July 20th, Mercury Goes Direct Square Uranus - Bump, Ouch!

On July 20th, Mercury, in 13 degrees Cancer, leaves

Tarot's #7 The Chariot rules Cancer the Crab
from Corrine Kenner and John J. Blumen's
Wizard's Tarot©

retrograde (see blog: "Mercury Retrograde Tarot and You") and squares with Uranus in Aries.  Word on the web is that there will be some volatility connected with this configuration.  Uranus began its own retrograde on July 17th and when Uranus in Aries goes retrograde, nobody better be caught asleep at the wheel.

This month’s Grand Water Trine asks us to release that which no longer serves us. Here, as Mercury in Cancer goes direct, the good old Uranus/Pluto square (both of them in retrograde) flexes its muscle.  Uranus in Aries is filled with fiery energy that demands we break from tradition and forge a new trail.  That’s all well and good, but

Tarot's #4 The Emperor rules Aries the Ram
Rider, Waite, Coleman-Smith US Games©

Mercury in Cancer sparks intuitive communications.  With the square of Mercury and Uranus, those communications may be a tad too blunt for most people’s taste.  Think of the energy of tarot’s Knight of Swords at its strongest. He is blunt – in your face, take it or leave it, you-should-know-better-than-to-ask, kind of blunt.  Temper your responses before you open your mouth.

When Uranus, the planet of societal change goes retrograde, its energy asks us to examine our relationship with our world – our, meaning our neighborhood, town, country or the entire globe.  Uranus retrograde in Aries asks whether we are working for the good of the whole, doing the expedient, or worst case, whether we are working with only our own best interests in mind.  If we’re not satisfied with our answer, Aries demands action.  Now, not next week.  Again, filter your words.  There’s no percentage in calling either your partner or your boss a short-sighted boob for not recycling plastics, or in verbally taking on

The Fool rules Uranus
from Legacy of the Divine Tarot©
by Ciro Marchetti

a police officer during a traffic stop. 

Pluto retrograde in Capricorn is a variation on Uranus’ theme of societal change.  Pluto’s energy is transformative, but before we transform, we soul search. You may feel a little more angst-ridden than normal prior to the Full Moon on July 22nd.  However, here’s the good thing about astrology.  Within a couple of days configurations change.  Also, each of us are still in charge of our own decisions and create our own realities in life.  That is really the important message between Mercury and Uranus this month.  Each of us has the opportunity to make a difference in this world – to influence our collective destiny.  We can affect positive, peaceful and lasting change.  Let’s make that our primary goal.

LADY ORACLE

Card decks featured in today's blog are available through Lady Oracle Tarot  Click here!

A variety of decks for all levels of readers, at Good Prices!   Check 'em out!

Transcending the Ego - “The Power of Simply Existing”

#1, Existence from the
OSHO Zen Tarot© by
Deva Padma

Ego is both a Latin and Greek word meaning ‘I,’ or ‘self.’  Ego is also one of the layers that Freud defined as part of our psyche, or mental make up.  Spiritually, we are advised to surrender our ego to attain a truly enlightened state.  Dr. Wayne Dyer often uses the acronym, Edging God Out for his definition of ego consciousness.  He contends, as do most spiritual philosophers, that we close ourselves off from our ever-present link to Divine consciousness, as well as to our link with all living things when we view our life experiences solely through the lens of our own ego. 

Linda Jane Becker, in her book, “Living With Soul,” describes the healthy ego as an internal device designed purely as a safety mechanism.  Becker defines the ego’s function as one of assimilating information about our environment and in dangerous situations, activating our sense of self-preservation to help us avoid harm.  She states that when we depend solely on the

The Source from the
OSHO Zen Tarot© by
Deva Padma

ego to judge and guide our actions however, we pull life through the filter of our mind instead of through our heart.  By doing so, we trap ourselves inside our own perceptions of how life should be lived, rather than actually experiencing the life surrounding us. 

Our relationship to our ego-self often feels like the relationship between a behavioralist and a lab rat.  Our ego conditions us to react to certain situations with set responses much like a rat is conditioned to push a lever and collect a food pellet.  Gratification, or validation.  When we allow the ego to train us, we stand at a metaphorical food bar all day, every day, continually pushing that lever to get the same reward – a

#22 Beyond Illusion from the
OSHO Zen Tarot© by
Deva Padma

feeling of rightness and a sense of who we are as defined by what we have.  When we step away from the need for validation, we allow our hearts to open to the power of the Divine.  Make the effort to reconnect to your spiritual self today.  Use the path that is the most familiar and effortless for you and enjoy your journey.

