Katie-Ellen

Introducing The Decans of Pisces

20 February 2023 the sun re-enters the zodiac territory of Pisces the Fishes until 20 March 2023, the date of spring equinox when we will move into the mythical sky territory of Aries the Ram.

‘Pisces’ is from the Latin plural for fish, and the zodiac sign is named after one of the largest constellations in the zodiac. The two fish are said to represent Venus and Cupid in Greco-Roman mythology after they turned themselves into fish to escape a terrible monster, a Titan called Typhon who was later imprisoned by Zeus, tricked and trapped under Mt Etna where he still roars to this day, seeking to escape.

The twin fishes of Pisces are often depicted as koi carp.

Pisces symbolizes the concept of The Flood. This time of year marked the rainy season in Mesopotamia -where western astrology originated.

This is also the time of the winter flood melt, when mountain streams swell the rivers and will sometimes flood the valleys below. This is the time of year for the earliest spawning of fresh water fish.

The spring equinox now occurs during the zodiac month of Pisces when the sun passes across the ecliptic, crossing the imaginary line of the cord joining the two fishes. This year, 2022, the spring equinox will occur on Sunday 20 March.

Once upon a time the equinox occurred during the time allotted to the zodiac timing of Aries, the first sign of the western zodiac, but this has changed over time owing to the wobble of the Earth; an effect known as the precession of the equinoxes.

Pisces is the 14th largest constellation overall covering a large V-shaped region of the northern hemisphere. While it is large, its stars are faint — none brighter than fourth magnitude — making it hard to see with the naked eye.

Pisces is seen as two fish swimming at right angles to each other, one to the north and one to the west, attached to one another by a cord of stars, just as life and death, and winter and spring are conjoined and cannot be separated.

Pisces is the twelfth and final sign of the zodiac year, and rules the twelfth house in a personal horoscope, representing hopes, dreams and fears- what lies beneath. It stands for the mystery of the unknowable. It operates outwith the boundaries. This is its power, its magic and its danger, in the meaning of the spaces between reality and illusion.

Planetary aspects: Jupiter and Neptune

Pisces is the constellation associated with watery Neptune in Modern astrology but this planet was not discovered until 1846, and optimistic Jupiter is the original ruler of Pisces in traditional (Hellenistic) astrology. Astrologers vary in respect of which of these rulers they use in their own work.

The Pisces Archetype

The zodiac signs represent archetypes, meaning something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing.

The zodiac signs paint a portrait of a person born at a particular time of year, in a particular season. A baby born in summer arrives into a different physical environment from a winter baby; with differences of temperature, hours of daylight, maternal diet during pregnancy and so on, with potentially different effects on the baby’s physical makeup and constitution.

The major arcana Tarot card for Pisces is The Moon, The Moon: ebb and flow, cyclical shifts, intuition, dreams, visionary capabilities, fertility, difficulties with travel, uncertainties, shadow boxing, wild creatures, instinct v civilisation, genius, delusion, visions, and ghosts.

The full moon is a hunter’s moon. The crab, sometimes shown as a crayfish, lives between the sea and the land.

Pisces rules the liminal spaces.

*From The Gilded Tarot Royale, illustrator Ciro Marchetti*

The court card of Pisces is the Knight of Cups, signifying an offer, an invitation, a proposal, a welcome message, a bringer of good news, an admirer, lover, chivalry, a Sir Galahad, good health, a healing cup, loving cup.

Pisces is a mutable sign, marking the end of a season. The other mutable signs are Gemini and Sagittarius. Pisces marks the end of winter leading up to the spring/vernal equinox. Of all the zodiac signs, the mutable signs are traditionally considered as the most flexible and adaptable, the ones most at ease with endings and transitions and change.

Pisces is not only the last sign of winter as we are moving into spring; it is the last sign of the zodiac year, the culmination of all the signs that came before it. Pisces rules the feet and symbolically Pisces has one foot- in the death of the old year, and one foot in the new life of springtime.

Saturn transits into Pisces 7 March 2023 where it will stay for two and a half years. This planetary transit, for many of us, will feel like the end of an era.

I am writing this by the telephone, keeping vigil for my mother, a true Capricorn native ruled by Saturn, as disciplined and dutiful as she is brave and beautiful, with a keen intellect, and a wit that can bite but that is equally playful at times, even childlike. She is very poorly indeed at this time of writing, and is being treated in hospital for pneumonia and a suspected heart attack.

Pisces is famous for its emotional depths and visionary capabilities; sensitive, intuitive, psychic, artistically gifted but also competent or capable of scientific or technical brilliance.

But of course there is no such thing in reality as THE Pisces personality. You are a unique individual. Your zodiac sign (sun sign) is a major keynote, but it is nothing like the full picture in real life – or in astrology. There are many other factors in play, your rising sign, your Moon sign; the planets in your houses, your decan and the degree of the actual day you were born.

If you don’t feel like a ‘typical’ Pisces, perhaps you are a second or third decan Pisces, rather than a ‘most typical’ first decan Pisces.

Many years ago I painted this portrait of my parent’s venerable goldfish, Whizz. One of my sisters won him at a fair and that’s how he came to live with us. Perhaps not the greatest start for him, but he lived to be seventeen! One fish, two portraits in one in pen and watercolour.

What are the decans?

The decans (or decanates) are a way of marking time, breaking down each of the zodiac signs into three shorter blocks of roughly ten days each.

The Zodiac is a belt of sky we see from earth, tracking the path of the sun across the sky over the course of the year. We call this pathway of the sun ‘the ecliptic,’ The Greeks named the signs after twelve of the constellations appearing on, or crossing this zodiac belt: Aries, Taurus, Gemini Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and lastly, Pisces.

Each of these designated zodiac signs represents a 30 degree section of the zodiac belt. Each sign is then further sub-divided into three blocks of ten degrees, each about ten days in length, with slight variations. This gives us the ‘decans,’ from the Latin meaning ‘ten,’ or they may also be called decanates.

The decans are known as the ‘thirty-six faces of astrology’, adding extra depth and nuance to the stories of the signs of the zodiac, distinguishing between someone born at the start of their zodiac month from someone who is born during the middle or at the end of the zodiac month.

First Decan

Pisces- Pisces

Dates: 19 Feb-29 Feb

Planetary rulers: Traditional: Jupiter/ Modern: Neptune

Tarot card: Eight of Cups

Card meanings: Moving on, cutting ones losses, leaving something behind, disillusionment, regret.

The first decan of any sign is considered the most typical. Pisces makes for versatility and adaptability, while Neptune presents a soft or gentle manner or appearance. This Pisces is only rarely aggressive or confrontational.

But there is a sense of a push and pull going on here. Jupiter means they think big and step forward. Neptune means they swim round in circles or hide in the weeds. Neptune, planet of illusion, is their sub-ruler, which emphasize creativity and imagination. This Pisces native connects with other people on an unconscious level, almost hearing what they are thinking. Maybe they haven’t noticed this about themselves yet, or take telepathy for granted, but watch out for the signs.

This Pisces 1st decan double style has a tendency to go on a lot of detours before arriving at their final destination. While quiet, this Pisces has deep passions and their love life can be tempestuous. Their ideal partner is lively and communicative with a can-do approach.

They often look younger than their age, but they need to be especially beware unhealthy habits in order to protect their health; mood, and the chest, lungs and feet in particular. Pisces is extra-sensitive to the effects of overindulgence of alcohol or mind altering drugs.

A desire to do good for mankind is characteristic of the kindly first decan Pisces.

Second Decan

Pisces-Cancer

Dates: 1 -10 March (approx.)

Planetary rulers: Jupiter

Tarot card: Nine of Cups

Card Meanings: dreams come true, wishes granted, food and drink, the hospitality industry, overdoing things

The sub-influences for this decan are Cancer, ruled by The Moon. Cancer is the natural ruler of the fourth house of home, family and security. These Pisces subjects typically stay very close to birth family members. Pisces may struggle to loosen break parental ties and become independent, but must do so if they want to progress and develop and become the adult in the room, to provide for and parent their own children, building their own family unit.

These are the most elusive most watery of the fishes. Now you see them, now you don’t. Their zone of the sky from March 1 –10 houses the stars of the water of Aquarius, and Eridanus the river and the west fish of Pisces.

