Summer Solstice Tarot Meditation

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Summer Solstice Tarot Meditation - part one

Summer Solstice; the sun rises at it’s earliest time of the year and sets at the latest, giving us the longest day and shortest night of the year. Traditionally this day would mark the beginning of the Harvest Season. The season for planting has officially passed, and now we begin to reap the benefits of what we have planted in the spring. The Sun takes his place of power, while the Mother Moon takes her time of rest… her time will come again at Yule, the Winter Solstice.
The solstices are all about balance, and we are reminded that for everything there is a time and season. The Wheel of the Year helps us understand they cycles of life through the simple understanding of the seasons of the Sun, the Moon, Planting and Harvesting. Summer Solstice is a time we should rejoice in the strength of the Sun, whose light promotes the growth of all life on Earth. It is a time to recognize that the choices we have made (I.e. the seeds we have planted) have begun to come to life and we must harvest and utilize the rewards of our work. Summer Solstice is a time to recognize that if things aren’t going our way, there is usually a reason behind it. Did we take steps to work toward our goals? Once we planted the seeds, did we water them, nurture them, and keep away the weeds and the bugs? If so, our harvest is better. If not, our harvest is small. The saying “You reap what you sow.” is perfect for the solstice, as we recognize that the power of the Sun (God) alone isn’t going to bring our dreams to fruition, but our hard work combined with our faith and the turning of The Wheel is what brings about our plentiful harvests.

There is more work ahead! Once the crops ripen, we will have to take the steps to reap them. What preparations need to be made, what steps need to be followed? These are questions we can ask ourselves during the Summer Solstice. Are we just being carried along by life, or are we going to utilize the energy of the sun, the longer hours of daylight, to keep working towards our goals and aspirations? Perhaps somewhere along the way, we forgot about our goals. We forgot to water those crops and now the field has gone to waste. (I’m not talking about Farmville here, though I know you just remembered to log on to Facebook so you can check your crops!) Well, if that’s the case and you have fallen from your path (remember that determination you had at New Year’s?) - it’s not too late. Summer Solstice is also about renewal, rebirth. You can pick up the pieces, find gratitude for what you have, and start again with a fresh new attitude.
Astrologically, the Summer Solstice falls on the cusp of Gemini and Cancer. We can bring this time into perspective by simply studying the energies associated with these signs. Gemini is all about Choices and synthesis. In tarot, the Lovers card is related to Gemini, and this card teaches us to work together in partnerships, but to never lose our sense of self. We must sometimes work with others in our lives; in our relationships, families, and at work. Gemini energy is all about cooperation, but in the end Gemini energy teaches us to stand strong and make our own choices. Sometimes we have to stand alone and choose what is best for us, what is moral, what is right. As we move through the Gemini cycle we have had to ask ourselves, what do my relationships tell me about myself? When is it right to go with the crowd, and when is it necessary to stand apart? How do the choices I make effect not only me, but those around me? Gemini energy teaches us to balance - sometimes another person might bring new perspective, new talents, new ideas to the table, and if we can synthesize another’s gifts with our own.. Well that’s what partnership is all about. But in the end it still comes down to the choices we make… and the people in our life are all part of those choices as well.

Next we come across Cancer energy. Cancer is the nurturing, affectionate, emotional force of the Zodiac. Through Cancer energy we learn about intuition, loyalty, sympathy, and imagination. Cancer nature is also dualistic and sometimes contradictory, much like Gemini energy which is always changing based on who they are around… Cancer energy transforms within itself. On one side it wants to be nurturing and helpful, but on the other side it is self-centered and brooding. It longs for adventure yet craves security. The tarot card related to Cancer is The Chariot, and you can see the opposing forces present on this card. But the one thing about Cancer energy is that it is tenacious. Once a crab grabs hold of something, it won’t let go. The Chariot teaches us that once our choices have been made, a commitment is made. For now, no matter what, whatever choices you made have set the wheels in motion and you have started down this path. The Chariot and Cancer teach us about responsibility, about having strength of resolve. We might not know exactly what lies on the path ahead of us, or how many turns onto new paths we might take. But once we take hold of the reigns and make the choice, the journey has begun! Don’t let go of the reins, don’t loosen your grip, keep your head up and accept responsibility for whatever choices you have made. Once you accept responsibility, you will find that you can channel your emotions more clearly, use your intuition to your advantage, and you will find yourself seeing creative answers to whatever problems and roadblocks you may face.

