One With Spirit

2009 Is Justice Year

2009 is the year of global Justice or Adjustment. It is going to affect all of us, regardless of the theme of our personal year cards. It's a year of karma where we reap what we have sown during previous years. The consequences of our actions are now catching up to us. For many of us, it could mean dealing with lawyers and the court system as legal contracts are either signed or dissolved. On that note, 2009 is likely to see a record number of bankruptcy filing thanks to continued mortgage crisis and drastically lower home values. Some of these legal dealings are clearly going to be out of our control. Those within our control, however, ought to be very carefully contemplated and analyzed before taking action.

Any situation that we rush into during a Justice year is likely to be regretted during the following two years. Beware of any get-rich-quick schemes and of people who are peddling Now-or-Never type of opportunities.

We can use the Justice energies of 2009 to our advantage by assessing our own lives for potential corrective actions. Because the global energy is going this way anyway, it will be easier for us to cut back our own excesses, regardless of whether the excess refers to overworking, overeating, or overspending. If we can make our own adjustments now, we are likely to either avoid or at least soften the blow that is going to come later on.

With regards to interpersonal relationships: We might be tempted to punish others harshly for the way they've been dealing with us over the last several years. While we probably have good reason to demand that the scales of Justice be balanced, it is important that we don't overplay our hand and become punitive. A punitive approach is likely to backfire and lead to a situation  where you will feel that you've cut off your nose to spite your face.  Initially we might enjoy the rush of power, in the long run we will wish that we had taken a more measured approach! In other words, we must take care do deal gently with our loved ones and with romantic partners even though we may feel that they don't deserve our kind consideration.

Native American Prayer

I would like to share with a you a Native American Prayer that has deeply touched my heart.  It brings me comfort, clarity, peace, and upliftment regardless of circumstances. Read it out loud and slowly. It will touch you, too. Here it is:

    Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in the beauty of your sunset. Make my hands respectful of the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear  your voice. Make me wise so I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek not to be greater than my brothers but to fight my greatest enemy - myself. Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes so when life fades, as the sun sets, may my spirit come to you without shame.

Why Didn't He Call?

Here is a great article that provides insight into why our great new date might suddenly go AWOL:

By Amy Klein

Barry and I went out on three dates. We had a really good time. Or at least, I thought we did. After the third date, I never heard from him again.

That was four years ago, when Sex and the City writer Greg Behrendt came out with the book, He’s Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Guide to Understanding Guys. So even though I was pretty certain that Barry had been into me, I was forced to concede he wasn’t.

Fast forward to last week, when my friend Lexie tells me she’s working with Barry. “He said he had a really great time with you, and you had some really fun dates,” Lexie said. “But he met the woman he married when he started dating you. As a matter of fact, you were the last woman he ever dated.”

Wow. I hadn’t read the Barry situation wrong—we did have a good time. It was just that he also happened to meet his wife, then marry her and have a baby with her. I liked Barry—but not that much. I’m glad I didn’t stand in the way of his meeting his one true love.The story with Barry got me to thinking about the times when a guy doesn’t call, but it’s not because he’s “just not that into you.” There are other reasons he hasn’t called besides the fact that it’s a hurtful, personal rejection.

1. He’s dating someone else. In this era of dating, most people have more than one pot on the fire. It’s the “good ones” who realize that if you’re going to date someone seriously, you have to focus on just one person. So maybe he hasn’t called you back because after only one date with you, and four with someone else, he’s going to give that woman a try. That’s not a bad guy; it’s a smart one. If you’re meant to be, he’ll be back.



2. He’s indisposed. Sometimes when a guy doesn’t call, you hope maybe he was abducted by aliens or imprisoned somewhere—any excuse besides, “He just didn’t like you.” And sometimes there is. My friend Beth recently got a note from a man went AWOL after a few dates. “Sorry I’ve been out of touch, but I was laid up in the hospital with a back injury,” he wrote. Beth says as long as he brings a doctor’s note on her next date, it’s all good.



