Roots go even deeper today

The Crystal Tarot (Philip Permutt, 2010) gives me another message to focus on grounding today with the Ace of Pentacles. The roots in this card go even deeper than yesterday's card, and the chakra associated with the card is the root, or base, chakra. The crystal here is moldavite, which my Essential Crystal Handbook tells me is a tektite with a green transparency. It goes on to say that moldavite 'blends cosmic and earthly energies, expanding awareness of the universe,' and that it represents 'transformation, evolutionary process and spiritual growth.' I'm seeing everything as pointing to my yoga practice lately! Doing yoga twice a day certainly makes it stand uppermost in one's awareness. The Crystal Tarot companion book says: 'You are entering a good period in your life and will see the physical rewards of your hard work.' Well, yay!

Traditionally this card can mean a new job or promotion. It so happens I'm on a recruitment team today and doing interviews all morning, so someone will be getting a new job--just not me. Well, I'm involved in someone getting a new job, anyway.

Hope everyone has a great Thursday. Did you see that full moon by the way? Awesome!

Building on firm foundations

Oh look, it's Two of Pentacles again. After yesterday I could use some balance. I felt a bit out of sorts all day. But today I'm going back to work (after 4 days off in a row--something I'm not used to!) and I will fall back into a routine. I hope my routine will be more balanced than it has been in the past. Maybe today will be the day I finally go all day without eating any sugary or fatty treats.

I like the way the plants in this card are putting their roots into the ground. It is important to remember that balance is based on solid roots, firm foundations. What firm foundations do I have that I can build on? --

I have a supportive husband who does not try to undermine or sabotage me when I want to make changes. (I know that there are husbands who do that.)

I have a regular income. It's not much, but it's reliable.

Pretty in Pink

This is a very pretty Empress card from the Crystal Tarot by Philip Permutt (CICO Books, 2010). For an Empress, she's rather fragile-looking, and certainly quite young. She sits in a fertile green lawn with fruit-bearing trees nearby, flowers gathering around the hem of her vibrant pink dress. Her crown, necklace and scepter are of emeralds, and there's a big emerald boulder just behind her to the right side of the card. Her shield or coat of arms is a green valentine heart with a Venus symbol on it. It's nice that she's not pregnant (I get tired of pregnant Empresses in tarot) but she could look a bit sturdier and firm of purpose for my liking. If the title didn't say Empress, I'd have guessed she's the Queen of Cups.

The Empress is a card of fundamental creativity, and so I hope this signifies that today I will feel creative in the way I approach my tasks and activities. I'm off work again today (my day off in the week for Saturday -- boo to Saturday working!) and have a couple of projects to work on, as well as a few books I want to read.

I will meditate on the Empress today and see what she has to say to me.

The good fight

Crystal Tarot, Permutt 2010

I have to admit I have no idea where deck creator Philip Permutt gets his interpretation of Page of Swords in today's draw from The Crystal Tarot (CICO Books 2010). However unlike the usual Page of Swords interpetation it is, though, it is uncannily fitting with the cards I have been drawing lately, and with my current life situation. Listen to this:

'You have been working hard, and your previous actions will lead to success, but you will still need to be prepared and flexible to deal with challenges ahead. You are wiser now, having learned from your own mistakes.'

While that sounds nothing like the Page of Swords, it fits perfectly with the fact that I have been doing yoga twice a day for the past nearly two months and had to take a break yesterday because my left hip was protesting madly! I believe I overdid some side bends and in other ways just pushed too hard on Saturday. So strange, isn't it, that things like this happen, when a companion books says something unusual that seems to fit nonetheless.

Anyway, if I didn't have a companion book with this deck, I would of course fall back on my prior knowledge of the more traditional view of the Page of Swords, which indicates a bit of youth, a bit of hubris, a bit of self-righteous intellectual arrogance, a bit of loving to play devil's advocate. The Page of Swords is like that kid in class (it could have been you) who enjoys catching the teacher out in a mistake, or likes to ask questions that can't be answered. The Page of Swords is talkative, intellectually curious, easily stirred to take up causes, has a keen sense of justice, would have been at the forefront of youth protests during the Civil Rights movement, things like that. I always liken the courts to fictional characters, and this is the Lisa Simpson card.

