The Sun/Judgment reversed.  The Sun corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), our Sun (the inner core of a person or situation), Resh (the face; reason), and the Path between Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest in the physical world) and Hod (provides analysis and communication), and tells of a time of enlightenment and peace.  The Sun can tell of a brief time of harmony (but we do need to remember this pause is not permanent); this card can also indicate that personal power is returning after some challenge.  Judgement corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), Pluto (power, metamorphosis, cycles of dying and becoming), Shin (fang), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Hod (provides analysis and communication) and usually represents an opportunity to tally up and pay the bill so we can have a fresh start.  My Judgement card is reversed, and I will need to have care when I am exercising my judgment; perhaps The Sun will be in my eyes and I will have trouble seeing reality, eh?

My Thoth card is the Ten of Disks reversed.  “Wealth” is Crowley’s keyword for this one.  The Ten of Disks (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) represents physical world wealth and bounty, and the attempt to maintain the status quo.  Crowley, in his typical fashion, reminds us of the down side of achieving wealth: we need to do something with it or it becomes a burden.  My card is reversed, so perhaps the full integration of the suit of Pentacles into my physical world has not yet happened. 

My Legacy card is The Chariot, flavored by the Eight of Coins reversed.  The Chariot, which corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and sensitive, emotional and imaginative energy that likes to stay the same or follow the same course), Cancer (“I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody), Cheth (the fence), and the Path between Geburah (the place where forms and structure are challenged or affirmed) and Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure), tells of having the control necessary to focus on goals, and to avoid distractions.  This is considered a “hard control,” and I am being told this is what is needed today.  The Eight of Coins (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, sensible, orderly) in an upright position is about taking care of details, working hard, and studying or learning new things, but my card is reversed, so I may need to consciously focus on those details, or some little slip could contribute to a big issue.  Yes, I’ve got the emotional control of The Chariot, but since both of my Coins/Disks cards are reversed today, there just might be an imbalance regarding that suit and the element of Earth. 

My Pearls of Wisdom Full Blue Moon card is the Six of Wands reversed.  The Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge.  My Six of Wands is reversed, so perhaps there might be some issue here.  Will I pass the test?  Or will I think I have done a good job, but others won’t agree?  Awareness of the situation could cure it, so being aware is a good thing.

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

My horoscopes: “Today you might attend a group event of some kind in your neighborhood, Sagittarius, possibly in the company of a partner. You and your friend might take an active part in discussing goals for the group. You feel strongly bonded to everyone - your partner, fellow group members, even the community. It's a warm, fuzzy feeling that could stay with you all evening.”

And: “You may sense a bit of conflict in your world today, especially when it comes to your emotions. Keep in mind that your perception of the situation is apt to make or break the result of any sort of dispute. Look for opportunities in the spaces where you might disagree with others. You can gain a wonderful perspective today when you open up your channels to things that are completely new to you.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Knight of Pentacles. 

So, don’t be confused; my post from earlier today was actually yesterday’s post.  I was at the Wayne Contingency of the Pagan Brain Trust last evening for a lovely time sitting around The Table, a time of good food, good talk, and good cake. I gave Curly a Thai Massage, and received a few bags of coffee as barter; looooove this arrangement.  Bug, my dearest publisher (www.lunastationpress.com), cooked us a masterpiece of a meal, and TL shared her newest toy.  We sent our love across the Great Plains to Phillie.  As always, we did The Work throughout the evening.  I got home just a wee bit too late (mere minutes late, actually) to get yesterday’s post up while it was still yesterday.  But that’s okay.

A bit about Saturn. 

Saturn is the ruling planet of Capricorn (before the discovery of Uranus, Saturn was also said to rule Aquarius) and the Tenth and Eleventh Houses (more about the Houses later). In Roman mythology, Saturn is the god of agriculture, founder of civilizations and of social order, and conformity. The famous rings of this planet that enclose and surround it reflect the concept of limitations that is associated with Saturn. Saturn takes 29.5 years to orbit the Sun, spending about 2.46 years in each sign of the zodiac.  The last planet most of us can see with the naked eye, Saturn represents limits: the limit of our vision, the limit of our body (the skin), and the limits of personal action (the law). Saturn is the structure and the form behind the way things are. It is the Lord of this World, the Lord of Karma and Time, the keeper of Records, our father and our teacher.

Astrologically, Saturn is associated with the principles of limitation, restrictions, boundaries, practicality and reality, the crystallization of issues, and structures. Saturn governs ambition, career, authority and hierarchy, and conforming social structures (but of course!). It relates to our sense of duty, discipline and responsibility, and our physical and emotional endurance as we deal with challenges and hardships. Saturn is also considered to represent the part of a person concerned with long-term planning.

Saturn is said to be sad, morose, melancholy, and cold, and things that are dry and cold, and therefore inimical to life. It governs the melancholic humor. Saturn rules the skin, bones, teeth, spleen, bladder, knees (with our knees we are able to bend in humility to the way things are, a truth whether or not we respond to it) and ears.

Saturn also represents what you have to do in order to succeed at being who you are. By appearing in certain places within your chart, Saturn shows where you are being tested; its house position in your chart indicates lessons necessary for fulfilling obligations, and responsibilities that allow personal growth to occur.  And these are usually not fun, although they are usually rewarding. Saturn also can offer insight into your experience of your father’s (or a father figure’s) authority, discipline and example, but remember. Saturn (and all the planets for that matter) only represents your response to, or experience of, things and effects in the outside world, not the actual things and effects in the outside world themselves.  The Return of Saturn is also said to mark significant events in each person's life.

