Thursday, February 25, 2010

Pisces and The Moon

Is it just me, or is anyone else feeling more introspective and spiritual lately? Not only that, all of my desires to indulge in lazy, self destructive behavior seem to be on overdrive. It’s like I’m flitting back and forth between being here and…. Somewhere else…..

I think it’s the effects of the sun in Pisces. Even people who don’t have a Pisces Sun or Moon in their Natal Charts must still feel the effects of the sun transiting through this sign; this mutable watery powerhouse of the Zodiac! We feel the effects of Mercury traveling thru the signs, as well as the moon, Saturn, etc…. so why not the sun? For some reason, in this respect it’s a less talked-about theme. When we talk about the Sun, we talk about Sun Signs; “What’s your sign?” as if the only important time of our life involved with the Sun is where it was when we were born. It can be easy to forget that all of us - as a whole (or at least as a hemisphere) feel the influences of the Sun passing through each sign no matter what our birthday is. And certainly, depending on the Pisces/Neptune influence in our specific Natal Charts - we all feel these effects in a distinctly different way. (It’s for these reasons that here on my website and other websites and at home, I study the tarot cards as they are related to current astrological events.)

XVIII The Moon

Pisces is such a conflicted sign; the last sign of the Zodiac. Aries as the first sign of the Zodiac inspires and compels us, gives drive and leadership to take command of our lives. Much like Aries, Pisces drives us and impels us; but inward and upward rather than forward. The image of the two fish swimming opposite directions, yet bound by twine, tells the story. At this point in the Zodiac story, it is an ending and yet a beginning. The two aspects of the soul; the physical and the spiritual, are connected yet not always working together. If you have ever known a Pisces Sun individual, you know that they can be so compassionate and in many ways have a raised vibration and higher consciousness, but inside they are conflicted and fight their own personal demons in a very dramatic way.


Some Pisces Key Characteristics;
Sentimental, Subtle, Vague, Visionary, Impractical,
Artistic, Illusory, Psychic, Self-Deceiving, Addictive.
Sensitive, Vulnerable, Imaginative, Escapist, Compassionate,

The tarot card associated with Pisces is The Moon (XVIII). (try not to let this confuse you - Pisces is ruled by the planet Neptune, and I’ll get to that later!) In tarot, the 18th Major Arcana card, The Moon, is related to the concepts of secrets, inner demons, emotional battles, intuition, Yin feminine energy, psychic abilities, and spiritual or etheric experiences and events. The Moon teaches us the principle of Introspection and Personal Integrity, and the card’s key words and concepts are; Reflection, Shadow, hidden enemies, darkness, intuition, romance, wax and wane, ebb and flow, secrets, the unconscious, and the Supernatural or Spiritual realms. Though the moon itself is astrologically related to Cancer, the tarot card “The Moon” has it’s own distinct set of attributes, which can easily be connected to the Pisces and all that this sign represents!! The Moon asks us to examine the inner, secret, or “dark” areas within; because with true understanding and acceptance of all aspects of ourselves, we can transcend the physical limitations of life and experience spiritual harmony. This of course, is at odds with our human nature to live in the physical, material existence that we know. In the dark of night, under the light of the moon, our senses are heightened and we become aware of things in a new way. This heightened awareness can also bring to the surface our fears and anxieties; of which at some point in our life we will have to face these fears and “demons” or succumb to their destruction. The Moon also reminds us to pay attention to patterns within our life. Are we unnecessarily repeating the same patterns over and over? Are we using the natural cycles of our life to our advantage, or are we working against these natural ebbs and flows? We must cut through the surface to reveal the true inner nature of things before we can really understand them. But this isn’t about using logic or science to find our answers. The mysterious answers that are revealed by the light of the Moon are those we feel with our vibes, our intuition, and our instincts.

In Astrology, the planetary ruler of Pisces is Neptune; the planet of Spirituality, Mystery, Illusion, the subconscious world, Imagination, Artistic Vision, and Psychic Abilities. So you can see where Pisces gets it’s mystical qualities. The positive influences of Neptune are; Transcendental, Spiritual, Mystical, Creative, Compassionate, Dreaming, and Inspirational. The negative or adverse energies of Neptune are Deception, Confusion, Fraud, Treachery, Addiction, Self-pitying or self-deceiving, Addictive, and Escapist or Delusional.

