I find it very useful to study the Tarot by applying my knowledge of astrology and numerology to interpretations. In this post, I would like to explore the meaning of the Seven of Swords card.
The Tarot's suit of Swords corresponds to the astrological air element, which indicates all intellectual and social activities. In numerology, the number 7 is associated with thinking and analysis of information. Therefore, when we study the Tarot's Seven of Swords, the seventh card in the suit of Swords, the first thing we should keep in mind that it is a highly mental card.
In astrology, the seventh sign of the Zodiac is Libra, which happens to be a sign that falls into the air element category. The Seven of Swords card could be seen as corresponding broadly to the sign of Libra, owing to the aforementioned air and number 7 themes.
Libra's outstanding quality is that it is very interested in maintaining and/or improving social status and harmony amongst people in a social group. Libra can be ruthlessly self-effacing if peace and harmony are to be gained from it...but then, it hardly serves an individual well to downplay his or her own personal needs and identity, so the Libra native may subsequently suffer quite a bit of inner turmoil and conflict.
Similarly, the situation indicated by the Seven of Swords card is one involving the temporary negation of true selfhood in order to gain something of value, be it respect, power, influence, or a brand new car. The individual publicly pretends to have one reason for doing something, but in secret has quite a different (and perhaps less socially commendable) reason which cannot be revealed for fear of not being able to reach the true goal of performing the activity in question. If the act goes on long enough, the person may begin to inwardly suffer on account of "living a lie."
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
"Lucky" 13
I just made an interesting discovery: in the Chaldean numerology system, the word "luck" has a 13/4 vibration! But how can that be, when the 13 is widely accepted as being rather UNlucky?!
Conventional wisdom has it that the number 13 is decidedly unfortunate, and indeed, it often is in many situations, but it needn't be in ALL situations. Consider the following:
Actor Russell Crowe and talk show phenom Oprah Winfrey are both on what numerologists call the 13/4 Life Path...but neither of these people would be considered "unfortunate" in life. Quite the opposite idea springs to mind whenever one of these folks is brought up in conversation. While it is true that they both come from not-so-ideal family situations as far as wealth and social influence are concerned, it is also true that life did not prevent these two from rising above unsatisfactory conditions.
Here's another example: the geo-political entity now known as the United States of America officially began its military bid for freedom from English rule when it was composed of 13 colonies...and yet, out of these 13 eventually sprang what is arguably one of the greatest nations the world has ever seen. This is hardly an "unfortunate" fate, either.
So why, then, do so many events, etc. falling under the influence of the number 13 suffer the slings and arrows of outrageously bad fortune? My observations over the years have led me to conclude that the two main downfalls for the 13-influenced person, etc. are 1) a lack of attention to details, with a tendency to rush through tasks without adequate prior planning; and 2) a lack of serious application, leading to a lack of creativity and a poor work ethic (i.e. laziness).
It stands to reason, then, that the secret to the number 13's success would be to practice the opposite of these two downfall indications: attention to details, planning ahead, creativity, and good old-fashioned HARD WORK. These are the qualities that have helped to catapult Oprah and Russell and these United States to the top of the heap.
So, the next time you encounter the number 13, be not afraid: put your nose to the grindstone, and get to work; you are likely to have a lot to have to do, but if you press forward, doing your best and never giving up, at the end of the day (or year, or month) you will experience the incredible lightheartedness that comes with completing a job well-done...because, as it turns out, "luck" is what you make of it!
Conventional wisdom has it that the number 13 is decidedly unfortunate, and indeed, it often is in many situations, but it needn't be in ALL situations. Consider the following:
Actor Russell Crowe and talk show phenom Oprah Winfrey are both on what numerologists call the 13/4 Life Path...but neither of these people would be considered "unfortunate" in life. Quite the opposite idea springs to mind whenever one of these folks is brought up in conversation. While it is true that they both come from not-so-ideal family situations as far as wealth and social influence are concerned, it is also true that life did not prevent these two from rising above unsatisfactory conditions.
Here's another example: the geo-political entity now known as the United States of America officially began its military bid for freedom from English rule when it was composed of 13 colonies...and yet, out of these 13 eventually sprang what is arguably one of the greatest nations the world has ever seen. This is hardly an "unfortunate" fate, either.
So why, then, do so many events, etc. falling under the influence of the number 13 suffer the slings and arrows of outrageously bad fortune? My observations over the years have led me to conclude that the two main downfalls for the 13-influenced person, etc. are 1) a lack of attention to details, with a tendency to rush through tasks without adequate prior planning; and 2) a lack of serious application, leading to a lack of creativity and a poor work ethic (i.e. laziness).
It stands to reason, then, that the secret to the number 13's success would be to practice the opposite of these two downfall indications: attention to details, planning ahead, creativity, and good old-fashioned HARD WORK. These are the qualities that have helped to catapult Oprah and Russell and these United States to the top of the heap.