The World is the Tarot Major Arcana card that correspond with Saturn (because Saturn corresponds with discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, all of which need to be used or overcome in order to achieve the integration, involvement and understanding that The World brings.  The World also corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, stable and practical energy that is slow to change), the Hebrew letter Thav (mark or sign), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest into the physical world). 

Today is the Full Blue Moon!  Full Moon Blessings to you all!  This is also the beginning of Labor Day Weekend; enjoy!

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Two of Wands reversed/Eight of Wands reversed.  The Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic) tells of power, influence and authority.  That is, when it is upright; but my card is reversed today, so the group is more important.  I certainly can boldly go where no man has gone before with a group! 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.  In an upright position, this one is powerful as well, but like my Two of Wands, it is reversed.  Again I am being told to wait a bit.  One thing though, I am not being told to give up.  All this Wands power is there, but I just can’t tap into it.  Yet.

My Thoth card is the Six of Swords.  “Science” is Crowley’s keyword for this one.  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).  This is a great card, because it is telling me that if I use my mind and my intellect, I will be able to move on, move past the things that might cause worry. This card presents an effective image that very nicely helps us to understand what it feels like to be carried away from the anguishes of our daily lives.  We can’t always control those anguishes; instead, we need to move beyond them.  And knowledge used in a harmonious and balanced manner just might do the trick!

My Legacy card is The Lovers, flavored by The Moon reversed.  Woo!  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 too, but somehow I get the feeling that the connections are the most important today.  This card is about feelings, but these feelings are mostly spiritual or intellectual in nature. 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), is also about feelings.  These aren’t always comfortable though, but since my Moon is reversed, I will be serene, untroubled and at peace.

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number that tells of movement that erases stagnation.

My horoscopes: “The need to attend to business or networking obligations disguised as parties could get to you today, Sagittarius. You may have been forced to attend too many of these recently, and now there are even more coming up. You dread going to a place you don't want to go, eating food you hate, talking pleasantly with people you can't stand. Decline if you can. Life's too short.”

And: “Your intuition and imagination are operating at a very high level today, and you may be inspired to write. However, you aren't likely to have enough ideas or information to actually put pen to paper. There is no rush, though. Take some time to allow the ideas to crystallize and set them down later. Someone in a bad mood may try to draw you into a quarrel. Don't fall into this trap! Brush it off and say you're busy!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Ten of Cups.  The outside world ceases to exist when we find emotional harmony and joy.  Bliss at last!!

This is actually the post for August 30th, just missed the time and it's already tomorrow.  Next, we will talk about Saturn.

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The Hermit/Ace of Cups.  The Hermit corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, practical and stable energy that is slow to change), as well as Virgo (“I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented, orderly), Yod (open hand, touch), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured), and is about searching within for a deeper meaning.  Many times, the best way to find answers to our questions is to find someplace quiet where we can be alone, so that we can search our hearts and minds.  Often we end up finding out that the answers were right there, in front of us, the whole time.  This process can be uncomfortable, but valuable.  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.  Since the potential to experience all these inner sensations is there, and since, thanks to The Hermit, my focus is inward, perhaps some powerful connections and attunements will occur.

My Thoth card is The Eight of Cups reversed.  “Indolence,” Uncle Al’s keyword for this card, can mean laziness, sluggishness, lethargy or idleness.  The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) is a card of action, telling of an ending or a decline or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions.  Upright, this card could be telling of the ebbing of the effectiveness of a situation to the point that abandonment might be the only choice, but since my Eight of Cups is reversed, I need to stay with the situation rather than leaving it.

My Legacy card is the Page of Swords reversed, flavored by the Seven 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) reminds us to use our mind and intellect to analyze situations, as well as the messages of our senses.  My Page is reversed, though, and perhaps today I will have difficulty facing challenges squarely. Perhaps I need to face my mental challenges with maturity today, rather than with the openness of youth.  The Seven of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, natural leader, egotistical, selfish) is flavoring my reversed Page of Swords, and it is clarifying the message of this reversed card, telling me to stand standing for my own principles even if I end up standing against everyone else.   The Seven of Wands has a personal significance for me, warning me of a coming test.  Yep, feels right when taken with my other cards.

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

My horoscopes: “Tact isn't necessarily your strong suit, Sagittarius. No one would accuse you of being overly sensitive to other people's emotions, but today you turn over a new leaf. This "new and improved" you tunes in to the thoughts and feelings of others and responds in thoughtful, caring ways. You may be surprised at how effective this gentler touch can be.”

And: “Today you might intuitively pick up some rather strange and unsettling thoughts and feelings from a brother, sister, or neighbor. However, this person isn't likely to want to talk about what's bothering them, even if you express concern. Sometimes people have to work these things out for themselves, so just make it clear that you're available if they want to talk about it. Then let it go. Right now that's all you can do.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Nine of Pentacles.  The Nine of Pentacles is similar to The Hermit in that it tells of solitary energies with a strong spiritual focus, but unlike the Hermit, the Nine of Pentacles is about enjoying the well-deserved fruits of our labors, achieved through the long-term application of discipline, learning and practice.  Nice combination of the spiritual ~and~ the physical, eh?

