On the Life Path: Boulders, Vows, Evaluating Goals, Tarot 7 of Swords, Wood Bethony, and Buddhism

THE FOREST OF LIFE!  Imagine standing at the edge of a forest and you want to reach the other side…

Imagine standing at the edge of a forest, and that you want to reach the other side. 

Would you walk a straight line through it? Or, might the path meander in every possible direction, around boulders, between trees, along a stream, feeding the deer, conversing with the owls, and roasting marshmallows? 

Yeah, every possible direction, because this is how things are in a forest. 

Tree! 
    The Universe

[the clever lines above received by email this morning from tut.com]

I’d just been thinking such a similar set of mental phrases.  I sure am going the long way around wherever I’m going — and I quit trying to second-guess the ultimate destination a while back.  I adapted the attitude of one of my teachers who said, “… you go where you’re sent in life.”

Today I am also thinking of the Bodhisattva  vow:  May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.  May my action bodhichitta grow

Yeah, okay.  I’m doing my best–so don’t laugh!  And I seem to be meandering around a few boulders in the forest of life  this year in general and this week most recently, but as my grandmother used to say “little by little” progress is made. So T-minus 4 days to take off!  The next move is in 4 days and some final cleaning took place here in the kitchen yesterday and the skin on my fingertips are a  bit raw to prove it.  Never have gotten used to cleaning using rubber gloves.  Clumsy and too much time taking them on an off as I’m pulled in other directions while cleaning–take answering the phone  for one example.

Where is the ultimate destination?  I don’t know!  But I’m willing to let that be okay.  I’ve located a number of possible paths and applied for the hiking permit (so-to-speak, speaking symbolically) and we’ll see what opens up.

Meanwhile, I have two small mirrors to un-anchor from the wall and some things to drive over to storage before the end of the week, aside from that, I don’t know what more I can do as I’ve always applied that girl scout motto:  BE PREPARED

My trip to the rental office yesterday was productive in that I was able to tie up the loose ends and end the confusion about final notices and paperwork:  there was a change of staff right in the midst of the apartment change.  (Long story–don’t ask.)  All’s well that ends well and I’m ending my association with this particular apartment about as well as I can do it.

So on to the next adventure, around this boulder here in 4 days.  Maybe then I will see more clearly what’s ahead.  I think sometimes my vision is blocked for good reason–perhaps I’m being spared in some way and that’s a blessing.

As I sometimes do, let me pull a card and ask (reaching for my tarot cards)… let me ask what is ahead around this current boulder, perhaps the card will show me?  (I do love divination! but then I’m a psychic after all and should, right?)

For clarity sake, the boulder represents the current move into the new apartment with my sister.  What is beyond that?  At least for the near future–this is my question.  Near future representing let us say the next 6 months.  So here we go…  asking for just one card, just to get a feel for the energy beyond the T-minus 4 days….

Well, it’s the 7 of Swords.  Well first thing I get here is “confrontations being avoided” — and that may be a good thing.  The herb associated with this card is WOOD BETONY which some wear to avoid evil spirits.  That’s a bit dramatic.  Let’s just say that Wood Betony can help one release fearful visions of the future… that I’ll go with.   It helps with one’s nerves when used medicinally.  There’s some reference to hidden intentions and deceptions.  Sounds like honesty all around will be important on the other side of this boulder.

The affirmation for this card [according to the book] is:  “With a peaceful heart, I gather information and truth for my plans and goals.”

This card involves “keeping something to yourself”  and being a loner–like those blackbirds who keep to themselves and bow and then fly away when they see other birds.  (Just this past week many blackbirds have been coming to the feeder–highly unusual)  Blackbirds stay to them selves so much that it is said when you actually see two blackbirds together at once, it’s a good omen.

So this “keeping to one’s self” sounds like blackbird medicine advice.  This card is also about preferring solitude–and that of course is no secret about me.  This will likely not change is what the card is indicating.  This card involves “separation from others”.   And further, this card relates to self-reliance and using one’s own wits to solve problems and resources.

Boy O boy!  The feeling that I’m getting here is that my life won’t really change all that much from what it is now.  That “loner” and “self-reliant” energy that I carry (that blackbird energy) will not change.  That’s a comfort to me.

