11/18/15 Five of Wands reversed and Ten of Wands reversed

Pulled out my Llewellyn Welsh Tarot today because I needed the soothing, dream-like images in this deck today. I threw the Five of Wands reversed and the Ten of Wands reversed. 

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, or this discomfort could be caused by growing pains. The traditional image on this card makes me laugh, and makes me remember setting up a tent in order to camp.  The more people trying to set up the tent, the longer it takes to finish the project.

The Llewellyn Welsh Five of Wands is pretty traditional as far as images go.  Five men with five Wands, each with a different interpretation of how they should be assembled.  The interesting thing about the image on this one is that there are written instructions to be had.  However, they are rolled up on the ground and being ignored by these five people who are each absolutely certain they know how to do the task. 

The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) tells of being taxed to some perceived limit, or of feeling as if we are out of gas at the bottom of a hill that must be climbed.  This card can also tell of a passion or idea that has taken a life of its own and then gotten out of control or taken over everything else, and this to me is an interesting interpretation of this card.  Sometimes success can be oppressive; if we get suddenly lucky and we are not prepared to take on what we’ve been given, the burden can seem crushing.  Too much of a good thing is never good!

The Llewellyn Welsh Ten of Wands shows a more traditional image: a man walking up some stairs, carrying what appears to be a huge and heavy bundle of wands on his back, moving toward a building or the edge of a town.  What is interesting about this version of the Ten of Wands is that those wands the person is carrying each have small branches and leaves at the top.  This card has more of a “carrying my weight and more” and “not flinching in the face of hard work” kind of feel to it.  This card tells of a huge burden that is difficult to carry, but it is not an impossible task.  I also get the feeling that, because these Wands appear still viable, they will have some effect on the house or town to which they are being carried. 

Because both Wands cards are reversed, there is a general message here: responsibilities might rain on my parade today.  But when we look at both of these cards and examine their reversed interpretations, that might not be a bad thing.  Unity of purpose is easier to deal with, and finding that a responsibility is not a burden can also bring a sense of lightness.  Perhaps today is my day to sit back and try to find the space within; I can take this time for myself without neglecting my responsibilities.  Relaxation without guilt; I like it!

$>

9/25/15 Nine of Cups and Seven of Swords

Today I took out my Llewellyn Welsh Tarot, and threw the Nine of Cups and the Seven of Swords.  Now, there’s an interesting combination!

The Nine of Cups (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) is about emotional satisfaction and the ability to find pleasure in feelings and emotions, and in our expectations for the day.  This card is about getting what you wished for, but it reminds us that we need to be detailed in our visualizations if we want to receive exactly what we are wishing for.  Yes, it is one of the best cards in the pack

The Llewellyn Welsh Nine of Cups shows a beautiful young woman dressed in a gauzy with and blue dress with a white veil blowing in the gentle breeze, seated in a lush green area dotted with red flowers, next to a small waterfall and brook.  The woman has a gentle smile on her face and is holding a Cup in her right hand; placed around her are eight other Cups.  The whole atmosphere of this card is warm and serene and encouraging, encouraging us to allow our hearts to overflow with the effects of the natural beauty around us and to be nourished and inspired by the emotions and feelings that fill us.

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.  Trying to keep things the same is an exercise in futility, but sometimes we get so caught up in our own story that we forget we are affecting others.

The image on the Llewellyn Welsh Seven of Swords is traditional.  A man, under cover of the darkness, gathers Swords and carries them away from a sleeping encampment.  Very little about the Swords cards is comforting; this card brings forth the reminder that clinging to the old way of thinking ends up progressively narrowing our field of vision until we don’t see anything else any more.  But this card is not all bad, at least in the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot it is not all bad; one interpretation presented in The Llewellyn Welsh Tarot Companion for this card is “rejecting outside expectations for an individually fashioned lifestyle.”  Perhaps today this one is not necessarily so much about keeping things the same, but rather it is about doing things my way.

