Altars - Justice {XI}

Justice Altar
(Equilateral cross, Owl, Elephant, Prod)

Justice

In one hand, she holds the scales (careful discernment) and in the other, the sword (compassionate action). She uses these tools together with profound results.

Wise Justice. Woman of little words. Pertinent actions. Meaningful decisions.

The scales. Balance. Libra. 

Doing what is right. Seeing what is true. Breaking through illusions. Acting deftly. Knowing yourself. Keeping your center. Discriminating awareness. Tough love.

 Justice urges you to do what is right. To do it when it is right. To see clearly. She is a no-nonsense sort of woman. She is larger than life, in that she can hold her own against it, without getting buffeted aside. She is fair and -ahem- just. She will not be pushed aside or ignored. She stands in her power and wields it well - without rashness, and without emotion telling her what to do. Her will and action spring from a deeper kind of knowing. A clear certainty borne of compassion. She sees how everything is connected.

She is able to adJUST, when necessary.

I'm designing a Tarot Deck - King of Cups

King of Cups of FIRE!

This is the guy who got me started. The King of Cups. And, though in my deck, he is a man of fire, he is still the type of guy you'd normally meet in the King of Cups card. My fire is your water. Or, more specifically, the fire in my deck is based on the Five Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Families: Ratna (earth), Vajra (water), Padma (fire), Karma (wind/air), and also Buddha (space/aether). You can see that they are the same elements one is used to in the west (unlike the 5 elements of the Chinese: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth). There are slightly different agreements, however, as to which element means what.

In Robert M. Place's "The Buddha Tarot" (Llewellyn Publications, 2004), the same Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Energy Families are dealt with. His alignment of the elements differs from mine, though I can follow his logic, for the most part. The difference between us being that he seems to focus on the traditional Tibetan tool associated with each element and re-associated the elements as necessary, whereas I focused more on my understanding of the general meaning of the element and re-associated the tools as necessary- sometimes using a more traditional western version of a tool, whereas Place stuck strictly to the traditional Tibetan tool associations. Different ways of resolving an inherent need for translation. Both ways have their benefit. Of course, I believe my way to be more useful, but I am also glad that he did not do it this way, because now I get to! I purchased The Buddha Tarot deck to inform my own design process and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the life of the Buddha or anyone who is interested in these Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Energies. It is a fine deck (though, be warned! The traditional western meanings of the cards also goes by the wayside for certain cards, though most seem to align.). I love the artwork and the way he rendered the pip cards. Also, his use of Dakinis for Queens and traditionally associated Tibetan Animal-figures for Knights is inspired. I will be doing something slightly different. Plus, the life of the Buddha as the progression of the Major Arcana is a great way to learn/remember the life of the Buddha AND the meanings of the Major Arcana! A great study tool for Buddhists and Tarotists, alike. Moving on, then...

This passage from Rachel Pollack's 78 Degrees of Wisdom: A book of Tarot (Weiser Books, 1980) is what got me hooked on the idea that the elements of the west and the elements of the east (Tibet, anyway) would be in good alignment, as far as their meanings go, though they would switch up which element went with which meaning a wee bit:
  

As a brief summary, Wands/Fire stand for action, movement, optimism, adventure, struggle, business in the sense of the activity of commerce rather than the things sold, beginnings. Cups/Water stand for reflection, quiet experiences, love, friendship, joy, fantasy, passivity. Swords/Air stand for conflict, angry or disturbed emotions, sadness, but also for mental activity, wisdom, the use of intellect to understand the truth. Pentacles/Earth stand for nature, money, work, routine activities, stable relationships, business in the sense of things made and sold. Also, because Pentacles are magic signs, they stand for the magic of nature and the wonder of ordinary life, not always perceived, but often hidden under the surface. 

Highlighted in the passage above are my own associations with the elements as I understand them through my work with the Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Energies. This work began while earning my Master of Arts in Contemplative Education at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. In this system, Air is associated with Green (rather than with Earth, as is common in Western traditions), Fire is Red (or, Pink, in this case- the Red was too hard to read through!), Water is Blue (usually royal blue, but again, there was the issue of legibility), and Earth is Yellow (whereas it is usually Green in Western traditions).

As you can see, the element does not always translate straight across with the suit/tool. The way I see it, through the lense of my understanding of the Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom Energies, is that Wands must be Air (Karma- Action, Precision, 'Can-do' attitude), Cups must be Fire (Padma- Passion, Warmth, Connection), Swords must be Water (Clarity, Anger, Perception), and Pentacles (or Jewels) remain Earth (Ratna- Richness, Splendor, Abundance).

