feel will be short-lived and will not have the power to affect me. I certainly won’t need to look for any deeper meanings.

My Thoth card is the Five of Swords. Clunk. “Defeat” is the keyword for the Five of Swords (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, pleasure, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloof), which actually focuses on both victory and defeat, but not your usual, run-of-the-mill versions of these two results. This card tells of the possibility of experiencing an “us-against-them” attitude which just might encourage me to think of myself, to the point of crossing the line. Disillusionment could be present today; this could be connected to that Eight of Cups reversed. Even though the Eight is reversed, it is there, so I should remember that disillusionment only affects me if I allow it to. Also vengeance is like guilt: a waste of energy. I also need to remember that while the period of truce that was present in the Four of Swords has failed, there may yet be the healing of the Six of Swords if I can make it through the energies of this Five.

My Legacy card is the Seven of Wands, flavored by Judgement reversed. The Legacy Seven of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, natural leader, egotistical, selfish) has a personal significance for me, given to me by Archangel Uriel, and represents the approach of a Threshold and along with it, the tests of the Guardian. Generally, this card tells us to go on the offensive and reach for what we want. It recommends that we stand up for what we believe, but LOL, we should first make sure that what we believe is right. Judgement corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), Pluto (power, metamorphosis, cycles of dying and becoming), Shin (fang), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Hod (provides analysis and communication), and upright, it usually tells of a coming change, or maybe a coming resolution of a cycle. Judgement is reversed, though, and it may be warning me of the potential for ending up feeling regret or guilt, a potential to feel that I messed up, or possibly the potential for an ending without closure or an opportunity to begin again. Remember that Five of Swords, and be careful!!

My 6-digit date number is 4, the number of depth and stability (but also the danger of stagnation).

My horoscopes: “Today might be a difficult day for you, Sagittarius. You instinctively will want to escape the situation and explore your horizons, but something holds you down. Take care of the bills on your desk, and deal with the mess in the bedroom. Clearing the physical space around you will help clear the mental space in your head. You will be footloose and fancy free soon enough.”

And: “The influences in your life today are decidedly masculine in nature. This could mean that men are going to be the primary actors in today's dramas, or it could merely mean that the people around you will be displaying stereotypical masculine traits such as aggressiveness and competitiveness. For greater harmony in your day, do not try to match that type of energy. Balance it with stereotypical female characteristics such as cooperation and empathy.”

Technical: “In the morning, you'll have a sincere team spirit that will inspire coworkers and managers alike. Later on, cooperation is still important -- just make sure you put yourself forward a little, and others will be grateful for your leadership.”

My Sun reading: “You walk in sunshine when solar power enters creative, no-half-measures Leo. You sense a mission, or missions, you can accomplish in the next 30 days. The first opportunity arrives this morning. Tonight's mood is sentimental but inspiring. You could find someone's previous offer lacks an expiration date.”

The Major Arcana card that corresponds to the 14th Path is The Empress. The Empress corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Venus (beauty, allure, pleasure, relationships), Daleth (door or womb) and the Path between Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Chokmah (dynamic male energy and the origin of vital force and polarity). She represents creativity, fertility, abundance, the physical body and its senses, and the material world and the workings of Nature. She is also the first place in the Major Arcana that we see love.

The Empress represents the 14th Path because the 14th Path tells of the union of masculine and feminine through the emotion of love, which equals fertility. The Empress personifies fertility because She represents the workings of Deity in nature, and so She is connected to the 14th Path. I have been told that nature is the robe that the Goddess wears so we can see and perceive Her, and this makes perfect sense when thinking about the 14th Path. If I imagine myself as being in the womb of the pregnant woman in the image on this card, as being in the womb of The Goddess, I will find myself understanding not only the nature of the transformation which happens within the 14th Path (to and from a glimpse of The Source, and the higher vibrating energy associated with knowledge of The Source), but also I will find myself understanding the sacredness of all life and the workings of the world around me. After all, those workings and all of life happen because of the presence of both the “instruction booklet” that is the fertile potential of the Goddess, and the catalyst which follows those instructions which is the activating principle of the God.

