Friday, August 30, 2013

8/30/13


The World/Universe reversed/The Sun reversed.  The World, which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, stable and practical energy that is slow to change), Saturn (discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance), Thav (mark or sign), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest into the physical world) is a card of integration and involvement and understanding, a crystallization of the entire issue at hand.  My World card is reversed, and considering my other cards today, I am okay with this.  I am being told that all around me, things are setting up to really bring many facets of my life into harmony.  I am not tapping into this energy yet, but just knowing it is there will facilitate the connection.  The Sun corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), our Sun (the inner core of a person or situation), Resh (the face; reason), and the Path between Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest in the physical world) and Hod (provides analysis and communication), and in an upright position it tells of a time of enlightenment and peace that comes after the completion of some ordeal, kind of a more temporary yet equally powerful energy as The Universe! My Sun is also reversed and I am seeing this as a validation of the message of the reversed Universe.  The resources are there to attain the enlightenment or achievement, but in order to access them, I need to be sure I am seeing them clearly and objectively, and I need to be patient.

My Thoth card is The Hanging Man.  Did I just mention that I needed to be patient?  Yep!  The Hanging Man corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and emotional, sensitive and imaginative energy that tends to move deep, and attempts to take the same path as in the past), Neptune (inspiration, spirituality, magick, enchantment, dreams, altered states), and the Hebrew letter Mem (water, stability and balance, the reflective quality of thought), and presents the kind of balance that comes to us through surrender, and through deliberately attempting to see things in a different way.  This card can also be referring to finding balance between the past and the current time, or between what I want and what the Universe is presenting to me, or between what I think I know and what really “is.”  Uncle Al sees this one as representing either enforced or voluntary suffering, as well as a sense of fatalism; I guess that makes The Hanging Man the “it is what it is” card!

My Legacy card is The Empress reversed, flavored by the Six of Coins.  Another Major Arcana card!!  Powerful energies today.  The Empress (which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Venus (beauty, allure, pleasure, relationships), the Hebrew letter Daleth (door or womb) and the Path between Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Chokmah on the Tree of Life (dynamic male energy and the origin of vital force and polarity)) is one half of the Major Arcana representation of the Sacred Feminine.  The Empress is about creativity, fertility of all kinds, a deep connection to Nature and the nurturing of others, and an enjoyment of the senses.  She is my significator, so her presence either upright or reversed is a huge “pay attention!” to me.  The Empress is a good ally as long as we are doing the work ourselves, and the card presenting itself in a reversed position is reminding me that distractions could be my undoing today.  However, The Empress is there, even though she is reversed, so her energies will bolster my faith in my own hard-earned abilities to tap into the energies around me, and both enjoy and benefit from them.  My reversed Empress is being flavored by a card that enforces this last sentence, the Six of Coins.  The Six of Coins (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Taurus, “I have,” Sensual, cautious, stubborn) brings an awareness of resources to the situation, both those that I have and those that I don’t have. This is the awareness that being rich does not just mean having physical possessions, and that sometimes the best thing we can do with what we have, whether plentiful or barely enough for our own benefit, is to share it.  Perhaps this focus outward, the deliberate emitting and sharing of my own energy, is what I need to turn the rest of those Majors around!

My 6-digit date number is 6, the number of vertical and horizontal balance.  Wow, good energies today!!

My horoscopes: “The absence of direct expressions of love might make your life seem rather empty today, Sagittarius. If you're single, there may be nobody around to have fun with. If you're involved, chances are your current love interest is unable to get together. Don't waste time fretting over this. Make some other plans

And: “Things are looking up for you today, and you will find that your emotional status is very good. You have a keen eye for love and beauty, and you will know by the look in someone's eye that they are more interested in getting close to you than you first thought. Feel free to take the lead in romantic situations. Your heart knows which way to lead you.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Hanged Man.  Okay, I get the message!  Letting go and surrendering to emotional release is the next step that brings us toward a higher state of being.  The stillness of this card draws my mind “. . . into that place of deep meditation where thought becomes action and where the stillness speaks with the voices of the gods.”  Yes, I want to go to that place!

It has been a busy week, but I think I am ready for a nice long weekend with good friends.  I will hopefully put up at least one blog post, if not more. 

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Thursday, August 29, 2013

8/29/13


The Lovers reversed/Seven of Swords.  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.  This card is about love, but it is also about our values and how they affect our choices, and the promises we make to others.  We also need to feel good about those that we love.  My card is reversed, and this could very well mean that a promise given or a commitment made will be tested in some way.  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, often through the use of deception and without considering the wants or needs of others.  I need to be careful how I allocate my efforts today, and I need to keep in mind the needs of the many, rather than the needs of the few, or the one.

