Transparent Oracle Sunday!  As usual, the question I asked myself was “What do I need to know?”  I threw three cards:

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.

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 represents passion, inner power, sensuality, drive and life.  The Red Dragon represents inner-to-outer effects, and feminine energies. 

2, Weather: Wind (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.  Wind seems to be unorganized, but actually the disruption brought by Wind clears the way for new adventures. 

Once I created the mandala, all I could see was the Red Dragon.  Bear and Wind were both fuzzy and unclear, but Red Dragon was there, acting as a foundation to the fuzziness.  While Bear seemed somewhat lost, I do get the feeling that the energies of Bear are acting as a foundation; I am being told that where I came from is important, and I am being told that the important messages of the inner realm may be hidden and obscure, but they have the power to bring heat and color to my life, so they are worth seeking out. 

Sunday is also Spring Fitness Challenge check-in day.  I am away from home this weekend, so I am handling this in a unique way in that I don’t have a scale.  No weight update, but here is the rest of my information.

Earth rules the entire physical world and all of its manifestations.  To me, Earth represents not only the physiological operations of our bodies, but the physical world around me.  I am remembering what I have learned so far regarding Ayurveda and I am doping my best to choose food and drink that will allow me to not go totally off this Challenge. 

Air rules the mind, the intellect, thinking, and air and the act of breathing and all effects associated with breathing.  I am continuing to be as aware as possible of what I eat and drink, and how they will affect my body and my alertness.  Tough to do while on vacation, but not impossible.

Fire rules passion, courage, the life force and the Will, and movement of all kinds and all effects associated with movement.  I have mostly done my yoga and stretches each morning, and doing lots of  long beach walks.  We are in a beach house; they are built “upside down,” with living space on the second and third floors, so I’ve done lots of stairs. Plus, we spent all day Thursday walking around in Charleston.

Water rules emotions and feelings and all effects associated with emotions and feelings, and for our purposes Water will also be about cleansing, flushing and purifying.  I have been keeping hydrated, and trying to not drink too much alcohol this weekend.  Emotions are no issue this weekend, as I am on vacation, but I am trying to not get so much into a vacation mindset that I end up giving up on my diet.

My clothes still feel loose, and that is a good thing!

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Seven of Cups/Knight of Wands. The Seven of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, obsessive, mysterious) represents the distraction and dissipation that can happen when we are presented with 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). The Knight of Wands (cusp of Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, deep, obsessive, and Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) is a person of passion, courage, enthusiasm and boundless energy.  The energies of this card are strong, confident and powerful, but quick to fade away.  These two just might help each other; I will have a deep connection to feelings but not so deep that I lose touch with reality.

Okay, we had a huge dinner last night, and I did not do too badly.  My downfall was that dinner was late, so I ate more appetizers than I should have.  But, I did get up and walk again on the beach today, and since dinner tonight is a buffet, I will have control.

Our walk was beautiful; the ocean is so lovely and the air is warm.  I am enjoying this time with my friends.

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Two of Cups reversed/The Fool. The Two of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, tenacious, moody), is about love and connections, usually about relationships and commonalities.  My Two of Cups is reversed today, and yes, this could be saying that the energies of the day are not condusive to bonding.  But this could be as simple as the fact that my husband is playing golf so I won’t be seeing much of him. 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 approaches life as an adventure and expects that he will succeed.  He is encouraging me to be open to new things today, and to see whatever comes to me as an adventure.  Having The Fool here makes me not worry too much about that reversed Two of Cups.

Today is the second day of my vacation.  Yesterday, we arrived in Murrell’s Inlet, had breakfast, and then headed to Charleston for the day.

What a beautiful city!  We stood by the harbor, looking at Fort Sumter, the place where the Civil War began.  We walked around the city, admiring the architecture and the love oaks, festooned with Spanish moss, and the other plants, trees and flowers.  We walked through the old slave market, which is now an open air mall, and I thought quite a bit about the culture of the pre-Civil War South.

We drove home, walked on the beach a bit, ate dinner, and then I crashed early (since I was up at 4 am!).  And I am very excited that at least for yesterday, I stuck to my Spring Fitness Challenge, except that I did not drink enough water.  That will be rectified today!!

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Six of Wands reversed/The Hanging Man. “Victory” is Crowley’s keyword for the Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) which expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge.  My Six is reversed, so this might not be a day filled with pride in my accomplishments.  I might feel a bit isolated today, or maybe unable to connect to my creative abilities. 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); this card is about surrender, about seeing things in a new way, and about putting aside my Will.  This is not a card of action, and paired with that reversed Six of Wands, I just might want to hold back today.  I think that if I try to look at things in a different way, maybe even turn them upside down, I might see a better method.  Sometimes it is better to put off till tomorrow what I can do today.

My Thoth card is the Two of Cups reversed.  “Love” reversed. “Love” is Uncle Al’s keyword for The Two of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, tenacious, moody), which is about love and connections, usually about relationships and commonalities.  My Two of Cups is reversed today, so bonds may not grow stronger today, and perhaps I might find that I am more comfortable when not interacting with others.

My Legacy card is the Seven of Coins reversed, flavored by the Five of Cups reversed. The Seven of Coins (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) tells of pauses and choices and assessments.  Because it is a number 7 card, and because it is of the suit of Coins (which corresponds with the element of Earth), it is a bit of a heavy card.  However, my Seven of Coins is reversed today, so there just might be momentum in my physical world.  This might be one of those cards that is mostly better in a reversed position, although the action might not bring much reward today. The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) tells of an emotional setback or a lack of support, but my Five of Cups is reversed; another card that is better in a reversed position.  I may not connect effectively with my emotions and feelings, and in fact there might be a bit of stagnation in that regard.  Perhaps the action spoken of by my reversed Seven of Coins should happen without the interference of my emotions or feelings.

