Oracle Speak ~ April 29th - May 13th

A while ago, Ana Cortez suggested that we tried to do our own Oracle Speak readings as an exercise. Oracle Speak is quick biweekly forecast Ana does for a local radio station at Santa Fe, NM. 

So, she told us to do a reading for the coming two weeks, before listening to her own forecast, as to not be influenced. Ana suggested that we focused on getting a message to the world, instead of focusing on our personal lives. This way the reading can be relevant to others too.

I seldom do general forecasts for many people - I am better with personal readings. But I think the challenge is important for my growth as a reader. Also, in this exercise I tried to follow my first impressions, because I need to learn to trust them more. I often question my own interpretations until I am completely lost!
So the first thing that called my attention in this layout was the presence of the deuces on the top of the spread. And both cards deal with rivalry of some sort - one is the  2♠ (The Enemies) and the other is the 2♦ (The Rivals). My first impression is that May will begin with an atmosphere of conflict and opposition.

The Ace of Diamonds is right below the two deuces, so for me it's deeply connected to them. The causes of the conflicts may be an excessively individualistic approach to thing - "my way or no way" sort of thing. However, fire is also a transforming energy - these times of opposition, if well-handled, can be a catalyst for important changes.

We can transform a heavy enmity into a lighter, more positive rivalry that inspired growth instead of destroying. If we let the negative side prevail., it'll be like throwing dirt onto the fire of transformation. We will smother it.

I don't see a very relevant meaning for the 6♣... for me it suggests that all this will be a very temporary situation, one that will open the path to further grow. The conflicts that happen within the coming two weeks will not be long-lasting (unless the people involved handle them very badly). If anyone has more insight on this card, I appreciate.

There's also a lack of Hearts in this particular spread, which suggests that this will be a time of low sympathy; people will not be very open emotionally. A hard time of transformation, like fire burning the earth to renew it. The sentence that popped into my mind was 'don't be a softy'.

In a nutshell: I believe opposition will be very present in the coming weeks, in different forms and intensity. There may be a tendency in people to face this in a rather egoistic way, which may contribute to the conflict. It's important to compromise, so that the differences can generate growth instead of becoming an abyss. This is a wonderful opportunity to transform any situation by analysing what isn't working and finding alternatives in other people's ideas. Using well this time can boost people's progress in whatever area of their lives they are experiencing stagnation or obstruction.

I don't know if I did this right but... ta-da, here it is! My first Oracle Speak!

If anyone sees this spread differently, or has any additional insight on the cards... please, do share!

Sol: The All-Seeing King

Of all the kings in the Playing Card Oracles, Sol, the King of Clubs, is the one that shows up more often in my readings. I think it's because I have many Aquarian/Air men in my life... including my father, my boss, my stepbrother and others.

I was reading Anaïs Nin's Under a Glass Bell one of these days. It's a wonderful book of short stories... I recommend reading it if you like a flowery prose with lots of subjectivity and surrealism. Some people find her writing superfluous and convoluted, but I love her. Anaïs speaks to my spirit - and to my heart - in a way few authors have ever done.

Sol himself would probably dislike her dreamy style.

There's a story called "The All-Seeing", which is about a man who could really be the King of Clubs. I can't help but think that Anaïs found inspiration in a typical Air man for this story, because the way she describes him reminds me of the Air men in my life. I am sharing some quotes below, along with some comments of mine, as a part of my own study of this card.

"Seeking this that he had lost without knowing it, he became restless and a rover, a prober, he became the archaeologist of his own soul, he searched and wandered [...] He was possessed with restlessness, timelessness, forgetfulness. He lived in a labyrinth and a haze." (The All-Seeing)

Sol is a man who seeks and researches everything, including his own soul. But, for me, he seems fearful of emotions (and all that reason cannot fully control and comprehend), hence why he focuses so much on the rational side. He is an archaeologist of the soul, but his conclusion are always somehow incomplete. The poetry, the dreams, the unconscious, the marvellous... all these things are missing from his left-brained approach. He analyses them, dissects them, question them until they crumble under the weight of his scrutiny. Mystery cannot survive this aggressive investigation.

