Transparent Oracle Sunday!

50, Polarity: White Dragon (Above). The direction of Above takes us up and out of the four traditional elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth, and reminds us that we are but a small part of the Cosmos.  Above also reminds us that while the Machinery of the Universe is huge, it does have an effect on each of us, and each of us is an important part of the workings of that Machinery.  The White Dragon represents masculine, dispassionate, celestial energies that come into us and into our world from “Above.”  If you see the solar system and the universe as being alive, and as being filled with the manifestations of the Sacred Essences that are the source of life and awareness, then these energies are very important.  We are the Microcosm, after all, and these energies are from the polar opposite, the Macrocosm . . . filled with information, knowledge and wisdom. 

31, Gateway: Winter (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.  Because this Gateway is square and solid, and appears unshakable and immovable, it seems like a safe place, or a strong foundation upon which we can exist and prosper. 

10, Elemental: Sylph (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.  Sylphs personify these concepts, and they encourage the use of imagination in an original way, they tell us to shift as needed in order to take advantage of the prevailing winds, and they tell us to fly free, filled with joy and unencumbered by life’s burdens (at least for a little while).

I then made my mandala.  Hmmm . . . not as easy to interpret as the past few mandalas.  However, there is certainly still motion in this image.  The question I need to ask is this: am I using that strong and safe foundation as a stepping stone towards the ability to perceive other ways of existing and communicating and crating?  Or am I using that foundation to shut out all the wonders and joys and opportunities for evolution that are circling around, looking for an open portal?  This has turned out to be a clarifying mandala for me once I have meditated upon it for a bit.  And it is interesting that each week, my reading seems to be honing in on a coming choice or crossroad.

I biked to Sunset Beach this morning, and paused a bit, marveling at the change from yesterday.  Today, the sky was blue and the water was blue and the sun was shining with that crystal clear illumination that only happens in the Fall, and while there was still a bit of chop, the whitecaps were gone.  I did not linger today; I was feeling the call of Point Park and the 2 mile nature trail.  I needed the soothing healing to be found in a quiet walk through the meadows and forests of the nature preserve. 

I was alone for almost the entire walk, which was lovely.  I walked as quietly as I could, and was rewarded with tiny house wrens, a few cardinals, and the ever-present catbirds.  I paused on one bridge and watched an osprey soar overhead; I was pleased when its circles headed my way and the raptor took a moment to check me out, too.  I continued walking, enjoying the Fall flowers, which were just past peak, and that glorious spicy green fragrance of sun on a meadow.  Glorious!

I watched a Cooper’s hawk wing past; it joined three others high above, circling over the marshes.  And of course, a group of turkey vultures, my totem, made an appearance.  There were very few bees this weekend and only a couple of dragonflies, but the monarchs are still around at Point Park (although I am seeing few of them in town).  Certain areas, where the flowers are still in bloom, had many of the orange creatures sipping nectar from blossoms, or fluttering on the breeze.  I would still categorize their numbers in the hundreds. 

At one point, the trail was teeming with clouds of tiny flying insects, like May flies; could they be midges?  I realized that I may have stumbled upon the final manifestation of an interesting life cycle.  Midges apparently live most of their lives as underwater larvae, but as the lifespan comes to an end, the midges cocoon themselves into pupae, and then float to the surface of the water, where they break free and fly into the air.  The midges then mate, the females drop their eggs into the water, and then within 48 hours they all die. 

Towards the end of my walk, a swan flew by.  I can’t imagine how they manage to get airborne!  They are huge, noisy fliers, their wings making clacking sounds with each wingstroke as they first take off, striving for altitude, and then make a kind of whistling sound once they have built up speed.  The pristine white of the swan looks glorious against the browns, greens, yellows and pinks of the surrounding meadows and flowers, and the blue of the water. 

I guess I found my healing, eh?

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Ten of Pentacles/Nine of Swords. The Ten of Pentacles (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.  Today, this message contains a warning.  Feeling good about our physical world bounties is nice, but attempting to maintain the status quo can be damaging if we are unrealistic about exactly what could be considered success in this regard.  Success is meant to be enjoyed, but we also need to start the cycle again, by making something new out of the bounties of our success. 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 makes perfect sense to me, especially combined with the Ten of Pentacles.  Things are good for me, and I am a bit worried that what I anticipate for the near future will be prevented from manifesting.  A bit of worry keeps us alert and careful, but I need to be sure I don’t get trapped in the visualizations of possible failure.  That is a waste of energy and of my visualizing ability; better I should picture the manifestation of my goals than any bumps in the road that haven’t happened yet. 

My Thoth card is the Seven of Swords.  “Futility” is Crowley’s keyword for this one.  The Seven of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness) tells of the active effort to maintain things as we want them, often through the use of deception and without considering the wants or needs of others.  When taken to extremes, this can be unethical, but if we use these energies to examine what we are working so hard to maintain for ourselves, we might be able to figure out if it is worth all this effort and struggle.

