Stela
A stela is a tall, narrow slab made of stone or wood, usually inscribed or carved in relief with names, laws, pictures, designs, or dedications for the dead. They were used throughout Ancient Egypt, the Near East, Greece, and even
Aug 18, 2010
Aug 17, 2010
Tarot Tuesday-The Fool And The Court Jester
"Jesters do oft prove prophets." (V, iii, l. 73) King Lear
Designated as card 0, the Fool lies at the beginning of the Major Arcana, but also somewhat apart from the other cards. The Fool is the card of infinite possibilities. He has all he needs to do, or be anything he wants. He is
Aug 16, 2010
The Deviant Moon Tarot- The Ace Of Pentacles
In this card we see a Dragon grasping a Pentacle that appears to contain the Universe. Dragons are creatures that symbolize pure perfection and of being in harmony with both the material world and the spiritual realm.The conclusion of your progress is near, you need only to travel a short distance further and you can actually have a glimpse of what lies ahead. The Aces are all about a new start and this one as a Ace-Pentacle indicates that you need only undertake the work and do it joyfully and be confident about it.
The reversed Ace of Pentacles can indicate that you are worrying too much about money. We all need to pay attention to our finances but to be overly concerned can steal our capacity for happiness in the present moment. Count your blessings... do what you can and leave the rest to the Universe. In spiritual issues, the reversed Ace of Pentacles is a signal that you may benefit greatly from increased contact with people who are on a spiritual path.
Whether that's a path that's very similar to your own or whether you wish to learn more about very different ways of looking at things is up to you. The point is to go out into the world, and learn more about what others are saying, thinking and experiencing.
In health concerns, you don't have to spend a fortune to get and stay healthy. Simple things help support your health and many things are under your direct control, such as thinking positively, eating well, resting, getting exercise, and so on. Start small. Live one day at a time.
Aug 15, 2010
Serenity Sunday
Aug 14, 2010
News
Aug 13, 2010
Aug 12, 2010
Plant Of The Week
Rock gardens present the gardener with a challenging growing environment more options than just an ugly spot in their landscape. It is a solution to Aug 11, 2010
"What Is...?" Wednesday
E.V.P
Electronic voice phenomena (EVP) are electronically generated noises that resemble speech, but are not the result of intentional voice recordings or renderings. Common sources of EVP include static, stray radio transmissions, and background noise. Some have claimed these sounds are of paranormal origin,[1] while there are natural explanations such as apophenia (finding significance in insignificant phenomena), auditory pareidolia(interpreting random sounds as voices in their own language), equipment artefacts, or simple hoaxes. Recordings of EVP are often created from background sound by increasing the gain (i.e. sensitivity) of the recording equipment.
Parapsychologist Konstantin Raudive, who popularized the idea,[2] described EVP as typically brief, usually the length of a word or short phrase.[3]
The concept of the paranormal first began to attract a great deal of interest in the early 1800s, with the rise of Spiritualism. Spiritualists believed that they could communicate with “the other side” through people known as mediums, and a large cottage industry of mediums arose in the 19th century to feed popular demand. Spiritualists also described paranormal experiences, ranging from abductions to hauntings, and Spiritualism later grew into parapsychology, which purports to be a scientific study of paranormal activities.
One early researcher on EVP, Konstantin Raudive, worked on the issue in the 1960s, publishing several landmark works in the field. Some people refer to EVP as “Raudive voices,” in a reference to this pioneer. Raudive believed that EVP communications were generally short, often just a word or phrase, and he suggested that they were communications from the dead.
There are a number of ways to record EVP, and proponents of a paranormal explanation for EVP often use multiple recorders and other techniques in an attempt to make their recordings as test-proof as possible. Some people simply record white noise, listening for signs of EVP, while others claim to have identified EVP in recordings of speeches, songs, and so forth. EVP also allegedly comes through on the radio waves, and in the static between television stations.
EVP researchers say that the highly interactive communication they have engaged in would be impossible to discount as interference or brain tricks. "I have been an amateur radio operator for 40 years, and I have never had tape or digital recorders pick up any artificial interference," says one researcher. "Also, how can an interactive EVP, where the spirit is responding to my questions or commenting on my words, ever be considered interference?"
