April 4 2007: Ace of Pentacles rev & Empress rev

Today the focus is on the physical world, material concerns, money, body, practical matters.

I drew the card to see what the focus should be, I was considering working out, cleaning up the apartment and going to buy a USB port for the computer. All practical affairs which would follow suit (pun intended).

Reversed it's more a case of taking care of myself I think, personal physical concerns. I want to arrange the space at home to be cleaner and clearer - i wish I had a magic wand to do it, but I know there's a meditation in there somewhere.

I asked for more insight into what this card is telling me and I pulled the Empress reversed. Immediately I notice her hands pointing, she's pointing up at the Moon - so this wouldbe of course domestic issues (moon = home in Astrology) and also my Astrology work. Also perhaps picking the things up off the ground since things lay at her feet.

Traditionally Empress card relates to comfort concerns and creativity. So work first then pleasure i guess you could call this combination. I'll get right to it.

Overall Card for 2007 - Page of Cups

My card of the Year to sum everything up is: the Page of Cups.

I think this card really sum sup Pisces energy. Sensitive, soft, flowing. The water on his head shows that emotions this year continue to move me ahead. But I can handle it. There is my true Piscean nature being brought to the surface for all to see (fish emerging) the red rose of love and sexual expression (another creative force).

The power of my emotions, feeling nature, self expression are all that matters this year. The power of my feeling can move any situation (water wearing away the rocks of challenges).

The look on his face is one of contemplation again - so most of this year will be about continually going inside to my 'sacred chamber' or 'inner library' each day to see what's happening for the day and what I want to create. I think I'll do that this year, check inside each morning and check the transits of the day to outline what my calendar will be (instead of trying to force myself into a 9 - 5 routine). Funny how i never wantd that and now i try to force it upon myself.

This year, it is about poetry, soul-expression and bringing out my true essence. Cups are emotions and Pages are new beginnings the first energy of the suit. Messages. New reasons to be excited. Births. Good news.

Be Emotional

be moved or touched
let your feelings show
respond to beauty
be sentimental or romantic
shed your detachment
let your heart lead the way

Be Intuitive

receive guidance from within
act on a hunch
remember your dreams
have a psychic experience
experience direct knowing
trust your gut reaction

Be Intimate

start or renew a love affair
meet someone you're attracted to
get closer to someone
go beyond formalities
have a special moment of togetherness
solidify a friendship
share something personal

Be Loving

make a thoughtful gesture
express sympathy and understanding
forgive yourself
forgive someone who has hurt you
apologize to someone you have hurt
reach out and touch someone
mend a broken relationship
brighten someone's day
respond with caring rather than anger
refuse to judge or condemn

Page of Cups - You will receive an offer of help and cooperation; energy which has moved through possessiveness, manipulation and jealousy and mastered the capacity to offer emotional loyalty to others in objective ways. A gentle, quiet person - emotionally secure and able to communicate feelings, desires and concerns in realistic and meaningful ways. Unencumbered by the conflict with responsibility or sensual desire - contemplation and fantasy are in proper balance.

The development of wonderful ideas and psychic abilities through meditation and study, developed in a peaceful way. An important messages will be arriving soon - be ready to start a new project. Continually express your feelings - purify yourself emotionally. You get rid of unwanted feelings by expressing them. "Feel" the ecstatic renewal of your heart and spirit by revealing your deepest emotions.

Emotional, sensitive, creative, emotionally resourceful, loyal, tender, affectionate. Emotionally dependent on others, sentimental, ruled by the drive for the transformation. Drive and the forces of change is instinctive, passive as the growth of a child is automatic. Good emotional feel for things, active subconscious, wide range of emotions, exaggeration - emotionally playful, light-hearted, emotional innocence, purity. Appropriate naivety in emotional/creative affairs. Lack of emotional/sexual experience. The transformation side of things emotional and represents new emotional opportunities, situations, events and guides. Learning lessons directly from emotional interaction. Emotional renewal, emotional news (happenings with people). Here is the fountain of emotional youth which keeps our hearts from aging just as the fountain of influence under the Page of Pentacles serves to keep our bodies young.

Questions to Answer: Who depends on you emotionally? What does your intuition say to do? How can you serve others? Who offers unqualified, non-judgmental love?

Card Twelve: 3 of Wands

Twelfth House: 3 of Wands

The way back to my Source this year is by looking ahead, turning my back on the past and keeping my eye on my soul's horizon. There is growth now in venturing ahead. Creative (3) use of the will (rods).

There is soul support (leaning on rod) from the unconscious so following impulse because it feels right. It's not so much action as the contemplation of us. The possibilities ahead are more important than direct action?

Planning stages - an embryo. The Universe 'has my back' what am I going to do now with this new 3 birthing energy. Where shall I take it. A lot of unconscious energy and will is at my disposal now.

