3/20/14

Six of Wands/Two of Cups. The Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge. I am being told I should feel satisfied because I am in good standing with the powers that be.  The Two of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, tenacious, moody) tells of about love and connections, usually having to do with feelings, relationships and commonalities, and a recognition or acknowledgement that a bond is beginning to happen, or is beginning to be restored after forgiveness is offered and received. The Llewellyn Welsh Two of Cups image contains the traditional Caduceus of Hermes (the Messenger of the Greek Gods, guide of the dead and protector of merchants, gamblers, liars and thieves), with a lion (representing strength, courage, authority over the subconscious, sound judgment and prudence) between the wings at the top.  The Caduceus of Hermes or Staff of Hermes shows a staff being climbed by two serpents (representing peace, rebirth, restoration and regeneration) entwined in the form of a double helix, and sometimes surmounted by wings.  The Roman version of Hermes is Mercury, and so the Caduceus of Hermes can be used to represent both the planet Mercury, and the elemental metal of the same name; thus, the Two of Cups is connected to alchemy.

My Thoth cards are the Knight of Wands and the Six of Disks (“Success”).  Ooooh, niiice. In the Thoth Tarot, the Knights equal the rank of King.  The Knight/King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) is honest and open hearted, and rules his realm through the advantageous use of his creative impulses.  He is admired by all and is able to assert authority without alienating others, but he can still be impulsive.  Crowley sees this Knight as being both fierce and generous, but also unpredictable.  However, being paired with the Six of Disks, I don’t think this will be an issue today.  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. Crowley sees the Six of Disks as a card of balance, and while that balance is fertile, it is also temporary.  My Knight/King should make the best of even a temporary balance.

My Legacy card is the Two of Cups (again!) and the Ace of Wands reversed.   The Two of Cups can be considere the Minor Arcana version of The Lovers, and it tells of entwining energies and friendships or alliances with emotional components. The Legacy card represente our reflection as seen in the eyes of our lover; a nice image.  My Legacy Two of Cups is also paired with a Wands card, the reversed Ace of Wands.  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.  Because my Ace is reversed, I need to guard against biting off more than I can chew.  Can’t overextend myself, and perhaps I need to remember that I don’t need to do it all on my own.  After all, the Two of Cups appeared twice in my throw today. 

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

My horoscopes: “Feel free to match your plaid pants with your paisley shirt today, Sagittarius. Accessorize with wild sneakers and a striped jacket. Let the oddball within you shine brightly! This is a terrific day for you, and you should feel free to express yourself openly and loudly to the world. You should experience a great deal of self-confidence. Take full advantage of it at this time.”

And: “You may feel that you have to defend your motives today. And this can really put you off - especially if you can't see a reason for it. Try not to take it personally. Just because you know where you're coming from doesn't mean the other person does. It may simply be a communication problem. Work to clarify your position. If this doesn't suffice, it's not your problem anymore. The other person will have to look at their trust issues.”

I feel pretty good about my card throw today, because it is validating my own thoughts.  This week and next week are a time of transitions for me.  Not only is today Ostara, the Spring Equinox and a day of balance, but my Yin Yoga substitution gig ended this past Tuesday, it looks like my Gentle Yoga substitution gig may end at the end of class this evening, and next Tuesday is my last belly dance class at Off the Beaten Path, which is closing as of April 1.  The majorityof my focus these past two months has been on these three endeavors, and by the end of March, they will all transform into something new. 

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Ace of Pentacles reversed/The Hermit reversed. Aces present potential only, and 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.  Since my Ace is reversed, today may not be the day that some great opportunity will present itself.  At least, I probably won’t recognize the opportunity. The Hermit, which like the suit of Coins, 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), is about searching within for a deeper meaning.  My reversed Hermit is telling me that the answer to any questions today will probably not be found within.  Isolation is not productive, and perhaps others can offer advice that will work.

My Thoth card is the Five of Disks reversed.  “Worry” The Five of Coins (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) traditional image shows a woman and a child, one of them injured in some way, travelling in the cold wind, with a church window behind them.  Crowley’s keyword for this one is “Worry,” but since my Five of Disks is reversed, things may not be as bad as they seem on the surface.  I guess at least for today, those dark clouds have silver linings!

My Legacy card is Queen of Coins, flavored by Page of Cups. The Queen of Disks (cusp of Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering, and Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning, authoritative) is very good at sustaining the physical world, keeping things dry and cozy and safe and orderly.  She is competent and loyal, and has great people skills.  I always called this one the Martha Stewart card, LOL. 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) is very emotional, dreamy, social, and connected to the inner voice.  He brings me a message regarding the possibility for some emotional change that may appear; since the Page of Cups is flavoring the Queen of Disks, this emotional change should be for the better, and should make my home life more serene.

