The Magician/Two of Swords reversed.  Magician corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick and animated energy which usually presents problems or challenges), Mercury (reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication), Beth (house; builder) and the Path between Binah (female, receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Kether (the source, limitless possibility), and he has the power to transform his world through the use of his Will and his connection to the Divine.  Today I will know what to do and how to do it, and better yet, I will get it done!  The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) can represent a time of not looking or of shutting out the world.  Because the Two of Swords is reversed and paired with The Magician, things may really open up for me today.  Lots of movement in these two cards, and I had better look carefully and remember that I am responsible for my actions, s well as the consequences of those actions.

My Thoth card is The Aeon, or Judgement, reversed.  The Aeon/Judgement corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), Pluto (power, metamorphosis, cycles of dying and becoming), Shin (fang), and the Path between Malkuth (the physical world of action and physical, outer reality) and Hod (provides analysis and communication) and it usually tells of an opportunity to validate the good stuff and get rid of the stuff I don’t need any more.  This process, which often is spiritual in focus, allows me to understand who and where I am in life, so that I can see the bigger picture and thus, break from the past and make the right choices that will allow me to move forward.  Since my card is reversed, I need to be reeeeeaalll careful today about deciding what to keep and what to get rid of because there could be some cloud affecting my ability to see.  Perhaps that cloud is connected to some psychological issue that is trying to derail this process.

My Legacy card is the Three of Wands, flavored by the Ten of Wands.  The Three of Wands (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, the deepest self and personal power, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive) tells of being successfully established after effort, of taking a position of responsibility and of being supported by others.  This is a wonderful card to offer influence to The Magician, who is good at taking action but may not be good at remembering that his actions have consequences to others.  The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) in an upright position tells of being taxed to the limit, but it is reversed, so my sense of empowerment will not be a flash that dies out quickly due to lack of fuel.

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number of motion that dispels stagnation.

My horoscopes: “A small sum of money could come today, possibly through the efforts of a woman. You may have been waiting for this for a long time, so expect to feel relieved. You may have some definite plans for the money. Perhaps it's meant for a specific purpose, or maybe you'll invest it. Whichever it is, you'll want to celebrate.”

And: “Your spirit is sparkling, and you may feel yourself filling up with tremendous energy as you go about your day. Your sense of adventure is at a monthly peak, and there is very little that can get you down. One area of your life that might be slightly difficult for you to deal with right now, though, is your world of love and romance. For some reason, you may feel like this is the one domain in which things aren't going the way you would like them to. The secret is to be patient.”

My Shadowscapes Insight for today is regarding the King of Pentacles.  This powerful King is calm and steady, and confident in his ability to achieve success and manifest an idea tangibly into the physical world.  He is well-grounded, yet he can reach towards the stars, and the added bonus is that just by being who and what he is, the King of Pentacles inspires others to dig deep for stability and then reach upward to touch our dreams.

My days have been incredibly busy; productive but busy.  It seems that the few projects I keep placing at the top of my “To Do” list get pre-empted in favor of other things that need to be done.  But I am enjoying these other things, too!  Last night’s Tarot Chat, part four of a series I am calling “Tarot and the Tree of Life,” was amazing.  I am truly enjoying the discussions that happen during the Chats on this subject. 

The other Tarot Class Facilitator and I are in the process of updating the Tarot Extension Class, and what a wonderful experience this is!  The lessons in this Class are great, and they really do help students to connect with their Tarot cards (LOL, I am trained through this class, and look where I am now), but they are sorely in need of updating.  Plus, the other Facilitator has images of the cards to be inserted in each of the lessons. 

We are working on bringing in some new members for the SMPDA also.  This is taking time as well, but since our membership has dwindled greatly, this is a necessary task.  We have some great new potential members and one returning member, and once they are on board the energy of the group will be back to its normal exciting levels. 

And still, my Lesson Six of Third Degree is waiting patiently for me.  I was really hoping to have this done before leaving for the WGW 2011 get-together.  It still may happen, but I am not so sure at this point.  I am still hopeful that I will have it completed by Samhain, though.  Darn it!!

Okay, break over.  I will hopefully get back to The Emerald Tablet tomorrow.

