The Chariot/Three of Cups. 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.  This card talks about being able to believe that in the end, I will succeed; I can achieve this confidence by knowing myself. The Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) is about connections, and about blessings.  This card is about emotional abundance, a “quality not quantity” kind of thing, and it is also about companionship rather than being on my own.  I like these two cards!

My Thoth card is The Moon. The Moon corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, emotional and sensitive energy that strives to stay the same), Pisces (“I believe,” feeling, suffering, soul growth, duality), Qof (the back of the head), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration), is about feelings and emotions and instincts and the subconscious.  The Moon can also be about change, and it can be about the way we sometimes see change as a threat.  The image on the Thoth Moon card shows two lighthouses.  Lighthouses are usually seen as offering safety, but they do bring to mind dark, foggy nights and the dangers of unseen obstacles.  Only those who can tell the difference between reality and illusion can benefit from the light of the Moon.

My Legacy card is Faith/The Hierophant, flavored by the Nine of Coins. Faith/The Hierophant corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes), Taurus (“I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn), Vau (the nail which holds tradition in place), and the Path between Chesed (the place where forms and structures are stabilized and nurtured), and Chokmah (dynamic male energy, the origin of vital force and polarity).  This card tells of the value of tradition, ritual and ceremony.  The Nine of Coins (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of accomplishment through the imposition of discipline.  This is a perfect card to flavor Faith, because accessing the gifts offered by tradition by using ritual and ceremony takes discipline.  Makes sense.

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

My horoscopes: “Your emotions are solid and you feel good, Sagittarius. At the same time, you may be tongue-tied. You're having a hard time expressing your true feelings in the way you'd like to, especially when it comes to love and romance. Perhaps you have so many thoughts that you don't know how to sort them out, or which to disclose and which to keep hidden.”

And: “It wouldn't be surprising if you decided to enroll in a class that is very different from your normal activities. For example, all you surfers out there may get a sudden yen to learn about computers. Likewise, all you technology gurus may take up flower arranging. Those who think they've got you all figured out will be taken off-guard by your new sense of spontaneity and adventure.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding Strength.  Calm composure and patience are the message of this card.  Sounds simple, but these two states of being are not always easy to attain or maintain.  The most obvious challenge would be uncomfortable situations, but this kind of balance and soft control also applies to good or happy situations.  Nothing wrong with feeling joy or elation, but getting drunk on those good feelings could cause the very discomfort whose absence we are celebrating. 

Today, I worked on one of the exercises in my Third Degree Training.  Each time I work with or research or learn about Deity, I am drawn deeper down the rabbit hole.  These exercises are empowering and validating, but the experiences are very hard to put into words.  They are worth every sweaty brow, every teardrop.  These are the experiences that bring evolution and spiritual growth.

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Ace of Cups reversed/Seven of Pentacles reversed.  The Ace of Cups (Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, deep, mysterious, obsessive, Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) in an upright position tells of the potentials available to me for experiencing deep emotions, a connection to my Inner Voice, compassion for myself or others, attunements and connections.  Because this Ace is reversed, I am not accessing these potentials, although they are present.  The Seven of Pentacles (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) in an upright position tells us that our efforts thus far may bring future rewards, but full potential has not yet been realized.  This card can sometimes represent the struggle to balance inner life with the demands of the outer world, and at other times it tells of finances connected to a career or business venture.  Because My Seven is reversed, the pause and assessment just might be over, and this just may be a day for accessing the rewards of the physical realms rather than deciding if I want to attempt to grab them.

My Thoth card is the Seven of Disks reversed.  Another Seven of Pentacles/Disks reversed!  “Failure” is Uncle Al’s keyword for this card, and his interpretation is nowhere near as optimistic as most other decks.  To Crowley, the pause for assessment being told of by the number 7 and the suit of Disks has ended up permanent.  The pause has caused us to abandon work entirely, and it seems that the vision or dream of the future goal has even faded.  Thankfully, this Seven of Disks is reversed, too, so even if lethargy is a factor today, I should be able to climb out of it.

My Legacy card is the Six of Swords reversed, flavored by The Sun reversed.  Hmmm . . . all reversed cards again; last two times this happened in August I had disasters to deal with.  Hopefully, since it’s September now, it will be a different, better sort of day.  The Six of Swords (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause oriented) in an upright position is about hitting the reset button in order to move away from a problem or blockage.  My Six of Swords is reversed today, and that could mean that I will be already in a better state of mind today without even focusing on recovering.  I should be real careful, though, because my reversed Six of Swords is being flavored by another reversed card, The Sun reversed.  In an upright position, The Sun corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), our Sun (the inner core of a person or situation), Resh (the face; reason), and the Path between Yesod (the place where patterns and images emerge that may manifest in the physical world) and Hod (provides analysis and communication), and tells of a time of enlightenment.  Since it is reversed, My Sun card is reinforcing that reversed Ace of Cups at the beginning of my card throw.  It is reminding me to look very carefully at my emotions and feelings today, because those emotions and feelings might not be as they seem. 

As usual, I pulled an “all cards are reversed” clarification card, and threw the Seven of Cups.  The Seven of Cups (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, obsessive, mysterious) represents the distraction and dissipation that can happen when we are presented with too many choices.  Could the energies of this card be the source of the wishy-washy reading I’ve thrown for myself today?  The Thoth Seven of Cups image creates the pattern of the bottom seven sephiroth of the Tree of Life, with the effects being cut off at the Abyss and thus, preventing the inclusion of Deity in the feelings of the day.  The traditional image of the Seven of Cups shows seven cups, each filled with what appears to be a wonderful gift.  The Wreath corresponds with Saturn and The World; the Castle corresponds with Mars and The Tower, the Woman corresponds with Venus and The Empress; the Snake corresponds with Mercury and The Magician; the Veil corresponds with the Moon and The High Priestess, the Jewels correspond with Jupiter and The Wheel of Fortune, and the Dragon corresponds with our Sun and The Sun.  Eenie meenie minie moe, which Cup is the way to go?  I need to choose carefully, but I also need to remember that not choosing is actually a choice, too.

My 6-digit date number is 4, the number of depth and stability.  Okay, I can do depth and stability.

My horoscopes: “Whether your realize it or not, you'll have the upper hand today, Sagittarius, so take advantage of this opportunity. Things may be going so well that you might not even notice what a fantastic time you're having. Sit back and take a moment to appreciate your good fortune. Others will gravitate to you naturally, and you'll always seem to have the right answers to the questions.”

And: “A gathering taking place in your neighborhood is probably going to attract all your friends and many of your neighbors. However, you may feel a little under the weather and consider not going. Your energy may be lagging, as all energy does once in a while after stressful times. It might do you good to make the effort and go. Whether you do, of course, is up to you. But whatever you do, enjoy the evening.”