My Thoth card is the Queen of Swords.  The Queen of Swords (cusp of Virgo, “I serve,” practical, sensible, work and service oriented, and Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, grace) can be considered a Minor Arcana representation of the Justice card, which is about responsibility and the relationship between “cause” and “effect.”  This Queen knows of joy and she knows of sorrow, and in an upright position she is well able to balance good and evil in her life, and choose the response that is appropriate to the occasion.  She is a combination of intuition and analysis; sounds good!

My Legacy card is Justice, flavored by the Six of Wands reversed.  Justice is a card of adjustment, and it corresponds with the element of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick, animated energy that usually brings problems or challenges that bring growth), Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Lamed (ox goad; training or teaching), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Geburah (the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed).  I am sensing a pattern here.  Justice and the Queen of Swords are related, so balance, fairness, and owning both my successes and my failures are important.  My Justice card is being flavored by the reversed Six of Wands.  The Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) in an upright position expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge.  My card is reversed, and adds nuances to the interpretation of Justice.  Cooperation is important and I need to look beneath the surface, for commonalities might be hidden.  I also should refrain from feeling self-righteous, as there is a danger for that as well.

My horoscopes: “Memories from your past could resurface, Sagittarius. You might wonder why you're suddenly thinking about them, but they probably represent a release of old emotional hang-ups that have been holding you back. By midafternoon you should feel more focused, determined, and ready to take on just about anything. This is definitely a great day to start new projects or complete old ones.

And: “Interesting news concerning the arts, spiritual matters, or perhaps health and nutrition could come your way through neighbors or relatives today. In addition, some unexpected developments in your community, perhaps involving your education or that of those around you, could necessitate your running a lot of errands. This could be a bit irritating, as the tasks involved might seem superfluous, but bear with it for now. You'll feel better when it's all taken care of.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Six of Cups.  Whew!  In the end, love and compassion and an enjoyment of simple pleasures could be the saving grace of the day.  Sometimes good intentions and noble impulses win.  Today could be one of those days, and if I expect good things, they will happen.

Another Wild Unknown Tarot card: The Three of Swords.  This is not a pleasant image.  The three Swords are bound together by a long red ribbon, tangled and wrapped around the blades to the point that it seems they will never be freed.  And those red smudges . . . blood?  Is the ribbon red because of those smudges?  The red of the ribbon and the black hole of the background are frightening, and they suggest pain and isolation, and maybe even betrayal (someone had to sneak up on those blades and tangle them up with the ribbon).  But I’ve recently been looking at Swords stuck into the ground as offering the concept of ownership, and if that is so, these three Swords, pointing upward, hint that things have gone out of control here.  Yes, there may be pain, and isolation, and maybe even betrayal.  But these are Swords!  If I own them, if I accept that this is an uncomfortable situation, and then grab the Swords and take control, I can slice away the ribbon that binds, and wipe off the red smudges.  I still have pain and isolation and betrayal, but actively attempting to sort things out might be a good next step. 

Busy week, full of Yoga and work.  Trying to clear things up so I can enjoy a nice long weekend.

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Monday, August 26, 2013

8/26/13


Page of Pentacles/Strength reversed. The Page of Pentacles (Aries, “I want,” assertive, action oriented, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual) is down-to-earth and responsible, and a listener and a learner. The Page of Pentacles loves to learn new things and have new experiences, but he also loves to also be a catalyst for change in the physical world, change for everyone.  Today, I am being told that physical world opportunities, including my own health, are the places with potential today.  I need to appreciate even predictable tasks, and add a bit of fun to everything. 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) is about having the strength and the patience to endure and focus.  My card is reversed so I may have a bit of trouble today finding the excitement and anticipation that encourage endurance and focus.  I may not get pleasure from today’s tasks, at least not immediately, but I need to do my best to get them done anyway.

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 birth of ideas and concepts.  If this card was upright, it would be telling me that I am ready to make use of logic and analysis in order to assert my Will.  My card is reversed, and with that point jammed downward, I wonder if I am being warned to not become a slave to my ideas.  Flexibility might be hard to encourage, but worth the effort.

My Legacy card is the Six of Swords reversed, flavored by the Five of Swords reversed.   Wow, look at all those reversed cards, and mostly Swords! The Six of Swords (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause oriented) in an upright position 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 card is reversed, and I am being warned that if I cling to outdated ideas, I may suffer.  Hmmm . . . there is that concept again.  The Five of Swords (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, pleasure, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloof) in an upright position shows what happens when we insist that our way is right, or when we impose our needs or wants onto a situation.  My Five of Swords is reversed, and it is flavoring my reversed Six of Swords.  Thankfully.  There is hope that I will identify the blockages that are being told of in this spread.  Looks like in the end I will be able to resist the temptation of insisting on jamming that square peg into that round hole.

