The Universe/The Empress reversed.  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.   The synergy represented by this card is not passive though; it tells me to move forward and share what I’ve learned and use what I’ve been given.  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 the nurturing of others, and an enjoyment of the senses.  My Empress is reversed, and that could very well be telling me that right now, a free flow of creativity may not be in my best interest.  Refinement, order and discipline might work better, particularly if I am attempting to manifest the energies of The Universe.

My Thoth card is the Ace of Cups reversed. The Ace of Cups (Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, deep, mysterious, obsessive, Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) gives birth to deep emotions, and a connection to my Inner Voice and to those around me.  The Thoth Ace of Cups also represents the purity of Spirit and The Source, and thus it is the seed of love and fulfillment.  My Ace is reversed; the energies of Spirit and The Source are always there, but my ability to connect with them may not be at its best right now.  Distractions?  Perhaps.

My Legacy card is the Page of Wands reversed, flavored by the Four of Swords reversed. The Page of Wands (Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic noble egotistical; and Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) in an upright position tells of the spark that could create a mighty flame, if there is enough kindling and air to feed it.  My Page of Wands is reversed, and thus his curiosity and his enthusiasm for teaching and learning may not be available to me right now.  Perhaps I am being impatient for the results of my efforts to appear NOW, or perhaps I’m having trouble sitting still enough to be able to see that the rewards are here already, just not easily seen.  The reversed Four of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) could very well be validating this interpretation.  Upright, this card can represent a pause or truce or mutual deterrent, or a time of silence and isolation, and while total isolation would not be good, a moment of inner focus in order to ground just might help my awareness.  Get my balance, then reach out to learn new stuff.  I can do that.

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

My horoscopes: “This is likely a day when you want to reflect on your successes. As your professional success continues to skyrocket, your sense of self-confidence follows suit. So do your relationships with family, friends, children, and romantic partners. Your mind is especially sharp, Sagittarius, and your personal innovations should continue to progress. Life is good and likely to stay that way for a while.”

And: “An unexpected phone call from a lover or close friend could bring good news that makes your day. You'll want to pass it on. Other intriguing information could arrive by way of newspapers, TV, or the Internet. By day's end you should be feeling very optimistic and enthusiastic, and your mind is likely to be spinning with new ideas. Take a walk before you go to bed. Otherwise you won't be able to sleep.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Four of Cups.  This card tells of self-absorption and introspection to the point that your perception of reality becomes skewed, and to the point that you lose your ability to be aware of just who and what is around you in the physical world.  This is nice for a moment, but might be a bit dangerous if maintained.

I already posed some information about the number 5 on December 24 of last year; for ease of reading, here is that info: “5 is a prime number (and the only one to end in the digit 5 because all others with a 5 in this position are multiples of 5, and thus not prime), the fifth Fibonacci number.  There are 5 Platonic solids, as noted above; we have 5 digits (as do many lifeforms on our world); there are 5 categories of hurricanes, 5 books in Psalms in the Bible and 5 wounds on Christ’s body at the crucifixion, 5 books in the Torah, there are 5 Pillars of Islam and Muslims pray to Allah 5 times each day, the Sikhs have 5 sacred symbols.  There are 5 elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Spirit/Aether), 5 tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, savory), 5 senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch) and there are 5 planets visible with the naked eye.  “Five by Five” in radio communication indicates a perfect signal; we can ask someone to “give me five” and receive a “high five from them”; we can “plead the fifth” (referring to the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution), and invoke the “five second rule” when we drop food.  5 is even the holy number of Discordianism (Sacred Chaos), as represented by the Law of Fives (All things happen in fives, or are divisible by or are multiples of five, or are somehow directly or indirectly appropriate to 5. The Law of Fives is never wrong. Malaclypse the Younger, Principia Discordia, Page 00016).”

In “Constructing the Universe,” Schneider describes the number 5 like this: “Beyond the Monad’s point, the Dyad’s line, the Triad’s surface and the Tetrad’s three-dimensional volume, what remains?  The Pentad represents a new level of cosmic design: the introduction of life itself.”  Within the Platonic solids, the dodecahedron (constructed of 12 sides each having 5 points) is considered the “Quintessence” that infuses the four elements with the life that none of the four elements can create on their own.  The elements are important because they supply the construction materials, but it is the number 5 that brings life to the construct. 

The number 5 has been considered sacred for many years, probably in part because of its appearance in us, and also in part because of its appearance throughout Nature.  The 5-pointed star also appears spontaneously throughout humanity’s existence as an archetypal symbol of excellence and power.  In Nature, “five-ness” is a representation of the essence which brings freshness and fullness and fertility to life.  Flowers and leaves are shaped like stars or pentagrams, and many fruits contain a star either in the core or at the base, starfish and sand dollars have five segments, and as mentioned above, our bodies exhibit the number 5 throughout.

