1/22/15

Knight of Wands reversed/Six of Cups.  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.  Often, this Knight is shown riding a proudly prancing horse, and this motion filled with confidence is a good indication of the energy of the card.  My Llewellyn Welsh Knight in an upright position is seen as a clever and unpredictable person with a good sense of humor and a knack for seeing opportunities others have missed.  Because my Knight is reversed, ideas that are a part of this day might end up deflating like a balloon with a hole in it.  And that is the best case scenario, because tempers might flare as well.  The Six of Cups (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation in Scorpio, “I desire,” intense, compulsive, deep, obsessive) is a card of innocence, emotional balance and harmony, of simple joy that begets even more simple joy by infecting all that is around us at this moment.  This card is about friendship and play, teamwork, and drawing strength from shared experiences.  While ideas may not work today, I certainly should be able to draw strength from those around me.

My Thoth cards are the Prince of Wands (Bookends!!) and the Six of Disks (“Success”).  Uncle Al considered this card as representing him, and he had a lot to say about it.  The Thoth Prince of Wands is intense; his sense of humor is intense, his courage is intense and his endurance is intense.  He is romantic to the point of nausea and is real good at engineering stunts and then laughing, even if he is the one who ends up looking foolish.  He sounds like a fun guy, unless you have a migrane!  The Six of Disks (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, in both the upright and reversed position. This card shows us what happens when we don’t let the apparent failure of the Five of Disks hold us back. Crowley sees the Six of Disks as a card of balance, and while that balance is fertile, it is also temporary.  The Thoth Six of Disks offers a brief reward for our efforts, and a glimpse of a possible end result that will bring success.

My Legacy card is the Three of Cups reversed, flavored by The Emperor.  The Three of Cups (Mercury, reason, intelligence, orderliness, communication, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, tenacious, nurturing, moody) is about connections, emotional abundance, and about blessings.  This card in an upright position shows what could be born from the potential to experience potent emotions and feelings of the Ace, and the caring, attraction and chemistry of the Two; however today it is reversed.  While I do understand that no one is really ever alone, emotionally this might be a day of solitude for me.  My reversed Three of Cups is being flavored by The Emperor, and yes, he tends to be a solitary ruler.  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.  Looks like I will do well no matter where I choose to focus today, but my work may be lonely.  Effective but lonely.

Myre about my Bookends card, the Knight of Wands.  Some see the Knights as representing the element of Fire and some the element of Air, depending on the deck.  The suit of Wands corresponds with the element of Fire, so we have either Fire of Fire or Air of Fire; in either event, this is not a slow and steady card.  This Knight just loves adventure; he is impulsive and dramatic, and just loves to come to the rescue when someone is in trouble.  He can also be quite romantic and charming, and not in a quiet way.  The Knight of Wands represents the coming and going of energy, and this means he is associated with inspiration, travel, sports, ideas and brainstorming, theatrical events, high energy situations and idealistic causes.  He wants action and movement, and while this can sometimes be quite effective, it also makes for a volatile, unpredictable and self-centered personality.

My 6-digit date number is 11 (Archangel Uriel), which reduces further to 2, the number of balance, polarity, and the energy of “distance between.”

My horoscopes: “Under today's harmonious Moon-Venus mash-up, you can smooth the feathers ruffled by Mercury retrograde. Forget about the trouble and strife. By simply bringing a little more compassion into your conversation, you can get people to overlook their differences and drop their petty complaints. Make a point to listen, though. You don't have to agree with the other person's perspective--just don't invalidate it. Once you understand where everyone's coming from, you'll get your chance to clear the air.”

And: “Don't criticize the situation until you have come up with a better solution. Be creative in your approach. Realize that much can be accomplished if you approach the situation with confidence. Being pessimistic about all the problems will not help with finding the solution. Let your mind relax. Your intuition will guide you. Feel free to speak out with confidence and strength. Perhaps the most fanciful-sounding answers will prove to be the most ingenious solutions.”

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1/21/15

King of Pentacles/Three of Wands.  The King of Pentacles (cusp of Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, and Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, physically oriented) is the clever expert on managing resources, maintaining energy, 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 reminding me that I need to appreciate the talents and abilities of those around me, for they have the potential to bring benefit to all.  This might be a good day to make certain that everything in my physical world is in place, so I can benefit myself and everyone around me.  The Three of Wands (Sun, the inner core of a person or situation, the deepest self and personal power, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive) is a card of planning ahead that tells of the excitement that comes with good possibilities ready to be manifested.  These two cards together tell of an exciting day, filled with new ideas that are ready to manifest.