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

My horoscopes: “A love partner could contact you out of the blue, Sagittarius, perhaps proposing that the two of you get together tonight - alone. You're in just the mood for this, since you're feeling especially sexy and not particularly afraid to show it. An evening at home or in a dark corner of your favorite restaurant might be just the ticket. Don't be surprised if your friend orders champagne and shows up with flowers! Have fun!”

And: “Today is well aspected for making new friends, dear Sagittarius. Your sense of adventure is, without a doubt, up to this! You will be your usual confident self, but others will seem to respond even more than usual to your charisma. You may meet someone who lives far away at a party, and be invited to visit them at a later date. What a wonderful opportunity for travel”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Knight of Pentacles.  Focused and persistent are qualities of this Knight, and that may be a good thing or it may be a bad thing.  This Knight is not good at seeing or accepting new methods of doing things, but he will get the job done for sure; yes, he is that dependable!

Had a nice weekend; gardening and a late Saturday Reiki Share with the PBT (even though I was more than half asleep), a rainy Sunday, and Monday spent preparing for my trip to Murrell’s Inlet this coming weekend.  This morning, I gave a Vedic Thai Massage to Andrew, and went shopping for clothes.  I’ve been keeping up with my exercising as well, pre-burning before my trip.

I will not be bringing all my Tarot decks with me on my trip; I will throw two cards each day from my Legacy Tarot, and once I get home I will be back to normal.  So you will get a bit of Tarot while I’m away, just not the whole shebang.

Let’s start talking in detail about the gunas.  First, Heavy.  Heavy corresponds to the elements of Water and Earth; Heavy nourishes tissues, especially muscle and fat, it causes weight gain, suppresses metabolism, increases sleepiness, and clogs or coats the channels of the body.  Heavy foods are used in tonics that increase muscle mass, fat tissue and strength.  Some foods are considered to have Heaviness because they are highly nutritious, while others are considered to be Heavy because they are slow to digest. 

Too much Heavy can be treated with more Light, or more Bitter.  We can also treat an excess of Heaviness by fasting, by getting up early and by exercising.

Heavy can be treated by its opposite, Light.  Light foods reduce the viscosity of the blood; they purify, they can bring alertness, clarity, increased oxygen levels.  However, they can also bring spaciness, instability and ungroundedness.  Light foods are easy to digest, and in fact some facilitate digestion; they help us to lose weight, cleanse our channels, and possibly increase the duration of life. 

Too much Light needs to be treated with more Heavy, more Sweet, or more Liquid.  The mind tends to enjoy Lightness, however the body needs a bit of rest, a routine, and less stress in order to become more grounded.

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!  After asking “What do I need to know this week?” I threw these three cards.  

28, Guide: Frog (West). West is the direction of Water, and thus, of feelings and emotions, relationships of all kinds, cleansing and healing, the wisdom associated with natural endings, and the bubbling up of pure joy.  Frog tells of fertility and creativity, and Frog also represents the amazing transformations that occur during a lifetime.  We need to grow and adapt to the situations that present themselves, and Frog is an expert at this!  Frog has a permeable skin, so this card is also associated with healing and empathy and healing, and with partnerships. 

9, 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 about cunning and surprise, about ambition and humility.  Wren is small so often overlooked, but Wren is also plucky and thus, is often able to survive well.  Wren reminds us that we should not forget our limits, but we should not allow those limits to distract us from our goals.  Wren is also about sacrifice; this brave bird sacrifices glory and visibility in order to thrive. 

58, Grail Hollows: The Spear (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.  Even though this Grail Hollow is associated with the Underworld and the direction of Below, it also represents the element of Fire and all the abilities to create transformation that belong to Fire.  The Spear corresponds to karma and sacrifice and desolation, it is about focus, it is about challenging the status quo, and about piercing a situation in order to upset the status quo.  Using The Spear may guaranty victory, but the consequences associated with that victory are most likely quite severe. 

A bit about the Grail Hollows.  The Grail Hollows are the four great treasures guarded by the Tuatha de Danaan, and they represent the wisdom behind the four suits of the Tarot, and the power behind the four elements. 

Okay, now this is a tough mandala to interpret!  Placing Wren on top of Frog was not that difficult; each Wren seemed to be pressing against the head of the corresponding Frog, and this partnership could very well be telling me that there could be interesting opportunities for growth and for unexpected partnerships, or partnerships that bring me in unexpected directions.  Being adaptable to all situations, and keeping in mind always that my emotions and feelings always affect the way things play out are important to whatever situations arise.  Okay, easy enough.

But then, we add The Spear, and the entire feeling of the mandala is changed.  The Spear slashes horizontally across the mandala, dividing the upper Frog and Wren from the two lower Frogs and Wrens.  Is this the foundation, the level playing field on which we work and compete?  Or is The Spear challenging these partnerships?  Am I being told of a coming separation of interests of some kind?  Or will the challenge presented by The Spear cause a strong unity that might never have manifested?

Whatever is coming, it won’t be boring.

Sundays are also Spring Fitness Challenge check-in days.  I have been using the elements and my work with the alchemic Great Work to bring a sort of Metabolic/Elemental Discipline into my days throughout this challenge.  Here is my update for this week.

Earth rules the entire physical world and all of its manifestations.  To me, Earth represents not only the physiological operations of our bodies, but the physical world around me.  I have been researching Ayurveda (as documented within this Blog) in order to increase my understanding of how my body reacts to what I eat and drink, and to my activities and daily schedule.  No big surprises so far; I am less lethargic if I get up early, exercise first thing in the morning, and stay away from dairy and sugar.  Of course, the complete opposite of what I want to do.

