Page of Wands/Page of Pentacles reversed. 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 this Fire will most likely be internally focused.  This Page is probably the most mature of the four Pages, probably because he knows what he knows, and he knows how to use it.  The Page of Wands has a good balance between the mind and the heart, and he is good at dealing with subterfuge and secrets.  The Page of Pentacles (Aries, “I want,” assertive, action oriented, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual) in an upright position is down-to-earth and responsible, and a listener and a learner.  My Page is reversed, and this seems to be increasing the power of the Page of Wands.  Good way to get things done on this last day of the year, but I do need to be careful that I don’t get too ungrounded.

My Thoth card is the Six of Disks.  “Success” 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, or a lack thereof.  Crowley tends to like all the 6 cards in the Minors, but still sees this card as being a bit heavy; he names it “Success,” and that title could be a burden to live up to.  Since my Six of Disks is reversed, I may be dealing with a lack of balance between need and resources today, and if that lack of balance does not appear to be there, I will need to keep reminding myself that any apparent balance may be quite fragile, or even an illusion.

My Legacy card is the Seven of Cups reversed, flavored by the Three of Coins reversed.  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 traditional image of the Seven of Cups shows seven cups, each filled with what appears to be a wonderful gift: the Wreath (Saturn and The World); the Castle (Mars and The Tower), the Woman (Venus and The Empress); the Snake (Mercury and The Magician); the Veil (the Moon and The High Priestess), the Jewels (Jupiter and The Wheel of Fortune), and the Dragon (our Sun and The Sun).  Because my Seven of Cups is reversed, my choices today might be a bit more realistic.  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; often it shows us the master at work.  However, my Three of Coins is reversed; perhaps today will be more about solitary efforts?  Perhaps my Three, which is flavoring y Seven of Coins, is reversed because while my efforts may be solitary right now, they may have effects upon the group in the future.  Glad that Seven of Cups is reversed.

My 6-digit date number is 10, the end of a cycle (appropriate!), which reduces further to 1, the number of position, potential, and distance between.

My horoscopes: “You may have a tendency to be overprotective of the people closest to you, especially children. You may feel you live in a dangerous world in which people don't care about responsibility to one another. But the people you're trying to protect are probably better prepared and adapted to the world than you think, Sagittarius. They might try to tell you this even if your support is indispensable.”

And: “Remember that you are put on this Earth to have fun, and that happiness is your true destiny. Keep this in mind today, as forces may tend to pull you off track from the fun you've been having. There is likely to be a sobering tone to the day that is stubbornly working to rain on your parade. Recognize the need for structure and stability, but don't let it bring you down.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Three of Cups.  This is a card of dancing and singing and celebrating, of sharing our own joy and happiness with those we care about.  Friendship and companionship and emotional connections . . . great things to focus on, this New Year’s Eve!

Today is New Year’s Eve, another day of winding up and ending so that a fresh, new beginning can happen.  I am spending most of the daylight hours finishing up whatever I can.  No loose ends laying about!

I performed a meditation this afternoon, at the Ancient Altar.  I received a huge “Cosmic Download,” and my Patroness, Danu, told me to prepare for a test.  Normally I would be saying uh oh, but this does make sense to me.  After all, a test cannot come unless lessons have been presented, studied, absorbed, and made a part of the practice of my Craft.  I am just about at a place where I would expect a test.  **deep, calming breath**

This evening, we are having dinner with friends.  What a wonderful way to transition from 2012 to 2013!

And I am almost to 20,000 visits to my blog.  2013 is going to be a wonderful and exciting year!

Happy New Year!

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!

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.

10, Elemental: Sylph (East). East is the direction of Air (dignities: hot/separates and wet/adapts), and thus of fresh ideas and new beginnings, the intellect, the mental force that strives to manifest, challenges which bring opportunities for growth, spiritual guidance, and the striving for balance between the mind and the heart. Sylphs personify these concepts, and they encourage the use of imagination in an original way, they tell us to shift as needed in order to take advantage of the prevailing winds, and they tell us to fly free, filled with joy and unencumbered by life’s burdens (at least for a little while).

54, Guide: Giant (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.  Giant corresponds quite a bit with the element of Earth and Earth energies, and is about the stability of the ground below us, and about the huge geological forces that formed our world and even now, changes it.  In most fairy tales, the Giant ends up being a great big bump in the road for the hero of the tale, and without these kinds of challenges, we would never get the chance to be brave or to see if we have courage.

I then constructed my mandala.  This one is tight and triangular.  Giant is the card most easily discerned, but each of these cards bring forth a basic concept: dealing with the challenges of the mundane world.  I am reminded by two of these cards that having a good strong foundation already in place is instrumental in dealing with life’s challenges.  I need to visualize the desired solution, even when that solution is far in the distance, I need to make use of the prevailing flows of energies and at the same time shut out distractions.  I need to remember where I’ve come from, what has previously worked well for me and what did not.  And I need to remember that muscles don’t get stronger unless they are challenged.  As of this moment, I feel that I have successfully dealt with several challenges on my list, but who knows?  There might be a new one right around the corning.  But I have done the work and learned what I need to know to deal with just about anything.  I need to also think about the shape of triangle.  Triangle is pretty stable; because it has three sides instead of four, it does not collapse on itself.  Triangle represents the concept of width or surface, created by expanding on the line (the number 2) and the point (the number 1).  Sounds like a nice combination of stability and expansion to me!

