1. The Past – The Hierophant
   
2. The Present – Nine of Pentacles
   
3. The Future – Six of Swords (reversed)
   
4. The Outcome- Ace of Pentacles (reversed)
   

Hmm… Dr. Tyson.  That’s all I can say.  It would seem that this is yet another week of changes and possibly one that is not in your favor.

The Hierophant being an authority figure (possibly one of divine affiliation) has made a decision, possibly along the lines of what we were seeing last week which may have been a telling of the weeks ahead.  Interestingly, The Hierophant is the only major arcana card we have here unlike last week which contained an onslaught of them.  Well whatever The Hierophant has decided, it seems to benefit the young maiden or at least pertain to the treasure-trove of pentacles that she seems to be enjoying which is followed up with a journey taken by someone as we see in the next card (3) a family leaving with their belongings and wits about them and they’re not looking back.  The spread finishes with a pure card, the Ace of Pentacles, which to me reveals good fortune, pure fortune, or a new beginning of funds considering the rest of the spread.   It would seem that the past weeks of conflict are beginning to be resolved.  I just hope this outcome is at least positive for you.  Perhaps you are now becoming The Hermit as hinted at last week?  It’s tough to tell, but I’m sure you know what this all means.  Good luck and Hierophant speed Dr. Tyson in the week ahead!

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Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, is an American astrophysicist and science communicator. He is currently the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. – (Wikipedia)
*Dr. Tyson has not approved nor endorsed this blog.

1. The Past – Temperance
2. The Present – The Hanged Man
3. The Future - The Hermit 
4. The Outcome- The Sun
   

My apologies on not doing a spread last week Dr. Tyson. Life was hectic. However, not as hectic as yours judging from what we have here!  Holy Shit! What a combination of cards!  The cosmos is certainly grabbing you by the proverbial meteors, if you know what I mean?  Here we have four of the major arcana cards. Ironically enough they are even my four personal favorites, well aside from the rest of them. *wink*  But what a group it is despite my bad humor.

In the beginning, we have Temperance weighing the options of life.  Which tells me that you recently had to make some important decisions or perhaps the Universe was making them for you?  Anywho, your world is now turned upside down (2) as a result.  – Yikes! How’s the view? LOL -  For some, The Hanged Man card means you’re fucked.  However, I prefer to go with one of these three understandings:

1. The Hanged Man means a change of direction.  A 180 degree turn in a sense.
2. A surrendering to the Will of the cosmos.
3. Or redemption through sacrifice.

In your case, being an agnostic, 1 or 3 is probably more accurate since I doubt you believe in the Will of the cosmos or even think that the Big Bang (not the television show) somehow has an impact on your life at the moment.  However, I suppose if I had enough time and knowledge I could explain how the present moment of your life has in someway been directly effected by The Big Bang, but I digress.

Thankfully for you, as you hang, the blood rushes your head, which not only causes concern, but it also helps you find a sense of enlightenment (3) that leads to a future sense of happiness (4).  Go you!  And being an astrophysicist, I bet that you’re glad that we can at least close this week’s reading with The Sun card. Right?  Enjoy the Sun while you can. Cheers Dr. Tyson!

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Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, is an American astrophysicist and science communicator. He is currently the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. – (Wikipedia)
*Dr. Tyson has not approved nor endorsed this blog.

I’m currently involved with a new piece for my Eclectic Artisans collection which has been inspired by my recent plunge into Traditional Witchcraft. As you can see here, my bronze skull cauldron is nearing completion as I work out the final design issues in wax.  It’s a somewhat stylized skull with a cauldron incorporated into the cranium with the whole item being supported by a low standing cross-bone footed base (the red parts are not a part of the piece).  This piece combines life, death, the ancestors, and transformation into one hot item that will be sure to add some serious presence to your altar.  If you’re interested in this item, contact me so you can be notified when it becomes available.

I also have several other items brewing, which I won’t be discussing any further until they get to a point similar to the cauldron, but trust me they’re going to be excellent!

