A Neo-Druid on Synchronicity
By E.B. (Formerly Meredith) McDonald

You’ve probably heard the term ‘Synchronicity’.  If we are of the same age we may have first seen the word on an album cover. You may have read this article because the word keeps popping up and something in you says ‘read that!’ If so, you have experienced the phenomenon of Synchronicity and you are ready to pay attention. Replace the word ‘Synchronicity’ with ‘Omen,’ ‘Sign’ or ‘Coincidence’ and you get the idea. Usually, by the time we identify the thing that keeps popping up we are driven to learn WHY?

Carl Jung, one of the Fathers of Psychology, married the Science of Physics with the science of Psychology by coining the term.  He describes Synchronicity as “An Acausal Connecting Principle.”  Our ‘western’ world view is vastly driven by causality.  There is a logical reason for everything that takes place with no value placed on information received by our psyche.  When the randomness of daily life (Physical Reality) enters our perception (Psyche) and sends a message that sparks recognition and meaning, Synchronicity is at play.

So . . . what does this have to do with you? Glad you asked! Nothing – absolutely nothing.  Unless . . . you ever find yourself feeling disconnected from the world around you; maddened by the thought that you are missing something; or just plain curious about that crow that shows up every morning and caws three times.  Speaking for myself – all of these things have caused me to envelope my life with a symbolic radar that has served me well.  If you’d like to build one of your own – read on!

For the purposes of this article I will be using the terms ‘signs’ or ‘omens’ to refer to the images, sounds, words, living things, and objects that represent the ‘physical’ aspects of Synchronicity. Agreed? (If not – feel free to replace those word with ‘doo-hickey’ or ‘wossname’ for Pratchett fans)

We are going to start with the most important step to living a vibrant synchronistic life.  Symbols and coincidences are great for fleeting moments of good memories or chuckles. And the phenomenon happens to every living soul. But our purpose here is to weave these signs into a tapestry that answers bigger questions about life and helps us feel supported and even validated in our decisions.

If you are squeezing up your face with an expression of minor dread thinking …. She’s gonna say ‘JOURNAL’, damn it, …. You’re right!!! Tell them what they’ve won, Dr. Jung! That’s right – a pen and paper. (Preferably a bunch of papers all bound up together so that you can easily refer back to your notes. They have a Killer selection at CRYSTAL VISIONS) I use spiral bound weekly Calendars like ‘Llewellyn’s Astrological Calendar’ so that the pen can hook into the spiral and the space to write isn’t intimidating.  That’s where I write the random happenings of my day that might just develop into signs and omens.

If you hate writing with a pen and paper – type it up in word or excel.  Excel offers great tools for being able to use your journal as a reference book.  I’ve just never managed the discipline to keep this up.  But, if you live on a laptop or tablet – go for it!  You may also be more interested in a photo journal.  iPhone recently added an App called ‘Journal’ that will actually suggest things happening on your calendar or photos you took as journal topics (Yeah, I know it feels creepy.  But just think of it as an extension of the Universe sending you signs).

The purpose of writing things down may seem obvious, but let me explain.  The act of writing or taking a photo makes what is just another momentary experience into something solid. It is, now, something YOU created.  It may be like a sandwich – consumed and forgotten.  Or it may be something a year from now that changes your view of yourself and the world around you (And . . . I do not exaggerate. I have made startling connections from a few words written with a DATE included).

So, what constitutes a ‘sign’? Literally anything. A song that keeps popping up; a bunny crossing the road; a billboard with a tiger on it; a word; something in a dream; something in a reading (those count double) – literally anything that makes you notice. Write it down with a date and time, if possible. Go an extra step and look it up – and write it down. (I love Ted Andrews’ ANIMAL SPEAK for this, but there are thousands of books of symbols and omenry)  Tarot and Omen decks are great for this too.  The more you explore the meaning of symbols, the better your messages to your future self will become.

Again, Synchronicity is a vast and constantly occurring phenomenon. Hopefully, this article has introduced the concept and triggered an interest that will lead you to a next step.  I highly recommend Pam Grout’s E-Squared books. They are full of exercises to connect psychology to physics or, if you prefer, your mind to the universe.