These Pisceans are masters of disguise and can blend into any environment effortlessly. Pisces decan 2 absorbs. It is sensitive and psychic, but for the same reason these people need to choose their company with care, and form healthy habits early on in life. These subjects are supremely susceptible to the influence of others in their environment, and this can work positively or negatively.

Third Decan

Pisces- Scorpio

Dates: 11 March-20 March

Planetary ruler: Mars

Tarot card– Ten of Cups

Card Meanings: contentment, completion, arrival, family life, a happy home

The sub-influences for this decan are Scorpio and its rulers, traditional Mars or modern Pluto.

Energetic Mars and Scorpio – natural ruler of the eighth house of desire, willpower, drive and determination – brings to this Pisces extra charisma, and the drive and determination to push forward where Pisces otherwise can tend to hold back, lacking that forcefulness. This Pisces has the artistic creativity of Pisces/Neptune; but has that extra sticking power to turn dreams into realities.

Pluto brings depth and Mars brings speed and energy of attack. This Pisces needs to stay busy, and needs plenty of energy outlets.

Pisces marks the completion of the zodiac wheel and this final decan marks, the point at which we move into Aries and a whole new circle starts over again. Aries too, is also ruled by energetic Mars.

These Pisces natives, just like the other decans, are enormously receptive to their environment, but they tend to stay more aloof and watchful and are less likely to blend in or fall under the influence of what is going on around them. They are highly observant, natural detectives, well suited to police or other kinds of investigative work. Pisces-Scorpio is an excellent listener, tuning in the wants and needs of others, listening between the lines to what is not being said.

The Cusps of Pisces

Aquarius-Pisces: February 15-21

Aquarius-Pisces: This is a Pisces native with Aquarius tendencies; a person of high principles, often rather quiet, refined, and with strong likes and dislikes. This Pisces is likely to travel a fair bit and has executive ability and can make money, but can become bored quite easily and needs to be extra careful not to get trapped, becoming committed too soon in a relationship that really doesn’t suit them

Pisces-Aries: March 17-23

Born on the Pisces-Aries cusp, this native is especially instinctive and brave. This mix of energy combines physical and moral courage with compassion for others which can make this Pisces individual a successful leader. This person is loyal to friends and colleagues and they are also generous, and eager to see others do well.

Famous Pisces

Michelangelo, Copernicus, George 111, Albert Einstein, Neville Chamberlain, Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Taylor, Yuri Gagarin, Michael Gorbachev, Osama Bin Laden, Steve Irwin, Steve Jobs…For more see HERE

Back soon 🙂

Runecast for February 2022

Whoops…I did this rune reading and wrote it up 21 January but then forgot all about it.

This reading was of necessity very general. In a personal reading, the reader will investigate a stated issue to get at specifics and offer relevant suggestions.

What we were looking for here was simply a feel for any collective events or dynamics affecting us in February. We were looking at the tone, and looking for the advice buried within the runes.

We are still only in mid-February but we can now get something of whatever benefit of hindsight there is here, in respect of this casting performed 21 January.

First Impressions

“We have here five upright runes and there is one rune (Uruz) that has been drawn upside down (merkstave) We have four runes that are positive in meaning and two that are potentially challenging (Thurisaz and Uruz merkstave.)

Uruz merkstave denotes things happening around us that we are stuck with for now, as they do not fall under our personal control. Thurisaz represents a challenge.

Thurisaz, meaning Thorn, represents defence or attack, and combined with Uruz merkstave this seems to be referring to theatres of aggression; namely, the massing of military forces on both sides of the eastern Ukraine border, and Russian forces also on the other side of the northern border.

These are worrying times but the runes do not clearly indicate any actual invasion during February. Why not? The reader looks to see which runes are absent. We do not have the victory rune Tiwaz, denoting attack, named after Tyr, the Norse god of war who gives his name to Tuesday. (Whereas In French, Mardi is the Roman god of war, Mars.)

Nor do we have Hagall, the rune denoting a blow like a hailstorm (air artillery, for instance.)

Perthro, the advice rune sitting in the near future position, means secrets but also sanctuary. A stand off and a stalemate is looking more likely for the duration of February, with lots of noise.

We’ve got plenty of trouble all the same in February, mostly way beyond our personal control. That top rune Thurisaz is reflecting the current protests in Brussels, Canada and other places against covid restrictions, and these events seem likely therefore to continue into February.

The theme for this coming month is control, and the challenge of making decisions, both collective and individual in the face of unknowable or unpredictable factors (eg world politics, or covid) (Ansuz- the wisdom rune.)

Rune 1: Ansuz

Meanings: Teacher, mentor, Wisdom, wise advice, guidance, knowledge, information, broadcasting public speaking, writing

This rune stands for recent events and issues, and it is a curious coincidence that just as I am writing this I have learned via the television of the death of a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Nhat Hanh, known as Thay to his followers, who has died 95.

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered around the world for his pioneering teachings on mindfulness, global ethics and peace.

Our own life has to be our message –Thich Nhat Hanh –

What is the connection to this rune? This was a person whose experience and teachings have been hugely influential upon a generation of politicians, social activists, teachers, counsellors, health and fitness practitioners (meditation, yoga, etc.) and has driven an entire publishing market in the area of ‘Mindfulness’.

The rune Ansuz represents the mouth. Another name for it is OS, similar to the Latin word root for the modern words oral, oracle and oratory. We get the modern English word ‘answer’ from this rune. It stands for the power of the word, spoken and written.

Ansuz is saying there has been a huge lot of noise in the mainstream media in recent weeks. And, indeed there has in the UK, even more than usual in the past two years.

Can Boris Johnson survive ‘partygate’ as PM? These runes suggest that yes, he is weakened (Uruz Merkstave) But he could still survive in post at least a while longer, based on the central rune Gyfu meaning goodwill and contract. He is still far more widely and better liked by the public than media coverage would suggest, whatever have been the errors of judgment notwithstanding. Some high profile UK astrologers do not think so, however, and have suggested his departure is practically guaranteed in 2022, though they differ on the timing and as ever, only time will tell.

One thing has been clear since 2016, and was proven at the ballot box. What the media say the public think, and what the general public really think are often not the same thing.

On a personal level, this rune is good news if you are preparing to sit an exam. Making a proper effort of preparation is almost guaranteed to pay off. You may discover a new course of training or an apprenticeship, or you may seek and receive helpful advice from a person older or more experienced than yourself.

The appearance of Ansuz is usually excellent news if you have an interview or audition coming up, or you are delivering a speech or public presentation of any kind in February.

Rune 2: Gyfu

Meanings: Gifts, exchanges, partnerships, marriages, contracts, agreements, alliances

We get the modern English word ‘gift’ from this rune. It may therefore be talking literally, indicating that some actual gift is coming our way this month, or this may take the form of some kindly gesture or assistance. Or we may be signing up for a new partnership, agreement or contract.

This positive rune is sitting in the central position of the reading, reflecting where we are at now, or what to focus on at this present time. This rune cannot be reversed so it is always good news, unless it is surrounded by challenging runes. Here, there’s a mixture, but overall it is more positive than negative for personal and working relationships this month.

The worst case scenario is that we are dealing with a problem of an emotional nature. If so, the best approach is to take deep breath, consider words carefully, as with the previous rune Ansuz, and we may need some further information or advice before deciding on the best response.

Gyfu usually refers to a partnership either in business or in love, and can often indicate that a greater commitment is coming down the line. Here the rune may be picking up on the fact of St Valentine’s Day on the 14^th.

When we have been tired and stressed, this positive rune suggests we get a bit of a break. There is a lift in mood, and we can look forward to some much needed relief and respite.

Rune 3: Laguz

Meanings: Water/Flow/Instinct/Intuition

The Tonga tsunami occurred 15 January. The repercussions continue and seem set to continue for some while to come. Ask Astrology has made more than one mention of tsunamis in 2022. In last month’s runecast, Ask Astrology noted the appearance of the Laguz rune, drawn upside down or merkstave.

Laguz is water and water is vital for life but when the rune goes upside down or merkstave we are talking about troubled waters.

Here we have drawn it for a second time. We are sailing troubled waters globally, and there may be high rainfall and flooding in parts of the world this February, as with Peru most lately. Sadly this is not rare this time of year, but this month the rune has been drawn the right way up, with a more positive message.