My Legacy card is the Five of Wands reversed, flavored by the Ace of Coins. The Five of Wands, which corresponds with Saturn (discipline, responsibility, law and order) in Leo (“I am, passionate, dramatic, egotistical) in an upright position indicates a struggle caused by annoying cross purposes.  I’ve heard this card described as product testing, and perhaps today these tests will end up bringing some unexpected harmony. The Ace of Coins (Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, social) tells of the presence of potential that is connected in some way to the physical world.  Since my Ace is flavoring my reversed Five of Wands, that surprisingly effective combination of passion and discipline might be best manifested in my physical world.

My Pearls of Wisdom Full Moon card is the Four of Swords reversed. The Four of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) can represent a pause or truce, a time of silence and isolation, and a time of being cut off from the world yet still alert. The Pearls of Wisdom Four of Swords brings this message, but it also tells me that perhaps inner resources are best to tap into.  My Four of Swords is reversed, though, and I am being warned that if I dwell too much on those inner resources, I might lose touch with the outer world.  Might be time to get up and move around, and to challenge my mind a bit.

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number that brings movement to the stability and depth of the number 4, in order to dispel stagnation. 

My horoscopes: “You're generally focused on the material world, Sagittarius, but something about the energy generated by today's planetary alignments causes you to look within. You might think about the joys and pains of past family gatherings and wonder how they affect your life now. This is a positive, healing process, so don't fight it. It won't interfere with what's going on around you.”

And: “Don't hesitate to dive into whatever project or situation suits your fancy today, for surely your luck will pull you through to make you victorious in whatever game you chose to engage in. Happiness is almost inevitable today so don't be afraid to share your incredible enthusiasm with the people around you. Your confidence in whatever it is that you undertake is incredibly inspiring. Others are lucky to be a part of your team.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Seven of Pentacles.  Perfect card for today!  I am in a “garden” of my own making, and this card tells me to stop and look around, to be aware of the pulsing life of the fruit, healthy and vibrant on well-tended trees.  By connecting with that fruit, by absorbing its essence as it is connected to the tree, I will learn to decide just when is the perfect moment for harvest.  I must choose carefully, for once the fruit is plucked, there is no going back. 

I biked to Sunset Beach this morning, and walked for a bit in the wind, along the Bay.  The waters were slate gray and covered with whitecaps, and the sky was a less intense gray, covered with fast-moving wisps of clouds.  What an invigorating walk!  After a bit, I got back on Violet (my bike), and headed to the Breadstand.  Yummy loaves!  Rosemary and thyme, and multigrain with sunflower seeds, warm and fresh.  Then, I headed over to Balance to take a wonderful Yoga class from Helen.  Great way to start a Saturday!

It always amazes me that on those days when I am experiencing some worry or attempting to understand some challenge as I am shuffling my cards for my daily throw, the cards offered always bring some clarity.  I end up ding a reading focused on that worry or challenge, even though my intention is to throw general cards for the day.  But after all, a worry or challenge is a general part of the day, at least it is for me, because I am a brooder. 

The nice thing for me today, the thing that was a true learning experience for me, is that I opened myself to someone questioning the validity of my intentions regarding a specific future event, and accepted their questions as an opportunity to be certain that what I planned is exactly right for me, rather than seeing those questions as an attack on me personally, or on my ability to choose a future for myself.  I am taking this conversation with a trusted friend as a reminder that we always need to verify that we are on the right Path.  At every step of the way.  And deciding (with good reason) to change a Path, or to go back and start that Path over in a different way, or maybe even to go back and choose another Path, is not a failure.

My choice, at least for today, is to continue moving forward.  However, I will also be carrying with me gratitude for a friend, and the knowledge that this is my correct Path.

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Page of Cups/Seven of Wands. 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), is very emotional, dreamy, social, and connected to the inner voice.   My Page is telling me to let the good stuff happen, and to anticipate the best.  The Seven of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, natural leader, egotistical, selfish) reminds me that my own judgment is worth relying on, and if I apply my own Will to the situation, things will turn out as I visualize them.  Those last words are probably the most important ones to me today, “if I apply my own Will to the situation, things will turn out as I visualize them.” 

My Thoth card is the Three of Cups reversed.  “Abundance”  reversed today; the Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) in an upright position is about connections, and about blessings.  Today I am being told that this kind of Abundance is not what I should be focusing on today.  Some days we have the support of others, and some days we need to be on our own.  Today It is more important that I do my own thing.

My Legacy card is The Star, flavored by Judgement. The Star (Air, hot/separates and wet/adapts; Aquarius; Qof, back of head; the Path between Malkuth, the physical world of action and outer, physical reality, and Netzach, the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration) is the “good will to all” card.  The Star is about optimism and faith, and no matter what happens throughout the day, I need to visualize good things in order to make them happen.  I do need to remember that good things don’t necessarily need to happen to me in order for me to benefit from them. Happiness is universal, as is optimism.  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 represents an opportunity to tally up and pay the bill so we can have a fresh start.  I am being reminded that choices are important, as well as optimism.  Once the bill has been paid, and the board is cleared of obligations, we can visualize good things, and make them happen.

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

My horoscopes: “Some books you've been reading lately might excite your desire to study astrology, numerology, alchemy, or some other occult science, Sagittarius. This may not be something that you'd normally consider, but don't let that hold you back. Your values have been shaken up lately anyway, so make the most of the impulse now. It could transform you in a subtle way. Go for it!”