My Shadowscapes Insight today is regarding the Queen of Wands.  Love this card!!  This Queen is royal, talented, attractive and articulate, and she knows it.  Not in a vain way, not at all.  She is merely confident enough and in touch with her own self enough to acknowledge her own abilities in an objective manner.  This is what makes her so very attractive to others.  She seems to glow with a calm self-assuredness that is in no way oppressive or controlling.  This Queen enjoys herself, but she enjoys the talents and skills and traits of others just as easily.  There is a very interesting lesson to be found in this card.

As soon as I arrived in Cape May yesterday evening, I got out my headphones and walked down to the beach.  I put on Hossam Ramzy’s Egypt Unveiled (my new favorite belly dance CD; Ramzy rules!), and it was so lovely outside that I ended up walking all the way South to the Cove.  What a glorious night!  As I walked through the center of town, I was surrounded by tourists, “shoobies” as they are known in Cape May, and I breathed in the scents of French fries and hamburgers and ketchup.  But as I walked away from the busy part of town, I could smell sand warmed by the sun and the hypnotic and exotic and sweet scent of virgin’s bower (a true sign of Fall, as it blooms Labor Day Weekend), all laced through with the brine of the sea.

The sun was low in the sky, but still more than an hour from setting as I walked along the boardwalk.  Our beaches are still there!  Yes, they’ve been rearranged a bit, some places broader, some places higher, some places smaller, but still there.  There was even a wedding taking place at one spot!

After the stresses and worries of last weekend, it was a pure pleasure to walk to the Cove and see things appearing normal.  Town is full of people, and it is a holiday weekend.  And I plan on biking to the Point, and doing a lot of walking, along with some gardening, and I plan on dragging Bob down to the beach each sunny afternoon.

I am being pulled with intensity back to my studies at Sacred Mists.  This is how I know that the Summer is truly over!  My current Third Degree Training lesson is very much in keeping with my efforts to tweak and then hand-write all of my Esbats, Sabbats and life passage rituals into my lovely Book of Shadows.  One of the things I hope to do this weekend is get back to my Lesson 6.  Maybe I can get the essay parts done before I go to the Dominican Republic on Thursday.  That is, unless Hurricane Katia has her way.

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Two of Swords reversed/King of Wands reversed. The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) represents peace and stillness, but not necessarily peace and stillness without danger. This card often represents a refusal to see reality, or maybe it warns of some hidden element in the day’s mental focuses. Two is usually a number of balance, and while there is a form of balance here, this balance is more of an imposition of inactivity that cannot yet be overcome by outside forces.

My Thoth card is the Eight of Coins reversed. “Prudence” is Uncle Al’s keyword for this card in an upright position. The Eight of Coins (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, work and service oriented, sensible, critical) in an upright position reminds us to be persistent, and diligent in order to grasp success. This Eight tells of hard work on the physical plane that will offer rewards within the spiritual realms. To Crowley, this card reminds us of the strength of doing nothing at all, and of saving for a rainy day; since the card is reversed, these mindsets may not be beneficial to me today.

My Legacy card is the Two of Swords, flavored by the Knight of Cups. Bookends!! Since I have both the upright and the reversed Two of Swords, I may find that I will have situations to deal with today that will require me to choose one or the other: either shut myself away in order to function properly, or open my mind to everything that wants to come in. The Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) in an upright position tells of a person who focuses intensely on feelings and emotions and the Inner Voice, which can either be a good thing, or it can tell of a time of imbalance with too much emotion and not enough grounding. This Knight can be romantic or overemotional, he can be sensitive or temperamental, he can tap into his imagination or he can be unrealistic. Again I am seeing the presentation of opposites for my consideration.

The Two of Swords can represent both positive and negative influences for me, depending on the other cards near it, and on the focus of the spread. This card can be about hiding distress, about keeping people and/or issues at arm’s length, and about maintaining my cool. Sometimes these are necessary skills to have, and some situations need to be dealt with in this way. If we look at the Two of Swords in this manner, the card is giving a message that is similar to The Hanging Man: shut out the world and pause. Crowley calls this card “Peace,” and originally named it “The Lord of Peace Restored.” Obviously, the peace is achieved through the installation of barriers. But sometimes this is not the right response to a situation. Then, instead of hiding distress, I would be pretending that everything is fine when it’s not; instead of keeping people and/or issues at arm’s length, I would be refusing to look at the facts; instead of maintaining my cool, I would be denying my own true feelings. This card is about barriers; its image tells me that, but it is also about the potential for stalemate which happens when two equal and opposing forces meet head-on. Both the upright and the reversed position can be positive or negative, depending on the situation, and barriers can also be positive or negative, once again depending on the situation; this card is not one to be feared, it is one to be listened to. In the end, a closed mind (and a closed heart) is not beneficial to any situation.

My 6-digit date number is 10, the number of completion of a cycle or of manifestation, which reduces further to the number 1, which represents new beginnings and the concept of position.

My horoscopes: “Today you may attain a goal you've been hoping to reach for a long time, Sagittarius. Oddly enough, friends, family, and even your significant other may not seem as happy as you expected. They've probably suffered too many frustrations recently, and your success only reminds them of this. Give them some time to settle their own affairs and they will congratulate you. They're only human.”

And: “Forget your PDA, cell phone or computer. Today, your most useful communication device will be your direct manner. Your confident voice will make the people in power take notice of you. There is no point in playing political games. Saying things that you don't really mean (but that you think other people want to hear) is a complete waste of your time. You have nothing to be hesitant about. You know what you want, so say it.”

And: “Dreams or visions could put you in touch with deep feelings that you may not have been aware of before. This could enable you to release traumas from your past and give you a new sense of lightness. However, your logical mind is very much at work, so you could use this experience to shed light on the experiences of others and help them out as well. Whatever happens today is likely to produce noticeable results. Use it!”

My Sun reading: “The pace picks up under a Mercury/Mars trine with Pluto. Avoid jumping into decisions under the latter's tendency to create the need for readjustments and revisions. They generate dynamic energy for brainstorming, however. Tonight you will discover that the more the merrier - and the more pleasant the rapport.”

My BOS arrived today, and I am very thrilled with it; thank you, Witches Moon! It is a heavy tomb, 6 inches by 10 inches, 500 pages all bound in a lovely cover. I am not going to rush into doing anything with it just yet. I want to place it on my altar when I do my personal New Moon Esbat, and then for my personal Full Moon Esbat. I will write a cleansing and a consecration rite, one for each Esbat, and then I will start thinking about beginning to transfer my personal rituals. In the mean time, I am tweaking them.