Nature expresses her methods in part through sacred geometry, and the 5-sided figure expresses the ability to procreate that is available to some of our world’s life forms: through the germination of a seed or by regeneration through a part of the originating entity.  This concept of “whole-within-part” is found within plants and the use of cuttings to create new plants, and by the seeds on the head of a dandelion, each of which resembles the entire flower.  The leaves of a tree erupt from the twig in a pattern that is repeated with twigs on a branch, branches on a bough, and boughs on a trunk.  And all of these patterns can be symbolized by the 5-pointed star and the 5-sided pentagram, each of which can be regenerated. 

Not only life, but movement!  Expansion and contraction, the cosmic cycle of breath that pulls and pushes at us all.

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Six of Wands/Page of Cups 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. The Six of Wands is about victory, and it is about those people standing by the side of the road, watching the parade and cheering. 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); in an upright position this is a card of soft and tender energies, as well as dreams of a bright future.  My Page is reversed, and so I had better beware that I am not being overly sensitive.

My Thoth card is Two of Cups reversed.  “Love” is Crowley’s keyword for the Two of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, tenacious, moody) which upright tells of about love and connections, usually having to do with feelings, relationships and commonalities.  Reversed, this card tells of isolation and lack of joy, or maybe lust and a lack of love. 

My Legacy card is the Six of Wands reversed, flavored by the Five of Cups reversed.  Bookends!  And another reversed Cups card. The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) in an upright position tells of an emotional setback, or perhaps the belief that a wrong choice has been made.  But my Five of Cups is reversed, which is interesting.  This is telling of contentment rather than discomfort, and a releasing of regret.  Interesting that this spread, with Bookends, begins and ends with an emotionally positive, even optimistic, card!

My Bookends card is the Six of Wands.  The Llewellyn Welsh Six of Wands tells of an acknowledgement of accomplishments, but it also tells of being respected by one’s peers and one’s community.  The Legacy Tarot shows a warrior who has achieved much, including the praise of those around him. There is pride associated with this card, and acclaim, recognition and triumph.  This card can also represent some message of an exciting and pleasing nature.  Reversed, the card can tell of defeat, lack of recognition, or inconclusive results. Besides the obvious meanings, a reverse Six of Wands could represent a frustrating delay of some kind, or disloyalty or treachery.   

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

My horoscopes: “Today you might decide to sign up for an advanced course of some kind, Sagittarius. This might include world religions or perhaps meditation. Stay out of bookstores, both physical and online. You might spend a fortune on books on your chosen subject. The effect of this is likely to be more profound than a simple accumulation of knowledge. Prepare to be transformed.”

And: “An increased level of intuition might cause you to pick up more strongly on the thoughts and feelings of others. However, don't put too much stock in what these people are thinking and feeling. There is an aura of confusion about the day that interferes with people's rational thinking and sense of direction. Learn from those around you - but take it all with a grain of salt. If nothing else, you'll refine your ESP.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Eight of Wands.  This card tells of a sudden and strong emanation of energy that acts as a catalyst, sending outward our wishes and visions and dreams so that they may manifest. 

It has been a busy day.  Hubby has work, which is a good thing.  I made it to my Yoga class, and now my blog post is done.  Time for bed!

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Eight of Wands/Judgement. Eight of Wands (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) which is a card of action, of quick developments, and of pulling it all together so things can be completed.  This one has a lot of power for a Minor Arcana card, and it can often be a catalyst that brings a long-term transformation. 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.  Judgement should not be about discarding things but rather, about integrating what we have so we can be renewed and yet the same.  These two cards work nicely together, and I like the energy they represent.  If I can grab this energy, I can do anything.

My Thoth card is 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, synergy with the world, and an awareness of that synergy.  Crowley sees this one as representing a clearness of vision in order to realize or manifest possibilities into reality.

My Legacy card is The Tower reversed flavored by the Four of Swords.  The Tower (Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change), Mars (action, spontaneity, aggression, drive), Phe (mouth or speech), and the Path between Hod (which provides analysis and communication) and Netzach (which offers the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration)) in an upright position tells of a violent or explosive correction in the way things are going.  The Legacy version also tells us that these changes could come about due to accidents as well as unforeseen and sudden breakthroughs. But my Tower is reversed, and I think this time, I am being told that by consciously attempting to adjust things I could prevent a possible upcoming explosive correction.  The Four of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) can represent a pause or truce or mutual deterrent, a time of silence and isolation, and a time of being cut off from the world, yet still remaining alert.  My Four is flavoring my reversed Tower, and together they are telling me that if I am focused and calm and alert, I might achieve valuable balance.

