Nine of Cups reversed/Page of Cups reversed. The Nine 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 is about emotional satisfaction and the ability to find pleasure in feelings and emotions, and in our expectations for the day.  My card is reversed, and this really does make sense to me.  Today is not about satisfaction; it is about digesting the incredible experience I have had over the past few days. 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.  My Page is reversed today as well, and perhaps the message of these two reversed cards is that I need to be open to what I’m feeling rather than denying those feelings.  I am no less brave for experiencing some turmoil now that all is well and I am safe.  I should not fight this, but accept it without judgment.

My Thoth card is the Ace of Swords reversed. The Ace of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution authority, cunning, Aquarius and Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, soul growth, artistic) in an upright position tells of the potential within the day to effectively use mental or intellectual abilities. The thing about these abilities is that they sometimes cause a bit of isolation; after all, they are experienced within, and hard to share with others.  This card can be a bit on the passive side too.  The ideas are still potential only and not yet manifested.  My Ace is reversed, however, and while I may not be able to cut through the confusion today, just being aware that there is confusion to be cut through may be enough of a catalyst to bring future results.

My Legacy card is the Five of Cups reversed, flavored by the Page of Wands. The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) tells of an emotional setback, or perhaps a perception that support is lacking.  And the fact that it is reversed is validating my first two Cups cards.  Fear and isolation are not factors any more, although I am still experiencing the effects of my fear and isolation of the past few days.  I have endured, and these uncomfortable feelings will be fading.  The Page of Wands (Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic noble egotistical; and Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) is the spark that might end up creating a conflagration, and oh boy, do I need this Page’s optimism.  He applauds me for having courage, and for allowing myself to experience these past few days.  He tells me to congratulate myself, to celebrate rather than feel uncomfortable.  I have stretched the envelope, and that might bring temporary discomfort, but the end result will be exciting.

My 6-digit date number is 8, the number that tells of a conscious and deliberate response to the pause and beginning of degeneration of the number 7, in order to maintain for a bit longer the balance and harmony of the number 6.

My horoscopes: “A love relationship seems more stable than usual today, Sagittarius. The security wraps itself around you like a blanket as you consider the events leading up to this new sense of commitment. You and your partner may spend the evening doing nothing more than being together, which feels great! Mark this day in your memory so you can recall it whenever your insecurities get the better of you.”

And: “Today, you might suffer from an irresistible impulse to put your home in order. You might want to give it a good and thorough cleaning, or you might want to do a little decorating, or perhaps make some minor but necessary repairs. A new decoration, either a sculpture of some kind or a painting or tapestry for the wall, might inspire this desire. By the time you're done, your place should look fabulous. Go to it!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Knight of Swords.  This Knight is not about emotions or compassion; he uses mainly logic and is difficult to dissuade from his purpose.  He does not even entertain the tiniest possibility of defeat, and he is a beacon to all who are looking for a leader. 

I took a bike ride on Violet earlier this afternoon.  Thankfully, the berms at Point Park are intact.  We’ve lost some sand at our beach by Jefferson Street, but this is how the beach looked after Hurricane Irene, so I am confident our beach will be better by summer.  Sand removal is still happening on Beach Drive, now up in Poverty Beach.  Hopefully by tomorrow, I can bike up there and check things out.  I also put the porch furniture back out, so my living room nest is starting to disappear.  I am almost sorry to see the living room go back to normal.

I feel strange today, as if everything has tilted or shifted.  Besides the ongoing sand cleanup, it is a normal (but quiet) Fall day in Cape May.  Yet everything is different.  I feel the way I felt after my Reiki attunements, as if my own senses and the ways I perceive the world around me have changed. 

I have felt The Shift coming these past months; all of my “woo-woo” family and friends have felt the approach of “something.”  This hybrid storm seems to be a catalyst of sorts. 

Maybe it is just the aftermath of experiencing the hugely churning energies of the past few days.  Maybe those energies have sand-blasted my senses, making them supercharged.  But it is interesting to me that this storm happened as Samhain approached, the final Fertility Sabbat and the re-setting of the Wheel of the Year.  This is the time that focuses on the Death card of the Tarot Major Arcana, which 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 natural change that cannot be stopped.  In hind sight, I never came close to death over these past days, but there were a few moments when I was a bit nervous for a brief time.  I talked myself down from the ledge, but I could have easily panicked; I could have let the adrenaline rush control me. 

I have reached some tipping point over these past days, since Bob left for Hackensack at about 12 on Saturday afternoon.  The way my life essence fits into my body has shifted.  What will happen?  How will I change?  I don’t know, but change I will.  I can feel it happening already.

I have gathered my blog entries from Hurricane Sandy into one post, and placed it on my Dancing Sparkles FaceBook page.  You can access all the entries in one place, here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/dancing-sparkles/my-hurricane-sandy-journal/371828956237918 .

I just walked around my garden a bit, tapping into the Fall energies all around today.  I came across a few mushrooms, looking like tiny beach umbrellas seen from a plane.  Looks like the garden Faeries had a hurricane party!!

Samhain Blessings!

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King of Wands reversed/ Eight of Cups reversed. King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) is honest and open hearted, and rules his realm through the advantageous use of his creative impulses.  Because my King of Wands is reversed, today might not be a good day for me to put my own creativity out there as a leader.  Better to be a follower for a bit, and listen to the needs of others. The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) in an upright position is a card of action, telling of an ending or a decline or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions.  Like my King, my Eight of Cups is reversed.  I need to hang on rather than giving up, and I need to focus on a group effort, the needs of others, and my connection to others, rather than taking any risks.