On to the 20^th Path! What a perfect day to begin this one. This Path connects Tiphareth, the place of vertical and horizontal balance, to Chesed, the center of the Pillar of Force and the Sephiroth of both authority and benevolence, a very Divine combination. Ellen Cannon Reed tells me in The Witches Tarot that this path represents Intelligence of Will, and it is through this Intelligence of Will that the Primordial Wisdom becomes known. This path is about the Illumination which helps us to understand, and it is about those Seekers who strive to bring light to their Paths, and in lighting their own small lamp, to attract greater light to them.

The 20^th Path encourages us to broaden our minds, to learn and research and to experience life, all in order to achieve wisdom, but it also tells us that we must meditate, and allow the unconscious mind to also be a teacher.

This Path is not only about learning, it is about teaching as well. In The Witches Tarot, Reed says: “And the Seeker is both at once: our search for light and knowledge and growth makes us both seekers of light and bringers of light. With each step forward we take, with each bit of knowledge, of light we gain, we are adding to the light within the human race.” Wow!!! I mean, Wow!! Right now, those words are vibrating within my core. Is this not exactly what we are learning in our Sacred Mists Third Degree Training?

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Queen of Wands/Queen of Cups reversed. The Queen of Wands (cusp of Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality, and Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) is Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and emotional, sensitive and imaginative energy which prefers to take the same path) of Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), and because Water and Fire tend to cancel each other out, we are left with Air and Earth. She knows what she wants, but she can be stubborn. The Queen of Cups (cusp of Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, and Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) is Water of Water, and thus is quite deeply connected to her feelings and her Inner Voice; she has learned to not only trust her intuition, but also to interpret its messages. She is reversed for me today, which means that while I may think I’m connecting to my Inner Voice, I’m probably not. These two Queens are pretty much opposites; the Queen of Wands is independent and outer, while the Queen of Cups in an upright position is all about hearing the Inner Voice. Looks like the reversed Queen of Cups is the important card here.

My Thoth card is The Hermit reversed. The Hermit, which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, practical and stable energy that is slow to change), 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 looking within for answers. The Hermit’s message to me is that the journey is the goal, not the destination. The rays of light from the Sun within the lantern the Thoth Tarot Hermit is carrying are bouncing all over the place, harshly blinding. And our Hermit, although he is carrying this lantern, has his body curved away from the light, his face turned to the dark and his shoulders hunched, protecting himself from those beams of sunlight. While our Hermit is hiding from the light of the Sun, he is leading others with that light. Crowley says of this card: “For this matter is not of Tiphareth without, but Tiphareth within.”

My Legacy card is The Lovers, flavored by the Page of Wands. The Lovers (Air, hot/separates and wet/adapts, quick and animated, intellectual, problems or challenges; Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, sociable, dual; Zayin, double-edged sword; and the Path between Tiphareth, the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify, and Binah, female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) is a very powerful card for me personally, filled with symbolism, the least of which is the presence of Archangel Uriel and His effects on my day. And He has had a voice, a synchronistic voice, for me. The Lovers is not only about love (both my own love and relationships, and the sacred love shared between Goddess and God), but it is about personal choices, and both love and personal choices will come into play for me today. The Page of Wands (Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic noble egotistical; and Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) uses assertion and action in order to feed his need for adventure and excitement. He has a childlike optimism, and since the suit of Wands is associated with Fire and the Will, he can often manifest that optimism into reality, mainly because in his childlike enthusiasm he refuses to see failure.

My 6-digit date number is 11 (Archangel Uriel), which reduces to 2, the number of balance and polarity (which could also represent The Lovers!).

My horoscopes: “If you've been thinking about writing a novel or taking up oil painting, today is the day to begin. No excuses. You have just as much talent as anyone else, so why not use it? You might find it helpful to join a writing group or sign up for a painting workshop, if only to help you get started and stay motivated. Join a support group for artists. They will understand.”

And: “Get out your sharpest scissors, because you'll want to do some trimming today. There is a lot of excess in your life that doesn't serve any useful purpose, and it needs to go. This goes for excess emotional baggage as well as the many things you've been splurging on. Don't fall for the idea that 'more is better' -- too much of a good thing is still too much. Maintaining this lifestyle costs more effort than it's worth -- and it's distracting you from making important progress.”

And: “Your enthusiasm for group activities and social events is very high today, and you might want to discuss your ideas with others. However, you might have trouble reaching those you need to speak with. This can prove frustrating, but your enthusiasm isn't likely to lag because of it. Keep trying, and eventually you'll accomplish what you want. Whatever you plan today is likely to work out to be quite gratifying - even if the process was difficult!”

My Sun reading: “A Neptune transit reorganizes plans for the better, even though people thought things were permanent. Why? The influence of Uranus represents a replacement that people didn't think of. It speeds everything up considerably. With Pluto, you don't meet by happenstance but by fate tonight. You might fall head over heels.”

Yesterday, I heard from Lady Lilyth regarding my Sacred Mists Third Degree Training lesson 5. I enjoyed this lesson, and put quite a bit of work into it. My research as I worked on the homework questions brought new information to me, and once again, the lesson and the homework both validated my current knowledge and reignited my enthusiasm about learning more and going deeper. I am amazed, again and again, at the effectiveness of these Third Degree Lessons. Because I am extending every effort to go above and beyond what is required, I feel that I am truly receiving a professional-caliber education. My own Path, my own practice of my Craft, and my own connection to my Deities have all evolved immensely, and I am only halfway through with the lessons.

I am only a few weeks from the 8^th anniversary of my enrolment in the College of Sacred Mists. My enrolment date is May 30, 2003, and boy, was I a newbie back then. This Samhain will be 9 years of practicing Wicca. I have come so very far. To celebrate, I ordered a Book of Shadows, hand made. With apologies to Lisa, who I was speaking with about commissioning her to create a Book of Shadows for me, because my work hours have been cut in half (along with my paycheck), I have had to adjust my plans. This BOS is smaller (6 ½ by 10 inches), but contains 500 hand bound pages. It will not be specifically created for me, but I have plans for its cleansing and consecration.

I have not been keeping up with my posts regarding Ailm, my Spirit Guide of over 8 years, and her group. Last fall, several of the young men from Bear’s village decided to spend the winter at the group’s ocean camp. A few more substantial dwellings were built late last Summer well into the dunes, away from any flood danger, and over the winter, these young men built more buildings. This Spring, when Ailm and Bear and the group came down from their Winter quarters (Bear’s village), several young women made the journey with them.

This year’s trip down the mountains and through the salt marshes was a bit perilous, due to the meltoff from the heavy snows of the Winter, combined with the substantial rains of Spring. But the group took their time, and made the trip without any injuries. The fishing was good, and the group paused often to smoke their catches.