LADY ORACLE

If you don't know about this tarot deck, you should.  It's at the top of my must
have list.  OSHO Zen deck clears the cobwebs like none other.


Click here for more info

Delta Aquarids Shower, July 12 to August 23, 2014 - Meteors Giving Us A Complex

#17, The Star from
Ciro Marchetti's The Legacy of the Divine Tarot©

In May we had the Eta Aquarids shower and now, out of the dark of southern sky, in the wee hours before dawn, comes the Delta Aquarids meteor shower.  Although this is not a particularly brilliant display, there are still plenty of interesting facts about the Delta Aquarids shower.  Like their cousin the Eta showers, the Delta showers’ radiant (point of origin) is the constellation, Aquarius.

(see blog: http://ladyoracle56.blogspot.com/2013/05/eta-aquarid-meteor-shower-may-4th-and.html for the story of Aquarius and Ganymede)  The third brightest star in the constellation is called Delta, hence the naming of this particular meteor shower, Delta Aquarids. 

Also like the Eta showers, the Delta is more visible from the southern hemisphere.  The peak nights for observing Delta's rain of fire this year are July 25th and 27th.  However, if you live in a more rural area, you can eek out a few more nights of viewing before moonlight interferes with visibility. At peak, the Delta Aquarids meteors fall at a rate of 20 per hour with a speed of approximately 25 miles per second.  Don’t blink and don’t despair. You will still be able to catch sight of some of Delta’s meteors during the Perseids Shower in mid-August. 

#19, The Sun from
Ciro Marchetti's Legacy of the Divine Tarot©

The source of the Delta Aquarids meteors is still listed as ‘unknown,’ but the current culprit for the showers, and probably the correct one, is comet, 96P Machholz.  This comet was discovered in 1986 by Donald Machholz and it orbits the Sun every five years.

The Delta Aquarid shower is one of many minor summer showers that comprise a shower group called the Aquarid – Capricornid Complex. These showers are part of the

Summer Antihelion Source display.  The Antihelion Source, or ANT, is a large, oval-shaped area of space housing the radiants for several minor meteor showers.  Where most of us amateur astronomers will never be able to tell what meteor comes from what particular shower during this summer cacophony, professional astronomers can certainly tell the difference.  They also say that with careful observation we can as well.  I don’t know about you, but I favor the, “Ooooh, fireball pretty,” approach.  Below is a list of the Aquarid – Capricornid Complex/ANT showers and their peak nights.  Mark your calendars, pack up your favorite lawn chair and get ready to enjoy.

LADY ORACLE

AQUARID–CAPRICORNID COMPLEX/ ANT SUMMER SHOWERS

DELTA AQUARIDS July 28th and 29th (visibility may be better in August this year)

PISCES AUSTRALIDS  July 31st

ALPHA CAPRICORNIDS  August 2nd (known for slow fireballs)

IOTA AQUARIDS August 6th and 7th

Check out my website for card deck, info and more... click here!

Achieving Motivation Through Wands – “Lights, Camera, Action!”

Shakespeare wrote that, “all the world’s a stage.”  In the new

Ace of Wand from
Legacy of the Divine Tarot©
by Ciro Marchetti

millennium our lives are more like a sound stage. We still have our entrances and exits, but the pace is considerably faster and there’s a lot more gadgetry involved than in the days of the old Globe Theater.  One thing remains a constant in the equation however: If the characters aren’t motivated, i.e. lack direction, or drive, the entire production goes nowhere.

In tarot, Wands represent action and elemental fire.  The first three cards of the suit, the ace, two and three, show us the ingredients of motivation in their purest form.  Aces indicate the start of the show – that initial spark of an idea that causes a question to form inside us.  In Wands the ace is the spotlight going on as we enter stage left.  It’s an awareness.   

2 of Wands
Legacy of the Divine Tarot©
by Ciro Marchetti

The RWCS Two of Wands shows us a figure with a small globe in his hand.  He stands secure behind the walls of his castle, literally holding the world.  However, it’s not his comfortable surroundings that command his attention.  It’s the view of life beyond his wall, or in this case, the light from the Ace of Wands that’s snagged his interest by illuminating the less ordinary. Safe and secure in the familiar, he now has an omnipresent view of life in the outside world as if through the lens of a camera.  

The Three of Wands represents the first step on our journey – the action.  We’re out in the world, a part of life and no longer bound by complacent attitudes.  We have stopped simply observing life and become part of it.  We experience the sights, smells, tastes and texture of life beyond our previous limits.  The horizon, with all its unknowns, beckons us and we follow.  