My horoscopes: “A financial windfall could come as the result of a coup that no one expected you to pull off, Sagittarius. Everyone is likely to be very proud of you - and you will be very pleased with yourself, too. This is only the start of a fortunate new turn in your life. As far as money goes, it may all be smooth sailing from here on out.”

And: “Troubles with your current career could have you contemplating a possible change. However, this is not the day to make a final decision. Consider the problems: will they last, or are they temporary? Are they with the profession, or just the job? Perhaps a change is best, but you need to think about it carefully for a while. Today you might be too stressed and angry to be either practical or objective.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Queen of Pentacles.  This Queen represents creative and nurturing energy, the kind of energy that can make each of us feel wonderful, and can make the people around us feel wonderful.  And the icing on the cake is that by being generous and by sharing her own bounty with others she brings serenity and peace to herself.

I’ve already talked about the Platonic solids in a general way, but here is a bit more about them.  Using our compass, pencil and straight edge, we can draw any one of the Platonic solids, without a ruler.  Each of the solids is born from the vesica piscis, the symbolic womb that is created through the joining of opposites.  The Platonic solids associated with the number 4 are the tetrahedron (“four faces”), the tetragon (“four sides”) or square, and the hexahedron (“six faces”) or cube.  It is the tetragon or square that gives birth to the “Weave of the Goddess.”  We start with a square.  Then we find the midpoint of each of the sides, and connect them by creating a cross.  Then we draw diagonal lines from top right to bottom left, and from top left to bottom right.  So far, we have created a square containing eight triangles.  Next we draw diagonal lines connecting the ends of the cross, creating a diamond.  Then we connect the midpoints of the sides of the diamond, and create a smaller square.  We repeat, creating a diamond inside that smaller square, and then from that diamond we create an even smaller square.  We end up with a woven representation of material manifestation, the Weave of the Goddess; this process is known as decomposing a square. 

The end result makes a great meditation focus.

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!

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. 

61, Gateway: The Self (Within). Within is the direction of the Self, and thus the cards associated with this direction deal with the ways our Self connects to the world and perceives the world, and the Self.  This direction is mostly abstract, and yet is our bridge to the Universe around us.  This card is considered a “blank canvas,” in that it has faces and hands like the other Within cards, but there are no traits or textures or shapes or colors infused into the faces and hands.  That is because each of us is unique; this is a great significator card, and I am choosing to accept The Self as offering a message: “These cards offer a unique message to you, but that message must be perceived through your own unique senses and interpreted through your own unique intellect.”  This card tells us that the first and main purpose of life and living is to get to know our individual Self.

59, Grail Hollows: The Stone (Below). The direction of Below is not easily associated with spirituality, yet it is a powerful symbol representing the opportunity to create a strong foundation, and to connect to the tools and powers of the Underworld.  The Stone represents the deepest and most pure manifestation of the element of Earth, and tells us of traditions that have been around for a long time (some of them relatively unchangeable, and that can be either good or bad).  The understanding of those traditions, and within that process, the determination of their validity for us personally, brings us authority.  This understanding also offers us entry into the understanding of the mysteries that are the foundation of spirituality, and of life and living.

I then created my mandala.  Wow, another powerful reading!  Either these cards are really connecting with me and my life, or I’m getting better at interpreting them, because each week I am being given a powerful message!  The fiery tendrils of Salamander emanate from the center of the mandala, through the eyes of Self and outward.  The Stone also covers the eyes of the Self, and we have opposing energies here, each offering a powerful message.  Fire is heat, and it actively moves outward; the Stone is cool, and compresses and strives to be solid and predictable.  In the middle of these extremes is the Self, me, my life essence, and perhaps I am being told that I have the ability to handle both of these extremes, and end up with a positive result.

I spent the weekend with dear friends in Pennsylvania.  We really had a good time, eating good food, drinking a bit too much wine, and talking till the wee hours, each night.  Saturday we went out for a bit, to a local coffee house to listen to some great music, but mostly we talked, catching up on each of our life events, and delving deep into the mysteries of our spiritual Paths. 

My drive home was beautiful; right after I left my friends’ home and got onto the highway, the moon rose above the eastern horizon and since I was heading east, I had the glorious sight of the glowing orb in front of me for the whole trip.  A perfect ending to a great weekend.

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Two of Wands reversed/Five of Swords. The Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic) tells of power, influence and authority.  My card is reversed, however, and especially when considering the other card in this pair, it is giving me a warning.  Today I had better pull back and look carefully before taking any action.  I should especially not rely on any analysis or logic, because they may end up manifesting harm of some kind. The Five of Swords (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, pleasure, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloof) shows what happens when we insist that our way is right, or when we impose our needs or wants onto a situation.  This card is showing me, in no uncertain terms, just what might happen if I allow my own personal power to have free reign.  Instead of thinking of my own needs (as I may want to do today) I should pull back and think about what other options could work better, and work towards those.

