FlyLady - Pagan Style; put out clothes for tomorrow!

For those of you who don't know what FlyLady is, it's an inspirational website designed to help you clean and de-clutter your home and your life. It helps you create routines that work for you, your lifestyle & your family to help housekeeping become stress-free and something you just do naturally and daily rather than something you put off until the last minute and then stress about when you have company coming over.

I have felt for awhile now that many aspects of the FlyLady program can be applied in spiritual ways to those who consider themselves, Neo-Pagans, Kitchen Witches, Hearth Witches, Green Witches, etc. I will be going over some FlyLady basics here in my blog and writing about how they can be seen as a spiritual thing; not just a house-cleaning and organizing thing! If you missed it, check out my post called "FlyLady - Pagan Style; Welcome Letter"

When you start with FlyLady, there are 31 days of "Baby Steps" to help you slowly start to integrate small changes into your daily routines. It's about developing habits and changing your mind-set to a positive one!

BabySteps Day 7
Keep Doing what you have been doing!
Look at the written reminders you have made for yourself!
Get Dressed To Shoes When you Get up!
Keep Your Sink Shining!
Spend 2 minutes "putting out" Hot Spots in your home!
Put out your clothes for tomorrow before you go to bed!
(read FlyLady's Day 7 message here )

 

Today's BabyStep asks us to add one more thing to our simple "Before Bed Routine".  So far we are already making sure that our sink is shining before we go to bed.  Now we pick out our clothes for tomorrow and lay them out.  This makes getting dressed to shoes in the morning so much easier!  We don't have to get up and figure out what to wear... it's already laid out for us! 

This is part of planning for tomorrow.  What we are doing, where we are going, and what the weather is like will all have a part in what we choose to lay out tonite before going to bed.  Training ourselves to think ahead like this can be difficult at first, but I think it's a great asset to those living a spiritual life.  "How can picking out my clothes for tomorrow be a spiritual life practice?" you may be asking!  Here are my thoughts.

Planning ahead and knowing what we are doing tomorrow is a big part of a witches' life.  We often like to check our calenders to know the moon phase... is a full moon or new moon coming up?  Is there a seasonal celebration or Pagan Sabbat (Holiday) coming up?  Even just knowing the day of the week can be an asset to our spiritual life, as different days of the week have a different energy signature; ruled by different planets, colors, and Deities.  Picking out our clothes for tomorrow sets aside a time for us to think about tomorrow.  We recognize another day has passed and can take time to be grateful for whatever lessons we have encountered, and then plan for the new day that will begin in the morning!  It's all about mindfulness!  A spiritually empowered person knows that when we live each moment with mindful intention, we have more success, more peace, more happiness!  Take a moment when you lay out your clothes for tomorrow to be mindfully focused on what you hope tomorrow will hold for you.  Life has a way of not quite sticking to a "plan", but our choice is in what kind of attitude and intention we go through our day with!

If you really want to get into the magickal essence of picking out your clothes for tomorrow, here is a list of colors associated with the days of the week.  Even if you don't have outfits with these colors, perhaps you can find ways to accessorize using these colors with your scarf, jewelry, fingernail polish, or even your socks!

Sunday; Yellow, Gold, Orange

Monday; Silver, White, Light Blue

Tuesday; Red, Orange

Wednesday; Purple, Lavender

Thursday; Royal Blue, Greens

Friday; Pink, Aqua-Blue, Sea-Green

Saturday; Black, Dark Purple

 

For a complete list of Spiritual correspondences for days of the week, check out this article at Pagan/Wiccan About.com!

 

There is a slightly different list of colors depending on who you talk to.  This is a great article, coming from an Ayurvedic point of view... which also suggests eating foods of these colors on the day they are associated with!
http://blog.forret.com/2007/08/weekday-colours-ayurveda/ 

 

 

Any way you look at it, picking out your clothes for tomorrow can become a very important part of your daily spiritual living!  As well as helping us to become more organized, and save time in the mornings when we get up!  So go ahead!  Take a few minutes to look in your closet or dresser and pick out what you want to wear tomorrow!  Lay it out on a chair, shelf, hung on a hook, or on a hanger hanging from your doorknob.  Set the intention for the day you will have tomorrow, and be mindful of what kind of day you have had today!  You may even begin to see a pattern of the days of the week or colors you wear and the types of things that happen to you!

 

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In this reading I will explore the Pisces/Neptune energy in your astrological chart, PLUS a 7 card Tarot Reading specially designed to look at the Pisces energy present in your life right now! This reading would normally be priced at $45.00.... but for a limited time I am offering it for only $30.00! Come check it out, and take advantage of this great deal!

Special Offer - Pisces Reading

Autumnal Equinox - Justice, The Emperor, and the Page of Cups

The Autumnal Equinox is approaching and the earth prepares to shift from Summer to Fall. On Mabon the day and night will be equal, and after that the days will begin to grow shorter and the nights longer. The weather will begin to cool as the Second Harvest is celebrated and we reflect upon what we have learned and how we have grown and expanded over the past cycle. This year Mabon also coincides with The Harvest Moon - the September esbat. Mabon and the Harvest moon are a good time to manifest balance, protection, prosperity, and harmony in your life. My friend Autumn wrote a wonderful blog about Mabon - an Autumn Festival.. check it out!

Some astronomical facts; The sun moves into Libra at 11:09 pm (EST) on September 22, followed by the moon entering Aries at 4:47 am (EST) on Thursday, Sept. 23; the day of the Equinox. The Harvest Moon will reach it's fullest at 5:17 am (EST) on the 23rd, and the actual point of Equinox will occur at 11:09 pm (EST) with the Full Moon brightly shining in the sky. This year there is also a beautifully visible Jupiter, in conjunction with the Harvest Moon.... it will be clearly visible and bright just to the left of the moon. (More....)