Air rules the mind, the intellect, thinking, and air and the act of breathing and all effects associated with breathing.  I am actively choosing with awareness; not that I don’t cheat, but before I eat or drink something that I know will slow me down, I actively choose whether or not I am willing to deal with the consequences.  This has occasionally encouraged me to step away from the ice cream.

Fire rules passion, courage, the life force and the Will, and movement of all kinds and all effects associated with movement.  I have been real good about doing my yoga and stretches each morning, and I am walking at least one half hour a day.  When I miss a day, I double up the next day.

Water rules emotions and feelings and all effects associated with emotions and feelings, and for our purposes Water will also be about cleansing, flushing and purifying.  I have been drinking quite a bit more water, which is helping with my lethargy.  I am also keeping a strict watch on my emotions, and this week has been tough.

My body tends to resist weight loss, and this week I am at the pause I expected (and have already mentioned in my last blog post).  I feel as if I have lost more weight and my clothes are noticeably looser, yet the scale has only gone down an additional one-half pound.  Now, normally this is about when I get frustrated and give in to all the food cravings I’ve been fighting for the past couple of weeks, but this time is different.  Is it the fact that I am consistently well-hydrated?  Is it that I am already forming the habit of eating with awareness and consciously choosing what I am going to consume with consequences always in mind?  Is it the fact that besides regularly exercising, I am also connecting more and more to my energy body, and thus I am loving the feeling of being toxin free?  Whatever the reason, so far I am hanging in there.

Next weekend we will be away, visiting friends in North Carolina.  Those four days are going to be quite challenging; many of our social events revolve around meals, so temptations will abound.  But perhaps I will be okay.

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The Moon reversed/King of Swords.  The Moon 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), and talks about the imagination, perception, and fear of the unknown.  Upright, this card would be telling me that things might not be as they seem; because my Moon card is reversed, perhaps I will be able to see past the illusion to the truth at the core of the situation.  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, and is good at articulating those judgments.  Perhaps it is my own intellect that will allow me to see past the illusion, and whatever I perceive, I should be well able to both benefit myself and benefit others.  This King paired with the reversed Moon is lovely.

My Thoth card is the Five of Disks.  “Worry” 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 keyword for this card is “Worry,” as in to pick at; whatever blockages are occurring in my physical world may tempt me to feel out of control, but I do need to remember that testing the system is always of value, although the test may not be comfortable.

My Legacy card is the Knight of Swords, flavored by The Hermit reversed.  The Knight of Swords (the cusp of Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, intelligent) is brave, insightful, courageous, and logical.  Unfortunately, he is also rude, domineering, critical and sarcastic.  He is much more enthusiastic than his King, and his enthusiasm can occasionally get him into trouble, but if a situation needs quick action and a strong hand, he’s our man.  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 in an upright position is about searching within for a deeper meaning.  The reversed Hermit is flavoring my Knight of Swords, and perhaps its energies will encourage my Knight to be more like the King, and take counsel from others before jumping into a situation.

My 6-digit date number is 8, the number that tells of a conscious response to the beginning of degeneration that is the number 7 in order to maintain the balance of the number 6.

My horoscopes: “Keep your eyes and ears open to all new possibilities, Sagittarius. Even if it isn't your habit to read the ‘Help Wanted’ section of the newspaper, do so today. You might be surprised at what you find there. Your skills apply to all sorts of jobs. You don't need to limit your search to one profession. You have a good mind that's working in overdrive now. Use it to figure out the next steps for your advancement.”

And: “Love matters may prove to be too intense for you today. You may be having a rough week, and your partner may be especially demanding of your time and energy. This might be a good day for you to specifically schedule some time alone. Go for a massage, a sauna, or a hot tub - by yourself - and simply relax. That way you'll be more refreshed when you meet with your beloved in the evening. Enjoy your day.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Lovers.  This is a card of union, of balance, of temptation and of choices.  And of course, what is created by the manifestation of all of these things.  Important consideration today!  There are all kinds of love, but finding that indescribable union with another that we all seek is the greatest blessing of life.

LOL, did not get much sleep the other night.  We have an in-ground pool in our yard, and the cover is still on the pool right now, with a large puddle of water in the center of the cover.  The neighborhood starlings come there every day to bathe, and mourning doves and sparrows come to drink.  We even get the occasional mallard duck.

I was awakened the other night at about 2 am by splashing and paddling sounds.  Turns out a pair of juvenile raccoons were playing tag in our yard, splashing and tumbling joyously through the little pond on the pool cover and then shooting into the shadows.  One would hide and wait for the other to be distracted by the water, and then dart out and jump on top of the unsuspecting raccoon.  They chased each other up and down the blue spruce in the corner of the yard, and then back into the water to tumble over each other again.  Needless to say, it was a while before I fell back to sleep.

Tonight I will be meeting with my much-loved Pagan Brain Trust.  Time to spend another great evening sitting around The Table, feeding our minds, our souls and our sweet teeth!

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The Lovers/Queen 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 union and of personal choices.   The Lovers is about duality as well as about unions, and about feelings, but these feelings are more spiritual or intellectual. The Queen of Swords (cusp of Virgo, “I serve,” practical, sensible, work and service oriented, and Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, grace) is also connected to Airy emotions, as she is Water of Air.  She is open, up front, alert and hard to fool.  I like these cards together!!

My Thoth card is the Six of Wands.  “Victory” is Crowley’s keyword for the Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) which expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge.  This certainly does not mean the challenges are over, but so far I should feel proud of my accomplishments.