Aug 10, 2010
Tarot Tuesday- Shadows
Deep within ourselves, lurking in the psyche of all humankind, is our subconscious that holds all of what everyday society deems as inappropriate feelings, secret wishes, and creative urges. When we start ignoring these feelings, wishes and thoughts, they soon start to form a shadow, a powerful force of unresolved inner conflicts and unexpressed emotions that resists our efforts to control it. The shadow takes its shape from a swirling mass of negative thought patterns and behaviors. This shadow is sabateur, martyr, victim, addict, sadist, masochist, or tyrant...all the darker parts of ourselves that prey on the lighter qualities of the human personality.
The shadow also represents those latent talents and positive traits that were banished from us at some time along our life path, perhaps through an abusive childhood, or toxic relationship. All of our artistic, musical, athletic, or creative talents and undeveloped abilities, dreams that have gone unexpressed, a fantasy of what might have been—these too make up the personal shadow, they become the lost parts of ourselves.
This is where tarot, specifically the Major Arcana, can be used to heal as well as give insights into our "shadow-selves" and paths to healthy solutions. There is an absolutely wonderful book called "Tarot Shadow Work: Using the Dark Symbols to Heal" by Christine Jette, that I cannot recommend highly enough!
In this book, "Tarot Shadow Work, using the dark symbols to heal," you learn how to free yourself from the trap of the shadow's power. Through tarot work, journaling, meditation, creative visualization, and dream work, this book brings the shadow into the light and is ideal for those who are in recovery from a serious addiction or illness, as well as any person seeking a deeper understanding of his or her true self.
By exploring the dark and uncharted territory of the unconscious mind, one will be able to work towards understanding and integrating the shadow. No prior knowledge of the tarot is required and learning to use the cards as a tool to help break free from negative patterns and self-destructive behavior is the greatest gift one can give themselves.
We are made of both light and darkness and accepting our dual natures, frees us from sabotaging our own efforts as we learn to be compassionate with others and with ourselves.
Aug 9, 2010
The Four Suits
Each Tarot suit represents one of the four elements, Fire, Water, Air or Earth. The Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles each correspond to an area in life. Understanding these correspondences can give a quick sense of what the cards are trying to say.. All of us deal with thoughts, emotions, finances, health, and relationships on a daily basis. Even if you don't know the precise meaning of a card, combining the suit's symbolism with the energy represented by the number of the card you can grasp of the card's interpretation.Swords (blades, athame's)
Element: Air
Playing card suit: spades
Zodiac: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
Season: Winter
The Swords are often misunderstood due to their reputation. Admittedly, this suit can appear to have a somber tone but Swords are about movement and struggle associated with matters of conflict, both physical and moral. Many Swords in a reading indicate action of course, but can also indicate struggle since they represent the effort before the end result. Swords govern intellectual activity and is essentially male in character and represent the intellect in its best and most controlled aspect.
Wands (staves, batons)
Element: Fire.
Playing card suit: clubs
Season: Spring
Zodiac: Leo, Aries and Sagittarius
When you think of the Wand cards, think of fire. Some decks have images of burning objects on them . Wands indicate passion and desire, ambitions, creativity, vitality, self-development, growth, and perception. The Wands present future-oriented energy that is active and inventive. .The suit of Wands has both positive and negative aspects. The negative associated with the Wands is the scorching side of the fire - restlessness, anger, violence, pride, mischief, disruption and willfulness.
Cups (goblets, chalices, cauldrons)
Element: Water
Zodiac: Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio
Playing Card Suit: Hearts
Season: Summer
The Cups focus on emotions and matters of the heart. The meaning of each Tarot card in the Cups suit tend to guide emotional questions of almost any nature. If you have a number of Cups in a readings it may indicate that emotional issues have not yet physically materialized. The realm of the Cups is filled with new promise and can represent the desire for harmonious relationships.
Pentacles (Coins and Disks)
Element: Earth
Zodiac: Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo
Playing card suit: diamonds
Season: Autumn
Pentacles stand for the actual manifestation of an idea. They are about results, fruition, realization and prosperity. Pentacles represent abundance on all different levels....not just in your wallet, but also your status, the home you are able to obtain, the lifestyle you are able to lead, the work environment that you enjoy. They gauge how well you hit the mark set by your own inner self.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)