12/31/13

Two of Swords/Four of Wands reversed. The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) validates my Eight of Pentacles, because this card represents a time of not looking or of shutting out the world.  The serenity of this card happens because we choose to not receive or acknowledge as valid the information that comes to us from the outside; instead we choose to listen to our own mind.  This might not be so bad today, as it is NewYear’s Eve, a good day for reflection. 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, about the results of harmony and effort and creativity combined.  I am being told today that any planning I’ve done has not yet manifested as a sturdy foundation, so moving forward is not a good idea.  Kind of validates the Two of Swords, eh?

My Thoth cards are the Two of Swords (again, “Peace”) and the Three of Cups “Abundance”).  Another upright Two of Swords, this time the Thoth card.  Uncle Al sees the suit of Swords as intensely active in a mental sense, but the keyword shows us that this card at least has a quiet feel about it.  This is the moment where we shut out the world, and to some extent, there could be a bit of deception attached to this card.  Maybe not anything unethical (although that possibility exists as well), but rather, a kind of “I’d like to be alone for a bit” method for hiding what we’re thinking because we are not yet ready to come forward publicly. The Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) is about connections, emotional abundance, and about blessings.  This is seen as the friendship card, and it is an interesting companion to the Two of Swords.  I get this; today I will be able to maintain my quiet center, and still be the life of the party.  Perfect!

My Legacy card is the Devil, flavored by the Eight of Swords. The Devil (Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Capricorn (“I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning), Ayin (the eye, senses), and the Path between Hod (which provides analysis and communication) and Tipareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) tells of being caught up in the physical world and the effects of the physical senses, to the point of being bound or addicted to those things.  Lately I am noticing that I am actually two people: one person who cares for all of her bodies, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, and another person who is focused on pleasing my senses, usually by reading and munching.  When I am the first person, my mind is clear and focused, and when I am the second person, I experience a relaxation that is seductive.  The Legacy Devil is hugely handsome and has an alluring smile on his face, and he is reminding me that I do have a choice.  He is hoping I choose him, of course. My Devil is being flavored by the Eight of Swords; another Swords card that tells of being isolated! The Eight of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable talkative, dual) tells of a confused and restrictive response to obstacles, or maybe perceived obstacles.   This card tells me that I am feeling powerless to control things that are coming from outside of me.  Interesting companion to The Devil!  What I need to remember most is that I can only control my reaction to things, not the things themselves.  Even though those outside things seem to be binding me, they will only do so if I allow them to.

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

My horoscopes: “Let your childish side come out to play today, Sagittarius. Your dreams are in full force, so let them lead the way. Enjoy lighthearted conversations with friends about the latest movies and your favorite websites. You might want to consider working out or getting a haircut. This is a good day to improve your general appearance overall. You have a much sharper eye for physical beauty on a day like today.”

And: “There is a great deal of grounding energy in your world today, which might be working to smother your fire. Whatever happens, don't let the embers burn out. One of the great assets you bring to a group is a strong dynamism that is required to give people the courage to change. Be a fighter in the ring. Remember that at the end of the day, you need only be satisfied with the performance of one person: yourself.”

It is the last day of the calendar year.  This is a day for making plans for the future and releasing what no longer serves us, and my first step is to release the idea of making a resolution for the next twelve months.  Tomorrow is the New Moon, and that is the cycle I am going to focus on.  Since today is the last day of the Dark Moon as well as the last day of 2013, Shadow Work seems to be in order. 

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12/29/13

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

63, Touch (and Taste) (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.  Our senses connect us to the physical world, and the sense of Touch is the most solid and least deceptive sense; touch is the method we use to find our way around and to dispel illusion.  Taste is a part of Touch, for it is by bringing things into contact with our tongues that we Taste them.  Contact is the key here, and connection; they can be pleasant or violent.

29, Guide: Turtle (West). West is the direction of Water, and thus, of feelings and emotions, relationships of all kinds, cleansing and healing, the wisdom associated with natural endings, and the bubbling up of pure joy.  Water is Turtle’s environment, but not only Water, for like Otter, many Turtles are at home on Earth (and in fact, Turtles lay their eggs on Earth).  Turtle offers us an opportunity to learn about protection; not the kind of protection that shuts out the world but rather, the kind of protection that allows us to dive deep and explore the unknown without fear.  Turtle is also slow and steady, is patient, and endures; Turtle has a long lifespan, and has existed relatively unchanged since ancient times.  Turtle’s shell shows us how to exist in spite of the churning eddies of life, without being affected by them.  After all, she is able to safely travel between the worlds because she is well-protected.