As the group approached the sea, all eyes were on the horizon. The men who had wintered over had agreed to light a signal fire, beginning with the first full moon after the equinox, to help the travelers to find those who had stayed (just in case they needed to move over the Winter). There was celebration when the signal fire was sighted, and once the groups were reunited, they planned an extensive Beltane celebration.

Today, the Summer village will be celebrating their first handfasting! One of the young women came specifically to be with one of the young men who wintered over, and they will be the first couple dwelling in this newly born village.

Tansy, I have sent you Ailm’s story; enjoy.

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Nine of Swords reversed/Justice. The Nine of Swords (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, social, dual) again, this time in an upright position; this card represents brooding and worrying, the kind that takes place in the wee hours of the morning. Often this kind of worrying is about things that have already happened or things that cannot be changed, and they are usually a complete waste of energy. Because the card is reversed, it is telling me that these worries are fading. Justice is a card of adjustment, and it was in my card throw yesterday, too. Justice corresponds with the element of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick, animated energy that usually brings problems or challenges that bring growth), Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Lamed (ox goad; training or teaching), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Geburah (the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed). This card is about cause and effect, and about making adjustments in order to achieve balance. With that Nine of Swords reversed, it seems I am moving in the right direction.

My Thoth card is the Eight of Swords reversed. “Interference,” thankfully reversed. I think. The Eight of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable talkative, dual) shows what happens when you abuse the power of the Swords through the intellect: that power turns against you. If it were upright, I would be asking myself if I was thinking too much, getting caught in a spiral or loop of thought that ends up being distracting; however, the card is reversed, so today, I shall overcome!

My Legacy card is the Ace of Swords reversed, flavored by The Empress. Three reversed Swords cards today! The Ace of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution authority, cunning, Aquarius and Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, soul growth, artistic) can be seen as the birthplace of ideas and concepts, and also the beginning of the development of a sense of identity. The element of Air, which corresponds with the suit of Swords, does not have self-generated impulses, but it can easily have an effect when influenced by the other elements. But, like my other two Swords cards today, it is reversed, and thus it seems there is a lack of the good effects of the element of Air today. The Empress corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Venus (beauty, allure, pleasure, relationships), Daleth (door or womb) and the Path between Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Chokmah (dynamic male energy and the origin of vital force and polarity). She represents creativity, fertility, the physical body and its senses, and the material world and the workings of Nature; those seem to be the directions I am being pulled today. Well fiddle-de-dee, I will think about this tomorrow. Today, I will just feel.

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number of motion that washes away stagnation. Oh-kay!!

My horoscopes: “There's a powerful force moving through your life that can't be ignored any longer, Sagittarius. Adjustments may be needed in order to take full advantage of the energy at hand. You will find with a healthy balance of restriction and expansion that you can take the reins and set yourself on the road to success. There's a great intensity to today that will seep into every facet of your life.”

And: “Things are starting to free up a bit in your life . . . you're getting a little bit more free time, so what are you planning to do with it? Be careful not to let this time drain away without taking advantage of it. Put together a short list of a few things you're curious about or places you'd like to explore. Take the steps necessary to make them a commitment you need to follow through on. Just because it's 'free' time doesn't mean that it doesn't need structure once in a while.”

And: “How intense the past few days have been! You could spend months just reflecting on these recent experiences. But the mood is not conducive to introspection right now! A change of temper today encourages you to share your life more generously. But with whom will you share it? That may well be the question of the day.”

My Sun reading: “It's time to wrap up the unfinished business that keeps you from moving forward. Be seriously money minded today. It isn't the time to throw caution to the wind. Tonight's romantic vibe is represented by the idea that love is wanting someone to fulfill all the best in ourselves.”

Yesterday, I took my first bike ride to Point Park this year. It was still a bit breezy for a bike ride, but the sun and the blue sky were calling me, so off I went.

What a beautiful trip! I smelled freshly laid mulch, newly turned soil, and that glorious spicy fragrance of the sun on new grass and Spring flowers. Daffodils are on the downward side, but tulips are in their prime, and their vibrant primary whites, reds and yellows were everywhere. I saw the purple of lunaria, and beautiful cherry blossoms, a delicate pink for the unopened buds and white for the petals of the fully opened blooms.

I got to Point Park, parked my bike and made my way to the beginning of the 2 mile hike. Last time I took this hike I was accompanied by the Pagan Brain Trust-ers. Bug, Muffin, Curly and I were treated to an incredible symphony of calls created by a huge orchestra of toads and frogs; this trip, the trail belonged to the red-winged blackbirds. They were everywhere, calling back and forth to each other.

I smiled as I stepped through the “Pitch Pine Portal,” the four tall pine trees that acted like a gateway, and smiled as I remembered the four of us walking this path before. Then, I stopped and sat on a bench that overlooked one of the inland ponds, and sipped my water. To my delight, I was given a truly funny show by a swan.

This swan was carefully and diligently guarding a Canadian goose from all comers. As I watched, another goose approached and called out to the swan’s goose; the swan instantly and vigorously charged at that interloper, hissing with head low and wing feathers raised threateningly. The poor gander climbed out of the water and stood there for a while, looking a bit confused, before he headed down the waterway, in the opposite direction from the pond. The swan then went back to “his” goose and began to gently herd her to the other side of the pond. LOL, that was a new one on me.

I ended up shortening my walk, because a huge section of the beach and dunes were closed to foot traffic,, due to the nesting activities of some endangered birds. I did not mind and in fact, was glad to see how large of an area had been roped off. I took the trail to the beach, and saw that a huge section of the beach had been roped off, also. Cool.

I got back to my bike and made the return trip. And I must say, I’m not in the shape I thought I was. My legs are going to be sore tomorrow, but the soreness will be worth the experience.

When I came back from my ride and recovered (*giggle*), I took out my Third Degree Lesson 5, and finished and submitted it! This one was a true challenge, in part because I wanted my answers to be articulate, complete and of the highest caliber I was able to attain. And it was a challenge in part because of the lethargy I have been battling. I stayed the course and did the work necessary, and my Patron, Cernunnos, helped me to successfully battle my lethargy.

And I feel good.

Tomorrow, on to the 21^st Path.

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Five of Swords/Death reversed. The Five of Swords (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, pleasure, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloof) focuses on victory and defeat, but not your usual, run-of-the-mill versions of these two results. This card tells of a possible attack of some kind (not necessarily originating from someone else) and of victory attained by unethical methods, and whether I am on the winning side or the losing side of the issue, this card is telling me that there is a potential for harm, or even for me to have to deal with vengeance. Another danger associated with the energies of this card is disillusionment. Death reversed again; the Death card corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and sensitive, imaginative energy that strives to stay the same or take the same course), Scorpio, Nun (fish head; liberation), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration), and tells of transformation or change, both voluntary and involuntary, the ending of an era and the fear of the unknown result of change. Because my Death card is reversed today and paired with the Five of Swords, I need to be very careful that I remain aware of consequences; while I should not fear change or even fear the presence of this Five, I do need to make certain that my intentions are good.