My Legacy card is the Three of Swords, flavored by the Five of Cups.  Well, that grounded me pretty quickly! 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.  This card always makes me feel uncomfortable, but I guess I need to remember that pain is sometimes necessary in life, and at the very least it will happen because we can’t always have pleasure. The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) tells of an emotional setback or a lack of support, and my Five is flavoring the Three of Swords.  Perhaps emotional isolation is what I will feel today, or at least there is the potential for feeling this.  Hopefully my other three cards will have more of an effect.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the pause at the end of growth that tells of approaching degeneration.

My horoscopes: “You work hard to reach your goal of financial independence, Sagittarius. All signs indicate that you're well on your way. Today you could receive some news that makes you realize you aren't there yet. Perhaps a relative calls to say you're no longer his/her sole beneficiary. Maybe your investment statement shows a poor return. This isn't what you expected, but you're still on the right track. It just might take a bit longer to reach your destination.”

And: “If you have been kicking around the idea of writing a novel or taking up oil painting, then today is the day to begin. There is no time, and no reason, for excuses. You have just as much talent as anyone else, why not use it for a change? You might find it helpful to join a writing group or sign up for a one-day painting workshop, if only to help you get started and stay motivated. Join a support group for struggling artists. They'll all understand your angst.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the King of Pentacles.  The King of the material world!  Today, this may be where my aptitude may lie; I can be steady and reliable and still create a work of art!  Most important of all, I must remember to share my blessings.  From the sharing of the fruits of my own labors, new seeds will sprout and offer more bounty in the future in a renewable chain of life.

I am reaching a dangerous stage in my Spring Fitness Challenge.  After two and one-half weeks of being strict about what I am eating and how active I am being, I am feeling a bit of frustration because I am not seeing progress on the scale.  This is so typical for me.  I do need the gratification of feeling a difference in the way my clothes fit, or where the needle settles when I step on the scale; I don’t need this gratification every day, but usually just as I pass the two week mark, I begin to feel as if my efforts are not paying off.

Of course, I usually deal with this frustration by having an ice cream cone, or some cake, but this time, thanks to my research into Ayurveda, I am attempting to hang in there and not do anything too bad. 

I promised to start talking about the Gunas, so here goes.  Gunas are a set of feelings or sensations associated with diet, digestion, and overall well-being.  Gunas are set up as pairs of opposites; the most common to deal with are: Heavy and Light, Sharp and Dull, Hot and Cold, Oily and Dry.  There is also Rough, Dense, Hard, Soft, Mobile, Stable, Subtle, Gross, Sticky or Gooey and Easy or Clear.  Similar gunas aggravate each other, while opposites balance each other.  It is said that gunas manifest in groups, and indeed, certain gunas are attracted to certain other gunas.  A good example of this is that cold creates dry; cold causes our blood vessels to contract in order to preserve heat, and so our extremities have less blood in them.  They are drier.  Doshas are actually collections of gunas that cause each other. 

The foods and drinks we consume each correspond with a guna, and an ayurvedically focused diet attempts to balance the gunas while keeping in mind the tendencies of the strongest dosha corresponding to an individual.  This is a very personalized method!

I am also beginning to look to the next step in the alchemic Great Work.  Fermentation is an ongoing process, but I think I am also beginning to see evidence of the beginning of movement beyond the introspection of Fermentation.  That means Distillation is beginning.

Distillation is another wash or purification of the parts of the personality.  The parts that are turning out to be the detritus of the Fermentation process are being churned to the surface and need to be skimmed off.  Fermentation involves putrefaction (and the chemical process of putrefaction is what allows Fermentation to occur), but Distillation involves detachment, and this is the message of Kali Ma; She teaches me that my attachment to the things of the physical world can end up holding me back from achieving growth.  The material world ends up being a huge focus for us all, and what I should be learning from the Fermentation process is that nothing is permanently needed.  Yes, whatever I choose to implement needs to be of the highest quality, and needs to have the ability to interact with any other ingredients chosen, but even if the best ingredients are used, the process will uncover ideas and beliefs and effects that don’t work with what the Fermentation is creating.  My efforts to be healthier and more balanced and alert are making me re-think the processes and choices that are in place or have become habits for me.  I need to identify these processes and choices and release those that are counter to my efforts.  No sense in carrying with me anything that used to work but does not work any longer!

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!  As always, my question is, “What do I need to know?”  My cards are:

62, Dream (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.  Dream is the language of the unconscious mind, and it makes sense that this is the bottom card of my mandala today.  Dream is not about logic or linear time, and it is telling me that the underlying support of whatever happens this week will not be the strong foundation of Giant; instead, the support is made of symbols and visions!

2, Weather: Wind (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.  Wind seems to be unorganized, but actually this card is acting as a barrier between the unconscious visions of Dream and the conscious focus and power of Giant.  This barrier is two-way, and for either Dream or Giant to see the other will take some effort.  However, this can be a good thing; the subconscious sometimes works better when it is able to be in the shadows.

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 is about courage and about being challenged, and it is about wildness (as opposed to being tamed), but it is also about staying power and permanence.

The first thing I noticed when I stacked my mandala is the Giants.  They are covering the figures on the Dream card, and yet the swirls coming out of the heads of the figures on the Dream card appear to be actually coming from the Giants’ heads.  Wind seems to be joining all together, and acting as a barrier that separates.  The Giants can make use of the visions of the Dream card, but only if they allow themselves to experience those visions as they are, and not as the Giants want them to be. 

To me, there is a clear message here.  While my everyday consciousness, grounded and secure, is the thing that is invisible to others, there is a vast universe within me that I can tap into.  This hidden part of myself is blurred and obscure, but it is there.  If I make the effort to perceive it, I will eventually become skilled at receiving the messages.