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EB McDonald started Weekday Spirit (@weekdayspirit) to share ideas and practices that will infuse our mundane moments with bright sparks of spirituality. She’s been a Druid Priest, a financial planner, an event seller, an accountant, a performer and has seen daily magical moments in every profession. She reads tarot and runes at Crystal Visions – call for appointment times or email her at magic@weekdayspirit.com

Link to previous Blog Post: Tarot Mysteries Hidden in Plain Sight by Allison Frank

TAROT MYSTERIES HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
by Allison Frank
Asheville Oracle

When I got my first tarot deck over 50 years ago, my only focus was to learn the meanings of each card as quickly as possible so I could perform an accurate reading. Although the images on my Rider Waite deck were jam-packed with magical symbolism of elements, fantasy creatures, medieval knights, foreign letters, colors and lush flowers – not to mention numerology – it didn’t occur to me to delve much deeper into the profundity of the designs until much later in my spiritual journey. Not focusing on the myriad nuances of the hundreds of symbols didn’t seem to hinder the quality of a spread’s outcome. The cards always told the truth.

As my skills developed, however, I was challenged to honor the entirety of the artistic representations – such as mountains in the background, lightning bolts shooting from the sky, the crimson importance of a rose – into how I would explain the cards’ meanings to my friends and clients. The incredibly brilliant creators of the Tarot system did not arbitrarily insert ANY image unintentionally.   Every aspect of every card contains a deep, iconic meaning that I’ve continued to study my entire life.

However, the one image that completely baffles me, that no amount of study or reading of academic articles has ever satisfied my insatiable curiosity, is this: why there are Hebrew letters strewn throughout the entire system? Unless, of course, the originators of this complex divination process were Kabbalistic scholars.

The main argument I’ve encountered for the ancient alphabet’s inclusion into the tarot’s intentional, yet mysterious creation is the very obvious fact that there are 22 Higher Arcana cards and, that the Hebrew alphabet also contains 22 letters. This couldn’t possibly be a coincidence, could it? And no, as a practicing psychic, I certainly don’t cotton to “coincidence,” especially one of this magnitude.

But here’s the rub. The Kabbalah is the mystical aspect of Judaism and was not available in the public domain until about 50 years ago. This highly prized, much protected Kabbalstic information was reserved ONLY to rabbis over the age of 40, NEVER to women and ONLY to those whose entire life’s work was to study the Torah.

How do I know that?

Several years ago, I studied with a Kabbalistic scholar and author – Gabriella Samuels – who wrote of the book Kabbalah Handbook: A Concise Encyclopedia of Terms and Concepts in Jewish Mysticism. Being able to take a class on this previously unavailable body of Jewish law was exciting because the much-hidden knowledge of the ancient practitioners was finally accessible for public consumption. But then it led me to this ultimate conundrum as to why the Hebrew letters are scattered throughout Tarot decks.

Because no one can pinpoint the exact origins of Tarot’s inception, its beginnings are shrouded in secrets. Some historians state the deck surfaced in France (Tarot de Marseilles) in the 1500s. Some claim the Egyptians came up with this form of divination.  Others (my favorite) believe the Knights of Templar discovered the tarot on their quest into the Middle East while trying to spread Christianity throughout the world. But truly? No one really knows.

Nevertheless, the historical timing blatantly begs the question: Who inserted these symbols into the structure of the cards?

Although the answer to this question might never surface, I find it fascinating to ponder yet another lovely aspect of the Tarot. I’m certain my fellow practitioners might beg to differ with my reasoning, and I welcome any and all discussion about our favorite form of fortune telling because the Tarot is a never-ending journey into the spiritual realm.

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Allison Frank (Asheville Oracle) has dedicated her life to reading Tarot cards to help people solve problems by accessing the higher dimensions. She’s been a reader at Crystal Visions for the past 8 years and you can book an appointment with her through the store. You can Contact Allison at ashevilleoracle.weebly.com or at Asheville Oracle Tarot on Facebook.

