The Tarot Sloth

New Year Tarot Reading Special and Moving-Day Fundraiser

2011-12-19T17:56:00.000-05:00

If all goes well, I will soon no longer be homeless. After nearly a year of this shit, I may soon have a roof over my head. A real one, with rooms and a kitchen and everything. But notice the qualifier "if all goes well". This, as usual, means money. So to that end I'm raising funds by offering Tarot/Astrology readings for the New Year in exchange for donations - the amount to be determined by you.

Yep, that's right. You pay whatever you want in exchange for a reading - even if it's nothing. To request your reading, you can send me an email. You'll receive an in depth 12-card Tarot reading that will give an overview of trends for the coming year, including romance, finance, employment, health and more. If you have any special concerns for the upcoming year, feel free to ask.

Please include your birthday, place of birth and time of birth, and I will also include major planetary transits for 2012. The transits can reveal the big influences in your life, and can help you more easily navigate the ups and downs of the new year.

As always, I will try to honor every request, however requests that are accompanied by a donation must, out of fairness, take precedence. Everyone who donates will receive a detailed and personalized reading. You can find the donate button located in the sidebar.

So where does the money go? Mostly toward moving expenses. I'm moving quite a long distance, and I will need not only a vehicle rental, but extra cat carriers, cold weather clothing (I don't even own a pair of socks, much less a winter coat), a veterinary checkup for Monty (Big Orange), and generic travel expenses such as gas and food.

Tomorrow I will post a sample reading for the New Year for myself. I appreciate your interest and am grateful for all requests and donations. I hope to hear from you soon.

Today's Card: The Sun

2011-11-15T00:37:00.001-05:00

I drew the Sun card today, and who couldn't use a little sunshine now and then. This card is pretty much everything you'd expect from a Sun card: warmth, happiness, comfort, success. Drawing this card made me want to see what the sun was up to in my astrological charts:

Squaring my natal Saturn. Not ideal - this transit tends to dampen everything with the wet blanket of realism. Feelings of discouragement and futility are common during this transit, but so is a certain gritty determination, and I'm nothing if not grittily determined. Luckily this transit is balanced by Mercury, which is currently trine my natal Jupiter. This adds a bit of optimism to the mix, positive thinking, and growth-oriented actions. It's a good time for both teaching and learning, for getting advice, and giving it. Opportunities can present themselves suddenly. Growth oriented Jupiter is energized and quickened by fleet-footed Mercury, so it is a time of potential and possibility - but possibilities need to be grabbed quickly.

The Sun - Nigel Jackson Tarot

I usually don't pay much attention to Chiron. It's not that I dismiss it's influence in astrology, just that the newage healy-hooey surrounding it is so thick, it's hard to make any solid interpretations where Chiron is concerned. Nonetheless, the moon seems to be conjunct my natal Chiron at the moment, so I guess we'll see where that leads. Healing is another interpretation of the Sun card, after all.

The transits seem a little more serious than the joyful Sun card would indicate, however the Sun often indicates the dawning of a new day after a time of darkness. Saturn may darken my sunny day, but this occurs early in the day, and the influence will pass as the day wears on. I can use the Saturnine determination to do those things that need to be done, and later in the day take some time for enjoyment.

The card pictured is from the Nigel Jackson Tarot.

New G+ Page

2011-11-14T08:17:00.001-05:00

The Tarot Sloth now has it's own G+ page. It's a work in progress.

Today's Card: Page of Pentacles

2011-11-14T07:47:00.001-05:00

Today Mars is conjunct my natal Uranus, which is probably just the energy I needed to get me off my ass and write this blog post. This transit is going on in Virgo, which is an earthy sign, great for detailed work and hopefully this means the Mars/Uranus energy won't be wasted, but will manifest as something positive.

The Page of Pentacles, being a manifesty sort of card, earth of earth - and that's a lot of earth - would seem to reinforce this interpretation. This page is the card of the tangible results of effort, keeping it real, down to earth. Pages are youthful cards, and often represent new beginnings, new projects, new opportunities - and anything new is very Uranian a la my transit.

