Tag: Astrology

Tarot Post – Four of Pentacles

Four of Pentacles (Power)

Four of Pentacles (N)Four of Pentacles (Reimagined) by G A Rosenberg

Holding too tightly
coins slip from an old man’s grasp
order tossed aside.

Power contained not held
not grasped
willing to let it pour forth
and rise up and out at any moment
All comes from this moment
once embedded in matter then
only liberation remains
power when wielded becomes force
Rise up oh serpent mother
through this material form
as green springs up through snow
reborn
Let the spirit flow forth
from fractured shell

–G A Rosenberg

The suit of Pentacles refers to the element of Earth and of practical matters such as work and partnerships of a business nature and of the home. They can also represent nature, the Earth itself.  Fours express a stability and manifestation of the energy involved. The Four of Pentacles represents a grounding of energy and taking comfort in control of our environment whether it means holding on to a schedule or our possessions. We clothe ourselves in our idea of order. While this can give us some necessary structure if we adhere to rigidly to either what we have or where we have to be, anything that throws it can make us feel insecure and there is always something that can come along and throw off our sense of order, so some flexibility can be a good thing.

 

Astrological Correspondence: Sun in Capricorn-The Sun in Capricorn energy is known for its ambition and control. It tends to take charge and like a goat feels that only by controlling the situation fully that it can make it to the top of the mountain. It is an energy that achieves but one that can be all too ready to engage and defeat anything that stands between it and its ambitions even if in the long run, that challenge can be a positive thing.

 

I Ching Correspondence: 2) K’un – The Receptive
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This hexagram comprised of upper and lower trigrams of Earth refers to nature as opposed to space. It works best when it nourishes all and recommends letting go of the reigns of control and yielding at times. Tho it is important to be self-sufficient no one is an island and others are needed in order for our ambitions to be realized and that sometimes it is beneficial to yield control to those who can best help us realize those ambitions. Sometimes letting things happen can be as necessary as making things happen.
 

When the Four of Pentacles occurs in a reading, it can tell us that we are holding on too tightly to external control structures and possessions rather than grounding ourselves securely within ourselves and our relationship to nature. In other cases, the card can also represent generosity and sharing what one has.

Reversed the card can refer to a breaking down of our lives structure and a need to connect more to our inner selves where the real power lies through meditation or contemplation of nature. It can also refer to a hesitation to help another.

Tarot Post – Four of Swords

 

Four of Swords (Truce)

 

Four of SwordsFour of Swords (Revised) by G A Rosenberg

 

Rest from raging storms

Your heart shelters those who need

Solace is given

 

The battle has been long

and nothing decided

my soul feels wearied

my burden heavy

I will leave the field of combat

for a time

withdraw from all

and find my true being

The battle will rejoin anew

and I shall be refreshed

for now only greater awareness may come

and with it growth

and renewed vigour

with which to address the fight…

 

The suit of swords represents thought, ideas, plans and conflicts. Fours express a stability and manifestation of the energy involved. There are times when our thoughts become too much for us and the inherent conflicts and battles that arise feel like a never-ending battle. We need to establish a truce, a withdrawal from conflict to meditate and be silent within ourselves, to gain further energy with which we will return and find resolution or synthesis of the ongoing struggle. The four of swords represents this time of withdrawal and meditation.

 

Astrological Correspondence-Jupiter in Libra- The Jupiter in Libra energy is impartial, fair and open-minded and willing to consider all sides. It seeks harmony and resolution but at times can become indecisive when there is not a clear solution that will benefit all.   Jupiter wishes to expand truthfully while the Libra energy tends to be diplomatic and wants everyone to be happy. These two energies can often bring one to a deadlock at which time it benefits one to meditate on the solution

 

I Ching Correspondence- 24) Fu – Return (The Turning Point)

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The trigram for earth is over the trigram for thunder. This hexagram represents the winter solstice when everything has reached its darkest point and the turn towards the light is ready to begin. Thunder represents the life force that has yet to emerge from the earth. Everything is at a point of rest and motion shall soon return again with renewed vigour.
 