After all these years of collecting crystals without finding one Super Seven crystal that seemed to call to me at all, I have finally been grabbed by one, and acquired it.  A Super Seven crystal, also known as a Sacred Seven crystal and Melody’s Stone, is most likely either from Brazil or the U.S., and they are very interesting stones.  Although not always visible to the naked eye, a piece of Super Seven contains and thus corresponds to the properties of the spiritual and protective qualities of Amethyst, the grounding ability of Smoky Quartz, the energy-amplifying properties of Quartz, along with Rutile, which fine-tunes intuition, brings strength, love, ease in making transitions, and stabilizes relationships of all kinds, Goethite, which facilitates clairaudience, communication and metaphysical abilities, Lepidocrosite, which deepens intuition, promotes grounding, dissolves confusion and overcomes negative thoughts, replacing them with unconditional love, and Cacoxenite, which helps to overcome fear, clear stress, and brings spiritual awareness.  This huge combination of correspondences is part of what makes this stone so desirable, because the crystal retains all the energy and clarity of each mineral, and it never needs cleansing or energizing. 

Super Seven crystals assists us in seeing auras; it stimulates and develops spiritual gifts and psychic abilities, including telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, channeling, telekinesis, among others.  Super Seven is a powerful and effective stone for healing the earth, and the mind, body and spirit diseases.  It stimulates the body’s natural healing systems, supports the immune system (as well as our skin and our bones), harmonizes the entire body and heals cellular memory The very nature of this stone means that it isn’t connected to just one chakra; instead it balances and heals and energizes all seven chakras and the auric bodies, aligning them to their highest spiritual vibrations!

My very special Super Seven is a square polished cabochon that actually looks like a small circuit board, or a clear piece of crystal with some kind of archaic writing inside of it.  For now, I’ve placed it on my altar.  I was going to wrap it (and I still may), but I’m not certain if that is the right thing to do.  I will meditate with my Super Seven crystal, maybe during the next Dark Moon!

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Queen of Swords reversed/Knight of Wands. The Queen of Swords (cusp of Virgo, “I serve,” practical, sensible, work and service oriented, and Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, grace) can be considered a Minor Arcana representation of the Justice card.  She is open and honest and forthright, speaks her mind and yet doesn’t lose her sense of humor.  My Queen is reversed, so I need to be aware that there is a danger for me if I don’t pay attention to these things. The Knight of Wands (cusp of Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, deep, obsessive, and Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) might not be the best influence for my reversed Queen.  He is a person of passion, courage, enthusiasm and boundless energy; he might like the open and honest part, but his tendencies to be open and honest spring from different traits than the Queen’s.  His response to any challenge is fast and powerful, to the point of being abrupt or violent.   He often represents the coming of some important event, and combined with my reversed Queen, that makes sense.

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

My Legacy card is the Ace of Swords, flavored by The Empress.  Interesting pair! 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.  The intellect has the power to either help or hurt, and it is worth noting that I’ve got two cards today that hint at the effects of Justice (the other being my reversed Queen above).  The suit of Swords often offers us challenges and the Aces are about potential, so I should be aware that my challenges today may originate from the workings of my mind, or from my feelings. The Empress (which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Venus (beauty, allure, pleasure, relationships), the Hebrew letter Daleth (door or womb) and the Path between Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Chokmah on the Tree of Life (dynamic male energy and the origin of vital force and polarity)) is one half of the Major Arcana representation of the Sacred Feminine.  The Empress is about creativity, fertility of all kinds, a deep connection to Nature and its workings, especially the abundance available to those who are aware, the pleasure of the senses, and using our physical world talents.  Perhaps my Empress is reminding me that challenges of all kinds have a purpose, a positive one.  We can’t become strong and happy and aware unless we struggle to see beyond and through the darkness.  Only then can we enjoy everything around us. 

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of a new creation out of the possibility and position of the Ace, and the balance, polarity, and awareness of distance between of the number 2.

My horoscopes: “There's a lighthearted, whimsical quality about the day that you might not appreciate at first, Sagittarius. You'll find that the more open and accepting you are of this energy, the more you can make it work positively for you. Use this feeling to balance the seriousness in your day. Don't get caught up in unnecessary drama that has nothing to do with your situation.”

And: “Some new concepts, perhaps involving the sciences, that you're trying to study today may be Greek to you. You might be a little impatient with yourself, viewing this confusion as a symptom of mental dullness. Relax! These ideas could just be totally new to you. Don't be afraid to ask someone who knows the subject to explain things to you. There are times when hearing it makes it seem much more understandable than reading it ever could.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Six of Swords.  This card presents a lovely image that effectively helps us to understand what it feels like to be carried away from the anguishes of our daily lives.  We can’t always control those anguishes or their sources, but sometimes we can find a way to move beyond them, to heal from them, and to start anew without their influence.  Just the idea of moving towards a new place filled with possibility can initiate the healing process, and make us strong and optimistic again.

Jupiter is a classical planet, ruler of the zodiac sign Sagittarius and Pisces, and the Ninth and Twelfth Houses (more on the Houses later). In Roman mythology, Jupiter is the ruler of the gods as well as protector of the gods.  Jupiter is huge, a giant planet with intense storms, high winds and spectacularly colored clouds, so it makes sense that the symbol of the god is thunderbolt.  Some astronomers believe that Jupiter and its huge and powerful gravity has an important role in our solar system (especially Earth, Venus and Mercury) by either capturing or expelling asteroids that would otherwise cause problems. Jupiter takes 11.9 years to orbit the Sun, spending almost an earth year (361 days) in each of the Zodiac signs.