I was thinking about what type of meditation and self-discovery or journaling I could do for this coming Equinox, and of course with me; all roads lead to Tarot! So I have designed this very special Tarot mediation and Tarot Spread for your enjoyment and introspection. Using my beloved deck, The Celestial Tarot (Kay Steventon, Brian Clark, U.S. Games Systems) I found these three cards that perfectly coincide with the energies that will be present and active this Mabon. (*note - you can use these same cards with any deck you have!!)

Princess / Page of Cups ~ Autumn.
"Surrounded by the rich metaphoric colors of the autumnal equinox, the Princess of Cups contemplates the seasonal shift. The season of the zodiac turns to Libra, the quintessential sign of relationships, followed by Scorpio the phase of intimate union, then Sagittarius the distillation of knowledge. The Princess stands at the threshold of her own metamorphosis either through the process of emotional maturation in relationships or through her own imagination. In her hands is the urn, the alembic that symbolizes the birth of new feelings and attachments beginning with the feelings of self love and respect." ~ Brian Clark via the Celestial Tarot guidebook.
The classical meanings of the Page of Cups indicate the arrival or delivery of deep feelings, romance, spirituality, and self-love. In order to fully embrace the gifts of our relationships (including our relationship with Spirit) we need to allow ourselves to be emotional, intuitive, intimate, and loving. As we open ourselves up to self love and allow our emotions and intuitions to guide us we become more mature in our relationships and we can fully begin to harvest rewards that will lead us to greater emotional fulfillment and intuitive or spiritual guidance from within. (more Page of Cups)
As you contemplate the Page/Princess of Cups, ask yourself the following questions (and write them in your journal!)

* What is my intuition telling me, or what is my Spirit guiding me to do?
* What am I harvesting on an emotional level? (What emotional lessons and growth have occurred?)
* How can I serve others and be more loving in my relationships?
* Who is dependent upon me emotionally? Who am I dependent on emotionally? Are these relationships emotionally satisfying for all involved?

Affirmation; "I am willing to risk loving."

Justice ~ Libra (Sun in Libra)
"Libra reflects the evolution from instinctual life to culture, echoing the European trend away from primitive values toward the refined ones. At the midpoint of the Zodiacal round it represents the Northern Hemisphere autumnal equinox. Like Libra, Justice is at the midpoint of the Fool's Journey through the Major Arcana. At this crossroads are two orders of justice; one is the old instinctual order, which upholds familial and tribal values, while the other is the new rational order promoting reason and civil law. The card of Justice reflects the balance between the two modes of being." ~ Brain Clark via The Celestial Tarot guidebook.
The classical meanings of the Justice card include responsibility, cause and effect, fairness, ethics and equality, truth, and accountability. Libra energy encourages us to find balance in all areas of our life and urges us to make choices and decisions which will bring about balance. Under the influence of Libra energy the cause and effect of our past choices may come sharply into focus and we may be forced to recognize the Karma of our situation; assume responsibility, and then take steps to restore order and balance. (more on Justice)
As you contemplate Justice and Libra, ask yourself the following questions (and journal your thoughts!)

* What decisions am I currently weighing? What are the pros and cons?
* What consequences am I experiencing as the result of some previous action?
* What is the appropriate compensation/energy exchange needed to balance my life?
* What do I need to do to be true to myself?

Affirmation; "I am willing to be true to myself in all my decisions."

The Emperor ~ Aries (Full Moon in Aries)
"The Emperor personifies power, authority, and leadership. With this card we are given permission to have dominion over the current situation and are empowered to be in control. However, like the Arian temperament we may need to be more adventuresome and heroic, confronting and assertive to feel we are truly emperor of the situation." ~Brian Clark via The Celestial Tarot guidebook.
The classical meanings of The Emperor include authority, regulation, structure, and fatherly energy. The Harvest Moon in Aries will encourage us to take a leadership role in our own lives. The combination of this Aries energy with the Libra Sun and the Autumnal equinox asks us to bring our personal power into balance and restructure our energy. In simpler times the Harvest Moon was a time of restructuring; as the focus moved from cultivating the crops to harvesting and storing the food, preparing for the winter months that lie ahead. It is time for us to take the knowledge and lessons we are harvesting and begin applying them to our inner lives.... letting the metamorphosis of the Page of Cups and the balance of Justice begin to manifest. It is time to give shape and structure to our goals, and embrace our own personal power with confidence and ambition. (more on The Emperor)

As you contemplate The Emperor and the Harvest Moon in Aries, ask yourself and journal these questions;

* Where do my ambitions lie?
* What am I building, organizing, and restructuring in my life?
* Who has the power and authority in my life, and how is that power and authority being used?
* What kind of Emperor (leader) am I?

Affirmation; "I have the power and discipline to achieve my highest ambitions."

I would suggest laying these three cards out on your altar (or a safe place) where you can see them and meditate on them over the next few days. The energies of the Harvest Moon and the Autumnal Equinox are already beginning to manifest and will continue to be present for the rest of the week. If you want, you can journal and meditate on each card on a different day. Another option would be to shuffle the rest of your deck, and draw three more cards randomly; one for each card that was outlined above. The cards you draw will give you more clarity as to how these energies are currently present in your life on a personal level, and can be used to help you answer the questions above. You would lay the cards out like this;

Use these secondary cards and this tarot spread as your personal Autumn Equinox tarot reading, meditating and journaling on the questions posted above for each card and see what further insights and growth you can achieve this Mabon!