Perhaps the reason why I feel so . . . whole . . . while contemplating this Path is that in immersing myself within it, I am uniting the Pillar of Force and the Pillar of Form, and I am opening myself to archetypal energies which expose me to the principle of life and the principle of life-force.

In “More Simplified Magick: Pathworking and the Tree of Life,” Ted Andrews says this about the 14th Path: “Working this Path initiates the ability to believe the impossible and to make it probable. It opens doors and opportunities we have not seen or considered, and thus we often find ourselves looking upon the world with new eyes once its effects are fully grounded into the physical life.” Andrews also reminds us that “. . . [The Empress] activates greater status within the physical life, as physical actions determine the growth of the soul.” [my emphasis added] Yes!!! The physical body is the home of the soul, the life force, and since it exists mostly within the physical plane, that is where much of my transformation must begin. And it is through The Empress that Deity is born within me; as I become more aware of that essence of Deity within my life force and my physical body, I will be able to “see” those messages that have been hidden from me thus far.

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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Page of Swords/Knight of Cups reversed. The Page of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning, Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, society, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality) brings the message of the Ace of Swords (the potential for challenges which can be solved through the use of the intellect and which can offer opportunities for growth) to the day. The Page of Swords is clever, and loves to use his mind to solve puzzles; the sense of Aha! when the answer appears (particularly if the answer appears because of the abilities of the Page!) is wonderful. However, because the Pages are a bit immature, I need to be careful that I don’t get overly defensive today. No crying in baseball! The Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) in an upright position tells of a person who focuses intensely on feelings and emotions and the Inner Voice. This Knight can be romantic or overemotional, he can be sensitive or temperamental, he can tap into his imagination or he can be unrealistic. He is usually a lover and a helper, but he certainly can be a bit impractical, mainly because he is not necessarily grounded in reality. I need to be careful with grounding!

My Thoth card is the Two of Disks reversed. “Change” reversed. Hmmm . . . . The Two of Disks (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) tells us that everything always ebbs and flows in a harmonious way, but I am not always required to follow the prevailing tides. Not following those tides might be a more difficult choice, but it just may be worth the effort. However, I do need to remember that sometimes not following the tides can cause problems too. Since this card is of the physical world, it also might be telling me that whether I choose to flow with the tides or move against them, a bit of resistance offers balance and increased strength.

My Legacy card is The Emperor, flavored by the Nine of Coins. Okay, this makes sense to me. The Emperor is a Fire card (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change) which corresponds with the astrological sign of Aries (“I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) and the Hebrew letter Heh (window, illumination) that represents the power of the mind and of intentions to shape the world. This card tells of having authority, which is gotten by “owning” our surroundings through experiencing life and gaining knowledge and transforming it into wisdom. The authority of The Emperor is applied through a combination of ethics, strength and love. The Nine of Coins (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) is a card of accomplishment through the imposition of discipline, and today it is nicely supporting The Emperor!! The rules are there for a reason, and the reward for following the rules is a sense of confidence, a bit of independence, and the ability to enjoy leisure time because it is well-deserved.

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of the possibility of new creations out of the potential of the number 1 and the balance and polarity of the number 2. Surface and location are connected to this number also.

My horoscopes: “Today you might feel especially creative and intellectually inspired, Sagittarius. You could discuss your ideas with others. The process of communication could open up new doors in your mind, and result in some fascinating insights concerning whatever you're pursuing. Sometime in the course of your conversations, don't be surprised if you find that one of your friends needs a sympathetic ear.”

And: “You'll be quite a whirlwind of activity today -- and the people around you will have to step aside to give you room. Like a tropical storm, you'll hit the scene with quite an impact. But unlike a hurricane, your presence will be all about creation, not destruction. The energy you have today will build upon itself over and over again, priming you for an evening of fun and excitement. If you don't have any social plans, make them!”