Jupiter can signify subtle understanding of life’s deeper principles, learning through travel or higher education, general good fortune or luck, and material abundance. But it can also represent indiscriminate sensuality, self-indulgence, wastefulness, greed, avarice, dilettantes, and wanderers.  

Astrologically, Jupiter is associated with growth, expansion, higher education, prosperity, optimism, and good fortune, the urge for freedom and exploration, humanitarian and protecting roles, integration into society, and with gambling and merrymaking. Jupiter governs long distance and foreign travel, higher education, religion, and the law.  It is seen as being warm and moist in nature, and therefore favorable to life.  In medicine, Jupiter is associated with the liver, pituitary gland, and the disposition of fats, thighs, hips, and cell nutrition; it governs the sanguine (impulsive and pleasure-seeking) humor.

Since Jupiter connects to my sun sign, it makes sense to me that I am connecting so well to the information about this planet.

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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 is an interesting card.  After all, Frog is born from an egg, lives for a while as a gill-breathing fish, and then gradually sprouts arms and legs and then lives the rest of its life as an air-breathing cold-blooded entity.  How is that for transformation!  Frog is also known for fertility, cooperation, and motherhood.  Frog can absorb oxygen through its skin, so it is also known for healing as well as emotional sensitivity. 

45, Mars (Above).  The direction of Above takes us up and out of the four traditional elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth, and reminds us that we are but a small part of the Cosmos.  Above also reminds us that while the Machinery of the Universe is huge, it does have an effect on each of us, and each of us is an important part of the workings of that Machinery.  Well, I just learned about Mars this week within my study of Astrology.  Mars is about drive and energy and passion; it is also about striving to do things our own way, about conquest, power and aggression.  Mars can bring sexual tension, often infused with domination or submission, as well as fiery tempers.  Since Mars is connected to the element of Fire, all the traits of this planet can bring transformation.  There is that concept again. 

20, Elemental: Salamander (South).  South is the direction of the midday sun and the peak of power and illumination; this direction is associated with passionate drive and creativity.  Salamander is also intense in personality, but this one is about consumption of fuel, and the changes and transformations that happen through consumption of fuel.  The changes presented by Salamander are more transmutation than transformation or metamorphosis.  Salamanders are actually known for putting out fires!  This is because they consume all fuel and then the flames themselves.  They are true experts, and know just how to handle Fire and its tricky nature. 

I then created my mandala.  We are back to tight and compact images today, and this image talks about transformation, metamorphosis, and change, both gradual and sudden.  Frog and Salamander seem to be laced together, and perhaps this is a good thing!  Both of these cards are about change, and each goes about achieving that change in an opposite way, with Frog through Water and gradual change, and Salamander through Fire and intense change.  Since Mars is about control and domination, it could very well be acting as a corral and a counterweight to balance out all this change.  I just might be able to tap into these two extremes this week, Water and Fire, and maybe through my attempts to control them, learn something new.

I lost another pound, for a grand total of 13 pounds!!  I am biking 10 miles each day on the weekends, and continuing with 45 minutes of Yoga and stretching, and a 2 mile walk, on weekdays.  I do know that sooner or later, I will stop losing and my weight will level out.  I’m not worried about that, though, because wherever I end up on the scale, I am already fitting into most of my clothes, and I feel great.

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Seven of Cups reversed/Six of Swords. 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. Thankfully, my Seven is reversed, so I won’t feel addicted to pleasure today.  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).  This is a great card, because it is telling me that if I use my mind and my intellect, I will be able to move on, move past the things that might cause worry.  My Six of Swords is flavoring my reversed Seven of Cups, which is also good.  I just might be able to feel good about myself and about the choices available to me, without ending up drunk on pleasure.  Only a little tipsy!

My Thoth card is the Three of Disks.  “Work” The Three of Disks (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, cunning, competence) tells of competence, planning and teamwork, and those seem to be the energies that will be the most productive today.  While the suit of Disks is heavy, the number 3 is filled with outward-flowing energy, so this card really does give some nice energy.  It tells me that something has been already begun in my physical world, and whatever it is, it contains good potential.

My Legacy card is the Five of Coins reversed, flavored by the Four of Cups. The Five of Coins (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.  This card in an upright position tells of loss or need within the physical world, but thankfully since my Five of Coins is reversed, that time of need is past.  In fact, there could be enough ease and pleasure to create a bit of stagnation, or so my Four of Cups is reminding me. The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) tells us that too much pleasure deadens the senses.  Things may be getting better or easier for me in the physical realms, but there is danger in relaxing at this stage.  Don’t relax yet!

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

My horoscopes: “Today you might learn about new and creative ways to increase your income, Sagittarius, possibly involving technology in some way. So much new information could come your way that you find it hard to keep track of it, so make sure you take note of where you found it so you can consult the source later. Your mind could be going so fast that you need to take a walk to clear your head”

And: “A group event could find a current or potential love partner paying a lot of attention to other people. This might cause you to feel neglected and unloved, as though your friend were deliberately doing this to hurt you. This is probably not the case. Your partner is probably just trying to be sociable and doesn't realize that it's upsetting you. Do some mingling of your own. Your friend might have the same reaction as you, and come running!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding Strength.  Nice!!  This card shows two kinds of strength, the strength that is the lion and The Sun, and the strength that allows us to tame that lion and control The Sun.  If we are quietly confident, steady, and strive to manifest through love, we can accomplish quite a bit!