16, Guide: Snake (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.  Snake has powerful symbolism in our world; it is seen to represent many medical/healing modalities, and the Kundalini energy.  Snake corresponds with the dragon, and is seen as a mundane representation of that mythical beast.  Because Snake can shed its skin and appear renewed, it is associated with healing, fertility, regeneration and rebirth.  Snake can access places that would be out of reach for most of us, and so Snake can share both knowledge and wisdom.  However, the knowledge and wisdom owned and shared by Snake is neutral, and we need to be careful what we choose to do with what we learn.  Eve learned that lesson in the Garden of Eden.

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  Lots of bridging of gaps and connecting of worlds in these cards.  The mandala is tight, and the energies appear to be emanating, or better yet, exploding from the center with intensity (although not necessarily with force or speed).  It looks like along with intensity of experience, there will be intensity of feelings; perhaps all this intensity will allow me to shed the old year and reinvent myself. 

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12/28/13

Queen of Wands reversed/The Hanging Man reversed. The Queen of Wands (cusp of Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality, and Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) in an upright position is energetic, adaptable and enthusiastic; she is filled with persistent energy and calm authority at the same time, and because of this she draws others to her.  This Queen could be seen as a self-made woman who has earned her standing in her world through her own hard work, but who has not forgotten where she came from.  She is reversed today and tells me that if I allow today to be about just being who I am, I might alienate others. The Hanging Man corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and emotional, sensitive and imaginative energy that tends to move deep, and attempts to take the same path as in the past), Neptune (inspiration, spirituality, magick, enchantment, dreams, altered states), and the Hebrew letter Mem (water, stability and balance, the reflective quality of thought), and in an upright positin presents the kind of balance that comes to us through surrender, and through deliberately attempting to see things in a different way.  The Llewellyn Welsh Hanging Man also represents the discomfort associated with not being able to affect our surroundings, a kind of freeze frame.  Since my Hanging Man is reversed, instead of having no expectations, I am being told that my expectations might be unrealistic, and I could be missing the point of the lesson.  The phrase used in the LWB for this deck is “blind shoots that do not flower”; love that.  These cards appear to contradict each other on the surface, but if we look a bit closer, we will see a connection!

My Thoth cards are the Three of Swords (“Sorrow”) reversed and the Four of Swords (“Truce”) reversed.  Er . . . okay. The Three of Swords (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), my least favorite card in the entire deck, in an upright position usually indicates the possibility that logic, rationalizing and the intellect could end up causing harm if they are not used with balance and compassion. My Three of Swords is reversed, and hopefully the differences of opinion are not irreconcilable.  The Four of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) in an upright position can represent a pause or truce or mutual deterrent, or a time of silence and isolation, that should be used to prepare for challenges to come.  These cards together are giving me a clear message: don’t overthink things!!  Truces won’t cut the mustard, but that does not mean all is lost; even those with differences of opinions can agree, with respect, to disagree.

My Legacy card is the Knight of Wands, flavored by the Nine of Swords reversed. The Knight of Wands (cusp of Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, deep, obsessive, and Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) usually represents a person of passion, courage, enthusiasm and boundless energy; most definitely not background-type efforts.  The Legacy Knights are represented by a knight’s helmet, without a person in the image at all.  This reminds me that this Fiery energy will tend to be about the goal or end result, without taking into consideration any consequences.  The Knight of Wands is about dynamic force, which can be either helpful or harmful; I need to keep that in mind. My Knight of Wands is being flavored by another reversed Swords card (third one today!), the reversed Nine of Swords. The Nine of Swords (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, social, dual) in an upright position represents brooding and worrying, usually self-caused, and usually unproductive.  Often the worrying attached to this card is connected to insecurity, or to delays in obtaining something, which ends up being a total waste of time and energy, rarely achieving anything productive.  However, my Nine of Swords is reversed, and hopefully its energies will support my Fiery Knight, and save the day!

My 6-digit date number is 8, the number that tells of a conscious and deliberate response to the pause that happens as growth slows and degeneration approaches in order to preserve for a bit longer the harmony and balance of the number 6.

