Finally

After waiting what seems like forever, it has finally happened. I made cut-off for E-6! While I only went to the board last December, I have been waiting for this for quite some time. I am now at a point where I will be able to do my full 20 years. So when I report into ALC (hopefully) on Monday, I will be SSG Ray. It already looks weird. Of course along with more responsibility comes more pay. Which at this point is a HUGE advantage for us. I just officially found out a couple of hours ago, and I am still a little bit in shock that it has finally happened. I do feel a little bad because my Soldier did not make cut-off for E-5, but I have no doubt that she will make it before she leaves here in December. In honor of this accomplishment, I leave you lovely readers with the 6 of Army from my still in progress Military Tarot.

If you would like to see more of the cards I created, please check out my Picassa Album. They are broken into different albums by Majors, Minors, and Court Cards. Feel free to take a look around while you are there.

PS. Later in the week, I will tie this in with how this promotion plays into my practice.

Pagan Blog Project - D for XIII????

What does the number 13 have to do with the letter "D"? Well as some one who studies Tarot, 13 is the number of the (in my opinion) highly misunderstood Death card. Nothing freaks most people out more than seeing that ominous looking skeltal knight (Rider Waite) and the word DEATH staring back at them. "Oh my god, someone I know is going to die, is it me, my parents, my friends?!?!?" Ive had this kind of freak out when I was doing a reading before, and the short answer was "Yes... with a disclaimer." Not die in the physical sense.
So what does it mean when the Death Card comes up in a reading? Well, just like all other cards in tarot, it depends on the placement in the reading. However, in general, it means that it is time to let go of something. What are you holding on to that is preventing you from reaching your potential? Is there someone in your life that is a hazard to you? We all have that habit or person in our life that we know is toxic to us. This card is telling you that it is time to move along, and part ways. It is basically the death of the relationship that you have with that habit, thing, person etc.
On the flip side of this card, maybe there is something that you need to hold onto a little stronger. Did you set a goal to get promoted? Have you started doing something that will actually help you get that promotion. Have you meet someone new? Maybe you need to open up to them more, so they can serve their purpose in your life.
Are you being cruel to yourself? Maybe you are your worst enemy causing you to not reach your goals. Maybe you are killing your own dreams, but telling yourself that you are not good enough. Has your dream died before it even had a chance to build up? Are your goals to high? Sure we would all like to be millionaires, but is that possible? Not always. Try setting a more realistic goal to give yourself a reachable point to get to.
These are just some of the questions to be considered when looking at the Death Card. Still you may be thinking to yourself, "I hate when this card comes up in a reading, and I have to see THAT look on someones face. How can I help them cope with the initial shock?" Well what I do, is as soon as I see the card come up, I immediately say "Don't freak out, this isn't a bad thing." Quickly reassure them that life as they no it is not going to come crumbling down, and that they don't need to start planning their Last Will and Testament. This usually works, but when it does not, I try to quickly incorporate that card into the reading. After all just with the image alone most people will not be able to concentrate until you give them the bad news that they know is coming from this card. Of course maybe this is the only reason this card came up in the first place. "What are you scared of?" Are you afraid that there is something in your life that you wont be able to do? Then stop procrastinating and get it done. "Don't put off for tomorrow what can be done today." Are you afraid that when you die, someone will never know how you truly feel? Tell them. What have you got to lose? Maybe they feel that same way. Maybe they don't, but by telling them, you are finally able to move on and find someone else. Are you in a "dead-end" job that is going no where? Find something different. What does your heart tell you you want to be doing?
As with most of the cards in Tarot, the Death Card is very complex, and different for each person. Listen to what the card has to say. There is always a lesson to be learned.

Of course there is always the possibility that the lesson to be learned from this card, is for you the reader. Are you afraid to give people bad news in a reading. "They are going to hate me if I tell them that things will not work out. That everything is not all wine and roses all the time." Sometimes we have to take a chance to look at ourselves every now and then. Is it time for you to stop hiding things that come up in readings? We cant be nice all the time. Everyone deserves to know the "truth." Even if it is not something that they want to hear.

All this from a simple image of a skeleton riding a horse. Of course this is just my opinions and thoughts on the card. Please use your thoughts and judgement when doing readings. If you listen, you may be surprised what they will tell you. If you listen close, they may even tell you what they "mean."
So I leave you now with a different image of a death card. Not nearly as "scary" but I think it still gets the same meaning of moving on across. Hope you like, and please let me know what you think.

13- Soldiers Memorial (Death from my Military Tarot)

Also the first card that I completed.