My Thoth card is the Two of Swords.  “Peace” is Crowley’s keyword for this one. The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) represents a time of not looking or of shutting out the world.  Crowley sees this card as a bit more positive than some decks, hence the keyword; however, as always, he offers a warning too.  Deception may be afoot, so while it is okay to pause for a bit, I should not close my eyes as well.

My Legacy card is the Four of Wands reversed, flavored by the King of Wands. The Four of Wands (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, enthusiastic) in an upright position is about building enough to become established.  Because my Four of Wands is reversed, perhaps today I will be more likely to see burdens and difficulties rather than results.  But the card is there, even if it is reversed. My Four of Wands is being flavored by a good card, the King of Wands.. The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) is honest and open hearted, and rules his realm through the advantageous use of his creative impulses.  He is quite resourceful, and up to the challenge of reversing that Four of Wands because he is good at setting goals and then making them happen.

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of a new creation out of the possibility of the number 1, and the balance, polarity and “distance between” of the number 2. Potential + energy created by tension between opposites = creation!

My horoscopes: “The planetary configuration makes you likely to reap the benefits of all your hard work, Sagittarius. The little windfall you receive is nice, to be sure, but don't think of all of it as fun money. Put a good amount aside in a savings or investment account. You can use the rest to kick up your heels a bit. Why not invite a friend to dinner at the nicest restaurant in town?”

And: “There might be some tasks you're anxious to take care of today, but you might have to spend some time waiting for certain information before you can actually get them done. This might make you feel antsy, but don't panic. The information will come and you'll be able to proceed in a timely manner. This might involve a short trip to make a delivery. Your efforts won't go unnoticed. Hang in there!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Page of Pentacles.  This one shows up a lot for me with this deck.  This Page is a great disciple or student as she loves learning, but her best role is as a catalyst for change in the physical world.  She is holding the key out to me; I have only to accept it!

Today I leave for a weekend visit with friends who I haven’t seen in a while.  I will be spending the weekend in Harrisburg, PA.  This is going to be a “sit up late and talk” kind of weekend, and I am looking forward to a change in the routine. 

But before I go, here is a bit about our next number, the number 4!  So far, we’ve only talked about two dimensions, or surface; powerful stuff, yes.  After all, 1, 2 and 3 represent Source/Unity, balance/polarity, and manifestation.  Within my study of Wicca and of spirituality I have found these concepts in many places.  Just the other night, my Yoga teacher mentioned the Trimuti of Brahma (creation), Vishnu (maintenance) and Shiva (destruction/transformation), one of many representations of the cycle of creation, balance and harmony, and transformation.  Now, we move onward to a third dimension that brings us depth and volume.  The number 4 is the first number that is created by the combination of two equals, 2 + 2 = 4, or 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4.  This is why the square is associated with justice; it is created by equals.

The cool thing is that the number 4 also brings into play the very Platonic solids that are tickling my brain.  They cannot exist as physically manifested objects without the number 4 and the concept of depth. 

The first solid that can be constructed at this point, is the tetrahedron.  The tetrahedron has four sides, and each side has three points; this shape occurs frequently in organic chemistry, and in submicroscopic structures.  The diamond, our world’s hardest naturally occurring material, is constructed at the microscopic level of a tetrahedral network of carbon atoms. 

The shapes most commonly associated with the number 4 are the square and the cube, both created through a 4-sided shape.  Indeed, we strive to get a “square deal” that is “fair and square,” we eat “square meals,” we face problems “squarely” and if necessary, go back to “square one” in order to solve them.  Like the tetrahedron, the square is associated with reliability, fairness, firmness and solidity. 

We have 4 cardinal directions, and the winds, each individually named, blow from those 4 directions.  There are 4 basic elements, Earth, Water, Air and Fire.  Many cities are laid out in 4-sided grids, and even the baseball diamond is actually a square standing on its points.

Cool stuff, eh?  Next we will talk a bit more about the Platonic solids, in a general way.

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Page of Wands reversed/King of Pentacles reversed. The Page of Wands (Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic noble egotistical; and Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) in an upright position tells of the spark that could create a mighty flame, if there is enough kindling and air to feed it.  My Page of Wands is reversed, and I could be dealing with a bit of lethargy, or perhaps a lack of curiosity or need to find answers. The King of Pentacles (cusp of Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, and Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, physically oriented) is the expert on the physical world, on physical world resources, and on physical manifestation.  In an upright position, he is reliable, predictable and knowledgeable, but my King is reversed, and so there is danger of being distracted from steady progress.  Quality is more important than quantity, even though today, it may seem otherwise.  And one good tool for counteracting lethargy is a good, solid routine. 