My Thoth card is the Four of Wands reversed. The Four of Wands (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, enthusiastic) in an upright position is about building enough to become established, as a beachhead, a pause before continuing, not as a finished product. Crowley calls this card “Completion,” and for a Wands/Fire card, it is pretty restricted. After all, Fire is not about order and rules; however, in order to tame Fire enough to work with it, I might need to tap into the energies of the upright card. A tiny bit of control won’t extinguish the flame.

My Legacy card is Justice, flavored by the Six of Coins. Justice is a card of adjustment, and isn’t that actually what justice is, in the end? Justice corresponds with the element of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick, animated energy that usually brings problems or challenges that bring growth), Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Lamed (ox goad; training or teaching), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Geburah (the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed). This card is about cause and effect, and about the adjustments that happen when we think about causes, and try to make their effects as positive as possible. The Six of Coins (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. The Six of Coins also reminds me to be generous; I have grown and evolved through the assistance of others, and now it is time for me to pay forward what I have received in the past. The success of this card is temporary, and I should not forget that, particularly because it is flavoring my Justice card today. No man is an island, and while my own actions have had a large effect on who I am at the moment, I have also been infused by the energies of others. Since I like who I am right now, I need to be grateful.

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

My horoscope: “Today may be serious, Sagittarius, with clouds looming over your parade. Although the clouds are dark and threatening, that doesn't necessarily mean that rain will pour down. Things are about to climax in your life. Today's message is that you should find the beauty and sensuality in yourself and others and renew your enthusiasm and sensuality in each new day.”

My Sun reading: “People remain happy and easy to communicate with under the Aquarius Moon. It's an opportune time to brainstorm ideas, bring them into reality, and solve outstanding problems. Tonight's social dynamic is about the spirit of genuine curiosity. Learn about and know where this new person is coming from.”

I read another article on the Alchemic Journal, and a single paragraph jumped out at me:

Water’s Divine Properties

Flower Remedies are traditionally prepared by placing the flower heads on top of water. The sunlight shines through the energetic field of the flowers and is imprinted on the waters own energetic matrix, the bonds between the molecules. Water has the unusual property that it can change its matrix under certain conditions. The water will maintain the energetic pattern of the substance being potentized even after the substance has been removed. There need not be any physical substance present to retain the energetic pattern, which is very useful when using substances or plants that might be considered toxic. This Divine property of water is what is utilized in making both Flower Remedy and Homeopathic preparation. The ability of water to shift its matrix under varying conditions is well documented by Dr. Masami Emoto in his book: Messages from Water.

Hmmmm . . . Cernunnos has been asking me to drink more water in order to flush out the lethargy that has been plaguing me this Spring. I wonder if I can make use of this? Yes, I have already been doing this, for each time I feel a bit lethargic, I pour myself a glass of water; thus, I am infusing the water with my intention, the washing away of the lethargy. But what if I consciously infused the water with this intent? Duh! I am a Third Degree Wiccan; I certainly should be doing this already. I need to also get a tumbled sunstone, so that I can infuse my water with the essence of Cernunnos. Time to “put my witch on.” LOL, thanks, Sherry, for that one.

I read further through this awesome blog and found this, within an essay called “The Alchemical Art” by John H. Reid III:

The first law of alchemy may well be stated “As above so below, as below so above for performing the miracle of the One Thing” (attributed to Hermes Trismegistus). One can expand the first law by enumerating what I call the five postulates of the First Law.

1) That the entire universe is divine in origin. Therefore Wisdom and Guidance must be sought from the source from which all creation flows.

2) All organisms, no matter how subtle or gross they are, have within them the divine spark of life and are interrelated with each other. It is therefore our task to understand this kinship, so that we may utilize inspired knowledge to aid in our understanding of how to prepare the quintessence of our matter.

3) All organisms are in a state of constant evolution as they continue their synthesis towards unveiling their inherent perfection. Upon reaching an understanding of postulate two (above), the true work begins, i.e., the aiding of nature by the art of alchemy to reach its highest point of perfection.

4) Humans are a part of the universe. Therefore, they are divine in origin and they can affect all organisms on all spheres of existence by their actions or inaction.

5) Humans, by understanding the basic laws that govern their beings and conversely the entire universe may learn to recognize the divine spark of vital energy in all organisms, isolate it, purify it, and manipulate it to speed up the processes of evolution.

While I am not certain that any human would have the authority to “speed up the process of evolution” in a general sense or for everyone, we certainly can affect ourselves this way, if we choose. But since the 22^nd Path has taught me about the importance of considering consequences, I am not certain that I would want to mess with things unless there was true need.

Consequences can go beyond me, affect others besides me, even if my intentions are focused solely on me. As I continue the work of the 22^nd Path and beyond, I need to remember that because I am connected to all, I have the ability to affect all. That is a huge responsibility.

I will end on a note of celebration (despite the reversed Four of Wands in my cards today): I have just completed Lesson 5 of Third Degree, and will be submitting my homework by the end of the day. Waahooo!!

Time for a bike ride.

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Ace of Pentacles/Queen of Cups reversed. The Aces present potential only, unmanifested, 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 of Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes; stable, material and practical energy that is slow to change), usually either through financial or career focuses, regarding the home, or connected to my physical body and its health and well-being. I need to be aware that this day contains such Earthy potential, and do my best to manifest it in a positive way. The Queen of Cups (cusp of Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, and Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) is Water of Water, and thus is quite deeply connected to her feelings and her Inner Voice; she has learned to not only trust her intuition, but also to interpret its messages. She is reversed, so there may be some form of disconnect or imbalance today as far as my connection to my feelings.

My Thoth card is the Three of Swords reversed. Uh oh. The Three of Swords (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) is named “Sorrow” by Crowley, and while I do see this card as definitely indicating the possibility of experiencing sorrow, I think this card also tells of the potential for experiencing the isolation that comes when we are excluded from something. This card is more than just about stubbing your toe on the shoes that your husband left in the middle of the hallway, it’s about feeling a more universal type of angst that is not caused by one small event. Thankfully, the card is reversed; I need to remind myself, often, that it’s not as bad as it looks; confusion, misinterpretation or isolation could be what I will be dealing with today.