So, the next time you encounter the number 13, be not afraid: put your nose to the grindstone, and get to work; you are likely to have a lot to have to do, but if you press forward, doing your best and never giving up, at the end of the day (or year, or month) you will experience the incredible lightheartedness that comes with completing a job well-done...because, as it turns out, "luck" is what you make of it!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Hospitality Effect
I've been doing quite a bit of astrological compatibility work lately, and one aspect of chart comparison that has really grabbed my attention is the house overlay technique. The house overlay technique basically involves studying where Person A's planets fall within Person B's natal chart. For example, if Person A has the Moon at 5 degrees Gemini, and Person B has his 6th house cusp at 3 degrees Gemini, then we would say that Person A's Moon is in Person B's 6th house. There is a great deal of useful information that can be gained by comparing two complete charts in this way, but for the purposes of this particular posting, I want to focus on only one relatively small (yet oh so important) area of house overlay space - the Ascendant.
When Person A has a planet (or planets) falling in the 1st house of Person B's chart, we can expect the following phenomenon (which I've dubbed "The Hospitality Effect") to occur: Person B will make efforts to affirm and encourage certain traits or abilities belonging to Person A, abilities and traits which are described by the planet(s) occupying the Ascendant of Person B; this in turn makes Person A feel very welcome, supported, and accepted.
Here's a real life example. My Ascendant is in Pisces, and I have had occasion to notice that I seem to be playing the same specific role for all of my friends and associates who have their Suns in Pisces (falling within my 1st house) - I am forever encouraging them to be who they truly are, and I always seem to be building up their self-esteem in some way or another (usually by verbally praising their natural talents). In short, as the House person (Person B), I become the giver of a most special kind of hospitality. It never fails; I've noticed it happening with good friends and mere acquaintances alike.
This discovery was rather disturbing to me because the textbooks I've read on the subject of chart comparisons all seem to be stating the exact opposite result of what I'm describing here. They all state that it's the House person (Person B) who takes on the qualities of the planet belonging to the Planet person (Person A)...I have found this to be true as well, but to a much lesser extent than The Hospitality Effect.
The case of Person A's Sun in Person B's Ascendant has been given, but what about the other planets? Below, I will briefly describe The Hospitality Effect as it applies to a few of them:
If Person A's Moon falls in Person B's Ascendant, then Person B affirms the feelings and emotional needs of Person A, in turn creating a strong bond of affection based upon perceived commonalities in emotional expression.
If Person A's Mercury falls in Person B's Ascendant, then Person B affirms the intellectual and conversational needs of Person A, in turn creating a strong sense of mental compatibility.
If Person A's Venus falls in Person B's Ascendant, then Person B affirms the beauty and social desireability of Person A, in turn creating a strong romantic or social attraction. Person B may enjoy "showing off" the beauty or perceived popularity of Person A to others.
Fascinating stuff, isn't it?
When Person A has a planet (or planets) falling in the 1st house of Person B's chart, we can expect the following phenomenon (which I've dubbed "The Hospitality Effect") to occur: Person B will make efforts to affirm and encourage certain traits or abilities belonging to Person A, abilities and traits which are described by the planet(s) occupying the Ascendant of Person B; this in turn makes Person A feel very welcome, supported, and accepted.
Here's a real life example. My Ascendant is in Pisces, and I have had occasion to notice that I seem to be playing the same specific role for all of my friends and associates who have their Suns in Pisces (falling within my 1st house) - I am forever encouraging them to be who they truly are, and I always seem to be building up their self-esteem in some way or another (usually by verbally praising their natural talents). In short, as the House person (Person B), I become the giver of a most special kind of hospitality. It never fails; I've noticed it happening with good friends and mere acquaintances alike.
This discovery was rather disturbing to me because the textbooks I've read on the subject of chart comparisons all seem to be stating the exact opposite result of what I'm describing here. They all state that it's the House person (Person B) who takes on the qualities of the planet belonging to the Planet person (Person A)...I have found this to be true as well, but to a much lesser extent than The Hospitality Effect.
The case of Person A's Sun in Person B's Ascendant has been given, but what about the other planets? Below, I will briefly describe The Hospitality Effect as it applies to a few of them:
If Person A's Moon falls in Person B's Ascendant, then Person B affirms the feelings and emotional needs of Person A, in turn creating a strong bond of affection based upon perceived commonalities in emotional expression.
If Person A's Mercury falls in Person B's Ascendant, then Person B affirms the intellectual and conversational needs of Person A, in turn creating a strong sense of mental compatibility.
If Person A's Venus falls in Person B's Ascendant, then Person B affirms the beauty and social desireability of Person A, in turn creating a strong romantic or social attraction. Person B may enjoy "showing off" the beauty or perceived popularity of Person A to others.
Fascinating stuff, isn't it?
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