In the Thoth Tarot, this card is the Princess of Disks, the card of creation, of making, of growth and burgeoning earth.

Both card and transit would indicate that whatever I get up to today, it will lead to solid results. My plans were to do some article writing, some writing for Nanowrimo (which I've barely even begun) and possibly some fractal art. Sounds like a good day for all of the above.

The card pictured is from the Silver Era Tarot.

The Moon Will Fuck You Up

2011-09-09T05:47:00.001-04:00

Today's card is the Moon and I hope it means I can have some drugs today but in truth I'm not seeing much hope for it. Usually when I draw the Moon card it means having an anxiety attack and I will admit to feeling anxious today. I have a couple of deadlines bearing down on me, and am facing a foodless weekend, but I have to remember it's nothing I haven't faced before. I can handle the deadlines one step at a time, and the hunger pangs will end on Monday when I'll be paid enough to shop the Taco Bell dollar menu once more.

So today the Moon enters my 4th house, right at home there all Cancerian an'shit. And the Moon is also square my natal Neptune, which is absolutely personified by the Moon card - deception or self-deception, issues from the past, hidden influences, confusion, anxiety, the desire to escape one's circumstances. Yup.

The card pictured is from the Deviant Moon Tarot.

Today's Card is the King of Swords

2011-09-08T06:18:00.000-04:00

As court cards go, this is one of my favorites. The King of Swords is sexy, intelligent, shows good judgment, is ethical and strong in his ideals and opinions. He's honest, principled and is an excellent wordsmith. A good card to draw when I have writing to do - and I'm hoping to have a lot of writing to do today, both paid writing and fiction writing. I need this king today.

Mercury is sextile my natal sun today, a good aspect for speaking, writing and communicating.

The card pictured is from the Druidcraft Tarot.

Today's Card: Two of Pentacles

2011-09-06T05:32:00.000-04:00

The Two of Pentacles traditionally pictures a juggler, juggling two disks or pentacles. The motion of the pentacles suggests the pattern of the infinity symbol. This card is often interpreted as juggling many activities with ease, being able to cope with many things at once.
It's a busy card, but one that flows smoothly and easily.

When the Two of Pentacles appears, you're prepared for anything that gets thrown your way. You're flexible, you adapt easily to new situations and unexpected turns. It's also a spirited card, one that indicates enjoyment of all the tasks at hand.

In the Thoth deck, this card is called Change, and is associated with Jupiter in Capricorn. The expansive nature of Jupiter undermines the rigid structure of Capricorn, and threatens to topple the status quo and set about rapid changes. Jupiter is a planet with enormous energy, and when contained by narrow confines of Capricorn, this energy flows in circles, set patterns, as represented by the infinity symbol that is so often pictured on this card.

Today the moon is trine my natal Uranus, as well as trine Mars and Pluto. This is a lot of energy going on here, and consistent with this card, I do have a lot of irons in the fire today. I have articles to write, fiction to write, other work to do and inquiries to make. I also need to find time for laundry and cleaning. The energy of this card is very evident in today's plans.

Update on Readings

2011-06-27T23:55:00.001-04:00

All outstanding readings have been done, but still need to be typed up and emailed. I've had a shoulder problem this weekend that has kept me from my usual eighteen hours a day in front of the computer, so I've done my notes longhand, the Tarot parts anyway. If you're expecting a reading from me, you should be getting it sometime on Tuesday.

For those who have written asking if I still do readings, I do. Other work has prevented me from blogging as much as I'd like, but I am available for readings. I am currently limiting the number of free readings I do, due to time constraints. If you've requested a free reading and haven't received it, you can always make another request. Some weeks are busier than others.

Readings accompanied by donations are always honored. I try to get readings out between 24 and 48 hours, however please allow up to 3-4 days, especially if I'm poking around looking at your transits. And yes, I do triage. Though I prefer first-come first-serve, readings in which time is of the essence (that job interview in two days) come before readings about something 6 months or a year down the line. It only makes sense.