My Legacy card is the Two of Coins reversed, flavored by Strength reversed. **Sigh.** The Two of Coins (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning) reversed reminds me that everything always ebbs and flows, but I am not always required to follow the prevailing tides. Not following those tides might be a more difficult choice, but I need to dispel the sludge of this reading today, and maybe going against the tide will at least help me to be more aware. The traditional meaning for the Strength card (Fire, hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic energy; Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical; Teth, sieve or basket, digestion; and the Path between Geburah, the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed, and Chesed, the place where forms and structures are stabilized and nurtured) is the presence of the ability to tame our primitive and wild emotions. This card can also be seen to represent magickal power and sexual power; however, it is reversed. Again, I am sensing some isolation and a sense of disconnect. Might not be a pleasant day.

My 6-digit date number is 4, the number of stability and depth. Well, I hope so; but so far, a big “not”!

My horoscopes: “Try to stay on the lighter side today, Sagittarius. This may be easier said than done. You're the bridge that connects an island to the shore. The water is rising and the island is about to be completely submerged. People are scrambling to reach you. Be careful that the situation doesn't become an issue of self-sacrifice. The bridge is apt to sag or even break under so much weight and pressure.”

And: “Itchy fabrics, spicy foods and atonal music -- any (or all) of these off-kilter experiences will be just the ticket for you. What you need most is stimulation! Seek out things that rub you the wrong way and challenge your tolerance; it will help reinforce what you're tuned into and will help you expand your horizons. In your free time, sit still and watch the world go by. The people you see will bring entertainment, confusion -- and more of that stimulation you need.”

And: “Today you might take up some sort of occult study such as astrology, numerology, or alchemy that seems like Greek to you at first. As a result, you could be tempted to abandon it. Don't! Once you get past the jargon, you'll probably find it fascinating. Keep a dictionary handy, and don't feel like an idiot if you have to go over something several times. You have the brains to do it. Now just put in the time!”

My Sun reading: “Venus aspects Saturn. The latter organizes while the former plays the role of money planet. Balancing accounts is the thing to do. Asking for a raise isn't. Tonight, the vibe is light, lively, and carefree. Anything goes when the Moon connects with Uranus energy. It isn't the time for anything serious.”

More on the 24^th Path. The Major Arcana card associated with this Path is Death. The Death card is about the actions of Nature upon us from below to above (The Hanging Man is the card that represents the actions of Spirit upon us from above to below). It often connects to a person’s secrets (or a partner’s secrets) in a reading, sometimes regarding money or sex. Sexual orgasm is often named “the little death,” and like sleep (and its time of darkness and the end of the effects of the senses), is associated with the transformation of death and dying.

But the Death card, despite its name and traditional appearance, is not a bad card at all. If Death is surrounded by Pentacles cards, it usually is predicting some positive change in the physical world; upon completion of some big and meaningful transformation, sure, but still, the end result is a good one.

The Death card also indicates the removal of some kind of mask or false persona. This is most interesting to me, because as I work through the Paths of the Tree, particularly this one, I am thinking of the choices I have made in the past and will be called upon to make in the future, that will present some opportunity for transformation. And yeah, that word “transformation” is very over-used, but here, in regard to the Death card and the 24^th Path, it is the correct word to be applied. This transformative process usually has something to do with time or linear time lines.

I am thinking often these days about the time in the not too distant future, once I complete my Third Degree Training, and I am called upon to receive my Third Degree Initiation and formally dedicate my life to the Goddess and God. That Initiation, more than the other two, which I have already experienced, is about an irrevocable change. I understand more and more why a symbolic death is such a huge part of an Initiation Ritual.

Because the message of the Death card is that we must pass through an unexpected threshold, and we must do so without any foreknowledge of what lies on the other side (if anything is there at all), we instinctively fear death, and any transformation which is this total and which does not offer the opportunity of a “redo.” The threshold is one way only, no exceptions. We could see Death as the death of thought, when that thought becomes an action; death in one place brings birth in another, and a completion of the circle of life. This “big move” makes us also think about what we are carting around with us through our life, both literally and figuratively. If we are going to make the big move, we certainly don’t want to carry around any unnecessary baggage. Time to get rid of what we don’t need any more.

It is important to remember that matter always exists; it may blink in and out of different forms and different dimensions, but whenever there is a blink out of something, there is a blink into something in another place.

Each of these three Dark Night Paths attaches to Tipharoth, the sephiroth of balance. The 26^th Path attaches to the bottom of the Pillar of Form, and it taught me that reality is an illusion built of potential. The 24^th Path, which attaches to the bottom of the Pillar of Force, is teaching me that even when my life force exits my physical body, potential is not gone. It is already manifesting into a new existence.

That actually makes me feel a bit better.

I’m heading over to the Wayne Contingency of the Pagan Brain Trust this evening, to give my “coffee connection” some Bodywork. I always feel good after visiting the Wayne Contingency, and I always feel good after giving someone a Thai Massage, so I am anticipating that I will end the day on a much more comfortable note.

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The Tower reversed/Seven of Wands reversed. The Tower corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change), Mars (action, spontaneity, aggression, drive), Phe (mouth or speech), and the Path between Hod (which provides analysis and communication) and Netzach (which offers the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration), and if it was in an upright position it would be reminding me that there just might be some outdated facets of my life that need to be demolished and swept away. Since The Tower is reversed today, I am being told that I must be doing something right, because things are flowing rather than being stopped up. The Seven of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, natural leader, egotistical, selfish) has a personal significance for me, given to me by Archangel Uriel. I see this card in an upright position as representing the approach of a Threshold, and the need to pass the tests of the Guardian; since the card is reversed, the Threshold either may have been passed or may be approaching. Since this Seven is paired with The Tower reversed, I am sensing that I have passed some crossroad, and am moving forward in the manner I should be.

My Thoth card is the Three of Cups. “Abundance” is Uncle Al’s keyword for the Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive tenacious, nurturing, moody) which tells of the possibility of experiencing emotional abundance, emotional connections to others, and emotional support as a part of the day. It tells of working and accomplishing things through love. Okay, I can do that!

My Legacy card is The Chariot reversed, flavored by The Moon. The Chariot 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), and is related to emotional control and the training of our emotions so that we can use them to bring greater good into our lives. Besides being reversed, my Chariot is flavored by The Moon. The Moon 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 talks about the imagination, perception, and fear of the unknown. It is flavoring my Chariot, which to me is an encouragement to allow things to flow on their own today. Sometimes control only serves to prevent innovation.

My Pearls of Wisdom New Moon card is the Eight of Pentacles reversed. The Eight of Pentacles (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, sensible, orderly) is about employment, commissions offered because of skills or abilities, and about finding one’s niche in life. The work associated with the Eight of Pentacles involves a conscious focus or application of knowledge, usually in a solitary manner. The Pearls of Wisdom Eight of Pentacles speaks of hard work done within the passion of creativity, infused with hope and beauty, which adds to the zest of the effort and the density of fulfillment. The card is reversed, though, which could mean one of two things: either I won’t be working very hard and thus not receiving any fulfillment, or I will receive fulfillment without working very hard. Crossing my fingers that the latter possibility will manifest.

