King of Wands/The Moon reversed.  The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) 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 can enjoy meeting a challenge; it’s all in the perception.  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.  Imagination can be helpful and it can be harmful, and since my Moon is reversed today, I should be able to perceive with accuracy, whether I am dealing with illusion or perception. 

My Thoth card is the Ten of Cups.  Nice; “Satiety” is the keyword for the Ten of Cups (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, spirituality, suffering and growth) which offers the manifestation of happiness and fulfillment. These are simple joys, but potent all the same, and they just might be lasting, too.

My Legacy card is the Page of Wands, flavored by the Knight of Cups. 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) tells me to use assertion and action to attract adventure and excitement.  This Page is about new ideas and enthusiasm for discovery.  He pairs nicely with my King of Wands above, because he brings a child-like wonder to the day. The Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) is about feeling things strongly and about dreaming, and about the imagination.  My Knight is flavoring my Page of Wands, which adds feelings and imagination to new ideas and adventure.  Interesting that both of my Wands male Court Cards are paired with cards that are about illusions, imagination and the subconscious.

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of a new creation out of the potential and position of the Ace, and the balance, polarity, and understanding of “distance between” of the two.

My horoscopes: “You may be at a point in which you just want to stop and rest, Sagittarius. This is the time to do so. You deserve a break, so take this day and have fun. Be social with large groups of people and share your ideas. There is more fun to be had in numbers, so make your plans for the day accordingly. The more of yourself that you share with others, the more respect you'll gain from them.”

And: “Pieces of today's puzzle may not be fitting into place for you, and its possible that you simply have no idea why. This is fine. Do not stress over something because you don't quite understand it. The key to making things work out is listening. Adjustments will definitely need to be made on both sides, but this can only happen if both parties are willing to open up their ears and understand each other's perspective.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Knight of Pentacles.  This Knight has his personality extremes in a non-in-your-face way.  He always has his eyes glued to his goal in an unwavering fashion, and he is difficult to distract.  A successful manifestation of his task is his goal, and he will not waver until it is completed.  This Knight prefers tried-and-true methods, in fact he is an expert on them, and these methods can be quite effective as they has the force of the element of Earth behind them.

I’ve talked about the gunas of Heavy and Light, Liquid and Dry, Hot and Cold, and Easy and Difficult.  Today, I will talk a bit about Sweet and Bitter. 

Sweet, which does not only include foods that are sugary, can include carbohydrates, fats and proteins, and anything else that tastes nourishing.  Sweet is life-giving in its natural form (and this does not include refined sugars), and it nourishes the blood.  Once the agricultural revolution took place, Sweet became common.  Since we are attracted to Sweet, this has become a problem.

Too much Sweet (especially refined sugars and refined grains) will thicken the blood and cause both stagnation and high blood pressure.  Poor circulation brings a host of other issues.  Swelling of extremities, the lymphatic system gets clogged, the lungs fill with mucous and water.  The reduction of oxygenation can cause the thyroid to lower metabolism to compensate.  The kidnesy retain water, and edema may become an issue.

Sweet, which corresponds to the elements of Water and Earth, is cooling, heavy, oily, and sticky; it coats the tongue and throat, alleviates thirst, and helps with wound healing.  Kaphas need to discourage water retention, but Sweet can help Vatas, who tend to be dry.

Bitter is one of the tastes that are considered opposite of Sweet, and too much Sweet can be balanced by consuming Bitter foods.  The cool thing about Bitter is that our body sometimes perceives Bitters as poisonous; this actually stimulates various organs and systems.  The liver and gall bladder release bile, the digestion gets stimulated and thus metabolism is stimulated, and toxins are eliminated quickly. 

Bitter, which corresponds with the element of Air, is one of the most common tastes in nature, and primitive man ate a diet that was high in Bitter.  Sweet was rare and prized, which is one reason we tend to crave Sweet.  Bitter is drying and purifying; it resets the taste buds and erases food cravings.  Bitter is light, clearing, cooling and drying; it alleviates dizziness and fainting from heat (including fevers).  Bitter helps to balance Pitta and Kapha, but aggravates Vata.

Coffee is considered Bitter, which I love because I am a “recovering Kapha”; most leafy greens, including dandelions, are Bitter.

I love this stuff!  Learning about this brings an amazing ability to control my physiology.

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Temperance reversed/King of Pentacles 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.  Because Temperance is reversed, this may be a day of extremes (or of experiencing the effects of extremes) rather than balance. 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.  My King is reversed today, and perhaps his steady and cautious personality would not be a benefit, especially when taken with the reversed Temperance card.

My Thoth card is the Two of Cups.  “Love” is the keyword for the Thoth Tarot 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.  This card tells of favorable connections of all kinds, even business connections, but more likely having to do with caring and respect and love.  This love can be borne of wisdom, and is usually an expression of harmony.

My Legacy card is Death, flavored by the Four 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 not fun, although once the process of renewal is completed, good things may very well manifest, but I can’t allow myself to fear the process. The Four of Coins (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation or the deepest self, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, authority, caution cunning) in an upright position tells of very solid foundations and an awareness of the value of our possessions.  This card hints at a need for control, predictability and stability, but they often are not found when the Death card is around.  LOL, with the Temperance reversed card and the reversed King of Pentacles above as well, the poor Four of Coins might be in over it’s head!

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

My horoscopes: “Goals that may have seemed unreachable in the recent past are finally starting to come into focus, Sagittarius. It could be that you've been neglecting your dreams because they only seemed to move farther away every time you addressed them. Have faith that your luck is starting to change. Be patient and you'll find that even your wildest fantasies will start to come to fruition.”

And: “You can do no wrong today. In fact, your slippery nature can navigate though cracks today without anyone noticing. You may find, however, that you would rather be seen up on center stage. This is fine as well, just as long as the choice is yours. Independence is a key theme for you today, and you will find that the more you can break free, the better off your general mood will be.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Ten of Swords.  This is a card of heavy burdens, of the perception of approaching ruin, but also the end of delusions.  We can only go so far merely expecting the approach of misfortune.  Sooner or later that approach ends, and we need to (pardon my profanity) shit or get off the pot.  After all, the worst that can happen is what we are expecting.  Once the event is over, we will know what we are left with and will deal with the situation, so worry and despair are a waste of energy.