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

My horoscopes: “Today the walls may seem to be closing in around you, and you're anxious to get out for a while, Sagittarius. Your significant other could want nothing more than to stay in. Don't let this turn into a major issue. Find a compromise. Go out to dinner and then come home and watch TV. Enjoy your time together! If single, get out and mingle.

And: “You and a close friend or love partner might have a lot of errands to run today, and therefore you might decide to get out and do it together. Bookstores and libraries might be on the list of stops you want to make. Some interesting conversations could take place while you're out, and a stop at your favorite restaurant for a meal will probably take place. This promises to be a busy and interesting day. Enjoy it!

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Page of Pentacles.  Looks like this one is important today!  The most productive focus will be in the physical word, concerning finances, career or health.  I need to be practical and down to earth, and still encourage new ideas.  This is a delicate balance, but I should be able to achieve it.  I am not afraid of studying and honing my skills even more, and that is a good thing.

Well, today my Yoga teacher encouraged me to teach my first class at the studio.  **gulp**  Now, the stage fright begins to set in. 

She is right, though; I am ready for this.  I’ve taught several classes outside of the studio already, and I’ve co-taught three Chair Yoga classes with another YTT trainee, with the fourth this Wednesday.  This will be a Yoga Essentials class, though.  Not Gentle Yoga.  LOL, I can do this.  Why am I nervous? 

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Sunday, August 25, 2013

8/25/13


Transparent Oracle Sunday!

63, Touch (and Taste) (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.  Our senses connect us to the physical world, and the sense of Touch is the most solid and least deceptive sense; touch is the method we use to find our way around and to dispel illusion.  Taste is a part of Touch, for it is by bringing things into contact with our tongues that we Taste them.  Contact is the key here, and connection; they can be pleasant or violent.

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.

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.

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  This one is pretty interesting.  The first two cards seem to be connected by the hands of Touch, even though the Ancestors/Dark Goddess faces are overlaying the faces of Touch, creating a sort of double blindness (because our sense of touch does not rely on sight).  Summer is bracketing these other two cards, but not in a comfortable way.  The symbol of Summer is shaped like a square, while the other two symbols are triangular.  Is Summer acting as a gateway?  Is the light of the sun illuminating the path I need to take?  Or are the brilliance and warmth distracting me from the less noticeable yet equally important messages of the Dark Goddess and my own Ancestors? 

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Friday, August 23, 2013

8/23/13


Nine of Swords/Six of Pentacles reversed.  The Nine of Swords (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, social, dual) represents brooding and worrying, usually self-caused, and usually unproductive.  My buddy Crowley calls this worrying “cruelty of the mind,” and it is always important to remember that this kind of worry is a total waste of time and energy.  It may be far too easy today to become a slave to anxiety; I need to remember to keep my sense of humor.  The Six of Pentacles (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Taurus, “I have,” Sensual, cautious, stubborn) brings an awareness of resources to the situation, both those that I have and those that I don’t have, in both the upright and reversed position.  Perhaps my worrying is distracting me from the blessings in my life.  I am already sensing the approach of some kind of Aha! Moment, and I need to keep in mind that I have the resources I need to encourage the breakthrough. 

My Thoth card is the Two of Disks.  “Change” is Uncle Al’s keyword for this one.  The Two of Disks (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) reminds us that everything always ebbs and flows, and we need to do the same in order to remain dynamically balanced.  Sometimes things move slowly when we want them to speed up, and sometimes things move too darned fast; if we go with the flow and make micro-adjustments, we can still benefit from any situation. 

My Legacy card is The Lovers, flavored by the Six of Wands 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.  This card is about love, but it is also about our values and how they affect our choices, and the promises we make to others.  My own choices and promises are important today, and they will most likely have long-term consequences.  My Lovers card is being flavored by the reversed Six of Wands.  The Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) in an upright position expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge. The upright Six of Wands celebrates personal victory, and because it is not only reversed, but also flavoring my Lovers card, I am being reminded that sometimes my choices and promises are not about me, they are instead about those I love and care for.  Important!

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

My horoscopes: “Mercury enters incredibly efficient Virgo, and you get it right on the first try with straightforward, sharp-focused style. You can say, ‘We will find a way’ as you troubleshoot with confidence. Friendships blossom under the stars. Couples give inhibitions the evening off.

And: “You may have to put a bit of restraint on your fun loving, adventurous attitude today. Regardless of how much you'd like to kick back your heels and say that it just doesn't matter, the truth is that it does. Everything matters. You may find it difficult to connect with people today, so realize that you may need to adopt your approach a bit in order to connect with others on the same wavelength.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Six of Wands.  I am being told that standing up and roaring while being filled with pride and arrogance is okay, as long as I’ve done the hard work to get to where I can stand up and roar, and as long as I don’t turn this into a perpetual rulership.  So, I will celebrate for a bit (because I **have** accomplished a lot!), and then get right back to work. 