3. He’s got other priorities. My pal Jackie dated a man four years her junior and, after a few weeks of great chemistry but avoidant behavior, he told her, “Look, I really, really like you, but your career is on track, and mine’s not, and that’s my priority.” It wasn’t just a line. Turned out no woman could take him away from his career goals at that time in his life.



4. He recently got out of a relationship. Some people believe that the man of your dreams will recognize you no matter what his life situation. But a guy who just endured a difficult divorce — or suffered a recent breakup — may not be ready for a relationship. Even if he thinks he is.
   
   Alice dated Tom a year after he separated from his wife, but during their seven months together, Tom’s divorce didn’t go through, and even worse, he was always running to his ex when she called. He wanted to be with Alice but was too distracted and confused to be consistent with her. Sometimes a man isn’t ready for a relationship yet, and in Alice’s case, she’d have been better off if he hadn’t kept calling.



5. It’s logistically problematic. Lisa met a guy who was moving. To Saudi Arabia. Despite the chemistry, he refused to get involved. “He didn’t want a long-distance relationship,” she said. There are some who believe that love conquers all, but others realize the stars — geography, timing, age — must be aligned for a relationship to work.

Ultimately, there are a dozen reasons a guy might not call after a date, but it doesn’t mean the relationship is doomed, says Ian Kerner, Ph.D., a Manhattan-based sex therapist and author of Be Honest—You’re Not That Into Him, Either: Raise Your Standards and Reach for the Love You Deserve. “In my experience, not every date results in a fantastic experience and a follow-up call the next day. Even if things don’t play out in the scenario that you believe should play out—that doesn’t mean there isn’t potential for it to work out,” he said. “There are no universal rules.”

So next time you’re sitting by the phone, remember that there are dozens of reasons why it’s your mom calling (again) and not last night’s date. And those forces keeping him from calling may have absolutely nothing to do with you. As Dr. Kerner says, if you’re in the right relationship, you’ll know it—and it won’t be based on whether he called the next day.

Amy Klein is an editor and singles columnist at The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. She has written for The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Jerusalem Post and The Los Angeles Daily News.

White Eagle Thought for Today

"Live tranquilly in God, in God's time. Every morning on waking and every night before you sleep, send out a thought to the Great Spirit, that is all. Just feel that God is in your heart and that you are the son-daughter of that living power; that whatever you need the Great Spirit knows it."

Try this for a while. You will be amazed by the changes you will experience in your life. Feel free to share your experiences with this in the comment section of this post. God bless you.

Prosperity Reading

I decided to do a three-card ‘wisdom reading’ with the Thoth Tarot deck on what attitude we need to take if we want to experience greater abundance and prosperity.

What attitude is the most advantageous? 8 of Wands ‘Swiftness.’ The 8 of Wands ruled by Mercury in Sagittarius. The eight wands have been transformed into red zigzagging arrows that shoot off into eight directions. Behind the arrows lies a three-dimensional shape. The arrows cross in the center of this three-dimensional diamond shape. According to Crowley, the card represents the underlying vibration of matter and affirms the teachings of the law of attraction: In order to create prosperity, we need accept that we are unlimited beings in an unlimited universe and that we can create anything that we want. We'll have to trust in our ability to create prosperity and abundance for ourselves and put our energy to that purpose. We need to realize that there are really no restrictions other than the ones that we place on ourselves. If we view ourselves as prosperity magnets we will attract exactly the vibration that I am putting out into the universe. The rainbow across the top of the card encourages us to think big and to reach for the sky! There is no reason why we shouldn't find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! The other thing is, that we need to open our minds to the fact that income and prosperity can came from many directions and many sources. Let us try to consciously connect with the four directions and open ourselves to new and unexpected opportunities. The fact that the arrows reach beyond the diamond shape suggests the need to think outside of the box and to not place limitations on us. And, yes, prosperity can come to us swiftly.