Today I am going to address a concept that may seem basic to most, but to me has been a bit of a challenge to understand:  evoking and banishing pentagrams.  When I first began casting a sacred circle and calling Watchers and Elemental Guides, I tried to decipher the process behind determining which pentacle was evoking and which was banishing.  I already understood the concept of moving deosil (with the sun) and widdershins (against the sun), and thus my first assumption was that an evoking pentagram would be drawn into the corner representing the element so the rest of the pentacle could be drawn in a clockwise or deosil direction, and that a banishing pentagram would be drawn out of the corner corresponding to the element so that the rest of the pentacle could be drawn in a counter-clockwise or widdershins direction.  And indeed, this is how we draw evoking and banishing pentagrams.

However, I was finally able to find an explanation for this process.  Evoking pentagrams are still drawn into the corner corresponding to the element, but they seem to move in a widdershins direction; banishing pentagrams are still drawn out of the corner corresponding to the element, but they seem to move in a deosil direction.  This explanation is simple: banishing pentagrams start in the corresponding corner, and then move in an upward direction, and invoking pentagrams are starting in the next corner, moving in a downward direction.

This means that the first like of each pentagram would be between the same two points (for instance for Earth, would be between Spirit, the upper corner, and Earth, the corner in the lower left), but would just be moving in a different direction.  Okay, that makes sense!

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Another Transparent Oracle Sunday.  As usual, I asked “What do I need to know?” and threw:

32, Weather: Snow (North).  North is the direction of Earth, and thus of the physical or physically formed or manifested world, and of nurturing, health, finances and security, and the wisdom associated with living simply, being well-grounded, and being in touch with our physical body.  Snow has a magickal effect on the landscape and our surroundings; when snow falls, it covers everything and hides details as well as mutes sounds.  The mantle of white is made of countless tiny, unique crystals, and like a blanket, the covering of snow insulates and protects. 

35, Landscape: Forest (North).  The Forest also corresponds with the North.  A Forest takes many years to grow, and thus, teaches us endurance and patience.  Like an iceberg, the Forest consists not only of the visible part of its growth and life forms, but also a network of underground roots and sanctuaries that offer support and stability to the canopy above.  The Forest, like Snow, is also associated with purity; the leaves of the trees act like lungs to our planet, creating and purifying our air.

38, Guide: Owl (North).  Owl corresponds to the North as well.  Owl is a silent hunter of the night who moves without sound and is able to see in the dark.  Owl’s wisdom is born of detachment and observation, and attaining this wisdom is usually a solitary pursuit. 

I also took into consideration the fact that all three cards were from the direction of North.  Traditionally the North corresponds with the element of Earth, the time of Midnight and the season of Winter.  It can be seen as a time of quiet and rest before a new beginning, the same way that Midnight and Winter are seen as times of inner focus rather than outward manifestation.  And yet, we are also dealing with the element of Earth, which is about health, finance, career and home, and the physical body, all effects that are formed or manifested in the physical realms.  This means that while the direction of North may represent a quiet time, this quiet time is not without fertility and potential.

After pondering all of this, I stacked the cards into a mandala. Immediately, it looked as if the three Owls were flying upward to me, from the Forest below.  Snow was only partially available, but there is a connection; see my description of Forest.  “Like an iceburg . . . .”  All three of these cards have an inner focus, and it seems that I need to know that I need to try to see things differently, I need to understand that manifestation may take time, but there is a foundation in place, and I need to learn to “see” in the dark.

Here are my updates for the Spring Fitness Challenge:

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.  Ayurveda is helping me immensely.  Choosing foods and beverages with awareness of consequences is a powerful experience.

Air rules the mind, the intellect, thinking, and air and the act of breathing and all effects associated with breathing.  I am continuing to work on breathing exercises while visualizing toxins being expelled on my exhales.

Fire rules passion, courage, the life force and the Will, and movement of all kinds and all effects associated with movement.  I am walking regularly, doing my morning stretch/Yoga session regularly, and doing lots of beach walking on weekends.  This weekend, we will be having company, so I expect there will be bike rides, too.

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’ve been drinking lots of water; I am also trying to get through a bit of a spiritual fog.  Thankfully, this fog is not affecting my food choices or my ability to continue exercising.

As far as that terrible monster, the scale: no change.  The next plateau is upon me!  But I’m ready for this one, so bring it on!!

A final note; great Pagan Brain Trust get-together on Thursday night.  I had my reconnection to the Sacred, and this time with the PBT was very necessary.  The group does rock!

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Five of Swords/Queen of Cups reversed.  The Five of Swords (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, pleasure, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloof), actually focuses on both victory and defeat.  It is a reminder to me that I can’t act solely in my own interest because any victories that are won will be empty. 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.  If my Queen was upright, I would depend more readily on the messages of my subconscious, but today I am going to be a bit careful.  After all, what I perceive as the intentions and feelings attached to any circumstance may not be accurate.  Feelings are important, but so is clarity of the mind; balance may be necessary.

My Thoth card is the Four of Cups.  “Luxury” today.  The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) reminds me that sometimes too much pleasure deadens the senses.  I should be aware of the stability of the number 4 and the tendency of Water to pool in low places, and temper my pleasure a bit.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Wands reversed, flavored by The Fool.  The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) is a card which tells of being taxed to some perceived limit.  My Ten of Wands is reversed, so today I may find that I have a bit more fire and energy than I have recently.  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, and since he is flavoring my reversed Ten of Wands, the increased fire and energy will finally bring a bit of optimism to my expectations

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number of movement that chases away stagnation and lethargy.

My horoscopes: “Don't put up with anyone's shenanigans, Sagittarius. Your time is too precious and your energy too powerful to waste on those who see you as a fair-weather friend or emotional crutch. Concentrate on your own problems. If someone has a sob story, tell him or her exactly what you think. No need to pad the honest truth with a bunch of fluff just to make the other person feel good.”