There is a visible difference between these two images.  One is warm and sunny and open and accepting, the other is cold and dark and secretive and conspiratorial.  Generally, when two seemingly opposing cards present themselves in a pair, I see them as offering a choice (and that could very well be the situation today, and I must remember that), but I am seeing a different message today, particularly in light of that slightly different interpretation of the Llewellyn Welsh Seven of Swords.  Today I need to be at peace with the decisions I make that are oriented toward achieving my own needs, even if those decisions seem to counter the needs of others.  If I don’t make a habit of doing this, it is not necessarily selfish but rather, self-nurturing, and we all need a bit of that every now and then.

$>

8/26/15 The Moon and the Page of Cups

I chose my Llewellyn Welsh Tarot today, hoping for some clarification or advice, and I threw The Moon and the Page of Cups. 

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 Llewellyn Welsh Moon card shows an owl soaring over the waters of a lake, full moon in the sky.  In the distance are rock formations and hills, both of which hint at a gateway or pass.  The moon is reflected on the surface of the lake, but not the shadow of the owl; hmmm . . . wonder why?  In the foreground of the image, we can see under the surface of the water.  We see fish and water plants; there is life under there.  But we can’t see more than just a glimpse, for the surface reflects moonlight in our eyes.  We are susceptible to distraction because of the light of the moon, and the waves and tides ebb and flow, distorting what we see.  Our visions are powerful, so powerful that they disorient, and things that look familiar to us under the light of the sun appear different now.  But they have not changed, only our perception of them has changed.  If I remember that things might not be as they seem, I should be able to control my fear of the dark.  And perhaps seeing things in this different way will bring this answer: “. . . we decide which is right, and which is an illusion.”

The Page of Cups corresponds to Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Scorpio (“I desire,” intensity compulsion, mystery) and Sagittarius (“I seek,” philosophic, adventurous, blundering) and is a card of soft and tender energies and of getting fulfillment through connections to others, and through innocent and simple joys.  Often this card is seen as representing a more immature version of the Queen of Cups, and that means this Page might be seeing the world through rose-colored glasses.  The Page of Cups is Earth of Water, and thus all about feelings and sensations, particularly pleasant feelings and sensations.

The Llewellyn Page of Cups is another card whose image is filled with Water; unlike The Moon and its deep and silent lake, the Page of Cups stands precariously on a rock, surrounded by the spray and foam of crashing waves.  Our Page stands steadily, holding up a Cup with a fish jumping above it.  This Page feels safe here, trusting that the rock will hold steady and understanding the waves and the tides (and applying that understanding), and their push and pull.  This is a card of cheerfulness and innocent optimism, of romance and playfulness and imagination and beautiful creativity.  There’s some good news!

The way forward may not seem immediately clear to me today, and that could be because the way forward is not properly illuminated.  That is not necessarily bad, for the light may be dim but sometimes the softer light allows more subtle messages to appear.  I should remember that fear can distort things even more; I should not be afraid of the dark, and if things seem uncertain, choose the prudent path.  I should also remember that I’ve faced fear before and survived, so if I stand tall and steady and face my fear with a smile on my face, emotions and visions won’t throw me off balance.  I have the experience and the training to not only survive, but to prosper!

How is that for optimism?!

$>

7/27/15 The Fool and the Page of Pentacles reversed

Back to the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot today; my cards are The Fool and the Page of Pentacles 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.  My Fool sees the world with child-like excitement and optimism, and he leaves the good outcome up to chance because he believes with his heart and his soul that good outcome will happen.  

The Llewellyn Welsh Fool shows a man dressed for travelling (complete with his belongings in a pouch attached to a rod) riding a white horse and accompanied by a white dog.  They are jumping a waterfall surrounded by rocks at what appears to be a gallop; a perilous jump for sure, but there is a rainbow below them in the mists of the waterfall, hinting that they will have a happy ending.  This card reminds us to not allow our previous experiences to limit our expectations; new experiences broaden the mind, and often bring good results.  The Fool does not fear, and neither should I.

The Page of Pentacles (Aries, “I want,” assertive, action oriented, Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual) is down-to-earth and responsible, and a listener and a learner. The Page of Pentacles in an upright position loves to learn new things and have new experiences, and he loves to share the excitement created through experiencing new things.  Because my Page is reversed, I might need to ground myself today and pay attention to the details lest my enthusiasm distract me.

