And as it turns out, astrology is not completely outside the realm of Jewish religious writings though it is, of course, frowned upon in many instances.
The author begins by addressing the problem of astrology in Jewish thought, noting that traditionally Jews are cautioned against reliance on the movement of the heavens and siting Talmudic and Kabbalistic sources that both support and perhaps partially refute this point of view.
The book goes on to examine the signs of the zodiac, correlating them with the Hebrew calendar which is I guess no less a match (with the true positions of the constellations) then the Gregorian - at this stage of the game.
The book goes on to examine the signs of the zodiac, correlating them with the Hebrew calendar which is I guess no less a match (with the true positions of the constellations) then the Gregorian - at this stage of the game.
The signs of the Zodiac are interpreted in a mostly religious sense relying on material from the Zohar, Sefer Yetzirah, and other Kabbalistic writings, the Hebrew bible and key events in the history of the Jewish people. It is a book perhaps better suited to a student of Kabbalah than a practitioner of astrology and a good resource for anyone seeking a better understanding of the Hebrew calendar.
Some of the correspondences are interesting. The month of Nissan (which contains the Passover) overlaps Aries, for example, and I can see a correlation between the energy of Exodus, the beginning of the Zodiac and birth of Israel as a cohesive, if landless, nation. I found the correlations between the elemental aspects of astrology and mysticism interesting as well.
As an aside, I find it notable that under the "new" assignment of the signs (reconciling the placement of the constellations, changed due to the precession of the earth, with signs of the Zodiac as it has appeared in the media) the new first day of Aries is April 18, 2011 also the 14th of Nissan, 5771 - Erev Pesach, the eve of Passover.
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| Where the magic happens :) |
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| Home-Made Light Box & Incense. |
Shelving unit pictured below lives here as well.
I made my craft room by ripping out the insides of a walk in closet - lucky for me one with a window. It is not a big room but it I know where things are and it smells like incense and candles. It's my little space and I love it!
I made my craft room by ripping out the insides of a walk in closet - lucky for me one with a window. It is not a big room but it I know where things are and it smells like incense and candles. It's my little space and I love it!
As anyone whose been following this blog knows, I've been reading Tarot for 40 years now. My original 1971 Rider Waite has been shuffled from home to home and state to state numerous times. The old box is almost falling apart and while I still have it, I don't use it for storage anymore - haven't used it for I'm not sure how long.
For my deck, home is a simple wooden box, a probable Indian import, with a smooth polished surface and brass inserts of sun, moon and stars. I keep the deck loose in the box because I like the energy of wood. I believe that it absorbs energy. I find a wooden Tarot box to be stabilizing and protective.
For my deck, home is a simple wooden box, a probable Indian import, with a smooth polished surface and brass inserts of sun, moon and stars. I keep the deck loose in the box because I like the energy of wood. I believe that it absorbs energy. I find a wooden Tarot box to be stabilizing and protective.
I have a semi extensive Tarot collection. I say semi because I have pared it down in recent years from over 40 decks to a number generally hovering somewhere around 22. Adding to the collection is about resonance to me, not numbers, and I don't keep a deck unless I connect with it - no matter how attractive the artwork. I like the idea of having 22 decks for obvious (to anyone who reads Tarot) reasons, too, even though I find that keeping the number at exactly 22 is impossible.
Decks come and go in my collection. I like to think that most of them, even the dearest of them, speak to me for a time - and then they speak to someone else. While they are with me, however, even if I have bought them only because I think they deserve to be passed along to some other more compatible reader, I take care of them and for me caring for a deck properly is all about energy.
Decks come and go in my collection. I like to think that most of them, even the dearest of them, speak to me for a time - and then they speak to someone else. While they are with me, however, even if I have bought them only because I think they deserve to be passed along to some other more compatible reader, I take care of them and for me caring for a deck properly is all about energy.