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The Universe/Judgement. Whhhoooaah! How prophetic are those cards?! The Universe corresponds to Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes), Saturn (discipline, responsibility and resistance), and Thav (mark or sign), and Judgement corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes), Pluto (power, metamorphosis, cycles of becoming) and Shin (tooth or fang). Fire and Earth are the purest of extremes and because of this they tend to offer balance. The Universe tells of successful integration and dynamic arrival, and Judgement tells me that I need to know and be aware of the tie for action, and I need to act or suffer the consequences. Today is a day of combinations, and of an awareness of what I have done and what I have not done to date.

My Thoth card is the Knight of Swords. Clever yet unstable; this Knight is Air of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts); he is the uncompromising awakening of the mind so that the heart and mind can work together. Not a comfortable card.

My Legacy card is the Four of Swords reversed. In an upright position this card tells of the need to give the mind a rest in order for it to recuperate, but since the card is reversed, taking a pause might not be the right thing to do today.

My 6-digit date number is 9. My number. The number 9 is about completeness, about having it all, as opposed to the number 10, which is about completion, or an ending.

My horoscope: “Group activities, perhaps with a social, ecological, or humanitarian focus, could take place today somewhere in your neighborhood, Sagittarius. You might decide to attend with your romantic partner. You could encounter some friends in the process, and all of you could well be caught up in the excitement generated by those in the spotlight. Listen well and think about what you learn today. It might make a difference in your future.”

Where do I begin? Friday night I had the most awesome meditation. The four robed figures that first appeared to me during my Third Degree Entrance Assessment appeared to me again, standing in a row. The first one on the left, wearing the brooch of a Celtic tree, representing Earth, approached me first; he held out his arm and pointed to a hole in the ground that suddenly appeared at my feet. I got down into the hole and stretched out, and the robed figure began shoveling dirt onto me until I was buried. By now, I had learned not to fear these things and I relaxed as the weight of the soil pressed gently but firmly and evenly against my body. I felt supported and protected, and I filled my lungs with the fertile fragrance of the earth.

After a bit of time I sat up, and then climbed out of the hole. Next to step forward was the robed figure representing Water, and before me appeared a well. I jumped and did not fall long before I plunged into the water. Once immersed, I found myself in a dimly lit world; the water was clear and lit by a diffused light, and was teeming with light. I watched as tiny fish darted around in dense schools, and then were eaten by bigger fish, which were in turn eaten by even bigger fish. Soon, there was only one great big fish, and he set his eyes on me. I waited, floating in the water, as he came up from below me with his mouth gaping (no teeth, thankfully); he gulped me down and I was in the dark. Suddenly I shot out of the well and landed back on the ground, sopping wet.

I stood up as my clothes rapidly dried in the light breeze; I turned to look at the robed figure with the yellow tornado brooch. He did not move, but raised his arm and pointed at me; the breeze got stronger and stronger. I staggered against the onslaught, and then was swept away. I tumbled for a few moments but then got control of myself and rode the wind!

Eventually I circled back and landed before the robed figures, feeling refreshed and empowered. The last one, wearing the flame brooch, stepped forward and gestured; a huge bonfire appeared before me. I knew what to do; I stepped into the flames. There was no heat, just a comfortable warmth. The flames brushed against me, tickling me as first my clothes, and then my body hair, were consumed. When I stepped from the flames at last, I was new and pink and completely naked. And the robed ones were gone; instead, before me stood Young Cernunnos. He smiled and nodded in greeting, and gestured for me to approach Him; when I reached His side I turned back toward the fire. Cernunnos gestured, and the fire died down to ashes; He took my hand and led me to the fire, and then He reached down and coated two fingers on His right hand with ashes, and then once again drew the two lines along each of my cheeks, stretching from each ear to the corners of my mouth. He looked at the result of His work, and then smiled and nodded. He then very firmly reminded me that Beltane is approaching, and I need to get done the task He has set before me. LOL, He told me that He will take what He wants even if I don’t bring the results He has asked for, but it would be better if I am in the position to offer the results rather than having Him take them. Oy. Okay, then.