And: “It could be that you are seeing mirages at the moment, most notably in the environment around you. You may have the impression that people are lying to you or that they are hiding something from you. Or it may be you are the one who lies about certain things or hides what you do. Why are you making it all so complicated? Don't be afraid to express your feelings.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Fool!  Love this card!  It is about optimism and excitement and an expectation of good things.  I am being told today to rise up on my toes and catch “. . . the breathless embrace of the wind the moment before the plunge!”  This is the energy of The Fool . . . an adrenaline rush and an anticipation of glorious success.  Potential!

I am very happy to say that my Dark Night appears to be blasted away!  This Dark Night really snuck up on me without my being aware of its approach until the black bag was dropped over my head.  Bam!  Suddenly I was in the dark.  But last night, I seem to have blown the Fog away.

I was creating a fertility talisman for my niece, who is trying to have a baby.  I decided to charge the talisman within a sacred circle in order to call Watchers, Guides and Deity.  I began simply, by cleaning the space, gathered my ingredients, and began. 

Immediately, I noticed an awareness like I have not experienced in quite some time.  My circle was strong, and blazing with energy!  As I spoke the words of my circle casting, amazing visualizations appeared in my mind.  When I said the words, “The circle is cast.  So mote it be!” I felt the energy solidify, almost with a physically discernable snap.

I began calling the Watchers and my Elemental Guides.  They appeared right away, and with amazing clarity, standing in each Quarter of my circle, ready to assist in my workings.  I invited the Mother aspect of the Goddess, and there was my Patroness, smiling and exuding fertility.  I invited the Father aspect of the God, and there was Cernunnos, my Patron, the Sacred Catalyst.  As I began charging the ingredients of my talisman, I could feel the presence and attention of each of Them. 

I offered my gratitude, and closed out my working.  But I still feel Them, the Watchers, my Guides, and my Deities. 

The Dark Night is over; the sun has peeked above the horizon.

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Eight of Cups reversed/Six of Swords.  The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) tells of an ending or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions.  Since my card is reversed today, I may not be ready to release whatever it is that is ending, not quite yet.  There isn’t anything wrong with this choice, as long as it is being made for the right reasons.  The Six of Swords (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause oriented) is about balance, healing, moving towards a better place, and even about learning the science behind things that work (because understanding why they work makes them more effective).  Because this Six is showing up with the reversed Eight of Cups, perhaps it really is not the right time to release something.  After all, the Six of Swords tells me things are moving in the right direction today.

My Thoth card is the Three of Swords reversed.  “Sorrow” is Crowley’s keyword for 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.  My Three of Swords is reversed (*whew*), so the Sorrow should not be as bad as it appears, but I need to still remember that words and actions can cause pain even if they are presented without the intent to harm.

My Legacy card is the Page of Swords reversed, flavored by the King of Wands.  The Page of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning, Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, society, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality) in an upright position reminds me to use my mind and my intellect to analyze situations as well as the messages of my senses.  Because my Page is reversed, I may find evidence of some imbalance today in the way I use my mind and my intellect.  However, my reversed Page is being flavored by the King of Wands today.  The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) is a natural leader who creates new strategies through hard-earned knowledge, experience and wisdom, and then puts them into effect as well.  He is looked to as a leader or a figure of authority, but that reversed Page he is flavoring warns me to watch my step, because I could end up in a mess, mainly because of inattention.  Perhaps just a tiny bit of grounding is in order?

My 6-digit date number is 4, the number of depth and stability.  Just what I need today, with all those Swords cards.

My horoscopes: “Is there some material need weighing on your spirit right now, Sagittarius? If you can't see how to solve the problem alone, why not discuss it with your friends? They may have some ideas. Today, the word "impossible" has been banished from the English language. Take advantage of the opportunity to look for solutions in unlikely places.”

And: “Feel free to ignite your passion with the help of the people around you. Join together with those who share similar dreams, and make a plan for accomplishing whatever you choose. The more creative you can be with your planning, your data collecting, and your execution, the better off you will be. The white-hot fire within you is ready to spread.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Eight of Pentacles.  Love this card!  Visualizing a garden spider, hard at work on her web and tuning out the distractions of the rest of the world is perfect for me today.  After all, she is the only one who can do this task, and by creating her web she is using her skills and her instincts day after day, with the same focus and enthusiasm today as she had a year ago.

I am still feeling a strong personal spiritual disconnect.  I have been probing myself and asking myself questions.  Do I feel that everything I believe is not true?  Do I believer there is no Deity?  Do I believe my rituals are wrong or ineffective?  Do I believe my daily spiritual routine is wrong or ineffective?  The answer to each question has been “no.”  Deity is real, and everything I have learned about the workings of Deity thus far still feel true and valid to me; my rituals and my daily steps to bring spirituality into my life feel right.  I am performing my tasks within my Coven and continuing with my Third Degree Training, without any problems.  And still, I feel as if there are cotton balls in my ears.  I am “hearing” and “sensing” the presence of Deity, but as if there is a wall of clear Jello between me and Their Essences. 

It is strange that this Dark Night is happening now, with the Summer Solstice and the Sabbat of Litha approaching.  This should be a time of deep connection to the Sun and the Sacred Masculine, and I am just not feeling it.  I can feel my own subtle body easily, and can run energy and open my chakras without any problems; there do not seem to be any blockages that I can perceive. 

I’ve talked about the gunas of Heavy and Light, Liquid and Dry, and Hot and Cold.  Today, in keeping with my efforts to continue growing and learning and functioning despite my Fog, I will talk about Easy and Difficult. 

Easy is connected to the digestive system, which is actually pretty miraculous.  Our digestive system begins working with the first cup of coffee, and continues long after dinner.  It processes all foods and liquids, and turns them into fuel for the workings of the body, or into a medium that can be stored for future use.  Easy foods need less blood brought into the digestive system, and so they make the mind feel light.  Cooked, soft or soupy foods are considered to be Easy; the idea is to get as much nutrition as possible into the digestive system with the least amount of work. 