Again I woke up this beautiful, breezy and sunny Friday morning with a sense of both a lovely grounding, and a combination of gratitude and expectancy.  This is my Second Saturn Return year, and yes, things they are a-changing, but thanks to the hard work I have done over the past decade, so far **knocks frantically on wood** I’ve been able to not only handle the challenges and restrictions, but also benefit from them. 

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Thursday, August 22, 2013

8/22/13


King of Cups/Three of Wands.  What a difference a day makes! The King of Cups (cusp of Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, and Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling mysterious, obsessive) is the expert on emotions and the subconscious, mainly because of his life experiences.  He is able to be calm, caring and diplomatic in order to keep people working together in a productive way, and thus people are eager to do as he wishes. 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) is a card of planning ahead that tells of the excitement that comes with good possibilities at hand.  This is a powerful card, filled with potential, but not completed manifestation.  This may be a good day to dream of future possibilities, for those dreams will be fertile, and very likely to manifest.

My Thoth card is the Seven of Cups reversed. Second day in a row! “Debauch” is the keyword.  The Seven of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, obsessive, mysterious) in an upright position represents the distraction, sensory overload and dissipation that can happen when we are presented with too many enticing choices.  The Thoth card arranges the Cups in the same configuration as the part of the Tree of Life below the Abyss, indicating that the pleasures experienced through this card in an upright position are cut off from Spirit, and thus these pleasures inevitably become diseased and corrupted.  The card is reversed, which means I should also have the will to pull myself out of the mire they could end up creating.

My Legacy card is the Queen of Cups, flavored by the Three of Cups.  Niiice!  Two Threes, and the King and Queen of Cups, all in one throw.  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 no matter how I feel inside, the best way to handle my day is by being compassionate and loving, and striving to stick to the rules without ruffling feathers. The Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody), which is flavoring my Queen of Cups, is about connections, emotional abundance, and about blessings.  This is seen as the friendship card, and it validates the message of the Queen: listen and sympathize without becoming anyone’s fool, and all will be well.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the pause that comes as waxing energies begin to slow and waning energies approach, often involving a choice or crossroad of some kind.

My horoscopes: “Perhaps you can't believe it, but it's time to say goodbye to your rigid attitude. A little pleasure among all that seriousness and responsibility won't do you any harm. This day could help you change your point of view on life. This will feel great.

And: “Your footloose and fancy-free nature is feeling extra frisky today, so give yourself room to explore and expand. Your spirit is feeling quite generous, free, and loving, so take this opportunity to extend this feeling out to others. Your smile is priceless today. Make sure to keep it shining from ear to ear as you walk down the street. Project your energy outward and see how far you can expand your range of influence.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Four of Wands.  Perfect!  A momentary respite that will allow us to celebrate that we made it through yesterday’s storms and upheavals.  We are not finished with challenges, not by any means.  But that does not mean we can’t celebrate a bit!  More excitement to come; and that is part of the celebration of today!

For some reason, I am feeling expectant in a good way, as if my subconscious knows that just beyond the horizon, just out of sight, is something really and powerfully positive, just waiting for me to find it.  I can’t pin down one single reason for this beautiful state of being, so I’m going to not look this gift horse in the mouth, and just enjoy the day.  I will remain open to all these Cups energies, and hopefully the lovely experience waiting just beyond my field of vision will be drawn to me by my actively positive attitude. 

And just to capture a bit more of this lovely energy, I threw another Wild Unknown Tarot card: The Father of Cups.  The image on this one is a bit different than that of the Son of Cups, yet there are similarities too.  This card shows a black swan, seated in the same way that the Son is seated, yet the Father appears much more alert.  His wing feathers are erect, giving him a commanding and alert appearance.  He seems to be making eye contact, unlike the Son, who is gazing off to the side.  The Cup, the symbol of his suit, is above him, as if it was something within both his conscious mind and subconscious mind.  The background lines are vertical, yet they are not restricted to being straight and solid; almost as if we are being shown a way to see straight lines in a different, more valuable way that does not restrict us.  This card evokes a strong sense of authority, and a sharp awareness of what is going on in all directions.  This swan is watching over his family, calm and serene yet ready to defend those he loves.  He makes sure they are well taken care of.

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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

8/21/13


Temperance reversed/Knight of Wands reversed.  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 this card presents one version of the concept of balance: balance achieved through knowledge and experience of extremes.  My card is reversed, and this means that this version of balance may not be available to me today.  Disagreement may be more likely. 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; most definitely not background-type efforts.  My Knight of Wands is reversed, so buyer’s remorse may be alongside that disagreement foretold by the reversed Temperance card.  Sheesh! 