My Thoth card is the Four of Cups reversed.  “Luxury” is Uncle Al’s keyword for the upright Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody), which tells us that too much pleasure deadens the senses.  Thankfully my card is reversed, perhaps satisfaction can happen without that deadening of the senses. 

My Legacy card is the King of Swords reversed, flavored by the Seven of Wands reversed.  Hmmm . . . all reversed cards today, and two reversed Kings! The King of Swords (cusp of Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, cunning, authoritative, and Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, aloof) in an upright position is a good judge of people and situations.  He uses his intellect to analyze, so he may not be compassionate but he is trustworthy.  But my King is reversed, so today, leadership positions or even positions that require enforcement might not work for me.  My reversed King is being flavored by the reversed Seven of Wands. The Seven of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, natural leader, egotistical, selfish) in an upright position reminds me that my own judgment is worth relying on.  My reversed Seven is actually reinforcing my reversed King; after all, my Seven is telling me that an actively defensive attitude might not work.  Sounds like I had better back off a bit.

Since I threw all reversed cards, I threw a clarification card.  I threw the Page of Wands, also reversed!  LOL looks like my spread for today begins and ends with this card.  Upright, this card tells of courage and creativity, confidence and enthusiasm.  This Page thrives on the unexpected, but it sure looks like I won’t be too agile in that regard today.  So, I will let my day play out by the book, and I won’t take too many chances. 

My 6-digit date number is 10, which tells of the completion of a cycle; it can be further reduced to 1, the number of unity, possibility, and position.

My horoscopes: “If you own property, you might discover that its value has increased far beyond anything you dreamed of, Sagittarius. This might involve real estate, but it could also involve other resources like stocks, bonds, or family heirlooms. What you choose to do with this information is up to you, but you will probably decide to hang on to what you have. It's just nice to know it's valuable.”

And: “You won't need to take your morning vitamins today! You are already full of energy. Think Hercules about to take on the gods on Mount Olympus! People will thrive on your energy. Some of them might even try to pump up their energy to your level. But be careful not to get tangled up in your emotions.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Four of Pentacles.  Such a pretty image for a card with such a powerful warning!  Being careful is one thing, but reaching the point of seeing thieves in every shadow is another.  This kind of extreme possessiveness can be a prison in and of itself, and we need to release control in order to be truly rich and blessed. 

The last few days have been busy for me.  I work for my husband, and we are busy.  LOL, that is a good thing!  I am moving along with my Third Degree Lesson 8; I am hoping to get the second exercise done this weekend.  Then I will type it up, and probably allow both exercises to sit a bit to see if anything else develops.  Only once I am sure I’ve wrung everything I can out of these exercises will I write the essay that goes along with this homework assignment. 

I have heard that Yoga Teacher Training will be starting in March, and I think I am going to sign up.  Becoming certified as a Yoga teacher will help my Thai Bodywork immensely.  The studio where I will be training focuses on therapeutic uses for Yoga, which is perfect.  I’ve been going there for classes for a while now, and I like the vibes.

All in all, I feel good, and LOL, that is a good thing, eh?

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Ace of Swords reversed/Two of Cups. The Ace of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution authority, cunning, Aquarius and Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, soul growth, artistic) in an upright position tells of the potential within the day to effectively use mental or intellectual abilities. My Ace is reversed today, and considering my focus and the direction of my efforts these days, I am seeing this as a message that for today, I should not see every event as a lesson to be analyzed and absorbed.  While these processes might cause a bit of isolation, I am learning that isolation is the first step toward understanding myself.  Now **that** idea is a challenge that offers opportunity for growth! The Two of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, tenacious, moody) tells of about love and connections, usually having to do with feelings, relationships and commonalities.  This card is validating my reversed Ace of Swords with some strength.  My Two is telling me that the isolation that is necessary for understanding and learning from life’s challenges is not for me today; instead, I should be focusing on my connections to others, particularly those I love.  After all, love is the answer to the question. 

My Thoth card is the Nine of Disks.  “Gain” is the keyword for this one, usually gain in the material world. The Nine of Disks (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of accomplishment or gain through the imposition of discipline.  This type of effort usually works well when tried-and-true methods are the best option, and it tells me that if I keep my nose to the grindstone, I may experience the satisfaction of enjoying pleasant results attained by my own hard work.