This is the end of week two of the Spring Fitness Challenge, and I feel pretty good.  I have been doing my half hour of Yoga, belly dance warmups and stretches every morning, and I have walked a minimum of 40 minutes each day (Fire).  I am drinking lots of water (Water); I am choosing my food and drink with awareness and not allowing myself to eat unless I am truly hungry (Air).

I am also doing a bit of studying about ayurveda.  I think I will benefit from learning how different foods interact with different “body humors” (Earth) and hopefully this knowledge will allow me to better choose my food and drink so that I can keep my energy level high.  Or at the very least, accept that I am going to give in to a craving and then suffer the consequences of lethargy or a rumbling belly the next day.

I stepped on the scale this morning, and I lost another pound! **rubs hands together with enthusiasm**

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King of Wands/Ten of Cups.  The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) is is a natural leader who not only creates new strategies through hard-earned knowledge, experience and wisdom, but puts them into effect as well.  He is reminding me that I have worked hard and learned, and so I have the authority to make things happen in a creative way.  The Ten of Cups (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, spirituality, suffering and growth) offers the manifestation of happiness and fulfillment. I should feel real good about the way I handle issues today, and could end the day with a sense of being blessed with contentment and serenity.  Great way to feel on a Friday!

My Thoth card is the Three of Swords.  “Sorrow,” again.  This card has been showing up lately, and perhaps I need to be aware that things could be happening behind the scenes.  The Three of Swords (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) usually indicates the possibility that logic and the intellect could end up causing harm, or challenging my logic and rationality.  This card always makes me feel uncomfortable, but at least I am aware that things could be happening behind the scenes, and will be watching so I can head off any negativity as soon as possible.

My Legacy card is Temperance reversed, flavored by the Eight of Wands.  Interesting that I threw these cards exactly two months ago, only with Temperance upright and the Eight 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 it is one of the Major Arcana cards that presents the concept of dynamic balance.  But, my Temperance card is reversed today, so balance may not be beneficial or easily attained.  The Eight of Wands (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) is a card of action, of quick developments, and of pulling it all together so things can be completed.  My Eight of Wands is flavoring my reversed Temperance card, so things could get a bit chaotic or crazy.  But that is not necessarily a bad thing, now, is it?!

My 6-digit date number is 11 (Archangel Uriel), which reduces further to the number 2, representing balance, polarity and the concept of “distance between.”

My horoscopes: “Your values could undergo a complete turnaround today, Sagittarius. Recent developments in the world, your community, among your circle of friends, and within you could make you realize, like it or not, you and everyone around you is going through a transformation. This might be a little disconcerting, but it's a positive development. Take things one day at a time and see where they go. You'll probably like it!”

And: “Some strange phone calls could come your way today. There could be a few hang-ups, wrong numbers, or even friends who forget why they called you! Communication in general isn't likely to run too smoothly today, so you may have to make the effort to choose the right words, go into as much detail as possible, and ask if you're being understood. Otherwise things could get more complicated than you'd like.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding Death.  I just love the joyous way that the Shadowscapes Tarot perceives this card, which is seen to correspond with the phoenix.  From the Shadowscapes Companion: “When the phoenix sees death beckoning, she lifts her voice in a tragic song of pain, of rending, of sorrow . . .that yet cannot mask the most intense joy, for she knows that as the flames lick at her heart, the heat is quickening the egg in which her successor sleeps.  Her deathflame is its life spark; one is linked inextricably to the other.”  Death is not always bad, and in my spiritual tradition, Death is seen as the reason for the immortality of life.

Friday the 13^th!!  I actually see this as a lucky day, but not everyone does.  Here is some interesting information from Wikipedia about this much-dreaded day.

The fear of Friday the 13th has been called friggatriskaidekaphobia (“Frigga” is the Norse goddess for whom “Friday” is named and “triskaidekaphobia,” fear of the number thirteen), or paraskevidekatriaphobia, (Greek words “Paraskeví” or Friday, and “dekatreis” or thirteen, attached to “phobia,” meaning “fear”).  Every month that begins on a Sunday will have a Friday the 13^th in it, and there is at least one Friday the 13th in every calendar year.  The longest period that can occur without a Friday the 13th is fourteen months, either from July to September the following year, or from August to October the following leap year.  Friday the 13th can happen as many as three times in a single year; either in February, March and November in an ordinary year, or January, April and July in leap years.

According to folklorists, there is no written evidence for any superstition connected to Friday the 13th before the 19th century; there are several theories for the origin of this fear.  One states that the superstition was created because this date is a combination of Friday (considered unlucky since the 14^th century to modern times; remember Black Friday?), which is considered an unlucky day, and the number 13 (12 is considered a number of completeness and 13 ends the balance of the number 12; both Christian and Norse myths have created the superstition that having 13 people seated at a dinner table will result in the death of one of the diners), which is considered unlucky by many.  Some say that this superstition is rare before the publication of Thomas W. Lawson’s novel, “Friday, the Thirteenth” (which tells of a broker who takes advantage of the superstition to create a Wall Street panic on a Friday the 13^th). 

And of course, there is the now-famous connection between Friday the 13^th and the Knights Templar, presented first in the 1989 book “Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry,” and later in “The DaVinci Code.”

To me, Friday the 13^th is an auspicious day, filled with possibility.  After all, almost everyone else is cringing and withdrawing into the safety of their protective shields, leaving many opportunities and beneficial energy flows unguarded and ripe for the plucking.

So, Happy Friday the 13^th everybody!