What attitude blocks our prosperity? 3 of Swords ‘Sorrow’Crowley called the 3 of Swords "dark and heavy; it is, so to speak, the womb of Chaos. There is an intense lurking passion to create, but its children are monsters." The 3 of Swords show that a sorrowful pessimistic attitude of doom and gloom blocks our ability to create prosperity. If we worry about our lack of prosperity, then we create the vibration of lack and concern. As a result, we will experience more lack and more reasons to feel sorry for ourselves. The upright sword indicates that we might make the intellectual decision to try a more positive attitude, but that we are easily discouraged by setbacks, symbolized by the curved swords at the top of the card. If we want to improve our level of prosperity, we will need to take action and not allow ourselves to throw in the towel as soon as life throws us another curve ball.

What else do we need to know about this question? The 2 of Wands show a crossroad. Its message is that we must choose our attitude consciously. It's as simple as that. We can either be pessimistic, worried, fearful and poor, or we can chose to adopt the unlimited attitude of the 8 of Wands and experience an unrestricted universe and prosperity.

The Thoth Tarot 3 of Disks: The Secret of Manifestation

In the Tarot Threes we see the manifestation of each suit at its best. As Crowley puts it: "The idea has become fertilized; the triangle has been formulated. In each case, the idea is of a certain stability from which a child can issue." In the 3 of Disks, titled Works we see tangible physical results from the crystallization of forces.

The 3 of Disks shows an image of a pyramid from its apex. The three wheels upon which the pyramid has been built bear the symbols of mercury, sulphur, and salt and represent the elements of air, fire, and water. The pyramid, as the final product represents the earth element. Its astrological attribution is Mars in Capricorn. Mars is dynamic, forceful and courageous. Mars is exalted in the sign of Capricorn. Capricorn represents ambition, purpose, and a willingness to work very hard.

This card contains the key to the secret of manifestation: When we align our heart, mind and will with inspiration, a great vision results. If we then infuse our vision with focus and hard work, we will succeed. Not only will we succeed, but also the result is likely to surpass our wildest dreams. The sand dunes that surround the pyramid represent opposition that could have derailed the original vision. However, the radiating force field of the pyramid suggests that the opposition has gotten pushed aside as the vision gained momentum and as the builders of the pyramid put their energy into the project. This is a very important message for anyone who has ever attempted to create or achieve anything: Set aside your inner objections, get clear on what it is that you want and go to work on it with regularity and purpose. Eventually you will reach the point where your project seems to build itself. If you need a visual reminder of this principle, then go and buy the Thoth Tarot, meditate daily on the 3 of Disks, and put it in a place where you can see daily.

If you pull the 3 of Disks as your card for the day, it's message is very clear: Roll up your sleeves and go to work on your dream, vision, or project and trust that your Spirit helpers will put their energy behind your purpose. Make a commitment to your vision and remember that you only need to take one step at a time. In order to build a pyramid, you have to clear the loose sand, lay a foundation, bring in the stones and then start putting one on top of the other. Those who say "I can't," preclude all chances of success.

White Eagle on Spiritual Tests

This morning I was guided to pull White Eagle's book On Living In Harmony With The Spirit out one my bookshelves. When I opened the book, my eyes landed on the following passage. Because it so spoke to me, I thought I'd share it with you.

"The soul receives continual opportunity to attain divine illumination. During its every incarnation, lessons are presented - call them tests, if you like - which are actually opportunities for progress and initiation. Test come to you in almost every detail of life. By these you can gauge the reaction of your emotions to human events, the reactions of your minds to life in general, and the reaction of your hearts in the love you feel towards other beings. Finally, through the tests you will recognize how you are bringing the divine attributes right through your physical nature, and your ability to direct and control your life by calling upon the supreme love, power, wisdom and intelligence of the Most High - your Creator.

"Your life is charged with opportunities to grow in wisdom, love and divine power. Beloved, put your hand into the hand of God... and He-She will lead you step by step. Make the effort to walk God's way and you will pass your tests and initiations (expansions of consciousness) until you become as one of the twenty four elders around the throne. Once you know humility you will strip yourself of your crown light - which means that you will know that you are as nothing, for you move and have all your being in God. In God's life alone you can live and know supreme happiness beyond all earthly understanding.

