1/20/14

The Lovers/Knight 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) tells of duality, union, and personal choices.  This card is about love, but it is also about our personal values and how they affect our choices, and the promises we make to others.  The Lovers present the two halves that when united are greater than the sum of their parts.  It is about communion of all kinds, and this kind of uniting energy will be a part of my day.  The Knight of Wands (cusp of Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, deep, obsessive, and Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering) usually represents a person of passion, courage, enthusiasm and boundless energy; most definitely not background-type efforts.  This Fiery Knight tends to be about the goal or end result, without taking into consideration any consequences, but his enthusiasm can be inspiring. I need to keep that in mind.

My Thoth cards are the Four of Swords (“Truce”) reversed, and The Wheel reversed.  The Four of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) can represent a pause or truce or mutual deterrent, or a time of silence and isolation, that should be used to prepare for challenges to come.  There have been many challenges lately, but I certainly hope that I am done with needing to prepare for more; perhaps that is why my Four of Swords is reversed.  **crosses fingers*  The Wheel of Fortune (Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), Jupiter (expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune), Kaph (grasping hand), and the Path between Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured)) tells of sudden movement, but not movement caused by us or controlled by us.  Because my Wheel is also reversed, I may be able to make changes by imposing my Will on a situation.  These two together tell me that I need to believe in my own ability to create the end results I want.

My Legacy card is the King of Coins, flavored by the Nine of Wands.  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 managing resources and on the physical world manifestation of all kinds.  The King is the steward of Nature and the generous and supporting boss, and he is depended on by others because he always comes through with whatever is needed.  This King understands that instant gratification is rare, and he knows how to wait patiently for what he wants.  My King is being flavored by the Nine of Wands.  The Nine of Wands (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) tells us that the final challenge approaches, and we need to ready ourselves so we can guard our assets.  This card also tells of wisdom that is only obtained by long-term focus.  While the elemental correspondences of these two cards, Earth and Air, are opposing, they do have things in common.  My King knows very well that long-term focus is often the answer, and the Nine of Wands offers the energy and staying power to hang in there.

My 6-digit date number is 8, the number that tells of the conscious and deliberate response to the slowing of growth and beginning of degeneration of the 7, in order to maintain for a bit longer the balance of the 6. 

My horoscopes: “On days like today it's important to take time out to reflect upon the events of the past few days, Sagittarius. Is it possible you've decided to change certain things about yourself and your behavior? If you could just devote a few minutes a day to all the little details in your personality, the changes will go much more smoothly. The atmosphere today may help you think about this.”

And: “Today, you might be experiencing lot of anticipation concerning an upcoming vacation. Last-minute arrangements could require your attention, but you'll be all too glad to take care of them. Friends or family members who may be accompanying you could also be caught up in the excitement. You've got a lot of fun ahead of you, so go ahead and go with the flow. It might help, however, to make lists and check things off so you won't forget anything.”

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1/19/14

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

8, Guide: Eagle (East). East is the direction of the rising sun, and thus of new beginnings and fresh ideas, as well as knowledge, intellectual ideas and thoughts.  Eagle is considered the King of Birds, and often is seen as a Divine Messenger because he can fly to such amazing heights.  He tells of being able to see into the distance, and of achievements (and associated honors) gotten through courage and focus.  When Eagle is around, courage and perspective and vision will bring great results.

37, Guide: Raven (North). North is the direction of Earth, and thus of the physical or physically formed or manifested world, and of nurturing, health, finances and security, and the wisdom associated with living simply, being well-grounded, and being in touch with our physical body.  Raven is a clever bird, often portrayed as a trickster.  Raven is also known for assisting us in the transformation from one realm to another, and known as a skilled communicator.

70, The Web (Within). Within is the direction of the Self, and thus the cards associated with this direction deal with the ways our Self connects to the world and perceives the world, and the Self.  This direction is mostly abstract, and yet is our bridge to the Universe around us.  The Web represents the entanglement and interconnectivity of all life, and of all experiences.  The Web also reminds us that because of this entanglement, everything we do affects those around us; those things we do may seem small, but they have the potential to grow, and to have a much larger affect than intended. 

I then stacked my cards and crated my mandala.  This one is interesting, because the Ravens almost totally block out the Eagles, and The Web holds everything together.  I am thinking of achievements and of my leadership skills this week, so this spread really does make sense.  No one can be a good leader without being well grounded, and able to communicate with others, and no one can be a good leader unless she can assist others to achieve skills and abilities of their own.  Courage is necessary here, but so too is the abilith to see clearly, and to remember that actions have consequences.  Having both Eagle and Raven present in this spread tells me that my responsibilities are growing immensely, and I had better practice awareness.