This card also carries a meaning that relates to “running away” in some way—and that has to do with confrontations being avoided in this case (or so it feels).  There’s a testy teenager who will be part of the household and since this card applies to my question about what is around the corner for me, the avoidance of confrontations (bow and fly away; blackbird energy) may be what this card indicates.  (Astrologically speaking:  If you’re an astrologer, this girl is a Leo Moon and Aries Sun with Saturn (in Aries)  in the 7th, Virgo rising–3rd house Pluto.  My Sun and Moon are  in her 1st house within orb of her Chiron.   Her Moon is on my 12th house Mars/Pluto/Saturn  stellium.  My sister is an very early Leo Sun and Aquarius Moon affecting her daughter’s 5th House Uranus.)  Yeah, that 7 of Swords and Blackbird loner stuff …. probably good advice.  A big message of the 7 of Swords has to do with the need to be calm and to keep things to yourself–I so get that.

I may re-evaluate my plans or goals once I get on the other side of the boulder too but meanwhile, I will meander just  as I have been through the forest of life and enjoy whatever is beyond the boulder or around the curve in the path.   Meanwhile, I will do my best to hold to my Bodhisattva vows and the 37 Practices.

I also may totally plan a get away camping trip for a week  or so in the mountains too, providing I have the increase in $$ to do so.   Anybody want to order a reading or sign up for my class?  🙂   Help!  LOL

Part of the Vow:

Just as all the previous Sugatas, the Buddhas
Generated the mind of enlightenment
And accomplished all the stages
Of the Bodhisattva training,
So will I too, for the sake of all beings,
Generate the mind of enlightenment
And accomplish all the stages
Of the Bodhisattva training

This includes practice the “six perfections”:  giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom in order to attain enlightenment for the sake of all beings.

Advertisement

And this little piggy went all the way … to the Emergency Medical Care Center

And this little piggy went….. all the way (not home) to the Urgent Medical Care Center

I had a few head’s up which I apparently… well, the first one I mis-interpreted (darn dreams anyway!) and the second one? Ignored!  And the third one shrugged away.

I roared laughing at as I buddy wrapped it this morning.  What’s that little rhyme?  “Poor little piggy”, I thought.  All red and the left half of the foot all black and blue, “poor little piggy.” 

I had a dream around the time that the downstairs Indian neighbors got my full attention with their yelling and door slamming—between the 7^th and 14^th.  Rarely do I dream specific dates like that.  Maybe it was wishful thinking that I attributed the 14^th as the date one of them was leaving –  I thought it was her.  I’ve been holding out hope that this would happen.  Instead, something else happened!  Dude, really?  It certainly did—at least in my apartment.  What happened in there’s—don’t know and don’t care.  All I know is that last night the Hindu chants to Ganesh played on low volume on the desktop computer in my room until 4 am and no bad dreams for the 2^nd night in a row.

Anyway, I wrote something about it yesterday morning—I think on Facebook—something about well, it’s the 14^th and nothing has changed downstairs.   I glanced at my transits in my astrology software program over the weekend and there is Saturn sitting right on top of the wounded healer Chiron—EXACT DEGREE AND MINUTE CONJUNCTION when my little accident happened. 

Yeah, I’m looking at it right now 10 degrees 29 minutes:  exact conjunction to the minute of Saturn with Chiron!  Yeah, don’t you know that Saturn rules THE BONES and Chiron is the wounded healer asteroid or comet-oid or whatever they call him these days.  Pretty clear indication of a possible bone wound, eh?  Both in Scoprio of course (WHY NOT GET PLUTO INVOLVED!?)

Well, if you’re going to have an accident with your bone crushed, best you have it in your own bedroom rather out on the highway somewhere.  As usual, it could always be worse—love that phrase, and it’s true—it always could!

I was waiting for my sister to come from work to go with me to the emergency room or somewhere for an X-ray to confirm what I already knew—broken.  Shattered or comminuted (spiral fracture) was not suspected by me, but don’t we love those additional details?  Ha ha.

I looked at my feet generally and remembered the message.  For days now I kept hearing in my mind—better do those toenails!

And dealt with that one this way… “Later, and besides, it’s not exactly sandal weather.  I’m always wearing socks. So, later.” 

