Transparent Oracle Sunday!  Another step toward returned normalcy.

12, Weather: Lightning (South). South is the direction of the midday sun and the peak of power and illumination; this direction is associated with passionate drive and creativity.  Lightning is a powerful and transformative card.  It represents the breaking down of the current structures in our lives in order to clear the air for new awareness; Lightning provides this relief from oppression in a sudden, chaotic, and sometimes violent manner.  Not fun, but the insights and changes of perception that might result from this sudden jolt should be worth the momentary discomfort. 

52, Guide: Ancestors/Dark Goddess (Below). The direction of Below is not easily associated with spirituality, yet it is a powerful symbol representing the opportunity to create a strong foundation, and to connect to the tools and powers of the Underworld.  This card is about the ancestors who came before us, but it is also about the Goddess of the Underworld, and to some, it is about Hecate, the Triple Goddess of the Crossroads. This card can be about death, but it can also be about renewal.  Our personal history, where we’ve gone and what we’ve learned, helps us to make choices in the future.  This card is telling me these things are important.

24, Time of Day: Sunset (West).  West is the direction of Water, and thus, of feelings and emotions, relationships of all kinds, cleansing and healing, the wisdom associated with natural endings, and the bubbling up of pure joy.  Sunset is the time when we pause as the daylight hours come to a close.  We should not, however, assume that the day is done, for much can be had from the dark hours.  The light of the setting sun and the long shadows can transform even the most mundane environment into something mystical and magickal, the perfect environment to remember the experiences of the day.

I then created my mandala.  The first thing I noticed was that for the first time, the Lightning card did not look off balance compared to the rest of the cards.  Because Lightning is one of the few cards set up in quarters rather than thirds, it often feels off balance or skewed, but not this time.  Lightning is being sourced from Sunset and grounded into Sunset by the bottom bolt, and there is one Ancestor/Dark Goddess for each of the remaining bolts.  The beams of the Sunset are cradling everything, offering more security to balance out the action and sudden transformation of Lightning; these two effects feel very yin/yang to me.  The sunlight could also be seen as feeding the effects of the Lightning, or even as steam showing that a strike has happened.   No matter what, the Lightning is connected to the Sunset, and encircled by the Ancestors/Dark Goddesses.  Sudden change, renewal based in part on where I’ve come from, and a connection to that magickal and mystical time when daylight is ending and darkness is approaching.  Seems like a nice balance of opposites to me, a sort of Temperance (experience with extremes in order to create and maintain a dynamic balance). 

Honor and respect to our veterans!!

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