Venturing deeper into my unconscious with meditation perhaps, a sacred journey. All outside is a trip into my soul. Remember that this year. All you see outside is part of an inner pathway, along with all people you meet along the way, Guardians to secret portions of your self and soul. Tolls etc, to show dedication.

Escape could come through the thinking and not so much the doing, or through acting irrationally.

Completion comes with keeping body-mind-spirit as one in each adventure and decision.

exploring the unknown

seeking out uncharted areas
going in quest of new adventure
expanding horizons
leaving the secure behind
tackling something different

having foresight

being visionary
looking for greater possibilities
planning ahead
knowing what to expect
getting a premonition
anticipating obstacles
taking the long view

demonstrating leadership

showing others the way
taking the main role
providing needed direction
rallying the group behind you
assuming a responsible position
setting an example
serving as a representative

Three of Wands - Virtue and integrity - the union of your mind, heart and action working in harmony with one another. You have the ability to envision new possibilities long before they become a reality. New business ventures will prosper with the right teammate - someone willing to give you assistance - a creative partnership. You can receive the help you need from someone knowledgeable. Indicates the potential commencement of an enterprise. Your foundation is firm and work can be fearlessly continued.

You travel farther in your mind than some people ever do in physical reality and you have many unusual experiences. You need to first acquire a sense of your terrain before you begin anything. You get excited by your visions and can communicate your enthusiasm to others - yet sometimes, your distance from where things are happening leaves you with no concept of how to get down to work and put your ideas into action. You have the ability to love more than one person - when you are always seeking something that is out of reach - you may fail to appreciate fully the good things that are close at hand. You have a great need for the free expression of your thoughts and feelings - yet you are steadfast and dependable. Your love and care for the people in your life is strong and can be felt even from a great distance.

Allow your spirit to merge with your visions - to explore and seek out new, deeper experiences - while you stay behind, rooted in reality, directing the images to their greatest potential. Maintain a primary commitment to your existing situations and relationships while at the same time looking for new friends, lovers and adventures. Having known trouble, struggling with the past - you now come to peace with your memories. Prepare yourself to move forward. Be open to helping everyone - including yourself. Know that everyone is suffering in some way - accept everyone's frailties and shortcomings with tolerance. Commit yourself with unconditional love to help others become whole. You have the ability to heal through your understanding love and healing hands - be gentle, be patient. Compassion is nurturing and loving and the results will renew your spirit. Follow and trust your guides and intuition - love is the divine healing power - be optimistic - use it!

Spiritual purpose moving with the will of a dedicated, efficient mind behind it. Intuitive decisions have been made and the wheels are in motion. The fruition and extension of past discoveries rather than a launch into the totally new. Optimism, a "knowing that you know" kind of confidence that feeds your commitment to serious work. There is an objective awareness of your Karmic Contract and enthusiastic agreement to carry it out to the letter. Dedication. Visionary insight joins the clarity of mind, enabling you to be meticulous, accurate, painstaking as you organize in the Spiritual/Intuitive Plane and prepare toward your foundation. Now there is power and strength and wisdom enough for major achievements. One eye on the past, the other on the future as you walk the balance beam of life.

Questions to Answer: Where do your ambitions lie? Where are you putting your attentions? What and whom are you drawing to yourself through your vitality, power and energy? What are you envisioning for the future? What and with whom do you have to coordinate to achieve your plan?

Card Eleven: 2 of Swords

Eleventh House: 2 of Swords

Future goals rely on balance thought, objective opinions, inner dialogue and peace of mind. Peace comes with a stalemate, not choosing perhaps, or standing between the polarity of thought.

It's like standing between past and present here. If this house relates to hopes, goals and dreams, it's for a quiet peace of mind, end to conflict.

Within friendships there's a sort of stalemate again, two sides not discussing issues but I have learned of late that it's best to ignore conflict as it's not real, and to keep moving forward. Keeping eyes trained inwards and mouth closed. It's about my learning only. So i guess peace because of inaction with my social circle. It's not about what they do it's about what I'm thinking. Good old Law of Attraction again.

Being the mediator and between two factions, options, choices or issues and finding grounding from being in the middle where it's less chaotic. My freedom this year comes from seeing both sides of each equation and then, perhaps, taking neither.

blocking emotions

denying true feelings
stifling a natural response
keeping another at arm's length
hiding distress
turning a deaf ear
being defensive
maintaining your cool

avoiding the truth

refusing to look at facts
pretending everything's fine
ignoring the warning signs
closing your eyes to what's going on
avoiding an unpleasantness
choosing not to know

being at a stalemate

feeling afraid to act
reaching an impasse
staying stuck
refusing to decide
being unwilling to rock the boat
staying on the fence

Two of Swords - You are stalemated in your affairs and you don't know which direction to go next. You seek a new approach, but your emotions are involved which make it difficult to decide what to do. You desire to be a peacemaker, so you are reluctant to express your opinions unless you are forced to. Wanting order and stability - you seek to maintain calm through your balanced rationality, which causes you to deny your intuitions. It is the "conflict" between your opinions and others which is causing the stalemate and indecision.