Meditation
Lay these two cards in front of you. The Lovers and The Chariot. Breathe deeply and evenly and just look at the images on the cards. Don’t force yourself to focus on any one thing, but allow your eyes and mind to wander across the images. Pay attention to how these cards make you feel, but don’t judge those feelings, just let them come and go. Remember to breathe deeply and evenly. Next, spend some time thinking about their meanings individually. Think about how they relate to the Summer Solstice. With The Lovers it is the choices we have made, the people we have surrounded ourselves with, the work we have done. With The Chariot it is the promise of new adventure, the unknown road ahead of us, the acceptance that the harvest we get is a reflection of the past choices we have made; this gives us the strength and resolve to take what we have and hold on tight as we head forward. Spend some time just looking at these two cards, listening to what they have to tell you. Look at them separately, and then look at them together. In what ways do they strengthen each other? What do they tell you, if you visualize them as one picture, or as part of one story rather than separate cards? Breathe in the essence of the cards. You can end your meditation with a prayer, asking for the understanding, guidance and acceptance of The Lovers and The Chariot through this Summer Solstice, or you can simply repeat this affirmation a couple of times;

“I choose to be free from inhibitions, guilt, and bondages in all my relationships. By harnessing all my forces toward my purpose and controlling my fears, I victoriously meet my challenges.”*

Once your meditation is complete, you might want to journal about your discoveries. You may find yourself motivated to make a list of preparations that need to be made or tasks that need to be completed as you enter your time of harvest. You may have new insights about the tarot cards that you want to write down in your tarot journal. Whatever you do, let it be in celebration. Don’t punish yourself for things you didn’t do or mistakes that you made. Instead, allow yourself to be thankful for the things you have learned and the ways you have grown, armor yourself with these new insights and allow yourself to set forth on your journey once again, with confidence. You may find that you have certain relationships that you know are no longer serving you or your goals, let these relationships go and set yourself free. Repeat the above affirmation to yourself whenever you feel you need it, to remind you of the lessons of the Gemini-Cancer cusp, and the renewal and promise of Summer Solstice. Go out and have some fun! Be merry, celebrate life! Go outside and greet the rising sun in the morning, in all it’s glory, and be energized and comforted!

Namaste!

~ Lady Josephine

* affirmations taken from the book, "Tarot For Yourself" by Mary K. Greer

There may be a part two to this blog coming, if I can find the time to write down and work out all the thoughts swirling through my head!!

Gemini Reading Giveway - WINNER!

Hey everyone, remember this post??

http://tarotmom.blogspot.com/2010/05/gemini-reading-giveaway.html

I offered up a FREE reading! Well, I'm holding up my end of the bargain... the only problem is, well there are two problems...

1) Apparently not very many of my readers are Geminis! Or, being that they are Gemini's they read this, and then read 10 other interesting things that day, and forgot to come back and sign up. Geminis - the essential ADHD of the zodiac!

2) Also, Gemini people might not be too good at following directions! For my WINNER - MISH - you didn't send me an e-mail! So now how am I to get ahold of you and tell you that you won, and give you your reading?? SO... if you are MISH who commented on the above post, please please please let me know! I would LOVE to give you your reading, and I promise I won't pick on you for being a Gemini... at least not too badly!!

email tarotbyjosephine@yahoo.com

Thanks!!

Parenting Astrologically - part 1 - Delineate!

As an aspiring Astrologer, I find the many subjects and aspects of Astrology fascinating, and I still feel that there is So Much to learn! Really, one could spend a lifetime just exploring one Natal Chart with all it's nuances and intricacies! My interest in Astrology ebbs and flows - sometimes I feel ready and motivated to dive into it's depths, and other times I feel too overwhelmed. (Interestingly enough, the flow of my interest has a strong correlation with current moon and sun sign activity; yet another subject to add to the list of things to explore!)
As a mother, I have a strong interest in understanding my children's charts. Theoretically, understanding your child's astrological personality; and how it relates to yours, could be an amazing parenting tool. There are surprisingly few books and websites about using astrology in parenting or with children, but I hope to write a series of blogs here with my thoughts and findings as I explore my children's natal charts.
So, last night I stayed up late, looking over my first-born's chart. As I said before, I feel that one could spend a lifetime just analyzing one chart, so I realized I needed to organize my thoughts and have a purpose here rather than just breaking it down. I want to be able to understand my daughter, and hopefully her chart can help me understand the bits of her personality that mystify and confuse me. I mean, 11 years old is a very confusing age! How can I, a Capricorn, help my pre-teen Aries through the difficult and confusing times ahead of her? (Middle School, boys, friends, High School?? EEk!!) Where to begin? "DUH... "I thought to myself. "Begin at The Beginning! DELINEATE!"