My Thoth card is The Aeon (Judgement).  Wow. The Aeon/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 represents an opportunity to tally up and pay the bill so we can have a fresh start.  Crowley sees this one as representing a final decision that allows us to move forward from the past.  This is a card of accomplishment too, and it tells us that there is one more step to be done before we reach The Universe and the end of a cycle.

My Legacy card is Temperance reversed, flavored by the Queen of Cups. Temperance corresponds 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), and it is one of the Major Arcana cards that presents one version of the concept of balance.  Temperance brings us balance through learning how to deal with extremes.  I’m surprised this one is reversed, but there is one interpretation that does make sense.  My balance is not here yet, but it is approaching. The Queen of Cups (cusp of Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, and Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) represents the energies of Water and The High Priestess manifested into the Minor Arcana.  She tells me that today it is important for me to be in touch with my own feelings, the feelings of those around me, and to listen to my Inner Voice.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the slowing of growth that comes as degeneration begins, usually involving some kind of assessment and choice.

My horoscopes: “Extra time and attention that you have been devoting to your career should pay off about now. You've worked hard to be where you are, and you aren't through climbing the ladder of success just yet. You aren't likely to rest on your laurels. Today you might spend a lot of time planning your next goal. A little ingenuity will definitely pay off here, Sagittarius. Use whatever advantages you have.”

And: “An improvement in your relations with a love partner or close friend has you feeling especially optimistic about the future, and even more so about the present. Your sense of self-worth is up and you are formulating vague and undecided, but very positive, ideas as to how to shape your life in the months ahead. Don't make any definite plans right now. Write down your ideas and go back to them later when the rosy glow has faded a little!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Four of Cups.  We can sometimes be mesmerized by events or effects, often to the extent that we lose touch with the physical world around us.  If we are in a safe place, this is not dangerous.  However, having this happen while we are standing in the middle of a busy intersection would not be a good thing. 

Hurricane Sandy Journal, Part 2:

10/29/12:

2:00 pm.  Check in number three.  Sandy is about 120 miles off Cape May.  At 12:30 pm, the center of the storm first appeared on the radar image I am monitoring.  At 1:30 pm, winds were gusting to 40 mph, sustained at about 20 mph, and the temperature was 51 degrees.  At noon, Governor Christie advised that the Parkway was now closed from Exit 63 south, because of road flooding, which probably happened at or around high tide this morning.  From what I can see from the radar images on tv, it looks like we will be experiencing a lull in the rain until right before the center of the storm hits land.  Hopefully, things will have an opportunity to drain a bit (we’ve had over 3 inches of rain so far), because the flood warnings don’t expire until 6 pm on Tuesday (as of right now, anyway).  At 1:45, just before the 2 pm update, my internet went out; that means no tv or internet connections, and no official updates.  At 2:30, when the internet did not come back on, I called my neighbor.  She said that the storm is making landfall earlier than expected, which does not surprise me.  Wind gusts have ramped up quite a bit.  I checked the basement, and I have water.  I turned on the pump, and I am hoping that we don’t lose power too soon.  Now, the fun is beginning.  Unless the internet comes back on and the power stays, my updates will be personal experience only from now on.

4:30 pm.  Check in again.  Internet is back on, but I don’t know how long that will last.  Wind is wild, rain is hard (but that could be in part because of the wind).  Here is the update: as of right now, (4:30 pm) landfall will be between 5 and 6 pm tonight, and probably south of Atlantic City, close to passing right over Cape May.  The storm is moving west/northwest at 28 miles per hour!  Flood warnings and high wind warnings are in effect until 9 am tomorrow.  It is 52 degrees, winds are gusting in the 50s, with sustained winds in the 30s mph.  Some of the gusts are starting to come out of the northwest, which tells me that things are happening and we may be getting a break soon.  I just saw a picture of a wave that looked like it was taken at the beach by Congress Hall; the wave was 15 feet high!!  I received a reality check a little while ago: I got a phone call from my husband, who is supposedly safe, in our Bergen County house.  He was looking out the windows of his office as he worked (they are mainly experiencing wind and a bit of rain), and he watched as an 80 year old maple fell onto our house.  Thankfully, only our porch was impacted, and my husband’s car was not damaged.  But oy.  I did my own Full Moon ritual a little while ago, and asked for protection for myself, and all my loved ones; thankfully the ritual worked and my husband is okay.  My sump pump is on continuously now, and not keeping up with the water accumulating in my crawl space; I really hope the power stays on.

5:00 pm.  Check in at landfall, or almost.  The storm is still moving west/northwest at 28 mph; it is about 30 miles off the coast, and will be passing any moment.  Wind gusts are 60 mph and more, sustained winds in the high 30s and low 40s, and waves in the ocean at 20 feet.  Flood and wind warnings now expire 2:30 am tomorrow morning; things are happening!!  It is still 52 degrees, but I keep hearing that it is going to get colder. 

5:30 pm.  Landfall!  It is amazing how the rain seems to be instantly calmer, and the wind has mostly changed direction.  Wind and flood advisories expire now at midnight.  But this is still a strong C1, almost a C2 hurricane, so I won’t be lulled into a false sense of security.  The wind and rain will ramp up again, just from another direction.  The sump pump is not keeping up with the seepage, but still it is pumping away.  As long as the power stays on **knocks on wood** I should be fine.  The Parkway is closed from the Driscoll Bridge south, so I don’t think I will be going anywhere soon.  Not that I planned on moving from my safe little nest. 

8:30 pm.  Check in.  Well, I don’t know exactly when landfall happened, but it did.  The rain is still falling, and the winds are pumping again.  The Parkway is still closed from the Driscoll Bridge south, because of water on the roads.  Once again we’ve got gusts to 60 mph, with sustained winds in the high 20s and low 30s, coming out of the west/southwest.  High wind and surf advisories are back to 9 am tomorrow, and high tide is in about a half hour.  Temperature is down to 48 degrees, although it feels warmer.  I really hope my power stays on; my sump pump is not keeping up with the water seeping into my basement.