Laguz says to trust your intuition this month especially in dealings with others. This rune may be detecting your psychic abilities, or you may have a powerful dream warning you away from someone or warning you against an undesirable situation.

Laguz is the principle feminine rune and usually refers to a female enquirer or subject of discussion. For a female reader, this rune is assuring you that you are equal to any challenges this month. Trust in your feelings. For a male reader, the appearance of this rune at the centre of the spread advises of a strong and supportive woman in your life, whom you should talk to.

Laguz shows the turning of a tide, either in our favour or against us. This month, a tide may start to turn in our favour.

Rune 4: Thurisaz

Meanings: Thorn: Defence, Attack, Studies

This rune is reflecting current issues, and also talking about what might help us this coming month or what might work against us. It has strong associations with protection and defence.

This rune is associated with thunder, and the Hammer of the thunder god Thor. It may be detecting extreme weather events this month, even though they may be short lived. It has strong associations with protection and defence.

One magical use of this rune is to visualize ourselves surrounded by a thorny hedge. No one can get near you that you do not want to. Now and then attack can be the best form of defence but in general, the runes are advising that something to avoid this month is unnecessary or pointless confrontations, and to avoid people operating with the attitude of ‘I am right and you are wrong.’

There is nothing wrong with defending our security and our personal boundaries. Often it is the only sensible thing to do.

Rune 5: Uruz merkstave

Meanings: Strength, power, loss of strength, lack of strength, ill health

This rune represents the stuff we are dealing with right now, that is outside our own control or power to fix. This is what we are stuck with for the time being. would seem to be a clear reference to the on-going covid situation, even though within the UK and parts of Europe restrictions are due to start lifting, cases are rising in other places, although not as steeply as last year.

Historically, for reasons that are everything to do with microbiology and behaviours, and nothing to do with politics or plots, pandemics have tended to last about four years and we are now in year 3.

The runes have no direct connection with astrology, but the auroch was a wild ox. Uruz is a cattle rune, and I tend to associate this rune with western astrology and the zodiac sign of Taurus; ruled by Venus, planet of love, beauty and money. Discussions around the cost of living and specifically the costs of energy and power will feature large in the news this month.

In view of recent dire warnings of price hikes coming soon, we may decide to sign up to pay fixed rates for gas or electricity this month- but we really do need to check the small print. Do we need or want the other things that might be included in the energy provider’s bundle?

In Summary

Rune 6: Advice: Perthro

Meanings: sanctuary, gambling, initiation, secrets, discoveries

We drew this same rune last month in the January Runecast which was performed 21 December 2021. This repetition is not surprising given that with major situations, timescales may extend over many months or even years.

Perthro is a mystery rune dealing with things hidden, secrets that may come to light this month. This is not necessarily ominous or unwelcome news, but may come as a surprise all the same. If you have shared a secret with someone else, they might not keep it secret. Be careful who you take into your confidence,

Paired with Gyfu, Perthro can mean a welcome surprise. In terms of romance, this rune paired with two other runes in this spread, Laguz and Gyfu can mean a powerful sexual attraction. But Perthro warns us to watch our step, for our own well-being. This is powerful stuff but more than this is needed if we want a relationship to flourish or develop in a safe, secure and meaningful way.

Perthro represents sanctuary. What and where for us, represents our own personal sanctuary? Is it at home? Is it with other people? Is it doing something we love that takes our mind away from worry? Is it switching off the news when it gets too much?

Some rune scholars think this rune is supposed to show a dice cup- meaning a cup once used for drawing lots in gambling games or throwing dice. As such, we may take a bit of a gamble this year, and it pays off. This gamble however, still depends on us doing our research beforehand (Ansuz.)

We need to limit the risk. New information comes to light this month and it could be very useful or important.

But there is plenty in this rune cast that is positive, suggesting a flow of new ideas, learning, inspiration, wise advice, and scope for new opportunities this month, whether professional or personal or both. “

Best wishes until next time.

To discover your personal ‘birth runes’ – your ‘heroic destiny or potential’ https://haquil.com/blogs/viking/how-to-calculate-your-viking-birth-runes

Suggested Further Reading

The New Book of Runes by Ralph Blum

Futhark. A Handbook of Rune Magic by Edred Thorsson.

The Runes: A practical Guide to their uses in divination and Magick by Lisa Peschel, published Llewellyn

Tarot talks Russia and Ukraine

See more recent posts for updates.

Tarot is a language of words, images and symbols embedded in pieces of card stock. Anyone who wants to learn it, can, and one does not need to see oneself as psychic in order to become a fluent reader. However the interactions between cards trigger left-field and sometimes downright psychic insights that detect/reflect a past or current situation, which may then be directed to forecast/predict/project likely future developments.

What’s the point of a reader telling us something we know already?

It’s critical. We need that benchmark. How else do we know we are on the same page? You may already know what the reader is telling you. But usually -at least in a personal reading- they didn’t already know, and that is largely the point.

That initial mirroring is an affirmation, valuable feedback in evidence of what the reader has initially ‘seen’ -this is the baseline for further investigation.

Therefore, there is likely nothing new here in the following readings. But the point is to illustrate how we can work with the Tarot bearing in mind that not every reader works the same way. Many more readers now focus on using the Tarot more for applied psychology and counselling purposes than for old fashioned divination or prognostication. This has largely fallen out of fashion for a variety of reasons, but I like to do both, or at least I will attempt both.

I woke late today, not feeling terribly well, and turned on the news to see that Mr Putin has today apparently withdrawn some units from the Ukraine border back to their bases. A hopeful sign? although this withdrawal is disputed by the US and of course, it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. If then.

Its Over Viking GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

This isn’t the end of it, is it?

Late last night I was looking in my playing cards about this, romantically bending Il Matrimonio’s ear on Valentine’s Day. Whispering sweet nothings of impending doom and apocalypse. Was it war or not? There was no clear sign of it as yet. I did not see that Mr Putin had decided on war.

19/2/2022 The reader must work with the cards, which as the days go on, seem to agree less and less with what we are seeing unfolding in front of us. Logic says it’s coming and Mr Putin will simply deny involvement and say Russian forces are there to protect the Russian separatists from Ukraine aggression. He will say it is a war waged by Ukraine on Russian separatist states of Ukraine, presenting it as a civil war.

Question: Will there be war between Russia and Ukraine?

Meaning, soon, imminently, or in the near future.

Left hand column: the premise/situation:

Nine Clubs standing alone, independence, pride, stubbornness, courage in adversity, long distance travel, business

Ace Spades Power, stress, act of war, act of law. Sudden decision. Victory. Death.

Well, that figures.

Central Column: the answer to the question as stated.

Ten Diamonds Financial prosperity. Diamonds is also the earth suit and in cartomancy, though you might naturally assume electricity correlates with the suit of Wands as the fire suit, diamonds encompasses electricity and all flammable materials, which could here mean gas. Diamonds also suggests events that develop at great speed.

Jack Spades Threat, attack, new intelligence, potential de-escalation of the Ace of Spades

Mr Putin has amassed troops on the Ukraine borders to issue a warning and this is at least partly in reaction to a sincerely perceived threat to Russia’s economy.

Right hand column: reasons/factors affecting answer contained in the central column

Two Clubs: business deal, alliance of interests

Five Diamonds: home life, money at home. Again, we see that earth suit/energy reference. I associate this card with anxiety, worries about money and a great fear of being isolated or ‘left out in the cold’, physically or emotionally.

The reader also weighs it up by looking at the overall balance of colours and suits. I read a black suit card as a no (Spade) or a maybe (Club) and a red suit cards as a yes. We have here 2 red suit cards and 4 black suit cards, leaning the answer towards a no.

The second most powerful card in the deck, and the card that can say WAR, the Ace of Spades, is on the left of the reading. So, yes, it is in the mix already but that risk does not appear to compound or deepen looking left to right. Had I drawn it top right, or had I drawn more spades cards I would be more alarmed.

The Joker

This is the card that worries me most. What is the most powerful card in the deck? I would say it is The Joker. The Unknowable. Just as in the Tarot deck it is The Fool. The power of zero. The portal. The hand of destiny.

This is a biggie. Destiny is at work.