To Delineate an astrological chart, you simply break down the signs and planets into Qualities - namely Elemental and Triplicities. This will be part one of exploring my Miss Zee's chart and my own.
Here is Miss Zee's Chart -

Breaking It Down


THE ELEMENTS
Miss Zee is an Aries Sun(Cardinal Fire), Leo Rising (Fixed Fire), Aquarius Moon (Fixed Air).
She has a dominance of Fire Signs (5/13), with her Sun, Jupiter, Ascendant, and Pluto all in Fire Signs. Fire Signs are Active, Enthusiastic, and Independent. Fire signs enjoy being leaders or the center of attention, are very passionate and can have "fiery" tempers. Her Sun and Ascendant in Fire Signs tells me that the Fire Aspects of her personality are quite strong and this is how she will be seen by others and Fire Energy is how she will react to most situations.
Miss Zee also has some strong Air Sign Qualities, with her Moon, Uranus, and Neptune in Air Signs. Air Signs are intellectual, valuing communication, learning, and relationships. This tells me that Miss Zee's fiery passions and enthusiasm will likely be focused in areas which involve learning, intellect, and friendships and family relationships. With her Moon in an Air sign I can see that this intellectual side of her is more a part of her Inner Self, her "shadow self"... not a part that she will always show; but a part that drives her nonetheless.
Though Miss Zee only has two planets in Water Signs (Mars and Mercury) - one of these two planets has heavy weight in her chart. Mars is the ruler of Miss Zee's Sun Sign, Aries. This tells me that her the Active, Enthusiastic, Leadership qualities of her Aries personality are often driven by the Emotional, Intuitive, and Nurturing qualities of Water Energy.
The Elemental Energy that Miss Zee would have trouble accessing is Earth Energy. Venus and Saturn are the only two planets of her chart that reside in Earth Signs, and neither one of these planets have especially heavy weight in relation to her Sun, Ascendant, or Moon. A lack of Earth Energy reflects a certain lack of stability and practicality, and certainly explains her daydreaming, over-active imagination, hyperactivity, and trouble getting grounded or centering her energy.

As an Earthly Capricorn, I'm sure that this lack of Earth energy in my daughter is a big part of what can be so frustrating for me when dealing with her. Recognizing this huge difference in our Elemental make-up will definitely shine a light on some intricacies of our Mother-Daughter relationship.

TRIPLICITIES
Miss Zee is predominantly a Fixed sign. With her Ascendant, Moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all appearing in Fixed Signs within her chart, there is no question that these aspects will strongly appear within her personality. Fixed signs are stubborn, resistant to change, perfectionists and like to see things through to the end. They are not usually the initiators or leaders, but once placed in a position of leadership or authority they will see things through to the end. With a lack of Mutable and Cardinal Energy, Miss Zee may at times be shy, and lack a certain versatility and adaptability. It can be hard for fixed signs to adapt to change.


Let's take a brief look at some of the Qualities of my own chart;


Lady Josephine;

I have a Capricorn Sun (Cardinal Earth), Capricorn Ascendant (Cardinal Earth), and Scorpio Moon (Fixed Water)

I have a heavy dominance of Earth Signs (7/13) with my Sun, Ascendant, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn in Earth Signs. The ruler of my Sun Sign (Capricorn is ruled by Saturn) is one of these planets in Earth, giving quite Heavy weight to my Earth Energy. This abundance of Earth energy makes me Practical, Stable, Grounded, and focused on success.


The other elements are not nearly as strong in my chart, but Water is the next in line for influencing my personality - but only because of the heavy weight of the presence of my Moon in Scorpio. My Inner Self, my "shadow self" is driving by the watery energy of emotion, intuition, and nurturing qualities. It seems that Miss Zee and I have this underlying Water energy in common, though hers is expressed through Mars and mine is expressed through the Moon.