Many blessings of Balance and Power to you this Equinox!
Blessed Be!
Love, Lady Josephine

Spica; Virgo’s Light

My eyes search the darkened cosmos
Searching for a light to lead me
Orion, he is always there, and
Ursa Major dominates the night sky
I recall an ancient phrase;
“Arc to Archturus, then speed on to Spica.”
Following the Arc of the Great Bear
(once the pure and chaste Callisto, princess of Arcadia; Raped by Zeus and cursed by Hera)
Past her protector, Archturus
To find Spica, brightest star of Virgo -
A yellow sheaf of wheat,
Golden ear of corn
White Spark of light
Fire of Hearth,
In the hands of a something so Pure
That one name will not suffice.
She is the Virgin, Virgo
Astraea; Goddess of Purity and Innocence who clung to hope for human kind longer than any other
Shala, Goddess of Grain
Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Home
Vesta, Keeper of the Flame
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Father Time has watched her transform,
Watched her name change,
Watched as Man’s study of Spica
Brought the knowledge of the Equinoxes.
What other secrets may she hold?
Father Time, the Hermit only nods and winks
As if to say
“Time Will Tell,”
And he turns to walk away “but don’t give up the search”.
And suddenly I know
I am beautiful
I am pure
You are beautiful
You are pure
And Astraea can return;
Through us.

Mercury Retrograde; The Magician Reversed

Another Mercury retrograde period is upon us. This one will last between August 20th and September 12th, though it's effects can be noticed for a few days before and after the retrograde motion begins and ends.
What is Mercury Retrograde? Approximately 3 times a year, the planet Mercury appears to slow down and move backwards through the solar chart. Of course, it's not actually moving backwards. Have you ever been in your car, and as the car next to you moves forward past you; you temporarily have the "feeling" that you are moving backwards? That's the same effect seen with Mercury retrograde, but it lasts about 3 weeks! Mercury is the planet of Communication, Travel, and interpersonal relationships. Thus this backwards motion usually results in some kind of confusion in these areas... especially communication! Many people will say that it's not a good time to enter into any kind of contract or agreement, such as getting married, starting a job, or making a major purchase; because these deals will tend to fall through once Mercury goes direct. It's not that every deal goes bad, but it's often more likely to fail simply because during the Mercury retrograde things are overlooked or mis-communicated. It's a time to be very cautious, make sure you dot your i's and cross the t's, and be very patient of other people's tendency to mis-communicate... otherwise you certainly could feel Mercury Retrograde come back to bite you in the butt! During a Mercury Retrograde many people experience setbacks concerning money, travel, communication, and work.

Another way to look at Mercury Retrograde is to examine Mercury's related Tarot Card; The Magician.



The Magician relates to Consciousness, Control, and Focus. The Key Words for The Magician are; Action, Conscious Awareness, Concentration, and Power. The Planet Mercury is named after the Greek God Mercury (also known as Hermes), who was also called "The Messenger of The Gods", bringing messages from the Gods to the Earth. The Magician symbolizes our connection to Divine Energy and our ability to use this connection and power to achieve our goals. The Magician teaches us to use our talents and the tools available to us to take action and carry out our plans. This card reminds us that if we are aware of our motivations and intentions, we can maintain focus, discover our source of power, and achieve whatever we want. With careful planning, attention to detail, skill, talent, and vitality - anything is within our grasp!!




When Mercury is Retrograde, we can think of this Magician Energy in it's reversed position. A reversal in a tarot card (when the card appears upside down in a spread) indicates that certain aspects of this card are blocked or being interrupted. A reversed card will sometimes indicate that the "Opposite" meaning of the card is being felt, or that the energy of the card is somehow being blocked from a person.


The Magician Reversed would symbolize Lack of Focus, Sub-conscious feelings or thoughts, lack of control, and a feeling of powerlessness. During a Mercury Retrograde or when someone gets The Magician in a reversed position, one might be forgetting that they have a connection with Divine Energy. It's easy to get wrapped up in the feelings of distraction, indecision, and an overall feeling of "I can't do this by myself". The Magician Reversed shows us the blockage of all things Mercury... such as encountering a lack of resources, a lack of skill, a lack of confidence, or an absence of commitment. No wonder things get so muddled during a Mercury Retrograde! Instead of a flow of energy from Mercury helping boost our connection with the Divine... we all experience a block. The cries of "It's not my fault!" and "What am I supposed to do about it?" can often be heard during a Mercury Retrograde. As we experience these blocks, and our projects or goals seem to hit bumps in the road or be put on hold, The Magician Reversed asks us to slow down and see through the illusion. While a Mercury Retrograde might not be the best time to start a new project or sign a new contract, it is the PERFECT time for self reflection and re-evaluation of our goals. Now is the time to cultivate your inner garden, pull the weeds that you've been neglecting and clear the space for new growth when the time is right. Rather than adding new projects, why not take a clue from Mercury's retrograde motion and back track a little bit. Finish up an unfinished project, or go over something with a fine tooth comb to see if you missed any important details. Get back to basics and re-evaluate your priorities, and take this time to heal and re-balance your perspective. Take the next three weeks one day at a time, and don't punish yourself for any lack of progress... but look within and let yourself heal and rest. Finishing up any unfinished projects will help you feel more balanced and ready to get back on your horse once Mercury goes back direct. Arm yourself with patience - not just for yourself, but for others. As everyone experiences the retrograde differently, some people may be more irritable, less patient, and lacking in the basic communication skills that they would normally have. Leave room for mistakes and misunderstandings. An important thing to remember about the retrograde is that although many things seem to go wrong, usually the effects are only temporary. Problems with our cars, our computers, phones, etc. (anything that deals with travel and communication) can be expected, but these problems WILL have solutions. Any misunderstandings or mis-communications that occur during this time usually won't have long term effects on our relationships; and sometimes these problems serve to help strengthen our relationships by bringing to light certain aspects that we had previously overlooked. Overall, it's best to just go with the flow... but to pay close attention and try to maintain some sense of focus.