10:30 pm.  Final check in for today.  Still have gusts of 30 mph to 50 mph out of the southwest, but supposedly this should begin to taper off.  Flood and wind warnings expire now at midnight.  It is 47 degrees, and we have the rain at the back end of the storm to get through.  Crawl space is still under water, and the sump pump is working hard.  If power stays on, we should be good because it appears that the pump is catching up with the water seepage.  However, if it rains hard again, all bets are off. 

10/30/12:

10:30 am.  First check in for the day.  I am aghast at what has happened here in New Jersey.  I am listening to Governor Christie speaking, and I am realizing that this hurricane is a life-altering event for all of us here in New Jersey.  The entire Jersey Shore has been devastated.  Houses are off their foundations and in the middle of roads.  Amusement piers, and their rides and restaurants, are in the ocean.  Entire barrier islands, filled with expensive homes, carefully decorated and landscaped, are surrounded by dunes, with curtains flapping in the breeze, and whole walls gone.  And that is assuming that the houses are still there.  Many beach front homes are now rubble, being tossed by the waves.  Rivers have burst their banks, huge, ancient trees have come down on houses and cars and power lines.  Roads are washed out.  People have died!

I performed my personal Full Moon Esbat last night, and at the height of the ritual I asked for protection for my home, my loved ones, and those who were enduring the storm along side me here at the Blue Moon House.  We have relatively little damage, and it is eerie to stand in the middle of my residential street, cup of coffee in my hand, and have things appear so normal, knowing what I know.  But I have not been off my street.  I have heard emergency vehicles all night long, plowing sand off the streets and removing whatever debris accumulated in the road (I don’t know what is left along Beach Drive).  My husband did not fare so well.  He is safe (thank the Gods), but two huge 80+ year old trees came down, bouncing off the house.  He has no power.  He does have a car, and our landlord (we rent space there) has a generator, so he has minimal electricity.  My step son has emailed me this morning, so he is good, and my son is in the D.R.  So we are good.  I am hugely grateful to my Deities, and to everyone who has been sending energy.  I have been offering protection in return.

I will post again, after I finally walk around town.  But for now, I am feeling quite a bit of gratitude that we have made it through this.

4:30 pm.  Final Hurricane Sandy check in.  I am back from walking around town.  There are a few areas with streets covered by standing water, but all in all, we are quite lucky.  At the height of the storm, there was water on Beach Drive, and now, there are piles of sand along the side of the street, like snow plowed out of the way after a blizzard.  I have not been to the Jefferson Street beach yet because the town people were still clearing sand away from the boardwalk, but from what I saw of the beaches (south of Convention Hall), except for one place, it appears that we have more sand than we did before the storm.  The Cove restaurant is still standing . . . damaged, but still standing.  The area known as the Cove actually as more sand than it did last week, however one of the berms in place to protect the fresh water marshes and streams has been breached.  I did not get back into the Point Park; that will be for another day. 

I thought I would be celebrating like crazy today, but all I am feeling is gratitude.  Because of Cape May’s angle, we just did nor get the damage and the storm surge that the barrier islands of the Jersey Shore experienced.  I am grateful beyond belief that Cape May was spared.  I send healing energy and support out to all who have had their lives disrupted this weekend.  And I offer thanks to Deity and to my own friends and family, for the support I received.

Blessed be!

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Two of Pentacles/The Fool reversed.  LOL, now that is a clear message on this day, as Hurricane Sandy approaches! The Two of Pentacles (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) reminds me that everything always ebbs and flows.  This card, whether upright or reverse, is one of several cards in the Tarot that addresses balance, and my Two is one that is about dynamic balance (which is always moving, always changing, and in fact remains balanced because of movement and change).  This is a Pentacles card, so it is addressing my physical world, and oh boy do I need balance and flexibility today!!  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 is the spark that begins the idea, and his powers and energies are neither positive nor negative.  My Fool is reversed, though, and thus I am being told that today is not a good day to just assume things will be okay.  I’ve already got this message and have prepared as much as I can, according to tried-and-true and in-place recommendations.  Be flexible, and don’t be a Fool!

My Thoth card is the Two of Cups.  “Love” is Crowley’s keyword for this card, and this is another important message for me today. The Two of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, tenacious, moody) tells of about love and connections, usually having to do with feelings, relationships and commonalities.  I am certainly reassured by the connections this card represents, both those connections that are in my immediate area, and those that are miles away, yet still in my heart.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Swords reversed, flavored by the Six of Swords reversed. The Ten of Swords (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, talkative) in an upright position tells of the complete manifestation of interference, powerlessness and restriction.  My Ten of Swords is reversed, so I will feel more empowered than out of control. The Six of Swords (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause oriented) is about balance, healing, moving towards a better place, and even about learning the science behind things that work (because understanding why they work makes them more effective).  My Six of Swords is also reversed, and it is flavoring my reversed Ten of Swords, validating the empowerment being offered by that Ten, and adding a bit of unshakable resolve.  I am wondering if that reversed Six of Swords might be hinting that science won’t be very available to me today; could mean that the power will go out at some point.

I did not bring my Pearls of Wisdom Tarot, so I will throw my Full Moon card from my Hermetic Tarot.  The card I threw was the Ten of Wands.  LOL, makes sense to me! The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) tells of being taxed to some perceived limit, or of feeling as if we are out of gas at the bottom of a hill.  The keywords for the Hermetic Tarot Ten of Wands are overbearing force and excessive pressure, as well as selfish and material focuses.  I certainly am dealing with overbearing forces today, thanks to hurricane Sandy, and my focus is towards material things as I am here in my Blue Moon House, hoping to keep my basement dry and my home secure. 

