monthly muses

Monthly Muses by Flavia for May 2019

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The year is very reassuringly getting close to the mid point. Soon the sun with be coming over the horizon. In May we are steadily moving ahead with our projects and growing in abundance as things come to fruition. Such growth comes with the thundering power of Jupiter heralding justice
and encouraging us to have faith in ourselves and in the process. It’s a benevolent time, full of expansion. Whenever we see Jupiter presenting himself we feel rather a sense of butterflies in the stomach, because some luck is waiting around the corner. It could be something fortunate
that we might have wished for, or something that never crossed our minds, an explicit situation or thing that we desire will manifest, whether earned or just bestowed, it will be a gift. A generous gift of a positive turn of events that will make us feel hopeful and filled with trust. Health, wealth and prosperity as well as knowledge and learning are all protected domains of Jupiter. So a lot to look forward to.With it we become ourselves worthy and expanded in all things spiritual.

This mental fulfilment will be further enhanced by Philosofia who arrives in time to wrap up the meaning of what has been realised by Jupiter. Our optimism is well deserved but now it gets further qualified. We will be questioning and debating in order to make sense of daily routines and the unexpected. Words and thoughts will be paramount in the course of processing all the months’ occurrences. As things materialise we are called to honour the beauty around us and the earthly pleasures. We are becoming more busy, perhaps occasionally distracted or overly keen, and interested in a variety of things with excitement and curiosity.

By the month’s end we find ourselves becoming more refined, with an air of frivolity, more gentle, but also cheerfully more willing to help and take positive action that supports others, and that it is in the service of noble causes.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia for January 2019

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marziano tarot cards

We start the year under the influence and the protection of Goddess Diana. After a challenging ending to 2018, we surely need her. Beautiful, dynamic and fit, she is also skilful and able in using tools. With an arrow and bow, wearing a moon crown and a deer by her side, she’s the goddess of high and physical achievements. She represents hunting, the outdoors, earthly grounding and time. The high priest in her Roman temple was once a slave and as such she’s the guardian of all humanity, not just the privileged section of society. Associated with darkness and ruling together with her brother Apollo, she’s also aloof and mysterious. Her three faces represent wisdom and healing as the goddess of the moon, protector of childbirth, and hunting. To her left and right in our reading, we have two very powerful eights: the eight of Eagles (Swords) and the eight of Turtledoves (Clubs).

Because of the configuration of the cards we are guided to read this arrangement as a whole that is complete in itself, rather than in a chronological order of events. The symbolism of infinity in the number eight refers here to our self value and everything that is associated with our self-appreciation and authority in the world. Career, business, self-expression and a balance of self-realisation, achievements and goals are the areas influenced by this card configuration.

And Diana in this conjunction of powerful eights of air and fire is urging us to go out and after the things we value in life. It is the right time to do so. She significantly represents the moon and time. The fact that we are in deep winter in the north hemisphere is not without meaning. It is the elements of the season and our sense of belonging in the environment and everything that surrounds us that are the key to our own happiness. It is cold and everything is slowing down, seemingly closing in.

What does it all mean in practice? At the start of the year we are possibly finding ourselves in a situation where we are feeling demotivated, restricted, stagnated, even trapped by our own thoughts, and where there’s a lot of negative self talk. Diana reminds us that this is not serving us. Our conditioning and past hurts are no guiding principle for being who we really are and achieving our best. We finally want things to change. We want to step into our own authority, and we should not be afraid to take action in that direction.

The eight of Eagles represents a positive situation of movement and travel, and now we are entering a time when everything is moving fast and results will arrive quickly. Keep up with what’s going on around you, because we are going to be very busy focusing on goals and achievements. We will experience abundance with a change of perception and together with others. And through engaging with others, connecting with different cultures, we can leap forward to a better and more realised future. Don’t lose the focus. Don’t get distracted. Get moving. But stay on the ground and aim high.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia for December 2018

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We have arrived at the last month of the year 2018, and the Visconti cards are giving us a lesson to contemplate and wrap up the year before we move on. It’s a melee of cards that represent transition; starting a new journey and the end of a cycle. Significantly, and for the first time, in our readings there’s a lack of humans as portrayed in the characters of the deck. Instead we have symbols and designs, shapes and colours, that are our own meditative world. To indicate and inspire an inner reality. Detached from people and events we are going to be asking deep questions about where we are headed for and how we can connect with our truth unequivocally and undeniably.