Birthday Card: The King of Pentacles

2011-06-21T09:11:00.005-04:00

Today is my birthday and despite all this shit, I'm determined to somehow enjoy it. That's what the King of Pentacles is about - all the good things in life, but gained through determination and hard work.

No one should have to work hard on their birthday, but if I want to overcome the sense of ennui that is already setting in, then I'll have to do better than this.

I've always been a big believer in birthdays. Not just my own, but everyone's. If I had my way and some money, I'd make sure everyone I knew had a cake for their birthday, because birthday cake is good. Not just because it's cake, and that in itself is a marvelous thing, but because it symbolizes the joy of a birthday. No one can remain frowney when being served a big, delicious cake that's on fire. ON FIRE! Remember when you were a kid, and they brought the cake to the table. It didn't matter if it was your birthday or someone else's - that cake was the crowning moment, the purveyor of wishes, and it made you feel good.

I'm having a cake today. Part of one. I was able to afford four slices, 2 lemon cream, 2 chocolate tuxedo. I'm having ice cream today. And I'm having beer. That last one was a hard decision. I usually don't indulge in luxuries beyond the occasional Little Debbie nutty bar. I felt guilty for indulging in non-necessities when I frequently don't even have the necessities. But after reading this yesterday, especially the line "Sometimes you need to have some small luxuries to feel human, and personally, my need to feel human is more important than my need for broccoli." I changed my fucking mind. Cake, ice-cream and beer is what it will take to make me feel human on my birthday, and I will work hard the rest of the week to make up for the amount that I spent.

I want to feel human on my birthday. It is important, especially since the last two birthdays were spent crying, feeling isolated and neglected. What I want for my birthday is happiness, security, lack of worry and to feel loved, but I will settle for feeling human, because I can give myself that much.

So you see, King of Pentacles. Working hard to give myself a birthday party.

And of course it is my solar return. They say it's a good time to begin a new project, which I've done. I've been toying with ideas for fiction for some time now. I've been writing for money but articles about zits and lawn care are not very inspirational. So, I've begun a fictional writing project.

King of Pentacles, again. I got brave and shared some stuff with friends. Yeah, after not writing fiction for several years, it took some courage to share, and from the deafening silence I must assume my writing wasn't very good. I considered, briefly, giving up. But that isn't very me-like.

King of Pentacles. Just like I will give myself my own birthday party, I will give myself my own writing encouragement. I've done it before, I can do it again.

Happy Birthday, Me.

The card pictured is from the Druidcraft Tarot.

Today's Card: The Hierophant. Also, Some Updates

2011-06-17T07:34:00.000-04:00

Wow, what the hell is up with Blogger? I come back after a long hiatus and it's all different. I like it, but not very Hierophanty of them to go changing shit up on me.

A friend of mine drew this card yesterday and in relation asked the question "Do my beliefs help or hinder me?" Another friend answered "Yes".

Funny, but also true. Our beliefs pull double duty much of the time. They can help us in a crisis, keep us going through hardships, comfort us, but also keep us limited.

Mercury is sextile my natal Uranus today, which is anything but Hierophanty. It is creative, neophilic, maybe a touch debaucherous. Could be an interesting day.

On a side note, I am trying to be back. I've been working for people who, you know, pay me an' shit, which means less time to spend doing Tarot readings. As much as I want to do Tarot, it just isn't keeping me and the cats fed right now, so I am limiting myself to doing just one free reading a week. If you've asked for a free reading and don't receive it within a week, you have one of two choices. Submit another request, or donate. Readings accompanied by donations will receive prompt attention, as always.

The card pictured is from the Bohemian Gothic Tarot.

The Ace of Cups

2011-05-25T16:30:00.001-04:00

No, I wasn't raptured. I was absent due to homelessness, but feel free to skirt the issue uncomfortably - that seems to be all the rage these days. I am currently under a roof again, at least for a few days. And today I drew the Ace of Cups.