Technical: “Communication is at a premium -- unfortunately, a list of items is not the most efficient way to get your point across. The more visually attractive your presentation, the more likely you are to be taken seriously.”

My Sun reading: “The Aries Moon opposes a Libra Saturn, symbolic of controlling life's currents with ease and self-reliance. Today could be the beginning of a project or serious partnership. Tonight you receive or perhaps write wonderful love messages using words that really matter.”

I have been performing my Tratak meditations; actually, taking this time at the end of the day to meditate is helping me to sleep better. I am also visiting Danu’s Well for a bit each day, and I am finding that just tapping into Her energies for a few moments helps to both ground and fuel me.

I think I am ready to deal with the 14th Path, finally. And this is a lovely one! This Path represents the highest of the horizontal Paths, and once again it brings to mind both balance and polarity. The 14th Path connects Binah and Chokmah, the Sacred Feminine and the Sacred Masculine in Their least physically manifested state, at the top of The Abyss. This Path, more than any of the other Paths on the Tree, reminds me that life consists of a balance of all extremes, dark and light, hot and cold, soft and hard, happy and sad. Without these extremes, there will be no balance and there will be no life.

When we move along this Path from Binah to Chokmah, we experience a kind of birth or transformation which leaves the physical body behind, just as when moving from Yesod to Malkuth, our spirit becomes born into the physical world. This final transformation from the physical world is represented by passing through Binah and the Pillar of Form, and leaving that Pillar behind as we become pure Force, in preparation for glimpsing The Source within Kether.

This is a two-way Path, and thus it also reminds me to be aware of the stages of preparation, for there is value to be had from experiencing them in both directions. Perhaps all of a lifetime can be seen as one trip down and then up the Tree, taking the necessary steps and making the preparations needed to be born into a physical body (and to exist within the lower yet equally valuable vibrations), and then living that life to its fullest purpose by reversing the steps, and attempting to evolve and raise our vibrations enough that we may rise up out of that physical vehicle and reunite with Goddess and God.

To me, this Path also represents my own Wiccan Path and the very Craft that I have immersed myself into. Wicca sees Deity as dual, as outer and active and masculine, and inner and receptive and feminine, and Wicca sees the union of these opposites as the source of the life force, and of all life, everywhere. This Path shows me that both primal instincts and the laws of man and Deity are both necessary for life to exist, and the balance between the two concepts needs to be dynamic and fluid, adjusting constantly.

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Monday, July 18, 2011


Seven of Swords/King of Pentacles. The Seven of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness) tells of the effort to maintain things as we want them, usually through the use of deception and usually to the point of using unethical means.  That combination of illusion and the “I know” mindset could very well create an atmosphere of attempted dominance today, particularly when paired with the King of Pentacles. The King of Pentacles (cusp of Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, and Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, physically oriented) is the expert on physical manifestation.  He is very good at managing resources and overseeing growth, and he is very good at being patient.  He certainly can take an “iffy” situation and turn it to gold, so I will be listening to his advice today: be practical and generous, and work calmly and efficiently towards my goals.

My Thoth card is the Princess of Cups reversed. The Princess of Cups corresponds to Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Scorpio (“I desire,” intensity compulsion, mystery) and Sagittarius (“I seek,” philosophic, adventurous, blundering), and corresponds to my connections to others and to my own inner self.  This Princess is tender and sweet and generous, and to some may appear selfish on the surface, but that could be because of her dreamy nature.  Because this Princess is reversed, I may need to be careful that I don’t get mired in my emotions today, but not so careful that I don’t allow myself to feel.  Balance!

My Legacy card is the King of Coins (again!), flavored by Strength reversed.  Okay, these are unexpected cards, but let’s see if we can tie them all together in the end.  The good thing is that I have two Kings and they are both Pentacles; that should help. The Strength card (Fire, hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic energy; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical; Teth, sieve or basket, digestion; and the Path between Geburah, the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed, and Chesed, the place where forms and structures are stabilized and nurtured) in an upright position tells of emotional endurance and control, and the ability to be understanding and tolerant of others. Because the card is reversed, I may be finding it a bit difficult to maintain control over my emotions, and the presence of all that Kingly energy may be impacting my ability to be tolerant of others.  Oh boy, sounds like if I’m not careful today, I could turn into a cranky, moody despot!