I have a definite lack of Fire Energy in my chart - with Neptune being the only planet present in a fire sign, and not a very influential or "heavy" planet at that. Perhaps this is why, although I love my daughter with all my heart, I can find her quite exhausting to be around. Her fiery enthusiasm and energy tends to confuse and bewilder my Earth energy, which prefers to be more contained and steady.

TRIPLICITIES -
My Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable aspects are more balanced. With only slightly more weight given to Cardinal Energy due to my Sun and Ascendant being Cardinal Capricorn, this is the slightly more dominant part of my personality; giving me Enterprising, Initiating, and Outgoing traits. There is a balance between my Mutable and Fixed energies, indicating that I can adapt when needed, but I can also resist change and be stubborn at times. This balance among these astrological triplicities can probably be both one of my greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses as a parent. I am adaptable and can change my reactions and actions, but this may also mean that I am not consistent, and we all know that children crave consistency - something that may be especially important to my "Fixed Sign" daughter.

CONCLUSION -
As you can see, you can learn a lot by simply delineating a chart. I haven't even begun to explore the positions of the planets in individual signs, Chart Type, Decantes, Aspects, etc. Yet the basic understanding of the Elemental differences between my chart and my daughter's chart lays the groundwork for a more complete understanding of our relationship. It begins with understanding the relationship between Fire and Earth (our dominant elemental energies). Think about how Fire and Earth act together in the physical world. Fire is a neccessary part of the life cycle on Earth. With fire we find comfort, cook our food, and protect ourselves. Yet if it is not contained, fire can destroy Earth, burning up all it's nutrients and rescources. On the other hand, Fire needs Earth.... without Earth providing the fuel, fire cannot burn. Interestingly enough, Earth can be used to put out fire, shoveling scoops of dirt onto a flame to smother it is one of the most efficient ways to put out a fire.
With Fire and Earth, it is a delicate balance. They need eachother, yet they can just as easily destroy eachother. My challenge as a parent of Miss Zee will be to nurture her and help her find balance and stability as she lacks that Earth energy; yet at the same time to avoid being "burned up" by her fire energy and to avoid "smothering" her flame with my Earth energy. I know that at times over the past 11 years I have failed at finding this balance in many ways. Yet maybe now, understanding the root of this imbalance and the nature of our differences and strengths, we can work together to find balance and support eachother in a way that only Fire and Earth could do! With an understanding of the relationship of our delineated charts, I also recognize that it is important for me to let my little Fire sign explore her independence and to not be too controlling (and yes, as a Capricorn Mom, sacrificing control can be very challenging!). It is also important for me to be understanding that my daughter's Fixed nature requires patience when it comes to any change in routine or environment, and that consistency will be something that gives her comfort. Giving her the opportunity to act and react independently, but acting as a gentle and patient guide and a stable place to find comfort and strength is what she needs from me as a parent.

The Lovers & Gemini

The Lovers - the card of the tarot most often thought of as a card of romance... but there is more to this card's meaning than simply "Romantic Love or Relationships". To understand more about this card, let's explore a couple different versions of the card, along with the nature of Gemini; The Lovers' astrological connection.

The Classic meanings of this card are;

*Love, Attraction, Choices, Partnerships, Balance, Duality, Personal Beliefs, Values, Sexuality

The Classic symbols present on the card are; a pair of lovers or twins, nudity, angels, the tree of Knowledge, The tree of Life

Here we find quite a different version of The Lovers in The Fey Tarot, illustrated by Mara Aghem. This card seems to emphasize the opposite natures of the lovers.

From the guidebook by Riccardo Minnetti - "The Lovers represent a union of opposites, an understanding of things which are not made to be alike. Also, the courage and the sweetness of this contact. Coincidence of opposites, love, harmony, union, permeation, comprehension, tolerance. Choice, test, difficulty, seperation, desire attained. To meet, even in diversity; to choose, even in doubt; to love, abandoning oneself to the heart and to life. There is no need to be afraid of the differences or to choose between them, but to percieve how each thing is completed by the other."

In "The Housewives Tarot" by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum, we find our lovers in blissful oblivion. Yes, Ignorance Is Bliss, but this looks dangerous! This might serve as a reminder that hopeless devotion shouldn't be hopeless, that selfless love doesn't have to mean giving up your sense of self or individuality!

From the guidebook;

* Romance * Infatuation *
" The Lovers teach us that there is more to romance and relationships than long gazes into eachother's eyes and the thrill of putting out in the back seat of a convertible. Matters of the heart are always complicated, and with love comes many responsibilities and repercussions. Don't be blinded by beauty and physical attraction. Keep your eyes on the road and watch for hazards ahead!"