"No sooner had the marvellous befallen him than he grasped it with his peasant hands with the violence of a man who was not certain of having seen it, lived it, and who wanted to reassure himself of its palpability. Everything which befell him would be ripped apart, analysed, commented." (The All-Seeing)

In this quote we see Sol's tendency to rationalise when something marvellous (or magical, or irrational) falls in his hands. He finds it hard to simply enjoy the moment... no, he must put it under a microscope, put it in perspective, put it in words. Measure, weight, compare. In doing so he gains knowledge, but sometimes he destroys the flame, the impulse, the spontaneity, the poetry. He can be the air the feeds the flame, but sometimes he ends up being the cold wind that extinguishes it.

"You float too easily, you are too easily cut off. [...] But at some time or other you will have to accept having a body, a reality, being in bondage. You will have to enter the prison of human life and accept the suffering." (The All-Seeing)

I think that the heaviness of the earth... gravity, the physical reality... is sometimes very uncomfortable for Sol. Perhaps, amongst all the PCO kings, he the one least comfortable with it. The mind has no limits... but it is still inside a body, and must conform to it. In the imagination, dreams are easily accessible... but when the body is not engaged, all fades away as soon as we open our eyes. Sol's paradox is that, while he's deeply connected to all that is logical, rational, real, scientific, he is at the same time a man of the elusive Clubs realm. And as such, someone constantly uncomfortable with the bondage of the physical life. Someone who want to live reality only through the mind - but reality is not only the mind. It's the body, the heart, the instinct... all that Sol tends to avoid.

I was surprised by how "The All-Seeing" seems to relate to Sol, especially his 'shadow' aspect, and how it unwittingly highlights the importance of Leah, the Queen of Clubs. She represents the unconscious mind, the right side of the brain, and as such she balances Sol, completes him, expands him. She's the mind that softly explores the mystery without brutalising it, without tearing the veils. She seeks to comprehend what can be seen, and respectfully waits for the unseen to unveil itself. When Sol grabs his surgical knife, Leah puts a hand in his shoulder and says "wait - it still breathes". Sol checks if the chest is moving; Leah feels the soul inhale.

As Ana Cortez said, together they make a complete brain.

In my own spreads, Sol used to represent a man I loved... Sometimes when I stare at this card my thoughts fly to the forbidden realms of memories. I remember clearly when I showed him my well-loved PCO deck and said: This card -- this is you, in my readings. The scientist, the teacher, the thinker. We were lying together on the bed, in the post-passion haze. We floated in a bubble of our own making, made of his air and heated with my own fire.

Gone, gone, gone. All that is gone. Now Sol is a rock in the pit of my stomach. And somehow this post is a sad attempt to exorcise the face that still floats above this card whenever I see it. The man is gone, but Sol is still in my readings... now I need to rediscover him, give him a new visage.

Weekly Reading: The Lady and her window

Yesterday before bed I did something I haven't done in a long time: I did a weekly draw. It was more an exercise than an attempt to know what awaits for me, but it still made an interesting reading because my significator card came up: Allegra, the Lady of Hearts (10♥).

I chose Allegra as my card when I began studying the Playing Card Oracles... when I first read about her, I thought that her personality is very similar to my own: moody, sensitive, passionate, vulnerable, a bit irrational and prone to indulge in fantasies. Above all, someone whose heart is her compass... not always a clever guide, but an honest one. I did not choose my card based on the sun sign and element (as I usually do for others), because although my sun sign is Sagittarius, fire, I do not identify so much with Tendra, the Lady of Diamonds (10♦).

Allegra, on the other hand, could be my portrait at times.

In this weekly draw, the (10♥) came with the 8♣, The Scales, which is for me one of the most problematic cards of the pack. Not because it's bad, but because I have always had a hard time understanding it. And yet, it shows up quite often in my own readings. When looking at the two cards together, my first impression was that I was seeing a girl staring out of the window...

What is she seeing? What is she thinking as she looks out of the window? I cannot say for sure... this combo could represent someone who reaches some clarity, some peace of mind, some distance from the troubled waters. Because the 8♣ is upside-down, it seems Allegra is looking at the scales, not outside. So maybe she's making a decision, weighting the options.

But how can she weight anything, if the scales are upside down?

Perhaps she has stopped weighting, pondering, wondering. There's nothing left on the plate of her scales. She needs to get all this (now useless) equipment out of the way, stop trying to make decisions in haste and truly enjoy the view. Watch the sun set in the western window. Watch the clouds reflect the final rays of the sun as the day ends. Watch the stars appear in the clear autumn sky as the night sets in.