The Joker has also made an appearance in this reading. And so I feel there is no finalized strategy on the part of Mr Putin. He is testing the waters. He is warning the West and he wants China to watch as well. Any backing down from him now, is not really a back-down given the state of the gas industry, should the West continue along the green path, with new greener technologies and recent advances in nuclear fusion an exciting prospect, but still decades away from viability.

15 Feb on Twitter

Follow-up on 11/2 10 PM 14/2. Will there be war? Central column= answer. 50:50/less. Reduced from Ace Spades to Jack Spades. Overall no, 4 black no:2 red yes but 5 Diamonds (=money/cyber/electric) +Joker v dangerous/volatile. Key=future 2 Clubs=agreement/Nordstream2.

I have looked at this same question a few times in recent days.

Here was my reading posted on Twitter, February 11.

Katie-Ellen@TrueTarotTales·Feb 11#Tarot Ukraine Russia, 10 Swords (past ruin, betrayal, backstabbed + Gemini =B.J) 10 Pentacles (homeland/’family treasures’) King Cups (Biden) Ace Swords + World Rx. A clash/’test’ incident looks likely but Hermit (standoff) says not yet/escalation not inevitable/imminent.

But this isn’t so simple. We don’t need to know much about geo-politics to know that.

What does Mr Putin want?

What is his motivation in this situation? I have drawn this same card, the Two of Pentacles a number of times in recent days.

Tarot Ukraine What does M Putin want? What is his motivation. Huge amount of history as well as strategy embedded. A card that keeps coming up is the 2 Pentacles. Land/sea/trade. He wants/needs for Russia access/influence 2 seas? Black Sea and the Baltic.

Continued:

#Tarot This card, 2 Pentacles, showing a juggling act where finance/economy and bi location are key factors, – a pictorial reflection of Russian motivation, fear of the JOKER /factor X =potential future power of Ukraine/western support to weaponize Nord Stream 2 once operational.

Mr Biden has threatened that Nord Stream 2 will not happen if Russia invades. Asked how he will make sure Nord Stream 2 will not happen, he has simply said, it won’t and that’s a promise. But the new German Chancellor, Mr Scholz has said he is on board with the US position, with Germany a critical element, the primary client in this equation.

REUTERS https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-germanys-scholz-stress-unified-front-against-any-russian-aggression-toward-2022-02-07/

The Joker is the wild card here. This is the risk that Mr Putin, for one, is currently weighing, or at least this is how my Tarot is explaining it to me.

These are the cards Mr Putin is juggling right now. The risk that Ukraine will in future definitively lend itself as a weapon to the West. Or that Nord Stream 2 could be denied certification even at this very late stage, given the stakes for Russia and the scale of investment, with the major stakeholder in Nord Stream 2, Russian state owned company Gazprom.

The Joker has been drawn because no one knows the answer. The benefits to Russia of supplying gas to 26 million German homes is a pudding of which the tastiness is not yet available for proof, to offset the advantages to Russia of attempting to neutralize the mutual unease of Ukraine. It isn’t even a case of a bird in the hand and two in the bush.

19 2 2022 Mr Putin wants to have the cake AND eat it, and is trying to figure out how to have both.We are back to that 2 of Pentacles. He he wants the 2 separatist states in the Ukraine to be consolidated within Russian control, and this would mean civil war for Ukraine which is actually a proxy war between Russia and Ukraine but without jeopardizing Russian interests; money and Nord Stream 2.

It might come down to his assessment of the determination of Mr Scholz, backed by Mr Biden.

Everyone is making their point, and everyone is frightened. But the problem can’t go away. This for now is the trap, the dangerous dance, the Faustian pact. Push to shove, do national governments prioritize COP 26 eco policy or national security, saving ourselves from subjugation by a hostile Other? Which devil do we dance with? No Russian Ukraine war now does not mean no war at all. That is the message of The Joker.

But at least we don’t have the Tower or The Devil or Judgment Day. Not today.

19 2 Feb I will be watching this space to see what more the Tarot has to say. I don’t know geopolitics. The cards are chosen at random, a movement of the hands directed by the unconscious mind. I do not know why I stop shuffling when I do. The challenge is them to interpret those cards using the conscious mind, sticking to the meaning in the cards, regardless of what their intellectual opinion is, or what their logic tells them. On the face of it, war looks well nigh inevitable, but that isn’t how it is being shown to me so far. It is being shown as possible. But still not inevitable. The reasons why it may still not happen may hinge on Germany. But Mr Putin will not wish to wreck Ukraine in order to annex it. The 2 of Pentacles depicts Vladimir Putin making a weighing of the likely financial cost.

Till next time 🙂

Tiger Magic: 2022: Year of the Black Water Tiger

The Tyger

Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

–William Blake,

1794, from The Songs of Experience

True Tiger Tales

Where does the tiger’s name come from?

The modern word comes from the Old English tigras (plural), also in part from Old French tigre “tiger” (mid-12c.) and they both from Latin tigris “tiger,” from Greek tigris, possibly from an Iranian source akin to Old Persian tigra- “sharp, pointed,” like an arrow in reference to its springing on its prey.

The scientific name, Panthera Tigris, is thought to have various origins, but is most likely from the Indian language, in which “panther” refers to the yellow and white colouring of the tiger.

There are 2 main subspecies of tiger but two main groupings: the Asian continental tigers and the island tigers. The largest cat in the world is the Amur tiger, and the smallest of the tigers is the Sumatran tiger.

This – Via World Wildlife Organization

Since 2017, IUCN has recognized two tiger subspecies, commonly referred to as the continental tiger and the Sunda Island tiger. All remaining island tigers are found only in Sumatra, with tigers in Java and Bali now extinct. These are popularly known as Sumatran tigers. The continental tigers currently include the Bengal, Malayan, Indochinese and Amur (Siberian) tiger populations, while the Caspian tiger is extinct in the wild. The South China tiger is believed to be functionally extinct.

However, wild tiger numbers are rising again after a century in decline. Based on the best available information, wild tiger numbers are rising again after a century in decline in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Russia and China. An estimated 3,900 tigers remain in the wild (a TINY number) but much more work needs to be done to secure the future of the tiger in the wild. In some areas including much of Southeast Asia, tigers are still in crisis and declining in number.

The tiger is honoured in mythology throughout all its ranges in Asia. The tiger is a wonder of the world entire. The Goddess of Compassion, Kuan Yin will surely be mourning the decline of the tiger in the wild due to hunting and poaching and loss of habitat. She who hears the cries of the world will surely hear the cries of the tiger.

Kuan Yin rides a dragon in token of her power, and also in her role as a protector of fishermen.

For Buddhists the tiger represents spiritual struggle, finding one’s own inner light in dark and dangerous times. The tiger hunts alone by night, and will travel great distances, combining stealth with power. This year of the Water tiger reminds us that the tiger is an excellent swimmer and the mother tiger is devoted to her cubs.

To the Samurai of Japan, the tiger was a natural emblem of courage.

Hindu goddess Durga, (Sanskrit: “the Inaccessible”) principal form of the threefold Goddess, also known as Devi and Shakti, is depicted as a warrior going into battle riding a tiger, Damon. Shown here slaying a demon buffalo (Source Wiki).

North of Mumbai, harvested crops are donated in honour of the tiger, where it is seen as a symbol of life and regeneration.

The Astrology: The Water Tiger 2022

Tiger Years: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022.

This is a Year of the Black Water Tiger in Chinese astrology. but the first astrological day of the Tiger year is on February 4, 2022, not to be confused with the day of the Chinese New Year, Tuesday February 1 and the celebrations finish with the Lantern Festival February 15th, 2022.

The start of Tiger month marks the first month of spring when the sun enters the 315th degree in the tropical zodiac.

Each Chinese zodiac sign is associated with one of five elements.

Wood: creativity, imagination
Fire: passion, adventure
Metal: persistence, ambition
Water: agility, eloquence
Earth: patience, stability

Why a black tiger? Chinese astrology links colours with the elements, and black is the colour for water.

The Water Tiger symbolizes something moving in, as well as upon the Water. This could mean ships and boats for example and by extension, river or marine fishing, overseas trade and shipping and pleasure cruising.