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Ace of Pentacles reversed/Ten of Swords.  Aces present potential only, and 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.  Since my Ace is reversed, I may find that I am not real good at seeing mistakes in the physical world today before they happen.  I may be dealing with difficult food cravings, or maybe will spend more money than I want to. The Ten of Swords (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, talkative) is a card of interference, powerlessness and restriction, completely manifested. The issues that may happen which are being hinted at by my reversed Ace of Pentacles may very well affect me more than they should.  I need to remember that even the most uncomfortable situation offers some positive opportunity.

My Thoth card is the Ace of Cups.  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 potentials available to me for experiencing deep emotions, a connection to my Inner Voice, compassion for myself or others, attunements and connections.  No matter what happens today, my connection to myself and to those around me will be clear, and thus I should be able to use my emotions and feelings to my own benefit.

My Legacy card is the King of Cups, flavored by **eep** the Three of Swords.  Hokay.  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 very good at creating a safe place for everyone, and he can deal with any situation, no matter how extreme, without loosing control or his cool.  The Three of Swords (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) usually indicates the possibility that logic and the intellect could end up causing harm, or challenging my logic and rationality.  Whatever issue it is that is going to gum up the works today, I need to remember that more often than not, it will be my own inability to prepare that ends up being the catalyst.  The good thing is that even if I am a bit uncomfortable, I will be able to remain serene and productive.

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

My horoscopes: “Communication takes a prominent place in your life today, Sagittarius. Your practical, direct, and down-to-Earth manner can be very impressive. You're known for succeeding where others have failed. This isn't lost on those above you on the hierarchical ladder. And they know that you aren't easily fooled. Expect steady personal and professional progress and a great boost to your self-confidence!”

And: “Do you believe in ghosts? Some strange phone calls, e-mails, or other communications may come your way today. An e-mail may come from someone who thinks you're someone else. Phone calls may involve hang-ups, wrong numbers, or phantom rings. If a knock comes at the door, it's more likely to be the house settling than a ghost, but nonetheless this can all be rather unsettling. Don't bother thinking about it. Stay grounded!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Eight of Cups.  This is a lovely card, and it tells me that sometimes the best thing to do is to turn away from the noise and bustle and garish bright lights of the physical world, and to look instead to the dark quiet of the depths of the inner realms.  This card is about Water, and the traditional meaning tells us to walk away, but this version of the Eight of Cups tells me to allow the stresses to be washed away by the flowing waters.

A bit more about the Doshas.  Vata body type is slender; Vata personalities talk and walk quickly, have irregular eating and sleeping habits, and are creative, imaginative, and good at thinking out of the box.  They tend to suffer from colon disorders, nervous system disorders, arthritis, dryness (including skin dryness), and arthritis.  Pittas have bright, colorful eyes and rosy cheeks.  They are intelligent and sharp, but can be judgmental or critical; they are workaholics.  Pittas tend to suffer from ulcers or acid reflux, high blood pressure, migraines and sensitivity to light, and are sensitive to pain.  Kapha body type is heavier, steady, calm and strong; Kapha personalities are supportive, loving, kind and loyal; they like comfort and they like food.  Kaphas are slow to change, but they have a good memory; they tend to be overweight, suffer from high cholesterol, diabetes, hay fever, and congestions or colds. 

Vatas need regular sleeping and eating schedules, lots of water, warm comfort, and more sweet, sour, salty and pungent flavors.  Pittas need to be in bed before 10 pm, they need to avoid pungent spices, and they should refrain from heating their food.  Kaphas need to get up early and exercise, they need to avoid sweet and salty foods, as well as meat, wheat and dairy after sundown.

What Ayurveda teaches us is that we need to learn about and understand our own bodies and how they work.  Then, we can choose our food and drink with awareness, and knowledge of the results of our choices.

Next: The Gunas!

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The Fool/Nine of Cups. 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 approaches life as an adventure and expects that he will succeed.  He encourages me to cultivate new endeavors and tells me that a tiny bit of risk may very well double my pleasure. The Nine of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) is about emotional satisfaction and the ability to find pleasure in my feelings and in my expectations for the day.  My Llewellyn Welsh Nine of Cups tells of nourishment, fertile surroundings, luck and romance.  These two cards together are incredibly optimistic.

My Thoth card is the Nine of Swords.  “Cruelty” is Crowley’s keyword for this card, which fell out of the deck while I was shuffling so I put it back in, and threw it anyway. So I guess it is important. 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.  I am being told that I may very well be setting myself up to be a slave to stress.  I don’t see this as being a part of my day, at least not in an obvious way.  Perhaps I am being told by this card to be a bit less serious.

My Legacy card is the Nine of Cups (again!), flavored by the Ace of Wands. The Legacy of the Divine Nine of Cups tells of material happiness.  The Gateway to the Divine mentions the correspondence of the Nine of Cups and wishes; however, while this card usually indicates that we will get our wish, it also warns us that we need to be very careful what we wish for, because that is exactly what we will get.  This card also reminds us that we should focus on the bounty we already have instead of wishing for the things we don’t have.  The Ace of Wands (Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical, Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, sensible, orderly) tells of the presence of inspiration that could very well bring creativity and passion into my life.  Perhaps that is what I should be wishing for, and manifesting!

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

My horoscopes: “An opportunity to travel to a place you've always wanted to visit, perhaps for business reasons, could come your way today, Sagittarius. This could be very exciting, but you might have some difficulty making the arrangements. Flights could be full, hotels too costly, and responsibilities at home might need attention. But you can find a way to deal with any obstacle. Think creatively and get busy!”

