Making a Splash

From the PetraK Tarot, the Three of Wands; from the Astrodice, "Mars/Gemini/6th House:"

          These three staffs have been firmly planted into a hole together. There appears to be water splashing outward, indicating an impact has been made. The Thoth tradition assigns this card the keyword "virtue," because there is responsibility behind the actions. I'd call them the three Cees. First is clarity: knowing what it is I want to do, understanding what I am capable of doing and having a plan for doing it. Second is confidence: a belief in my abilities that perseveres even when met with challenges. And finally is cooperative coordination: being willing to reach out and work with others who can help me achieve my objective.
          The roll of the Astrodice combines the fiery courage of Mars with the restless versatility of Gemini. I can see Mars working well with the first two cees, having the passion to focus clearly and stay the course. Gemini is flexible enough to figure out an alternate path if an obstacle appears and can bend enough to accommodate working well with others. But this planet and sign are like having a roomful of young children - lots of energy that needs to be carefully channeled. The 3rd House represents the daily routine as well as health. At least a loose schedule is going to be needed to provide some structure, including slots for taking care of basic needs.

Head-slap for the Heart

From the PetraK Tarot, the Tower; from the Astrodice, "Saturn/Scorpio/1st House:"

          Instead of being blown to smithereens, this Tower is being split in two, as if cracking an egg. There is something inside of value, but what is protecting it must be pulled away to get at it. I recently had an epiphany about myself which made me feel as if I'd been head-slapped. I realized that although I might forgive people who've hurt me in the past and bear them no ill will, I build an impressive wall around myself so they don't ever get back in. It is a way of protecting myself from ever being vulnerable again. When I say this out loud it seems ludicrous, but inside it feels like a rational strategy for survival. Yet having a compassionate heart means I'm willing to sit with my own pain instead of covering it up. My hurt is what can connect me to others; it is an experience we all share.
          What happens when the patient and responsible Saturn meets up with the emotional intensity of Scorpio? Probably exactly what is happening in the Tower card. The strong, detached facade gets removed to reveal a frightened child within. In the Dhammapada, the Buddha is said to have stated: “Should you find a wise critic to point out your faults, follow him as you would a guide to hidden treasure.” The treasure is that child, a girl who can learn to love and accept without fear, because she'll figure out just how resilient the heart can be. The 1st House is the face I present to the world; I think I would prefer it to be open and receptive rather than adorned with a "No Trespassing" sign.

Cloudy Condtions

This week I'll be using the PetraK Tarot, created by Petra Reiter-Köck and published by Piatnik. I'll be pairing with this deck a roll from the Astrodice, a kit produced by The Wessex Astrologer Ltd. Today's card and roll are the Eight of Swords and "Neptune/Pisces/2nd House:"

          In the Thoth tradition, the Eight of Swords is referred to as Interference. Here is the mind that loves to analyze each detail until it has squeezed all the sanity right out. Toss in a bit of fear, and any idea or solution triggers a "yes, but..." in return. The mind spins and spins in circles yet makes no progress. Looking at the Astrodice roll, the reason for this endless mental cycle becomes a bit clearer. Dreamy Neptune pairs up with the poetic Pisces, which would be great if the objective was of an artistic or spiritual nature. But the 2nd House is about resources - those material things that keep us comfortable and provide stability and security. This planet and sign are two of the most impractical for such a grounded purpose. The sword at the bottom of the card remains in the yellow light and suggests pausing until logic and reality shed a brighter light on the situation.