When the Four of Swords occurs in a reading, a moment of rest has occurred in a conflict. This does not mean that the conflict has gone away as much as that it is time to take stock and look at possible outcomes and solutions before the battle starts up again. It is best not to fool oneself that things have resolved as this card does not mean peace but a brief pause for healing and reflection. Further effort will be necessary

 

When the Four of Swords  shows up reversed, it means that the truce is over and that it is time to return and resolve the conflicts at hand. If the inner work has been done during the truce time then resolution will be possible.

Tarot Post – Four of Cups

Four of Cups (Luxury)

 

Four of CupsFour of Cups (Revised) by G A Rosenberg

 
When life seems the same

New experience can bring growth

Explore potential

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There is something new to be had
I just know it
It comes into view and it will be better than
anything before
This new cup
This new game…
Have I said it before
of each of the others?
I mean it now…
I just know the next
dream come true
will make my dreams come true….

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The Most amazing gift
a dream created
A seed that if cared for
will become real
if not, it can join this pile
of seeds over here

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Cups deal with our emotional nature including love, both that as in a relationship between two (and rarely more) people and that of friends and companions. Fours express a stability and manifestation of the energy involved. In this case our emotions are stabilized and at peace. Something new appears on the horizon. Do we accept it as one more thing or do we fully explore its potential? When we become too jaded to see each new thing that appears in our life, good and bad as a gift to be explored, appreciated and integrated rather than something else to use and discard then we set ourselves up for frustration later on.

 

Astrological Correspondence – Moon in Cancer – Cancer is the moon’s home and in this sign, each thing encountered makes its emotional impression  and adds to the awareness. It is also an energy that is always looking for something more as the possible answer to its needs and can never be totally satisfied.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 3) Chun – “Difficulty at the Beginning”
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This hexagram is comprised of the trigram for water over that of thunder.  It has connotations of both a seed sprouting and pushing up above the earth and also that of a storm, rain and thunder combining to cause severe noise and tempestuousness. That same rain tho can make any seeds planted grow and will give much needed water to the biosphere. It needs to be appreciated for what it is. Everything especially in the first pangs of life struggles to find its way and how it will integrate new things into its environment

 

When the four of cups occurs in a reading, it can indicate something new that has entered the life of the querent, usually of an emotional nature. It can be something as simple as advice. Will we listen to it or at least seek to understand how it may apply to us or will we throw it away as just one more in a series of thing we have heard? Do we believe we have heard it all before or are we truly willing to listen?
 
When the four of cups shows reversed, it says that we have learned to use what is offered to us and to accept it in the spirit offered. It may also show that this has occurred out of necessity because everything that we have taken for granted has been seeping away.

 

Tarot Post – Three of Pentacles

Three of Pentacles (Work / Art)

 

Three of PentaclesThree of Pentacles (Revised) by G A Rosenberg

 

He Perfects his art.

Realizing inner visions

he then manifests

 

So hard I’ve worked
to learn my craft
endless hours where every mistake possible was made
Now the show
the lights, the glow
the people coming around to see
what new masterpiece the artist has designed
Yet still the art
flows through
and a new creation awaits

 

Story: The cabinet maker had spent years as an apprentice learning his trade. As a journeyman, he perfected it learning what artistic flourishes to put in and how to make function flow into a form that both utilized space and was pleasing to the eye. Now he was a master and people came from miles around to be wait-listed for his next project. Today tho, his work was to be shown as if for the first time. Never was any contract more important. The princess strode in and looked regally upon his newest creation. He held his breath as she inspected his work. He had spend weeks on this, wanting it to be perfect but knowing that it would mean nothing if she was displeased. Her eyes lit up. “I love this dollhouse daddy, thank you, it’s beautiful”. “You’re welcome princess”, he said and hugged her tightly.

 

In the tarot  the suit of Pentacles refers to the element of Earth and of practical matters such as work and partnerships of a business nature and of the home. They can also represent nature, the Earth itself.  Threes deal with maturity, accomplishment and transmission of the energy involved. In the three of Pentacles, that transmission of practical energy is work accomplished or having something to show for it. Any piece of art or craftsmanship not only reflects the work put into it but the work ,  learning and time that has gone into everything the artist or craftsman has ever done before. It used to feel strange to me that some of the art that had taken me the least amount of time to do gets some of the best responses from people. Until my partner said to me, “Did it take two hours or did it take fifty years?”

