Sun Wisdom Reading

Happiness is . . .?

Back in the 70s, there was a pre-internet meme, “happiness is.”  I think it started with the Peanuts cartoon asserting that “happiness is a warm puppy.”  Greeting cards, t-shirts, etc. were soon putting forward their candidates.  There was even a song, which concluded “happiness is . . . different things for different people.  That’s what happiness is!”

So the Sun’s question is what is happiness?  And stays with the idea that there are as many “happinesses” as there are people in the world.

I’m back to using the card method today.  I shuffled my trimmed pocket Thoth, cut the deck on the Sun card, laid out 9 cards in a Saturn square order, and dropped 3 stones, removing the cards that didn’t get a stone.  (Obviously, I didn’t take out the majors, so we end up with a (very strong) major-major pair!)

0-Fool-Clear Quartz on Queen of Wands.  Happiness is taking our own path.  The Fool is beginning a journey, one of his own choosing, even though he doesn’t know much about the path ahead or even where he wants to go.  And that’s the way s/he likes it!  The Queen looks out from her place of fertility upon the path through the desert, winding from oasis to oasis.  She would be happy to give her foolish goat detailed instructions on how to get across with the least trouble, but he wants to go his own way, ready or not!

 

4-Emperor-Carnelian on Prince of Disks.  Happiness is having control over our stuff.  The   Prince’s chariot is full of the seeds of abundance and production.  His trusty ox takes him steadily forward, step by plodding step, toward their realization in physical form.  The Emperor is here to make sure this all takes place in the correct way and under his control.  It is a basic human right and a basic source of contentment to have the authority to control ones own property and ones ability to produce more.  This was a strong motivation for the very middle-class American Revolution.  Even though the Declaration includes high-minded words about life and liberty (and we are glad that it does!), the revolutionaries really had those covered as British citizens.  Their main concern was the pursuit of property and happiness.  “Taxation without representation” was the original rallying cry.  And I’m not denigrating all this.  As a Taurus rising, I feel strongly that knowing what’s going to happen with my property is security, and security is happiness!

 

20-Judgment-Petrified Wood on Universe.  Happiness is believing there is something more.  As I mentioned, a very powerful major-major pair (that foreshadows the two readings left in this series!). Notwithstanding the previous happiness, it is of the greatest comfort to me to believe that there is more to life (and the universe and everything) than getting and spending.  Some people might say that’s just wishful thinking, but if so, I wish to keep wishing!  Universe hints that this physical reality where we live is so much larger, greater, and more complex and interesting that we mere humans can ever understand.  And Judgment trumpets that there is even more than that!  There is a higher realm, a better way of life, and mysterious beauty everywhere around and within us, as well as around and within the great, complex, and interesting physical world we live in.  Which is also greater than we can understand.  Unless we can.  Which is just another of the higher mysteries that can bring true happiness whenever we want it.  What a wonderful message from the stones and cards!

 

And that’s what happiness is!  At least for today.  What is happiness for you?

Moon Wisdom Reading

What are the pros and cons of divination?

I used the Oldest Spread for this one.  Seemed appropriate!

15-Devil-Hematite on Page of Cups.  Ok, let’s get the cons out of the way first!  (As I was going through the spread, I was hoping I would get a good number of more pairs.  I didn’t want to give too much weight to the cons!)  Divination gives rise to the temptation to obsessively read about romance issues!  I see a single/lone person offering up her/his heart, perhaps foolishly or too soon.  Every reader, including for himself, wants to give a positive outcome for a love reading, but this romantic impulse can lead to trouble.  It could cause the foolhardy action mentioned above (offering too much on small encouragement), or at least make the issue too concrete.  Let’s say I feel a passing attraction for someone.  If I then go home and do a reading about it, the situation becomes something--something I could fail at, lose, or otherwise have a negative outcome.  If I hadn’t read about it, and it comes to nothing, then it was always nothing that I can more easily forget about!

8-Fortitude-Tiger Eye on 8 Wands.  One of divination’s strengths is its immediacy.  It gives us the ability to get the answers we want NOW!

Alternatively, we have to be strong of heart to handle knowing things sooner than normal circumstances usually permit!

5-Hierophant-Orange Calcite on Knight of Wands.  One of the attractions of divination is defying authority and/or its connections with alternative spirituality.

Alternatively, most of us rush right into the practice of divination, and then find out there’s so much more to learn!  This is a pro for me!  Although it might be a con for some people . . .

11-Justice-Aventurine on Ace of Cups.  Although there is the possibility/temptation of delusion in romance issues, divination can give helpful guidance when romance is in first bloom or when feelings are running high.  Calming, balanced Justice means divination can give needed perspective at an emotional time, whether the emotions are positive, hopeful, or negative.

Whew!  I’m glad we ended on a pro note!  I’m a big divination fan (obviously), and it would be just sad if I did a reading saying divination is just not worth the effort or bad for you!

Star Wisdom Reading

What if the whole world were conspiring to shower us with blessings?  (Pronoia, http://www.freewillastrology.com/)

I made 3 drops.  The last drop dropped 2 stones.

2-Priestess-Moonstone.  If this were true, you would know it,but only if you listen to yourself, your inner wisdom, the deep, receptive truth.  Other teachers and authorities and culture, pop or otherwise, will tell you many truths that are opposites to pronoia.  Who will you believe?

14-Temperance-Rose Quartz.  Blessings come in many forms.  The creator of the term pronoia, Rob, is careful to point out that things that seem like misfortunes can be great blessings if dealt with as if they are.  If we take the good with the bad as if they are both blessings, we definitely are living the pronoia life!

15-Devil-Hematite (and 10-Wheel-Botswana Agate).  Pronoia doesn't deny that bad things and random things happen, and doesn't deny that evil actions and motivations exist.  But experiences originating in someone's bad intent can be turned to our own good if worked with as a blessing.

Buddhism's teaching that we should be grateful for people who annoy, bother, or block us is an example.  These people are our best teachers, teaching us to be strong and forgiving, or at least what not to do!

10-Wheel-Botswana Agate.  The same goes for random circumstances.  A monkey wrench in our plans can be a curse or blessing, depending on how we perceive and work with it.

Which brings us back to Priestess.  The truth of pronoia is within.  It may not be scientifically true, but it can be true if we live as if it is!