My Pearls of Wisdom Ostara card is The Fool.  Well, that is fun! 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 approaches life as an adventure and expects that he will succeed.  He welcomes gifts and challenges with equal enthusiasm, and is not good at holding himself back. 

My 6-digit date number is 9, the number of completeness of effect and manifestation.  Perfect number!

My horoscopes: “Today you might feel especially protective toward all those you love: children, family, friends, pets, and the special person in your life, Sagittarius. Upsetting news might have you wondering about the future, but don't let it get you down. All should be well, so allow yourself to relax and enjoy your loved ones. Distract yourself by going to an exciting movie. That will help release tension and put you in a better frame of mind.”

And: “If you're feeling unappreciated by the group of people who surround you right now, why don't you simply try going somewhere else. Begging for attention that is not forthcoming is unattractive, and so is strutting around trying to distract everyone with your gorgeous physique or charming wit. Go somewhere where you know you are appreciated, where your stories will make people laugh, where you feel at home. Know that is you stay where you are, nothing that you try is bound to work.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Two of Cups. This card tells of the twisting and lacing together of two opposites in order to create one shape, without those two opposites needing to change.  Balance and polarity are the correspondences of the number 2, and this card is about the balance and polarity found in unions, in relationships of all kinds.  There is a dynamic balance to be found in relationships right now according to this Two of Cups; however, the card reminds us that the relationship is still young, and the natural evolution of the relationship could bring stronger balance, or it could tip things over and tumble them to the ground.

Spring is officially here! Although this year at least, Spring seems to have never left us.  Traditionally, this is the time of the awaking of Nature, with increasing daylight, warming temperatures, and the rebirth of flora and fauna.  All around me, daffodils and crocuses are battling to attract the eye at ground level with tulips and hyacinths.  Tulip magnolias present a lovely dusty shade of pink; alternatives are being offered by blooming cherry and pear trees, punctuated occasionally by the yellow of forsythia and the startling white of the southern magnolias, like bright stars.  The bird of the neighborhood are quite busy with the business of reproduction, wooing mates and building nests, and some even feeding young. 

Last night, I ended up having the perfect equinox evening: an unplanned get-together at the Wayne Contingency of the Pagan Brain Trust.  Several of us had plans change at the last minute, and we all made the effort to get together, with a big payback.  Our conversations are incredible, and I truly love the way we all can do the Work together, even though our individual focuses are not exactly the same.

The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words meaning “equal night.” The Spring and Fall equinoxes are the only dates of each year with equal daylight and dark, the days when the Sun crosses the celestial equator.  At the equinoxes, the tilt of Earth relative to the Sun is zero, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun.  This is different from the tilt of Earth relative to the ecliptic plane, which is always about 23.5 degrees.  This year, Spring officially begins a bit early (how appropriate!) in the Northern Hemisphere, on March 20, 2012, at 1:14 am Eastern.

In the Celtic Mabinogion myth, this was the time when the God of Light conquers the God of Darkness. The Goddess, who became the Maiden again at Imbolc, welcomes her Child and soon-to-be Spouse, as Her followers celebrated the evidence of renewed life and the end of the hard Winter months.

The Roman Catholic Church adopted two holidays from pagan equinox celebrations: the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was to become the Mother of God's Son (March 25^th, nine months before Christmas), and Easter, which is also a celebration of life over death (similar to the Celtic God of Light defeating the God of Darkness). The Church doesn't celebrate or acknowledge the sacredness of the symbolism of the Full Moon, but Easter is on the first Sunday after the Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox each year. Furthermore, if Easter Sunday happens to fall on the Vernal Full Moon, the Church makes certain that Easter was moved to the following Sunday.

For Wiccans, Ostara is the time when the Goddess transfers Her fertility to the Earth and takes on Her Maiden aspect. The God is growing to maturity and will soon become Her lover at Beltane; we can see evidence of His growth all around us as all of Nature blossoms.  

For most Wiccans, Ostara is a celebration of fertility and growing Light.  Ostara is a time when light and darkness reach the point of being equal, and from that moment on, the light overpowers the darkness; this is a powerful symbol! Many religious and cultural traditions contain equinox myths concerning trips to the underworld, and the rebirth into the land of the living that is a part of those myths usually takes place on the Spring Equinox. This is the time to plant seeds of our dreams into the fertile energy of the equinox in order to take advantage of the potential and possibility that surrounds us.

Ostara Blessings!