I expected to have an interesting weekend, and I did. The good part of the weekend was that I spent both days in my much loved Cape May garden. The bad part was that I was physically uncomfortable all weekend. I had a headache, and I must have been clenching my jaw while sleeping for my jaw ached. And I had a hemorrhoid flareup that is still hurting. I know, TMI, but it is interesting that my head, the place where I think, my mouth the place where I communicate, and my . . . er . . . bottom, the place where I void waste, are all being red flagged. Physical challenges are certainly a part of an initiatory process!

There have been changes in my responsibilities at Sacred Mists as well. I now am working with Brianna as my Co-Director of Divination. Hopefully there will be no more upheavals; LOL, just as I think the dust has settled, things churn up again, but finally the clouds of dust have blown away, and hopefully we will be able to get things in order. Exciting things happening in the Student Council, as well as in my Third Degree studies!

Today, more shakeups. The company for which I work has signed an agreement with a larger company; the larger company is going to purchase the company who employs me, and I may be out of a job in a few months. More challenges, and it is going to be an interesting Summer.

Danu has been with me all morning, standing behind me with Her hands on my shoulders, whispering encouragements in my left ear. She keeps telling me that there are purposes to these recent discomforts, and She keeps reminding me to be patient and to trust Her. Okay, I think I can do that. I feel like I am standing on the edge of a high cliff, the ground waaaay below me, as I contemplate whether to jump or turn around. The Universe/Judgement. . . . I need to keep looking at those cards.

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Knight of Swords/The Tower. Oh, boy. Sounds like it is going to be an interesting day. I am being reminded that while sometimes problems get solved through an objective and emotionless approach, there are dangers to be guarded against. If we plunge forward with narrow sights and without a care for the feelings or needs of others, things might get ugly, ugly as in a total breakdown. The Tower corresponds with the element of Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes), the planet Mars (action, aggression, spontaneity) and the Hebrew letter Phe (mouth or speech). Looks like I had better also be careful what I say.

My Thoth card is the Princess of Cups. Soft, dreamy awareness for today. I may appear lazy to others, but that is not a true perception of me today. I am not lazy, I am simply enjoying every moment.

My Legacy card is the Page of Swords reversed. Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes) of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts), and the season of Winter (Capricorn (“I build”), Aquarius (“I know”) and Pisces (“I believe”)), and the concept of being a student and learning are all brought to me by this Page today. I need to see the events of the day, even the difficult or challenging ones, as lessons.

I have a little bit of everything today, Air, Fire, Earth and Water. But I don’t sense that the day will be harmonious; more like “churning.”

My 6-digit date number is 8, the response to the beginning of degeneration of the 7. The energies of the number 8 move toward resuming the balance of the number 6, but because all life is in motion, that balance will not return within this cycle, and the 8 will fall short.

So much upheaval of late. I just found out that my neighbor, Marie Senior (Marie’s daughter also lives very near our house, and her name is Marie also), who had a massive stroke on Sunday night, passed away last night. I have been thinking of Marie Senior since last evening, and I sent her Reiki both yesterday morning and this morning. I feel Marie Senior’s energy field quite clearly today. Could that be because she has left her broken body behind?

I also had a lot of trouble booting up my computer this morning; LOL, some update must have been loading. Norfolk Botanical Gardens staff members were banding the three eaglets at 9 am, and of course I missed most of the procedure because I could not get onto the internet for almost an hour. But I did see the eaglets get put back into the nest; they are napping now. Mom and dad have not returned yet, but they were seen flying overhead during the banding process, and since the babies are old enough to be left alone for several hours, the people at NBG are not concerned with their absence.

There have also been some sudden changes within the Student Council again. I think that this will be the last sudden adjustment the Council will be making for a while. We certainly are “lean and mean” at this point, but as of our last Meeting, we seem to be pulling together as a group and lovingly and compassionately supporting each other as we all work towards keeping Sacred Mists the awesome spiritual sanctuary that it is.

