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Tarotcast

Tarotcast March 27, 2016

FT_15_07_24_womenLeadersMap

March is Women’s History Month. If you all recollect my thoughts from Black History Month -highlighting a group of people for a month makes me distressed, because I think we learn more from history as a whole then in its parts – kinda a segregation of history. And here is the hard truth – Racism and Sexism still exist, and having a month singling out a group is not a cure. We need equal rights, and I believe we have hit a plateau in our human rights it’s still short of actual equality. This is a complex but changeable situation. So I am just going to throw out some facts for you all to mull over.

Two of the great equalizers are money and power. But here is the rub. The Gender Pay Gap has stalled out around 75-79% for the past 10 years.   Women are still making 79% of what a man makes. And, if you are a black women it is 74% compared to a white male. And the crazy thing is, the more educated you get the wider the gap between men and women. So those student loans we all have – men can pay it off faster by like 7 years. Oh, and let’s talk about age and income. For women, ages of 35-44, have topped out on what they can earn. Males continue to get pay increases straight through to their 60’s. This of course is linked to the statistics that women are more likely to divert their career path to a more flexible job at lower pay because they are the primary caregiver in their house, that men don’t typical get paid maternity leave and if they do it’s short term, and that the disparity is hidden in sign on bonus, annual bonuses, stock plans, and other benefits.

This disparity continues around women in power positions with elected heads of state worldwide (see map above), women holding CEO positions (4.0% in S&P 500 companies), and in our government (20 female senators out of 100, 84 women out of 435 or 19.3% in The House of Representatives). “Yippers people, in America we move at a snail’s pace when it comes to equality. In 1971 Switzerland final legalized women’s voting rights and they elected a woman president 27 years later. We are closing on 100 years after the women’s right to vote and have had only one woman make it to Speaker of the House and never in the senate as a majority or minority leaders or the president.

Now I am not advocating for you all to vote for Hilary- do what you want with that. We need to be more grassroots about this. What I am saying is, if you are a woman, advocate for yourself at your work and your home. And if you are a man advocate for your wife, daughter, sister, or mother. So until we are at that point in our history where we can look forward in equality and backward at the whole picture, I will honor the ladies in March.

References: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/30/about-one-in-ten-of-todays-world-leaders-are-women/ ; http://www.aauw.org/research/the-simple-truth-about-the-gender-pay-gap/

P.S. I have tacked on some cool ladies to your sign. Remember signs that have * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – Two of Pentacles – Whew, you are done with Rods – good work! Now on to Two of Pentacles, this week it’s all about balance. That new idea you been brewing for the past six weeks, it’s time to work on making it happen. The challenge from the Two of Pentacles is to do it slowly and methodically – experimenting, balancing and weighing out how this will work in your new schema. http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_williams_mary_lou.htm Mary Lou Williams – Jazz Composer

Taurus – Ten of Pentacles – I hope you all took the time to relax and mend last week, because the Ten of Pentacles is here to get you back into the game. You will have a full plate this week and almost everything you do will come with ease. However, the challenge with the Ten of Pentacles, especially for Taurus, is when your plate is full on the pentacle(material) plain you all forget that the mind and spirit is what got you there. You all know but if you say “Oh I’m busy doing this cool thing so I’ll put off meditating/exercising/alone time just for today”. Please do it. The things you are putting off might be the things that are keeping you balanced.    http://www.amazingwomeninhistory.com/madam-c-j-walker-self-made-millionaire/ Madame CJ Walker – first woman millionaire
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Tarotcast Week of March 20, 2016

dr. seus

Happy Vernal Equinox. Even though we are now into Aries, I would still like to ponder my favorite paradoxical Piscean author – Theodor Seuss (pronounced Zoice) Geisel or Dr. Seuss. Every year I find more ways that Dr. Seuss’s world has incorporated itself into my aesthetic and my psyche. The book One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish was the first book I remember reading all the way through by myself. And then there is the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas which I have watched ever Christmas since I was three. And then my absolute favorite cartoon The Lorax which I honestly think shaped my nine year old mind into the environmental activist of today. I think he influenced my moral compass more than any other person other than my parents.