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The Fool/Knight 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 his powers and energies are neither positive nor negative.  My Fool is telling me of potential, and of the need for optimism in order to get that potential manifesting. The Knight of Pentacles (cusp of Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical, and Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of persistence to the point of being stubborn, and caution to the point of being boring.  He is reversed, though, and he is thus validating the action of The Fool, and the ability to “boldly go where no one has gone before.”  LOL, the upright Knight of Pentacles would veto that idea.

My Thoth card is the Five of Disks reversed.  “Worry” is Crowley’s keyword for this one.  The Five of Disks (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) traditional image shows a woman and a child, one of them injured in some way, travelling in the cold wind, with a church window behind them.  Crowley’s concept of Worry is more like “pick at,” and we all know what happens when we pick at a scab.  Thankfully my card is reversed today, so the discomforts of the physical world may not end up distracting me from the day’s possibilities.

My Legacy card is the King of Wands reversed, flavored by the Nine of Swords reversed. The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) in an upright position 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 is not a good day for me to put myself out there as an example to others.  I need to be careful that I don’t get too much of a high from any adrenaline that flows, and I need to watch carefully that I am not distracted from my ethics.  The Nine of Swords (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, social, dual) which in an upright position represents brooding and worrying, usually self-caused, and usually unproductive, is reversed, and is flavoring my reversed King of Wands.  Good; that means I won’t be worrying too much.  

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the pause that comes as growth slows and degeneration approaches, usually involving a choice of some kind.

My Pearls of Wisdom Full Moon card is the Queen of Wands.  Ooooh, nice!  My only other upright card. The Queen of Wands (cusp of Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality, and Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) is energetic and enthusiastic, gives 100% of herself, and always has a smile on her face and humor in her heart.  My Queen is at home in a garden or a board room, and so am I!

My horoscopes: “This is a terrific day for you, Sagittarius. You will feel a greater sense of appreciation and respect for the people around you. The planning and hard work you've contributed recently is finally paying off. People are likely to arrive at your level of thinking. You'll find you can connect on a very productive level. Your emotions are under control and your thoughts crystal clear.”

And: “You might find that other people's strong opinions are dictating the activity of today. The overall atmosphere is intense, so you might just want to lay low and let others have their way. Don't try to put up a fight. Unexpected opposition may come out of nowhere and take control. There is a powerful force at working asking you to attend to your own business with passion.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Eight of Wands.  Many see this card as representing light or electricity, but anyone who has picked a dandelion ready to go to seed, and then puffed at it and watched the seeds float away, understands the energies of this card.  This is about a sudden eruption of energy that scatters seeds.  Some may fall on rocks, but others may fall in fertile soil!

Looks like the book I mentioned on the 26^th, “A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe: The Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science (A Voyage From 1 To 10),” by Michael S. Schneider, is going to be a marvelous distraction for me.  I finally got into the meat of the book, and it is fragrant and juicy and positively yummy!

Because everything I’ve read so far connects deeply to both my own spiritual practice ~and~ to the Tarot (LOL, how could numbers **not** connect to the Tarot in some way; you all know by now how my mind works), I’m going to summarize what I’m reading.  LOL one of these days, I’m going to have the time to compile all this stuff into the best Tarot Workbook ever.  In the mean time, here we go.

As I mentioned in my blog post on the 26^th, Schneider breaks Math down into three categories: Secular Math (the adding and subtraction and multiplication and division, the quantitative measurement, and the search for perfections, that I was taught in school), Symbolic Math (which talks of the reoccurring patterns and the synchronistic effects to be found across the board when dealing with numbers and shapes), and Sacred Math (which involves these patterns and effects and the way our consciousness perceives their patterns and effects as a profound mystery; this awareness is the true sacred wonder).  My main focus will be on both Symbolic Math and Sacred Math; I’ve already spent time (and learned to avoid) Secular Math, but who knows?  Maybe this will encourage me to go back there some day.

Let’s begin with a bit about the tools used for this foray into Math.  There are three of them (a nice, sacred and symbolic number, eh?): the compass, the straight edge, and the pencil.  According to Schneider, these tools need to be honored; they should always be used with conscious awareness, never while focused on something else.  When working with these tools, we need to remember that mistakes are just as important as perfection.  Any mistakes we make should not be erased; rather, we should assume they were meant to happen and we should strive to live with them.

The compass is found in many cultures; maybe not as the implement we have all used to draw circles, but it is there.  It might consist of a stick and a string, even in our modern world; this is after all the easiest way to draw a circle.  Because the circle is seen to have sacred symbolism (more about that in a bit), the compass can be seen as having divine attributes.  It can be seen as the eye of God, the catalyst that creates sacred space.  The Kether/Source of shape and form, symbolic of the Ace/number 1, and potential .

The straight edge is used to connect the points where circles intersect, it is used to draw lines.  It does not need measure marks, and in fact it is preferred that it not have them; it does, however, need to be an edge without chips or dents and without the ability to bend.  When using the straight edge, we should begin the line at the farthest point away from us and then draw the line toward us, visualizing the line as a path of energy.  The Binah/Sacred Feminine of shape and form, symbolic of the number 2, and balance, polarity and “distance between.”