My Thoth card is the Seven of Cups reversed.  “Debauch” is the keyword; another reversed card.  The Seven of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, obsessive, mysterious) in an upright position represents the distraction, sensory overload and dissipation that can happen when we are presented with too many enticing choices. The card is reversed, so while I may be dealing with inappropriate desires today, I just might also have the will to pull myself out of the mire they could create.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Swords reversed, flavored by The World reversed.  Um . . . all reversed cards today.  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 perception of the complete manifestation of interference, powerlessness and restriction.  The reversed card tells of power and confidence, but after looking at the rest of my cards today, I’m kind of wondering if that is a good thing. The World, which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, stable and practical energy that is slow to change), Saturn (discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance), Thav (mark or sign), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest into the physical world) is a card of integration and involvement and understanding, a crystallization of the entire issue at hand.  My World card is reversed, and it is flavoring my reversed Ten of Swords, telling of a lack of integration and maybe even a kind of Five of Wands minor conflict.  **sigh**  Should be an interesting day, but forewarned is forearmed. 

I decided to throw my clarification card from my Thoth Tarot, and got The World, this time upright.  Perhaps I am being told that the potential for a “turnsta” day is actually an opportunity for me to rise above the discomfort and smile anyway.  That would bring a nice sense of accomplishment!

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number that applies motion to the depth and stability of the number 4 in order to prevent stagnation. 

My horoscopes:  “Sagittarius, today you may have to make some important decisions. You're demanding of your friends and loved ones. Have you ever thought about why? It's possible that you demand more of them than you do of yourself, and that doesn't seem fair, does it? Today insight and inspiration will show you how you can rectify this. Lower your standards for others or raise your standards for yourself. Level the playing field.

And: “Add a bit of emotion into your intellectual thoughts today. Make sure you consider the feelings of others as you make your plans for the day. Be sensitive toward the one you care about most, for you will find that feelings are easily hurt. It is easy to overlook the disturbance you may be causing in a relationship when you are the one situated right in the middle of it. Stop and take a good look around.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Three of Swords.  Ouch!  Isolation and sacrifice, perhaps in the end unnecessary, are the messages of this card.  Perhaps things aren’t as bad as they seem, but even if they are that bad, it’s best to grit our teeth and deal with the issue.  At least we know about it, so we can maybe mitigate damages. 

Another Wild Unknown Tarot card: The Son of Cups.  This card has a feeling of stillness about it.  The swan is seated, feathers covering feet and legs.  The rays emanating from the Cup before the swan are dark, except for their tips.  And the background lines are aimed inward and upward.  All in all, a still and inner focus seem to be presented by this card, and this makes sense.  After all, when Water comes to stillness, there are depths and quiet darkness that present the opportunity to explore a new and less easily entered world.  Getting there and receiving these hidden messages takes the focused efforts of the Sons/Knights of the Tarot; here is an opportunity to give it a try!

I had a great night last night, with my beloved Pagan Brain Trust, and a visit from Jason!  We were five last night, and it was good.  This morning, I gave Thai Massage to my regular client, then student taught a Chair Yoga Class with another YTT student, and tonight I went to a power flow Yoga Class.  Back to reality!

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Monday, August 19, 2013

8/19/13


The Devil reversed/Temperance.  Well now, THERE’S a clear message! 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 or addicted to those things. The Llewellyn Welsh Tarot does not see the Devil as a more negative card, rather just indicating that the call of the wild and primal world of Nature may be a distraction.  Since my Devil is reversed, that distraction may be just what I need in order to level out after my family vacation. 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 this card presents one version of the concept of balance: balance achieved through knowledge and experience of extremes. The message of this card is clear, and supports the reversed Devil: take the extreme sensations and use them to become balanced.

My Thoth card is the Six of Disks.  “Success” is the keyword for this one, success in the physical world. The Six of Disks (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Taurus, “I have,” Sensual, cautious, stubborn) brings an awareness of resources to the situation, both those that I have and those that I don’t have, in both the upright and reversed position. The Six of Disks tells of generosity, blessings, and joyous deliverance, and all other good things in the physical world, however they are temporary.  Best to grab them while I can, and not worry if I miss out.

My Legacy card is the Six of Cups reversed, flavored by the Three of Coins reversed.  Okay, this actually makes sense to me because my family vacation, a time of nostalgia and simple joys and doing things together out in Nature is over. The Six of Cups (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, compulsive, deep, obsessive) in an upright position is a card of innocence, emotional balance and harmony, of simple joy that begets even more simple joy by infecting all that is around us now, and all that brought us to this “now.”  My card is reversed, and thus this time of soothing emotions is coming to an end. The Three of Coins (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, cunning, competence) in an upright position tells of competence, planning and teamwork.  The card is reversed, and it is flavoring the reversed Six of Cups, and it looks like teamwork will also not be a focus today.  Looks like I need to get back to my normal routine, and I can do that best if I focus on the “now” and going forward, rather than the joys of the past week, and if I get to work without the help of others.  LOL, maybe I need to stay off of FaceBook for a day, so I can get things accomplished.