Pisces is the natural ruler of the 12th House of the Zodiac; the House of Secrets, Sorrows, and Self-Undoing. Pisces energy teaches us that we are in control of our destiny and our life. It is the choices we make, or don’t make, and the decisions we choose which will either lead us to our own undoing, our sweet victory and personal ascension. Just like the tarot card, The Moon, compels us to face our fears and uncover the secret depths of our lives and ourselves in order to move forward as a more fully balanced being; balanced just like Night and Day. Balanced between our physical and spiritual selves. The pillars or towers depicted in the Rider-Waitte version of this card show the balance that can be reached, just as the two fishes, though swimming in opposite directions, create an equal and balanced energy. The path on the card that leads us to these pillars takes us on a journey in which we must face our own fears, faults, shortcomings, and secrets. But as you know, the more tests and challenges we face through life, the stronger we become.

Monday, February 22, 2010

The Star / Moving Forward Fearlessly


Journaling with Aquarius and The Star - see the original post/meme HERE


Do I allow my higher source to be my guide?
I wish I could say, "yes, always!" I wish I could say this is easy, and that I don't need reminders and universal nudges to allow myself to be guided by God and Goddess and the Higher Powers of the Universe. The truth is, I forget. It's as simple as that, because it doesn't take any effort to allow my higher source to guide me, it just takes awareness. Us humans though, we are such silly creatures of habit. And 30 years of habitually forgetting to allow myself to be guided - well, it's a hard habit to break.
How can I nurture myself and those around me more?
Be more forgiving of myself. If I am not so hard on myself, and willing to forgive myself for my short-comings, the Love and Nurturing can flow more easily. If I allow myself to act out of Love, rather than acting because I feel like "I have to do this", then the Nurturing becomes simple.
Do I emit a presence of peace and harmony to others?
Hmmm... not lately. I have been a bundle of nerves; the combinations of stress and uncertainty with hormones and poor health have provided a gateway for my clinical depression to take hold of me again. Chemical imbalances, sick children, and money problems are not exactly a friendly breeding ground for peace and harmony... but I think this goes hand in hand with the two previous questions. If I allow Spirit to guide me, forgive myself, and nurture myself, I won't be able to help but emit a presence of peace and harmony.
What can I do to allow more tranquility into my day?
Do I need to allow more tranquility into my day? OR - do I just need to recognize the opportunities for tranquility that are already here? Yes. That one. If I am open to it, I can find tranquility in washing the dishes, folding the laundry, writing a blog, putting in job applications, looking for a house, and doing homework with my children. Aside from that, I think if I made time for daily yoga and meditation again - something that I have gotten away from in the past two months - I would allow more tranquility into my day with these practices.
What can I do to be more at ease with myself and my surroundings?
Continue to get rid of clutter and physical things that cause clutter and messes. Prioritize the things I need to get done, or make a list of important things to do and try to accomplish one thing a day. Follow the Guidance of My Higher Self. Forgive Myself. Nurture Myself. Find tranquility in everything. Meditate. Do Yoga. Write.
-------------------------------------------------------
I decided to draw an Oracle Card to go along with my journal on The Star. I thought the Fairies would have some advice for me to help me embrace and follow through with the things I wrote about above. So, using the "Healing with the Fairies Oracle Cards" by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D., I asked the Fairies what further advice they had for me.
"Moving Forward Fearlessly"
Yes, of course. It just comes down to Fear. Not listening to my Higher Power? Fear. Not being nurturing to myself and those around me? Fear. Not allowing peace and harmony to flow through me? Fear. Not recognizing the tranquility all around me? Fear. Not being at ease with myself and my surroundings? Fear. I have been so afraid of so many things, that I have blocked myself from moving forward. I have locked myself into this corner because I have been so afraid - afraid of not having enough money, afraid of not being able to find a job, afraid of not being able to find an affordable place for my family to live. I have become so afraid of failure that I have stopped seeing the successes around me. Well, it is time to let go of the Fear. Time to trust, time to have an abundance of Faith, and time to begin Moving Forward Fearlessly.
From the guidebook by Doreen Virtue;
"You are making big breakthroughs in your life by putting your Divinely inspired ideas into action. Trust that you are guided each step of the way. Those gut feelings, dreams, and strong impulses you've been getting aren't just examples of wishful thinking. They represent the germination of new projects and situations that are vehicles for your Divine life mission. Don't ignore these gifts from heaven, which come on wings of repetitive, strong thoughts and feelings. The fairies ask you to honor your inner feelings by taking at least one step today in the direction of making your dreams and desires a reality. Fearlessly take one step to dismantle any part of your life that is out of integrity. Take another step toward realizing your heart's desire. Even a tiny step that is remotely related to improving your life will make you feel like you're soaring with the fairy realm. Keep taking one step a day, and soon your dreams will be a reality.
Affirmation; I move forward fearlessly, trusting that each step I take is perfectly guided."