Here are some journaling questions to help you through the retrograde. Ask yourself these questions when you start feeling overwhelmed or disconnected... your answers should help you get back on track!

• Where are you focusing your energy?
• Are your objectives clear?
• What skills and abilities are needed in this situation?
• How are you communicating with others?
• What do you want others to believe or see?

(these Questions are from the book, "Tarot For Yourself" by Mary K. Greer)

Take some time with The Magician, looking at the card both upright and reversed, meditate on it's meaning and it's connection with Mercury. Journal about your thoughts or feelings about the card and the questions listed here, and use this affirmation as your mantra throughout this Mercury Retrograde period. "I am a willing channel for the manifestation of spirit in the world." Cheers and Blessings to you, and may we all come out of this Mercury Retrograde period relatively unscathed!!

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! *

GEMINI Reading Giveaway!!!

CALLING ALL GEMINI!!

If you are a Gemini (born between May 21 and June 20) you can WIN A FREE, PERSONALIZED Reading! Enter now! Drawing will be held on June 14th!

The Giveaway;
One Lucky Gemini will recieve a personalized Astrology and Tarot reading. This will include; The Tarot cards which represent your personality and challenges ( a brief Astrological Tarot Profile) AND a Gemini tarot card reading which will give you further insights and clarity about your current life situation and your relationships.

To Enter;
Leave a comment on this blog post with your name and birthday (Day/month) and send an e-mail to tarotbyjosephine@yahoo.com with "Gemini Giveaway" as the subject line of the e-mail.

Don't forget to check back on June 14th to see if you have won!

Taurus and The Hierophant

The Hierophant and Taurus

The fixed Earth sign, Taurus, is related to the number 5, and the Major Aracana card, The Hierophant. Taurus energy is Powerful, yet patient, with a great deal of reliance on the physical senses. The Hierophant rules over the physical world; the earthly realm, and worldly concerns such as material possessions, marriage, religion, and academic knowledge. Taurus' nature is to not only accumulate things, but to preserve these things... whether that be material possessions, people, or knowledge and understanding.

Some Key Characteristics that describe Taurus are;
Practical, Materialistic, Determined, Stubborn, Affectionate, Possessive, Sensuous, Self-Indulgent, Loyal, Rigid, Unyielding, Patient, Preserving, Unimaginative.

Some Key phrases that describe the Hierophant are;
Education, belief systems, conformity, group identity, pursuing knowledge, seeking a deeper meaning, adapting to the system, fitting in, expressing loyalty, working as a team member or team leader, seeking religion or spiritual truths, making choices, conforming or non-conforming, the quest for meaning in life, organized institutions.

The Hierophant in Mythology -
Mythologically, the Hierophant is related to the Centaur. Half man and half-horse, the centaur is a teacher on a quest for the meaning of life. He is there to guide the spiritual seeker to find a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. The Hierophant has also been related to Chiron, the teacher of Apollo - the Sun God and Healer. Either way you look at it, the Hierophant's understanding goes beyond organized religions and dogmatic principles, transcending the truths of the physical world through studying and learning the ways of the world.

The representation of Taurus as The Bull comes from the Greek Mythological tale of Zeus and Europa. Zeus, the King of The Gods, became obsessed with a Phoenician princess, Europa. Zeus knew that his godly masculine form would frighten the young maiden, so he transformed himself into a Bull. Europa saw the magnificent yet gentle bull, and became intrigued. She went to pet the bull, and eventually climbed onto his back. Immediately, Zeus turned back to his godly form and flew away to Olympus with Europa on his back. Taurus is the great bull who abducts us into pleasures of the body and the rapture of our passions. Beyond our physical experiences resides the essence of the Hierophant, helping us guide our passions toward self understanding and knowledge but continuing to remain grounded and gain a respect for our physical realm.

The Hierophant and Astrology -
Taurus is the Fixed Earth sign, which explains why many Taurus individuals are seen as stubborn and determined. The Hierophant acts as the preserver of Human experience, the collector of ideas and philosophies. The Heirophant recognizes the importance of certain social institutions such as education, marriage and religion, while urging us to either find our own place in these institutions or challenge them. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, which attributes to Taurus' innate sensuality. Just as a Taurus has the tendency to over-indulge in physical pleasures such as food, sex, or gaining material possessions - the Social Institutions in the world have a tendency to over-indulge themselves in power trips and controllers of the people. The Heirophant represents the power to direct these passions. In a reading when one sees the Hierophant, they must ask themselves, who has the power here? What am I doing with my passionate energy and power? Am I self indulging, or am I seeking knowledge and understanding? Am I being controlled by worldly institutions, or have I found my place within them?

Goodbye Pisces... hello Spring and Renewal!

"So how
how will I go
Back on
Back on the shelf
with a smile
with a smile
to the customer and say
on sale by the owner

Here I
Here I go again
Breaking
Breaking porcelain
Is that all I am
just a Doll you got used to
We've done
We've done this before
as Mars sauntered through his door
Don't say it's time to say
Goodbye to Pisces
Goodbye to Pisces
Goodbye my Pisces"

~ Tori Amos, "Goodbye Pisces", from The Beekeeper, Sword and Stone

The Pisces sun has taught me a lot, and although the sun has now transited to Aries, I feel that it is time to take one final look at what I have learned through this Pisces cycle. Drawing some cards from my trusty Housewives' Tarot deck, and following some questions as posted here - Journaling With Pisces and The Moon, time for a little journey within....