Thinking about the meaning given in the companion book, it's true Lisa Simpson does learn from every mistake she makes, everything she observes. And yet, it never seems to blunt her keen energy for truth, justice, right, or her need to learn more and to try to make things better.

I wonder if drawing this card today means I will have my Page of Swords fire lit in some way? Hmm.

Living water

Isn't the tarot cute? Today's message builds on the one I got yesterday about finding balance. What do I draw today but Temperance, that card that so many people associate with balanced behaviour, thinking and feeling? Some people, including Rachel Pollack, have said that they find Temperance boring and that it's one of their least favourite cards in the deck. It's certainly not fiery or glamorous, but for me, Temperance is one of the highest aspirations of life. It's one of my very favourite cards. Temperance is balance. Temperance is moderation. Temperance is what the Buddha taught, what Patanjali taught, and even, I believe, what Jesus taught. Temperance is existing in a state balance, because we understand who and what we are.

So in this image we have a figure standing on the grass (earth) with one foot in the stream (water), having wings (air) and following a path that leads toward the sun (fire). Her balancing act is not really achievable just on the material plane. What she's doing with the water there, though not as exaggerated as in some Temperance cards, is not really possible. You can't pour water sideways. There's some magic happening there, the magic of the will and of the mind and of the realm beyond the mundane. Because the water flowing from that cup flows endlessly in an inexhaustible supply, and what type of water is inexhaustible? The Bible calls it 'living water'. Jesus said, 'Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. For the water that I shall give is like unto a well of water springing up into everlasting life' (John 4:14). What is this living water, this magical supply we see, both in the Temperance card and the Star card? Is it not enlightenment, realization? And what is the realization? The knowledge that we, our True Selves, are already balanced, are already Temperate, are already perfected, and that it is only our thought-forms that lead us to misunderstand, that throw us out of balance in our mundane lives, and that lead us to unbalanced behaviours.

The Temperance card from Crystal Tarot (Permutt, 2010) is reminding me to seek my true Self in order to find the place from which I can move toward more balanced thoughts and behaviour in my daily life. 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of God,' said Jesus, 'and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matthew 6:33). To me, the Kingdom of God refers to realization of unity with totality. It's the enlightenment taught by Buddha, and Patanjali, Krishnamurti, Eckhart Tolle, and all sorts of teachers I've never heard of. It's a teaching that's everywhere, that's everything. Just like you and me.

Contemplate the Temperance card today.

I want to break free

I knew exactly what this was about when I drew it this morning, because it was the thing I had on my mind as soon as I woke up. I have been struggling for a long time to deal with what I consider a food addiction, or at the very least an unhealthy relationship to food. I started writing down what I eat several weeks ago and in that time, I've managed to gain a couple of pounds. Yes, gain -- not lose. I really don't know how to get a handle on this issue. I just keep making poor choices; though actually it could be said that I don't make any choice at all, because lots of my unhealthy eating occurs with no thought whatsoever and I don't even realise I'm doing it until I'm half way through with something. I know that sounds strange to those of you who do not have any type of food issue.

The Crystal Tarot by Phillip Permutt (CICO Books, 2010) shows a traditional Devil image (though it is quite softened and friendly in comparison to some, because after all this is a very gentle and charming deck--that's why I'm extending my draws with it for another week!). But still we see a male and female figure chained to the Devil's throne. They have horns on their heads, signifying his influence over them, and they have tails, but those tails also show their connection to the good earth, because they actually form viney branches that end in leaves, or in the case of the female, in fruit. (I like to think this is because of the fruitfulness of the female rather than any reference to Eve and the Garden of Eden story, though it may be that these figures are Adam and Eve and the implication is that Eve is the one who chained us to the Devil. Meh.) Be that as it may, the fact remains that the chains around the necks of the two figures are very loose indeed, and their hands are free, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Devil has no actual power over them, but that they are in chains to him of their own free will; whether they realise that or not is another matter entirely! When we draw the Devil, our first thought is 'Oh, no! We're trapped by a great evil force!' Then comes the subtext: 'But however we managed to get ourselves into this fix, we can get back out again. We can escape this bondage.'