The pencil translates divine ideas into the symbols our brain is able to absorb and understand. We need to remember that the pencil is both literal (a pencil is a great Math tool) and symbolic (we could be using a stick to draw in the dirt and achieve an equally powerful result).  The Chokmah/Sacred Masculine of shape and form, symbolic of the number 3, and the creation of something new out of the Ace (the compass) and the number 2 (the straight edge).

If we hold for a moment longer the symbolism of the Tree of Life, we will remember that the first three Sephiroth of the Tree, the Supernal Triangle (representing the highest, purest and most abstract qualities of Deity), are considered the “triplet of the mind” (with the second three being the “triplet of the heart,” representing an inner emotive focus, the third three being the “triplet of action,” representing the actions we take; the final sephira, Malkuth, represents the final outcome or manifestation).  This tells me, right from the start, that there’s gonna be a whole lot of growing going on.

My brain is tingling already!

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The Hierophant/Five of Swords reversed. Faith/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).  This card is an archetype of Spirit (with The Emperor as archetype of the Sacred Masculine, The Empress as archetype of the Sacred Feminine, and all three representing the supernal triad) that reminds us of the value of tradition, ritual and ceremony.  Another cool interpretation of this card can be the words of Spock just before he died in The Wrath of Kahn: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”  This card is also about maintaining and sharing tradition, ritual and ceremony.  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. Because my Five of Swords is reversed, it kind of reiterates Spock’s words!

My Thoth card is the Five of Wands.  “Strife” is Uncle Al’s keyword for this one. The Five of Wands, which corresponds with Saturn (discipline, responsibility, law and order) in Leo (“I am, passionate, dramatic, egotistical) in an upright position indicates a struggle caused by annoying cross purposes.  Crowley feels that this motion is necessary, a sort of growing pain if you will, that reinvigorates us by clearing the ice from the windshield, so we can see more clearly.

My Legacy card is Temperance, flavored by the Page of Wands. 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 is a powerful Major Arcana cards that presents one version of the concept of balance.  Temperance teaches us balance through the knowledge of extremes, and it reminds us that we can’t find this balance unless we have already experienced and come to understand those extremes, even if they are uncomfortable. 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 this Fire will most likely be internally focused.  These two cards together could be possibly hinting of an approaching Aha! Moment; we shall see.

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number that introduces motion into stability in order to prevent stagnation.

My horoscopes: “Remember all those resolutions you made in the past? It's time to recommit to them. All signs indicate that you need to take better care of yourself. You've been so busy working that exercising has begun to feel like a luxury you can't afford. Actually, exercise and proper nutrition are luxuries you can't afford to ignore. You're burning the candle at both ends. Stop before you burn out completely!”

And: “A social event involving a large number of your closest friends could take place in your neighborhood, and it should prove to be wonderful for you. You will be able to touch base with old friends and also make some new ones. One of these people might have been out of the country for a while. Some interesting and useful information could be offered to you. Make use of it!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Ten of Wands.  This card reminds me that perhaps in fulfilling the many responsibilities that are mine, I may lose sight of which of these responsibilities absolutely need to be fulfilled, and which are sapping my energy needlessly.  I need to remember that my personal energy is not endless, and I should be careful as well that I am not inadvertently doing things the hard way.

My brother-in-law loaned me what appears to be a very interesting book.  It is called “A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe: The Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science (A Voyage From 1 To 10),” by Michael S. Schneider.  LOL, I haven’t even gotten out of the author’s introduction and I am already quoting.  This quote is about the concept of the One and the Many.  “The problem [with this concept] is that, whereas the Many are visible and tangible and can be examined at leisure, the One is never seen or sensed, and its very existence is only inferred through the evident effect it has upon its products, the Many.  Yet, paradoxically, the One is more truly real than the Many.  In the visible world of Nature all is flux.  Everything is either being born or dying or moving between the two processes.  Nothing ever achieves the goal of perfection or the state of equilibrium that would allow it to be described in essence.  The phenomena of Nature, said Plato, are always ‘becoming,’ never actually ‘are.’  Our five senses tell us that they are real, but the intellect judges differently, reasoning that the One, which is constant, creative, and ever the same, is more entitled to be called real than its ever-fluctuating products.”  Those words, written by a mathematician, sound suspiciously close to my own description of the Source and the interactions of As Above, So Below; As Below, So Above.

Numbers and shapes, or at lest the archetypal meanings associated with numbers and shapes, can be found within art, science, technology, religion, and everyday life.  The numbers from 1 to 10, and the simple shapes of circle, square, triangle, line and spiral are already a huge part of my metaphysical studies, across the board, but I think it is amazing that these concepts which fascinate me so much could be considered a part of my most dreaded subject in school: Math.  Schneider breaks Math down into three categories: Secular Math (the adding and subtraction and multiplication and division, the quantitative measurement, and the search for perfections, that I was taught in school), Symbolic Math (which talks of the reoccurring patterns and the synchronistic effects to be found across the board when dealing with numbers and shapes), and Sacred Math (which involves these patterns and effects and the way our consciousness perceives their patterns and effects as a profound mystery; this awareness is the true sacred wonder). If I had had Schneider as a Math teacher in school, I may not have had such issues with Math!