So, My King of Cups of Fire is:

Compassionate, Understanding, Accepting, Warm, Kind, Friendly, Gentle, Charming.

"Garuda [a Tibetan Buddhist figure], seated on a lotus ("cup").
Holding a bead located at the throat, the center of voice and expression. He has both access to and control over it's power.
 Beneath the water-line, emotions may be dark or distressful, but above the water-line, all appears calm and well.
 There is a great flame rising out of the Garuda, representing his element and perhaps also more of the aforementioned emotion or passion that may be present, but his calm poise and the peaceful, balanced scene show his mastery over such diversions. It is nearly impossible to guess what he is thinking or feeling, given such disciplined composure.
 He appears to be seated calmly on his lotus-throne, but also gives the impression of being ready and able to spring into the air and fly out of sight at any moment, with complete intention, if without warning.

Controlled passions, depth of feeling, adept at connecting authentically."

~Aunt Magic

Astrology: Sabian Symbols, Haiku?

So...

Being a newly turned-on astrology nerd, I have just learned about Sabian Symbols, which are a set of 'images' (as described in words) that were psychically channeled by a woman in California, along with the help of two male contemporaries, in 1925.

I went and looked up my 'Sabian Symbols'  (just the description of the 'image' - there are other parts to a Sabian Symbol, such as a short divinatory meaning and a keyword [which may also prove fun to 'play' with!]) for my natal chart, and was delighted with the result.

As you may or may not know, a natal chart is basically a 'picture' of the sky, from the perspective of your place of birth on earth, at the moment of your birth. As such, it is basically a circle (360 degrees) that is further delineated by 12 'signs' (each being 30 degrees and aligning with an astrological constellation that is in that section of the sky) and by 'house' (a whole different way of slicing up the sky that sort of overlaps the 'sign' delineation, based on the horizon). Please note: even the planets that are on the other side of the earth (and therefore, technically unseen at the time of your birth) are still represented and have their influence. Thus- the 360 degree chart (rather than only the portion of the sky that can actually be seen from your birthplace). Make sense?

Here is a random example of one I found online (John Travolta!):

Here, you can see the horizon line (the horizontal arrow through the middle of the circle that is pointing to the left). So, all the planets under that line are unseen as they are on the other side of the earth. Got it? Good!

At any rate, planets, luminaries (the sun and the moon) and different special 'points' are represented in a natal chart. Below is a list that I will be using:

Sun
Moon
Ascendant (these first three in bold are known as the big three - most folks are familiar with their sun sign- the one you use to look up your 'horoscope' but the other two really flesh out a fella or a gal! Please note: sometimes the 'ascendant' is called the 'rising' sign.)
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
True Node (where the path of the moon intersects the path of the earth, as I understand it.)
Chiron
Mid-heaven (sort of the middle of the sky near the top of your chart - where the arrow bisects John Travoltas chart, above, pointing straight up.)

Now, each of these planets/luminaries/points lies within a portion of the great circle that is delineated by 'sign'. And, for each of the 12 signs, there are 30 degrees (making one complete circle at 360 degrees, n'est-ce pas?). For each degree, there is a 'Sabian Symbol'. Taken in the order above, the Sabian Symbols end up making these very poignant little haikulettes (my new favorite, just-made-up word!).

I love my Sun-Moon-Ascendant haikulette:

Daybreak ~
The groundhog looking for its shadow ~
Two heads looking out and beyond the shadows ~

(I can't wait to make a collage for this one! I'll post it if/when I do!)

Then, if you keep going in this manner, you end up with a neat and tidy haikulette SET (where the opening line is also the closing line). As such:

~~~~~~~
Daybreak ~
The groundhog looking for its shadow ~
Two heads looking out and beyond the shadows ~

Glass blowers ~
Grandes Dames at tea ~
A clown making grimaces ~

An auto wrecked by a train ~
A flag at half-mast ~
A fellowship supper ~

The pyramids and the sphinx ~
A noon siesta~
A boat landing washed away ~

A bridge being built across a gorge ~
A large disappointed audience ~
Daybreak~
~~~~~~~

Isn't that something? Wow.
It's almost like a night of dreaming...
I love it!!!
I want to do one for everybody!