"This is the answer to the many who are so deeply troubled by life's contradictions. They ask, 'Why? Why? Why? What have I done, that this trouble should come to me?' All we can reply is that you have either refrained from or needlessly neglected some opportunity to serve or to express kindness to your earthly companions. This is why the suffering came. You will go on to ask, ' What is the good of it all?’ perhaps protesting that because you cannot remember what happened so long ago, the suffering fails in its object. To which we answer that if your physical brain cannot remember, your deeper consciousness knows well that it has earned the experience.

"Be thankful, therefore, and accept all your opportunities disguised as so-called karma. Suppose a person goes through a particularly dark patch of trouble or sickness, or suffers a great loss, undergoes some kind of limitation or hardship, or meets misunderstanding or injustice. All these experiences, when seen in their right perspective - with understanding that they are lessons through which your master is trying to make you see and understand life more perfectly - all these will be recognized as tests. Furthermore, you will always find, however trifling a test may seem, that when it is passed, there has come a change. "I shall never be the same again', you say. That is true, never the same, but always better, let us hope; for in minor way an expansion of consciousness or understanding of human nature and human experience has been the result.

The Test

Every time I have a major epiphany that gives me insight into how I block myself, Spirit gives me a test to see how well I have really integrated the lesson. Yesterday Spirit was testing to see to what extend I have gasped the impact of constant worry that I explored in yesterday's blog post. Because I am self-employed, there is no one who gives me a guaranteed monthly paycheck. I do well with giving readings, but when the economy takes a significant turn for the worse, my income tends to go down. Last month business was not as good as usual. The first week of April was back to normal, but yesterday morning my telephone was silent. By 1:00 pm my income for the day had been zero. I suddenly  knew that this was a test to see if I was going to restart the negative cycle of worrying.

Instead of going back to my old ways, I have decided how much money I want to deposit in my bank account at the end of the month. This is substantially higher than what I've earned previously, but not outrageous. I see no reason why I should not be able to earn this amount of income. I absolutely trust that Spirit is going to come through for me with this. I figured that if I don't make progress in this direction today, then the money would come on another day. Spirit is infinite and unlimited, so I'm just going to leave the details up to Spirit.

I began to imagine a cornucopia of abundance awaiting me at the end of the month. Every now and then when I realized that the telephone wasn't ringing, I just held the image of the cornucopia of financial abundance in my mind.  So I relaxed and worked instead on a talk I'll have to give next month. At about 2:00 pm, I suddenly felt this rush of love from  my Spirit guides. Two minutes later my phone began to ring. I gave reading after reading and before I knew it, I had all the income that I needed for the day! I had passed the test.

Tarot Reading That Speaks Universally

This reading was done as an exercise but it had an extremely powerful message. When I shared the reading with others over the weekend, they all could relate to it as well. I thought I'd post it here, because it may help others, too!

Paul lead our monthly tarot group meeting today with a powerful exercise: He had filled about 30 plastic Easter eggs with one question each and had randomly assigned six Tarot cards to it. To be completely unbiased, he had given each card a number from 1 to 78. We then had to find the corresponding cards in our Tarot deck and perform a reading on the question.

The question inside my egg read: "What will bring me more enjoyment?" The following Thoth cards came up as answer: Major Arcana II and VIII reversed, X upright, 8 of Cups "Indolence", 5 of Pentacles "Worry", 7 of Pentacles "Failure."

Uh-oh, I thought, such gloomy cards! Based on my card for today, 7 of Cups "Debauch" I decided that I should not be self-indulgent and draw another question, an option Paul had offered. Then I remembered that on my way to the meeting I had asked Spirit to bring me a message I really need to hear. In order to not bias the reading, I decided to just pretend that I am reading for someone else. That worked beautifully. Here is what I wrote:

"Honey, you have a problem letting go and letting Spirit in to help you with your life. You are not listening to your spirit guides because you are too worried about your money, your business, and what not. You are especially worried about a situation that has failed and that is already over and done with. For some reason you are just not letting it go. You continue to beat yourself up for your part in it and judge yourself very harshly. You may even think that you are a terrible person and that you don't deserve God's love. You must forgive yourself for whatever it was that went wrong.