The patterns and effects found in numbers and shapes are like a language describing principles found throughout Nature and the Universe, such as wholeness, polarity, structure, balance, cycles, rhythm and harmony.  No wonder I keep getting this tickle in my brain!  This is the stuff of initiation!  To quote Schneider, this is “paying attention to paying attention.”  How cool is that?!  And Wicca is about living in accordance to these Universal patterns or principles.  Simple words, but lots of work to live in accordance with them.

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King of Pentacles/Three of Swords.  Wow, these two cards really make sense to me today, and I do understand this dreaded Three of Swords; nothing like walking in the shoes of a situation in order to understand it. The King of Pentacles (cusp of Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, and Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, physically oriented) is the expert on the physical world, on physical world resources, and on physical manifestation.  He is a pillar of the community; he is reliable, predictable and knowledgeable, and turns everything he touches into gold.  The Three of Swords (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) usually indicates the possibility that logic, rationalizing and the intellect could end up causing harm if they are not used with balance and compassion.  These two cards offer me a powerful message today: I may feel alone and unsettled and lost, but the best way to counter this is to reach out into the world and connect with others.  Being the King of Pentacles means that you have the skills necessary to help others and you know how to use those skills in an effective way.  Taking action is the best way to end that sense of isolation; this works better than sitting there, waiting for others to take the next step. 

My Thoth card is The Moon. The Moon of the Tarot Major Arcana corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, emotional and sensitive energy that strives to stay the same), Pisces (“I believe,” feeling, suffering, soul growth, duality), Qof (the back of the head), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration), is about feelings and emotions and instincts and the subconscious.  In an upright position, this can be a magickal card or it can be a mysterious card.  Reversed, the picture could be a bit foggy, hard to understand, or even a bit scary.

My Legacy card is the Page of Coins reversed, flavored by The Chariot reversed. The Page of Coins (Aries, “I want,” assertive, action oriented, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual) is a listener, and this Page listens to both sides of an argument because he is also a student, and is eager to learn.  My Page is reversed, and this means that I might miss out on some important message connected to potential in the physical world. 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.  My Chariot is reversed, and flavoring my reversed Page of Coins, and this might be offering a possible explanation for the reversed state of my Page.  If I am distracted or not alert, I will miss the message of this Page.

My 6-digit date number is 12 (one number that can represent the end of a cycle), which reduces further to 3, the number that tells of a new creation out of the potential of the Ace and the balance, duality, polarity and understanding of distance between of the number 2.

My horoscopes: “Tension may run high today as things come to a great emotional climax. It might seem as if everyone is out to get you, Sagittarius, but more than likely this paranoia is a figment of your imagination. Don't get carried away with crazy scenarios that have no basis in reality. People may be acting irrationally, so don't be surprised if reason and logic are nowhere to be found.”

And: “Making a new friend, perhaps with someone from another country, could fill you with excitement today. The two of you might have a lot in common, and you could end up spending a lot of time together. Others could drift in and want to take part in your conversation, so don't be surprised if an impromptu party results. Have fun, keep track of your new friend, and don't forget to introduce them to your other friends.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Page of Swords.  The Page of Swords has a very strong sense of purpose; she is watchful and alert, and able to adjust her thinking because she is aware of the subtle changes around her. She is not afraid to question her own beliefs or to reassess her own actions; knowledge of the truth is, after all, very important.

Since the Solstice, I am coming into contact with either words or sights or effects that seem to tickle some part of my brain.  “Air I am, Fire I am, Water, Earth, and Spirit I am!” is a lovely chant I read this morning, that is just begging me to put on my coat, sit on the ground with my back against the tree, and chant the words softly as I absorb the elements.  “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born . . . and the day you find out why.”  That one is by Mark Twain, and for some reason it is really smacking me in the forehead today.  How about Bob Marley’s “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice”?  I’ve been there, thankfully not recently, and I don’t want to go back there but I am always grateful that I had the strength to choose the high road. 

And it’s not only words.  The Platonic shape octahedron has been important to me since doing the elemental pathworking exercises associated with the Farrar/Bone online course, “Progressive Magick.”  Last night, I sat with my “fellow nerd” brother-in-law, and chatted about the Platonic solids.  We talked about dimensions and the concept of moving perpendicularly away from one dimension in order to enter another.  I described to him the basic numeric meanings to each of the Minor Arcana numbered cards (Ace = position or potential (or the point); Two = duality and distance between (or the line); Three = the creation of something new out of the Ace and the Two (or surface); Four = depth and stability and stillness (or the cube); Five = the imposition of motion to that depth and stability (motion is perpendicular to stillness); Six = vertical and horizontal harmony (which comes from a dynamic balance between stability and motion); Seven = the beginning of the degeneration of that harmony (perpendicular to that state of harmony; Eight = the attempt to halt that degeneration and maintain that harmony (perpendicular to that degeneration); Nine = the completeness of effect or manifestation (LOL, self-explanatory); Ten = the ending and resetting of the cycle so it can begin once again).  Again, I felt that isolated part of my brain being tickled, as if I was just missing some important concept. 