My Thoth cards are the Princess of Swords and the Five of Swords (“Defeat”) reversed.  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 as being a bit on the stern side, alert and looking in all directions.  She is trying hard to get things done, though; she may not be the Queen yet, but she is clever, she is knowledgeable, and she is aiming high.  I do need to be open and honest, though, if I plan on accessing her energies.  The Five of Swords (Venus, beauty, allure, relationships, pleasure, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloof) shows what happens when we insist that our way is right, or when we impose our needs or wants onto a situation. This card could also be telling of what seems to be overwhelming opposition, or being made to suffer the sins of others; in other words, being on the receiving end of that insistence that one way is the right way.  My card is reversed, but that does not ease the situation significantly.  Things don’t need to go my way all the time; I need to remember that.

My Legacy card is the Knight of Swords reversed, flavored by the Four of Swords.  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. He is reversed, and that can be a danger, as his intensity could border on malice or unreliability, or both.  My reversed Knight is being flavored by the Four of Swords.  Yep, makes sense.  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.  These two cards are giving me a clear message: don’t do or say anything today that might get me in trouble.  Just relax, wait until tomorrow.

My 6-digit date number is 10, the end of a cycle, which reduces further to 1, the number of potential and position.

My horoscopes: “Say what? Tact isn't a Sag specialty, and today, as messenger Mercury turns retrograde in Aquarius and your third house of communication, there's no telling what might spill out of your mouth. Of course you mean no offense, but once words are spoken (or emailed or tweeted), you can't take them back. This might be a better time to stay home and work on personal projects, like updating your social network profile, looking up old friends or plunging into a writing project.”

And: “There is a great deal of grounding energy in your world today which might be working to smother your fire. Whatever happens, don't let the embers burn out. One of the great assets you bring to the group is a strong dynamism that is required to give people the courage to change. Be a fighter in the ring. Remember that at the end of the day, you need only be satisfied with the performance of one person: yourself.”

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1/19/15

Ace of Pentacles reversed/Three of Pentacles. 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. Aces are powerful cards, but because my Ace is reversed, the potential presenting itself won’t work too well in the physical world.  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.  And maybe my Ace of Pentacles is reversed because of the energy of this Three, after all, the Three cards are the first actual manifestation of the suit.  No more potential; it is being used.

My Thoth cards are the Seven of Swords (“Futility”) reversed, and The Moon. The Seven of Swords (Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, cause-oriented, the group, aloofness) in an upright position tells of the effort to maintain things as we want them, often through the use of deception and without considering the wants or needs of others.  Because this card is reversed, any effort to maintain things as they are might be well-spent and prudent. 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), and is about feelings and emotions and instincts and the subconscious.  This card tells of falsehood and illusion, deception and chaos, and the Dark Night of Soul, and about magick and mystery. The Moon also tells of being either drawn to or susceptible to the effects of these things (and their manifestation can either be helpful or harmful).  The way forward may not seem clear to me today, and that could be because the way forward is not properly illuminated.  I should remember that fear can distort things even more; the light may be dim but sometimes the more subtle messages can be perceived this way.  Don’t be afraid of the dark, and if things seem uncertain, choose the prudent path.

My Legacy card is the Two of Wands, flavored by The High Priestess reversed. The Two of Wands (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Aries, “I want,” action oriented, pioneering, assertive, enthusiastic) tells of power, influence and authority, and the implementation of the Will.  This is a card of action and ownership, personal power and authority; today I might need that staying power.  My Two of Wands is being flavored by The High Priestess reversed.  Another Watery Major Arcana in a reversed position!  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 this pair), 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.  She is reversed today, and once again I am being told to be careful and aware of my surroundings.  I might not catch some of the hidden messages today; between my reversed High Priestess and my reversed Moon, I’m not going to trust much of my own judgment.

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

My horoscopes: “Today's edgy alignment of combative Mars and passive Neptune could have you looking for the exits. Let's just say that this Monday, Archer, you won't suffer fools lightly. Your tolerance for stupidity--which is never exactly high--is hovering at approximately zero. So if you're feeling irritated or claustrophobic, don't feel like you have to stick it out. Find or create some personal space, whether that means converting the spare bedroom into your office or renting shared studio space in town.”

And: “An attractive neighbor with whom you seem to share a bond could become a friend. A group that you might be affiliated with could be expressing highly idealized goals and purposes. These goals are likely to be admirable, but they may not be all that realistic. Bear that in mind before committing to any kind of solid course of action. More facts need to be learned before you can proceed.”