When I get a new deck, I get an immediate impression of its previous use. Part of that impression is empathic and part is just good observation. The last deck I bought - a ©1970 US Games Aquarian deck - is noticeably, but gently, worn - lots of rubbing but no tears or bends or stains. The edges of the cards aren't separating but they aren't tight either and the box has been taped, carefully but repeatedly. All these things are evidence of frequent use - with reverence - and that's a good thing. It is my impression that this deck (a brokered eBay deal) came from a professional or at the very least frequent reader who loved and respected the art of Tarot reading.
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| 1971 Rider-Waite (backup deck) |
I don't believe in leaving decks outside though I have done it. Too much can happen and a wet deck is a ruined deck no matter how restorative moonlight and morning dew can be in best case scenario. Crystals are quite at home in the great outdoors however and I have a small crystal collection intermingled with my cards.
You can read a lot about charging crystals on the net but I keep it pretty simple. In general, anything that appeals to me - full moon, new moon, waxing never waning moon, summer rain, the first snow, the garden in early spring - seems to work. The crystals don't have to spend the night outside, though they do seem to appreciate it from time to time, and I usually stay with them, lining them up in the moonlight and saying a few words with intention because people need recharging too. I usually allow the freshly charged crystals to surround new decks and my everyday reading decks, moving them around to mix things up, and recharging the stones as needed.
You can read a lot about charging crystals on the net but I keep it pretty simple. In general, anything that appeals to me - full moon, new moon, waxing never waning moon, summer rain, the first snow, the garden in early spring - seems to work. The crystals don't have to spend the night outside, though they do seem to appreciate it from time to time, and I usually stay with them, lining them up in the moonlight and saying a few words with intention because people need recharging too. I usually allow the freshly charged crystals to surround new decks and my everyday reading decks, moving them around to mix things up, and recharging the stones as needed.
I keep my collection, in their various cardboard and wooden and other boxes, on an open shelf in my workroom. This is the clearest space in my house. There is no clutter. No TV. No radio. No negativity. Only my photography, art and jewelry supplies, my psychically sensitive etsy items, my Tarot decks, card decks, incense, crystals, candles, silk scarves and small Indian import Saraswati statue (made with real River Ganga mud). I allow fresh air to circulate every day, even in winter, and burn incense and candles regularly. Most importantly - I do not allow any discord or negativity in this room. This includes negative others and myself. If I become frustrated in this room when working and cannot recenter, I leave and go do something else until whatever agitation I am feeling passes.
New decks brought into this room lose their static pretty quickly. Those that leave make their way to their true homes better for their stay. I am a firm believer in the old adage which says that spiritual tools will find their way to the right person at the right time. One of the things I like best about making the occasional sale on etsy is the feeling I get from knowing that I have been part of this process.
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| Left to right: Quartz crystal point, boxed 1971 been-my-deck-forever deck (top), 1970 Aquarian deck (also boxed) bottom, amethyst crystal geode, 1971 Rider-Waite backup deck, lemon-sage candle, vintage Art Deco playing card deck (enlarge to see the interesting geometric design on the back), Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and creative arts, quartz crystal point. Vintage scarf. |
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| Photo by Nastya Dulhiier on Unsplash |
I have to say, at the outset, that the author's sources are not part of my particular area of interest. But I find the interpretations are very interesting. Especially my own and I thought the negative in particular had some truth to it. I also enjoyed the Hasbrouck's discussion of the world as it was prior to the second WW - especially in regard to scientific discovery.
Some of the cards listed seem inconsistent with the sign of the Zodiac with which they are associated but I've found that elsewhere. Her advice, as it pertains to me seems sound.