Link to previous Blog Post: Trust Your Intuition by Cheryl Grace

WHAT’S UP – April 2024

Belinda C. Dunn

Mercury in Aries

Retrograde – April 1 – 25

Aries Solar Eclipse

April 8 @ 2:21 pm (Eastern Daylight Time)

Scorpio Full Moon

April 23 @ 7:49 pm (EDT)

Signs of spring are springing up everywhere with all the invigorating vitality of April, one of the most important months of 2024. Seemingly rising out of no man’s land, this month brings the reset of a Solar Eclipse AND much awaited conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus. To use a gardening metaphor, both of these factors signify a turning over of soil to plow fertile new ground for a fruitful harvest in seasons to come.

Let’s start with the Aries Solar Eclipse exact on April 8, 2:21 pm in the eastern time zone. The locations activated by the eclipse path are always significant, and this eclipse sweeps through Mexico, Texas, across mid-western states, the Great Lakes region to New England and eastern Canada. During daylight hours, this is a Total Eclipse with spectacular viewing along its arc of travel.

Preceded by a Lunar Eclipse on March 25, the stage is already set for monumental shifts on every level. You may look back over recent weeks to recognize the themes in your personal life. Eclipses occur alongside the Moon’s nodes, and currently the nodal axis is North Lunar Node in Aries and South Lunar Node in Libra. This can feel like a tug of war between individuality and relationship, but operating in a myriad of directions, because life itself is about relationship. From one’s relationship with self, to others, and the collective at large, relationship is part and parcel of this dimension.

However, this Solar Eclipse is potently, decidedly, aimed toward Aries, and there is no getting around this fact. This is a rare chance to really connect with your essence, vitality, and values to create a firm foundation for years to come. There is no giving yourself away, or minimizing your contribution with this eclipse. All the stumbling blocks of co-dependence, people pleasing, going along to get along . . . these are readily apparent, and recognized as the energy drains they are. This is a reset of character, personality, drive and motivation. What lights your fire? What brings a smile to your face? Go towards enthusiastic and authentic expression, and you will never be led astray.

What makes this Solar Eclipse so special? The chart itself shows Venus, North Lunar Node, Sun, Moon, Chiron and Mercury all in Aries. But the big wow factor is Chiron’s exact conjunction with Sun and Moon, 19 degrees Aries. Astrologers have been studying Chiron since its discovery in 1977, but there is still ambiguity as to its essential meaning. Known as the “wounded healer,” what does this really mean?

Let’s go back to the mythology for a moment. Named after a centaur, this small planet orbits between Saturn and Uranus. Horse body with human torso and arms, the centaurs were known as a raucous bunch; loud, unruly, pillaging, wreaking havoc. They were also immortal, but as the story goes . . . Chiron was the most civilized of the centaurs. He received a mortal wound, and to assuage his pain, Chiron undertook the quest for healing the split between the spiritual and instinctual sides of human nature.

Chiron searched high and low for answers to his dilemma, essentially the internal conflict and psychological suffering of embodiment within a physical form. Since Chiron’s discovery, the field of holistic healing has grown exponentially with no end in sight. Increasingly, it is possible to consciously experience life as a fully functioning human being across a broad spectrum of mind, emotions, feelings, heart, body, soul and spirit. Not only is this an enormous evolutionary leap, but healing happens automatically with awareness, commitment and effective techniques.

Therefore, this Solar Eclipse is infused with healing potential, and and it can be very helpful to know where/how it activates in your personal chart. In general, themes clearly revolve around taking charge of YOUR life. In most cases, this doesn’t mean controlling anyone or anything, but really getting in touch with your will to live, and exist freely as the unique being you are. Every being/body is directly connected with Source, and the influx of light is tremendously regenerating with this Solar Eclipse in Aries.

However, in all respects, healing is rarely a straight forward path. As much as Aries can be impatient, and “want it now,” it is a timely process. Again, let’s look to astrology for timing, and notice Mercury is retrograde in Aries for most of the month (April 1 – 25.) No matter what the issues are, Mercury retrograde will drive awareness very deep into the process, and while this is personal, there are definitely overlaps with collective consciousness, in particular the wounds most people carry as a result of social programming and conditioning.

