1/28/15

Two of Swords/Ace of Wands. Two of Swords/Ace of Wands. 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.  A bit of disconnect from the world can be helpful today because it allows me to achieve a pure inner focus. This card can also tell of being self-sufficient, or of not needing input from outside sources. The Ace of Wands (Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical, Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, sensible, orderly) tells of the initial emanation of enthusiasm or inspiration that could very well energize an entire process or project.  Lots of Fiery energy here, or at least lots of potential for that Fiery energy to manifest.  The Llewellyn Welsh Ace of Wands tells of ideas fueled by desires and exciting breakthroughs in thinking.  Perhaps they occur because of my time of shutting out the world, eh?

My Thoth cards are the Five of Disks (“Worry”) and the Three of Wands (“Virtue”). 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.  This card tells of wandering aimlessly looking for help and not finding it. Since the image on the Thoth Five of Disks shows an upside-down pentacle, I may have a hint to the trouble.  Spirit is not the main focus today, and perhaps it should be.  Success is not just measured by material possessions, and material possessions are empty if they are not accompanied by love and passion and spirit.  The Worry of this card can have a positive effect, if we allow our Worry to cause us to test the product to see if it is working okay.  Even if we are expecting the worst, sometimes if we pay attention, we can find something good in the situation.  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) is a card of planning ahead that tells of the excitement that comes with good possibilities ready to be manifested. I love the energy of the Three of Wands, it is filled with possibility.  Having an enterprising mind and a plan for the future brings optimism; strength has been established.

My Legacy card is the Ace of Wands (again!) flavored by The Chariot reversed. The Legacy of the Divine Ace of Wands is considered a talisman of power.   This talisman is not about the details or the finished product, it is about getting started, about the first step, and the natural upwelling of power that overcomes inertia and allowes movement.  My Ace of Wands is being flavored by The Chariot reversed.  The Chariot, which corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and sensitive, emotional and imaginative energy that likes to stay the same or follow the same course), Cancer (“I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody), Cheth (the fence), and the Path between Geburah (the place where forms and structure are challenged or affirmed) and Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure), tells of having the control necessary to focus on goals, and to avoid distractions.  My Chariot is reversed, there could be obstacles in today’s path that appear unsurmountable.  I need to guide my Chariot carefully because if I hit those obstacles in the wrong way, everything will fall over.  Perhaps I will be better off if I allow the natural upwelling of power that is the Ace of Wands to fuel the day, rather than my Will and my attempt to control and direct my feelings. 

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

My horoscopes: “Today the Moon in Gemini, your cooperative 7th house, forms a tricky opposition to restrictive Saturn in Sagittarius, potentially causing some tension with co-workers. Perhaps you're ready to take yourself more seriously, and going along with the gang for the sake of harmony feels like it threatens your individuality. You could be pessimistic about the end result, especially since you don't have that bird in hand just yet. Strike down sober thoughts by realizing they are probably fear-based. To keep the peace (inside and out), stay positive!”

And: “You have the gift of being able to get your great ideas across to other people. In your family life, you may be the one who teaches your children or younger relatives about life and its responsibilities. Today, someone might just teach you something you didn't know. You should never forget that education means communication, and communication is the exchange of ideas.”

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1/26/15

Knight of Swords reversed/Three of Wands. 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.  His daring and courage are impressive, but he can also be disruptive, too.  While all of the Knights can be considered as mercinaries, the Knight of Swords truly personifies this career. He is reversed today, and oh boy, he needs a mommy or a monitor.  Sounds like communications may not be kind today, and I had better make sure those cutting remarks don’t come from my mouth. 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) is a card of planning ahead that tells of the excitement that comes with good possibilities ready to be manifested.  Perhaps with this energy I can take that sarcasm and turn it around into enthusiasm.  I love the energy of the Three of Wands, it is filled with possibility.  Even a frown can be turned upside down.

