The Lord of Dominion is an important card when we consider our personal freedom of choice, for it relates to the way in which we live in accordance with our own Will, and the consequent results of this.The card indicates that we are in charge of the way that our lives are unfolding, and that this happens in the fashion we had anticipated. It does not rule out the occasional nice surprise, nor obstacle, but it does promise us that we are in a state of mind which allows us to fulfil our needs and chase our destiny.There’s harmony and contentment when we manage to achieve this position in life. Events take place in an ordered and positive fashion. Things unfold around us the way that we want them to. Everything goes according to plan.In fact, this is probably a natural state for a healthy human being. The fact that we have to struggle so hard to achieve it, and then maintain it, is more a comment on the type of life we lead, than anything else.When we can bring ourselves in harmony with the forces of our Universe, achieving our dreams becomes far more possible than at any other time. We attain harmony when we are centred and at ease with ourselves.Careful planning is always important when this card comes up – again there is a need to order our future so that we know where we’re headed. And it’s also important to reconcile any uncertainty or confusion generated within us. Both of these actions will ensure that nothing interferes with the flow of our own Will out into the Universe.On very rare occasions this card will come up with others like the Star, or the Priestess, to indicate periods of huge spiritual breakthrough. Make the best of them when they arrive!!
This card represents dynamic passion – for life in general. If it comes up relating to an inner energy then it will indicate that you are overcoming old fears, breaking out of old patterns, and setting yourself free. There will be confidence, decisive action, an assertive leap forward into the heart of your life. It will often come up to indicate that you have broken through habitual limitations and restrictions, thereby freeing off your power to be used constructively.It can indicate a spiritual breakthrough, which will always include the courage to face your fears, and see them for what they truly are. One strange fact about unacknowledged fears is that they take on the darkest, most horrifying shape with which your subconscious can imbue them. Yet when you drag them out into the light of day, you suddenly realise that what you were so scared of might a) never happen; b) not be as bad as you thought it would be when you feared it; and c) you’ve probably got what it takes to deal with it anyway!If the Princess of Wands comes up to indicate a person, then she will be strong, forceful, determined, unswerving… and perhaps a touch bossy! She is a faithful and trustworthy friend, whose insight and perception will often steer you in the right direction. She will be energetic and enthusiastic about life, with a big personality.As a partner she’s independent, sometimes a touch stubborn, but loyal and caring. These are often career women, and usually wait till later on to start families. She will be experienced, and intelligent, though regularly you find that such young women have had to learn most of their lessons the hard way.As an enemy she’s dangerous – she’s usually outspoken, and unafraid to express her anger. If you manage to make an enemy of one of these women, you need to think very carefully about how that happened. Mostly their engagement with life is so total that they don’t waste time on negative pursuits. All the Wand people place morality and ethics high on their list of priorities. They are honest decent people with a strong code of behaviour to which they adhere faithfully.This card will rarely come up to indicate an event – she almost always shows either another person in your life, or an aspect of self.
Our father —Our true source Who art in heaven —in the awareness of our oneness Hallowed be thy name —May the stimulus of the world fall away that I might realize the sacred Thy kingdom come —May the energies of love prevail Thy Will be done —May loving thought, not ego, be manifest On earth as it is in heaven —Not just abstractly on the level of thought, but in my practical experience Give us this day our daily bread —May our minds be open to receive the infinite abundance of life And forgive us our trespasses —Correct our thinking, return us to the state of our innocence As we forgive those who trespass against us —Help us see the innocence in others, that we might see it in ourselves Leave us not in temptation —Guard our minds so we won’t wander into thoughts of ego and fear But deliver us from evil —Guide us away from sick and loveless thoughts For Thine is the kingdom, Thine is the power, and Thine is the glory —Love is the kingdom, love is the power, love is the glory Forever and ever —Every moment of the day Amen —May is be so
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
― attributed to George Eliot
Mary Ann Evans, known by her pen name George Eliot (November 22, 1819 – December 22, 1880), was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She wrote seven novels: Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Romola, Felix Holt, the Radical, Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda. Wikipedia
Fantastic Fun • Streamed live on Aug 4, 2020 Welcome to the first episode of Wonder & Awe, a one-of-a-kind podcast that explores the intersection between art and science–all brought to you by Louie Schwartzberg and Moving Art. Powered by stunning visuals and mind-blowing ideas, the director of Fantastic Fungi hosted a conversation with the legendary mycologist Paul Stamets. He was joined by Merlin Sheldrake, a young artist, biologist, and the celebrated author of Entangled Life.