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1/18/14

The Empress reversed/Knight of Swords. The Empress (my significator card, which corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Venus (beauty, allure, pleasure, relationships), the Hebrew letter Daleth (door or womb) and the Path between Binah (female receptive energy and the origin of form and structure) and Chokmah on the Tree of Life (dynamic male energy and the origin of vital force and polarity)) is one half of the Major Arcana representation of the Sacred Feminine, the half that is about creativity, fertility of all kinds, a deep connection to Nature and the nurturing of others, and an enjoyment of the senses. My Empress is reversed, and today will not be a day of me instilling comfort in others.  I won’t be an effective nurturer today, and I had best look to other pursuits. The Knight of Swords (the cusp of Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, and Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, dual, intelligent) is outspoken, assured, alert, and logical, as well as rude, domineering, critical and sarcastic.  His daring and courage are impressive, but he can also be disruptive, too.  While all of the Knights can be considered as mercinaries, the Knight of Swords truly personifies this career.  I need to understand that while my intention may be to help, the outcome does not always match, but for today at least, my single-mindedness should bring good results.

My Thoth cards are the Ten of Cups (“Satiety”), and the Ten of Wands (“Oppression”) reversed.  Well, that is a clear message! The Ten of Cups (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, spirituality, suffering and growth) offers the manifestation of happiness, simple joys, and fulfillment.  Uncle Al offers a more grim warning about this card: once we get everything we wanted all along, we may find that it is not enough, but we still have to pay for what we have.  With Crowley, the Tens are all about doing something with what we have, and today I need to turn that Satiety into something useful. 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 some perceived limit, or of feeling as if we are out of gas at the bottom of a hill.  Since Wands are connected with Fire, this could very well indicate a passion that has started in a beneficial way but has grown out of control.  However, my Wands card is reversed.  Perhaps the oppression of this card could be followed by a benefit or gain of some kind if I can find it in myself to hang in there just a moment more.  Help is there, even if I am not seeing it.

My Legacy card is The Lovers reversed, flavored by the Ten of Cups reversed.  Bookends! 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) tells of duality, union, and personal choices.  This card is about love, but it is also about our personal values and how they affect our choices, and the promises we make to others.  The Lovers present the two halves that when united are greater than the sum of their parts.  Because my card is reversed, my day will not be focused on relationships, at leat not in a warm and cozy kind of way.  I need to be careful with my own heart or the hearts of others, but I also need to analyze what I am feeling, remember that there could be things I don’t know about or can’t control, and understand that even uncomfortable situations bring beneficial lessons.

More about my Bookends card, the Ten of Cups.  The number Ten is about the completion of a cycle or manifestation, and the suit of Cups is about emotions, feelings and the inner self, so this card tells of the manifestation of all the cards before it.  It tells the story of the potential for experiencing deep emotions and life-changing feelings presented in the Ace of Cups, all the way through the ups and downs of exporation until everything that can be experienced during this cycle has happened.  Thus, there is a sense of stopping or coming to stillness about this card.  The stillness happens so we can absorb and experience the outcome of every effort to know and understand our inner Self; hopefully the outcome will be a pleasurable one.  You could see this card as the moment of high tide, when the waters have risen to their full potential and then pause as growth slows and the ebb tide approaches.  This is the pause at the end of a deep inhale as our lungs absorb every bit of oxygen from the air; soon the exhale will begin in preparation for another inhale.  There is a completeness about this card; the pleasures are satisfying and for a little while, we feel as if we don’t need anything else at all to be happy.  If reversed, this card could be telling us that we haven’t yet completed the learning process offered by this cycle.  Are our relationships all they can be?  Are we truly perceiving the blessings we have right now, rather than focusing on what we don’t have?  Are we allowing pettiness to mar the simple joys around us?  Are we shutting ourselves off from the love and compassion being offered? These are the questions to be asked. 

My 6-digit date number is 6, the number of vertical and horizontal balance.  Hmmmm . . . different from my cards, eh?  It’s what I’m striving for, maybe I will achieve it.

My horoscopes: “Dreams could shed light on some personal ambiguities you've been trying to understand, Sagittarius. Your thinking is especially clear and logical now, and work should therefore be a snap. Money matters should go fairly smoothly today, particularly if paperwork or legal documents are involved. You should have practical insights that are stronger than usual, especially regarding finance, and so you could end the day feeling more than satisfied with what you've accomplished.”

