Six of Wands reversed/Six of Pentacles reversed.  Hmmm . . . reversed Sixes.  The number 6 represents vertical and horizontal balance, but a reversed 6 could mean intensity of some kind rather than balance.  Or it could be telling of a strong ebbing of a foundational energy, which would also cause an issue. The upright Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative) expresses the celebration we feel when we have passed some test or successfully met a challenge. This card focuses on what is already accomplished, and the pride we feel when we are victorious. The upright Six of Pentacles (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.  These resources are not only physical; they can be knowledge, support, or power, too.  Both of these cards are reversed; does that mean it is going to be a bad day?  Not necessarily.  I may not be jumping up and down and laughing in triumph, but that does not mean I am a failure.  I may not be surrounded by rewards and bounty, but that does not mean I am out on the street and alone.  Some days we triumph, and some days we chop wood, carry water and do the dishes.  I am being reminded that even an ordinary day can be a gift.

My Thoth card is the Eight of Wands reversed.  “Swiftness” is the keyword for the upright Eight of Wands (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) which is a card of action, of quick developments, and of pulling it all together so things can be completed.  This card is also about recognizing that a cycle is over so it can be released.  Uncle Al sees this card as representing energy; light and electricity move quickly and allow us to communicate with each other.  Since my Eight of Wands is reversed, today action may not be that easily accomplished.  Perhaps some communication fiascos will be an issue?

My Legacy card is the King of Cups, flavored by the King of Coins.  Wow, two Kings! The King of Cups (cusp of Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation, and Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling mysterious, obsessive) is the expert on emotions and the subconscious, mainly because of his life experiences.  He is a protector; he watches over, guards, and guides those around him with love and compassion. He shows us how to go with the flow, and how to effectively make use of the prevailing currents. But don’t make the mistake of assuming that his gentleness equates weakness! The King of Coins (cusp of Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, and Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, physically oriented) is the expert on physical world manifestation of all kinds.  This King offers us possibility already manifested, pulsing with life and ready to grow and blossom  This King is a shining example of what diligence and skill and a bit of luck can bring to us all, and the best thing is, he is willing and eager to share!

My 6-digit date number is 7, the number that tells of the pause that comes with the slowing of growth as degeneration approaches. 

My horoscopes: “Sagittarius, you're demystifying the concept of talent. You used to look enviously at other people and think, "I wish I had a natural ability like that." Now you understand that the person who aroused your envy with is just someone who had the self-confidence to go to work and refine and develop an aptitude. It's a matter of hard work, belief in oneself, and bravery in the face of risk. You can do it, too!”

And: “It's going to seem like the basis of your social ambitions has taken a bit of a beating lately. The planetary energies should be giving you some new desires. They may be of a more modest nature but this doesn't mean that they won't be important. What motivates you professionally is going to be of healthier, less egotistical, nature. It will ultimately be a positive, more satisfying evolution.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Eight of Pentacles.  This one has been showing up a lot, eh?  It tells me that no matter what, diligence and an attention to detail are important, but so is the ability to enjoy even everyday tasks, predictable and boring yet useful.

I am back to doing my daily Yoga and walks, and thus back to feeling pretty good both physically and energy body wise.  And that is probably a good thing, because my Third Degree Lesson exercises are demanding and exhilarating, and I am doing my best to stay grounded after these amazing experiences!

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.  On Thursday morning, we leave to spend Thanksgiving with friends.  I don’t know how much blogging I will get done, but we shall see.  Saturday is my solar return; I will be 58 years old, one year from my second Saturn return, and official Cronehood. 

Today, I am thinking about blessings.  I am blessed in so many ways, and I am rich, rich with things that money cannot buy.

Blessed Be!

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Seven of Wands/Nine of Wands. The Seven of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, natural leader, egotistical, selfish) is flavoring my Death card, and it is a significant card for me in its own right, besides its traditional meaning.  This card traditionally tells of having the courage to take a stand.  I see it as also presenting a gateway of sorts which involves the passing of a test.  Sometimes I am the gatekeeper and sometimes I am the person seeking admittance. While the Seven of Wands is about taking a stand and putting that stand out there, the Nine of Wands (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) has more of an inner focus, reminding us that even when it seems that we are outnumbered and outmaneuvered, we do have the strength, courage, and stamina to win by the time the day is done.  I often find that these more difficult to achieve victories are the sweetest.

My Thoth card is the Seven of Cups reversed.  “Debauch” will not be a strong part of my day, 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 enticing choices.  Uncle Al sees this card with even more strength, as representing drug addiction or being drunk on pleasure, almost to the point of being suicidal.  Thankfully my card is reversed, so I should be able to retain my grounding and sanity amid a morass of pleasure.  LOL, tough job, but I’ll try.