This morning, I went onto the MathWorld website my brother-in-law and I explored.  There, I was reminded of the elemental correspondences of each of the basic Platonic solids.  The tetrahedron (4 sides, 3 corners on each side for 12 corners) corresponds with Fire, the cube (4 sides, 4 corners on each side for 16 corners) corresponds with Earth, the icosahedron (20 sides, 3 corners on each side for 60 corners) corresponds with Water, the octahedron (8 sides, 3 corners on each side for 24 corners) with Air, and the dodecahedron(12 sides, 5 corners on each side for 60 corners) with the stuff that stars and the heavens and the constellations are made of (or, in my spiritual path, Spirit).  Notice that the shape of the sides of the dodecahedron is 5-sided, a pentagon.  Which can be reconfigured or paired with the 5-pointed shape (which is not a solid), the pentagram.  Which contains a pentagon at its heart. 

Some quick interesting facts about the number 5.  5 is a prime number (and the only one to end in the digit 5 because all others with a 5 in this position are multiples of 5, and thus not prime), the fifth Fibonacci number.  There are 5 Platonic solids, as noted above; we have 5 digits (as do many lifeforms on our world); there are 5 categories of hurricanes, 5 books in Psalms in the Bible and 5 wounds on Christ’s body at the crucifixion, 5 books in the Torah, there are 5 Pillars of Islam and Muslims pray to Allah 5 times each day, the Sikhs have 5 sacred symbols.  There are 5 elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Spirit/Aether), 5 tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, savory), 5 senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch) and there are 5 planets visible with the naked eye.  “Five by Five” in radio communication indicates a perfect signal; we can ask someone to “give me five” and receive a “high five from them”; we can “plead the fifth” (referring to the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution), and invoke the “five second rule” when we drop food.  5 is even the holy number of Discordianism (Sacred Chaos), as represented by the Law of Fives (All things happen in fives, or are divisible by or are multiples of five, or are somehow directly or indirectly appropriate to 5. The Law of Fives is never wrong. Malaclypse the Younger, Principia Discordia, Page 00016). 

LOL, just typing this is tickling my brain, and this tickling is acting as a curious catalyst in my energy body, increasing the lovely tension I usually feel when connected deeply to the Sacred.  Can’t wait to see what happens next.  I will continue to document these synchronicities and hopefully there will be some end result out of all this. 

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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.

1, Gateway: Spring (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 Gateway of Spring brings us fresh new beginnings and the first blossoming of creativity.  There is an innocence about the energies of this Gateway, and an optimism, and perhaps these lovely energies will bring new insights, as well as new creativity.

13, Element: Fire (South). The element of Fire manifests as spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change; it’s 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.

I then created my mandala.  This one has depth to it for some reason; as I look at the mandala, the Fire card seems closest to me, then the Gateway of Spring and finally, the Gateway of Summer.  Because of both the flat base of the square of the Gateway of Summer, and the flat base of the equal-sided triangle of the Fire card, the whole mandala has a very stable feel.  The cool thing is that I feel drawn into the center of the mandala; I can easily visualize passing through the middle of the triangle of Fire, the wreath of Spring and then the square of Summer, into whatever lies beyond.  That stability is probably a good thing, because I have two Gateways here, one that tells of waxing energies and another that tells of peak energies.  Pair these two Gateways with the element of Fire, and its transformative power and connection to Spirit, and holy crow, there is some heady expansion going on!!

This reading actually makes quite a lot of sense to me.  Since the Solstice on Friday, and since the resetting of the Mayan Long Calendar yesterday, I have felt huge changes in my energy body.  There is a kind of disconnect here, although “disconnect” is not quite the right word to describe what I am feeling.  My physical world is pretty much the same as it was last Thursday: my bronchitis is pretty much gone but I have a nagging cough, my muscles have those lovely well-used aches that come after a good, challenging Yoga class, I am working for hubby, and gradually getting through the backlog in my Internet inbox.  Despite my as-expected physical world, things are different.  Between the lovely Solstice energies and the ending/beginning manifestations of the day, and ending up unexpectedly leading two Yule Sabbats, and then performing two hours of Tarot readings, the overload of energies seems to have created new pathways in my brain and new channels in my energy body. 

I almost feel like I am on a piece of floor that is turning counter clockwise, and I am spinning in place, in a clockwise direction.  Strange, but interesting.  It will be even more interesting to see what happens when my physical body catches up with my energy body.

Blessings!

  

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Seven of Pentacles reversed/The Wheel of Fortune.  Oooh, lovely cards for the first day of the next cycle of the Mayan Long Calendar! The Seven of Pentacles (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) in an upright position tells of pauses and choices and assessments.  Sometimes, these assessments end up bringing a direction change, or at least a time of considering making a change in direction. 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 reminding me that sometimes I can’t affect the ebbs and flows of energy that are before me; they are just too strong.  I am better off getting out my boogie board and riding those waves, tailoring my own efforts to mesh with the direction of the prevailing energies.  These two together offer a powerful message!