My horoscopes: “You can't let everything fall apart now, not after you've come so far. This may be a difficult moment for you, as it seems the time has come to prove yourself once and for all. But this isn't a reason to give up. Sleep, play sports, and eat healthfully. You should be able to win this battle provided you give yourself the opportunity to do so.”

And: “You are so serious and sober right now, immersed as you are in working out strategies and calculations aimed at enhancing your persona and personal power. But perhaps you should look up and see what's going on around you. Many people have been behaving irresponsibly. However, there may be one who has an ingenious idea to contribute. It is likely to be done in a joking way, so pay attention.”

I’ve had a nice quiet day in preparation for a busy New Year’s week after an unplugged day yesterday.  Did some catching up, too!

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12/25/13

Seven of Pentacles reversed/Eight of Swords reversed. The Seven of Pentacles (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) in an upright position tells of pauses and choices and assessments. This card has a heaviness to it, as the number 7 tells of a pause and the suit of Pentacles is mainly secure and still.  Because it is reversed, I may not be the most patient person today. The Eight of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable talkative, dual) in an upright position tells of a confused and restrictive response to obstacles, or maybe perceived obstacles.   Today I should be able to remember that I can only control my reaction to things, not the things themselves.  That applies to both cards.

My Thoth cards are The Empress (again!) and the Queen of Swords reversed. The Empress (my significator card, 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 half that is about creativity, fertility of all kinds, a deep connection to Nature and the nurturing of others, and an enjoyment of the senses. The Empress takes the saying, “live and let live,” and makes it her own: “Love and let love.”  The Queen of Swords (cusp of Virgo, “I serve,” practical, sensible, work and service oriented, and Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, grace) can be considered a Minor Arcana representation of the Justice card, which is about responsibility and the relationship between “cause” and “effect.”  This Queen is reversed and she is reminding me that love needs to always be unconditional, no matter how much I am drawn to judge others. 

My Legacy card is the Eight of Cups reversed, flavored by the Three of Cups reversed.  Two Cups cards, both reversed!  Watery energy might not be productive today. The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) in an upright position tells of an ending or a decline or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions, and it offers one possible response to that decline or change: moving on.  Since my card is reversed, I may not be happy about the idea of moving on, but it is possible that a relationship will be depending on my decision.  My reversed Eight of Cups is being flavored by the reversed Three of Cups. The Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) in an upright position is about connections, emotional abundance, and about blessings.  This is seen as the friendship card, and it is not only flavoring my reversed Eight of Cups, but validating the idea that that a lack of harmony could affect my relationships and connections.

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number that tells of the imposition of motion onto stability in order to prevent stagnation.

My horoscopes: “This would be an ideal day to take extra care of your body. Don't kid yourself that those back problems will go away. Ditto that pain in your knee. Make an appointment with a doctor or physical therapist. It won't hurt you to set aside your responsibilities for one day. This is important.”

And: “You may find that your thinking goes to extremes today. You are feeling very malleable, and your emotions are quite unsettled. It could be that you are fighting an urge to settle down and be calm. Other parts of you are anxious to get up and get moving. Slowing down might actually be just the thing you need to do on this day. Meanwhile, your brain is taking you from one side of the pendulum to the other without a moment's notice.”

We had a lovely Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day is off to a good start.  Breakfast with The Hubs, practiced my tin whistle scales, did my personal Yoga practice.  Time to get ready to celebrate the day.

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12/24/13

The Empress/Ace of Cups reversed. 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 half that is about creativity, fertility of all kinds, a deep connection to Nature and the nurturing of others, and an enjoyment of the senses.  She is my significator, so her presence either upright or reversed is a huge “pay attention!” to me.  Because she is about enjoying the pleasures and the bounties of life, she is a fitting card to throw on Christmas Eve, particularly after doing a Yin Yoga class; she also appeared in my card throw on the Winter Solstice.  It is interesting that she has appeared on both Yule and Christmas this year, the year of my second Saturn Return. 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) in an upright position tells of the potential to experience deep emotions, a connection to my Inner Voice, and a connection to those around me.  Perhaps this card is in a reversed position to support the energies of my Empress, who is about feelings but also about a connection to nature and the earth.