My Thoth cards are the Six of Disks (“Gain”) reversed and the Six of Swords (“Science”).  Two reversed Sixes, and not much balance today, eh? The Six of Disks (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Taurus, “I have,” Sensual, cautious, stubborn) brings an awareness of resources to the situation, both those that I have and those that I don’t have, in both the upright and reversed position. This card shows us what happens when we don’t let the apparent failure of the Five of Disks hold us back. Crowley sees the Six of Disks as a card of balance, and while that balance is fertile, it is also temporary.  The Thoth Six of Disks offers a brief reward for our efforts, and a glimpse of a possible end result that will bring success.  My card is reversed today, and I wonder if events will distract me from my goal and cause me to lose sight of what I’m working toward.  Resources are important, and the most important ones are the ones I don’t have.  The Six of Swords (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause oriented) is about balance, healing, moving towards a better place, and even about learning the science behind things that work (because understanding why they work makes them more effective).  I love this card; it is my favorite of the Thoth Tarot because discovering why things work is how I learn and grow and heal.  This Six is also reversed, and again I get the feeling that distractions might attempt to draw me away from something important.  Forewarned is forearmed, but at the end of the day, I need to know that I’ve been able to make the best of the warnings I’ve been given.

My Legacy card is the Ace of Coins reversed, flavored by the Ten of Coins reversed. The Ace of Coins (Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, social) tells of the presence of potential that is connected in some way to the physical world.  This card represents the seed of something that could be great; this could be money or fertile condiions that could bring success, and considering the Swords cards I have today, and the other cards, there is danger, yes, but there is also opportunity.  I am being told there is potential to be had in the physical world, but today I just might miss the mark, and the potential.  My reversed Ace is being flavored by another reversed Coins card, the Ten of Coins reversed.  The beginning of the suit of Coins and the end of the suit of Coins, both reversed. The Ten of Coins (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) represents the attainment of physical world wealth and bounty, usually achieved through the implementation of long-term plans, and the attempt to maintain the status quo.  The negative side of this card (yes, there is a negative side) is that if we pause too long to look at all the pretties, lethargy will take over, and all those good Coins will turn into a burden rather than a foundation, all ready to be used for new stuff.  My reversed Ten is flavoring my reversed Ace, and perhaps the message here is that I should not worry about beginnings and endings in the physical world.  Today, my focus should be elsewhere than the Earthly plane.

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

My horoscopes: “Pull out the spreadsheet! Your analytical mind is in overdrive, thanks to the Moon in Taurus, your efficient 6th house. This is a day to whip through your to-do list, Archer. Taking care of mundane and practical matters, like cleaning and filing, actually gives you a leg up in the long run. But don't tackle that de-cluttering project alone. Get support from an assistant or service provider. In your shared mission to get things running smoothly, you'll feel an even greater sense of satisfaction. Hello, organization!”

And: “Take care of your home base today, both physically and emotionally. See that your bills are paid, and that your bedroom is picked up. Don't forget to clean out the dirt from under your bed, and the demons from inside your mind. Realize that you might be running on someone else's operating disk that got stuck in your hard drive. Make sure you replace it with your own system disk before you continue on.”

Today the area is in a tizzy because of a supposed blizzard, named the Blizzard of 2015.  Thus far, this “record-breaking storm” is fizzling.  Yes, everyone is saying that the storm will peak overnight.  But so far we have received about 3 inches, and it is not snowing right now.  The question on my mind is, is it snowmageddon?  Or is it 6 inches?  I guess I will find out tomorrow morning.

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1/25/15

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

53, Guide: Sidhe (Below).  The cards of Below assist us in understanding our foundation.  There are entities who dwell there who can also assist us with that endeavor, if we approach them correctly.  The Sidhe can be a wonderful Guide when we are attempting these things, for she is both a source of creation and of responsibility.  The Sidhe cares for the earth and Nature; just like us, she is a part of that realm.  But the Sidhe is also connected to the non-physical world more than we are, and thus can be a Guide who teaches us how to see things in a different or unique manner.  And if we work hard and are true to our Purpose, we just might get some support along with our guidance; this partnership can achieve extraordinary things!

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.