My Thoth card is the Seven of Disks reversed.  Bookends!  “Failure” is the keyword Crowley offers for this card.  Upright, he sees this one as being a bit more negative than most interpretations.  To Crowley, the pause indicated by the Seven of Disks is happening because of sloth and lethargy.  Any effort or focus has been lost, and even the tools have been thrown down.  Hence, the “Failure” as a keyword.  But because my Thoth Seven of Disks is reversed, this more negative interpretation may not have an influence today.

My Legacy card is the Two of Coins reversed, flavored by The Emperor.  Whew, another powerful pair! . The Two of Coins (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) in an upright position reminds me that everything always ebbs and flows, and I need to do the same. Reversed, this card could be telling me that I need to keep both feet on the ground and both eyes on the road, and I need to follow the map.  No juggling or unexpected outcomes today.  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 and erasing chaos.  He not only follows his own rules, but he also acts as a shining example to others of the benefits of living an orderly and structured life.  My Emperor is flavoring my reversed Two of Coins, and these two cards are also offering a powerful message!

My Pearls of Wisdom Yule card is the King of Swords. The King of Swords (cusp of Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, cunning, authoritative, and Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, aloof) represents a good judge of people and situations who is able to use his vast and varied life experiences in order to effectively lead others.  He may not be very compassionate, but he is ethical, inspiring, trustworthy, and not afraid to take action, or even to use force if absolutely necessary. 

More about my Bookends card.  The number 7 is a card of pause, and this pause happens usually as growth slows and degeneration approaches.  The suit of Disks corresponds with the element of Earth; the dignities associated with Earth are cold/binds and dry/shapes, and Earth is seen as being material and practical; a stable energy that is slow to change.  It is easy to understand why Crowley sees this card as being so heavy and immobile. Most other readers interpret this card as indicating a time of assessment of our efforts, mostly in the physical world, and after an assessment, a crossroad is usually presented.  Do we feel that we can still achieve more?  Then we keep striving and working and tweaking what we have.  Do we feel that the fruits of our labors are at peak ripeness and thus ready to harvest?  Then we stop here, and begin to reap what we have sown.  The thing is, each choice offers a risk.  If we choose to not yet harvest because we believe more can be attained, and in actuality the time of peak ripeness is upon us, we may miss the opportunity.  If we feel that the time is ripe and we take in all our harvest, and in actuality the peak ripeness has not yet been attained, we may not be able to access the opportunity.  Sometimes this card can be interpreted as a self-identity crisis.  It might be time to look at the endeavors and relationships into which we are pouring ourselves, to see if the results are still beneficial.  And of course, if we are really stumped, we might need to get some professional advice; but we can’t wait too long, for after all, not choosing is also a choice.

My 6-digit date number is 10, which represents the end of a cycle (how fitting), which reduces further to the number 1, which represents potential and possibility and position (which is even more fitting).

My horoscopes: “Sagittarius, you may put your integrity under the microscope today. We all have deep convictions that we would never let go of. But society pressures us, and it isn't always easy to live in perfect harmony with our ideals. The question to ask yourself today is just how willing are you to change your most heartfelt beliefs in order to live in society? Do you have the courage of your convictions?”

And: “Expect a lot of phone calls today. A relative or neighbor could suddenly announce that they're moving to a distant state, or even out of the country. Or someone close to you who lives far away could suddenly come to visit you. Whichever it is (possibly both) you're likely to have a busy day, full of interesting news and maybe even some disconcerting gossip. Don't believe everything you hear, however. Check out the facts first.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Nine of Pentacles.  Lovely!  This card presents solitary energies because in order to attain this moment of serenity and connection to all, we need to work on our own.  Our focus is to connect to the physical world, and to connect to the spiritual realms, and then be a bridge between them.  I have seen this symbol once already this week; my name tag at the Solstice Salon (painted by my beloved E) showed a bridge!

Well, Yule turned out a bit different than I had planned.  My High Priestess was unable to lead our two Yule rituals (our Community is online with many members all over the world, and thus we have an afternoon ritual and an evening ritual to accommodate the different time zones), so I presented the Yule ritual I had written last year as part of my Third Degree Training.  I really, really do enjoy leading our Sabbats, and since I had already presented my ritual before (and I had already made it mine and hand copied it into my personal presentation BOS), I was familiar enough with the ebbs and flows of energies within the ritual to really enjoy it. 

The icing on the cake was that the Tarot group I belong to, the SMPDA, presented online readings after the Sabbat was over.  I love working with this group.  When we read, we tend to connect to each other so our readings echo each other, threading a common message throughout.  We had a few new members working with us last night, and one of them told me how amazed she was that two other members interpreted a card by saying the same exact thing she was saying, at the same time.  I laughed, and told her this was a common occurrence.

I am still buzzing nicely from all the great energy!  And the cherry on top of the cake is that the world did not end yesterday, as predicted by the “monster criers.”  The sun is shining, a gusty wind is blowing, and there is a nice cozy feeling in my living room. 

I attended a Yoga class this morning whose proceeds will be donated to Hurricane Sandy victims.  Tonight, we are getting together with friends for a Holiday get-together.  Sounds like a great first day of the next cycle of the Mayan Long Calendar!  Today is the first day of the rest of my life, filled with purity, pristine possibility, and untouched potential; I intend to make the most of it.

Yule Blessings and Blessed Be!