I wonder if this week will be more peaceful for me... mentally and emotionally speaking. I could use some good nights of sleep for a change, away from the chaos of unsolvable mental riddles. To think about those who are not here... to follow them from a distance, to summon memories of them... is to invite chaos into your mind. These two cards tell me to refrain from doing this. Exercise a bit of no-mindedness when it comes to certain subjects. Gently push certain thoughts away when they come.

There will be time to deal with them.

I don't know... the elusive 8♣ remains a bit of mystery to me. I still have a lot to learn about it. Maybe the coming week will give me more opportunities to understand it. For now... the quote below seems to sum up the message this weekly reading had for me.


Nobutada: Please forgive... too many mind.
Nathan Algren: Too many mind?
Nobutada: Yes. Mind the sword, mind the people watch, mind the enemy, too many mind… [pause] No mind.
-- The Last Samurai, 2003

Tendra: more fire than blood!

Fire contains a dynamic spirit that is ever hungry. It consumes. The more it is given, the more it needs. This is the aspect of Fire that illuminates so well the personality of Tendra. (p.79)

Certain cards are complicated. Complicated, because they are... hum... less-than-positive, and we can't help but wincing whenever they show up in a reading. We say that "every card has a light and shadow", but it seems that some cards have more light while others have more shadow. They seem to be rather negative even at their best.

In the Playing Card Oracles, Tendra (the 10♦) is one of these cards. Her image is that of a young woman kissing the severed head of a man. She represents the hungry part of the fire, the side that consumes utterly. Tendra is seductive, drawing people to her like moths to flame. But once they get close, she burns. She clings, she clutches, she won't let go.

Some of her keywords include needy, demanding, spoilt, wilful, possessive, obsessive, clutching.  Her most positive characteristics are her tenacity and the fact she usually represents people with financial advantage... which hardly ever compensate the list of negative traits her very image brings to our mind when we see her in a spread.

Tendra has been showing up in almost every reading I have done for myself lately. It's interesting; in the past 5 years reading with the Playing Card Oracle I seldom saw her! For such a fiery young lady, she was certainly quiet. I even forgot about her.

BANG! Everything changes and suddenly a different folk starts to visit your spreads. And now Tendra is demanding all the attention I have denied her. She is stomping her foot, looking me in the eye and saying "decipher me or I shall devour you".

I have no doubt she will.

I have been thinking a lot about her. Who is Tendra? She reminds me of Salome, the dancer in the New Testament who, after dancing seductively before king Herod's court, demands the head of St. John the Baptist as a payment. Herod, who had promised to give her anything she asked, has John beheaded in the prison and delivers Salome's payment on a silver plate. In Oscar Wilde's version, the reason why she asks for his death is because John spurns her perverse love.

Salome is the symbol a famme fatale. One whose power of seduction is so strong she can even demand the death of a man - and get it! She's la belle dame sans merci; men fear her and women are taught to never be like her. She's dangerous. Fire is an interesting element, because it consumes everything but also dies in the process. When all wood is gone... the fire dies. I believe Tendra needs to be burning; she needs passion to feel alive. And sometimes she burns to ashes...

But... even danger teaches us something. I began to think about Tendra's positive side... about what she could bring into our lives that is good, that is needed.

I also see her as someone with courage and an indomitable will. If she does get her prize on a silver plate, you can be sure she did a hell of a dance before earning it! And she would do whatever it takes to get what she wants. 

Although the new age culture encourage us to share, to yield, Tendra may appear in the moments in which we should not give in, lest we give away too much! Sometimes you have to draw a line and say "no". Sometimes you must be aware of your value, and demand the deserving payment for what you are offering. Sometimes you must fight to keep something important for you, instead of letting everyone else have their way. Because no one will protect your interests for you. Tendra is a young lioness, and in her own way, she protects.

Last, but no least... Tendra seduces. Poor verb, usually seen under a negative light... but seduction is a part of our lives. Not only the sexual side. A baby, when he smiles in such a cute way, is seducing. It's telling "look at me, I am cute and vulnerable... love me, take care of me". Tendra may not be as vulnerable, but she tells us to remember that sometimes we have to attract, lure, persuade. We have to get people on our side. We have to help them to see what we see.

Surely, Tendra will never be an easy card, especially because she reflect traits and behaviours that most of us are ashamed of. The Lady of Diamonds does not share, does not release, does not yield. She's not afraid of asking for what she thinks she deserves. She demands, she consumes, she entices. And sometimes she takes it all to an extreme level. But at the same time, she is the one who tells you to protect yourself, protect what you want... to have some dignity! To stop giving so much of yourself in exchange for nothing. To stop worrying all the time whether others approve or disapprove your thoughts, your actions. To impose yourself a bit.