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1/18/15

Transparent Oracle Sunday!

12, Weather: Lightning (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. In the T-O, the weather associated with the South is Lightning, and oh boy, does this make sense.  After all, South is about Fire, and Lightning is about a sudden eruption of heat and flame and light.  The energies of this card are full of drama, and maybe even a bit scary at times, but they are a great way to break down and end the effectiveness of blockages.

26, Guide: Otter (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.  The first thing I think of when I see the Otter card is joyful playing.  Otters are known for their play, and play is a sign of intelligence and awareness.  Otters are at home both on Earth and in Water; they form strong family bonds, and work hard to protect their group of family or friends.   All while playing tag!

10, Elemental: Sylph (East). East corresponds with the element of Air, which is hot and separates, and is wet and adapts.  Air brings animated energies which often bring challenges that offer the opportunity for growth, and thus it corresponds with knowledge, the working of the intellect, and new beginnings. Sylphs personify these concepts, and they encourage the use of imagination in an original way, they tell us to shift as needed in order to take advantage of the prevailing winds, and they tell us to fly free, filled with joy and unencumbered by life’s burdens (at least for a little while).

I then stacked my cards and created my mandala.  My first instinct is that Otter and Sylph are protecting me from the sudden emanations of Lightning.  But then I wondered if they were protecting me from Lightning, or helping me to understand Lightning, so I can use it to my benefit.  I should open my mind to new ideas today, and use a light-hearted attitude in order to be aware of my surroundings.  If I can open my mind to the day’s challenges without getting bogged down by them, perhaps my burdens will fall away, and I will experience the sense of being struck by Lightning that is an Aha! Moment!

Today was the second part of my Advanced Yoga Intensive for Movement Disorders, however, it has been postponed due to  . . . weather.  Not Lightning, rather black ice and dangerous driving conditions.  How interesting that my Oracle spread has a Weather card in it, along with a card of the West (cleansing and healing) and a card of the East (knowledge and new experiences).  Looks like I will be learning how to go with the flow this week in order to address unexpected changes while keeping joy and enthusiasm front and center. 

I’m working with another Wild Unknown Tarot card todah: The Mother of Wands. Here we have a snake, the symbol of Wands in this deck, coiled around a Wand, only this time the Wand is laying horizontally within her coils.  She is the Wand, rather than supporting the emanation of the Wand.  And just to prove the presence of strength, fertility and optimism within her, our snake is also coiled around eggs!  She is awareness and protection, she has already proved to the male of her species that she is worthy of reproducing, she is strong and confident that her strength will be sufficient to stay the course and guard her offspring.  She is the mother of creativity and new ideas, and she is guarding them carefully!

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1/15/15

Four of Cups/Seven of Pentacles. The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) reminds us that too much pleasure, or maybe too much nurturing or overprotectiveness, deadens the senses. This is a card that describes what can happen when nothing goes wrong in our lives, and the “cloud” that pleasure can create might end up distracting me from the things I need to accomplish. Yep, enjoying the pleasure can be a good thing but in the end it will cause lethargy, and lethargy is my enemy.  The Seven of Pentacles (Saturn, discipline, responsibility, law and order, in Taurus, “I have,” sensual, cautious, stubborn) tells of pauses and choices and assessments. This card has a heaviness to it, as the number 7 tells of a pause and the suit of Pentacles is mainly secure and still.  I should remember that while looking before leaping can be good advice, not being willing to step away from pleasurable situations is not good.  The kapha in me wants to let things ride, but I know that is not a good idea.

My Thoth cards are the Nine of Disks (“Gain”) and the Six of Swords (“Science”). 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. There is an expectation of gain associated with this card that might be more than physical-world or financial gain; after all, satisfaction of a job well-done brings on other good expectations.  The Six of Swords (Mercury, reason, intelligence, education, communication, in Aquarius, “I know,” friendships, the group, cause oriented) is about balance, healing, moving towards a better place, and even about learning the science behind things that work (because understanding why they work makes them more effective).  I love this card because discovering why things work is how I learn and grow and heal.  Looks like the learning I should accomplish today may be about the physical world.

My Legacy card is The Fool, flavored by the Knight of Coins reversed. 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.  He is also the archetype of the Holy Child, above, beyond and before petty squabbles, evil intent, and pessimistic expectations, and if I can look to The Fool for solutions, I won’t linger long in the darkness of despair.  I should look at the world with child-like excitement and optimism today.  My Fool is being flavored by the Knight of Coins reversed, and this makes sense. The Knight of Coins (cusp of Leo, “I am,” passionate, dramatic, egotistical, and Virgo, “I serve,” practical, analytical, work and service oriented) tells of persistence to the point of being stubborn, and caution to the point of being boring.  Caution and focused persistence don’t mix well with our Fool, and my reversed Knight is encouraging The Fool to rule the day.  Look out, world!!  Here I come!