The crystal associated with the Devil card here is one that I've also linked to it, smoky quartz. This is a crystal that breaks through a fear barrier - the fear of failure. I know from experience that smoky quartz does enhance the ability to overcome the fear of failure. It helps to break out of defeatist beliefs so that you can move forward.

I wanted to know more, so I asked for two more cards of advice--

Relax into the peace of the moment

Our last draw of the week from Crystal Tarot (Permutt) is 9 of Cups. I have to admit I'm sorry to see the end of this week's draws because I think this is a charming, pretty deck, and it's been fun to learn bits and bobs about the associated crystals. I may extend the draws for another week.

Nine of Cups is the card of self-satisfaction and contentment. It is similar to the Nine of Pentacles, the familiar image of the lady of the manor relaxing in her vineyard/garden with her falcon on her arm. But where that card speaks of being deeply contented with one's physical and material life, the Nine of Cups is more about emotional/spiritual satisfaction.

'Pause, contemplate, and allow yourself to be happy,' says the companion book. 'Yes, there can be more, but this is not the instant to pursue it. You are content emotionally and spiritually. Keep it all very simple, this is not the moment to start complicating things.'

The associated crystal is ametrine. This a rare stone that is formed with citrine and amethyst exist in the same crystal. Apparently, it is only found in a mine in Bolivia, and in small amounts in Brazil. So it seems highly unlikely I would ever come to own such a stone. I think it is appropriate that ametrine is assigned to this card, though, because deep emotional and spiritual self-satisfaction is pretty rare. Wouldn't you agree? The stone combines both citrine and amethyst properties in its magical/healing aspect. It is not a stone that has been known for long, apparently having been discovered in the 17th century. It is said to balance male and female aspects and enhance universal equilibrium.

I take this card to mean I should not push too hard in some of my recent pursuits today, but to enjoy where I am at the moment. That's good advice, and welcome!

Long and winding road

This Knight of Pentacles looks very noble and alert. Sometimes the Knight of Pentacles looks a bit like a dullard, but in the Crystal Tarot (Permutt, CICO Books 2010), he appears to be on a mission. Obviously the Knight of Pentacles is a slow and steady kind of character, but the Permutt companion book looks at this from a slightly different perspective:

You are working in the right direction, but there is still quite a way to go. You will have to continue to be industrious to achieve your goals. The Knight of Pentacles signifies a responsible and consistent person--this may be you, or someone you seek help from.

So -- no phoning in sick today! Dang. And the self-improvement project I have been toying around with for a while now is a long, long way from finished, this card makes plain. I need to be the Knight of Pentacles to achieve it -- slow and steady.

The crystal assigned to this card is blue topaz. Crystal Well-Being says of blue topaz:

Blue Topaz can be useful for problem solving or sorting out muddled feeling and ideas. It can inspire and uplift and promote truth, honesty, openness and forgiveness. It can help you to discover your own inner riches and help you to find and attain your goals. 

And Sunny Ray says: 

Topaz helps in establishing a practical point of view when it comes to life in general. It is thought to be able to point in the direction of the most practical solution to any problem or situation. It helps us to walk the distance between point A and point B in our everyday life without losing time.

Well, I don't have anything made of blue topaz, so I will just have to imagine one today. It's meant to be good for clear communication (associated with throat chakra), balancing of mind and body, and brings patience. These are all Knight of Pentacles qualities. I imagine he doesn't talk much, but when he does, he doesn't play games or mess around. And he of all the courts certainly has an abundance of patience! 

Awakening compassion

Ah, my favourite tarot queen, the Queen of Swords. I could use all the advice in the companion book, so I will give the whole thing here:

'You have two sides to your character; you can choose to let your beautiful aura of serenity shine around you or be harsh and judgemental. You are funny and intelligent, but sometimes your humour can hurt others, so avoid being judgemental and don't be harsh on your opponents and enemies in your time of victory. Be merciful; carry or wear verdelite to bring you compassion in all you do. It will also promote your mind power; place your verdelite crystal on your brow chakra to release your intellectual force.'

I feel quite convicted by this reading of the Queen of Swords card. I wish I had a verdelite crystal to carry with me to remind me to dial it down a notch for a change. I am also struck the fact that so far this week I've drawn green stones. I wonder if there is any significance to this.