3 of Wands
Legacy of the Divine Tarot©
by Ciro Marchetti

It’s very easy to loose motivation in a busy, unsettled world.  Fear of loosing what security and comfort we have often inhibits us from achieving our goals, or having new experiences that allow us to grow as individuals.  Each of us is accountable to ourselves for what we make of our life.  If you are having trouble becoming motivated, there are some wonderful guided meditations that can help you release anxiety and truly get in touch with what motivates you in life.

For tarot enthusiasts,  use any of these three cards as a significator and do your favor spread.  You can also try using these cards for a past, present, future type of spread as well.  The point is, work with these cards. See what you discover.  I’d love to here from you about what you learn.  Message me on FaceBook, Twitter, or email me via my website  www.ladyoracle.net 

LADY ORACLE

Check out tarot decks for sale through  Lady Oracle's Tarot Mercantile

July 8, 2013 - New Moon in Cancer

Tarot's #18, The Moon
from Wizard's Tarot©
Ruling card for Cancer the Crab

New Moons direct our emotional cycle.  This month we have a new moon occurring at 16 degrees of Cancer the Crab.  It’s very important for us to focus on the energy and traits found in the crab shack (see blog: Zodiac Sign of Cancer the Crab) to receive the fullest benefits from this month’s new moon.

In the last blog, we talked about the effects of water signs on July’s powerful Grand Trine (Jupiter in Cancer, Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Scorpio).  The same information holds true here, especially during the next few days as we start the New Moon cycle.  However, we also have the added component that the Moon’s monthly reboot is conjunct (same place, same time) Mercury in retrograde.  There’s a strong theme here of inward reflection.  As the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, Mercury, the planet of communication, likewise asks us to pause and reflect on our lives and our inner journey.  What goals of yours are worthy of recommitment?  What does New Moon in Cancer tell you about hearth, home, family and your sense of security?  Just as tarot’s # 2, The High Priestess represents

Tarot's #2, The High Priestess
from Wizard's Tarot©
Ruling card for The Moon

the subconscious mind and intuition, so does this month’s New Moon in Cancer.

Cancerian energy loves the security and the comfort of hearth and home.  This is something we can all identify with right now.  Each month the New Moon offers us a new broom to sweep out the cobwebs of complacency that form during each lunar cycle.  July’s New Moon works like a cyclonic Hoover©. It draws high powered spiritual energy from Neptune and knowledge from Saturn (who goes direct on the 8th).  This is the time to get out of your head.  Stop viewing the world through your ego and start pulling information through and from your own heart.  Meditations will be both extremely powerful and extremely productive right now.  Your sense of security and home life are particularly important to you and will probably figure prominently in your inner reflections.  Follow the flow of your own intuition and take time this New Moon to reflect, meditate and experience your life through an open heart. 

LADY ORACLE 

Wizard's Tarot© – available for purchase at www.ladyoracle.net


A wonderful allegorical journey through a wizard's college.  Filled with depth and insight through tarot imagery astrological and kabbalistic references.
A must have, people!

Astrological Trends, July, 2013 - “Trine Time”

Saturn's ruling tarot card
#21, The World
Shadowscapes Tarot©

July started the month off with incendiaries – some of which had faulty guidance systems, but all in all, July’s roller coster arrival (Super Moon after shocks and Mercury Retrograde) was nothing we couldn’t handle with meditation, creative visualization and maybe a couple of glasses of wine if things felt too crazy.  Now we’re humming as the Grand Trine between Jupiter in Cancer, Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Scorpio takes the center stage and becomes the major player for July’s astrological forecast.  

A trine is the most favorable aspect, or angle (120 degrees), between planets and certain other celestial bodies. A Grand Trine is a harmonious and continuous flow of energy between 3 planets.  Our natural inclination during a trine is to bask in the pleasant out-pouring of magnificent energy, however, astrologers warn that too many trines at once may be too much of a good thing, causing a somewhat sluggish mindset, or even outright laziness.  Go with the flow this month, particularly during Mercury Retrograde, but remember that there is fabulous energy from the Grand Trine that you can use to shift your life in the desired direction. 

All the signs in July’s Grand Trine are water signs.  All water signs are spiritual, intuitive and creative.  Water folk tend to view life from an emotional viewpoint rather than from facts and figures.  They are often romantic souls. The analogy used to compare them states that if Cancer is a lake, Scorpio is a river and Pisces is an ocean. Each of these signs has a direct affect on the planet within its house and what we’’ll all be feeling this month is the water signs’ influence.  

