12/28/14

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

22, Weather: Rain (West). West is the direction of Water, sensitive, imaginative energy that strives to stay the same or take the same course; energy that is cold and wet, that binds and adapts.  Water is about emotions, feelings, the Inner Voice, dreams, intuition, and Water is connected to both birth and death.  Rain is cleansing and nourishing, and this kind of weather can often bring dissatisfaction.  However, I also see Rain and it’s quiet, dark and cozy sensations as providing a time for rest and renewal.  Many are melancholy when it rains, but we need the rain to grow and live.

13, Element: Fire (South). South is the direction of the midday sun and the peak of power and illumination; this direction is associated with passionate drive and creativity.  Fire has often been used as a representation of Spirit or the Divine, and this makes sense.  Fire brings transformation, animation or life, courage, and intent.  Fire has its dangers, though; it brings transformation through destruction that brings new birth.

29, Guide: Turtle (West). West is the direction of Water, and thus, of feelings and emotions, relationships of all kinds, cleansing and healing, the wisdom associated with natural endings, and the bubbling up of pure joy.  Water is Turtle’s environment, but not only Water, for many Turtles are at home on Earth (and in fact, Turtles lay their eggs on Earth).  Turtle offers us an opportunity to learn about protection; not the kind of protection that shuts out the world but rather, the kind of protection that allows us to dive deep and explore the unknown without fear.  Turtle is also slow and steady, is patient, and endures; Turtle has a long lifespan, and has existed relatively unchanged since ancient times.  Turtle’s shell shows us how to exist in spite of the churning eddies of life, without being affected by them.  After all, she is able to safely travel between the worlds because she is well-protected.

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  There is a lot of outward motion on this one; the Turtles are swimming outward, the triangle of Fire is expanding, and the droplets of Rain are flowing as if on the windshield of a qickly moving vehicle.  This mandala is about coziness and protection, the cleansing action of running water and the effects of the churning eddies of the tides and waves.  Fire purifies as well, and brings death that transforms to new life.  There is a cycle here as well, going from the cloudy skies to the Fire of Spirit, and the ability to bridge the gap between the physical world of Earth and the Watery world of feelings, emotions and intuition.

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12/25/14

Three of Swords/The Hanging Man reversed.  Ugh, bad way to start out.  The Three of Swords (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitations and resistance, in Libra, “We are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation) usually indicates the possibility that logic, rationalizing and the intellect could end up causing harm if they are not used with balance and compassion.  Often, this card is seen as indicating not a specific sorrow, but rather melancholy, the kind of melancholy that actually brings changes for the good in the end.  We know now what is going on, so we can begin to heal, and allow the tears to wash away the things that no longer serve me.  An interesting keyword to this one is “rupture”; that makes sense with the traditional image associated with this card.  The Hanging Man corresponds with Water (cold/binds and wet/adapts, and emotional, sensitive and imaginative energy that tends to move deep, and attempts to take the same path as in the past), Neptune (inspiration, spirituality, magick, enchantment, dreams, altered states), and the Hebrew letter Mem (water, stability and balance, the reflective quality of thought), and presents the kind of balance that comes to us through surrender, and through deliberately attempting to see things in a different way.  This card tells of destiny, as well as sacrifice and loss, and passive or mystical initiation.  All of these do not have an accidental feel about them at all.  Since my card is reversed, rising above the needs and sensations of the physical body won’t be easy today. 

My Thoth cards are the Princess of Swords reversed and the Ten of Disks (“Wealth”).  The Princess/Page of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning, Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, society, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality) encourages us to use our mind and intellect to analyze our situations as well as our emotions and feelings.  Uncle Al sees this Princess in an upright position as being a bit on the stern side, alert and looking in all directions.  Because she is reversed, all of her cunning becomes focused on something that is unworthy of her.   She could very well be missing something important here, even though she is creating swirls and eddies of energies all over the place.  The Ten of Disks (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) represents the attainment of physical world wealth and bounty, usually achieved through the implementation of long-term plans, and the attempt to maintain the status quo.  Uncle Al has a specific message for this card, too: do something with that wealth or it will become a liability.  He also feels this card is the Minor Arcana equivalent of The Universe because it represents the completion of the process of experiencing all the stages of physical world existence.