I never really know what to think when I draw a cup card. Is the toilet going to overflow? Will I menstruate? Will I fall asleep in the bathtub and drown? Will my kidney infection return? Cups and I - we don't connect very well.

Ace of Cups is the Root of the Powers of Water. All about emotions. No doubt I'm emotional today. Relieved to have a roof and a proper bed, even if only for a short time. A little more rested, after a full night of sleep. Glad to be no longer deathly ill. But also anxious. Since my stint out of doors I have spikes of panic, more intense and frequent than usual. A lingering sense of isolation. Worry, fear, anger, disappointment, sadness.

Aces are usually seeds, a first impulse, and the Ace of Cups is that first impulse toward emotional fulfillment. It can be with regards to another person, or a relationship, or a project that appeals to you emotionally.

The Ace of Cups is also about abundance in one form or another, as well as about inspiration.

This card often shows up when I need to be more open and expressive. I'm trying. It's difficult to talk about the past few days and what I've been through. Part of me wants to pretend it never happened, so I can pretend it won't happen again.

Mars is square my MC, which often brings frustrations, irritability and anger. But it can also indicate a high energy period where a great deal can be accomplished if the energy is channeled effectively.

The card pictured is from the Alchemical Tarot.

Today' Card is Death. Warmed Over.

2011-05-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

Death. That's pretty much what I feel like today. Ended up at the emergency room yesterday, and did finally get antibiotics. I don't feel much better today, however. I'm exhausted, still feverish, and all I want to do is sleep.

Where is that damn 9 of Wands when I need him? I need to keep going despite all this. I've missed two days working and the "loss" of the Death card will be the roof over my head if I don't find a way to make up for those missed days. By tomorrow.

Loss might also be that I've decided to pawn that last piece of my great grandmother's jewelry that I own. If you knew how I feel about my great-gramma, you'd know that feels like death. But right now it's the only thing my sick, addled brain can think of to keep a roof over my and the kittehs' heads.

Death might also be the rapture. That's supposed to happen today, yeah? Quite looking forward to that one.

Venus opposes my Asc today and enters my 7th house, which I guess is supposed to make me all lovey and huggy and whatnot. That's death right there.

The card pictured is from the Vertigo Tarot.

Today's Card: The Ace of Pentacles

2011-05-20T10:48:00.002-04:00

Really, Tarot, is this some kind of joke?

The wireless here at the hotel has been down since yesterday, and I'm unable to work except sporadically when I steal wifi from the hotel next door. Once again, I'm staring eviction in the face. To make it worse, I have a kidney infection. I'm running an increasingly high fever, my back feels like it's breaking, I'm nauseated, sweaty, I have chills and no chance in hell of affording a doctor or medication.

And the Tarot sends me the card of wealth, health and happiness. I'm tempted to draw again, especially since I didn't draw from one of my usual decks, but let's go with it. (and when I redrew from a different deck, I got the Knight of Cups, so hell if I know).

The Ace of Pentacles is the root of the element of earth, the seed that contains all the potential of the Pentacle suit. This card often arises to introduce something new and solid into one's life. It opens up possibilities for gains, and reveals methods of reaching your goals.

I'm really looking forward to that.

The Ace of Pentacles lets you know you are capable of manifesting what you need. It can herald a reward for one's work, a gift, financial gain, or growth. Ace of Pentacles is a very manifesty card, very solid, and is also a beginning, a chance. It can present new opportunities for success.

I think I may have hallucinated this card in a fever dream.

Mercury opposes my Ascendant today, a transit of negotiations and feedback. Moon is opposing my natal Moon, bringing conflicting or strong emotions, crappy decisions, low spirits and feelings of isolation. Moon square Jupiter brings moodiness, pessimism, unrealistic expectations (I get the feeling the Ace of Pentacles is an unrealistic expectation) and overdoing.

Just a reminder, Tarot for Antibiotics continues so grab a reading for cheap, or for free.

The card pictured is from the ShadowScapes Tarot.

Today's card is the 9 of Wands. Again.