Jupiter (tarot’s #10, The Wheel of Fortune) in Cancer (tarot’s

Jupiter's ruling tarot card
#10, The Wheel of Fortune
Shadowscapes Tarot©

#7, The Chariot) is humorous, good-natured and good with money. Design a budget and stick to it.  The end of summer will find your cash crunch eased and who knows, you could solve a tricky money flow issue with the help of Jupiter, the Santa Claus planet.  The combination of Jupiter in Cancer also promotes emotional growth and healing which makes July the perfect month to let go of romantic fantasies and emotional attitudes we should have left behind long ago.  

Neptune (tarot’s #10, The Hanged Man) is the ruling planet for Pisces (tarot’s #18, The Moon) and is the “beautiful dreamer” of the Grand Trine.  Neptune is also in Retrograde which means that we are more likely to contemplate our

Neptune's tarot card
#12, The Hanged Man
Shadowscapes Tarot©

connection to one another and question our intention towards our fellow creatures. Who do we serve, ourselves or the whole?  You may recall that Pisces easily becomes lost in day dreams and illusion.  In July we’ll all battle this tendency trying hard to remain focused on the here and now instead of the seductive allure of ‘someday.’  The lesson here; change your focus, stay in the now and change your life.   

Saturn (tarot’s #21, World) is the most practical of the three planets.  Saturn likes analyzing people’s motivations and assigning them either asset or liability status – not in a cold-blooded way, but as a matter of practicality.  Do the people in your life help you be a better person, or do they hinder the process? While Saturn in Scorpio (tarot’s #13, Death) normally uses challenges to help us transform our world, here we see Saturn stabilizing the trine and helping us use its energy in our daily lives.

Factoids for the month: Our New Moon in Cancer in on July 8th.  The Grand Trine becomes exact of July 17th, so expect a little more magic that day.  Hum a lot.  Mercury goes direct on July 20th and is an exact square with Uranus.  Look for some breakthrough energy there. The full Moon in Aquarius is on July 22nd and we also have a meteor shower, the Delta Aquarids, later this month.  More on these later.  Enjoy!

LADY ORACLE

The mystical and magical Shadowscapes Tarot© by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore are available for sale through      Lady Oracle's Mercantile!  Click Here!

Tarot’s #9, The Hermit - “Lighting Your Own Way in the World”

#9, The Hermit (RWCS Deck)
solitude, the inner journey, guidance

Yesterday morning we had one doozy of a Void of Course and it left lots of us feeling ungrounded and anxious.  Voids, of VoCs occur when the Moon is about to change houses and there are no more planets in the Moon’s present home to guide her on her way.  Lady Moon is left to drift without a celestial body to help ground and stabilize her energy.  (see blog: "A Void Is A Void, of Course of Course" or "Slipping Into The Moon's, Void of Course") Left to her own devices, Lady Moon drifts aimlessly and turns inward much like her tarot card, # 2, The High Priestess. 

There are times in our own lives when we likewise feel uncertain and turn inward.  We sit in our metaphoric towers using our intuition to guide us through the darkness as we reflect on our lives.  Sometimes the journey gets a little edgy, but nothing that can’t be handled with a bar of really good chocolate and our favorite book.  However, there are times when our fears and anxieties gain the upper hand and a tower feels too exposed.  That’s when we head straight for a cave – the deeper, the darker, the better.  This is the territory of tarot’s #9, The Hermit.

Where the High Priestess uses introspection coupled with delicate, high-mindedness, The Hermit, forges a path through the discomfort and travails that come from following one’s destiny.  His path is very rough at times because he joins the fray in the real world.  As a result The Hermit, who is further along the journey of the soul, needs a deeper retreat from the world in order to reaffirm his connection to Spirit.  The risks The Hermit takes in life and the demands he places upon himself are far more rigorous than those of the High Priestess.  Where she represents reflected light and a passive nature, he represents true illumination – the kind you carry with you to light your way in a not always serene world.

In the RWCS depiction of The Hermit, we see Diogenes, the Greek philosopher who, taking a vow of poverty, lived in a large clay urn in Athens’ marketplace.  (Close to shopping, reasonable rent) He carried a lamp through the streets looking for an honest man. #9, The Hermit, asks us to retreat into ourselves so that we can honestly assess what we’ve learned along life’s journey and plan for where we go once we leave the sanctuary of our cave. He also asks us to shine the lamp of enlightenment on ourselves; to put our lives in perspective.  That’s a scary thought, because we are our own toughest critics.  However, the cave of The Hermit gives us time to think and heal, to make adjustments to our life path as we find necessary.  Once we reemerge into the sunlight, our lantern is held firmly in our hand and we are ready for the next step in our journey.

LADY ORACLE

Dreaming Way Tarot – a terrific tarot deck!  Click here to purchase!

Rome Choi's fabulous Dreaming Way Tarot