When people asked Mahatma Gandhi how he could be involved in something as crude as politics, he responded, “Is not politics a part of dharma too?” Having had a career in something as relatively sublime as the field of spirituality, and then experienced something as toxic as the inner workings of the American political system, I understand the question.
I also understand Gandhi’s answer.
We’re not sent to earth to heal only some of the world. If we’re here to be lights unto the world, then are we allowed to be selective about which corners of darkness we seek to illumine? There is no religious or spiritual tradition that gives anyone a pass on addressing the suffering of other sentient beings.
In my interview with Booboo Garcia on his podcast Broader Lens, we discussed the relationship between spiritual and social change.
There is a lot of confusion these days about the separation of Church and State. Establishing in the First Amendment that no religious authorities are allowed to limit our ability to worship if or how we choose, our Founders were not seeking to drive spirituality out of the public square. They were seeking to protect it! And its protection serves not only the individual but the whole society. A nation should ask questions such as. “Is what we’re doing the right thing? The good thing? ” no differently than we should ask such questions of ourselves.
And while in our own lives we alone must answer, as citizens of a society we often feel that the answer in our hearts is at odds with the will of other forces in society. History is divided between those who gave up in such cases and said “There’s just nothing we can do,” versus those who have risen up to say, “Not on my watch” in the face of societal wrongs.
Among white Americans, the Abolitionist movement emerged in large part from early evangelical churches in New Hampshire. Many of the main leaders of the Women Suffragist movement were religious Quakers. And Dr. King was a Baptist preacher. Throughout our history – particularly the history of social justice movements – religious and spiritual ideals have fueled our progress. Ethical questioning is the basis of moral persuasion; it is that which changes human hearts, and ultimately changes the world.
It’s ethical questioning – whether such questioning is contextualized as spiritual, religious or secular – that leads us to care if corporate greed dooms people to die if they can’t afford life-saving operations, or allows carcinogens in our food supply not allowed in other advanced nations, or ravages the earth that should be promised to our children, or influences government in the direction of unnecessary foreign wars that rain havoc and destruction on innocent lives.
So yes, politics can be toxic. And crude. And corrupt. It is all those things. But an ethical spirit cannot ignore it. There is an old rabbinical saying, “You are not expected to complete the task, but neither are you permitted to abandon it.” Whether or not we succeed at an effort is not as important as whether or not we try. A line I heard years ago has stayed with me: “Be totally invested in an effort, yet unattached to it results.”
There is a better way to live on this planet, for us as individuals and for us as a society. Politics is simply our collective behavior, and Gandhi said it “should be sacred.” Politics should be a collective effort made from the heart, from our deepest thinking, from our most soulful considerations. I have seen it be both. I have experienced both. My bet is on the better way.
The Aquarius Full Moon spotlights differences, emphasizing obvious imbalances. Aquarius often runs against the pack, whilst secretly wishing to be included as part of the team. Whilst paradoxical, this is a reminder to meet others on level ground, even if we have greater knowledge, experience, and authority. And even if convinced we know better than another about a situation, we might not know what’s best for them. Patience, tolerance, and understanding are needed, despite being perplexed or sad about their choices.
With the Moon opposing Mercury, decision-making is in the spotlight. Yet maybe all we can do is present facts or pass on information and accept that what anyone opts to do is their call. Imagining a particular result could end in disappointment. Trusting that everything is going in the best direction for the time being can bring greater peace within ourselves and in relationships.
The exception to this is if someone is being insistent, taking up an “all-knowing” role. With the Moon separating from a square to Uranus, we may have been struggling with feelings of resistance or rebellion toward an unwelcome development. Yet Uranian energy can change in a flash, and we might be surprised at how less troubling something becomes in the weeks to come.
