Breakdown in Peace Negotiations?

I haven't written many posts this week because I had to change my daily routine and take my dog out in the morning rather than the afternoon so I could train her in the art of socialising a bit more! My last reading suggested putting in extra, detailed work and leadership into her training so I did! I did use a shock collar on her and it didn't work. Yes, I tested it on myself and it was unpleasant but not painful, yet my dog didn't even seem to notice it so that approach went out the window. 

Shapeshifter Tarot

By DJ Conway and Sirona Knight

Illustrations © Lisa Hunt

So I decided to go out early to the local park to meet and greet as many dogs as possible. I made a point of expressing happiness when other dogs showed up and a point of saying hello to them and their owners. This did seem to have a good effect on her, and although she was still a little grumpy about it she made a much better effort to be nice especially when chicken was on offer as reward!.  Today we go out with the children too so it will be a whole different ballgame as she is particularly snappy with dogs when the children are there, most likely to be protective . But I am ready for her!

So, I shuffled while thinking about the day ahead and using the Shapeshifter Tarot I drew, Justice (Nature), The Tower (Serpent) and Strength.

Justice (Nature) shows the perfect and harmonious balance of nature. Nature maintains its own perfect balance, but humans have to make a considerable effort to balance their own nature! It seems that my dog and I need to find a perfect and harmonious relationship too. This card may not just represent the recent focus of my Dog and I, but in all aspects of my life which may be too overboard and too much, or where I may be undercutting and giving in. This card is a big focus for me because I have been trying to create harmony among my children too who have been too bent on rivalry and trying to usurp their Mother. So far I have been pretty successful (touch wood) having used diplomacy and the 'naughty chair' to make my point :)

'The Tower' (The Serpent) represents, power, breakthroughs, and sudden unexpected change. The cobra represent pure divine energy, according to the accompanying book implying that a sudden rise of energy that allows us to bring about about change, beginnings and endings in the chapters in our lives.  It seems that this card is the opposite of Justice (nature). Because where I have been trying to keep the peace and harmony between the children and my dog and I, this card indicates disruption. It may indicate victorious breakthroughs with my children and the dog, or it may warn that me that it may all fall apart and I'll have to start at square one!

So this leaves the Nine of Wands, which is attributed to the element of air in the Shapeshifter Tarot, and not fire as I am used to both in Tarot and in my Wicca training. The Shapeshifter emphasises a need to be strong, to draw on my own inner sense of oneness with myself and nature.  The Rider-Waite shows a person who is wounded, tested yet defiant to hold his own! 

It seems then, that 'The Tower' (The Serpent) indicates that I must be prepared for breakdown in spite of my efforts towards peace among my children and the dog! I think it more likely that the breakdown will be with my dog, because as I mentioned earlier she is more difficult with other dogs when the children are with us and we all go out plan to go out walking this afternoon.

But I will be prepared for her! She may even be as determined as me to keep up her snappy behaviour but I will keep as calm as the flowing river and as strong and defiant as the battered warrior! Judging by the dark colours taking over the sky, 'The Tower' may also come in the form of bad weather!

Illustrations from the 'Shapeshifter Tarot' reproduced with kind permission of Lisa Hunt. Copyright © Lisa Hunt 2007. Further reproduction prohibited.

Jehovah's Witnesses and Snappy Dogs

I had a rubbish weekend! Everything seems to have gone wrong and I feel depressed. Normally I would blame PMT but timing says I cannot use that excuse. So my next thought was to check the astro chart and see what was going on there. The Sun is opposition with mean ol' Saturn, the represser, so I am going to blame my feelings on them. The Sun represents the sense of self and Saturn...well, I just said that Saturn likes to repress until he gets his own way. 

Fenestra Tarot

© US Games Systems Inc.

The problem? Well, the Jehovah's Witnesses came over and give me the "God hates gay people and diviners"  speech, which is very difficult for me having a young gay brother and the fact that I practice Tarot and Paganism. Yes I did have it all figured out, and I still do. But I will admit that they have made me question myself and go over issues that I have spent a long time thinking about. 

The next thing that seemed to f*%k things up, was my 1 yr old dog. She is very loving dog, especially towards children and she OK with other dogs unless they run at her or are too over the top. Trouble is most dogs like to run at her or act silly! She'll snap at them and tell them to clear off and most dog do. However, I don't like her doing  it, and have spent a great deal of time teaching her to remain calm and submissive in the face of excitement. 