The assigned major arcana card for Leo is Strength and whatever my faults, I do consider myself to be a strong person. Sometimes too strong. The card for my particular birth date (August 22nd) is the 7 of Wands, which Hasbrouck calls the seven of Leo. By her interpretation this card is ruled by Mars and Mars is prominent in my birth chart. Positive attributes for this birth date follow:
"Leo Sevens are dominant, vital people, always ready for action, adventure - or a battle. They are energetic and enthusiastic, tireless themselves, they are capable of inspiring others to work with them [unless those others are offspring it seems] and for them. They have great charm, especially for the opposite sex. They are emotional, highly charged, and passionate in their personal affections. Their imaginations are vivid and creative, they tend to dramatize everything in life, from petty details to great enterprises. They have the ability for intense concentration, and when positive, they are entirely without fear. Under pressure, they exhibit great fortitude, and resourcefulness is one of their most valuable assets." Not so sure about the charm and would like to think I am not dramatic about everything but not necessarily all that far off otherwise!
The negative:
"They are fighters, taking, at all times, the opposition or the defensive. They are quarrelsome [want to argue with that but probably shouldn't], proud, touchy and obstinate. They lack the ability to co-operate with others, they desire always to dominate and direct. Their resourcefulness becomes mere excitability and impetuosity; they rush into action with considering the consequences. Wrong side out, they are apt to be cruel in personal relationships, especially where the emotions are involved. Their versatility leads them to scatter their energies so widely that the effort to concentrate on a number of things at the same time destroys their mental balance, making them highly irritable, nervous and unpredictable. It is difficult for them to coordinate their energies." Pretty on the mark though thankfully not always the case.
The author's comments:
"Their versatility is of an unusual type. Not only can they do a surprising number of different things, but they do them all astonishingly well, apparently without training or preparation. But the net result of this magic is rather likely to be that the roof is placed on an edifice built without foundations, so that the first storm blows it down. The imagination of the Leo Sevens knows no bounds. They have to learn to practice the art of doing one thing at a time [!], and of completing one job before they start the next one. The average Leo Seven leaves a trail of unfinished business."
"They take their knocks well, however, and no one of them has yet been found to be discouraged for more than a few hours." This last is not strictly true but close. Overall, I found the author's assessment fairly accurate - especially, unfortunately, some of the negatives. I found it encouraging as well.
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| Fig. 1 Signs of the Zodiac & the Constellations (modern) |
At the end of November I promised to write a blog entry about astrology. My intent was to work my way through the Marion March's 'The Only Way to Learn Astrology series book one and then discuss it. I have done some of book one, to date, but not a lot and while I would highly recommend this author she is not perhaps the best introduction to the field.
In particular I did not find her explanation of the astrological signs and their relation to the constellations basic enough for my purposes. I opted out of 'The Only Wayseries for the very user friendly KISS Guide to Astrology coupled with the Dummies book (Astrology for Dummies) but will be coming back to March when I feel I have a better handle on the basics.
So what did I learn from these books?
The first observation I would make about astrology is that it is somewhat complicated even without the math! Understanding how it all comes together required (for me) a three dimensional model like Figure 1 above. This is because an astrological chart takes into consideration two discrete planes (the houses and the signs) complicated by the precession of equinoxes. In this article I will do my best to describe my understanding of the signs, and their relation to the heavens.
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| Fig. 2 The Earth's Wobble (More info at oceanworld.tamu.edu) |
As just about everybody knows, the earth orbits and rotates and wobbles. The
effects of orbit and rotation create the seasons of the year and the 24 hour
day and is pretty straight-forward but the wobble (Fig. 2 above) can be
confusing. Imagine a top at the end of it's spin. The axis as it slows is no
longer straight up and down but begins to circle and this is basically what
the axis of the earth does though it is perceptible only over hundreds of
years (and relatively stable). The wobble is significant in this article
because it causes our view of the fixed stars to change over time.
Imagine yourself as a speck on the very tip of a wobbling top on your own kitchen table. As you wobble to the left, you see the cabinets, circling around to the right, you see the refrigerator. It is the same, over a much longer period of time, for our view of the fixed stars of the galaxy. This phenomena is applicable to the study of astrology only because the signs of the zodiac are named for certain fixed stars or groups of stars called constellations. It doesn't really matter where the stars are (relative to our location) because astrology confines itself to the influence of the Sun, Moon and planets of our surrounding solar system. It does create some confusion however because the signs are named for these constellations implying a connection that isn't really there.