I really had to laugh as I sat there clipping, filing and polishing my toenails in that state of shock and pain.  Why didn’t I listen to my Self telling myself to do a pedicure?!  Ah well, that’s how it goes, doesn’t it?  It all makes sense AFTER the fact, right?

FLASH:  I’ve now learned to walk backwards since it hurts much less that way and besides I can look down at my recently polished toes that I slapped polish over in a rush while in pain and laugh!

I’ve wanted to go home as anyone who reads my blog knows—you and my Facebook friends know that.  But laying on my bed yesterday afternoon as Saturn and Chiron were having their meeting in the sky and I was going into ‘shock and awe’ on my bed, I was glad then that I wasn’t alone up on the mountain.

Instead, my grandson was only 5 doors down, my granddaughter due to walk in the door within hours and the rest of the family would be home from work only a little bit later.  My whole family was here to help and that was a reassuring fact that very much outweighed my desire to return to the mountains at that moment!

THIS MORNING:  I had to cut the tape that the guy at the Emergency Center applied last night because the swelling overnight caused the tape to be too tight increasing the throbbing pain.  I soaked my foot in ice water first in my handy-dandy bucket and as I cut the old tape and went to apply the new,  I nearly grew faint thinking of how that little toe was just hanging way out to the side of my foot there after I banged it against the bed frame support.  As usual I was rushing—haste makes waste—and in changing the sheets on my bed, I wasted my pinky toe, crushing the bone in some place and breaking it clean off in another!

“Poor pinky”, I said as I apologized to it for what I did to it—on the predicted 14th of January, and without a pedicure, and with Saturn conjunct Chiron to the exact degree and minute!—“poor little toe!”  As I buddy-taped my little pinkies toe to the next toe over carefully and apologetically a short time ago, I thought… “What is it we’d say to the babies when they were little?  How does that little rhyme go?”

And then laughing out loud and remembering the strong growing desire to go home to the mountains since a loud Indian neighbor couple moved in below me, I remembered it:    “… and THIS little piggy went wee, wee, wee, wee, wee all the way home!” 

Like I’ve always said, the Universe has a sense of humor! that little piggy went (not home) but the the Emergency Center!

PS – at least it’s my left foot and I can still drive.  I have a huge boot I’m supposed to wear which seems like a bit of overkill but since my apartment is upstairs, probably not a bad idea to wear it sometimes.  I sure don’t want to bang it up any further, sore enough as it is and shattered into pieces.

MORE FOR ASTROLOGERS –– I don’t know if Saturn conjunct Chiron means a broken to the point of crushed bone for everybody else on the planet but it sure manifested that way for me!  In case you’re an astrologer and interested, transiting Saturn makes the conjunction to Chiron (which is also conjunct to Mercury natally) in the 3^rd house—wanting to ‘go home’ would be a short journey of about 2 hours so in that way we could see the 3^rd house relation to the Mercury, Gemini, Scorpio, Saturn, Chiron blend due to the disharmony of the neighbors (Libra on the cusp of the 3^rd) and Venus in Libra is also in the 3^rd. 

The transiting North Node (Scorpio) is currently upon my natal South Node in the 4^th house and within 1 degree of an exact conjunction.  Now that I look at the transit chart, when this happened, the Moon was in Pisces when this happened making a conjunction with Transiting Chiron in Pisces. 

And now I have to go elevate my foot which is throbbing again despite the ice bucket dipping that I’m doing as I type.

The doc at the Emergency Care said I did a great job breaking my toe—you really smashed it and broke it off says he!  But then again, if you’re going to do something, I thought, may as well do a real big bang-up job of it.

I saw the Xray.  I did. 😦  Poor piggy…. and yeah, I think i got the message… OM darn it OM… i got the message.  Shouldn’t go live alone in the mountains!  I get it.  I guess.  Yeah, okay I GET IT!

Astrological Squares: Frustration that Forces ACTION! Here’s Personal Examples

Squares force action to be taken and all planets (IMHO) are like spirit guides.. . well, truth be told, not “like”–are.  That’s how I see it.  Anyway…  Squares can cause frustration which then causes action—and all of it is in harmony with our life purpose and goals.    