And: “Don't listen to gossip today. Whatever rumors are spreading are likely to be based on false assumptions, and are totally outside reality. Yet someone around you who loves to talk has a way of being very convincing! Take everything you hear that you can't immediately verify with a grain of salt - if not the whole shaker. There's definitely something rotten going on. Avoid it like the plague!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is the Ten of Pentacles.  Wow, this card is showing up often.  It tells me that sticking to the rules, being focused, and doing what I’m supposed to do on a regular basis is the recipe for success.  This card is about enjoying affluence and bounty, and about using this bounty as a starting point to manifesting my vision of the future into reality.

Within my efforts to maintain increased Elemental/Metabolic Discipline (and the maintenance of the Fermentation process, which is already underway), I have begun to study a bit of ayurvedic medicine.  Ayurveda presents three body humors that make up the physical and subtle body, the balance of which brings health and well being.  The three doshas are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  According to Wikipedia, they are defined as follows: “Vata is the impulse principle necessary to mobilize the function of the nervous system. It affects the windy humor, flatulence, gout, rheumatism, etc.  Pitta is the bilious humor, or that secreted between the stomach and bowels and flowing through the liver and permeating spleen, heart, eyes, and skin; its chief quality is heat. It is the energy principle which uses bile to direct digestion and hence metabolism into the venous system.  Kapha is the body fluid principle which relates to mucous, lubrication and the carrier of nutrients into the arterial system.”

The Joyful Belly website describes them as follows: “Vata, Pitta, and Kapha mean small, medium and large. More deeply dosha describes three basic patterns of how we use energy. Vata spends energy. Pitta manages it. Kapha stores it. Dosha also predicts how the body responds to change. For example, Kapha and Vata rise in response to cold temperature. Pitta rises in response to hot temperature.”

Everyone has all three doshas within their body and persona, at different levels.  There are lists of considerations to be pondered in order to determine which of the three is the primary influence on each of us.  But the interesting thing is that by determining the strength of influence of each of the doshas, I can determine what foods to eat when, what exercises to do when, what to bring into my life and what to avoid.  I wonder if this could be a valuable assistance to my efforts . . . .

More to follow.

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!!  As usual, after asking the question “what do I need to know?” and shuffling the cards, I threw:

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 reminds us that we never know if we have real courage unless we are faced with real fear.  Challenges serve a purpose, and if we don’t tax our muscles or our Will to the breaking point, we won’t ever have the opportunity to prove to ourselves that we really are strong enough, intelligent enough, focused enough to get the job done.  We won’t ever have the first-hand experience of proving to ourselves that we are stronger, braver and more skilled than we ever could anticipate.

2, Weather: Wind (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.  Wind is powerful energy, but it is chaotic and unpredictable; the cool thing about this kind of energy is that it is very useful for clearing away the dust bunnies.  Of course, I won’t be able to control the effects of Wind, but if I am open to surprises and agile, I should be able to take advantage of whatever surprises come my way.

69, DNA/Labyrinth (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.  The DNA/Labyrinth card is a card of self-exploration, and today I am seeing this card as having a similar message to The Hanging Man of the Major Arcana: change your perspective and you will perceive the message. 

When I stacked these three cards, the first sensation I got was of chaos.  Then, I saw a bait ball.  And finally, I noticed the eyes of the Giants, peeking out from amid the chaos.  Aha!  This is a test; I get it. This is like those magic pictures that I always have so much trouble with, the ones that just show a repetitive pattern but if you can manage to unfocus your eyes a bit, you will see the hidden image.  I am being told by this mandala that there is a very important message for me that I need to work at in order to perceive.  This message is hidden, and it may come flying by unexpectedly and pass away without warning, so I had better be alert.  The effort will be worthwhile for the message will act as a key or catalyst that will bring a greater understanding of myself.  Awesome!

Update on the Spring Fitness Challenge!  I actually had a good week.

Earth: I have worked to be aware of and understand the machine that is my physical body, especially digestion.  My system works better if I eat a lot of vegetables, and so I’ve had a salad for at least one meal each day this week. 

Air: This is the biggest change I’ve implemented this week.  I have eaten with awareness, no mindless munching, no uncontrolled indulgence of my sweet tooth.  And considering that this is a holiday weekend, with company and good food and lots of candy, this has been tough to stick to.

Fire: Movement is already a part of my day, but I’ve increased my awareness of the warmth of my muscles when they get warmed up, and how good they feel.  I have done my stretches and some Yoga each day this week, and I have walked for about 40 minutes each day this week.  Beach walking Friday, yesterday and today.  Plus gardening, which actually taps into all the elements.

Water: I have been trying to add at least one full glass of water a day; I also am bringing back my lemon cleanse.  The juice of one lemon squeezed into a glass of ice water seems to act as a gentle colon cleanse for me, and I will be doing this cleanse once a week for this entire Spring Fitness Challenge.

And now for the most frightening part: stepping onto the scale!  And the good news is that I’ve lost a pound.  I usually take two or three weeks before the scale starts showing a weight loss, but I do feel a bit firmer.  My imagination?  We shall see.

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Queen of Cups/The Hanging Man.  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.  This Queen is very good at doing her own thing with confidence and yet meshing well with the people and events around her.  Everyone feels fed and nurtured just by being with this Queen, and people may feel that way about me as well today.  The Hanging Man also 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); this card is about surrender, about seeing things in a new way, and about putting aside my Will.  These two cards mesh well, and together they remind me that transformation often comes through meditation, through such disciplines as Yoga, and through cultivating an awareness that goes beyond the effects of the physical world.

My Thoth card is the Three of Cups reversed.  The Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) in an upright position is about connections, and about blessings, but not blessings of the physical world.  Because my Three of Cups is reversed, I am being reminded that while connections and the support of others are needed for health and well-being, I can’t allow those connections and that support to weigh me down.