Difficult is also connected to the digestive system.  Difficult foods are not easily digested.  Beans, nuts, cheese, red meat and wheat are all foods that are digested slowly and with effort.  The problem with Difficult foods is that they don’t move quickly through the digestive system.  If these Difficult foods hang around too long, they begin to ferment, and create gas and bloating.  Needless to say, the liver, kidneys and other organs are burdened by this accumulation of toxins, as are the bowels.

Interesting that I chose these two gunas to talk about today, when my spirit is also feeling clogged and heavy. 

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Queen of Swords/The Wheel of Fortune reversed. The Queen of Swords (cusp of Virgo, “I serve,” practical, sensible, work and service oriented, and Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, grace) is connected to Airy emotions, as she is Water of Air.  She is open, up front, alert and hard to fool, and in the Queen of Swords, the intuition of Water and the mental clarity of the suit are compatible, and work together. 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)) is telling me that whether I am ready or not, stuff is going to happen, and probably is happening already.  This is true whether The Wheel is upright or reversed, but since my Wheel is reversed today, it appears that I’m not taking advantage of whatever is happening.  Perhaps my reversed Wheel is hinting at the Dark Night of the Soul that seems to be clouding my mind recently; after all, if we come into the energies of The Wheel feeling clear and well-able to see our next step, then when The Wheel turns, that clarity will be obscured. 

My Thoth card is the Princess of Cups reversed. 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.  My Princess/Page

My Legacy card is the Two of Swords, flavored by the Six of Wands reversed. . The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) can represent a time of not looking or of shutting out the world.  Most of the time, the barriers constructed in concert with the energies of this card are self-created; the important thing about these barriers is that it is okay to be shut up for a bit, but I can’t allow the barriers to stay in place indefinitely. The Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) in an upright position expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge.  My Six of Wands is reversed, and it is flavoring my Two of Swords, so it is telling me that success is there, circling around me.  I need to be careful for it will only stay there, circling around and attempting to enter, for so much time, and then success will depart.

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of a new creation out of the potential of the Ace and the balance and polarity (and understanding of “distance between”) of the 2.

My horoscopes: “Connect with the stabilizing force of the day, Sagittarius. It's important for you to keep at least one foot on the ground, as powerful and intense emotions are likely to try to take over the scene. This is a good time to do things with passion. Don't hold back. Whatever you do today, you need to give it all or nothing. There is no room for any half-hearted attempts.”

And: “If you've been feeling excessively tired lately, it may be stress that is building up within. Today's planetary aspect brings an added energy to communication, and it would be wise to consider talking some of these stresses out. Worry, anxiety, and fear are huge drains on physical and emotional health. For some, exercise can alleviate some of this, and for others, talking is the key. Find the most effective ways to rid yourself of such "energy suckers," and help yourself to feel better.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Seven of Pentacles.  “The peaches are ripe; a magickal energy writhes in each lush globe.  To pluck them or no?  Will these peaches still sparkle with that living glow once taken from the tree, or will they just become dull as the normal fruit in her basket?”  From “Shadowscapes Companion.” This card is telling me that now is the time to appreciate the fruits of my labors.  But I am also being warned; don’t wait too long to decide, or the choice will no longer be there.

The day before yesterday was an exciting day astronomically.  There was an annular solar eclipse on Sunday, plus the New Moon was at 7:47 pm Eastern that same night.  The weekend’s eclipse is called an annular or “ring” eclipse because the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun but will cover only 88% of it; this is because the eclipse occurs just one day after the Moon reaches apogee, the most distant point in its orbit around Earth.

Astrologically, the eclipse occured at 0 degrees and 21 minutes of Gemini, affecting people born with personal planets and points at approximately 25 to 30 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) and approximately 0 to 5 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) most significantly.  And since I am a Sagittarius born on the cusp with Scorpio, with Taurus as my rising sign and Scorpio as my Moon sign, this one affected and is still affecting me.

Interestingly enough, we will have a lunar eclipse on June 4, 2012 at 14 degrees and 14 minutes of Sagittarius and Gemini, affecting people born with personal planets and points at approximately 9 to 19 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces), which includes me. 

LOL, it’s gonna be a bit crazy, eh?  And I wonder if this is partially the reason I am feeling a bit disconnected.  With two vacations in a row, and then my belly dance class having a performance, I’ve been very much focused on my physical, mundane world.  My inbox is full, and I’ve had to put aside much of the work I was doing on my Third Degree assignment until yesterday.  However, the big stuff is over, and I am already attempting to reconnect with my Degree Training.

But spiritually, I feel as if I’ve lost something.  And I’m talking personally here, because my Degree Training has me connected to others, has me assisting others and has me empowering others in an exciting way.  I am connected to my Coven and I am effective there, and I am pleased with my progress. 

Somehow, I’ve lost my connection to the background hum of the energies of Nature.  I’ve stopped sensing the essences of the Sacred Feminine and the Sacred Masculine.  I am still performing my usual personal daily rituals, but they are not bringing me the fulfillment that they have brought in the past; instead they feel empty.  The words are still important and right; it is me, not the words or rituals, that is the problem. The alchemic process of Distillation seems to have stalled, and I wonder why.

I have not experienced a true Dark Night of the Soul in a while.  It appears that a Dark Night has snuck up on me, while I wasn’t looking.  I am not yet in the position to deal with this Dark Night now; I’ve got to catch up first.  The light at the end of the tunnel is that I am not panicking.  I will get my tasks and responsibilities in order, and then I will deal with this Dark Night.

I actually feel a bit better just through admitting this to myself.

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!  As always, after asking the question “What do I need to know?” I shuffled and threw the following cards:

64, Hearing (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 senses are the tools for Self to interact with the inner and outer worlds, and Hearing is one of those senses.  Hearing is about reception, but it is also about perception; this card has no color and the eyes of the figures are closed.  Thus, seeing or visualizing would not be a part of the perception associated with Hearing.  Truly listening is actually an act of meditation.  Pausing to consciously Hear puts us into a receptive and absorptive state.