Anyway, on our walk, one particular dog ran at her from behind and my dog did her usual snap to tell it to get lost. Except this time the dog snapped back and they began fighting. It was over very quickly as the other dog subdued mine by lying on top of her.  Since the strange dog was on top of mine I wasn't going to split them up, I don't know the other dog. The dog owner proceeds to shout at me to split them up! I said "No! It's too dangerous! Since your dog has subdued mine you take it off!" She did, then she proceeded to tell me that my dog was vicious and should be kept on a leash! I tried to calmly explain that had her dog not ran at mine and took the cue to leave my dog alone everything would be OK. It was the lady's dog that snapped back, caused the fight and managed to win!  She continued to dress me down in front of my children before we parted ways and I've felt miserable ever since because I hate confrontation (Where did I put that chocolate?).  

So there you go. In the space of one weekend I have had to deal with people telling me to sort myself out! Let's see what the cards say. I shuffled while thinking about today and drew the 'Eight of Pentacles', 'King of Wands' and 'The Fool'. 

Fenestra Tarot

© US Games Systems Inc.

The 'Eight of Pentacles' tells me of a need for detailed work. Perhaps it means further training for my dog, as a dog appears the last card 'The Fool'. I have been thinking of using an electric collar on my dog, and before you all get up in harms about it, I have researched it and I think when used properly it is a good dog training aid. I have given my dog consistent reward training, however, she disobeys me when she thinks she knows best.

And it's not just the snappiness at other dogs, it's the fact that she's too protective of the children which is a great thing, but only when I say so. After all, I am the pack/familiy leader. If she can't be near the children she barks at me and gets so overwrought. Its not good for her, stressful for me, and will just land her at home in the kitchen while I go out. Her behaviour is more dominating and bossy than cute and fearful.

So I need to be able to implement a correction that she will have to obey because it means a much happier time for both of us when she does. If she continues to be a bossy pain in the ass, she will have to stay at home when I take the children for a walk. Not what I want! I have to create law, order and balance between me and my dog which is in-line with the work of Saturn's stay in Libra.

The 'King of Wands' tells me of leadership and power, and as court cards can primarily speak of someone else in my life, I would say that my dog is the leader and has power over me. It may well mean that I want to be in the position of leader and power, which is quite apt when considering the recent events with my dog!

So that leaves 'The Fool'. He tells me of taking a risk, being a pioneer, trying something new. I am aware of the risks of using a shock collar, especially improper use. Yet I am confident that my reward training has been consistent and that my dog knows and understand her commands. She also knows that there is nothing I can do if she chooses to ignore me. 

Like I said before, I have researched and studied the proper use of shock collars and I think it will give me the power and leadership I need (King of Wands) to enable a happy and loving partnership between my and my dog, as shown by 'The Fool' and his dog. 

My intent and desire to discover and have a better relationship between us is pure, and these qualities are what 'The Fool' is all about! If the shock collar works and she calms down and obeys me at all times, it means more freedom and happiness for us both in the long term.

Illustrations from the 'Fenestra Tarot' reproduced with permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright © 2006 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited.

The 'Two of Wands' and Mars in Aries

The sun will be in the first third of Aries from the 21th March until the 30th March. As well as assigning a sign of the Zodiac to each Major arcana cards, the Golden Dawn assigned a Minor Arcana card to each Decan, a Decan being a third of each Zodiac sign. Each Minor Arcana card, except the Aces, gets one of these thirds. You can see a chart HERE.

This means, that the 'Two of Wands' will be the next Tarot card for this Decan and its picture represents the qualities of Mars in Aries, and a facet of the major Arcana card 'The Emperor'.

Mars in astrology represents pure power. He is the driving force behind everything we do. Once we have decided to do something with our heart and mind, we need the energy, ambition, drive and desire to do it, and Mars provides these qualities.

The sign of Aries also represents power and energy too and is ruled by the planet Mars. Their energies are the more or less the same and work harmoniously and powerfully when together. Aries is an ever-growing power that seeks to take over and dominate it's environment, like the wild fire and the Sun as it waxes and grows turning spring into summer. 