Then there is everything else…. Tara and I are working on some things for us which will hopefully be announced in the next several months *crosses fingers*.  FYI – No, we’re not getting married.

Podcasting has been strong. I’m compiling E-32 of TI&TB as I write this entry as I do some preliminary reading for it.  I hope E-31 has been well received by everyone. Jason Miller is a fun guy to talk to!

I also have a big art project on the horizon. Too early to talk about, not pagan related, but could be big for me. Wish me luck!

Baphmetis Meditation should have some new meditation sessions soon.

Just a lot of busy busy going on. But that’s ok because that’s how I like it.

BB / 93!

1. The Past – Four of Swords
2. The Present - Page of Wands
3. The Future – Knight of Cups (reversed)
4. The Outcome – Queen of Pentacles (reversed)

For this week’s spread I decided to use my new Original Rider Waite Smith Deck instead of my regular Rider Waite Smith that I had been using previously.  I find the printing for this deck and the colors to be more appealing most of the time.  However, I feel some cards have indeed lost some of their beauty and presence while others have really come to life in this version of the deck done by Pamela Colman Smith over a hundred years ago.  But I don’t think you came for the tarot review or a history lesson did you Doctor?  Doctor sounds so formal, and I’m not requesting a physical examination from you so could I just refer to you as Mr. PhD. instead?  Cool. Thanks.

In this layout we have a card from each suit and three out of the four cards are court cards which to me denotes a slight disharmony in the energies, while at the same time the variety of card types may allow for some fruitful mixing.

The Four of Swords is unfortunately a somber card as we see a person laying at rest or possibly deceased laying in a tomb like space.  It’s tough to determine which the case may be because we are not given any indication of his or her condition like with the presence of a skull or perhaps a death certificate.  What we do have, is an image of stillness, reservation, and possibly defeat.

The Page of Wands stands facing the other two cards while acting as a steward or separator for the Four of Swords. When we consult the texts, the Page is said to be a young man, possibly a lover or suitor looking for a young lady.  This could be a boyfriend of this woman or someone who wishes her hand in marriage.  If this were the case then perhaps the individual depicted in the Four of Swords is approving of this union.  The Page could then be pleading with the Knight of Cups and the Queen of Pentacles one of whom is listening while the other looks away.

According to the text, the Knight of Cups is bringing something to the situation.  Some texts speak of money while others speak of a message.  Since he is of the suit of Cups I think what he is bringing is emotionally based, but his reversed nature could imply an imperfect emotion or he is reversed so that he can face the cards on the left.

The Queen of Pentacles looks away from the others.  The text tells of gifts, riches, and perhaps a marriage for a young man.  If she is reversed the text says that she denotes illness, but I do not think this is the case.

If we look at this spread as a one moment, then we see a funeral viewing where the Page is welcoming two visitors to see the deceased.  The Knight walks forward while the Queen is reluctantly looking away.

Regardless we have three individuals depicted who are coming from opposite sides of a situation and who do not see eye to eye.  There is conflict here, but conflict which I think can work itself out rather easily if given the opportunity. Cheers!

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Mr. PhD. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, is an American astrophysicist and science communicator. He is currently the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. – (Wikipedia)
*Dr. Tyson has not approved nor endorsed this blog.

Links: Jason Miller, South Jersey Pagan Pride Day, Wicca 101, Good Vibrations, Between the Worlds, Leslie Fish, Behutet Magazine

Featured Artist: Damh the Bard (online store)

Credits: George Wood, Theory in Motion, Alexandre Falcao, Linda Holzer, Persian Paladin, Music Alley

]]> http://www.infinite-beyond.com/031-financial-sorcery/feed/ 1 http://www.infinite-beyond.com/neil-degrasse-tyson-vs-aleister-crowley/ http://www.infinite-beyond.com/neil-degrasse-tyson-vs-aleister-crowley/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 01:10:20 +0000 Chris Orapello http://www.infinite-beyond.com/?p=2378