My Legacy card is the Nine of Wands reversed, flavored by the Queen of Cups.  The Nine of Wands (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, adventurous, blundering) in an upright position tells us that the final challenge approaches, and we need to ready ourselves so we can guard our assets.  This card also tells of the order and control that helps us to plan for possible challenges or hostilities to come, the way a seasoned warrior would plan.  My card is reversed, and it could be telling of scattered energies.  Scattered energies are similar to ruptured energies; is there a tendency here?  My reversed Nine of Wands is being flavored by the Queen of Cups. The Queen of Cups (cusp of Gemini, “I think,” curious, sociable, dual, and Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) represents the energies of Water and The High Priestess manifested into the Minor Arcana.  She is comfortable with her own feelings and visions (whatever they are), and she is comfortable dealing with the feelings of others (whether serene or uncomfortable) without losing her own serenity.  She is chaste, not necessarily sexually chaste, but rather she is able to resist indulging in effects that might harm herself or others.  I’m glad she’s here, flavoring my reversed Nine of Wands, and the entire spread (which began with the Three of Swords!).  She is needed today.

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

My horoscopes: “Write on! Today the Moon in Aquarius, your communicative third house, is in opposition to abundant Jupiter in Leo, your adventurous ninth house. If you feel constrained (your freedom-loving sign's nightmare), perhaps the way out is by reading a spiritually enlightening book or penning a story depicting your most expansive dreams. Or, bring up your issues about confinement with a pal. A casual conversation could turn into a game changer, helping you live, once again, in the land of possibility. Is an epic journey--of the mind and body--in your future?”

And: “Errands, or other short journeys in your near neighborhood, could result in a chance meeting with someone who could be of great benefit to you in the future. Opportunities for advancement of your special interests--educational, artistic, spiritual--could open up as a result of this meeting. Therefore, when you go out make sure you look your best, even if you're only going to the grocery store. Good luck!”

I’ve got a wonderful day ahead of me.  Spent last night having dinner with one part of the family.  My mother-in-law will be here shortly and then we will have dinner with another segment of the family.  I do enjoy this day!

Merry Christmas!

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12/24/14

The High Priestess reversed/Five of Cups.  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 (who is also in my spread today), the feminine version of The Hierophant, and the Keeper of the Mysteries.  She is the Gatekeeper who determines whether I am ready to experience the Mysteries, and she is somewhat removed from everyday life although her mind is receptive.  She is not about mental analysis at all; when upright, she tells me that in order to access the Mysteries she guards, I must know my inner self completely, and accept the messages of my Inner Voice, even if they defy analysis.  But today she is reversed, and thus my fulfillment will be found in everyday life.  The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) tells of an emotional setback or disappointment, or perhaps the belief that a wrong choice has been made; this card also warns us that we are focusing too much on difficult emotions. Feelings and emotions can be powerful tools, and what I feel can end up manifesting into the physical world.  “Suffering over one’s suffering” is a keyword of the Llewellyn Welsh Five of Cups, and perhaps it will be the emotional pains that seem to captivate me today.  Emotional pain is not all bad, though; after all, an inheritance brings unexpected bounty through the death of someone we love. 

My Thoth cards are The Wheel of Fortune and the Seven of Disks (“Failure”) reversed.  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.  The Wheel reminds us that nothing is permanent and everything is always in motion, motion that we can’t control but that we certainly can benefit from.  All we have to do is stop fighting the flows of energies.  This card also tells of karma, “ripe karma,” if you will, karma that is ready to manifest.  Finally, while some see this card as representing Fate (probably because we can’t control what happens when its energies manifest), others feel this card tells of manifestations controlled or initiated by the Divine, something a lot less random.  The Seven of Disks (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) tells of pauses and choices and assessments. To Crowley, the pause indicated by the Seven of Disks is happening because of sloth and lethargy, and the image on the card is dark and heavy, even stagnant.  Failure can happen due to a lack of success, but it can also happen due to non-performance.  My card is reversed, and that means that while lethargy can still happen, it won’t control my day.  I like these two cards together; things just might happen today.  

My Legacy card is the Ten of Wands reversed, flavored by the Four of Swords.  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.  This card can also tell of a passion that has taken a life of its own and then gotten out of control or taken over.  Without checks and balances to keep things under control, this is what happens! Thankfully my card is reversed, and I just might be good at delegating today.  Share the load!  My reversed Ten of Wands is being flavored by the Four of Swords.  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 used to prepare for challenges to come.  Often it is necessary to take a moment to absorb what has happened thus far, and this card offers that pause.  The truce represented by the Four of Swords does not happen due to weakness, but rather through conscious choice and through a balance of power.  After all, the truce is “supported” by Swords, the suit of the intellect.  This combination tells me that a pause to collect myself will be useful today, and won’t derail my “get up and go.”