This imagery could be also read as a fertility sign, something that grows in water could mean water crops or even a baby growing within the womb. There could be far reaching discussions and decisions this year for instance, to encourage or support a rise in the birth rate in China to offset the economic challenges of an ageing population in consequence of a thirty year one child policy.

On the other hand water is connected to danger in the I-Ching. Add this to the courage of the Tiger, for which we could also read potential aggression, then the Water Tiger of 2022 implies a need for caution while suggesting a year of growth, development, challenge, creation, planning with a need to be well-prepared. This has clear implications for developments or confrontations in the Taiwan Straits in 2022.

It could predict significant maritime events this year. Possibly too, because it is about the movement of water or movement in or on water, and following the underwater volcanic eruption near Tonga, the water tiger could mean further significant underwater seismic events or tsunamis.

Update 4/2/2022 The HMS Endeavour has been located off Rhode Island 250 years after it sailed to Australia under the command of Captain James Cook. It is believed that it was scuttled by British Forces in the American war of independence, now identified via archival and archaeological evidence. This, upon the advent of the Water Tiger, and during Jupiter in Pisces.

A Tiger year is a potentially explosive year in world events but the fact of this being a Water Tiger year, the first since 1966, somewhat cools, calms and moderates that Tiger effect.

We are probably in for a series or a succession of standoffs, then, and the situation on the Ukraine border is one marker, but not the only one in 2022.

In the UK, Boris Johnson looks likely to stay in position as PM at least for now, as per a recent reading here in the archives. It looks likely that his party , while unhappy at the recent media storm focused on civil service gatherings at 10 Downing Street, will likely choose not to risk a vote of no confidence with the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol still not resolved, the aggressive stance in respect of this by the European court of Justice and now that M Macron is head of the EU in 2022.

The UK will not rejoin the EU so far as I can tell, looking through the cards.

Update 4/2/2022 The long lost HMS Endeavour has reportedly been identified off Rhode Island 250 years after it sailed to Australia under the command of Captain James Cook. It is believed that it was scuttled by British Forces in the American war of independence, now identified via archival and archaeological evidence. This, upon the advent of the Water Tiger, and during Jupiter in Pisces.

General Astrology

Where the signs in western astrology change every month and come round every year. Aquarius comes round every February in western or tropical astrology, a Chinese animal year comes round only once every twelve years, and when we add in the element as well, the last Water Tiger year was 1966.

Astrology suggests some kind of cosmic replay of global events or trends in 1966. This could be a year of extremes.

Personal astrology

People born in a Tiger year are characterised in Chinese astrology as confident, in tune with their instincts, knowing the best times to act, and when to stay still. They may, for all their confidence, present a quiet appearance, and may catch people by surprise, who did not realize they were there but it is rare for the tiger to be caught surprised or unprepared,

Tiger year people, even in leadership roles, still like their privacy, and will often choose to work alone or by night.

The Tiger is sensitive, tactile and charismatic, which may draw them into the healing or psychic arts for which they may have a natural talent. Change may be a challenge for the Tiger as for everybody, but their self-control, their talent for observation and their gift of good timing stand them in good stead.

The Water Tiger: 1966 and 2022

These Tigers are curious and independent-minded, but are more reflective, and tend to have very good interpersonal relationships compared with other Tigers who can struggle with other people at close quarters, and in consequence sometimes experience loneliness. They are more family-oriented and like a quiet and peaceful family life. Though they are outwardly confident, they may be more prone to indecision than other tigers. These Tigers tend to keep family and work separate and try to never take work home. They often don’t say much but in general are known for being considerate and sympathetic to their loved ones.

Water Tigers are as ambitious as other tigers, but they need a settled home life to thrive professionally, and they also tend to be stubborn and resistant to listening to advice and learning from others which then works against them.

Thinking of the water tiger of 2022, I can’t help but think of the tiger called Richard Parker in the novel, The Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

Richard…royal rule

Parker… a warden of a park, the garden of Eden, the Earth

Lords of the atlas, we are not. What goes around, as they say, comes around.

Time is the substance from which I am made. Time is a river which carries me along, but I am the river; it is a tiger that devours me, but I am the tiger; it is a fire that consumes me, but I am the fire.

– Jorge Luis Borges

Back soon 🙂

February, Fires of Imbolc, the Fae and Brigid’s Day

True Tarot Tales

February is the second calendar month in both the Gregorian calendar and in the older Julian calendar, and was added to the older Roman calendar some time in the 700’s BCE when two new months were added to the new Gregorian calendar, to match it up better with the length of the Earth’s journey round the sun. February comes from the Latin Februarius, which referred to Februa, a Roman festival of ritual purification.

Below, the Roman spa at Bath, UK.

The Anglo Saxons called February Sōlmōnath, from an Old English word for wet sand or mud, sōl; while according to the northern English scholar monk and later saint Bede, it meant “the month of cakes,” when ritual offerings of savory cakes and loaves of bread would be made to ensure a good year’s harvest.

But this time of year in the British Isles…

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The Star of Aquarius 2023

Pluto in Aquarius

And Introducing the Decans

Do you see him up there, the giant man in the clouds? See what he is carrying before him?

Here he comes. Aquarius.

The Star

Bridging water, land and sky

Cloudy, cool Aquarian eye

Reasons, gauges.

Rain assuages

Pours, refills an empty jar

Learning, thirsty, leads us far

But Hope outshines all other stars.

Katie-Ellen Hazeldine

The Star of Aquarius stands for the Hope of Humankind — Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Pluto in Aquarius

This year we entered the zodiac territory of Aquarius with the New Moon in Aquarius 21 January 2023.

Aquarius is even bigger news than usual in 2023, when Pluto enters Aquarius, leaving Capricorn where it has been since 24 November 2008.

Pluto, the lord of wealth, mining, death and the underworld made its ingress into Capricorn, the sign of money and property. This followed hard on the heels of the Stock Market Crash of 29 September 2008; a crash which had been building for a long time.

So let’s see what happens when Pluto leaves Capricorn and goes into Aquarius 23 March 2023. There is the clear potential for massive if temporary effects, seen in not only high finance and technology, but in egalitarianism, ‘people power’ – for good or ill, with far reaching real world implications.

Revolutions may ultimately bring inevitable and much needed change. But they cause displacement. There are losers as well as winners, and if the tech revolution seems relatively quiet bar a bit of grumbling and disquiet…things will move super fast over the next 20 years.

Pluto -transformation to an extreme degree-here signifies a clear potential for revolution. Or at least mass unrest, civil uprisings and the abrupt unseating of more than one currently hugely powerful or influential established autocrat or plutocrat.

We’re not quite there yet. 2023 marks a prelude. Pluto will move out of Aquarius again 11 June 2023, moving in and out again before stationing there for the long duration 19 November 2024 where it stays until 8 March 2043 in a new ‘Age of Aquarius.’

Cloudy Aquarius

The zodiac sign of Aquarius is named after the constellation of Aquarius, The Water-Bearer. Aquarius is an air sign and its quality is Fixed, rather than Cardinal or Mutable. The other Fixed signs are Taurus, Leo and Scorpio.

Why is Aquarius an air sign and not a water sign? The clouds carry water. The water of Aquarius is airborne. To the ancient Mesopotamians this time of year, in the season of Aquarius was known as ‘the curse of rain,’ and meant the very real and present risk of potentially devastating floods as the clouds and then the rivers tipped forth, especially as this was liable to coincide with the time of snow melt in the mountains way upriver.

*The constellation of Aquarius, Wiki Public Domain*

Many of the world’s great flood myths (of which there are many) are thought to come from the real life story of the worst that Aquarius can do, as seen from the human point of view at least, from Sumeria and Gilgamesh, to ancient Greece, the story of Deucalion, and the Old Testament and Noah’s Ark.

And now Aquarius stands also for space exploration and travel. Our spacecraft are the new Arks, if only for exploration and not rescue. Earth is our one true home.

“If you can see a thing whole … it seems that it’s always beautiful. Planets, lives…. But close up, a world’s all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life’s a hard job, you get tired, you lose the pattern. You need a distance, interval. The way to see how beautiful the earth is, is to see it as the moon. The way to see how beautiful life is, is from the vantage point of death”.