1. The Present – Wheel of Fortune: “Fortune”
2. Present Above – Princess of Wands
3. Present Below - Eight of Discs: “Prudence”
4. The Past – Seven of Discs: “Failure”
5. The Future – Prince of Wands

Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole of The Law

Happy 109th Anniversary of Aleister Crowley’s receiving of The Book of the Law Dr. Tyson!  What does that mean, you ask?  Oh, never you mind.  It will only case you to roll your eyes at me.  However, in honor of this festive occasion I decided to change things up and use my Aleister Crowley Thoth Deck for this week’s reading and go with the five-card spread that I often use for myself.

So, I have to ask you, are you feeling lucky?  You should, as for the moment things are in your favor however with failure (4) in your past and with you being surrounded by the Princess and Prince of Wands things are looking precarious if you ask me.  It seems that money is still a factor as we have two sequential disc cards.  The Seven of Discs – “Failure” in the past has progressed into the present Eight of Discs – “Prudence” which is seated below you and implies that this is something which is under your control, unlike the Princess of Wands who hangs above you.  I suspect that this may be the same duo from before, but only you can be certain if they are or not.  If we look at the Wheel of Fortune as a good change then these two people (2 & 5) are more likely friends or at least are on your side, possibly they are related to one another or married.  If this spread harkens positive change then things are looking up.  However if not, these two individuals could be an immediate concern for you in the week a head. 93! Dr. Tyson.

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Neil DeGrasse Tyson, is an American astrophysicist and science communicator. He is currently the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. – (Wikipedia)
*Dr. Tyson has not approved nor endorsed this blog.

Like I promised, some of my Wicked Castings collection has been restocked on the Eclectic Artisans website and I have some additional items in mind for the future as my artistic path develops in conjunction with my spiritual path.  In this picture, taken with my cell phone, we see Cernunnos, two Goddess figures, and a Pentacle as they undergo the final parts of receiving their patina by yours truly. Hot stuff indeed! The torch guarantees it.

First and foremost, I have not podfaded! LOL  It’s weird that this is a current topic because just this morning I was thinking about how many shows seem to have faded.   For the record, I do not think the Pagan Podcasting Era is over.  HELL NO!  It’s just in transition. That’s all.

FYI… I’ve adjusted the format of the podcast if you hadn’t noticed.  I no longer play promos or commercials and I have been trying to make things tighter with less segways and such.  Also there will probably be an interview every episode that will be broken up by other interlaced segments. My recent episodes have reflected these changes.  I’m still interested in doing monthly shows, though I already botched that desire this year by missing March. *sigh*  However the ”four episode year of 2012″ was a bad year for me for sure, and will never happen again if I can help it!  Here’s to 2013! CHEERS!

In the past several months, I taught a Wicca 101 course that went well and I hope to be doing a 201 soon which I’m slowly writing.  So far, so good.  The first time around the 201 may be a series of scattered workshops until I get it all written.  I’m still debating how to proceed with it.  If you are interested in it, no matter where you are in the world, let me know because they tell me that this world-wide web thing is actually world-wide  (who knew?) and so the classes may be an option for you.

Also, back in the fall I took a British Traditional Wicca Course and I am now even technically a petitioner of a Gardnerian Coven that I love!  Busy busy.  My dedication will be happening the evening of April 26th if nothing changes.  As a result of all this, I have been getting very interested in non-religious i.e. Traditional European Witchcraft (oddly enough?) which some of my recent book purchases have reflected.

Life is good and interesting to say the least.  The book I put out – A Witch’s Journey - has been selling pretty well considering it was basically an experiment that turned out to be successful.  So, early next year be on the look out for A Witch’ Journey - 2014 with more material and witchy goodness to help you on your path!

Also, if you have been craving some of my items over at Eclectic Artisans, but have been sad because they are Sold Out?  Never fear because new stock will be available soon.

There you have it!