What does this card represent to you? The Moon from The Housewives' Tarot doesn't have the usual symbolism of dogs, towers, or overall dismal terrain, but simply the image of a woman sleeping. What are her dreams telling her? Does she listen to them, or pass them off as simply dreams and nothing more? Is she afraid of her dreams, or inspired by them? These are the questions that I see represented in this card, as well as a call to pay attention to your inner voice. Drawing another card, asking myself, what does this card's imagery represent to me? I got...
The Knight of Wands
*exuberance * mischief * loyalty
My dreams have both the power to propel me forward, and to leave me frozen in fear. Am I being loyal to my dreams and instincts? Am I feeling exuberant about the messages of my inner voice? Am I willing to get into some mischief or will I take the safer path? Why am I answering a question with more questions? Simply put, this card shows me one thing in particular - my dreams are a vehicle, my instincts and desires are my vehicle and my armor, but I must pump the pedals and choose to move the vehicle forward myself, or leave it parked and let my dreams simply remain dreams.

What have you forgotten? I drew the Six of Wands. * Victory * Triumph * Praise *. Have I forgotten the feelings of victory and triumph? Certainly. I have become beaten down by certain events and circumstances in my life. At this point, I don't even have a home to be proud of, and I'm living on borrowed time, in borrowed property. I don't feel worthy of praise, but perhaps I have forgotten how to take pride in other aspects of my life, and I have forgotten how to feel victorious. Funny how this card focuses around the Shiny Sink, which is the focal point of my Housekeeping Mentor - The FlyLady. Have I forgotten to take pride and feel triumph over the state of my current home, just because of the fact that we are being forced to move? I need to take it back to basics, Shine My Sink, and allow myself to feel Victorious and Triumphant, because feeling anything less than that is just blocking the real victories from manifesting.

What do you instinctively want to do? I have been having trouble determining the difference between my instincts and my worries lately. On one hand, I am not worried at all. I should be running around frantically, trying to find a place to live, a job, etc. But most of the time I am just going about life as usual. Am I in denial, or are my instincts simply telling me not to worry?? I drew the Ace of Cups. Hmm... renewal, celebration, *new relationships * Beginnings * Foundation * Instinctively I know that change is good, that all things happen for the best, and that this is just another part of my soul's cycle. Raise the glass, make a toast. "To Beginnings!"

What kind of cycle or pattern are you repeating? "We've done, we've done this before, As Mars saunters through his door...." Have I been through this before? The Seven of Wands says Yes, Repeatedly. When in my life have I not faced challenges and crisis? When have I not been fighting for something? Life is a series of challenges, and I must keep that in mind. I've survived much in the past, but that was the past. This is my current challenge, here, now. Yes, I have cleaned the damned toilet every week for the past eleven years. But if I stop now, what will I have? A dirty toilet. At least over the years I have learned tips and tricks, refined my methods, and have gathered a whole slew of cleaning supplies to attack those stubborn new stains.

Are your actions appropriate to this particular situation or are you responding to some past situation? Actions? Half the time I am wondering what actions I can take. The other half of the time I am beating myself up for not taking the obvious actions. But I think in the long run, there is only so much I have been able to do. An occasional day spent doing job search or online applications, followed by days of simply doing the housewife thing. One day might be all work or business, followed by 3 days of reading fiction and writing poetry. Temperance says I have managed to blend a little bit of my past and present situations into the mix. Not reacting wholly on my past, but not leaving my past out of my actions either. I think, at least when it comes to the actions I take, I have learned not to let my past define me - but have also learned when to take a page or two from my past in the name of experience or wisdom.

What is bewildering or confusing you? How could things have gone so wrong? Why is it so unfair? This was supposed to be the happy time of buying our first home, and it turned into a nightmare (no fault of ours) because of other people's greed and stupidity. Death. I guess I have been a bit bewildered and confused about this whole thing with buying this house. Then finding out we can't buy this house, because the previous owners were dishonest and the bank made a mistake, so now we have to leave. Somewhere in my happy little housewife's life, I was under the impression that people were honest and good, and that somehow or another I would have my dream home. The dream went bad, I have to let it go. I'm still in shock, bewildered. But when you find that rotten food in the fridge, you don't keep it and hope that it gets good again. You throw it away and buy new food.

What is real and what is illusory? Control. It's real, but it's an illusion. I don't have control over these circumstances, but I DO have control over my life... it's all in how I react. Material Things. These are also both real and illusion. I may feel like I need more to get by, but in reality, I have much more than I need, and need much less than what I have. I am the Queen of Pentacles... this card is actually my astrological court card, and often my significator. So why did it come up here, for this question? Because this is me, but this is also the Illusion of me. I have the potential of being a control freak, I have the ability to be materialistic, I can have high expectations. But these are not rules that bind me. They are nothing more than words to describe the sometimes-real and sometimes-not aspects of me. I can deal with that.

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.

Imbolc, Hebe, Aquarius, and The Star

Imbolc, Hebe, Aquarius, and The Star

Preparing for Imbolc, the Pagan celebration of the first signs of spring, I've been thinking about the astrological sign of Aquarius, hoping to get more insights into this season of change and renewal. In tarot, I often find that the tarot cards that correspond with the astrological signs around certain holidays usually holds some significance - as in, there are no coincidences. (Samhain/Halloween and the Death card, New Year's Day and The Devil card, etc.) So, looking into Tarot, Astrology, and Mythology, I'm hoping to let my brain pick apart this lesser sabbat of Imbolc.

In the Wheel of The Year, Imbolc falls on February 2nd, a time when winter is still upon us but the signs of an approaching spring are becoming more apparent. Rains come, the nights are growing shorter and the hours of sunlight growing longer. At Yule, the Goddess gave birth to the Baby Sun King, and he is gaining his strength. Many legends hold that during this time of year, the Goddess, in her Maiden form, is sleeping. Once she awakens, she will join with the God and together they will bring Fertility and growth back to the land (Beltane / May Day). It is the Goddess in her young and pure Maiden form that I find represented in the Tarot card, The Star.