My Legacy card is the King of Swords reversed, flavored by The Lovers reversed.  The King of Swords (cusp of Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, cunning, authoritative, and Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, aloof) in an upright position is a good judge of people and situations.  He uses his intellect to analyze, so he may not be compassionate but he is trustworthy.  But my King is reversed, and being flavored by The Lovers, also reversed. 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 duality, union, and personal choices.  Today I am lacking the ability to analyze, so my choices need to be either for the good of all (and with the input of all) or not made today at all.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the pause that occurs when growth slows and degeneration approaches.  Often, this pause involves a crossroad or choice.

My horoscopes: “Take a break from the routine and get off the beaten path, Sagittarius. This is a day to forge ahead with ideas and dreams rather than commitments and answers. Question things and debate the facts. Have fun whatever you do. This is the perfect day to go out and fly kites with your friends. All group activities are strongly favored. You can't go wrong chatting about the latest events in your life.”

And: “Today your physical energy, along with your enthusiasm, is very high, so you're definitely up for any task at hand. Your mind is also sharp and capable of accomplishing feats of ingenuity you would never have thought of before. The only downside: You could get carried away and work your way into exhaustion. Remember to pace yourself!”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Five of Wands.  I love the energies of this card!  Yes, they are a bit uncomfortable, but I like to see them as a “scouring” of my creative abilities so those abilities can be more clearly perceived.  These are good energies for sneaking in under the radar; as everyone else is scrambling to adapt, I can quietly slip through.

I did an incredibly powerful meditation today that is part of my 3^rd Degree Lesson.  I wrote the meditation based on a snippet that was given to me last week.

I will be honest, I’ve done quite a bit of Shadow Work over the past five years or so, and I did not expect a lot to happen once I performed the ritual.  Big surprise!  I am still blown away by what happened during the meditation!  I received two very unexpected surprises, both clarifying events or entities that came to me years ago.  And I finally understood the most important part of Shadow Work.

Once I submit the homework, I will post a description of the meditation, but this is only part of the lesson work, so it will be a while yet.  But the interesting thing is that since the meditation, I am experiencing a turmoil of energies.  These are all minor irritations, but it is almost like something big and heavy has been dropped into still waters; everything has been churned up.

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Transparent Oracle Sunday!

1, Gateway: Spring (East).  East is the direction of the rising sun, and thus of new beginnings and fresh ideas, as well as knowledge, intellectual ideas and thoughts.  The Gateway of Spring brings us fresh new beginnings and the first blossoming of creativity.  There is an innocence about the energies of this Gateway, and an optimism, and perhaps these lovely energies will bring new insights, as well as new creativity.

62, Dream (Within).  Within is the direction of the Self, and thus the cards associated with this direction deal with the ways our Self connects to the world and perceives the world, and the Self.  This direction is mostly abstract, and yet is our bridge to the Universe around us.  Dream is the language of the unconscious mind; our unconscious mind is constantly absorbing and interpreting information, and since Dream has no physical world limits, it can interpret that information without being bound by any limits. Thus we can see the past and the future, and talk to those who are not now (or maybe never were) of the physical world.

55, Guide: Mermaid (Below).  Ascension and escape from the physical world seem to be our tasks for this life; however, in order to ascend, we need to first understand this word we are attempting to grow out of.  The cards of Below assist us in that endeavor.  Mermaid tells us of many non-physically manifested concepts: feelings, emotions, love, compassion, and healing.  Like Water, none of these can be held in place by our hands, and yet all are important ingredients within a balanced and harmonious and satisfying life.  Learning to access these ingredients and use them for our benefit without “over-spicing” the recipe takes focus and Will, and loss of control can bring obsession and destruction, but it is well worth the risk.

Wow, another powerful mandala.  The faces from Dream and Mermaid overlap, and all these beautiful strands of colors come out of their crown chakras.  Dream’s eyes are closed, but Mermaid’s open eyes are on top of the closed eyes of Dream.  And the wreath of Spring connects them all, at eye level.  This new beginning might be connected to “seeing,” but I have a feeling I won’t be using my eyes.  Knowing who we are and where we are going involves knowing who we were and where we were, and my Path leads me now inward, to the dark places.  The Journey may not be all pleasant, it will not always be easy for me to see where I really am, and I won’t be in control of the Vehicle, but in the end I will know myself.  I choose to know myself. 

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Page of Swords/Eight of Pentacles reversed. 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) was in my reading yesterday, but in a reversed position.  Upright, this Page tells us to use our mind and intellect to analyze situations as well as our emotions and feelings, and the messages of our senses.  My Page also reminds me that things could be hidden, and I need to use my powers of analysis and logic to perceive those hidden things. The Eight of Pentacles (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, sensible, orderly) was also in my spread yesterday, but in an upright position.  Reversed, this one is not so much about taking care of details, working hard, and studying or learning new things, as much as it is telling of a lack of drive or focus.  This card in a reversed position could also be not only validating the Page of Swords but also expanding on the message of that Page.  Don’t look at the details, look at the big picture!

