August 16, 2016: Separation

August 16, 2016:

My Wild Unknown Tarot card for today is The High Priestess.  The image on this card is a white tiger, sitting serenely with that inscrutable look cats can get, a rainbow hewed crystal ball between her paws and a waning crescent moon in the sky.  Cats are mysterious creatures; anyone who has ever lived with one knows this.  They are predators, and yet they are devoted parents and loving companions.  But they seem to see things or hear things that aren’t there; they seem to know things that we can’t even imagine, never mind sense or perceive the presence of.  Even in repose, eyes half closed, gazing gently off into the distance, we can tell that she knows . . . she just knows.

I don’t throw this card very often, so there is some important message here.  The HP is the number 2 card of the Tarot Majors, the number of balance, polarity, tension, cooperation, and keeping secrets.  This number offers the concept of comparison, and comparison just might be important today.  Part of the process of comparing two items is understanding their differences.  This leads me right into the next stage of the Great Work, Separation. 

Yes, I am glad to move away from the first two stages of the Great Work, but I can’t allow myself to think this stage is a break from the discomforts and difficulties of Calcination and Dissolution.   Some assume the stage of Separation as merely an intellectual exercise. Yes, my job during the Separation process is to explore and fact-check my beliefs and to learn to understand my emotions, but this is by no means just an intellectual or analytical exercise.  The hard part is doing this kind of exploration in an unconditional, non-judgmental way.  Rejecting certain legitimate feelings as bad or wrong, or rationalizing the beliefs that are uncomfortable to explore objectively, will very likely send me right back to Calcination.

Separation offers me the chance to view my experiences with an open mind and without the need to judge them as good or bad.  Intuition rather than fear or ego can guide me if I allow it to, and when there are no judgments to be made, fear cannot take hold.  In the end, I just might learn that I have more of an ability to change myself that I thought I had.  Is this the hidden information guarded by The High Priestess?

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The High Priestess/Knight of Cups. The High Priestess, my significator, is the source of the power of The Magician, the feminine version of The Hierophant, and the Keeper of the Mysteries. It is also the card that corresponds with the 13th Path, which I have just started working with. See below for more information on this card. The Knight of Cups (cusp of Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, suffering, soul growth) tells of a person who focuses intensely on feelings and emotions and the Inner Voice. This Knight is good at using charm or flattery, or even seduction, to get what he wants, but he is also real good at sweeping unwanted things under the rug. Out of sight is out of mind to the Knight of Cups. He is a lover and a helper, but because he is not well grounded, he can be a bit impractical. Being paired with The High Priestess reminds me to ground today, but not to the point that I miss any symbolism or synchronicity presented.

My Thoth card is the Four of Cups. “Luxury,” but that is not necessarily worry-free. The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) on the surface is a card of pleasure and fulfillment. But here’s the thing about the Luxury of this card: it is mixed with just a bit of anxiety. We end up sensing that the pleasures associated with this card can end up being addictive, and thus end up distracting us from what we are supposed to be doing. If things seem too good to be true, they probably are.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Swords reversed, flavored by The Magician reversed. The Ten of Swords (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, talkative) often describes the effects of karma, so I need to look to the past in order to dissipate the energies of this card. The good thing is that this is a Swords card, so with a bit of realistic analysis, I might find that things aren’t quite as bad as they appear. The bad thing is that it is reversed, so I may assume that things are really not pleasant when that is actually not true. Worse case scenario is that I learn a painful lesson, and learning is always good. The Magician corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick and animated energy which usually presents problems or challenges), Mercury (reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication), Beth (house; builder) and the Path between Binah (female, receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Kether (the source, limitless possibility), and he has the power to transform his world through the use of his Will and his connection to the Divine. Because this card is reversed, I need to remember that I don’t always have control (even if I think I deserve it), and I need to remember that the source of my amazing abilities (*wink*) is not within me, but rather is a gift of the Divine. Being reversed, this card supports the meanings and effects of The High Priestess, above.

My 6-digit date number is 2, the number of balance and polarity.

My horoscopes: “Your brain may buzz like a beehive today, Sagittarius. That's good. There is a great deal of information to process now. Have you been thinking about buying some new electronic equipment or small appliances for your home? Now is a great time to do some research on this project before you hand over your credit card. Use today to gather facts.”

And: “You have been enjoying an increasing sense of awareness about your new environment and you're really starting to get a handle on things. This confident energy is filling you with a positive enthusiasm that will hit you as soon as you get up in the morning -- and it'll carry you through the day. The only sticking point for the entire day will be the fact that your intellectual curiosity isn't going to be satisfied to the level that you are hoping. It seems that not everyone is on your wavelength just yet.”

Technology: “If someone needs to speak out, let 'em. The spirit of free speech should prevail in even the smallest group setting. The idea may seem onerous at first, but once all the details start falling into place, you'll see wisdom where you once noticed stupidity.”