In a back and forth situation our enquiries have been answered throughout the year. With the Three of Wands we certainly start from a position of strength firmly grounded. We are confident of success, we have been here before, we know what we want. But there’s a pause. Thinking ahead, it is all about communication and movement. It relates to resources and accessing resources, as we stand at a vantage point, before making our next move. Creativity, travel, new projects and adventures are imbued with positive energy and become clearly defined. A better direction is open and available.

An abundance of opportunity and material success is there for the taking. The material world – possessions and money – is all around us. The Nine of Pentacles represents the rewards of life; hard work and leisure, mind and emotions, a practical, disciplined and contented mind. Through our own activities we have a lot to be grateful for that has come into fruition. However, as we find ourselves in a place of material luxuries, and while we have entered the slow season, we need to ask if what we have achieved in the practical world matches our inner world, our ethics, our beliefs, our dreams. And therefore the Nine of Pentacles mostly becomes an invitation to live in truth and realise that other things matter than working for money. A strong sense of self must be balanced with a spiritual life that includes the pursuit of learning, literature, beauty, poetry, art, cooking, travel or any form of creative expression.

And no doubt the gravest and more profound lesson comes together in the Nine of Wands. The many wands of the card create a conflicting and very complex situation of both protection and restriction. Because of the positive and challenging aspect, this is a difficult card to read. The fact that it dramatically denotes completion, closure, endings makes it particularly gloomy. An enclosed environment that is there to protect from harm may have turned into a self created jail. A prison of our own making due to past hurt and trauma. But strength is invulnerability. Therefore we should see this as a card that supports us to keep going with open minds and no regrets. Shedding prejudices and bad thoughts that poison our everyday lives. Having to overcome adversity, situations, relationships and events that have wounded us, we should remind ourselves of how strong we really are emotionally, physically, intellectually, and to let go of anything that holds us back as the cycle closes. The past is not the future. Accept change and a brighter beginning is here.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia for November 2018

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tarot cards

Death and rebirth. Endings and beginnings. New approaches are imminent with the cosmic card. It is all change for the fundamentals of life. But what takes priority is a new way of thinking, of conceptualising, of understanding and dealing with everything around us. The opportunity to think in a new way for ourself and our passions is manifesting right now. Action on all fronts will follow but at this moment perception is what changes. And it changes so profoundly that nothing will be left untouched. It’s a renewal from within. Eventually, all its effects will be felt without.

Our visions will become bold and infused with desire and Strength as a most powerful tool. Our internal personal Strength of character to do the right thing for all will support our renewed way of thinking. And it’s thinking once more that moves buildings and shakes everything standing. In this context Strength is confidence and responsibility; it is knowledge and it is justice. Read as Fortitude or Lust, Strength is in effect a card that tells us how to control our world through trust and cooperation. We are in change in a way that we can all benefit and gain from a joyful context in which we can interact. It is not a solitary card but one of sociability and positive influence. Care and good will triumph in the end.

As the slow season approaches it is supported by stability and compassion. Our achievements are integrated. This is confirmed by Euterpe, the Muse of Lyric Poetry and a Titan goddess of memory. She will inspire and entertain us with her delightful artistry. We can take joy in our abilities, courage and accomplishments that we reached so far in manifesting our purpose. In many small ways and in big ways we need to review, and, with bold energy, appreciate the good news. With Euterpe by our side we know we can smile. Her sister Polymnia – a more sober figure – meditative and pensive as well as ethereal and luxuriant is responsible for transmitting those changes and advancements, praising far and wide our virtues, excellence and many adventures. A Muse associated with Agriculture as well as the Art of Epic Poetry, here she presides over the third Harvest marking the end of growing season as autumn rolls in. With the coming of winter and the season of rest we can be assured that our name will glow and we will shine on our past commitments and hard work. While we stand still our dramatic glorious story will travel far and wide.

Flavia

Monthly Muses by Flavia for October 2018

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tarot cards

Thunder and lightning, judgement and truth. When Jupiter is upon us we can expect gifts and rewards. The generous outcome of work on earlier projects, the materialisation of dreams, the expansion of wealth, and even a bit of luck. We are moving from experts to authority, and everything is on grand scale. The transition to the new season has arrived with a bang. The God of truth is looking at the future and we can no longer hide or pretend. With the harvest on full mode this is the time when our efforts will reveal the fruits we can gather. And in fact we are moving ahead and beyond harvest trying to make sense of accomplishments and events. The outside world is our home. Jupiter will shed light on what needs throwing away to make space for a healthier and more productive future, as we continue gathering, assessing and reorganising.