Because of your obsession with the past and your constant worries about the future, you are not firing on all cylinders. This makes it hard to get your creative juices to flow. What's worse is that your preoccupation with past failures is not only getting in your way to be open to Spirit, but you are actually in process of recreating the same situation for yourself in the future! You have got to stop being so hard on yourself and you absolutely have got to stop worrying! You will enjoy greater abundance on all levels once you stop tying God's hands with worries about past and future failures.

"Look at the Wheel of Fortune. It recommends that you loosen up and look at the bright side of things. Everything comes in cycles. You have just finished a very negative cycle. Rest assured that you are finished with the bad times. Now you'll have at least ten good years ahead of you. So, let in the light!

"You are ready to embark on a wonderful new journey. Your new journey will be spiritually significant and will open up and expand your spiritual gifts. But first you must forgive yourself and developed a more balanced attitude. Don't judge yourself. Don't judge others either. All of us are here to make mistakes. That's how we learn. It's important that you give everyone a very large canvas to paint on in whatever style feels right to them. Take a risk and shoot for the stars. You will be amazed by the wonders that await you. And you are going to have so much fun with it! Good luck, dear.

It wasn't until after I had completed the reading and we had shared the results with each other that I remembered that the message is for none other than myself!

The Thoth Tarot High Priestess

The Thoth High Priestess is sitting on a simple stone throne. The opening behind her legs suggests that she is guarding the entrance to an other world. The Thoth High Priestess is a representation of the Virgin Moon goddesses Artemis and Diana. She also represents Persephone, the goddess of the underworld. The shape of her three stringed bow resembles the shape of the fallopian tubes, suggesting that the realm of sexuality and childbearing are definitely not of her concern.

The Thoth High Priestess is dedicated to the service of Spirit. Her crown chakra is wide open and she is reaching upwards as through to embrace and channel Spirit. There is no doubt that the High Priestess is the guardian who stands between the two worlds. She entices us to probe deeper, to seek understanding of meaning of life and of the mysteries of the spiritual path. Her message is one of self-sufficiency and reliance on our inner knowledge. She reminds us that we are divinely guided on our journey through life and refers us back to our own intuition as compass and guide. She lets us know that we can enter the realm of the divine at any time by going into the silence of meditation.

At the bottom of the card in front of the High Priestess's feet we find an interesting array of objects or symbols that provide us with additional insights into the nature of the spiritual journey as well as of its rewards:

The camel traverses the harsh environment of the desert. It reminds us that a spiritual journey is an inherently lonely journey full of tests and challenges. Remember, Jesus was tempted in the desert. Our journey into the spiritual mysteries can be long and hard. We will need to endure long and dull stretches when we have reached a plateau in our development and further progess seems elusive. Sometimes we may not even feel the presence of the Divine at all. That is what happened to Mother Teresa. As her newly published correspondence reveals, she felt completely cut off from God during the many long decades of her ministry. During these difficult stretches it is important to remember that the journey itself is the goal, the destination. Those who endure and stick with it, will be richly rewarded as they progress, but the rewards may not necessarily be of a material nature.

The crystal structures represent transformation as the result of pressure. The grapes hint at possession of the tools for further transformation. Perhaps more importantly they remind us of the sweetness, the intoxication that awaits when we spiritually open up to the higher dimensions. The magnificent sunflower symbolizes eternal truth, knowledge of one's true nature and awareness of the immortality of the soul. The pine cone represents fertility and abundance that come as a result of aligning oneself with one's spiritual life purpose. The big brown flower in the lower left half of the card reminds me of star anise. It reminds me of the fact that the spiritual journey adds the missing spice to life. Without it, nothing satisfies.

