Tuesday, July 28, 2015

7/27/15 The Fool and the Page of Pentacles reversed

Back to the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot today; my cards are The Fool and the Page of Pentacles reversed. 

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 the neutral powers of creativity; he is above, beyond and before the world and all its extremes.  He is also the archetype of the Holy Child, above, beyond and before petty squabbles, evil intent, and pessimistic expectations.  My Fool sees the world with child-like excitement and optimism, and he leaves the good outcome up to chance because he believes with his heart and his soul that good outcome will happen.  

The Llewellyn Welsh Fool shows a man dressed for travelling (complete with his belongings in a pouch attached to a rod) riding a white horse and accompanied by a white dog.  They are jumping a waterfall surrounded by rocks at what appears to be a gallop; a perilous jump for sure, but there is a rainbow below them in the mists of the waterfall, hinting that they will have a happy ending.  This card reminds us to not allow our previous experiences to limit our expectations; new experiences broaden the mind, and often bring good results.  The Fool does not fear, and neither should I.

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 in an upright position loves to learn new things and have new experiences, and he loves to share the excitement created through experiencing new things.  Because my Page is reversed, I might need to ground myself today and pay attention to the details lest my enthusiasm distract me.

The Llewellyn Welsh Page of Pentacles looks like a young man.  He has traveling clothes on, including sturdy boots, and he is wearing a red cloak that appears to be billowing in a breeze.  He is carrying a pentacle, and standing amidst golden grasses or ripe grains (some of which are bundled near him) with a few red poppies at his feet.  In the distance are mountains, and the sky is golden with sunlight, although there are a few clouds as well.  This card tells of business exchanges, and of perceiving the business world with the enthusiasm and optimism of youth.  This card tells of young, hard workers, and of exchanges of some kind.  Reversed, it predicts stalled communications and misunderstandings.

These two cards tell me of exciting new beginnings that could come about through some uncomfortable events.  Yep, I get this one.  I need to remember that if I believe things will end up well, they will end up well.  Missed messages (or topsy-turvy messages) might be difficult in the moment, but the end result might be happy.  I need to be optimistic, and remain above the angst.  That last sentence is the most important.


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Sunday, July 26, 2015

7/26/15 Transparent Oracle Sunday!

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

38, Guide: Owl (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.  Owl is a night hunter, and thus is very good at perceiving things, even in the dark.  Because Owl can fly silently, he is also associated with silence; dark silence can be uncomfortable for some.  Owl tends to be solitary, but this nature allows Owl to be objective and detached, and to gain much wisdom from life experiences.

17, Guide: Stag (South). The direction of South corresponds with the element of Fire.  Fire brings spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change through heating and separating, drying and shaping.  Stag is an impressive Guide at any time of the year, but during the Summer, when he is at his peak, he is the epitome of pride and leadership and competition.  Stag is an archetype for the Sacred Masculine, and of the God in my spiritual tradition.  Stag tells of magnificent demonstrations of prowess, and of regenerative properties and the cycles of life.

68, Vision (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.  Vision is one of the most powerful of our senses, but also the most easy to fool, probably because we depend so much on our eyesight in order to perceive and interpret our world.  Vision is generally about a concern for appearances, but it can also be about “seeing within.”  And within Wicca, visualization is considered one of the first steps to actual manifestation!

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  The eyes of Owl, Stag and Vision all intersect, and I can almost physically feel the energy zapping between the three combined figures.  Wisdom and detachment obtained within darkness, and pride, leadership and the Sacred Masculine, all bring opportunities to see my own Self, and know my strengths and limitations.

Family vacation is in full swing!  We are enjoying sunny days, warm and pleasant evenings, and good food and good company.  What could be better?


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Thursday, July 23, 2015

7/23/15 Nine of Pentacles and King of Swords

I was drawn to my Shadowscapes Tarot today and the beautiful images on these lovely cards.  My cards are the Nine of Pentacles and the King of Swords. 

The Nine of Pentacles (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of accomplishment through the imposition of discipline.  The Nine of Pentacles sometimes reminds me of The Empress, and in a lot of ways this card in an upright position can be seen as a Minor Arcana version of The Empress. 