The Tarot Major Arcana card associated with the 13th Path is The High Priestess. The HP corresponds with the element of Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and emotional, sensitive, imaginative energy that contracts and stays the same); the Moon (feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination); and the Hebrew letter Gimel (the camel who safely crosses Da’ath, the Abyss, and thus, has the secret of life). Because this card speaks directly to the subconscious and the Inner Voice, it tends to be interpreted differently by everyone. The HP represents the workings of Mystery in everyday life; often those mysteries are hidden, and thus we don’t know they are affecting us and don’t understand how and why they are affecting us.

The HP is about balance, but her balance is different from the concepts of balance presented in some of the other Tarot cards. The HP keeps the conscious and the subconscious separated, and yet she can balance them both because she is the scale, so she controls the balance. The HP is also the Gatekeeper to the Mysteries; we need to remember that we will never completely understand those Mysteries, but through the HP we just might be able to occasionally direct or control them. This card is not about an outer focus that changes the world; it is about self-transformation, and that always begins within.

The HP communicates through symbols rather than words, and the presence of this card in a reading is usually an alert to us that we need to look for those symbols, or we will miss the message. We are being told that sometimes action is not the correct catalyst for us; inaction has its own powers, especially when we consciously choose to make use of it. I am reminded here of the body shields worn by the elite in the book (and movies) Dune; those shields repelled the sudden move towards the person being protected, but allowed in the slower, gentler gestures.

This card also often represents the Shadow Self, and eep! That probably will be the focus of this time I spend working with the 13th Path. Because the energies of The HP are subject to tides and fluctuations, they might be a bit uncomfortable for us, but instability can be a good thing if we are skilled enough to ride the wave. LOL, sorry for that mix of metaphors.

While this card is similar to The Moon, The Moon is about how we perceive our outer world, while The HP is completely about our inner world. The Moon also addresses the illusions that can be created by the suns light being reflected onto the world, whereas The HP is about all the phases of the Moon, and their powers and effects.

The HP represents the white tincture, divination and clairvoyance, and the Uniting Intelligence. Transformation of consciousness is never easy, but The HP is the card that can show us how, if we are willing to do the work. And if we are willing to be tested before we are allowed to proceed.

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Six of Cups reversed/The High Priestess. Okay, this Six is turning up quite a bit of late. And The High Priestess!! Funny that she shows up right now. The Six of Cups not only refers to a balanced and serene joy, but it also tells us that a major part of that joy is made up of whatever it was that got me to this place and this time. I seem to be forgetting to value my experiences, for the gifts of the present and the possibilities of the future are all alive because of what I remember. And I don’t necessarily need to understand why this is so; sometimes we need to have a drop or two of the unknown added to the mix in order to be able to view and understand each facet separately, yet balance the entire concept. I am also being told that the voice of my Shadow is important today.

My Thoth card for today is the Seven of Swords reversed. In an upright position this card represents “Futility,” and the passive nature of the Moon. Unlike the Four of Swords, where the pause is chosen in order to benefit from the effect, the Seven of Swords seems to feel like it is nearly out of gas and is wondering whether the efforts involved in obtaining a refill will be worth it. Thankfully, the card is reversed; I may find that I feel as if I am walking against the tide today, but the destination will be worth the effort to get there.

My horoscopes: “Information received through modern communication systems such as faxes, email, or the Internet might make it possible for you to change your job, your residence, or at least the way you think or operate, Nancy. You might be feeling a bit nervous and jumpy at the prospect, but you'll pull it off all right. Don't be afraid to go with the flow and make changes today. This is only one hurdle in the course of your personal development.”

And: “More than likely, you will be caught up in a wildly intense emotional drama if you aren't careful, dear Sagittarius. Try to stay calm and collected. Find a quiet place where you can relax and be alone. Your energy is there, but it may be a bit more reserved and subtle on a day like this. Be the stable oasis in the raging sea. Make peace with the people around you.”

And my favorite one today: “Things are only seeming tougher than normal at work because you feel like you are stuck in place, and the powers that be aren't listening. You will break out of this current rut soon enough, but that can't be fast enough for you. Recent turns of events may have left you feeling a little rough, but in some way, they will be responsible for the fulfillment of a wish that you've had for some time.”

Okay, I think I will ground often today.

My second Fire Bird meditation was somewhat similar to my first. I had no trouble finding the entry into the meadow, and I ended up back in that one spot where I had flattened down the grass in order to see. This time, it was not noon, but rather early in the morning, and quiet. The nighttime crickets had gone to bed and the daytime insects were just waking up. I lay on my back in the grass, watching as the tips of the strands of grass were kissed by the rays of the sun still low in the sky, but I was still immersed in the shadowy twilight at the base of the grasses.