My 6-digit date number is 5, the number that tells of movement imposed onto stability in order to prevent stagnation. 

My horoscopes: “Spread your message! Today, with the Moon conjunct motivator Mars in Aquarius, your communicative third house, you could be driven to move an idea or project ahead. If you have a writing or teaching venture in the works, spend time brainstorming, figuring out how to best shepherd it into reality. You might also join forces with a kindred spirit, realizing that no great endeavor is completed in a vacuum. If there's any tension, channel it into your communications constructively. (Translation: no fighting words, please.) The more you speak, the better the progress”

And: “Obstacles that you may have been encountering in attainment of cherished goals could suddenly seem to be melting away, clearing the way for making your dreams come true. This could involve physical health, plans for travel and education, and self-expression. You could also be feeling especially passionate at this time, so a romantic evening with that special someone would be especially enjoyable. You're feeling great, so make sure you look your best as well!”

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12/22/14

Ace of Swords reversed/The Wheel of Fortune. The Ace of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution authority, cunning, Aquarius,  “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness, and Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, soul growth, artistic) tells of the birth of ideas and concepts; it offers the power to analyze that is necessary in order to make good choices, and in order to react correctly to events in our day.  This card when upright is filled with intellectual potential.  Interestingly enough, the reversed Ace of Swords is seen as a card of fertility, and when we think about the Great Rite, that makes sense.  Grounding that Sword point into the earth may cause that crown to fall off, but it also can be seen as a catalyst for earthly developments.  Not ideas here, but rather manifestation.  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.  The Wheel reminds us that nothing is permanent and everything is always in motion, motion that we can’t control but that we certainly can benefit from.  All we have to do is stop fighting the flows of energies.  This card also tells of karma, “ripe karma,” if you will, karma that is ready to manifest.

My Thoth cards are the Nine of Disks (“Gain”) and the Princess of Swords reversed. The Nine of Disks (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of accomplishment through the imposition of discipline.  This card literally purrs with satisfaction, telling us that we should feel great satisfaction because of our accomplishments, which have occurred due to our own focus and discipline.  The Princess/Page of Swords (Capricorn, “I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning, Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, society, cause-oriented, and Pisces, “I believe,” feelings, duality, soul growth, spirituality) encourages us to use our mind and intellect to analyze our situations as well as our emotions and feelings.  Uncle Al sees this Princess in an upright position as being a bit on the stern side, alert and looking in all directions.  Because she is reversed, all of her cunning becomes focused on something that is unworthy of her.

My Legacy card is The Star, flavored by the Three of Coins reversed. The Star (Air, hot/separates and wet/adapts; Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness; Tzaddi, fishhook; the Path between Malkuth, the physical world of action and outer, physical reality, and Netzach, the stimulating factors of emotion and inspiration) is the “good will to all” card, and while it can hint at some unexpected darkness, it also reminds us that things will turn out okay in the end.  The Star reminds us to have faith (and this card is indeed the embodiment of faith), for while it may seem to be the darkest night, the dawn is just beyond the horizon, and it is in the dark sky that Stars can really shine. The Star also tells of the gift of life and harmony to the sould and to the body.  My Star is being flavored by the Three of Coins reversed. The Three of Coins (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, cunning, competence) in an upright position tells of competence, planning and teamwork. The Legacy card tells of a career or a skill that is a passion; a vocation which requires practice and skill and focus to manifest successfully. My Three of Coins is reversed, and it does not appear that there will be forward movement on any physical-world projects today.  But because my reversed Three of Coins is connected to The Star, I am being told to not worry or fixate on this pause because optimism just might get things moving.

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

My horoscopes: “Cutthroat, much? Today's Moon is conjunct controlling Pluto in Capricorn, your work and money sector, firing up your more ruthless side. If you feel like your bottom line is at stake, you're likely to do what it takes to protect yourself. (Beware of trampling others in the process, though.) The intensity of this day might have you scratching your head, i.e. "Where did that come from?" Your best bet? Stay centered, focusing a laser-like energy on meeting your budgets and deadlines. Sagittarius, you're unstoppable. Use the force for good!”

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.”

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12/21/14

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

46, Mercury (Above).  Whatever happens in the direction of Above, it will happen quickly, and maybe in an unexpected manner, because there are no elemental constraints to be found.  The effects associated with this card (and this planet) of Mercury are quick to manifest; they are about connections and communications, about travel, and about the way it all happens through what seems like magick!  I associate Mercury with the Internet, and thus, with the astral realms.