7, Guide: Blackbird (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.  Blackbirds are known as gatekeepers, which concept is very relevant to me right now.  Blackbirds acquire and then protect territory, and thus they can guide you to other realms, or they can do their best to shut you out of them.  In Celtic myth, the Blackbird is said to have the ability to bring concepts or visions from the astral realms into manifestation on the physical plane (because Blackbird can enter more than one realm, just as blackbirds can exist on land and in the air).

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.

Then, I stacked the cards into a mandala.  The patterns were difficult to interpret at first.  I could see the figures from Hearing, with their eyes closed, but Blackbirds hid the representations of sound.  Bears covered everything nicely, without hiding the rest of the mandala.  What was being said here? Then I realized the message.  Listening is always important, but listening only for what we expect can be detrimental.  We need to listen for the things we don’t expect, too!

Sundays are also Spring Fitness Challenge check-in days.  Here are my specific updates:

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 continuing to learn about Ayurveda, and choosing foods and beverages with awareness, awareness of whether or not they are good for me, and whether or not I will experience some uncomfortable effect from eating or drinking something bad.  I even gave into a chocolate craving on Thursday night, but I did this without bingeing, and by consciously choosing, with control and forethought, to have that piece of chocolate cake.  And, I was able to have that piece without sitting down and eating the rest of the cake.  A first for me!

Air rules the mind, the intellect, thinking, and air and the act of breathing and all effects associated with breathing.  See above paragraph regarding choosing food and drink with awareness.  I am continuing to work on breathing exercises while visualizing toxins being expelled on my exhales.

Fire rules passion, courage, the life force and the Will, and movement of all kinds and all effects associated with movement.  I am walking regularly, doing my morning stretch/Yoga session regularly, and doing lots of beach walking on weekends.  This weekend, weather permitting, I will be working in my beloved garden on Sunday.

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’ve been drinking lots of water.  I am also to the point where I can feel that my physical body is slimmer and more toned, and believe me, I keep tapping into that nice feeling.  I am thrilled that it is not yet Memorial Day, but I am in my skinny shorts!

I also lost another half pound, that is 5 pounds total.  But really, this is not a true indication of my body right now.  And I expect that another plateau will be showing up soon enough; I know my body and I know it fights weight loss, tooth and nail.  But with all the progress I’ve made so far, I should make it through the next plateau in flying colors!

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The Moon/Nine of Swords.  Eeep!  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.  Imagination can be helpful and it can be harmful, and today I need to keep a tight reign on what I visualize and expect, without shutting down the connection to my Inner Voice in the process.  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 could make things worse by expecting bad things; even if they don’t actually manifest in that bad way, I will stress myself unnecessarily.  Don’t worry!

My Thoth card is the Ten of Swords.  “Ruin”?  Really?  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.  I need to remember that even the most uncomfortable situation offers some positive opportunity, and I’m only a martyr if I allow myself to be one.

My Legacy card is the Seven of Swords reversed, flavored by the Nine of Coins.  The Seven of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness) tells of the effort to maintain things as we want them, often through the use of deception and without considering the wants or needs of others.  My Seven of Swords is reversed today, and I should have no trouble being open and ethical today.  No isolation for me; I will do better working with the group, and I know it. The Nine of Coins (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of accomplishment through the imposition of discipline.  It is flavoring my reversed Seven of Swords, and that is nice!  My good intentions and my focus and discipline, along with my attempts to work with others for the good of all, should bring some nice rewards.

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

My horoscopes: “Your current plan of attack may run into some snags today, Sagittarius. This might be caused by an emotional need that you may not have recognized earlier. The problem is that your head may say one thing while your gut tells you something else. You might need to put everything on hold while you sort out this inner turmoil. There's a great deal of compassion in the air.”

And: “Life may seem like a great train ride. You have your own little compartment on the train that you are striving to keep comfortable and neat. The company you keep is important, as is your proximity to the food car. Be careful, however, that you don't get so wrapped up in your own little world that you neglect to pay any mind as to where the train is headed.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Ace of Swords.  This suit is quite powerful, even though on initial examination it seems simple.  Swords correspond to the element of Air, and Air seems pretty powerless, unless you remember that we can only exist for about a minute or two without it.  A hurricane, in some ways too much Air, can kill, as can a tornado.  The suit of Swords also corresponds to the intellect, a double-edged blade for sure.  The thinking process can bring clarity and enlightenment, or it can create arrogance and hate and destruction.  I am being told today that a wind has begun, a tiny breeze so far but soon enough it will cause the Sword to slice in one direction, or in the other.

I went on an interview this morning, an interview for a job as a Thai Massage Bodyworker!  How cool is that??!!  The interview went well.  I am pleased at how I presented myself; I believe I came off as relaxed and confident.  The company for which I interviewed is a start-up facility that will be offering medical assistance of all kinds, both related to western medicine and more holistic disciplines. 

Thanks to the warning of my cards today, I was able to arrive to the interview in said relaxed and confident state, despite a huge traffic jam of three lanes of bumper-to-bumper vehicles.  I was able to take the message of my Ten of Swords and remember that I need to only sweat the things I can control; traffic is not one of those.  Because of the warning of my cards, I sat back and relaxed, and ended up arriving just about on time. 

Tonight will be a practice night, in preparation for the performance by my belly dance class tomorrow afternoon. 

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Four of Wands reversed/Five of Cups.  The Four of Wands (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, enthusiastic) is about building enough to become established, or celebrating the successful efforts of the Three of Wands.  My Four of Wands is present but it is reversed, which tells me that I’ve got some work to do before I can stop and celebrate. 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 perhaps it is this focus on what is uncomfortable or bad, rather than the good things that are still there but being hidden by the bad things, that is holding me back.  The Cup is half full!!

My Thoth card is the Three of Wands.  “Virtue” is the keyword attached to this card, which is interesting.  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 being successfully established after some effort expended.  However, it can also represent the pride one feels after creating or establishing something through some personal effort.  Perhaps that is what the “Virtue” is about, for respecting ourselves is important when we are laying groundwork for growth and creation, and respecting those who have helped us to get a leg up is also important.  None of us is an island, and every one of us depends on others in order to grow and move forward. 