When focused, Tendra is a catalyst. She scorches, but she also transforms. She's is never invisible and, differently from the Queen of Diamonds, she refuses to be a 'secondary' flame.

When lost, when excessive, she's a bleedin' fiery scourge. A force of destruction, whose unquenchable hunger ultimately annihilates itself.

The 13 Witch's Runes ~ Part IV (Final!)

Finally, here's the last part of my 13 witch's runes posts! We only have one rune to cover - the Eye rune - which is a pretty complex symbol in itself, so it has a longer explanation. And then some extra information on Astrology and the runes!

Again, I cannot stress enough that the best resource on these runes is Susan Sheppard's book A Witch's Runes. If you liked my posts, I recommend that you buy it to enhance your practice, it's really a great book!

~*~

Eye

The eye has always been a powerful symbol for different cultures. Some believe that the soul resides in them, while others think it's possible to curse a person merely by looking at them. Through our eyes we connect and express emotions and thoughts. Thus, this is one of the most powerful runes in the set, emphasising the importance of any rune close to it.

The Eye symbol is also related to "vision" is all senses, including the physical. This rune can represent our eyes and optic nerves. It can also represent activities such as research, analysis, photography and creative visualisation. When it appears, there's an urge to observe, to explore, to understand deeply what is before you.

This rune is usually related to sudden realisations. Not necessarily a 'shock' (unless some violent rune is close it, like the Scythe and the Man), but more related to the lifting of veils. Your eyes are suddenly open, and you see things that were unknown to you before. A change of perception and focus in life is to be expected when this rune appears... whatever the situation is, the way you see it will be transformed.

On a spiritual level, this rune can represent a development of one's psychic skills, or an advancement in one's spiritual path. As you connect yourself to a deeper source, and learn to trust, you gain wisdom and your eyes see far. A higher power seems to be guiding you in times when the Eye appears.

Like the Sun rune, this rune can mean that right now all eyes are on you. But unlike the former symbol, when the Eye appears there's some discomfort related to such attention. It may be excessive and even unwelcome. In fact, this is one of this rune's most negative facets: it may show an invasion of privacy, when someone (or even you) pry into another's life and scrutinise their every move. Beware of flatterers and stalkers. The Eye cautions against obsession and the tendency to spy on other people's affairs.

In a relationship reading, the Eye can symbolise a predestined bond to another person. Note that this does not promise a happy ending, but simply says that this connection is powerful and will be very important in your life. In fact, because the Eye rune is a solitary one, it is possible that the people in the relationship cannot be together due to difficult circumstances. Still, your bond that person will transform you. In a negative way, this rune can cautions against invading your partner's personal space or stalking them.

~*~

Astrology & the Witch's Runes

In her book, Susan Sheppard explains how each rune is connected to the astrological planets and zodiac signs. While this knowledge is not necessary to use the runes, it may be useful to those who like Astrology and enjoy using it with divination. Knowing the ruling planet of each rune helps to enhance its meaning.

For those who enjoy using elemental dignities in their card-reading practice, I am also giving in the table below the element of each rune. Elements are a wonderful way for determining the 'atmosphere' of a reading.

RUNE:  PLANET -- ZODIAC -- ELEMENT

Sun: Sun -- Leo -- Fire
Moon:  Moon -- Cancer -- Water
Flight: Mercury -- Gemini -- Air
Rings: Chiron (or Mercury) -- Virgo -- Earth
Romance: Mars & Venus -- Aries & Libra -- Fire & Air
Woman: Venus -- Taurus -- Earth
Man: Mars -- Aries -- Fire
Harvest: Jupiter -- Sagittarius -- Fire
Crossroads: Saturn -- Capricorn -- Earth
Star: Uranus -- Aquarius -- Air
Waves: Neptune - Pisces -- Water
Scythe: Pluto -- Scorpio -- Water
Eye: None -- Your Sign -- All elements

So... I hope you have enjoyed this series of posts about the 13 witch's runes! I'll post some readings with it here in the blog, so you can see them in action! I hope this inspires you to buy the book and make (or buy) your own runes! Despite their apparent simplicity, they are a wonderful oracle, and they can also be used for making charms and casting spells (Susan Shappard teaches how to do that in the book).

The possibilities are endless!


The symbols of the runes were taken from Susan Sheppard's A Witch's Runes © Kesington Publishing Corp. No copyright infringement intended.