– Ursula Le Guin

Planetary aspects: Saturn and Uranus

The traditional ruler of Aquarius is the same as Capricorn. It is Saturn, the stern planet of order and of finding one’s place in the order, self-reliance, self-discipline, duty, responsibility, conservation, patience, limitations and restrictions. Not all astrologers accept modern planetary rulers but for those who do work with them, the modern ruler, Uranus, planet of innovation and rebellion, is Saturn’s opposite, reflecting an essential polarity or apparent contradiction in these natives; at the same time conservative and fixed in their habits, and somewhat quirky or even eccentric in presentation, communication or behaviour.

The Aquarius Archetype

The Teacher, The Reformer, The Revolutionary, The Truth- teller/Preacher, The Exile, The Scientist.

Card Meanings: A New Hope, the spirit of Humanity, a lone star, independence, a new vision, inspiration, healing, Hope, recovery, intellect, the collective, technology

All the zodiac signs represent archetypes, meaning something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing.

The zodiac signs paint a ‘typical’ portrait of a person born at a particular time of year, in a particular season. A baby born in summer arrives into a different physical environment from a winter baby; with differences of temperature, hours of daylight, maternal diet during pregnancy and so on, with potentially different effects on the baby’s physical makeup, constitution and temperament.

The major arcana Tarot card for Aquarius is The Star. This beautiful card stands for Humanity itself, and for Hope, Inspiration and recovery from sickness or despair. The figure is unclothed because she is in a state of innocence, natural, honest and unashamed.

Aquarius is communicative, humanitarian, progressive, fraternal, optimistic and idealistic. The shadow side? Every sign has one and Aquarius is no exception. Aquarius can be a groupie, or a crusading zealot, self-righteous, utterly self absorbed and mulishly obstinate.

Aquarius likes to dispense good advice, and indeed, they can be very shrewd and they will give excellent advice. But they are notably resistant to receiving it themselves.

“The good news is that she is one of the nicest people in the universe. The bad news is, that’s because she always does exactly what she pleases. An Aquarius female is rebellious, headstrong, and contrary. She can be selfishly independent and exasperating, especially when she is running through the house screaming, “freedom!”

― Hazel Dixon-Cooper, Born on a Rotten Day: Illuminating and Coping with the Dark Side of the Zodiac

The appearance is generally good. Aquarius signs tend to have rather long, slim straight bodies with clear, strong but fine facial features. The posture can tend to be droopy when they’re not paying attention. Their legs are often sturdy in comparison with the torso. They often have a distinctive way of standing with their lower legs and calves set rather far back, and can be susceptible to trouble with their hamstrings.

The Court Card: King of Swords

Card Meanings: a mature man of knowledge and authority, a ruler, adviser, judge, military leader, lawyer, doctor, surgeon, scientist, teacher, technician, engineer, IT expert, diagnosis, authority, law, medicine, logic, impartiality, metrics, statistics, cool, remote, observant,

This is the court card of the sign of Aquarius, while in the Thoth deck he is called The Prince of Air. Note that he is seated. He has arrived, that’s why. All the kings in the Tarot are seated, while the Knights are on horseback.

Aquarius is the sign of fixed air, denoting a certain fixity, but this is more to do with temperament than anything else. Aquarius is famously quick to learn new things and to adopt new ideas and technologies.

“Lots of people like rainbows. Children make wishes on them, artists paint them, dreamers chase them, but the Aquarian is ahead of everybody. He lives on one. What’s more, he’s taken it apart and examined it, piece by piece, color by color, and he still believes in it. It isn’t easy to believe in something after you know what it’s really like, but the Aquarian is essentially a realist, even though his address is tomorrow, with a wild-blue-yonder zip code.”
― Linda Goodman, Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs

President Zelensky is an example of a King of Swords in real world action. He was born at 2:00 p.m. on January 25, 1978, in Krivoj Rog, Ukraine and very much embodies key aspects of the archetype; intellectual, determined, single minded. Here, the coolness and detachment of pure Aquarius is warmed by a hospitable Moon in Leo and with sociable Gemini rising. He also has Venus in his chart, conjunct his sun in Aquarius. Here is a man who looks younger than he is, notwithstanding stress and strain. Here is the charm. Here is the arch-communicator.

President Putin is his counterpart, a native of Libra ruled by the Queen of Swords. There is almost something fated about this dreadful encounter, on a personal level. This Queen is mightily powerful, and crafty, but -viewed in terms of simple cartomancy, King trumps Queen. Nemesis.

Russia still took Crimea, though. And it seems unlikely that NATO will provide Ukraine with the crucial backing it would need to take Crimea back, though Putin will almost certainly fail in his present objective of seizing Ukraine entire, and taking Kyiv.

The point here is that our sun sign is only the keynote of the astrological portrait. The zodiac sign (sun sign) is a major keynote, but there are many other factors in play, your rising sign, your Moon sign; the planets in your houses, your decan and the degree of the actual day you were born. If you don’t feel like a ‘typical’ Aquarius, perhaps you are a second or third decan Aquarius, rather than a ‘most typical’ first decan Aquarius.

The decans

The idea of the decans comes from the ancient Egyptians c 2100 BC, and was later adopted by the Greeks.

The Zodiac is a belt of sky we see from earth, tracking the path of the sun across the sky over the course of the year. We call this pathway of the sun ‘the ecliptic,’ and the zodiac belt shares this same pathway extending 8 degrees above it and 8 degrees below it. The paths of the Moon and visible planets can be tracked within the belt of the zodiac.

The Greeks divided this belt into twelve sections, using twelve for ease of arithmetic, and named them after twelve constellations: Aries, Taurus, Gemini Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Aquarius and Pisces.

Each of these zodiac sign represents a 30 degree section of this belt which can then be sub-divided into three blocks of ten degrees, each of about ten days in length with slight variations. This gives us the ‘decans,’ from the Latin meaning ‘ten’.

They have been nicknamed ‘the thirty-six faces of astrology,’ adding more faces to the portrait gallery, breaking down the story of the zodiac signs into further chapters.

First Decan Aquarius

Aquarius-Aquarius

Dates: 20 Jan -29 Jan (approx.)

Planetary rulers: Saturn-Uranus

Tarot card: Five of Swords

From The Gilded Tarot. Illustrator Ciro Marchetti

Card meanings: Victory, defeat, ruthlessness, a pyrrhic victory, not worth winning, chagrin, humiliation, resentment

These are complex individuals, containing an innate contradiction. On the one hand ruled by Saturn, they are serious, intelligent, hard- working, responsible and conservative by nature, obstinate even. On the other, they are co- ruled by Uranus the innovator and rebel, and this might mean they are a rebel either with or without a cause.

They are well meaning, likely to sign up to good causes, keen to contribute, and kindly unless they feel emotionally challenged, when they are easily wounded, and their recovery may be very slow. They have courage but bouncing back from disappointment is not their forte. They are kindly and affectionate but partners may complain of their detachment.

They strive for excellence and often achieve it, whatever their field of work. They are well suited to the academic life, with a logical, or scientific but visionary turn of mind, and a talent for abstract thinking, and for research and analysis.

They can also be a lot of fun, but while they readily grasp complex and abstract concepts, their emotional intelligence is sometimes in conflict with their intellect, resulting in misunderstandings with loved ones.

Famous first decan Aquarius subjects: Mozart, Lewis Carroll, Ellen Degeneres, Nicholas Sarkozy, Oprah Winfrey

Second Decan

Aquarius-Gemini

Dates: 30 Jan -8 Feb (approx.)

Planetary rulers: Saturn and Mercury

Tarot card: Six of Swords

From The Legacy of the Divine Tarot, Illustrator Ciro Marchetti

Card Meanings: convalescence, mourning, recovery, progress, relocating, a voyage over water, distance learning

This is one of my personal favourite cards. She captains her own boat, steering a course towards the rising sun.

The second decan of Aquarius is ruled by Mercury, planet of communications, the ruler of Gemini. These natives have the gift of the gab. They are charming, and socially in demand, but while generally very pleasant, they can be aloof, and not particularly interested in the feelings of others. This does not mean they don’t have deep feelings. They certainly do, and when they are upset they can become very quarrelsome indeed, even vengeful. They are however, eminently civilized and humane in their general outlook and much concerned with big issues affecting humanity on the highest levels.

They are creatively talented but rational with it, analytical in their approach, more interested in ideas, technicalities and activities than in “shooting from the hip”.