My horoscopes: “You're feeling especially sharp, Sagittarius. Your thoughts are more focused than usual and your mind especially penetrating. A promised get-together with friends or loved ones may have to be delayed, but it will take place. Information about possible business opportunities could come through periodicals, and if you like them, check them out. The outlook on anything that comes your way today is especially bright.”

And: “When it comes to love and romance, you may find that if things begin to stir, change, or fluctuate in any way, your first impulse is to react dramatically. Keep in mind that this is probably the exact opposite of what you should do. Instead of jumping quickly to conclusions, you should sit back and let things unfold slowly. Resist the urge to make a move today just because your emotions are in an uproar.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Empress.  LOL, looks like I am being told to embrace the elemental effects of this storm!!  The Shadowscapes Empress tells me to be aware of the abundance around me and to embrace the natural world and its effects.  The Empress also represents The Mother aspect of the Sacred Feminine, and I am enjoying tapping into Her loving, nurturing and protecting energies right about now.

Hurricane Sandy Journal:

10/28/12:

3:10 pm.  Just listened to the latest update.  Looks like south Jersey is going to get the heaviest rain, but north Jersey will be getting the worse winds and storm surge.  Right now in Cape May it is 54 degrees (but feels warmer), with light rain and wind gusts to 36 mph.  So far, so good, but it is waaay early yet.  If the power does not go out, I should be able to handle the rest.  **crosses fingers**

7:19 pm.  Another update.  LOL, now they are saying the storm will hit land a bi more south, more like Atlantic County, and it won’t arrive until Tuesday morning.  It is high tide right now, still 54 degrees, with wind gusts to 39 mph.  Corgie Street is quiet, in fact the quiet is downright spooky, considering the storm that is heading our way.  The storm has not het begun its left turn, and I am trying hard to visualize the storm not turning. 

11:00 pm.  Update again.  Temperature is now 43, and wind gusts are up to 42 mph.  The hurricane is finally starting to hint that it will turn towards the coast; damn, I was hoping that would not happen quite yet.  The further north the storm makes landfall, the better for me, so I will keep hoping.  We haven’t had a huge amount of rain yet, but according to the radar, it is coming.  We still have power, but that could change at any time.  I am getting ready for bed.  If I can’t sleep, I will post again. 

10/29/12:

6:30 am. Checking in; got up to go to the bathroom.  Wind started to howl after midnight, and those eerie quiet times are less, so I did not sleep well.  All houses creak in this situation, and I guess my adrenaline is a bit high.  Rain has been heavy, then light.  It is 49 degrees, thankfully not cold out there, and while the temperature will go down a few degrees tomorrow, there won’t be much of a change.  I’ve got power **knocks on wood**.  The storm turned to the north during the night with certainty, and is trending west.  Now they are saying that the storm won’t weaken until after landfall, late tonight (which is a bit earlier than they were saying yesterday).  Peak gusts are still at 39 mph, but we are averaging in the high 20s and low 30s now. High tide is in about an hour, and the weather reporter is right now showing someone standing at what looks like poverty beach; the higher waves are spilling onto Beach Drive.  Hopefully this will be the next to the last high tide before the storm starts to wane.  It is just getting light, and I am going to try to get a bit more sleep.

9:00 am. Checking in.  It’s 50 degrees, and the storm is moving north/northwest now, 20 mph, which is faster than all night.  Sandy is back up to a Category 1 hurricane.  It is on final approach to our area but still 250 miles away, and hopefully the worst of it will be during the day, while it is still light.  There is a news team staying at Congress Hall, and they are showing photos of the water coming over the boardwalk down by the cove.  The Garden State Parkway is closed on the southbound side at mile marker 38, Ocean City; the water is right next to the edge of the pavement.  In Atlantic City, roads are flooded and the ocean came quite close to the boardwalk during this high tide.   Rain here in Cape May is moderate, but Delaware and eastern Maryland is getting drowned by heavy, heavy rain.  The funny thing is, I just spoke to my husband, and it’s not raining in Bergen County.   The sylphs hare having a ball, howling and making the trees dance.  Thankfully, everyone put their yard stuff away, so nothing is blowing around.  After my earlier post this morning, I took out my brand new singing bowl, and played the bowl as I calmed my center.  I actually felt like the winds quieted for a bit so the sylphs could hear my bowl singing.  I know I felt calmer.  Also, town trucks have been coming through Corgie Street.  I saw a truck come by three times yesterday and last night, and Corgie Street is by no means a main thoroughfare.

11:00 am.  Another check in.  Friends who live only two blocks from the beach in the neighborhood called Froggy Hollow just arrived at my neighbors’ house across the street.  Their street is flooded by rainwater (but their house is still dry), and they are spending the rest of the hurricane on Corgie Street.  I also heard that the small restaurant at the southern end of Beach Drive called The Cove is either in the process of being destroyed, or has been destroyed.   The tide is going out, but the problem is that the onshore winds are preventing the water from draining.  Tonight’s high tide is going to be bad.  We’ve still got wind gusts at about 40 mph, with sustained winds between 10 and 20 mph, the storm is 210 miles southeast of Cape May, still moving north/northwest (no hard left turn yet), and it is still 50 degrees.  We haven’t even gotten an inch of rain yet, but I am assuming rain is on the way; as of right now, they are expecting the storm to make landfall at around midnight. I am also seeing on tv that a small section of the Atlantic City boardwalk was destroyed; some of it washed out to sea, other sections are now laying on Atlantic Avenue.  Supposedly this section was already damaged and was scheduled for repair, so it was a weak section.  I am seeing on tv waves under the back decks of some of the houses on LBI; those poor people are going to lose their homes.  But the power is still on here, and the basement is still dry.  I’m sipping hot coffee, I’ve got food, and ice for my scotch.  Time to take a shower!