70, The Web (Within).  The Web represents the entanglement and interconnectivity of all life, and of all experiences.  The Web also reminds us that because of this entanglement, everything we do affects those around us; those things we do may seem small, but they have the potential to grow, and to have a much larger effect than intended.

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  There are lots of abstract and difficult to measure abilities in my cards this week, and the image created by these three cards have an interesting inward-to-outward/outward-to-inward ebb and flow feel to it.  Is The Web covering Sidhe and Dream?  Or is The Web connecting all?  No matter what, the message is clear: I have useful guides and a strong connection to my Inner Voice.  Everything is entangled, and I get to make use of those connections.  Niiiice!

Today was the second part of my Advanced Yoga Intensive for Movement Disorders.  I have learned so much from this Intensive, and because I have a private Yoga student with cerebral palsy (also a movement disorder), I picked up some great tips that I can share with my student.  This might be a crazy week, though, because we are expecting a huge blizzard beginning tomorrow evening, with possibly 2 feet of snow and 50 mph winds.  If the power goes out, I will have trouble posting here, but I will throw my cards no matter what, and catch up when I can with the posts. 

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1/22/15

Knight of Wands reversed/Six of Cups.  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.  Often, this Knight is shown riding a proudly prancing horse, and this motion filled with confidence is a good indication of the energy of the card.  My Llewellyn Welsh Knight in an upright position is seen as a clever and unpredictable person with a good sense of humor and a knack for seeing opportunities others have missed.  Because my Knight is reversed, ideas that are a part of this day might end up deflating like a balloon with a hole in it.  And that is the best case scenario, because tempers might flare as well.  The Six of Cups (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, compulsive, deep, obsessive) is a card of innocence, emotional balance and harmony, of simple joy that begets even more simple joy by infecting all that is around us at this moment.  This card is about friendship and play, teamwork, and drawing strength from shared experiences.  While ideas may not work today, I certainly should be able to draw strength from those around me.

My Thoth cards are the Prince of Wands (Bookends!!) and the Six of Disks (“Success”).  Uncle Al considered this card as representing him, and he had a lot to say about it.  The Thoth Prince of Wands is intense; his sense of humor is intense, his courage is intense and his endurance is intense.  He is romantic to the point of nausea and is real good at engineering stunts and then laughing, even if he is the one who ends up looking foolish.  He sounds like a fun guy, unless you have a migrane!  The Six of Disks (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Taurus, “I have,” Sensual, cautious, stubborn) brings an awareness of resources to the situation, both those that I have and those that I don’t have, in both the upright and reversed position. This card shows us what happens when we don’t let the apparent failure of the Five of Disks hold us back. Crowley sees the Six of Disks as a card of balance, and while that balance is fertile, it is also temporary.  The Thoth Six of Disks offers a brief reward for our efforts, and a glimpse of a possible end result that will bring success.

My Legacy card is the Three of Cups reversed, flavored by The Emperor.  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 card in an upright position shows what could be born from the potential to experience potent emotions and feelings of the Ace, and the caring, attraction and chemistry of the Two; however today it is reversed.  While I do understand that no one is really ever alone, emotionally this might be a day of solitude for me.  My reversed Three of Cups is being flavored by The Emperor, and yes, he tends to be a solitary ruler.  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), represents confidence, authority, and the archetype of the Father.  The Emperor instills balance, form and structure onto the fertility and creations of The Empress, an important task.  The Emperor says that the best way to make the day have a happy ending is to follow the rules, get things done on time, and encourage others to do the same, and he does his best to guide and protect others so they may do so.  Looks like I will do well no matter where I choose to focus today, but my work may be lonely.  Effective but lonely.

Myre about my Bookends card, the Knight of Wands.  Some see the Knights as representing the element of Fire and some the element of Air, depending on the deck.  The suit of Wands corresponds with the element of Fire, so we have either Fire of Fire or Air of Fire; in either event, this is not a slow and steady card.  This Knight just loves adventure; he is impulsive and dramatic, and just loves to come to the rescue when someone is in trouble.  He can also be quite romantic and charming, and not in a quiet way.  The Knight of Wands represents the coming and going of energy, and this means he is associated with inspiration, travel, sports, ideas and brainstorming, theatrical events, high energy situations and idealistic causes.  He wants action and movement, and while this can sometimes be quite effective, it also makes for a volatile, unpredictable and self-centered personality.