I did my 10 mile bike ride this morning, and really enjoyed the occasional blasts of fragrance from the virgin’s bower.  The vines aren’t at peak blossom yet, so I should have at least two more weekends of enjoyment.  I also did some Yoga this morning, and actually, this worked well for me right after the bike ride.  The Yoga was a good cool-down, and I did not experience any stiffness at all.

I am feeling very connected to the energies of the physical world today, the invisible part of the physical realm, not easy to measure with our physical world measuring tools, but very much there, very much perceivable, if you know what to look for.  Someone posted this on FaceBook, and it really resonates for me today: “I am EARTH - I nurture my roots. I am AIR - I breathe deeply. I am FIRE - I radiate passion. I am WATER - I feel at peace. I am Spirit - I am Connected to all.”  This will be my mantra for the weekend. 

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Nine of Swords reversed/Knight of Swords.  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.  This card has been appearing often of late, both upright and reversed.  I think I need to be more aware of my expectations and of my perception of how things will turn out.  After all, in most cases, worry is a total waste of energy, particularly when we worry about things that haven’t occurred yet, or things that are over and done with, and thus not able to be changed.  Because my Nine of Swords is reversed, I should be pretty successful in this attempt to be optimistic.  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, as well as rude, domineering, critical and sarcastic.  Good thing my Nine isn’t upright here, or there would be a potential for my Knight to connect with the pessimism of the upright Nine, and then to crash and burn.  Instead, his passion and enthusiasm should carry me through the day in fine style. 

My Thoth card is the Prince of Swords reversed.  Bookends!!  The Prince/Knight of Swords of the Thoth Tarot, when upright, is seen as pure intellect.  He is filled with powerful ideas, but they are all moving in their own direction, willy-nilly.  He approaches this chaos in military style, but his intense power and rigidity could make things worse.  Because this one is reversed, I just might be able to bring in some compassion here, and maybe some toleration for imperfection (which could make things fun).

My Legacy card is The Ten of Coins flavored by the Nine of Wands.  The Ten of Coins (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) represents physical world wealth and bounty, and the attempt to maintain the status quo.  This card tells me that my efforts to bring stability and prosperity into all the phases of my physical world are effective.  Things are going good, but I do need to remember one thing: I need to do something with all this good stuff I am attracting to me.  The Nine of Wands (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) is a good card to have here in some ways; it reminds me to take a stand and to actively defend my position.  This card is not about giving ground in order to strengthen a position; rather it is about pushing back.  Hopefully it is not here because someone is attacking my hard-won physical world bounty, but in any event, it tells me that I have the stamina to overcome and the wisdom to know when to act and when to just stand firm.

More about the Knight of Swords, my Bookends card.  I see the suit of Swords as representing the element of Air and everything connected with the workings of the mind and the intellect.  For most of my decks, I see the rank of Knight as representing the element of Fire, and passion, intensity and creativity.  That means that the Knight of Swords is Fire of Air, and that is a very potent combination (although depending on its intensity, the effect could be short-lived).  In most decks, the Knights are the mercenaries of the Court Cards; they don’t involve their own emotions in their decision-making processes, and this Knight could be the poster boy for that concept.  the Thoth Prince of Swords is shown brandishing his Sword so as to separate the Ego (which he keeps with himself) from the thoughts in his mind (which would require him to think of consequences, and thus, have compassion for others).  The Knight of Swords is quick moving, intense and active.  He is naturally inclined towards dominance, and is quite impulsive, although his intentions are usually good.  The results, however, are not always good.  This Knight can be positively tyrannical, imprudent, deceitful, and crafty in a selfish way.  He can be bigoted, chauvinistic, disrespectful of women, and jealous of those who have attained happiness. 

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

My horoscopes: “Be careful that you aren't acting in a way that you dislike in others, Sagittarius. You could find that you're slowly taking on the traits of the people you despise. Lighten up a bit and put a smile on your face. If you continue to see the negative side of everything, it's likely that other people will only see the negative side of you.”

And: “Give your adventuresome, world-traveling spirit room to soar today. This is a good time to embrace your dreams and express them. Write them down, talk to others, and physically say them out load. Communication and information are key elements to this day. Things may be moving fast and furiously so stay alert and stay tuned in to the electric energy that is buzzing all around you. The best things in life are apt to come on a whim.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Four of Wands.  This card tells of the glorious and joyful celebration that occurs after the attainment and successful completion of the first leg of the journey towards our goal.  How fun it is to stop and look at what we’ve done so far; but we should not tarry too long, for all this initial success will need maintenance and nurturing in order to attain its final form.

We’ve got new guests at the Blue Moon House this weekend, guests who have never stayed with us before.  That is always fun!  I think hubby and I have gotten pretty good at giving people a real taste of what Cape May has to offer, and hopefully the weather will cooperate so once again, our guests will leave us at the end of their time at the Blue Moon House with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts.

Happy Friday!

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Four of Wands reversed/Nine of Swords. 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 reversed today, and taken on its own, it could be telling me that now is not the time to sit back and celebrate.  I could end up missing something important and valuable if I relax my guard.  However, my other Llewellyn Welsh card gives me a bit of clarification here. 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.  Often the worrying represented by this card stems from the perception of a situation being bad (and not necessarily that the situation is actually bad).  Things are only overwhelming if I believe they are, and perhaps if I remember this fact, and if I visualize good things happening rather than wincing because I expect to be slammed, I will actually reach the point where I can sit back and celebrate. 