I will continue with this Hurricane Sandy Journal, and will post the rest of my experiences when I can.  But since I do still have power as of now, here is what I have so far.

Hugs and Blessed Be!

$>

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

33, Element: Earth (North). North is the direction of Earth, and thus of the physical or physically formed or manifested world, and of nurturing, health, finances and security, and the wisdom associated with living simply, being well-grounded, and being in touch with our physical body.  Earth represents stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change; its dignities are cold/binds and dry/shapes.  Earth is the element of form and substance; it is connected to physical health, to material world security (and even wealth), and to our physical bodies and physical senses, and the pleasures and pains they bring.  Earth represents the fertile, nurturing and serene side of Nature, and it represents the tangible end result of our labors.

28, Guide: Frog (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.  Frog is an interesting card.  After all, Frog is born from an egg, lives for a while as a gill-breathing fish, and then gradually sprouts arms and legs and then lives the rest of its life as an air-breathing cold-blooded entity.  How is that for transformation!  Frog is also known for fertility, cooperation, and motherhood.  Frog can absorb oxygen through its skin, so it is also known for healing as well as emotional sensitivity.

51, Gateway: The World Tree (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.  The World Tree is a powerful symbol in many cultures; in Wicca, the Tree is seen as representing the cast circle, and it is seen as a gateway to the Underworld.  The World Tree is about initiation of the most exciting kind; it tells of the ability to tap into the knowledge and wisdom that is a part of me through my ancestors, and it tells of the ability to connect with non-physical beings.

I then created my mandala.  This one is cool to see, for some reason.  The triangle that symbolizes Earth is right in the middle of the circle of roots that is The World Tree.  The three Frogs are along the edge of the circle, as if they were Watchers or guardians.  The World Tree actually represents the cast circle, and having that protection and the strong, fertile and serene grounding of the element of Earth, is what I need today, for sure.  Frog can live on dry land and in the ocean, and I am being told today that I should be Frog.  I should position myself along the cast circle of The World Tree, ground myself, and open myself to the Mysteries around me.

This does make quite a bit of sense.  I am manning the fort here, at the Blue Moon House, as Hurricane Sandy bears down upon the New Jersey coast.  My husband is staying at his office, so I will be protecting the Blue Moon House through the storm. 

I am prepared.  I am taking care of everything that needs electricity today, while the rains are light and the winds are only gusting to 35-40 mph.  My cell phone, my Kindle, my iPod and my computer are charged, so I will be able to keep myself busy.  I filled the bathtub with water, and I am making ice, so I can keep bowls of ice in the fridge and freezer.  I’ve got food, water, wine, vodka, scotch, and a bit of Himbeergeist (a lovely Black Forest raspberry brandy), so I will be good.  Plus, four of my neighbors on my block are staying as well, so I have company.  If the power goes out, I won’t be putting up blog posts.  But once I have internet access you will hear from me. 

I am looking forward to doing some elemental meditations tonight and tomorrow; should be a good time to connect with Air, for sure.  I will journal my experiences, and share it all here, just as I did for Hurricane Irene last year. 

Hugs and blessings to all who are riding out this storm. 

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The Emperor reversed/Ace of Cups.  The Emperor corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change), Aries (“I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) and the Hebrew letter Heh (window, illumination), and represents confidence and authority.  The Emperor actively seeks balance by imposing order on his world.  Normally, a reversed Emperor tells of bending the rules, rather than enforcing them.  But today, my reversed Emperor has a personal message to me.  He is telling me that today, there will be lots of blockages in my day that will be connected to my ability to lead, my ability to bring order and predictability into my day, and my ability to fulfill my responsibilities.  The Emperor believes that life is much easier when the trains run on time, and today I particularly understand why he focuses so intently on manifesting this, as I am experiencing what happens when the trains **don’t** run on time.  The Ace of Cups (Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, deep, mysterious, obsessive, Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) tells me that today is filled with the potential for experiencing deep emotions, a connection to my Inner Voice, compassion for myself or others, attunements and connections.  The thing I need to remember is that while these deep emotions may not come at me in an apparently pleasant fashion, by imposing compassion and empathy onto even the most uncomfortable situation, I could make it a bit better for everyone.

My Thoth card is the Seven of Swords reversed.  “Futility” is unlikely today because my card is reversed.  Whew!  The Seven of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness) tells of the active effort to maintain things as we want them, often through the use of deception and without considering the wants or needs of others.  My Seven of Swords is reversed today, so today I need to step away from my own expectations, no matter how important they are to me.  The application of my own Will is not always enough to make things turn out the way I need them to turn out, but I can still meet my responsibilities with a smile on my face.  That is a good thing.

My Legacy card is the Seven of Coins, flavored by the Knight of Wands.  Another Seven card!  The Seven of Coins (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) tells of pauses and choices and assessments within the physical world. This pause enables me to be certain that I am on the right track, and it enables me to be sure that each word and each deed is the right one. The Knight of Wands (cusp of Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, deep, obsessive, and Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) usually represents a person of passion, courage, enthusiasm and boundless energy.  His response to any challenge is fast and powerful, to the point of being abrupt or violent.   He likes to make strong progress towards attaining a goal, and he is encouraging me to be clever and bold as I make my way through my day.  He is flavoring my Seven of Coins, and boy, there is a personality clash!  Perhaps I can use these two opposing tendencies to bring a bit of balance into my day; I need to pause and consider, but then make a decision and act upon it.