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: “Under today's harmonious Moon-Venus mash-up, you can smooth the feathers ruffled by Mercury retrograde. Forget about the trouble and strife. By simply bringing a little more compassion into your conversation, you can get people to overlook their differences and drop their petty complaints. Make a point to listen, though. You don't have to agree with the other person's perspective--just don't invalidate it. Once you understand where everyone's coming from, you'll get your chance to clear the air.”

And: “Don't criticize the situation until you have come up with a better solution. Be creative in your approach. Realize that much can be accomplished if you approach the situation with confidence. Being pessimistic about all the problems will not help with finding the solution. Let your mind relax. Your intuition will guide you. Feel free to speak out with confidence and strength. Perhaps the most fanciful-sounding answers will prove to be the most ingenious solutions.”

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1/21/15

King of Pentacles/Three of Wands.  The King of Pentacles (cusp of Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, and Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, physically oriented) is the clever expert on managing resources, maintaining energy, and on the physical world manifestation of all kinds.  The King is the steward of Nature and the generous and supporting boss, and he is reminding me that I need to appreciate the talents and abilities of those around me, for they have the potential to bring benefit to all.  This might be a good day to make certain that everything in my physical world is in place, so I can benefit myself and everyone around me.  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) is a card of planning ahead that tells of the excitement that comes with good possibilities ready to be manifested.  These two cards together tell of an exciting day, filled with new ideas that are ready to manifest.

My Thoth cards are the Princess of Swords and the Five of Swords (“Defeat”) reversed.  The Princess/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) encourages us to use our mind and intellect to analyze our situations as well as our emotions and feelings.  Uncle Al sees this Princess as being a bit on the stern side, alert and looking in all directions.  She is trying hard to get things done, though; she may not be the Queen yet, but she is clever, she is knowledgeable, and she is aiming high.  I do need to be open and honest, though, if I plan on accessing her energies.  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 could also be telling of what seems to be overwhelming opposition, or being made to suffer the sins of others; in other words, being on the receiving end of that insistence that one way is the right way.  My card is reversed, but that does not ease the situation significantly.  Things don’t need to go my way all the time; I need to remember that.

My Legacy card is the Knight of Swords reversed, flavored by the Four of Swords.  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.  His daring and courage are impressive, but he can also be disruptive, too.  While all of the Knights can be considered as mercinaries, the Knight of Swords truly personifies this career. He is reversed, and that can be a danger, as his intensity could border on malice or unreliability, or both.  My reversed Knight is being flavored by the Four of Swords.  Yep, makes sense.  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, or a time of silence and isolation used to prepare for challenges to come.  Often it is necessary to take a moment to absorb what has happened thus far, and this card offers that pause.  The truce represented by the Four of Swords does not happen due to weakness, but rather through conscious choice and through a balance of power.  After all, the truce is “supported” by Swords, the suit of the intellect.  These two cards are giving me a clear message: don’t do or say anything today that might get me in trouble.  Just relax, wait until tomorrow.

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

My horoscopes: “Say what? Tact isn't a Sag specialty, and today, as messenger Mercury turns retrograde in Aquarius and your third house of communication, there's no telling what might spill out of your mouth. Of course you mean no offense, but once words are spoken (or emailed or tweeted), you can't take them back. This might be a better time to stay home and work on personal projects, like updating your social network profile, looking up old friends or plunging into a writing project.”

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 the 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.”