My 6-digit date number is 9, the completeness of experience and manifestation.

My horoscopes: “The topic of the day is knowledge and learning. Did you study the field you really wanted to? Do you feel bad about not having attended such-and-such school or program? If these issues are uppermost on your mind today, remember that your creativity has little to do with the degrees you hold. It has everything to do with how you use your skills and knowledge to better the world.”

And: “You will be surrounded by masculine energy today, and you will find it inspiring. The competition hasn't started yet, but you are focused on putting yourself in a good position to be the victor. Watching aggressive activity and fierce athletic abilities will be like watching a beautiful ballet. Get ready to understand a bright new side of the men you care most about.”

And: “You may receive some upsetting news from a family member today. It may have you reeling for a moment, but when you take the time to think about it some more you realize that things are not as troubling as they first seemed. Be sure to get all the facts before taking any action. You want to be sure to do what's right for the situation.”

My Sun reading: “A Pisces New Moon conjuncts the Sun and Mars, providing seed energy for new starts over the next 30 days. Tonight the Moon and Saturn suggest someone is making an important attitude adjustment. Heads up! It could be you, overdue with your break from the past.”

I am the star that rises from the sea, the twilight sea

I bring men dreams that rule their destiny

I bring the moon-tides to the souls of men

The tides that flow and ebb and flow again

that flow and ebb and flow alternately

These are my secret, these belong to me.

Dion Fortune – Moon Magic

What a perfect poem to ponder on this New Moon day. Again this morning, I spent some time at Danu’s Well, and again I am filled with Her lovely energy. I think tomorrow morning, I will go to the Well before I begin my customary morning meditation/chakra recharge/shield recharge/Reiki application, just to see what happens.

As requested by Her, I performed my Dark Moon ritual in honor of Hecate ritual last night. This time, when I called the Watchers and my Elemental Guides, I noticed that the entire energy of the Circle was denser somehow, more “there” for the lack of a better adjective. I wonder if this increased awareness of these energies is happening because I am becoming more relaxed with this ritual, or it this is happening because Spring is approaching. LOL, I guess I will just have to wait and see.

I have been working diligently on my current Third Degree Training lesson. I am really enjoying the challenges of these lessons! The training available to students of Sacred Mists, from my vantage point of having completed both First Degree and Second Degree Training, is pretty incredible. Yes, the early lessons are simple, but let’s face it, those First Degree lessons can only be as advanced as the least experienced student, otherwise students without experience will be lost early on.

It always surprises me when people judge the training available through Communities like Sacred Mists by looking at what is presented to the newest members. Yes, I completely understand that no one wants to devote the years of study that it takes to attain entrance into Third Degree Training, only to find that the supposedly more advanced lessons have not increased in difficulty at an appropriate rate; that is fair enough. But I am proud of my Degree attainments because I know that I have talked the talk and walked the walk; I know that over the past almost eight years that I have been training at Sacred Mists, whenever I come across lessons that are reviews, I go the extra mile to discover some new bit of information about even the most basic of concepts that I did not know before working on that review.

I am not training at Sacred Mists in order to receive the piece of paper; I am in no hurry to finish. Thus, I am allowing myself to take little “side trips” as I work on each lesson. I just finished reading a really awesome essay on evocation; yes, I know what evocation is, but still, I was able to add new texture to my own experiences with evocation by reading about the experiences of another. Now, I am reading a book on shapeshifting. Once again, I already have enough personal experience with shapeshifting to answer the homework question, but I would prefer to learn some new bit of information through fulfilling the assignment.

It might take me a bit longer to finish each lesson, but I am getting the biggest bang for the buck by taking my time and by putting in the extra effort. This is why I value my Degrees, my symbols of attainment at Sacred Mists. I know I’ve done the work, and no one can receive all that is intended by these lessons unless they do the work, no matter how experienced they are.

I am ending this blog post with a message for Tara. My dear sister, I know you have read this before, but I am reminding you of this:

We avoid discomfort at all costs, and yet we are shown again and again by the workings of Nature that discomforts can always be turned into something positive. The example . . . is the pearl. “The beautiful pearl has long been treasured by humankind. It looks like a tiny Moon, and the Moon sometimes looks like a huge pearl on a black velvet sky. And how does that pearl come to be? It is the result of a rough, irritating grain of sand, which presents a possible injury to an oyster. Imagine a grain of sand under your eyelid, and the tears it would cause. In a sense, the oyster weeps; but its tears are not water, they are a material that coats the sand, layer after layer, until it creates from its pain a thing of beauty.”

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Five of Pentacles/King of Swords. The Llewellyn Welsh Tarot Five of Pentacles (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) shows the traditional image for this card: a woman and a child, one of them injured in some way, travelling in the cold wind, with a church window behind them. There is snow on the ground and on the trees (and we are expecting snow today!); the window is set in a strongly built wall of stones and mortar, and appears lit from within. Behind the pair is what appears to be a cemetery. This card tells me very clearly that while it may appear to me that I am coming from a wasteland with nothing alive to be gleaned, there are still spiritual benefits to be had. In fact, a sense of isolation along with a collapse of the systems and expectations of the physical world can often force us to open up to spiritual guidance. The King of Swords (cusp of Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, cunning, authoritative, and Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, aloof) tells me how to respond to this challenge presented in the physical world. He tells me that I have the ability to be an impressive leader who is not easily fooled; however, he warns me to allow a bit of compassion to influence me. Otherwise, my temper might get in the way.

My Thoth card is The Hermit reversed. I love the image on the Thoth Hermit, which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, practical and stable energy that is slow to change), 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). The rays of light from the Sun within the lantern he is carrying are bouncing all over the place, harshly blinding. And our Hermit, although he is carrying this lantern, has his body curved away from the light, his face turned to the dark and his shoulders hunched, protecting himself from those beams of sunlight. While our Hermit is hiding from the light of the Sun, he is leading others with that light. Crowley says of this card: “For this matter is not of Tiphareth without, but Tiphareth within.” Because my Hermit is reversed, I am being told that the light has benefit for me today. Isolation is good at times, but we do need connections to others in order to survive.

My Legacy card is the King of Wands reversed, flavored by the Six of Cups reversed. Well, we have two Kings today, and since my Fire King (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) is reversed, I am being warned once again to not allow myself to judge situations in the heat of the moment. Idealistic passion can very easily turn into fundamentalist control, and this warning is emphasized by the card flavoring this reversed King, the Six of Cups (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, compulsive, deep, obsessive) reversed. Leadership and authority are cool, but without sharing and compassion, they are quite lonely pursuits.