The zodiac - comprising the twelve individual sun signs we are all familiar with - is an imaginary band which follows the elliptic or apparent path of the sun around the earth (this is the path shown in Fig. 1 which defines the seasons of the year). The band of the zodiac is divided into segments of 30 degrees (30 x 12 = the 360 degrees of circle) and each segment is given a name from Aries all the way around to Pisces (Fig. 1). The signs correspond to the seasons, solstices and equinoxes because of the oval shape of the elliptic in the same way that months of calendar correspond.
What makes this confusing in an astrological sense is the fact that these signs were originally named, some 4000 years ago by the Sumerians and Chaldeans, after the constellations (the cabinets or refrigerator of our wobbling top example) which appeared behind each signs 30 degree spot on the elliptic. 4000 years ago the sign of Aries stood before the constellation of Aries (at the equinox), for example, but this is no longer the case (Fig. 1).
If Leo is not really in Leo (or more correctly the segment of the Zodiac band called Leo does not line up with the distant constellation of Leo), skeptics argue, astrology doesn't work. Modern astrologers believe however that it is the motion of the planets in our solar systems that influences us, not the distant stars. They are concerned with the placement of the planets (including the luminaries of the Sun and Moon) in terms of the signs and houses.
The astrological houses are a second and separate category of placement and I think I'll try to write about that next post. My goal at this point is to develop a solid basic or overall understanding of the components of the birth chart. I am less troubled by the relationship of the astrological signs to the galaxy as a whole but still feel that there is something arbitrary in the inherent structure of the horoscope. It is important to remember that the constellations themselves have no real bearing on modern astrology. In this respect, precession does not necessarily negate the validity of astrology even if it does seemingly misplace the field.
Moving into 2011, I plan to look at Kabbalistic astrology beginning with
This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age. — Obi-Wan Kenobi
I have always identified with the Queen of Wands not only because I'm a Leo but because I'm strong and creative and a few other things that go along with that particular suit on a good day (and a bad one). From time to time however, I reflect upon the Queen of Swords and I recognize that this card represents me too, whether I want it to or not.
The suit of Swords is not a happy suit and we have only to look at Pamela Colman Smith's depiction of the cards it contains to understand that.
Traditionally Swords are associated with air, winter, wind, cold, strength, sharpness, intellect, independence, violence, loneliness, power and ruin—and Colman Smith has incorporated these themes into the Rider-Waite-Smith. And the RWS has become the tarot deck of choice for many readers as well as a interpretive point of departure for many alternative decks—with an emphasis on the negative.
I have never seen a person cheered by Colman Smith's Ten or Three of Swords!
The popular imagery of this suit is may appear tragic. So tragic that it is easy to forget that the symbolism of the suit would have been different when the cards were first introduced. They would have reminded people then of a passing age, where the sword was a weapon reminiscent of chivalry and the nobility. Some might have described the sword in the same way Obi-Wan Kenobi described the lightsaber.
When tarot was new, Wands, the suit of spring and creativity, victory and manifestation, would have been associated with the peasantry or at the very least, the craftsman. Cups, the modern suit of love and happiness—the clergy. Pentacles, which now suggest prosperity—the merchant class.
In this system then, Swords would have represented the class most respected by society at large. And, at its best, the suit is worthy of respect. It symbolizes strength, independence, intellect, and courage, and these are fine attributes in any estimation. Loneliness, as implied in a reading predominated by swords, may be a byproduct of these characteristics in the same way that violence and ruin can be a potential consequence of decisive action. And yet, I cannot dismiss the inherent sadness of this dark queen.
Perhaps it is only a product of the season. Winter is, in northeastern Appalachia, is an austere and unforgiving time that encourages introspection and dark thought. Even in our modern age, it is a season of survival, and I feel this very keenly when I force myself outside on the coldest days to walk the frozen ground.