My Legacy card is the Ten of Wands reversed, flavored by the Nine of Coins reversed. The Ten of Wands (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) is a card which tells of being taxed to some perceived limit.  My Ten of Wands is reversed, which is good.  I have a lot to get done today, and this card tells me that while I may be tired at the end of the day (sounds like a soak in my tub may be in order, eh?), I will accomplish much. 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.  My Nine is reversed, and flavoring my Ten of Wands, so I do need to It is flavoring my reversed Seven of Swords, and that is nice!  My good intentions and my focus and discipline, along with my attempts to work with others for the good of all, should bring some nice rewards.

My 6-digit date number is 3, the new creation out of the position and possibility of the Ace, and the balance, polarity, and understanding of “distance between” of the 2.

My horoscopes: “A close friend or member of your household could be having money problems, Sagittarius, and want to draw on your good business sense in order to understand the situation and find ways to put it right. As you're likely to be feeling especially sensitive to the needs of others today, you could be of valuable help to this person and anyone else who might need some insights.”

And: “You may feel like you have come out of the dark and into the light today. A weight has been lifted but there is still a great deal of emotional drama that needs to work itself out. Go for a long walk or jog this afternoon and increase your lung capacity. Get your heart rate up and feel your blood pumping. You will find that the more active you are, the more you will be able to sort through your emotional trauma.”

My Shadowscapes Insight is regarding the Queen of Swords.  Ooh, a new one for me, at least lately!  The image on this card is refreshing, and it is meant to be.  After all, this Queen is of Air, and the fresh breezes of the early morning.  She is about purity, honesty, clarity, and uncompromising balance, but she is also about humor and wit.  Sounds perfect for today!

I just came back from a wonderful bike ride.  I got a real late start because we had a whopper of a storm pass through here last night, and I was up from about 12:30 to almost 2 am.  There really is something cozy about being safe in bed during a display of the elements! 

Anyway, I let myself sleep in, and got up and out in time to visit Elizabeth’s Breadstand.  Yum, freshly baked bread!  I bought a small loaf of my favorite, sage and polenta, as well as some beautiful freshly harvested carrots and purple string beans.   Because the day was so lovely, I decided to do my long bike ride (about 6.75 miles, not horrendously long), and hit every farm stand along the way. 

My next stop was Beach Plum Farm, where I picked up some beautiful sugar peas.  Methinks I’m going to make a great fresh veggie salad for my dinner tonight!  I got back onto my bike (thankful for my basket), and headed onward.  Anne Smith’s stand was not open yet.  Soon!  She grows the most awesome zucchinis and eggplants and tomatoes.  I then stopped at the stand on New England Road, don’t know the name of it.  Fresh eggs!  Berries!  I continued with my ride, and as I passed the canal I had a huge smile on my face, anticipating my dinner.  Bug, you would be proud of me!

I finished at Ducky’s.  I bought a lovely head of romaine lettuce, and one fat ear of New Jersey corn, still dewy from the fields.  With a bit of vinegar, mustard, and a dollop of my raw honey, and some fresh chives, parsley, basil, and sage, freshly harvested from my herb garden and whisked together as a dressing, I should end up with a nice, refreshingly cool veggie salad to have with whatever I decide to do as a protein for dinner.

As I sit in my back room, looking out the French doors into my garden as I sip my coffee and eat the last piece of sage and polenta toast, slathered with butter and raw honey, I am filled with gratitude and an awareness of my many blessings.  I have a roof over my head, delicious seasonally fresh food to eat, and a beautiful garden, into which I will soon plunge my Cutter-coated body.  There are baby birds on the porch, chirping for their lunch, and a multitude of bugs and worms for mom and dad to feed them.  I have roses and hydrangeas and bee balm and gladiola and black-eyed-susans blooming, and my dahlia has buds on it! 

What a glorious day!

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Five of Swords/Three of Cups reversed. Well, that does not sound good. The Five of Swords (Venus, allure, pleasure, relationships, in Aquarius, the group, progressive, eccentric, aloof) tells of an attempt to actively manifest a plan, even if others are trod upon in the process, and an inability to release the past. It tells of malice and slander and malicious actions for the originator’s own gain. The Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, communication, skill, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, family and home oriented, moody, tenacious) in an upright position tells of the joy of connection to others and the good feelings that happen because of those connections. The card is reversed, and it certainly seems as if its reversal may be happening because of the influence of that Five of Swords.