In this version of the card, from The Celestial Tarot by Kay Steventon and Brian Clark, she is represented as Hebe, the Greek Goddess of Youth. Here is an excerpt from the booklet that comes with this beautifully illustrated deck;

" To the ancients, Aquarius was the power of the flowing, often flooding, water. The Star represents both strands of Aquarius; it heralds the revolutionary new way of being after a period of turmoil or suppression and is also representative of a wellspring of hope and renewal. Aquarius' innovative and creative new vision pours forth like manna from heaven, a welcome downpour after the disruption and chaos of The Tower (card 16). In the Celestial Tarot, Hebe pours forth the invigorating waters recycled from the abundant springs of life over mankind. She symbolizes renewal, hope, bright prospects, inspiration, and spiritual guidance. The Star is the light of the higher self and it is Hebe the heroic anima who illuminates inner darkness and heralds the dawn of a hope filled future."

I decided to look more into this youthful Goddess, Hebe. Who was she? Hebe was the daughter of the Zeus and Hera ( The Goddess of Marriage, sister of Demeter and Hestia). Hebe was the cup bearer to the Olympians, serving them their nectar and ambrosia until she became the wife of Heracles (Hercules). She was the patron Goddess of young brides and maidens, and attendant to the Goddess Aphrodite (the Goddess of Love). It is no wonder that she is depicted in this card, The Star, as most Greek paintings and sculptures of her depict her carrying or pouring liquid from a vase or pitcher.

Hebe is known as The Goddess of Youth, or sometimes The Goddess of Spring. She was prayed to by warriors who needed the vitality of youth before going into battle. One example of this is found in the story of Iolaus, who was the former charioteer of Heracles. In his old age, he prayed to Hebe before a fight with Eurystheus, asking to be young again for just one day - a wish that Hebe granted.

The concept of Youth is central to the Astrological sign of Aquarius. The Fixed Air sign, it is related to stability and stamina. The Waterbearer is commonly known for being a humanitarian; ruling over the 11th House, the House of Friendship and Hopes & Wishes. It is easy to see how Hebe fits into this category of giving, as she happily took her place attending to the Olympian gods, refilling their cups with her nectar of vitality and youth. The Concept of youth not only refers to strength and stamina though, and being young or youthful also has other traits that are commonly associated with Aquarius. These are some common traits attributed to the Fixed Water sign of the Zodiac and you can see how everyone, in their youth, as exhibited these traits; Humanitarian, Emotionally Cool, Innovative, Rebellious, Independent, Disruptive, Friendly, Uninvolved, Visionary, Impractical, Tolerant, Perverse, Unusual, Individualistic.

As the Earth slowly awakens from it's winter slumber, it enters a period of almost juvenile youth. These late winter storms can be strong, and even harsh, as if the water and wind don't know their own strength. Yet it is through the gift of these waters that the land is reborn. The trials we face as a young adult or teen are often the ones that shape us into the adults we become. I think we can all stand to take time to look back at our youth and the lessons we learned from this period of vitality. Also, we can look at our lives now, in what ways are we still growing, still "young"? In what ways might we benefit from having the youthful attitudes of rebellion, independence, innovation, or creativity? In ancient times (and still today, it was the young men - the youthful, who were sent into battle and trusted to win the day. Perhaps this lesson can be taken to heart in another way. Yes, as we grow older we grow wiser, but sometimes in life it may be necessary to take a youthful stance, to trust that youthful part of ourselves to make the right choices and win the battle we face. Consider this; "Aquarius takes as it's purpose the experimentation with all established structures. It freely crosses all man-made boundaries in order to experience the new and unusual. It is related to reform within the structure of a group, bringing innovative ideas." ~ M.J. Abadie, from "The Everything Tarot Book.

Maybe it's time to ask Hebe to give us some of that Youth-like exuberance and innovation. The Earth is in a state of renewal and rebirth, and as her inhabitants, so are we.

Here's another quote to consider;
"I am no worshipper of Hygia, who was the daughter of that old herb-doctor Asclepius … but rather of Hebe … who had the power of restoring gods and men to the vigour of youth. She was probably the only thoroughly sound-conditioned, healthy, and robust young lady that ever walked the globe, and whenever she came it was spring." (Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862, Walden).

Here's another blog I wrote on Aquarius and The Star, check it out!
Journaling with Aquarius and The Star

(note.... sorry for the Double Post for those of you who are subscribed to both of my blogs... I meant to post this here but posted it at my other blog (link above) by mistake, so then, rather than deleting it I just decided to put a copy of it here)

Dear Capricorn

Dear Over-Achiever of the Zodiac,

This is your inner self. Don't be alarmed, I know we don't usually communicate this directly. I just had couple of things to mention. You know how you always feel more alive when you have a million things to do? Yeah, it's stressful, but you get so many ideas and just want to take them all on at one. Get Organized. Be a better mom. Be a better housewife. Get healthy. Start a website. Start a blog. Start another blog. Become an avid social-networker. Oh, and don't forget to cook dinner, give the kids their baths, and still find time to brush your teeth or take shower. You have a bunch of projects going, get overwhelmed and unbalanced because you're somewhat of a perfectionist, and hard on yourself because you can't do it all...
Then, realizing that nothing you are doing is meeting your high expectations - you're not helping enough people, creating enough art, you feel like you have run out of creative and expressive or unique things to say, and suddenly everything is spiraling out of control.
and then you shut down, let it all go, try to find your balance again...

but when you find your balance again, your motivation comes back full swing, and you find yourself taking on a whole bunch of new projects again

and you think, when I am I gonna learn to not take on too much?

But what you have to realize, dear Capricorn, is that it's not necessarily "taking on too much" that constantly brings you down.