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of a new creation out of the potential and position of the Ace, and the balance, polarity, and understanding of “distance between” of the number 2.

My horoscopes: “Unexpected money developments could brighten your day today, Sagittarius. Perhaps you will get a raise or an increase in some other form of income. Technology could be involved in some way, or a long-term goal you've been striving for finally brings in some benefits. There might be uncertainty about when it's coming or exactly how much it will be, but the outcome will be gratifying all the same!”

And: “Information received through modern communication systems such as faxes, e-mail, or the Internet might make it possible for you to change your job, your residence, or at least the way you think or operate. You might be feeling a bit nervous and jumpy at the prospect, but you'll pull it off all right. Don't be afraid to go with the flow and make changes today. This is only one hurdle in the course of your personal development.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Hermit.  The Shadowscapes Hermit has climbed to a high and difficult to reach peak.  The journey is a perilous one, but it brings The Hermit up above the smog and away from the noises and distractions of the community.  This peak brings a serenity and clearness of perception that we need right now, and that we did not realize was not available to us until this moment, when we have once again found serenity and clearness of perception.

It is interesting to me how life’s challenges tend to manifest.  Because today has been the peak (at least I hope it is the peak) of a transformation that feels a bit outside of my control, I have thrown my cards of the day with a specific question in mind.  And as always, the cards have given me encouragement, and they have hinted at what I am to focus on. 

Today, I am doing my best to remember that things happen for a reason.  And I am choosing to see the uncomfortable events as opportunities to test myself.  Will I pass or fail?  We shall see. 

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Ten of Pentacles reversed/Ace of Cups reversed. The Ten of Pentacles (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) represents physical world wealth and bounty, and the attempt to maintain the status quo.  Today my Ten of Pentacles is reversed today, and thus I am being told that physical world ease and taking the conventional route are not in the cards.  I might want to try to sail on untested waters, but I need to remember that material gains may not be the result of my exploration. The Ace of Cups (Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, deep, mysterious, obsessive, Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) in an upright position tells of the potentials available to me for experiencing deep emotions, a connection to my Inner Voice, compassion for myself or others, attunements and connections.  My Ace is also reversed, which might not be good.  Sailing into untested waters with my instincts and access to my Inner Voice blocked may not be good.

My Thoth card is The Wheel reversed. The Wheel of Fortune (Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), Jupiter (expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune), Kaph (grasping hand), and the Path between Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured)) represents the actions and effects of fate and destiny, and not of anything that we in the end can control.  My Wheel is reversed, and this can be telling me of a blockage or stagnation, or it could be telling me that I am not making use of the ebbs and flows of energies around me. 

My Legacy card is The Lovers, flavored by the Nine of Swords reversed. The Lovers (Air, hot/separates and wet/adapts, quick and animated, intellectual, problems or challenges; Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, sociable, dual; Zayin, double-edged sword; and the Path between Tiphareth, the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify, and Binah, female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) tells of duality, union, and personal choices.  Today, love is important, but so are my personal beliefs and my ethical standards.  I can’t control what happens to me each day, but I can control how I respond to things.  Today, I am being told that my choices are important. The Nine of Swords (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, social, dual) in an upright position represents brooding and worrying, usually self-caused, and usually unproductive.  My Nine is reversed, and flavoring my Lovers, and thus, my day should be infused with innocence and serenity.  At the end of the day, I need to believe in what I choose to do, and I need to accept that I’ve made my choices after careful consideration.  No fault, no guilt.  Just acceptance. 

My 6-digit date number is 10, the number that tells of the end of a cycle, which reduces further to the number 1, which represents position and potential. 

My horoscopes: “Some failures that you may have experienced over the past few days could have you beating yourself up today, Sagittarius. Perhaps you feel that you were too hasty or too sloppy and could have done things better. Don't obsess over it. Figure out what went wrong, learn from it, and let it go. Too much negativity directed at yourself is likely to sabotage future efforts rather than help them.”

And: “You may feel as if your battery has run out of juice today. You may be asking yourself if what you are doing is really worth it. Don't despair. A car will be along soon that can help give you a jump. Once you get your engine started again, there will be no stopping you. Don't be afraid to go out in the middle of the road and flag someone down. No one will know that you need help unless you ask for it.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Tower. The Tower represents catastrophe or sudden change, and the Shadowscapes Tower is no exception.  The time has come to break completely from the past, and in this case an explosive upheaval is the only way to break up well-established patterns so they can be swept away.  Fasten your seat belt!

I attended a challenging power flow Yoga class today, and I am pleased to say that I was able to hold my own.  My body is singing, my energy is flowing.  I always feel good after these flow classes, even though they are physically challenging. 

I also finished my Reiki II booklet, and all is ready for my Reiki II class this Saturday. 

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Ten of Swords reversed/Three of Wands reversed. The Ten of Swords (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, talkative) in an upright position tells of the complete manifestation of interference, powerlessness and restriction.  My Ten of Swords is reversed, so I won’t feel bogged down by the tasks of the day.  In fact, I just may attack each of them with unexpected enthusiasm. The Three of Wands (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, the deepest self and personal power, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive) tells of being successfully established after some effort expended.  My Three of Wands is reversed, so today may not be about new creations, and this makes sense when combined with my reversed Ten of Swords.  The cycle is not ending yet, and I need to focus my mind on the current tasks at hand, rather than looking ahead and stepping forward.  Not yet, but soon.

My Thoth card is the Seven of Disks.  “Failure” is the keyword for this card. The Seven of Disks (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) represents a time when we look at the fruits of our labors in order to determine if they are ready for harvest.  Crowley sees this card as being a bit more of a throwing down of the garden tool and abandoning the project, rather than leaning on the tool in order to see what we’ve accomplished. Since this card came via my Thoth Tarot, I will take Crowley’s interpretation to heart, and try to be sure I keep an even flow of energy through my day so I can persevere.