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1/19/15

Ace of Pentacles reversed/Three of Pentacles. Aces present potential only, and the Ace of Pentacles (Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, social) tells of the presence of potential that is connected in some way to the physical world. Aces are powerful cards, but because my Ace is reversed, the potential presenting itself won’t work too well in the physical world.  The Three of Pentacles (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, cunning, competence) tells of competence, planning and teamwork.  The Llewellyn Welsh card also tells of skills, making use of talents, and finding comfort in humble work.  And maybe my Ace of Pentacles is reversed because of the energy of this Three, after all, the Three cards are the first actual manifestation of the suit.  No more potential; it is being used.

My Thoth cards are the Seven of Swords (“Futility”) reversed, and The Moon. The Seven of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness) in an upright position tells of the effort to maintain things as we want them, often through the use of deception and without considering the wants or needs of others.  Because this card is reversed, any effort to maintain things as they are might be well-spent and prudent. 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), and is about feelings and emotions and instincts and the subconscious.  This card tells of falsehood and illusion, deception and chaos, and the Dark Night of Soul, and about magick and mystery. The Moon also tells of being either drawn to or susceptible to the effects of these things (and their manifestation can either be helpful or harmful).  The way forward may not seem clear to me today, and that could be because the way forward is not properly illuminated.  I should remember that fear can distort things even more; the light may be dim but sometimes the more subtle messages can be perceived this way.  Don’t be afraid of the dark, and if things seem uncertain, choose the prudent path.

My Legacy card is the Two of Wands, flavored by The High Priestess reversed. The Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic) tells of power, influence and authority, and the implementation of the Will.  This is a card of action and ownership, personal power and authority; today I might need that staying power.  My Two of Wands is being flavored by The High Priestess reversed.  Another Watery Major Arcana in a reversed position!  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 (who is also in this pair), the feminine version of The Hierophant, and the Keeper of the Mysteries.  She is the Gatekeeper who determines whether I am ready to experience the Mysteries, and she is somewhat removed from everyday life although her mind is receptive.  She is not about mental analysis at all; when upright, she tells me that in order to access the Mysteries she guards, I must know my inner self completely, and accept the messages of my Inner Voice, even if they defy analysis.  She is reversed today, and once again I am being told to be careful and aware of my surroundings.  I might not catch some of the hidden messages today; between my reversed High Priestess and my reversed Moon, I’m not going to trust much of my own judgment.

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

My horoscopes: “Today's edgy alignment of combative Mars and passive Neptune could have you looking for the exits. Let's just say that this Monday, Archer, you won't suffer fools lightly. Your tolerance for stupidity--which is never exactly high--is hovering at approximately zero. So if you're feeling irritated or claustrophobic, don't feel like you have to stick it out. Find or create some personal space, whether that means converting the spare bedroom into your office or renting shared studio space in town.”

And: “An attractive neighbor with whom you seem to share a bond could become a friend. A group that you might be affiliated with could be expressing highly idealized goals and purposes. These goals are likely to be admirable, but they may not be all that realistic. Bear that in mind before committing to any kind of solid course of action. More facts need to be learned before you can proceed.”

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1/18/15

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

12, Weather: Lightning (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. In the T-O, the weather associated with the South is Lightning, and oh boy, does this make sense.  After all, South is about Fire, and Lightning is about a sudden eruption of heat and flame and light.  The energies of this card are full of drama, and maybe even a bit scary at times, but they are a great way to break down and end the effectiveness of blockages.

26, Guide: Otter (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.  The first thing I think of when I see the Otter card is joyful playing.  Otters are known for their play, and play is a sign of intelligence and awareness.  Otters are at home both on Earth and in Water; they form strong family bonds, and work hard to protect their group of family or friends.   All while playing tag!

10, Elemental: Sylph (East). East corresponds with the element of Air, which is hot and separates, and is wet and adapts.  Air brings animated energies which often bring challenges that offer the opportunity for growth, and thus it corresponds with knowledge, the working of the intellect, and new beginnings. Sylphs personify these concepts, and they encourage the use of imagination in an original way, they tell us to shift as needed in order to take advantage of the prevailing winds, and they tell us to fly free, filled with joy and unencumbered by life’s burdens (at least for a little while).