Famous Second Decan Aquarius subjects: Charles Dickens, Jules Verne, Rosa Parks, Bob Marley, Boris Yeltsin, Ronald Reagan, Ashton Kutcher, Michael Sheen

Third Decan Aquarius

Aquarius- Libra

Dates: February 9-February 18

Planetary ruler: Venus

Tarot card– Seven of Swords

Card Meanings: Diplomacy, tact, damage limitation, investigation, surveillance, theft, fraud, a stalker, sabotage

The third decan is generally appealing and attractive, and generally somewhat more easy-going than Aquarians born in the other decans. The personality is charming yet mysterious, affable yet elusive, with an acute sense of humour which they use to defuse and manage challenging situations. They can be something of a court jester, but with many a serious thing spoken in jest. These quirky, sharp but friendly Aquarians are like shooting stars, nice to have around, but may be less easy to understand.

Famous Decan 3 Aquarius subjects: Galileo, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin, Thomas Edison, Paris Hilton, Mia Farrow, Sheryl Crowe.

Aquarius is the Star of Mankind

And MANKIND means Humankind, the species. The animal that is MAN. All of us.

Aquarius: Stories of Mankind, Rain and Flood, Space and Spirit

Until next time 🙂

Tsunamis, trials, tribulations and Boris

Photo by Sebastian Voortman on Pexels.com

On New Years Eve I posed a very general Tarot reading for 2022 in which several mentions were made of tsunamis and other marine, maritime or water related newsworthy events….. SEE HERE

Plenty more to come.

Mention was also made re Prince Andrew and a lot of other things but events have overtaken the Tarot before I made time to look further at Prince Andrew. The Tarot showed me the Three of Swords Reversed, which means the aftermath of a divorce, or a severance. There is loss, there is grief, and the Queen, in mourning for Philip, has made doubtless personally upsetting decisions, severing the monarchy from the forthcoming civil case which Andrew, Duke of York, will be dealing with ostensibly as a private citizen.

This afternoon, I drew these cards asking, what will happen re Boris Johnson in the light of the ongoing media furore over ‘partygate.’

Clearly, any such gatherings were inappropriate and deeply inadvisable at the time, though there is much to be explained as to the context, as well as questions to be answered in respect of the source of the leak, the motivation and the timing of the leak so many months after the events in question.

Will Boris resign? I don’t know or claim to know anymore than anyone else does, but what are the clues in the cards?

Card 1 The Empress reversed:

This card suggests more than one interpretation

Unwelcome news on a Friday. Why? Because the Empress card correlates with the Norse goddess Freya, and therefore Fridays, and the card has been drawn reversed, suggesting unwelcome news. This makes sense as Boris Johnson’s office has been reported to have made an apology to the Queen (the Empress)on Friday 14 January, over events held at No 10 on the eve of the funeral of Prince Philip.

The Empress also correlates with the planet Venus, and we are currently in a Venus retrograde until 29 January. What does Venus represent? Love, money, luxury, social gatherings. What does Venus retrograde represent? Problems to do with all these things plus, old memories, old friends, old lovers coming back to haunt us…or bite us.

Boris Johnson, a person who likes to say yes to people, it seems was asked for permission for these events to be held, and unwisely said yes, thinking no doubt, that it would be good for the morale of the troops. He was thereby making himself a hostage to fortune, not considering how that might look, or how it later might be made to look by his critics or ill wishers…and now, here is the carefully timed involvement of a former colleague and friend, Dominic Cummings, stoking the flames.

Another story-line occurs, which mayor may not be relevant here, is difficulties Boris has had in private in saying no to Carrie (Empress: mother and child)

Angela Merkel is an ‘Empress’ recently departed from office. Leaving the UK somewhat more naked now in the face of rivals or enemies?

The PM lost his own mother last year. Perhaps he was on occasion more distrait than he should have been, and failed to pay the due and proper attention to such requests, as demanded by a very natural public expectation.

The Empress reversed speaks also of Mother Earth, Gaia, COP26, and suggests widespread public cynicism in respects of aspects of Green policy which seem impractical, non affordable or nonsensical to many voters, even those who are keen on doing their bit for the environment.

Also, just by the by, and not at all related to the conversation in hand, but this is typical of working with Tarot, today I am The Empress reversed. I had my first child on this date, 36 year ago today, and have had a few concerns lately in respect of her health and well-being.

Card 2:The Eight of Swords

This card is about blockages and entrapment, hostage situations, being unable to see the way out. There is frustration here and a sense of entrapment and helplessness. How best to out manoeuvre whoever is behind the leaks (and this has a planned manouevre, and has not been the action of some anxious, well meaning junior civil servant, anxious to salve his or her conscience) How to move forward without throwing certain people under the bus?

I have come to associate this card with plumbing….based lots of previous reading history for clients. Carrie may want to do something about the bathroom in the flat at Number 11 where PMs have lived since Tony Blair. Or the whole building may have plumbing issues…we know it has ‘leaks,’ but the Tarot doesn’t only talk in metaphors. It will gladly will talk about toilets, if necessary.

No 10 is a big place. But whatever the state of the plumbing, it is fitting that No 10 and the flat at No 11 should be kept in good order and condition. It is not the personal property of the PM. It is not Carrie Johnson’s home. It is where they must live, like it or not, and it is the nation’s property. They can’t take the wallpaper with them when they go.

Card 3: The Nine of Cups reversed

The Nine of Cups in general means wishes granted. More specifically it means socializing hospitality, as in the hospitality industry, and celebration. This is the card of wine, women and song. The card is upside down, possibly because these occasions are in the past and were convivial but not celebratory, ‘bring your own booze.’

Card 4: The Seven of Cups reversed

This dreamy, Neptunian card indicates that Boris has considered a number of options, but indicates no decision to resign as yet. The hostility of M Macron, whether to the PM personally, or to post Brexit UK, is one factor. It was already expected there would be new effects felt here swiftly attendant upon M Macron becoming President of the EU 2022 and with an election year looming. He became EU President 1 January.

This furore, from the POV of say, M Macron, could prove timely grist to the mill of nobbling UK options in terms of the NI Protocol. Invoking Article 16. This, Boris has thus far, to the frustration of others, including not only in his own party who see it as an increasingly urgent necessity, been desperately keen NOT to do.

In terms of timing, the Seven of Cups correlates with Scorpio late October-late November, so that if the PM resigns, it may be later in the year, when he judges it safer to do so. This day dreaming card suggests that at times he indeed may feel tempted to resign, and who wouldn’t understand that feeling. But that he feels it cannot be now, unless and until his hand is absolutely forced, and it is no longer his own decision.

Card 5: The Hermit

The Hermit walks quietly, marks out a path, shines a light on ahead. The Hermit is Virgo. The Hermit is the Sixth House of public health. The PM inherited a public health challenge not of the UK’s making…a poisoned chalice, with no clear road map, damned if does ABC, damned if he doesn’t, like all the other leaders of the western democracies.

On a personal level, this is a card of withdrawal, a need for quiet time. Go for a walk in the park.

In this sense yes, The Hermit clearly could indicate someone moving away to somewhere quiet. Or again, looking at the timing, it could indicate key developments around the PM later in the year, late summer, correlating with Virgo.

It doesn’t look like a classic picture of NOW or SOON. It looks more like older, sadder, wiser.

Card 6: The Knight of Wands reversed

This is a card of sudden arrivals and departures. It is a card of news, noise, overseas business and long distance travel, but here, drawn reversed, there are problems or delays. In respect of the PM’s current predicament it says this is a major setback but that nothing must be done in haste.

This is a card of attack, full of thunder and fury.

This card also means volcanic eruptions. The Tarot reflects, detects and projects. Here it is reflecting the underwater volcanic eruption near Tonga, and the following tsunami. There will almost certainly be further such events in 2020, and in themselves, they are not rare, but we are talking major events.

The Knight of Wands reversed, drawn blindly and at random is also reflecting back at me the first news of the day, the deportation of Novak Djokovic from Australia.

Runes

I have posted the pic again, to save us scrolling all the way back up.

I laid out 2 rows of 3 haemetite runes, looking for a sense of where the current situation is developing in respect of the calls for the resignation of the PM over ‘partygate.’ The runes are primal where the Tarot is a picture book.