The Llewellyn Welsh Page of Pentacles looks like a young man.  He has traveling clothes on, including sturdy boots, and he is wearing a red cloak that appears to be billowing in a breeze.  He is carrying a pentacle, and standing amidst golden grasses or ripe grains (some of which are bundled near him) with a few red poppies at his feet.  In the distance are mountains, and the sky is golden with sunlight, although there are a few clouds as well.  This card tells of business exchanges, and of perceiving the business world with the enthusiasm and optimism of youth.  This card tells of young, hard workers, and of exchanges of some kind.  Reversed, it predicts stalled communications and misunderstandings.

These two cards tell me of exciting new beginnings that could come about through some uncomfortable events.  Yep, I get this one.  I need to remember that if I believe things will end up well, they will end up well.  Missed messages (or topsy-turvy messages) might be difficult in the moment, but the end result might be happy.  I need to be optimistic, and remain above the angst.  That last sentence is the most important.

$>

6/24/15 Queen of Swords and The Emperor reversed

The Llewellyn Welsh Tarot is my choice of decks for today, and the cards I threw are the Queen of Swords and The Emperor reversed.  Okay, then. 

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.”  The main difference is that while Justice is about the law, the Queen of Swords is about the intent behind the law.  She is Water of Air, and her feelings support her intellect and the workings of her mind.

The Llewellyn Welsh Queen of Swords is a regal-looking woman seated on her throne in profile, holding a sword with the point upward in her right hand, with her left hand extended forward as if pronouncing judgment on someone standing out of frame to the right.  An eagle soars overhead, and there are eagles on the arm rests of her throne.  She is confident, intelligent, independent and determined.  She is certainly calm, cool and collected, and while she might be a bit too callous with the feelings of others, she won’t be held down by expectations. 

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.  He is an effective leader, even if he is a bit lonely at times.

The Emperor card for this deck sits casually on his throne, draped in royal red and holding a scepter, symbol of authority and male potency.  He is partially in armor and a shield rests against the side of his throne, indicating that he is ready to protect those who look to him for sustenance, or even take a pre-emptive strike if necessary. 

Well, we have the Queen of Swords, who is good at being confident and objective, and we have a reversed Emperor, possibly hinting at job or legal issues, irresponsibility or ineptitude, or a bad-tempered father figure.  My Queen tells me that I need to keep in mind the intent behind any requirements today, and do my best to manifest that intent, even if the response is not quite what I expected.  Things don’t need to be exactly fair, and in the end if I do what I am supposed to do to the best of my ability, and maybe keep my sense of humor intact, I will finish the day confident and in good spirits.

$>

5/1/15 Ten of Wands and The Magician

Beltane Blessings!!  My favorite time of the Wheel, filled with fertility and possibility and pleasure.  I chose to go back to the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot today, and I threw the Ten of Wands (again!!) and The Magician.  I see a progression here!

The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) tells of being taxed to some perceived limit, or of feeling as if we are out of gas at the bottom of a hill that must be climbed.  This card can also tell of a passion or idea that has taken a life of its own and then gotten out of control or taken over everything else, and this to me is an interesting interpretation of this card.  Sometimes success can be oppressive; if we get lucky and we are not prepared to take on what we’ve been given, the burden can seem crushing.  Too much of a good thing is never good!

The Llewellyn Welsh Ten of Wands shows a more traditional image: a man walking up stairs, carrying what appears to be a huge and heavy bundle of wands on his back, moving toward a building or the edge of a town.  What is interesting about this version of the Ten of Wands is that those wands the person is carrying each have small branches and leaves at the top.  This card has more of a “carrying my weight and more” and “not flinching in the face of hard work” kind of feel to it.  A huge burden that is difficult to carry?  Yes.  An impossible task?  No.  I also get the feeling that, because these Wands appear still viable, they will have some effect on the house or town to which they are being carried.  Now that is an optimistic version of this card!

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).  He also understands the eternal nature of his efforts, mainly because of the polarized nature of the elements he works with.  This card is personally significant to me; the skills of The Magician were gifted to me after a particularly harrowing experience, so having this card appear here with that Ten of Wands (for the second day in a row, which in itself is significant) is empowering.  Because this card represents represents the deliberate and conscious manifestation of tangible knowledge (and the ability to control that manifestation), he is reminding me of the skills I have worked so very hard to perfect, and he is encouraging me to use them by thinking out of the box, and by not fearing the effects of the world around me.

