Ace of Pentacles reversed/The Hermit reversed. Aces present potential only, and the Ace of Coins (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.  Since my Ace is reversed, today may not be the day that some great opportunity will present itself.  At least, I probably won’t recognize the opportunity. The Hermit, which like the suit of Coins, corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, practical and stable energy that is slow to change), as well as Virgo (“I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented, orderly), Yod (open hand, touch), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured), is about searching within for a deeper meaning.  My reversed Hermit is telling me that the answer to any questions today will probably not be found within.  Isolation is not productive, and perhaps others can offer advice that will work.

My Thoth card is the Five of Disks reversed.  “Worry” The Five of Coins (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.  Crowley’s keyword for this one is “Worry,” but since my Five of Disks is reversed, things may not be as bad as they seem on the surface.  I guess at least for today, those dark clouds have silver linings!

My Legacy card is Queen of Coins, flavored by Page of Cups. The Queen of Disks (cusp of Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering, and Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning, authoritative) is very good at sustaining the physical world, keeping things dry and cozy and safe and orderly.  She is competent and loyal, and has great people skills.  I always called this one the Martha Stewart card, LOL. The Page of Cups corresponds to Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Scorpio (“I desire,” intensity compulsion, mystery) and Sagittarius (“I seek,” philosophic, adventurous, blundering) is very emotional, dreamy, social, and connected to the inner voice.  He brings me a message regarding the possibility for some emotional change that may appear; since the Page of Cups is flavoring the Queen of Disks, this emotional change should be for the better, and should make my home life more serene.

My Pearls of Wisdom Ostara card is The Fool.  Well, that is fun! The Fool corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and challenges that tend to require the use of the intellect to solve), 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).  The Fool approaches life as an adventure and expects that he will succeed.  He welcomes gifts and challenges with equal enthusiasm, and is not good at holding himself back. 

My 6-digit date number is 9, the number of completeness of effect and manifestation.  Perfect number!

My horoscopes: “Today you might feel especially protective toward all those you love: children, family, friends, pets, and the special person in your life, Sagittarius. Upsetting news might have you wondering about the future, but don't let it get you down. All should be well, so allow yourself to relax and enjoy your loved ones. Distract yourself by going to an exciting movie. That will help release tension and put you in a better frame of mind.”

And: “If you're feeling unappreciated by the group of people who surround you right now, why don't you simply try going somewhere else. Begging for attention that is not forthcoming is unattractive, and so is strutting around trying to distract everyone with your gorgeous physique or charming wit. Go somewhere where you know you are appreciated, where your stories will make people laugh, where you feel at home. Know that is you stay where you are, nothing that you try is bound to work.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Two of Cups. This card tells of the twisting and lacing together of two opposites in order to create one shape, without those two opposites needing to change.  Balance and polarity are the correspondences of the number 2, and this card is about the balance and polarity found in unions, in relationships of all kinds.  There is a dynamic balance to be found in relationships right now according to this Two of Cups; however, the card reminds us that the relationship is still young, and the natural evolution of the relationship could bring stronger balance, or it could tip things over and tumble them to the ground.

Spring is officially here! Although this year at least, Spring seems to have never left us.  Traditionally, this is the time of the awaking of Nature, with increasing daylight, warming temperatures, and the rebirth of flora and fauna.  All around me, daffodils and crocuses are battling to attract the eye at ground level with tulips and hyacinths.  Tulip magnolias present a lovely dusty shade of pink; alternatives are being offered by blooming cherry and pear trees, punctuated occasionally by the yellow of forsythia and the startling white of the southern magnolias, like bright stars.  The bird of the neighborhood are quite busy with the business of reproduction, wooing mates and building nests, and some even feeding young. 

Last night, I ended up having the perfect equinox evening: an unplanned get-together at the Wayne Contingency of the Pagan Brain Trust.  Several of us had plans change at the last minute, and we all made the effort to get together, with a big payback.  Our conversations are incredible, and I truly love the way we all can do the Work together, even though our individual focuses are not exactly the same.

The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words meaning “equal night.” The Spring and Fall equinoxes are the only dates of each year with equal daylight and dark, the days when the Sun crosses the celestial equator.  At the equinoxes, the tilt of Earth relative to the Sun is zero, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun.  This is different from the tilt of Earth relative to the ecliptic plane, which is always about 23.5 degrees.  This year, Spring officially begins a bit early (how appropriate!) in the Northern Hemisphere, on March 20, 2012, at 1:14 am Eastern.

In the Celtic Mabinogion myth, this was the time when the God of Light conquers the God of Darkness. The Goddess, who became the Maiden again at Imbolc, welcomes her Child and soon-to-be Spouse, as Her followers celebrated the evidence of renewed life and the end of the hard Winter months.

The Roman Catholic Church adopted two holidays from pagan equinox celebrations: the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was to become the Mother of God's Son (March 25^th, nine months before Christmas), and Easter, which is also a celebration of life over death (similar to the Celtic God of Light defeating the God of Darkness). The Church doesn't celebrate or acknowledge the sacredness of the symbolism of the Full Moon, but Easter is on the first Sunday after the Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox each year. Furthermore, if Easter Sunday happens to fall on the Vernal Full Moon, the Church makes certain that Easter was moved to the following Sunday.

For Wiccans, Ostara is the time when the Goddess transfers Her fertility to the Earth and takes on Her Maiden aspect. The God is growing to maturity and will soon become Her lover at Beltane; we can see evidence of His growth all around us as all of Nature blossoms.  

For most Wiccans, Ostara is a celebration of fertility and growing Light.  Ostara is a time when light and darkness reach the point of being equal, and from that moment on, the light overpowers the darkness; this is a powerful symbol! Many religious and cultural traditions contain equinox myths concerning trips to the underworld, and the rebirth into the land of the living that is a part of those myths usually takes place on the Spring Equinox. This is the time to plant seeds of our dreams into the fertile energy of the equinox in order to take advantage of the potential and possibility that surrounds us.

Ostara Blessings!

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