29: Trailblazing… knowledge is power?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about knowledge. I often hear that ‘knowledge is power’ and yet, I can’t help to think that knowledge, in and of itself, is not power. When I come to this realisation, what follows is the question, ‘When is knowledge power?’

I’m sure you can figure this one out for yourself. But, to help this post along, I will presume to answer the question myself. ‘Knowledge is power only when it is acted upon/applied.’

What does this mean to you? How are you applying or acting upon the knowledge you possess? Do you share it? Do you keep it silent? Do you apply it in a way that alters something else to improve it or destroy it?

Today, I have drawn the 4 of Cups – Luxury. I am using the Thoth Tarot illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris.

This is such a lovely card! It reminds me of a Tiffany lamp.

Let’s look at it a little more closely. Look at the background sky… it is dark and foreboding, like a storm is on its way. The water is vast and there is no hint of stable ground. The Moon is in Cancer in this card. The pink petals of the lotus open and water bursts forth filling the top two cups with square bases firmly resting on lily pads. These cups fill and overflow, filling the bottom two cups with square bases resting on very little and suggesting instability. There is the infinity symbol in the bottom fretwork suggesting the sea is infinite.

This card is all about water/emotions. It is a card suggesting hedonism, addiction, escapism and these can create a huge weakness as they overwhelm the emotions. This card is a warning to moderate and beware attitudes towards seeking pleasurable pursuits. It is easy to be so consumed by pleasure and pleasurable things that , life strides boldly into our existence and announces itself with little warning unsettling our cups of luxury to the abyss of lack and poverty.

Wow! Okay, I think I get this message and will heed it! Today, I will be about working and keeping a balance in my activities, thoughts and deeds. How about you? What will your day bring? Will you luxuriate in your past accomplishments at the price of future endeavors? Will you succumb to pleasure and forego balance?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!

27: Trailblazing… news of progress

I started researching and learning Tarot to write a book based on the Tarot. However, the more I look, read, research, the more I really love Tarot.

I’m still writing a book… the muse has spoken and will not leave me alone until I do. As part of this project, however, I realised I would need to create my own deck and it’s a bit radical. Again, these cards have been inspired by my muse and I have seen them in my dreams.

I have created three cards so far: The Fool, Death and The Universe. I thought I’d share them with you here. Please note that while this deck is based on Thoth Tarot, it is a blend of Tarot and Lenormand Oracle and, if you are familiar with Lenormand decks, you’ll understand what I mean as soon as you see the cards.

I’d love your comments and/or thoughts about them. As I progress with the project, I’ll share more here just so you know why I haven’t been posting for a day or two (bar health issues).

Okay… here comes The Fool

the next one is Death:

and the final one is The Universe:

Until tomorrow…Love, light and blessings!

23: Trailblazing… distilling elements

Yesterday, I focused on productivity. I was engaged in distilling elements to put on to the cards I am making for the deck to accompany the book I am writing. It is a work of fiction and it is taking shape.

It is difficult to distill information in such a way as to release the extraneous until the purest elements remain. There is a conflict that ensues as you ‘weigh up’ what you will keep and what you will throw away. There is a ‘gray space’ that rises up to meet you as you begin separating out information. There will always be imperfect items that, in some instances, are vital but, in most instances, are not.

This seems to exist in any project-oriented task. What do you keep and what do you throw away? How do you ‘weigh up’ the value of any single element? How does the single element co-exist with the many pieces that give form and shape to an idea? Is consistency key to carry through the project? What elements need to appear in every instance? What elements can you pick and choose without losing the integrity of the project?

Okay, now I’m exhausted from just the thought of what lies ahead. This is where I remind myself to just take one step at a time and to trust it will all come together the way it should… without worry… without stress. (Breathe, remember to breathe!)

Today, I have drawn the Princess of Cups. I am using the Thoth Tarot illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris.

Now, she’s a beauty! She’s a bit green, but I love her gown!  Wow!

Let’s talk about what she really is about. She has the swan as her crest and this is attributed to Venus (Libra). Ten rays emanate from this crest and this is the number of Malkuth and the Earth. She is the Princess of the Earth, the base and primal bit, tied to fantasy and dreams. She holds a cup containing a turtle in her left hand and a lotus in her right hand. The turtle is tied to Cancer and demonstrates the influence of her father, the Knight of Cups. The lotus symbolises that she accepts expression of the emotional realm.

There are 11 hexagonal crystals on her gown. This not only symbolises Earth and Water but the hexagonal shape is symbolic the balance of Tiphareth and 11 is the number of magick. The fish is a stylized dolphin and this represents the influence of her mother, the Queen of Cups, and ties to the Empress (4 pectoral fins) linking her to Venus.

She is all about imagination, intuition and grace. She is emotionally unstable, childish and unrealistic. She is quite social.

So, what is the message for me today? Perhaps, it is about being realistic with what I can accomplish in one day or not being emotionally tied to the project I am undertaking. Perhaps, it is about allowing my imagination and intuition room to play.

Today promises to be quite an interesting day with this young lady in my cards. How will your day unfold? Will you allow time for play as well as work? Will you be realistic about what and how much you can accomplish without becoming emotionally unstable, tied to outcomes and putting yourself under pressure?

Until tomorrow… Love, light and blessings!