My 6-digit date number is 9, the number of completeness of manifestation or experience. 

My horoscopes: “Too much work and the resulting pressure over the past few days may have you feeling too tired to do anything more, Sagittarius, although your optimism and enthusiasm are still intact. Don't be too hard on yourself if you're dragging by the end of the day. If you take care of yourself, you will soon recharge and be your old self again. In the evening, read a good book.”

And: “Your energy will be lagging a bit throughout the morning -- and you won't be able to get too revved up until later in the afternoon. Luckily, the projects you're working on are flexible, and you can postpone tasks that you just don't have the energy for. If you push yourself to do things you're not prepared to do, you will only end up frustrated. So save the heavy lifting for later.”

Technical: “Recent circumstances blur and fuzz your perceptions of your planned career trajectory. Avoid talking about these changes and your hopes and dreams for now. Clarity is around the corner and it will sharpen your ambitions.”

My Sun reading: “You're persuasive when you need to be this morning. A fortunate Moon/Jupiter sextile eases the path of a current project this afternoon. Tonight's lunar aspect with Saturn brings a change in plans. If you're single, there could be a tie to your old life.”

I had the most absolutely amazing (and in some ways, terrifying) meditation a few moments ago.  I felt drawn to visit the Ancient Altar of The Source.  I climbed the last of the stairs to the mountaintop, became skyclad, and lit the pine fire as usual.  I called the Quarters, lit the Goddess and God candles, and then stood before the Altar and closed my eyes. 

Suddenly, I heard what sounded like the approach of a jet.  I opened my eyes in time to see a ball of flame with a tail of smoke and sparks heading right for me!  It hit my brow chakra and exploded, knocking me backwards several steps. 

My entire body began to tingle and twitch; static lightning laced through my physical body and then my aura, tingling and transforming, until I was twitching madly, totally in the hands of whatever was happening to me.  The chakras in my palms suddenly opened, and my hands heated; my crown chakra began to spin madly, and then began to iris open.  Just as I thought I could bear no more, I began to hear voices in my head, different voices, talking fast, as if a recording was being played at top speed.  Faster and faster the voices spoke, and as they reached a high pitch, suddenly there was silence!

I collapsed to the ground (and actually felt my physical body sag), and lay there panting for some time, unable to move.  Just before I felt able to get up, I heard a voice whisper in my mind, “Tratak, if you want to understand!” 

When I opened my eyes, I saw that the explosion had extinguished the altar candles and my pine fire.  Again, like an echo, I heard “Tratak!” and then all was silent.

I don’t know how long I stayed there, stunned.  What just happened?  My description is short and sweet, but the whole thing seemed to go on for at least a half hour before I was released.  I guess I have been given a task, and if I want to truly understand the 15th Path, I guess I had better listen to my Guides.  Even if that Guide is The Source . . . no, especially if that Guide is The Source!

Tratak is a meditation method that enhances concentration, increases the power of memory, and brings the mind to a state of intense awareness, attention and focus.  Tratak involves gazing at a candle flame until the eyes water, and then closing the eyes and finding the image of the candle; then the meditation begins.  Tratak has an effect on the olfactive and optical centers, it stimulates the nervous system, and most importantly, it stimulates the pineal gland.  The pineal gland tends to gradually calcify once we become adults, probably because humanity has come to believe that growing up means silencing the Inner Child. 

Rene Descartes is the one who coined the term “the seat of the soul” when referring to the pineal gland (which he studied deeply); he saw the pineal glad as the bridge or connection between the intellect and the physical body.  He thought the pineal glad was important because of its location (in the center of the brain, amid branches of the carotid arteries), and because it is the only section of the brain that is not one half of a pair.  I can easily see why Tratak is very important to me right now, and I will be doing a meditation tonight for sure.  Hopefully I will then be able to determine how many other Tratak meditations I will need to do.