However, he was a man of paradoxes. His pseudonym was created because he got kicked off the college newspaper for drinking gin in the dorms. His first wife committed suicide after a long illness and his affair with a friend. He was an avid supporter of Japanese Americans’ internment and won an Academy Award for Design for Death, a documentary about Japanese culture and the war, later creating Horton Hear a Who as an allegory to American post war occupation of Japan and dedicated it to a Japanese friend. He painted imaginary beasts beloved by children and a myopic naked lady riding a cat.

The interesting thing for me and the Dr. is that, though the illustrations were funny, the words rhymed and it ended happily, there was always a sense melancholy, sadness, and outsiderness that I totally related to as a kid and as adult. Dr. Seussville oddly makes sense to me. It is a place where innocence and morality gets tested by the world. A place where two kids are left alone in house and an intruder turns their world upside down, a shyster makes a profit in a world of prejudice Sneetches, and Horton is tied up for trying to save some Whos – but then in the end, the house gets clean, the bigots become friends, the Whos get heard and the elephant is vindicated. You all might be saying that’s similar to many children’s stories like Tom Thumb, Snow White or Thumbilina but here is the Seuss twist – in many cases the villain becomes the hero. The Grinch steals and brings back Christmas, the Cat brings chaos then order back to a home, the Once-ler destroys an entire ecosystem but also holds the seed to bring it back. That is what endears him to me as an adult these “children’s” stories tell a deeper message that redemption is possible even for the bad guy.

P.S. I have tacked on a Dr. Seuss tale that relates somewhat to your tarotcast. Remember signs that have * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – Ten of Rods – Wow, seriously this is amazing, you all are still moving through the Rods’ suit – first Five, then Six, Eight Ten, Seven and now the Ten of Rods again. I want to tell you the probability of getting any suit is 1out of 5 chances and then to get Rods six weeks in a row is 1 out of 15,625 chances, so something is up with you all and the rods’ mission in your world. Therefore, I am going to repeat and bold the following: The Rods suit’s mission is to hone your abilities to see and gather information that will expand your creativity and spirit. The Ten of Rods specifically is telling you to look at where you are holding back, editing, or not fully express your energy, creativity and/or who you really are. Dr. Seuss book: The King’s Stilts

Taurus – Six of Swords – Last week the Ten of Swords challenged you to decide what you were going to carry into your future – your joy or your pain. It seems with the Six of Swords that you have figured out what you are willing to carry forward. You all realized that some of the pain still needs to be carried on but you have let go of a big chunk of it. So in comes the Six of Swords saying when you do “big heart” work you need to take some time to heal. The Six of Swords is saying be in your new cleaner heart and let things mend. Dr. Seuss book: The Seven Lady Godivas
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Tarotcast Week of March 13, 2016

koi

I wanted to write about fish this week to honor Piscean’s birthday month, and I was having a hard time because of all the cool factoids about fish. Then, I realized that Pisces are one of the mutable signs, which means they are able to shift into many forms. So it made sense I couldn’t pin anything down with the fishy folk. However I prevailed and finally honed down my musings to one tributary full of carp.

First let’s dip into the mythology of carp. The Chinese myth and it’s symbolic meaning starts in the Yellow River where a giant school of carp are swimming upstream. They come to a waterfall called the Dragon’s Gate and some turn away. The rest try to jump up the waterfall. Local demons attracted to the sounds began to mock the carp and increase the height of the waterfall with each attempted jump. The carp continue their efforts for 100 years until finally one carp reaches the summit. The Gods honor its determination by turning it into a golden dragon the image of power and strength.