Mars in Aries does not think or feel, it acts with speed and accuracy. Mars in Aries also represents the primal instinct to survive and fight back when cornered or challenged. In this situation, we cannot afford to think up a plan of action or to get upset or scared, we have to take immediate action to get ourselves out a tight spot. The primal instinct also gives us the drive and ambition to dominate the environment and our fellow man in order to gain the best jobs, food, accommodation, luxuries etc, The same instinctual power that puts the lion at the top of the food chain and the power of the burning fire that consumes everything in its path.

The 'Two of Wands' shows a man standing upon an elaborate, castle style balcony, that is situated above and overlooks the land. He is dressed in red and orange, the colours of a burning fire and looks like a flame himself. His left hand holds on to a wand that is mounted into the wall of the castle and within his right hand he holds a small version of the world. There is another wand to his right that has been mounted on to the wall.

I shall call this man 'Aries'. Aries owns the land and the castle upon it, for he holds the wand that has been set deep in to the castle walls showing us that he has staked his place in society. He has established himself over the land, like the flame that has been lit and began to burn.  Our particular castle may be our home, whether we live with our parents or own our own house. It may be a business that we own, it may be savings that we have in the bank, or a caravan or home we own abroad.

Now that Aries has established himself, he wants more and looks for new opportunities to expand his estate, just as the fire will always seeks to keep burning. We can see that Aries has the world within his sights as looks over the land and sea from his castle and from the way that he holds his globe in front of him.

This card tells us that that we are looking for opportunities to establish ourselves within the world. Our ambition, drive and need for more urge use to take action, to branch out and to secure our place in society. But we must find a way to do it first.

We may be looking to study or to start a new job. We may be looking for a new home, or a bigger home. We may want to start a new business, or be looking for ways to grow and expand our business. Perhaps we have come into money and are looking for ways to use it to our advantage. We may even be looking to sabotage or invade another person's business, home or job! However we may be looking achieve it, this card tells us we must have the desire and ambition and to look an opportunity, before being able to take action and get what we want.

('’)

The Phoenix, The Phone and The Yuppie

It's a gorgeous, sunny day and I'm stuck indoors today! I am very happy though because I have a new phone being delivered.  My last Tarot reading about the ugly fate of my last mobile phone told me I need to get over it because something new and better would come of it. And that is mostly true. I still chucked my money down the drain having bought my last phone outright, but this time I have ordered a contract phone which will cost me the same amount of money in telephone usage, yet I get the phone for free! Plus I get more free minutes, texts and unlimited internet! Woo hoo!  

Anyway. Let's see what the cards have to tell me today. Using the Golden Tarot I shuffled and drew the  'Queen of Wands', 'The Fool' and the 'Page of Coins'.

Golden Tarot

© Kat Black

The 'Queen of Wands' reflects my mood today, happy and outgoing in a big way. Much better than I have felt all week, mourning the loss of my phone. I also feel like I have my power back now I've managed to get a new phone and feel as regal and powerful as the 'Queen of Wands'. I think there is a word for it....Yuppie! (young urban professional)

'The Fool' tells me I have a new fresh start. I can now get over the loss of my phone as shown by the 'Eight of Cups' in my last reading, and start afresh as shown by 'Judgement' in my last reading. 

I am not sure if I've learnt anything from buggering up my phone because instead of moving from 'Judgement' to the 'The World' in my last reading to, I have gone back to the beginning of the Tarot and started again with 'The Fool'. Hmmm.I do feel like I took the easy way out. But hey I need a mobile phone, and I just couldn't get anything less than an Android phone. I did manage to save money towards a phone this week, and a phone recycler is giving me some 30% of the cost price for the busted one, so I've done the best I can to recoup my losses. AND I took out phone insurance this time!

That leaves the 'Page of Pentacles'. The 'Page' is a messenger, so perhaps it signifies waiting in for the postman to bring my parcel, or he may signify me spending my money on a new phone. Perhaps he represents and my financial assessment with a view to recoup and replace my loss. However I feel that the 'Page of Pentacles' is the outcome card, as he looks away from the other cards and towards my front door from where I am sitting, funnily enough. So it looks like we are waiting for Mr Postman to arrive.