The image on the Shadowscapes Nine of Pentacles shows a woman seated in front of a piano that appears to be a part of a tree, playing for her own pleasure.  The trees are green, and the branches appear to be leaning over and spiraling toward the piano and its player.  Music and the playing of a musical instrument is a great metaphor for the energies of this card; after all, playing the piano takes discipline, but once we’ve got the hang of it we can enjoy what we’ve accomplished.  This kind of discipline is important today, and applying it just might bring pleasure in the end.

The King of Swords (cusp of Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, cunning, authoritative, and Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, aloof) is a good judge of people and situations. He uses his intellect to analyze, so he may not be compassionate but he is trustworthy, and he can be trusted to fiercely stand by his decisions.  He can be seen as one facet of the Justice card, and his kind of analysis based on experience and wisdom may be useful today.

The Shadowscapes King of Swords is seated on his throne, his mighty Sword held in his hands, point up, one boot resting on a skull.  On the sword sits Owl, symbolizing the wisdom to be found on the tip of the intellect that is his weapon; beside him are two ravens, dark as shadow (and shadow can only be present when there is illumination!). This King is a perfect blend of art, science and balance, and he is a wonderful example of a pillar of strength and morality.

The common thread between these two cards seems to be discipline, the discipline that in the end brings pleasure, and the discipline and awareness that brings wisdom.  I should be aware of how I present myself to others today, and not just focus on my own agenda.  Not that I should surrender either; serving others can bring its own brand of fulfillment.  And having the focus to take the high road also has its own reward; hopefully I will feel good when I go to bed tonight!!

I took a CPR/AED certification class last night, and I am now certified to perform CPR.  Hmmm . . . kind of makes sense that I would throw these two cards today, eh?  The discipline involved in learning these skills could help someone I love some day, and hopefully if I ever need to use these skills, the King of Swords will keep me level-headed and well-able to manifest these skills.

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7/19/15 Transparent Oracle Sunday!

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

60, Polarity: Red Dragon (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 Red Dragon’s energy begins within, and radiates outward with amazing power.  While the Red Dragon is in a sense about balance, it presents only one extreme for our consideration: inner power that expands outward.  This card is about passions and drive, and even the life essence itself, all of which begin within and then manifest outward.

39, Guide: Wolf (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.  Wolves are seen by many as dangerous, even evil, but we should always keep in mind when we are working with Wolf that he is the ancestor of the dogs we humans love so much.  Wolf has a strong sense of family, and of rank within that family.  Wolf can communicate over great distances, and has the stamina to travel those distances in the first place.  Wolf has keen instincts, and a strong urge to protect his territory.

8, Guide: Eagle (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.  Eagle is considered the King of Birds, and often is seen as a Divine Messenger because he can fly to such amazing heights.  He tells of being able to see into the distance, and of achievements (and associated honors) gotten through courage and focus.  When Eagle is around, courage and perspective and vision will bring great results.

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  Interesting; Eagle and Wolf are superimposed on each other, like a two-faced, one-headed creature.  The Red Dragon has appeared for the second time this month, and this time she feels different.  Eagle and Wolf are both about courage and perspective.  Eagle is the Divine Messenger who can see far into the distance.  He achieves a lot because he can focus so well. Wolf can communicate over great distances and then travel those distances.  He protects his territory and the family which resides there.  And the Red Dragon reminds me that these abilities begin within me; I should look for them to manifest within me first, and then begin to affect the world around me.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

7/14/15 Ace of Cups and Ten of Cups

Today, I am drawn to my Wild Unknown Tarot.  My cards are the Ace of Cups and the Ten of Cups.  I threw these two with my Thoth deck on May 18th; here we are almost two months later, same cards.  Let’s go a bit more in depth. 

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 of the potential to experience deep emotions, a connection to my Inner Voice, and a connection to those around me.

The Wild Unknown Ace of Cups has a simple image on it: a chalice.  The background is blue, representing the element of Water that is represented by the Cup, and it appears that golden light is shining out of the Cup, but we can’t be sure.  Is the Cup filled with some kind of beautifully glistening Water?  Or is it empty, and what we are seeing is actually an illusion or a dream?  We can’t tell yet, but the possibility of experiencing something wonderful is there.

The Ten of Cups (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, spirituality, suffering and growth) in an upright position offers the manifestation of happiness, simple joys, and fulfillment. The number Ten is about the completion of a cycle or manifestation, and the suit of Cups is about emotions, feelings and the inner self, so this card offers the bounty that comes with the successful experiencing of all the lessons of the Cups cards.

