Maat Tarot Blog

New Moon in Pisces--March 18, 2007

This card leaves me a bit flat. It bothers me that there are no people in the card. There is only one small window visible on the house, and the inhabitants are still inside, in the dark. (Like seeds?) Although the earth is warming, it's all potential and anticipation, still waiting for action. There's not even a crocus or daffodil peeking up through the snow. While the image is appropriate to my circumstances at this point in the yearly cycle, it lacks the feeling of joy that I associate with the Four of Wands. Is that my Waite Smith indocrination coming through?

Last Quarter Moon in Sagittarius--March 11, 2007

This card is so appropriate to the improved weather we have now! "Let's get outside! Let's go down to the lake!"

It is also very appropriate to my personal situation of long nights working on the computer (in the forest), finally finishing difficult coding (the opening), and now it's time to make the page pretty before publishing it (the ribbons just before the opening).

Full Moon in Virgo--March 3, 2007

This card causes me to look at my own attitutdes about nakedness. Personally, I love to be naked. I love it when other people are naked. Not because I'm a pervert, but because it's a natural state. One of the most difficult adjustments for me living in Switzerland is wearing--not clothes, jackets, caps, gloves, etc.--but undergarments. Clothes serve to warm and protect us, but they are also restricting, binding, downright annoying most of the time. Nakedness is not about spectators. It's about the feel of air (or water) on bare skin. If you haven't tried it, you must. Young people especially deserve the chance to run around naked, although this is far less common (and apparently more dangerous) in the States.
The girl in this image is almost to the time when she will have to have more modesty. Enjoy it while you can!
The card also reminds me of something I learned from my daughter recently. I was complaining that her constant reason for doing things she's been told not to do is either "because I wanted to" or "because I like it." Later that evening, I realized that's exactly why I do some of the things I shouldn't do too (e.g. smoking). Because I like it. Sometimes it really is reason enough.

~~~~~~~~~ After a few days' thought, I realize that this card stands for someone really upfront, who shows who they really are without trying to hide or cover their true selves. Someone born at sunrise. Someone naked to the world.

First Quarter Moon in Gemini--February 24, 2007

"Use of the microcosm to understand the macrocosm."
I'm so stuck on this quote from Julie's book that I don't know what else I can say about this card. We are so blessed to be among the first generations to enjoy the view from space. It has made a huge impact on our outlook and knowledge.

"Your body may be trapped at your desk, but your imagination can roam the far reaches of the universe with our cosmic visuals."

• Hubble Space Telescope Gallery
• Great Images in NASA

Full Moon Cycle of Virgo--February 19 to March 20, 2007

I analyze . . .
. . . dreams, omens and oracles.
. . . experiences at the end of the day.
. . . feelings and intuition.
. . . how motivations and actions are influenced by core beliefs.
. . . the choices that will affect my ability to freely live my own life.

Isn't she lovely? The High Priestess is always one of my favorite cards, with her own sense of reality in all dimensions. She is low-tech--no watch, no TV, no cell phone. She looks to the whirling sky to observe the times; watches nature to get the news that's important to her; communicates telepathically. She is the Secret Doctrine referred to by Waite--always apparent, seldom seen.
"If you gotta ask, you'll never know."

New Moon in Aquarius--February 17, 2007

To me this card shows, more than anything, the importance of people skills. These involve not just sweet talk, but genuine interest, respect, and appreciation for other people. "People don't care what you know until they know that you care." The kid has something valuable, something he knows the man needs. The man could easily kill him, throw him in the cold river, and take not only the goods, but the boat and all. But they have mutual respect, which allows them to conduct mutually beneficial business. And maybe, by the way the woman is looking at him, they will trade more than just goods. Is she looking for an enterprising husband for her daughter, perhaps?

My great-great-grandmother was Native American. There is absolutely no record or mention of her life before she married, and my grandmother told me she never talked about it. She had to "trade" her name, culture and heritage for the benefits of assimilating into Euro-American life. I also have a "mixed" marriage, but I didn't have to sacrifice quite as much.

Something in my personal life this week has really underscored the message of this card for me. I had something valuable to offer. About two-thirds of the recipients were happy with it, but the rest needed individual adjustments. It was a lot of extra work to respond to those needs, but otherwise the thing (and my reputation!) would have lost much of its value. "The customer is always right."

AND I was pleasantly surprised to see myself quoted in Julie's book! People really do hear what I say--yippee!

Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio--February 10, 2007

This card reminds me of PHP coding I've been working on: how challenging and difficult it is, yet how rewarding when it actually functions! Working out all the glitches (as with setting up the CompTarot web ring) is something I find rather entertaining and educational, and rarely annoying. Fortunately, unlike the boy in the card, I don't have to match wits with my instructor.

No pain, no gain. Tackling the hard stuff makes us stretch and grow. Overcoming it adds not only to our knowledge, but also to our self-confidence and self-worth. And then we are even better equipped for the next challenge.