Since I have two Kings today, here is a bit more information about Kings in general. In “Understanding the Tarot Court,” by Mary K. Greer and Tom Little, The Tarot Court is described as representing some kind of progression or development of the personality and persona. The Pages are usually seen as students, the Knights as testing their skills by facing real-world challenges, the Queens as having attained mastery and confidence, and the Kings as having gained sufficient respect and stature to assume a persona of public command. My two Kings today are of the elements of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and the quick, animated intellectual focus that brings solutions to problems or challenges) and Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous and impulsive change), but my Fire King, the King of Wands, is reversed. This means that while I may be using my intellect today, I may not be able to find new ways to make use of what I see or learn.

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of a pause at the peak which heralds the beginning of degeneration.

My horoscopes: “A person you're attracted to may seem to be interested in someone else. This could bring up your insecurities and jealousy. Don't make yourself crazy, Sagittarius. Try to learn the facts before letting the situation get the better of you. Invitations to more than one social event for the same night might force you to make an uncomfortable choice. Make the choice that's best for you.”

And: “You're a problem solver on your least work-oriented days. Right now, you're work-oriented, to put it mildly. You're focused, like a laser beam. You're locked in a tough hold like a member of the wrestling team. You're going to tackle any and all problems, important and trivial, that come your way. There's no problem too intense, no problem too tiny, for your talents. By the end of the day you feel good. And you should! You've really flexed your problem-solving muscles!”

And: “Group activities may take up a lot of your time and energy today - perhaps too much. Your own career concerns are very much on your mind, and you don't like being distracted from them. Nonetheless, these activities, not to mention your family, are very important to you, and you'll find a way to squeeze out the time - even though it might be frustrating. Remember, however: This is not a good day to push yourself too hard!”

My Sun reading: “Mercury's logic is scrambled by Pisces emotion for the next two weeks. The mind, always occupied, isn't always on the business at hand. Tonight's Libra Moon trine Neptune enhances rapport to work out differences. If you're single, the Moon quincunx Uranus suggests a long-simmering flame erupts.”

I am sitting here on a Monday morning, listening to the Ancient Mother CD, by Robert Glass, and thinking about the weekend just passed. It is overcast today, and I am enjoying my fireplace; I also have two Partylite tealites lit, Home By The Sea and Ocean Berry Breeze. LOL, I am in a beachy mood today, probably because both Saturday and Sunday were sunny and windy, great days for a walk on the beach.

On Saturday, I was still thinking deeply about the 29^th Path. As Ellen Cannon Reed talks about the 29^th Path in her book, The Witches Tarot, a lot of what she is discussing regarding this Path has to do with attitudes and ways that we perceive our physical world. Perhaps that is why The Moon is the Tarot card associated with this Path. Many times, we perceive things as being negative or “icky” when in truth, they are anything but negative. We modern, “civilized” humans have a real phobia about bodily fluids and body wastes, and yet they serve a positive purpose within the workings of our physical bodies. We avoid discomfort at all costs, and yet we are shown again and again by the workings of Nature that discomforts can always be turned into something positive.

The example presented by Ms. Reed that resonates for me is the pearl. “The beautiful pearl has long been treasured by humankind. It looks like a tiny Moon, and the Moon sometimes looks like a huge pearl on a black velvet sky. And how does that pearl come to be? It is the result of a rough, irritating grain of sand, which presents a possible injury to an oyster. Imagine a grain of sand under your eyelid, and the tears it would cause. In a sense, the oyster weeps; but its tears are not water, they are a material that coats the sand, layer after layer, until it creates from its pain a thing of beauty.” How many of us avoid situations because they might bring pain? Pain is a natural part of life, and we certainly gain quite a bit of benefit from experiencing pain and overcoming pain’s influence.

On Saturday morning, after overcoming the pain of getting out of my nice, warm bed in order to walk on the beach in the cold wind, under a Winter sun (**wink**), I had a lovely meditation. I went directly to Danu’s Well after opening and balancing my chakras. When I arrived there, the Sun was almost halfway to noon, casting a sharp, angled shadow in the Well; I sat down on the ground next to the stones circling the Well, and relaxed a bit, and then began to think about my upcoming choice of Paths within my Third Degree Training at Sacred Mists. To my surprise and delight, after only a few moments of basking in the energy emanating from the Well, Danu joined me. She smiled and told me that She had something to show me. Danu pointed to an oak tree on the other side of Her Well, and motioned to me to follow Her as She walked towards it. I had never been able to see beyond the trees which circled Danu’s Well, and now I knew why: there was some kind of membrane or wall behind those trees. Danu walked up to the membrane, turned once to urge me to follow Her with a smile, and then stepped through. I followed her, passing through a “field” that appeared solid but was of the consistency of fog or steam, with no temperature difference.

To my surprise and delight, I realized that I recognized this place! The first Wiccan class I ever took was taught by Mama Kiki at Off the Beaten Path, the shop where I teach belly dance. Here, on the other side of the oak tree was my meditation place that I found through a guided meditation led by Mama Kiki! Danu told me that this place was given to me so that I could begin my own Journey of discovery; She told me that now, I could give this place to others so that they, too, could choose to begin their own Journey.

Choice. And beginnings. Danu smiled at me with love as I made the connection. She was telling me the Path that She preferred that I take within my Third Degree Training, that of Teacher. Wow, this felt so right that I could hear the clunk of the puzzle piece slipping into place!

We both returned back to the Well, and Danu sat with me for a while longer. Danu explained some things about the Well that I had noticed, but not yet understood. She said that when I visited the Well during the day, the Sun would be in a position that corresponded with the time in the solar year; at Yule, the Sun would be on the horizon, at Litha, the Sun would be right above, and at Samhain it would be on the opposite horizon. If I came to the Well at night, while the weather might be different than what I was experiencing in the physical world, the Moon would be at a similar phase.

Then, Danu explained to me that when I die, I will be jumping down the Well. Aha!! Somehow, that makes sense to me. I did jump down the Well once, and passed through to another place where I distinctly did not feel human. Before I could get a sense of who I was or where I was, I was drawn back out and sent back to my world. Obviously, I was not yet ready to pass on and leave my physical body behind, but what I felt during that brief time on the other side makes me think that this is true.

Also, to me it makes sense that we jump down to die, rather than floating up, as is presented in other religions. After all, my life force is housed in a physical body which is of the physical world, and thus subject to the rules of existence of the physical world. In order to gain the momentum necessary to pass through the Veil, I would need to make use of the laws of physics for as long as I am housed in my physical body, and falling downward certainly is a much easier way to build up speed and force!

I have felt Danu with me, beside me, since that time at Her well. I have used the rest of the weekend and today to finish putting the pieces together. Tomorrow, I will move onward.

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