My Thoth cards are the Five of Disks (“Worry”) reversed and The Devil reversed. The Five of Disks (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) tells of some loss or need within the physical world.  The keyword for this card is “Worry,” the way a dog will worry sheep, but I should be able to prevent that kind of strangulation today. The Devil (Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Capricorn (“I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning), Ayin (the eye, senses), and the Path between Hod (which provides analysis and communication) and Tipareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) in an upright position traditionally tells of being caught up in the physical world and the effects of the physical senses, to the point of being bound or addicted to those things.  Since my Devil is reversed, and especially because it is paired with another Earth-focused card, while there could be discomfort today, I should be able to endure without too much endurance, if you know what I mean.

My Legacy card is The Empress reversed (Bookends!), flavored by The Hanging Man.  Ooooh, interesting pair!  The Legacy of the Divine Empress card represents both motherhood/fertility and the richness and variety of life in all its myriad forms.  Because my Legacy Empress is reversed, there is an imbalance in my experience of these things.  Perhaps I need to remember to more deeply appreciate all life and see beauty everywhere, even in situations that are not comfortable for me.  My reversed Empress is being flavored by The Hanging Man. The Hanging Man corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and emotional, sensitive and imaginative energy that tends to move deep, and attempts to take the same path as in the past), Neptune (inspiration, spirituality, magick, enchantment, dreams, altered states), and the Hebrew letter Mem (water, stability and balance, the reflective quality of thought), and presents the kind of balance that comes to us through surrender, and through deliberately attempting to see things in a different way.  The Legacy Hanging Man represents surrender and sacrifice, but it also tells of the pause and suspension of time that occurs at the halfway point of a project or effort.  He is validating the message of my reversed Empress, and telling me that in order to truly perceive and experience the beauties around me, I must first release the fog that clouds and distorts that perception.  Fitting advice!

More about The Empress, my Bookends card of the day.  As I mentioned already, this card has been my significator for some time, given to me by one of my Guides, The General.  It is a card that is near and dear to my heart, and it tends to appear just before or during experiences that end up being life-changing.  The Empress is considered to be the Queen of Heavens, and thus she bridges the stars in the sky and the earth below our feet.  She is the stable foundation of the Supernals of the Tree of Life, the “triplet of the mind.” The Empress represents the 14^th Path, connecting Binah and the Sacred Feminine, and Chokmah and the Sacred Masculine, and the union of masculine and feminine through the emotion of love, which equals fertility.  The Empress represents the workings of Deity in nature; I have been told that nature is the robe that the Goddess wears so we can see and perceive Her, and perhaps The Empress of the Tarot allows us to connect to Her.  The Empress is about pregnancy and thus about transformation and about the sacredness of all life and the workings of the world around us, her Hebrew letter is Daleth, the doorway, and The Empress is indeed the doorway into physical life. It is also correct that The Empress correspond with the element of Earth.  The physical body is the home of the soul, the life force, and since it exists mostly within the physical plane, that is where much of my transformation must begin.  It is through The Empress that Deity is born within us.  If reversed, this card tells of an imbalance in our ability to perceive and enjoy the possibilities and pleasures of our physical existence.  This imbalance can come to us through lethargy, overprotectiveness, materialism, vanity, extravagance or promiscuity.  Because the 14^th Path crosses the width of the Tree of Life and provides stability and grounding to the Supernals, a reversed Empress could also tell of an imbalance in our perception of gender, sexuality, or the necessary presence of both yin and yang within our very being.

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

My horoscopes: “Stress-related health complaints could force reevaluation of your current situation, particularly your job. You may take a good look at your skills and consider how they can be put to use in other fields. Communication from distant places may bring new opportunities to pursue old ambitions. Don't write them off right away. Change is in the wind. It isn't wise to try to stop it.”

And: “It's true that having to earn a living isn't always the most agreeable thing that we have to do in life. However, we all know that it is necessary. Have you thought about adding more balance to your life? Remember that all work and no play make Jack a dull boy. This would be a good day to examine your daily life and add some new elements. Yes, it is time for you to choose a hobby.”

It is Christmas Eve.  I began the day with a beautiful Yin Yoga class, the class I will be teaching as a sub beginning in January for 11 weeks.  I look forward greatly to immersing myself in a Yin practice, and interacting with the students. 

I will be with family this evening and tomorrow evening, celebrating.  I plan on throwing cards tomorrow morning and will do my best to get a blog post up. 

Happy Holidays!

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12/22/13

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 Machine.  The planet Venus corresponds with the element of Earth, and it represents all love and relationships and connections.  This also encompasses mothering, nurturing, healing, the pleasing of the senses, and an appreciation for beauty. 