And: “You know that a lot of people are almost constantly trying to provoke you. But over the years, you have been able to master your feelings and you don't always respond to provocation. You are, after all, a modern woman! You are always ready to stand strong and you are not afraid to fight for what you believe in. But you just don't show it every day!”

Another Wild Unknown Tarot card: The Emperor.  The image on this one is a tall, venerable oak tree, under a burning summer sun.  The tree has a perfect shape, tall and gradually tapering trunk spearing upward in a straight line, with evenly spaced and well-balanced branches from the lower and slightly downward slanting branches, aiming toward the ground, to the upper and newest branches, aiming toward that intense sunshine.  This tree has survived a lot to grow this tall and straight, and it is infused with a quiet dignity.  That quiet dignity is the icing on the cake, though, for strength and stability and a clear vision of Purpose are underneath.  This mighty oak protects, too; cool and invigorating shade is found beneath its verdant canopy, offered to all his children.

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1/16/14

Two of Swords/Nine of Wands. The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) represents a time of not looking or of shutting out the world.  The serenity of this card happens because we choose to not receive or acknowledge as valid the information that comes to us from the outside, or maybe because we choose to not listen at all, whether the information is valid or not.  Some see this card as representing an armed peace, a peace created by receiving only a limited amount of information.  Sometimes we need to unplug, just so we can stop the stress loop.   The Nine of Wands (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) tells us that the final challenge approaches, and we need to ready ourselves so we can guard our assets.  This card also tells of wisdom . . . wisdom that comes at a high price.

My Thoth cards are The Moon and the Knight of Disks. The Moon of the Tarot Major Arcana 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.  This card tells of falsehood and illusion and the Dark Night of Soul, and that is just about where I am right now.  Crowley also sees this card as talking about magick and mystery; they are also difficult to pin down and define, but they are good. The Knights of the Thoth Tarot are actually the Kings.  The King of Disks (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.  He is good at managing physical world resources, but he focuses a lot on the business end of things.  The thing about that kind of focus is that it becomes narrowed into the planning.  These two cards together remind me that having lots of money brings the illusion of happiness, but happiness happens whether we have money or we don’t.  The nice thing is that unlike The Moon, my Knight is well grounded into reality.  Between the two cards, I should have a nice balance.

My Legacy cards are the Nine of Wands reversed (Bookends!), flavored by The Tower.  Eeep!  The Legacy Nine of Wands in an upright position tells us that while events thus far have taken their toll, we need to gather our resolve for the final push.  Since this card is reversed, I may be at the end of my reserve of resolve, but the challenge may be winding down as well.  My reversed Nine of Wands is being flavored by an uncomfortably active card, The Tower.  The Tower (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)) is one of the Major Arcana cards that talks of adjustments.  This one tells of a violent or explosive correction in the way things are going that usually happens after more gentle corrections don’t bring the needed result.  I do understand what this card is about.  Everything I’ve worked toward and believed in have just been totally toppled, and boy, was that an uncomfortable experience.  In fact, perhaps the energies of this card are the reason why my resolve is ebbed to a low point.  The thing I need to remember is that the destruction caused by The Tower is actually clearing away the old and expired, so new growth can begin. 

More about my Bookends card, the Nine of Wands.  This card often reminds us that our life experiences, both the joyful ones and the difficult ones, prepare us for the next challenge.  The Nine of Wands reminds us that sometimes drawing that line in the sand makes us find the strength to do what needs to be done.  We might not have accomplished so much if we didn’t set that standard.  The Legacy Tarot sees the Nine of Wands as representing the saying “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”  The Llewellyn Welsh Nine of Wands tells us that the time has come to anticipate a challenge, and prepare our defenses to stand against it.  This is the discipline of the seasoned warrior who has been knocked down to the ground in many ways, and thus he can anticipate where the next attack will come from.  This is the sentinel who watches the walls, gazes into the darkness with the eyes that can tell the difference between a harmless shadow and an approaching danger.  If reversed, the Nine of Wands could be warning us to rethink our position.  Perhaps we don’t have the strength we think we have, or perhaps the strength is there but the challenge is not as strong as we believe it to be.  Or it could be that old habits and addictions are creeping back into control, without our even knowing it.  A reversed Nine of Wands reminds us to heed the warnings, for it looks like we are not seeing possible consequences and will be caught off guard.

