Transparent Oracle Sunday!!

31, Gateway: Winter (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.  Because this Gateway is square and solid, and appears unshakable and immovable, it seems like a safe place, or a strong foundation upon which we can exist and prosper.

13, Element: Fire (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.  The element of Fire manifests as spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change; its dignities are hot/separates and dry/shapes. Fire has often been used as a representation of Spirit or the Divine, and this makes sense.  Fire brings transformation, animation or life, courage, and intent.  Fire has its dangers, though; it brings transformation through destruction that brings new birth.

4, Time of Day: Dawn (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.  Dawn is a magickal time, a crossroad between the quiet and serenity of night, and the action and manifestation of the day.  With the first rays of the rising sun we move out of our dreaming consciousness and into an awakened perception, and it is during this crossroad that we might be able to bring the messages of our dreams into the light of day, so we can better manifest them. 

Before even creating my mandala, I noticed the significance of the numbers 31, 13 and 4.  Both 31 and 13 reduce to the number 4, and 31 and 13 are mirror images of each other, just as Winter/North and Fire/South are opposites.  The first two cards present opposing focuses, one on the physically manifested world and the other on transformation, courage, passion and the Divine.  The triangular symbol for Fire superimposed onto the four-sided Gateway gives us an off-center kind of feeling, but as I have learned, while movement upsets stability, it also ends stagnation.  Uncle Al has told us that change is stability, and stability needs change in order to exist, so this off-center feeling is not necessarily a bad one.  The rays of the rising sun connect the images of the two other cards.  It reminds us that perception is important, and maybe, just maybe, seeing these two symbols with the slanted rays of light and long shadows of Dawn will offer a new understanding.

This one is tough.  My next Wild Unknown card: The Wheel of Fortune.  The image on this card seems a bit tangled.  It shows a Wheel made of white birch branches festooned with blue, green red and yellow ribbons, with a crescent moon, a nighttime sky, and an owl sitting on one of the branches at the top of the card, and a bright sun with far-reaching rays at the bottom of the card.  The entire image is peaceful and quiet, but the ribbons looped from branch to branch hints at forces beyond my control, even beyond my ability to predict.  But the dark night sky and the brilliant sun make this Wheel look like a World!  Different card, I know; but planets rotate and revolve through the powers of the Universe.  Winter follows Summer, which follows Winter; day follows night, which follows day, and there is nothing we can do to stop this.  We can’t control those powers, but we certainly can make use of them. 

I had a wonderful weekend.  I spent two days working in my beloved garden, under blue skies with warm temperatures.  We had great meals, and I even had the bonus of sharing some great stretches with a friend.  It’s back to reality tomorrow, with some work to do, but I leave for the D.R. on Thursday!

$>