My Legacy card is the Eight of Swords reversed, flavored by the Four of Cups reversed.  The Eight of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable talkative, dual) tells of confusion and restriction, or of being stymied by obstacles.  I won’t feel powerless today, though, and I should be able to push through any obstacles or confusion.  The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody), my second reversed Four today, would be warning me of the stagnation that comes through too much of a good thing, if it were upright.  But my Four is reversed (and in fact, both of my Fours today are reversed), so there should be no pauses to deal with.  Granted, a pause to celebrate accomplishments, represented by an upright Four of Wands, would be good, but at least I’m not being mired in the stagnation that surrounds the upright Four of Cups.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the pause that occurs as growth ends and degeneration begins.

My horoscopes: “You may have felt an oppressive mood hanging in the air when you woke up this morning, Sagittarius. Unfortunately, that haze of misunderstanding and conflict is likely to last all day. However, it makes this an ideal time to speak up about anything that's bothering you! Don't be shy about going on the warpath today. If you don't, you're likely to be the target of a surprise attack.”

And: “This is going to be a day for protecting your sense of space and privacy. You may be forced into some kind of partnership with people who aren't very scrupulous. They are going to make you feel that your territory is being invaded as never before. But what they don't know is that Sagittarius is preparing a storm. This is not the moment for people to be bothering you!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding Strength!  Perfect.  This card with its lovely image reminds me that in many situations, soft control is the best choice.  It is unshakable resolve that will in the end bring success, and this success will be attained whether or not any showy methods are used.  In fact, success will most likely come faster and easier if I believe in myself and my ability to succeed!

I’m just back from my sister and brother in law’s house; they cooked us dinner.  We had a great evening, and I even stayed under control, eating-wise.  Now, I am ready for bed.  Tomorrow is another day.  In fact, tomorrow is Friday.  I’ve got some belly dancing to do, and then I’m heading to  Cape May.  Gardening on Sunday!

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Queen of Wands/Seven of Pentacles reversed.  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.  This Queen is about being noticed for her abilities and yet being gracious about her abilities, and she tells me this graciousness is important today.  The Seven of Pentacles (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 Pentacles (which corresponds with the element of Earth), it is a bit of a heavy card.  My Seven of Pentacles is reversed, so the heaviness and pause of the suit may not slow me down.

My Thoth card is the Ten of Disks reversed.  “Wealth” is Crowley’s keyword for the Ten of Pentacles (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) which represents physical world wealth and bounty, and the attempt to maintain the status quo.  My Ten of Pentacles is reversed, like my Seven of Pentacles above, so the stability of the suit will not hold me back.  I guess I should also not only focus on Wealth in the material sense; there are other bounties besides coins.

My Legacy card is the Page of Cups, flavored by Temperance reversed.  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), and is very emotional, dreamy, social, and connected to the inner voice.  This Page tells me some new ways of seeing these things may be available to me. 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.  Because Temperance is reversed, balance may not be beneficial or easily attained.  My Page perhaps wishes that balance not be my main focus.

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

My horoscopes: “An important aspect has passed, and you are in the process of reaping the benefit from it, Sagittarius. It was only a matter of becoming aware of and settling certain matters related to your need for social recognition. Don't be so hungry for approval, Sagittarius. Most people contain a stern inner authority figure and can survive comfortably and self-sufficiently. In fact, it's your greatest strength.”

And: “A good tactic today would be to convert your fears into motivation for positive action. There is a great deal of energy at your disposal, so don't waste it. Be aware that it is one of those situations when the smallest comment or insult may set off a huge chain reaction of misinformation or battles. People are emotionally charged, so be careful where you step.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Eight of Wands.  I love the image on this one, of someone blowing a dandelion flower and sending the little seeds with their tiny umbrellas off into the world.  Will they land on fertile soil, or on desert?  That is for another time; now I should concentrate on the emanation of energy that starts the seeds on their journeys, and leave the arrival at destinations for the future.  Unless I begin the journey, the destinations won’t matter!

Okay, we’ve done Heavy and Light, Liquid and Dry.  Today, I will talk about the gunas of Hot and Cold. 

Hot corresponds to the element of Fire, and in Ayurveda represents anything that will increase the body’s temperature and cause perspiration.  Heat causes the body’s blood vessels at the skin level to engorge in order to cool the core temperature and thus, appetite and effective digestion are decreased.  Hot weather can make the body comfortable and grounded, but too much heat can cause dizziness, lethargy and fainting.  Heat causes expansion of all kinds, and can increase passions, courage and valor, but also can increase irritability and impatience.  Spicy foods bring blood back to the digestive track, and vinegar is considered Hot because it is acidic.  Too much Hot can be treated by Bitter, Astringent, Sweet, and of course, Cold.  But Hot water is one of the most beneficial herbal medicines; when we drink Hot water, we bring blood to the digestive track to improve digestion and absorption of food, and we increase circulation; Hot water is actually the primary therapy for fever in Ayurveda.  And, it is a decongestant for “recovering Kaphas” like me.

Cold corresponds to the elements of Air and Water.  Being Cold slows the heart beat, causes weakness, slurred speech and lack of coordination.  Cold causes contraction, and thus it can actually raise blood pressure as the vessels constrict.  Cold restricts all fluid motion, including the digestive fluids, and thus it can inhibit digestion; Cold stiffens muscles, dries the skin, and increases evidence of ageing.  Our bodies work hard to digest our food in order to create heat, and exposing the body to drafts or Cold can stress our organs.  The best way to stay healthy is to be warm (Hot) and Oily.  Too much Cold can be treated with Hot, and with Pungent; the best way to treat too much Cold is with a warm Oil massage and then a hot bath.  For Kaphas, Cold is what slows down our metabolism.  I need to drink more Hot water!

This Saturday, my dance class from Off the Beaten Path will be performing our first veil dance.  We’ve choreographed a nice little dance, and I can’t wait for us to perform it.  The weather should be good, warm even, and hopefully it won’t be too breezy. 

I’ve been feeling a bit of a disconnect these past few weeks.  Probably because I’ve gotten a bit behind in my responsibilities, due to my vacations.  I’m trying not to be overwhelmed.  One step at a time!