The Asshole in My Head

From the Victoria Regina Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Universe Cards, "Neutron Star:"

          Wow, look at the size of those canning jars. That woman could pickle herself in one, and with that expression on her face, she looks like she might be a dill. Though richly dressed and adorned with many jewels, she seems depressed, apathetic and unhappy. She's the perfect image for what the Buddha described as dukkha, or dissatisfaction with life. This card fits in well with the Neutron Star, which Stopforth assigns the keyword "intensity." This was a huge star that exploded, causing its core to collapse and become extremely dense. One handful would weigh as much as a fleet of ships. Isn't that how some emotions make us feel, as if we carry such weight on our shoulders? I was listening this morning to an interview with Dan Harris, an ABC news anchor and author, who I'm sure could relate to this woman. After spending time in the war-torn Middle East, he came home bearing emotional trauma. A panic attack in the middle of a national broadcast motivated him to seek help, and he eventually found his way to mindfulness and meditation. In his book, he speaks about "the asshole in my head." This is the voice of the ego that tells us the sky is falling and - because we're such screw-ups - we don't stand a chance of getting out of this mess. Through meditation, Harris began to realize the voice was only a phantom, not reality. Mindfulness helped him catch its whisper before succumbing to it. I too can choose to heed its dire forecast or change to another channel.  

It's a Mystery

From the Victoria Regina Tarot, the King of Coins; from the Universe Cards, "Universe:"

           Prince Albert was the Consort of the Queen (Victoria), which meant he had a position of distinction though not any real authority. Gradually, he became involved in public causes like the world-wide abolition of slavery, educational reform and the organization of the Great Exhibition of 1851. He eventually became a political influence as well; firmly disagreeing in foreign intervention, he helped keep Britain out of the American Civil War. Albert took on the responsibilities of running the Queen's household, estates and office yet still managed to produce nine children with Victoria. Like the King of Coins, he was a practical, reliable and resourceful fellow.
          Today most scientists think that the universe was created during the Big Bang about 13.8 billion years ago and is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. The observable universe stretches for about 46 billion light years in all directions. Even with all the brilliant minds and technology we have to study the cosmos, it is doubtful we'll ever have all the answers. The Universe card suggests that a limit has been reached; for the present time at least, there is no more to be done. I'm sure the King of Coins would agree. If I'm only spinning my wheels, it's time to move on to another project where I can make some real progress. If something changes I can always come back to it, but there's no sense wasting time, money or energy on it right now.

Exploding Pens

From the Victoria Regina Tarot, the Ace of Wands; from the Universe Cards, "Strong Force:"

          When I drew this card I thought of the phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword." Except in this case, the pen is a wand, suggesting "doing" has a more powerful impact than just thinking or talking about something. Sure there is the wisdom of prudence in careful planning before action, but it is easy to get stuck there while fussing over all the details. Ovenall writes, "Just as the passage of time leaves no point to pause, it also limits the opportunities for creative expression." Best hop on the train before it leaves the station.
          Strong Force refers to the splitting of an atom's nucleus through fission or bonding it through fusion. It is the power source behind the creation of stars and the atomic bomb. Obviously such power can have drastic consequences, either powerful or negative. With the Ace of Wands above, I am warned to consider the long-term results of doing or not doing something. What seeds will be planted that might be beneficial if I choose to pursue my passion? What might never change if I don't take the opportunity to act?

Caught in the Flow

From the Victoria Regina Tarot, the Magician; from the Universe Cards, "Comet:"

          This guy makes me think of a professor giving a lecture. I've had teachers who do nothing more than grind out facts and figures, all "telling" and no "showing." Their classes were tedious and exhausting, and though I memorized much, I retained little. I left every day feeling much like one of the Magician's dried out bugs pinned to a board. No matter what the profession or hobby, you can always tell when a person's passion is in it. If so, what they create or do fills them with an intense fervor; they find themselves in the "zone," and what flows from them seems effortless and magical.
          Comets are a mix of ice and dust, "leftovers" from the formation of our Solar System. They only becomes visible when they pass close to the sun and heat up, causing them them to emit a stream of gas and dust. Stopforth assigns this card the keyword "transition," because this celestial body has a period of being unseen until it is captured by the sun's gravity. I can see a parallel between this period and the time the Magician spends practicing. At first what he does seems forced and awkward, but eventually his performance smooths out. Like the comet caught in the sun's gravitational field, he eventually finds himself "in the zone." No use trying to rush the process.