I found these links very informative, if you care to try this out yourself (please share what you come up with!):

Sabian Symbols Introduction
Sabian Symbol 'Headings' (the verbal 'images' - to make your haikulette!)

And, to get a natal chart for yourself, I suppose you could search for a free online natal chart (I was going to post a link to the place I got mine, only it looks like they aren't free anymore).

Have a sparkling day!

~Aunt Magic

Altars - The Wheel {X}

The Wheel Altar

The Wheel. "To turn, turn, will be our delight, til by turning, turning, we come round right." That is an old Quaker saying that I fell in love with the moment I read it. Now, with my new understanding through the study of this card, it makes even more sense!

Imagine that you are at the center of a great wheel. Out at the edge of the wheel is the world. When you lose your center, you are getting sucked out to the edge of the wheel and getting lost in the world. It is pulling you every which way and you are racing just to keep up. RELAX! Fall back to center and things become so much simpler and more straightforward. Stay in your center, and you can manage all of the things 'out there' so much more easily! It is, in a sense, the physical form of what happens during meditation. The mind chases all of the little thoughts all over the place (normally), but then- you can always come back to the breath (meditation!). You can even let the thoughts go and just stay HERE (now, you're really "getting somewhere!"). That's the center of the wheel. That's sitting on your throne.

There is more to the wheel than that, though! (As if that weren't enough!) We were asked this question during our guided visualizations when studying this card in my Tarot Archetypes class: "What was your face before you were born?" I would tell you my response, but I don't think it would have much bearing on YOUR life. We all have our own answers... And, sometimes, we live much more with the mystery than any kind of actual 'answer' anyway! If we had all the answers, I suppose we wouldn't BE here! So... Entertain questions like these. See where they take you. Come back to center. Always come back to center. That is the teaching of The Wheel! Enjoy!!!

Much love, 

Aunt Magic

Altars - The Hermit {IX}

The Hermit Altar

 The Hermit - such a simple guy. Sort of.

In my Tarot Archetypes class, we take "Journeys" to "meet" the archetypes represented in each of the 22 Major Arcana (except for The Lovers).

I am only just realizing part of the significance of my journey with The Hermit as I write this: I walked up to him and we hugged and then I "fell" into another world, the darkness of the inside of his cloak being the portal. What only just occurred to me is that this arrangement is representative of the fact that Hermits are internal! There was a whole WORLD in there! Which is to say that there is a whole WORLD inside of ME, of whom the archetypes in my own journeys all represent some part, naturally.

Hermits seem so simple on the outside. Even this altar is very simple and clean. But the world on the INSIDE is RICH and COMPLEX. It's hard to show it on the altar, as it is a non-tangible aspect of oneself. It is also hard to describe to an outsider- like a dream or one of those moments when "you just had to be there" to get it. I guess it is like that in me, a little bit. This must be partly why I am so drawn to expressive arts! This is where the communication happens. The internal shows up externally- even in other people's art! I suppose that's why we make art at all... Communicating and representing some part of this deep, inner, collective consciousness-type experience.

When my husband and I first got together, we had an emotional conversation about communication. He wanted me to talk more. I tried to relate to him how difficult this can be for me by asking him: What if I demanded that you paint me a picture every day? To me, it is the same kind of challenge- What we should do is have meetings where he talks my ear off and I make some art- a fair exchange! He still gets bent out of shape on this point and I still don't demand paintings... Though, perhaps I should! ;D

I'm not sure if my Artist self has everything to do with The Hermit in me- but there is a special relationship there. The Hermit is the card associated with Virgo (my sun sign), while the card associated with Cancer (my husband's) is The Chariot. After doing our numerology and figuring which cards we each had as our Life Lesson card (this work can be found in the book: Tarot for Your Self by Mary K. Greer), it was interesting to find that we each have the other's card! It's no wonder we got together! Apparently, we have a lot to learn from one another...

Anyway, enough about me and my marital [and life] challenges. Back to the Hermit.

  The Hermit finds his own inner light and shines it forth for others/for the world!
Though, most of the time, I suppose, The Hermit is in the process of finding that light. At least, that's where I find myself, at the time. Perhaps one day I can begin to shine.

~Aunt Magic

Altars - The Lovers {VI}

{The Lovers: Choice, Integration, The Great Rite, etc.}

For most of our studies with the cards in my class, we were guided through visualizations or shamanic style "journeys". For the lovers card, we did not do this. As a result, I feel that I have not incorporated the teaching of the card as thoroughly as with the other cards. Therefore, forgive me if my expression of the meaning of this card as I see it seems unclear- that would be because it is!