And: “Today you'll feel inspired to express yourself in fun and creative ways, so don't be afraid to let loose with your wild sense of humor. You could end up playing a prank on a co-worker that makes him or her laugh and creates a good feeling in the office. Or you could share some jokes with others that make them smile and feel better. You enjoy being the office clown, and you certainly are good at it!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the King of Pentacles.  This King is an expert regarding the handling of resources, and expert at making sure everyone is happy and comfy.  He is an inspiration for success, and is an example for all; everything he touches will blossom!

Happy Friday, from Cape May.  I went for a walk early this evening, and despite the fact that it si the last weekend of September, there are people in town.

Tomorrow, I will bike around!

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The Emperor reversed/Justice reversed.  LOL, I was wondering why my head was foggy today as I shuffled, and I guess I got my answer as far as what I’m not doing! The Emperor corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change), Aries (“I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) and the Hebrew letter Heh (window, illumination), and represents confidence and authority.  In the Tarot Major Arcana, The Emperor is numbered 4, the number of depth and stability; he actively seeks balance by imposing order on his world. He is the personification of tough love!  In a reversed position he is telling me that if I want a clear head, I’ve gotta clear it myself rather than looking for outside methods, and the best way to do that is to get things organized (both in my head and in my surroundings).  Justice is a card of adjustment, and it corresponds with the element of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick, animated energy that usually brings problems or challenges that bring growth), Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Lamed (ox goad; training or teaching), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Geburah (the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed).  The upright Justice card represents true fairness and equality, and achieves those things through the application of truth.  My Justice card is also reversed, and I need to understand that the effect of a muddy head is being caused by something, something I am apparently not seeing or accepting.  Get real, and get organized.  Simple message, but not necessarily simple to enact.

My Thoth card is the Princess of Wands.  The Princess/Page of Wands (Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic noble egotistical; and Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) is the spark that might end up creating a conflagration.  This Princess has one desire, to become The Magician.  Is my Princess overwhelmed by this task?  Not at all; she is enthusiastic about every step, and intrigued by the possibilities presented.  Her day is filled with questions: “How is that done?”  “Why are you doing that? “What is that?”  “When will I be ready to try that?”  This enthusiasm is infectious, so I should be open to it.

My Legacy card is the Five of Wands reversed, flavored by the Page of Cups reversed. The Five of Wands, which corresponds with Saturn (discipline, responsibility, law and order) in Leo (“I am, passionate, dramatic, egotistical) in an upright position indicates a struggle caused by annoying cross purposes.  Since my card is reversed, I may find that things are not quite as out-of-sorts as they appear.  Discipline and passion can coexist in an effective way after all!  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, and is flavoring my reversed Five of Wands, and it could be a bit of a warning to me.  Be careful, don’t assume that harm is meant by anyone’s words or actions until you verify this.  We depend on our instincts to tell us of any possible danger, but sometimes our instincts have trouble being objective; today may be one of those days..

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 number 2.

My horoscopes: “Be your most charming self tonight, Sagittarius. You're likely to meet someone who can help your career. Your intuition is strong, so you may know who this person is the minute you shake hands. If the chemistry is good, too, so much the better! Whether this person impacts your life in a romantic or business capacity, you'll remember this night as when your life changed for the better!”

And: “You might feel a bit as though your head is in the clouds today. Possibly after the frantic pace you've had at work, your mind has decided to take some time off. People may have to repeat questions to you several times before you respond. They'll think your "spaciness" is funny, and so should you. Try to relax and have fun in your dizzy state!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Page of Pentacles.  Opportunity awaits in the physical world!  This opportunity is being guarded for me, and I have only to reach out my hand with an open mind and an open heart to receive it.  This spark of opportunity will require nurturing in order to prosper, and visions of the future in order to manifest as desired.  Time to get busy!

Just back from another Yoga class, this one was gentle and restorative.  What a nice way to begin a weekend!  We are heading to Cape May after a weekend off, and I am looking forward to biking for bread, walking at Point Park, and on the beach.  One weekend away, and I am pining for the ocean.

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Judgement/The Universe reversed.  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 represents an opportunity to tally up and pay the bill so we can have a fresh start.  I am being reminded that choices are important, and considering before making choices is necessary; however, I can’t spend too much time on the fence.  The Universe/World, which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, stable and practical energy that is slow to change), Saturn (discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance), 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), is a card of integration and involvement and understanding, a crystallization of the entire issue at hand.  My Universe card is reversed, but it is there, and interestingly enough, The Universe is the very next card after Judgement, so an opportunity to evolve may be in front of me.

My Thoth card is Art (Temperance) 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 one version of the concept of balance.  Temperance brings balance  through knowledge of extremes, but my card is reversed today, so it could be indicating an imbalance in those extreme energies.

My Legacy card is the Two of Wands, flavored by the Nine of Wands reversed.  Woohoo!  The Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic) tells of power, influence and authority.  Today I may look around and end up feeling good about what I’ve said and done.  The Nine of Wands (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) in an upright position tells us to prepare for the worst, but to wait before being aggressive.  My card is reversed today, and paired with an upright Two of Wands.  Sounds like my power, influence and authority will shine, with no regrets!!