Now to dip into carp facts. Carp is a native of Europe and Asia. Since at least 2000BC, the Chinese have been raising carp in rice paddies creating a balanced ecosystem. According to a 1986 study, this form of aquaculture is so beneficial that it reduces fertilizer and pesticide use to zero, increase rice produce by 5%, and adds a free protein food source and/or commerce to the farmer. (This system can be set up with a variety of fish like tilapia and catfish. Why this isn’t common practice now I do not know.) In China, keeping naturally mutated carp in ornamental ponds became popular when supposedly Confucius got one as a wedding gift. The Japanese started breeding these naturally mutated carp around 1820 CE into the many variations of koi we see today. In North America, Carp and Goldfish, a subspecies of Asian carp, is now listed as an invasive species because it threatens local fish by competing for resources and interestingly messes up the ecosystems of our native wild rice. So please don’t release your fish out in the wild- that includes flushing them.

You might ask what does that have to do with mutable Pisces- well Pisces when taken out of their natural setting they can be a pain in the butt.  However, more than any other sign they can be the most amazing, determined, evolved people in the world as long as you keep them in their native environment. So please take care with the Pisceans in your life and don’t flush them either.

P.S. Remember signs that have * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – Seven of Rods – Wow, seriously this is amazing, you all are still moving through the Rod’s suit – first Five, then Six, Eight Ten and now the Seven of Rods. The energy and information is still coming at you. Ok so let’s dive a bit deeper into the Rods’ mission. This suit is all about energy, creativity, expansion, intuition, spirituality, and growth. The suit’s mission is to hone your abilities to see and gather energy and information that will expand your creativity and spirit. During these past five weeks the universe and you have been conspiring to make yourself and your desires grow. Keep up the good work. You are firing yourself up for a big transformation.
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Tarotcast week of February 28, 2016

leap_year

Happy Leap Year. Leap year happens every four years to recalibrate our solar calendar with the season. There is a tradition that is associated with leap day. Woman can propose to men on February 29. Legend says this tradition came from St Bridget complained to St Patrick that woman had to wait too long to for suitors to propose. So they struck the deal that woman could propose on February 29 every four years. Got to love the Irish ladies for taken control of their destiny. I loosely have my own tradition, on February 29. I think and journal about where I want to be in on the next leap year. I feel like it recalibrates my destiny. 😉

P.S. Remember signs that have * it’s a big week for you in the tarotcast.

Aries- Eight of Rods – Wow you all are moving through the rod’s suit- first Five, then Six and now Eight of Rods. So the good energy you put out the past two weeks is coming back to you. Especially look for news in email and snail mail.. The challenge is ideas, information and news will be coming at you fast this coming week just make sure you keep your goal(s) in focus.

Taurus – Queen of Cups- This week the Queen of Cups is here to remind you that all work and no play is fine if you find joy in the work. If not then it is time to step back and find what or who is sucking the joy out of your work life and do something about it. The Queen of Cup’s challenge is to find a way to do it without hurting anybody’s feelings including your own.

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Tarotcast – Happy Valentine’s Day

cell phone 059

Happy Valentine’s Day. The history behind this day is interesting and is still being debated. But here are some “facts” around the date and its evolution. Before the word Valentine was associated with this day, there was a Pre-Roman pastoral festival called Februa which is associated with spring cleansing rituals. Then the Romans took it over to celebrate Lupa (the wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus founders of Rome). Men dressed in goat skins would sacrifice two goats and a dog. There was feasting of course and then some run around the streets( possibly nude) whipping each other with strips of animal skins (called thongs) and some women’s hands (as always to help with pregnancy and child birth). Then of course Christianity took it over and it became a day to honor dead saints named Valentine. So the feasting, nudity, and whipping were taken away and replaced with very clothed somber praying. Then add a few more centuries, we get a legend just around one saint. Story goes, he healed a blind girl he loved and wrote the first Valentines. Finally in Chaucer’s time (1380’s), it became the more modern traditional Valentines equated with love and the giving of love letters and sweets. Boiled down it is kinda like the arc of love: starts out naked, fun, a little bit naughty and sometime ends up in pregnancy…evolves into something you work at- dutiful and sacred…then ends as something simple and sweet.