I have learned several important lessons out of today’s changes within the Council. First, no matter how difficult someone can be to deal with, I am only responsible for my own actions and responses. Second (and this ties directly in with the previous statement), sooner or later the truth will find a way to be told, and if I have trouble coming up with another reason to take the high road, this one works well. To me, my spiritual path rests on a tripod, the legs of which are Knowledge, Wisdom and Compassion/Love. My Goddess expects that I live through these three tenets, equally, and She in turn judges me, my life and my choices through their essences. I try always to associate myself with people who feel the same way. I am very lucky that I have been successful in this regard. Love and hugs to you, and you know who you are. *wink*

I actually feel pretty good today at this point, despite the influences of The Tower upon my day, and the hurt and anger that were experienced by those who I love and respect. I am optimistic that I will be able to make the transitions needed to continue meeting my responsibilities at Sacred Mists, now being shared with a different Council Member, and I even did some work on the ritual Mystery and I are creating, and I have about 1300 words written of my next submission to Luna Station Quarterly. Now, all I have to do is get my Runes burned, and I will be happy. Even despite The Tower, or maybe because of it.

Blessed be!

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Queen of Pentacles/The High Priestess. Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts) of Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes) and The High Priestess, who also corresponds with the element of Water (as well as the Moon, feelings, illusion and imagination; and Gimel, the camel, and hidden knowledge). After the craziness of the past weeks, today I just might feel the beginnings of a “reconnect” to my core center.

My Thoth card is the Eight of Disks. “Prudence,” today, and I am being told that sometimes the best action is no action at all. This card tells of being easy-going yet stable, and while no action is required, it also tells of the importance of putting away for a rainy day.

My Legacy card is the King of Pentacles reversed. In an upright position, Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts) of Earth, and the ability to easily and skillfully deal with the outer and active aspects of the physical realms. Because this King is reversed and because his Queen has also appeared in my thrown cards today, I am seeing this card as pointing at his Queen, deferring to his Queen. Instead of boldly and confidently taking charge of the issues within the physical realm, I should be striving to understand them.

My 6-digit date number for today is 11 (Archangel Uriel), which reduces to the number 2, Balance, and the beginnings of manifestation.

My horoscope: “A lot of paperwork, perhaps involving contracts, could lead to financial gain on the job, Sagittarius. You could make or save some money for your employer, which could prove important. Expect some sort of acknowledgement or recognition for your efforts from superiors, which could lead to advancement or a possible raise. However, there may be some delay with regard to the latter. Don't expect it right away.”

What's up with the big typeface on my last post? LOL!

Well, my Patroness and Patron are right, these have been challenging times. Work is absolutely insanely busy, and I have been putting in some overtime (and the extra $$ will go toward my BOS and my Thai Massage mat). My Sacred Mists responsibilities are ramped up a bit, temporarily. And I have been questioning my ability to respond to certain challenges with continued compassion and calm. Through the upheavals and resulting discomforts, I keep telling myself my son Brian’s tenet of life: “If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger.” LOL, no pain, no gain.

I feel as if I am floating in a river, wearing a life vest. The river, which started years ago as a mere trickle of clear, cool water, twisting and dancing between water-smooth rocks, sometimes gathering into a pond before overflowing and moving on, and sometimes dropping quickly down a cliff, has gradually become a steadily moving force, with all the water pretty much moving in unison. Smooth and powerful trip! But suddenly, this force of Nature that is moving water joins with another river of equal force yet moving in a different direction! The result is vortexes and eddies and whirlpools, some of which slingshot anything floating in the water suddenly forward in the right direction, offering impetus through energy release, but others of which grab hold of anything floating in the water and pull it downward to the dark depths, washing away any hope of escape like a churning washing machine washes away soil and stains.

While it is frustrating and tiring to be met with challenges and blockages at every turn, it is interesting that I am making it through all of this without spending much time on the “pity potty.” I do feel the presence of my Patroness, Danu, almost constantly, and I cannot forget the words of Cernunnos, “You belong to Us . . . We are with you.” Yes, Archangel Uriel has taken up quietly lurking in the corners again, watching me with His golden eyes, which means that the challenges and struggles are probably going to ramp up before they ebb away, but my Core Value Anchor is holding, holding strong.