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

My horoscopes: “Time to hole up with the Travel Channel? Today the Moon in Scorpio, your 12th house of rest, forms a tricky square with expansive Jupiter in Leo, making you feel simultaneously fatigued and frisky. You want adventure, but horizon broadening might not be in the cards, at least today. You're low energy, so pushing your limits is ill-advised (even if it seems like a good idea at the time). It's okay to sit this one out, Sagittarius. An acute case of #FOMO is worth risking every now and then.”

And: “You will find that you can soar to great heights today on a moment's notice. There is a fast-paced, socially minded quality to the day that will encourage people to share more of themselves with others. You will find a great deal of support from many different people at this time. Welcome this help with open arms. Don't try to do things by yourself when you are surrounded by such a strong team spirit”

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1/14/15

Four of Swords/King of Pentacles.  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. I need to pause sometimes and just let my brain be quiet for a bit.  Often when I do that, interesting things surface.  The King of Pentacles (cusp of Aries, “I want,” action oriented, assertive, competitive, and Taurus, “I have,” sensual, stubborn, cautious, physically oriented) is the expert on managing resources, maintaining energy, 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 reminding me that I need to appreciate the talents and abilities of those around me, for they have the potential to bring benefit to all.  This might be a good day to make certain that everything in my physical world is in place; this was I will be prepared to help myself, and others. 

My Thoth cards are The Devil reversed and the Ten of Cups (“Satiety”) reversed.  The Devil (Earth (cold/binds and dry/shapes, and stable, material, practical energies that are slow to change), Capricorn (“I build,” ambitious, competent, cautious, cunning), Ayin (the eye, senses), and the Path between Hod (which provides analysis and communication) and Tipareth (the hub of the creation process where energies harmonize and focus to illuminate and clarify) tells of being caught up in the physical world and the effects of the physical senses, to the point of being bound or addicted to those things.The Devil, on the other hand, is often the scapegoat blamed for any excesses of the physical world.  After all, enjoyment of the physical world is somehow seen by many as a denial of or estrangement from God. My Devil is reversed, and this could very well be indicating some kind of weakness that encourages the negative sides of this card.  Lethargy, bondage and addiction; oy. The Ten of Cups (Mars, action, spontaneity, aggression, drive, in Pisces, “I believe,” feeling, duality, spirituality, suffering and growth) in an upright position offers the manifestation of happiness, simple joys, and fulfillment. 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 offers the bounty that comes with the successful experiencing of all the lessons of the Cups cards.  Uncle Al sees this one in a more negative way, for he believes perfect success may bring exactly what we hoped for, no more and no less.  This can be a let-down sometimes.  We look forward to achieving our goal, but once we have completed the process, we feel a loss.

My Legacy cards are the Knight of Wands reversed, flavored by The Devil reversed (again!).  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.  Often, this Knight is shown riding a proudly prancing horse, and this motion filled with confidence is a good indication of the energy of the card.  My Knight adds passion to my day, but because he is reversed, I should be real careful that if I jump into the fight, the fight itself is worth it.  In fact, I might be better off avoiding interactions of any kind, as they might not have happy endings. My reversed Knight is being flavored by The Devil, once again reversed.  The Legacy of the Divine Devil is very handsome, and this version of The Devil tells very adequately about the seductive allure of superficial beauty and attractiveness.  These things can easily blind us to reality, and overcome us with addiction.  Since my Legacy Devil is reversed, perhaps those blinding seductions won’t have a strong hold on me today.  Thank goodness that Knight is reversed, eh?

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: “Moody much? Today the Moon in Scorpio, your sensitive 12th house, forms a tricky square with communicator Mercury in Aquarius, turning your thoughts to the paranoid, doom-and-gloom or overly emotional side. What's a fun-loving, typically upbeat Archer to do? Well, first and foremost, chill out. Steer clear of needy or conflict-prone people right now, and do some rejuvenating activities, like yoga or napping. You'll fare best when you let go of the need for a "story." Allow the feelings to flow instead of demanding an airtight, declarative explanation. Some things just are.”

And: “Balance out your boisterous, adventurous nature with a bit of discipline today. It is important for you to laugh, but it is also important for you to stay on task with your duties. The good news is that both of these things can work in tandem. They are not mutually exclusive. In fact, one will aid in achieving the other. Be serious, but feel free to have a good time and keep things in perspective, as well.”