60, Polarity: Red Dragon (Below). The direction of Below is not easily associated with spirituality, yet it is a powerful symbol representing the opportunity to create a strong foundation, and to connect to the tools and powers of the Underworld.  The Red Dragon’s energy begins within, and radiates outward with amazing power.  While the Red Dragon is in a sense about balance, it presents only one extreme for our consideration: inner power that expands outward.  This card is about passions and drive, and even the life essence itself, all of which begin within and then manifest outward.

41, Gateway: The Celestial Realm (Above).  Both our solar system, and the vast reaches of space beyond, have an effect on us, and we need to acknowledge this effect and be aware of it.  While we should not allow only these effects to control our choices and actions, they are valid, and there can be higher meanings to seemingly mundane events at this time.  The Celestial Realm Gateway has seven points, corresponding to the seven classical planets and the seven days of the week, offering both a broad and a more mundane influence; the seven-pointed star is also associated with angelic beings.  This Gateway tells me that the events in my life right how have higher levels of meanings than I am perceiving at first glance.  It might help to read today’s horoscope, or touch base with a Guardian Spirit. 

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  The Red Dragon appears to be supporting my Gateway, her back curved under it and her wings cradling it, and the planet Venus appears to be revolving around the circle of stars.  Even though my two Above cards are bracketing my Below card, the mandala makes the Red Dragon seem to be closest to me, and Venus is farther away, on the other side of the Gateway.  Like the Red Dragon, Venus has feminine energies.  Inner power, passion and compassion, and magick, are all to be found in this mandala.  Sounds like I will have an interesting week, eh? 

What a great day.  I had brunch with my beloved PBT; it had been too long since we sat around The Table.  I am always amazed at how even though we each come to The Table from a different place, we can connect with ease. We truly share the joys and the discomforts, and over the years have created an unbreakable and nurturing bond.  I wonder every so often how we connected in past lives, for a connection this strong must have existed for many lifetimes.

I stopped and briefly visited a friend this afternoon, and then attended a holiday pageant at the church of a Yoga buddy.  What awesome music!  Hands were clapping, feet were stomping, and there was most certainly some dancing going on in the aisles.  I feel so blessed that I have these varied yet potent connections in my life.  Magick??  You bet!

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12/21/13

Queen of Swords/Ten of Wands. The Queen of Swords (cusp of Virgo, “I serve,” practical, sensible, work and service oriented, and Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, grace) can be considered a Minor Arcana representation of the Justice card, which is about responsibility and the relationship between “cause” and “effect.”  This Queen is a pioneering trailblazer with nerves of steel and a good sense of humor.  She is good at taking control of situations in an effective manner, and she tells me this is my task today.  The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) in an upright position tells of being taxed to some perceived limit, or of feeling as if we are out of gas at the bottom of a hill.  The oppression of the Ten of Wands can be followed by a gain of some kind if we can find it in ourselves to hang in there just a moment more.  Perhaps that Queen of Swords can show me how to do this.

My Thoth cards are The Empress, The Sun reversed. 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 half that is about creativity, fertility of all kinds, a deep connection to Nature and the nurturing of others, and an enjoyment of the senses.  She is my significator, so her presence either upright or reversed is a huge “pay attention!” to me.  Because she is about enjoying the pleasures and the bounties of life, she is a fitting card to throw on the Winter Solstice.  After all, today the Fertile Mother has given birth to the Sun.  Speaking of The Sun, my Empress is being flavored by the reversed Sun today. The Sun corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), our Sun (the inner core of a person or situation), Resh (the face; reason), and the Path between Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest in the physical world) and Hod (provides analysis and communication), and upright it tells of a time of enlightenment and peace that comes after the completion of some ordeal.  Even reversed, The Sun is not a bad card, and its reversed appearance could be telling me of things to come.  After all, the exact time of Solstice was only a few hours ago, so the warmth and enlightenment is still approaching.