My 6-digit date number is 2, the number of balance, polarity, and an awareness of “distance between.”

My horoscopes: “A quick check of your bank balance might reveal that it's a bit lower than you expected, Sagittarius. You probably won't panic, but you're apt to feel a little disappointed. Don't waste time kicking yourself. Money can always be earned. Relax, resolve to tighten your belt a little, take care of the necessities, and stick with a financial plan. Soon you'll be glad you took action.”

And: “Your energy is likely to be low today, making this the ideal day for staying in and reading or getting any paperwork finished up. It's not glamorous, but at least it doesn't require much exertion. Any writing you need to do will be clear and fluid. You have a natural gift anyway, and today it is magnified. You should make good use of this auspicious atmosphere.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding Justice.  I love the image on this card; unlike most traditional Justice images, the figure on this card has her eyes wide open; her eyes blaze with the white light of truth, stark and unmodified.  She judges by using this truth, and in the end, karma cannot be denied and balance is attained by achieving justice through truth. 

I’m heading out this evening to have dinner with my sister-in-law and her husband.  Have a wonderful evening!

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Temperance reversed/Five of Wands. Temperance corresponds with Sagittarius (“I seek,” philosophic, adventurous, blundering) Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change), Samekh (the tent post), and the Path between Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest into the physical world of action and outer reality) and Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify), and it is one of the Major Arcana cards that presents one version of the concept of balance.  Temperance brings balance  through knowledge of extremes, but my card is reversed today, so it could be indicating an imbalance in those extreme energies. The Five of Wands, which corresponds with Saturn (discipline, responsibility, law and order) in Leo (“I am, passionate, dramatic, egotistical), indicates a struggle caused by annoying cross purposes.  This is a card of non-cooperation that affects a situation in a negative way; if this energy was balanced out, things could get accomplished.  However, chaos has its own benefits (albeit usually uncomfortable ones), and it is good for stirring things up or cleaning things out.  This kind of chaos does not have a harmful intent, and so if Temperance needs to be reversed, this is the kind of result that would be easiest to deal with.

My Thoth card is the Three of Cups reversed.  “Abundance” reversed today; the Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) in an upright position is about connections, and about blessings.  Looks like my Abundance won’t be brought to me by emotional connections, and I might be more effective today as a solitary.  Just can’t take this personally!

My Legacy card is the Page of Cups reversed, flavored by the Nine of Cups 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 upright, is very emotional, dreamy, social, and connected to the inner voice.  My Page is reversed, so today might not be a good day to express this part of myself.  My reversed Page is being flavored by another reversed Cups card, the Nine of Cups reversed.  Oy, three reversed Cups cards? The Nine of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) in an upright position is about emotional satisfaction and the ability to find pleasure in feelings and emotions. It is flavoring my reversed Page, and oh boy, my feelings and emotions might be a mine field today.  Carefull!

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

My horoscopes: “Today you might discover a previously untapped talent, Sagittarius, perhaps an artistic gift. This could be thrilling, but it will probably take some getting used to. Your first efforts might be tentative and uncertain, but this is what usually happens when you learn a new skill. Don't get discouraged yet! Give yourself time. Eventually you'll probably love what you do.”

And: “A small sum of money could come to you today, possibly through the efforts of a woman. You may have been waiting for this for a long time, so expect to feel considerably relieved. You may have some definite plans for this money. Perhaps it's meant to be channeled toward a specific purpose, or maybe you'll invest it. Whichever it is, you'll probably want to celebrate receiving it. Have fun!”

My Shadowscapses Insight is regarding the Ace of Cups. I love the description of the effects of the energies of this card found in the Shadowscapes Companion: “It is the initial drop of water that falls upon the glass-smooth surface of a lake.”   The energies of this card have an effect, a visible effect, but they are only just the beginning.  The ripples move outward, small at first, but with the potential of creating crashing waves upon distant shores.

Back to Astrology, and the tiny planet called Ceres.  Ceres is considered the modern ruler of either Virgo or Taurus.

Ceres is the smallest identified dwarf planet in the Solar System. It was discovered in January 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi, and is named after the Roman goddess Ceres, the goddess of growing plants, the harvest, and of motherly love. There has been an ongoing debate as to whether Ceres should be called a planet. For a little while, Ceres was thought to be the "missing planet" that supposedly existed between Mars and Jupiter, at a distance of 419 million km (2.8 AU) from the Sun. Ceres was assigned a planetary symbol and remained listed as a planet in astronomy books and tables for about 500 years. The 2006 debate regarding Pluto’s status led to Ceres being considered for reclassification as a planet, but Ceres and Pluto were both classified as members of the new dwarf planet category.  Ceres passes through the signs of the Zodiac every 4 years and 7 months, passing through a little more than 2½ signs every year.