The Moon opposite the Sun and Mercury, and square Uranus forms a t-square, with Uranus, the focal planet, holding sway between the others in opposition. Both Mercury in Leo and Uranus in Taurus focus on individual needs, so more common ground may exist than is obvious at first. By traversing a blind corner, we may find that our needs and thoughts are not unlike another’s, enabling us to feel more accommodating toward them.
The Moon’s applying to an opposition to asteroid Vesta, which is conjunct the Sun and Mercury, and holding the sacred vestal fire, or eternal flame, in Leo. In ancient Rome, the fire was kept burning to ensure that the life and soul of the city thrived, otherwise it was thought to be unprotected. Similarly, there may be the need to ensure something within or around us is cared for fully — whether it be our physical health; the safety of our home, our work, or business situation; or the nurturing needed in an important relationship. The t-square is like a warning to ensure a squabble doesn’t get out of hand; perhaps letting differences around a particular issue sit for a while, appreciating it’s not the time to ram a point home or push harder on a request. Curiously, letting go might mean that what we wish for actually happens! Such is the push–pull nature of square aspects involving Uranus.
Planets in fixed signs can mean that we’re at risk of entrenched positions, including seeing a situation through only one lens. Given time, however, we may have another perspective. So it’s worth allowing space for further developments and discussions — which may include thoughts emerging internally, even before learning more about another person’s thought patterns.
The Moon is separating from sextiles to Chiron and Eris in Aries, signaling scope for healing situations we’re in the process of dealing with. Given that Chiron and Eris aspect Mercury, as well as the Full Moon, it may be that an element of detective work is extra important, whether probing our own or another’s thoughts, or dealing with objective facts, paperwork, or other documentation. Our challenge is to be dispassionate, simply observing relevant information, taking appropriate, supportive action, and detaching from complex emotions that might stall matters, trip us up, or cause unnecessary pain. If anything feels overwhelming, Saturn in Pisces offers sanctuary in a quiet place and commitment with basic rituals.
This article is from the Mountain Astrologer by Diana McMahon Collis
A young woman indicated by the Princess of Disks would be a quiet, reserved person – sometimes shy. She will be practical and capable, though rarely seeking the limelight. I used to know a stage manager who always came up as a Princess of Disks – she loved the glitz of the theatre as long as she could stay behind the scenes – having, of course, created them first!She’s a gentle person who, like the Queen of Disks, is much concerned with domestic matters, and with Nature and growth. As a result, sometimes when this card comes up we may be looking at somebody who is expecting a child. The Princess of Cups often represents conception, the Princess of Disks shows the pregnancy and the Ace of Wands will then indicate the birth.The Princess of Disks woman is a reliable and diligent person, trustworthy and hard-working. She is faithful by nature, and deals badly with conflict. She likes life to unfolds in an ordered fashion. In fact, she contemplates life very thoroughly, being sensitive to the needs of others, and sympathetic to their feelings.Despite her quiet exterior, she has a huge resource of strength and support to offer to those who need it. She is also an excellent practical manager with marked proficiency in dealing with money and accounting. This will, however, generally be expressed in the home environment where she is at her most content.When the card comes up to indicate a period in somebody’s life, rather than the person herself, we will be looking at a young woman on the threshold – of life, marriage, motherhood, though rarely on the threshold of some major career ambition. That step would be more readily indicated by the Princess of Wands.
New Thinking • Aug 19, 2024 Jeffery Martin, PhD, is a social scientist who researches personal transformation. He is a Reiki master and is the author of The CompleteGuide to Reiki. Jeffery is currently the president of the California Institute for Human Science. Portions of his research on power of thought and non-symbolic consciousness are also available in the popular fiction book series, The Fourth Awakening. In this video from 2017, he describes how his mother’s illness prompted him, at a young age, to seek training as a spiritual healer. Reiki is a tradition that originated in Japan and is generally attributed to Takao Usui, although there are antecedents. It entails channeling a spiritual energy source, rather than willfully endeavoring to direct some form of healing process. He describes how he was able to use Reiki to successfully heal broken bones. However, he notes that healers seem to have individual specialties. He also notes that research studies have, overall, failed to find a significant effect following Reiki treatment – even though this is not consistent with his own personal experience. Edited subtitles for this video are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, and Swedish. New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. (Recorded on January 6, 2017)
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