Row 1 reading left to right

Ehwaz merkstave – Jera -Sowilo

A Horse bur drawn reversed…Boris ‘fell off his horse’. On at least one of the occasions, he was out or away. Ehwaz means a car or any vehicle.

Jera, harvest, he reaps a whirlwind. Possibly, goes late summer/autumn

Sowilo, healing, success,summer. He seems likely to carry on at least until the summer.

Row 2 reading left to right

Eiwaz- Ansuz-Gyfu

Eiwaz the Yew…suppleness, evergreen, resurrection, well what does that suggest?

Ansuz, answers, good advice, helpful new information comes to light, Odin,Wednesday. If Boris does decide to go, we should hear very soon, and readers can and do get it wrong, but it’s not really looking that way. Nor do I see him forced out by his party, for all the furious attacks of the Knight of Wands reversed.

Gyfu, a gift, an agreement, a contract between equals. Parliament and the People are equals. The contract must not only be honoured, but it must be seen to be honoured. If the rune had turned up merkstave, upside down, then that tome would suggest a contract cancelled.

The PM messed up. To what extent he is personally culpable, we don’t fully know. But the media are not the same thing as the vox pop, we’ve learned in recent years. And now, today, Nadine Dorries has announced plans to freeze the BBC licence fee with an expectation that it may be scrapped in 2027. I was not aware of this while reading my cards this afternoon, but no doubt she now too qualifies for some as the Empress reversed. Perhaps the BBC will also be also reckoning with that same harvest rune, Jera, though not on account of this current storm, though possibly now expedited.

All in all, it looks here as though Boris Johnson continues in post as PM.

BIAS I am a floating voter, blue and pink. I have in the past voted both Labour and Conservative based on issues at the time. A few spots of dark blue and red, dark green, a dot of lemon yellow and can I have some magenta please. No? Not on offer. I mention this because it has to be recognised that any reader. while trying to access the collective supra-personal via divination, has feet of clay. Fail and fallible with their own biases and blind spots if they are not careful. To indulge these, or indulge in wishful thinking when interpreting the cards is to fail in honesty, and this is to fail the oracular mind. The oracle is supra personal. It is not about us as individuals.

Meanwhile, Venus the goddess and planet of parties stays retrograde until the 29 January. She is not all sweetness and light. Oh no. If Boris does not resign before 29 January or say 3 Feb when Mercury stations direct, then he has probably weathered this storm. There are high profile astrologers say he will go. Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Photo by Andru00e1s Du00e9nes on Pexels.com

Tomorrow, Monday 17 January is the first full moon of the year…the Wolf Moon of what the Anglo Saxons called Wulf-Monath. This one is taking place in the sky territory of Cancer, queen of hearth and home, creature comforts and sometimes moody blues.

A Hunter’s moon. Hark at the pack in full cry…..

From the Gilded Tarot, artwork by Ciro Marchetti

These are dangerous times. What is at stake? The nation state.

Take care till next time 🙂

The Star card, the magic of 11, a teeny oracular epiphany and a smidge of soccer sorcery

Tweeted today 6 January 2022

Last night, trying out a brand new deck #Astrology Reading Cards, hub said what do you think, Chelsea or Spurs to win tonight? I had no opinion. But blindly drew 11th House card for Chelsea THREE times in a row. LUCKY omen. For Spurs drew 1, 2 and 9 Houses. Chelsea won: 2-0

Tarot is not the same as astrology. It is a different discipline, but it contains a lot of embedded astrology, and then this oracle deck caught my eye and I decided to send off for it, though I don’t tend to use oracle in general; finding them somewhat TOO generic.

This one had a structure. I had just taken it out of its box when Il Matrimonio sauntered in, wondering what did I think? Would Chelsea win tonight or would it be Tottenham Hotspur?

What did I think? Well, I didn’t think anything. Once in a while I have had a feeling one way or another. There was one occasion which Il Matrimonio remembers as, thanks to him spragging on me, the story ended up in a local newspaper.

Another time I was cooking, standing at the stove stirring something in the pan and Il Matrimonio came down from watching the box upstairs to say it was half time, and did I think Team X would win. I held out my left arm and repeating the question, asking aloud, felt a tingle run down my arm and said yes, I thought they would, and they did. But I am not very good at relaxing and trusting myself. or maybe I could do it that way more often. It is an approach that relies on NOT THINKING.

Trust to the knowledge held in the body, in the central nervous system.

Last night, re Chelsea v Spurs, no, I didn’t have any feeling about it. Nor did Il Matrimonio actually. He is a bit of a data fiend. Loves puzzles,jigsaw, has recently latched on to sudoku. His interest in football runs along these kinds of lines rather than tribal lines, and his allegiances are variable, though he does get emotional, watching people getting it all wrong on the pitch, and having stupid hairstyles, as for certain pundits, don’t get him started.

What I did was pull 6 blind cards from my new oracle deck of 36 cards: 3 cards for Chelsea and 3 cards for Tottenham Hotspur.

The deck is simple to use, and has three sub sets:12 Planetary cards, 12 Zodiac sign cards and 12 House cards. Ask a question, pull any card, or ask a question, and pull one planetary card, one zodiac sign card and one House card

I asked about each team in turn, just pulled a single card at random, and repeated till I had done it 3 times for each team.

Very oddly, I pulled the same single card for Chelsea 3 times on the trot, and this was the card of The 11th House.

The Houses of the Zodiac denote different life departments if you will. In astrology this correlates with the spirit of the zodiac sign of Aquarius and this is not considered a sporting house in particular. What it is, is cerebral, technological, communal, humanitarian.

But one of the keywords on this card is LUCK. In the Tarot it correlates with the Star card: Aquarius, Hope, Vision, Inspiration. Classical astrologers called the 11th House “Bona Fortuna” (“Good Fortune”) and the “House of Good Spirit.”

Aquarius from the Rider-Waite Smith Tarot

Wishing on a Star.

Wishes granted.

For Tottenham Hotspur I drew the First House card (The Self) and the Second House Card (assets) and the Ninth House card…which is an excellent House for sporting achievement and teamwork as well as travel.

Not negative cards in this context, not at all. Just lacking that almost magical consistency of the triple appearance of the so-called Master Number 11 shown here at 10 0 clock in the photo.

More about the Number Eleven HERE

I said to Il Matrimonio, well, this is peculiar. I have just pulled the same card three times in a row for Chelsea, and it’s a card of wishes granted, so won’t it be interesting if they go on to win? Which, as tweeted, they duly went on to do with a score of 2-0.

I do this kind of thing simply for practice. And Il Matrimonio does not go running off forthwith to the betting shop. He simply asks, notes, and then forgets what I said and asks me again, though he did once decide to go to a footie match pretty much last minute, when he wouldn’t have gone had I not said his team looked very likely to win.

Here was the thing. His old home town team of Dover was coming all the way up to play Fleetwood…a tricky conflict of allegiances. It was cold. It had been snowing. But he went, and stood with the away supporters, 12 of them who had come up in a minibus all that way, and happily (for him at least) Dover won, because he had told the Dover supporters what his wife had said, that Dover seemed the more likely team to win that night. They were intrigued and hopeful. One of them said, laughing, ‘well, that’ll do for me.’ But he took a small social risk telling them something like this up front (this was the story that ended up in a local newspaper)

No reader gets it right all the time…Dover could have lost and then …egg on the face…blackballed from the club, dear boy. (I can hear him now in the other room telling the cat to ‘eff off!’ This puddy cat is totally a Daddy’s girl. But she is in temporary disgrace after she clawed him on the arm earlier this evening, and drew blood. She doesn’t remember this, or if she does, she wants to be forgiven and allowed back up on his lap. But no, he is too busy deleting spam from some bounder, trying to infiltrate an online maritime history group.)

In summary, I am looking forward to getting to know this simple but rather spectacular astrology oracle card deck. Based upon this very first experience, it clearly portends spooky numinous potential, with that minor triple number 11 epiphany of cartomancy.

You do not need to know a thing about Tarot to be able to use this deck straightaway. Nor astrology, though obviously it could well add value. There is a book that comes with it. I read it last night, the instructions are simple, there is nothing to learn, your instinct does the lifting, and very likely you will hit the ground running.

Back soon. Till next time 🙂