My Thoth card is the Ten of Wands.  “Oppression” is Crowley’s keyword for this card.  The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) is a card that tells of being taxed to some perceived limit.  I think the thing I need to remember today is that limits are not always bad.  They do define certain “safe areas,” and they do allow me to learn and remember just how much I am capable of.  Granted, sometimes we need to burst through those limits, but not today.  I need to be careful about how I spend resources, because I might be running low.

My Legacy card is the Knight of Swords reversed, flavored by Faith 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, as well as rude, domineering, critical and sarcastic.  Since my Knight is reversed, I might need to worry more about the manifestation of those negative traits today.  I should not be the hero, or volunteer to be the savior today.  Faith/The Hierophant corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes), Taurus (“I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn), Vau (the nail which holds tradition in place), and the Path between Chesed (the place where forms and structures are stabilized and nurtured), and Chokmah (dynamic male energy, the origin of vital force and polarity) is flavoring my reversed Knight of Swords, and perhaps my reversed Faith card is offering a solution to my warnings today.  Perhaps I have let myself be a bit bound by the traditions and culture that I hold important.  Sometimes we need to bring in a bit of new blood, or try new methods, in order to see things in a new way.  Again, I don’t think I should be The Fool today, for care is still needed, but I should look to non-tried-and-true methods for attaining my goals of the day, and I might want to stop worrying so much.  Occasionally, not planning or going by the book is a good thing, and not imposing rules upon my day might lighten my load a bit.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that indicates a slowdown as growth ends and stagnation begins, often accompanied by a choice or crossroad. 

My horoscopes: “There may be a great deal of fuss over something that seems quite insignificant to you, Sagittarius. Try to see the beauty and importance of everything around you. At the same time, make sure you give yourself enough credit for being the person you are. Egos are apt to go through a bit of a transformation that will affect the way you react to the outside world.”

And: “You may feel the need to act out aggressively in regards to the climactic period in your life that is going on right now thanks to long-term trends. There is a great expansion of energy today that is encouraging you to take action. There may be opposition in your way, but keep in mind that you have a great deal of strength on your side. The warrior inside you is ready to fight and you have a great deal of fire burning within.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Sun.  What I love about the image on the Shadowscapes Sun card is that it does not show midday, rather it shows dawn and the golden light the floods our landscape once the sun completely clears the horizon.  Serenity, calmness, and lots of potential, are the feelings I get at that time of day!

Today, we talk about Mars.  Mars is the ruling planet of Aries and Scorpio, and the First and Eighth Houses.  The two signs ruled by Mars are opposite Libra and Taurus, which are ruled by Venus. Any aspect between Venus and Mars that shows up in a chart shows how the subject relates to the opposite sex and decides when to be aggressive or when to be passive.

Mars is the Roman god of war and bloodshed, both the planet and our blood are a deep, rich blood red because they are rich in iron. Mars is the first planet outside the Earth in our solar system, and thus we can easily see it during the entire evening, rather than right around sunrise or sunset.  Mars orbits our sun in 687 days, spending about 57 ¼ days in each of the Zodiac signs.

Astrologically, Mars is associated with confidence and self assertion, aggression, sexuality, energy, strength, individuality, yang passion, independence, ambition and impulsiveness.  Mars governs sports, competitions of all kinds (including the arts of soldiering and warfare!) and physical activities in general.

In medicine, Mars presides over the genitals (particularly the male genitals), the muscular system, red corpuscles, the nose, the gonads and adrenal glands. It was traditionally held to be hot and excessively dry and ruled the choleric humor. It was associated with fever, accidents, trauma, pain and surgery. In modern astrology, Mars is said to rule the first and eighth houses; traditionally, however, Mars ruled the third and tenth houses. While Venus tends to the overall relationship atmosphere, Mars is the passionate impulse and action, the masculine aspect, discipline, will-power and stamina.

Although Mars and Venus, like Mercury and Venus, can be seen as opposites, they are alike in their sensuality and passion.  Venus unites, but Mars, like Mercury, divides, but for different reasons.  Mercury takes things apart out of curiosity and in order to understand them, but Mars is the active force of the individual, exhibiting outward-thrusting energies, expressing the Self, and fighting for the rights of the individual.  Mars symbolizes the human libido, not merely sexualized energy but human life essence, the Chi. This planet can be one way to define how we go after what we want, and it can be about our aggressive urges and our survival methods. 

These tendencies represent the subjugation of spirit by matter, or the primacy of the desires of the flesh over higher aspirations. With Mars the need to be an individual is more important than the need to relate or connect to others.  Men are indeed from Mars, and women from Venus!

Mars is retrograde 11 weeks every 25½ months. Since Mars symbolizes the exteriorization of our energy to go after what we want, the internalizing and delaying aspects of retrogradation are the most problematic when Mars Rx appears in a chart. Mars retrograde individuals need to turn their desire energies inward to discover their own motivations, perhaps doing things repeatedly until they understand why they are doing them. This can be the result of early life experiences that blocked the normal expression of desire energy and the ability to prove themselves.

Lots of power here!