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Two of Swords reversed/Queen of Pentacles. In an upright position, that Two represents chosen stalemate, but since it is reversed, today may be a day of releasing of boundaries and road blocks. The Queen of Coins is Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts) of Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes) and both of those elements are passive and tend to pull or contract inward. She is an expert at experiencing and sensing the physical world, and she wants to share the joy of her experiences with everyone she meets. The image on my Welsh Queen is one of a royal woman seated on a throne beneath a tree bearing blossoms but not leaves; sounds like Spring. Today I may find that I am experiencing the events and effects of the day in a very inner, experiential fashion, even though the many events and effects are very much of the physical world.

My Thoth card is the Five of Wands reversed. “Strife” reversed, so perhaps the challenges that do appear today will not make me uncomfortable. I need to remember that every phenomenon is a sacrament and every sensation is proof of life, and I need to remember that sometimes, while I may prefer that Strife **not** be apparent, I benefit more from being challenged a bit.

My Legacy card is the Three of Wands reversed. I am not quite ready to leave behind the balances of the Two of Wands. The Three of Wands to Marchetti seems to almost have a wistful yearning about its energies; yes it is looking to the future with optimism, confidence, and an awareness of the work it has taken in order to get this far, but the goal is still ahead and not quite reachable. Today I am being told to not spend too much time thinking about what is to come. Today, I need to enjoy the pleasures of the “now” to be found within my own energy field, rather than the pleasures of anticipation.

I am going to begin a new method today; on every Sabbat and Esbat, I will also pull one Pearls of Wisdom Tarot, and interpret the card directly relating to the energies of the day. My Pearls of Wisdom Ostara card is the Two of Swords reversed!! The Pearls of Wisdom Two of Swords in an upright position tells of the need for action and the need to find answers within, but the inability to achieve both. Because the card is reversed, I am a bit more optimistic that by the end of the day I will be pleased, both by the things I have accomplished in my physical world and the things I have accomplished within the universes of my mind.

My 6-digit date number is 6, the number of Balance. How appropriate is that??!!

My horoscope for today: “A new business opportunity may come your way, Sagittarius. You aren't likely to want to commit to a permanent involvement, but you might take it on temporarily simply for the sake of the money. Perhaps you want to make some changes in your home, such as new furniture or paint. Whatever comes your way, you'll probably put a lot of energy into it and accomplish it all. Go for it!"

I am sitting in my living room at Cape May, and I just opened the windows even though I am still in my pajamas. Hey, it's Saturday! I get to be a slug for a bit!! I am very much feeling the energies of Spring today, especially after the lovely and powerful Ostara ritual which I shared with my fellow students last night.

Ostara and Mabon are traditionally for me Sabbats of pause. They are Lesser Sabbats, not "less" in the sense that the Greater Sabbats are more powerful, but instead "less" because they are a time of changeover, of transforming the energies of Winter into the energies of Summer. And like The Hanged Man of the Tarot (LOL, sorry, but I always think in Tarot symbols), I am suspended at this Equinox between the deeply inner focus of the Winter darkness and the mostly physical and very active focus of the Summer light.

I think about my blessings at both of these Sabbats as well, but I perceive these blessings from a different perspective at Mabon than I do at Ostara, for Springtime is a time of anticipation of things to come, rather than the review of Mabon.

And so, as I breathe in the warm air, tinged just a bit with damp, fertile soil bursting with fertility and the sweet/sour tang of ocean air, I think about my dear friends, my fellow students at Sacred Mists, my much-loved Pagan Brain Trust, and I think of my family, both of blood and of the heart, and the strong and rich connections that have been forged by love. I feel a deep and overwhelming gratitude that each of you is in my life, whether you are someone I have helped or someone who has helped me, whether you are someone who was born to my family or chose to connect with me through your heart. I see you each as a Spring flower, bud tightly closed because it is still cold at night and the tender petals need to be protected for a little bit longer, but filled with the potential to bring glorious pleasure and beauty.

Last night I felt very connected to Cernunnos. He came to me in a meditation, as the younger version so I knew that He had an important message for me. He led me through a woodland path at dusk; all the trees were still bare and the ground cover was lifeless. We came to a steep, rocky hill; Cernunnos climbed easily but I struggled a bit; finally I reached the top and stood next to Him. Below was a salt marsh, and the setting Sun on the horizon. We both stood there silently and watched the glory of that sunset, and then Cernunnos turned to me and said very simple words that truly resonated to my core. He said, “You belong to Us, Daughter of Danu. Know this in every fiber of your being, for it is true. The Path ahead of you is not an easy one, but the seemingly insurmountable challenges will be Balanced by joys and ecstasies the likes of which you cannot imagine. Through it all, We will be with you.”