 

That being said, I do believe I found great insight in the meaning of the card as it is described in our book: "Love requires surrender, and surrender requires choice." This idea made me realize that I was still resisting fully loving my own husband because I was unwilling to fully surrender. It would seem -following the logic of the saying- that I had not fully made the choice to accept him unconditionally. I was still waiting to make sure he was 'good enough' or something like that.

This card helped me realize that I still had a choice about him and our marriage. And, what's more, that I wouldn't have it any other way. This decision, on that deeper level, allowed me to begin to surrender... To truly love him. To open to and appreciate him for his bold, masculine energy without feeling that it threatened my undulating, female energy. I began to see him as The Lord {The Emperor - IV} and myself as The Lady {The Empress - III}. This union is a balanced and peaceful one, wherein the differing energies are allowed to be different, accepted as they are, as they balance and support each other. This marriage is representative of the Great Rite, the union of opposites, creating a third thing that is greater than the sum of it's parts.

OK- maybe I understood it a little better than I thought. ;}

Happy Surrendering!!!

with love, Aunt Magic

Altars - The Emperor {IV}

 {The Emperor or The Lord: Protector, Father, Boundary-setter, Foundation}

{Holly King, Sun-God, Lion, Horse, Elk, Red, Spicy, Jasper, Pine Tree, Santa!}

The teachings of this archetype for me were very challenging! Most of my life thus far, I have not been very good with boundaries! There is also an aspect of firmness with an element of nurturing (not forgetting The Empress {III}, who came before The Emperor, whose altar I didn't get a picture of... perhaps I will have to make a new one.). This balance of the qualities of The Empress and The Emperor became remarkably clear to me in dealing with my young son; I had to have a 'Father' in me as well as the 'Mother' who usually resides in me. I couldn't be ALL squishy, wishy-washy comfort! I had to have boundaries, clarity, and firmness, as well! It was an interesting lesson. It's amazing what a symbol can teach you if you are open and willing to listen!!

(We happened to be studying this card near the holidays, which made my altar feel very a propos! I borrowed the animal magnets from my son's collection on our fridge and the holly is from our own backyard!)

Altars - The High Priestess {II}

My High Priestess altar (before it evolved, as they tend to do...).

I am taking a very cool Tarot Archetypes class that is sort of like group therapy based on Jungian Archetypal Psychology and realized with the help of the Major Arcana of the Tarot.

Our teacher recommends that we create an altar for every card/archetype/key/persona. For me, it has proved most illuminating (this probably has a lot to do with the fact that I am largely a visual/spatial/experiential learner!). Gathering all of the different aspects of a card together and adding all of the supporting 'characters' (plants, animals, stones, etc.) really helps an archetypal personality come to life!

I can also see how creating altars around intentions or affirmations or dreams or visions or what-have-you could really be helpful in reaching one's goals or keeping important things in mind! It dawned on me (and, on my husband recently) that I treat most decorative surfaces as altar space: the entry way, the side table, the cabinet, the built-in, the bed-side table... All of these spaces easily become sacred observations when they are dressed with intention and care.

One important aspect seems to be to keep these sacred spaces 'fresh.' I remember learning about this concept in terms of Geomancy (such as Feng Shui), where it is said that energy (Chi or Qi, using the Feng Shui terminology) gets stuck in places that are neglected. It really seems true. The difference is clear when you walk into a place that is well cared for vs. one that is neglected.

Over the holidays, I realized that THE most common altar HAS to be the Christmas Tree! It is amazing how common they are and how often so full of meaning (even for those on whom the symbol of the tree, itself, is lost), what with all of the gifted, carefully selected, inherited, and/or home-made ornaments! People all over the planet carefully select a tree, place it, dig out their ornaments, hang them all over the tree, take them all down when it is time, wrap them all up and put them back in storage until next year (or whatever different practices there might be...). It is a long, involved ritual! And, as far as I can tell, has much more meaning than most people even fully realize! I think it's great. =)

At any rate, altars have become a mainstay in our home thanks to this class (I started late as the class was progressing, so I never did get to do a Fool [0] altar or one for The Magician [I], though I plan to after the course terminates!). Also, there have been a few altars that didn't quite make it into digital for the archives... C'est la vie! Excepting those few, I will continue to share my altars here. Hopefully, you will be inspired to try one or two of your own!

~Aunt Magic