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

My horoscopes: “Don't be surprised if emotions flare up between you and someone close on a professional or social level, Sagittarius. The issue may be difficult to resolve now. People feel rather sensitive. If they hear something they don't like, especially an opinion that may seem too critical, they're likely to shut down. You might want to consider saving anything of a sensitive nature for tomorrow.

And: “You are a very knowledgeable person. In general, women born under Sagittarius are staunch ideologists, and when this tendency is mixed with their more masculine side, it gives them a very black and white way of expressing their opinions. It's often as if what they are saying is the only truth. Today's planetary aspects could help you to be more flexible and tolerant in your relations with other people.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Fool.  Now, there is a new beginning for ya!  Possibilities are without limit today, and I have a feeling that my attitude will be key.  If I see everything as an exciting adventure (even the task of making the beds), all will end well.  If I see the cloud rather than the silver lining, it will be a day of plunging emotions.

Dinner with Pagan Brain Trust plus Jason tonight!!

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Sunday, August 18, 2013

8/18/13


Transparent Oracle Sunday!

6, Guide: Butterfly (East).  East is the direction of Air, and thus of fresh ideas and new beginnings, knowledge, information and thoughts.  Butterflies are about metamorphosis, and about seeing in all directions at the same time.  Butterflies are strong!  Monarchs, with wings basically the consistency of tissue paper, fly hundreds of miles to the South in the Fall, winter over, and then return Northward.  Butterflies are an interesting combination of potential and sacrifice.  

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.

14, Time of Day: Midday (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.  Midday is also a time of peak power, the peak of light and illumination for the current day.  This is a time when shadows are small and seeing clearly is easy, but this moment of clarity is not permanent.  Soon enough, the shadows will begin to grow once more.

Another tight and potent mandala.  The rays of the Midday sun are flowing over the bodies of the Butterflies and the leaves of the symbol for Earth, adding illumination and warmth to them both.  Lots of strength in all of these cards: Butterfly is strong, as is the element of Earth, and the sun at Midday.  I should take advantage of these strengths while they are here, for they won’t be here forever.

We finished family vacation with a lovely walk along the 2 mile trail at Point Park.  The rest of yesterday and all day today, I put the house and yard back into order.  Now, it’s dinner with hubby, then an early night.

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Friday, August 16, 2013

8/16/13


Ten of Swords/Queen of Cups reversed.  Well, that’s not a good start. 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 perception of the complete manifestation of interference, powerlessness and restriction.  I guess today I need to realize that I am better off confronting my challenges rather than laying face down on the ground and letting them stomp me.  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 is compassionate and loving, and yet she is able to stick to the rules without ruffling feathers.  My Queen is reversed today, so I may find that despite my heart being in the right place, the end results are not what I want. 

My Thoth card is the Nine of Swords.  “Cruelty” is the keyword for the upright card. 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.  Crowley calls this worrying “cruelty of the mind,” and I need to remember that this kind of worry is a total waste of time and energy.  Things may not be as bad as they seem, and even if they are, there is always a silver lining to be found.

My Legacy card is the Four of Swords reversed, flavored by the Ten of Swords. The Four of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) in an upright position can represent a pause or truce or mutual deterrent, or a time of silence and isolation.  My Four of Swords is reversed, and that reinforces the entire spread today.  There may have been opportunities to calm the churning mental energies of the day, but they have mostly disappeared. And since we are ending this spread with another Ten of Swords, the day may end up finishing as it starts, with lots of uncomfortable and churning mental activity.

My6-digit date number is 10, the number that tells of the completion of a cycle, which reduces further to the number 1, which represents position and potential.

My horoscopes: “If you know you've wronged another, admit it immediately, Sagittarius. People are often quick to point out when others make mistakes, but it's the rare individual who points out their own mistakes. Demonstrate that you're strong and honorable enough to say when you've done wrong. Integrity will get you far in life, whereas deception and retreating from difficult situations will not.

And: “Things may not quite be fitting into place as neatly as you might like today. There is somewhat of a dampening tone to your actions today that is keeping you from getting things done exactly as you might like. Take a back seat and let others do the thinking. All you need to do is smile from ear to ear and go with the flow. Whatever action you do take today, be disciplined about it.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Ace of Cups.  Oh-kay!  Nothing like a little sweet Water to wash away the angst of the day.  The Shadowscapes Ace of Cups tells of the tiniest drop of the beginning of some emotional effect.  Just what that effect will be in the end is unknown right now, but stuff is beginning.  Maybe even because of the discomfort of the day. 