I don’t know what will remain after the storms and floods of change and growth and evolution subside, and I don’t know what will be torn loose and washed away by those upheavals. But I do know this: every single bit of it, from the exhilaration of having done just the right thing at just the right moment, to the tears of anger and hurt and frustration that are the natural byproduct of interacting with strong-minded people, are gifts from the Goddess, manifestations and effects of life and living. Of living full tilt, willingly and openly experiencing all that life has to offer, whether pleasant or uncomfortable, and learning from each extreme and everything in between.

Hopefully, life will slow down just a bit, The Fog will dissipate, and I will be able to take inventory of what survived the storm, soon enough. Until then, I am hanging on to my life vest and keeping my head above water. And getting together with my much-loved Pagan Brain Trust, which will certainly recharge my batteries.

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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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Ace of Cups/Four of Cups reversed. Well, sounds like my day will be filled with “feelings” of all kinds. Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts) and the astrological signs associated with Fall (Libra, we are; Scorpio, I desire; and Sagittarius, I seek) will rule today, and there will be no stagnating corners in the part of my mind that deals with emotions and the subconscious. Will that be good or bad? That is entirely up to my chosen perception of the day.

My Thoth card is the Knight of Cups. Another Cups card! Crowley sees the Knights/Kings as kind of being past their prime and more useful as advisors, and Uncle Al does not seem to respect and like this Knight. He sees the Knight of Cups as an amiable but passive gentleman, a “weak Jupiter” (expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune) who may be enthusiastic but does not have the ability to endure to the end because he is easily distracted by outside influences. Pair this card with the Four of Cups reversed, and we have the potential for so much emotional stimulation that there is danger of a disconnect.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Coins. Well, I needed some grounding today and here it is. Mercury (intelligence, order, skill) in Virgo (I serve, service-oriented and order), completion in the physical realms, will all offer Balance. I need to make certain that I **do something** with the ballast offered by this “ultimate Minor Coins” card, and today that activation of a somewhat passive suit may be the key to making today a valuable day.

My 6-digit date number is 5. This number tells of the imposition of motion onto or into the stability of the number 4 in order to prevent stagnation. LOL, sound familiar??

My horoscope: “You’re feeling especially psychically and mystically inclined today, Sagittarius. You might want to read about such matters or attend a lecture or workshop given by someone in the field. Telepathic communications are coming your way. Don't be surprised if more than once during the course of the day you and another say the same thing at the same time. You might also experience a powerful kinship with people from the past.

It has been an incredibly busy week. Multiple Sacred Mists projects have been re-energized and are in the process of being refined. I am now a Facilitator of the Sacred Reiki Boards, and I have already responded to three Reiki I and II Assessments. I love doing this! Checking First Degree homeworks has added so much depth and texture to my own knowledge of First Degree level information, and I expect that working with Reiki I and II students will do the same.

One of my goals resulting from my Peer Review is to post on the Journals of First Degree students, and I am enjoying this, too. I am surprised at how many of them are posting on my own Journal, pleasantly surprised because I stopped by their Journal and thanking me for dropping by. There is an important lesson here: no matter how much we think we are visible and attainable, we need to make every effort to post on Journals. The student Journals are “personal spaces” and my posting there is kind of like stopping by their homes to say hi. I have learned a valuable lesson!

I actually remembered a dream last night! Or parts of it anyway. I was at a place where a huge group of Hindus of all walks of life had gathered. Some were young (children of kindergarten age) and some were very old. Some were dressed in plain clothes, and some were dressed in their finest ethnic garb. Many had all kinds of beautiful gold jewelry with emeralds and rubies (beautiful Burma rubies and lovely clear emeralds, like Columbian emeralds, my very expensive favorite), and many (old, young, rich or poor) had headpieces on, with jewels or beads hanging in front of their third eye, and long strands of gold beads worked into their hair. There was a huge room where people were seated on folding chairs set up in rows; the walls of one entire side of the room folded back and I was with the overflow group outside of the room. On a small stage in front of that room was an ornate chair, and the "guru" sat there. I don't know what else to call him; he was older, dressed in ornate clothes, lots of red with gold ornamentations, and dark trousers. For a bit, he stood and led the group in a prayer and a chant in their language. Then the "guru" moved out of sight to prepare. We were all there because we were going to dedicate ourselves to Kali Ma, and I seemed to be accepted as one of the faithful by the crowd because no one was looking at me strangely. I remember one or two of the little bejeweled children smiling at me, but they were smiling at everyone, happy and excited. And guess what? I did not put together a dedication for Kali, and I might be in the dog house. I need to think about this for a bit. Kali Herself did not appear, but we were all there for Her, so I think there is an important message in this dream.