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Eight of Cups/Five of Cups.  The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) is a card of action, telling of an ending or a decline or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions.  Crowley sees this one as the “hangover card,” and it could be telling me that something I once thought was pleasurable or important is in reality of little consequence. The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) also tells of an emotional setback, or perhaps a perception that support is lacking.  This one reminds me that sometimes fulfillment can be found where I least expect it.  Maybe not so bad, eh?

My Thoth card is the Queen of Cups.  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.  I think the most important gift she is giving me today is the ability to get pleasure from connecting with the energy fields of others, particularly when there is an exchange of “good vibrations.”  And she does not crow about her ability to make people feel good either, and neither should I.

My Legacy card is the Ace of Wands reversed, flavored by the Page of Swords reversed.  The Ace of Wands (Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical, Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, sensible, orderly) in an upright position would tell of the presence of inspiration that could very well bring creativity and passion into my life.  My Ace, however, is reversed.  Could be all that Water extinguishing the Fire?  My reversed Ace is being flavored by another reversed card, the reversed Page of Swords. 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) reminds us to use our mind and intellect to analyze situations, as well as the messages of our senses, and he also reminds us to ask the questions “why?” and “how?”  Because my Page is reversed, I might not be as cunning as I think I am, particularly with that Ace of Wands being reversed, too.

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

My horoscopes: “With today's energy, you can take steps toward getting things in order, Sagittarius. Tackle desk drawers, closets, storage rooms, or filing cabinets. When you create order, you gain a sense of peace and personal control. Mental organization, such as goal planning, brainstorming, or scheduling, will add to this, too. Do what you can to clean out as many mental and physical corners as possible.”

And: “News about changes in your near neighborhood could throw everyone in your community for a loop. This may involve new businesses, or it could involve new laws or ordinances that don't sit well with everyone. Therefore, you can expect a lot of phone calls, impromptu meetings, and other community contact that could turn discussions into heated quarrels. Be prepared - and remember to stay focused.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Page of Pentacles.  This Page guards the spark of new life in the physical world, with deep and loving concentration.  He isn’t guarding it for himself; he is guarding it for me!  He holds out his hand, with a sweet smile on his face.  Here!  This is for you!

Yesterday, I submitted what I believe to be the final assignment for this segment of my Third Degree Training.  First draft, subject to needing more work on my part, but still, the information is in place. 

This has been an exciting and quite beneficial time for me in my Training.  I have been given the opportunity to be a sort of Journeyman (after the learning and studying with oversight that has occurred until choosing my Path) upon choosing my Path of the Teacher.  What I love most about this segment of my Training is not only that I am working with real students, who have real challenges, problems and victories, but that the programs and infrastructure I am creating, modifying, updating and putting into place is becoming a real part of my Coven and the Community associated with it.  I feel pretty good!

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Page of Cups/Strength 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.  My Page is reversed, so today I need to be on guard against perhaps indulging some not so pleasant emotions such as selfishness, the perpetuation of falsehoods, or immaturity.  Sometimes child-like or unsophisticated emotions and feelings are just the ticket, but probably not today, particularly because my Strength card is also reversed.  The Strength card (Fire, hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic energy; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical; Teth, sieve or basket, digestion; and the Path between Geburah, the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed, and Chesed, the place where forms and structures are stabilized and nurtured) in an upright position is about having the strength to endure and focus.  Because my card is reversed today, I might find that my feelings are strong, and they want to express themselves without restraint.  Coupled with the emotional immaturity of my reversed Page, and I could have a recipe for hurt, either my own or someone else’s

My Thoth card is the Prince of Cups reversed. The Prince/Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) is about feeling things strongly and without restraint or grounding.  He may appear calm, cool and collected to others, but my Prince of Cups is actually filled with intense passion.  He is reversed, so the calmness may be within me today.  In any event, this is another Cups card that is telling of a bit of an imbalance.  Perhaps my dreamy connection to my inner self may cause me to trip and skin my knee.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Swords, flavored by the Five of Cups.  Uh oh. The Ten of Swords (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, talkative) tells of the complete manifestation of interference, powerlessness and restriction.  This card usually shows a breakdown of the thinking process, but I am not certain what it is telling me today.  Is it a warning of a coming sorrow?  Or possibly a sense of desolation? Or is it telling me of a coming challenge that will seem to devastate me? I am not certain because at this moment I feel pretty good.  My Ten is being flavored by The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive), which tells of an emotional setback, or perhaps a perception that support is lacking.  Both of these cards are about perceptions, and maybe I’ve already prevented this possible difficulty, just by throwing and interpreting the cards today.  Let’s hope so.  But I will still remain careful.

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number that shakes up stability in order to chase away stagnation. 

My horoscopes:  “Feed your mind with new knowledge, Sagittarius. Visit a bookstore or read some interesting information online. If you have more time, visit the library or explore courses that you might like. There is knowledge to be had everywhere you look, provided you're open to receiving it. People are often the best resource. Ask someone to explain something, if that's what you need.”

And: “Today's energy might be especially draining for you. Your tasks may require even more physical effort than they usually do, and you could therefore be exhausted by the middle of the day. This is not the day to try to prove anything. Pace yourself, work according to your own strength, at your own speed. You'll probably accomplish far more this way than by pushing yourself too hard. Take care, and you'll still have enough energy for a great evening.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Nine of Cups.  Well there you go, another perception card, only this one is a good one.  The Nine of Cups tells of wish fulfillment and satisfaction of the senses.  At least right now, all is well, and that spot on the horizon?  That could be that health, prosperity, bounty and reward I ordered!