And vacation moves forward.  I will be teaching another Yoga Class today, then heading for the beach.  The sun is shining and it is cool and comfortable at night.  Yessss!

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Thursday, August 15, 2013

8/15/13


Ace of Swords reversed/Justice reversed.  Hmmm . . . two cards with Swords on them, and both Swords are point-down. 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 birth of ideas and concepts.  This card tells me that I am ready to make use of logic and analysis in order to assert my Will.  Clarity is not necessarily mine today, and I need to guard against misinterpreting the events around me! Justice is a card of adjustment, and it corresponds with the element of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick, animated energy that usually brings problems or challenges that bring growth), Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Lamed (ox goad; training or teaching), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Geburah (the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed).  Upright, it tells of balance and harmony, and reversed, it can tell of bigotry or misinterpretation.  I am sensing a pattern here.

My Thoth card is the Five of Swords.  Oy.  “Defeat” is the keyword for this one. 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.  Insisting on everyone playing by my rules will not end well today.  Yes, my thoughts and beliefs are valid, but so are the thoughts and beliefs of others.  I will blind myself to learning opportunities if I insist on jamming that round peg into a square hole.

My Legacy card is the Five of Cups reversed, flavored by The Magician reversed. The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) in an upright position tells of an emotional setback or disappointment, or perhaps the belief that a wrong choice has been made.  The good thing is that my card is reversed, so any emotional setbacks will not be debilitating, but I should have a care that I don’t just bail on the whole situation.  My reversed Five of Cups is being flavored by the reversed Magician. 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).  The Magician is a personally significant card to me.  The reversed Magician seems to be validating the negative aspects of the reversed Five of Cups.  I might have trouble completing tasks today; distraction anyone?

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

My horoscopes: “Your mastery of your mind and ability to stay disciplined about your goals is impressive, Sagittarius. Others recognize and appreciate your efforts much more than usual. You may be called upon to assist in some other project or someone else's emotional drama because you have the stability required to remedy the situation. Don't downplay your talent in this area.

And: “Feel free to be outlandish and bizarre today. Let loose from reality and enjoy a much freer headspace. Rent a couple movies, or better yet, make your own. Buy a new outfit for your wardrobe and give your imagination a touching up by breaking out the finger paints and decorating your bathroom walls. Let your free-spirited nature come out and play. Share your greatest fantasies with others and let your daydreams dictate your actions of the day.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Hermit.  Well this would be a natural tendency for me today, given my other cards.  Climbing up a difficult cliff in order to sit alone, above the noise of the city below, is sometimes the best way to gain clarity.  The Hermit is telling me that this kind of solitude might be beneficial for me today.

I am in the midst of family vacation, with lots of sunny days and cool, clear nights.  Awesome times!

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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

8/13/13


Eight of Swords/Two of Wands reversed. The Eight of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable talkative, dual) tells of a confused and restrictive response to obstacles, or maybe perceived obstacles.  The “confused” part usually has something to do with the belief that the world has contrived to lock us away.  Not so!  Pausing for a moment in the quiet is okay, but believing that the world has irrevocably shut us in is not okay! The Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic) in an upright position tells of power, influence and authority. My Two of Wands is reversed, and on the surface this may seem to be saying that today is not a day to make changes, but I am concerned that the energies of the Eight of Swords could be making me too cautious.

My Thoth card is the Four of Cups reversed.  “Luxury” is Crowley’s keyword for the upright card. The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) in an upright position tells us that too much pleasure, or maybe too much nurturing or overprotectiveness, deadens the senses. Even the image on this card makes this apparent: the water flowing from Cup to Cup is so strong that we can’t see past it to the Cups.  Because my card is reversed, I may find that what I thought was a luxury is actually a huge irritant.  No deadening of the senses here; on the contrary, crankiness is the result.

My Legacy card is The Wheel reversed, flavored by the Six of Cups. 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)) tells of sudden movement, but not movement caused by us or controlled by us.   My Wheel is reversed, and this means that I am not properly taking advantage of the energy flows around me.  My reversed Wheel is being flavored by the Six of Cups, and that actually is a good omen! The Six of Cups (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, compulsive, deep, obsessive) is a card of innocence, emotional balance and harmony, of simple joy that begets even more simple joy by infecting all that is around us.  By the end of the day, any discomforts created by my inability to tap into the ebbs and flows of energies around me just might turn out to be blessings.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the approach of degeneration as growth slows, usually also presenting a crossroad or a choice of some kind. 

