My Planetary Week # 5: June 23 - 29

[Rachelcat]

Wednesday, Mercury, communication
Our Tarot 5 of Pentacles, Florence Owens Thompson

I’m not sure why this is today’s or this week’s card, because I think this relates to something that happened two weeks ago. And that’s why I’m going with “communication” for Mercury.

I’m an assistant in a law firm. One of our lawyers does pro bono work on housing issues. He arranged a book club and reception with speeches on housing issues based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond. I wanted to support his efforts, so I got the book and started reading it, but I couldn’t get past the beginning chapters. It’s just too upsetting to read in such detail about people struggling with poverty. I didn’t even get to the policy part of the book (explaining why more and more evictions are happening all over the country). I feel like there’s no chance I can do anything to help other people when I’m upset and depressed myself. So I’m going to volunteer to help with the pro bono work, but I’m not going to read the book.

This card is the famous “migrant mother” photograph that became an icon of the Depression. It was interesting to read in the book about what happened to the family before and after the photo was taken. (Things did get better for them, and they were able to make a decent living after the Depression eased up some.)

This card is telling me to care, but not to suffer from “compassion fatigue.” I was reading about this the other day regarding discussions about sensibility in Jane Austen’s era. Feeling for other people is ok, especially if it encourages action, but you don’t want to be just vicariously indulging yourself in others’ emotions, or hurting yourself by letting the negativity overwhelm you.

And also don’t fall into “train wreck syndrome,” where people watch disasters compulsively, but that doesn’t make them actually do anything to help the people suffering from the disaster.

So, good advice. I’m not sure why it’s for today, but I’ll keep it in mind!

[Nemia]

2018 06 27 Nova Tarot Empress.jpg (147.16 KiB) Viewed 1033 times

For the day that passed - the Empress, dear Empress, and since for me, every day is an Empress day, this is a very suitable card If I subtract my status as mother from the reading, I know that this card relates to the small but highly important project I finished today: my little shrine for the results of my shadow work. Empress is creativity, and the altar deals with the question of maternity and protectiveness.

2018 06 28 Nova Tarot Two of Cups.jpg (143.35 KiB) Viewed 1033 times

Two of Cups for the day that starts in some hours.

Lots of growth in both cards. That looks uplifting and optimistic. I can't think right now - I'll have to see how this plays out.


ETA: Rachelcat, everything you wrote is incredibly relevant to my life - I love your deck and insights!

[CharlotteK]

Wednesday, ruled by Mercury: Interactions and Change - Eight of Cups

This card presents quite a positive take on the 8 of Cups and rather than disappointed withdrawal and abandonment it talks about finding a new path, seeking out adventure and trusting that the dark part of the forest is a necessary part of the path. Today I started a new working pattern so I can pick my son up from school two days a week as our childminder is very ill. I have realised recently that juggling a career and being there for my son continues to be very hard, and that struggle really hasn't got easier now he's not a baby, if anything it is harder. So I definitely identify with the shifting directions element of this card and like the message of this card, I am feeling positive about it.

[Rachelcat]

Thursday, Jupiter, Power
Our Tarot 5 of Swords, Carry Nation

Interesting card for today, given my (mostly emotional) experiences on my way to work this morning.

Carry Nation was a famous campaigner for prohibition. She was known for her violent protests: She would ask people to stand aside while she used an ax to break up bottles of booze and everything else in bars across the country. Needless to say, mainstream temperance crusaders distanced themselves from her activities. She was for prohibition, but definitely the opposite of temperate!

I see the 5 Swords connection to violence (5, Mars, conflict), and also to the “by any means necessary” mindset (swords). Which I see as a slippery slope. Smashing a barroom today, hitting someone over the head tomorrow? The book also mentions alienating yourself from others by your own actions. (Another interesting tidbit from the book: she changed her name from Carrie to Carry to point out that she was carrying out God’s work.)

So this morning as I was walking to work, a homeless person is angrily yelling and threatening and cursing (no-one in particular, but as if there were someone in particular). I was shocked at my reaction: It triggered some latent anger in me, and I was close to thinking “turn on me so I can have an excuse to lash out at someone”! Luckily, I didn’t do anything about that, and by the time I got to my building, I had talked myself down to being reasonable and compassionate. HE was the one in the very powerful grip of painful emotions. I shouldn’t be too, or contribute to his!

THEN I get on the elevator, and the very annoying news feed screen (which has previously reported such important business news as the “can you hear me now” guy moved to Sprint) reported that a poll shows 31% of people think we’re going to have a civil war. Personally, it never crossed my mind, so now I’m upset that someone is planting violence, killing and destruction in people’s minds. SO not responsible journalism. And who thought up that poll anyway??‼

Hopefully, my 5 of Swords experiences are over for today. And for a while. I’ve had quite enough conflict, anger, violence, defeat, and power of suggestion for one day already!

[I Sunshine]

This week did not happen for me, tarot wise. But I have still found time to pop in and read the posts, and you are all very inspirational to me with what you write about your cards. It will be at least another week before my life levels out; I will be back then.

[CharlotteK]

Thursday - ruled by Jupiter: Power and Influences - Ten of Swords

So nothing really truly terrible happened today but I had a moment of defeat earlier when I was exposed to some unwelcome evidence that standards on my team have been less than desirable. I did for a while feel like this character laid flat out having the will to go on being sucked out of me. But this card is about the triumph of spirit, getting back on your feet, back on your path and treat suffering as a forging of the soul. On a practical level, I have no choice but to continue to press on and use this intelligence to help the team do better and not to feel too battered by it.

[Nemia]

My last day with the Nova Tarot - and it's Friday, Venus' day, love and human interaction and attraction and beauty and all the other nice things Venus brings...

2018 06 29 Nova Tarot Ace of Pentacles.jpg (146.48 KiB) Viewed 930 times

And it's the Ace of Pentacles. Interesting - I had the Two of Cups, this card of romance, yesterday when I wanted to think about power relationships... and today, when I want to think about love, I get a card about practical questions... seeds of pragmatism. Making ideas real.

In a way, this card sums up the week I had with the Nova. It's an interesting little deck that always leads me back to practical issues.

[Rachelcat]

Friday, Venus, love and enjoyment
Our Tarot Page of Wands, Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven

Wait a minute!! Does Freytag mean Venus Day??!!

I think Our Tarot is messing with me! In a very fun, page of wands way!

Didn't have time to work on this, but the book says she, rather than Duchamp, may be the true creator of the urinal as art thingy. And that he kind of stole it from her. The mother of modern art! You saw it here first! She works as the page of wands because she was outlandish and unconventional and a denizen of the art world. Good for fun and pleasure, for sure!