Additionally, both 'The Fool' and the 'Page of Pentacles' represent my 14 month old explorer who, now that he's mastered walking, likes to climb and grab hold hold of everything he shouldn't! He's a nightmare. He even managed to get hold of my inhaler and chuck it over the balcony despite all my efforts to keep things out of reach and an eye on him. I think these two serve as a warning to have eyes in the back of my head as the 'Queen of Wands' (me) watches 'The Fool' and the 'Page of Pentacles', who both have their backs to each other!

('’)

The Mobile Phone And The Bath Water

Well, I'm not happy at all. My 14 month old Son got hold of my expensive mobile phone and chucked it in the bath. It was my fault I left my handbag out, although it was bad luck that the bath was running at the time, and a shame that my boy felt that the bath water was the best place for my mobile phone. The Ol' Man has managed to pluck it out just after it took the plunge and I've spent two days drying it out. It works but the touch screen is twitchy and I can't type an 'e' without it appearing as 'e3'! And several other letters too.

So, I'm expecting some miserable cards and I got some. Using the Anna K Tarot, I shuffled while thinking about today and drew 'The Moon', Eight of Cups' and 'Judgement'.

Anna K Tarot

© Anna Klaffinger

As 'The Moon' represents everything going on under the surface such as feelings, emotions, worries, anxieties etc. I shall take the moon to mean depression, as that's how I am feeling right now. I forked out a lot of money for that phone because I was fed up with phones that don't do what I need them to do. My phone was a Google Android phone and did everything a mini PC did. I don't like to get attached to things or even spend a lot of money on anything, so it was a big luxury for me to spend big money on it, and I let it get ruined after less than six months. I'm an idiot!

It's no surprise to me that I go the 'Eight of Cups'. I wrote a post on the 'Eight of Cups' and it's connection to Saturn in Pisces. Saturn in Pisces teaches us to let go of negative and self serving feelings and emotions the hard way, and boy am I feeling it! I let the phone get wrecked and now I am kicking myself over it, wishing I could go back in time and put my handbag somewhere where my couldn't find it. I am full of sadness, regret, and guilt that I just chucked a whole load of money down the drain. The fact is, that I am still wishing and hoping that my phone will suddenly sort itself out, but with the 'Eight of Cups' present I am in fact being told to get over it and move on, tough cookies Tarot Muse, you f%£*ed it up!

So that leaves 'Judgement' represented by planet Pluto the bounty hunter, the planet who likes to root out all negativity and expose it so that it can be released and renewed into something better. I feel like Pluto found out about my secret luxury mobile phone worship, and decided to put a stop to it by recruiting my son to chuck my phone in the bath. But that's way over the top and avoids placing the blame on me, who is in fact the guilty party.  So, Judgement, like the 'Eight of Cups' tells me to let go, learn my lesson and to move to better things. Perhaps a Nexus phone? I think not :) I don't think it I will ever get over it though!

('’)

Excited Frustration And The Theme Park

Woo hoo! It's a gloriously sunny day......I have re-written this paragraph several times but can't figure out what to write. I am excited and annoyed, I'm happy and yet in a somewhat dark mood. Perhaps Uranus, planet of rebellion is toying with me in many respects.

I am doing a Tarot reading with the Avalon Tarot and while thinking about today, I drew: 'The 'Fool', 'The Magician', and 'The Stars'. I had put these cards away to draw some new ones thinking I had not shuffled the deck properly because they came out in sequence. Yet it felt wrong so I fished them out again and continued with them, as I had not had trouble with shuffling before.

Avalon Tarot

© Lo Scarabeo

'The Fool' is astrologically associated with Uranus, a little planet that likes to go wherever the feeling takes him and despite any trouble he may walk in to or cause. I have a big urge to do this but I am short of opportunities with my little girl being ill with the cold I had several days ago.

'The Magician' is a card of power and symbolises potential to do anything I choose. The power is at my fingertips and I just have to do something with it. Like the Magician perusing his book of spells, I too am thinking of what I can do with my day. The urge to go out and enjoy the sunshine is big, but like I said before, my options are some what limited with my young girl being ill. 

'The Stars' tells me that I have high hopes for the day. A need to be free, to go out and do something uplifting. 'The Stars' are like 'The Fool', optimistic and outgoing and represent a need to reach for the skies!

So, all three cards represent exploration, power, freedom and hope. I really feel the energies of each card, but I feel like I am trapped and wont be able to use this energy, and this is very annoying. I just checked by astrochart and Uranus (The Fool) is in conjunction, or rather 'fused' together with Mercury (the Magician). 'Exploration' and 'Power' have been fused together in the heavens. It makes me feel like a child who has arrived at Alton Towers theme park and can barely wait to get to the first ride!