There is no confusion here - you have deliberately closed your eyes so that you will not have to choose between friend and enemy - the very choice which is your first step to involving yourself with people again. In your attempts to protect yourself you have closed off your heart - blocked your emotions, trying to hold them within. This attempt to stop your emotions is virtually making you more emotional. You are trying to think and act - not from your center - but from your own constricted emotions.

Seek your solution through your "inner" guidance - the answers will be provided and vivid peace restored. Recognize that when you are unable to see your options - your rationality is of no help. Stop trying to "force" things to happen prematurely. Listen to the swell of your emotions - then you will KNOW when the tide has turned and it is time to act. Mental clarity and balance may require removing yourself from the action. Get away from it all to see the truth and in this state of detachment and non-involvement, you can see with non-judgmental awareness. Allow your higher consciousness to decide on an action according to the higher laws and values of the Universe. Experience your faculties of analysis - the creative power of your thought. Peace will soon be restored - you will know clarity and balance as you bring the two issues together into a state of resolution. There will be recognition and success - do not allow this situation to upset you.

The entrance of the "other" at the mental level - the recognition of an alternative, then the action in relation to that choice. Decision. The desire and ability to identify and understand the other side. Arbitration, debate, defining position or opposition. Objectivity, a second opinion, review, negotiation, compromise, truce, compatibility, contracts, tact, diplomacy. To agree, to unite mentally.

Questions to Answer: What are you hesitating to do? With whom do you have to make peace or reconcile? What are you struggling to maintain in balance? What decision would you prefer not to make? What would you prefer not to know about?

Card Ten: 8 of swords

Tenth House: 8 of Swords

This was the card I drew on Jan 1 for the rest of the year for Pisces. Funny how it falls now in my 10th house of career and achievement, Pluto in Pisces 10th house retrograding now shows more power/career energies at play this year.

So many options, are my hands tied or am I THINKING it's stressful when it's not, because i won't open my eyes and look at the options. There's always a back door and a way out (no sword behind her) and it's not a prison, it's just mentally doing too much or being too abstract or turning back on established security (castle).

Red is passion, so don't let aggressive side get in the way of clarity of mind. Career advancement and public life now is not so much OUT THERE but IN HERE and its about the mind and information and "looking within"/ Stop looking outside for manifestation this year, and career change, it's about how I think on the inside (mixed with feeling, the red robes).

Mental energies are the way ahead this year, true focus. Eyes on the prize. The tower looms over my head, so I'm already at the top it's not about the climb but being mentally at peace with every step of the journey. Showing (over head) strength and structure. Thinking on my feet.

Could be mentally tied up with so many ideas and projects but it's about keeping a clear and clean head. Focusing on what is being built and the final structure. Let nothing else come to mind but the final structure. The final manifestation and feeling of achievement and peace, mental harmony.

8 is power - and swords are thought. MIND POWER manifests career and public success.

feeling restricted

being fenced in by obstacles
staying in a limited situation
feeling trapped by circumstances
experiencing few options
being blind to freedom
feeling persecuted

feeling confused

being unsure which way to turn
feeling at a loss
lacking direction
feeling overwhelmed
floundering around
needing guidance and clarity
not understanding what is happening

feeling powerless

waiting for outside rescue
doubting anything you do will help
avoiding responsibility
looking for a white knight
feeling victimized
accepting inaction

Eight of Swords - Your "ego" represents the non-trusting, doubting, over-analytical part of your mind which is unable to make any decisions - always feeling very restricted, experiencing hurt or anxiety. Recognize now that your vision has been blocked because of the fear you feel "inside" - it is creating confusion. Trying to battle more than one issue at a time will always create indecision and cause you to waste precious energy on minor details. You are unable to think clearly now - you need help and sensible advice. Pull back now, go deep inside - seek peace and allow your "inner" voice to direct you. Stop believing you will be swamped by your emotions if you take a step toward your goals - recognize that you have done this to yourself and begin to focus on developing your potentials. Stop fearing success and power - accept the beast within you. See your abilities clearly and loose your passions - you have restrained yourself from activity long enough, avoiding the present by trying to convince yourself that there are no alternatives. These beliefs keep you hemmed in - they always provide reasons why nothing will work.

You are not being held back by direct force, but by your training - this belief in your own helplessness and your blind acceptance of what you have been taught. The recognition of your ignorance is the first step to true knowledge - without enlightenment you will never be able to say "this is the truth, this is the way things really are". Recognize now that nothing prevents you from leaving - you are bound only by your own "illusions".