It's you perfectionism. It's your fear of failure. Climbing up that steep slope is hard work, tedious work. Taking one step at a time, it's hard to tell if you are any closer to the summit... and without seeing any results, how do you know if you're headed in the right direction? So you take a leap, a couple big jumps. Yes, now things are moving faster, and you can see some results. The payoff is exhilarating. So you do it again, get confident, take on another goal or project, take another leap and bound. You go on like this for awhile,picking up pace, seeing results and taking on more and more as you go.

The mental and physical strain may start to kick in now, but what really gets you is your perfectionism. Because sooner or later, you realize that somewhere long the way, you missed something. You made a mistake, skipped a step, got sloppy. You could keep going. Heck, at this point, most people would. But No, you're a Capricorn - and Quality is more important than Quantity in your mind and heart. So it begins, you slow down, but you start to question your abilities, your status, your motives. You turn and look back, wondering if you should just start over again, or if you should go back and take a different path this time. Now you're not only overwhelmed, but you're confused. This is when the spiral happens. You doubt yourself, you fear the mistakes, you become unsure of whether or not you even really want this goal you have been working so hard for. Without this sense of direction and drive, you find yourself wallowing again. Directionless and exhausted, it's easier to just tread water for a little while.

As before, you find your footing again. Eventually you stand up again,and find a sense of direction again. This time,take it slow.. surely you have leaned by now that you'll be happier this way. Patience with yourself will be a great thing to learn. And even if you do get ahead of yourself or take on too much... remember that your perfectionism is just the voice of your fear and doubt. You don't have to let it all go, you don't have to slip back down the mountain. Set up camp right there on the slope, prioritize and re-evaluate, and then pick up where you left off again. You can do it, I know you can.

Hestia

Hestia
Earlier this week I became intrigued with the Roman Goddess Vesta. Her image on The Hermit and related to Virgo (as with the Spiral Tarot) really got me thinking. I have needed to explore my Virgo side. (I'm a Capricorn, but seem to have a lot of Virgo going on in my chart), and have always been drawn to the tarot card, "The Hermit". So I was really delighted to find a connection between this card and the astrological sign representing "The Virgin", as the traditional decks didn't seem to resonate this part of the card's meanings for me. (See more on my previous blog, The Hermit / Vesta.) When it came to the Vesta/Hermit relationship, I felt it was speaking to me about not only looking within, but in sacrificing or giving up selfish needs. In helping and serving others without any selfish reasons, we can shine a light on this truth and love within ourselves, thus seeing our true natures more clearly and be able to find that sense of direction and Inner Truth that the Hermit seems to be seeking.

I learned that Vesta's Greek counterpart is the Goddess Hestia. I have always been drawn to Ancient Greek Archetypes, though I haven't really done much serious research on specific deities and myths, so I decided to look her up. Both Vesta and Hestia were revered as the Goddess of the Hearth Fire and the Home. Already I feel a connection! I am always looking or Archetypes that relate to things that I feel I relate to, that I would call on during my practical day. So this draws me in. Hestia is the Grand-daughter of Gaia. She was the first-born of Cronus and Rhea, though Cronus swallowed her whole because of a prophecy that his own child would de-throne him. He also swallowed whole all of Hestia's sisters and brothers, except for Zeus. Rhea tricked him into swallowing a rock wrapped up as a baby, because she was tired of her husband swallowing her babies, for obvious reasons! As you know, Zeus eventually grew up and was a main factor in overthrowing Cronus. Zeus gave Cronus a potion in his wine and Cronus vomited up his other 5 children, who were now fully grown. Hestia was the last to be expelled from Cronus' stomach, and for this reason she is said to be both the oldest and the youngest of the Olympians. She was both the first-born and the last-born.

I felt a strange understanding and connection as I read this part of Hestia's story. I am a first-born. I had a time in my life when I was swallowed up, consumed by earthly greed and folly. I eventually had a "Rebirth", a time when I came back to life and finally started figuring out who I was. By this time, my younger brother had begun to mature, and in some ways, he had caught up with me. Sometimes I feel like he has things figured out a little better than I do, when it comes to knowing and accepting his spiritual path and life purpose. Most of the time I see him as an equal, not a younger sibling, but someone more the same age as me. This is how Hestia must have felt toward her siblings - they were all born after her, and, other than Zeus, they all emerged at the same time, and she was not their older sister, but their equal, and slightly younger sister. Hestia's brothers were Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Her sisters were Hera and Demeter.
The siblings ran away to Mount Olympius and formed a plan to fight against Cronus and the Titans. A great war began, though the young gods were outnumbered by the Titans.
Fortunately, a few Titans decided to side with the Olympians. Prometheus was a Titan, and his name meant "One who thinks ahead", and he had a gift of foresight. He foresaw that the Titans would lose the battle, and he and his brother Epimetheus refused to fight against the Olympians because of this. Again I paused as I read the story of Hestia. My brother, who I mentioned before, has an unusual middle name. It is Prometheus. The light bulbs keep going on in my head. This is the story I have been searching for! Finally, the Olymians won the battle and most of the Titans were sent to Tartarus. (Not Prometheus or his brother, obviously, since they had not fought against the victorious Olympian siblings. ) After this, the Olympians decided to divide up the duties as Gods. Rather than having one God ruling over it all, like Cronus had tried to do, they decided to work together. Hestia became the Goddess of the Hearth, or fireplace, and the Home. Her sister, Demeter, became the Goddess of agriculture and all living things, and their sister Hera became the Goddess of marriage and childbirth.