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

My horoscopes: “New ideas that you have been studying over the past few days might have turned your mind in a different direction, Sagittarius. Thus, you are shifting away from the concepts that you've always accepted toward other ideas that you may have just learned. This could lead to projects of your own, perhaps involving writing or speaking. Open and honest communication with a lover might lead to an intimate evening together. Expect some intense conversation, among other things!”

And: “The time has come to take important decisions for yourself, but also for your family ties. You feel that there is a strong and dynamic flow in the air today. You can utilize this flow to your advantage and make your entourage benefit from it too. It will also enable you to think about new objectives.”

I am in the midst of dealing with a huge and painful Dark Night of the Soul.  This one has struck home, and is happening in the e-Community I have called my spiritual home for more than 11 years.  Thankfully I am being supported and advised by both my High Priestess and my dear Mentor (a Third Degree Initiated Priestess), but I am still attempting to heal from angry words. 

I do understand that a Dark Night is to be expected immediately prior to a big advancement, and since I am moving toward my Third Degree Initiation in the very near future, this one does not surprise me, as painful as it is.  I understand the purpose of this Dark Night; it is causing me to make absolutely sure that I wish to formally dedicate myself to my spiritual Path and to my Coven in this deeper and more intense way.   This Dark Night has also reminded me in a good way, despite its ongoing state, that I am not alone.  Yes, I need to find my way through this Darkness in a solitary way, but I do have a cheering section, urging me onward.  I do feel that I have finally reached the beginning of the back end of this painful time.

Don’t like this feeling; want it to end.  It is up to me to end it, for I can’t control the thoughts, words or actions of others, I can only control my response to them.  Each and every response I am choosing is being chosen with the intent to harm none, in perfect love and trust.

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1/15/14

The Hermit reversed/Ten of Swords reversed.  The Hermit corresponds with Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and material, practical and stable energy that is slow to change), as well as Virgo (“I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented, orderly), Yod (open hand, touch), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured), and in an upright position is about searching within for a deeper meaning, often through solitude bordering on discomfort.  My Hermit is reversed, and the reversed Hermit in the Llewellyn Welsh Tarot tells of suffering and a sense of exile being created by the effect of philosophies that are limited in some way.  The isolation of the reversed Hermit is not a calm soul-searching but rather created out of desperation, and perhaps isolation is not the solution.  The Ten of Swords (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, talkative) in an upright position tells of the perception that interference, powerlessness and restriction will rule the day.  The Llewellyn Welsh version of this card in an upright position tells of slander, hurt, and the breakdown of relationships; reversed, it is telling me that I have available to me an escape from the stresses caused by the breakdown, and I should use this respite to the best of my ability.

My Thoth cards are The High Priestess reversed and the Eight of Swords (“Interference”) reversed.  The High Priestess (Water; the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination; Gimel, the camel who safely crosses Da’ath, the Abyss, and thus, has the secret of life; and the Path between Tiphareth, the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify, and Kether, the source, limitless possibility), is one-half of the Major Arcana representation of the Sacred Feminine, with The Empress being the other half. The High Priestess is the source of the power of The Magician, the feminine version of The Hierophant, and the Keeper of the Mysteries.  This card is telling of more than just an intense connection to my intuition; my High Priestess is also telling me that there is plenty of information and advice available to me.  My High Priestess does not bring a cozy warmth while in the company of loved ones, but rather she offers the possibility of access to the sacred mysteries, if I am worthy.  Her awareness is focused away from ordinary life, and    .  The Eight of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable talkative, dual) tells of a confused and restrictive response to obstacles, or maybe perceived obstacles.   This card in an upright position tells me that I am attempting to be good-natured and understanding, or accepting a sense of powerlessness, when I should be taking control.  Because the card is reversed, I will be free from these blockages today, and the sailing should be smooth.

My Legacy card is Strength reversed, flavored by The Fool.  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) in an upright position is about having the strength and the patience to endure and focus.  The Legacy Strength card tells of fortitude and of the strength to control an open hand.  Those things may not be available to me right now, but there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.  After all, my reversed Strength card is being flavored by the only upright card in my throw today, The Fool.  The Fool corresponds with Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and challenges that tend to require the use of the intellect to solve), Uranus (technology, science, radical change), Aleph (the head, youthful learning) and the Path between Chokmah (male in the electric sense, dynamic energy and the origin of vital force and polarity) and Kether (the source; limitless possibility).  The Fool is the spark that begins the idea, and the neutral powers of creativity; he is above, beyond and before the world and all its extremes, and he tells me that I can bring myself above and beyond the effects of the reversed cards in my spread today.  I hope he is right!