Therefore, not only does the Solar Eclipse strongly activate Chiron, but Mercury conjuncts Chiron three times over the course of months (March 20, April 15, May 6). In general, Mercury retrograde is a phase for careful research and cautious planning, so it will take time for puzzle pieces to fall into place. Of course, there will be pressure to make decisions and move quickly, but careless and incomplete decisions may be retracted at a later point. Realistically, a clear way forward may not be evident until late May when Mars conjuncts Chiron on the 29th. After months of dubious delays and deliberations, Mars will step on the gas and get things moving.

Now if this puzzle isn’t complex and multifaceted enough, let’s consider the long term transit of Eris in Aries (1926 – 2048). Eris is the 2nd largest of recently discovered dwarf planets. Orbiting in the farthest reaches of our solar system, in mythology Eris was sister of Mars, and goddess of discord. Usually a hum in the archetypal landscape, Eris is the feminine counterpart of bold, courageous assertion, making a stand and taking a stand when necessary.

Currently orbiting at 25 degrees Aries, transiting Mercury powerfully activates Eris from mid-March to mid-May. Considering social conditions, it is no surprise that Eris, the street fighter for truth and justice, is highly active and may prove to disrupt and overturn prevailing disputes around woman’s rights. Eris also sticks up for the downtrodden and forgotten, the marginalized and disadvantaged. No matter what, archetypal Eris is not content to sit on the sidelines, her voice will be heard, and this spring is the kick-off season.

This potential is taking place against the backdrop of these times, namely the on-going transits of Saturn and Neptune in Pisces. Adding to the mix is transiting Mars in Pisces (March 22 – April 30). Similar to an ocean’s undertow, these swirling energies can be psychically draining and emotionally disturbing. Protect and promote health, get plenty of rest, and listen to your body.

Discernment is key as certain powers thrive in the cloak of deception, purposely sowing seeds of confusion and delusion. It is essential in these times to be aware, and stop abdicating personal power and choice to outside forces, especially AI generated media. At all times, remember who you are.

A standout trend for 2024 is Jupiter’s conjunction with Uranus, exact on April 20. Jupiter’s orbit is 12 years while Uranus has an 84 year orbit. In terms of planetary cycles, they join forces every 14 years, and the last conjunction occurred three times (summer 2010 – winter 2011). Jupiter is the planet of opportunity, expansion, enthusiasm, confidence and good fortune. Uranus is the planet of breakthrough innovation, specifically in all fields of science, industry and technology.

This is a very unique combination as the conjunction occurs in Taurus, traditionally the zodiac sign of ownership; money, banks, possessions. Watch the headlines for significant developments in financial transactions and institutions, and possibly drastic fluctuations in market value.

These energies free things up, so financial exchanges such as selling or buying property can feel fated, and suddenly liberating. In a myriad of ways, there will be attempts to stabilize and consolidate while taking advantage of opportunity. Jupiter does everything in a big way, so progress is the name of the game in a season of fortunes made, and in some cases, fortunes lost.

Most likely, this trend will contribute to earth changes and climate disasters. At the very least, it can serve to increase awareness of environmental issues, and spur on development of cutting edge solutions. It can also shake the bedrock of materialism, helping people turn to what is most valuable, life itself. To sum up, this trend has so much potential to enliven and awaken the sleeping masses.

Of special note, this conjunction is a few days before Earth Day, feeding into the climatic themes of adaptation and survival on this continually evolving planet. And, as if to underscore the celestial messages, there is a Full Moon on April 23rd. By now, Sun is transiting through Taurus and Moon opposes in Scorpio. Nowhere is the play of opposites so evident as in the contrast between these zodiac signs; life and death, desire and allowing, serenity and intensity, beauty and the beast, embodiment and transcendence.

Due to the probing and questioning nature of Scorpio, issues related to worth and value can rise to the surface to be reckoned with. Any areas of imbalance will make themselves known in a sifting and sorting of priorities. Aside from monetary value, the direction is toward Taurus. Can frantic grabbing and grasping bring peaceful solutions? Can monetary value be placed on serenity, security, comfort and beauty? In most cases, of course not. April is the month to get your bearings, cultivate appreciation for what is truly valuable, and stand your ground.

Belinda C. Dunn is a professional astrologer with over 40 years experience. She is available for your personal consultation.

belinda@astrodelight.com; 828-215-2101; www.astrodelight.com

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