Okay, vacation is over, back to reality, and back to Astrology.  Today, I will talk about my good friend Mercury.  Mercury is the ruler of the Zodiac signs of Gemini and Virgo, and in modern Astrology, the rulership of the Third and Sixth Houses (more about the Houses soon).  This planet and the God associated with it (Mercury, of course) is most commonly associated with money and commerce, but Mercury is also considered the messenger God (remember those cool boots with the wings on them?), and thus he is associated with connections and correspondences of all kinds, as well as intelligence.  After all, intelligence happens when we connect with information and knowledge.  That means Mercury is also connected to our mental processes, rationality and reasoning, and education, plus our immediate environment (because what we believe is what we create).  Mercury is neither masculine nor feminine in nature, but tends to reflect or become what is in the immediate environment.

Any messenger of the Gods would need to be fast, so the effects of Mercury happen pretty much immediately.  This is made very obvious to us if we look up in the sky.  Mercury is the closest planet to our Sun, and it orbits the Sun in only 88 days, spending less than 7½ days in each sign of the Zodiac.  The planet follows closely to the Sun and thus is only visible right before or after the Sun rises or sets.

Messengers are also responsible for the written word, and so is Mercury.  And this includes telephone calls, emails and texts, as well as letters, newspapers, and writing of all kinds.  Information gathering skills would also be included here, as well as physical dexterity.

As we know, Mercury goes retrograde three or four times a year, for about three weeks, and this is a time of communications gone awry, as well as everything else that is connected to Mercury (and many of these things are connected to modern technology).  If Mercury is retro in our sign, we need to pay attention to all communications, and digest carefully before responding because misinterpretation is very likely.  Those born during Mercury retro tend to remember these types of misinterpretations for a long time, particularly if some perceived attack or deliberate hurt is a part of that misinterpretation.

In medicine, Mercury is associated with the nervous system, the brain, the respiratory system, the thyroid and the senses, as well as the hands and arms.  Its energies are traditionally held to be essentially cold and dry (both according to its placement in the Zodiac and in aspects to other planets).  It is linked to the animal spirits.  And in many ways, Mercury is the opposite of Venus.  Venus joins things together, but the job of Mercury is to take them apart (usually out of curiosity), and then attempt to put them back together. 

I did not think I would add to my understanding of Venus by working with Mercury, but there you go. 

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Ten of Wands reversed/Eight of Swords reversed.  Wow, things might start moving today. The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) is a card that tells of being taxed to some perceived limit.  My Ten of Wands is reversed, however, and I think it is telling me to go ahead and work hard, because I will be able to hang in there until the tasks are done. 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, but like my Ten of Wands, it is reversed.  Today, I will be in the right place at the right time, and I will be productive.  And I will enjoy what I’m doing, no matter what it is.  Cool!

My Thoth card is the Prince of Disks reversed. The Prince/Knight of Disks (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. This Knight in an upright position would be encouraging me to focus on practical matters, but since he is reversed, I had better watch out for some imbalance in the Earthly energies of the day.  I need to get things done in the physical world, but not to the point of debilitation.  \

My Legacy card is the Nine of Swords reversed, flavored by The Fool.  Now those are interesting cards!! 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.  If something does happen today to make me worry, I won’t worry for long.  I should be able to turn the worry into a lesson. This seems to be validated by the card flavoring my Nine of Swords reversed, The Fool.  The Fool corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and challenges that tend to require the use of the intellect to solve), Uranus (technology, science, radical change), Aleph (the head, youthful learning) and the Path between Chokmah (male in the electric sense, dynamic energy and the origin of vital force and polarity) and Kether (the source; limitless possibility).  The Fool is the spark that begins the idea; he reminds me that creative energy is neither positive nor negative.  It is up to me to impose good and positive or uncomfortable and negative intentions into the potential of the day.  And from the looks of things, I will choose positive!

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

My horoscopes: “You may find that today brings great physical strength and energy, Sagittarius. You may want to do some really challenging, physical work. This is the day for it, so why not go to it? Do some yard work or clean out closets, cupboards, drawers, and filing cabinets. Consider donating items that you don't use anymore or plan a garage sale to make a couple bucks.”

And: “Be yourself and you can do no wrong. This is one of those days when you barely need to make any effort to go a long distance. You will find that there is a great deal of power at your disposal, and that confidence in yourself is invaluable. Feel free to grab the microphone and express your opinion to the people around you. Your words and thoughts are highly charged.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Queen of Wands.  Oh, what a perfect image for today!  The Queen on this card plays music, and all around her are drawn to listen.  She knows she sounds good, but she is not vain, just comfortable with her own talent (after all, she did the work to be good, studied and practiced).   That vanity could be tempting to her, but she would rather simply have fun than to do the work to be vain.

Fall is in the air; yes, believe it or not, despite all the warmth, the first signs of Fall are beginning to appear.  This morning during my bike ride, I saw the beginnings of blossoms on the virgin’s bower all around the Cape May area; I could even catch a bit of its glorious fragrance.  The days are warm, but the nights are cool and comfortable.  Many plants are done flowering, but the late summer bloomers are bursting with blossoms.

I am feeling that my own life is at this stage as well.  I am experiencing these late season blossoms, and I am seeing the fruits of my labors, all around me.  Progress is marvelous!

Tomorrow, back to Astrology.

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