And there she was, circling high overhead. I lay there, watching as the Fire Bird circled lower and lower, and suddenly she cocked her wings and dove downward, landing by my right side. She stood still for a bit, and we looked into each other’s eyes. Then, I looked at her plumage; her yellow-orange feathers were actually tipped in an iridescent red; how lovely. I reached out and gently ran my fingers down her breast, and when she did not nip at me, I petted her soft feathers with more confidence. I remembered how my macaw used to love having the back of his neck scratched, so I slowly moved my fingers upward. To my delight, as I gently scratched her neck, she lowered her head and raised up her feathers to allow me easy access. Her eyes blinked slowly for several minutes as she enjoyed herself, but then she backed a way, and nudged me, encouraging me to get up.

Like last time, the Fire Bird began leading me through the tall grasses, the tops of which were wet with dew. Once again, I broke out of the grasses just as I ran out of strength, and ended up in the same place as last time: the quiet, rocky beach with the still, mirror-like water, lavender sky and two moons. Again, I was alone. I waited, looking around, but no one appeared. I looked down, and saw no footprints on the sand at all, not mine, not any animal’s. No birds, no breeze, no big waves, very little sound or movement; but I could smell the ocean. And this time there was a sense of waiting patiently for something.

The meditation faded; I am certain that sooner or later I will find out what I am waiting for.

I am crossing my fingers that my new Legacy Tarot deck is in; if it is, I will be doing my first Shadow Work spread tonight. I realized something interesting while putting together some preparatory work for Mystery and I: while sending Mystery the Shadow keywords for our significators (The Magician for M and The Empress for me), I also looked at the Shadow keywords for The High Priestess, because M sees me as that card. Well, blow me down, I do seem to be more like The H.P. right now than The Empress.

Here is what I found on all three cards:

The Magician: Lack of Focus v. Focus. Not applying your energy and efforts in the right direction; being scattered; lacking focus or not focusing on the real issue; starting many projects and not being able to finish them. Shadow gifts: being able to prioritize; being able to choose; taking action on your own behalf rather than just wishing for change; creating order out of chaos; being aware of your inner guide; seeing your own potential; being able to make your own reality.

The Empress: Smothering v. Mothering. Being a controlling woman; focusing so much on others that self-nurturing is neglected; smothering others with a “love” that stifles individuality; emotional neediness; brooding; holding on to destructive situations; destroying rather than creating; being emotionally barren. Shadow gifts: the creator within; fertility of mind, body and spirit; creating rather than destroying; nurturing rather than controlling; getting in touch with sensuality; allowing everyone their own truths.

The High Priestess: Superficiality v. Intuition. Being too literal or intellectual; not looking below the surface; not trusting intuition; being too caught up in intuitive world; being unwilling or afraid to explore the subconscious; being unable to acknowledge the masculine/feminine aspect of the personality. Shadow gifts: having complete faith in your intuition; being able to make logical decisions based on intuition; balancing the intellect and intuition; exploring the unconscious, connecting with the anima.

I also asked my Patroness Danu about this card (The H.P.) that seems to be presenting itself to me. I guess I got a dressing down; here are Her words:

“My dearest Daughter, why are you having such difficulty with this concept? You yourself can feel evidence of the changes that have happened to you, changes that are in part due to the reactions you are choosing as responses to the challenges that I present to you, and in part due to years of very hard work and study. You are walking the walk and talking the talk, my Daughter. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is most certainly a duck. *smile* I do so love the picturesque metaphors of your language!

Are you reluctant to assume the responsibilities of this card because you feel presumptuous? Yes, my Daughter, I know that there are many who claim to be justified in having The High Priestess bestowed as a significator, but do you doubt that you have worked long and hard to get to the place you are at today? Do you doubt that you are at the stage within your Craft that this card should be your rightful focus?

Are you reluctant to assume the responsibilities of this card because you believe that this choice to accept will take something from you? You are still My student, Dear One, no matter what level of achievement you receive or attain in this life that I have given to you. Don’t feel that you will loose any opportunities to be My student, or to continue to receive from Me challenges and opportunities for growth, for none of them will be left behind if you choose to step into this card and begin the process of becoming The High Priestess.

Daughter, the longer you try to move against the tide the longer it will take until you can get down to work. Trust in Me and accept what is offered.”

When I tried to ask The General (one of my guides) what he thought, he just laughed and laughed. He enjoyed my discomfort over this whole H.P. thing, and I would not be a bit surprised if he knew from way back during our first meeting, when he laughed at me derisively because I said that I aspired to be the H.P., that I would reach this point and have to deal with this reluctance of mine to appear that I am choosing to present myself as the “grand poobah fluffy bunny High Priestess” who is all name and no substance.

LOL, I went back and re-read what I posted regarding my Tarot throw for today. Okay, then. I will work with The High Priestess, and I will trust in Danu and believe that I am supposed to be working with the energies of this card right now. I will open myself to becoming The High Priestess, but in doing so I will not leave behind what I have been taught by The Empress.

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