54, Guide: Giant (Below).  The direction of Below is not easily associated with spirituality, yet it is a powerful symbol representing the opportunity to create a strong foundation, and to connect to the tools and powers of the Underworld.  Giant corresponds quite a bit with the element of Earth and Earth energies, and is about the stability of the ground below us, and about the huge geological forces that formed our world and even now, change it.  In most fairy tales, the Giant ends up being a great big bump in the road for the hero of the tale, and without these kinds of challenges, we would never get the chance to be brave or to see if we have courage.

19, Guide: Bee (South).  South is the direction of the midday sun and the peak of power and illumination; this direction is associated with passionate drive and creativity.  Bee is about teamwork and harmony and a sense of community, and about service to that community.  The service is performed for the greater good, and without an expectation of acknowledgment.  Bee is not about the individual’s needs, but rather it is about the needs of the hive, and often the individual is sacrificed in order to allow the hive to continue.

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.   Bee is what we see first; the three Bees are bold and dark, and they kind of blur out everything else.  Giants become background, and except for one section close to the bottom Bee, Mercury is invisible.  Bee is about the needs of the hive, which are often maintained by personal sacrifice, and it looks like this next week is not about me, at least as far as being in the public eye.  I will be most effective in the place I like most: the background.  Connections and communications and the astral realm will be important, as will the challenges that might not be created by me, but need to be conquered by me.  My reward is the knowledge that I am a part of the big picture, a necessary (even if quiet) part of that big picture.

Interesting reading to throw on this Yule morning, also a New Moon.  Beautiful energies around and about today!

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12/19/14

Five of Cups reversed/Three of Pentacles reversed.  The Five of Cups (Mars, action, aggression, drive, in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, controlling, mysterious, obsessive) tells of an emotional setback or disappointment, or perhaps the belief that a wrong choice has been made; this card also warns us that we are focusing too much on difficult emotions. Feelings and emotions can be powerful tools, and what I feel can end up manifesting into the physical world.  “Suffering over one’s suffering” is a keyword of the upright Llewellyn Welsh Five of Cups, and today I should be able to see the good stuff, rather than the bad stuff.  The Three of Pentacles (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, cunning, competence) tells of competence, planning and teamwork.  The Llewellyn Welsh card also tells of skills, making use of talents, and finding comfort in humble work.  My card is reversed, though, and I may find that I am losing interest in some physical world task.  Perhaps some renewed enthusiasm is in order.

My Thoth cards are The Empress and Adjustment/Justice.  Wow!!!  Powerful women!  The Empress (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 (along with The High Priestess), 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 not stern and analytical.  On the contrary, she is able to enjoy the pleasures of Nature and of her own body, and she is able to create a pleasing environment for all.  Crowley sums this up: love and let love, rejoice in every shape of love, and get thy rapture and thy nourishment thereof.  Sounds like good advice.  Justice is a card of adjustment, and that is why Crowley calls this one “Adjustment.”  It corresponds with the element of Air (hot/separates and wet/adapts, and quick, animated energy that usually brings problems or challenges that bring growth), Libra (“we are,” partnerships, balance, cooperation), Lamed (ox goad; training or teaching), and the Path between Tiphareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) and Geburah (the place where forms and structures are challenged or affirmed).  To Crowley, this card presents two important concepts: balance and truth, and it tells us that the purpose of the law is to implement and manifest these two concepts.  Crowley also sees Adjustment as telling of a suspension of activity while waiting for a final decision.  The traditional image of Justice has two pillars on it, as does The High Priestess; hmmmm . . . each is a guardian of sorts, Justice a guardian of equilibrium and The High Priestess a guardian of secret knowledge.  The High Priestess is also connected to The Empress, the queen of sensuality and the senses. 

My Legacy card is the Four of Coins, flavored by the Nine of Coins reversed.  The Four of Coins (the Sun, the inner core of a person or situation or the deepest self, in Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, authority, caution cunning) tells of very solid foundations and an awareness of the value of our possessions.  This card tells of a resistance to change, as well as a need for predictability.  Wealth and resources can either be our slave or our master; we should value them, but not be afraid to use them to benefit everyone.  There is more to the world and to life than physical things, and perhaps I need a reminder of this today. My Four of Coins is being flavored by another Coins card, the Nine of Coins reversed.  The Nine of Coins (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, in Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) in an upright position tells of accomplishment through the imposition of discipline.  The Legacy Nine of Coins also hints at seeing these accomplishments through rose-colored glasses.  Affluence and comfort allow us to spend time focusing inward, true; and that would not be possible without affluence and comfort.  But since this Nine is reversed, perhaps its energies are encouraging that bit of obsession over physical word resources being presented by my Four of Coins.  All six of these cards together are hinting at a physical world imbalance, one that can be fixed by valuing non-physical world resources. 