2011-05-19T10:39:00.003-04:00

This one comes up frequently for me. The "keep going no matter how tired you are" card. And I'm tired. I worked the entire day yesterday, from the moment I awoke to the moment I fell asleep. My back aches, my hands are cramped, and my head is fuzzy. I suspect I'm coming down with a kidney infection, and my knee is out and I'm finding it difficult to walk or even stand.

But there's no rest in my foreseeable future.

The 9 of Wands often appears when things look impossible. And they do. But this card is an indication that although the odds are against you, you can overcome them with determination and hard work.

This card can indicate the need for discipline, and a clear understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.

The nines are cards of completion. They bring you face to face with your goal, they give you what you're searching for, what you want. With the 9 of Swords, what you desire is also what you fear (how many people want success but are also terrified of it?). It brings you face to face with all those anxieties and worries that accompany your push for your goals. The 9 of Pentacles gives you what you deserve, rewards you for what you've been working for. The 9 of Cups grants you your wishes. And the 9 of Wands gives you what you need, as long as you remain steadfast and determined.

This card is called Strength in the Thoth Tarot, and is associated with the Moon in Sagittarius. The reflective qualities of the moon in the fiery sign of Sagittarius tends to shine a lot of light on any subject, and many people associate this card with clear sight, knowing your abilities and where you stand, being aware of what it will take to get you through to the other side.

Mars is currently opposing my Ascendant, which means I'll be irritable much of the day I suppose that just adds to the challenges before me, or is a natural result of said challenges.

And just a reminder, Free Tarot Readings are still available through the Tarot for Sammiches campaign. And the Pluto Retrograde is still going strong, up until mid-September.

The card pictured is from the Tarot of the Magical Forest.

Today's Card: the Wheel of Fortune

2011-05-18T10:53:00.001-04:00

The Wheel of Fortune is usually interpreted as a change in luck, for better or for worse, circumstances beyond our control, the ups and downs of life. Lets hope in this particular instance, it indicates a change for the better.

The symbolism of the Wheel can indicate fate at work, cause and effect, the culmination of all that has gone before. It is trump number 10, the number of completion and wholeness, and as such represent circumstances coming to a head. Something is finished, something is begun anew.

This card is is associated with Jupiter, the planet of growth, expansion, learning, and philosophy. Jupiter is the King of the Gods in mythology, and this planet rules opportunity, optimism, and possibilities. Jupiter is also associated with morality, and as such determines what many people refer to as karma. The rewards or deprivations that are the direct result of our actions.

Jupiter is big, a force beyond our control, impossible to steer or guide. Jupiter is also traditionally associated with fortune, especially good fortune, reward, and abundance. But a king may punish as well as reward, and the Wheel may turn in either direction, for good or for ill.

As the 10th trump, the Wheel of Fortune stands central to the Tarot trumps. As the agent of the Fates, it assesses all that has gone before, all that you have learned and experienced. A turn of the wheel can send you flying backward to do it all over again, or spinning forward to meet the challenges ahead.

On the most mundane level, this card can represent a random event, a happy accident, or a new opportunity landing in your lap. Chance meetings are indicated by the Wheel of Fortune, as well as a gambling win or unexpected gift. The Wheel also tells us to accept what comes our way - we aren't in control today.

This is one of those days when the moon is doing every fuckin' thing it can, transit-wise, in my sky. Most telling, the Moon is trine my natal Jupiter. This is a well-balanced transit that brings a strong adherence to personal morals, faith in others, a sense of optimism, and general good fortune. This transit is often seen as the best time to buy a lottery ticket.

I'm just going to ignore those other transits. They suck.

The card pictured is from the Winged Spirit Tarot.

In which Che Rex draws the Ten of Swords; hides the rest of the day

2011-05-17T06:56:00.001-04:00

The Lord of Ruin. Well doesn't that just bode well for today. I mean, how the hell does it get any worse?

Well, maybe it doesn't. The 10 of Swords often arises when it can't get any worse. This is rock-bottom, right here, right now. Nowhere to go but up.