My 6-digit date number is 3, the number that tells of a new creation from the position and potential of the Ace, and the balance, polarity, and energy of “distance between” of the 2.

My horoscopes: “Discussions with close friends, children, and romantic partners take on an especially exciting aura today, Sagittarius. New information is likely to be circulated that might make a big difference both in your household and in your community. It also could make a difference to your mind. A new field of interest, a new intellectual search, as well as improved communication with those close to you could enrich your life at this time.”

And: “Your playful attitude will be a welcomed addition to the rather sober, restrictive tone to the day. On the other hand, it may behoove you to join in with the seriousness in order to accomplish what you need to get done. The choice is up to you; however, you are probably most wise to spend this day taking care of chores and nagging errands that you have been putting off for quite some time.”

Another Wild Unknown Tarot card: the Nine of Swords.  Oh, the image on this one is perfect, it is a nightmare creature with eyes and worms and horns and hair.  If this unidentifiable nightmare came crawling toward me in the middle of the night, I would be reduced to a quivering puddle of fear and panic.  The key here is that word “nightmare,” for this creature is not real.  It is a creation of my own mind, paralyzed in a feed-back of analysis and totally cut off from reality.  When the lights come on, that horror will end up being a pile of my sneakers and sox, and the bra I took off before bed and tossed in the corner; nothing to fear at all. 

I am dealing with some major issues right now and I am not at all sure about the final outcome.  Hopefully, The Fool’s optimism will be with me as I work through this difficult time.  One thing I do know for certain, Dark Nights are never endless.  Sooner or later, a new day dawns.

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1/14/14

Two of Swords/Ten of Swords.  Yep, makes sense to me! The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) represents a time of not looking or of shutting out the world.  The serenity of this card happens because we choose to not receive or acknowledge as valid the information that comes to us from the outside, or maybe because we choose to not listen at all, whether the information is valid or not.  The Llewellyn Two of Swords is about being unsure whether I have all the information, or whether those around me are friends or foes, and thus I feel the need to protect myself.  The Ten of Swords (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, talkative) tells of the perception that interference, powerlessness and restriction will rule the day.  The Llewellyn Welsh version of this card is uncomfortable; it tells of slander, hurt, and the breakdown of relationships.  Even if this mental perception is accurate, I am being told this is as bad as it gets.  With these two cards together, I need to be careful that my time of shutting out the world does not lead to self-pity.

My Thoth cards are the Five of Wands (“Strife”) and the Queen of Wands reversed.  There’s that warning again.  The Five of Wands, which corresponds with Saturn (discipline, responsibility, law and order) in Leo (“I am, passionate, dramatic, egotistical) indicates a struggle caused by annoying cross-purposes.  Often this card tells of a clash of multiple ideas, or it tells of inconsistent efforts, both of which could be lessened by a re-evaluation of some kind.  The thing I need to remember is that this discomfort is not necessarily evil or bad (even if it might be easier for me to believe that).  The Queen of Wands (cusp of Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality, and Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) in an upright position is energetic, adaptable and enthusiastic; she is filled with persistent energy and calm authority at the same time, and because of this she draws others to her. She is reversed today, for the second day in a row, and I am being warned that brooding leads nowhere.  Unfortunately, this Queen in a reversed position also warns that I might be not getting the real story somewhere; oh boy.

My Legacy card is the Five of Coins reversed, flavored by The Wheel reversed. The Five of Coins (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, skill, communication, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) in an upright position tells of some loss or need within the physical world.  Sometimes this card can indicate an inability to balance personal issues with professional issues; whatever the issue, the upright card presents the hidden reminder that there may be light in unlooked-for places.  Because my card is reversed, today I may realize that discipline has brought an ebbing of these kinds of situation.  My reversed Five of Coins is being flavored by another reversed card, The Wheel.  The Wheel of Fortune (Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive and energetic change), Jupiter (expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune), Kaph (grasping hand), and the Path between Netzach (the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration) and Chesed (the place where forms and structure are stabilized and nurtured)) tells of sudden movement, but not movement caused by us or controlled by us.  Because the card is reversed, I may be able to make changes by imposing my Will on a situation.  These two together tell me that success will happen as long as I keep my efforts steady. 

My 6-digit date number is 11 (Archangel Uriel; why does that not surprise me?), which reduces further to 2, the number of balance, polarity, and the energy of “distance between.”