 

Astrological Correspondence – Mars in Capricorn – This energy is very goal-oriented.  Hard work is done willingly in pursuit of something that needs to be accomplished. This involves concentration and order in a creative fashion.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 13) Tung Jên “Fellowship with Men</h4>
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The trigram of Heaven is over that of Flame.  The one weak line among the five strong shows flexibility within a strong order. In fellowship, there is great benefit if within a system, there can be some willingness to yield either for a better vision or to allow some creativity to show through.

 

In a reading the Three of Pentacles can refer to a time of learning and hard work paying off. It can denote recognition of effort and a feeling of accomplishment.

 

When it shows up reversed in a reading, it can represent a finished work that is mediocre. Something has been done to ‘get by’ rather than done with conscious effort. It may show that someone is not working to the best of their abilities

 

Tarot Post – Three of Swords

Three of Swords (Sorrow)

 

Three of SwordsThree of Swords (Revised) by G A Rosenberg

 

I didn’t want to know.
Separation hurts like hell
Still Healing Begins

 

Separation

None that came
and took the hand
of sorrow’s separation
Bleeding heart releases tears
Not only bloody down
the cheek of one’s soul
but burning holes
in the fabric of real
exposing chaos

 

What can come
spring forth from loins
of chaos manifestation
Lovely monsters coming through
not only ravishing
the whole of being
but with ecstatic
terrible beauty
exhorting night
–G A Rosenberg

 

The suit of swords represents thought, ideas, plans and conflicts. Threes deal with maturity, accomplishment and transmission of the energy involved. Thought separates one thing from another for the purposes of comparing and contrasting, breaking down and analyzing. What is that energy of separation in its maturity but that of sorrow and loss. When we find separation from those we loved and cherished we feel grief. When we find that we can no longer hold on to things we once innocently believed there is grief as well.  Knowledge replaces faith and we grow wiser but sometimes it hurts. In the long run the separation itself is illusion tho. Every relationship (whether it be with beliefs, places or people) still exists and we still learn from it. They have just moved into the past.

 

Astrological Correspondence – Saturn in Libra- Saturn is the planet of hard lessons and when in Libra, the focus of the lessons is our relationships and partnerships. When our relationships come under scrutiny, then we notice the flaws and what we need to learn from it becomes apparent. This can often result in learning the lesson and moving on or learning the lesson and rebuilding the relationship using what we have learned.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 33) Tun – Retreat

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The Trigram of the Heavens is over the Trigram of the Mountain  – When you don’t feel like you can interact in a fair way, then there may come a time of retreat or separation from that with which you are engaging. This is necessary in order to preserve your energies and marshall your strength. This does not mean running away as much as retreating from an overwhelming situation.

When the three of swords comes up in a reading, it often means separating from something or someone the querent has loved and the ensuing grief that that provides. Heartache.  It may counsel some time needed to reflect and heal.

When the three of swords comes out reversed in a reading, it may mean a clinging to old hurts and separations and an inability to move on and put them in the past. It can show someone who has not yet accepted the ‘gift’ of insight the separation gives.

Tarot Post – Two of Pentacles

Two of Pentacles (Change)

 

two of PentaclesTarot- Two of Pentacles (Revised) by G A Rosenberg

 

Balls are in the air

Can the balance be maintained

or will I drop them?

 

New given way by old
A tale I’ve oft been told
yet how do I proceed?

 

Surrender to become
Surrender what myself
then who am I to be?

 

Transitional Being
Balancing the meaning
combining alchemy

 

I stand in between
change’s doorway I mean
I hold and I balance
— G A Rosenberg

 

In the tarot  the suit of Pentacles refers to the element of Earth and of practical matters such as work and partnerships of a business nature and of the home. They can also represent nature, the Earth itself. Twos  represent duality, subject and object and relationship between the two. In the case of the two of Pentacles this means balancing between two different aspects of life and changing from one aspect to the other. This change also involves the idea of balance in this case between the old and the new. Other balances are between work and home, spouse and children, friends and work etc. This balance and maintaining it can be tricky as quite often we find one overbalanced at the expense of the other.
When writing of this card before I wrote:

 

“The other day I was watching a juggler balancing on a unicycle and juggling plates. I could relate for I too juggle on what seems at times an equally unsteady pedestal.