('’)

The 'Ten of Cups' And Mars in Pisces

The sun will be in the Last third of Pisces on the 11th March until the 20th March. As well as assigning a sign of the Zodiac to each Major arcana card, the Golden Dawn assigned a Minor Arcana card to each Decan too. A Decan is a third of each Zodiac sign. Every Minor Arcana card, except the Aces, gets one of these thirds. You can see a chart HERE.

This means, that the 'Ten of Cups' will be the next Tarot card for this Decan and its picture represents the qualities of the Mars in Pisces, and a facet of the major Arcana card 'The Moon'.

Mars in astrology represents pure power. He is the driving force behind everything we do. Once we have decided to do something with our heart and mind, we need the energy to actually do it, and this is where Mars provides the energy.

The sign of Pisces is a water sign - the same association as the suit of Cups, with Water representing our feeling and emotions. People born under the sign of pieces primarily live life through their feelings and emotions and are very sensitive to their surroundings, and always seek to find a way to satisfy and expand them further. However, our surroundings are always changing, making it hard for Pisces to keep up emotionally and can become confused and moody in the process!

Now when Mars puts  power and  driving force to Pisces, he enables Pisces to keep up with the world world around him and to act upon the knowledge of the world that he has gained from his sensitivity to it. He no longer sits around and dreams of higher purposes or idealises of how the world should be. He now has the power and determination to touch the rainbow of high ideals, in the Ten of Cups!  But Mars is not solely responsible for the achievements of Pisces ....

In the two previous cards, Saturn in the Eight of Cups has taught him to turn his back on those things that do him harm emotionally, and Jupiter in the Nine of Cups taught him to avoid seeking satisfaction in things that will do him no good. Now that Pisces has learnt emotional control and discipline, he is able to use the the power of Mars to drive along the simple and straight road towards real happiness and contentment.

The picture of the 'Ten of Cups' shows a couple with the arms outstretched in unison towards a beautiful rainbow holding ten cups within its arch. Two children skip together and a little house on a hill can be seen in the distance. The picture shows an idealistic  way of living and a happiness that everyone can connect with. There is no drama, no  oversized house with two cars on the drive, no weight issues, drug problems or marital misery. Just pure love and harmony. Mars has given Pisces the necessary power to achieve the happiness and contentment he has always dreamed of. And because Pisces has learnt to deal regret, loss  and heartbreak through the lessons of Saturn and to avoid the cheap thrills, and instant feel-goods through the lessons of Jupiter, he has achieved the dream he had spent so long imaginging.

The 'Ten of Cups' shows that we have obtained that which is really good for us. We have not let ourself be misguided by our emotions and feelings, or sought after emotional satisfaction in instant feel goods, and that we have learnt from heartbreak, regret and loss. It tells us we have discovered and achieved the true meaning of happiness and will experience it for a long time to come. Happiness really does come from the free and simple things in life!

('’)

Go Out! Even Though You're Ill!

I have a stinky cold today! And the day I have cold is the day I decide to try something more technical on the card reading front. Probably not a good idea when I'm feeling so good good, but hey! It's cheering me up,  I will go to languish on the sofa when I am finished though!

I wanted to find out about my day ahead, so concentrating on this and using the Tarot of The Angels in the form of a mini Celtic cross (because I am quite fairly limited to using a certain number cards to preserve copyright), I drew from 1-6, the 'King of Wands', the 'Ace of Pentacles', 'The Stars', the 'Ace of Wands', 'Five of Swords' and 'Justice'. 

Tarot of The Angels

© Lo Scarabeo

The centre card - the 'King of Wands' tells me the focus of this reading. The 'King of Wands' is a man of physical energy, and a man who is used to having a constant and fixed amount of energy, something I don't have right now being ill! Court cards also talk about other people in the my life, so I would say that the 'King of Wands' is talking about my Ol' Man who just happens to being have a few days off work! Handy for me being ill, but not so good being ill when me and the Ol' Man good being doing other stuff than watching me cough, sneeze and hack! So in this case, I'd say the the 'King of Wands' means that someone else is going to provide the constant source of energy today.