In mythology, Ceres is the Goddess of agriculture (we get the word “cereal” from Ceres), and the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Demeter, and she is considered a mother Goddess as well. The planet Ceres corresponds with pregnancy and woman’s reproductive issues, as well as major transitions in a woman's life (including family bonds and relationships as well as the time of pregnancy), and the concepts of attachment, dependency, rejection, sharing, and loss. Ceres is seen by some as the ruling planet of Virgo, and thus corresponds to the concept of a Virgin goddess (as well as independent and/or unmarried women). Ceres is also considered the planet of the Environment. The planet (and the Goddess) became associated with climate change and the management of resources in our modern world.

Ceres corresponds with the cycles of nature, and thus with the mysteries of death and rebirth; Ceres and Pluto thus have a deep connection.  After all, Pluto, is the Lord of the Underworld and Ceres is the Goddess of agriculture and thus, is connected to the cycle of the seasons.  The interesting thing is that the emergence of Ceres into our awareness has happened during a time of resurgence of interest in the Divine Feminine.  Now that is fascinating!

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Death/Ten of Pentacles reversed. The Death card also 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. I am being told again that the time of new birth and a fresh start will soon be upon me!  I must keep doing what I’ve been doing, and I must believe that when a door closes, a window opens.  Embrace the coming change, don’t fight it! The Ten of Pentacles (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) in an upright position represents physical world wealth and bounty, and the attempt to maintain the status quo.  My Ten of Pentacles is reversed, so the cycle that brings wealth and bounty is still in process.  And that is good; that means the best is yet to come.

My Thoth card is the Seven of Cups reversed.  “Debauch” is Uncle Al’s keyword for the upright Seven of Cups. 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 too many enticing choices. My Seven is reversed, so my choices will be clear, and will not be clouded by feelings or emotions.

My Legacy card is the Two of Cups, flavored by the Six of Wands reversed. The Two of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, tenacious, moody) is about love and connections, usually about relationships and commonalities. Sounds like any connections I make today will bring good things.  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 thus far the test has not been passed.  I should not give up, though, because the card is here, even if it is reversed.  Perhaps I am being reminded to be careful that I don’t get too full of myself; I am working hard to better my life, but that does not mean I am better than everyone else. 

My 6-digit date number is 9, the number that represents the completeness of effect or manifestation.

My horoscopes: “You're highly esteemed in your profession because of your strong business acumen and no-nonsense approach to problem solving. Recent successes may be preparing you for the next leap in the progression. Be open to opportunities involving the Internet that present themselves. Remember, there's no glass ceiling online. Today may be peppered with all sorts of communications from friends.”

And: “You have a keen mind and are thirsty for knowledge. A recent accomplishment may make you hungry for the next challenge. Consider looking to your hobbies for the next big thing in your life. It could be that the little side projects that you so enjoy working on could lead to a whole new field. You are especially suited to science and other research-oriented fields. Whatever you undertake, you are bound to be successful.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Queen of Pentacles. This Queen is kind, charming yet timid, and willingly shares her own talents and strengths and resources. The Queen of Pentacles taps into the energies of Nature and our world with ease, and she can draw from those energies when she needs to.  She is not proud of her accomplishments because what she does is just not about pride; it is about sharing.

I just got back from my second Yoga class, and I feel awesome.  This one was a bit more challenging, and I feel that I did well, was able to do the asanas, and once again, my home practice has been validated.  Hopefully I won’t be sore tomorrow; we shall see. 

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!!

48, Venus (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. Venus represents love, romantic, platonic or spiritual, as well as sensuality and an appreciation of beauty.  Venus is also about attractions, because that is how love, sensuality and the experience of beauty actually happen, and that is where Venus gets its power. 

18, Guide: Horse (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. Horse is basically about going somewhere; after all, humans use Horse as a means for transportation.  Because the ability to get to where you need to be and thus, transform yourself is perceived as having authority, this card also represents sovereignty, the kind of sovereignty the stallion has over his herd.  This leadership is maintained by courage, strength, and skills learned through a lifetime.

42, Guide: Angel (Above).  Another Above card!  As a Wiccan, I see the Universe as being alive and aware, so the messages of all the Above cards become particularly important.  If I have the essence of Deity within me, then so, to, do the stars and planets of the Universe.  After all, a planet or a sun is a collection of energy manifestations, and so is my body, and I have awareness. Angel is the Guide for the Celestial Realm, and you could say that Angel is one of the messengers who bridges the gap between us and the vast expanses of the Universe.  When Angel appears in a spread, some event or effect may have more significance than I think, and I had better pay attention. 

I then created my mandala.  Funny, this one seems a bit familiar, LOL.  Could be because last Sunday, my spread was almost exactly what it is today!  The main difference in this one is Venus, and oh, what a difference it makes.  Last week’s mandala was about pushing myself past my perceived limits in order to access the realms of meditation and vision, and in order to learn about myself.  This week’s mandala takes this uncomfortable and difficult task one step further: to do all of this in order to understand Deity! 

There it was, in the middle of the mandala: the pentagram of the Angel card, and the symbol of woman in the middle of Venus, surrounded by Angels and Horses, circling around, tapping into, and spreading the energies of the “mandala within the mandala” that is the center of this reading.  Oh, this is cool, and I do get it!