On the one hand my family and practical existence. At a time in my life when I had given up on steadiness, given up on love, I met someone who transformed my existence. Together we became married, we’ve raised kids, bought the house, have too many pets. We’ve worked hard to get to this point and there is always more to do. Joy and Satisfaction is there for the taking…at the right times and places and yet…
This year, my spirit has soared. New avenues to explore. New aspects of godhood to love. I feel freer, more awake and more alive than I have felt before. Creatively, I write, I create art. Ideas and expression flow through me like some kind of divine river that I just wish to surrender and el it carry me off. Teachers, Students and friends are there to join me on the journey. and yet…

The garbage needs to be taken out, The kid needs to be dressed. The dog needs to be walked “Oh by the way, we’re going to the movies today, be ready at two.”
It’s not as if I begrudge my family the time. They are my foundation. Anything I have done has been an outgrowth of their love and support. And yet…

Meditation, , a blog that needs updating., and something new and wonderful to share.
How do I keep my balance without falling off of this thing?

 

As much as I wish I could say I’ve managed this balancing act  I must confess that the juggling is at least as tricky as it was before. Still perhaps I am learning..

 

Astrological Correspondence -Jupiter in Capricorn – Jupiter in Capricorn is an interesting study in balance–Jupiter expands in a cheerful optimistic way that looks towards the future. Capricorn moves slowly, carefully and tends to be about learning the lessons from the past. The combination of the two can bring success but only through hard work to methodically balance things out….

 

I Ching Correspondence- 16) Yü Enthusiasm

I Ching: 16

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Chȇn Thunder over K’un Earth– It is the strong fourth line that pulls all the other weak lines with it by din of its Ashe (personal power, charisma, flow), Movement. Leading people in the direction you want along the path of least resistance. To determine this, the great man or leader has to balance what he needs done with the most likely way the people he leads will flow….

 

In readings: This card is variously referred to as either change or harmony and it tends to be a dynamic one. Movement is needed to keep the two disks moving. Likewise, when balancing different aspects of our lives and relationships we can’t expect to rest on our laurels, we need to constantly adjust according to feedback in order to keep things harmonious. When the card is upright or positively aspected, things are flowing smoothly
Reversed in readings: The balance is not flowing so smoothly. Either we are not adjusting our balance in accordance with the feedback we are getting or things are moving too quickly for us to do so.

 

 

Tarot Card of the Day – Dec 4 2010

Six of Cups – Pleasure

The light reflects on the water
as our bodies reflect on each other
a coming together of elements
yearning for something new to come of it…
We may have met this way before
on this beach or another
in another time or existence
but every moment is NOW
and every beach this one
Fall into my body
as my spirit touches yours…..

Tipareth in Water
Sun (☼) in Scorpio (♏)
I Ching Hexagram 20
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Kwan – Manifesting or Contemplating

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Six of Cups – Pleasure by G A Rosenberg

Tarot Card of the Day – November 25 2010

“But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you’re fighting for.”

–Paulo Coelho

Five of Swords

Venus in Aquarius

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Five of Swords – Defeat by G A Rosenberg

Tarot Card of the Day – Nov 13 2010

Nine of Wands

Yesod in Fire
Moon (☽) in Sagittarius ( ♐)

“Of all important doctrines concerning equilibrium, this is the easiest to understand, that change is stability; that stability is guaranteed by change; that if anything
should stop changing for the fraction of a split second, it would go to pieces.”

— Aleister Crowley, Book of Thoth

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Nine of Wands-Strength by G A Rosenberg

Tarot Card of the Day — November 10 2010

Eight of Swords – Interference

“I never told a victim story about my imprisonment. Instead, I told a transformation story – about how prison changed my outlook, about how I saw that communication, truth, and trust are at the heart of power.
–Fernando Flores

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Eight of Swords- Interference by G A Rosenberg