My Legacy card is the Seven of Cups, flavored by the Eight of Cups reversed. The Seven of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, obsessive, mysterious) represents the distraction, sensory overload and dissipation that can happen when we are presented with too many enticing choices. The traditional image of the Seven of Cups shows seven cups, each filled with what appears to be a wonderful gift: the Wreath (Saturn and The World); the Castle (Mars and The Tower), the Woman (Venus and The Empress); the Snake (Mercury and The Magician); the Veil (the Moon and The High Priestess), the Jewels (Jupiter and The Wheel of Fortune), and the Dragon (our Sun and The Sun). Yep, all Major Arcana cards, so these choices are important.  But there are so many of them!!  Herein lies the distraction.  What to choose?  Perhaps what I need to remember is that I am not only limited to what has been presented here, so I should not be hypnotized by these offerings.  My Seven of Cups is being flavored by another Cups card, the Eight of Cups reversed. The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) in an upright position tells of an ending or a decline or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions, and it offers one possible response to that decline or change: moving on.  Apparently, the lure of those wonderful Seven of Cups gifts is going to be powerful, and difficult to walk away from.  Oy.

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

My horoscopes: “Make the most of this day, because energy like this doesn't come around often. Feel the aggressiveness in your nature that urges you to get things done. Instead of getting frustrated by the number of tasks, feel the motivation within. Take care of practical matters and attend to issues regarding your goals and career.”

And: “Your emotions are likely to get fired up today, and they are looking for high drama. More than likely, they will be fueled by secret facts that you have tucked away for a rainy day. Your mind is like a computer that is collecting and processing important data. You don't let any one know that you have a file on them until the time is right. At this point you spring up with exactly the right information needed to complete the picture.”

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12/20/13

The Hermit/Ten of Pentacles.  Wow, interesting! The Hermit corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, practical and stable energy that is slow to change), as well as Virgo (“I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented, orderly), Yod (open hand, touch), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured), and is about searching within for a deeper meaning, often through solitude bordering on discomfort. How interesting that he shows up on the first day in a long time that I am not feeling the effects of my second Saturn Return.  My inner focus this Solstice Eve will be valuable.  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.  This card is about having the time to enjoy the fruits of our labors, but it is also about being aware of the connections we have in the physical world.  These cards may seem opposing, one focusing on solitude and even discomfort, and the other focusing on security and pleasure and the knowledge that we are not alone, but in reality one cannot happen without the other. 

My Thoth cards are The Moon and the Prince of Cups.  Ooooh, Water Power! The Moon of the Tarot Major Arcana corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, emotional and sensitive energy that strives to stay the same), Pisces (“I believe,” feeling, suffering, soul growth, duality), Qof (the back of the head), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration), is about feelings and emotions and instincts and the subconscious.  This card may be about falsehood and the Dark Night of Soul, but it is also about magick and mystery.  I don’t need to fear the illusions presented by this card as long as I understand them for what they are; and still they just might offer valid messages.  The Prince/Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) is about feeling things strongly and without restraint or grounding.  He may appear calm, cool and collected to others, but in an upright position my Prince of Cups responds deeply to life, and dreams big dreams.  He is paired with the dream card of the Tarot today; look out!

My Legacy card is the Queen of Wands, flavored by The High Priestess.  Three awesome pairs today. The Queen of Wands (cusp of Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality, and Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) is energetic, adaptable and enthusiastic; she is filled with persistent energy and calm authority at the same time, and because of this she draws others to her.  This Queen could be seen as a self-made woman who has earned her standing in her world through her own hard work, but who has not forgotten where she came from.  She tells me to express myself with joy, and without fear of just being who I am today, right now.  My Queen is being flavored by another powerful woman, The High Priestess. The High Priestess (Water; the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination; Gimel, the camel who safely crosses Da’ath, the Abyss, and thus, has the secret of life; and the Path between Tiphareth, the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify, and Kether, the source, limitless possibility), is one-half of the Major Arcana representation of the Sacred Feminine, with The Empress being the other half. The High Priestess is the source of the power of The Magician, the feminine version of The Hierophant, and the Keeper of the Mysteries.  This card is telling of more than just an intense connection to my intuition; my High Priestess is also telling me that there is plenty of information and advice available to me. Like my first Major Arcana card today, The Hermit, my High Priestess does not bring a cozy warmth, but rather she offers the possibility of access to the sacred mysteries, if I am worthy. 

My horoscopes: “You may want to go in many directions today, yet something seems to keep you from going anywhere. This annoying conflict of energies may make it difficult to make the most of your day, but you can handle it. Don't act too hastily. Evaluate all your choices before you make a final decision. If nothing seems to fit, don't push it.”