I found this beautiful description of green tourmaline (verdelite) at Healing Crystals for You:

'This lovely crystal is a strong heart chakra stone with a masculine or yang energy. It is a powerful aid for self healing... and its vibration is notably compassionate especially towards yourself. This compassionate vibration resonates strongly within the thymus or higher heart chakra as this is one of the primary energies that this chakra governs.

The energy field of Green Tourmaline will entrain and harmonize with your personal energy, inducing within you a deep calmness, equanimity and feeling of completeness. Through its action within the third eye chakra... it brings through stronger visualization abilities. Green Tourmaline may stimulate a stronger connection between the heart and the mind... allowing you to feel the power of Divine love.'

May I soften my heart today and get in touch with the gentlest aspect of my Queen of Swords nature.

The Green Lantern

The Hermit is associated by many with the solar plexus chakra, so I'm a little curious as to why Phillip Permutt chose peridot as the crystal for this tarot major. The solar plexus chakra is yellow, and I would have expected citrine or some other yellow stone for that chakra, but perhaps that's just me being simple-minded. It turns out, it actually is me being simple-minded -- I just checked the book and Permutt says: 'Peridot offers protection from outside influences, allowing you to find the inner space that you really need. It also helps you focus within yourself during your meditation.' That makes sense. I'd love a peridot mala, but peridot is so expensive, that will never happen! It also turns out that many crystal healers associate peridot with both the solar plexus chakra and the heart chakra, and to be fair, it does have a yellowish cast to it. Yellow-green.

The card is telling me to be quiet today and hear my inner voice. The Hermit's head is facing the left side of the card, which is associated with the past or looking inward or backward. I should heed my own counsel and avoid the habit of seeking answers outside myself. I can see where this advice may be coming from, because I've just ordered a couple of books about a topic I've become more interested in lately. I need the reminder that I should follow my own intuition even if it doesn't match exactly what I see in books.

Fun as a slice of watermelon (?)

Today's card from Crystal Tarot is 3 of Cups, and features watermelon tourmaline. I quite like watermelon tourmaline, it's amazing to me that there's a stone that's green and pink with a little whitish layer between, just like a slice of watermelon! It is said to be a 'feel better' stone because it balances male and female aspects of self.

Of course 3 of Cups is about celebration and feeling good. I'm glad to see this card today; I see it as meaning that today will be an enjoyable day, the work day will go by quickly with no major incidents, and I will probably have some fun conversations with work colleagues. So that will be nice. :)

Watermelon tourmaline

Right Speech

What a pretty card! I love the green colour. Justice here is associated with the crystal Jade, and the throat chakra.

I can see how one could associated Justice with the throat chakra. Justice is a very abstract concept, and we define justice and address injustice through words. Without language, I'm not sure there would be a concept of 'justice'. (Of course, without language, I'm not sure there would be much a concept of anything).

What does it mean to do the right thing? We must start with right thinking and right speech before we get to right action. The throat is so important; when it's closed off, when we can say nothing, we effectually lose the ability to change our minds and to change our circumstances. We have to speak up for others, and for ourselves.

Fiery challenges

This week I'll be drawing from a cute little deck called The Crystal Tarot, by Phillip Permutt (Cico Books, 2010). It has cheerful colours, naive art style, and each card is associated with a crystal, which adds a fun dimension to the draw.

The Crystal Tarot features semi-illustrated pips, and today's draw is Seven of Wands, which shows seven wands in leaf, with a fire burst in the middle, and the associated crystal beneath them. You'll notice as the week progresses that the crystal is actually a photograph of the crystal, whereas everything else on the card is hand drawn artwork.

The Seven of Wands relates to proving oneself through challenges, and though the experience can be testing, it is also invigorating and uplifting to the self-esteem.

The crystal is fluorite, which is a stone that combines layers of purple and green, and is thought to increase concentration. I myself think of it as the 'everything is going according to plan' stone, or the 'everything is working out as it is meant to' stone. Yes, you may be facing challenges, but it is not a challenge that has come along to defeat you, but to teach and strengthen you. Yes, it's another of life's lessons to push through.

To be honest, I don't want to push through any challenges today, so I'm hoping this draw is pointing to something really mundane, like the computer system at work being down for half an hour or something along those lines!