My Legacy card is the Eight of Cups, flavored by the Four of Swords.  Hmmm . . . interesting pair. laziness, sluggishness, lethargy or idleness.  The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) is a card of action, telling of an ending or a decline or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions.  This card could be telling of the ebbing of the effectiveness of a situation to the point that abandonment might be the only choice.  However, my Eight of Cups is being flavored by the Four of Swords. The Four of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) can represent a pause or truce, a time of silence and isolation, and a time of being cut off from the world yet still alert. It seems that all my cards today are telling me that my initial impression may be that action is called for, but I had better pause and look before I leap.  Today is about putting the final touches on the plan, I guess.  Tomorrow may be the day of action. 

My 6-digit date number is 9, the number of completeness (but not completion) of manifestation or effect.

My horoscopes: “Put on some lively music you can dance to and really kick up your heels, Sagittarius. It's time to put away the sour mood and have fun with a large group of people. You will find that the more you engage in intellectual discussions, the more you will get warmed up to the idea that life should be fun, not the pain and stress you sometimes make it out to be.”

And: “You may feel as if you are out of your league today. The good news is that, thanks to your flexible and adaptable nature, any league can always become yours after you take those magical steps to work the crowd and convince them that you mean the best. Have patience and understanding as you learn a new set of rules and a new group of people with their own unique habits and behaviors.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Nine of Cups.  Oh, the image on this card instantly brings to mind the sensations I associate with this card!  This one is about pleasure, about the messages of our senses that sing with beauty and delight, and about just what we each have to do in order to find and access these delights. 

Another busy day.  I am finishing up my Reiki II booklet, so I can teach a Reiki II class this Saturday.  I am looking forward to teaching this one; I haven’t had the pleasure of passing a Reiki attunement for a while.

I am still working on making the transformation from a 9 to 5 job to working for hubby.  I am not yet settled into a schedule, so things are kind of in flux right now.  But it won’t take me long to get back to my astrology studies.

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Two of Cups reversed/The Hierophant. The Two of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, tenacious, moody) in an upright position tells of about love and connections, usually having to do with feelings, relationships and commonalities.  My Two of Cups is reversed, and it is telling me that today might be more of a solitary day rather than one focused on connections with others. 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 possesses and understands the knowledge that unites the macrocosm and the microcosm.  The Hierophant’s Purpose (and I deliberately capitalized that “P”) is to teach this knowledge to others and thus, preserve it.  The Hierophant also understands the power of ritual, and of the application of knowledge and wisdom with awareness.  He uses this understanding in order to be a bridge between the spiritual and the physical; the cool thing is that he also shares with us all what he has learned while acting as that bridge.

My Thoth card is the Nine of Disks.  “Gain” is the upright keyword for this card. The Nine of Disks (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) in an upright position tells of accomplishment or gain through the imposition of discipline.  This may be a card of material well-being, but that material well-being is mostly coming to us because of perseverance and hard work.  It is only after that perseverance and hard work that we can harvest, and fell satisfaction at the results.

My Legacy card is the Ace of Swords reversed, flavored by The Devil reversed. The Ace of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution authority, cunning, Aquarius and Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, soul growth, artistic) in an upright position tells of the potential within the day to effectively use mental or intellectual abilities.  My Ace is reversed, however, and I may not be able to cut through the confusion today.  Better to wait a bit before making any important decision, because things may not be clear.  The Devil (Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Capricorn (“I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning), Ayin (the eye, senses), and the Path between Hod (which provides analysis and communication) and Tipareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) tells of being caught up in the physical world and the effects of the physical senses to the point of being bound to those things.  This can be a distressing situation, but despite my inability to see clearly and make use of my knowledge and experience, I just might end up stumbling into balance, at least balance in the physical world.  That’s a load off my shoulders, eh?

My 6-digit date number is 8, the number that tells of a conscious and focused response to the pause and beginning of degeneration of the number 7, in order to maintain for a bit longer the balance and harmony of the number 6.

My horoscopes: “Communicate from a centered space today, Sagittarius. Fortunately, the nature of the day caters to your needs and desires. You shouldn't have to work too hard to get what you want. Things should come to you naturally. You may wonder why you got stressed out before over what now seem to be small issues. Consciously release the worry and concern that are still stored in your body.”

And: “Finding the answer you seek could be much easier when you take a position that is more adamant about where you stand now and where you want to be later on. If you continue to be uncertain and relaxed about which way to proceed, others are apt to take advantage of you and step all over you on their way. You have the strength and power of an active imagination to fuel your desires. It is time to put these into effect.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the King of Pentacles.  The King of Pentacles is the ruler of the material world.  He is like a huge tree; his roots are deep so he can access nourishment from the Earth itself, and his branches reach high and broad, so he can offer shade and protection to all who stand under him.  And he offers us all bounty and a bright future; after all, each acorn that grows and then falls from his tree contains the potential to become a forest.

I just got back from today’s Yoga class.  While I enjoyed my weekend immensely, it feels good to be back to my routine.  Last week was the first week I did not go into the office; looks like my “day job” is going to be coming to an end really soon.  But my husband is busy, and I am enjoying working with him immensely.  But I will need to create a new schedule for myself; I need to be careful during this time of transition, because I don’t want to form any bad habits!

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!

11, Gateway: Summer (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.  This Gateway is about warmth and bounty, abundance and blessing, passion and wealth.  Summer is a time of physical world manifestation and abundance, and it is also a time to bring magickal awarenesses into the open.  After all, with an abundance of manifestation into the physical world, this would be an easy time to sense non-physical world abundances as they often happen around physical manifestations.