Balance your mind. Use your creativity and imagination and your logic and reason in equal proportions. Integrate these opposite poles of consciousness. Structure your creative visions into meaningful order of thought and action. See both sides and seek out the common points - bring the opposition together and you will find your genius.

The objective, conscious mind reaches the limits of the lower "ego", which under the impact and pull of the higher emotions and compassion - realizes that to achieve even its most personal and self-oriented goals it must advance to a more mature "Ego" which encompasses more of the Universal Mind. The mind has opened to include extensions of the personal self with a mate and children and a widening circle of close friends. Now the circle must open even further. A variety of new challenges are presented with increased demands from your mental Karmic Contract. Your first reaction is to close your eyes to the magnitude of the tasks. Greater responsibility. The mind's role in organizing is challenged by the higher order of consciousness realized as the higher emotions' compassion and universal love bring new sensations, new data that defies rationalization. To rationalize this new process is precisely what the mind must do. With this greater ability to see the extent of order in the above, so grows the ability to see the extent of disorder in the below. The effect of the combination of the lower mental levels. Creative fruitation and self-assured expression in which the lower ego is pulsing with its potential and must pair with the maturing process of uncertainty and freedom that undergirds free will.

Questions to Answer: What actions, plans or ideas are being blocked by circumstances beyond your control? What would you like to do if you could get rid of the obstacles and blocks? Who or what could assist you to break free? What benefits do you receive by not acting? What is interfering with your creative expressions? Or your ability to communicate?

Card Nine: 4 of Swords

Ninth House - 4 of Swords

As far as beliefs and philosophies go - rest is the best course of action, best defence (armour), and distance and time out gives space to decide on the best course of action.

This could be taking a break by taking a trip (9th travel) or resting from all this knowledge gathering and dispersal or there is peace now found in doing so. 4s are grounded and here we have grounded ideas and thoughts and peace of mind (swords are intellect) so balanced perspective and a workable (and livable) philosophy this year comes from taking time out to think things through, "sleeping on it" and resting before leaping or deciding.'

Walling myself with certain strict beliefs will only put me under the gun, timeclock or knife (swords hanging above) and there's truly no need to protect yourself from the truth if the truth liberates you.

So being sure of myself will enable me to feel at peace this year knowing I'm doing what's "right" for myself in any given moment. Balanced perspective is freedom.

resting

taking a break
giving your body time to heal
avoiding overexertion
finding peace and quiet
relaxing body and soul
taking life easy

contemplating

gaining a better perspective
listening for your Inner Voice
taking time alone to think
standing back from the situation
examining your motivations
reviewing where you are

quietly preparing

consolidating inner resources
making sure your base is secure
getting ready for the future
coming to terms with what is
tieing up loose ends
stabilizing

Four of Swords - The negotiating mind - the meditating mind which is flexible, committed to staying in balance and non-positional. Maintain balance on all four levels - mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Move through these conflicting issues and resolve them. Stabilize yourself - rest and take this time to think of new plans. Your dreams will come true but you must wait. Things are changing - prepare your mind and make your plans. Give yourself time - this situation is getting better. There is no hurry now - consider this a convalescent period - a time to renew both your physical and mental energies and establish your thoughts.

Be willing now to face the issues, pay attention and tell the truth. Do not be concerned with the outcome, for it will be as it was meant to be. Establish your own sense of order and harmony. Build a solid foundation upon which you can expand. Withdrawal can lead to healing - allowing you to recoup your strength by holding back from the fight until there is a better chance to win and giving yourself time to recover from deep hurt and wounding. However, withdrawal - even for the purpose of recovery - can shut a person off from the world, creating a kind of spell that only an outside energy can break. Has your confident mask grown too heavy? Have you responded to your difficulties by isolating yourself - preferring to hide from the world rather than show your other side or try to work with people, flattening your emotional reactions and trying to hide them deep inside yourself?

Meditative composure, a well-centered mentality - a mental plateau. Mental stability, reliability - a centering of thoughts before going on, mental foundation. An introspective turn of the mind, but not in the sense of the Hermit. A break in the "affairs of the day" so that you may soon return refreshed and ready to "do battle" again. Here is the completion of mental projects - graduations/certifications. A laying of mental foundations. Introspection. Strong sense of identity, self-worth. Planning, fundamental understanding - rationality, practicality, facts, objectivity, order - a need for cleanliness, discipline, obedience, law, control, self-confidence and patience.

Questions to Answer: From what do you need to rest or retreat? Where do you need to focus your energies in order to recuperate your strength? What can you do to gain a better perspective and be fair and just in this situation? What kind of professional assistance would help most?