Ever since I was gifted with the energies of this card during Hurricane Sandy, it usually appears when I need to step up to the plate and use my own skills to make things better.  The Llewellyn Welsh Magician contains all the traditional symbolism of the card: elemental representations, a body stance that hints at control of the Below and access to the influence of the Above, the stone altar accessed by climbing steps (more personal significance to me), and the infinity sign that hints at the interactions of Above and Below, and the eternal turning of the Wheel.  The Magician is important to me, but the Llewellyn Welsh Magician is quite significant.

My message of yesterday is most certainly being refined today.  Yes, the burdens are still there, but my methods for dealing with them have matured.  Yesterday I was told to look at my burdens without the prejudicial effects of memories of past experiences.  Today I am being told that I’ve don the work of yesterday and now I need to make things happen.  I do need to remember that the end result does not justify the means to achieve it.  Lots of Fire and Air in my cards today, not much compassion or grounding.  That in itself can create an imbalance, but The Magician can use even this to his benefit!

I read a quote today that really resonated for me: “An Awakening Woman is . . . in a glowing, and embodied, nothing-held-back love affair with the great mystery. She moves in this world with fierce compassion, grace and freedom, and is passionate about truth, rest and real love.” ~ Karol Bak.  This Sabbat, Beltane, is in a sense the celebration of Male and Female, and a celebration of the luxurious effects that occur when Male and Female unite as equals.  We need the Catalyst of Male just as much as we need the Fertility of Female!  Today, we have both.

$>

4/22/15 the Ten of Cups and The Empress reversed

Today I chose to go back to my Llewellyn Welsh Tarot, and I threw the Ten of Cups and The Empress reversed. 

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.

The Llewellyn Welsh Ten of Cups is a lovely card.  Children play along a stream near a small bridge, surrounded by green grass and protective mountains, with a house in the background, an embracing couple in the foreground, and a rainbow arching over all.  Everyone in this image is blessed with love and happiness, obtained without money or fine clothes or a fancy home.  All those outer embellishments aren’t necessary for happiness!  All you need is love!

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 (along with The High Priestess), 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. My Empress, who is the mother of form, tells of creative intelligence; she reveals the concepts guarded by The High Priestess, and she encourages me to immerse myself in the manifestations of the physical world. 

The Llewellyn Welsh Empress sits on a throne, clothed in green and blue and white, embroidered with red flowers.  In her lap she holds a scepter (symbol of royalty) and an orb (symbol of feminine energies or traits); a shield embossed with two swans shaped in a heart (symbol of love) rests at her feet.  This is a fertile card, filled with verdant growth and living creatures, and a queen who is kind and capable.   Because my Empress is reversed, there may be a bit of turmoil in my day that will shake my serenity. 

That Ten of Cups makes perfect sense to me, because I am preparing to spend a weekend with close friends, celebrating a wedding!  We will all be gathering in the name of love, and the fancy dresses and fine foods are not what will bring us happiness; it is being amidst friends and loved ones that will make us all feel blessed.  I need to remind myself that the extravagances and decorations, no matter how beautiful, are not the important thing, and I need to remember that this weekend is not about me and my pleasures, it is about my guests and the family of the bride and groom. 

As a side note, The Empress has been appearing reversed quite often lately.  I wonder if I am being told that it is finally time to release The Empress as my significator card.  She has been my “representative” for a decade now.  Just for the heck of it, I picked up my Llewellyn Welsh deck again, thinking about which Major Arcana card might be my significator.  I began to shuffle after asking for guidance, thinking that I would just keep turning cards over until I came to a Major Arcana card, and I’ll be damned!  There, in the middle of the deck, was one card turned upright.  Ask a question, and you will get an answer!!  My new significator: The Hierophant!!

$>

3/28/15 Two of Pentacles reversed, The Empress reversed

Today I will use the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot.  I was drawn to the beautiful, dream-like images on this deck, and have only used it for my own readings.  Today, I threw the Two of Pentacles reversed, and The Empress reversed. 