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Three of Wands/The Hermit reversed. 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 the excitement of seeking out uncharted areas with an optimism that says that no matter what happens, it will be good.  This card also reminds me that sometimes premonitions are to be listened to.  The Hermit corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, practical and stable energy that is slow to change), as well as Virgo (“I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented, orderly), Yod (open hand, touch), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured), and upright is about searching within for a deeper meaning.  Because my Hermit is reversed, the time for solitary soul searching might be over.  Rather than looking within, I should be anticipating some positive events on the way.

My Thoth card is the Prince of Cups reversed. The Prince/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.  He may appear calm, cool and collected to others, but my Prince of Cups is actually filled with intense passion.  He is reversed, so the calmness may be within me today.  In any event, this is another Cups card that is telling of a bit of an imbalance.  Perhaps my dreamy connection to my inner self may cause me to trip and skin my knee.

My Legacy card is the Knight of Swords reversed, flavored by the Ace of Coins. The Knight of Swords (the cusp of Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, intelligent) in an upright position is outspoken, assured, alert, and logical, as well as rude, domineering, critical and sarcastic.  My Knight is reversed, and this could mean that logic and analysis may not be my friend today.  It is okay to speak my mind, but I should be careful that I don’t hurt someone. The Ace of Coins (Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, social) tells of the presence of potential that is connected in some way to the physical world.  My Ace of Coins is flavoring my reversed Knight of Swords, and the grounding and focus on the physical world (with its predictability and orderliness) just might balance out his need to dominate or criticize.  After all, the Ace of Coins brings the potential for stability into the mix.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of a pause and assessment as growth begins to slow and degeneration approaches, often asking for a choice of some kind.

My horoscopes: “Other people may be demanding of you, Sagittarius, so do what you can to please the crowd. Don't go overboard in thinking you need to be someone you're not, and certainly don't do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Be generous with your affection, but make sure you receive emotional support in return. There are likely to be some imbalances that need minor adjustments.”

And: “You probably spend a lot of time and energy convincing your friends or gathering people you love around you. Sometimes, your actions are vain or they won't have the result you were waiting for. Shouldn't you change your attitude? Today, you will be feeling out of shape and you need to use your energy wisely!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Five of Wands.  The image on the Shadowscapes Five of Wands is such a great metaphor for its energies.  It shows a hunter and a bunch of foxes, running willy-nilly, and the prey, the little rabbit, is bounding away to safety, not even seen because of all the confusion.  What a great way to use the energies of this card!

I had such a wonderful weekend, and I would be remiss if I did not memorialize the events here, as they brought me much pleasure, and even a bit of evolution. 

For the third year, I attended the Solstice Salon at the Wayne Contingency of the Pagan Brain Trust.  What a truly wonderful tradition this has become!  Phillie, from the West Coast Contingency, was in attendance again, as well as three other dear friends.  Yes, last year there was a larger group, and it was truly fun to talk to so many different versions of “woo-woo.”  But it seems that we all felt this year’s Salon needed to be more intimate.  As always, a delicious multi course meal was presented, and meaningful gifts were exchanged.  The topics of conversation roamed far and wide, as they tend to do when this group gets together.  And once the Witching Hour passed, we went on to what we call the “After Party,” with just the five of us connecting with a depth that is amazing.

Despite having a busy day on Sunday, I did not get home until almost 3 am Sunday morning (which seems to be traditional for me, as far as Solstice Salons go).  I was able to sleep, despite the fact that my mind was rehashing our many conversations; must be because my belly was full of delicious food. 

I had planned on attending a 9 am Yoga Class, but I decided that since I was still recovering from bronchitis and I had a long day ahead of me, I would be better off sleeping in.  I did get up with enough time to do my own Yoga practice, and then we headed into New York to meet Bob’s clients for dinner and a show.

We went to see Chaplain, and it was awesome!  I was moved to tears at the end of the play.  We had great seats (we sat in the middle of the front row!), and the icing on the cake was that Phillie told me last night that he knows the star of this show!  After the Show, we all walked over to Sardi’s and had a delicious dinner.  Needless to say, once we finally got home, I headed for bed.

Well, if the world ends on Friday and this was my last weekend, I could not have come up with a better itinerary. 

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Page of Cups/The Hermit. 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); this is a card of soft and tender energies.  This Page tells me that even if others judge me as being soft, I still need to be compassionate and tender and loving.  I need to also listen to my own Inner Voice, and accept its validity. The Hermit corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, practical and stable energy that is slow to change), as well as Virgo (“I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented, orderly), Yod (open hand, touch), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured), and is about searching within for a deeper meaning.  Looks like I am being told that the best way to tap into and understand my emotions and feelings and my Inner Voice is to remove myself from the distractions and comforts of mundane life. 

My Thoth card is the Ace of Cups reversed. 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 would tell of the potential for experiencing deep emotions, a connection to my Inner Voice, compassion for myself or others, attunements and connections.  My Ace of Cups is reversed, and despite the presence of the Page of Cups above, I need to have a care for I could be dealing with an emotional blockage, or even an emotional derailment.  I need to take my time, and be careful.