The 'Ace of Pentacles' crosses the 'King of Wands' and tells me what crosses, or rather what stands in the way of the 'King of Wands' or favourable influences. The 'Ace of Pentacles' is a card that says "focus on work and the abundance it brings" or that there are new opportunities. Well there is no work for me, as the Ol' Man is doing it, seeing as I'm ill, and the Ol' Man has no work because he's on holiday! So perhaps the 'Ace of Pentacles' is emphasising that I have no commitments to work, and I'm free do choose what I want to do (languish on the sofa!). I do have the opportunity to start my next course paper too, which would be fitting for the 'Ace of Pentacle's, because my course is a form of work and hopefully will lay the potential groundwork of working professionally in my line of study.

'The Stars' tell me the best possible outcome at the moment, which probably means that everything is going to go rather well! 'The Star' is a major arcana card, making a bigger reading emphasis, and is a healing energy too, so perhaps I will start to get better quickly with the Ol' Man helping out, she definitely indicates high hopes.  I am going to use her as a healing card to meditate on today, she is very soothing to look at. 

The 'Ace of Wands, tells me of influences that are going on in the background that I'm not aware of so, like the 'Ace of Pentacles', I am going to assume that this card means I need to focus on my energy which although low - like the number of the suit - will grow again after today. The suit of Wands represents opportunity for adventure too, and I would love to go on one, especially as its a lovely sunny day. But I probably shouldn't because I am too ill. Either this cards warns me to stay in and rest, through the rose's cross shaped form, or it tells me that there is the opportunity to go on some sort of an adventure. 'The Star' does seem to indicate that I will heal well, and things will go as I hope, so perhaps I will get away with going out!

The 'Five of Swords' -  who looks awfully like 'The Devil' card - tells me about past influences. This number five relates to change and discord and the suit of swords relates to thoughts and the way we act them out.  This particular card indicates that I have served my own needs in the past, or put myself before others. Well when the Ol' Man is at work and the children have gone to school, it just me and the little one at home! However, when he's been off work before, perhaps I let him look after the children a bit too much, while I did my own thing! 

But when the the 'Ace of Pentacles' and the 'Ace of Wands' indicate new opportunities today, I think the 'Five of Swords' means that in the past I have wanted to do things, like my course, writing and housework, but couldn't because I had the little one to look after, or I  have squeezed them in while the little one is asleep or is happy watching the telly. Whether squeezing them in or not doing them at all, I've felt awful and guilty for looking after myself, or have been annoyed because I've been unable to do them at all! But now the cards are telling me that now I have the opportunity to do the things I've wanted without feeling like I am leaving out the little one, or being annoyed because I cannot do them at all.

The last card, 'Justice' tells me about future influences and of looks like the opposite of the 'Five of Swords'. Rather than feeling like I have been unjustified in trying to carry out my work, today I will feel justified because I can do my work now that the Ol' Man is able to  take care of the rest! 

So the reading, tells me that the Ol' Man is here to help me today (King of Wands), giving me the opportunity to do all the things I'd hopped to do (The Star) which are to work and go out (Ace of Wands and Pentacles), without feeling like I am serving my own needs (Five of Swords, Justice)

Perhaps I'l leave the sofa languishing until later then!

UPDATE: 09/03/2010 10:00
Well, this day was rather surprising! The Ol' Man and I went up the mall to get dinner, but when we got there we didn't fancy anything to eat and began to wonder why we even went there in the first place. We decided to have a look around the shops anyway.

At some point my woman's inclination to shopping therapy became aroused and I decided to look for some things that the children needed but had, had no luck in getting. Come the end of the day, I had found and bought all the things they needed at bargain price and within my budget, with enough to buy a slap-up spaghetti and meatballs for the family, and even my Mum who I invited around after work to eat! The 'Ace of Pentacles' did the bring opportunities and abundance to get my children the things they needed. The 'Ace of Wands' did present the energy and an adventure at the shopping mall and the 'King of Wands' in the form of the Ol' Man and his car did a great job in providing me with support and energy. 'The Star' and 'Justice' told me that I would make good decisions that day and I felt happy and justified that the children had the things they needed. And the lovely dinner at the end brought balance and harmony. I did spend the rest of the evening feeling knackered, snotty and sick but hey! It was worth it. Perhaps the healing element of  'The Star' will kick in later!