I actually wrote a short story to submit to Luna Station Quarterly! Yes, me, Miss Diarrhea of the Mouth, She-Who-Cannot-Say-Anything-In-Less-Than-10,000-Words, has written a short story. The editor of the site, my dearest fellow PBT-er, J, has given me some valuable editing advice. Now I know why an editor is so important! Hopefully I can get the story in shape and submitted over the next day or two.

The sun is out, and I am energized and ready to get to work. Time to do my belly dance stretches and my Yoga.

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High Priestess/Strength. The Moon (feelings and emotions), Gimel (the camel that can cross the Abyss) and Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts) ~and~ Leo (I am, passion and drama), Teth (sieve, digestion), and Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes). Although these cards appear to support each other on the surface because they both have an inner focus and advise me to make use of patience, the conflict is there, but hidden. The High Priestess is **not** about conscious control or manifestation in my world, she is about the subconscious and the “other” realms. Can I mesh the two energies, or will one overpower the other?

My Thoth card for today is the Four of Swords. Crowley’s “Truce” card tells of the moment of pause that happens when equal yet opposing forces confer. This could very well be referring to the conflict of interests that is hinted at in the two Welsh cards above.

My Legacy card is the Six of Swords reversed. Mercury (intellect, learning and skill) in Aquarius (I know), a turning point for the better, and feeling in control of one’s destiny, in an upright position. The card is reversed, so I need to be alert because my plans may change and those changes could happen due to events beyond my control.

Wooohooo, what a card throw!! Even Uncle Al was kind to me today; it is going to be a veeery interesting day. I will be careful to remain alert, and I won’t set any plans in stone so that if things change unexpectedly, the whole day won’t end up in the trash can.

My horoscope: “It's very difficult for you to reconcile your desire for creativity and originality in your life to the constraints that society puts on you to be an efficient, productive person, Sagittarius. This is one of the great dilemmas facing a lot of people these days. It's as if you have to hide your real personality in order to live up to what other people expect of you. Some advice for today: don't be so hard on yourself. You're only human.”

Busy weekend ahead of me; Student Council Meeting tonight, lots of work on Second Degree Lessons tomorrow, and Reiki Share on Sunday. I am revved up and ready to get stuff done!!

Update, later the same day: Isn’t it truly awesome when the cards really do tell what is going to happen? I am leaving shortly for Cape May. I thought I was going to be alone for the entire weekend, but I received a phone call this afternoon from Bob, who called to tell me that Sean and some of his friends are going to be down for the weekend. LOL, this is no trouble at all, but I will have to re-arrange a few things because I thought I was going to be alone.

I am listening to the advice of the cards, and I am seeing this as a positive change for the weekend; I am going with the flow, with a smile on my face. **smile** I will have fun company for the weekend, and the bonus is they all love to cook!

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The Chariot reversed/Queen of Cups reversed. Cancer (I feel), Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts) and Cheth (enclosure) for The Chariot upright, and Water of Water (reflective force, where emotions strengthen emotions) and the cusp of Gemini (I think) and Cancer (I feel) for the Queen of Cups upright. In an upright position, these cards would be telling me that not only am I connecting with my emotions and feelings, but I will have an easy time controlling and directing them. But both cards are reversed, so connecting to, controlling and directing my emotions and my feelings may be a bit of a challenge today. While I may appear tranquil to others, inwardly things may be chaos; I may find that I am feeling affected by the ebbs and flows around me, even if I am able to keep these effects hidden.

My Thoth card is the Queen of Swords. Grace, receptiveness and confidence personified today. Okay, I can do that.

My Legacy card is the Seven of Swords reversed. The Moon in Aquarius, in an upright position this card tells of a tendency to cling beyond useful life span, using all methods, both fair and foul. Because the card is reversed, I will be aware of this tendency when it presents itself to me today, and most likely I will be able to prevent the unethical side from manifesting.