This morning, I am very aware of the presence of my Lady Danu. I feel Her, I feel Her renewed energy, and I feel the warmth of the catalyst that is the love of the Goddess and God for each other. I am Balanced because I feel the Sacred Masculine and His focus upon experiencing life through living in the physical realms, and because I feel the Sacred Feminine and Her focus on feeling, and on experiencing the Divine.

Ostara Blessings!! May the warmth of the Spring sun and the serenity of Balance fill the day!!

Winter's barrenness has subsided,
From the death of Winter
Springs new life.

Spring is coming to the land,
The days grow longer,
Warm breezes begin to stir.

All around us we see signs -
The growing things are beginning anew.

It's the resurrection of the dance of life.
The dance of the stems and stalks
As they push forth from the Earth.

It is the season of creation.
Growth has turned outward,
The land has become fertile again.

The Earth is caressed by
The loving touch of the Mother,
Where her hand passes.

Atoms twine together to create growth.
Buds burst open.
Leaves and vines unfurl.

She creates a vision of the green beauty.
Beauty so breath-taking after
The dark solitude of Winter.

It is this vision that we celebrate
On Her day of Ostara
The world recreating itself--

Returning from the death of Winter,
Into the new life of Spring
Through the love of the Goddess.

~author unknown

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Knight of Pentacles/Queen of Cups reversed. Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes) of Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes) and Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts) of Water reversed. Oh boy, big focus on the physical world and its responsibilities today, enough of a focus that I will be pulled away from the inner focus that I desire. I am being told that despite my best efforts, I will need to step up to the plate today and take control of situations. Slow and steady are the watchwords today, but somehow I get the feeling that by the time I finally get to bed tonight, I will be tired but also filled with a sense of accomplishment.

My Thoth card is The Universe. Synthesis, balance, and endings that lead to new beginnings further up the ladder of evolution. Oh-kay!! The World corresponds with the element of Earth, the planet Saturn (discipline, responsibility, law and order) and the Hebrew letter Resh (mark or sign), and yep, those are all very much a part of my day today.

My Legacy card is the Six of Wands. Lasting victory and achievements in the fields of art, science and work, with payoffs for taking risks. Wow!!

My 6-digit number for today is 5, the number of motion and ending of pause.

My horoscope: “It's a good thing you have a flexible attitude, Sagittarius, especially today. Your adaptive powers could be put to the test as you find yourself surrounded by fickle emotions and stubborn attitudes. Don't get too hung up on getting straight answers from people today, for they're apt to be just as confused as you about certain issues. Play it cool for now and ride the waves easily to shore.”

LOL, holy crow has it been a craaaaazy two weeks. Last week was busy at work, and this week is busy everywhere!! The power failure of early this week put me behind in quite a few things. I finally got caught up with First Degree homework submissions, and it is a good thing I have done this because Lady Raven has asked that I temporarily take on all the First Degree homeworks until the new grader gets on board and up to speed. Wheeeee!! Another crazy week ahead!!

I cannot believe that it is Ostara already! I am feeling an occasional tug from Cernunnos as the natural world awakens. I wish I could take three or four days and just meditate, but that is not going to happen. However, I do have some time alone in Cape May this weekend, and next weekend, so I will be taking advantage of that.

The Pagan Brain Trust had their first Reiki Share, and it was awesome. I am really looking forward to making this a once-a-week thing, but we will start with once between each meeting until we are all up to speed. Luna Station Quarterly is open for submissions for the next issue, and I need to get my story done, plus there are the drabbles!! LOL, can we add about 5 hours to each day, please?

So many truly exciting and awesome things are happening in Sacred Mists. Lilyth gave me a glimpse of the new First Degree Lessons, and oh my, they are incredible!! Once they go live, and the Second Degree Lessons go live (and the new Third Degree Lessons as well!!), Sacred Mists is going to be the premier Wiccan education venue out there. I cannot express how excited and proud I am to be a part of the creation and editing and formatting process for this huge part of what the Sacred Mists Community is all about. Plus, my Divination Co-Director and I are revamping the entire Divination Department of Sacred Mists, including the “best of the best,” the Sacred Mists Psychic and Divinatory Alliance. This is being done in part to facilitate the “going live” of the upcoming Shoppe Reader Program, wherein Tarot readings will be offered to the public.

Part and parcel with the enthusiastic expectations are the challenges. The Tarot Class Board needs attention, administrative attention, and it will get that from me this weekend. I am still unofficially handling the Second Degree Mentor Program, and while it does not need much attention right now, I do have one Mentee in need of a Mentor. That will get taken care of this weekend as well.

And still, I feel the tug of the “inner world,” and will be also working on the ritual that Mystery and I have planned.

*smiles with enthusiasm* Ain’t life grand??!!

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