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  My first instinct is that Otter and Sylph are protecting me from the sudden emanations of Lightning.  But then I wondered if they were protecting me from Lightning, or helping me to understand Lightning, so I can use it to my benefit.  I should open my mind to new ideas today, and use a light-hearted attitude in order to be aware of my surroundings.  If I can open my mind to the day’s challenges without getting bogged down by them, perhaps my burdens will fall away, and I will experience the sense of being struck by Lightning that is an Aha! Moment!

Today was the second part of my Advanced Yoga Intensive for Movement Disorders, however, it has been postponed due to  . . . weather.  Not Lightning, rather black ice and dangerous driving conditions.  How interesting that my Oracle spread has a Weather card in it, along with a card of the West (cleansing and healing) and a card of the East (knowledge and new experiences).  Looks like I will be learning how to go with the flow this week in order to address unexpected changes while keeping joy and enthusiasm front and center. 

I’m working with another Wild Unknown Tarot card todah: The Mother of Wands. Here we have a snake, the symbol of Wands in this deck, coiled around a Wand, only this time the Wand is laying horizontally within her coils.  She is the Wand, rather than supporting the emanation of the Wand.  And just to prove the presence of strength, fertility and optimism within her, our snake is also coiled around eggs!  She is awareness and protection, she has already proved to the male of her species that she is worthy of reproducing, she is strong and confident that her strength will be sufficient to stay the course and guard her offspring.  She is the mother of creativity and new ideas, and she is guarding them carefully!

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1/15/15

Four of Cups/Seven of Pentacles. The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) reminds us that too much pleasure, or maybe too much nurturing or overprotectiveness, deadens the senses. This is a card that describes what can happen when nothing goes wrong in our lives, and the “cloud” that pleasure can create might end up distracting me from the things I need to accomplish. Yep, enjoying the pleasure can be a good thing but in the end it will cause lethargy, and lethargy is my enemy.  The Seven of Pentacles (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) 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.  I should remember that while looking before leaping can be good advice, not being willing to step away from pleasurable situations is not good.  The kapha in me wants to let things ride, but I know that is not a good idea.

My Thoth cards are the Nine of Disks (“Gain”) and the Six of Swords (“Science”). The Nine of Disks (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of accomplishment through the imposition of discipline.  This card literally purrs with satisfaction, telling us that we should feel great satisfaction because of our accomplishments, which have occurred due to our own focus and discipline. There is an expectation of gain associated with this card that might be more than physical-world or financial gain; after all, satisfaction of a job well-done brings on other good expectations.  The Six of Swords (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause oriented) is about balance, healing, moving towards a better place, and even about learning the science behind things that work (because understanding why they work makes them more effective).  I love this card because discovering why things work is how I learn and grow and heal.  Looks like the learning I should accomplish today may be about the physical world.

My Legacy card is The Fool, flavored by the Knight of Coins reversed. The Fool corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and challenges that tend to require the use of the intellect to solve), Uranus (technology, science, radical change), Aleph (the head, youthful learning) and the Path between Chokmah (male in the electric sense, dynamic energy and the origin of vital force and polarity) and Kether (the source; limitless possibility).  The Fool is the spark that begins the idea, and the neutral powers of creativity; he is above, beyond and before the world and all its extremes.  He is also the archetype of the Holy Child, above, beyond and before petty squabbles, evil intent, and pessimistic expectations, and if I can look to The Fool for solutions, I won’t linger long in the darkness of despair.  I should look at the world with child-like excitement and optimism today.  My Fool is being flavored by the Knight of Coins reversed, and this makes sense. The Knight of Coins (cusp of Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical, and Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of persistence to the point of being stubborn, and caution to the point of being boring.  Caution and focused persistence don’t mix well with our Fool, and my reversed Knight is encouraging The Fool to rule the day.  Look out, world!!  Here I come!

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

My horoscopes: “Time to hole up with the Travel Channel? Today the Moon in Scorpio, your 12th house of rest, forms a tricky square with expansive Jupiter in Leo, making you feel simultaneously fatigued and frisky. You want adventure, but horizon broadening might not be in the cards, at least today. You're low energy, so pushing your limits is ill-advised (even if it seems like a good idea at the time). It's okay to sit this one out, Sagittarius. An acute case of #FOMO is worth risking every now and then.”