My Thoth card is The Lovers reversed. In an upright position, The Lovers corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts), Gemini (“I think,” curious, talkative, sociable duality), Zayin (two-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, the origin of form and structure), and Crowley sees this card as representing not only love, but inspiration and intuition, and the need to make an important choice. Because the card is reversed, it may not be a good day for choices of the important kind. But the card is there, and so its energies are present. I just need to figure out how best to tap into them, or if today is a day to even try.

My Legacy card is the Three of Coins reversed, flavored by the Six of Wands. Another reversed Three card. This one (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, cautious, competent) in an upright position tells of being dedicated, detail oriented, and of loving ones work. Reversed, I am being told that satisfaction is not to be mine just yet, but since the card is flavored by the Six of Wands (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, noble, authoritative), if I keep my nose to the grindstone and act with honor, I just may be able to turn that Three of Coins around.

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

My horoscopes: “Don't be surprised if lots of visitors show up today. Perhaps you're hosting an impromptu social event or neighbors bring news of changes nearby. You should be brimming with energy, so you can handle it, but you might find it a bit unnerving if it gets too exciting. It's best just to go with the flow and enjoy situations like this. You can think about it later.

And: “A family member who tried to spring a surprise on you yesterday will be treated to at least the same shock today -- coming right back at them. In other words, you won't bite -- not one little nip -- but you'll definitely shock them. After all, if you still feel the need to return the favor, at least you'll make yours a pleasant surprise. And why not? It's not like you have anything to lose. You, after all, were warned by their haste -- a big plus.

And: “A subject that might not have interested you much previously now all of a sudden becomes one of your passions. You might find yourself delving into all possible sources to learn as much as you can about it, and you might even get in the car and drive some distance to seek out more information. A woman friend might accompany you. In the evening: Expect to feel a powerful desire for romance! Plan your day accordingly!

We had our first Sacred Mists Reiki Share of the Fall this morning. I think there were only a few of us, but what a lovely Share it was. We had decided to offer Reiki to the Earth for our final five minutes of our share. Once I reached that part, I visualized Gaia, the Earth Mother, and sent Her Reiki. For most of the 5 minutes the Reiki energy swelled within me and passed through me and into the Earth, but for the last minute or so, I felt energy return to me, a lovely, warm, tingling pressure that filled my body and brought tears to my eyes. The Goddess always answers when we reach out to Her, even if we are the ones offering the gift of contact; we have only to “listen” for Her, to allow ourselves to “feel” Her loving touch.

I am overjoyed: the rain let up, and I was able to ride my bike to Cape May Point again and walk the trail again.

The sky is still overcast, so there was a feeling of Fall in the air. As soon as I got away from town, the cool breeze was filled with the sweet and exotic fragrance of Virgin’s Bower. The blossoms were so thick in places, with vines festooned over trees and undergrowth alike, that it looked as if we had an early wet snow!

I thought the Point would be empty, but there were lots of people on the hawk platform, in the museum, walking toward the beach, and getting ready to climb to the top of the lighthouse. I parked my bike, locked it up, and headed into the trail. There were people on the trail, too; mostly birders with binoculars and tripods.

What a difference a week makes!! Every tree or bush that gives fruit of any kind was heavy with the products of the Summer’s sun and rain, ranging in colors from yellow-green to deep wine purple to brilliant scarlet. The heads of the grasses were bent towards the ground, heavy with grain of all shades of green and brown and yellow. Last week, it was about dragonflies of all sizes, and beautiful moths, some black and white and others with beautiful eye patterns on their wings. This weekend, it was about monarchs. Literally hundreds and hundreds of monarch butterflies, clouds of them, were fluttering and dancing from flower to flower. Some of them were intensely and brilliantly colored, as if they had just slid from their cocoons this morning; others were faded and tattered almost beyond recognition. I saw one monarch whose wings were so tattered that their black edgings were almost gone. I wondered where this fellow had come from, and how long and difficult his journey was so far, with miles to go before reaching the Winter roosts in Florida and Mexico. How amazing that a creature with wings with the tensile strength of tissues could make such a journey!

An osprey circled over me as I walked through a meadow filled with cattails, following the stream that circled through the meadow, looking for lunch. I watched what looked like an eagle, circling high above. Then, I stopped and followed a snowy egret with my eyes as it waded along the edge of a pond, hunting. And still there were more monarchs!

I stopped on one of the bridges that spanned one of the streams that meandered through the meadows, breathed deep the fragrance of grasses and water, tinged with Fall and dried leaves, and connected with Deity. I offered my deepest gratitude for the gifts I had been given . . . for the family, friends and loved ones who fill my life, for the valuable lessons that have been offered to me, for the exciting new opportunities that may be finally manifesting in my physical world, and for my ever-deepening connection to Goddess and God, and the world around me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~author unknown

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