My 6-digit date number is 9, the number of completeness of manifestation or effect. 

My horoscopes: “Game over! Admitting defeat isn't something you do often, Archer, but it may be necessary under today's alignment of the Moon and tough-love Saturn in your 12th house of endings. Rather than get down on yourself about this, look at the big picture. Is this mission bringing the rewards you'd hoped it would? Is it something you want to expend more energy on? This is not a sign of failure, Sag; it's an opportunity to "recalculate" and head in a more fulfilling direction.”

And: “It isn't because your new projects demand such precision that they are causing you problems. You still have a tendency to think that details impede you from having a global vision but this is simply not the case. There really is no conflict between the long-term view and the short-term needs. You just think that the latter gets in the way of the former. Try thinking of the details that you find so annoying as stepping stones to your larger vision.”

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12/18/14

King of Wands reversed/King of Cups reversed.  The King of Wands (cusp of Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, moody, and Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic egotistical) in an upright position is honest and open hearted, and rules his realm through the advantageous use of his creative impulses.  He is admired by all, is able to assert authority without alienating others, and his achievements not only bring him benefits, but also increase the quality of life for those around him.  When upright, he reminds me that I do have the skills to make things happen and the Will to direct those skills, and I should trust in those skills, and act with confidence.  Because my King is reversed, material success may outshine any attempts toward achieving the highesd good for all, and I need to remember that.  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 able to be calm, caring and diplomatic, and still get things done by getting others working together in a productive way.  My King of Cups is also reversed, and envy of the accomplishments of others is never productive.  Neither is being overly defensive. 

My Thoth cards are the Nine of Swords (“Cruelty”) and the Queen of Wands reversed.  .  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 it is connected to things that are over and done with, and thus unchangeable.  This card represents the “agony of the mind,” and the poison created by this agony can kill every positive opportunity that comes my way today.  I can’t allow myself to be haunted by the past; those kinds of focuses will be detrimental in every case.  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 kind of a self-made woman, with her sense of humor intact.  She just might be reversed because of any obsession with what I should have done; hind sight is always 20/20, but the issues are over and done with, so they should be released. 

My Legacy card is The Emperor reversed, flavored by the Eight of Cups reversed.  The Emperor corresponds with Fire (hot/separates and dry/shapes, and spontaneous, impulsive, energetic change), Aries (“I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive) and the Hebrew letter Heh (window, illumination), represents confidence, authority, and the archetype of the Father.  The Emperor instills balance, form and structure onto the fertility and creations of The Empress, an important task.  The Emperor says that the best way to make the day have a happy ending is to follow the rules, get things done on time, and encourage others to do the same, and he does his best to guide and protect others so they may do so.  This is all well and good, but because my Emperor is reversed, being the big gorilla in the room could end up only causing uncomfortable conflict.  I need to ask myself “what is the responsible thing to do?”  My reversed Emperor is being flavored today by the reversed Eight of Cups.   The Eight of Cups (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, limitation, law and order, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, suffering, soul growth) tells of an ending or a decline or a change of direction, often one associated with emotions, and it offers one possible response to that decline or change: moving on.  Sounds like the inability to release the things that no longer serve me is unhealthy.  One interpretation of the reversed Eight of Cups is that it presents the kind of timid behavior that attracts predators; perhaps that is the message of these two reversed cards: be careful; you are acting like prey.

My 6-digit date number is 8, the number that tells of the conscious and deliberate response to the pause and approach of degeneration of the 7, in order to preserve for a bit longer the harmony of the number 6.

My horoscopes: “As the Moon lumbers through introspective Scorpio and your sleepy 12th house, it'll take superhuman effort just to stay awake. But no need to apologize for skipping tonight's pre-holiday cocktail hour, Archer. If what you really want is solitude and the ability to work quietly on your own, just do it! When la luna moves into your sign and your excitable first house tomorrow evening, you'll be the belle of the ball once again. So get your disco nap in now!”

And: “Today is going to be a great day for you. You are not one to embrace rules, constraints or restrictions of any type, preferring instead to reside in a fantasy world where no limitations apply. Have you considered that it is possible for you to join the rest of us here on Earth and still retain your liberty and ideals?”

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