My Thoth card is The Emperor.  Aaah yes, the archetype of the Father! 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. This card is not about having fun, rather it is about keeping our nose to the grindstone so we can bring order to our world, and acting as an example to others.  After all, this is the only way for The Emperor to remain effective as an emperor.

My Legacy card is the Queen of Coins reversed, flavored by the Knight of Swords. The Queen of Coins (cusp of Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering, and Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning, authoritative) in an upright position is very good at sustaining the physical world, keeping things dry and cozy and safe and orderly.  However, my Queen is reversed, so this effort to sustain within the physical world could end up bringing a focus on the materialistic, and an effort to attain perfection even when perfection is not beneficial. The Knight of Swords (the cusp of Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, intelligent) is outspoken, assured, alert, and logical, as well as rude, domineering, critical and sarcastic.  My Knight could very well be supporting my reversed Queen of Coins, and not in a good way.  Yes, he is assured and confident, but he also strives mightily to bring about his own version of perfection.  I don’t know what would be worse: these two having the same definition of perfection, or these two having opposing definitions of perfection.  Earth of Earth and Fire of Air could be a recipe for disaster.

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

My horoscopes: “New, exciting opportunities to earn more money might come your way today, Sagittarius perhaps through new fields. Colleagues could bring information. Your sense of adventure is high, so risks might seem more attractive than usual. Don't get carried away. Don't forget to explore every possibility in detail before committing to anything. Nothing is certain, even on days like today.”

And: “Come out and play today. Explode out of work mode and have fun. Drive to someplace new and take a long walk outside with friends. You have a great deal of energy to add to the group, so feel free to share your enthusiasm with others. There is an exciting buzz in the air that you should connect with and contribute to. Take a break from the mundane and explore something new.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Five of Wands.  The Shadowscapes Tarot interpretation of this card is a good one.  It tells us that yes, the energies around us are careening around and bumping into each other, but these moments of confusion could be beneficial to us.  We could use the chaos to fuel our own purposes, or we could use the chaos as a distraction so we can melt into the forest and disappear.

I just received notification that my Lesson 7 of my Third Degree Training is well done, and I may move on to Lesson 8.  Lesson 8 is about the Shadow, and oh boy this one is going to be interesting.  I’ve already gotten hints; “You shall not pass!”

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Three of Wands reversed/Eight of Pentacles. The Three of Wands (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, the deepest self and personal power, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive) in an upright position tells of the excitement of seeking out uncharted areas with an optimism that says that no matter what happens, it will be good.   My Three of Wands is reversed, so today will not be a day of forging out into the unknown or expanding my horizons.  The Eight of Pentacles (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. This card seems to be validating the reversed Three of Wands, telling me to be careful and to solidify my current foundation.  Maybe tomorrow will be a better day for actually getting out there, but today is not.

My Thoth card is the Knight of Cups reversed. The Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) is about feeling things strongly and without restraint or grounding. The Knight of Cups in an upright position responds deeply to life, and dreams big dreams.  However, my Knight is reversed today, and I need to be aware that manifesting my own feelings without considering the feelings of others might also manifest a hurtful insensitivity to the feelings of others.

My Legacy card is the Page of Swords reversed, flavored by the Ten 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) in an upright position tells us to use our mind and intellect to analyze situations as well as our emotions and feelings, and the messages of our senses.  My Page is reversed today, and I will need to know that my ability to analyze may be flawed.  Paranoia might be valid, but it could also be in my mind only. 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 perception of the complete manifestation of interference, powerlessness and restriction.  This Ten is flavoring my reversed Page; since they are both Swords cards, I need to have a care today or I could end up creating some uncomfortable situations. 

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

My horoscopes: “Today you might try to put computers or other forms of advanced technology to work for you, Sagittarius. This could be of great benefit to you. You might be blown away by the advantages of it. Your mind should be quick enough to grasp any new software or equipment that you will want to use. The innovation could also help raise your earning power. Isn't technology wonderful?”

And: “Energy that is stored up inside you is begging to be released today. Do your physical and mental bodies a favor by getting outside and doing some brisk cardiovascular exercise. You will find that you have a great deal of emotion to burn off and today is the perfect day to do it. Take this opportunity to give your system the jump-start it needs to get on a healthy exercise track again.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The Star.  The energies of this card are lovely.  No sun, no moon; only the velvety night sky and the stars.  The figure on the Shadowscapes Star card dances the dance of hope, and in doing her dance she becomes a physical world symbol of hope.  The Star is about hope and optimism, but it is also about finding that still, dark place within our core where we can heal and prepare to greet the dawn with new vigor.