My Legacy card is the Two of Coins reversed, flavored by the King of Wands reversed. The Two of Coins (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) in an upright position reminds me that everything always ebbs and flows, and I need to do the same.  I may not be so good at juggling the events of the day, though, so I should not depend on that skill. The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) in an upright position 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 holds a danger of bringing bigotry, cruelty, or even brutality.  Since my reversed King is flavoring my reversed Two, I should perhaps be extra vigilant that I don’t end up being the perpetrator of these things onto others.

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

My horoscopes: “Go ahead and act confidently, Sagittarius. You will probably find that you're more stable and grounded in general, leaving you free to explore and take more risks than you normally would. Your intuition may be strong, so don't hesitate to rely on it. Make sure your actions are clear and decisive. You have a great deal of power, so use it wisely.”

And: “Today you might be compelled to remain at home for a while, perhaps waiting for a phone call or visitor. This could drive you crazy, especially if nothing comes when you think it should. Try to find something to keep you occupied while you're waiting. Read, exercise, spruce up the house, and watch an exciting video. That will help pass the time and keep you from constantly looking at the door or phone!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Ten of Pentacles. This card tells of an understanding of the need of tradition, of playing by the rules, and of being aware of the patterns around us and making use of them.  If we have the discipline to focus on these things over the long term, we can create a comfortable bounty for ourselves.  And possibly, an even better future, if we keep that focus going despite our bounty.

I have seen in multiple places a truly awful explanation for why the school shooting in Newtown happened.  People in several places have stated that this happened in this school because we have chased God out of our schools.  Really??? This is the solution you offer to this problem of mass killings??

Every time I see this, steam comes out of my ears.  First of all, the last I heard, the Christian God does not abandon innocent people because they don’t perform formal prayers.  I seem to remember, in the new Testament, that Jesus said that private prayer was as valuable as public prayer; in fact, there are circumstances (such as when someone prays publicly because it makes them look good to others) when private prayer is preferred. 

Also, not every student in every school is Christian, and the last time I looked the US was still a country that offered its citizens, within its Constitution, specific freedom to practice the religion of their choice, and even to not practice any religion.  How does bringing the Bible back to our schools keep within the requirements of our Constitution?

I grew up Christian, and I remember being told many times that God helps those who help themselves.  Perhaps that is what God is waiting for us to do.  Maybe once we make it much more difficult for civilians to keep military style automatic weapons with huge ammo clips, and maybe once we make it much easier for people with mental health issues who can’t afford individual specialized treatment to get help without stigma, we will get some good attention from God.  Maybe then, God will look upon us with a smile on Her/His/Its face, and say, “Finally!  Finally, these humans who I love so much are learning how to take care of themselves and each other with true compassion and love.  Maybe now, I will be a bit easier on them.”

My heart breaks for this young man who felt that he had no other way to deal with his issues, whatever they were, other than to kill many people and then himself.  My heart breaks for the parents and teachers who now need hugely immense healing, at a time when we should all celebrating renewal and love and light.  My heart breaks for the children who survived this horrible ordeal.  I am proud, so very proud, of the heroes who attempted to short-circuit this killing spree, at the cost of their own lives.  What a beautiful example of love this is, this sacrifice of one’s life in order to save the lives of others, amidst heartache and loss and confusion and pain.

I do not believe that God, whoever or whatever She/He/It is, would allow this painful horror to happen solely because Christians don’t pray in school any more, or because people don’t honor Christmas any more, or because people talk in a disrespectful manner about their own God or the Gods of others.  I don’t believe that the first thing we should be focusing on as a country and as a species is to end religious freedom.  I think the time has come for us to help ourselves, the time has come for us to help those around us, the time has come for us to actively honor each other with love and compassion whether or not we are “perfect.” 

Until we do this as a country and a species, I don’t think anyone’s God is going to out of Her/His/Its way to make our life lessons a bit less painful.

Rant over.  Blessed Be!

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!

59, Grail Hollows: The Stone (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 Stone represents the deepest and most pure manifestation of the element of Earth, and tells us of traditions that have been around for a long time (some of them relatively unchangeable, and that can be either good or bad).  The understanding of those traditions, and within that process, the determination of their validity for us personally, brings us authority.  This understanding also offers us entry into the understanding of the mysteries that are the foundation of spirituality, and of life and living.

36, Guide: Bear (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.  Bear is about protection and hibernation, power, shelter and instincts.  Mother bears are fierce, yet gentle, and that is the message of this card.  I am being told by Bear that I should protect and nurture myself, but I should also make use of what I’ve learned to not only connect with my own instincts, but also to nurture and guide others.

51, Gateway: The World Tree (Below). 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.  Interesting. This mandala has strong grounding.  The World Tree, representing a cast circle (and thus the creation of sacred space that is not space or time) seems to be gripping or cradling The Stone, which is about foundation, the manifestation of Earth, and the understanding of the mysteries of life and of living.  The mandala created by these cards also reminds me that I need to protect and nurture my foundation, not only to keep myself safe, but also to guide others.  **deep breath**  I still don’t feel ready for this responsibility, but I guess these things don’t wait until we are ready.

Awesome weekend, but busy.  I spent last night with my beloved Pagan Brain Trust for our Solstice Salon.  I really have missed being with this group, and we won’t let so much time pass between get-togethers again.

Today, we took some clients to see a Broadway play (Chaplain) and then went to dinner.  We had a great day.  Awesome!

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