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1/12/15

Four of Cups reversed, Queen of Pentacles. The Four of Cups (the Moon, feelings and emotions, illusion, imagination, in Cancer, “I feel,” sensitive, nurturing, tenacious, moody) reminds us that too much pleasure, or maybe too much nurturing or overprotectiveness, deadens the senses. This is a card that describes what can happen when nothing goes wrong in our lives, and the “cloud” that pleasure can create might end up distracting me from the things I need to accomplish. My Four of Cups is reversed, and today that might be good.  It is time to get rid of the need to wrap myself in a blanket and read a book while I sip hot tea.  Cold weather can’t be allowed to slow me down.  The Queen of Pentacles (cusp of Sagittarius, “I seek,” philosophic, fun-loving, blundering, and Capricorn, “I build,” ambition, caution, cunning, authoritative) is very good at sustaining the physical world, keeping things dry and cozy and safe and orderly.  She has a “greatness of soul” and can easily manifest this greatness around her through the manifestation of her visualizations, and help everyone, including herself, in the process.  She is comfortable with all physical world sensations and experiences, she understands the philosophies behind building and healing and nurturing, and she is able to find beauty in all experiences.  This Queen represents Water of Earth, and represents a time when emotions support the senses (or counteract them, if the card is reversed).  Nesting just might be the best compromise here, and if the weather turns cold again, at least the couch, the tea mug and my blanket will be nice and clean.

My Thoth cards are the Princess of Swords reversed and The Wheel of Fortune. 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, I might need to lighten up today, or maybe I need to not waste time analyzing every possible outcome. 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.  Fortune 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.  This card also tells of karma, “ripe karma,” if you will, karma that is ready to manifest in concert with the natural cycles around us.  Will today be a day that I get the world?  Or will it be the day the world gets me?  I need to watch, and take advantage of whatever situations show themselves.

My Legacy card is The Hermit, flavored by the Ten of Coins reversed.  That makes sense! 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 is about searching within for a deeper meaning, often through solitude bordering on discomfort.  The Hermit tells us that in order to release the past and achieve something of value, the work must be done internally, usually involving solitude to the point of discomfort, and with an outward mantle of “business as usual.”  Like The High Priestess, he deals with hidden or not obvious knowledge, however The Hermit understands that his knowledge is insignificant when compared to what he does not know.  He also acknowledges that the maintenance of his solitude requires Will power.  I need to remember the concept of using my discomfort and a shield and a tool, and this should be done without tooting my own horn.  No matter how large the success or how skillfully it is obtained, I need to remain in the background.  My Hermit is being flavored by the reversed Ten of Coins. The Ten of Coins (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.  The negative side of this card (yes, there is a negative side) is that if we pause too long to look at all the pretties, lethargy will take over, and all those good Coins will turn into a burden rather than a foundation, all ready to be used for new stuff.  My Ten of Coins is reversed here, and it is describing to me how I can best tap into the valuable energies of The Hermit.  No physical-world comforts!!

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

My horoscopes: “Renovation station? Your home could be a hotbed of activity, as energizer Mars enters Pisces, your fourth house of domesticity, until February 19. During this period, your abode might need repairs (or maybe it's the construction of a neighboring building that you'll notice at 6:00 a.m.). There could also be friction with a relative, especially a female family member, as the fourth house rules women. A good use of this assertive energy is taking excellent care of yourself. Think: Epsom salt baths, morning meditations and evening yoga. Feed yourself with positive energy--and make those habits last.”

And: “Things should be going well for you today, so don't miss out on the opportunities that await you. There is a sparkle in your eye that is unmistakable, and you will find that issues regarding love and romance are especially potent at this time. Love is on your side, and you should take this opportunity to delve deep into a love affair. Take a trip with the person or people you enjoy the most.”

I am finally being drawn back to the Wild Unknown Tarot.  Yay!!  I have been meditating on a card: The Seven of Swords.  The image on this one is perfect!  There are six various Swords that appear to be hanging on a wall above a fox, curled up asleep on top of a seventh Sword, the Sword the fox has chosen as his own.  His nose is tucked into his fluffy tail and he appears to be oblivious, but his ears are perked up and listening, and one eye is open.  This fox is guarding his Sword and will protect it and keep it, using cunning and subterfuge (the alert ears and the eye peeking out) as well as more obvious methods (actually draping his body over his chosen Sword).  He does not even look at those other Swords.  This is the one for him, and thus this is the one he is focused upon.

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