Thoth Tarot 8 of Cups - Indolence

Crowley's commentary of the 8 of Cups is priceless: "Time, sorrow, have descended upon pleasure, and there is no strength in the element of water which can react against it. This card is not exactly 'the morning after the night before'; but is very nearly that. The difference is that the 'night before' has not happened! The card represents a party for which all preparations have been made; but the host has forgotten to invite the guests; or the caterers have not delivered the good cheer. There is this difference, though, that it is in some way or other the hosts own fault. The party that he planned was just a little bit above his capacity; perhaps he lost heart at the last moment."

The 8 of Cups is ruled by Saturn in Pisces. Saturn in Pisces is a hard-nosed downer that emphasizes hard work and discipline, yet withholds emotional and material success.

The Thoth 8 of Cups represents a situation or an organizational structure in which a few people do all the work. The people on the top of the totem pole - symbolized by the three cups in the top row - are resting on their laurels. They are doing absolutely nothing to help regenerate the talent pool. Did they ran out of steam on their climb to the top? Or are they selfishly only thinking about the advantages that being at the top affords them? They certainly set a poor example for those who are trying to follow in their footsteps.

The two cups in the center are working very hard to make up for the lack of support from the top, yet without the help from the top, there is only so much that they can do: They can only fill two of the three cups on the bottom row.

The cups in the bottom row are happy to receive the waters that the two middle cups provide. However, the bottom cups themselves seem to be mere sinkholes. They contribute nothing to functioning of the whole and do nothing to regenerate the stagnant pool of water upon which they are perched. Are they perhaps just following the bad example set by the rung on the top? They clearly don't seem to be pushing for changes in the status quo.

Crowley had it right when he called the 8 of Cups Indolence. According to Webster's New World Dictionary the literal translation of the word "Indolence" is 'to feel no pain.' Laziness, slothfulness, lethargy, and sluggishness are among its synonyms. Any situation whose keynote approach is Indolence is doomed to fail. It is only a matter of time before the two cups in the middle will be drained from the effort of filling the sinkhole of the other cups.

Availability today and tomorrow

I am going to take advantage of my kids' spring break and will take them to the mountains for a couple of days of hiking. I will be back giving readings as usual on Friday morning, March 28, 2008. I'm looking forward to speaking with all of you in two days.

The Thoth Tarot's 10 of Swords

The Thoth 10 of Swords initially fools you with its warm yellow/orange/red/amber color scheme. Then you'll notice the details of the card and you realize that you are looking at a flaming inferno. The Thoth 10 of Swords was bad news from its inception. On September 18, 1939 Lady Frieda Harris reported to Crowley: "I have done the 10 of Swords & promptly Russia takes up arms."

Crowley's title for the 10 of Swords is Ruin. The card shows ten swords arranged in the form of the Tree of Life, with the sharp ends pointing inwards. The sword closest to the center has been broken into three pieces. Its heart shaped hilt has been cut in two, suggesting lost love, a broken heart, a broken home, destroyed relationships. Astrologically, the 10 of Swords is associated with the Sun in Gemini, but, according to Crowley "the mercurical airy quality of the sign serves to disperse his rays; this card shows the disruption and disorder of harmonious and stable energy. It is the ruin of the Intellect and of all mental and moral qualities." In other words, chronic arguments, verbal aggression and the deterioration of the moral and mental fabric of the participants is responsible for the situation's decent into ruin.

When I entered the card during meditation, I quickly realized that the Thoth 10 of Swords represents situations that cannot be salvaged. Too much damage has been done. There is only one thing left to do: Be honest with yourself. Accept that it is over and remove yourself from the situation. Once you have done that, seek insight and understanding, but not just from your own standpoint: The hilt of the sword on the top of the card displays the scales of justice. It encourages you to seek a balanced attitude and to look at the situation from the other person's point of view. Once you have regained your ability to be fair, time will assist you in reaching true understanding as to how you have gotten yourself into such a mess. This understanding will then help you make peace and move on. Hopefully, it will help you avoid such trouble in the future.