5, Landscape: Mountains (East). East is the direction of the rising sun, and thus of new beginnings and fresh ideas, as well as knowledge, intellectual ideas and thoughts.  Mountains tells us that our goals are in sight, but there will still need to be strength, skill and perseverance before accessing that goal.  Mountains also allow us to rise up above the chaos, confusion and noise of our mundane world in order to experience peace and solitude.  This card tells me that I’ve got a good strong foundation in place, and now it is time to look forward and up.

61, Gateway: The Self (Within). Within is the direction of the Self, and thus the cards associated with this direction deal with the ways our Self connects to the world and perceives the world, and the Self.  This direction is mostly abstract, and yet is our bridge to the Universe around us.  This card is considered a “blank canvas,” in that it has faces and hands like the other Within cards, but there are no traits or textures or shapes or colors infused into the faces and hands.  That is because each of us is unique; this is a great significator card, and I am choosing to accept The Self as offering a message: “These cards offer a unique message to you, but that message must be perceived through your own unique senses and interpreted through your own unique intellect.”  This card tells us that the first and main purpose of life and living is to get to know our individual Self.

I then created my mandala.  This one just has a lovely feel about it!  We’ve got two basic shapes, square and triangle, but they mesh because the base of the triangle lines up with the base of the square.  Both Summer and Mountains offer the concept of the fullness of manifestation.  After all, Summer is the peak time of warmth and illumination of our Sun.  And Mountains appear eternal, even though they are always changing, either being forced upward by the workings of the Earth and Fire, or being worn away by the workings of Air and Water.  I am being told that now is an opportune time for me to look at myself, to examine how I respond to the events and connections that happen within each day.  I have accumulated a wonderfully stable foundation, and I need to lean on it and then reach upward and outward, and more importantly, I need to turn my gaze within and attempt to understand my Purpose. 

I know, I know . . . I haven’t posted in a few days.  I was sick, not feeling well at all, and then busy with work.  Then on Friday night, the men folk from Murrell’s Inlet arrived after driving up from South Carolina.  They are all here to attend the Giants football game. 

Friday night was foggy and lovely; Saturday was a glorious Fall day.  I biked to Sunset Beach, saw a bald eagle at Fader River, stopped for fresh bread, and then walked the mall with the guys.  We went out to dinner Saturday night, and got up early this morning to head up to the Giants game.  It was a glorious Fall day, perfect football weather, and we had a blast. 

I am pretty done in, and will be heading to bed soon.  Back to reality tomorrow!

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Five of Swords/The Chariot. The Five of Swords (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, pleasure, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloof) shows what happens when we insist that our way is right, or when we impose our needs or wants onto a situation. Today, my field of vision just might be filled by what I need, and I should have a care.  Yes, I am coming off of a cold, but that does not mean the needs of others can be totally ignored without experiencing painful repercussions.  Maybe even worse than a cold. The Chariot, which corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and sensitive, emotional and imaginative energy that likes to stay the same or follow the same course), Cancer (“I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody), Cheth (the fence), and the Path between Geburah (the place where forms and structure are challenged or affirmed) and Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure), tells of having the control necessary to focus on goals, and to avoid distractions.  This card talks about “hard control,” about focusing what I need to get done, no matter how lousy I feel, and not feeling any resentment if what I need to get done is what someone else needs.

My Thoth card is the Nine of Cups.  “Happiness” is the keyword for this one. The Nine 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 is about emotional satisfaction and the ability to find pleasure in feelings and emotions, and in our expectations for the day. “Pleased as punch” describes this one well. This is a card about receiving pleasure, and it is about giving pleasure (and receiving fulfillment by doing this).  It is also a card about success, or better put, it is about feeling successful.  Crowley sees this card as bringing complete satiety through the action of luck. 

My Legacy card is the Seven of Swords reversed, flavored by the Eight of Cups. The Seven of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness) tells of the active effort to maintain things as we want them, often through the use of deception and without considering the wants or needs of others.  My Seven of Swords is reversed today, so today will be about working with the group, and willingly accept responsibilities.  The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) is a card of action, telling of an ending or a decline or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions.  By the end of the day I may feel a bit tired, but making it through the day means my cold is ebbing!  LOL, yep, that is my focus; I really did feel lousy yesterday.  Feeling good is worth celebrating.

My 6-digit date number is 4, the number of depth and stability.

My horoscopes: “You might be frustrated by the fact that people are doing things hastily today, Sagittarius. You might have to accept the fast-paced energy of the day just so you can keep up. Don't worry if you engage in activities that aren't carefully planned beforehand. You will find spontaneous frivolity to be extremely rewarding on a day like this. Expect the unexpected.”

And: “Ideas of all kinds, whether practical, scientific or spiritual, are your life's blood, and today you might find yourself expanding that knowledge. Much of what you learn may be based on modern technologies such as the Hubble telescope or particle accelerators. You're likely to only scratch the surface today, however. Much of what you learn may be confusing. Nonetheless, stay with it. It'll make more sense to you later.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Queen of Wands.  She is cheerful, calm and upbeat; all eyes turn towards her, and she is comfortable with this.  In fact, she believes this is what she deserves.  Not in a vain way, but rather with a clear understanding of her abilities.  This could turn bad, but she knows this and keeps careful control. 

Okay, bad cold started Tuesday night, and swung into full swing yesterday.  I really felt lousy.  So, I spent the day on the couch.  I Reikied myself like crazy.  And I went to bed early.  Slept in this morning for a bit, too.  The cold is not gone, but I do feel better.  And, I managed to get a blog entry up. 

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