So, how does all this relate to the astrological sign of Gemini? Let's take a look at the mythology behind the astrological sign which is marked by the constellation of The Twins.

In Greek Mythology, constellation of the Twins was placed in the sky by Zeus, to honor the undying love and loyalty of twin brothers Castor and Pollux. Basically, the story goes that Zeus disguised himself as a beautiful swan in order to seduce the affections of the human queen of Sparta, Leda. Their union led to the birth of the twins, Castor & Pollux, whose sister was Helen of Troy. The brothers were strong and athletic, but both with distinctly different talents. Upon the untimely death of Castor, Pollux bargained with Jupiter for his brother's life, offering his own life in exchange. Zeus found the twin's love and loyalty noble and placed them in the sky to be together forever.

This is obviously not the type of romantic love that is indicated on The Lover's card, - or is it? The Twin brothers were opposites in many ways, and each brought his unique talents and strengths into each battle they faced. When in a relationship, whether it is romantic, business, or family, we must trust in eachother to bring their very best to the relationship. It is a partnership that balances eaqually between each members strengths that will last and be remembered, the way that Castor and Pollux are remembered by their image in the night sky.

Gemini Key Characteristics include;
Energetic, Versatile, Intellectuals who rely on thought & logic more than emotion. Duality, Humanism, Communicative, Superficail, Quick-Witted, Scattered, Curious, Variety-seeking, Easily Distracted, Mobile, Fickle, Spontaneous, Nervous, Mental, Responsive

Gemin's nature is to change. Ever notice how in some situations, around some people, you act differntly? The Lovers in tarot refers to relationships and unions of all kinds. The Lovers also refers to the choices we make in these situations, and the duality or versatility of our nature in each relationship. This is true Gemini behavior & traits. Even if you're not a gemini, we all experience certain traits of all signs to one degree or another, or experience it's influnence as the sun or moon travel through that sign. Look back at the story of Castor and Pollux, at the story of their conception. Zeus transformed himself into a swan in order to win the affections of Leda. Some would say this was trickery, but a Gemini might see this simply as a transformation necessary to achieve one's goal. Gemini is the Mutable Air sign of the Zodiac; the ever-changing, easily adapting, dual natured, Lover of Life.

As the sun transits Gemini and we study The Lovers in depth, ask yourself, "how have I changed in my relationships with others? What sacrifices have I made?" Think of the relation between The Lovers & The Magician and ask yourself, "In what way am I in control of my relationships?" "What path do I want to take now?" "How am I responding within my relationships and unions?"

* Are you a Gemini?? Don't forget to sign up for a chance to win a FREE reading! Check out THIS POST! *

Tuesday's Oracle - Talk Shop

For this week's Oracle Card I chose Sonia Choquette's "Trust Your Vibes Oracle Cards".

The card I drew today was "Talk Shop".
This card is an important reminder that a basic part of trusting our vibes and growing our sixth sense abilities is to talk about them. Finding people you can talk to about your sixth sense expereiences and thoughts will help you learn to trust and recognize these feelings! When we talk about our dreams, vibes, and feelings with love and pride, this is a huge affirmation and works with the Power of Attraction. Affirming that our Vibes are a wonderful, amazing part of our lives helps us open up to the Universe and raise our vibrations to a higher level. If you feel like you can't talk to the people around you about your Sixth Sense experiences and feelings without ridicule or scoffing, perhaps it is time to seek out some like-minded friends who allow you to talk about these things more freely. In today's world of the internet and social networking, it is so easy to find like-minded people who are willing to talk and listen. Just trust your vibes and open up a little bit, you might be suprised to find a world of loving support is out there just waiting to welcome you! If you don't talk about your vibes, your sixth sense, your psychic abilities, etc. to someone, this sends your ego the message that you are ashamed of or afraid of these feelings or powers, and your spirit will begin to work against these vibes and feelings rather than trusting them and supporting them. So let's work on unblocking those vibes that are locked in by fear, find someone to talk to about the wonderful, amazing gifts we have, and open ourselves up to a Universe of Love!

You can add me on Facebook "Lady Josephine", or on Yahoo Instant Messenger at tarotbyjosephine@yahoo.com - I'd love to talk shop with you!