The Rider Waite 10 of Swords is much gentler. Even though the card depicts a man lying on his stomach with ten swords stuck in his back, there is no blood in the card. The Rider Waite card suggests that we think that a situation is worse than it actually is. The sunrise in the background also reminds us that the worst is already over. The Thoth 10 of Swords provides no such consolation. The Thoth card leaves us with the knowledge that the atomic bomb has been dropped. Now we have to handle the nuclear fallout.

The Thoth Tarot Magus

The Magus is surrounded by magical symbols: There is a disk, a torch, a wand with a phoenix head, and arrow, a role of parchment, a winged egg, a cup, and a sword. At the lower right corner of the card is a monkey, partially hidden by one of the big wings that extends from his ankles. The Magus is associated with the element mercury. The winged feet, of course, link the Magus with Mercury, the messenger of the Gods of Greek mythology.The Thoth Magus is portrayed as integral part of a caduceus. At the center top of the caduceus is a downward pointing dove, symbolizing Spirit coming into form.

When I first began my meditation on the Magus, I was surprised to find him overshadowed by the screeching, threatening monkey. I was somewhat shocked because I had never had a Tarot card come to life with animal sound! Within seconds of the monkey's greeting, the golden radiance of the Magus filled the card and the monkey gradually faded, becoming smaller and quieter until he was gone. I understood that the monkey represents the 'monkey mind', the inner critical commentator who is so adept at coming up with reasons as to why we should not dare to attempt the creative venture we are fantasizing about. If we truly want to be creative and express what is within us, we will first have to find a way to conquer the chattering, threatening monkey mind. We also have rise above our ego, which is represented by the hidden sun. The Magus spoke of creativity and how we humans have absolutely all the tools available to us to become who we really are, to achieve the goals that set for us. He affirmed that divine love always guides us on our life mission. As I became one with the Magus, I realized that he represents the unified and actualized being. He is the unlimited, untarnished Spirit consciousness. Once we get past the ego and the monkey mind, we realize that there is not separation from Spirit.

Compared to the Thoth Magus, the Rider Waite Magician resembles the earthly stage magician. To me, Waite's Magician always strikes me as something of a trickster. When he shows up in a reading, his message is usually: "Watch out, someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes!" The Thoth Magus, on the other hand, is a spiritual Magus who encourages us to transcend the illusions of ego and monkey mind so we can become our soul's full potential.

The Thoth Tarot's Knight of Disks

The Tarot court cards represent the people in our lives. You might even recognize aspects of yourself in the Thoth Knight of Disks as you read on:

The Knight of Disks is a short and stout fellow who rides a shire horse. The Knight of Disks wears a black suit of armor and carries an over-sized black shield in his left hand and a wooden flail in his right hand. His languid horse is turning its head toward the ears of grain in the front of the card while the Knight surveys the fields in the background of the card. According to Crowley, the function of this Knight is "entirely confined to the production of food." He tends to be "dull, heavy, and preoccupied with material things ... laborious and patient."

When I encountered Crowley's Knight of Disks in meditation, I found him to be the quintessential workaholic, entirely absorbed in and fulfilled by his work. The Knight of Disks lives to work. He starts his day with a prioritized 'to do' list sticks to it, until everything is checked off. Then he starts to work on tomorrow's list. He is highly ambitious and demands a lot of himself and of others. Not surprisingly I also found him to be territorial and protective of his fields.

The Knight of Disks is a good steward: He makes sure that the people he is responsible for have what they need, but he seems unable to connect with them emotionally: The people in his life are extensions of himself. Their purpose is to reflect the success of his hard work. Crowley's Knight of Disks is the absent spouse, the absent father who provides his family with all the goods that money can buy but who forgets his anniversary and misses his children's birthday parties, because - guess what - he cannot tear himself away from his work.

Here is the key difference between Crowley's Knight of Disks and Waite's King of Pentacles: The Knight of Disks is not interested in actually enjoying the fruits of his labor. He prefers an 18 hour day at work to sitting in his castle and putting his feet up. The King of Pentacles, on the other hand, seems happy and complacent as he relaxes on his throne, holding court. That, after all, was the purpose of the King of Pentacles' labor.