Friday, February 12, 2010

I Write Love On My Arms

I have struggled with depression since I was a teenager. I have learned coping skills since then and for the most part I am a positive and happy person. But when life gets stressful and the depression kicks in, it can be hard to practice what I preach. I told a friend last night, "I can't throw myself a life jacket." I was sitting here considering whether or not to call a depression crisis hotline, as I just felt that I needed someone to talk to. But I was scared, I've never called one of those hotlines before. And I kept giving myself excuses. I'm not suicidal, I'm not crying, I'm not cutting myself or self medicating with drugs. But other signs of depression have been here. I'm so tired, but I can't sleep at night. At night I lay awake in near panic-attack mode, my mind spinning with the worries and stresses o my life. In the daytime, I can function, but it's a struggle just to keep myself out of bed. On the days I do go back to bed, I sleep all day. On the days I manage to stay out of bed, I feel that it is all I can do to take care of the kids and the daily household chores. Taking a shower or bath? Too much work. Making important phone calls? Too hard. Eating? Too much effort.
So I was stting here looking online at a list of Depresson Hotlines, trying to decide whether or not to call someone. Which one? What would I say? Would they judge me? Would I be wasting my time calling a hotline that says "Suicide Hotline" - when I'm not suicidal? Excuses. I picked up my deck of cards (at the urging of an online friend) and drew a card. The 9 of Swords. (Above). Okay... obvious, right?
I called a local Crisis Hotline. It was the best thing I could have done. The person I talked to was so compassionate and understanding, and seemed to know exactly what to talk to me about. I talked for an hour to a stranger about my life and my feelings, and this phone call was probably the biggest act of self-love that I have taken in a long time. Aside from talking me through my feelings, she gave me some ideas and hope, along with some community refferal numbers to call for further assistance. I guess I'm writing this because I want others to hear first hand that these hotlines can help. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or depressed, call someone. It was the best thing I could have done.
Today is "To Write Love On Her Arms Day". TWLOHA is a Depression Awareness and support group. Each year they ask people to write love on their arms to spread awareness about Depression. As I wrote "Love" on my arm today, I realized how far I have come over the years. Last night I reached out and asked for help. In the past, I wouldn't have done that. I would have silently suffered until I reached my breaking point. Here on my arm where the words Love are written, there used to be scars. The scars have faded and over the years I have finally learned how to Love myself instead of hurt myself.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Thursday's Thirteen - Starstruck!

I haven't done a "Thursday Thirteen" in a while now, but I figured since I am currently obsessed with the tarot card The Star, this would give me the perfect excuse to go web-hunting for different variations on this card! So I searched high and low and here are the 13 versions of The Star that I found to share!!


1) Beautiful in it's simplicity, here is a digital image of The Star, much like the Rider-Waite version, and including the imagery of a young maiden pouring water into a stream and onto the earth. The Sunrise represents hope and renewal, and the 8 pointed star, which represents cosmic order and radiant energy. Artist/Deck unknown.

2) Harry Potter Tarot - this is an unpublished deck by Laura Freeman. A bit different from the classic image, this artist choose the image and symbolism of The Phoenix - a mythical creature that is in a constant state of rebirth and regeneration - very appropriate for The Star card, although in this deck it is called "Hope". http://www.nasubionna.net/ 3) The Thoth deck shows the naked Egyptian goddess Nut. Her right hand is held high, and she pours water from a gold cup onto her head. Her left hand is held low, and she pours the immortal liquor of life from a silver cup onto the junction of land and water. Behind her is a celestial globe on which is a seven-pointed Star of Venus. In the left-hand corner is a seven-pointed Star of Babalon. This card represents hope and promise. The imagery suggests Jung's archetype of the star. According to von Franz (Boa, 1992) Jung taught that the star symbolizes that part of the personality that survives death; the spiritual part of the psyche. http://www.schuelers.com/chaos/chaos7.htm
4) Here is a photoshopped version of The Star, though I don't know the artist or the deck. Though it lacks some of the classic symbolism, the Maiden with her vessel of sparkling water of life is still present. Perhaps the 3-leafed clovers represent the feelings of Luck that come with Youth and Hope, but I have a hard time finding the sense of Purity and Renewal here - perhaps the city setting that looks like New York or Las Vegas just spoils the mood for me.