But i'm not counting on it.

The tens. Someone asked me recently why the 10 of Cups and Pentacles are so nice, but the 10 of Wands and Swords suck ass. Good question. The tens in the tarot are long term cards. The nines are completion, they seal the deal, but the tens set it into stone, solidify and manifest. The tens are examples of what happens when shit goes on for a long time. With 10 of cups, when love goes on for a long time a happy family results. The 10 of Pentacles is financial security - what happens when you save your money for a long time, work hard, invest wisely. But with the wands, all that energy, enthusiasm, spirit, creativity can't be sustained. Projects must be finished, new ones begun. Try and sustain that energy for too long and it becomes a chore, a burden. Remember the 9 of Wands guy, slogging through despite the opposition. By the time he reaches the 10 of Wands, he's nothing but slogging - he can no longer even see the goal.

Then there's the Swords. What happens to the mind when we age? It goes senile, becomes plagued with dementia, confusion, forgetfulness. The anxieties and nightmares of the 9 of Swords become fixtures, a permanent state of being.

Thoughts are not meant to exist in a vacuum. You analyse a problem for too long and it grows into a bigger problem. Analysis should lead to action - if it doesn't, all you end up with is a keen idea of just how big your problem is.

People often ask why the Swords all seem to suck so hard. That's because the Swords should begin and end with the Ace. That bright idea of yours should be immediately exported. Energized by the Wands, nurtured by the Cups, manifested by the Pentacles. Leave that idea as it is, and it stagnates, goes through the whole cycle of the Sword suit, and hey, we all know where that ends.

As stated way up there somewhere, the Ten of Swords is called Ruin in the Thoth deck, and is associated with the Sun in the 3rd Decan of Gemini.

Hey, wait a minute, I was born with my Sun in the 3rd decan of Gemini!. Does that mean I'm ruinous? Well, if my life is any indication...

But Geminis are lovely people. Bright, lively, fun, intelligent. I'm one, I should know. But have you ever been stuck in a room for far too long with a talkative Gemini? By the time the night ends you'll probably be wanting to stab 10 Swords into his back.

There's no doubt in my mind that the dude on the card is a Gemini.

Sometimes when this card comes up for me, it's a warning: "Whatever you're thinking, for fuck's sake, don't do it!".

It can also indicate back-ache, spinal problems, surgery, insanity or death. Let's hope none of those happen today.

Anyway, this post has gone on far too long - a great beginning for my 10 of Swords day.

The moon is void of course in Scorpio beginning in just a few minutes, and lasting until this afternoon, so I think most of you will be joining me in having a 10 of Swords kind of day. The moon is square my natal Saturn, a transit of depression, oppression, feelings of loneliness, and general suckitude.

The card pictured is from the Tarot of Prague.

Today's Card: Seven of Swords

2011-05-16T09:28:00.002-04:00

I've discovered an advantage to wearing pants. This morning I wore my big pants, and at breakfast I managed to make off with a muffin, two danishes and a bagel. After yesterday's hunger-fest, i wanted to make sure I had a little something for later today.

Thievin'. Just one meaning of the 7 of Swords.

This card is often considered the "loner" card. It can indicate a stubborn sense of independence, the idea that you can do it alone without any help. A period of voluntary isolation.

The 7 of Swords can be a card about deception, lying, manipulation, trickery or clandestine activities.

This card is called Futility in the Thoth Tarot, and indeed, procrastination and avoiding commitments are common interpretations of the 7 of Swords. It is associated with the Moon in Aquarius, and when the emotional moon enters the eccentric sign of Aquarius, it becomes a bit of a loner, just like the 7 of Swords. The Aquarian moon is independent, quirky, willful and has a tendency to do its own thing.