It takes a certain degree of determination to live this season well and I think that is, on a level, what the symbolism of this suit is fundamentally about.
The Queen of Swords is an independent queen. She rules the wind, winter, and herself with a strong and not necessarily gentle hand, but she is the one I think most of us want to be when we face a challenge.
Representing, not only the nobility, intellect and the most difficult time of year in northern climates, she is courage, maturity and self-determination. I can draw very direct associations between this card and the season it represents. A time of year, but more significantly, a time of life.
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| The Strand Saturday Night |
It was a busy weekend – a short family vacation. Everyone had their own agenda and a window of time. Saturday afternoon was my turn.
I had a list of places to see. It included The Strand, a Botanica, a Persian Restaurant, China Town and possibly the Indian neighborhood near a friends' old apartment. The Botanica was first because it was on the way into the city.
I have a friend who likes Santeria and I wanted to pick up something for her and for myself. There is a small Botanica in NJ with a nice selection of incense and home-made candles and it was our plan to go there.
When we arrived however, the shop was closed. A second botanica nearby, sold mass produced candles and machine blended oils only. Somewhat daunted, we got an address for a third shop but were unable to locate it.
When we arrived however, the shop was closed. A second botanica nearby, sold mass produced candles and machine blended oils only. Somewhat daunted, we got an address for a third shop but were unable to locate it.
I have come to believe, as I’ve gotten older, that there is a current to things and I sincerely believe that it’s a spiritual current. This is not superstition, not “this is what is meant to be” - or at least not necessarily - but a kind of energy. Whether or not it is cognizant, whether or not it's destiny or great or small, it is very simply our own personal energy and mine just wasn’t cooperating!
We gave up on the candles and went into the city. There were lights and people and interesting restaurants. Afternoon turned into evening and the whether turned sleety. Hours later, after what seemed like miles of mid winter slush, we walked into the bright lights of The Strand, which if not the biggest used book store ever is certainly the biggest one I've ever been in. After the dark winter streets, it seemed crowded and cheery. There was an interesting occult section and in the end I found something connected to my cultural frame of reference.
I bought nothing to sell and nothing to give as a gift. The clock was ticking and we were tired and and hungry and in the end, picking one good book was enough. Being away from my usual routine I didn’t have a strong sense of the day but as I stood in line with my new book it occurred to me that what is open to us and what is closed has meaning.
That was Saturday and we didn't get a lot of news. Still reports filtered in via snatches of CNN playing in the hotel lobby and iPad updates. Things were happening in Egypt. Being on vacation made it seem even further away then it was in fact I think.
Sunday morning found us in the room in front of the television however. We heard that ordinary citizen's were putting their lives on a very literal line to stand between looters and the Cairo museum. Between the lines of courage and sweeping change and life and death, I was reminded how fundamentally important culture is to all of us.
I bought nothing to sell and nothing to give as a gift. The clock was ticking and we were tired and and hungry and in the end, picking one good book was enough. Being away from my usual routine I didn’t have a strong sense of the day but as I stood in line with my new book it occurred to me that what is open to us and what is closed has meaning.
That was Saturday and we didn't get a lot of news. Still reports filtered in via snatches of CNN playing in the hotel lobby and iPad updates. Things were happening in Egypt. Being on vacation made it seem even further away then it was in fact I think.
Sunday morning found us in the room in front of the television however. We heard that ordinary citizen's were putting their lives on a very literal line to stand between looters and the Cairo museum. Between the lines of courage and sweeping change and life and death, I was reminded how fundamentally important culture is to all of us.
I came home with my new book and some new ideas. I don’t know what it is about vacations but there is something about being free of the daily routine that encourages reflection and affords us the opportunity to see things from a slightly different perspective.
I'm always tired after a vacation and always glad to be back in my little backwater. Still it is nice to feel the shift from time to time!
I'm always tired after a vacation and always glad to be back in my little backwater. Still it is nice to feel the shift from time to time!
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