The Ten of Cups in this deck is harmony and joy personified!  The top five Cups each spill out an individual color, and the bottom five Cups each receive one stream of each color!  Everything can be found within the energies of this card: specific emotional purity as well as a balanced mix of all feelings.  By following one of the pure Cups downward we learn integration of a specific feeling into our lives, and by following one of the colors of the mixed Cups upward, we learn how to deal with and understand and honor one specific feeling.  There is a heck of a lot of power in this card!!

Today I am being told of emotional potential, and perhaps the potential to integrate my emotions and my feelings together in a new way.  Those emotions may be quite deep (and there is no guaranty that they will all be pleasant),and they most likely will have something to do with connections of some kind.  The cool thing is that I should be able to use my experiences thus far, both the pleasant experiences and the painful experiences, to integrate whatever comes at me. 

This makes particular sense to me right now.  I’ve had an experience that is making me remember a painful time in my life.  Memories are churning to the surface of my mind, reminding me of painful and difficult moments of the past.  I’ve done this before, in my Shadow Work, in an effort to heal; this time is different.  Each memory that returns floats before me for a moment, and then turns to ash and blows away.  Perhaps, as my cards are telling me, I have the experience necessary to heal myself and release these memories, once and for all.

Only time will tell.

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7/12/15 Transparent Oracle Sunday!

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

16, Guide: Snake (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.  Snake has powerful symbolism in our world; it is seen to represent many medical/healing modalities, and the Kundalini energy.  Snake corresponds with the dragon, and is seen as a mundane representation of that mythical beast.  Because Snake can shed its skin and appear renewed, it is associated with healing, fertility, regeneration and rebirth.  Snake can access places that would be out of reach for most of us, and so Snake can share both knowledge and wisdom.  However, the knowledge and wisdom owned and shared by Snake is neutral, and we need to be careful what we choose to do with what we learn.  Eve learned that lesson in the Garden of Eden.

43, Sun (Above). The direction of Above takes us up and out of the four traditional elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth, and reminds us that we are but a small part of the Cosmos.  Above also reminds us that while the Machinery of the Universe is huge, it does have an effect on each of us, and each of us is an important part of the workings of that Machinery.  The Sun brings light and warmth into our world, and thus life can exist.  The light illuminates truth, and the warmth brings wealth, success and happiness.  Our sun has a corona, so The Sun tells of charisma and brilliance.

3, Element: Air (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.  The element of Air represents the purest of clear thought, logic, and the ability to analyze.  Air is also connected with knowledge, education, science, and inspiration or a new way of thinking about things.

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  Everything golden and warm seems to be radiating outward from the center of this mandala.  Beautiful shapes.  Knowledge, wisdom and illumination are the common threads here, as are inspiration, passionate drive, and new ways of thinking or perceiving the world.  I get a sense that my upcoming week is going to be challenging and exciting .

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7/9/15 The Empress reversed and the Knight of Cups reversed

Hermetic Tarot today.  My cards are The Empress reversed and the Knight of Cups reversed. 

The Empress (my significator card, 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 (along with The High Priestess), the half that is about creativity, fertility of all kinds, a deep connection to Nature and the nurturing of others, and an enjoyment of the senses. My Empress, who is the mother of form, tells of creative intelligence; she reveals the concepts guarded by The High Priestess, and she encourages me to immerse myself in the manifestations of the physical world.

The Hermetic Empress is seated on a throne amidst crescent moons, flames, the stars of the zodiac, and the scales of Libra.  She is surrounded by symbols of transformation and fertility found in Nature; even her scepter, topped by a diamond (a shape personally significant, which transforms into the octahedron, symbol of “as above, so below”), is connected to the transformative powers of Nature.  Upright, she tells of beauty, pleasure, happiness, success, fertility and action.  Reversed, she represents inaction, vacillation, distraction, or a lack of interest.

The Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) is about feeling things strongly and without restraint or grounding.  This Prince appears calm to others, but inwardly he feels things strongly. This makes sense when you consider that within the Thoth Tarot, he represents Air of Water.  The message here is that whether upright or reversed, my Prince indicates that I tend to respond deeply to life’s events, and that intensity will have an effect on my day.

The Knight of Cups of the Hermetic Tarot is known as the Lord of Waves and Waters.  This Knight rides a beautiful white stallion, prancing amidst the waves, and on his shield are symbols of his suit and rank, the crab and the peacock.  When upright, he is graceful, poetic, enthusiastic, maybe even a bit psychic.  When reversed, he is sensual enough to be imbalanced, subtle enough to border on being untruthful, and hypnotized by pleasure enough to be lethargic.