In many ways, the sevens of the Tarot are are about how we behave as individuals - who we are when we are alone and unfettered by the judgment of others. The 7 of Wands is about our personal beliefs and how we protect and stand up for them. The 7 of Pentacles is what we have sown as individuals through our actions, and what we reap as the reward. The 7 of Cups is about the personal choices we make, and what we indulge in - our emotions acting without restraint. And the 7 of Swords is all about the places our thoughts take us when we think no-one is looking - the lies we tell, the things we hide, the slothfulness, the procrastination.

I'll try real hard not to procrastinate today. You guys keep an eye on me.

The card shown is from the Tarot of Dreams.

Temperance: Finding the Right Mix

2011-05-15T13:37:00.000-04:00

I'm having difficulty concentrating today. My thoughts are scattered all over the place, I'm trying to multi-task with too much on my plate. It feels more like a 2 of Pentacles kind of day, but without the fun. So, what is Temperance trying to tell me?

Temperance can be the calm in the heart of the storm, an indication that balance, moderation, or patience is needed.

It is often considered the card of alchemy, of combining elements to create something greater than the sum of it's parts. In the Thoth deck, this card is called Art, and is associated with Sagittarius, the sign of philosophy and learning. In this sense, the Temperance card can represent the dialectical argument and the synthesis arising from the combining of opposites.

The card pictured is from the Spiral Tarot.

Today's Card: the Ace of Swords

2011-05-14T09:33:00.000-04:00

The Ace of Swords is the Root of the Powers of Air. It often arises when new ideas are germinating, new projects are beginning.

It is also a card that indicates truth, clarity, vision. The Ace of Swords can indicate that you need to use logic, reason, and objectivity in order to gauge a situation. It can bring new understanding of an old issue, and resolution through analysis.

Today's transit is Sun square my natal Saturn, which can bring about melancholy, feelings of being burdened by responsibility, loneliness and low energy. The analytical aspect of the Ace of Swords is one way to approach such a burdensome aspect.

The card pictured is from the ShadowScapes Tarot.

Today's card is the 3 of Swords

2011-05-13T16:28:00.000-04:00

3 of Swords is the card of sorry. I'm sad because Blogger has been down much of the day, and prevented me from making a post this morning. Therefore this is going to be a short one.

Yesterday was the King of Cups. I'm still trying to figure that one out. Tomorrow: a real post.

Today's card: The Tower. Yeeeouch!

2011-05-11T06:30:00.001-04:00

Well, there's no tweeing up this card - it's a tough card. The Tower often heralds a crisis, a shaking up of the status quo, a shattering of illusions.

The Tower card is also known as the Lightening Struck Tower, and is based on the biblical story of the Tower of Babel; it directly follows the Devil card. The Devil card is ruled by Capricorn, the zodiac sign of structure and foundation. The Tower pictured is the structure we have erected in our lives in honor of our devils - all those thing that blind us, deceive us, and keep us in chains. Our addictions, our obsessions, our false idols.

The lightening bolt is the flash of clarity, the sudden revelation that destroys our illusions, casts down the walls that hide us from the truth, and shakes the foundations of our faith.

At least, this is one way of looking at The Tower. I just tend to interpret it as "God is out to get me. Again" and get on with it.

The Tower card is ruled by Mars. This ain't your standard sexy, protective Mars. The Mars energy of this card is chaotic, a fiery whirlwind of destruction that sweeps away all binding structures, and breaks down patterns. And Mars is thorough - he doesn't leave anything half-assed. Sometimes this card shows up as an indication that you need to do whatever it takes to resolve the crisis at hand, no matter how unpleasant. It is a card that requires the endurance to weather the destruction, and the strength to rebuild afterward.

Today the moon is sextile my natal Uranus - a rather restless transit that can bring sudden changes, or encounters with the unexpected. Never a dull moment, ay?

The card pictured is from the Labyrinth Tarot.

Today's Card: 9 of Wands

2011-05-10T06:28:00.003-04:00

In the RW deck, the 9 of Wands shows a wounded young man leaning on a wand or staff, looking suspiciously over his shoulder. He's been through some shit, obviously, and he's on the look-out for more shit. So the 9 of Wands is often interpreted as persisting, even through all the shit.