I actually lost another pound while I wasn’t looking!  I am now officially down 15 pounds since beginning the Spring Fitness Challenge back in April.  My personal exercise practice is now very strongly a part of my day.  I have been researching Yoga studios, and I have found one that should work for me.  I went yesterday to a class, and enjoyed the ambiance and focus of the studio.  I will continue taking classes here, and I am tossing around in my head the idea of applying for Yoga Teacher Training.  This may sound out-of-the-blue, but actually this is a logical progression and a necessary step for me to expand my Thai Massage practice.  You see, Thai Massage is considered passive Yoga, so expanding on my knowledge and practice of Yoga does make sense.  So I will continue to take classes at this studio, and make this decision by the end of the year. 

Important messages indeed!

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Ten of Pentacles/Ten of Wands reversed.  The Ten of Pentacles (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.  Granted, this card represents freedom from financial concerns, but especially because this is a Pentacles card, I must make certain that I do something with this bounty, or it will end up being a liability to me.  The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) in an upright position is a card that tells of being taxed to some perceived limit.  Today may be a day without any limits in sight!  If this card was paired with any other Ten, I might worry a bit, but the Ten of Pentacles is serious enough to prevent this other reversed Ten from getting out of control; it is a Wands card after all.  **wink**

My Thoth card is the Eight of Disks reversed.  “Prudence” is Crowley’s keyword for the upright Eight of Disks (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, sensible, orderly) is about taking care of details, working hard, and studying or learning new things, all with an eye on the end result.  Because my card is reversed, a focus on those kinds of details might not be in my best interest.  Sometimes we end up missing the forest for looking at the trees with this tunnel vision towards details; better to look at the big picture today.

My Legacy card is Strength, flavored by the Two of Swords 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) is about having the strength and the patience to endure and focus.  Today optimism and maintaining my composure will help me to catch more flies than the imposition of authority.  My Strength card is being flavored today by the Two of Swords 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.  Upright, this card often tells of strength achieved through the experience of some difficulty, strength enough to close out any outside influences for a bit, but since my card is reversed, I am being told that engagement of the intellect is as important as control of feelings and emotions.  I need to have patience with myself, but I still need to accept how things are and then attempt to begin moving forward.

My Pearls of Wisdom Mabon card is the Seven of Wands.  The Seven of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, natural leader, egotistical, selfish) is flavoring my reversed Eight of Swords, and it is validating the concept that obstacles and challenges are going to appear.  The Pearls of Wisdom Seven of Wands reminds me that my own judgment is worth relying on, and if I apply my own Will to the situation, things will turn out as I visualize them.  I can’t allow the beliefs of others to influence what I am working towards (unless, that is, they correspond with my own beliefs). 

My 6-digit date number is 6, the number of vertical and horizontal balance.  Nice card for Mabon!

My horoscopes: “It's time to take a bold step forward, Sagittarius. Have confidence in yourself and all the careful planning you've been painstakingly doing for the past few months. Realize that much of this hard work is paying off, but only if you're willing to take the next step. The opportunity is there. All you need to do is jump on it. Act out of faith and confidence instead of fear and restriction.”

And: “A romantic partner may appear to be more concerned with business than with you right now. Some decisions need to be made, and your friend could well be preoccupied with them throughout most of the evening. Passion for you still runs strong - but it's been shoved into the background for now. Don't think that you've lost your appeal. Wait until tomorrow, and all should be normal once more.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Four of Swords. This is a lovely “between-time” type of energy.  The rest and recuperation illustrated by the image on this card often appears similar to death, but that is not what is being presented here.  Death is actually a powerful time of transformation and change; this card tells of a time of truce.  No weakness here, just a mutual agreement to pause and re-gather ourselves. 

Today is the Sabbat of Mabon.  Mabon celebrates the Autumn Equinox, the day that divides the light and dark equally.  This Sabbat, along with the two Solstices and the Spring Equinox, is considered a Lesser Sabbat, but not because it is any less valuable or important than the four Greater Sabbats (each of which is a Cross-Quarter between the Solstices and Equinoxes).  The Lesser Sabbats celebrate times when the purest energies of a particular season are at their least influential, because the current season is changing.  The Greater Sabbats represent times when the energies of the season are their purest and at peak influence.  For instance, Litha, the Summer Solstice, is considered the first day of Summer because it is early in the Summer season, so it is a Lesser Sabbat; we are switching from Spring to Summer at the Summer Solstice.  However, Lammas, which is a Cross-Quarter (or halfway between the changeover from Spring to Summer, and Summer to Fall), celebrates the peak of the ability of Summer energies to influence us.  Lammas is a Greater Sabbat. 

Mabon is considered the Second Harvest, the second of the three Harvest Sabbats within the Wheel of the year (the other tow being Lammas and Samhain), which traditionally celebrates the harvest of grapes and grains.  This is a time of huge focus on harvesting what we planted during the three Fertility Sabbats (Imbolc, Ostara and Beltane) earlier in the year, and it is a time to celebrate the peak of power and wisdom of The Green Man and The Lord of the Forest.  Soon the cold and dark and quiet of Winter will return; our Mother Goddess will become the Crone and our Father God will prepare to offer Himself as sacrifice so that life and living can be eternal,  But now, for this day, we celebrate the bounty and blessings of Nature, and of our own hard work.  We dress up, gather together with our friends, family and loved ones, and eat and drink and dance, and prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. 