Illustrations from the 'Tarot of The Angels' reproduced with permission of Lo Scarabeo, Via Cigna, 110 - 10155 Torino, Italy. Copyright © 2007 by Lo Scarabeo. Further reproduction prohibited.

('’)

Court Appearance Reading - UPDATED!

I have just posted an interesting update and conclusion to the post titled "What Do I Need To Know About My Court Appearance".

Will The World End In 2012?

Actually I asked the Tarot "What do I need to know about the world in the year 2012" as Tarot is good at giving advice rather than yes or no answers. I would suppose that if the world is going to end as we know it in 2012, cards showing doom and gloom would show up, but in this case I got the 'Eight of Wands', 'The High Priestess' and the 'Knight of Swords'. The deck I am using is the Golden Botticelli Tarot. Now, I am slightly worried about all the hullabaloo about the Mayan calender, solar maximums and flares, pole shifts and what not, but reason tells me that the world ending in 2012 exactly is most unlikely.

Golden Botticelli Tarot

© Lo Scarabeo

The 'Eight of Wands' is quite a reassuring card because it suggests physical movement and energy, which may mean that the world will keep on turning in 2012 and I will be here doing all the things I would normally do. On the other hand, it may mean that the earth itself will move in a completely new direction so perhaps the earth will shift poles as one dooms day theory suggests. Perhaps the angel with it's aimed bow and arrow implies that meteors and asteroids will rain down on earth. But when all is said and done, this card is a minor 'everyday' card, and not a card of major emphasis which I would expect if the world were going to end!

'The High Priestess' is an interesting card because it can imply  emptiness and 'nothingness' or that something that is waiting to happen and will be revealed at some point.  It might also mean that something bad is going to happen and the world will come to nothing, or that an unknown threat is going to show up and destroy the earth as we know it. However I look at it, 'The High Priestess' tells me that something will be revealed to me when the time is right!

'The High Priestess' is associated with the Moon which represents the unconscious mind implying that my concerns regarding the future of the earth are rooted deeply in my subconscious. Whether it is something I am unconsciously aware of, or whether it's because I am the worrying type, I am uncertain. The human instinct to live and survive is wired into the subconscious, so we are bound to worry about the future of the earth mother. But I am also inclined to think it is just worry and that  'The High Priestess' in this reading means that the year 2012 will bring unknown potential for me. And if there is potential for me, then the earth will be there to support me so I can reach that potential!

The 'Knight of Swords' is an intelligent person who thinks too much. He's always changing his mind and rushing into challenges without thinking first. Which can be a great thing in some circumstances and a bad thing in others. But the fact that this card tells me that I will be running around and thinking too much suggests that life will go on as normal, well, for me anyway! This card also suggests that I should stop giving thought to all the doomsday theories and conspiracies because I am never to find the truth. The future is unknown (High Priestess) and I should continue to live out my everyday life as normal (Eight of Wands, Knight of Swords)


(ETA 08/03/20010) This card is actually the 'Page of Swords', I saw Knave and thought Knight, my bad. The Page of Swords represents problems with thoughts and the action we take, I also to take him as a person who would spread gossip and lies and deliberately try to mess things up!, So perhaps I am going to run into problems in 2012 or, I am going to find out that all the 'end of world gossip', is just that, gossip.

Tarot is a friend to me, it talks to me in my language, not in complicated symbols, or hidden meaning. Tarot will advise me in a way I will understand it, which is why I haven't not taken these cards to portray more than just a simple of idea of what to expect in 2012.

So all in all, there are is no 'Death', 'Devil', 'Judgement', 'Tower', or 'Moon' which are all cards that might hint at the world ending in 2012, There are no minor arcana cards of heartbreak, regret, loss, martyrdom, grief, or poverty.

These cards cards don't go into any detail at all. They simply suggest that I will be running around doing all the things I want to do (Eight of Wands, Knight of Swords), Exactly what i'll be doing I won't know until 2012 because the future is only the outcome of my actions leading up to it (High Priestess).


(ETA 08/03/20010) These cards don't go into any detail at all.  The first thing I thought when I turned the 'Eight of Wands' was "phew, things are going to carry on as normal". The 'High Priestess' tells me that my intuition is correct, my gut feeling being that we will be just fine and dandy. While the 'Page of Swords', tells me that the end of times gossip, is just gossip.