Happiness is important too, however, as the season changes we are looking at our past with longing‎ and nostalgia. As we move into darker days and colder nights, we reminiscence of warm days filled with the sweet smell of flowers and the sounds of birds, ducklings and baby swans. We imagine ourselves in picturesque dwellings, and fairytale scenarios. We will drift to thinking about homely environments, children and innocent love of the type that is unequivocal, reciprocal and unconditional. No doubt under the influence of Jupiter with his grandstanding, and the Six of Doves with their nostalgic idealism, we will be prone to romanticising and overdramatising, overconfidence and overindulgence is more than likely to show up. Perhaps even some laziness and delusional thinking. The cards are happy and optimistic but there lies their trap.

When life goes that way, there’s no point trying to rationalise and fake unreal emotions. Our senses and our intuition will carry us forward. After an active and intense summer there’s no need to spend too much energy. Calm beauty and holding on to a bit of mystery will go a long way now. We are starting to go inside ourselves while at the same time we connect with others and become receptive to their needs. The past is there to give us strength for the future. There’s no turning back. However, there’s only one way to go. We have come out in the world and we’re collaborating at work and committing in relationships with others. We are much more mature and sensitive to the forces around us. The Queen of Cups, or the Queen of Phoenixes as in this deck, is full of love and compassion. Her lesson? Kindness will win the day.

Flavia

Flavia’s Monthly Muses for September 2018

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three tarot cards

September arrives in a sombre mood. The Mantegna deck is back in full force with Theology, the Emperor, and the Artisan. Moreover, as the Theology card indicates larger forces take prime position. However, the stage is set for a resolution. This card is a call to be humble, accepting and to keep the faith. Have the belief that things will go according to plan. It’s a call to release and surrender. Theology as a discipline is a discussion concerning deity. It begins with the assumption that the divine exists in some form. And Theology is not a fatalistic or a pessimistic card in any way but a way of understanding experiences and concepts; interpreting real life. On the contrary, as it happens with September, we are all thinking about harvest in its real and in its symbolic meaning. An indication that we have done all the work. Mentally, we can let go of worry. Rewards are to be expected. They relate directly to our own authenticity. We enter the season of completion. It’s been a long and intense summer. Yet, it’s not over. Now collecting is starting. Throughout September things, events, people are coming to us. We have to be strong in ourselves because it’s not all going to be as we at first thought – for sure. A larger than us plan is materialising. Harvest is going to be long and busy.

Clearly this is better defined by the next card – which is in many ways a controversial one. One that is so expansive and full of contradictions and conflicting views that this short blog does not allow us to develop. But, here’s the thing: an overtly patriarchic card, The Emperor, dominates present time. It asks the question, could it be a definition of self, a situation, a male figure or an approach? Will a teacher, a friend or artist, dominate and influence our decision making process? Is this the time of the year when organising and planning takes all? Are we perhaps obsessing with alphabetising our collection of objects, and building a structure with hierarchical method of prioritising our business? This is a card that asserts authority whatever the right answer. It’s about conformity, protection and systems organised in order to retain maximum control. It’s a power card. And it’s about change. Inevitable change that will put us on a path of growth and advancement as events, themes or ideas initiated in the summer (and even much before then) materialise into concrete projects, relationships and things, financial viability and stability. Absolute confidence and demanding focus will take us straight to our goals. It’s not easy but it can be fun, though to be sure logic will prevail. We will enjoy the self confidence and assertiveness associated with the Emperor card as we forge ahead with concrete actions towards tangible results.

We already had a spiritual card, Theology, and a card of logic, The Emperor. Finally, The Artisan comes to complete the picture, contextualising through a materialistic and pragmatic approach. It is technical skills and our ability to work through these situations as they have developed and are unravelling that ultimately will bring about a resolution. Keep the faith, be logical and use your skills. One last point to make: these are all esoteric, highly personal, individualistic cards. Even if you want others to succeed, you’ll have to take care of the self first. September is building up this way. The focus is on the singular person. The winds of change are blowing. But protection and success, will come through leadership and authority. Technical skills will embed the outcome.

Flavia