And so, I offer to each of you the Blessings of Mabon and the Second Harvest!  Blessed be!

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Death reversed/The Hierophant. The Death card also 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 in an upright position tells of natural change that cannot be stopped. My Death card is reversed today, and I am being told that the time of new birth and a fresh start is upon me!  I’ve done the work to get rid of what does not work any more, and my burden should be lighter, easier to carry.  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 similar to The Magician; like The Magician, The Hierophant possesses and understands the knowledge that unites the macrocosm and the microcosm.  The Hierophant’s Purpose (and I deliberately capitalized that “P”) is to teach this knowledge to others and thus, preserve it. 

My Thoth card is the Princess of Cups. The Princess/Page of Cups corresponds to Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Scorpio (“I desire,” intensity compulsion, mystery) and Sagittarius (“I seek,” philosophic, adventurous, blundering), and I can understand why I connect so deeply to this card.  LOL both Scorpio and Sagittarius are in my chart.  This card tells of a very emotional and dreamy personality, and a need for both social interaction and a strong connection to the inner voice.  Yup, sounds like me!  The Princess of Cups approaches her emotions and feelings in a less mature manner than the Queen of Cups, and that can be either good or bad.  Since my Princess is upright today, I’m going to assume that immaturity is good.

My Legacy card is the Ace of Swords reversed, flavored by Two of Coins reversed. The Ace of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution authority, cunning, Aquarius and Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, soul growth, artistic) is about potential within the mental or intellectual realms.  The intellect has the power to either help or hurt, and since my Ace of Swords is reversed today, I need to be aware that there is a potential for some intellectual imbalance to affect me today.  Too connected to logic?  Or not connected enough?  My reversed Ace of Swords is being flavored by another reversed card, the reversed Two of Coins.  The Two of Coins (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) in an upright position reminds me that everything always ebbs and flows, and I need to do the same. Perhaps what I am not doing regarding my intellect is making use of the concept of dynamic balance.  Energy is always moving and always changing, and my application of control needs to be the same.

My 6-digit date number is 5, the imposition of movement into the stability of the number 4 in order to prevent stagnation. 

My horoscopes: “Invaluable help with money or property concerns could come to you from an unexpected quarter today, Sagittarius. Someone you didn't know possessed the appropriate information could offer it out of the blue, making a big difference to the way you handle these matters. The situation may not be all that dire to begin with, but all should be well by day's end.”

And: “Today, you may feel as if you are brimming over with copious physical energy. You do have a lot of physical energy, but right now it isn't a good idea to go mountain climbing, running marathons, or swimming the English Channel. If you don't pace yourself, you could find yourself exhausted by mid-afternoon. You may be temporarily operating on nervous energy and limited stamina. Take it slow!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Three of Wands.  This is such an optimistic card, especially the Shadowscapes version!  Possibilities beckon today, and while it is easy to acknowledge their potential, it is not quite so easy to reach out and grasp them, particularly when reaching could cause an overbalance and a fall.  But the thing is, if I wait until those possibilities get closer, someone else might beat me to them!  I am being told to expand my horizons and take the chance.  Explore!

I submitted the next segment of my Third Degree Training this afternoon.  Just acknowledging that I felt ready to memorialize what I have been working on since being given the go ahead for my Pathway choice, is a huge accomplishment.  Especially when you consider how many other things have been going on in my life these past weeks and months. 

I feel good about the paper I had to write, but I am certain that even though I feel it is complete, there may be more information I may need to provide.  I will cross that bridge when I come to it, willingly.  However, the process of crystallizing my experiences enough to write the paper has been an encouraging one. 

I feel good about where I am in my life right now.  I’m not perfect, not by any means, and there is always room for improvement.  As I said to a friend recently, when I look back at where I have come from during these past nearly ten years since embracing the Path of Wicca, I am amazed at what I’ve accomplished and how much I’ve grown and evolved.  But when I look forward, toward what is yet to be experienced, I realize that I’ve only scratched the surface on what is to be done in this lifetime.  I am grateful to Deity for offering the potential for these experiences, and I am striving to continue to be open to them.  I look forward to what tomorrow will bring!

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Two of Wands reversed/Three of Pentacles.  The Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic) tells of power, influence and authority.  The personal power being represented by this card may not be easily tapped for me today, so I should remain aware of that and choose my actions accordingly.  The Three of Pentacles (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.  This card represents the first real physical world manifestation or effect of an idea, and it reminds me that I’ve gotta keep my awareness on this idea in order for it to really solidify. Nose to the grindstone, no dreaming about the end result yet.

My Thoth card is the Three of Disks reversed.  “Work” and Bookends!  Crowley sees the upright Three of Disks as representing the first crystallization of the fertility and promise of the suit of Disks.  My Thoth Three of Disks is reversed, and since it is a Bookend card and there already is a Three of Disks upright today, this one is telling me that while something has definitely been created in the physical world, it just might not be what I think it is.  Looks like I might have to go back and check again eh?