My horoscopes: “Talking things over with friends is likely to be a nourishing exercise for you, Sagittarius. Instead of trying to work things out in your head, say them aloud and ask others for their perspectives. A tremendous amount of healing can take place when you confess what's bothering you. Find the relief that comes from having a willing listener.

And: “You should be feeling good, so let go and display your feelings openly with the people around you. There is no reason to let this good energy go to waste. Whatever you end up doing, you have a tremendous amount of courage and good humor with which to do it. Laughter will go a long way in curing any ailments that arise. If someone continues to dwell on the negative side of things, make sure you are quick with a reminder about the positive side of things.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Two of Wands.   This card is considered the emblem of personal power, attained through lineage and through honing skills and attaining knowledge.  There is much yet to be done, but for a moment we are able to see what may yet be.  Inspiration!

And I’ve thrown another Wild Unknown Tarot card: The Eight of Swords.  This card shows a monarch butterfly cocoon, with a butterfly ready to be born, hanging from a sword with seven swords below, all with sharp and deadly point facing up.  How can this butterfly possibly be born?  Her struggles to escape the safety of the cocoon may loosen its grip and send her falling onto one of those swords.  And so, she remains inside that cocoon even though it is past time for her to be born and begin to live; even though the flutter of her wings as she strives to escape could very well be enough to knock those swords out of the way.  Yes, she is safe for now, but she will not thrive unless she risks her own birth.

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Monday, August 12, 2013

8/12/13


Judgement reversed/Page of Pentacles.  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) represents an opportunity to tally up and pay the bill so we can have a fresh start.  Logic can add to the effectiveness of this opportunity, but emotions can cloud things.  I am being told that today may be too cloudy for these kinds of focuses.  The Page of Pentacles (Aries, “I want,” assertive, action oriented, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual) is down-to-earth and responsible, and a listener and a learner. The Page of Pentacles loves to learn new things and have new experiences, but he also loves to also be a catalyst for change in the physical world, change for everyone.  Today, he is telling me that I should focus on physical world opportunities, including my own health, and I should remember to keep alive my appreciation for even predictable tasks, so I can make things fun to do.

My Thoth card is the Three of Swords reversed.  Whew!  “Sorrow” is Crowley’s keyword for this one.  The Three of Swords reversed, flavored by the Nine of Pentacles reversed. The Three of Swords (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) in an upright position usually indicates the possibility that logic, rationalizing and the intellect could end up causing harm if they are not used with balance and compassion. Thankfully it is reversed today, so any overestimation or underestimation that does happen won’t have a lasting or uncomfortable effect.

My Legacy card is The Hanging Man, flavored by the Two of Coins reversed.  The Hanging Man corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and emotional, sensitive and imaginative energy that tends to move deep, and attempts to take the same path as in the past), Neptune (inspiration, spirituality, magick, enchantment, dreams, altered states), and the Hebrew letter Mem (water, stability and balance, the reflective quality of thought), and presents the kind of balance that comes to us through surrender, and through seeing things in a different way.  This card can also be referring to finding balance between the past and the current time.  In any event, today may not be a day to actually take action; observation and assessment might be more important.  The reversed Two of Coins is flavoring my Hanging Man today, and validating this “wait and see” message.  The Two of Coins (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) in an upright position reminds us that everything always ebbs and flows, and we need to do the same in order to remain dynamically balanced.  This may not be relevant today, and I may be faced with the still and confused energies which occur before the tides actively change between ebbing and flowing.

My 6-digit date number is 6, the number of vertical and horizontal balance.

My horoscopes: “Your tremendous sensitivity in a certain situation could be causing you to jump to conclusions that are keeping you from seeing the truth, Sagittarius. Your tendency is to assume things before you have all the facts. You may assume the worst, making you more stressed about the situation than you need to be. Don't worry about things you don't know to be true.

And: “Spread your smile far and wide today, and infuse a good dose of fun in every situation you encounter. There is a great amount of activation energy from which you can draw upon today to add spice to any situation. Don't feel like you have to take the serious route to solve the problems at hand. More than likely, much more can be accomplish if you adopt a fun-loving, jovial tone in everything you do.

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the King of Wands.  This card is about embracing our ability to be a charismatic and inspiring leader.  We can be a brilliant light in the darkest times, because we have worked hard to learn how to use our skills and abilities in the most productive way.  Each idea we send out into the world is flavored with our confidence and enthusiasm!

Here’s another Wild Unknown Tarot card for ya: The Three of Cups.  This card shows three birds sitting on tree branches in the late afternoon.  Two birds are facing the third bird, as if the third bird was talking to the other two.  I felt a sense of connection between these three birds; they are indeed fair weather friends, for the sky behind them looks to be summery and clear.  Are the two birds giving the other bird advice?  Or are they all talking about the party they are going to tonight?  Either way, friends are a good thing to have!!

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