I see a pattern in these cards, and it makes sense.  This is the typical “hazy, hot and humid” spread, and that is the weather we are having.  I get quite sluggish during these times, and oh boy, are my cards validating that.  I need to understand that this sluggishness is valid, but I should do my best to not allow it to rule my days, or my emotions, my visions, and my ability to create new ideas and opportunities will all be affected.


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Thursday, July 9, 2015

7/5/15 Transparent Oracle Sunday

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

32, Weather: Snow (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.  Snow has a magickal effect on the landscape and our surroundings; when snow falls, it covers everything and hides details as well as mutes sounds.  The mantle of white is made of countless tiny, unique crystals, and like a blanket, the covering of snow insulates and protects.

60, Polarity: Red Dragon (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 Red Dragon’s energy begins within, and radiates outward with amazing power.  While the Red Dragon is in a sense about balance, it presents only one extreme for our consideration: inner power that expands outward.  This card is about passions and drive, and even the life essence itself, all of which begin within and then manifest outward.

Guide: Wren (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.   Wren is pretty amazing; she is a combination of ambition (sometimes ambition that seems on the surface to be out of reach) and cunning (which enables Wren to surprise us as she attains the unattainable), which allows her to think out of the box with amazing results.  Wren tells us that bigger is not necessarily better, and often it is the seemingly insignificant contribution of the most invisible of players that allows us to win the game.

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  Everything in this one is circling around that beautiful Snowflake in the center of the mandala.  The Red Dragon is supporting the Snow, and the Wrens are circling it, as if in joyful anticipation of the fun times associated with a snowfall.  A single Snowflake is a thing of beauty, but put a bunch of them together and you get an entirely different effect.  The total result is certainly greater than the sum of its parts, eh?  I am being told to look within this week, particularly when I have times of peace, serenity and solitude, because there are hints and messages that will allow me to hit the ground running!

I have a busy week ahead, so please don’t think I’ve abandoned you all if I don’t post for a few days.  I will certainly be back by the weekend, if not before.  Have a happy 4th of July Holiday!!

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Wednesday, July 1, 2015

7/1/15 The Hanging Man reversed and the Princess of Wands

It’s July already!  I can’t believe the year is more than half over.  I’ve pulled out my Thoth Tarot this morning, and threw The Hanging Man reversed and the Princess of Wands. 

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 tells of destiny, as well as sacrifice and loss, and passive or mystical initiation.  All of these do not have an accidental feel about them at all. Crowley warns us that the suspension brought by this card can either hint that we are waiting for someone else to take charge, or that we are sacrificing for the benefit of others.  Either of those interpretations can either be appropriate or harmful, depending on the situation.

The Thoth Hanging Man (called The Hanged Man) is pretty traditional.  It shows a figure hanging upside down, arms out to either side (reminding us of the crucifixion of Christ), but the Thoth Hanged Man and his body placement reminds us of another card: The Emperor.  The traditional image on The Emperor shows a kingly man seated on a throne, with one leg crossed over the other, and The Hanged Man is reminding us that often, the structure and order of The Emperor is counterproductive.  The Thoth Hanged Man represents sacrifice or loss (either willing or enforced), suffering, defeat, and even death.  It also can represent the kind of surrender that happens when we wait for events to unfold with a sense of fatalism.

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 fun to be around, unless you have a migraine. He is about being open to new experiences and about being enthusiastic about whatever is happening, and his optimism just might tip things into the right direction.  He can be a bit scattered though, and easily distracted.

The Princesses in the Thoth Tarot are equal to the Pages; this Princess stands facing a huge flame, almost like a wave ready to overcome her.  The Golden Dawn calls her the Princess of the Shining Flame, and this image really does personify that name.  She appears to be dancing with the Fire, and she literally has a tiger by the tail.  Look out world, here she comes.

I am being told today that I need to make my efforts for the good of all, rather than just in furtherance of my own needs and desires, and this might be difficult.  I may have trouble understanding just what to do, and my ambitions, enthusiasm and instincts might be pushing me to act anyway, not such a good plan.  Stillness is difficult to achieve at times, particularly when we are truly enjoying or getting fulfillment from what we are doing.  However, a time of inward focus might bring both balance and clarity.


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