My Legacy card is Justice reversed, flavored by the Six of Cups.  Justice is a card of adjustment, and it corresponds with the element of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick, animated energy that usually brings problems or challenges that bring growth), Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Lamed (ox goad; training or teaching), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Geburah (the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed).  The upright Justice card represents true fairness and equality, but since my Justice card is also reversed, there may be some difficulty today regarding moral justice.  However, I am being given a good method for dealing with any moral injustice I come into contact with (whether I am the recipient or the perpetrator) in my Six of Cups card.  The Six of Cups (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, compulsive, deep, obsessive), is a card of innocence, emotional balance and harmony.  This card remins me that whenever I have difficulty with justice or morality, the best way to find an answer is to simply things, to assume innocence (but not unrealistically), and to apply love to the equation.

More about my Bookends card, the Three of Pentacles/Disks/Coins.  The number 3 is an active, fertile number; it usually represents the creation of something new, and in the Tarot Minor Arcana cards, that new creation is usually made from the fertility and promise of the Ace, and the balance, polarity, and understanding of “distance between” of the Two.  the suit of Pentacles corresponds to the element of Earth, and while this does offer a bit of balance to the volatile 3, it also offers the potentials of Earthly fertility.  That means this card can represent making use of talents or having marketable skills; it can tell us to have pride even when our work is humble, and it tells us that having a good reputation through working hard and being fair will provide benefits in the future.  While this card tells of the establishment of some potentially fertile physical-world operation, it is not yet portraying any completion of that operation.  This card also tells of skills attained through study and apprenticeship, so there is some influence of the group here, either in getting this far, or maybe in order to move forward from here.  Reversed, the Three of Pentacles can indicate work of poor work, losing interest in a project, being petty or caught up in useless focuses or instructions, not having strong skills, heading out on your own at what might be a bad time, or missing out on an opportunity.

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

My horoscopes: “You tend to be down to Earth and practical, Sagittarius, but now you feel like indulging in some flights of fancy. Romance or fantasy novels could be especially appealing right now. You might even toy with the idea of writing one of your own. If you're currently romantically involved, your sweetheart might want to take you out for a special dinner. Enjoy your day.”

And: “Transformation of not only your life, but your very being, may have been in the works for a long time. Today, however, is the day when you could finally see it manifesting. Dreams come true, perhaps in an unconventional and totally unexpected manner. A caution: don't move too quickly or too eagerly. Think carefully before committing to any plans, and don't be afraid to consult with others, either. If you move with caution, good fortune should follow.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Star.  The stars of the night are ancient and silent; they offer the same kind of power and fulfillment (or at least a potential to receive the same) as our Sun, but from the perspective of the vastness of the Universe, filled with possibilities of all shapes, colors and kinds.  From this primordial perspective of the stars, time is meaningless, judgments are a waste of time, and all is possible.

More about Astrology, and the planet Pluto.  Pluto is the ruling planet of Scorpio and the Eighth House. In Roman mythology, Pluto is the god of the underworld and of wealth, and thus represents the things buried deep within us that need to be brought to light.  Pluto takes 247 years to make a full circuit of the Zodiac, but this trip through the signs is not predictable.  Pluto spends anywhere between 15 and 26 years in each sign. Pluto is the outermost planet of the solar system, and represents the final result of the process of breaking down the reality structure of normal consciousness begun by Uranus.  Pluto offers transformation through death and rebirth, usually rebirth that is higher on he evolutionary path.  Often what we leave behind within this process is a part of our ego that we feel we cannot live without. Pluto’s energy is the most intense and potent there is: atomic, nuclear, sexual, kundalini. If we allow the fear of the death of some part of our self to block it’s process, the result can be catastrophic.

Astrologically, Pluto is considered a higher octave of Mars, because Pluto is not the force and strength of Mars, but rather the knowledge and wisdom that come from being able to wield force and strength.  Because this planet destroys in order to renew, Pluto is called "the great renewer"; the most common keyword used for this planet is “transformation.” It is associated with power and personal mastery, and cooperation in the name of mutual survival. Pluto governs big business and wealth, mining, surgery and detective work, and any process that involves digging under the surface to bring the truth to light.

Pluto is also associated with the corruption brought by extreme power; the discovery of Pluto corresponded with the Great Depression and the growth of organized crime in the US, with nuclear armament, and with the rise of fascism and Stalinism in Europe, leading to World War II. The discovery of Pluto also occurred just after the birth of modern psychoanalysis, when Freud and Jung began to explore the depths of the unconscious.  In art, movements like Cubism and Surrealism began to de-construct the "normal" view of the world. In medicine, Pluto is seen to be associated with regenerative forces in the body involving cell formation and the reproductive system.

Spelunkers, geologists, subway workers, psychotherapists, healers, religious leaders and detectives all correspond in a good way with Pluto. Organized crime, spies, the socially disaffected, and terrorists also correspond with Pluto, not necessarily in a pleasant way. Politicians also correspond with Pluto, and LOL, they can be either good or bad.

Pluto's three gifts, attained through a not-so-pleasant process, are strength of will, the power of transcendence, and transformation through self-knowledge and redemption.  I know from experience they are worth working for.

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