The 9 of Wands often arises when you're tired and on the verge of giving up. It is a sign to keep going, that success is just around the corner - don't give up yet!

Today's card is the Hierophant

2011-05-09T07:21:00.000-04:00

The Hierophant is associated with the astrological sign of Taurus, and is all about tradition, standards, and the values inherited from one's family. The Hierophant isn't much of a risk taker. He plays it safe, follows the rules, and like Taurus, he takes it slow, one step at a time. He also possesses the Taurean determination.

With both Mercury and Venus sextile my natal Saturn, I can see the Hierophant ruling my day. I have work to do, none of it exciting or new, but tried and true - and it will probably take a great deal of time.

The card pictured is from the Bohemian Gothic Tarot.

Today's Card: 2 of Pentacles

2011-05-08T08:48:00.002-04:00

The 2 of Pentacles shows a juggler, balancing two disks gracefully, and juggling is what this card is about. Tackling lots of projects at once, having a lot on your plate, and managing many things. Now, I had planned to take today off, and the only things I intended to juggle were naps and anime. But shit happens and I may end up faced with more demands than I'd planned.

In the Thoth deck, the 2 of Pentacles (or Disks) is called Change, and is associated with Jupiter in Capricorn. When growth oriented Jupiter enters Capricorn, he leaps into action. He has good ideas and isn't afraid to actively pursue them. Most people think of Capricorn as being formal, staid and responsible, and this much is true, but they often forget about the other side of Capricorn - the spry, sure-footed mountain goat that leaps among the treacherous mountain-tops with grace and agility.

This agility is how Capricorn handles the big ideas of Jupiter, setting them in rapid, graceful motion. He takes risks, but the risks are calculated. Capricorn is all about structure, foundation, and he can quickly assess the terrain beneath him as he navigates the heights and makes his way toward his goal.

The twos in the Tarot are always about polarity, about opposites and finding balance between those opposites. The 2 of wands accomplishes this with power, persuasion, and leadership. The 2 of cups finds harmony through love, sharing, and exchange on an emotional level. The 2 of swords reconciles through compromise. And the 2 of Pentacles strikes a balance through change, adjustment, and flexible action.

Today, the moon is square my natal Jupiter, the transit of unrealistic expectations. I was probably being a little too optimistic when I intended this to be my day off, and I may be required to make some quick adjustments to the demands of work.

The card pictured is from the Archeon Tarot.

Today's card: 8 of Wands. Zippity.

2011-05-07T09:28:00.000-04:00

Well here's the last thing you wanna see on a Saturday morning. The 8 of Wands, the card of rushing around, high energy, getting it done now, no procrastination. This card means I will probably need to put on pants.

This card is almost always illustrated with eight wands, flying through the air. In the Thoth deck, the 8 of Wands is called Swiftness, and is associated with Mercury in Sagittarius. When Mercury enters the fiery philosophical sign of Sagittarius, the thought processes speed up, become freer, more far ranging and progressive. Ideas are big, but rarely detailed or organized because of the sudden rush forward.

The 8 of Wands can bring sudden insights or bursts of creative energy. The solution to a problem can suddenly "dawn on you".

This card sets things into motion, lights a fire under your ass. Shit gets done when this card shows up, whether you like it or not. The 8 of wands doesn't dawdle, doesn't procrastinate. It often arises when there's lots to do and little time to do it in. Sometimes it represents a fleeting opportunity that needs to be taken now - it may not be there later.

All of the eights represent some type of motion, or lack thereof. The 8 of swords is entrapment, motion halted. The 8 of Pentacles is steady progress. The 8 of cups is moving away from something - usually a stagnant situation. And the 8 of Wands is moving toward something, rushing, the fastest of the eights.

Today the moon is sextile my natal Mars, lots of impulsive energy, confident actions, resourcefulness. And the moon is also sextile my natal Uranus - lots of buzzing energy here, restlessness, innovative thought, impatience. It sounds pretty 8 of Wands to me.

The card pictured is from the Morgan-Greer Tarot.