And: “Your freedom-loving nature may be feeling a bit tied down today. It could be that instead of venturing out into the unknown, you would rather just stay at home and snuggle up into a warm bed. Stay close with your loved ones. Feelings of nurture and protection are essential to maintaining your emotional well-being on a day like today. This is a great time for you to turn inward.”

It is Yule Eve, about an hour before sundown.  My brain has been busy these past days, refreshing and adding to my knowledge of anatomy, practicing Yoga, and focusing inward.  While the Judgement card did not appear in today’s card throw, this is one of those days where judging and assessing, and then releasing what no longer serves to better enable me to embrace what I need can be a fruitful pastime. 

I will be spending a quiet evening at home tonight, and I will get up at sunrise (7:17 am locally) to greet the newborn Sun.  I will attend a morning Yoga class, and then head over to a local mall, where two great Yoga teachers are hosting some Yoga and meditation.  I will see my beloved PBT on Sunday morning, and then attend a Christmas show at a local Baptist Church.

Lovely!!

Yule Blessings.

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12/19/13

Five of Wands/Five of Swords reversed.  More repeated cards; that Five of Wands has been showing up lately.  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.  Often this card tells of a clash of multiple ideas, or it tells of inconsistent efforts.  Re-evaluation could be the solution.  The Five of Swords (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, pleasure, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloof) in an upright position shows what happens when we insist that our way is right, or when we impose our needs or wants onto a situation.  There could be a misjudging of a situation today, and with these two Five cards, one reversed and one upright, I can see that passion might cause movement to happen without the control of intellect. 

My Thoth cards are The Chariot reversed and the Two of Wands (“Dominion”).  The Chariot, which corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and sensitive, emotional and imaginative energy that likes to stay the same or follow the same course), Cancer (“I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody), Cheth (the fence), and the Path between Geburah (the place where forms and structure are challenged or affirmed) and Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure), tells of having the control necessary to focus on goals, and to avoid distractions.  My Chariot is reversed, and this could mean that distractions will prevent me from getting to where I want to be; or the opposite could hold true and my hand may be too hard on the reigns.  The Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic) tells of power, influence and authority, and the implementation of the Will.  This is a card of action and ownership, the opposite of the reversed Chariot.  Looks like I may have control of day-to-day things, but not long-term efforts. 

My Legacy card is the Four of Wands, flavored by The Emperor reversed.  Wands, Wands, and more Wands today.  The Four of Wands (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, enthusiastic) is about building enough to become established, about the results of harmony and effort and creativity combined.  This card tells of effective planning that has manifested as a sturdy foundation. The Legacy Four of Wands is also seen as representing the creation of sacred space, which I love.  My Four of Wands is being flavored by the reversed Emperor.  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 in an upright position represents confidence, authority, and the archetype of the Father.  The Emperor instills balance, but he is reversed, and thus is telling me that there is some hidden weakness in the perceived order and authority.  My Four of Wands tells of the creation of a good foundation, but maybe I’m not quite ready for the next step.  Instead of leaning on my own authority today, I may be better off enjoying what I’ve accomplished so far.  Tomorrow is another day, and maybe that Emperor will right himself. 

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

My horoscopes: “Don't hold back today. You're the right person for the job in about every situation you encounter. You'll have the instincts required to move on a project, see what needs to be done, gather the resources, and get the ball rolling. There's an aggressiveness to you that's urging you to make a grand conquest, paving the way for a huge celebration of feast and fun.”

And: “Find love today, and embrace it with all the strength in your body. You have a great deal of passion to spread to the world, and this is an excellent day to show it off. Things are working well for you in the area of love and romance, and you will find that your need for fiery romance with a hint of freedom and autonomy can be accomplished easily as long as you stay true to yourself.”

I am busy preparing to teach eleven weeks of Yin Yoga as a substitute.  This is a lovely form of Yoga, but I am experiencing a bit of a conflict.  You see, many of the Yin asanas involve rounding of the spine, and this is not a good thing for people with bone density issues.  Some Yin practitioners believe the long stretches intensified by gravity alone is safe for practitioners with this issue, but others believe that those with bone density issues should never round the back.  I mentioned my concern to the teach for whom I am subbing, and she encouraged me to remind the students to listen to their bodies.  I am continuing to research this concept, and hopefully I will come to my own conclusions by the time I finish this subbing opportunity. 

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