P.S. For fun added some love quotes which may correspond to your reading. Remember signs that have * it’s a big week for you.

Aries- Five of Rods – Glad to see you on the other side of that busy last week. Of course the Five of Rods is telling us that the busyness is continuing but this week you can bump heads with people. Your honest and no nonsense ways will be read as competitive and bossy. So your challenge before you start to give your honest opinion is to step back and assess the energy around the situation and person. You all are amazingly aware of situations when you put your mind to it. And if you can’t read it- best to step away. Quote: Hidden love is better than open hate- Matshona Dhilwayo

Taurus – Knight of Pentacles – I hope you all voiced what you needed last week. This week it is all about movement on the material plane. This Knight loves to help us move along our projects, find ways for us to make money, and even find us new homes. Again it a small lesson in patience like last week. The knight doesn’t exactly deliver you the money or new job in your lap this week, but he does help show you the easier roads to acquire your material needs. Quote: Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. -Franklin P, Jones
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Tarotcast week of February 7, 2016

phone 244

I like the month of February. For some reason it is a time for me where I get a little melancholy. And for me melancholy is like a warm blanket. It slows me down, helps me look around appreciate what I have. So I guess I lean towards the definition of melancholy as soberly thoughtful. When I am in this mood, I tend to gravitate to period piece films and classical art.   So just for fun I added a arty website that relates to the image of your sign. Just in case you all need a place to start your soberly thoughtful February.

P.S. New moon in Aquarius this Monday so set your intentions.   Remember signs that have * it’s a big week for you.

Aries- Seven of Pentacle – The Seven of Pentacle foretells that this week you will be tired and there is no getting around it. There is a lot to do to this week, plain and simple. So the challenge is to make sure you do something that keeps you going, for example, mine is dark chocolate. For you it could be cat nap, a cup of tea or coffee (but you can’t drink it at your desk), or a 20 minute walk outside. Just make sure you do something each day that gives a bit of joy and feels a little naughty. That energy will give you the oomph you need to make it to Friday without feeling like a wrung out dishrag. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4080/Ram-Headed_God/right_tab/tags/

Taurus – Seven of Swords – Last week did you find way to cajole “your lions” without the whip? This week it is a bit of the same with the Seven of Swords. So keep focusing on what you need to get done and the Seven of Swords is here to help by getting the information or help you need. The catch is that you need to ask for it and that mean saying it out loud. The challenge the big the need the longer it takes. The little things will come pretty easy like “I need a pen” that will come quickly…I need a car well that may take some time, but Seven of Swords will try it’s hardest to get you closer to the solution this week. http://www.ancient-wisdom.com/francelascaux.htm

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Tarotcast week of January 31, 2016

four-of-swords

Winter is still here and it seems everyone in town is sick, including me.  It has always been a challenge for me to stay in bed and rest without guilt.  It didn’t help when I saw a cold medicine commercial in which a sick guy goes to work strapped to his bed.  I started to feel twinges of guilt for staying in bed.  Then I thought, what is the media feeding us?  Seriously – if you are so sick you feel like you should be in bed… be in bed.  You body is trying to tell you that you are contagious and not to be around other people. This all reminded me of the tarot card, Four of Swords. The Four of Swords card’s lesson is rest, reflection and restoration during times of stress, sickness and sorrow.  We all get sick at some point no matter how well we take care of ourselves, or how many times we wash our hands. Our challenge is to remember that rest is an essential part of life, and sometimes the best cure is to stay in bed.  P.S. Remember signs that have * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – Ace of Swords – This is a great week for new ideas. So spend the week reading, going on line, listen to books on tape, investigate things with your mind. There are new ideas on your horizon- go and find them.

*Taurus – Strength – This is a week to tame and direct the energy in your life.  You have all that you need to do the things that you want to.  You just need to spend some time this week finding ways to focus your energy where you want it to go.  So think of yourself as a lion tamer, and the things you need to get done as your lions.  The challenge is:  Can you find a way to cajole “your lions” without the whip?

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