And: “You will find that you can soar to great heights today on a moment's notice. There is a fast-paced, socially minded quality to the day that will encourage people to share more of themselves with others. You will find a great deal of support from many different people at this time. Welcome this help with open arms. Don't try to do things by yourself when you are surrounded by such a strong team spirit”

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1/14/15

Four of Swords/King of Pentacles.  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, or a time of silence and isolation used to prepare for challenges to come.  Often it is necessary to take a moment to absorb what has happened thus far, and this card offers that pause.  The truce represented by the Four of Swords does not happen due to weakness, but rather through conscious choice and through a balance of power.  After all, the truce is “supported” by Swords, the suit of the intellect. I need to pause sometimes and just let my brain be quiet for a bit.  Often when I do that, interesting things surface.  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 managing resources, maintaining energy, and on the physical world manifestation of all kinds.  The King is the steward of Nature and the generous and supporting boss, and he is reminding me that I need to appreciate the talents and abilities of those around me, for they have the potential to bring benefit to all.  This might be a good day to make certain that everything in my physical world is in place; this was I will be prepared to help myself, and others. 

My Thoth cards are The Devil reversed and the Ten of Cups (“Satiety”) reversed.  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.The Devil, on the other hand, is often the scapegoat blamed for any excesses of the physical world.  After all, enjoyment of the physical world is somehow seen by many as a denial of or estrangement from God. My Devil is reversed, and this could very well be indicating some kind of weakness that encourages the negative sides of this card.  Lethargy, bondage and addiction; oy. The Ten of Cups (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, spirituality, suffering and growth) in an upright position offers the manifestation of happiness, simple joys, and fulfillment. The number Ten is about the completion of a cycle or manifestation, and the suit of Cups is about emotions, feelings and the inner self, so this card offers the bounty that comes with the successful experiencing of all the lessons of the Cups cards.  Uncle Al sees this one in a more negative way, for he believes perfect success may bring exactly what we hoped for, no more and no less.  This can be a let-down sometimes.  We look forward to achieving our goal, but once we have completed the process, we feel a loss.

My Legacy cards are the Knight of Wands reversed, flavored by The Devil reversed (again!).  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.  Often, this Knight is shown riding a proudly prancing horse, and this motion filled with confidence is a good indication of the energy of the card.  My Knight adds passion to my day, but because he is reversed, I should be real careful that if I jump into the fight, the fight itself is worth it.  In fact, I might be better off avoiding interactions of any kind, as they might not have happy endings. My reversed Knight is being flavored by The Devil, once again reversed.  The Legacy of the Divine Devil is very handsome, and this version of The Devil tells very adequately about the seductive allure of superficial beauty and attractiveness.  These things can easily blind us to reality, and overcome us with addiction.  Since my Legacy Devil is reversed, perhaps those blinding seductions won’t have a strong hold on me today.  Thank goodness that Knight is reversed, eh?

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of a new creation from the position and potential of the Ace, and the balance, polarity, and energy of “distance between” of the 2.

My horoscopes: “Moody much? Today the Moon in Scorpio, your sensitive 12th house, forms a tricky square with communicator Mercury in Aquarius, turning your thoughts to the paranoid, doom-and-gloom or overly emotional side. What's a fun-loving, typically upbeat Archer to do? Well, first and foremost, chill out. Steer clear of needy or conflict-prone people right now, and do some rejuvenating activities, like yoga or napping. You'll fare best when you let go of the need for a "story." Allow the feelings to flow instead of demanding an airtight, declarative explanation. Some things just are.”

And: “Balance out your boisterous, adventurous nature with a bit of discipline today. It is important for you to laugh, but it is also important for you to stay on task with your duties. The good news is that both of these things can work in tandem. They are not mutually exclusive. In fact, one will aid in achieving the other. Be serious, but feel free to have a good time and keep things in perspective, as well.”

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