I spent yesterday doing a huge purge and cull in my magickal room.  I got rid of three garbage bags of stuff that I no longer use, or that does not apply to me any more.  I put some of my beginner Wicca books into a box and stored the box, so that I have more room in my magickal Bookcase of Shadows.  The room feels a lot lighter, and so do I. 

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Knight of Cups/King of Swords reversed. The Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) is about feeling things strongly and without restraint or grounding.  He may appear calm, cool and collected to others, but my Knight of Cups responds deeply to life, and dreams big dreams.  The King of Swords (cusp of Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, cunning, authoritative, and Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, aloof) in an upright position is a good judge of people and situations.  He uses his intellect to analyze, so he may not be compassionate but he is trustworthy.  But my King is reversed, and perhaps he is encouraging my Knight of Cups to dream his dreams and feel his feelings.  Perhaps a bit of imbalance here, eh?

My Thoth card is the Two of Swords reversed.  “Peace” reversed today. The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), which in an upright position can represent a time of not looking or of shutting out the world.  My Two of Swords is reversed, so barriers won’t be effective today.  Hmm . . . another reversed Sword card.  Looks like today it will be love and caring that solve the problems, rather than logic.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Coins, flavored by the Four of Wands reversed. 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. This card tells me that my efforts to bring stability and prosperity into all the phases of my physical world are effective, and if I’m not already seeing evidence of this, I will see it soon.  The Four of Wands (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, enthusiastic) in an upright position is about building enough to become established.  This situation often makes us believe that we have completed our project, but in reality we have only made a good start.  Since my Four of Wands is reversed, and flavoring my Ten of Coins, I am being reminded that wealth can become a burden if we try to pack it away and protect it.  Instead, we need to do something with our bounty, create something with it, use it to bring good things into our lives and those around us. 

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

My horoscopes: “Today you may want to set aside some time to spend with close friends or a love partner, Sagittarius. Other responsibilities could have you on your own, taking care of errands and other important matters. You may have the feeling of being lonely in a crowd. Don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself. Take care of business and get back to your loved ones.”

And: “Planning is not generally a strong point of yours, but sometimes, it is painfully necessary. It may be that you are more comfortable with just throwing caution to the wind, letting fate lead the way, and keeping good luck as your back up. This plan works for the most part, but realize, that in some cases, a degree of rational thinking and organization might be helpful to get the job done right.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding The World.  This card is defined as “a unity of disparate parts,” and that is a perfect description of The World.  This card tells of balance, but it also tells of the weaving and blending of patterns and connections throughout the universe.  This is truly “as above, so below; as below, so above.”

Let’s talk a bit about the number 3!  As with the other numbers, this blog post is based on the book, “A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe,” by Michael S. Schneider.  And even looking at the image we use for the number 3 helps us to define the effects of the number itself!  The shape has a beginning, a middle and an end, a natural way to divide the whole.  In our lives, we have birth, life and death; space is defined by length, width and height; time is defined as past, present and future; traffic lights are green/go, yellow/pause and red/stop, and even our day is divided into dawn, midday and dusk.  We have three strikes in baseball, three medals in the Olympics, we usually use three counts as a catalyst (ready, set, go!), and auctioneers complete a deal by “going once, going twice, sold!”  And the successful bidder may celebrate by shouting, “hip, hip, horray!”

Three is a number of strength, stability, and of “process” or “creation” within processes or effects in science, in religion, and in commerce.  Many modern product logos exhibit triangles or three points for this reason.  Another interesting fact: the first symbol unable to be created in our three-dimensional world is the “tribar.”

The triangle is the opposite of a circle, which encloses the greatest area within the smallest perimeter; it encloses the smallest amount of area within a shape as compared to its perimeter.  It is the first shape constructed of straight lines, and it represents the two-dimensional concept of “surface.”  Triangles are stable, strong, balanced and efficient; the thorn on a rose bush and the teeth in the mouth of a shark are triangular.  The more triangles an architect or engineer uses in a structure, the more weight that structure will support. 

The smallest knot to be tied crosses itself in three places; tie a knot and three become one; make a braid and you create one whole out of three parts.  It takes two opposites and a “binding element” to create this union: a seller, a buyer and money create commerce, wax, a wick and a flame make a candle, and prosecution, defense and a judge create a trial.  LOL, the word even hints at this: tri-al.

The numbers 1 and 2 are seen as parents, as male and female; this means that the number 3, the creation of those two polar effects, can be considered the first number.  In fact, many primitive cultures don’t have a number beyond 3, and count by saying “one, two, many.”

Cool!

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