Blessed Be 

First Impressions- The Tarot of the Silicon Dawn

So just a little bit of back story. I got back from being on the road pretty much all day on Friday, to find that the mail room closed at 1200 due to the training holiday (day off for all the civilians out there), but decided to check my box anyway. Sure enough there was a slip saying I had a package. I right away knew what it was, but would have to wait until Tuesday to get it.
Sure enough I go to get the mail today, get my box, and its the lovely box from Amazon containing my Tarot of the Silicon Dawn. I had been looking at getting it for a while, and had even seen the author post progress and updates on a forum that I belong to. Well after perusing and thumbing through the book, I must say, that the wait was worth it. First, if you are not familiar with it, it has the traditional 78 cards, PLUS an additional 21. That's right, it has 99 cards! Where to begin....
So me being who I am, I immediately start to look at the cards. Let me just say, that no pictures can do theses cards justice. Many of them appear to be fairly "normal," until you move them in the light, and realize that there is a coating on them that causes other designs to appear in the light! This is pretty cool LOL. So like all decks it has the standard suits; Cups, Swords, Pents, and Wands, but each has an added "99". So each suit have 15 cards. Plus there is an added, unfinished suit of "Void." Again I have not dove full on into the book, but it looks to be interesting. Speaking of the book, not only doe it give the meanings that are unique to this deck, but it in color and 5 languages. She has managed to throw some humor into the book. For example, when talking about the fourth Fool she says "Because oh sweet mother of f***er is this fall going to hurt." I found this not only funny, but a great way to drive home the point and meaning of the card. The images are going to take some getting used to, as they are not exactly traditional. While the general idea is there, many of the cards focus more on the feminine side. I personally am not used to this, but am looking forward to exploring this more.
As far as the box it came it. It is nice as well. It has a magnetic closure, and a diagram of the cards on the inside of the lid. All said and done, I am really glad that I got this deck. As I begin to delve deeper into this deck I will be sure to update everyone as to how things are going, and any new "discoveries" that I make. Until then, take a look at this video of the author showing off her copy.

D is for Divination

The seeking after knowledge of future or hidden things by inadequate means. The means being inadequate they must, therefore, the supplemented by some power which is represented all through history as coming from gods or evil spirits. Hence the word divination has a sinister signification. Asprophecy is the lawful knowledge of the future divination, its superstitious counterpart, is the unlawful. As magic aims to do, divination aims to know.Divination is practically as old as the human race. It is found in every age and country, among the Egyptians, Chaldean's, Hindus, Romans, and Greeks; that tribes of Northern Asia had their shamans, the inhabitants of Africa their mgangas, the Celtic nation their druids, the aborigines of America their medicine-men — all recognized diviners and wizards. Everywhere divination flourished and nowhere, even today, is it completely neglected. Cicero's words were, and apparently always will be, true, that there is no nation, civilized or barbarian, which does not believe that there are signs of the future and persons who interpret them. Cicero divided divination into natural and artificial. Natural (untaught, unskilled) included dreams and oracles in which the diviner was a passive subject of inspiration, and the prediction that from a power supposed to be then and there within him. Artificial (taught, studied) comprised all foretelling from signs found in nature or produced by man. Here the diviner was active, and the divination came apparently from his own skill and observation. This division is almost the same as that given by St. Thomas with respect to the invocation of demons: divination with expressinvocation of spirits, embracing dreams, portents, or prodigies, and necromancy, and divination with tacit invocation through signs and movements observed in objects in nature, such as stars, birds, figures, etc., or through signs and arrangements produced by man, such as molten lead poured in water, casting of lots, etc. Dreams here mean those expressly prepared and prayed for with hope of intercourse with gods or the dead. Portents or prodigies are unusual and marvellous sights coming from the lower world. Here we are considering artificial divination.


The above article is from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05048b.htm


I started this post with the above article to provide some insight as to how many Christians see divination. Obviously as Pagans we know that what we get from divination does not come from "evil spirits" but are simple messages from the universe that tell us how things are or will be if we continue on our current paths. There is no evil behind it at all. It is simply used as a guide to help us. I am going to attempt to give a little insight into my thoughts on the topic of divination, specifically Tarot.


When it comes to Divination, there are more forms than most normal people could count. It seems like everyone has their favorite form. Mine happens to be Tarot. I have tried others like runes, but just cant seem to make any sense of the symbols. While I have not given up, I still remain loyal to tarot. There is just something about how each card forms a piece of the overall story of the reading. No matter what deck you pick up, you can usually get a sense for what the cards are telling you just based on overall basic knowledge. 
When it comes to actually using decks there seem to be at least two schools of thought. One says that you find a deck that works for you and stick with it. One the other hand there is the thought that is does not matter how many decks you use, as long as they speak to you. I am a member of the latter school of thought. I currently have two decks that I use. The ones that I use are the Transparent Tarot and The Quest Tarot. Both of these have AMAZING artwork, and really speak to me when I do a reading. I also personally feel that it is important to have other decks available for reference. One that I have found particularly helpful is the Tarot of the New Vision. 
You can easily open and Pagan/ Wiccan/ New-Age themed book, and each of them will swear by one or another form of divination. What is ultimately important in the end, is to make sure that you are able to work with your chosen medium. It will serve you no good if you are not able to connect with what you are using. Also, keep in mind, that no where does it way that as a Pagan you need to be able to do divination.
If you should decide to pursue divination keep in mind that it does take practice. If you go into it thinking that you will pick it up right away without studying, it will be that much harder for you to connect. Don't be afraid to ask for help and guidance. Above all things, divination should be a way to connect with yourself. If you don't know yourself on a deep level, it will show when you go to do readings.