1/22/14

The Hermit/The Empress reversed.  Strong message! 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 in an upright position is about searching within for a deeper meaning, often through solitude bordering on discomfort.  My Hermit is reversed, and the reversed Hermit in the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot tells of suffering and a sense of exile being created by the effect of philosophies that are limited in some way.  The isolation of the reversed Hermit is not a calm soul-searching but rather created out of desperation, and perhaps isolation is not the solution. 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.  Because she is reversed, and because she is paired with The Hermit, she is reminding me that sometimes the effective choice is expansion, but at other times it is more effective to contract or withhold. 

My Thoth cards are the Nine of Wands (“Strength”) and The Hierophant reversed.  Validation, anyone? The Nine of Wands (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) tells us that the final challenge approaches, and we need to ready ourselves so we can guard our assets.  This card also tells of wisdom that is only obtained by long-term focus.  I am being reminded that there is strength to be had from facing (and surviving) opposition.  The Hierophant corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes), Taurus (“I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn), Vau (the nail which holds tradition in place), and the Path between Chesed (the place where forms and structures are stabilized and nurtured), and Chokmah (dynamic male energy, the origin of vital force and polarity).  This card is an archetype of Spirit (with The Emperor as archetype of the Sacred Masculine, The Empress as archetype of the Sacred Feminine, and all three representing the supernal triad) that reminds us of the value of tradition, ritual and ceremony.  The Hierophant is both the authority and advocate of tradition, but today, tradition, ritual and ceremony may distract me from the message of my Inner Voice.  These two cards together are telling me that what I have been through these past few weeks may allow me to see things from a new and personally valuable way. 

My Legacy cards are the King of Swords reversed, flavored by The Magician reversed.  Aaaand clarification of validation. The King of Swords (cusp of Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, cunning, authoritative, and Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, aloof) is a good judge of people and situations.  He uses his intellect to analyze, so he may not be compassionate but he is trustworthy, and he can be trusted to fiercely stand by his decisions.   My King is reversed, and I am being told that I won’t be effective in understanding those around me.  My reversed King of Swords is being flavored by another reversed card, The Magician reversed. The Magician corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick and animated energy which usually presents problems or challenges), Mercury (reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication), Beth (house; builder) and the Path between Binah (female, receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Kether (the source, limitless possibility).  The Magician works hard to perfect his abilities, to make use of those abilities in unexpected ways, and to focus and carry through to the end of a task (which is pretty important to him).  This card is personally significant to me also (a second reversed significator), and since he represents the manifestation of tangible knowledge, and since he is reversed (and flavoring another reversed card), he is validating in a major way the message of the reversed King of Swords.  Sounds like today needs to be a quiet and inwardly-focused day.

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

My horoscopes: “This could prove to be a very busy day, Sagittarius. Someone close to you might come to you for advice on how to manage their resources, perhaps because of successes you've had in the past. This might take up more time than you'd planned for, but you'll enjoy helping your friend. Information received from TV or newspapers could bring a new interest into your life and spur you on to do some research on the subject.”

And: “News about possible developments regarding the progress of projects, perhaps job-related, perhaps personal, could come your way today. This could require further effort that could be unexpected. Perhaps some additional research is needed, or you might have to make a lot of phone calls. A journey of some kind may also be indicated. Move now, while your confidence, optimism and enthusiasm are still high. Success and good fortune could well result.”

My next Wild Unknown Tarot card is **drum roll** The Hermit.  Once again, the image on this card really does capture the essence of its energies.  Here we see a turtle, pulled safely into his shell and isolated from the effects of the world, but with a hurricane lamp perched on his back, flame blazing high.  Yes, he is protected by a defense that can deflect most challenges, and yes, he can see his world very clearly, despite that effective defense.  He is not so much shutting out the world as he is shutting out the distractions of the world; he is still peeking out of his shell and observing, just not actively interacting.  Also, much of the turtle is hidden from view behind that effective shield.  It must get hot in there in the Summer, and cold in the Winter, yet those effects are not an issue to him.  We can see the working parts of his limbs, and his head and the senses he uses to absorb and digest his world, but we can’t see much of who he is or how he operates.  Yet, he is effective, despite being a conundrum and a mystery . . . maybe, because of it. 

I am being pulled into finding more out about Tao Yin, or Yin Yoga.  I’ve been including Yin in my personal practice since before the first of the year, and I love the deep stretches and inner tranquility this version of Yoga brings.  I have spent hours looking at videos of Yin practices, and I am even substitute teaching a Yin class.  Now, comes the typical “Raushanna Response” to something that calls to me: research.  I have some reading to do, and I am excited.  Yin is beneficial, especially when it is balanced out with a nice, strong Yang practice.  Could this be my calling as far as a Yoga teacher?  I will keep you posted.

$>