My cards today are interesting. I have two Water cards reversed, and two Swords cards, with the more positive of the two upright and the one with a potential of unhappy manifestations in a reversed position. Should be an interesting day!

Yesterday was my last day of official Reiki application, both my own 40 days and Cernunnos’s 10 extra days. Lots of things happened during this 50 day period, from debilitating sickness to spiritual growth to the beginnings of visible manifestations in the physical world that could be very exciting.

In my physical world, I am still in “clean up and organize mode.” During each of the last 50 days I have chipped away at the tasks that have piled up; sometimes only little chips but still, movement is happening in the right direction. My house is relatively straightened now, and the next two projects are (1) going through my trunk and getting rid of “stuff” and (2) getting the spare room in order. That second project is difficult because we are temporarily storing Cape May stuff there in anticipation of beginning our new project, but I do need to organize to some extent in order to make use of the room.

I am making lots of progress within my Second Degree Lesson Project, and hopefully by the end of the weekend, every lesson that I have will be in final form. **crosses fingers** I sent out an “okay, the holidays are over; get back to work” email to all active SMPDA Members, and I will be posting the article I wrote for the Sabbatical (which is in pause mode right now) on the SMPDA in the Witches Gather, hopefully to stir up some new interest in the SMPDA. I have three suggestions for possible new members that I need to investigate.

Our Tarot Apprentice is doing her first Tarot Chat tonight. She has completed her last Tarot Class Lesson, and is past the 6-month minimum membership requirement in order to apply to Leadership, and then to become a full-fledged Facilitator. The Divination Apprentice Program at work!! Part of me does not want to step back from the Tarot Class, but there are so many things that are pulling me forward and I need to let go of the things that have already served me well, in order to move forward. Plus, I don’t want to be greedy; there are other students who will benefit from Facilitating the Tarot Class, just as I benefited, and they also deserve a chance to do this.

I have three new belly dance students, I have been working with Reiki both with the Pagan Brain Trust and with Helen in Cape May, and both of those interactions have the potential to bring some employment/pay check opportunities at some time in the future.

Ain't progress grand!!!

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Seven of Wands/Four of Pentacles reversed. Today I am being reminded that fear has a tremendous bright side. I need to see fear clearly, and understand that the presence of fear is actually an opportunity to test my courage. One thing I am being told today to **not** fear is change in my physical world. If I don’t allow myself to be blinded by fear, I can take good advantage of any change.

My Thoth card is the Four of Swords reversed. “Truce” reversed; whether there is peace or chaos, I need to remember that balance can be regained if I wait for the right moment to interfere. The card is present, so the opportunity for balance is present, even if it is hidden by the dust clouds stirred up by battle.

My Legacy card is the Queen of Wands reversed. Marchetti sees this Queen as an independent woman who wants things her own way, and since the card is reversed, I am being told that today is not a day for me to “go solo.” I do, however, need to be cautious because I may not be good at choosing trustworthy companions.

My horoscope: “If you're artistic by nature, dear Sagittarius, expect a rush of inspiration to hit you today along with an irresistible compulsion to start a new project and work, work, work until you can see at least some results. If you've never been artistic before, you may suddenly feel like giving it a try, perhaps using computer technology. Whichever it is, you're likely to derive a lot of pleasure from your work, so go to it, and have fun!”

I have been doing quite a bit of “Fall cleaning” in my life right now. Yesterday was a busy day for me, because I released two responsibilities of mine at Sacred Mists that were created and maintained by me for sometime. I passed both my Monday night event at the Inn (called “Witches Gone Wild”) and my Sacred Movement Extension Class on to new Facilitators. Both had been in my possession too long and they each needed an infusion of new excitement; they will both get that and more. I feel proud of what I had created, and content with the knowledge that I have the wisdom to know that it was time to give these creations a chance to evolve under new management.

Now I can spend more time working on two Student Council Projects that are very important to me. I feel as if I have recharged my own focus and given my own creative juices a shot of power.

I am still working with my energy field, trying to keep it revved up and trying to differentiate between the energies of the Sacred Feminine and the Sacred Masculine. Again, I am finding that keeping this energy “awake and alert” really does seem to make my physical body work better, not to mention my brain. *wink*

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