UPDATE 06/03/2010 09:42
I have received this very interesting idea about the 'High Priestess'...

"Muse, after reading your reply another thought popped into my head. The year begins and ends with "2" and the major trump you got is 2! The High Priestess. How do you get to 2? well, you count "0, 1, 2." There we have 2012. So maybe the Priestess has more to do with that year than I would have thought. What that really means I do not know."

A recent Tarot reading has made me realise that the 'Eight of Wands' can literally mean 'to receive news', and I have realised the Knave of Swords is actually the equivalent to the 'Page of Swords' in the Golden Botticelli deck (my bad!!). I would literally take the 'Page of Swords' to mean problems with the way we are thinking, or the way we are handling or taking action against something.

So, these cards might read as....I shall receive news (Eight of Wands), in 2012 (High Priestess), that there is a problems with my idea that the world will end that year? (Page of Swords).

Images From The Golden Botticelli Tarot © Lo Scarabeo

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What Do I Need To Know About My Court Appearance?

I have to go to testify in court on the 8th of March against a young man who beat up my neighbour. I am not looking forward to it, but I have to do my duty. The young man who attacked my neighbour up was a horrible little thug who took great delight in showing my neighbour 'his moves' just because he tried to  stick up for himself against the druggie neighbours we all have to put with here on my 'Cancel Estate'! Horrendous gang bullying began against my neighbour afterwards, and he had to move to another part of town to escape them. Now after identifying the young man who beat him, I have to testify in court because he denies the whole thing.

So I thought I would use the benefits of Libra Moon (truth and balance) and ask the Tarot what I need to know about going to court that day. Using the Touchstone Tarot I drew the 'Eight of Wands', 'Page of Swords' and 'The Tower'.

Touchstone Tarot

© Kat Black

The 'Eight of Wands' suggest actual movement. Is it telling me to go to court? I am going, although it has crossed my mind to back out.  The man I am testifying against is a gang thug, and I am concerned about revenge and repercussion as he does know where I live.

The first thing I learned about the 'Page of Swords' was that it meant problems with litigation! Does this mean that there will problems with the trial? Or does it mean there will be trouble with the man I am testifying against. I was hoping that he will change his plea when he realises the witness has turned up. I remember somebody telling me that criminals always plead 'not guilty' until they know the chances of winning the case, and they won't know the chances of winning the case until they know who is going to testify against them. They either get away with it, or get credit for changing their plea before the trial. This would be a good option for me, because I wont actually have to stand up in court, just arrive like the 'Eight of Wands'.

'The Tower' always looks scary and dismal. Somebody has obviously had a shocking surprise, as they watch their world come down on them!

If I piece all these cards to together, they tell me that my arrival in court will cause problems for the man I am testifying against, and his hope of getting away with it will be dashed! Or, if we keep the focus on me, I might be tempted to say that the 'Page of Swords' means I might mess up my testimony, especially if I get cross-examined like they do on the films! I might break under the pressure of 'The Tower' and mess it all up! 

The thing is, the 'Eight of Wands' says my actual arrival at court will cause the problems of the 'Page of Swords', and if I add 'The Tower' I think means that the the problem will cause the cause trial to collapse, perhaps because of lack of other evidence, or because it will go straight to sentencing instead.

The 'Eight of Wands' is a fire card and so is 'The Tower' because it is associated with Mars. The 'Page of Swords' is an Air card. Air and Fire are friendly and active, so these cards all work together. Since it is my reading I can hop that these cards are working in favour of me!

Generally, the cards are telling me that my arrival in court will cause problems in some way, and the case will take unexpected turn! Let's hope it's a pleasant one!

UPDATE: 04/03/2010

Well I was nearly right! The 'Eight of Wands' in this case meant receiving news! The Witness office just rang me up to tell me that the case was being discontinued. She couldn't tell me why exactly, just that they weren't' going ahead with it.

So the cards literally read that I would receive news (Eight of Wands, Page of Swords) that the case had collapsed (Tower). So it was an unexpected surprise for me, a pleasant one, because I no longer have to go to Court. and a shock because I am upset that my neighbour won't get justice in this instance. The 'Page of Swords' accurately portrayed problems with the case, and 'The Tower' literally meant collapsed case!

Images From The Touchstone Tarot © Kat Black

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