The next path to be studied is the 14th Path, the last of the Paths that teaches us the ways to cross The Abyss.  But in light of the message I just received, and since the 14th Path connects the Sacred Masculine and the Sacred Feminine, and is a horizontal Path rather than a vertical Path, I think I will pause here to digest what I have already learned about crossing Da’at.  After all, Chokmah, the top of the Pillar of Force, is the Sacred Masculine, the God, the outer and active manifestation of The Source, perceivable by those who can “see,” and Binah, the top of the Pillar of Form, is the Sacred Feminine, the Goddess, the inner and receptive manifestation of The Source, perceivable by those who can “see.”  To me, it is Paths 18 through 15 that are solidifying my ability to see, and I think I should have them firmly set in my mind before taking this last step and attempting to use the eyes of The High Priestess (the 13th Path; LOL, I’m looking ahead and past the 14th Path for a moment).

And so, a review.

The 18th Path is the Gate of Death that climbs the Pillar of Form across Da’at to the Sacred Feminine.  This Path brings us the ability to discern truth and falsehood; the ability to decide when using power is for the highest good, and when **not** using power is for the highest good; the ability to control and use power, and to correctly choose how to use it. It corresponds to The Chariot.

The 17th Path is the Gate of Fate that connects the Pillar of Balance across Da’at to the Sacred Feminine.  This Path offers shadow and contrast in order to perceive shape and form; the awareness and responsibility connected to personal choices and the power of choice; duality and polarity; and directs us to learn so that we can change and direct our own destiny.  It corresponds to The Lovers.

The 16th Path is the Gate of Royalty that climbs the Pillar of Force across Da’at to the Sacred Masculine.  This Path teaches us how to use authority with humility; to use knowledge and wisdom to guide myself and others to the Mysteries; to have noble intentions and to understand the responsibilities connected to those intentions; and to achieve an uplifting of the soul by knowing what I believe and don’t believe; this is the Path of the Great Rite.  It corresponds to The Hierophant.

The 15th Path is the Angelic Gate that connects the Pillar of Balance across Da’at to the Sacred Masculine.  This Path enables us to be aware of and work with Guide; it provides illumination that helps me to remember both successes and failures in order to evolve; it teaches me of both Divine law and the laws of man in order to live by them.  It corresponds to The Emperor.

Holy crow, that is a lot of information for one post!!!  I think I might need to ground myself in my garden for a few hours.  Goddess, but I have things to think about!

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Sunday, July 17, 2011


Page of Pentacles reversed/Death reversed. In an upright position the Page of Pentacles corresponds with the season of Spring (Aries, “I want,” action oriented, enthusiastic, competitive; Taurus, “I have,” sensual, physical, cautious; and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, sociable, dual, intelligent), tells of the presence of a “young body and an old mind,” and it tells of the potential for exciting opportunities.  The Pages encourage us to use the tools we have on hand in order to solve problems, and to use common sense when deciding on the next step.  This card tells me that I should go out and meet abundance as it approaches, with child-like enthusiasm, rather than holding back. The Death card corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and sensitive, imaginative energy that strives to stay the same or take the same course), Scorpio, Nun (fish head; liberation), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration), and tells of transformation or change, both voluntary and involuntary, and the ending of an era.  Because it is reversed, this card is telling me of the possibility of a new beginning, and the Page of Pentacles is the perfect companion to this reversed Death card!

My Thoth card is Death.  Bookends!!  Uncle Al feels that Death is valuable enough that we should do it every day.  To him, the Death card is about transformation, change (either voluntary change or involuntary change), a logical development of existing conditions that might be sudden or unexpected, and an apparent destruction that actually is an illusion.