My Legacy card is Death, flavored by the Knight of Coins.  The Death card corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and sensitive, imaginative energy that strives to stay the same or take the same course), Scorpio, Nun (fish head; liberation), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration), and tells of natural change that cannot be stopped.  Death is one of the cards that has appeared before these past days, and it seems that stagnation is no longer to be allowed or encouraged; change and transformation are in the air, whether I want them to be there or not..  The Knight of Coins (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 flavoring my Death card, so I am being told that I should stay grounded, have patience, and not try to rush things.  Change will come, but it should be allowed to come at its own pace.

My Pearls of Wisdom Full Moon card is the King of Swords.  The King (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, and is good at articulating those judgments.  I am being told that for the next two weeks, I will have a nice connection to my intellect and the workings of my mind.  I won’t be afraid to act, and I will be able to keep my emotions balanced.

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

My horoscopes: “Generally, you come up with the perfect, witty answer one day too late. Impulse and intuition take a back seat to your excellent self-control. The day ahead presents one opportunity to let go of the inhibition that sometimes stymies you. Yield to your instincts a little and see what happens. A little more socializing wouldn't hurt, either. You're certainly entitled to some fun now and then!”

And: “A social event, possibly involving a group you're affiliated with, could put you in touch with a lot of intriguing and congenial people who share your interests and who could become friends. Among them could be a potential romantic partner - or a current partner could accompany you to this event. Whichever it is, both of you are likely to feel good about the event, and probably will see your new friends again.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Hanging Man.  This card tells of being able to come to “. . . that place of deep meditation where thought becomes action and where the stillness speaks with the voices of the gods.” [Shadowscapes Companion.]  In order to arrive at that place, we must sacrifice our attachment to logic, we must allow our vision to blur, and we must surrender our control of our world.

Today is the Full Green Grass Moon, and oh boy, am I feeling these wonderful lunar energies.  Is this because of the Elemental/Metabolic Discipline I have been imposing upon myself these past weeks?  Is it because whatever pollen I am allergic to is going away, and thus my brain is no longer fogged in?  Is it because Beltane is approaching, and the energies of the Sacred Masculine are becoming more easy to sense?  Or am I merely anticipating a great weekend that will be spent mostly in my garden?

I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth; whatever the reason, I am going to enjoy how I am feeling.  And after a nice, long walk through town this evening, I am going to relax and have a nice dinner, and then go down to the beach for moon rise. 

Full Moon Blessings!

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Knight of Pentacles/The Horned One reversed.  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 tells me that I need to plan and choreograph every moment today, but is he right?  Not according to The Horned One! The Horned One or Devil (Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Capricorn (“I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning), Ayin (the eye, senses), and the Path between Hod (which provides analysis and communication) and Tipareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify), tells of being caught up in the physical world and the effects of the physical senses to the point of being bound to those things.  The only planning this card encourages is planning that involves enjoying the pleasures of the physical senses.  Two very physical world connected, very intense cards; might need a bit of balance, eh?

My Thoth card is the Princess of Cups.  The Princess/Page of Cups corresponds to Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Scorpio (“I desire,” intensity compulsion, mystery) and Sagittarius (“I seek,” philosophic, adventurous, blundering) is very emotional, dreamy, social, and connected to the inner voice.  The Princess/Page is a less mature incarnation of the Queen of Cups, and tells me that I might not be as in control of my emotions as I think I am.  But I feel good anyway.

My Legacy card is the Ace of Swords, flavored by the Three of Cups reversed.  The Ace of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution authority, cunning, Aquarius and Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, soul growth, artistic) is about potential within the mental or intellectual realms.  This Ace is about challenges, but if I stay the course, it could be about rewards, too.  It is being flavored by the reversed Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody), which in an upright position is about connections, and about blessings, but not blessings of the physical world.  Because my Three of Cups is reversed, it is reminding me that in order to fulfill the potential of mu Ace, I may need to get rid of distractions and work in a solitary fashion.

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of a new creation out of the potential and position of the number 1 and the balance, duality, polarity and concept of distance between of the number 2.

My horoscopes: “You might be frustrated with romance because it seems to be causing more tension than relaxation, Sagittarius. No one said love was easy, but it doesn't have to be miserable. The key is to not get too stressed out about the little things. Know and expect that some things aren't going to match your expectations. You simply have no control over some aspects of a relationship - the other person, for example.”

And: “A social event or group activity could involve a number of people, including some close friends, who share your intellectual, philosophical or spiritual interests. A romantic partner could choose to attend this occasion with you. The conversation is likely to be so stimulating that by the close of the event your mind could well be spinning. If you can, walk home! You'll want to clear your head so you'll be able to sleep.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Queen of Wands.  This card is about being gracious and able to be the center of attention without commanding it, about being confident in your abilities and confident that you will be able to make the best out of any situation.  No arrogance here, just serene acceptance that things are as they should be.

I think I’ve finally turned the allergy fog corner.  Finally, I am more alert, feel more energized.  And I am looking forward to a weekend in Cape May with family, walking on the beach and digging in my beloved garden. 

What is this energy I was without these past weeks?  Energy can be magical, alchemical, potential, relative, reactionary, elemental or emotional.  It can be raised through spiritual ecstasy, or through simple stretches.  Dancing raises energy, and so does laughter.  The frustrating thing for me is that sometimes it is just so darned difficult to make that first plug-in so that the energy can flow, can fill me up.  Once I make the initial connection it just gets easier and easier to raise that energy and feel it fill me with its tingling warmth. 

Can I maintain this level of alertness and focus?  Can I maintain this Elemental/Metabolic Discipline?  Yes!!

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