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!  As usual, after asking “What do I need to know?” I threw the following cards:

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.  We need to remember that fighting the energies of this card will most likely not bring a good end result.  I would be better off making use of these powerful energies rather than trying to change them.

55, Guide: Mermaid (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.  Mermaids are capable of experiencing deep emotions, despite their inability to speak words (but they can sing).  They are capable of bringing life, fertility and creation, but they are equally capable of bringing death, destruction and a special kind of barrenness.  This card is telling me to be aware of my emotions, especially the strong ones, and try to balance them out.

68, Vision (Within).  Within is the direction of the Self, and thus the cards associated with this direction deal with the ways our Self connects to the world and perceives the world, and the Self.  This direction is mostly abstract, and yet is our bridge to the Universe around us.  Vision is one of the most powerful of our senses, but also the most easy to fool, probably because we depend so much on our eyesight in order to perceive and interpret our world.  Vision is generally about a concern for appearances, but it can also be about “seeing within.”  And within Wicca, visualization is considered one of the first steps to actual manifestation!

When I stacked the cards into a mandala, all I could see was the colors of the Vision card.  The rainbows of light beaming from each eye of the three figures on this card seem to blur and obscure anything else.  The Mermaids were hidden completely; however I noticed that I could see the Wind card, but as a background only.  This mandala is offering a powerful message to me.  Things are happening that will affect me, but that I can’t control.  I need to connect to who I am and what I want with a clear and detailed perception, and without allowing my emotions to hold me back.  It is my vision of my Self, of who I am, that is in the forefront right now, and even the forces of Nature may not be able to affect that perception.  Wow!

Sundays are also Spring Fitness Challenge check-in days.  This is the first weekend that I am not flying somewhere, and all week I have been making the effort to get back into the swing of things.  However, I did not do badly at all, considering I was away.  Here are my specific updates:

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 proud of the fact that I have been choosing foods and beverages with awareness, awareness of whether or not they are good for me, and whether or not I will experience some uncomfortable effect from eating or drinking something bad.  This does not mean that I have not cheated, just that I’ve chosen my food and drink with awareness.  I did have a few Presidentes while in the Dominican Republic, and some ice cream.  **wink**

Air rules the mind, the intellect, thinking, and air and the act of breathing and all effects associated with breathing.  See above paragraph regarding choosing food and drink with awareness.  I am continuing to work on breathing exercises while visualizing toxins being expelled on my exhales.

Fire rules passion, courage, the life force and the Will, and movement of all kinds and all effects associated with movement.  I walked while on vacation this past weekend, but was not religious about doing my stretching and Yoga.  But I’m back into the swing of things.  This weekend, I will be with some walkers, so I expect to get some good beach walks in.

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’ve been drinking lots of water.  I am also trying to focus on the fact that I am into some of my “skinny clothes,” even though the scale has not moved as much as I wanted it to move.

And for the first time in two weekends, I stepped on the scale.  The result: another pound gone, even though I was away on two vacations.  Total weight lost so far: 4 ½ pounds. 

All in all, I am pleased.  And I really feel good, too. 

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King of Wands/The Empress. Lovely; I haven’t seen The Empress in an upright position in a little while. The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) 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 in some ways like a min-Emperor; I should have a day of creativity ahead of me, and of people liking what I create. The Empress (which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Venus (beauty, allure, pleasure, relationships), Daleth (door or womb) and the Path between Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Chokmah (dynamic male energy and the origin of vital force and polarity)) is also about creativity, and about fertility of all kinds, a deep connection to Nature and its workings, and pleasure of the senses. Nice pair!
My Thoth card is the Nine of Cups. “Happiness” today! 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. Crowley sees this as a lucky card, but being Crowley, he also reminds us that the peak of happiness is the beginning of putrefaction. Gee, thanks.

My Legacy card is the Knight of Swords, flavored by the Ace of Coins 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 may be enthusiastic, and he may make the perfect mercenary, but he is not good at compassion. I should be aware of this today. 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. My Ace is reversed, and since it is flavoring my Knight of Swords, it is also reminding me that I might need a bit of grounding as well as empathy for myself and others.

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

My horoscopes: “You're a great creator of systems, Sagittarius. You can tinker with every sort of construction, from theories and computer programs to scientific experiments and strategic evaluations. Today the planets are guiding you. You're a perfect computer, capable of synthesizing random events into pure reason. You're sure to attract attention if you share your thoughts with others.”

And: “You certainly seem frustrated today! There is only one person who could possibly arouse your anger to such a degree. Why, you're mad at yourself, of course! Today's aspect is favorable to crises of conscience that result in a change of attitude. From now on, you're likely to remember to choose your words more carefully.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Nine of Cups. Traditionally, the Nine of Cups is seen as the “wish card,” but the Shadowscapes version of the Nine of Cups is to me the “sensual bounties” card. This card reminds me that pleasure and fulfillment are always available to me; I have only to tap into my own subtle body, and visualize what pleases me, in order to nourish my soul.

More on the gunas. The last time I spoke of the gunas was in my entry for April 24, where I described Heaavy and Light. Today, I will talk a bit about Liquid and Dry.

Liquid is connected to the element of Water, and in a very general sense can be seen to represent the amount of liquid or fluid in foods. However, Ayurveda takes this a bit further, and sees this guna as representing foods that cause increased secretions. For instance, sour foods such as limes increase saliva, as do sweet and oily foods. Salty foods cause our tissues to retain fluid. Other Liquid foods are avocado, butter, sugar, bananas, blue cheese, and of course, alcohol. An overabundance of Liquid can be treated through the consumption of Dry, Bitter or Astringent foods.