Aside from the story of the battle of the Olympians, I couldn't find much else about Hestia. I could not find anything about her children or a husband, and for this reason I think she never married or had kids. So this would explain why her later Roman counterpart, Vesta, was described as The Virgin Goddess. I have also found reference to her as the Virgin of the Harvest. As I meditated, I saw/felt this;
The Hearth, or fire, has always been the center of not only the home, but the community and civilization. Without the hearth, there is no where to cook the food. There is nowhere to make the tools that harvest the food. Although the flames of the fire themselves do not create anything tangible, the heat of these flames makes all else possible. This is where the servitude aspect of Virgo comes out. Serving your family and community with warmth and love. This is what Hestia and Vesta were revered and honored for. And although she remained a virgin and never had any children, it is her watch over the Home and Hearth that made all harvests possible. The Virgin of the Harvest. Goddess of the Hearth. I am enraptured and inspired. Also, as I meditated on how this Goddess' image and name may have changed over time, another light bulb came on. Both Hestia and Vesta are represented as a pure, kind woman, often with a cloak over their head. This goddess' symbolic animal is the Ass (donkey/mule). Who else do we know in history that is seen to wear a cloak and accompanied by an Ass? Who else do we now know as The Virgin, and the Virgo? The Virgin Mary, mother of Christ. A Virgin who gave forth a great harvest, a pure, self-sacrificing woman. And so Hestia's story has continued through time....

Vesta/Virgo

Today is the New Moon. A time for rest and meditation. Both the Sun and Moon are in Virgo, the sign of the Virgin. The Virgin Virgo symbolizes the selfless aspect of the self; rather than pursuing self-gratifying needs, The Virgin thinks of others. Through time there have been people (mostly women) who embody the self-sacrificing traits of Virgo; The Virgin Mary, Mother Teresa, Queen Elizabeth I, Princess Diana, etc. People who are remembered for thinking of others above all else, who made personal sacrifices in order to help the greater good of others.

In Tarot, Virgo is related to The Hermit, which generally represents looking inward to find our true purpose. Taking time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to look within and find the truth that really drives us. When we see The Hermit in a reading, it is generally a time to put aside our selfish desires for a moment, to get to the heart of the matter, find our inner passion, rediscover our purpose or meaning, and then continue on our path with a new found purity or innocence.

Today, being the new moon, I decided to study this card (again - this card calls to me a lot). I pulled out The Spiral Tarot by Kay Steventon and found that in her deck, The Hermit is represented by the Goddess Vesta. Here's a picture of the card from this deck;

and the meaning from the booklet;
"The Hermit, the Goddess Vesta, holds her lantern aloft to show us the way. Self-knowledge and self-sufficiency; being alone to experience what is meaningful and significant to you. Your Inner Guide."

I haven't done all my homework when it comes to the Goddesses, so I decided to look up more on Vesta. I found that Vesta is a Roman and later Greek Goddess, also known as Hestia, who rules over the Home and Hearth. She rules over the fires of the Hearth; meaning that she watches over the spark of life, love, and warmth in a home. This is one great site I found; http://www.orderwhitemoon.org/goddess/Vesta.html. Ever heard the term "Vestal Virgins"? These were the Greek people, like nuns, who dedicated themselves to the Goddess Vesta and swore an oath of celibacy, dedicating their life to helping others and tending to the fires in the Temple. Vesta was the Goddess who was called upon to bring peace and harmony to a home, as well as love, fertility, and prosperity within the home. Sharing a meal or a loaf of bread with a neighbor, stranger, or elderly person, was thought to please Vesta and bring blessings unto your home that your own family would never hunger. More on Vesta can be found here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesta_(mythology)

Yeah, my interest is defiantly piqued. I have been searching for a Patron Goddess, and I have always been inexplicably drawn to the image and meaning of The Hermit. Plus I have some very prominent Virgo in my charts. And, as you know, my main area of focus is always my home. This could be the beginning of a wonderful new area of study and relationship with the Goddess!

Another version of this card that I am looking at today is from The Celestial Tarot. (by Kay Steventon and Brian Clark) In this card we see a beautiful maiden (who looks rather virginal), holding in her arms the wheat of a harvest, and with her hand is sharing the gifts of this bounty.

From the booklet;
"Virgo, The Wise Virgin
At this point in the journey we meet the Hermit, the Major Arcana card associated with Virgo, the harvest maiden, intertwining the paradoxical themes of fertility and purity. In the Celestial Tarot she holds the wheat in her left hand and disseminates seeds with her right. The card depicts the season of withdrawal. For psyche the time of harvest has come; it is time to withdraw and prepare and reflect. In the background is the traditional image of the hermit holding the lamp of inner guidance necessary during this time. Virgo embodies the wisdom of cycles, a respect for fate and an openness to destiny. The Hermit augurs a period of meditation where the inner world is fortified to prepare for a major shift on the life path."

I also found this website and great meditation;
This is a great article about the energy of a New Moon in Virgo;
http://www.bemyastrologer.com/rebecca_brents_new_moon_virgo.html
And this is a meditation to go along with it
http://www.bemyastrologer.com/rebecca_virgo_med.html

Meditation for the New Moon in Virgo
I make constructive, helpful, specific suggestions for
improvement in situations that need better organization and
refinement.
I release habits of complaining, griping, criticizing, and
fault-finding.
I accept that "perfection" is an ideal and often relative
concept, and where practical and sensible, I let "good
enough" be exactly that.
I am realistic, careful, and reasonable in the demands I
make on myself and others.
I make healthy, prudent, self-caring choices that support a
productive lifestyle.
(~ by Rebecca Brent ~)

I will definatley have to take some time for real meditation. With both the sun and the New Moon in Virgo, and having learned of this new aspect of The Hermit and the Goddess Vesta, I am feeling the pull for the need of solitude even more. Of course, there is always the perfect image from the Housewives Tarot - which seems like the perfect way for me to meditate tonite;