My horoscopes: “Rational thought gets muddled today as everything seems to be happening to you at once, Sagittarius. Everyone wants your advice, lots of people need favors, and those in authority have new tasks for you. Stay calm and don't react by getting short with people. Play triage officer and help those in the most need first. Warn the others you might not get to them. This way you won't make yourself crazy. Hang in there!”

And: “Take a step back from the fire today, and examine your position. You have made bold moves outwards and now it is time to stop and evaluate. Listen to the reactions from other people and take their advice to heart. Other people may see things in your current situation that you do not. Don't let yourself get trapped and boxed in by narrow-minded ways of thinking. Digest what you know and expand your experiences.”

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11/13/14

Ace of Pentacles reversed/Nine of Swords.  Aces present potential only, 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, and perhaps the physical world is where I can have the most impact today.  My Ace is reversed today, and that could mean I might experience the more uncomfortable aspects of the element of Earth: greed, jealousy, or the twisting or distorting of values. The Nine of Swords (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, in Gemini, “I think,” curious, talkative, social, dual) represents brooding and worrying, usually self-caused, and usually unproductive.  Often the worrying attached to this card is connected to insecurity or suspicion, or to delays in obtaining something.  Worrying accomplishes nothing besides wasting energy; I need to remember that today.

My Thoth cards are the Ace of Cups and the Two of Swords (“Peace”) 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) tells of the potential to experience deep emotions, a connection to my Inner Voice, and a connection to those around me.  This card is not about the emotions themselves or their effects, but rather the potential for emotion to play a part in my day. The Two of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) in an upright position represents a time of not looking or of shutting out the world.  The serenity of this card happens because we choose to not receive or acknowledge as valid the information that comes to us from the outside.  However, my card is reversed; does this mean that feelings will create an unhealthy tendency to shut out the world? 

My Legacy card is the Four of Swords reversed, flavored by the Queen of Wands reversed.  Another quiet Swords card in a reversed position!  The Four of Swords (Jupiter, expansiveness and growth, justice, fortune, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) in an upright position can represent a pause or truce or mutual deterrent, or a time of silence and isolation, that should be used to prepare for challenges to come.  Perhaps this card in a reversed position is telling me that the time of pause and preparation is over, and activity is happening, whether I am ready or not.  My reversed Four of Swords is being flavored by the reversed Queen of Wands.  The Queen of Wands (cusp of Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality, and Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) in an upright position is energetic, adaptable and enthusiastic; she is filled with persistent energy and calm authority at the same time, and because of this she draws others to her. She is reversed today and tells me that if I allow today to be about just being who I am, I might alienate others today.  Wow, looks like I might be better off going back to bed!

My 6-digit date number is 10, the number that tells of the end of a cycle, which can be reduced further to 1, the number of position and potential. 

My horoscopes: “A rosy glow over your recent career successes could cause you to congratulate yourself over your growing bank account. This trend should continue for a while, Sagittarius, if you keep on working as you have and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. Your relationships with others around you, particularly the opposite sex, should be especially warm and loving right now. This should prove to be a thoroughly gratifying day. Use it to your advantage.”

And: “Recently, you have had the tendency to neglect the relationships with your entourage and colleagues. You sometimes have to treat your relations diplomatically! But it seems that your enthusiastic nature destabilizes the person you are talking to. Therefore, you should try to change your behavior. If you are more diplomatic, you will probably find the happiness you are looking for.”

I read an interesting blog post (http://www.yogitimes.com/article/what-is-a-yogi-regular-yoga-practice-svadhyaya-isvara-pranidhana/) which described the steps to becoming a Yogi.  Simple steps, actually; they consist of (1) cultivating Tapas (), (2) indulging in Svadhyaya (knowing yourself), and (3) the icing on the cake, Isvara Pranidhana (giving your life force to a higher power).  In practicing these three things, we end up with “. . . a ‘non-obsessive, daily practice.’  Like brushing your teeth or writing a thank-you letter . . .” our Yoga practice becomes instinctive and happens without conscious thought.  I like that!

I received some exciting news this morning!  My Third Degree Initiation is happening, this Friday at 4 pm!  I will be receiving preparation instructions either tonight or tomorrow, and I am very excited about all of this.  I have been working towards this Third Degree Initiation for years; I have been a member of my Coven and community since joining as a Dedicant in late May, 2002, over 13 years ago.  I have studied long and hard, and I have grown immensely.  This step is huge; it will be the ending of a cycle, but also a new and very exciting beginning!

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