Dry (connected to the elements of Air and Fire) can also be seen generally as representing the lack of liquid or fluid in foods, but once again, Ayurveda takes this a step further. Within Ayurveda, Dry is seen as a measure of the wear and tear that is happening within your entire body. Dry is old, and oily is young; youth is plump and wet but dryness shrinks tissues and highlights the effects of aging. Dry is irritating to tissues and causes inflammation and heat. Dry can result from dehydration and too much Astringent, but in most cases Dry is damaging because of the roughness associated with a lack of fats in the diet. Some fats are healthy and required by the physical body. Dry foods absorb moisture, and are hydrated by the body with saliva and stomach solutions so they can be digested. We also need to remember that seemingly “wet” foods that are high in potassium, like potatoes, are also considered Dry because they act as a diuretic. Our emotions can even be Dry, and produce non-physical symptoms similar to those described here. Too much Dry affects our digestion, our blood, our glandular fluids, our skin, our joints, and our energy level, to name a few, and can be treated with Oily or Liquid foods.

Now, don’t think that Dry is bad! Go back and read my entry on the doshas, specifically about kapha, on April 12. Dry would be therapeutic to kaphas; see how cool Ayruveda is??

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Death/Queen of Wands reversed.  The Death card, which has been showing up for me lately, 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 not fun, and we don’t know what is on the other side of the door that is Death, but we need to pass through anyway.  Death is the reason that life is immortal, and it offers future renewal. 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.  My Queen is reversed today, so I may not feel confident, or I may have trouble seeing the humor in certain situations.

My Thoth card is the Six of Cups reversed.  “Pleasure” is Crowley’s keyword for the upright Six of Cups (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, compulsive, deep, obsessive) is a card of emotional balance, simple joys fun and blessings.  Crowley sees the Pleasure associated with this card as being quite fertile.  My Six is reversed, And perhaps I should not be looking backwards or pining for the past.  After all, Death is my only upright card today, and that requires that I look forward.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Wands reversed, flavored by the King of Swords reversed.  The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) is a card which tells of being taxed to some perceived limit.  My Ten of Wands is reversed, so no matter what, I will be able to keep going, like the EverReady bunny.  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.  Like most of my cards today, my King is reversed.  I may not have a good connection to my intellect today, and LOL, I may not be good at putting into words what I’m feeling. 

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

Horoscopes: “Love and romance should be going well for you now, Sagittarius. However, today you could find that things get a bit uneasy when either you or your partner suspects something isn't true or is suspicious about the situation at hand. Someone may get caught in a difficult predicament when the veil of deception is suddenly lifted and the truth revealed. There could be some difficult explaining to do.”

And: “The day ahead may very well give you great insight into the decisions you face concerning your future. Now is the time to decide what your priorities in life are. Do you want a career right away, or would you prefer to continue your studies? Are you satisfied with your love live and your family relationships? There's some probability that a major upheaval in one of these realms will impact all the others. It's going to be interesting!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Seven of Cups.  This card is about fantasies and about indulging in fantasies.  Sometimes this is easy to do when we have a partner who grounds us a bit, just a bit.  Kind of like a tether for a balloon!

Dissolution is continuing, with some good progress!  I feel as if I am changing the way I confront food urges, as well as what I do when I need to exercise or walk and yet can hear the couch calling me.  I am actually reminding myself that I will feel more gratified and I will feel stronger if I make the attempt to resist the cravings or the “call of the couch.”  When I resist, I make certain that I store that good feeling right into the Core Worth Anchor I created early in my Third Degree Training. 

In consciously making these choices, I am becoming more aware of my physical body and its workings ~and~ my subtle body and its workings.  These two are opposites and yet, they are both integral parts of my health and well-being.  They need to work together!  It seems this can be achieved by awareness, but Will also plays a part. 

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Five of Cups reversed/King of Wands. 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.  This means that any setbacks or distractions will not cause me to feel alone or abused.  Maybe I will even be able to head them off at the pass! The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) 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 can create my dreams and manifest my visions into reality.  And, in doing so, I will encourage others to do the same.  Looks like the Cup will be half full today, rather than half empty.

My Thoth card is the Queen of Disks reversed. The Queen of Disks (cusp of Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering, and Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning, authoritative) is very good at sustaining the physical world, keeping things dry and cozy and safe and orderly.  She is competent and loyal, and has great people skills.  However, because my Queen is reversed today, I will need to be sure that I don’t become too dependent on the predictable, and on security.  Hopefully that King of Wands will prevent this.

My Legacy card is the Page of Cups reversed, flavored by The Fool. 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), and upright is very emotional, dreamy, social, and connected to the inner voice. My Page of Cups is reversed, however, and I will need to keep careful watch on my mood and my feelings, so that they don’t become too dark. 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.  He will prevent the Page of Cups from drowning in pessimism!

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

My horoscopes: “Some short trips in your neighborhood and contact with neighbors or visitors to your community could bring some interesting information your way, Sagittarius. It gets you thinking about ways to improve your socioeconomic status and probably your professional standing. Spiritual and philosophical discussions could also take place. In addition, your insights can prove as valuable as any outside information. Trust your intuition and follow your heart.”

And: “Boredom and apathy could tempt you to run out to the shopping mall and spend a lot of money on luxuries. You might also be seduced into overindulging in food and drink. This can make you feel better temporarily, but in the long run all you'll have is an empty wallet and a stomachache. Treat yourself, but don't totally throw caution to the winds. This will pass by tomorrow, and you don't want to regret today!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Two of Cups.  Lovely energies!!  “This is the melding of Water and Earth and Air, the alchemy of elements.”  This is a card about the creation of emotional connections.  Relationships are born, nurtured, and grow.

I am always amazed at how quickly the time passes when I visit my son in the D.R.  Everything here is so vibrant and alive, and you would think that the time would drag out slowly rather than speed up.  I’ve experienced so much, so many incredible connections to the workings of Nature.  The background hum of the essences of Deity is so very easy to perceive here, and I will return home fulfilled and rested.  I even slept well this trip!

I do have a lot of catching up to do, but I will worry about that tomorrow.  For now, I am enjoying the sun and the beautiful foliage and blue skies.  And the fact that while I had a great time, I did not eat or drink too much.

We will finish the vacation by doing a short ritual of gratitude by his well.  How could I, Priestess and Dedicant of Danu, have missed this opportunity in the past?  We will be dropping a 25 Peso coin and a 25 cent coin into Brian’s well.  Next time, I will be more prepared for this.

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