5) All I could find about this card is that it was created by an artist known as "14 Fourteen", but I don't know if she has created a whole deck or just a few cards. What I do know is that I LOVE this card! From the interesting star (suspended by a hook) that seems to be staving
off the darkness to the best of it's ability, to the maiden who seems to be haphazardly pouring her water, to the small creatures gathered around her, I could explore the imagery of this card all day!
6) You all know by now that I have an affinity for The Housewive's Tarot by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum. Here we find The Star translated as Success and Victory, and finally getting the recognition for your hard work. Winning that blue ribbon sure looks invigorating, and I bet this housewife goes home with a renewed sense of self and finds inspiration to try new recipes!
7) 'The Stars' from The Fey Tarot, illustrated by Mara Aghem. Now this is refreshing. I can almost feel ans smell the crisp night air, and the inspired hope and vitality of this young Fey. The stars seem to be falling right into her skin, as she absorbs their light to take with her on whatver journey may lie ahead.


8) The Star / Aquarius from The Celestial Tarot by Kay Steventon and Brian Clark. I blogged more about this card last week, Here

9) The Voyager Tarot by James Wanless. I wouldn't know where to begin with the multitude of symbols in this multi-media creation. This deck is purely amazing!
10) Unknown - this simple artists sketch seems to capture Hebe, the Greek Goddess of Youth and Vitality, who poured the waters of life for the Olympians and mankind alike.
11) Beautiful, refreshing, and Hopefull, here is The Star from The Gaian Tarot. Gazing into the pool, and perhaps even drinking from it, I feel that this card represents the way that the Waters of Life are available to all of us... we can all find renewal and hope if we just look and ask. This deck is set to be published in September of 2011 by Llewellyn Worldwide... it will be on my Wish List for sure!
12) Another deck unknown to me, but very beautiful and I thought it deserved a place here. The Star is present, as well as the imagery of water... though it's hard to tell if the setting is above water or under water. Does our hope and vitality come from within us or around us? Does it matter?


13) I am trying to finout what deck this is... it may not be part of a whole deck but simply an artist interpretation of this card. The only clue I have is that the artist may be known as "Sanja", and I found her website at DeviantArt. Simple and Beautiful, the feelings of Youth and Hope are easily seen in this card.


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Turn Around Tuesdays - The Idol Psychic!

In another attempt to continue with the Tuesday meme of Turn Around Tuesdays, I have an exciting blog to share with you today!

I first have a confession - I must admit that my family and I have all become Idol Addicts. We begin to get giddy and sometimes hyperventilate in December each year when the comercials and previews for the next season of American Idol begins. We all become voice and music critics for a few months out of the year as we watch the contestants and state our opinions; either agreeing with or disagreeing with the judges. I found myself having the tough job of comforting my 10 year old daughter when she found out that Paula Abdul would not be a judge this year. Yes, tears were involved - I won't say who's.

So, what better blog to "Turn Around" this Tuesday, as we enter Hollywood Week??

The Idol Psychic - of course!!

Corrine Kenner; author of "Tarot For Writers", and "Simple Fortune Telling with Tarot Cards", brings us a weekly live blog in which she will pull cards for contestants and give predictions in a fun and witty way. Now I can have my obsessions with Tarot and Idol satisfied at the same time! Thanks, Corrine!

((Don't forget, come check out Turn Around Tuesdays at The Soccer Mom's Guide to Wicca!))

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Aquarius Spread


I thought I'd share a tarot spread with you today, another of the Aquarius / The Star themed blogs to go along with our current astrological phase. This spread can be used any time, not just during an Aquarius sun or moon (though those times would be ideal) and can be used for anyone - whether you have Aquarius in your charts or not.


The Aquarius Spread
~ I Know ~

1) These are my current friends.
2) How is my desire for freedom?
3) Do I claim leadership in my life?
4) How do I oppose society?
5) How is my spontaneity?
6) This is my feeling of inferiority.
7) Do I overestimate myself?
8) How can I reach the star? (Can I live my dreams?)

This spread can go along well with the meditation and journaling exercises outlined at Journal Yourself Awake in this post - Journaling with Aquarius and The Star.

Enjoy, and many Blessings to you!

If you are interested in having this reading done for you by me, or any other reading, feel free to contact me by e-mail!

Credits; This reading is from "Illustrated Tarot Spreads" by Heidemarie Pielmeier & Marcus Schirner, pg. 91. The illustraton of the spread is using the background of The Star tarot card from the Renaissance Tarot Deck, U.S. Games Systems 1987