Today, in my personal chart, the transiting Sun (in my 12^th house ) is making square and semi-square aspects to  my natal Chiron and natal Uranus.    Uranus has to do with group energy since it rules the 11^th house. 

Well, we can go on with astro-babble but the bottom line is that something has come out into the open (my Sun transiting in the 12^th) and makes difficult aspects to Uranus and Chiron.

 Venus is making a conjunction to my 11^th house natal Uranus so a certain ‘invasion of the body snatcher’ energy is happening.  The purpose is so that something can be realized and released. 

My grandson and I shared a similar experience  this week.

He has had, just as I’ve had, someone who was a bit of a thorn-in- the-side.  Like me, he didn’t fret much over it but when the level of frustration became too high he dealt with it quickly and in the moment of the height of frustration (square causing action born of frustration) and then he released it.

I tend to avoid confrontations—I have a Sun and Moon in Libra in my birth chart.  Therefore, I want to be the nice one and every now and then the universe sends me someone to challenge the tendency that I have to avoid speaking up for myself.  But then that’s what most squares, semi-squares, and sesqui-quadrate  astrology aspects are about!  They force us to take “action”.  AND, If a good number of squares are happening in your life all at once and then you toss in an “invasion of the body snatchers” aspect like a conjunction—Look out!  That confrontation-avoiding Libra energy will turn into its polarity— Aries!  The frustration of all those squares and semi-squares and so forth will be released!  They were earlier today… and then I looked at my transiting chart and I get why and how it relates to my life lessons and my evolutionary goals.

This upper classmen (sophomore) who marches behind my freshman grandson at his high school marching band practice this week has been calling out “Left, left, left, left…” each day.  This is what my normally quiet and reserved grandson said he did when he couldn’t quite deal with the frustration anymore.  You see it was causing him to mis-step and was distracting.  In between steps and notes right in the middle of band practice he yelled out, “Stop saying LEFT!” 

“Then what happened?” I asked.  Nothing, he said.  “He stopped. “

 And there it was, life continued on and he marched without the upper classmen shouting—end of story.  Actually, my grandson looked at me when he said, “He stopped” as if to say what else would happen? 

Of course, that’s not always the case; there are some people who want to make big drama out of things.  I’m trying not to be one of them…. LOL. 

In my case, I said something similar to someone in a group too and really nothing more needs to be said. 

I wanted to blog about  it today because sometimes a person has no choice when the frustration builds to a level where a release is needed, one happens—and the coolest part is that we can actually see it in the transiting chart. 

Is it unspiritual or unlady- like or “un-anything” to call people out on their stuff and to protect one’s creations and career?  Some may say it is but I’m going to blame today’s Venus/Uranus conjunction.  (Venus transiting my 11^th and sitting on top of my natal Uranus in the 11^th and all that Gemini energy….triggering that 3^rd house natal Venus in Scorpio…. )

Oh, and did I mention the square, sesqui-square and semi -square from Sun and Venus to natal Chiron and Uranus?!  Or that my transiting Jupiter in my 10^th making an inconjunct to Chiron?  As a psychic I knew what was going on with certain people and as a psychic I trusted the impulse to act today just as my grandson did with his band-mate.
Whatever.  I’m going to do like my grandson did with his thorn-in-the side-frustration with his sophomore nemesis; we can’t let people keep us from being in step with life.  Sometimes we have to speak up—for better or worse.  And sometimes astrological aspects support that and if you are familiar with your natal nodes you can see why!  I love astrology. That’s all I’m sayen’.  🙂

PS– one of my grandson’s lessons is to stop putting everyone elses needs before his own; his speaking out the other day is shown in his chart his 1st house Jupiter/Gemini TRINE to natal Venus–speaking out for his own needs was easy (trine)  for him that day and supported as well.   He also had a few Mars squares, but you get the idea.

My apologies to readers for using this blog as a vent from time-to-time (as I just have). 

I want to share how happy I am at this new location:  I love the cathedral ceiling in my little one bedroom apartment rental and the walk-in closet and nice pantry and also I love that we have so many people from India living here and did I mention how I love the swimming pool?  If not, I do.  I will catch  up more another time; life is especially busy right now. 

May all people be at ease and happy and abundantly fulfilled!  

See you nex time….