The Two of Pentacles (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) reminds us that everything always ebbs and flows, and we need to do the same in order to remain dynamically balanced.  Change is what allows stability to be functional, and I should keep that in mind.  I should also remember that surviving this kind of dynamic balance can only happen if I am aware on many levels.

The image on the Llewellyn Welsh Two of Pentacles shows a person able to focus on his task despite many, many physical world distractions.  The sky is heavy with dark clouds, the waves are capped with foam and appear to be ready to sweep over the pier on which our figure is standing.  The sails of the ships sailing on the stormy sea are filled with wind.  And yet, the figure stands in Tree Pose, juggling two Pentacles with skill.  Because my card is reversed, attempting to juggle with all these distractions might end with my embarrassment.  Woops!  Dropped both Pentacles and the waves swept them away!

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 (along with The High Priestess), 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. My Empress, who is the mother of form, tells of creative intelligence; she reveals the concepts guarded by The High Priestess, and she encourages me to immerse myself in the manifestations of the physical world. 

The dominant color on the Llewellyn Welsh Empress is green, and that is the color we are all looking for as we wait for Spring to finally arrive.  Because my Empress is reversed, there may not be obvious pleasures to be had in my natural surroundings.  But like my Pentacles card, this Earth card is in my spread, even if it is reversed.  The pleasures and fertility of my Empress are available, just not easily attained.

Both of these cards make sense to me today.  I’ve been sluggish since I got up this morning, despite sipping my third cup of French roast.  But I am attempting to not allow this lethargy to hold me back.  I’ve already been for a nice walk, and plan on going on another later this afternoon.  I’ve done a bit of Tai Chi, and will do my Yin/Flow Yoga practice later today.  Yeah, I may be dragging my butt around, but I am attempting to turn these cards upright.  I will, however, heed the warning and keep alert.  I don’t want to fall on my face out there.  If I can go to bed with a sense of accomplishment, I will deem the day a success. 

$>

3/11/15 Ten of Coins and The Magician

So the time has come to make a change.  At least for the foreseeable future, my life is busy enough that I just don’t have the time to continue blogging about my card throws as they are occurring now.  I have a choice: either change the way I do this blog, or stop blogging entirely.  I have chosen to change things. 

From this day forward, I will be throwing two cards from one deck.  The cards will be described individually and then interpreted together.  I will also indicate which deck I am using.  Right now, I am using my Llewellyn Welsh Tarot, my Thoth Tarot, and my Legacy of the Divine Tarot.  But I have many other lovely decks, both Tarot and Oracle, and I would love to work with them all.  So each day that I blog, I will choose a deck and then throw two cards, one from the top of the deck (representing my conscious day) and one from the bottom of my deck (representing my subconscious day). 

Today, I have chosen to use my Llewellyn Welsh Tarot, and the two cards I threw are the Ten of Pentacles and The Magician.  Ooooh, nice start!

The Ten of Pentacles (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) in an upright position represents physical world wealth and bounty, and the attempt to maintain the status quo.  The Llewellyn Welsh Ten of Pentacles mentions freedom from financial worries, and protection and stability found within a clan or family.  Today there should be material security in my life, and perhaps the ability to be happy with my accomplishments of late. 

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).  He also understands the eternal nature of his efforts, mainly because of the polarized nature of the elements he works with.  This card is personally significant to me; the skills of The Magician were gifted to me after a particulary harrowing experience, so having this card appear is empowering.  Because this card represents represents the deliberate and conscious manifestation of tangible knowledge (and the ability to control that manifestation), he is reminding me of the skills I have worked so very hard to perfect, and he is encouraging me to use them by thinking out of the box.

These two cards tell me that today is going to be about the physical world.  I should be able to find the resources I need, and make use of them in a productive way.  Perhaps things might appear more basic on the surface, but underneath all the physical world manifestations, my mind will be working too.  The bounty being predicted by the Ten of Pentacles will act as an encouragement, urging me to make use of the skills I’ve perfected in order to move to new levels of accomplishment.  The only danger here is the urge to be too cocky, but hopefully I will be grounded enough to resist that.

$>