My Legacy cards are Strength reversed and the Eight of Cups. The Strength card (Fire, hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic energy; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical; Teth, sieve or basket, digestion; and the Path between Geburah, the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed, and Chesed, the place where forms and structures are stabilized and nurtured) tells of emotional endurance, and the ability to not only maintain our composure, but to also be understanding and tolerant of others. Because the card is reversed, I may be finding it a bit difficult to maintain control over my emotions, not necessarily because they are too strong.  If I am tired, or of lethargy is creeping in, I just might find it hard to feel anything at all.  The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) tells of an ending or a change of direction.  Often this change is voluntary, and involves the sacrifice or giving up of something that may not be healthy or positive.  Because this card is flavoring my Strength reversed, it is validating the sense of disconnect, and the possibility of being overcome by lethargy.  Time for a bit of rest?

More about the Death card.  This card may be about closing one door, but when that door closes, another will open.  Death, after all, is not really a complete ending but rather, it is a transition.  This transition may involve a time of “limbo” when we can’t see an apparent next step, but we need to remember that whether we can see it or not, that next step is coming.  When it arrives, we need to accept it and work with it; that is pretty important too.  The changes or transformations associated with this card also help us to assess what we have and decide what does not work for us any more.  This not only includes possessions and people, but also attitudes.  We may tend to fear this card, but actually we should fear fighting its energies.

My 6-digit date number is 8, the number that tells of a focused response to the degeneration of the number 7, in order to restore, at least temporarily, the harmony of the number 6.”

My horoscopes: “All continues to go well professionally, Sagittarius. You're feeling physically strong and vigorous. Mentally, however, you might be a bit vague. You may be easily distracted and not as sharp as usual. This isn't a good day to start a new project. Try to concentrate on finishing old tasks and tying up loose ends. You should be ready to go again in a couple of days.”

And: “Don't just sit quietly when you're surrounded by strangers today -- get to chitchatting, and you'll transform what could have been a very boring waiting period into an enjoyable social event. Be the first one to say something, and don't shy away from being candid. It's a great day to talk to people you've never met before. People (including you) are feeling especially openhearted right now! And there's freedom in talking to people whom you know you'll never see again.”

Technology: “Get ready for surprises. You've been stuck in a stale mindset for some time and you're about to get jolted into a new dimension of ideas. You have the open-minded readiness to take on new clients, proposals and partners next week.”

My Sun reading: ‘Expect "ah ha!’ moments of clarity about what was said in light of what you felt was said when the Pisces Moon conjuncts Neptune. The good news is the words quit echoing in your mind. The even better news is that you're ready to move forward, not back.”

Our company is gone, and I am sitting on my front porch in the dark, listening to the waves as a cool breeze caresses me.  I was very much aware of Danu’s energy throughout the weekend, even though I was busy with family.  Every so often, I would remember my moments at Her Well, and smile.  Tomorrow, I will be working in my garden.  I am looking forward to getting my hands dirty.  And I will be looking forward to having a bit of time to meditate.  Quiet alone time does not come to me often in July and August, but I’m not complaining at all.  I love the busy time of the peak of the Summer season!  Soon enough, it will be quiet and cold and dark, but for now, the hustle and bustle is exciting!

The Tarot Major Arcana card that is associated with the 15th Path is The Emperor. The Emperor is a Fire card (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change) which corresponds with the astrological sign of Aries (“I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) and the Hebrew letter Heh (window, illumination) which I spoke about in detail on the 13th.  The Emperor represents the power of the mind and of intentions to shape the world.  The Emperor along with The Magician and The Hierophant represents male energy.  It tells of having authority, which is gotten by “owning” our surroundings.  In other words, The Emperor is able to bring order to his life because he has experience and knowledge and wisdom.  He not only applies order to make his own life easier, but also to take care of those who he loves.  He is the father, and he cares for his children through the application of tough love. 

The Emperor often is related to government or the legal system or working with officials.  He is very good at applying and enforcing rules, regulations and laws, and operates through sound and logical principles.  He is able to bring security and comfort mainly because he is predictable and dependable.  And his intentions are always honorable. 

The 15th Path is the Angelic Gateway, and represents the Guides who lead us, by word and by example.  The Emperor was born to this task.

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